D
Deleted member 35927
Guest
So they can see it's 150 to the pin, pull a 9 iron and be 25 yds shortAgree with what you are saying - and makes me wonder why people buy lasers when they can’t hit exact distances
Burnsey
Well-known member
Always as close as possible and always the back of the green distance, unless there's massive danger.
Happy to approach from any distance and don't have a perfect shot distance in. Front hazards are the key to my club/shot selection.
Happy to approach from any distance and don't have a perfect shot distance in. Front hazards are the key to my club/shot selection.
D-S
Well-known member
I’d always go as close as possible but with a bit of a margin of error if I will be close’ish to a penalty area or a bunker - nothing worse than laying up into a bunker.
The only other reason not to be as close as possible is if there is something like a downslope which would make chipping/pitching tricky. I will also try and lay up on the better side of the fairway to come in from if possible.
The only other reason not to be as close as possible is if there is something like a downslope which would make chipping/pitching tricky. I will also try and lay up on the better side of the fairway to come in from if possible.
Mandofred
Well-known member
For the negative ninny's....I refer to my earlier post. Some people can actually hit the ball the right distance.......at times.
CountLippe
Active member
Does this really ever happen though? The only reason someone is 25 yards short from 150 yards is because they've duffed it.
D
Deleted member 35927
Guest
Have you watched Rick sheils
WorldHandicapSystem
Well-known member
Presumably those numbers were from a launch monitor hitting off a mat? Being two yards out is fantastic, but it was one shot in sterile conditions. Was it how far the ball flew in the air or roll out too?
I know all of my carry distances and can hit within a few yards almost every time hitting in the simulator off a mat. Those numbers are nothing but a guide when out on the course. At the weekend I hit my pitching wedge a number of times on shots between 110 and 140. The 140 actually carried 150 something and sailed over the green.
But not many golfers know their base distances. They have a rough idea at best probably starting from their 7 iron going 150. And fewer still have any idea on how wind, temperature and elevation changes, the ball they are using, how clean it is and how the ball lies impact on distance.
I’ve seen it a million times, where someone will think they have struck it well and land 20 yards short of the green completely confused why their 150 club hasn’t hit the ball 150.
bobmac
Major Champion
I like to get as close as I can but I have done a fair amount of practice from 75yds and in.
I always used a Pro V1 so I could spin it with a shorter swing.
I always used a Pro V1 so I could spin it with a shorter swing.
Do you vary where you hold the club...top, middle or bottom of the grip?
IanM
Journeyman Pro
- Joined
- May 18, 2009
- Messages
- 14,602
- Location
- Monmouthshire, UK via Guildford!
It depends what the situation is around the green and green itself.
No point in getting as close as possible if there's thick rough around the green and tricky slopes.
Otherwise I prefer a short pitch or chip to a full swing.
I'm sure I can do the maths to work out a layup distance. Not only that, I can dress myself and brush my teeth, unsupervised!
No point in getting as close as possible if there's thick rough around the green and tricky slopes.
Otherwise I prefer a short pitch or chip to a full swing.I'm sure I can do the maths to work out a layup distance. Not only that, I can dress myself and brush my teeth, unsupervised!
Mandofred
Well-known member
When I practice I put out cones at 30-50-70 and 90 yards. IFFFF I hit the ball decently I expect the ball to land about where I want it to. I don't put out cones over 100 yds because I have trouble seeing just where the ball lands. If I don't hit the ball well....which of course happens a LOT.....then those distances are kaput. I don't know about you, but I plan on hitting the ball to the distance I want it to go.....not to the distance in might go if I don't hit it right. The distances I use for clubs are always for landing distances....then make the best guess I can on how they may or may not roll.
I couldn't hit a pitching wedge 140yds in the air unless I was hitting off a cliff! 110 is the best I can do....and that's at the upper end of things.
SteveJay
Head Pro
For me, if I can't reach the green or there is trouble at the front, I will select a club that will leave me with a comfortable range in. For me that is around 100 yards, which is my gap wedge carry. I want to avoid having a shot of 50 yards or less over a bunker as my preference is to play a bump and run from that range. A partial wedge is not a reliable shot for me to get close to the flag.
In practice what that usually means is that on longer holes, or where I have not hit a great drive, I might opt to lay up. On most par 4's though I agree that closer is better if it is likely to leave me with a green side chip.
In practice what that usually means is that on longer holes, or where I have not hit a great drive, I might opt to lay up. On most par 4's though I agree that closer is better if it is likely to leave me with a green side chip.
Mel Smooth
Hacker
A great game to practice if you have a sim or launch monitor - Start with '50 yards in the bank'. Get a mate, or ask siri to give you a number between 50 and 130. Using the club of your choice, hit as close as possible to that yardage - whatever the difference is, take away the yarage from your 50 in the bank. The more rounds you go before running out of yards the better obviously. It's a really good way of tightening up your approach play.
Backache
Assistant Pro
94.75 metres
If I'm 96 to the pin I have a decision to make whether to putt the 125 cm on the green or backwards on the fairway. It depends a little on the speed and slope less of the greens that day.
If I'm 96 to the pin I have a decision to make whether to putt the 125 cm on the green or backwards on the fairway. It depends a little on the speed and slope less of the greens that day.
louise_a
Money List Winner
I feel more confident if I have to hit a full 9 iron as opposed to say a short pitch, that said I usually try to get as near as possible on most holes
jim8flog
Journeyman Pro
Back several years ago and beyond when I was very accurate with my yardages I had a preferred lay up distance of 100 yards. Although it was not used a lot as I was very happy with my around the green and bunker play.
There is one hole on the course where laying up from the tee for a precise second shot used to be very important to avoid a sideways up hill stance for the shot in to the green and I always tried to lay to my 9 iron (uphill) distance.
There is one hole on the course where laying up from the tee for a precise second shot used to be very important to avoid a sideways up hill stance for the shot in to the green and I always tried to lay to my 9 iron (uphill) distance.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Usually just want the ball as close to green as I can manage
I use layup approximation only when there’s a hazard or similar, so really it’s a forced layup & I’m playing to be short of the obstacle rather than what distance would be left to green
I use layup approximation only when there’s a hazard or similar, so really it’s a forced layup & I’m playing to be short of the obstacle rather than what distance would be left to green
Fore Right!
Newbie
As per some of the other responses I try and factor in hazards when considering layup (also the amount of run and wind direction as 100 yards could be +/- 20 /30 yards with next shot depending on conditions). If hazards are not an issue I'd always try (not always successfully of course) to get as close as possible.
chico
Club Champion
I don't have a specific yardage. If I think it's taking 2 shots to get to the green I tend to try and hit a smooth iron shot that will avoid trouble and hopefully be on the fairway. My woods are often a source of trouble for me so sometimes trying to get really close can end in disaster.
What a bizarre comment.
So, if a better player is 300 yards from the middle of the green and wants to leave themselves 100, you don’t think they are capable of;
1. Subtracting 100 from 300 to work out how far they need to hit it,
2. Knowing which club they can hit 200 yards, and
3. Executing the shot?
I accept a lot of handicap golfers won’t be able to hit it bang on 200 yards on demand but most have the ability to be in the ballpark.
But as for not being able to do basic maths? Really? Do you think everyone here is stupid?
Orikoru
Tour Winner
This is one aspect I forgot to mention as well. When I said I try and get as close as possible without taking on any trouble - this usually means hitting 7 wood rather than trying to hit 3 wood, just because it's a bit more forgiving, easier to hit a nice easy one down there. I'd only hit the 3 wood if I thought I could reach the front edge with it, otherwise I'm more likely to hit a good one with 7 wood.
