Chipping in the mud

[mariner]

What`s the right technique for greenside chips off muddy ground?
I missed virtually all of them in my last round

[GregJWillis]

Re: Chipping in the mud

If muddy you mean not grassy, then the ball needs to be back in the stance quite a bit allowing the club to strike the ball first and not any part of the ground..like pinching it.

The loft of the club is a limited choice now, you have to pick from the PW or SW because the ball position has delofted it so much, but let the distance you get to land the ball dictate that. You might get away with a 9I if you are close enough to the green.

The swing style needs to be steep but not handsy..meaning you do not want to break your wrists in this but allow your shoulder tilt and arms to take the club back almost vertical, dropping the arms downward on the ball.

You should get a lot more spin on a well struck shot, so expect it to come to a quicker stop then a normal "bump-and-run", so you have to hit the ball a harder for a longer shot then you think.

[mariner]

Re: Chipping in the mud

I meant from around the green in really soggy conditions - surely hitting down on the ball would have the same effect as if you did it in a bunker?

[GregJWillis]

Re: Chipping in the mud

Yes it would. But your situation you are talking about is grassy and muddy? Or just muddy where the ball is sunk in wet mud?

If it is grassy and muddy (basically very wet), then you would use a sand bunker swing with a high lofted club (SW/LW). Open stance, blade at the target and ball position middle to forward (as forward as you can get with the lie - the deeper the lie the further back you need to go).

If it is just mud, then my first post is what you want.

[GolfJunkieSr]

Re: Chipping in the mud

You might also want to consult the rule book for "casual water, and/or "ground under repair" to see if you can get relief in some very wet situations. If not, what I do if I have to play the ball as it lies, is take a little flatter approach to impact. I always had trouble in wet grass/mud conditions hitting fat shots. Now, I never ground the club behind the ball, and try to pick it clean to avoid letting the ground conditions cause me grief. I don't "scoop" the ball, I just let the club head loft do the work for me. Distance is regulated by lengths of back swing, and follow through. Height, if a consideration is the ball position with regard to to the stance. When ever you can, if you can find simular conditions, practice that shot at your home course. GJS