The most important shot in a hole

[turkish]

In your opinion what is the most important shot on a hole, i'm not talking about specifics (bunker, rough etc) i'm talking general shot like tee, 2nd shot to green, pitch, 1st putt.

For me it has to be tee shot; it sets up hole! I know a lot of the tours might miss fairways quite a bit but with the distances they hit they are usually pretty good at recovering 2nd shot so would say the same for them.

 

[jamielaing]

2nd shot to the green for me. Can recover the tee shot if poor and if you get on and in position the turns it into a par at worst (barring three putts!). If you miss you can be in a world of trouble.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Tee shot for me as well. If you mess up your tee shot then you are not in the hole. Others you can mess up and generally recover. I speak as someone who has suffered in this area.

 

[virtuocity]

For me it has to be tee shot; it sets up hole! I know a lot of the tours might miss fairways quite a bit but with the distances they hit they are usually pretty good at recovering 2nd shot so would say the same for them.

Unless you're stuck behind a tree, OOB or lose your ball, the 2nd shot is the most important for the higher handicapper IMO. Even if you're in the rough, your ability to get the ball within 100 yards of the hole should get you a bogey most of the time.

It's personal though, my third shot is generally a chip, pitch or long putt. This opens up an opportunity for birdie, par, bogey or worse!

 

[Slab]

tee shot, it has to be in play for any chance of scoring well

 

[FairwayDodger]

The next shot is the most important one.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

All of them

Any shot has the potential to ruin a card

You can hit a great tee shot and then mess the second , you can mess up the first putt etc etc

 

[Val]

Agree with FD and LP the next shot is the most important, every shot should have equal importance, yes getting a good tee shot on the fairway is important but is it any more important than getting yourself back in play from a bad position?

One shot at a time, every time.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Depends on the type of course.

I've played 'inland links' courses where you can smash it anywhere off the tee so it's not really an important shot as long as you put yourself in range to hit the green with your next shot. On the other hand, I've played very tight tree lined courses and links with knee high rough where if you miss the fairway it's shortest route back to it.

 

[Tongo]

Second shot for me. You can miss the fairway and be in a half decent position but the second shot can oft decide whether you are chasing a birdie or playing for a bogie!

 

[Keeno]

The most important shot you hit is the worst shot you hit. If your worst shot isn't too much of a disaster then you'll do ok.

You can make a par with a poor drive, a poor iron, a good chip, an easy putt. If any of those Poor shots become bad shots you can end up OB, behind a tree etc then your in soapy bubble.

 

[bobmac]

The drive for me.
If you hit a good drive, it makes it easier to get the second shot close which makes the putt easier.
Stress free golf.

 

[gazr99]

Has to be second shot, as this will say how you approach the hole, whether it be for a par 5 in two or layup, attack the green or chip out after a bad tee shot, etc.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

For me it has to be tee shot; it sets up hole!

I agree with this. The old adage of "drive for show, putt for dough" doesn't really ring true to me. You won't putt for much dough if you are hitting three off the tee or if your second shot is a chip sideways out of the cabbage.

 

[Jay1]

The one that puts the ball on the green. Be it a long approach or a chip. If you can get it fairly close from distance, or very close from a chip/pitch it makes scoring so much easier and can rescue an otherwise iffy hole.

 

[Region3]

I think it depends on what your perceived weakness is.

The worst part of my game is getting the ball in play from the tee so I'm going to say the tee shot.

For people who can't chip they might say second shot because they're in trouble if they don't hit the green or leave an easy pitch/chip shot.

 

[IanG]

If you could always hole your 4th shot you'd be a pretty fine golfer so maybe we should concentrate on that one. :cheers:

 

[patricks148]

your last putt?

a good putt can save the hole where a bad drive can be recovered from IMO.

take the other night, topped my 3 wood off the tee on the 2nd its a 460 yards par 4. 3 wood, wedge, 1 putt, par... simples

 

[FairwayDodger]

I think this is a terrible way to think about it.

If you think the tee shot is the most important, what is your mindset when you hit a bad one? Is that your chance on the hole gone or can you recover? Conversely, if you hit a great tee shot does that mean your work is done and the par or birdie is in the bag?

Every shot is important, when you play it, and they all count the same.

 

[turkish]

I think this is a terrible way to think about it.

If you think the tee shot is the most important, what is your mindset when you hit a bad one? Is that your chance on the hole gone or can you recover? Conversely, if you hit a great tee shot does that mean your work is done and the par or birdie is in the bag?

Every shot is important, when you play it, and they all count the same.

FD you're probably right in the main; the next one IS as important as the last but just maybe because I am a high handicapper that I do struggle more when I've had a nightmare off the tee.... it's something I have started to improve on and I've noticed better scores but obviously when I become more consistent on the tee I will then look at my other inconsistencies.... like Region3 said it probably is more wherever you are most weak. In my case the tee!