Is it stupid to lay up?

[DriverTees]

Let me explain and tell something about myself. I started playing golf just over a year ago, just before I turned 15. I played field hockey before, so with a couple of joined lessons with my parents, youtube and some books I quickly got a nice swing going.

I have a brain quirk, as you could call it, which means that physical stuff gives me migraines very quickly. Still I run a 10K every day, hit the gym, and then normally vomit due exhaustion. (My docter says it's fine)

Anyway, enough of the boasting. I'm not very long, hitting my 7 iron only 130 meters (ish) and my 3-Wood about 200. The thing is though, I hit the ball very, very solidly. Still I lay-up buttloads. I'm not going to go for the green outside 170 normally, instead I lay it up, pitch it close to the hole and stroke the putt.

I was playing with someone on my golf team (who by the way needed 5 strokes more) and he said I didn't play like a man. I have to pay for my own balls, which definately encourages playing safe. It's a fantastic feeling being on the fairway for almost the entire time, and not losing a single ball in 4-5 rounds. I'm still only a 8 handicap, so I think that playing it safe will help my score.

But does it?

[Marinemike]

You're playing just right. You're managing the course properly. Tell your buddy that he's an idiot, and never let him create doubt in your mind. I can tell you have very solid confidence in what you do. High self confidence is way more manly than going for it outside of your comfortable range.

In fact, going for it outside of your skill and confidence level is the more childish thing.

[DriverTees]

That's nice to hear :) Because I'm only 16, there is quite a macho atmosphere. I'm not a very long driver either, especially not compared to the others. My teacher always says I should go for it, although he plays like an heroic pigeon. He never, ever lays up. Hitting a 3 wood from the rough 220 meters uphill over water is an option for him.

I hope you're right, though. I read quite a few psychology and filosophy books, so maybe that's where it comes from. And my dad is a lawyer :) I'm honest, though :P

[SergioFan23]

I'm not very long, hitting my 7 iron only 130 meters (ish) and my 3-Wood about 200. The thing is though, I hit the ball very, very solidly. Still I lay-up buttloads. I'm not going to go for the green outside 170 normally, instead I lay it up, pitch it close to the hole and stroke the putt.

What ever you feel comfortable with.

So long as your short game skills are honed; If you are confident with your wedge play to get you close after laying up, by all means utilize it. Develop your own style on the golf course, one that works for your game. We all have different swings and skill levels, so the wise choice is to play which ever way feels most comfortable for you. A good short game will help lower your scores significantly. Also, tell your golf teammate to piss up a rope. There is no such thing as 'playing like a man'. Smart golf is knowing your limits and playing within your comfort zone.

[taxpayor]

The only time you should never lay up is when playing in a scramble, especially if you have been drinking a bit.

[Knockglock]

Let me explain and tell something about myself. I started playing golf just over a year ago, just before I turned 15. I played field hockey before, so with a couple of joined lessons with my parents, youtube and some books I quickly got a nice swing going.

Your playing it very smart! Don't let other people rag on you, you have a much more solid and consistent course management strategy then most golfers

[iacas]

And yet, having not tried it the other way, who knows? Maybe you'll score better going for things, particularly if you hit the ball solidly and don't get into much trouble.

The study someone posted a week or two ago about how golfers score better the closer to the green they get is all the proof I'd need if I were you to try to go for it unless there are severe hazards/trouble near the green. A 20-yard chip - or even a 30-yard bunker shot - is preferable to a 110-yard wedge.

It has nothing to do with "playing like a man." But you can outthink yourself, too, and you may be guilty of that. Again, particularly if you strike the ball solidly.

[Eric19]

well lets just say when i was 16 i was a skinny little kid still. i played baseball my whole life so i was always in shape but was never really a big power hitter, but as i grew i got a bit stronger and added distance to my baseball game. same goes for my golf game, and im sure as you get bigger and stronger you will add distance to all of your clubs. so layups may become less and less in your game.

BUT!!!! as long as you play to your skill/own game, keep at it man! personally i need to lay up more instead of going for everything and playing to the weakness of my game which is 60-70 yards from the green.

anyway im rambling you are young and the distance will come. trust me as long as you have the athletic ability you can perfect your game, but at the same time it sounds like you are doing the right thing already

[imtomtomim]

I've always been a go for it guy. Be fearless, it's just golf, it's not like hitting a bad shot is gonna kill me. Even within the game, it's not like I'm gonna hit the ball into a spot where it's impossible to get back onto the green. If you're worried about taking the ball out of play from outside of 170, ok, go ahead and lay up, but it almost seems to me like you've got this fear of hiting a daunting shot. The way to play great every day is to minimize damage and sounds like you do that wonderfully, but a little can-do attitude may take away the need to lay up.

[Zeph]

I always try to get as close to the hole as possible. The closer I get, the better my chances are for getting up close. That said, I'm not hitting a 3 wood all over the place. I don't want to risk accuracy to get closer. I always go for the green if I can. On a par 5 with 250 left I'll lay up to about 100 yards with a 7i or something like that.

I'd rather be in the fairway 150 yards out than 100 and risking finding the rough or worse.

[kafka01]

I was playing with someone on my golf team (who by the way needed 5 strokes more) and he said I didn't play like a man. I have to pay for my own balls, which definately encourages playing safe. It's a fantastic feeling being on the fairway for almost the entire time, and not losing a single ball in 4-5 rounds. I'm still only a 8 handicap, so I think that playing it safe will help my score.

Let me get this straight - we are talking par 4s and long par 3s where you lay up from outside 170m?

A strategic layup at a par 5 - totally fine, but laying up on par 4s and par3s, thats not how this game is ment to be played (esp. if you are young, and your length should be more than sufficient to reach the greens in regulation). I dont know what kind of course you play, but shouldnt be the design of a course allow for "bailout" areas where your f.u. shots can end up? Now lets look from it at a different perspective - whats your acutal scramble percentage for you lay up shots (something in the high 30%?) - and what do you think is your success rate for approach shots (probably the same) - but with the later method, you at least give yourself the chance for a lower score - and actually go low. Another thing - the last thing you might think about during a golf round is the "value" of your golf balls you might lose. If you play expensive balls and are afraid to lose them, just go for cheaper ones.

[whetstone]

When practicing, I go for it. If I'm playing for a score, or betting, I go with what I know is going to work. Sometimes that means laying up.

[shortstop20]

Next time he says that say, "That's the reason why I have to give you 5 strokes".

[kris]

Whatever makes you comfortable. i tend to play like you. There's no way in hell I'm taking the 3W out of the bag 250 out even from the middle of the fairway. I'd rather take out my 5,6,7i and lay up to a good wedge distance in the middle of the fairway. if I pull the 3W i risk unneeded trouble.

[DriverTees]

Thanks for the replies people. A funny thing though: I had sex for the first time yesterday, so this morning I play a round (4am) and I just went for it. Played 7 strokes less than usual. I think this kind of bliss will pass away, but thank god nobody ripped on my playstyle.

And as a rule of thumb, I always go for it UNLESS if the odds of something going wrong (and me reaching the green in more than 2 strokes on a par 3) are pretty big.

[Eric19]

Thanks for the replies people. A funny thing though: I had sex for the first time yesterday, so this morning I play a round (4am) and I just went for it. Played 7 strokes less than usual. I think this kind of bliss will pass away, but thank god nobody ripped on my playstyle.

post of the year lol

[enduro]

I feel a whole lot better when I nail the big shot than how bad I feel when I miss it. My misses I look at another opportunity to make a great shot. So I usually "man up" and go for it.

Here's another thing too. Your friends who can hit for power but are wild with it right now will eventually dominate you when they learn to hit it accurately enough. Eventually that power will get worked out and they will out golf a small hitter. This is just an element of the game.

Back when I started I could have done better just using a 9-iron since I never mis-hit it. But I used other clubs because that's how you get better.

You won't improve your game by laying up all the time. It's nice right now but there is no roof for improvement. 170 yards out, you need to attack that hole. Work on your swing and try and develop more power so you can confidently attack that 170 yard shot with a 7-iron or6-iron or something.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Hell no. I lay up on par 4's sometimes if i have a bad lie in the rough. Id get it out to about 20 or 30 yards rather than trying to cream an iron from a tough spot. If youre at a distance where youre not comfortable with the distance, take the club you know you can hit everytime. I think its a smart move, what youre doing.