Forums

Elevation on approach shots

• sammymakki 3 Posts

  Fri, Aug 16 2013 5:21 PM

  I'm having trouble understanding elevation on approach shots. Like when I have a 26 foot approach shot and it says 19 inches up. What kind of adjustment would I have to make on this type of shot?

• alosso 21,094 Posts

  Sun, Aug 18 2013 2:31 AM

  Rule of thumb: 1 yard of length per foot three feet of elevation. You'd also have to take into account the different angle of hitting the surface, flatter if uphill, steeper if downhill.

  Caveat: On greater distances and greater elevations, it only works for clubs with reasonably elevated trajectory. This does not apply to the upper Starter irons + 3H + 3WD. You will notice that you might have to add a club or two instead of a few yards on some of the long shots, e.g. at CCC, OAK, MER...

  This plus the neglectable spin options with the Starter clubs and ball may force you to think "safely to the green" rather than "close to the flag".

  Edit: correction courtesy of Scott - thank you!

• ScottHope 10,659 Posts

  Sun, Aug 18 2013 2:43 AM

  You mean 1 yard of length per three feet of elevation Alosso.

• egonweber 365 Posts

  Sun, Aug 18 2013 3:04 AM

  Yes it is what Andy means, i think the best example to explain how it can work godd is hole #3 on olympic from black tee it say 63ft down, distance is 248 yds, if i dont have a straight headwind, but are lucky having a neutral cross i set my aim for wind and then comes the power: 63ft = 21 yd, so instead of take the driver wgt nice leadbetter handles me i take my 3iron(R11 range 225) and only hit 220, it use to get on and often very close to pin. I never use backspin on downelevations, the correct power gives the best result with a flat/neutral shot. On uphills, all depends on the landingzone backspin can give an extra lift on the ball when you shot, so you lift higher but need a bit more power to get the distance you want!

  Egon

• courteneyfish 15,796 Posts

  Sun, Aug 18 2013 3:08 AM

  Practicing and note taking is the answer to most things on here. Try something and if it works make a note, if it doesn't then try something else.

• oneeyedjohn 9,589 Posts

  Sun, Aug 18 2013 12:16 PM

  Haven't made one note in 2 and a half years of playing, prolly why I am still cwap.

   

  Every month I have to transcribe our expenditure and cash movements from a handwritten work sheet onto an Excel spreadsheet, and it is one of the hardest things to do accurately, so easy to make a mistake, so how on earth anyone can play this game whilst referring to notes is beyond me.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Sun, Aug 18 2013 12:57 PM

  oneeyedjohn:

  so how on earth anyone can play this game whilst referring to notes is beyond me.

  LMAO. That's the stuff some of the best rants come from. "My spreadsheet says it has to do this and it's not."  :-D

• Scoton 174 Posts

  Mon, Aug 19 2013 1:11 AM

  For me, 1 yd. of distance per 3 ft. elevation works for mild rises, up to around 20 ft. or a bit less. For higher climbs, 1 yd. per 2 ft. seems to work better.

• alosso 21,094 Posts

  Mon, Aug 19 2013 1:32 AM

  It's but a rule of thumb. In detail, it's well dependent on the equipment.

  As I said, you'd have to add a club or two instead of a few yards with Starters, e.g. at CCC#2 or OAK#2, not to mention BPB##2, 15, 18.

  For uphill shots with my good G20s and Tour-SD balls I used no addition for shots without spin (but never 1 yard shorter). The ball would land on the green shorter than usual but with a smaller angle and just roll uphill to nominal length.

  Now, the lvl 33 Callies need care with said formula to prevent from short shots. Their better spin would stop them shorter and influences the length more.

  Other clubs & balls will need other care, I'm sure.

• oneeyedjohn 9,589 Posts

  Mon, Aug 19 2013 1:40 AM

  Oakie #2 with starters is a middle of the green jobbie, and hope for two putts, even hitting a 125 wedge won't work over the bunker.

  Hey Alosso, here's a slightly drunken idea, why don't we set up a community tournament, if u are credit rich, and we can work together on the details. Who does what , and who decides what form the tournament takes.

  Make it something that is limited entry but runs for a period everyone can manage, like when school starts.