Different strokes for different folks (comps)

[User 105]

I tend to play both the same. Just focus on good course management.

The only slight change is as I get close to the green if I've got a chip or a putt for a point I'll probably be slightly more aggressive as I'm not worried about the one back.

 

[MadAdey]

As a high handicapper that is why I think it is risky to go with a strategy that forces you to take an iron off the tee just because it's a supposedly "sensible choice". Often you have just as much chance of fatting it forward 3 yards into a load of unplayable rough than you do have to slicing the driver wildly off to the right.

Keeping the nightmare holes and 3 off the tee off the scorecard is certainly the aim, but you need to take each hole on it's own merit.

This isn't the correct approach IMO. Anyone who is wanting to get to a low handicap should be capable of putting a rescue or long iron down the middle off a tee, if not you need to start practicing.

I've never met a low handicapper who doesn't have a safety club for tight tee shots where distance isn't a priority. For me it's my 2i, for others it's a rescue or fairway wood. I'm a firm believer that everyone should find that safety club, because taking a driver on a tight hole can more often than not leave leave you scrambling for a par.

How many fairways does the average tour pro hit in a round? USPGA stats say the tour average is 61% and that includes any club used, so I imagine just driver shots alone would be much less.

 

[woody69]

This isn't the correct approach IMO. Anyone who is wanting to get to a low handicap should be capable of putting a rescue or long iron down the middle off a tee, if not you need to start practicing.

I've never met a low handicapper who doesn't have a safety club for tight tee shots where distance isn't a priority. For me it's my 2i, for others it's a rescue or fairway wood. I'm a firm believer that everyone should find that safety club, because taking a driver on a tight hole can more often than not leave leave you scrambling for a par.

How many fairways does the average tour pro hit in a round?

A high handicap player (18+) is not going to have the consistency. You can say, "you need to start practising", but as we all know with golf, it's rarely that easy. Most high handicap players are high not because they can't hit shots (unless they are terrible), but because they can't hit shots consistently. On one hole they could stripe a driver 250 yards down the middle and on the next sky it 10 yards off to the left. Likewise with an iron. Fat one hole and 150 yards down the middle on the next one.

My suggestion is simply think about the hole. If you come to a tight tee shot where distance isn't a priority, then yes absolutely take an iron. If you're on a tee with relatively little trouble either side of the fairway, why take an iron? Get your driver out and hit it.

Each hole on it's own merit. I'm not sure what you can say isn't the correct approach about that.

 

[ShankyBoy]

I should add, I'm definitely terrible for the first 3-4 holes! (last week 9 points front nine, 21 back nine) Which is where I score the highest, I don't have much of a practice area at my club, so its generally 5-10 balls in the nets and then into it...What do you all do for a thorough warm up, I'm sure this could help the dire shots on the first few holes too.

But Woody is right its the utter inconsistency, I can hit a 3 iron lovely straight down the middle...next shot my swing goes to bits and I could top it! I do practice a lot..and have lessons just being doing this properly for 6 months though so swing can be all over the shop.

 

[SugarPenguin]

High handicappers have a huge advantage in stableford. You absolutely should take riskier shots especially if you aren't playing to your handicap.
Be daft not too.

 

[ShankyBoy]

Thought I would finish this thread off with how my round went. I was playing in a knock out medal comp...and was three up shots up with 1 hole to play. I decide to take a safe option and use my hybrid. I topped the ball, into the bush 20 yards in front. Play my provisional, which was a lovely shot, middle of the fairway, unfortunately, I find my first, have to take an unplayable and now hitting 3 almost off the tee again, but off the ground this time. Hit it well though and after getting to the green I still have a put to win...miss it. 2 play off holes later, I lose.

Guess, when you're crap, you're crap and no amount of safe strategy will help!

 

[drewster]

I can never understand why a 3 wood or Hybrid is a safer bet off of the tee than a driver but that's just me. With such a big club face why wouldn't you hit driver whenever possible ???

 

[ShankyBoy]

My thinking was I swing the hybrid better, have more control than the driver..although that time clearly, my swing folded like a cheap suit!

 

[garyinderry]

Agree drew for higher handicaps who might struggle with strike location on the face it seems mad no to take driver, grip way down, half swing and cosy it down the fairway.

I've do this on our 16th par 5 at times with ob left and right. Keeps any spin off and I don't hit it far enough to get it trouble. Keeps in play and gets a decent bit up the fairway.

 

[MadAdey]

Because it should be. Why is a 7i easier to hit than a 3i, more loft and less shaft.

Everyone should have a 'go to' club, That can get the ball out there with a reasonable consistency. I think at times people need a different mindset. I feel that when some people go for 3w or hybrid instead of a driver they are still thinking about the trouble that they are trying to avoid by not taking a driver in the first place.

I know my 2i goes about 230 off the tee, so I look for a point that is about that distance. I then think about it as a par 3 with a 30 yard wide green. Remove all thoughts of the trouble and make the shot feel easier.

 

[woody69]

Thought I would finish this thread off with how my round went. I was playing in a knock out medal comp...and was three up shots up with 1 hole to play. I decide to take a safe option and use my hybrid. I topped the ball, into the bush 20 yards in front. Play my provisional, which was a lovely shot, middle of the fairway, unfortunately, I find my first, have to take an unplayable and now hitting 3 almost off the tee again, but off the ground this time. Hit it well though and after getting to the green I still have a put to win...miss it. 2 play off holes later, I lose.

Guess, when you're crap, you're crap and no amount of safe strategy will help!

Why didn't you just go back to the tee, tee it up and hit from there again?

 

[ShankyBoy]

Well, it was unplayable in the bush (took me a few mins to come to my senses and not try a smack out though) so I just went back in a line from the hazard in line with the flag and dropped the ball, which as it happened, was 5 yards in front of the tee. You can't tee it up again or play from the tee box again can you?

 

[IanG]

You can't tee it up again or play from the tee box again can you?

Yes you can. If you declare the ball unplayable you also have the option to replay it from where you played your last stroke, including teeing it up again. Worth remembering, I've done exactly that several times.

 

[ShankyBoy]

Thanks, that information will come in handy I'm sure in the future! :thup:

 

[MadAdey]

Definitly a rule that people do not think about, I've used it to my benefit before when my ball was actually in play and I could have hit it.

 

[woody69]

Thanks, that information will come in handy I'm sure in the future! :thup:

And in case anyone questions you doing it, it's rule 20-5 - Making Next Stroke from Where Previous Stroke Made

When a player elects or is required to make his next stroke from where a previous stroke was made, he must proceed as follows:
(a) On the Teeing Ground: The ball to be played must be played from within the teeing ground. It may be played from anywhere within the teeing ground and may be teed.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Yes you can. If you declare the ball unplayable you also have the option to replay it from where you played your last stroke, including teeing it up again. Worth remembering, I've done exactly that several times.

This. Always worth considering

 

[delc]

Being a high handicapper...should I approach a medal comp differently to a stableford? Should my aim be in a medal to play bogey golf, doing whatever it takes to keep away from 3..5.. off the tee? So playing with an iron on any hole that a wood when pushed/pulled means a provisional etc. This is not to say hitting a 5 iron is a completely safe bet, but it's less risky so I should be going for that. And really only pull out the 3w/driver when it's completely safe to do so?So looking at taking 3 to reach the green two puts and walk away and bank on the odd par on the easy/safe holes?

In a Stableford you can be a little bit more attacking because a bad hole will only cost you a pick up and a blob. In Medal play you need to concentrate more on keeping your ball in play and avoiding any big numbers. If you are a high handicapper, safe bogeys are just fine!

P.S. As others have pointed out, knowing your rules options are more important in medals, because you can't just pick up or abandon a ball and walk onto the next tee without getting a DQ.

 

[Roops]

Agreeing with those saying use the driver. Get the low teed driver in your locker and you will have a go to shot. With the size of head of a modern driver a half swing will probably get you around 180 down the middle off a low tee (probably 1/2 to 3/4" tee showing). A hell of a lot easier than trying to drill a 5 iron. Biggest mistake I made with my game was hanging onto a rescue too long as a driving club. Drivers, like Bunkers are your friends