They might be the shortest holes on the golf course, but there are five big mistakes all golfers make on par-3s that drive up their scoring average. So what can you do to lower your scores on these holes? PGA Professional Jack Backhouse joins me to share his vital par-3 tips to make sure you don’t make a mess of these opportunities.
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Par 3 Tips
Analyse The Shot In Front Of You
A lot of amateur players step onto the tee on par 3s relieved that it’s a short hole, and pay enough attention to the demands of the shot in front of them.
It’s important to factor in: the distance, the wind, the slope, where the trouble is, where the worst place to miss is, and where’s the easiest place to chip from. Factoring these in allows you to make better club decisions from the tee and make fewer mistakes.
Know How Far Your Clubs Go
Most amateurs think they hit the ball further than what happens in reality. Get on a launch monitor, learn your average distances, not your best, and start playing for your average.
Don’t Aim For Flags
Every golfer has some amount of variability in their shot dispersion. Good strategy is to aim at a location that gets the ball on the green most often, rather than aiming at the pin hoping that this might be the time you hit it straight. Middle of the green is a good target for mid handicappers all the time.
Tee Off At One Side Of The Tee To Play Away From Danger
If there is water to the right, then teeing up on the right side of the tee box aiming left will help keep the ball out of a penalty zone and keep your average score down.
A Tee Is An Advantage
Not using a tee is a surefire way to make shots harder and cause yourself unnecessary grief. If Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods use a tee, you’re not too good for it…
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This video was filmed at Celtic Manor and we are wearing Puma apparel.
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