smason77:
rehill:
I find that, depending on driver length, a punch shot works fairly well. From my experience, punch shots generally go pretty close to what they're supposed to. Try it and good luck!
Rehill.
I've heard this before and would like to hear more discussion about it.
Let me get this right.. you're referring to a punch shot with a given wedge. Right?
So it's all about the distance. It's not about learning how to hit the club? You use punch shots simply to match the distance to the hole? Doesn't it take away from spin?
I've hit plenty of punch shots in real life but usually with my hybrid and/or PW.
This concept seems way far off from real golf. It's definitely not what I would consider but completely unorthodox. I've heard many a successful master refer to GW-LW in terms of "punch" shots and quite frankly it's extremely confusing. Those club were never made for or meant to punch a ball.
In real golf I've hit a punch, or "knock-down," shot with many different clubs. Under the pine trees about 100 yds away from a green with an open front, I have hit a knockdown 5 iron that never got more than 10 ft off the ground and rolled onto the green. Works when hitting to uphill fairways too. More roll from the lower trajectory.
On WGT, I hit a punch anytime I'm in deep rough and have a long distance to the green. Also, if the wind is extremely strong in my face I will hit a punch. It keeps the ball down and the wind affects it less.
I almost always hit a punch as my second shot on SA #5 if I'm in the rough. Usually I hit a hybrid about 70% or so power. Also on SA I use a punch to get out of the deep fescue on any hole there.
Also, on SA #7, if I drive into a stiff wind and catch the rough short of the landing area I use a punch (and drop down about 2 clubs) and almost always reach the green.
A knockdown, or punch, takes almost all the spin off the ball so that it rolls farther. Play some practice rounds, hit into 40-50% rough and try it.
Maybe some of the other golfers here can offer better advice.