Use these tips to play smart and score low on long par-5s.
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We’ve all been there before: Standing on a tee box and looking down a long par-5 that makes us feel a little intimidated.
There may be plenty of bunkers on either side of a fairway, or water just waiting to swallow your golf ball, but it’s important to avoid letting this type of hole ruin your round.
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How to see more success on par-5 holes
Since par-5s can make or break a scorecard, it’s essential to develop a plan and trust the process. So instead of letting the added length or obstacles get the best of you, here are 10 things you need to do to successfully master the par-5 holes.
1. Assess the hole
How wide or narrow is the hole and how many hazards or obstacles do you have? Obviously, you want to avoid hazards and anything out of bounds, so the more of these you have to navigate, the more conservative you’ll want to be.
To get a good idea of ​​what lies ahead in a hole, I suggest using The Golflogix appwhich has a cool flight mode that’s perfect when it comes to planning your strategy — especially on courses you’re unfamiliar with.
2. Mark the “stop” zones.
You want to focus on where you want to hit your golf ball, but always keep in mind the locations where absolutely need to avoid. This is where proper club selection and knowing your distances come into play.
If you’re taking notes in a book, it can be helpful to put an “X” in those restricted areas, which can be a good way to plan as you maneuver around par-5 holes. Avoid the temptation to always hit driver if it doesn’t make sense, as playing it safe by going shorter off the tee may be the smartest play.
3. Play in wider landing areas
As mentioned above, you don’t you should always maximize the distance just because a par-5 is a longer hole. If there are “no-go” areas that add stress to your forehand, consider landing with clubs and finding a wider landing zone – which adds some safety if you miss your forehand.
If you’re trying to decide whether to be more aggressive off the top or not, ask yourself this simple question: “Is the win worth the gamble?”
If the gain isn’t obvious, I suggest playing towards wider targets so that your small mistakes don’t result in any added penalties.
4. Put your mouse stroke into play
Of course, your tee shot is important on any hole you play, but it’s even more important on a par-5 hole – as anything that goes out of play or in trouble can make every shot more difficult.
Based on your ability to hit the ball, always be smart with your choice of club off the fairway. If your driver has a little difficulty, it might be smart to just get a shorter club with more loft to help keep the ball on the fairway. Playing stressful golf is not playing smart golf.
5. Choose the clubs you are most comfortable with
OK, so you hit a good shot, but you still have a lot of distance between you and the green. While many amateurs like to go back and forth between “going for it” using a 3-wood, this mentality can get you into trouble.
Instead of being aggressive—especially if it’s a club you often don’t hit well—choose the club you’re most comfortable with. It can be a different fairway wood, a hybrid, or even a low iron that allows you to hit it straight, get some distance, build your confidence and allow a comfortable third shot to the green.
6. Approach shot – avoid the short side
As you approach the green, make a few mental notes about where it’s okay to miss—since there’s a good chance you won’t hit the perfect shot. When doing this, I suggest avoiding the short side, which is where the ball ends up on the side of the green closest to the pin.
It can be great to be aggressive, but it’s smarter to find a landing zone that leaves you in a better place for the next shot. By leaving it on the short side, it puts a lot of pressure on your short game and it may ask you to dump instead of shred.
7. Know the green tilt
Just knowing the general slope of the green can be really helpful. That way, when your ball lands on the green from an approach shot or a fairway or chip shot, it rolls toward the pin rather than away from it. Use the course to your advantage instead of being surprised by how it controls the direction of the ball.
8. Leave yourself a comfortable approach distance
If or when you can’t get your shot to the green, just plan to leave yourself with a distance you’re comfortable with so you can get up and down with the short game. So if you really struggle from 30 yards but excel from around 50 yards, it’s okay to take something off your approach to feel confident with your wedges.
Know what your favorite longer par-5 distances are and always use that as part of your strategy.
9. Know the short steps of the game
Similar to the above, it’s crucial to know what your levels are in the short game – as this area can make all the difference in the world to your scorecard. So, not only do you have to be smart about your slicing and lifting, but you too really you should be able to control your distances.
If you are a younger or beginner golfer and don’t have much time for golf practice, try calibrating your short game. To help, I have developed a course on Uscreen to teach you how to do this, which can lead to more par-5s on these longer par-5s.
10. Dial in the remote control setting
When you’re able to land your first shot, it will help you avoid those ugly (and frustrating) results that can ruin a round. To do this, you need to master the distance control on the placement surfacewhich relieves the pressure and leaves you with a more doable second shot.
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