If I know that the shot is possible if it is hit clean, I go for it.

In league play, it definitely depends on position or playing partners turn.
Otherwise it depends on how I'm striking it that day.

Some of my most favorite shots were hit with a 3 wood or a one iron that usually involved some order of risk. I can honestly say that they were all with a Titleist ball since high school. Thanks Titleist for 40 years of memories!

If I am playing well I will try to go for it with more aggressive shot. Times that are not clicking well I could play back to a yardage I like to try to get some momentum going.

Just like the stock market, I'm fairly conservative.. BUT if i'm having a good day and striking the ball and have a decent chance of going for us, I'll whip it out and give it a shot.. It's the confidence I lack when that situation comes.. Something I need to work on....

Great post...

For me, it comes down to risk versus reward. A fairly open front of the green with little trouble then I am more apt to give it a go.

I mostly go for it. I love playing aggressively personally and am not afraid to take on some risky shots. That sad, there is a time to lay up, but it is not my preferred play.

Jack

My grandfather and great uncle always said to one another in such situations, "I didn't come here to lay up" before going all in. Right or wrong that's stuck with me. Probably to my scoring detriment but wouldn't have it any other way.

It mostly comes down to how Im striking it that day and if Im holding up the group behind me!.. I try to play fast, NO JB HOLMES in me!

For me, it depends on the situation. I definitely like to take advantage when there's an opportunity too, but not to the point of bringing big numbers into play. Giving myself a number where I know I can give myself a good look for me is solid play.

As I have gotten older I have gotten smarter at times about certain holes & laying up or going for it. But the one thing I did a lot of last year was play to a distance for my next shot so the decision actually became easier to make, but if I have a favorable condition and lie I will usually give it a go just for the pride of saying I did it and watching my playing partner cringe because he always plays it safe..... LOL

Confidence level in that day’s swing is the key factor, so if the swing is feeling good I’ll give it a go.

Depends on a few factors:
1. How I’m hitting it that day
2. Weather conditions
3. What type of competition it is. If I’m having a half decent round in a medal I’ll probably take the smart money and lay up! (Wuss)

I think there are times to go and times to lay up. All depends on the lie, the conditions and how you are playing. Not really a conservative position but a realistic one. And it should not take over 4 minutes to make that decision. =)

I use the 75% rule in most situations, especially going for a par-5. If we're talking par-5's, if I need to hit a perfect shot just to get there, it'll depend on what's in front of the green. I make more birdies going for it than I do laying up to hit a wedge. On short par-4's, I go for it, every time. If it's a long carry over water, take one more club and hammer it, that way if you miss it a little, you still have enough to get there. .......Isn't this thread really about confidence, and what level we have? As Rick said earlier, you have options!

If Im playing well and scoring, Im conservative. If my not scoring well, I double down on everything.

I always went for it. This year I played more conservatively and lowered by index by 2-3 strokes.

My thoughts are this: if in match play and it is close, be smart. But always look for that window.

If behind in the match, go for it. A big number at this point won’t matter but winning a hole may create some positive momentum.

Stroke play, be smart and lay up. Reduce the chance of the big number on a hole.

I'm at the age (73) where the situation determines whether I go for it or lay up. If there is a water hazard in front of the green, I may or may not be able to carry it and that's when I will play conservative. If there is a sand bunker, I go for it.

The reason I voted for "go for it" is because I'm not all that accurate in the first place. If I'm good enough to pull off the conservative shot, then it stands to reason that I am also good enough to go for it. If there is a pin tucked in the right over a bunker and I decide that the middle of the green is good enough and I actually do manage to hit the middle of the green, then my thought is, "I should have probably gone for it if I was able to put it in the middle." I want to shoot as low as the next guy, but if I go home having shot a 92 instead of an 82, it's not the end of the world. As every golfer knows, the next round will always be better than the last...at least that's what we tell ourselves.

The professionals usually just go for it and many of those chances just end up in bad places. Evidently they think they can get it up and down from anywhere, anytime. Laying it up to perfect wedge distance would be preferable than making a bogey or worse but it definately depends on the situation and the players strength.