A layup is when a player purposely hits the ball a shorter distance than they are capable of, typically to avoid a hazard near the green.
Laying up is most commonly considered on the second shot on a par 5 but is sometimes considered on par 4s.
Typically, a significant hazard near the green, such as water or out-of-bounds (OB), will cause a golfer to consider laying up.
Or maybe a player has a flier lie and isn’t quite sure just how hot the ball is going to come out.
Example:
Say you are playing a 515-yard par 5.
You hit your drive in the middle of the fairway and have 225 left to the pin.
If there is water surrounding most of the green, you may consider laying up short of the water to avoid the chance of losing a stroke due to a water ball.
Depending on various factors, such as weather, wind, skill level, and tournament (or just a friendly match) implications, laying up may well be the correct play.
But as you will see below, laying up is generally not advisable.
Other situations where laying up would be considered a good play is if you are blocked out by trees or in a deep fairway bunker where it isn’t feasible to reach the green.
Related: Discover the Magic of the Bump and Run: Improve Your Short Game Today
Should You Layup In Golf?
Common wisdom says that laying up is the “smart” play.
The data says otherwise.
According to Lou Stagner, who has analyzed over 550 million golf shots through Arccos golf, the optimal play for everyone in terms of strokes gained is to hit the ball as close to the green as you can every time.
Of course, individual situations, abilities, and circumstances play a role in deciding whether to lay up.
Most players shouldn’t lay up.
In particular, if there are no significant hazards, you absolutely should not lay up to “your favorite wedge distance,” as the general golf wisdom has long held.
The reasoning is simple: the closer you are to the hole, the closer you will hit your next shot to the hole.
Think you’re better from 80 yards than 50 yards? You almost certainly are not.
Check out this chart:
All 4 different skill levels hit the ball significantly closer to the pin as their approach shot distance decreases.
Laying up does have its place, but generally only under certain conditions.
If you do lay up, make sure to lay up to a spot that you have a good chance of getting up and down from.
And when in doubt, go for it!