Par 3 Nightmares

[Which tree did that hit]

Hi All

New member here so be gentle!

Recently I have been having massive problems with the par 3 holes at my local. This weekend was ridiculous, my worst score on a par 5 was bogie yet I got two 7's and an 8 on the par 3's!

Wasn't as if I was having trouble with my irons off the deck on the par 4s/5s just got to the tee box and went in to meltdown! Iron play is normally one of my strengths (or less of a weakness anyway!) Inconsistent misses as well:


7) 155 yards bunker left and right but clear path onto the green, hit a fat 7 iron 100 yards, ended with 5

11) 133 yards bunker front, left and right, 1st shot sliced OOB, 3 off the tee and finished with 7

14) 150 yards bunker front and right, duffed a 7 iron into the really long stuff to the right and ended with a 7

17) 182 yards bunker right and left, raised green, hooked a 5 iron onto the 1st fairway and finished with an 8!!!


I'm no Henrik Stenson but I'm pretty steady off the tee normally and as I say, irons off the deck are normally pretty good.

Anyone have any tips or anything they do differently when faced with a tee shot to the green? I tee the ball so it is just off the floor so it is not as if I have it massively high, I'm stumped. Would hit it off the floor but the tee boxes are not exactly in good nick!

 

[Foxholer]

Just relax and treat them like shot into greens then!

And don't get flustered when you miss the green from the tee! It could well be that frustration that's causing the most damage.

Welcome aboard btw!

 

[matt611]

I know you say the tee boxes aren't great but maybe try without a tee. Personally I use a red castle tee.
Maybe try hitting an 8 iron for a lay up and chip on?
And try not to make a big thing of them, easy to say I know, but I used to be in the same position as you but now par 3s are my best holes and all I changed was my attitude approaching them.

Stick with it, you'll get there

 

[brendy]

Use a driver, half swing and bop it down there with a bit of a fade.
True story, when your irons on the par threes are suffering, itll work as a stop gap until you get some decent practice time in.

 

[Which tree did that hit]

Driver is an interesting shout, might give that a go tomorrow eve. I have tried hitting a gentle hybrid but that also generally goes the way of the pear as well!

As you say Foxholer, I do generally feel a bit more under pressure on the par 3's because in my mind I feel like it should be a good score going on the card, especially as they are not that long on my course.

Maybe I just need to readjust the mindset to the one I have when hitting approach shots in as much that on the green is great but 5 or 10 yards either side of it is acceptable. Take a bit of the expectancy out of it

And thanks for the welcome!

 

[ScienceBoy]

Any par 3 longer than an approach which you would expect to hit the green (6 iron and longer for me) look for a possible lay up instead.

In other words if I get a shot I am looking to lay up and chip on, my strengths are in my short game and not my mid/long irons so I look to use the better parts of my game to ensure par rather than risking a double or worse in the hunt for a rare birdie.

 

[Robobum]

Please excuse me for saying this as its not something that I automatically recommend........

I think you need to get a lesson or 2.

A significant slice with a short iron, a couple of fats and a hook!!

That means you've got multiple misses which point towards significant swing faults.

Welcome on board btw

 

[Pin-seeker]

Try taking a extra club & have a steady swing.
Welcome to the forum
Ps good name :thup:

 

[Pin-seeker]

Please excuse me for saying this as its not something that I automatically recommend........

I think you need to get a lesson or 2.

A significant slice with a short iron, a couple of fats and a hook!!

That means you've got multiple misses which point towards significant swing faults.

Welcome on board btw

Homer won't be happy when he see's this comment:angry:

 

[ScienceBoy]

Try taking a extra club & have a steady swing.
Welcome to the forum
Ps good name :thup:

I tried that recently and flushed one into the carp, I would recommend the opposite and look for the layup option.

You obviously can hit irons so it seems the approach to the holes is the problem, not your swing.

If you can chip and putt well then looking to get close enough to chip on is a good option. I do that on pretty much any par 3 over 170 yards.

 

[Pin-seeker]

I tried that recently and flushed one into the carp, I would recommend the opposite and look for the layup option.

You obviously can hit irons so it seems the approach to the holes is the problem, not your swing.

If you can chip and putt well then looking to get close enough to chip on is a good option. I do that on pretty much any par 3 over 170 yards.

Horses for courses mate. Not many par 3's that I'd want layup at tbh.

 

[NoelT]

As a recent newbie welcome.

I find when i have a problem with par threes it is generally down to under clubbing and i see this with others. i think best thing is to go club up and hit a full shot especially as holes you describe seem to have trouble either front or either side of greens. i find if don't have right club i try to force it so better with full swing with club more, at worst at back of green or just off.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I'm gonna be harsh but is iron play really one of your strengths? How many greens do you hit from between 130 & 155 yards? Are you being really honest with yourself?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We have six par 3's at my course ranging from 138 yards up to 229 off the white. They are the key to making a good score but each of them are pretty tricky. I can make par at most but have been known to chuck a double or even at treble at each of them too. I think the OP needs to have a look at his club selection, and perhaps the strategy. It sounds as if all the trouble is short on his par 3's so one more club and hitting smoother may be a quick fix.

Have you thought of having a playing lesson an letting your pro see you play each hole. He will be able to see how you set up, your club selection and how you play the hole

 

[Which tree did that hit]

Thanks for the input everyone. Will definitely try going up a club and see how that goes, also the playing lesson is a good plan too. First post and already some helpful tips!

Within 150 I would expect to be hitting the green 6/7 times from the fairway so I consider that a stronger part of my game considering my handicap, I generally lose most of my shots with either the putter or the driver

 

[Which tree did that hit]

Lessons are also obviously a good shout, just starting the game properly really and have only ever had 4 beginner lessons which got me hitting the ball at least!

I have no doubts that my swing could do with much improvement as could my shot selection, putting, set up, alignment and pretty much everything else i do out there!! Just trying to tap into the fountain of knowledge that are the better players than me to attempt to comprehend why on earth it varies so drastically as soon as I step onto a tee box

 

[Pin-seeker]

6/7 fairways from within 150yrd,your going to love the Forum :clap:

 

[Which tree did that hit]

Thats 6 or 7 out of 10, not 6 out of 7!

 

[Doh]

Its another case of thinking about the consequence's of the shot instead of just concentrating on making a good shot.

 

[timd77]

I generally enjoy par 3s, I see them as a real test of my accuracy. On a par 4 or 5, you 'only' (he says) hit your tee shot in roughly the right place and if you hit it long or short it normally doesn't matter too much, where as on a par 3 you have a fairly small area to aim for, you can't hit it too long and too short ends your hopes of a par, so when played well they give me a great amount of satisfaction.

Having said that, I had my own par 3 nightmare at the weekend. Approx 150 yards tee to green, tee & green raised with a slight valley in between and a bunker protecting the front of the green. Took a 7 iron and hit it beautifully, heading for the middle of the green. As it started to fall I whispered it a bit of encouragement but lo and behold, it just caught the top of the bunker, and rolled back in…another 6 inches and it would've been perfect. Anyway, thinned my bunker shot straight over the green and half way up the bank the other side and into a bush, so had to declare it unplayable. Dropped it onto a fairly nice patch and because I was probably 10 feet above the hole I just gave it a gentle tap to roll down the bank…unfortunately I wasn't gentle enough and it just skipped across the green and back into the same bunker! 1st bunker shot got to the edge of the bunker but rolled back in, nailed the 2nd bunker shot and 2 putted for an 8. So annoyed and it took me a good few holes to get my head back together!

6 inches from glory! :rofl: