Short game pins

[golfdub]

Who here when playing to the green from 60-120 yards plays to the pin or the middle of the green ? Iv always tried to play to the pin even when it's a tough position and always regret it afterwards but I remembered this morning watching some pga comp when a player got asked how he is scoring well and his answer was he is blanking out the pin and just playing to the middle of the green on every hole.

Any good players here do this ?

 

[garyinderry]

if I identify a pin as a sucker pin, ill not try and hunt it down.


easier said than done though. it takes will power. sometimes this can be lacking when things are not going your way!

 

[upsidedown]

Play the %'s , mostly err on safety in individual but in team game depends on where partner is .

 

[dotty001]

depends , if the pin is back left and there is nothing doing by going long or left then aim middle of green

however if the pin is back left and the safe leave is long and left then fire away


this works for all other pin positions , i always consider the safe leave if i get it wrong , where am i most likely to make par/bogey from

 

[pokerjoke]

I think from 60-75 yards I would be confident of going at the flag.
From beyond that I would be happy putting from the middle.
One thing I need to learn though is to not short side myself if I miss the green,
a much longer putt is better than any short sided chip from the rough,imo

 

[HawkeyeMS]

You can do a lot worse than go for the middle of every green but it really depends for me on the slope of the green and where the good miss is. In general, if the pin is at the front, I'll try to take enough club to carry the front edge, if it's in the middle, I'll go for the middle and if it's at the back, I'll take enough club to carry the middle. However, as I said, that strategy changes depending on the green. For instance, our 16th slopes front to back so I will generally try to get past the pin to leave an uphill putt, even just off the back is fine.

If it's a tight pin I'll generally just play to the middle.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Always will depend on lie or how soft the greens are or what's in front of the green

Judge the hazards around and the dangers of the pin

Will also depend on what sort of game I'm playing - matchplay or medal etc

 

[mchacker]

Azinger on twitter said he once played when the pins were out(course closed naughty boy) and just aimed centre of every green, sure he made something like 17 GIR and 1 if any bogey

 

[BTatHome]

Aim for the middle, you never know you might get close .... I certainly don't hit it where I aim all the time

 

[James McBunker]

agree with Hawkeye and McHacker - most amateurs, even Cat 1's, could post a good score by adopting a strategy for each hole off the tee "middle of the fairway, then to middle of the green". Gives lots of birdie chances, and should all but eradicate doubles. Mind you, easier said than done when the adrenalin is flowing !

 

[ventura]

I've been doing this much more recently and have been playing below my handicap so far this winter.

Aim for the middle and then when you pull it left and end up 2ft away just look like you meant it.

 

[kmdmr1]

Always have to go for the pin,if you miss,you miss,
For the average club golfer isn`t about trying to beat your personal best or beating your playing partners ?
I Wouldn`t even bother playing if I was going to play safe every time I played a round of golf.

 

[mchacker]

^^^^^^^^^^^^ this a hundred times over. I've said it before, the worst way to play golf is the boring way, down the middle twice and nudge it up for a tap in par, I'll quit the game when I have to play that way

 

[Deleted member 15344]

^^^^^^^^^^^^ this a hundred times over. I've said it before, the worst way to play golf is the boring way, down the middle twice and nudge it up for a tap in par, I'll quit the game when I have to play that way

That way wins comps and has also won a few majors for players

Not sure how it's boring

 

[garyinderry]

there is a time and a place to attack. just like in many many sports!

 

[garyinderry]

ill pretty much take on any shot without a card in my hand. when I am in a comp ill play a very different game. No matter how bad I am playing I will try to play smart and scramble for my life! :thup:

 

[HawkeyeMS]

^^^^^^^^^^^^ this a hundred times over. I've said it before, the worst way to play golf is the boring way, down the middle twice and nudge it up for a tap in par, I'll quit the game when I have to play that way

I find the only people who find hitting it down the middle, hitting greens in regulation and 2 putting for par boring are those who can't do it i'd take it all day long

 

[garyinderry]

I find the only people who find hitting it down the middle, hitting greens in regulation and 2 putting for par boring are those who can't do it i'd take it all day long

very true. most fall at the first hurdle.

hitting the green in reg is the aim for everyone on every hole!

 

[brendy]

Lol at all the pros on here. I go out to hit every fairway and green in regulation...it doesnt happen regardless of where I aim, some people try to make is sound so simple, if it was this easy, none of us would play the game.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Our greens are relatively small so the centre of any of them is never too far away. Some do have severe slopes and so when pitching to these in particular you do need to pay attention to where the flag is located.