More Rule of 12 Stuff...

I've received some more questions and seen some questions in regards to Brian Manzella's video on the 'Rule of 12.' For those who haven't seen the video, here it is again:




1. What Club Should I use if I do the math and get the number 11?

Here's a look at a chart showing what club you should use depending on the parts of roll there is in the shot:

Club.................Flight.............Roll

3-iron......................1 part................9 parts
4-iron......................1 part................8 parts
5-iron......................1 part................7 parts
6-iron......................1 part................6 parts
7-iron......................1 part................5 parts
8-iron......................1 part................4 parts
9-iron......................1 part................3 parts
PW..........................1 part................2 parts
SW..........................1 part................1 part

So, according to the chart the #11 should be a SW. However, if you have a Gap Wedge (like I do), you can use that if you want. I suggest using that if the shot is uphill or if you want to make sure you don't leave yourself short of the cup.


2. I've tried it and I can't get it to work. It goes too far/too short of the cup.

As Brian Manzella mentioned over at his forum, the key is to use the chip shot stroke motion he has described in the video. You want to make sure you have a slight descending stroke that brushes the grass. If you get a lot of shaft lean, hit down on it hard and trap it, you probably won't get the ball up in the air enough so it will land in the 'safe zone.' If you scoop it, you may carry it past the 'safe zone' and the ball will land too soft and won't get that roll.

Also, you may want to have the ball position towards the middle or slightly further up in your stance so you can get the ball to carry properly.

One of the GREAT THINGS I have found about the Rule of 12 is that it's a fantastic way to test out the speed of the greens. Go to the practice green and find a chip shot that is relatively flat. Then 'do the math' and take out the club. If you execute the Rule of 12 properly and the ball comes up way short, then you're likely facing very slow greens. Conversely, if the ball goes way by (provided you executed correctly), then you are playing slick greens. Obviously, it's important to find a relatively flat area.

That's another reason why you may struggle with the Rule of 12. If you're going up a somewhat steep incline, then you may need an extra club. The opposite happens if you are going downhill a bit or playing on very fast greens.

Lastly, make sure you are hitting the 'safe zone.'


5. Is there a quicker way to 'do the math?'

Yep.

Here goes.

- Find your 'safe zone' and pace it off from the ball.

- Then pace off from the safe zone to the cup (don't go in increments)

- Then take your number of paces from the safe zone to the cup and divide that by the paces you took to determine the carry.

For instance, let's say the carry from the ball to the safe zone is 5 paces. Now instead of pacing from the ball to the cup in increments of 5, just pace off from the safe zone to the cup. Let's say in this instance from the safe zone to the cup is 20 paces.

So take 20/5 = 4.

12-4 = 8 iron.


4. I like to get the ball to carry more, does the Rule of 12 still work here?

Yes, and no.

Yes, in the sense that you find your 'safe zone', and do the math in the same fashion.

No in the sense that you are defeating the purpose of the Rule of 12. The reason the safe zone is just off the green is twofold. For starters, you want to make sure it is on the green so the ball bounces and rolls more consistently than it would landing on the rough, the collar or the fringe.

But the other reason why the safe zone is close is that the closer it is to the golfer, the easier it is for the golfer to hit the safe zone. And if you have the right club and hit the safe zone, then the ball should roll right up to the cup.

Ever hear the old golf saying that 'a bad putt is always better than a good chip.' That's not exactly true, but the same principle applies. The PGA Tour players want to get the ball on the green and rolling quickly because they want the ball to act like a putt rather than act like a pitch or a chip.






3JACK