Pin Sheets and Rangefinders

[TRUCKER]

Is a pin sheet necessary if I have a range finder? If yes, what information will the pin sheet add? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DaveP043]

The pin sheet will let you know which side of the flag to aim at.  For a back flag, aim a little short of it, closer to the middle.  For a front flag, aim past it, to the middle.  You want a little bit of a miss to end up on the green, not chipping from a difficult spot.  The same holds true for left and right pins, aim more towards the middle.  

[Buckeyebowman]

I don't know about the course you are playing but some courses have a "pin position map" of each green on the scorecard. Each green is divided into 3 zones and somewhere near the clubhouse will be a sign telling what pin position is being played that day. The zones rotate on subsequent greens, so Pin Position 1 can be front, middle or rear. Also, some courses use color coded flags. Red flags are front, white flags middle, and blue flags rear. 

[TRUCKER]

I do that now by the color of the flag and the distance I get from the range finder. I don't know what more a pin sheet is going to tell me. At first I thought maybe range finders weren't legal in tournaments, and that's why you would use a pin sheet.

[Buckeyebowman]

Oh, I see, I do the same myself even though range finders and GPS units are legal. Guess I'm old fashioned! I've done it that way for 40+ years. 

[DaveP043]

26 minutes ago, TRUCKER said:

I do that now by the color of the flag and the distance I get from the range finder. I don't know what more a pin sheet is going to tell me. At first I thought maybe range finders weren't legal in tournaments, and that's why you would use a pin sheet.

With a good course map, like one I've made for myself for my home club, I have distance to the significant features, ridges and swales.  I might choose to go short of a middle flag, for instance, if I know there's a ridge just behind the pin.  A pin sheet just gives more detail than a red-white-blue flag system might give, is it in front of that ridge, or just past it.

[LMoore]

In tournament play, I definitely want a pin sheet. While I will still use the range finder, I want to know how many paces the pin is from the back, front, left or right. Especially when playing a course you are not as familiar with.

[TRUCKER]

Ok. So with the pin sheet you're getting extra details about the green and the pin placement. I'm not sure I'm good enough to use one then. I typically get the yardage and flag color and go for the front, middle, or back more or less. Sounds like with a pin sheet you would need to be good enough to get down to within a yard with your distances all the time to really make use of those extra details.

[David in FL]

Of course it’s helpful.  

150 yds to the pin when the back of the green is 155 yards with water long, is a whole different animal than the same 150 yards to the pin, but with 145 yards to the front of the green with water short...

[LMoore]

Trucker, you are good enough to use one. Every shot requires a goal, not that you attain perfection. 

If the pin is 5 from the back and long is bad, then my club choice (depending on wind....) would be, if I pured that club, it would just reach the pin. 

If you think you are not good enough, chances are high the right mental approach can move you index 5 or more quickly. 

[TRUCKER]

Good point about just because I might not make a perfect shot, that I still should get all the details I can of the approach onto the green. Thanks...🤝

[klineka]

11 hours ago, LMoore said:

If you think you are not good enough, chances are high the right mental approach can move you index 5 or more quickly. 

No. That simply isnt true. The mental game doesn't contribute nearly as much as people think it does.

@TRUCKER would be better off by simply aiming for the middle of the green whenever he is outside of 80 yards.

 

 

 

[Fourputt]

14 hours ago, TRUCKER said:

Ok. So with the pin sheet you're getting extra details about the green and the pin placement. I'm not sure I'm good enough to use one then. I typically get the yardage and flag color and go for the front, middle, or back more or less. Sounds like with a pin sheet you would need to be good enough to get down to within a yard with your distances all the time to really make use of those extra details.

There is at least one course I play occasionally where the carts have a map of each green with 6 zones, numbered oddly enough, 1 through 6.  The starter tells you what number is active that day, so you know the zone in which each hole is cut.  That is very helpful, since for several holes, you can't tell from the fairway where the flagstick is actually at.  Then the GPS or laser can give additional info for a more accurate distance, and to help me decide if I want to fudge a little short or a little long.  

Edited March 22, 2019 by Fourputt

[LMoore]

Klineka, we will have to agree to disagree.

[klineka]

1 minute ago, LMoore said:

Klineka, we will have to agree to disagree.

As long as you know you are disagreeing with facts.

[LMoore]

You may be misunderstanding, or perhaps I did a poor job of stating.

By mental, I mean taking the information available, processing it fully, and trusting yourself to make a shot to the best of your ability, whatever they may be. 

Looking back over the history of the game, the names of Hogan, Nicklaus, and Woods will all point to men that had a tremendous grasp of what needed to be done, what they could do, and when it wise to take risks.

To me, the seems to point to the mental aspect of the game being vital.

And certainly, the physical ability had to be there.

[iacas]

@LMoore, please see the other topics for that type of discussion.

[TRUCKER]

16 hours ago, iacas said:

@LMoore, please see the other topics for that type of discussion.

No comment on my question...🤷‍♂️