The Approach Shot Lie Costing Amateurs 3 Strokes A Round

The Approach Shot Lie Costing Amateurs 3 Strokes A Round

Author: Isaak Ramsey & Hayden Zimmerer | Smarter Golf Practice in Less Time May 8, 2026 Duration: 40:22

App: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6752723937 Most amateurs think they know how far they hit their irons. The Arccos data says they don't. The average 20 handicap thinks their 5 iron flies 187 yards. The actual median carry is 152. That 35 yard gap doesn't just cost one shot. It cascades. Short approach, harder chip, missed up and down, lag putt from 90 feet, three-putt 27% of the time. Two to three strokes per round, every single round, and it had nothing to do with your swing. This episode breaks down where the cascade actually starts, why "80% of strokes lost inside 100 yards" is the most repeated lie in golf, and the 15 minute gapping session that fixes most of it before your next round. ——— Free resources The 59 minute practice plan: https://playreadygolf.beehiiv.com/59minuteplan The PRG benchmarks PDF: https://playreadygolf.beehiiv.com/comprehensivestats The simple stat tracker: https://playreadygolf.beehiiv.com/simplestatstracker ——— 00:00 The 35 yard lie in your bag 01:46 Hayden's college par-3 story 03:25 Why hitting past the pin feels worse 05:43 The cascade from one wrong club 06:32 Where amateurs actually miss from 150 08:45 Aim long until you actually go long 10:48 The 9, 7, 5 gapping drill 13:52 Why Pelz was wrong about the short game 15:30 Isaak's launch monitor rabbit hole 17:58 The middle 6 of 10 balls drill 21:04 Two rules that kill club selection ego 23:54 The Bryson 5 iron rant 25:50 The take two more clubs challenge 29:35 Why block practice does not transfer 30:38 What to actually do at the range 34:21 Resources and final word


There's a common frustration that settles in when you love golf but feel stuck, watching your scores plateau despite your effort. Play Ready Golf is built on a simple, powerful idea: real improvement doesn't require endless hours or expensive gear you might not have. Instead, this podcast digs into practical, actionable strategies that fit into a regular life. You'll hear straightforward conversations about smarter practice, mental approaches that actually work on the course, and how to make the most of your existing game. The focus is always on tangible takeaways-the kind you can try during your next range session or round. It’s for anyone tired of generic advice and ready for a clearer path to lower scores. Each episode feels like a focused chat with a knowledgeable friend who cuts through the noise, all dedicated to helping you play better with what you've already got. Tune in and start transforming the time and resources you already invest into noticeable, satisfying progress on the fairway.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 38

Play Ready Golf | Strokes Gained for the 9 to 5 Golfer
Podcast Episodes
Your Swing Looks Perfect. That's the Problem - Austin Langdale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:36
Get the free cheat sheet: ⁠https://playreadygolf.beehiiv.com/secretsofthemidam⁠Want a practice plan built for your game and your schedule? Try Play Ready Golf free for 7 days. Code PRGPOD takes $20 off every year: ⁠⁠http…
Your Driver Isn't the Problem. Your Aim Is [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:43
Try the app free for 7 days. Code PRGPOD gets you 20 dollars off the annual plan for life: https://onelink.to/93ggkvFree stats guide: https://playreadygolf.beehiiv.com/comprehensivestatsCoaches. PRG Teams is built for hi…
The Best Practice Tool Is in Your Bathroom - Payne Denman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:54
Secrets of the elite Mid-AM: ⁠https://playreadygolf.beehiiv.com/secretsofthemidam⁠Practice smarter with the Play Ready Golf app. 7 days free, code ISAAK takes $20 off the year: https://onelink.to/93ggkvFollow Payne: ⁠htt…
Amateurs Carry 14 Clubs. They Use 10. - Ep. 35 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:49
Try the app free for 7 days. Code PRGPOD gets you 20 dollars off the annual plan for life : https://onelink.to/93ggkvFree stats guide. Every benchmark from 3 feet to 300 yards, 20 handicap through tour pro : https://play…
He Shot 90. Then He Won the State Am - (ft. Andrew Chapman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:51
Try Play Ready Golf free for 7 days. Code PRGPOD takes $20 off every year, forever: https://onelink.to/93ggkv Secrets of the mid-am: https://playreadygolf.beehiiv.com/secretsofthemidamGet a custom piece from Andrew: andr…
Amateurs Grade Themselves Like Tour Pros (here's what to do instead) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:25
Free stats guide: https://playreadygolf.beehiiv.com/comprehensivestatsGet tour level strokes gained data in 30 seconds a hole with Play Ready Golf. Free 7 day trial: https://onelink.to/93ggkv Code PRGPOD gets you $20 off…
More Practice Made Him Worse - Brett Patterson (Ep. 32) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:38
Try Play Ready Golf free for 7 days. Code PRGPOD takes $20 off every year: https://onelink.to/93ggkvThe Mid-Am Insights PDF. Every lesson from every mid-am we have interviewed, in one download: https://playreadygolf.beeh…
Chipping Was Never About Your Hands [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:29
Want 1 science based practice fix a day for the next 30 days? That is the second link: https://playreadygolf.beehiiv.com/30hacksin30The Play Ready Golf app turns 30 seconds a hole into tour level strokes gained data and…
Scratch Golfers Hit the Same Bad Shots You Do - Ep. 29 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:44
Sick of 1 hole wrecking your whole round? Grab the free Disaster Card. It has the 4 rules on the front and a 3 round leak tracker on the back that shows you exactly where your strokes are going: https://playreadygolf.bee…