"Tee shot doesn't suit my eye" How do you play it?

[One Planer]

Here's an example.

Our 18th is a 389 yard par 4 that plays down hill and left to right. Not a dog leg, but a steady sweep to the right. The fairway also cambers ford right to left slightly. Ideal for a fade.

Either side of the fairway, from start to finish, are tall conifers. All over 50ft.

I play everything right to left so this hole really doesn't suit my eye at all.

The only way I can think to play it semi effectively is to start the ball right of the right hand side conifers and draw it back, hoping the camber doesn't have too much of an effect when it lands.

Usually I'll play driver or 3 wood. Anything less leaves an approach of getting on for 200 yards.

How do you play a tee shot to a fairway that is shaped opposite to the shape shot you consistently hit?

FWIW I can hit a push cut down there but the amount of curve is less than predictable!

 

[Lump]

you sure you described the hole right?

You mean left to right?

 

[Old Skier]

Stroke Index? If you have a shot use it and hole the putt.

 

[Dando]

there are some courses i play where i just cant pick a suitable starting point whether the dog leg is r-l or l-r so i try and aim straight down the middle or i'll wimp out and hit a mid iron to the corner

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I would have though a right to left hole would be set up perfect for someone hitting right to left ? Aim up the right and let the swing and slope do the work. Think of the 13th at Augusta - suits a draw all day.

Would have thought the hole you are describing doesn't suit someone who hits a fade ?

 

[garyinderry]

Its quite clear what he meant especially as he says it gently feeds to the right.

 

[One Planer]

Ignore the idiot.

I've amended the initial post to read correct :mmm:

Tee shot suits a fade, I play a draw

 

[Lump]

Ignore the idiot.

I've amended the initial post to read correct :mmm:

Tee shot suits a fade, I play a draw

If it goes against your shape, just aim for your shot and commit to it.
Best advice I'd say, is over winter. Try and see if you can work a fade into your game. Being able to hit the ball both ways is a massive help.

 

[One Planer]

If it goes against your shape, just aim for your shot and commit to it.
Best advice I'd say, is over winter. Try and see if you can work a fade into your game. Being able to hit the ball both ways is a massive help.

I can hit a push cut but it's nigh on impossible (currently) to control the amount of curve.

 

[Maninblack4612]

Stroke Index? If you have a shot use it and hole the putt.

What on earth has the stroke index got to do with it? You're aiming to play the hole in as few shots as possible. Even if it's stroke 1 you want a par or birdie if you can possibly get one.

 

[JT77]

Sounds similar to our 17th mate, it's 457 but same idea. I hit 3 wood down there.
If you can hit 3 wood, like u said I would go with it. At 389, are u not able to get a 4i down there to leave about 180?

 

[Hosel Fade]

I'd tee it a bit lower and try and squeeze a fade out with the driver, not my preferred shot but I find it somewhat works.

 

[One Planer]

Sounds similar to our 17th mate, it's 457 but same idea. I hit 3 wood down there.
If you can hit 3 wood, like u said I would go with it. At 389, are u not able to get a 4i down there to leave about 180?

Yep. 4 iron leaves 189 years to the middle.

Driver or 3 wood leaves somewhere around the 140-150 mark.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

What on earth has the stroke index got to do with it? You're aiming to play the hole in as few shots as possible. Even if it's stroke 1 you want a par or birdie if you can possibly get one.

Isn't that course management though, we all want birdie or par on every hole, but if it's a shot hole and you constantly "mess it up" going for it, wouldn't you/me/anyone be better playing it as 3 to the green and guarantee a bogey possibly a Par than ruining the card?

 

[Maninblack4612]

Isn't that course management though, we all want birdie or par on every hole, but if it's a shot hole and you constantly "mess it up" going for it, wouldn't you/me/anyone be better playing it as 3 to the green and guarantee a bogey possibly a Par than ruining the card?

Yes, but the stroke index doesn't come into it.

 

[Region3]

When I have a tee shot that goes the wrong way for me I have 2 choices:

Take a shorter club so my normal shot doesn't run out of fairway, or go over the top of whatever is in the way.

How much movement is on your normal shot?

 

[One Planer]

When I have a tee shot that goes the wrong way for me I have 2 choices:

Take a shorter club so my normal shot doesn't run out of fairway, or go over the top of whatever is in the way.

How much movement is on your normal shot?

Anywhere between 5-10 yards of curve Gary.

The problem comes where the ball is curving to the left, the fairway is moving right.

Annoys me as my old boy moves his fade down there consistently :mmm:

 

[JT77]

Personally mate I would take the safe tee shot and the longer approach, a 5iron from the fairway is better than being stuck in the rough or trees or whatever other danger lurks 😬

 

[fundy]

Anywhere between 5-10 yards of curve Gary.

The problem comes where the ball is curving to the left, the fairway is moving right.

Annoys me as my old boy moves his fade down there consistently :mmm:

if youre only hitting 5-10 yards of draw just aim right edge and commit, ball will hold into the slope and be fine, the issue comes when the shape is bigger imo

 

[Region3]

if youre only hitting 5-10 yards of draw just aim right edge and commit, ball will hold into the slope and be fine, the issue comes when the shape is bigger imo

The slope is right to left, whereas the hole is left to right, so a draw will go with the slope off the fairway.

If the semi rough will stop the ball it might not be too bad an option though.