That surprises me!
I guess like someone mentioned earlier, we’re used to seeing the fantastic saves on the TV highlights … so our (at least my) perception of what that level of player can -consistently- pull off is a bit skewed…
To be fair, generally for those pros if they are scrambling from further than 30 yards out, that means something really bad happened. That said, add another shot to that (so getting up and down for bogey) and I’m sure the percentage would be like 80% or higher where as even good amateurs will wind up with a double from the same scenario.
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I know I am being a stickler, but you actually aren’t deliberately missing the green. You are moving your aim point to the proper spot based on a hazard!
Some % of your shots hit the green, some % land off the green, but what you are really doing is taking the 1 stroke penalty out of play!
You are doing the right thing by committing to that conservative target and not falling prey to the “maybe I’ll just pull it a hair over left and onto the pin”!
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True. More accurate to say I deliberately center my shots at a point not on the green.
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Hah, I was fairly certain that’s what you meant, but I guess I am insufferable.
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Figured I’d throw this here. Maybe not so good for some of you, but for me this is fantastic. Chipping is my Achilles heel and I work tirelessly on it to be better. Until this week, I would hit at least 50% or greater of my chips dead off the hosel or toe. This week I’ve had a breakthrough and have figured out a feel and this is the result. Six balls from six different distances and lies, none outside of 25 yards, none inside of 10 yards.
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i really need to check out Decade…if i am 160 yards or in (8 iron for me stock 160)…i am going at the flag unless there is a disaster around…outside of 160 i am looking middle of the green and trying to work the ball to the target.
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Good job @Gisclairj. But be careful saying you’ve figured something out. The golf gods are fickle.
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What’s your handicap? I’ve always been aggressive on pins, but I think it’s hurting my scores.
Hahahaha, that’s true, but it’s more of a mental thing.
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I think if you learn DECADE, you’ll see why both of those strategies are likely costing you more strokes than they’re saving you 
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i am currently .8…but i know i can improve…like everyone!
I go on great runs but then i go on bad ones…might be course strategy.
Seems like your strategy is decent!
Probably have to dive into your numbers to figure out if you are overly aggressive chasing pins.
Just about the only part of the game I practice too, SO vital unless you’re hitting 16 GIR every round (I hit 7/8 if I’m having a good day) and yes, no big deal missing greens if you can chip. I think I use a putting stroke too, with nearly all my weight on my lead foot, lock arms and wrists, rock the shoulders.
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I’ve been working on this relentlessly for the last two months. In fact, I rarely practice my full swing right now, and instead I mess with my wedges from 80yards in. I choose that distance because no matter which wedge I have in my hand, it’s less than a stock swing. I am just trying to land the ball on the green right now, and not worry so much about the pin location. I have gone from 1 out of 3 balls making it on the green to now about 6 out of 8. Most of the balls that fail to make the green are more alignment issue than distance, and it may not even be so much alignment, but more club at impact position. I am thrilled with this because I know it will help me reduce my handicap significantly as this is where most of us amateurs give away a lot of shots. In fact, this practice was solidified when I read what @jon posted about dropping Mark Broadie’s dropping 10 shots.
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If you practice and improve your full swing, you won’t need your short game to be so good. Yes, it’s tougher to improve, but the payoff is much greater.
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Chipping is so simple like that but I see loads of people at my club who are so petrified of chips they putt from the off the green. A good round for me is 6 gir sometimes only 1 . Had another chip in yesterday. Downhill but had the guts to hit a solid chip that landed then broke about 4inches and trickled in the side door. Perfection
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Agree completely, my (limited) experience bears that out. Slick greens sloping 2 ways, where you putt FROM makes all the difference!
of chippingNo I am not. Yesterday chipped crappy. I only hit 2 gir with only 3 up and downs. Parred the first. Playing partners told me to never par the first 