Lay up?

[Shaitan]

I'm only 15 and am no huge hitter, ave around 260 yds and I agree with most posts on here that if it is in range and there are no terrible risks then "Firebirds are Go", I've even hit a driver off the deck into a green. I'm also with the resident pro HoganFan that if you can't reach the green get as close to the hole as possible, because it is easier to get up and down the closer you are to hole. If I were to lay-up, though, it would be to 50m or 90-100m as they are a perfect SW half pitch and full SW.

[villa]

That guy that gave you a hard time sounds like a real a%$.

Yes he is but as I say, I don't mind constructive criticism, he just p*****d me off with the way he was talking AT me. I don't even know him that well!

 

Being the caliber of player that you are Villa, I'm sure you'll get up and down for birdie a good 50% of the time from around the green, but how often are you going to birdie from 100 yds? Maybe 25%?

 

Unless that guy that confronted you is or was a very, very good player (as in former tour pro), highly respected and better than you, he should have kept his mouth shut even if he thought your strategy wasn't the best.

Thanks for the compliment mate but if I was that good a player, I wouldn't be posting this from my office. I'd be doing it from my laptop on my private jet on the way to the U.S Open. Those figures sound about right though. I presume it's around the same for you?

 

Again, I don't know if that guy was ever any good but he's not now. Don't think i've ever seen him on the course to be honest. He's usually in the bar drinking expensive whiskey, telling people how he's made his fortune (can you picture him now?)

 

If I'm not mistaken, wasn't it lay up that Tiger used as a strategy to win the British Open (don't know the year)? He was using irons off the tee and he controlled it very well.

Tiger predominantly used irons off the tee and as I say, i'm generally quite conservative in getting the ball in play. Open Championship courses and links golf is a completely different matter. Even if I hit the best 3 wood of my life, the wind can pick up in a second and carry it 30 yards off line. They generally don't have massive par 5's that call for such a shot anyway.

 

I believe it was Billy Casper, when he won his US Open, layed up on one of the par threes all four rounds. He made par all four days as well. He took double-bogey or worse out of the equation. Good course management.

U.S Open courses are vastly different as well. I've never played anything that difficult (e.g not a chance of shooting in the sixties or even under par) so I can't compare.

[diablojoe]

I believe it was Billy Casper, when he won his US Open, layed up on one of the par threes all four rounds. He made par all four days as well. He took double-bogey or worse out of the equation. Good course management.

I think we're going to see our share of layups at No. 8 this weekend. A few heroes will get birdie, lots of wanna-be-heroes will get bogey and double, and the smart guys will get par.

[villa]

I believe it was Billy Casper, when he won his US Open, layed up on one of the par threes all four rounds. He made par all four days as well. He took double-bogey or worse out of the equation. Good course management.

I think we're going to see our share of layups at No. 8 this weekend. A few heroes will get birdie, lots of wanna-be-heroes will get bogey and double, and the smart guys will get par.

 

Some guys will have to lay up because they can't hit it that far!

 

If that green's as fast as the rest, only the very brave or the very stupid will be trying to land it on there. Can't wait to see it.

[larrybud]

hey there's got to be a reason that practically everytime a tour pro is within go distance they go for it. Think about it when was the last time you saw a tour pro lay up when they could've gotten there?

 

Zach Johnson, Master's Winner, at EVERY par 5 for the entire tournament.

 

To play a strategy game like a pro for an average amateur is crazy. They go for it because they hit the ball solidly the vast majority of the time. If they have 220 over water, they're probably not going to hit it fat or toe or heel it enough to matter.

 

In addition, they all have fantastic short games to recover from anything they might encounter.

 

I personally believe that amateurs for the most part are WAY to aggressive and you could probably get a low 90's shooter down to the mid 80's with proper course management.

[diablojoe]

If I have 220 over water, I think about my 5 wood. If I kill it -- hit it perfect -- it will go 221. Of COURSE I'm going to hit that 5w!!! With a big smile on my face, too.

 

At my regular muni course, there is a dogleg right, with water on that right corner. It's a 200y layup straight ahead, then a 7i to the green over the water. It's a 260y fade to carry the water. I recently started hitting driver just about barely that far. Next time I go there, I am most definitely going to try to hit over the water.

 

You only live once, and saving a shot here and there doesn't make up for the fun of trying to make that shot. My paycheck doesn't depend on my scores, and I'm not trying to qualify for the Open. I'm just having fun.

[The Boom Bapp]

Sorry you had to sit through that Villa, dude is wound a little to tight to get involved that deep, this was not your swing coach by chance was it??

 

I have done this before but it was not by choice, I have lay'ed up just to get back on the fairway from an awful shot and at times and I have also gone this route when I knew I had a greater chance of adding a stroke because I had no real chance at hitting the green.

 

If you manage the course well enough, Lay ups can only help to improve your round and I don't think of it as a "PUNK" move at all. Much rather PAR or Bogey a hole sooner than take a swim and come with a Double or worse!

 

If a shot is do'able even with having to work the ball a bit and my odds favor a good outcome, it's on and poppin!! Finding that greenside bunker or rough is no big deal and I will shoot that all day!

 

Not trying to hear anything about a "snowman" on an 80* afternoon dawg!!! :D

[villa]

You had enough club to fly it pin high, so there's no problem in going for it in 2. You had the confidence to hit that shot as well, that's all that matters.

 

That person that lectured you had no right in doing that. Probably just jealous of your distance, and the guts and courage it took to go for it. He probably wishes he could be you.

 

You gotta have fun, why would you want to pay $50-$100 for a round of golf to just be irritated or frustrated all day long?

 

I agree with your strategy all the way! Especially on the tee shots and how you would rather be in play off the tee from 270 out.

 

Thanks mate, i'd almost forgotten about this thread.

 

Like I said, I won't be changing any aspect of my game because of what some old man says (no offense to any old men, I just couldn't think of a better dig without being really offensive).

 

"He probably wishes he could be me". I like that. I'd like his bank account but I wouldn't swap my golf game for it.

 

Welcome to GolfWRX by the way :D

[villa]

Sorry you had to sit through that Villa, dude is wound a little to tight to get involved that deep, this was not your swing coach by chance was it??

 

I have done this before but it was not by choice, I have lay'ed up just to get back on the fairway from an awful shot and at times and I have also gone this route when I knew I had a greater chance of adding a stroke because I had no real chance at hitting the green.

 

If you manage the course well enough, Lay ups can only help to improve your round and I don't think of it as a "PUNK" move at all. Much rather PAR or Bogey a hole sooner than take a swim and come with a Double or worse!

 

If a shot is do'able even with having to work the ball a bit and my odds favor a good outcome, it's on and poppin!! Finding that greenside bunker or rough is no big deal and I will shoot that all day!

 

Not trying to hear anything about a "snowman" on an 80* afternoon dawg!!! :D

No, he's not my golf coach. He's just a guy that think he knows everything about everything!

 

It's really interesting to hear so many varied opinions on this.

 

Don't get me wrong though, i'm not a reckless player by any means. I know that off the fairway, I hit my 3 wood 240 with a fade and 245 with a draw. If I widen my swing arc a bit then I can get it out there about 260 with a hard draw. If that particular shot hadn't landed in a downslope in the bunker then i'd probably have made a 4 and as I said previously, i'm more confident making a 4 this way than having to hit a wedge from 100 yards.

[GolferGal2009]

This is my issue!!! Usually I go for it if I'll just hit a bunker or rough but I lay-up if it will go in the water or OB. I really want to break 80 every round but I always mess it up when I play too risky so I'm going to start playing smarter.....

[The Boom Bapp]

This is my issue!!! Usually I go for it if I'll just hit a bunker or rough but I lay-up if it will go in the water or OB. I really want to break 80 every round but I always mess it up when I play too risky so I'm going to start playing smarter.....

 

 

If I would have just taken that route when I first started playing, you can bet I would have suffered a lot less pain and heavy mathmatical calculations resulting in big numbers. :D

[emc]

I think unless you can get to the green with a good shot, don't go for it. If the par 5 is designed well it will have trouble around the hole for people going for it in 2. In saying that I'm the most aggressive player you will find, I just need to dial it in a bit. If I'm 250 out I won't go for it, because 3 wood only goes 235 and I'd try to force it too much. I'll rather trying to get up and down from 60 yards on fairway than from 40 yards in the trees, if you understand. But it's all down to someone's strengths, if you can get that extra bit out of the tank, go for it but make sure you deal with the consequences

[iCollector]

I'm too stupid to lay up! But - since I'm always playing for the pure enjoyment I get from golf, I don't mind, really, if my score suffers because of it...

 

That said, I'm perfectly aware of the benefits, and yeah, there are certainly times I play a shorter club - water usually. But mostly, I get a kick out of going for it.

[diablojoe]

Just yesterday...

 

I hit a bad, low fade off the tee on the No. 1 par 4 on the course. Ended up with 235 to the green, but with a nice fluffy lie. I don't have any clubs that can hit that far, other than driver. My partner on the hole said, "You get two strokes on this hole. Lay up and you'll get an easy net birdie."

 

I just smiled at him as I pulled the driver out of the bag. I cracked that sucker long and straight....until it hit the last tree branch it needed to clear.

 

I'd do it again every time.

[villa]

Just yesterday...

 

I hit a bad, low fade off the tee on the No. 1 par 4 on the course. Ended up with 235 to the green, but with a nice fluffy lie. I don't have any clubs that can hit that far, other than driver. My partner on the hole said, "You get two strokes on this hole. Lay up and you'll get an easy net birdie."

 

I just smiled at him as I pulled the driver out of the bag. I cracked that sucker long and straight....until it hit the last tree branch it needed to clear.

 

I'd do it again every time.

 

That really made me laugh. That really is going for it.

 

I don't know if i'd take a driver out in the semi rough and try to hit it under the trees but fair play. You Sir, have been watching too much of Phil Mickelson!

[tony_teetime]

Lay up when there is danger or low risk/reward factor. But , if it's wide open and you are feeling good , then go for it.

 

On par 5, it's harder to make an eagle by laying up, as oppose to getting on in 2 :bad:

[cyrick]

For me, it is all about fun. If I have a shot I think I can hit, I'll go for it, because it is fun for me to try. Sometimes if I am playing really well, I might lay up to try to preserve my score. I am not incredibly confident in my 3-wood off the deck though, so that figures in if I am having a great round. My game is inconsistent enough to where one bad shot can change my whole mindset.

 

The way I see it, if you had fun doing it, you made the right decision. Obviously, if you are in a tourney situation or have a partner that is relying on you, there are other things to consider.

[Gross]

Yesterday after my tee shot on a pretty short par 5 I knew I could reach the green in 2 with my 3 wood, however I would have to hit it dead straight or else I would be in the traps. I knew that getting out of the traps wouldnt be that big of a deal anyway so I went for it. I ended up in the trap but got it out fine and ended up parring the hole anyway. So I guess going for it didnt help me or hurt me so it was worth it.