It’s a decision that pro and amateur golfers face on drivable par 4’s, should you play aggressive or play safe? In this episode of The Game Plan, Golf Digest Senior Editor Luke Kerr-Dineen looks at Los Angeles Country Club’s short 6th hole, and explains how pros use stats to figure out the best strategy on drivable Par 4s
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33 Comments
Wow this video is awesome. LKD is the GOAT. Always giving out smart takes.
That's what we need more of in professional golf, risk/reward.
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.
Read Lowest Score Wins. Great guide to applying this kind of calculus to your own game.
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 they make rough deeper and the hazards more difficult it might change the status quo
1:55 why is Rory 70 years old here 😂
They designed the hole like a duck, with the green being the ducks bill.
Most mortals should lay up to be safe. If you have the distance, give it a try.
Great video but it could've been 7 words long: go for it dont be a pu$$y
When he said high handicap and the number only went to 15 🥲
Give me another ball
Love these!
Love this series, keep them coming!
Also love that the narrator sounds like Francis Bourgeois the train guy
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
I agree! 😂
Why he kept saying sith green? Is there a star wars joke somewhere?
Layups are for basketball. 💥🏌🏻♂️
Unfortunately for anyone not on tour, the risk of a lost ball is high as well
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.
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
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!
Not sure how having spotters must effect those %?
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.
Go for the bunkers 🤔
Par is good, I play up
Excellent video GD!
Dagger to my heart when he said high handicap then showed 15 lol
How good is your short game vs how good is your 100 yd shot?
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.
"Archaeologically"? ….
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.
I'm confused, so should I attack or should I lay up?…