VIDEO: A strategy to score lower on par-5s
On today’s Impact Show, we talk about par-5 strategy. So many of students get hung up on getting the ball as close to the green as possible with their second shot and this causes all sorts of issues. Even if they do hit a great second shot, they often get left with a yardage that actually makes the third shot difficult. Here are three things to assess instead of just giving it a rip.
Kristoffer Reitan just won his first PGA Tour event at the 2026 Truist Championship. He is a Ping staff member and has a complete set of clubs from the brand. He did make a late driver switch this weekend that helped propel him to victory.
Driver: Ping G440 Max (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
7-wood: Ping G440 Max (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Black 85 TX
Irons: Ping Blueprint S (4-9)
Shafts: KBS Tour X
Wedges: Ping S259
46-S
Shaft KBS Tour X
50-S
54-S
58-S
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Ping PLD Custom Ally Blue H (white finish)
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Midsize
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Videos
Finau’s unique long putter experiment, Webb’s WILD irons | Inside the Ropes | Truist Championship
In this week’s episode of Inside the Ropes from the Truist Championship, Alistair Cameron catches up with Tony Finau, who is in the midst of an interesting long-putter experiment, and Webb Simpson, whose irons must be seen to be believed. Also featuring: Sepp Straka, Ryan Gerard, and much more!
Right now, I am tied for first place in my league! Don’t worry, the wheels will fall off as we get further into the year, but let’s keep the train rolling with 14 brand new clubs this week. We are off on the back nine again, so the driver is back in, and the 7-wood is out, as the course dictates what clubs I tend not to use. Excited to get these New Level irons out there and see if I can catch some of that driver magic I had down at Pinehurst with the Wilson Dynapwr+.
Driver: Wilson Dynapwr Max+ (12 degrees @ 11)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6s
3-wood: Cobra OPTM Max (15.5 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VR-7s
Utility: PXG 0311 X Gen8
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI-85s Hybrid
Hybrid: Ping G440 4h (22 degrees @ 21)
Shaft: Ping Tour 2.0 Chrome 85s
Irons: New Level 702+ (5 & 6)
Shafts: Project X Red 6.0
Irons: New Level 702 CB (7-PW)
Shafts: Project X REd 6.0
Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM11 (50.12F)
Shaft: Nippon Modus Tour 105 S
Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM11 (56.14F)
Shaft: Nippon Modus Tour 105 S
Wedge: Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks (60V)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold S200
Putter: PXG Hot Rod ZT
Ball: Titleist ProV1x Left Dash
Bag: Ghost GT-14 Patriot
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Eddie
Sep 15, 2016 at 4:22 pm
Most golfers would be lucky to hit their 3 wood 180, let alone a 9 iron.
Raymond CHASTEL
Sep 14, 2016 at 10:24 am
This demonstration is totally irrealisitic, even for a single figure handicapper :I ‘m over 82 ,I play to handicap of 7 mI4; plqying golf since 50 years I play 18 holes 3 times a week ,all year around ,even in winter ,no such”impedimenta “as snow ,frost ,winter greens here on the FRENCH RIVIERA .
At 180 yards in an average lie as shown ,I would play a 2 or 3 hybrid and go for the pin ,no laying up of sorts .I’m very straight and consistent in my game .I certainly can’t play a 9 iron 180 yards ,maybe DUSTIN JOHNSON ,RORY Mc ILROY ,JASON DAY ,BUBBA WATSON can ,but nit the average duffer !
Please be realistic in your démos !
Bob Pegram
Sep 15, 2016 at 7:08 am
Raymond –
You missed the point of their advice. If you hit the club YOU can hit 180 yards, you would then have an easy open pitch to the pin rather than risking putting the ball in the sand and having a very difficult 3rd shot..
Jason
Sep 13, 2016 at 5:26 pm
Do the math.
Numbers are for an 80’s golfer.
Ave strokes from 30 yards in the rough is 2.8 from the sand 3.0 from the FW 2.7
Ave strokes from the FW at 80 yards is 3.1
Assume if you choose to lay up you always find the FW at 80 yards out.
If you choose to go for it you hit the FW a measly 30% of the time, the rough 45% of the time and the sand 25% of the time.
Now you can calculate how many strokes you gain by trying to get to 30 yards out v. 80 yards out.
30%*2.7+45%*2.8+25%*3.0 = 2.82 strokes
So by going for it you gain 0.28 strokes over your buddy who laid up. And that is assuming your buddies layup never misses the FW.
Numbers are based off actual data collected by Mark Broadie.
Interesting fact, change the percentages anyway you want based on likelihood of outcome, from 30 yards out in any lie you are gaining strokes compared to 80 yards out in the FW.
Spy
Sep 14, 2016 at 1:25 am
That’s only if the putting stats match the players at high handicap level, but these stats are for better players in totally different circumstances, so they don’t apply
jo
Sep 14, 2016 at 6:57 am
But you r assuming in the calculation a 100% rate that threr will be perfect contact and distance control with a FW out of the rough. We all know that for most, the less loft u have the less likely u will hit ur desired target. The lie in the video has guff city written all over it using a FW. From tee to green most ppl will save strokes per round hitting irons out of the rough and laying up on par 5’s. But if u r a solid ball striker and ur FW is ur go to club then yes, its worth hitting every time as ur calculation states.
Jason
Sep 14, 2016 at 7:19 am
Spy this is the average strokes it takes an 80’s golfer to get into the hole from those 4 locations. So putting is included.
Jo I’m only making 2 assumptions.
1) your 3w will go 50 yards further than the layup club.*
2) your layup club will always wind up in the fw.
*It doesn’t matter how good/bad the contract with your 3w is from that lie assuming your average result is 50 yards past your layup club. Based on the video that was 9i v. 3w. Personally from a fw lie my 3w goes about 90-100 yards further than my 9i. So I think it’s safe to assume I’m not expecting to get perfect contact if I assume my 3w will out distance my 9i by 50 yards.
fuzzy
Sep 13, 2016 at 10:46 am
Mark Broadie is shaking his head somewhere, 250 left and hitting 9 iron!?!?!?!? No regard for strokes gained philosophies here.
Mike
Sep 13, 2016 at 12:59 pm
I’d say Mark would agree with this assessment. Granted, most of us are not going to hit 9 iron 180 yards…
But, given the lie and the dangers (placement of bunkers) you’re increasing your chances of birding the hole by getting back into the fairway and putting a wedge in your hand (versus going with 3 wood and hitting a runner into the bunker or left/right). Getting back to the fairway will increase your strokes gained probability instead of going from rough to rough (or worse, bunker).