What is your go to range for an approach shot for birdie? ( POLL)

[TimS65]

What's a birdie???? !!!!

[cipher]

What's a birdie???? !!!!

[rehmwa]

my "go to" range for a birdie?

well, I'm a crappy putter, so if I can hit it right next to the hole that helps

or get lucky and put it on the green so I can 2 putt helps

short answer is always, what I think is a CRAPPY chip from 50 yards is still closer to what I think is a great 8i approach from 150.....

closer the better

unless there is a feature to navigate (dog leg, hazards, weird lie, whatever) I'll always try to get as close as I can

that's why good layouts have those features

[k-troop]

<275 yds...on a par 5. The vast majority of my birdies come when I'm in range to get home (or close) in 2 on a par 5.

[mvmac]

I think a thread like this illustrates how false certain "golf truths" are.

How can you possibly not vote for the <60 yard option?

[billchao]

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[Golfingdad]

The <20 yard option is conspicuously missing :whistle:

Agreed. I'm wondering where the <10 and <5 options are too. (Fives too close though ... Too much finesse required ;()

[TimS65]

Agreed. I'm wondering where the <10 and <5 options are too.

(Fives too close though ... Too much finesse required ;()

Inches?

[9424tm]

I have never missed a putt that was less than 1 foot. But, I have missed and made every other shot. So, the only distance for me that is a sure thing or an absolute "go to" is less than 1 foot. Or in other words, the closer the better. A vote for anything else is complete ignorance.

[billchao]

I have never missed a putt that was less than 1 foot. But, I have missed and made every other shot. So, the only distance for me that is a sure thing or an absolute "go to" is less than 1 foot. Or in other words, the closer the better. A vote for anything else is complete ignorance.

In the context of the poll question, you'd be making eagle

[9424tm]

In the context of the poll question, you'd be making eagle ;-)

Good call. Then I change my answer to 1 foot off the green.

[boogielicious]

I would challenge anyone who voted other than '<60' to change their approach for the upcoming 2015 season as see how it improves their game.  I will never go back to the "layup to favorite yardage" mentality.

[vangator]

I have never missed a putt that was less than 1 foot. But, I have missed and made every other shot. So, the only distance for me that is a sure thing or an absolute "go to" is less than 1 foot. Or in other words, the closer the better. A vote for anything else is complete ignorance.

I'd rather be putting too! I've done a Hale Irwin tap in miss. I was only a couple of inches and I missed.

[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9424tm

I have never missed a putt that was less than 1 foot. But, I have missed and made every other shot. So, the only distance for me that is a sure thing or an absolute "go to" is less than 1 foot. Or in other words, the closer the better. A vote for anything else is complete ignorance.

I'd rather be putting too!

I've done a Hale Irwin tap in miss. I was only a couple of inches and I missed.

Playing a Men's Club match I once missed an 8" putt... still don't know just what happened except that I took it too casually.  I learned that you don't take any putt for granted if anything is on the line.  I've played matches against guys who I knew were just so-so putters, and knowing that, I didn't concede anything over a foot.  I won a hole or two over the years that way too.

The closer to the hole you can leave the ball, the better one's chances, no matter if you're playing from 200 yards, 50 yards, or 10 feet.   The only time I'd say that doesn't automatically apply is if being closer leaves a crappy lie or obstructed line of play.

[colin007]

I would love it if one of these days one of the resident unbelievers on this site would actually try to learn something. They can be told what the stats are but till they try out for themselves, they won't learn. Take ten shots from 100 yards. Take ten from 50 yards. Measure. Stop thinking you're better from farther away.

[Pretzel]

I've done a Hale Irwin tap in miss. I was only a couple of inches and I missed.

I did that in a tournament this summer when I had the lead actually. I leaned over to tap in the ball, which was sitting on the edge, and whiffed. Completely missed the thing, and I ended up coming in second place.

[Spitfisher]

I think a thread like this illustrates how false certain "golf truths" are.

How can you possibly not vote for the <60 yard option?

The purpose of the poll was to get a rough idea of what yardages players are comfortable hitting consistently for launch, distance and the balance of accuracy.

After reading thru these answers & poll itself. I have resigned to the fact that perhaps the question I wrote may have been ill conceived or unclear.

1st we are hitting a shot to put us in position for Birdie-I think of my own course and there are no holes where my drive puts me in position of inside 60 yards - more like 160 to 100.Therefore I could vote with conscious that even inside of 90 yards is not a possibility. If I answered to a question what distance do I prefer to hit my lob (58*)  yes, just  inside of 60 is preferred

Of course there is always a par five but I wasn't considering that unless my tee shot was wayward & wished to focus getting the ball back in play. yes I would consider way inside of 60 yards, but again that was not my typical scenario nor the purpose of the poll.

The other surprise is chip lob and pitch  shots inside of 60 yards but greater than 20 can be surprisingly difficult. for mid to high handicappers using a less than full swing, yet many answered that option. I put inside of 60 as an option for what I thought would be women, juniors and seniors responding from forward tees.

[Spitfisher]

Take ten shots from 100 yards. Take ten from 50 yards. Measure. Stop thinking you're better from farther away.

I subscribe to this belief, On average taking a full but controled swing at 100yards with my handicap I'll be over all more accurate. Trying to pinch a <50 yard no doubt Ill hit one or two long, or spin one off  and leave one short and off the green.