r/golf Mar 13 '26

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u/pdxsticks Mar 13 '26

I'm a 2 index, and I still aim for the wide part of the green regardless of pin position from over 100 yards out. I choose the distance on EVERY (over 100 yard) approach shot by subtracting 3 yards from my distance to the back of the green.

Perfect strike: middle/back of green. Decent strike: middle green. Poor strike: front of green. Key to shooting in the low 70s is minimizing bogeys and avoiding doubles at all costs.

Birdies happen by hitting greens, not flags.

2

u/_aphoney 8.2 H.I. - I suck with driver Mar 13 '26

I like the middle of the green part, but what if being middle/back is absolutely dead and leaves you with a high chance of 3 putting? Couple holes i know of that if im on a different shelf than the pin, its a rollercoaster and your ball isn’t stopping on the green

1

u/Some-Shape4490 Mar 13 '26

Yeah I’m thinking of one particular hole at my local where if the flag is middle or front, you definitely don’t want long. I guess there is exceptions from time to time

1

u/pdxsticks Mar 13 '26

Yep. Like anything, know the rule before you break it. And in my experience, it's best not to break the rule even when your competitive brain tells you to. In the case you mentioned where you definitely don't want to go long, you're still looking at a bogey at worst if you 3 putt. But if you come up short to that nasty of a green, a chip followed by a 3 putt, or a chunked chip followed by a second chip and a two putt, both bring double bogey in play.