Luck Is Always A Part of Golf
G'day golfers.
Sometimes you hit a shocking tee shot and the golf gods decide to smile down on you.
I found myself in exactly this spot recently. I hit an absolute shocker off the tee, but by some miracle, I ended up with a clear shot to go up and over the trees. I was about 160 metres out.
Now, this is where most everyday golfers completely lose their minds and compound their errors. They see a tiny gap, their ego takes over, and they try to hit the hero shot of the century to stick it to two feet.
I am not trying to do that, and neither should you.
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS ON RECOVERY SHOTS
When you are out of position, your only job is damage control. My entire plan for this 160-metre shot was simply to get the ball up and somewhere around the green. If it actually landed on the putting surface, that would be a massive bonus.
I wasn't firing at a pin. I was playing scoring golf.
The biggest risk in front of me was the trees. I had to make sure I cleared them. I pulled a 7-iron, knowing that club has enough loft to get up and over the trouble.
NAILING THE SETUP
When you have to hit a recovery shot over a hazard, your contact has to be spot on. A heavy strike or a thin blade is going to send you straight into the timber.
This is where your setup is non-negotiable. I made sure my ball position was absolutely perfect to guarantee a clean, crisp strike. You can have all the strategy in the world, but if your setup is rubbish, you are going to be reloading.
THE REALITY OF THE GAME
So, I picked my target, checked my ball position, and made my swing to get it over the trees.
What happened? I hit it straight into the bloody branches anyway.
But here is the beauty of golf. Because I had picked a smart club and committed to the shot, it blasted straight through the leaves and I got away with it. I got very lucky.
We all need a bit of luck out there. But you only get lucky when you make smart decisions that put the ball moving in the right general direction. Stop trying to hit miracle shots when you are in the trees. Play the percentages, get it back in play, and take your medicine.
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The Gold Coast offers a range of options including Emerald Lakes, Palm Meadows, Hope Island, Southport, and Coolangatta-Tweed. Paul Williamson provides personalised on-course coaching that goes beyond traditional lessons, covering skills, strategy, and mental game in real playing conditions.
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