The hole in one. Two words that send every golfer's heart racing. Sinking an ace is the single most exhilarating shot in golf — the kind of moment you'll retell for the rest of your life. But here's the thing: hitting a hole in one isn't pure luck. The golfers who do it most consistently understand certain fundamentals — the right club, the right conditions, and above all, the right approach. This guide breaks down exactly how to give yourself the best chance at an ace.
What Is a Hole in One?
A hole in one — also called an "ace" — is when a golfer sinks the ball directly from the tee into the hole with a single stroke on a par 3. It doesn't count on par 4 or par 5 holes (though holing out from the tee there is called an eagle or condor). The ace is considered one of the rarest achievements in the game, celebrated with the same joy by a 30-handicapper as by a tour professional.
The first recorded hole in one was made by Tom Morris Jr. at the 1868 Open Championship at Prestwick Golf Club. Over 150 years later, golfers around the world are still chasing that same magical moment.
The Odds of Getting a Hole in One
Before diving into technique, it helps to understand the odds — not to discourage you, but to give context for why the fundamentals below actually matter.
The good news? These odds aren't fixed. A tour professional's odds are five times better than the average golfer's — not because they got lucky, but because they consistently execute the fundamentals covered in this guide. Apply the same principles and your own odds improve meaningfully.
Choose the Right Club
The single most common mistake golfers make on par 3s is reaching for too much club and swinging too hard. Aces happen most often between 120 and 175 yards — a range covered by your mid-irons and short irons. Here's how to match the club to the distance:
The golden rule: take the club that lets you swing at 70–80% effort. A smooth 8-iron struck from the centre of the face will outdistance and outperform a forced 9-iron every time. Control beats power when you're aiming at a pin.
Not sure of your distances? Use our golf club distance calculator to find your personalised carry distances for every club in the bag.
Read the Hole Like a Pro
Tour caddies spend more time reading conditions than the golfer spends swinging. Before you take your practice swing, assess each of these:
Exact Distance to the Flag
Don't guess. Use a rangefinder or GPS watch to get the precise yardage to the pin. Remember that the yardage on the card is typically to the centre of the green — the pin could be 10–20 yards front or back of that. Front pin = take less club; back pin = take more.
Wind Direction and Speed
Wind is the biggest variable on par 3s. Throw a few blades of grass to check direction at ground level, then look at the tops of trees or the flag itself for upper-level wind. A 10 mph headwind can cost you one full club of distance; a tailwind adds one. Side wind pushes the ball — aim into it proportionally.
Pin Position on the Green
A front-left pin plays very differently from a back-right one. Consider where the miss is safe: it's usually better to miss in the centre of the green than short of it (risk of spinning back off) or long (chip from rough back toward a fast green).
Green Firmness and Slope
A soft, recently watered green will hold any well-struck shot. A firm afternoon green will bounce and roll everything. Play to land the ball on the green's front half and let it release to the pin — don't try to land directly on the flag on a firm surface.
Elevation Change
Tee boxes above or below the green change your effective distance. A 150-yard hole that plays 20 feet downhill is effectively 140 yards — take one less club. The same hole playing uphill becomes 160 yards. Assess the elevation before choosing your club.
Swing Tips for the Perfect Ace Shot
Once you've chosen your club and read the conditions, execution comes down to a few fundamentals. These apply specifically to the controlled, precise shots needed on par 3s.
Swing at 75–80% Power
A controlled, rhythmic swing produces more consistent contact than a hard, fast one. Most aces are hit with a smooth, unhurried tempo. Accelerate through the ball, but don't "hit at" it.
Prioritise Strike Quality
A shot struck from the centre of the clubface with the right loft will always outperform a mis-hit regardless of swing speed. Slow down your takeaway and focus on making solid contact.
Aim for the Centre of the Green
On most par 3s, the centre of the green is your primary target — not the flag. A well-struck shot to the centre from 150 yards can still roll toward a front or side pin. Attacking a tight pin increases the risk of a miss.
Commit to Your Club Selection
Indecision at address leads to tentative swings. Once you've picked your club, trust the decision fully. A committed 8-iron is far more dangerous than a hesitant 7-iron hit without conviction.
The Mental Game
Professional golfers who have made multiple aces share a consistent mental approach. It's not about trying harder to make a hole in one — it's about playing the shot with the same relaxed focus as any other approach.
- →Use a consistent pre-shot routine on every par 3, not just when you think you might ace it.
- →Visualise the ball flight and landing spot — not the hole. See the trajectory, not the outcome.
- →Breathe out before you take your stance. Physiologically, exhaling lowers heart rate and reduces tension.
- →Accept the role of chance. You control execution, not the outcome. A perfect shot might still lip out.
- →If you feel pressure or excitement, acknowledge it and then redirect your attention to the process: alignment, tempo, contact.
Practice Drills to Improve Your Ace Odds
You can't practice hole-in-ones specifically, but you can practice the skills that produce them: precise distance control and consistent iron striking.
The Distance Ladder Drill
20 minutesHit 5 balls each at 80, 100, 120, 140, and 160 yards. After each set, walk to the balls and measure proximity to your target. Repeat weekly and track improvement. The goal is tight clusters at each yardage.
The One-Club Par 3 Drill
30 minutesChoose a specific par 3 at your club and play it 10 times consecutively using only the appropriate club. No switching. This builds a deep familiarity with distance, trajectory, and feel for that exact shot.
Proximity Tracking
OngoingOn every par 3 you play in a round, note your distance to the hole after your tee shot. Keep a rolling 3-month average. If your average proximity is under 25 feet, you are statistically giving yourself a hole-in-one chance multiple times per season.
Famous Hole-in-One Records
Throughout golf history, a handful of aces stand out for their remarkable circumstances.
Put Your Hole-in-One Skills to the Test
Best Shot is a free daily hole-in-one challenge — 3D golf, one shot per day, global leaderboard. How close can you get to the pin?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the odds of hitting a hole in one?
The odds of an amateur golfer hitting a hole in one are approximately 12,500 to 1 on any given par 3. For a PGA Tour professional, the odds are around 2,500 to 1. For two holes-in-one in the same round, the odds climb to roughly 64 million to 1. These numbers improve significantly with practice, course management, and favourable conditions.
What club is best for hitting a hole in one?
The best club for a hole in one depends on the distance to the pin. Most aces are recorded between 120 and 175 yards, making the 7-iron, 8-iron, 9-iron, and pitching wedge the most common hole-in-one clubs. The key is choosing the club that lets you swing at 80% effort with confidence, rather than forcing a longer club at full stretch.
Can you get a hole in one on a par 4 or par 5?
Technically a hole in one on a par 4 or par 5 is classified as an eagle or condor, not an ace. Holes in one in the traditional sense only apply to par 3 holes. However, there have been verified cases of golfers holing out from the tee on short par 4s — the longest verified tee shot to hole out is 517 yards by Mike Crean on a par 5.
How do I practice for a hole in one?
Practice for aces by hitting approach shots from specific yardages matching par 3 distances at your home course. Use alignment sticks to develop a consistent pre-shot routine, focus on controlled swing tempo at 75-80% effort, and track your proximity to the flag over multiple sessions. Distance control and consistent ball striking are more important than power when attempting a hole in one.
Do you have to buy drinks after a hole in one?
The tradition of buying a round of drinks for the clubhouse after a hole in one is widespread in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and parts of North America. The custom varies by club and country — in some places it's expected, in others it's optional. Many golfers take out "hole-in-one insurance" before tournaments that cover the cost of buying rounds if they ace a par 3.
What is the easiest hole to get a hole in one?
Shorter par 3s between 100 and 150 yards statistically produce more holes in one because golfers can use higher-lofted clubs that are easier to control and produce more spin. Wide greens with minimal obstacles and flat terrain also improve the odds. However, the single most important factor is still consistent ball striking, not hole length.