Common Sense Prevails

[CarpeDiem]

I have just seen the recent 'Tour Pro Tips' on the European Tour website, and once again its a course stratergy tip. "Aim for the middle of the green." Makes sense doesn't it, I'm just saying that the vast majority of tips from the pros that are aimed at course management are just common sense. So why do we keep on getting stuck on this easiest of lessons that always ends up with large amounts of frustration?

 

[birdieman]

That advice is rather generic as it depends on the course and the ability of the player.
Middle of the green on courses with big greens like Kingsbarns or Old Course is not particularly good advice for a 2 handicapper, probably is decent advice for a 22 handicapper.
However one 9 holer I play has very small greens so middle of green would be fine on every hole.

Pros - what do they know?...half of them don't even know the rules!

 

[Parmo]

My friend who was down to 4 once said never go for the flag, go for the center. Its all about percentage golf.

 

[Twire]

My friend who was down to 4 once said never go for the flag, go for the center. Its all about percentage golf.

Does that include chip and runs?

 

[TonyN]

I always aim for the centre. Just depends on if it's front centre, dead centre, or back centre that makes the difference.

 

[Spoff]

would love to be involved in this, but not sent details yet, not sure if I would be able to do a suitable write up.

 

[Herbie]

% golf is something golfers think about, talk about but few actually adopt in their play. When I listen to players in a friendly who are maybe from most h/c levels looking down a fairway discussing which side they want to finish(or talking of their intent after the shot), how far they want to finish, what they want to avoid etc, then watch them fail to do it and in some cases ending up in trouble trying, it tells me that on many occasions the way they look at a hole has nothing to do with % golf but more to do with their expectations exceeding their consistancy level.

Even when I played off a good 6 I never did this, I always looked at it in this way....how much space is there down the fairway within my range, then knowing my normal shot flight I set up and hit it and think of little else, if I make the fairway or fringes of, I know I have a reasonably good chance of doing well on that hole. Ony the very finest and well practiced can put a ball exactly where they want it with consistancy off the tee.

When I go for greens I assess the distance and aim for the green as a whole (unless its massive then I downsize an area in my mind.)its only when I am taking short pitches or chipping around the green that I really think hard and consider many aspects of the shot expecting a degree of accuracy and consistancy, likewise with putting.

I try not to think too much about this game when Im playing as it doesnt work for me and leads to frustrations.
If someone sets up a shot to go down the right hand side of a fairway and it finishes on the left, the mental anguish (shown by some)of that shot can be reflected in the next(a more important one)simply cos it didnt work out. Whereas if like me you hit your drive into that often wide area of the fairway and are happy that its landed on the fairway (anywhere) you wont have that nag in your mind of a cocked up shot and your next is less likely to contain frustrations carried forward. I know some dog leg fairways can cause you to take an extra shot or have you chipping rather than on the green, but dog legs of such severity are a % factor on golf courses.

 

[theeaglehunter]

Unfortunately it never does for me! I get to caught up in the moment and end up trying to hit 1 in a 100 shot to try and guarantee a birdie or something. I know i am stupid in some of the shots I take on but it makes it fun...sort of. I must say though since getting a skycaddie my course management / decision making has been much improved.