Which Club Should You Use From the Fringe? A Top-100 Teacher Explains

During the Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club, you’re likely to see players faced with a decision: use a putter from off the fringe or reach for another club. On a course with large, undulating greens, thinking beyond the putter can sometimes help get the ball closer to the hole.

But which club is best in these situations? Each option has advantages and drawbacks, and understanding them can be crucial to getting the ball close to the hole.

Putter

This is the natural choice for most golfers, and keeping the ball on the ground is generally the safer approach. The challenge comes from 50-plus feet, when it can be difficult to generate enough speed to cover that much ground.

7-iron

Many golfers have been told to bump a 7-iron. It can be effective, but remember that a 7-iron is designed to launch the ball and create speed. The ball will come off the clubface much faster than with a putter, so your motion needs to account for that.

Hybrid

A hybrid can be useful when the ball needs to travel a long way across the green. It produces even more speed off the clubface, allowing you to make a smaller motion while still covering plenty of ground. It is particularly useful on long, uphill shots from the fringe.

The teacher’s advice

Try all three clubs to the same hole location and pay attention to how the ball behaves. You will quickly see that each requires a different backswing length, and you may even notice a different sound at impact.

“I personally like the hybrid when I need the ball to roll a long way from just off the fringe. It lets me make a smaller motion while still creating enough speed to get the ball to the hole,” says Sarah Stone, a GOLF.com Top-100 Teacher.

Based on Sarah Stone’s article published by GOLF.com on September 25, 2026.