Shooting at the middle of the green?

**ronaldkuntoro** · May 10, 2010

I just watched a Hank Haney video tip on shooting an approach shot to the green. He said it's better aiming at the middle of the green for better accuracy.

What do you guys think? Is it better to shoot at the pin or the middle of the green for lowering your score?

Most Pro I saw on the PGA Tour shot at the pin and putt about 10 feet to the hole.

**Titleist_ProV1x** · May 10, 2010

That would depend on the pin location and slope of the green, you cannot always go for the pin, even pros avoid the pin sometimes and aim to the middle so that when the ball lands it will roll to where they have the best chance to make birdie or even par at times, but what Haney means is that for high HC it's best to aim for the center for better accuracy, yes

**JetFan1983** · May 10, 2010

This question's a layup so I'll chime in:

There are such things as "sucker pins" that even pros with horrible course management skills know not to go after. But for us Ams- especially the bad ones (me)- you should be aiming for the center of the green every time and playing the percentages. Now, obviously, above anything else, we're supposed to be having fun out there, so if your round is shot or you just feel like being aggressive that day or if that's your preferred style, then by all means, fire at pins. But if you're trying to break into the 80s, or even the 70s for that matter, you should probably be firing at the middle of green and taking your chances from 20-40 feet with the putter every time.

Slight pushes and pulls will still find the green, and you probably won't short side yourself as often with a one-in-ten chip or pitch when you miss.

***iacas*** · May 10, 2010

Center of the green, all the time, no exceptions.

Pros only go after sucker pins when they NEED to to win (and these days, most seem content to finish second or third).

Pros only really "go after" pins on the sides of greens if they fit their stock shot shape - and even then they err on leaving the ball in the middle of the green.

Amateurs "go after" far more pins than PGA Tour pros. By far. Which is stupid.

**DavidFehertysBike** · May 10, 2010

Center of the green. But like all things it also takes some situational awareness. There are some situations where course knowledge comes in. If you can go at a particular pin where you know the recovery wouldnt be difficult for you if you missed, then go after it. But otherwise slap it into the middle and try to make a putt. If you need to be in a certain section of the green to ensure a reasonable two putt, consider that also.

**Zeph** · May 10, 2010

Depends on how the green is designed and how the surroundings are. If I would rather miss a bit off the green at some side than risk fi. finding water, I will not aim towards the center. Usually, my goal is to get the ball onto the green, preferably towards the center. I can't even hit the green consistently at this point, so aiming at the flag wont help a whole lot.

**Ktrap** · May 10, 2010

Middle of the green always, your more likely to make a long birde putt than a chip in (unless your Phil Mickleson) which I'm not..!! lol

**srjorion** · May 10, 2010

Center of the green is always excellent advice for most of us, but I've gotten to where I'll aim for different parts of the green to avoid big trouble or hazards. I only go after more difficult pins where if I miss I don't end up in a hazard and I have a wedge in my hand.

Great example, on one of the holes at my old course there was a pot bunker and water close to the right side of the green. Left of the green was wide open. Sometimes I'd aim as far as the left edge of the green if the wind was left to right. Even if I missed the green to the left it was a very easy chip up. I made a lot of pars on that hole, a few birdies, and hardly ever a bogey.

**shortstop20** · May 10, 2010

There's always exceptions, like bunkers covering the front center and back center of the green, but for the most part, yeah, aiming for center of the green is the best play.

**Leftygolfer** · May 10, 2010

The only time I go for pins is with wedges. Other than that, I am just not that accurate with my irons. Pins on the right suit me much more since I am exclusive to the LH draw. For that pin, I will aim at the middle or LM, and let the ball work towards the pin and spin right when it lands.

**Greg** · May 10, 2010

Center of the green? Heck im happy to get it close to the green on approach. The only time Ill aim for the pin is on chip shots if Ive missed the green and trying to get up and down to save par. Im happy to hit any part of the green on my approach shots and be putting for birdie, even its from 60 ft away, though most of the greens are small enough at the courses i play at that if you hit the green you're never more than maybe 35-40 ft from the hole.

**sean_miller** · May 10, 2010

What do you guys think? Is it better to shoot at the pin or the middle of the green for

As a rule, centre of the green is the target, but there are exceptions to every rule. It depends on the lie, the yardage, how my ball striking is that day, what the hazards are if I miss or get shortsided. I find myself firing at the centre of small greens. If the green is large and there are a lot of undulations I'll go at the flag even if it's near the edge of the green - why risk a 3-putt from 40 feet just to increase my GIR stat?

**soloredd** · May 10, 2010

Lately, I've been playing to front of the green on most shots. If my SkyCaddie is saying 165 to middle but the front is 156, even if the pin is in back left, I'll take a club for 156 or 160. Reason for this is I hate being above the hole or going off the back of the green. If I come up short, most of the time it's ok and just requires a chip up or a putt. I'm ok with that.

**GaijinGolfer** · May 10, 2010

Go after the center of the green every time. Theres a reason they call them, "sucker pins".

APowell0057 · May 10, 2010

If the pins are tucked and your hitting at the center of the greens, you can actually be worse off IMO. If your hitting the ball solid, why not at least try to hit it reasonable close. By going at the middle of greens, you'll be putting A LOT more pressure on your putter which isn't always good under pressure. I think its a good idea for very high handicaps, but I just dont understand why you'd do it unless you were a great putter or just not a solid ballstriker.

**shortstop20** · May 11, 2010

Because if you hit to the center of the green, you should have a solid chance at two putting for par unless your putting isn't good.

........and as we all know, par ain't a bad score.

Not even the pro's go for anywhere close to all of the tucked pins, so what does that tell you?

**ronaldkuntoro** · May 11, 2010

Go after the center of the green every time. Theres a reason they call them, "sucker pins".

Ok so aiming at the center is a good decision. But.... what if there is a water hazard in front of the center of the green ?

Imagine there is a pond along the fairway and the front of the green is water hazard. The left side of the green is connected to the fairway.....

**Shanks A Million** · May 11, 2010

It's laughable to think of amatuer golfers shooting for pins. Even the lower handicap golfers are not accurate enough to shoot for most pins, unless they have a lob wedge. The tour pros we watch on TV are the best ballstrikers on the entire planet, and they have information on the green, the slopes, etc. Even they don't often shoot for the pin, but rather the safe spot.

Most golfers I know can't even drop balls on the 100 marker at the range, let alone aim for a pin. I notice most people at the driving range just spray balls left and right all day, and don't even worry about where they land. When you get them on the course, of course, they have no idea where the ball is going, but they aim at the pin anyway. Obviously, they spray it, miss the green, chip, 2 putt, bogey. Stupid way to play golf. On the other hand, I score better not because I have a better swing, but because I pay close attention to where the ball goes, and aim accordingly, then try for the center of the green, and aim away from hazards. I would rather have a 50 foot putt than a 20 foot chip.

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