The Lay-Up
Distance Challenge
Practise choosing a lay-up distance that makes your next shot easier.
When you can't comfortably reach the green, the longest shot isn't always the smartest one. A well-planned lay-up puts the ball in a position that gives you a comfortable next shot, avoids unnecessary trouble and makes the hole easier to manage. This challenge helps you compare different landing positions and think beyond your next swing.
Plan your next
shot first.
Think about the shot into the green
Before choosing your lay-up distance, consider the approach shot you would like to have next. Are you more comfortable hitting a wedge from 90 metres, a short iron from 130 metres or a fuller shot from further back? Think about the distances you regularly control well, rather than choosing a number because it sounds ideal.
Work backwards from that distance
Look at how far you are from the green and subtract the approach distance you want to leave yourself. If you have 230 metres remaining and would prefer a 100-metre approach, you are looking for a lay-up of roughly 130 metres. It gives you a starting point for choosing your club and landing area.
Find a comfortable landing area
Distance is only part of the decision. Look for a section of fairway with enough room for your normal shot pattern. Consider bunkers, water, trees, rough and uneven lies. A slightly shorter lay-up into a wide, flat area may be much more useful than a longer shot towards trouble.
Choose the club you can trust
Select a club that can comfortably reach your intended landing area. You don't need to squeeze every possible metre out of the shot. A controlled swing with a reliable club is often a better choice than trying to hit a longer club at its limit.
Allow for the lie and conditions
Your intended distance may change depending on the lie, wind, slope and ground conditions. A shot from the rough may not travel as far as one from the fairway. Be realistic about the distance you can produce from the position you actually have.
230 metres to the green
You are comfortable approaching from around 100 metres. Rather than trying to hit your longest possible shot, you could play a controlled 130-metre lay-up into a wide section of fairway. You would then have the approach distance you prefer, with a manageable lie and room to play.
These distances are illustrative. Your preferred approach distance should reflect the shots you personally control most comfortably.
A good lay-up
is about position.
The next shot matters more than maximum distance
Don't automatically choose the club that travels furthest. Think about the approach you want to play next. A 100-metre shot from a comfortable position may suit you much better than a 65-metre shot from a difficult lie or awkward angle.
Give yourself room for an ordinary shot
Your lay-up should allow for your normal dispersion, not just your best strike. Look for a landing area with enough width to accommodate a slight miss without bringing hazards or difficult recovery shots into play.
Think about the lie you want to leave
A flat fairway lie is often more useful than a ball sitting in rough, on a slope or behind an obstacle. Consider how your landing position will affect the quality and difficulty of your next shot.
Don't create a problem to save a few metres
A longer lay-up might leave you closer to the green, but it could also bring a bunker, water or narrowing fairway into play. If a shorter shot leaves a much safer position, the extra distance on your approach may be a worthwhile trade-off.
Choose a landing position that gives you a comfortable next shot, with enough room for your normal level of accuracy.
The Lay-Up Distance Challenge
The best lay-up isn't always the longest one. Work through these four situations and compare the possible landing positions. Think about the next shot, the available space and the risks before reading the recommended decision.
Find your comfortable approach distance
You have 230 metres remaining to the green on a fairly open hole. You are most comfortable hitting your approach shots from around 100 metres. There is plenty of room to lay up, but you don't need to hit as far as possible.
Which landing distance would you choose?
Leaves approximately 150 metres to the green.
Leaves approximately 100 metres to the green.
Leaves approximately 60 metres to the green.
This leaves you with the approach distance you already know you are comfortable playing. The shorter option leaves a longer approach, while the longer option may leave an awkward partial shot. The aim is to create a familiar next shot, not simply reduce the distance at every opportunity.
Don't let a hazard dictate your next shot
You have 210 metres remaining. A fairway bunker sits around 155 metres from your current position, and the fairway is wider before it. Your reliable club carries around 120 metres, while your longer club can reach the bunker if you strike it well.
Which landing distance makes most sense?
Leaves approximately 100 metres to the green and stays comfortably short of the bunker.
Leaves approximately 60 metres, but brings the bunker into play.
Could leave a shorter approach, but requires a longer and less reliable shot.
The reliable club gives you a comfortable shot and keeps the bunker out of the decision. Trying to get closer introduces unnecessary risk. A straightforward 100-metre approach from a good position is often a better outcome than a shorter shot after taking on trouble.
Use the space available to you
You have 260 metres remaining to the green. The fairway is wide in the middle, but becomes narrower beyond that point, with rough and trees on either side. You can comfortably reach the wide section, but pushing further brings the narrower landing area into play.
Where would you rather leave your ball?
Leaves 160 metres to the green, with a longer approach from a safe position.
Leaves 110 metres to the green and gives you plenty of room for an ordinary shot.
Leaves only 50 metres, but gives you less room for an inaccurate shot.
The middle option makes good use of the available space. You get closer to the green without sacrificing the width of the landing area. The 210-metre option looks attractive on paper, but the narrower fairway increases the chance of leaving yourself a difficult recovery.
Choose the club you can trust
You have 215 metres remaining. Your hybrid is reliable and usually travels around 125 metres. Your driver can travel much further, but your accuracy with it is inconsistent. There is a generous landing area available for your hybrid.
Which option gives you the best chance of a comfortable next shot?
Leaves 125 metres to the green and gives you plenty of room.
Leaves 90 metres to the green using a club you regularly hit well.
Leaves 40 metres, but requires a less reliable club and a more demanding shot.
Your hybrid gives you a predictable result and leaves a manageable 90-metre approach. The longer option might produce a shorter next shot, but it relies on a club you don't control as consistently. Choosing a club you trust is an important part of good course management.
A good lay-up is about more than distance. Look for a landing position that gives you a comfortable next shot, a reasonable margin for error and a lie you are happy to play from. The best choice will change depending on the golfer, the hole and the conditions.
Make your next lay-up a deliberate decision
You don't need to calculate every shot perfectly. Start by making one small change to how you approach your next lay-up. Instead of automatically hitting your longest club, take a moment to think about where you want the ball to finish.
Think about the approach distance you would be happy to have next, rather than focusing only on how far you can hit now.
Look for enough width, a manageable lie and space away from hazards or other trouble.
Use a club that gives you a good chance of reaching your intended area. Don't choose purely on maximum distance.
After the shot, consider whether you left yourself the position you intended. Learn from the decision, not just the outcome.
Don't just ask, "How far can I hit it?" Ask, "Where do I want my next shot to come from?"
Make better decisions across the course
Choosing a lay-up distance is one part of managing your way around the golf course. These guides explore other ways to make sensible decisions, choose better targets and give yourself more room for error.
Where Should You Aim on the Golf Course?
Learn how to choose targets that give you a better chance of finding a safe position, rather than always aiming directly at the flag.
Read the guide →Golf Course Management for Everyday Golfers
Explore a practical approach to planning holes, managing risk and making decisions that suit your own game.
Read the guide →You don't have to hit every shot perfectly to play smarter golf. Sometimes the biggest improvement comes from choosing a better place to hit your next one.
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