How Far You Hit Your 5-Iron Determines Which Tees You Should Play

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

Got this from my buddy Brad Pluth - an instructor in Minnesota who has officially been dubbed "The Man Who Saved My Golf Game."  Essentially it says to find out what length/tees you should play, simply multiply your 5-iron distance by 36 - figuring it should be two 5-irons to reach a Par 4 and 3 5-irons to teach a Par 5. 

What do you think?

[null]

I wouldnt mind playing 7200 yards everyone once in awhile, but I can't imagine that being my standard.

I really enjoy the 6600-6900 range depending on where the yardage is

[Shankster]

I wouldnt mind playing 7200 yards everyone once in awhile, but I can't imagine that being my standard.
I really enjoy the 6600-6900 range depending on where the yardage is

Tell me about it. I was thinking the same thing. That’s a lonnngggg ways.

[THEZIPR23]

It seems pretty accurate. But so much of how a course plays is where the yardage is and not the overall yardage. That being said it’s not always fun to play your max distance on a course. 

[JAGolfore]

Very few courses in my area stretch to 7200.  And if they do they do not play that long.  7200 playing wet is a different animal than 7200 when it is dry. 

 

I personally think that courses could be set up for the daily conditions.  When it is wet move the tees up a little.  when it is dry move them back.  And mix it up.  Tees in the same spot all the time gets boring.  It wouldn't take much thought in tee placement to help speed up play on the entire course or certain holes.  

Edited April 1, 2019 by jacustomgolf

[jayjay0808]

I fall just short of the 7200 distance. I think this is a good guideline, but you have to take into account conditions you are playing in. I play in the Pacific Northwest at 7200 in our conditions is a beast when compared to 7200 in Palm Springs or Florida. As well playing certain lengths for me on courses takes trouble out or puts it back into play for me. 

[txgolfjunkie]

In my playing experience, 7000+ yards in certain conditions/topography isn't that bad. It's usually a mix of long par 3s, one to three long par 4s and one or two 3-shot par 5. Usually those 7k+ yard courses allow for some wildness off the tee and have large greens that are fairly receptive to long/mid iron approach shots with little trouble in front of the the greens. 

I hate the <6500 courses that take driver out of the bag, want you to hit 4i-8i into a postage stamp turtle green surrounded by bunkers. Essentially the old country club style from pre-WW2 that are land-locked and can't be extended out. 

 

[JAGolfore]

8 minutes ago, txgolfjunkie said:

In my playing experience, 7000+ yards in certain conditions/topography isn't that bad. It's usually a mix of long par 3s, one to three long par 4s and one or two 3-shot par 5. Usually those 7k+ yard courses allow for some wildness off the tee and have large greens that are fairly receptive to long/mid iron approach shots with little trouble in front of the the greens. 

I hate the <6500 courses that take driver out of the bag, want you to hit 4i-8i into a postage stamp turtle green surrounded by bunkers. Essentially the old country club style from pre-WW2 that are land-locked and can't be extended out. 

 

I personally love the older courses.  They can be a lot of fun and test your entire game.  

[PlaidJacket]

As far as my home course is concerned.... that's pretty accurate. My 5i averages around 180-185 yds. which would be 6480-6660. I usually play around 6500. Works for me.

[Wedgie]

What do I think? I think I should be on the LPGA Tour!


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[TR1PTIK]

I've seen this before on the interwebs and it is a fairly good method for recreational players to determine the proper tees, but I think avid players who know their game and how they score can easily mix it up to either ratchet up the challenge or make it more fun. I personally find that I lose most of my strokes in the short irons and wedges (it's gotten a lot better) so whether a course plays around 6000 or 7000 yards makes little difference - my scores are generally within the same ballpark. 

[PlaidJacket]

3 minutes ago, Wedgie said:

I think I should be on the LPGA Tour!

I wish I was. LOL

[Wedgie]

I wish I was. LOL

Haha, I know right!

Seriously though my home course is 6500 yards and I hit my 5 iron around 165. I shot a 75 there last year which was the round of my life. 6200 yards is about my sweet spot for length.


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[Kor.A.Door]

Based on the guys I golf with, and my own distance, I would say this is as accurate a chart for which tees to play as I have seen.  

[ZJBogey2]

My 6 iron is consistently 200+ (loft 26.5*). I should note Im in CO at altitude so it carries further. I have no business playing from the back tees though with my handicap.  

Edited April 1, 2019 by ZJBogey2

[MGoBlue100]

I understand the concept, and it would fit for me, as I hit my 5 iron about 185, and that puts me in the 6500-ish yard category, which is about all I care to play honestly.

The only thought I would add is that this does not address slope at all, and some 5800 yd courses are much more difficult than some 6800 yard courses.  Personally, I prefer a matrix that uses slope over distance to determine the proper set of tees from which to play.

[gchester33]

I agree with a lot of the comments on here already that this is a good loose guideline to within a few hundred yards in either direction. The one that kills me is when yardages are essentially artificially inflated through long par 3s. Theres a number of courses here in the Orlando area that will play low 6k's but all 4 par 3's are close to 200 yards. 

[deejaid]

Looks like a good guideline to me. I sometimes play modern irons, sometimes 1950’s irons so my iron distances vary, but I always play persimmon woods so 6300-6400 yards is perfect for me.

And I love those 1940’s-1950’s era parkland courses. My clubs course was built from 1949-51 and is 6400 yards, narrow fairways and small greens with plenty of bunkers surrounding them. Love it.

Playing that style course with classic clubs is so much more enjoyable and challenging. Case in point, hole #2 at my club is a short par 4, 360 yards or so, but there is a creek cutting straight across the fairway 230 yards out. If I’m playing my modern driver I’m easily carrying the creek and have a wedge to the green. If I’m playing my persimmons it’s 50/50 that I carry to creek. The much safer play is 3-wood then 7-iron.

Much different game than bomb and gouge.




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[BIG STU]

1 hour ago, jacustomgolf said:

I personally love the older courses.  They can be a lot of fun and test your entire game.  

Especially if they are a Donald Ross course

[mr.hicksta]

Based strictly off numbers, I think this chart is fairly accurate. But when you account for different course layouts, that's where I kinda sway. There are lots of flat courses here in Hawaii and the ones I usually play are are 6700ish max. I don't have many issues aside from my usual inconsistencies, but I've played shorter course that have lots of elevation changes and those have been problematic at times. Overall though, I think this is a pretty effective way to look at who should play from different tee boxes. 

[BIG STU]

31 minutes ago, gchester33 said:

I agree with a lot of the comments on here already that this is a good loose guideline to within a few hundred yards in either direction. The one that kills me is when yardages are essentially artificially inflated through long par 3s. Theres a number of courses here in the Orlando area that will play low 6k's but all 4 par 3's are close to 200 yards. 

In the old days a Par 3 over 150 yards was considered long---- I can remember old Carolina CC in Charlotte the 3 rd hole was a 210 yd par 3 from the tips which was long for a Ross Course. at one time it was the hardest par 3 in the area--- Now they have completely redesigned the course and I do not think that hole exists anymore. My home course the 8th hole is around 210 from the back over water to a large green that you darn well better have the ball placed correctly or a guaranteed 3 putt. From the white tees it is 180--- MGSer John Smalls knows all about it because he played that course with me and I showed him the ends and outs on that hole. My home course is sorta short by today's standards but it's defense is the undelation of the greens> You better darn better well know where to put it on these greens 

[BIG STU]

47 minutes ago, ZJBogey2 said:

My 6 iron is consistently 200+ (loft 26.5*). I should note Im in CO at altitude so it carries further. I have no business playing from the back tees though with my handicap.  

And the difference between Colorado and where I live ( Coastal SC) is night and day. I am dead on sea level. I can go just 180 miles North to the Charlotte NC area and instantly gain 10 yards throughout the bag. Just judging off the cuff I would say your 200+ 6 iron would be around 175 180. My stock 6 iron usually around 32* or 33* is around 160 here. BTW-- You do not know me well so do not be misconstrued on my lofts I play older Vintage irons. 26.5* for me would be a weak 4 iron which will be around 180 or so for me

[ZJBogey2]

5 minutes ago, BIG STU said:

And the difference between Colorado and where I live ( Coastal SC) is night and day. I am dead on sea level. I can go just 180 miles North to the Charlotte NC area and instantly gain 10 yards throughout the bag. Just judging off the cuff I would say your 200+ 6 iron would be around 175 180. My stock 6 iron usually around 32* or 33* is around 160 here. BTW-- You do not know me well so do not be misconstrued on my lofts I play older Vintage irons. 26.5* for me would be a weak 4 iron which will be around 180 or so for me

I'll be playing at sea level next month in Cancun...going to be an adjustment when my distances are off a whole club or two! 

[BIG STU]

Just now, ZJBogey2 said:

I'll be playing at sea level next month in Cancun...going to be an adjustment when my distances are off a whole club or two! 

I do not know if Cancun is like here but in mid summer the air gets real thick and muggy and you will lose more distance. I do not know if that is from the salt content or what but I have also noticed that in the 20 years I have lived full time here

[DiscipleofPenick]

6800 sounds right to me.

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[yungkory]

2 hours ago, ZJBogey2 said:

My 6 iron is consistently 200+ (loft 26.5*). I should note Im in CO at altitude so it carries further. I have no business playing from the back tees though with my handicap.  

I've always wondered just how much further the ball goes at higher altitudes.

 

Interesting topic though, I've never really seen a difference in my score when the total difference in yards over 18 holes was 500y from one course to another. I'll choke a putt for 79 if it's 6300y or 6800. My 5i (27*) goes 180-185 FWIW.

[bens197]

Ill stick with the Blues for my self esteem.

My Black days are long gone in my rear view


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[GolfSpy_BNG]

Seems pretty accurate to me. I hit my 5 iron 180-185 and 6500 seems right to me.

As far as altitude goes I live in Iowa and my sister just moved to Denver 1.5 years ago. My father went out on golfed with her husband and he said he loved it. He was consistently 25-30 yards longer throughout the bag and about 50 yards with the driver. I remember him calling me from the course talking about how he just hit one 300. He didn't want to come back home!

Back on topic I actually pick my tees based on par 3 lengths. I don't care to play one much over 200 anymore.

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[CarlH]

I've played plenty of shorter courses that were tougher than many of the longer courses that I've played.  It isn't about what club you hit how far, but how well you score.  Obviously, if you can't reach a green in regulation because it's too long, you need to move to a forward tee -- put your ego aside and enjoy the round.  JMO!

[JAGolfore]

Especially if they are a Donald Ross course

Agreed!


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