Why sometimes do people use a 5 iron on the edge of the green instead of pitching wedge?

Answer 1

Unless there is some obstacle between your ball and the hole, you should always choose the club that gets the ball rolling on the green the fastest. With a 5-iron, you can land the ball very quickly and let it roll, whereas with a more lofted club, you'll have to fly the ball further in the air to get it to the hole. It's all about margin of error. In golf, it's very difficult to hit the perfect shot, so you must play the odds. A little swing with a 5-iron has less moving parts than a larger swing with a more lofted club.

Answer 2

We have to control the distance the ball travels through the air -the club choice dictates how far the ball bounces and rolls!! A further golden rule is (if possible) land the ball on the green as near as possible to the point where it is lieing.Therefore, if the ball lies approximately 4 feet from the edge of the green and should land about 3feet onto the putting surface and then bounce and roll 20 or 25 yards then take a 5iron: if it, from the landing point, only needs to bounce and roll 3 or 5 yards take a pitching wedge.
Therefore, if the rolling distance is even less you might require a gap wedge, sand wedge or lob wedge: and alternatively if 15 to 20 yards rolling distance, use a 6 iron, 10 to 15 yards a 7 iron etc., etc., this is all approximate because club choice will also depend on the speed of the green (wet or dry; firm or soft;long or short cut grass) and whether the green is sloping towards or against the direction of play.

Answer 3

With a pitching wedge, it is much easier to blade (top) or chunk (hit behind the ball) each resulting in a not so good shot. A five iron hit like a putt allows for enough loft to clear the fringe but then roll like a putt on the green, thus improving distance control and your chances of getting it close.

Hope that sums it up nicely.

Answer 4

Using a lower lofted club, such as a 5 iron, are good for bump-and-run shots, and other shots. I often 'chip like a putt' using a five iron, choking down on it, and use the loft to get the ball over the fringe, but let it roll similar to a putt. PWs have almost twice as much loft as a 5 iron (5s are generally 26-7 degrees, and PWs have 46-8), and are good for getting the ball in the air, and stopping the ball near the hole with minimal roll. Basically, people will use a 5 (and all other clubs) to execute shots that a PW cannot do, and vice versa.

Answer 5

less loft. when there is a lot of green between the ball and the hole then this is the best shot to hit. A bump and run. The more green there is then the more club to use. IE: 30 ft - 8 iron, 50 ft - 6 iron

Answer 6

with a pitching wedge the ball has more flight, with a 5 iron (or 7) the ball has more roll, and sometimes more distance control.

Answer 7

If the given shot calls for a 5 iron in order to get the chip to the hole; rolling like a putt for a better chance of it going in..but not to far past or shot if executed proporly...then thats why ya use the 5...next case ```~````````````````

Answer 8

Yes, pretty much as everyone else has said - the less you have to swing (and with a little bump and run shot like that, you're only really rocking your shoulders like a putt) the more margin for error, so its the least risky shot to play. A wedge shot requires more of a swing, so there's greater likelihood (as I prove regularly!) of 'thinning' it across the green! :-)

Answer 9

With less loft, the ball will release quicker and roll true. This shot is called a bump and run and is played more like a put rather than a chip. It's more forgiving and easier to control your distance.

Answer 10

Usually because they don't trust themselves with the wedge, and they feel they can control the 5 better.

Sometimes for less loft, if they want a short chip