How to attack the pin???

[In the woods]

You hear all the time... He really attacked the pin on that one... In my average round of golf, at the three courses I play consistently, there are a lot of greens that if your in the correct position, attacking the pin can be incredibly beneficial to you. I guess that really goes for any course actually!! My problem is that I want to attack the pin. I am confident in my iron play and my distance is usually spot on. I am tired of always playing for the center of the green when there is no reason that easy pin location couldn't be attacked. The question is... When attacking the pin, what is the easiest way to set your aim for such a small target? Do you aim at the pin or pick something closer on the same line? When I try I feel like I am aimed at it. Make a smooth swing that gives me straight ball flight but my actual aim is off about 99% of the time. I can hit center green but I want to score and get rid of two putt pars from the middle of the green. Ready for some one putt birdies!!!

[Zeph]

It's about controlling the shot and knowing how the ball will curve in the air. If it's unpredictable, you can end up hitting it left or right. Being able to aim and set up properly as well as knowing where the ball will go is a requirement to getting it close on shots like that.

If you struggle with aiming, try using an intermediate target. Pick a spot a feet or two in front of the ball to find the line you want the ball to go on. Look at the spot when taking your address position and make sure you align your body correspondingly, depending on how your swing works. Some might have to aim left, some right.

You can read more here: http://thesandtrap.com/forum/thread/39871/fixing-target-line-alignment

[Stretch]

I'll take all those two-putt-pars-from-the-center-of-the-green off your hands if you don't want them any more!

Seriously though, I think the most important thing is to have a very specific target in your mind. If it's the flag stick*, then don't think about anything but that flag stick when you're hitting your shot. Try and hold a mental picture of it, as clear as you saw it when you took your last look before focusing in on the ball. Then make a full, fearless swing. Do not try and steer the ball towards your target. Just let it fly.

(* Obviously, it doesn't have to be, even if you are "attacking the flag". On a long shot, I'd often rather aim at something bigger, like a particular tree behind the green that's right on the line I want. On short iron and wedge shots, I usually pick a specific landing area -- could be a quadrant of the green or a specific discolored patch of grass, whatever works for you -- and try to drop the ball right onto that.)

[Sean Dainty]

The tips in the 2 posts above are what I do for every shot and it helps immensely to aim correctly. However, if your feet, hips, and shoulders are not aligned, then you will have a hard time aiming consistently. Go to the range and lay a club down, between your feet and the ball, and aim it 5 yards left of your target. Use this to get the right alignment (also ensuring that your hips and shoulders are parallel to the club).

Here's a photo of the drill I use:

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by In the woods

You hear all the time... He really attacked the pin on that one... In my average round of golf, at the three courses I play consistently, there are a lot of greens that if your in the correct position, attacking the pin can be incredibly beneficial to you. I guess that really goes for any course actually!!

My problem is that I want to attack the pin. I am confident in my iron play and my distance is usually spot on. I am tired of always playing for the center of the green when there is no reason that easy pin location couldn't be attacked. The question is... When attacking the pin, what is the easiest way to set your aim for such a small target? Do you aim at the pin or pick something closer on the same line?

When I try I feel like I am aimed at it. Make a smooth swing that gives me straight ball flight but my actual aim is off about 99% of the time. I can hit center green but I want to score and get rid of two putt pars from the middle of the green. Ready for some one putt birdies!!!

I gotta say, most 17 handicappers I know are thrilled with all the 2 putt pars they can get.  I know that I'm tickled to have a chance for a birdie putt, no matter how far.

As far as getting aimed right, I use the spot method too.  I stand behind the ball and pick a spot on my line of play about 3 feet in front of the ball, then I never take my eyes off of that spot until I have the club set on the line.  Even then I rarely aim directly at a flagstick which is near the edge of the green.  I will almost always favor a point at least 10-15 feet toward the center to give me a better margin for error.  I hate short-siding myself.

[max power]

It's probably not time for you to start attacking the pin just yet.  When you get to the point where you're on most GIR while attacking the heart of the green attacking the pin is the next step.  Even at a 6.5-7.0 handicap it's often a stupid move for me to attack the pin.

[In the woods]

Don't let the handicap fool you gents.... I have been in a two year slump in getting off the tee. I was down around 8 or 9 for a long while but have been hurt badly by the inability to get to a good playable location off the tee. My iron play is actually the best part of my game. Followed by putting. Yes I am happy with two putt pars but I want my handicap to drop back down.

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by In the woods

. Yes I am happy with two putt pars but I want my handicap to drop back down.

Then keep getting the 2 putt pars.

18 of them a round will get you to a plus handicap very quickly.

The original question, "How do I attack the pin?" has got to be one of oddest golfing questions I have ever heard.

Aim for it. If your aim is good you'll be fine.

If you aim for the middle of the green and your aim is still OK, you'll have lots of shortish birdie putts.

If your aim isn't good enough to hit the green, or your ballstriking skills are not sufficient, then you've got bigger fish to fry than wanting to know how to "attack the pin".

If you can have a first putt of 20 feet on most holes, you'll be  a terrific player.

If your direction is off, and you don't hit the ball very well, noone can "tell" you how to be a better player.

Sounds like your driving is the problem. If you don't have a shot at the green, you're clearly not going to be "attacking the pin" The most you can be hoping for is a lot of one putt pars.

The birdies will take care of themselves when you find a few fairways.

[The Recreational Golfer]

Attacking the pin is not difficult if you make your plans carefully, but it does depend on the layout of the green.

Station two members of your foursome in surrounding bunkers, the deeper the better, for best cover.

If there are mounds around the green, secure them at all cost, for providing artillery support.

Amphibious assaults from a nearby creek or pond, if present, are contraindicated because they lack the element of surprise. There is generally too much activity in those places already, and they are watched.

Begin your attack by hitting a few balls over the green. This is an excellent diversion, since no one ever takes too much club. Golf balls flying the pin will cause great confusion.

Rush the pin directly from the fairway, the place where approach to the pin is least encountered, and thus least expected.

With escape routes cut off by your partners securing the bunkers and the high ground, you should be able to apprehend the pin without a struggle.

Golf is a simple game.

[WUTiger]

You can't attack every pin, even if you were a single-digit HDCP which you're not. On every day's pin mix, a good greenskeeper always throws in 3 or 4 "sucker pins" which look attractive, but leave you in  bad way if you don't hit a perfect shot. A failed attack on a sucker pin can turn an easy par into a bogie. You could end up short-sided - just off the green with little green to work with. Heroes who shortside themselves all the time have made lob wedges popular.  Or, you could roll a foot past the cup and trickle into the lake behind the green.

Even excellent golfers attack pins with caution. Make sure an unsuccessful attack will leave you on the green, and not in hell.

The main time I "attack the pin" is inside 160 yards with a left-to-right cross wind. I hit draw back against the wind, and often it settles in quite nicely. Most of the birdies I manage to get are with this shot.

As a 17 HDCP, you will get more chances to attack the green, or just drop it in the middle, if you put your tee shots in the short grass. You express confidence in your irons, so I assume you may produce adventurous tee shots on occasion.

[Gerald]

Actually it is very hard or even stupid to go for many pins, you can at many holes better go for the center of the green or to a safe area to putt from. If I can land the ball at a safe spot withing 20 ft ..... I will do so ..... even if it is 30 ft. ...... just make a 2 putt and you will be playing well into single digits.

Of course ...... if I have a opportunity to attack a pin with no hazards in the way ..... I sure will go for it, but there are many times that going for the pin means taking too much risk ..... if you fail ..... it is going to be a bogey or even worse.

So in all I would advise to play to the safe side, unless attacking the pin is the best option !

[max power]

And then there are days like I had yesterday, where you attack the pin repeatedly and successfully, and putt with the distance control of a pure beginner.  9 over par, 6-8 of those strokes born out of inexcusably bad putting.

Originally Posted by Gerald

Actually it is very hard or even stupid to go for many pins, you can at many holes better go for the center of the green or to a safe area to putt from. If I can land the ball at a safe spot withing 20 ft ..... I will do so ..... even if it is 30 ft. ...... just make a 2 putt and you will be playing well into single digits.

Of course ...... if I have a opportunity to attack a pin with no hazards in the way ..... I sure will go for it, but there are many times that going for the pin means taking too much risk ..... if you fail ..... it is going to be a bogey or even worse.

So in all I would advise to play to the safe side, unless attacking the pin is the best option !

[ohiolefty]

I shoot in the low 70's, and I probably 'attack' about 8 pins a round depending on where the pins are and the conditions. Some days...I'm going at 5 pins. So, first off, you're better off to worry about hitting the other 10 in the center of the green...hitting your other 12 or so drivers straight...meat-and-potatoes ballstriking.

When I am going at a pin, generally I'm trying to draw and fade the ball at it and making sure that I don't short-side myself. So, for example, if a pin is cut right...I'm hitting a slight draw into it that, unless I mess the swing up, I'm going to miss left of the pin if I miss. I'd rather have a 30 foot putt or a chip with plenty of green to work with than have to hit a 'hero' shot to a pin with nowhere to land the ball.

The other time I'd 'go at' a pin is if I have a LW in my hand from less than 100 yards to a reasonable pin placement. At that point, I'm trying to hit it inside 3 feet.

[Stretch]

Originally Posted by ohiolefty

The other time I'd 'go at' a pin is if I have a LW in my hand from less than 100 yards to a reasonable pin placement. At that point, I'm trying to hit it inside 3 feet.

You, sir, do not lack ambition!

Out of interest (not trying to dog you) I looked it up and the top tour players don't start averaging less than 3 feet from the hole until they are approaching (from the fairway) inside of 10 yards. From 10 to 20 yards, averaging 6 feet would have placed you in the top 20 in 2010. From 20 to 30 yards, it's 8 feet. 50 to 75 yards, 12 feet. 75 to 100 yards, 15 feet.

[kevin.chan]

I use Golfshot on my iPhone to see the layout of the course and green. The front edge and back edge distance are important info for my approach shot . And . If the pin are at the right side of the green , I will normally tee my ball to the left side of the fairway and vice versa for the pin on the left side. Sloping and grain of the green are important info too.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Stretch

You, sir, do not lack ambition!

Out of interest (not trying to dog you) I looked it up and the top tour players don't start averaging less than 3 feet from the hole until they are approaching (from the fairway) inside of 10 yards. From 10 to 20 yards, averaging 6 feet would have placed you in the top 20 in 2010. From 20 to 30 yards, it's 8 feet. 50 to 75 yards, 12 feet. 75 to 100 yards, 15 feet.

He didn't say he was always successful. When I'm within 100 yards I'm trying to hole out.

[Stretch]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

He didn't say he was always successful. When I'm within 100 yards I'm trying to hole out.

I'm happy for you, Norman Vincent Peale. On the other hand, it's also nice to have a rough idea of what actually constitutes a good shot in the real world.

[phillyk]

Originally Posted by Stretch

You, sir, do not lack ambition!

Out of interest (not trying to dog you) I looked it up and the top tour players don't start averaging less than 3 feet from the hole until they are approaching (from the fairway) inside of 10 yards. From 10 to 20 yards, averaging 6 feet would have placed you in the top 20 in 2010. From 20 to 30 yards, it's 8 feet. 50 to 75 yards, 12 feet. 75 to 100 yards, 15 feet.

I see the point, but it's annoying when people compare recreational golfers to playing professionals in terms of percentages or numbers for certain shots.  I'm not trying burn you on this or other people who do it, but you never know, there could be a person on here that can hit a ball to 3 feet every time from 100 yards, but the rest of his game might not be good.  There's a difference between making every shot good versus one type of shot amazing.  Pros do everything well, recreational golfers can be amazing at something and horrible at another thing.

Back to the point of this thread, when I attack the pin, I usually use many types of ball flights.  If the pin is tucked to the right, I'll hit a high fade from the center of the green, to land it soft and if it doesn't fade like I want it to, no whoop, I'm still on the green.  I do the same thing when the pin is tucked left, just hitting a draw.  It might not work all the time, but thats why I practice my short game.