Scared of Par 3 's Help!

[Shindig]

  anotherday said:

One thing that helped me was something I read on one of these forums or heard on the Golf Channel.. Par 3's are not scoring holes. You should be fine with getting out of there with a par. Now, you're like me where I'm perfectly happy with Bogey or Double Bogey sometimes.

I wrote something to this effect at the end of the 2009 season: http://thesandtrap.com/b/the_numbers_game/birdies_on_the_pga_tour

[goodguy96]

I would say Just address The ball Take A deep inhale And Exhale Then a few waggles Then just hit the ball to the safest point in the green away from any Possible Troubles near the green....... Also try picking Up a copy of the stack and Tilt golf swing Book, It`s Easier to play good golf In a Shorter Golfing season with less practice! Try this link to learn the basics  of the Swing! http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/stack-and-tilt/stackandtilt#slide=2 P.S I have only been playing for One and a Half years And have experienced Amazing Results especially with the driver! I can now hit Sweet High Push draws with little Work at all!  Good luck! Experience Experience Experience h http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/stack-and-tilt/stackandtilt#slide=2

[meenman]

  gjsuicide said:

Originally Posted by gjsuicide

I dont understand the thought process behind par 5s being easier for a beginner.  Par for us is a great score.  Bogey is what we strive for.  In that case it takes 5 or 6 decent shots on a par 5 to get what we want, and only 3 or 4 on a par 3.  Not only that but par 3s are short, where the situation calls for the easier clubs to use.  I thought that par 5s are easier for pros because they are trying to get below par, and they can consistantly reach the greens in two shots.

The difference is, on a par 5, most noobs can make a mistake and fix it with a good 3 wood. There are 2 par 5s on my home course that I dont fear because I have 2 shots to be in approach range, whether it is crappy driver / good 3 wood or good driver / short iron. With a par 3, one bad shot can make double bogey an acceptable (and best possible) outcome.

[roobatooba]

Thank you for all the advice . I have a few days to prepare for my next golf outing and i will definitely prepare for the par 3's by trusting my yardages and not thinking so much . I find many reasons why i will fail at the par 3's but not enough reasons why i will nail them so instead of having unrealistic expectations , i'll be real with myself and build on good shots.

[mp33]

I saw a statistic a few years ago where Tiger was something like 1000 under par on the par 5s but was over par on the 3s.  If they are tough for the pros they are going to be tough for us.  Don't beat your self up on them,  shoot for the middle of the green and work on your short game.  Good luck.

[iacas]

  mp33 said:

Originally Posted by mp33

I saw a statistic a few years ago where Tiger was something like 1000 under par on the par 5s but was over par on the 3s.  If they are tough for the pros they are going to be tough for us.  Don't beat your self up on them,  shoot for the middle of the green and work on your short game.  Good luck.

For as long as I've kept stats, I average about +1.11 on the four par threes in a round. I average about +1.81 for the 10 par fours, and I'm -0.65 on the par fives.

So my scoring averages for each of the types of holes are:

+1.11/4 = +0.278 on the par threes.

+1.81/10 = +0.181 on the par fours.

-0.65/4 = -0.163 on the par fives.

The best strategy for every par three (and approach shots on par fours, frankly) is go for the middle of the green .

It will pay off far more frequently than going for it, without question.

[roobatooba]

Sound strategy , will employ it on Tuesday when i go out.

[VOX]

I have a slightly different approach. I read years ago that almost any handicap player would do better to take the club that will get them to the back of the green if hit perfectly. Most mid to high handicappers club themselves based on how far they hit a given club in the one out of ten times they flush it. Here is the theory:

If you hit the club perfectly (10%), you will be on the back of the green putting.

If you hit your typical shot (60%), you will be in the middle of the green putting.

If you mishit it (20%) you will be on the front of the green putting.

If you hit a top, pop-up, snap hook, flare (10%), oh well...

[Bryan SD2]

Par 3's are great....

You've just hit your best drive of the day.  You're right in the middle of the fairway!  In fact, you hit your driver just as far as that long hitter you are playing with... you both now have XXX yards to the green from the short grass.  Tee it up and hit the green!!  Take your two putts and get out of dodge.

[noobgolfer]

I think it is psychological thing where we think of a par-3 as easy and we take it easy. I do the same thing so I would say go back to the basics.

[the19thhole]

  VOX said:

I have a slightly different approach. I read years ago that almost any handicap player would do better to take the club that will get them to the back of the green if hit perfectly. Most mid to high handicappers club themselves based on how far they hit a given club in the one out of ten times they flush it. Here is the theory:

If you hit the club perfectly (10%), you will be on the back of the green putting.

If you hit your typical shot (60%), you will be in the middle of the green putting.

If you mishit it (20%) you will be on the front of the green putting.

If you hit a top, pop-up, snap hook, flare (10%), oh well...

This is exactly the approach I use on all holes. Worst case is I catch it spot on and I'm at the back of the green. The way I see it is I'd rather have 2 putts from the back than an up and down from off the front.

[ochmude]

Par 3's scare the crap out of me as well.  The thing is, nearly every hole on every course, there's nothing good behind the green.  At best you'll find thick rough.  Often you'll also be facing a somewhat punishing uphill lie and a green sloping down away from you.  If you're extra unlucky, you'll be met with woods, sand, or even water...plus that green still sloping down away from you.  So as I stand on the tee, looking at a green that's absolutely reachable for me, I start to think about the thousands of times I've caught a short iron thin and hit a line drive 50 yards past my intended target.