Dedication to Aiming Away from the Flag

[JonMA1]

I took a few videos of approach shots during yesterday's solo round and tried to record my intent and execution - or lack thereof. I'd hit some longer approach shots earlier in the round where I had to aim away from the flag and was successful, but didn't record those.

Video and audio are pretty rough. The link is in my signature if anyone is interested. (At the very least, you can be grateful you don't own a swing like mine.)

[DeadMan]

I've never thought about this idea before, but now it's going to be in my head.

In general, I tend to aim at more flags than I should. On the other hand, I hit a pull draw, so I can't aim right at the flag anyway. I don't think I would mentally try to hit the ball at the flag because my line is almost never right at the flag. Easier to ignore the flag when you always have to ignore the flag. But I could be wrong.

[phillyk]

I aim at the flag when I'm within 135yds.  Outside of that, I aim at flag sticks left or right depending on where there is trouble or the edge of the green.  If the pin is really tucked, I'll aim more flag sticks away.  I can't think aim at the middle, I have to have a more specific destination. 

[GolfLug]

I pick the line at center of the green. Then for distance overclub if pin in the front and underclub if pin in the back regardless of how right or left of the center the pin is. 

I am pledging a renewed commitment to simply hitting the middle of the green. My putting confidence is a bit low lately so sometimes I get a little aggressive if I have a huge ridge line to putt over towards the hole. But that is 1 outta 10. 

[dzclarkcpa]

I believe this is something I am getting better at, though it's still a work in progress. 

Prior to my latest series of lessons, I would have bragged on how good I was at this because I was able to ignore flags on sucker pins. I now realize there is so much more to this than just avoiding a bunker or hazard. I have started looking at approach shots much differently. Even with an "easy" pin placement, I still might prefer to be somewhere else (like, I don't know, maybe below the hole) and in that case, aiming at the pin puts me in the wrong spot. How bad I was at this was pointed out in a playing lesson when the only number I ever shot with a laser was the pin, never a slope in the green or a number to clear a hazard.

This is truly a difference maker when scoring, but oh so hard to do sometimes.

 

[NM Golf]

Used to be downright impossible for me to pull off. I went at every flag. Now I find myself much more apt to play to a spot on the green. Probably one of the reasons I am shooting the lowest scores of my life. For instance just yesterday we were playing. I had a 100 yard shot that I played 10 yards left of the hole placement because I knew anything at the hole, or god forbid, right of the hole made for a near impossible one putt and increased the likelihood of a 3 significantly. I hit it right to the spot and made birdie, nice little 15 footer straight up the hill. My buddy went right at it and had an 8 footer with 2 feet of break downhill for birdie. He made a 6 footer for par.

[HJJ003]

Sorry if I am reviving a thread that is too old...but I have a question. In order to aim #deadcenter I need to account for my shot zone correct? So if my shot center is 9 yards left of my target then I need to aim 9 yards right of the middle of the green in order to be aiming dead center? 

[iacas]

13 minutes ago, HJJ003 said:

Sorry if I am reviving a thread that is too old...but I have a question. In order to aim #deadcenter I need to account for my shot zone correct? So if my shot center is 9 yards left of my target then I need to aim 9 yards right of the middle of the green in order to be aiming dead center? 

Yes. And to actually TRY to hit it there. You can't just aim a little right and still try to hit the green… you have to actually try to hit the ball to the spot 9 yards right.

[HJJ003]

1 minute ago, iacas said:

Yes. And to actually TRY to hit it there. You can't just aim a little right and still try to hit the green… you have to actually try to hit the ball to the spot 9 yards right.

Ok perfect I got it, and will make sure to do that. Thanks for the reply.