Hole Strategies

[jwalker497]

This may be a "no duh" revelation to you better players but I have noticed this year that I really play better, usually, when I focus on using strategy for each hole. Of course I make lots of mistake but generally I hve found that I am making better decisions and have been scoring better as a result.

 

I started to sit down a write a series of questions that I want to ask myself on every hole as a checklist to determine what my strategy should be. But my list go too long and too detailed. Im sure many of you do this subconscioulsy but my question is what questions whould I be asking myself?

 

One startegy Ive used is that if a hole is a par 4 and 360 or under, I don't necessarily have to hit driver, I can hit a hybrid or something and still give myself a mid iron in and decent shot a GIR. But I was wondering if any of you have a checklist that you rundown to help you narrow your decision? What types of questions or even criteria do you have?

[zojo]

I don't have a list of questions like you have, but strategy surely has played its way into my game and i have definately seen improvements in my score. I don't usually play strategy as much on the tee as on my shots into the green. I pick the best place to miss the ball and aim there, trying to work the ball closer to the pin. If the flag is in the front, id much rather be off the green, chipping to a close flag than way on the back of the green with a long putt (but thats just me cuz i suck at putting). but yeah, hitting a hybrid or iron off the tee is much better than a driver way in the woods. The only key to this is you gotta make sure you're putting the ball in the fairway with the shorter stick or you'll not only be in the junk but really far away from the green.

[Chairman7w]

I am totally with you JWalker, I rely on that big time to help my game.

 

I don't necessarily have a list of questions, but I often preview the course I'm about to play using Google Earth, and their distance tool.

 

I keep a little notebook in my pocket with a page for each hole with notes (seriously). 126 yrds to center of green from big oak on right" and that sort of thing. I also note the danger areas and bail out areas for each green. ("Don't go left!!!" "Okay to be short here")

 

I rarely use my driver. If it's 360 or under, there's just no justification (in my game) to use the driver. My 7-wood 200 down the middle is WAY better than a potential 250, with the added risk of going in the rough/trees/ob/water, etc. I make less mistakes with the 7-wood and when I do the result is much more manageable.

 

When I DO screw up the drive, I always make it a priority just to get on the green in 1 under par. I'll take my medicine and two-putt for a bogey (or MAYBE get lucky and save a par) but I don't try any hero stuff, or fancy miracle shots. One of my favorite quotes was from Jack Nicklaus, "Miracles don't happen in golf any more than they do in real life."

 

Another rule of mine is: If I'm over 175 yds away and in the rough, I'm punching out to the fairway and getting on in my next shot (unless it's just WIDE open with no danger around the green). I can't tell you how many times in my past I'd be 185 away in the rough (with water or sand around) and I'd try and wrestle a shot to the green from there. What in my past history would make me think I could pull that off????

 

Once I got realistic about my game and abilities, I played smarter and the scores came down.

[ej002]

I thought of the same thing. But I have never done it, I think you shoud post the list and maybe we could eliminate or refine it to help everyone?

 

I never knew google earth had a distance thing on it... so what do you do make a yardage book with notes? that sounds like fun.