Calculating distance to hole

[Matt_B]

Hi guys,

Just wondered what your methods were for calculating the yardage from your ball to the pin?

Obviously courses have markers for 150/200 yards etc but when you're looking at a shot from (let's say) between 100-130 yards, how do you work out accurately how far it is to the pin? Finishing long or short by just a few yards can be the difference between a one putt or a two putt finish.

Anyone have any tips? Let's assume there are no markers or scorecard map to work from!

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Bushnell Tour v2 - simples

 

[Whereditgo]

My normal method is to look for the 150 yard marker and use that as my base reference point, 7 iron for me, then factor in things like wind, elevation, where the trouble is etc. then go down a club for every 15 yards difference there is between my ball and the 150 marker.

If there are no yardage markers, I have a pretty good visualisation of my wedge distance, so I would walk forward until I was comfortable that I could carry the wedge to the target and then pace back to my ball, may seem long winded but on the few occasions there are no markers in sight it can be done while others are preparing to play.

Then top it, duff it, slice it, pull it....sometimes even hit the green!

 

[Aztecs27]

I tend to walk it out from the 150 yard marker. One pace per yard. Usually about right too. (even if it doesn't always hit the green )

A mate I played with on Saturday had an incredible iPhone app though. It cost him £17.00 (one of fee) but it does the Sky Caddie thing and it's very accurate.

The only downside is you can only store up to twenty courses on it, but for £17.00 it's alot better VFM than a sky caddie (if you have an iPhone of course!)

 

[viscount17]

1. GPS
2. Strokesaver and yardage marker
3. Yardage marker - provided you know whether they are to front or middle
4. WAG

 

[Smiffy]

I know that with a clean strike I can hit my 7 iron 150.
If I've got "about" 130 to go I still take my 7 iron but just fat it 20 yards shorter.
only got 110 to go? Just hit the ground a bit further behind the ball.
Simples

 

[19th]

I think through time you just 'feel' the distance and it is difficult to explain.

Temperture, wind direction, etc, all come into it but there is another factor - you just know.

Unfortunately it is after the ball has been hit you hear ..."I knew I was going to do that"!

 

[Deleted member 1147]

My GPS gives me front, middle & back.
If it says 110 to front, 130 to middle & 145 to back I can be fairly accurate what the distance is to the pin (within a couple of yards) if I can see the green.

If the ball is on the front half I aim to hit 120 (midway between the 2 distances), if the pin is back half I aim to hit 140.

I'm not good enough to hit exactly to within a yard or two.

If I can't see the green I just aim for the middle. If a green is for example 30yds long and you aim for the middle the longest putt you should have is 15 yds.

 

[kid2]

Im similar to Smiffy....
I hit my 7 Iron from 150 mtrs on a good swing so ill use that as my base and ill just pace out if its not exact....Like another poster has said i too am not good enough to get a ball to an exact point. I just aim for the middle of the green everytime..It'll make you more consistant and confident.....Taking into account wind direction and strength ill either club up or down.

 

[Fyldewhite]

On my own course I have a 100 yard reference point on most holes (trees/bunkers etc) and I work from either the 150 yard marks or those to get an exact figure. Pacing it is accurate enough for me. Away from home usually buy a course planner. Middle of green is usually not far from flag.

 

[User 105]

Usually us the old SkyCaddie & adjust for any wind and club for the middle of the green. Apart from a couple of our larger greens where I'll adjust based on the pin position.

Inside 100, I tend to go on feel right now and have stopped swapping around wedges to adjust yardage. I'll just take my PW and I find I can adjust my swing ok to get a reasonable yardage.

Only time I tend to use my 52 or 58 is within 20 yards if I need to get the ball up and over something. Otherwise it's a pitch and run with my PW.

 

[p1pete]

Same as Westy, use the GPS, then when 100 yds or less its a PW or SW with adjustments to my swing......distance is OK for me its direction I struggle with

 

[RGDave]

I tend to walk it out from the 150 yard marker. One pace per yard. Usually about right too. (even if it doesn't always hit the green )

I used to pace things out most times. Recently though (when not using skycaddie ) I tend to gauge an approximate distance and then see if the pin is particularly front or back.

 

[HughJars]

I think through time you just 'feel' the distance and it is difficult to explain.

I think you mean the "be the ball" method?

 

[pokerjoke]

Same as Westy, use the GPS, then when 100 yds or less its a PW or SW with adjustments to my swing......distance is OK for me its direction I struggle with

Why didnt you use it on the first at ASCOT then it might have saved your embarassment[lol]

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I use the SC and it gives me front middle and back so I pick based on that initially and then factor in lie, wind how I'm hitting etc and pick a club from there. Swing said club and deposit the ball left or right into rough or bunker accordingly

 

[teegirl]

I know that with a clean strike I can hit my 7 iron 150.
If I've got "about" 130 to go I still take my 7 iron but just fat it 20 yards shorter.
only got 110 to go? Just hit the ground a bit further behind the ball.
Simples

Just for a change, hit a clean strike with your 7 iron, if it's 30yards over the back you know you were 120 yards from the pin.

 

[Del]

I have a sc5 which I can't play without, but always keeps an eye out for the markers on the course.
Then when I'm happy I just pick the right club trust my swing and shank it into the rough

 

[jammydodger]

it's alot better VFM than a sky caddie (if you have an iPhone of course!)

How much does an iphone cost to buy ? How much do you have to pay pm for the privilege of using it ?

 

[User 105]

it's alot better VFM than a sky caddie (if you have an iPhone of course!)

How much does an iphone cost to buy ? How much do you have to pay pm for the privilege of using it ?

Yeah but you wouldn't buy an iPhone just for this. If you already have an iPhone then there are some good cheap options.