Middle of the fairway, going for the green... But how???

[FortAsel]

I've had this problem for the last month... I've been driving into the middle of the fairway more times than usually, but for some reason I cannot hit more than 9 gir per round. My short game is in pretty good shape but I have no chance in some of the spots that I put myself in, and that's mainly because of the shot that I choose to hit.

Consider this scenario: 170 yards to the front of the green, plus 10 yards to the flag. The hole is protected by a bunker, and has big bushes right of the green.
The flag is on the right side of the green, close to the bushes and the greens aren't very fast, I'd say an 8.5 on the stipmeter. No wind and the hole is competely flat.

How would you play this shot, considering that you are 2 under through 9 holes, and have a good chance of winning the tournament?

[jambalaya]

Stay away from those bushes.

[kc8kir]

Well, I suggest fading the ball (left to right) with the fade aimed to land in the center. This is a precision shot that plays the percentages to setup par.

If you hit it straight, you are still on the green, and just have a long putt to setup a par tap in.

If you make the fade, you have a mid putt for birdie (a decent chance), and no chance of going into the bushes.

If it slices instead of fading, you'll either hit it dead on (luck providing) or end up just to the right of it. Should stay out of the bushes provided you don't get a bad bounce.

It sounds like the pin is in a really tough spot, so shooting dead at it is not the smart play if you are trying to preserve score. If you are trying to chase a leader, I say readjust that fade so the perfect fade aims at the flag. This is only if you have enough green to the right of the flag to guarantee you the green if you slice (we gotta stay out of the bushes).

[JaY_B]

How would you play the shot if you were in a practise round... or playing bad.... or playing for money, they key is to play your own game regardless of the situation.

[Elevation]

I'd take the most lofted 180 yard club I had to ensure getting it over the bunker fronting the green and aim for the middle/right side of the green....take your par and move on and who knows you might make a long one for birdie. Why go right at the flag, mess with the bushes on the right side and bring double or maybe worse into play. It's not like you NEED birdie at that hole at that moment.

[JaY_B]

I would hit a shot you could really commit too, from what I have read long left is safe so I would take a club less and really focus on hitting a draw.

This is a good play as you are forcing yourself to commit to a shot, hitting a fade while leaving a margin of 'bad shot' error does bring the sh*t in to play if you over fade it.

[Franco!]

Go right for the pin.
If you hit a bad shot, whatever.
At least you went down throwing punches.
That's what I'd do.

[clemsontiger]

I agree with kc8.

Hit the fade shot. Hit the ball at the center of the green and with a slight fade. If you mess up, you are still in the middle of the green. Getting too aggressive can cause major problems and you could be in the trap or worse in the bushes and bring some really high scores into play. With hitting the center of the green, you can easily make par and if you are fading or drawing the ball good considering where the pin is placed, then you have a really good shot at birdie.

[powerfade]

Cut a 6-iron in.

Edit: If you're not comfortable with this, then hit a straight shot to the middle of the green.

[beung]

Kind of depends on what your natural shot is....I am guessing you play a draw as your natural shot?

Two reasons for that guess, one being that because the trouble is to the right but off the green and a right pin is an obvious call for a fade.

The other reason I say this is because many of the higher single digit caps I know, including myself, all have a draw that usually are hard to control. The really low single digits I know generally have a fade as their natural shot.

If your natural shot is a fade, play the fade. Aim middle and let the natural fade bring you closer to the hole. Hitting it left, straight or too far right you should be safe.
If your natural shot is a draw, play the draw. Aim somewhere between the flag and the middle of the green. I sometimes will hit a block or even a fade when trying to my natural draw so you want to leave yourself room on the right for that so I wouldn't aim at the flag. Also I sometimes draw too much and so sometimes aiming middle of the green isn't enough to keep me on the green.

[FlopShotArtist]

Fade a 4i left to right in the center of the green.

[yeis20]

aggressive 7 iron playing the draw it sounds like you play. If you are feeling it and confident in the shot, play it like you mean it.

An old adage I always lived by in sport: once you are on top, stand on their throat and dont let them breath, not even a gasp.

[powerfade]

aggressive 7 iron playing the draw it sounds like you play. If you are feeling it and confident in the shot, play it like you mean it.

A 180 yard draw (with a 7-iron no less) over penal bushes on the right to a right hand pin?

No disrespect, but maybe this type of course management contributes to your high handicap?

[cwcaesar]

I would try to fade a 4 iron in there. That would be the safe play for me.

[yeis20]

oops, saw the 170, did not account for the extra 10 yds

Yeah, I would hit a 6 at that.

[JaY_B]

A 180 yard draw (with a 7-iron no less) over penal bushes on the right to a right hand pin?

I duno, that's what I recommended (shot shape anyway, not club) I personally would not like to hit a fade as would be worried about the ball drifting to far right (as this is my weak shot), for me personally an aggressive draw is more likely to take the bushes out of play than a fade, superior course management is designed to fit an individuals game, not text book decision making.

[niblick]

2 under, chance to win? 6 iron, right at it. Should carry the bunker and run out towards the pin. My natural shot shape would work away from the trouble.

[powerfade]

...An old adage I always lived by in sport: once you are on top, stand on their throat and dont let them breath, not even a gasp.

BTW - That's an excellent approach to match play