Par 5 strategy...?

diablojoe · August 7, 2007

I'm beginning to notice a pattern, and I wonder how others feel....

My best par 5 scoring is when my third shot is in the 80-100y range. If I get down around 30-60 yards, I bogey the hole more often than not.

So, if I'm standing over the ball at, say, 240y, I can hit a very reliable 3h to the 20-40y range. Or, I can instead hit an 8i, or maybe punch an easy 7i, and end up around 85-95y. I seem to score better with the latter strategy (I have a very nicely grooved wedge swing). Still, it goes counter to my instinct to close as much gap to the pin as possible on every ball strike.

spinningwedge · August 7, 2007

I watched a bunch of Playing Lessons with the Pros last week.

I can't recall right now if it was the Jeff Sluman (playing in a gale in Hawaii) or David Toms eposides - I'm sure someone will remind me - but exactly this point was made: that a layup on a par 5 to between 30 and 80 yards was "a mistake".

cdesana · August 7, 2007

Most better players have a fave yardage they prefer, and play to that strength. I personally do not go for the Green unless i feel i can pull the shot off at least half the time. If not, i prefer 80-100 yards.

ej002 · August 7, 2007

I think it just depends on what your strength is. For some people, a 50 yd half wedge is deadly accurate. I know for me, I would like to be exactly 80-75 yds rather than 100 or 50. I am just comfortable with that shot. With that said, unless you can have an easy chip with the chance of getting real close, I think it would be better to lay up to your favorite yardage. Closer is not necessarily better.

Jim_0068 · August 7, 2007

As much i don't agree with pelz on much, the closer you are the better IF YOU PRACTICE!

It is easier to take a club that you are comfortable with from 80 yards and put a full swing on it. Because you know you're going to be close. It's more difficult if you don't practice to try and hit that tweener yardage of like 30-40 yards.

But if you practice it and know what it takes you'll be more accurate. Case in point, now that i'm no longer teaching golf anymore i have had time to work on my short game and my 30,40,50,etc yard shots.

I don't think it's a conincidence that my 40 yard lob wedge shot is within 10 feet i'd say 7-10 balls and my 80 yard shot is within 10 feet maybe 4-5 out of 10 balls. The longer the shot, the more difficult it will be UNLESS as i said you practice the shorter ones.

smithg1053 · August 7, 2007

I agree with the previous post. It really depends on your wedge play and distances. For me I would love to be 60-65 out everytime because that is a smooth 3/4 60* wedge for me and I am dead nuts on 95% of the time. Or give me 105 as that is a smooth 3/4 54* for me. For me being in the 75-90 range is not good...that means at the lower end having to heat up a lob wedge...which now spins like a mad man, or taking something off a SW. Would rather have the "hands swing back to the shoulders and smooth through the ball" wedge shot anytime.

Distance depends on your game...but I do agree 100% that if you are laying up...give yourself a distance with a normal full shot to the green or a wedge that you are comfortable with versus having to heat up something or take something off. This is where it pays huge dividends to know your 1/2, 3/4, and full wedge distances for all wedges...you will find overlap if they are gapped properly and you should be able to handle any distance...still I prefer the "hands swing back to the shoulders and smooth through the ball" as the distance to deal with...and if I am laying up...that is where I am trying to put myself, and if I can't then I am leaving myself a distance for a full shot with PW or 9 iron.

soberguy16 · August 7, 2007

obviously there are many guys who like to lay up to a certain yardage, but saying laying up to 30-60 yards is a mistake is compltely wrong. Sure, if the third shot requires a full swing with back spin or a high ball flight, sure laying up longer may be the right call. But I also remember watching playing lessons from the pros and someone, cant remember who, saying they just like to be as close to the green as possible. So for each his own...i prefer to get as close as i can, as long as im not risking getting into too much trouble. For me, closer=better if the third shot requires a standard pitch or the circumstances allow for a shorter shot.

ezra76 · August 7, 2007

It really depends on the hole for me. Sometimes I'll layup off the tee with a 3w when I know I cannot get near the hole without trouble. Other holes I'll take my chances and try to bomb driver, knowing I have a shot with a good drive and a relatively easy layup regardless. I'm sort of torn becuase 50-60yds. is my 58* wedge wheelhouse. 100 is my 50* wedge range. 30yds. is a short pitch, I'm trying to hole those. So basically a lot is dictated by the hole makeup. If there is a hazrad in front of the green than I'll stay back for a full shot. If there are bunkers only around the green I'm nuking something. I'll take a greenside bunker shot for #3 over a 100yd. gap wedge every time. I'm more of a feel player. Not even really sure how far my wedges go. I basically just decide whether I can hit the spot I want with the shot I want regardless of yardage. It may be a 120yd. GW or an 80yd. PW. My buddy is more the type to want an exact yardage. He'd be clueless if he had no markers. He's basically a full shot mechanical player, he can't hit a 30yd. shot unless he's got a club that goes 30yards. I'd be on the opposite end of that spectrum.

retep · August 7, 2007

alll the previous posts have validity, get your club you most like in the hand for the 3rd shot in if possible.... for me that is 100 with the Wedge, 120 with the 9, maybe 130 or so with the 8. 7 doesn't really get it done, as it is on the other team.

hbear · August 7, 2007

Shot link proves that for the pros the closer they are to the green the better their chances of getting up and down.

There was an article in Golf Digest a long time ago to this effect.

againstthegrain · August 7, 2007

obviously there are many guys who like to lay up to a certain yardage, but saying laying up to 30-60 yards is a mistake is compltely wrong. Sure, if the third shot requires a full swing with back spin or a high ball flight, sure laying up longer may be the right call. But I also remember watching playing lessons from the pros and someone, cant remember who, saying they just like to be as close to the green as possible. So for each his own...i prefer to get as close as i can, as long as im not risking getting into too much trouble. For me, closer=better if the third shot requires a standard pitch or the circumstances allow for a shorter shot.

Furyk

GolfMN · August 7, 2007

It depends on the pin, if its in a fairly unguarded position, I like to be up there, like inside 30 yards, without going for it. If its guarded, I lay back to either 100 or 80, my two best full wedges, so I can attack from above and stop the ball.

Lefty44 · August 7, 2007

Two of the three par 5's on my course are guarded by front bunkers so you have to be able to carry the ball onto the green. Unless the pin is in the front, I'm going for it every time. Even if I miss left or right or dump it in the bunker, my chances at birdie are much higher than being 100 yds out. If the pins are up, I will lay up to whatever yardage feels good that day.

SkiHound · August 7, 2007

Depends on the layout of the par 5 and how much trouble is around the green. But I'll take a 40 yard pitch over a full wedge in the vast majority of situations. But I spend quite a bit of time on a pitch-n-putt practicing all kinds of wedge shots. I certainly don't stiff every 30-50 yard pitch but I almost never mishit them.