How much better would you play if.....

[Sneds]

You hit every fairway?


Obviously there is not a one size fits all answer here. Firstly some of you may hit the fairway an awful lot anyway. Also, some people may play on courses which are very wide anyway, with not much penalty for not hitting the fairway..

Personally, my local course is tree strewn. I actually think if I hit the fairway every time (perhaps with a 20-30 yard reduction in length from my drive) I would shave maybe 2-4 shots off my average round.

What say you, Golf Monthly forum? x

 

[Society_Fan]

At least 9 better per round.
I'm usually on the fairway or rough on the hole next to the hole I am playing, and just trying to get it back in play

 

[viscount17]

I'm fairly good at recovery shots (well I do practice them a lot) so other than the terminal ones (in a lake or oob - not that many, or that often) I'do better sorting the putter.

 

[Macster]

Tight course for me too, and a wayward drive usualy in trouble, so I'm thinking if I hit them all, it'd be worth 4/5 shots per round tbh.
I have a reasonable short game, and rarely take more than 34 putts, so must be worth that.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Probably take ten shots off easily.

 

[slugger]

i'm on the fairway from the tee to quite a high percentage of my shots... it's the next one that lets me down. it's then a recovery and either an up and down for par or a bogey (sometimes worse).

i really need to practice that second shot into the flag.

 

[drawboy]

I do hit every fairway..just not necessarily the one I'm playing

 

[TRS30]

As my home course is pretty tight, i'd say at least 3/4 shots. Most of my trouble holes start on the tee

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Hard to say as I'm unlikely to ever actually achieve the requirement in the first place. My iron play is usually solid if not spectacular so I'd guess probably 3-4 at most.

 

[Leftie]

According to my SS2 stats, over the last 30 rounds if I hit the fairway I have 34% GIR. If I miss the fairway I have 7% GIR.

Says it all really

Anyone want to buy a L/H driver (Maybe that's where I'm going wrong)

 

[level5s]

I would say no more than 3-4. Hitting more greens would give me the biggest decrease I think.

 

[Region3]

Again, according to SS2...

GIR when fairway hit = 48%
GIR when f/way missed = 28%

That's 3 GIR more if I hit all the fairways so maybe 2 shots per round saved if I get up & down 1 in 3.

I am an anorak

 

[USER1999]

Makes no difference.

That said, I have no idea. I don't think I play enough of my golf from the fairway to come up with any meaningful stats.

 

[RGDave]

I'm offended. I DO hit every fairway.

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Actually, that's a lie.

I guess it depends whether missing the fairway means no shot. If so, I reckon I could be 1-4 (?) shots a game better off. Sometimes, although I don't hit them all, there's no real penalty, as I still have a shot.
Last time I played, missing the fairway cost me 3 shots. I was particularly annoyed because my 3 best drives straight down the middle ended up 20 yards left or right in bunkers.


I have a theory though, which goes something like this.
Unless I'm totally snookered (can I say that?) I use my "medicine" shot to put myself in *at least* as good a position as my best drive, sometimes even 100 yards further down the fairway.
So, imagine a top drive leaves me 150 and I miss the green, chances are I'll make a bogey. If I miss the fairway, hack it to 50-100 yards short and get on in 3 shots, I'll still make a bogey. What have I lost? Nothing, just the chance for GIR.

If I always hit the green after hitting the fairway, then I'd be losing lots of shots by missing the fairway.
I guess it depends on how good you are.

 

[Imurg]

Hit the fairway and I'll hit the green 51% of the time
Miss it and I'll hit the green 30% of the time.

Trouble is I don't hit enough fairways!!

I guess I'd save a shot or two - but I'd save that by stopping the very wayward drives I have at the moment. So in total maybe 3 shots saved.

If only I could do it!

 

[Smiffy]

I'd rather be in the very first cut of rough. I hit the ball better out of that than I do off the fairway.
Must be my inherent strength.

 

[rorymcilroywannabe]

i tend to hit about 10 fairways but i do get the occasional round where i cant hit it at all

 

[jammydodger]

1 maybe 2 shots better if any at all tbh

 

[Leftie]

I'd rather be in the very first cut of rough. I hit the ball better out of that than I do out of the second cut and trees

 

[welshjim22]

Since i got my new driver i have been hitting the fairway about 75%+ a round or missing most fairways. It now seems consstently good or bad for a whole round. The result is a good FIR round i hit around 90 whilst a bad FIR means a score around the 100 mark. Of course i still hit the a few bad iron shot as a 28 handicapper but with lessons this has improved and i generally feel a low 90's score is achievable if i can stay on the Fairway or at least with an unobstructed shot to the green from the rough.

A bit more work on bunkers and then i think i should get some cards in and watch the HC tumble. Well thats the plan anyway.