52, 56, 60 or 52, 58??

I find it strange when people say about not wanting gaps at the scoring end because of not being able to control distance different distances with the same wedge. What happens when you are left with a 50 yarder? Do you have a specific club for that or do you just adjust your swing on one of your wedges to play it? I think it is a lot easier to control different yardages with a wedge so prefer to have the long end of the bag more stacked. I hit my PW 140, 50* 120 and 58* 90, anything below that is going to have to manufactured, so carrying more wedges is not really going to help.
 
Used to have 52, 56 and 60. Then wanted to make room at the top end so went with 52, 58 but found that although the 58 was very versatile, there was too big a gap so have gone to 52, 56. Course lay out means I really need the options at the top end these days so I don't carry a 60 any more. Pity as a few years back I used some pro shop vouchers to buy a lovely Vokey spin milled which is now sitting unused in my spares bag. Pre 2010 so must give it a run out while it is still legal.
 
MadAdey said:
I find it strange when people say about not wanting gaps at the scoring end because of not being able to control distance different distances with the same wedge. What happens when you are left with a 50 yarder? Do you have a specific club for that or do you just adjust your swing on one of your wedges to play it? I think it is a lot easier to control different yardages with a wedge so prefer to have the long end of the bag more stacked. I hit my PW 140, 50* 120 and 58* 90, anything below that is going to have to manufactured, so carrying more wedges is not really going to help.
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Q. Why does a pro lay up to his "favourite yardage"?
A. So he can hit a full shot that he is confident will go an exact known distance.

They don't lay up to 70 yards, not because they can't play those shots (they can, and much more effectively that you or I) but because they are playing the percentages and less can go wrong if they leave the full shot. To have more of those shots in the bag by having less gaps just makes so much sense to me.
 
Fyldewhite said:
Q. Why does a pro lay up to his "favourite yardage"?
A. So he can hit a full shot that he is confident will go an exact known distance.

They don't lay up to 70 yards, not because they can't play those shots (they can, and much more effectively that you or I) but because they are playing the percentages and less can go wrong if they leave the full shot. To have more of those shots in the bag by having less gaps just makes so much sense to me.
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Can you lay up to your favourite yardage - let's say to within 10m? Maybe you can...me? I can try but the variables in my control and out of my control will make it unlikely that I succeed. I might try and lay up to 'something like' 100yds - then when I get there I find out what's left.
 
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SwingsitlikeHogan said:
Can you lay up to your favourite yardage - let's say to within 10m? Maybe you can...me? I can try but the variables in my control and out of my control will make it unlikely that I succeed. I might try and lay up to 'something like' 100yds - then when I get there I find out what's left.
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Think you are missing my point. Of course you and I and maybe even pros can't be that accurate but whatever the distance is between say 80 and 120 whether you have laid up or not...... you have a much better chance of it being bang on or just a yard or two out either way if you have 4 clubs to go at instead of 3 and are less likely to have to mess about with 80, 90% swings that just make it more variable and inherently less consistent. That's why pros lay up to about 100 or whatever rather then 70.
 
most of the time when pros are laying up its on a par 5. they take an iron to make sure are on the fairway. if they took a hybrid to shift it on that bit more they may end up missing the fairway giving up that large element of control they have off the short stuff.


we on the other hand are better off trying to get as close to the green as possible.
 
garyinderry said:
most of the time when pros are laying up its on a par 5. they take an iron to make sure are on the fairway. if they took a hybrid to shift it on that bit more they may end up missing the fairway giving up that large element of control they have off the short stuff.


we on the other hand are better off trying to get as close to the green as possible.
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Depends on your short game.:D

Generally true but there are a couple of short par 4's at my place where I am happier having a full(ish) shot rather than a half shot in.
 
Imurg said:
I know what you're saying but that depends on how good your short game is.
If your chipping is shocking then giving yourself 100 yards is probably a better bet.
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if your chipping is shocking then laying up to 100 yards every once in a while isn't going to make all that much difference in the grand scheme of things!

how many times a round will someone lay up to 100 yards? 3, 4 at most! how many times will they make that up and down? 1, 2 at most. most likely none! ;)
 
garyinderry said:
if your chipping is shocking then laying up to 100 yards every once in a while isn't going to make all that much difference in the grand scheme of things!

how many times a round will someone lay up to 100 yards? 3, 4 at most! how many times will they make that up and down? 1, 2 at most. most likely none! ;)
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Which is the truth of it I think. And also how many actually get up and down in two from a 'full club' yardage - even if that yardage is spot on what they consider the perfect yardage for their favourite wedge. I would suggest that for most golfers the probability of success is pretty much the same almost regardless of yardage and club used. When I am 80, 90, 100yds out my first thoughts are not about which club to play - I'm thinking of what shot to play. But maybe that's just me.
 
All this talk about laying up is a good point and not something us club golfers do enough of. How many people stand on short par 4 and automatically hit the driver leaving themself a half shot or something. Me I prefer to hit my 2i and leave full shot with my 50*. Same on par 5's, I do not automatically grab for a 3w and try to get as close as possible.
 
MadAdey said:
All this talk about laying up is a good point and not something us club golfers do enough of. How many people stand on short par 4 and automatically hit the driver leaving themself a half shot or something. Me I prefer to hit my 2i and leave full shot with my 50*. Same on par 5's, I do not automatically grab for a 3w and try to get as close as possible.
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I'd agree about the par 4's, anything under 330yds and its 3 iron or hybrid off the tee leaving a PW/9 iron-ish to the green.

BUT, Par 5's I always go for it in 2, risk/reward and unless I really screw it up I'll still have a 3rd shot to get on and putt for birdie.
 
I did it well at the Forest of Arden refusing to take on any par 4 over 400 yards or go for any par 5 in two. Laid up to 100-120 yards and trusted my wedge or nine iron. Finished second to some Irish raider. I woz robbed. I should do it more often at my home course but I think familiarity does breed contempt and you can get into a mindset of hitting the same clubs every time. Maybe laying up to leave a full club to a back pin instead of a leaving a fiddly half wedge may be the better shot. Might have to have a think
 
Will go for par4's if they are in range and the danger is acceptable

Certainly go for par 5's in two if possible
 
laying up on short par 4's and on par 5s are ok for making pars. not idea for hunting birdies.


I lay up quite a bit on par 5s. I make lots of pars but not enough birdies.


plenty of times if I am laying up on a short par 4 it is not to leave myself a full shot in. It is to avoid either snap hooking it into the trees, slicing it ob and to avoid fairway traps and hazards.

if I could get the ball 50-70 yards, the so-called in-between yardage, with every approach I would. :thup:
 
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