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Scott Fawcett is at the forefront of changing the way golfers think about course management. What used to be a black art, filled with opinion and guesswork, has suddenly become something more quantifiable, thanks to his use of advanced statistics and Strokes Gained data.
At the core of Fawcett’s DECADE golf system is that it’s easier for golfers of all levels to not lose shots than to intentionally gain them. Or, in other words, the best way to save shots is to not lose them in the first place.
In practice, Fawcett’s approach suggests golfers should almost always hit driver — about 98 percent of the time, until you start hitting it about 270 yards — and that you should be aiming away from pins and into the middle of the greens.
Another rule of Fawcett’s? When you do hit your ball into trouble, take your medicine, forget the hero shot, and punch out. He explains why below, in a clip taken from his recent appearance on GOLF Top 100 Teacher Chris Como‘s television show, Swing Expedition.
From a spot to the right of the fairway underneath some trees, Fawcett breaks down the numbers behind the decisions at play. Sure, Como could try to hit the hero shot and probably increase the number of birdies he’d make along the way. But he’d almost make more big numbers so, on average, he’d have a higher score than if he would just punch it out 100 yards down the fairway.
“If we just move it only 100, 120 yards down the fairway, we’d be taking it from a spot where we average four, and moving it to a spot where we average 2.9 (strokes). We’re moving more than one stroke closer to the hole in one stroke. This [lay up] shot right here would be gaining strokes on the field.”
Remember: Don’t hit the hero shot. It’s easier to save shots by not losing them.
https://golf.com/instruction/mathematician-explains-why-its-smart-lay-up/
So, he’s suggesting that golf should always be played without brains?
No, I haven’t looked at the reference, but I’ve seen such claims previously.
Every shot should be assessed on its merits.e.g. hero shot: If the hero shot won’t get on the green, but another 100 up the fairway puts you within one to the green, never go the hero shot because there’s no possible benefit but lots of danger. On the other hand, if the hero shot has a chance and you’re playing par and a hit out means it will take you at least two to get there, there’s no point playing safe for a guaranteed loss. In match play, you can be in a comparatively equivalent dilemma.
Always go for the middle of the green? How big is the green, where’s trouble, where’s the pin? At least put it within two putts.Know what’s possible, for you and don’t needlessly give away shots.
People say that nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.
No championships worth mentioning in recent years.
Progress is man's ability to complicate simplicity.This is too simplified.
I’m trying to be a bogey golfer. So for me layup is frequently justified.
For someone better layups not so justified
Also depends on how solid you shirt game is and on how guarded the green is.
In trouble If the risky recovery can save a shot maybe worth it. Depends on format as OB says if risky recovery not likely to save a shot (eg puts you 130 from the green instead of a safe shot to 150) probably not worth it1 user liked this post.
This is too simplified.
I’m trying to be a bogey golfer. So for me layup is frequently justified.
For someone better layups not so justified
Also depends on how solid you shirt game is and on how guarded the green is.
In trouble If the risky recovery can save a shot maybe worth it. Depends on format as OB says if risky recovery not likely to save a shot (eg puts you 130 from the green instead of a safe shot to 150) probably not worth itShirt game? You been hanging with Bump lately?
1 user liked this post.
This is too simplified.
I’m trying to be a bogey golfer. So for me layup is frequently justified.
For someone better layups not so justified
Also depends on how solid you shirt game is and on how guarded the green is.
In trouble If the risky recovery can save a shot maybe worth it. Depends on format as OB says if risky recovery not likely to save a shot (eg puts you 130 from the green instead of a safe shot to 150) probably not worth itShirt game? You been hanging with Bump lately?
It might be better than leaving the ‘r’ out of that game.
People say that nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.
No championships worth mentioning in recent years.
Progress is man's ability to complicate simplicity.1 user liked this post.
yes my game is shit, way to hurt my feels and rub it in
Hopefully, I’ll find out next week if my game has gone the same way.
People say that nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.
No championships worth mentioning in recent years.
Progress is man's ability to complicate simplicity.Hopefully, I’ll find out next week if my game has gone the same way.
you can be assured of your best ever flag if your round next week has gone the way of my shit game, so there’s positives everywhere.
Scott Fawcett presumes of course that the score is important.
At the end of the day, I think at our level it comes down to what you care to remember as you drive on out of the course.
If its the final score, then fair enough, play the Fawcett way, but if you want to remember the good shots that you hit, when faced with a challenge, then play that way.
My own opinion is that when faced with a golfing challenge you go for it, who cares if you fail, its just bloody good fun having a crack isn’t it?.
3 users liked this post.
So, obviously depending on whether it’s a declared practice round or not too, yeah?
Sometimes…it’s a “declared practice round” after the attempts to go for it. 🙂
•Inaugural Victorian OOM Putting Champion - Long Island 2011
•Inaugural ... National champ
•Hole In One - 7th Hole Portsea GC - 9/10/2012
Best ever score off the stick - 74 (Gardiners Run 10/12/2020)
Masters Champion 11/4/20221 user liked this post.
So, obviously depending on whether it’s a declared practice round or not too, yeah?
I prefer “test” game myself 😀
STILL FUCKING CAPTAIN
Inaugural L4G NSW OOM Round Winner
First Eagle in L4G (NSW) history
2020 Inawgrial L4G NSW OOM Winner
In a past life:
2012 National Championships...Inaugural Supreme Putting Champion
2013 Brass Yacht Winner (Inaugural)
2014 Brass Yacht Winner
2015 Brass Yacht Runner-up
2016 Brass Yacht Winner
2017 Brass Yacht Winner
2018 Brass Yacht Winner
2019 Brass Yacht Winner
2022 Brass Yacht Winner
2023 Brass Yacht Runner-upI reckon it depends on how far out from the green I am. If I am 190m out that puts me right on the upper limit with my 4 wood.
I guess I would be thinking1) is it sitting up and begging to be hit, or a poor lie?
2) where is the trouble up there? Bunkers, trees short at the landing zone
3) Am I striking the ball well today?
4) where will my miss hit go? ( right for fade/ left for draw)
5) Am I feeling lucky punk? ( think Clint Eastwood) is the risk / reward ratio worth the possible poor shot trying for a 100% effort swing.Inside 170 m for me is a whole new situation. I know I can hit my 5 W fairly accurately form there.
Then the question is what sort of lay up? Do you bang it down as far as you can and have a shorter chip/ pitch onto the green, which might end up closer to the pin? Or do you hit the first shot such that you have your best full shot distance into the green?
Hero shots; I am better at fades than draws out of trouble. I usually ask myself where a straight shot will go with this club. If it is into the opposite side trees, I punch out.
1 user liked this post.
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