Pacing
Pacing is the measuring of distances on the course by counting your steps.
Pacing is the oldest distance measurement in golf and works entirely without technology. You walk from your ball to a known point, such as a 150-meter marker or the flag, and count your steps. A calm, even step corresponds to roughly one meter for most adults. Whoever knows their stride length can determine any distance to within a few meters this way. Long before lasers and GPS watches became common, pacing was the standard tool of professionals and caddies. In the Yardage Book of many tournament players contain precisely such stepped-off notes.
In practice, it works like this: your ball lies on the fairway, and next to the hole stands a post 150 meters from the middle of the green. You walk from the post to your ball and count 23 steps. Your remaining distance is therefore about 127 meters, and you choose the suitable iron. The constant tempo is important: whoever strides generously while walking measures too short. It is best to calibrate your steps once on a measured stretch of the Driving Range.
A typical mistake is mixing stride styles. Walking forwards, swaying sideways, stumbling up a slope — all of it distorts the result. Always measure in a straight line and at the same rhythm. Another misconception: pacing is no substitute for the exact Flag Position, because the markers almost always show the middle of the green, not the flag. On large, undulating greens, the difference can be ten meters. Pacing gives you the basis; you read the rest off the green.
FAQ
How do I pace out a distance on the course correctly?
You walk from your ball to a known point, such as a 150-meter marker, and count your steps in a straight line and at an even rhythm. A calm step corresponds to roughly one meter for most adults. If you count, for example, 23 steps from the post to the ball, you have about 127 meters left, and you choose the suitable iron.
What do I have to watch out for when pacing so that the result is correct?
The most common mistake is mixing stride styles: walking forwards, swaying sideways or stumbling up a slope distorts the count. It is best to calibrate your stride length once on a measured stretch of the driving range; then you know exactly how many meters your step covers. After that, always measure at the same tempo.
Does pacing replace a laser or GPS watch?
Pacing gives you a solid basis, but it is no substitute for the exact distance to the flag. The markers at the edge of the fairway almost always show the middle of the green, not the current flag position — on large greens, the difference can be ten meters. Combine the pacing with the read off the green, and the club selection will fit.