Charley Hull Ditched Yardage Books at Pro Events, and Her Reason Was Simple
via Imago
RECORD DATE NOT STATED 25th August 2024 Old Course at St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland AIG Womens Open Golf, Final Round Charley Hull of England hits a shot from the fairway on the first hole of the Old Course, St Andrews Links during the final round of the AIG Women& x2019s Open PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK ActionPlus12686349 DavidxYoung
Charley Hull has never hidden her preference for keeping golf uncomplicated. In an interview, published on May, 22, 2025, on the ‘No Laying Up Podcast,’ YouTube channel, Charley Hull explained why she does not use a yardage book at tournaments, even on courses she has never played before.
"Yeah, I just get on the golf course in a practice round, play the golf course and hit a few shots on the way around. I leave the work to the caddie," she said. Yet, why does Hull choose to do it this way?
"I don’t like too much information. I just like to see the fairway, know my spots, where to hit it,” she explained. Rather than focusing on every possible miss, she prefers reacting to what she sees in front of her.
Her on-course communication is just as simple. “If I just ask my caddie how far have I got, it’ll be like 127 front, 147 pin. And I’ll just say, is the miss long or short?” explained Hull.
"He'll say the miss is short. Well, perfect. Do you know what I mean? That's all I need to know," Hull added. This approach has given her the results she wants.
Her wins at the Aramco Team Series, Riyadh in 2024, Kroger Queen City Championship in 2025 came through this approach. However, not using the yardage book isn't something common.
Why Yardage Books Remain a Trusted Tool for Most Pro Golfers
A yardage book provides detailed course information that allows golfers to plan each shot with great accuracy and commit confidently rather than guessing. Most professional golfers rely heavily on yardage books, and for many, they are a key part of performance.
A yardage book gives the golfers specific details on every shot, such as the slope and layout of the green, carry distances, and typical miss areas. Golfers like Scottie Scheffler are known to study these details closely with their caddies.
In fact, Bryson DeChambeau relies on the data the yardage book gives him just as much as his caddie. It became such a trend among pros that the PGA Tour put limits on approved yardage materials in 2022.
Written by
Dolly Bhamrick
Edited by
Sagnik Bagchi