Is Distance Really That Important for Amateurs?

[4Aces]

which is perfectly understandable. I've been arguing that you have to control distance. A flat spot 40 yards from the pin is preferable for amateurs than a 25 yard down hill shot to a tight pin. Likewise a 25 yards shot from a open end of the green is preferred to a 30 yard shot from the rough. It's all about putting yourself in a position to be successful. There are certain distances that every player has confidence in. If yours is a 50 yards sand wedge, and you have had more success with that why hit it to 40 yards?

We can sit here and pull up what ifs all day long. I don't agree that 100% of the time closer is better. Think smart, leave you with your best shot, and you will lower your scores. If you are a bad bunker player, 10 yards from the bunker can't be better than 30 yards outside the bunker. Each shot is different.

Thank y'all. It was fun, but this just isn't what I was looking for. From reading the threads there is a group dynamic here that just doesn't work for me.

Fairways and greens, or if you prefer deep in the rough and closer

[nick1998bunker]

Yet not everyone hits the ball the same length. Bubba has wedges into greens and Luke Donald does not.

Yes that's why I said it is important in tournament golf from the same tees [quote name="billchao" url="/t/78188/is-distance-really-that-important-for-amateurs/700_100#post_1091061"] That's not exactly how having different sets of tees works. They have different distances, but playing further back has more to do with skill level than raw distance potential.[/quote] I'm not exactly sure what you are talking about [quote name="golfbarefoot" url="/t/78188/is-distance-really-that-important-for-amateurs/700_100#post_1091113"]Sadly, it's true. Distance is what it is. The dude iacas' responses are accurate. Anyone that thinks otherwise in regards to distance off the tee, is mistaken. It's vital.. And makes the game a whole lot easier.... Think of it this way... otherwise there would only be one set of tees, the tips....[/quote] its vital how? So if everybody hit the ball different distances there would be 1 set of tees? That's only the case in tournament golf where it is important. I don't understand that logic Are yall talking about distance from ball to hole or the distance one hits the ball? If yall are talking from ball to hole then yes being closer is better. I've been talking distance with each club

[Dave2512]

Try this next time at the range where conditions are equal . Pitch 20 shots to a target 25 yards away and 20 to one 50 yards away and observe the pattern and proximity to the target.

[nick1998bunker]

Try this next time at the range where conditions are equal . Pitch 20 shots to a target 25 yards away and 20 to one 50 yards away and observe the pattern and proximity to the target.

Soi guess that was my confusion I thought we were talking how far one can hit the ball.... Which I'm pretty sure this thread is about but idk. It would be dumb to start a thread asking is it better to be 30 yards away or 230

[dkolo]

which is perfectly understandable. I've been arguing that you have to control distance. A flat spot 40 yards from the pin is preferable for amateurs than a 25 yard down hill shot to a tight pin. Likewise a 25 yards shot from a open end of the green is preferred to a 30 yard shot from the rough. It's all about putting yourself in a position to be successful. There are certain distances that every player has confidence in. If yours is a 50 yards sand wedge, and you have had more success with that why hit it to 40 yards?

We can sit here and pull up what ifs all day long. I don't agree that 100% of the time closer is better. Think smart, leave you with your best shot, and you will lower your scores. If you are a bad bunker player, 10 yards from the bunker can't be better than 30 yards outside the bunker. Each shot is different.

Thank y'all. It was fun, but this just isn't what I was looking for. From reading the threads there is a group dynamic here that just doesn't work for me.

Fairways and greens, or if you prefer deep in the rough and closer

Look, man, no one's trying to discourage your participation or gang up on you. People are just trying to offer you information that you should use to actively and critically evaluate your current beliefs. I think the hangup you're having is you're really honing in on ways to make the shorter shots harder. You need to think of it, as I mentioned earlier, as all things being equal , being closer is better than being farther away. That's the crux of the argument people are making. Of course I'd rather be 100 yards out with nothing but green in front of me than 10 feet away behind a tree with an angry bobcat running at me. But that's not the point. People are just saying that players tend to have better success rates when closer because margins for error increase and players of most skill levels are better at figuring out weird distances than they think they are. That's it. I've enjoyed your other posts in other threads already. Don't feel attacked, just be open to what people are saying.

[Dave2512]

Soi guess that was my confusion I thought we were talking how far one can hit the ball

We are but the result of being closer (distance) is why it is important.

[billchao]

We can sit here and pull up what ifs all day long.

You're the only person doing that, and since you didn't quote anyone, it's hard to follow who you are replying to. This thread isn't about the innumerable variations and possible scenarios that one may face on a golf course, but just a discussion on generalities. [quote name="4Aces" url="/t/78188/is-distance-really-that-important-for-amateurs/720#post_1091125"]I don't agree that 100% of the time closer is better. [/quote]Nobody has said that. Did you read the thread? [quote name="4Aces" url="/t/78188/is-distance-really-that-important-for-amateurs/720#post_1091125"]Think smart, leave you with your best shot, and you will lower your scores. [/quote]Agreed. The thing is, the shorter shot is most often the best shot, despite what people may think. Even PGA Tour players believe in this fallacy, and their approach stats are very well documented.

[nick1998bunker]

We are but the result of being closer (distance) is why it is important.

Ok then back to my argument that in rec golf when your plying the correct tees, which is why you have so many options compared to tournament golf of 1, you should have the same CLUB in as a guy playing 5 tees up. And you hit it farther so you are farther back, generally speaking. If your playing different tees I hope you are not closer than a guy who hits it 20 percent less than you because your doing it wrong. Don't mean to argue with anyone just nobody has provided any reasoning that would sway me from my own. Yall basically say its better, quoting PGA pro stats( tournament golf) and whatnot, but this thread is about amateurs which I assume means for recreation sense, where they usually have 4+ tee options

[Dave2512]

Ok then back to my argument that in rec golf when your plying the correct tees, which is why you have so many options compared to tournament golf of 1, you should have the same CLUB in as a guy playing 5 tees up. And you hit it farther so you are farther back, generally speaking. If your playing different tees I hope you are not closer than a guy who hits it 20 percent less than you because your doing it wrong. Don't mean to argue with anyone just nobody has provided any reasoning that would sway me from my own. Yall basically say its better, quoting PGA pro stats( tournament golf) and whatnot, but this thread is about amateurs which I assume means for recreation sense, where they usually have 4+ tee options

Forget about tees and consider only your own shots. This isn't about that. Just consider all things equal are you in a better position to score closer or further from the green. It is that simple.

[iacas]

Yall basically say its better, quoting PGA pro stats( tournament golf) and whatnot, but this thread is about amateurs which I assume means for recreation sense, where they usually have 4+ tee options

Nick, drop it. From any set of tees distance is important.

[4Aces]

The OP asked about distance versus accuracy. I believe in managing distance and hitting for accuracy. The ability to control your distances and hitting to a target is better than raw distance and no control.

Here is the background, someone said I must be a short hitter, that is far from the truth. I use to bang away at every par five in two, reach for a driver on every par 4. Then I worked with a pro who showed me, and proved to me by analyzing score cards, I was costing myself strokes. The final "proof" for me was participating in the USGA handicapping and slope classes and understanding how slope is calculated.

The pro and I rode each hole at my home course. We looked at all the trouble around the greens on the par 5s. Then we scoped back and looked at all the landing spots 100 yards and in. I started looking for targets around the green that I could reach comfortably and consistently. The closer the better, but sometimes the closest high percentage spot wasn't next to the green. I started to eliminate doubles from my game. I may have also given up the occasional bragging rights on an eagle. But hitting a five iron layup to an open flat area and leaving me a full wedge into the green lowered my scores from the days of being in a bunker, or water, OB, high rough, or putting for eagle.

Then we looked at the par 4s. We took my average driver distance (265 carry at the time) and stopped there and looked what was around. On a few holes using a three wood off the tee allowed me to hit a wider landing area and eliminate a lot of trouble. I began to eliminate some double bogeys from those holes. My handicap dropped from a 10-13 to a 5-6 without improving any other portion of my game.

So I do not have an argument to those that believe banging everything as far as they can hit it will improve their game. But I've been there, done that, and it wasn't a very good way for me to play. I play better from the fairway. I play to as high a percentage shot as I can.

There isn't anymore I can add. There are some people here with products to sell and promote. I get that, I'm not fitting into that mold.

[Dave2512]

I would ignore the short hitter comment, seemed random and off the wall.

[Lihu]

. . .

Then we looked at the par 4s. We took my average driver distance (265 carry at the time) and stopped there and looked what was around. On a few holes using a three wood off the tee allowed me to hit a wider landing area and eliminate a lot of trouble. I began to eliminate some double bogeys from those holes. My handicap dropped from a 10-13 to a 5-6 without improving any other portion of my game.

. . .

Right, the main takeaway is that you had the distance you needed to score lower with a 265 yard driver carry. This is what we are arguing about, not that you use a shorter club on holes that require you to use something other than your driver off the tee.

[iacas]

USGA handicapping and slope classes and understanding how slope is calculated.

I have rated courses for years too. I'll be captain in a year. FWIW. [quote name="4Aces" url="/t/78188/is-distance-really-that-important-for-amateurs/720#post_1091137"] So I do not have an argument to those that believe banging everything as far as they can hit it will improve their game. [/quote] Nobody is saying hit everything far every time. It's a gross misinterpretation to say that. That is precisely zero people's position.

[nick1998bunker]

Forget about tees and consider only your own shots. This isn't about that. Just consider all things equal are you in a better position to score closer or further from the green. It is that simple.

Ok I'm starting to see where you draw your reasoning. I brought up the tee difference because that seems to be the only thing that differentiates pro golf from amateur golf in that amateurs in recreation have a variety of options. I guess if you were proposing a single tee then distance is helpful on open straight holes due to a closer proximity for approach, but is detrimental on tougher holes off the tee due to less accuracy caused by more distance. All I know is that when I play the Reds at like 4600 I shoot the same score as 6800 but make more birdies and more doubles. So then it comes down to is the distance accurate enough for the course. So I would say it is helpful on easy courses detrimental on tight and difficult courses, or you could break it down by hole. On my home course it evens out but if I'm on its better if im off its worse Nick bunker OUT

[iacas]

All I know is that when I play the Reds at like 4600 I shoot the same score as 6800 but make more birdies and more doubles.

Then you have a ton to learn. That is bad.

[4Aces]

Really? I've been reading it is always better to be closer. That a half shot from closer is always better than a full shot further away. Someone suggested hitting balls on the range and comparing results. I'm looking at real golf courses with real undulations, hazards, and suggesting that finding your best place to hit your third from on a par five is better. Lots of people are disagreeing with me.

I have rated courses for years too. I'll be captain in a year. FWIW.

Nobody is saying hit everything far every time. It's a gross misinterpretation to say that. That is precisely zero people's position.

I haven't actually rated courses, I was too busy with positions at my club. I took the course because it was offered at my club and I was really interested. I'm such a golf nerd. As you can tell.

[iacas]

Really?

Yep. Nobody is saying always, regardless of hazards, etc. Zero. Especially not me. LSW readers know we clearly define "The Rule" and it is NOT all about distance no matter what.