Quote:
Originally Posted by 8sPOT
This probably isn't unique or anything but I find my struggles are always with shots that don't require a full swing.
Tee shots and approach shots generally I hit pretty well. Its when I'm within say 100 yards and have to start doing 3/4, 1/2, or 1/4 swings that I seem to get into trouble.
Because of this, I often won't hit drive on a par 4 but instead a 5 or 6 iron. I'd rather be say 125 yards from the hole than 60 yards.
Anyone else play like that? I can crush a drive 330 yards but then that 2nd shot I almost always flub it or chunk it, again not a full swing type shot. What a game.
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That's a great approach to the game and how many pros play the game. Think the game backward. Start at the green and decide what is going to give you the best chance of scoring. What is your best distance into the green? That is your starting place. I'm most comfortable at 125 yards myself, but an equally proficient at 100 yards, so I try and play every tee shot with that in mind. If I'm on the tee of a 360 yard par 4, I'm looking to hit something 240-260. Driver stays in the bag and I either hit 3 wood or 2 iron (the only time driver comes out of the bag is if I'm on a hole over 400 yards, and have a generous landing area). Play to your scoring yardages. This will help in you hitting more fairways and green in regulation.
The reason most high handicappers score so poorly is because they don't approach the game with scoring in mind. They approach it with the grip-and-rip mentality and then are hitting from really poor locations to hit the green in regulation with any regularity. The one thing that really helped me over this hump was playing with better players, watching their club selection, and how they managed the course. Remember, you manage the course, don't let the course manage you. Set yourself up for success by hitting off the short stuff rather than the thick heavy rough. Better to give up 20 yards in distance and be in the fairway with an 8 out 10 shot than be buried in the rough and have a 1 in 100 shot.