Smart golf

sdandrea1 · 2024-07-08T01:22:17+00:00

This guy makes perfect sense (to me) on conservative, course management, risk -averse golf (scoring-focused golf). He even dresses like me (😂).

Par4QC

Eguller I also forgot that no one can putt, so that will be a double bogey.
I need to redo that post.😄

johnnydoom

Par4QC I can't putt, but I might make bogey since I'm not too bad with 125 yard approach shots. I might struggle with the first 4 iron shots off the tee that landed in hazard with the 200 yard carry needed to reach the fairway though. Most of the pay to play courses around here dictate the distance and location of the smart shot and do not allow the player enough flexibility to choose clubs with which they are always comfortable. Some of the municipal courses do, and it's not a coincidence that (almost) all of my lowest scores have come on those courses.

Par4QC

johnnydoom I can't putt,

Everyone says that. It's a matter of perspective, esp. in one's own mind.

Check the Pro stats on putting and you'll see they only make about 70% from 6'. 41% from 10'. And only 90% from 3'.
They hit more practice putts in 1 week than we hit on course the whole year.

garyt1957

Eguller One word to dispel that theory - Shank.

Does anybody really hit 100% of greens from 125? I wonder what the real % is?
Found this:
Approach Distance – All lie types Avg. Green Success Avg. Shots to Finish
50 – 70 63.13% 3.13
70 – 90 57.80% 3.25
90 – 110 52.70% 3.33
110 – 130 45.64% 3.42
130 – 150 38.64% 3.52

KCee

Par4QC Actually not a bad idea at our #3 hole. It's a dogleg left par 5. If you hit 125 and then 100-125 you have a clear look up the fairway and as long as you didn't push each shot right you would have no more than 250 left in. There is OB the whole left side of the hole so nothing worse than pulling your tee shot OB and still needing to hit it +200 to get to the corner in 3. The OB on holes 2 and 3 can ruin your round early 😞

Lets face it though us hackers would (and maybe should) rather hit driver. We could easily chunk 2 PW shots and still not get a look. I usually choke down and 3/4 my driver. Amazingly it quite often goes further than usual through the fairway into the rough, but then I can hit 7i and wedge in.

Par4QC

KCee Lets face it though us hackers would (and maybe should) rather hit driver.

Hell yes😄!!
But that's why I said no one plays 'smart golf'(t-i-c), we don't. And I also know it might be rare for any one of us to hit the same club really well, 4 times in a row.

KCee

Par4QC And I also know it might be rare for any one of us to hit the same club really well, 4 times in a row.

Hitting 2 good shots in a row at any place but the driving range is a rare feat. I think I did so well in yesterday's tournament because it was alternate shot so I couldn't hit 2 shots in a row 🤔🤣

garyt1957

Par4QC And I also know it might be rare for any one of us to hit the same club really well, 4 times in a row.

That's why I don't think it's "smart golf" when someone says just play a 7 Iron all day and you'll shoot bogey golf or better. No I won't because I'll mishit that 7 iron multiple times also but now I'll have even farther in to the green. It might help if you spray your driver so much you're taking multiple penalty shots but that doesn't sound like most of us here.

Par4QC

garyt1957

Par4QC You know you can hit your (?) club 125 straight every time.

A few 'key' words in my statement.

And I don't even know of any Pro that can do that.

But it is a way to break down distances, esp. when we are not hitting well that day. I often do this on Par 5 holes....figure 1/2 the distance left off the tee & what club I can hit twice.

Then pull my 3 wd and hit the hell outta it.🤣 Because, well...I never play smart.

bogeypro

garyt1957 "play a 7 iron all day" ..... is that you Tin Cup?

azgreg

Par4QC
A few months ago I went out as a single and played 2 balls on all four par 5's. One ball was played regularly: driver, fairway, what's left. The other ball was played with 2 4 hybrids and whatever's left. The hybrid balls were 3 shots better for the round.

garyt1957

Par4QC A few 'key' words in my statement.

No I get what you were saying I was just talking generally about "playing smart".

scotts33

azgreg The hybrid balls were 3 shots better for the round.

azgreg---How far do you hit your 4hy? Inquiring minds. 😉

rsvman2

azgreg Pretty sure people have also shown that hackers generally scored better if you take all the flags out so they don't knlw where on the green the hole is.

If true, that suggests that the average Joe would score better if they aimed for the center of almost every green.

azgreg

scotts33
About 200 yards off a tee.

azgreg

rsvman2 Pretty sure people have also shown that hackers generally scored better if you take all the flags out so they don't knlw where on the green the hole is.

If true, that suggests that the average Joe would score better if they aimed for the center of almost every green.

I get the yardage to the backish center because I know I don't always hit it great. If I don't it's usually pin high and if I hit it good it's towards the back of the green.

Funny story (sort of). I was playing one day at Encanto Gold Course in Phoenix (now Grand Canyon University Golf Course). Hole number 2 is a long uphill par 3. I hit a great shot towards a left side flag. When I got to the green I noticed that someone before me took the flag out of the cup on the right side and stuck it in the ground on the left side. Assholes.

scotts33

rsvman2 If true, that suggests that the average Joe would score better if they aimed for the center of almost every green.

Agreed!

azgreg I get the yardage to the backish center because I know I don't always hit it great. If I don't it's usually pin high and if I hit it good it's towards the back of the green.

Also agree!!! I use a Voice Caddy and get the middle of the green and take enough club for the back of the green. I very rarely go over a green less than 2 - 3%. Middle of the green and 2 putt. I believe Matt the YouTuber professes this for all mid to high hdcp'ers.

garyt1957

rsvman2 From my experiences and talking to other players it seems a lot do just that. I know I usually do. Depends on the course though. Lots of the older courses near me the greens are so small I think even pros would aim at the middle of the green. You might only have 30 feet or so in every direction. Some of the resort courses, middle of the green can leave you with 40 footers.

DonM

The USGA GHIN app lets me enter basic stats. I enter them after the round.
My approach shots are
GIR 44%
Short 19%
Long 20%
Left 10%
Right 6%

I definitely take enough club. But we do have some greens that you can’t hold and there is no place to play short and run it up. 3 of our greens would account for most of my long misses. It’s just the best play on them. But it’s aggravating.

scotts33

DonM I definitely take enough club. But we do have some greens that you can’t hold and there is no place to play short and run it up. Those are aggravating.

Those are good stats. That kind of design course where you can't run the ball up and are forced carry are courses personally, I would avoid.

DonM

scotts33 And this course is inside a 55+ community. What sense does that make? But hey, it's a "championship course". I can't imagine how the old women play it.

"That's a peach, hon!"

azgreg

I like Matt's stuff.