When inside 100 yds

[Jaywun]

Do most of you walk off yardage, go by feel, or rangefinder? Last round I was horrible at 40 50 60 70 etc. I didn't take time to walk off ydg. Not sure if it was my swing or judgement. I was short on almost all. Ideas?

[TaylorMadeTaylor]

I go by the fairway yardage markers. At my home course they are very accurate (I checked them all with google earth) but at some courses they are way off.

[nikeman6]

I usually get peek of the sprinkler head to get an idea of the yardage, then pretty much by feel...trusting my experience and touch (or lack of :-/)

[Jaywun]

Hacker, please explain google earth

[zeg]

I usually either pace my way in from the 100 yard marker or just eyeball it based on that marker. If I'm within about 30 yards of the green and there's a bunker or elevated edge that must be cleared, I'll often walk up to the green and count paces on my way back, both to scout the landing area and to get a more accurate distance.

[Stretch]

Feel. Your brain knows how hard to hit it. Just try and avoid distracting it by thinking about how much you don't want to flop into the bunker in front.

[Wildcat]

~50 or in (judged by whether I'm halfway between the center of green and 100 yd marker) is feel. I'll walk off anything 60-100, as I'll switch wedges at ~80.

[Zeph]

Rangefinder, then feel.

[Gordon McTavish]

Feel / Shot Visualisation. If I knew I was 66 yards away or 74, I still wouldn't know precisely how long / hard to swing to produce that distance anyay!

[8.5_Drive]

NO time for rangefinders for that sort of distance.

The only time i would find them useful if for 130-200 yard shots.

Everything else if feel/judgement.

[mazzamouth]

  Jaywun said:

Hacker, please explain google earth

I'm not hacker, but with Google earth you can measure distances on the earth... it is pretty handy sometimes,a nd it can be pretty close.

[DBC]

With the technology, theres no reason NOT to use a Rangefinder. I admit, I used one for the first time this week, but I know at 41 yards out I can drop my 56 degree next to the pin every time with a 7:30 swing.

[Fatphil]

To me these are the most difficult shots in golf...so don't beat yourself up too much. Anyone can sweep a 460cc driver off a tee or a GI 7iron off a fluffy lie...but the precision needed to cleanly strike a 60 yd lob wedge to a precise target requires a tremendous knowledge of the golf swing. If mid handicappers pull it off 2 or 3 times a round that's just luck. To watch a low handicapper or a pro do it with consistancy to me is really fun to watch. I try to force myself (with limited success) to start my practice sessions hitting lob wedges from 50 yds in to about 30 feet. That ingrains in my head the proper hand action that needs to bleed thru to the long game. It only takes me about 15-20 balls but it improves my practice (or game) significantly.

[Quinn07]

I use my uPro to get an idea of how far I need to fly it to carry the green or a bunker. If no carry is needed, how far I might have to run it up there. I find that has really helped me with my feel for hitting those types of shots.

[kpaulhus]

I use my gps for a number to the flag, unless its inside 85 yards. If thats the case, its all feel. Play a low spinning shot if its windy, and when its calm I usually play it 5 yards high and long and let it spin back to the flag.

[Leftygolfer]

  8.5_Drive said:

NO

Really?? This is the only time I find them to be useful for me. I am just not that accurate from outside of 130 so I can go off a guess but inside 100 I feel I can really dial in the yardage and get a good look at birdie. And not enough time? It takes all of 5 seconds to pull it out of the bag, shot the flag, get the distance, then make a decision on what kind of shot I want to hit depending on wind, green firmness, all that jazz. When I forget it (which I've done recently) I definitely didn't have the same confidence and results.

I guess I am not typical after reading other post. This is my strength as I am a wild driver and poor iron player. from 65 yards I expect 10 feet.

[saevel25]

I have a GPS unit, other than that, i would just pace off from 100 yard marker. If i see my ball ahead of me, i will pace off as i walk up to the ball to save time. What my brain did over time was register feel with thinking about the number. So its not like i consciously make a half swing, thinking, 50 yards is a half swing. I just think 50 yards and i just take a few practice swings and go. Theres no thinking of were my club should be in the backswing.

[glock35ipsc]

I have a very simple free golf GPS program that I found online and loaded onto my Blackberry. It is not your typical golf GPS that actually shows the course layout, but it can be used with Google Maps to see your position on the course. You go online and set up your profile which includes choosing clubs and the distance you usually play each one, then choose all of the courses that you want. Their list of courses is huge! For each hole at a given point it will tell you the distance to the front, middle and back of the green, along with the recommended club based off of your settings.


When playing, I just set my phone to silent. Then I'll open up the program, select the course, and leave it open until the round is over. When I pull the Blackberry out of it's case, it takes all of 2 seconds to see the 3 distances. Then I grab a club and go. It will automatically advance to the next hole, or you can manually advance it.

I have 4 different wedges I can pull out, so it comes in very handy for me.