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: 24

Play Ready Golf | Strokes Gained for the 9 to 5 Golfer
Podcast Episodes
You Are Almost As Straight As Scheffler [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:42
Use code PRGPOD for $20 off your first year. Link below for a free 7-day trial.https://onelink.to/93ggkvYour driver pattern is almost the same width as Scottie Scheffler's. About 5 yards apart.You don't have a swing prob…
More Practice Won't Lower Your Scores. Less Will. - Jon Weiss Jr. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:42
House of Hope of The Pee Dee: https://hofh.org/Play Ready Golf 7-Day Trial (use code "PRGPOD): ⁠https://onelink.to/93ggkv⁠Most golfers grind for hours and never drop a shot. Jon Weiss does the opposite. He runs a 50-empl…
Amateurs Aren't Bad Putters. They're Bad From 150. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:49
Try the Play Ready Golf app free for 7 days. Use code PRGPOD at checkout for $20 off your annual plan for life: https://onelink.to/93ggkvGrab the free stat tracker and proximity benchmarks PDF mentioned in the episode: h…
He Just Made a PGA Tour Cut. ft. Connor Doyal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:55
Connor Doyal is a 26 year old caddy at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. He almost never goes to the range. 3 weeks ago he won the Terra Cotta Invitational against a stacked junior field. Last week he Monday qualified i…
74 Million Shots Prove You're Not a Bad Putter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:25
You watched four days of the Masters and decided your putting is broken. It's not.74 million shots say amateur golfers miss more than 60% of putts from 8 feet. Tour pros miss 3 out of 4 from 15 feet. A scratch golfer mis…
He Made the USGA Semis With Two Toddlers at Home ft. Mike Smith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:22
Mike Smith is the founder of ForeCollegeGolf, a recruiting consultancy that has helped over 200 families in 40+ countries place junior golfers at college programs. He's a two-time Florida Foursomes champion, a 2024 U.S.…
The Range Hasn't Changed Since 1913. That's the Problem. (BONUS) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:36
The driving range business model hasn't meaningfully changed since the first one opened in Pinehurst in 1913. Lights, mats, and automatic ball dispensers. That's it.But the science of how people learn motor skills has ch…
He Practices Less Than You and Plays Better ft. Will Davenport [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:41
He works 60+ hours a week at Boston Consulting Group. He's ranked #16 among mid-amateur golfers in the entire country. Will Davenport is proof that structured, intentional practice beats volume every time. In this episod…
7 Mental Traps That Ruin Your Tournament Score [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:39
Most golfers walk into their club championship, member-guest, or first tournament expecting to play their normal game. The data says you should expect to play worse. Not because you choke. Because the conditions are fund…