Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you play smarter, better golf.
Anytime I step onto the tee box of a short par 4, my first instinct is to make sure I bomb my driver in order to set myself up for an aggressive approach shot. If executed correctly, there’s a chance I can one-putt for birdie — but that’s if everything I planned in my head goes right.
This is where reality should set in, because FedExCup champ Viktor Hovland played a total of 959 par 4 holes during this past PGA TOUR season, and was only able to make birdie or better on 215 of them (or 22.42%). Hell, the Tour average was just 16%, so no weekend golfer should be upset if they’re settling for par (or even bogey) on these types of holes.
Now, don’t let that information intimidate any fellow amateurs.
Viktor Hovland’s par-4 ‘hole-in-one’ wasn’t what it looked like
I just list those stats as a point of reference, reminding you to set proper expectations — because par 4s are not easy to conquer for the average player. Short par 4s can be even more difficult because, while the length of the hole is typically shorter, other things often come into play like water, trees, bunkers, etc.
So how can you score lower on short par 4 holes? With the right plan.
Take a look below at the tips from GOLF Teacher to Watch Todd Casabella, who breaks down how amateurs like you and me can put ourselves in better position to play smart (but still be aggressive) on short par 4s.
How to have more success on short par 4s
While a short par 4 presents a great opportunity to shoot low, Casabella says he often sees amateurs struggle with these holes.
“Too often, I see amateurs trying to make a full swing slower for shorter distances [on these types of holes,” he says. “This seems like a simple solution, but it’s very difficult to execute.
“Think about it: All the segments of the body have to slow down proportionally to achieve the slower swing. If they don’t, contact becomes less consistent and you create a larger dispersion.”
By following the below, you can master distance control on wedge shots to give yourself closer putts on short par 4s.
Slow and short
The main mistake many amateurs make when shortening the backswing is slowing their lower body and making their arms overactive. If this is you, you most likely have trouble with controlling the distance because you launch the ball too high, causing inconsistencies.
By using a shorter backswing, the hands will get back to the ball sooner — so slow down the arm swing in transition.
To encourage solid ball-first contact and a lower launch, get the right knee to the ball before the club makes contact. The length of the follow through should match the length of the backswing.
As the photo above shows, the length of the backswing matches the length of the follow through, and the right knee gets to the ball before the clubhead.
While the clubhead has traveled farther going back, it’s the length of the hand path that you want to focus on. In the same picture above, the left arm is parallel to the ground in the backswing, and the right arm is parallel on the follow through.
Controlling the distance
You probably know how far you hit your clubs when you make a full swing. But do you know how far they go if you shorten the backswing? This is where controlling your backswing is critical on short par 4 holes.
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With a full swing, your hands get to the top of your head. If you were to make a 2/3 swing, with your left arm parallel to the ground and the club vertical, your hands would be right in front of your chest. This will be your stock distance wedge shot — something every player should now when using each wedge in their bag.
From my experience, this is about 20% shorter than your full swing.
So if you hit your pitching wedge 100 yards, your chest swing would be 80. If you have a 90-yard shot, you would lengthen the backswing between your chest and head, extending it to your shoulders.
Course strategy
From the fairway, play shots using the chest or shoulder swings. From the rough, play shots using the shoulders to full swings.
Why follow this approach? From the fairway, you should be able to contact the ball clean, controlling the launch and stopping the ball with spin. But from the rough, the longer grass requires more speed, meaning it’s more difficult to create spin — therefore, you need to stop the ball with height.
Longer swings with a more lofted club will help create a steeper descent into the green.
In the photo above, both balls are the exact same distance from the flag. But notice the swing from the fairway, while using a sand wedge and a shorter, chest “length” swing, versus the shot from the rough, they’re using a lob wedge and a full “head” length swing.
You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can learn to control your backswing length with a little bit of practice. Combine that with a better understanding of how to hit your approach shots, and you will be conquering short par 4s in no time.
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