The Smart Scoring Hack Pros Use on Drivable Par 4s | The Game Plan | Golf Digest 

Dagger to my heart when he said high handicap then showed 15 lol

The thing is for mid handicaper : The risk of being OB and completely missing the drive is more there than hitting a 5 iron. But for pros, the stat is true.

Unfortunately for anyone not on tour, the risk of a lost ball is high as well

That's what we need more of in professional golf, risk/reward.

Read Lowest Score Wins. Great guide to applying this kind of calculus to your own game.

Excellent video GD!

Wow this video is awesome. LKD is the GOAT. Always giving out smart takes.

It's true for pros, but less true for higher-handicap amateurs. They don't have the skill to hit a short-sided flop to get the ball close. They are an absolute disaster out of bunkers. They can't get it close out of ankle deep rough or a hazard. When they hit that 3-wood to try to get it close to the par-5 green in two, they're likely to hit It off the planet into the woods or water. In general, higher-handicap amateurs are better off doing what gives them the most simple shot. While they may occasionally catch lightning in a bottle and make the aggressive shot pay off, more often than not, they're going to turn the aggressive play into a big number.

If you’re not playing for money or in a tournament, go for it. That way if you get comfortable hitting longer clubs at small targets, when you find yourself in a win or lose situation in a money game etc, you’ll be more comfortable with the shot. You at least want it as an option vs not even considering it as an option bc you’ve never really tried it.

If I had spotters I would do this more often but man I lose balls in the fairway I swear

My decision is also influenced by the fact, that I do not have the certainty to find the ball again, even if it is in the rough close to the green after a good 1st shot. Pros playing in tournaments do not have to worry about this, becasue there are always spectators and staff around the green, spotting the ball.

I applaud the effort that went into this video. Content creators should take note

Have you forgotten that Mito Perreira threw away the PGA championship staying aggressive on the 18th hole. Sometimes conservative isn’t a bad option…even for professionals!

This makes sense for a pro or very low handicap golfer. For a double digit handicap or highers i would say their lack of control over where a drive goes could have them hitting 2,3,4.... Balls off the tee before they got one in play

Well, it makes sense that closer to the hole is better. But I think the math changes when there’s water hazards by the green because the penalty strokes for going into the water are going to make the average score of the aggressive strategy much higher.

Love these!

1:55 why is Rory 70 years old here 😂

If they make rough deeper and the hazards more difficult it might change the status quo

It’s fundamentally flawed to use professionals data to make decisions as a mid to high handicap. If you’re a mid to high and you want to lower your scores, key number one is eliminating doubles and then reducing bogeys. NOT by sneaking out more birdies. If it’s just a short par four with no specific danger, sure go for it. If the shot risking a penalty or OB for precision… keep the big number off. Get a wedge in your hand and just hit the green. You may pick up a fraction of a stroke on the closer drive but if you go hazard or OB you’re guaranteeing yourself a lost full stroke or two

When he said high handicap and the number only went to 15 🥲

How good is your short game vs how good is your 100 yd shot?

"Archaeologically"? ....

During the 2007 Masters, Zach Johnson did not reach a single par five in two during the entire Tournament. Yet he played the par fives better than anyone esle in the feild with 11 birdies and not a single bogey.

I agree! 😂

They designed the hole like a duck, with the green being the ducks bill.

The answer comes down the situation: aee you behind and need to be more aggressive? Or happy being conservative and leaving picking up strokes to other holes.

Go for the bunkers 🤔

Not sure how having spotters must effect those %?

Yeah, you should probably lay up... but just IMAGINE if you got it there

The lesson of Tin Cup is take your drop. Like his caddy said he can pitch it on and still make par and go to a playoff.

Depends how your chip game is.

Thanks for the data, I tee up in about two hours. No laying up for this grinder.

Give me another ball

I always lay up on drivable Par 4’s. Not because I want to but because I can’t reach it

must be nice to play courses with out of bounds misses ha unfortunately for those of us who play courses with out of bounds and not hazards, we cant afford to be aggressive because the miss doesn't lead to a bogey or double, it leads to a Non return

Par is good, I play up

All im hearing is “bombs away boys.” See you on the green! (The wrong green.. but a green nonetheless 😂)

I'm confused, so should I attack or should I lay up?...

It's more about how good your short game is. And this is where we (amateurs) suck the most!..)

That hole is very similar to 10 at Riviera. The green is super thin, and if your short sided or long, the green is not receptive. Laying up is probably the smarter move.

And that’s why drivable par 4’s are a bore. They all just go for it. If the risk was higher, and say 50% of the field were to lay up, then it would be interesting. Then the choice would be interesting and so would the execution, or lack of. But if everyone chooses just to hit and hope, then it’s a poor golf hole.

So basically go for it as long as it doesn't put you in trouble. Because youre closer

Pros drive it because they have a vastly better short game...and that consists of playing bad lies as well as good....high handicappers do not and thus risk getting a poor lie and shooter a 6. You guys are just not reading the stats correctly...players in 2003 didn't have the equipment and skill level of players now in the short game department.

So, in summary, modern equipment has broken even the best designed holes.

this dude's voice is brutal

Why he kept saying sith green? Is there a star wars joke somewhere?

Can’t wait to hear Colt Knost interject his (wrong) opinion next week at the US open when guys are going for it lol. He just doesn’t like stats I guess

Most mortals should lay up to be safe. If you have the distance, give it a try.

Tin cup was a stupid movie . Under no circumstances would he a golfer ever be celebrated for being that stupid.

Get a different person to do the voiceover. This guy is unlistenable

Layups are for basketball. 💥🏌🏻‍♂️