The Clever Formula Tour Pros Use to Out-Smart Golf Courses | The Game Plan | Golf Digest

Great golf courses like Oak Hill Country Club, site of the 2023 PGA Championship, are designed to trick players into a “short side miss.” Golf Digest’s Luke Kerr-Dineen explains how a tour players are fighting back with a new analytics-based game plan.
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[@riccardorinaldo7934]

So the moral of the story here is to get really good at golf and be able to hit the shot you want.

[@Kurtman88]

Well that's a given lol. It's mainly about not leaving yourself short sided.

[@Wacklewis]

It’s actually the opposite. The idea is to make your target a point where if you don’t hit it where you are trying to it’s less likely to end up short sided

[@lawbinson]

It’s about understanding your dispersion pattern.

[@johnlabernik4599]

The average golfer should just aim for the middle of the green

[@deldridg]

@@lawbinson I know people who stand almost in the center of their dispersion pattern!

[@willman1107]

I do this all the time. I avoid all the danger near the green entirely and just hit it in the water.

[@marklittle8805]

Free ball washing

[@golfrep2584]

As a long time member of Oak Hill, the design of the 6th was terrible. They put the pin in an area of the green which which was akin to putting the pin in the drain at the bottom of your bath tub...every decent shot almost rolled into the cup. It was amazing there were only 4 holes-in-one. Fortunately, that terrible hole, along with 2 other holes were removed in the 2019 redesign done by Andrew Green.

[@steve4158]

The recent re-design by Green looks amazing. What do the members think!😊

[@nickjackson5806]

That seems like an awesome hole to have? Seems like a fun one, not everything has to be tough

[@brettmiller4270]

I actually miss on the short side constantly. This was eye opening!

[@TeddyCavachon]

In Golf My Way which I read in the 1980s when I started playing Nicklaus explained how to shape shots into the longest distance on the green between edge and green and that the tilt of the spin axis and spin on the ball would cause it to bounce and roll to the right with a fade and left with a draw increasing the odds of keeping the ball on the green even with mid and long irons. One of my favorite things is to hit a 60° cut shot that flies high, lands like a mortar round left of the hole then zips sideways towards it.

[@dennisdobin8640]

A golf tutorial that doesn't address your swing problems,great. This is something,even though I'm a high handicapper,I will at times incorporate in to my game, I have always mainly because of my skill level played what I have imagined was a safe approach to most greens,front,middle. This information about the percentages will have me rethinking my shots in the future.

[@loganjames]

This is the in depth reason "aiming for the centre of the green" works so well. Crazy that it is half a shot difference...

[@mangoman2148]

I firmly believe that 95+% of golfers above a scratch handicap would score better if there were no flagsticks, no group in front and they only discovered the hole location within 20 yards of the green. Not only does it force them into picking better targets, but it opens their eyes to how much luck is involved in a good shot. You aim at the middle, pull it 20 feet to the left section of the green and walk up not knowing if you've got a tap-in birdie or a 40 footer to a right pin. If it's the former, lucky you. If it's the latter, realise that blocking it 20 feet right was not the better shot, just the luckier shot. Allow for variance in your dispersion and stay patient.

[@larrybud]

@@mangoman2148 Add to that using a club that gets them within 5 yards of the back edge of the green. There's a reason most hazards are in front of the green...

[@TheWedgeWizard]

It’s more than just the center, greens have different tears & shapes. Every hole is unique where the safe play will be.

[@allturf]

@@TheWedgeWizard Absolutely. I would add, sometimes leaving yourself short sided is a-ok. Imagine a front pin with simple fairway in front of the green (with a considerably flat or uphill design). A miss short simply leaves you below the hole with a straight forward chip or even putt. A lot of executive courses are designed this way, with most bunkers being a safety net to help you avoid long misses or other hazards or danger zones.

[@TheWedgeWizard]

@@allturf exactly, it’s not so cut & dry.

[@bolsbolbol368]

Excellent. With this valuable information I am confident I can break 110 next time out.

[@AlfRow]

On the front 9.

[@natesmith9129]

More content like this, Digest! This was cool. Great editing, music, and most importantly an interesting story

[@tyme4david]

This video is soo undervalued. As +2.0 handicap that plays competitive golf, this is a must have. Sooner or later the ball will drop and start seeing more birdies. Don't force it, let it come to you.

[@mariooo88]

As a 2 hcp, stats about this are mindblowing. I feel my game will change if I can seriously apply this, as well as the "Decade" mental philosophy.

[@aja865]

fred couples was the master at staying out of trouble using a particular part of a green and using the slope to get it within birdie putting distance to the hole.

[@williampersson3237]

this is one of the best breakdowns of a tactic ive ever watched thanks so much this

[@paynehill]

Great video!!

[@Sreeve94]

Great graphics!

[@rgatto]

Very interesting series of strategy/tactics videos. Keep on going.

[@thegreatwebstar]

It's actually the cup cutters fault, I know because I can put a pin in a spot where someone will score if they hit a decent shot. Pros are good... funnels exist if you watch it rain hard or turn the sprinklers on the green... you will see small rivers forming in the bowls and valleys, balls end up there very often. We gave away multiple cars at my course because the management said they wanted a "go pin" on the hole in 1 prize. Always over 167 for socal events so you better practice with "that" iron a lot before your round... awesome video. Wish cup cutter these days spoke English and understood what 3° of slope means ... lol not joking

[@v1ck1985]

great vid again

[@anomad6314]

good insight

[@Sockeater]

What software did you use for the green contour maps with arrows?

[@deldridg]

Great advice and thank you. Add to that the infinite wisdom of my single digit handicapper 13yo son, who offered me some great advice: Will: "Dad, I know how you can shave 7 strokes off your round, guaranteed". Me: "Yes? Tell me." Will: "Play one less Par 3". Won't be long and he'll be lower than me, the little $%#@ - if he lives that long... 🙂

[@my.knee.hurts.]

this is a great comment😂

[@deldridg]

@@my.knee.hurts. Now, 9 months later - thanks for your kind words. Young Will is now off 3.6 and I'm 8.6, so my words, sadly were predictive. He has more wisdom now: Will: "Dad, I can see a problem with your swing". Me: "OK - here we go again". Will: "You're standing too close to the ball after your shot". Cheers and enjoy your golf! Dave PS. I hope your knee is better now... 😄

[@charlied4850]

Great advice for us amateurs, but the pros that I have followed in tournaments, both men and women, normally shoot for the pin regardless of the short side danger. They know that their short game is solid and the risk/reward favors aggressive play. Just my opinion and personal experience.

[@Joehockey1990]

Honestly..... I'm gonna cut some strokes because I short side all the time. Didn't realize that it was the area that I was that was causing crap up and down stats. Thought I just couldn't chip...

[@konstantinpobedonotsev5589]

My strategy is more of a “swing and hope to God I’m even remotely close to the green and probably gonna have to take three clubs with me to my ball” kind of thing.

[@AB-nv7bz]

Something to point out on the short side miss. Pin in front and all fairway/fringe in front, is not a short side miss. I bring that up as a lot of courses have greens that slope front to back, and the area in front of the green is kept as fairway. On a links course it may be best to miss on the side that short sided due to slope on the green and perfect lies.

[@icesizzle5449]

I was never good at box and whisker plots and now it’s time to be god mode at them

[@TheGhostofEight]

The errors of missing short sided are further compounded the higher your handicap.

[@9716248]

NikNBA well done... will be looking for next post!!

[@jamesbaine580]

It must be nice to be so good you can pick the spot that you want to miss in on the green

[@williammacdonald9271]

Most of us pin hunt, the pro would rather have a 15’ straight putt than the occasional short side.

[@michaelmoyers5970]

Depends on which way the green is sloping, pros take that into account. short sided straight up hill chip is makeable, actually often better than a 40 foot putt on the other side of the hole putting straight down a slope.

[@piranhaparran3007]

My kind of golf video.

[@SpaceTimeSynth]

Oh man, I was super disappointed when you said they completely remodeled the hole! That's kinda lame imo. Something so rare and cool to happen there, that should just be preserved me thinks.

[@jdstox1]

im not feeling this......think im gonna stick with my "hit it to a hazard, then to a sand trap" strategy....its gotten me this far

[@FatManWalking18]

play to the middle, putt to the edges- Annika Sorenstam

[@stymie777]

As I tell all of my amateur students, aim for the middle of the greens unless it’s number 18 and you have pressed your bet because you are down, then go for that pin.

[@mikecoughlin4128]

This is not a very useful video but it is still interesting. Imo, if you don’t already know most of this info you are probably newer at the game and likely can’t take advantage of the advice because you don’t yet have the skill to aim that specifically yet. If you are like me, you know that you should always aim for the center of the green and hope you land on it at all.

[@scottttym]

No footage of the holes in one?

[@ianmackinlay8925]

Point A and then point E… why？😩

[@BleezyD]

So play the center of the green unless you're really good, got it.

[@jerryturner2310]

If you can consistently hit the center of the green (or any of the green for that matter) then I would already consider you really good. 🙂

[@the808life]

This was a mistake by the USGA setting up the hole as well.. it’s not as crazy as it seems

[@Ri_Guy]

Time to break par.

[@User_Unknown_15]

👍🙏

[@T1cksandLeeches]

....that was the video? How crazy of them to club up lol. I expected more

[@JustDisc]

Real true natural golf should be played with no range finders, no booklets, just your eyes. That would make for more entertainment in my opinion

[@willl5250]

"Aim for the long side of the hole, it's statistically proportioned for better scores" *thins and flies a sand wedge into a strangers backyard*

[@themastermagicians2745]

Really helpful tips for hackers 😂🤣🤪

[@tysonsturgeon5334]

Lol still feel like I'm never going to get a hole in one

[@behindthebarwithjr157]

keep trying

[@T1cksandLeeches]

they're so lucky that unless someone calls their shot before...they can't really flex like it's skill. I have only 1 and it was fun to have my friends there to see it, but I was just using the right club and had a good swing. The rest was chance.

[@norcalchrismeister]

I've had an eagle on a par 4 but never a hole in one. I'll prob never get one but I'll keep trying lol

[@roncheong4198]

Wait, so the gist is “short side is bad?” SMH

[@ericmcgrath3445]

Is that Henry McKean on vocals?

[@SquibblyGiblets]

Why not just hit it right in the hole first try?

[@rooboy69]

This is the reason range finders alone are terrible for shooting low scores. Just shooting the pin will leave you more short sided misses

[@progolfcritic]

Shout out to 4Aces GC!

[@dabeamer42]

There's an easier strategy -- when the pin is tucked, aim for the center of the green. Same result.

[@KevenSandoval]

Common sense made to seem complicated.

[@bryans.7220]

I think I'm subscribed to wrong channels. This stuff looks like its designed for tour pros lol

[@curiousbystander9193]

naaaah,,,,vectored...len did it

[@FirstNameLastName-lu5nr]

I’ve never heard saliva so intensely in my life

[@imnotelvis11]

yo this dudes voice is not for radio

[@katsonjones5551]

Hearing him call it a “very nerdy statistic” felt gross. Big Bang Theory faux nerd appreciation vibes. Sad.

[@jeremybrown937]

Go outside

[@katsonjones5551]

@@jeremybrown937 nice one Jeremy

[@softjones3128]

I turn CC on for these videos. Most annoying narrator besides AI

[@dougm659]

It’s pronounced “six-th”, not “sick-th”…..when did the number six, become sick? I hear this all the time on tv and it f**ks me right off!

[@Kahawai68]

Please learn to say “sixth”. It’s really annoying.

[@jeffnorthcutt7899]

Ok... first, LKD talking is like ear torture. Aiming for the fat part of the green and not chasing tucked pins is very common knowledge. And the nine shots routine was around long before tiger woods so please don't credit it as "his theory" . This video is pretentious, redundant and apparently erroneous.