Golf Shot
Decision Helper
Make a better decision before you make your next golf shot.
Not every shot deserves an aggressive approach. Your lie, distance, the trouble around you and your confidence all influence what's sensible. This guided tool helps you work through those factors, consider your options and choose a shot that gives you a reasonable chance of a good outcome.
What's the situation?
Answer a few simple questions about the shot in front of you. We'll help you work through your options.
Five things that
change the decision.
The best shot isn't decided by distance alone. Before choosing what to play, consider the whole situation in front of you.
The lie
Where your ball is sitting affects what you can realistically do with it. A clean fairway lie gives you more control and options than heavy rough, an uneven slope or a bunker. Don't choose a shot that requires a perfect strike from a difficult position.
The distance
Distance helps determine which shots are available, but reaching the target isn't always the priority. Consider how far you can comfortably advance the ball and whether a shorter shot could leave you in a better position.
The trouble
Look at what happens if the shot misses. Water, bunkers, trees and out-of-bounds areas can turn a slightly inaccurate shot into a costly mistake. Identify the areas you need to avoid before deciding where to aim.
Your confidence
Choose a shot you can realistically execute today. A shot that feels comfortable and familiar is often a better option than one that only works when everything goes perfectly.
Your target
The flag isn't always the best target. Look for an area that gives you room for an ordinary miss and leaves a manageable next shot. A sensible target can make the entire hole easier to play.
Don't judge a shot by what happens when you hit it perfectly. Judge it by the options you have when you don't.
Good decisions
leave room for error.
Golf rarely rewards you for choosing the most ambitious shot if the chances of executing it are low. Sometimes the smarter decision is the one that gives you more ways to get a good result.
Chase the perfect shot.
You're 180 metres from the green. There's water short and bunkers around the flag. You take a club you rarely hit consistently because you want to reach the green in one shot.
- Requires a particularly good strike.
- Leaves little room for a directional miss.
- A poor result could bring a penalty into play.
Play to a comfortable position.
Instead, you choose a club that comfortably advances the ball short of the water, leaving yourself a manageable approach to the green.
- Uses a shot you're more comfortable playing.
- Keeps the major trouble out of play.
- Leaves a more predictable next shot.
Playing the percentages doesn't mean always playing defensively. It means knowing when the reward justifies the risk.
Don't make a
difficult shot harder.
Most golfers know what a sensible decision looks like. The challenge is recognising when ambition, frustration or wishful thinking starts getting in the way.
1. Choosing a club based on your best shot
You might have hit a particular club 180 metres before, but that doesn't mean you should automatically use it when the situation demands a reliable result. Consider your normal distance and today's conditions rather than your personal best.
2. Aiming directly at the flag every time
The flag can be an attractive target, but it isn't always the smartest one. If the flag is tucked behind a bunker or close to water, aiming for the safer part of the green can be a much better decision.
3. Trying to recover too much at once
After a poor drive or an awkward lie, it's tempting to attempt a difficult recovery shot. Sometimes the best move is simply getting the ball back into a position where you can play your next shot normally.
4. Ignoring your normal shot pattern
If you regularly miss right, aiming close to a hazard on that side leaves very little room for error. Account for the shots you actually hit, not the shots you wish you hit.
5. Letting the previous shot influence the next one
A bad shot doesn't need to be followed by another risky one. Don't try to win back a lost shot immediately. Assess the new situation independently and make the best decision available.
Before every shot, ask yourself: if I don't hit this perfectly, where is the ball most likely to finish?
A better decision
in a few seconds.
You don't need to analyse every possible outcome before every shot. Build a simple routine that helps you recognise the situation, choose a target and commit.
Look at the lie
What can you realistically do from where the ball is sitting?
Find the trouble
What areas should you avoid, and where is there room for an ordinary miss?
Choose your shot
Select a club and shot that match your confidence and the situation.
Pick a target
Decide where you want the ball to finish, allowing for your normal shot pattern.
Commit to the decision
Once you've chosen a sensible option, stop second-guessing yourself and play the shot.
See the situation. Choose your option. Pick your target. Commit to the shot.
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