Par 5's - why can I not score on them?

[enis750]

I do not know why, but I can not score on a par 5 for the life of me
I have only birdied 2 par 5's all year and it is frusterating as "heck"

I am a par at best, but a lot of times a bogey
if I could just gain a few on these, I would be shooting much lower
anyone else find this, or am I just a hack????

i can go for it in two or lay up and still the same score

any advise or ideas??

[David in FL]

any advise or ideas??

Tennis is fun!

Sorry, I just couldn't resist.......there just isn't anything worse to a good golfer than a bogey on a par five. Ask me how I know........ One of two things is happening. You're either not hitting the green in regulation, or you're 3-jacking when you do. Unless you're playing par 5's that are terribly long, whichever is the cause, I'd approach fixing it the same way. Find your most comfortable lay up yardage.......for me it's 95 yds with my gap wedge......then practice hitting that shot until you're sick of it. At your level of play, you should be able to hit it to less than 20 feet 8 times out of 10. Then you just have to have the self-discipline to play every par 5 to that yardage. Easier said than done though...... If you're still 3 jacking from 20 feet or less, please refer back to my first sentence. BTW......I pick 95 yds because that's one time I plan for a virtually perfect shot from whatever club will get me there. If I miss the lay up by 10 yds, I still have a comfortable shot with the same club in my hand.

[TN94z]

I have been on the same kind of streak lately. I used to really do most of my scoring on the par 5s because of my distance. I don't know if its my swing changes that I am goin through, but I par them all the time now and it drives me crazy!! I know what I am doing but oh well...I'll chalk it up to swing changes for now.

[enis750]

Tennis is fun!

tennis......thx jacka$$ !! hahahahah!!!

i dont play a fairway wood, so i am usually hitting a 3-4i in there are some deep par 5's where i play, but some shorter ones too that is a good idea, picking a yardage like that 115 is usually pretty good for me for a 52 (gap) or 85 for a 56 (sand) maybe i will start pulling out the ol 5i instead and trying to put one close i am always in trouble when trying to get it on in 2 pitching over a bunker or a tight pin, then leaving myself a long putt for birdie my goal every round is to no 3 putt or get a double if this happens i am usally in for a good score...but a 3 putt on the ol par 5's and there's that bogey again

[opie]

for me I need to hit my long irons/hybrids closer and control my misses. I had 2 par fives last Sunday that I would have reached but I went wayward a little in the worst possible place which equaled chipping up and then 2 putting for par

[sp33d]

Me and you have the opposite problem. Par 3's kill me. It's rare that I dont birdie/par a par 5.

I suggest hitting it harder :D

[TN94z]

tennis......thx jacka$$ !! hahahahah!!!

My favorite yardage is as close as I can get with a controlled swing. I lay up when I am in trouble off the tee. Otherwise, I will bang my 3w as close as I can. I like having little bump and runs and chips more than a full swing many times.

[goblue107501]

I am with the others in that you should try, for the time being, laying up to a predictable distance. I only go for the green if I (a) know I can fly the ball on the green easily and (b) there is very little trouble around the green, or (c) there is a safe spot that I can play to if I don't hit it well. The last thing I want is to be 40 yards short and in the rough having to hit over a bunker. Many times have I been 250 out on a par 5 and hit a 8-iron to get me just inside of 100 for a perfect GW. I could hit a perfect 3-wood and be just short, but if it goes off line just a little or I don't hit is square I could be in trouble. It is just not worth the risk. Unless of course there is very little trouble around the green. I don't necessarily make a ton of birdies doing this, but the chance of birdie is pretty high and a par is in the bag.

It might also be that when you are going for it, you are leaving yourself a bad yardage. No one wants to have a 40 yard shot that is all about feel and touch. My chances of hitting a ball really close are better from 95 than from 45. It is just an easier swing to make.

[CG031]

I am with the others in that you should try, for the time being, laying up to a predictable distance. I only go for the green if I (a) know I can fly the ball on the green easily and (b) there is very little trouble around the green, or (c) there is a safe spot that I can play to if I don't hit it well. The last thing I want is to be 40 yards short and in the rough having to hit over a bunker. Many times have I been 250 out on a par 5 and hit a 8-iron to get me just inside of 100 for a perfect GW. I could hit a perfect 3-wood and be just short, but if it goes off line just a little or I don't hit is square I could be in trouble. It is just not worth the risk. Unless of course there is very little trouble around the green. I don't necessarily make a ton of birdies doing this, but the chance of birdie is pretty high and a par is in the bag.

Agree. My score got a lot better on Par 5's when I realize I don't need to bang a 3 wood towards the green every single time I got the chance. It's not always the best play. Just hit a solid 8 or 9 iron down there, then wedge it in. As long as you put it on the green, you should have a par, and if you get it close you'll get the occasional birdie.

[CarlSpackler]

I feel your pain. I have a par 5 that dog legs left at 100 yds. with OB left, so going for it is crazy. I have been in position A so many times but seem to always push it in the right greenside bunker. The good news is, I am getting quite good at getting sandy pars out of it.

[enis750]

never thought about hitting a way shorter irons in, like a 7 or 8..hmmm.....
might try that
i am usually about 275-285 off the T (for real, i dont BS about being big w the driver - and my gps tells me so!! hahahaha)
but yeah, maybe a 7 or 8 in

485 yd par 5 -> 265 off the T (being conservative), 8i = 150yds., all thats left is 70yds...i could probably even hit a 9i, to make it a 80-90yd S wedge in

this sounds like a sweet plan....other than laying up like a girl!!! hahahahah!!!!!

thx dudes

[SpacklersEdge]

never thought about hitting a way shorter irons in, like a 7 or 8..hmmm.....

Laying up is a good plan and all, but from 220?? If you trust your short game, the risk of being in some trouble should be offest by the fact you could make Eagle or Birdie. If your short game is good you can make birdie even when you miss the green.

Maybe you need that fairway metal, 220 would be a perfect 5 wood or so.

[Leftygolfer]

I have heard alot of people talking about laying up in this thread. I have also heard alot of people in another thread based on research that it is best to get as close to the green as possible. I have the same issue. It isn't about trying to go for it but justing being out of position after my second. I don't have the length to get on par 5s in two. I am long enough to get a short wedge but my usual courses DL left and I can't fade the ball so I hit an iron of the tee on two of the three where my league is. No issues with that. I just totally mess up the seconds. That is my problem. Not the decision I make but I totally screw up the swing. I am not sure what to do. I take an iron off the tee to put in the fairway 300 yards from the hole, then I will hit my 5w or 3 iron to get into solid wedge range, and put it in the trees. I don't think I would score better if I layed back. My iron play is weak at times but my wedge game is good, to me worth the risk. Last time I played, I really played the par 5s well. It is just poor swings for me.

[TN94z]

I am with the others in that you should try, for the time being, laying up to a predictable distance. I only go for the green if I (a) know I can fly the ball on the green easily and (b) there is very little trouble around the green, or (c) there is a safe spot that I can play to if I don't hit it well. The last thing I want is to be 40 yards short and in the rough having to hit over a bunker. Many times have I been 250 out on a par 5 and hit a 8-iron to get me just inside of 100 for a perfect GW. I could hit a perfect 3-wood and be just short, but if it goes off line just a little or I don't hit is square I could be in trouble. It is just not worth the risk. Unless of course there is very little trouble around the green. I don't necessarily make a ton of birdies doing this, but the chance of birdie is pretty high and a par is in the bag.

I am very much the opposite of this. I can hit a bump and run from anywhere around the green, or even a little chip shot and it will be much more predictable than a 100 yard shot. Let me make one thing clear about my statement here...here is a small description of the par 5's: 1st) It is long with no real chance of getting there in 2. My 3w usually lays me up to about 80 yards which is a good SW. 2nd) There are bunkers to the left of the green and there are trees about 20 yards to the right of the green. If I hit it left in the bunker its okay because I like bunker shots. I hit 3w here about every time. If I hit a good drive a 3w gets me there easily. If I hit a bad drive, a 3w puts me around 60 at the most which is a good LW 3rd) With a good drive, a 3w will get me there. With a shorter drive a 3w gets me a nice chip. Hazard on the left and wide open on the right. If I hit a fairway bunker, I hit a 5i. 4th) A good drive and a 3w gets me there. If the 3w is short its in the bunker and I like bunker shots. This is why I play my course the way I do. I have as much confidence in my 3w as I do my GW, so hitting it for my 2nd on a par 5 is well worth the difference....for me

Laying up is a good plan and all, but from 220?? If you trust your short game, the risk of being in some trouble should be offest by the fact you could make Eagle or Birdie. If your short game is good you can make birdie even when you miss the green. Maybe you need that fairway metal, 220 would be a perfect 5 wood or so.

This is kind of what I mean. I am usually at a yardage that I feel comfortable with...with the exception of the first hole, I feel I can hit all of them in 2 with a good drive.

[imtomtomim]

It takes a good 3rd shot to score well on par 5's. In order to get a good 3rd shot, you've got better chances from a decent 2nd shot. Be it a layup, take it. If you want to score well when you're not playing well, only hit the shots that you have at that moment. If you're 3 iron has been floosy, hit an easier club, hell even a 7 iron and then hit an 8 or 9 into the green. Don't hurt yourself with that second approach shot with a shot you can't pull off.

[P3R3]

Play for birdie and not eagle. Also hone in you mid range wedge play.

[plickerman]

Agree. My score got a lot better on Par 5's when I realize I don't need to bang a 3 wood towards the green every single time I got the chance. It's not always the best play. Just hit a solid 8 or 9 iron down there, then wedge it in. As long as you put it on the green, you should have a par, and if you get it close you'll get the occasional birdie.

Agree with above two posts. I don't go for par fives in two unless I can hit a 4 hybrid into it, with a smooth controlled swing, not one that requires an "extra umph".

[enis750]

Laying up is a good plan and all, but from 220?? If you trust your short game, the risk of being in some trouble should be offest by the fact you could make Eagle or Birdie. If your short game is good you can make birdie even when you miss the green.

that was purely an example par 5, it depends what course i am playing, as i am not a member anywhere

220 isnt a hard distance for me just the thought of being on in 2 must psych me out...cause i cant makeit happen often for me, par 5's are not where u want to make a bogey ok if i make one on a par 3, i would like to make it up on a par 5...but having trouble doing so this is my first year golfing seriously again (in a few years)...i used to be around a 2 hcp or so (back in the day) so little things like this frusterate the hell outta me, cause i know i can make it happen....just havin some hard times right now