Longest club for approaches into greens?

[Ivyguy]

I have been evaluating my game this season, and through the expenditure of cheap wine, pivot tables, self pride and some gray matter I have come to realize something.

 

I do not hit many greens outside of 170 yards.

 

This took some real mirror time because I have always prided myself as a solid long iron player. But the stats show something different.

 

I hit less than 10% of my greens from 170+. 25% of my greens from 170-155. But I do hit 65% of my greens from within 155.

 

So, I am looking at playing to my weaknesses and not looking at clubs but yard ages.

 

At 155 I am hitting a stock 8 iron (which is frightening to see the drop off to my 7 but I am swallowing pride here). I will be working on som technique issues but I am considering working 6 iron down to lob wedge. I am a strong tee player, consistently hitting solid tee shots and finding fairways with my driver and two iron. So I am considering hybrids to increase my "ability to attack" from 160 to 200.

 

I thought that I was making huge gains with my short game, but the reality is I have been fighting for my scorecard.

 

What distance can everyone say is their longest distance to give themselves a 40% chance of hitting a green?

 

I am considering a 5 and strong 4 hybrid.

 

 

 

[Ivyguy]

Oh and by the way, thank you for any assistance that the brain trust can provide here.

[Wesquire]

Probably my 5 iron, so between 195 and 200. That is assuming I'm from the fairway though.

[JL529]

I hit my 4i consistently and have a 50/50 chance of hitting the green only when I play a fade.

 

If the shot calls for a draw, I have no idea where it'll go. Playing off a 6handicap, but I could hook it or block it to the right like the best of them. I got rid of the 4i finally this year, but according to game golf I rarely use my 4i or rarely need the 200 yard shot. I took out the 3i and 4i, and added a 20 degree hybrid and a gap wedge.

 

20 degree full swing replaces my 3i and a choke down easy replaces my 4i, if needed.

[BMC]

Tight Lies 2 7 wood. 22 degrees. You can hit those things highand straight from 170-210

[martinbns]

I can hit and hold greens with my hybrids, a 3&4 Callaway X2Hots.

 

I am far less of a man than most on Golfwrx, for me I am hitting 7 iron 155, the 3H would be 195ish, I make up for my lack of masculinity by playing the white tees.

[LeoLeo99]

On a good day from a good lie, a 5 iron from 170 is my 40% success limit. While I'm pretty confident with a 5 iron, it really struggle with a 4iron. I got rid of my Callaway hybrids in favor of an Adams hybrid but I'm switching back. The Adams goes lower and runs more with less height and spin. It's great off the tee for positioning but not good for high shots that will hold a green like the Callaways.

[SixSixGolf]

Anything above 200 and I'm playing for the miss that will allow me to get up and down.

[nikuk]

Honest question, are you able to play green to tee and get yourself into 8 iron range with a different strategy?

[dsmil]

My GameGolf stats say that I hit 80% of greens with an 8 iron and 15% of greens with a 7 iron!

[Wesquire]

My GameGolf stats say that I hit 80% of greens with an 8 iron and 15% of greens with a 7 iron!

 

Sounds like a club selection problem. Maybe you pick up the 7i and try to hit it firmly when you should be hitting a 6i.

[Ri_Redneck]

Last time I played 18, I had 3 approaches from 200. I played my 4i each time. One on the green, one just off the right side of the green and one just off the left. That's about the norm for me.

 

BT

[Ivyguy]

Honest question, are you able to play green to tee and get yourself into 8 iron range with a different strategy?

 

Thank you for the feedback! I do hit the ball well off the tee. 75% of my approaches are hit from within 155.

 

This was with me managing courses my "typical" way. Seeing these statistics will have me thinking more about playing more aggressively.

[mcs4]

Probably 7 iron, 170-175 yards, for 40% chance to hit an average-sized green from the fairway.

[C_rad]

For a 40% i would say a 6 iron from 160( not a long hitter ) but consistent.

[Bingo1976]

Anything over a 7 iron (160 yards) and I am struggling. I don't tend to miss by much, so it's usually a simple up and down, but I do need to rethink the top of my bag quite a lot (as well as get some more lessons).

[Jsjones]

I really think some lessons and practice would go a long way here, as I don't think hybrids are meant for finding pins.... They are made to get the ball up high... Which if you hit a 155 8 iron I don't think that's your problem. Reconsider the hybrids... Because if you learn to play a single shot (draw, fade whatever) you can play to it. My game tends to fall off a bit at the 7 as well but when I learned how to swing the mid irons... My game improved a lot. Spend one hybrid $ amount on lessons... Hope whatever happens works out for you!

[jslane57]

I really think some lessons and practice would go a long way here, as I don't think hybrids are meant for finding pins.... They are made to get the ball up high... Which if you hit a 155 8 iron I don't think that's your problem. Reconsider the hybrids... Because if you learn to play a single shot (draw, fade whatever) you can play to it. My game tends to fall off a bit at the 7 as well but when I learned how to swing the mid irons... My game improved a lot. Spend one hybrid $ amount on lessons... Hope whatever happens works out for you!

I agree with all of this. I only struggle with mid/ long irons into greens when I try to do with them what they don't do. I have to remind myself to hit down and let the ball go low.

[BogeyLJA]

What's the miss?

[Kingcat990]

Try a high lofted hybrid if you can't make clean contact with a 4-6i. Ping, callaway, bridgestone all make hybrids up to 28°-30°

 

[J_Birdie]

I feel automatic 8i and down

 

I feel great with a 7i

 

I feel 50-50 with a 6i

 

I feel alright with a 5i

 

I get scared with a 4i

[Guest]

I have been evaluating my game this season, and through the expenditure of cheap wine, pivot tables, self pride and some gray matter I have come to realize something.

 

I do not hit many greens outside of 170 yards.

 

This took some real mirror time because I have always prided myself as a solid long iron player. But the stats show something different.

 

I hit less than 10% of my greens from 170+. 25% of my greens from 170-155. But I do hit 65% of my greens from within 155.

 

So, I am looking at playing to my weaknesses and not looking at clubs but yard ages.

 

At 155 I am hitting a stock 8 iron (which is frightening to see the drop off to my 7 but I am swallowing pride here). I will be working on som technique issues but I am considering working 6 iron down to lob wedge. I am a strong tee player, consistently hitting solid tee shots and finding fairways with my driver and two iron. So I am considering hybrids to increase my "ability to attack" from 160 to 200.

 

I thought that I was making huge gains with my short game, but the reality is I have been fighting for my scorecard.

 

What distance can everyone say is their longest distance to give themselves a 40% chance of hitting a green?

 

I am considering a 5 and strong 4 hybrid.

 

How good are you? Im a scratch golfer and dont think i hit more than 50% of the greens from 175.

 

http://www.pgatour.c...s/stat.327.html

175-200 yards on PGA tour:

Bradley 64%- Best on tour

Fowler 63%

Stenson, Day and Scott all 59% and they are considered to be some of the best ballstrikers in the world.

 

Its hard to hit greens consistently once you are outside of 130ish.

Think you should lower your expectations unless you are a very good golfer. Straight of the tee, get it close to the green and in play is by far the most important thing for amateurs imo.

[kiw1982]

Within 190, I'd say I hit the green more than 40%.

 

But, my putting is killing me. lol.

[DTXgolfer12]

Sounds cliche but....Keep your head down as long as possible through impact and the ball will start on the same line more often. And you'll hit more greens

[Petunia Sprinkle]

If you're strong off the tee, assuming you at least hit your tee shots 250, how many 420+ par4s are you playing?