Long par 3 / Tight Par 3

[Sai-Jin]

Originally Posted by moparman426

For someone playing off a 14, the 7i and down (numerically higher) should be scoring clubs for you.  Hell, I am a 17 and am extremely happy when I am in range to use these clubs, or have the opportunity to knock one close with PW on really short par 3's (135y), or teeing off with a 7i on a 185'er.  Honestly, I don't see how you got that low with no confidence using the scoring clubs.  If it was a one time thing, then forget about it.....if it's all par 3's, then you need to hit the range more often and leave the driver in the bag.  Start with your wedges and work your way up.  Pick a target down range for each club, and go after it.  Do you mind me asking your age?  Just curious because in another post you said that you get "super tired" before you can finish your rounds and have trouble finishing.  An exercise program may be in your near future.

***Edited for typos because trying to correct them during posting is impossible***

My driver is one of my best clubs.  next would be my short game clubs . Oh, I get tired simply because everyday I go to gym and I still train myself and teach my students from Japan.

I have to say it's 50/50 with Par 3s for me. And 1 miss usually leads me to a +4 stroke that hole or more if I'm really ticked.

And this usually happens when I'm facing this Par 3 with 2 big trees on each side, water in the front and on the right , thus the target is nothing but the green itself...

I really think it's a mental thing... because after the Par 3, everything is fine and I'm happy

[Steel]

on most par 3's there is a place for a good miss, figure out where it is and try to get up and down from there, the worst you will make is bogey.  Most 200+ yard pars 3's leave you some room in the front, figure out haw far it is to the front of the green, not the middle and hit something that will just get you there, using the same theory get up and down. post some pictures of the par 3's you are having trouble with, would like to have a look at them.

[TourSpoon]

When you are warming up, make sure to hit the clubs you will need for the par 3s as a rehearsal.  Hitting that 7 iron well a couple of times before your round will give you some confidence when you get to that hole.

I also like the idea of knowing where to miss.  On longish par 3s, the front is often the place that is easiest to get up and down.  Hitting it over the bunker on the back side of a raised par 3 is certain death and most likely a bogey or worse.  Playing under the hole, or to the side with the least amount of trouble gives you a peak at birdie and two putts for par.  Missing in a good spot takes the big numbers out of play and gives you a chance of up and down par or bogey at worst.  By choosing a good strategy and executing, you avoid the big numbers that add up quickly.

I hope this was helpful.  Good luck.

[GaijinGolfer]

Originally Posted by Sai-Jin

Actually, I have been wondering, easier swing but one extra club still goes the distance needed?

For example, if I need an i7 for 180 yds , I can take an i6 and swing easier , yet it'll still go 180 yds?

You could also grip down an inch on the club for more control.  That and maybe work on your short game more.  That way, even if you miss the green you still have a good chance of scrambling for par.

[Sai-Jin]

Thanks, and yes it helps, Tourspoon. I'll think about it the next time.

I think for me it's not about iron striking per se, rather I get tense when faced with Par 3s from previous failures.

TitleistWI: Are you in Japan?

[Sai-Jin]

Thanks, and yes it helps, Tourspoon. I'll think about it the next time.

I think for me it's not about iron striking per se, rather I get tense when faced with Par 3s from previous failures.

TitleistWI: Are you in Japan?

Darn, I don't know it kept double posting... how do I delete my post?

[GaijinGolfer]

Originally Posted by Sai-Jin TitleistWI: Are you in Japan?

Not at the moment.  I lived in Japan for 8 years when I worked there as an English teacher.  A couple years ago family obligations forced me to move back to America.  I lived and worked in Nagoya, so most of my friends are OK but I did vacation in the Sendai quite often, so Im familar with the areas that have been effected and Im familar with Fukushima and where the power plant is/was.

Its a weird feeling to see places on TV that youve been to getting washed away by a tsunami.

[Sai-Jin]

Oh ok. Because I'm from Japan. Born in Kyoto, moved to Nagoya.

Anyways, my report as promised.

The bad:

My muscles were TIRED yesterday. I mean I can actually feel them they are at their limit even before I head out.

But I tried golfing anyways... I couldn't keep my body from moving left on downswing and I couldn't complete my backswing, it ached a little.

I was having a tough time keeping my head still to even strike the ball. It was a double bogey and non-pure striking day. Miserable.

The only thing I was able to do was my short game and putts. I think I need a couple of days break from Golf to recover.

The Good:

I took the advice from you guys in here.

1, On the shorter par 3s where there's water in the front and trees on each side, I landed the ball infront of the water.

Then I chipped the ball to green and 2 putt for a bogey

2, On the long par 3s, unfortunately I hooked the ball ( tired body, can't keep still) , but it went far enough that all I need is a 60 yds

pitch shot to green from the left side of it and bogey the hole also.

So I need to make this way of thinking natural in my head to make my Par 3 fright less and less I think.

Thanks for the advices.

[boogielicious]

Sai-Jin,

Another way to approach this is to try and play to your best shot.  We had a similarly difficult par 3 at my league course last year.  The water par 3 was 180 - 190 yards to the pin (depending on tee) on average with water 3/4 around on an elevated green with steep slopes to the water.  the pin placement usually favored a draw to get on the the green.  A fade would get wet and over the green was a bunker.  Basically, any miss of the green was bad.

I tried a bunch of ways to do this, but bottom line was I needed at least 170 yards in the air with a draw to hit the green.  Add wind and this would be a two club jump in distance because it was like a wind tunnel.

My best shot last year was the 100 yard pitch.  So I finally, after weeks of trying other ways, took my sand wedge off the tee and hit to 100 yards.  A pitch and one or two putts later, I would finish the hole with no worse than a bogey.  I parred it twice with this approach.  Until I have a comfortable an accurate 180 yard high draw, I will approach this hole this way.

[Sai-Jin]

Hmm.... that's a nice tactic... I'm going to try my 52* 110yds, then same club 3/4 swing then putt.

I'm quite accurate with my 3/4 swing to green usually. Going to try that.

[tristanhilton85]

I've found that as I work on my irons and my ball striking improves, par 3s have become easier.  For instance my last round I played the four par 3s at 3 over; that was three pars and a triple.  The first one I made GIR and two putted, the second one I was on the back fringe but would have had a multiple break put from about 60 feet so I chipped on and made the putt.  The third one was the one I screwed up... first shot was pin high to an elevated green but was in the bunker to the left... first sand shot stayed in, next one out into the rough green side, fourth on the green and two putted for a six.  The last par 3 I was on the front fringe with a pretty straight 20 footer for birdie which I left on the edge of the cup and tapped in for par.

The common thread with all of these holes is that off the tee I hit good, crisp shots (9 iron on the first, then a 4 iron, 8 iron, and a PW).  Even the one I took a triple wasn't a horrible tee shot, I just lined up wrong and missed to the left.  If you work on your ball striking and become confident in that par 3s will get easier.  Also, like one of the posters said above, if there is a par 3 course around you somewhere you may want to play there a few times... it can only help.

[GaijinGolfer]

Quote:

Oh ok. Because I'm from Japan. Born in Kyoto, moved to Nagoya.

Cool.  Small world.

[rossvanwyk]

You've had some decent replies thus far but I'll add my 2c.

One thing I've really learned in golf is that if you overtry and don't relax and bring other factors into your game, you're toast.

Basically the tougher the shot you have, the more you need to tell yourself to relax. If I am looking at a long iron shot, 200 yards plus, all I'm telling myself is to relax, slow it down, make good contact. That's it. And these days I have zero trouble crunching long irons and with par 3's in general.

To me, it sounds like your problem is very much a mental thing. you've now got a fear of par 3's and expect to score badly on them. I don't think you need to take more club and swing easier. Obviously you need to assess the hole. Where is the danger etc? Then take the appropriate club and swing easy and make good contact. You've just got to break that fear and expectancy of shooting a bad score on par 3's.

This damn game is 90% mental in my opinion :)

Good luck.

[Sai-Jin]

Thank you. And I agree with you.

I do over try and stress myself.

Going to try to relax and not care and just focus on my swing next time.

This game is interesting... I think it teaches the mind

[Sai-Jin]

Well, 3 rounds and I think I manage to conquer my fear of par 3s now...

I bogey them at worst now.

Going to try a tougher course and see how it goes

[WUTiger]

Sai-Jin ,

Long downhill 208-yard par 3: hit your tee shot straight, let the hill help you out. If you don't get on, leave yourself a chip from in front of the green.

The shorter hole with water, etc. Do you have open flat space to the left or right of the green, or behind the green? If so, aim to be on or beyond the green with a smooth swing - take enough club, you rarely bounce onto a raised green. This go long plan assumes you won't have a steep downhill shot for your second. Most holes have a safe area, if you can just find it.

Be like a karateka - work with the hole, not against it.

Good luck.

Edit: sp. on karateka...

[Sai-Jin]

speaking on the downhill long par 3. So my 4H goes around 210-220 .

But it's a steep downhill. What club would you use if you were me?

The short par 3 is pretty much barricaded with lots of trees left and right. I hit beyond the green , on or infront of the green today.

This short par 3 is the toughest one for me still.

[boogielicious]

Sa-Jin,

If the 4H carries 210, then don't use it.  Use a club that will carry to the front of the green only, like your 5 iron.  If it is a big elevation change, you won't get much roll because the ball will be falling vertical when it hits.