Your performance on the par-3s can make or break a round, so it's crucial to give them the respect that they deserve. In the article below, Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach and PGA Pro Paul Foston discusses some common faults and provides quick fixes that will help lower your scores...
Bonus Video: Eddie Pepperell Par-3 Masterclass
How do you master par-3s?
The first thing you need to be clear on is the distance you can hit each club. A common issue with par-3s is that players tend to place to much emphasis on the yardage of the hole, and neglect other factors that will influence the shot.
It helps to know how to calculate distance in the wind, for example, as well as how to play the low punch shot if you've got a strong breeze into your face. If you don't, you'll struggle to get the ball pin high consistently and likely find your 'misses' make it hard to get up-and-down and save par.
Let me give you an example. Take a hole that measures 136 yards to the pin, but there’s a deep bunker guarding the front of the green and a slope on the left that leads into a stream.
Firing at this flag is a risk you don’t need to take unless you’re feeling extremely confident or are up against it in a match. In most instances, I would club up, aim for the middle-right section of the green and be happy with a 25-footer. It's obviously easier said than done but even if you tend to pull iron shots, the margin for error you've given yourself means you've still got a chance of finding the putting surface.
In contrast, if there's a pin right at the back of a par-3 green and long is the worst place to miss it, take a club you can hit with absolute confidence knowing it has no chance of going too far. For example, if it's playing 170 yards to the back edge, I might hit my 7-iron, which goes 165 yards at most. This will allow me to fully commit to the shot at hand.
You should be clear on the worst possible place you could hit it, and plan accordingly from there. Avoiding danger is the number one priority.
One final point – don’t tee the ball up too high. I notice a lot of amateur players doing this, but it will only cause you to strike the ball too high on the clubface and result in a loss of distance. Teeing it down will encourage you to compress your iron shots for crisper and more consistent strikes.
Paul's Par-3 Strategy Checklist
1) Understand how far you can hit each club in your bag
2) Don't take any unnecessary risks
3) Find the middle of the green on tough par-3s
4) Hit a shorter club to back pin positions
5) Make a plan to avoid the danger before hitting your shot
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