If there’s a pro golfer who knows a thing or two about hitting incredible approach shots, it’s Tony Finau. Sure, we know Finau is good with his driver, but it’s his approach stats that really separate him from his peers.
Look no further than this year’s stats, where Finau ranks No. 2 on Tour in SG: Approach the Green, a key metric when it comes to hitting greens in regulation and being in better position to shoot low.
So what’s his secret when it comes to success on approach shots? In the video below (courtesy of Titleist’s YouTube channel), Finau delivers a go-to guide to dial in your distances with different clubs — which should lead to less strokes and lower scores in no time.
Tony Finau shares his tips for better approach shots
In the video, Finau tackles approach shots from different distances, walking through how he game plans and what helps him stick it close.
The 140-yard approach shot
When the flagstick’s in the middle of the green and Finau has 140 yards in, he says it’s an opportunity to be aggressive and “try to land it pretty much next to the hole” — but the key is understanding the carry distances with your irons.
On this particular shot, Finau says he’s using a light pitching wedge (although that doesn’t mean you will).
“I’ve got my pitching wedge, which [I hit] anywhere between 145-150 yards, so I’m going to have to take a little bit off,” Finau says. “I like hitting a little fade, so I’m looking for it to be a little flatter from this distance and move left-to-right.”
What does success look like on this shot for Finau?
“I’d say anything from 20 feet and in from this distance is a great shot.”
Finau then explains what he visualizes prior to hitting an approach shot from this distance with his pitching wedge, saying he relies on “seeing a window.”
The 100-yard approach shot
Next, Finau tackles a 100-yard approach shot and discusses how he strategizes for hitting this to a pin in the middle of the green.
“On a 100-yard shot, I’ve got my 56 degree, which is about a 115-yard stock club — so [again] I’ve got to take a little bit off of it,” he explains. “I always like flighting the wedges, so flight this down and fly something past the hole so the ridge brings it back towardsthe pin.”
After hitting his shot, Finau gives a tip on controlling distance, saying it’s easier to do so without such a high ball-flight.
“It’s easier to control the distance as it stays closer to the ground. I just see the flatter one, and then on the green, it’s got more spin [with a lower ball-flight],” he says. “The higher you launch it, it actually has less spin. The lower you launch it, it actually has more.”
