Alternate shot strategy
How to Build a Pre-Round Plan for Alternate Shot Strategy
Use the scorecard, weather, partner strengths, and likely misses to create a team plan before the first tee.
Walk through the course on paper
A useful pre-round plan doesn’t need to be fancy. Look at each hole and mark the main decision: tee club, safe side, layup number, or green-light opportunity. Pay special attention to par 3s and holes with forced carries because tee order can matter there.
Compare partner strengths honestly
One player may drive it longer; the other may be better from 120 yards. One may love bunker shots; the other may hate downhill chips. Say it plainly and kindly. Strategy improves when the team protects weaknesses without making them personal.
Build a compact plan
Use a simple table in your yardage book or phone notes:
| Hole type | Team priority | Example choice |
|---|---|---|
| Tight par 4 | Ball in play | Hybrid at widest section |
| Reachable par 5 | Favorite layup | Leave 95 yards, not 50 |
| Long par 3 | Safe miss | Aim front-center |
| Short par 4 | Match situation | Attack only if trouble is manageable |
Let data sharpen the plan
Alternate shot partners need evidence more than optimism. FocusGolf can build that evidence through watch-based shot and distance tracking on Wear OS, Garmin, or Apple Watch, with no club sensors required. Reviewing club performance and session history before the match helps decide who should take certain tee shots, which lay-up yardages suit both players, and where the team should avoid leaving a partner an uncomfortable swing.
Plan communication too
Decide who gives yardage, who reads putts first, and how much advice each player wants. Some golfers like a clear target and silence. Others want one reassuring sentence. Agreeing beforehand prevents tension during the round.
Keep room for adjustment
Wind shifts, pins change the hole, and nerves show up. A pre-round plan should guide the team, not trap it. If the conditions say “safer,” listen.