Forums

Re: Attack or Lay Up?

• RickyJohndrew 26 Posts

  Tue, Aug 30 2011 8:25 AM

  After being a typical noob, and playing St. Andrews repeatedly, I'm seeing my average drop, and that scared me.  I don't want to move up yet, and I'm most definitely not ready to move up.  I've started playing BPB and have posted 2 scores of +3 on the front 9.  On St. Andrews I felt comfortable attacking the hole, and knowing that if I don't make my shot I can 2 putt for par.  However, for Bethpage I feel I don't have the equipment or the skill to attack the hole.

  I'm considering moving up to the level 37 burner irons, but I'm still not sure I want to upgrade yet, along with various other equipment, but this isn't the question.

  My question is, as a beginner who may struggle to make the difficult shots required to attack the hole, is it best to try them, and take the high scores learning from the miscues?  Or is laying it up and playing for par equally good or better as far as improvement goes?  Or are there certain easier holes I should look to attack first, and play the rest cautiously? 

  Thanks

• WGTicon 12,511 Posts

  Tue, Aug 30 2011 9:21 AM

  I always been a big fan of playing all the courses. Thats the only way to be better and to have proper average and be placed in the correct tier.

  There is also no clear yes or no answer for attacking the holes. Some holes in  different winds play much different, so my view is: attack when you can and don't when you can't

  -wgticon

• renniw52 5,385 Posts

  Tue, Aug 30 2011 9:54 AM

  No guts, no glory, go for it. But if your using the 325 a sleeve balls like I am, an ounce of prevention could be worth a pound of cure. Or a buck and change depending on how you look at it. 

• Dianne81 773 Posts

  Sat, Sep 3 2011 9:41 AM

  Like WGTICON is saying, many factors  come into play...

  Personally, I rarely ever attack the pin on Bethpage 4 (par5)  or Oakmont #9 for example

  but with a good drive, and hitting into a good headwind ( where you can stop the ball on approach)  opens up options to even attacking those pins.

  General rule for me, with  tailwinds, I usually am much more conservative attacking tough pins with trouble long,  hitting into a headwind, I'll have a go at most everything.

• zagraniczniak 1,984 Posts

  Sat, Sep 3 2011 10:42 AM

  One thing is figuring out how the game plays and what you can actually achieve. I remember first playing Bethpage here, and, with the philosophy of trying to get as much yardage as possible out of the starter clubs, just pounding  the ball repeatedly into the heavy rough fronting most of the greens. (This was stupid, of course.)

  Once you have figured out more or less what is possible, then you can think about scoring the best you can with the conditions you face, i.e. "course management." In many instances you are better off laying up to the end of the fairway when you cannot reach (or hold) the green. Prime examples would be Bethpage 5, 7, 9 and 15.

  Some other courses, like St. Andrew's, are set up to allow or encourage running the ball up, so the scoring philosophy will be different.

• SGTBilko 1,686 Posts

  Sat, Sep 3 2011 11:09 AM

  zagraniczniak:

  Prime examples would be Bethpage 5, 7, 9 and 15.

  I have to disagree with you on 9 and 15. 9 is a pretty easy birdie hole but definitely a par hole and 15 can be birdied if you hit the 2nd shot just left of the pin and let it roll up and then back to the hole leaving a decent 2-6 foot birdie putt. Now, with the basic clubs that have very little loft, you are spot on. 

• flaccus 516 Posts

  Sun, Sep 4 2011 1:23 AM

  SGTBilko:

  just left of the pin

  i try to go quite near the bunker - i saw a hotshot's replay of eagle (forget whose) - it bounced a yard or so from the left bunker

   

• flaccus 516 Posts

  Sun, Sep 4 2011 1:27 AM

  RickyJohndrew:

  is it best to try them, and take the high scores learning from the miscues?  Or is laying it up and playing for par equally good or better as far as improvement goes? 

  both, depends how yr feeling in the round - but to learn more about yr clubs, and so get better at attacking, play CttH obsessively, until you start winning a comp or two -  you don't have to learn everything in tournies

• Ecka65 245 Posts

  Wed, Sep 7 2011 4:39 AM

  Some interesting and sound advice here...but...

  It depends entirely on what YOU want to get out of it.  If it is playing a tournament round all of those well thought out pars = you lose.  Particularly when you're probably playing against guys in your Tier with the best clubs, over 12 months of experience, and are capable of single play low 60's - high 50's.

  My suggestion (and approach) is ATTACK - even if it means just getting close enough to try and pitch the *** in.  You'll be surprised what you can do and what you'll learn.  Particularly when you learn to putt... ;-)

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Wed, Sep 7 2011 6:17 AM

  Play for par, the birdies will come. You will benefit so much from smart play that when you do upgrade you will really appreciate what good equipment does for you. Plan your shots instead of smashing away. Focus on getting the par even if it means forsaking the heroic effort to get on in 2 (or 3). Get your scrambling and sand save %s up in the 50s and 60s. Take your medicine on bad shots, get back in play and minimize the damage.

  Thinking this way will get your scores down, not to mention increase your ability to get close to the pin which helps your putting.  GL