What's your preferred lay up distance?

[JohnnyDee]

You've played a shot that in theory allows you to get to the green with your absolute Sunday best 3-wood off the deck with your next blow. But in a rare moment of sensible course management you opt for the lay-up.

Though what do you leave as your preferred distance?

As I have a possibly the shonkiest short approach game in the country (inside 20 - 30 yards I become a nervous wreck and the Siren cries often see me lured onto the jagged rocks of a woeful 'duff' or card-murdering 'knife') I'll try and leave myself a comfortable full PW or AW.

But what do you hit? Do you not do sensible - instead throwing caution to the (3 club) wind always preferring the speculative smash and the shock of occasionally stiffing it to 18 inches, or do you play for as short an approach as possible, and if you do that then what club do you play the shot to the green with?

 

[One Planer]

Usually try and lay up to between 100 and 110 yards if I can.

Leave me a choice of shots and club choices as required.

 

[Papas1982]

I'm as comfortable hitting my 8iron 140as per game golf as I am hitting any other shorter distance. Generally try to play most par 4's so that's my second shot.

 

[Qwerty]

I'll try for approx 90-100 yards, usually a full 54* wedge. If not 110-115 50*

i used to think of it as being a bit defeatist, but nowadays I'm just as likely to do just as well with the lay-up.

 

[Jimbop90]

110-120 yards if I do somehow become sensible for 2 minutes. Easy PW distance.

 

[upsidedown]

100 does it for me

 

[Joff]

I almost never lay up unless I'm blocked out. I am a poor gambler.

 

[scottbrown]

I like 120, nice full 52. However I generally lay up depending on hazards. For example sometimes it may be an advantage to try and get within 20-30 yards, especially if it's a back pin and green to play with.

 

[Khamelion]

Thinking back to last season, I always went for the green, probably out of pure stupidity and lack of a game plan, especially as my 50 degree wedge is my 100yd club. Hmm definitely food for thought.

 

[Break90]

Distance of choice is somewhere between 90-120, leaving a full 48deg, PW OR 9 iron depending on the wind.

still very capable of missing the green from there though.....

 

[Deleted member 15717]

I need to get in the habit of laying up. My par 5 play is horrendous at the moment

 

[patricks148]

75-100

4 of the shortish par 4's i always lay up on.

8, at only 320 off the white all ways try and lay up to 100, the greens slopes away from you and if you are too close, its very diff to stop the ball

9 same sort of distance as 8 and same reasons, plus the closer you get to the green the closer you are to trouble.

15 and 17

 

[Foxholer]

Anywhere between 115 and 40 is a good layup for me - as I have shots that cover that range.

Though I'll generally consider halving the distance and picking the shot for that distance. Then I can adjust the more important shot to the pin, if required.

Btw. Your example, as it stands, is not a 'good course management' one! If there is no danger, I'd never deliberately lay up as it's passing up an opportunity to save a shot - which is actually bad course management. It would be different if there was a creek in front of the green though!

 

[bluewolf]

110 - 120 would be my preferred distance.... But you said it was reachable, in which case.............

 

[JohnnyDee]

Btw. Your example, as it stands, is not a 'good course management' one! If there is no danger, I'd never deliberately lay up as it's passing up an opportunity to save a shot - which is actually bad course management. It would be different if there was a creek in front of the green though!

What's the matter with you man? Can't you see those 3 ponds and 5 pothole bunkers greenside? 😃😃

Agreed and had twigged what you say but the edit window had closed.

 

[Tiger]

I'm sure I read something about scoring percentage for pro golfers being better if they were more aggressive... I know we're not tour pros but my answer would be as close to the green as possible. Much more likely to get up and down from 30 yards than 130..

 

[NWJocko]

The way I am with wedges just now about 185 yards!!! :rofl:

Used to be 90-100 as I could/can play it differently with different wedges depending on the green/pin position etc etc.

 

[Fish]

Ideally 120-130 for me.

 

[Region3]

As close as possible - all other things being equal.

If I wasn't confident of getting closer from 40yds than 100, that's what I'd be practicing until I could.

 

[Tongo]

I'm not very good playing three-quarter and half wedge shots so i will try and get within a full sand wedge distance of the flag.