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Mastering par 3s isn’t about chasing flags — it’s about smart strategy and knowing your numbers. GOLFTEC’s Nick Clearwater shows how to pick the right landing zones, aim away from trouble, and factor in your shot dispersion patterns to play safer, lower-scoring golf. By adjusting your target based on your skill level and understanding your misses.
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When you face a 100-yard approach shot, what’s your plan? Do you laser the flag, grab your wedge, and go straight at it? Or do you pause to consider where the trouble lies?
Understanding Depth of Shot Patterns for Different Skill Levels
While Tour players can fire confidently at a flag from 100 yards, most amateur golfers should play with more margin for error. Every golfer has a depth dispersion pattern — the front-to-back spread of where their shots actually land — and understanding yours is crucial for smart aim selection.
Here’s what the data shows for a 100-yard approach:
- Tour Professionals: Take direct aim at the flag.
- 70s Shooters: Average around 6 yards of depth dispersion.
- 80s Shooters: Average about 10 yards of depth dispersion.
- 90s Shooters: Can have as much as 20 yards of depth dispersion.
With a hazard in front of the green, those differences matter. A shot that comes up just a few yards short can find water or sand, turning a routine approach into a penalty.
The takeaway: The higher your dispersion, the more you should favor a target past the pin — especially when there’s danger short of the green.
A View from the Green: Where You Should Aim
Once Zach and Nick reach the green, the layout tells the story:
- Hazard short and right.
- Bunkers guarding both sides.
- Green depth: roughly 30 yards.
If the pin is in the front, the smart play is to aim well beyond it — ideally toward the middle or back section of the green. That gives you the best chance to stay safely on the putting surface while avoiding the bunkers and hazard.
When the pin is in the back, you can be more aggressive, but the same rule applies: prioritize hitting the green, not flag hunting.
The numbers back it up — golfers shooting in the 90s average 3.6 strokes from greenside bunkers. That means even a three-putt from the green is a better outcome than trying to recover from the sand or penalty area.
Play Smarter from 100 Yards
Success on short approaches comes from strategy, not aggression. By knowing your dispersion and aiming for safer targets, you'll avoid costly misses and hit more greens. Focus on smart-decision making and consistent contact to lower your scores.
Ready to improve? Schedule a GOLFTEC Swing Evaluation to get started on your journey to better golf!
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