Post by pythagoras345 on Sept 23, 2010 13:28:17 GMT -5
I am not sure this is the second most important topic, but it is probably the most misunderstood, so I will post it second. Like the flop or the pitch, the punch shot is a CRITICAL component of the game. Image how incomplete your game would feel without the pitch shot option. That is how I would feel if I did not have the punch shot. Understanding and executing the punch shot will cut strokes off your game immediately. This is even more so for experts. Rarely do you find a single tip that can add 3 – 4 birdies a round to someone that already birdies 5 or more holes per round!
The first thing to realize is the punch shot option has two completely separate categories, where each can help your game. The first one I will cover is the one that is most people visualize a punch shot to be. This one is not as valuable as the second category, but is still important.
Drivers, Woods, 3I – AW.
These are all what you would think of as traditional punch shots – low line drives. The one key concept in this category is you need clear area for roll from 70% distance to final target!
Your drive and wood will give you options from 275 – 310 yards. You can scream the ball off the tee and place perfectly in the fairway. These shots are great for short holes, sharp dog legs, and in heavy winds. I would venture a guess that on 50% of golf holes, if you could place your tee ball center fairway 310 yards out 100% of time, you would take it!
The irons make powerful approach shots also. These are not available as much as the driver options, since greens will be blocked by water, traps etc, many of the times. But if the path is open to pin (70% - 100%), I would rather punch that full swing (7I punch > than GW full). This is because distance is more precise, wind is less a factor, miss swing is less of factor. However, big up or down hill can be tricky, so start using on shots where you are level to pin. You will start getting many more heart thumpers from 100 – 130 yards out, I promise!
1 and 2 Irons; Bottom 4 Wedges
Now the second punch category. This is the gem of all gems of tips. I have already spoken with two regulars that regularly hit double digit under par and they had no clue about this category!
If you punch with these clubs, they do not take what you would think of as a traditional punch flight path. The long irons are very high soft shots with distance similar to the 3 and 4 irons. Yes that is right, if you carry a 1-Iron, you are already carrying a 3-Iron, as the 1-Iron punch is the same shot as a 3-Iron full. The same is true for the 2-Iron replacing the 4. So with 2 clubs, you get 4 great distances. This frees up a spot in your bag for that extra wood or wedge you have being wanting to carry so badly!
If you punch the bottom 4 wedges they don’t really punch because the club is so lofted, they are really pitches. Reasonable height with little roll. Obviously the SW rolls a bit more than the HLW, but we are only talking 4 yards to 2 yards roll! The distance on these are extremely valuable as they fit right in between the full swing of your shortest wedge and the pitch of your longest wedge. Typically between 50 – 80 yards depending on how your clubs are tuned. Many players carry a pitching wedge just for the 60 yard pitch to fill this distance, not realizing they already have 4 different options in this range already in their bag. So this tip lets you drop the pitching wedge and adds more distance control options.
Once you understand the power of these 6 punch options, you will immediately realize your bag is carrying at least one and probably 2 clubs that you no longer need!
The first thing to realize is the punch shot option has two completely separate categories, where each can help your game. The first one I will cover is the one that is most people visualize a punch shot to be. This one is not as valuable as the second category, but is still important.
Drivers, Woods, 3I – AW.
These are all what you would think of as traditional punch shots – low line drives. The one key concept in this category is you need clear area for roll from 70% distance to final target!
Your drive and wood will give you options from 275 – 310 yards. You can scream the ball off the tee and place perfectly in the fairway. These shots are great for short holes, sharp dog legs, and in heavy winds. I would venture a guess that on 50% of golf holes, if you could place your tee ball center fairway 310 yards out 100% of time, you would take it!
The irons make powerful approach shots also. These are not available as much as the driver options, since greens will be blocked by water, traps etc, many of the times. But if the path is open to pin (70% - 100%), I would rather punch that full swing (7I punch > than GW full). This is because distance is more precise, wind is less a factor, miss swing is less of factor. However, big up or down hill can be tricky, so start using on shots where you are level to pin. You will start getting many more heart thumpers from 100 – 130 yards out, I promise!
1 and 2 Irons; Bottom 4 Wedges
Now the second punch category. This is the gem of all gems of tips. I have already spoken with two regulars that regularly hit double digit under par and they had no clue about this category!
If you punch with these clubs, they do not take what you would think of as a traditional punch flight path. The long irons are very high soft shots with distance similar to the 3 and 4 irons. Yes that is right, if you carry a 1-Iron, you are already carrying a 3-Iron, as the 1-Iron punch is the same shot as a 3-Iron full. The same is true for the 2-Iron replacing the 4. So with 2 clubs, you get 4 great distances. This frees up a spot in your bag for that extra wood or wedge you have being wanting to carry so badly!
If you punch the bottom 4 wedges they don’t really punch because the club is so lofted, they are really pitches. Reasonable height with little roll. Obviously the SW rolls a bit more than the HLW, but we are only talking 4 yards to 2 yards roll! The distance on these are extremely valuable as they fit right in between the full swing of your shortest wedge and the pitch of your longest wedge. Typically between 50 – 80 yards depending on how your clubs are tuned. Many players carry a pitching wedge just for the 60 yard pitch to fill this distance, not realizing they already have 4 different options in this range already in their bag. So this tip lets you drop the pitching wedge and adds more distance control options.
Once you understand the power of these 6 punch options, you will immediately realize your bag is carrying at least one and probably 2 clubs that you no longer need!