Driving Strategy

[RickAstley]

A course I play regularly has water down the right hand side, and jail left. How do you all approach these types of drives? Do you play down the left and fade it back towards the water? Or do you put it down the water line and draw it back to the fairway? If you choose fade, it most likely takes driver out of play because a straight drive would be trouble due to the jail left. The last few times I've played I've hit a fade with a 5 wood and just accepted the longer second shot in.

[jslane57]

Without any knowledge of the length of the hole, it is hard to answer the question. I'd tend to club down till I had a shot I know would stay in play, without leaving a crazy second shot. Aiming a driver at trouble is not usually something I'd ever do, unless I really just feel the shot.

[RickAstley]

Lets say it's about 450 yards. There is a tree on the far side of the fairway that is 270 away, but going past it is jail and you'll have to punch out short. That's why I typically pull 5 wood and hit it 250 and just take the 200 yd approach shot in.

[jslane57]

Lets say it's about 450 yards. There is a tree on the far side of the fairway that is 270 away, but going past it is jail and you'll have to punch out short. That's why I typically pull 5 wood and hit it 250 and just take the 200 yd approach shot in.

Sounds like it is just a hard hole and you're doing it right. What do the low hcp golfers at your club do on that hole? I know I'd rather scramble for a par from 200 yards out than be hitting 3 off the tee any day.

[RickAstley]

Sounds like it is just a hard hole and you're doing it right. What do the low hcp golfers at your club do on that hole? I know I'd rather scramble for a par from 200 yards out than be hitting 3 off the tee any day.

 

Not sure how others play it, as a friend and I just joined out there recently and have only played it 3 times. He's about the same skill level as me, but he typically hits driver on this hole and has mixed results.

[jslane57]

Sounds like it is just a hard hole and you're doing it right. What do the low hcp golfers at your club do on that hole? I know I'd rather scramble for a par from 200 yards out than be hitting 3 off the tee any day.

 

Not sure how others play it, as a friend and I just joined out there recently and have only played it 3 times. He's about the same skill level as me, but he typically hits driver on this hole and has mixed results.

Next time you're out there, ask the fellas in the pro-shop. Maybe there is a different line you're not thinking of, or maybe you're playing it perfectly. I'd guess the latter. Good luck!

[ironmikes]

I would usually take driver and fade it . my fade is usually not a lot of curve and takes the left side out of play, very accurate.

[BeerPerHole]

Love those tee shots that make you think.

 

At this point in my swing evolution I'd go with the fade. But if with the 3-wood - straight down the shoot. How many yards out is that left jail that eliminates driver?

[RichieHunt]

I would have to see the hole, but at 450 yards I would have a bias towards hitting driver because I'm not too thrilled at the prospects of hitting 3-wood and having 190+ yards into the hole.

 

The main thing is to not get too concerned with strategy and be more concerned with focus. Focus on what you want to do and where you want to hit it and nothing else should matter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RH

[Mcgeeno]

I've worked hard to only have a one way driver miss but even this hole would be a little tricky.

 

I have a driving iron that is my go to straight club. 250-260 I get out of it. I use that when the chips are down and thats what I'd probably do, even leaving myself a longer approach in.

[g8a_golf]

Some holes are simply not worth the risk of a lost tee shot. I think you have it right. Play short of the trouble and take your chances from 200 yards out.

[Yrrdead]

So if the hole's par was 5 , how would you play it?

[thepinkbomber]

Now think how would you play it in a 3 day tournament and you can't have a penalty. May get lucky with one or two rounds but to go three days without a penalty. Club down to the club you know will be safe then try to get up and down if you don't from the long approach. Still probably lower score over three days than in jail with a big number or a water ball.

[Petunia Sprinkle]

In my saner moments, as I struggle with irons (I just don’t get ‘em) and hit woods well, I don’t mind a long shot into the green. In my not so sane moments, I’d try to bounce a driver off the cart path and into the hole for a glorious ace.

[dornstar]

I use Scott Fawcett's driving methods (

), so the first thing I'm gonna ask myself is whether or not I can fit my driver into the hole (is there 65 yards between penalty situations)?

 

Using this hole as an example (it's not 450, but it'll do), the answer is yes...

 

 

Next, I'll find the middle point in that spread...

 

 

Then I'll play my stock shot off of that. No point in screwing around trying to hit a shot I'm less proficient with on a hole like this. In my case, I like to push draw the ball, so I'm going to start my ball just right of that center line and try to draw it back to it. Aim point would be just off the right side of the bunker. It gives me room for if I leave the ball out to the right and room for if I over-draw the ball which is generally my tendency. More than 90% of my shots should fit into this triangle "scatter pattern" which is really the goal of your plan. If you're a 10 handicap, that % may only be 75-80% of your shots. You can't gameplan out your truly horrific shots. There's no saving that other 20-25%. Your just trying to give yourself your greatest chance of success and to fit as many of your shots into the hole as possible whether that's my 90% or a 20 handicap's 60%.

 

[HitEmTrue]

A course I play regularly has water down the right hand side, and jail left. How do you all approach these types of drives? Do you play down the left and fade it back towards the water? Or do you put it down the water line and draw it back to the fairway? If you choose fade, it most likely takes driver out of play because a straight drive would be trouble due to the jail left. The last few times I've played I've hit a fade with a 5 wood and just accepted the longer second shot in.

 

14 hcp working the ball both ways?

 

How about having a stock shot...one that you don't force either direction. Ideally it won't curve much. Aim it appropriately, and fire away. If it doesn't fit a particular hole, go to plan B.

[RickAstley]

I use Scott Fawcett's driving methods (

), so the first thing I'm gonna ask myself is whether or not I can fit my driver into the hole (is there 65 yards between penalty situations)?

 

 

 

Interesting video. I like the thought concept. I'll definitely have to use that. This hole in particular is pretty narrow if you're trying to have a clear shot into the green in 2. If the concern is just getting the drive in play and not taking OB or water, then it's considerably wider.

[RickAstley]

14 hcp working the ball both ways?

 

How about having a stock shot...one that you don't force either direction. Ideally it won't curve much. Aim it appropriately, and fire away. If it doesn't fit a particular hole, go to plan B.

 

Typically hit a draw with everything except driver. When I try to draw the driver things get way out of control, so that's typically a little fade. Either way, 14 is due to short game and not playing consistently. Used to be a lot lower when I lived on a course a few years ago.

 

That's all besides the point. While I was asking about a specific hole, the question was more geared toward strategy on these types of holes in general. Do you work the ball toward or away from water/OB?

[Cwebb]

I'd setup down the left side of the fairway and picture a straight flight to a slight fade. If it continued to not "fit me eye" and wasn't working, then club back to a fairway wood to minimize it from going through the left side.

 

In terms of "which way to work it". All depends on what shots you're capable and comfortable with. Last thing you want to do is stand over a challenging tee shot, trying to do something that is low percentage for you

[sb944]

I use Scott Fawcett's driving methods (

), so the first thing I'm gonna ask myself is whether or not I can fit my driver into the hole (is there 65 yards between penalty situations)?

 

Using this hole as an example (it's not 450, but it'll do), the answer is yes...

 

 

Next, I'll find the middle point in that spread...

 

 

Then I'll play my stock shot off of that. No point in screwing around trying to hit a shot I'm less proficient with on a hole like this. In my case, I like to push draw the ball, so I'm going to start my ball just right of that center line and try to draw it back to it. Aim point would be just off the right side of the bunker. It gives me room for if I leave the ball out to the right and room for if I over-draw the ball which is generally my tendency. More than 90% of my shots should fit into this triangle "scatter pattern" which is really the goal of your plan. If you're a 10 handicap, that % may only be 75-80% of your shots. You can't gameplan out your truly horrific shots. There's no saving that other 20-25%. Your just trying to give yourself your greatest chance of success and to fit as many of your shots into the hole as possible whether that's my 90% or a 20 handicap's 60%.

 

 

It's funny, I have heard Scott twice talk about this subject. First he calls it bad course design. Holes should have some bail out plan, being long and having not enough room to miss a drive is just bad golf. He also had a story on a hole like you mention where he hit 7i and played it like a par 5, while others bombed it ob and got 6's and 7's.

 

In saying that he did stress not to use 3w for the sake of it, his numbers still usually agree a Dr is best in a lot of situations. If there is room for you to miss and not get penalty, you have to do it.

 

For your hole staying short of the jail seems ideal, just think of it as a par 4.5 at that point.

[andrue]

Time was when I'd have just gone with my driver. Unfortunately after this summer it's 'under repair'. So I'd probably go with a 6i and just work my way up.

[mcs4]

I generally would go with my stock shot and aim accordingly. I've tried the options of working the ball one way or another (I'm also a mid-capper who has been better in the past), but I don't think there's enough advantage to be gained there to outweigh the benefits of sticking with your go-to shot unless you are a *very* good ballstriker.

[aussieb]

The larger penalty literally and mentally is the water. You don't aim at that unless you have confidence in your shot shape, which you don't. Play driver with a fade up the left with 30 yards on the right of your target. If it goes straight and you're stuck, your potential score will still be better than wet. When you play short with over 200 in, you'll likely bring in trouble around the green and/or be playing 3 with something other than a putter. That's the risk/reward of the game

[Exactice808]

Risk vs reward.

 

 

Hole 7 - 395 yards

 

this hole is dead into the wind though. 10-15mph on a daily basis, on a bad day can be 20mph+

 

 

I have never used Driver EVER on this hole unless I was bored, pissed or my score is so high it didnt matter

 

5 wood or less take my medicine accept bogey at best and move on.

 

 

263 yards carry for the water. - That aint happening ever, I average 250 total, 263 into the wind is like 280 carry yeah no.

 

OB left, - that white line pass the trees on the left, is a canal and homes after that.

 

The point where the water narrows the the fairway is 24 yards. - That is threading a needle, If I can barely get GIR from 150 yards out with a 30 yard green why would I even try with a driver

 

The middle point of the fairway and lay up distance is. 200 yards into the wind, from here its 150 yards to the green into the wind so lets say, 225 layup giving you 170-180 total carry distance to the hole.

 

 

 

I am assuming your hole is something crazy like this. Again unless you know your limitations....take your medicine and accept bogey and make it up on the next hole? Thats the best I can do with my current skill!