In this video, PGA Professional, Adrian Fryer, finds himself faced with a choice that is probably quite familiar to most of us… Do you take the tough 4-iron shot for the flag and risk leaving it in the rough, or do you chip out sideways to guarantee a clean, easy shot at the green…?
His reasoning here is sound – and it’s a perfect example of playing “real golf”, where the aim is to come home with the lowest score possible, rather than “exhibition golf”, where the aim is to impress others with long, difficult and flukey shots.
Chances are that, if you’ve driven off the fairway into the trees, you’re probably not playing your best game that day, and the safe shot is most likely to win you the lowest score overall.
That’s because, not only can the tough shot here get you into more trouble if it hits the tree, it can also set you into a vicious spiral of poor decisions and poor shots as your frustration with your game increases.
There are times where taking the tough shot makes sense, but you need to be sure you are thinking clearly and playing your best game, rather than reacting out of frustration or “chasing lost shots”.
What are your thoughts on this? Let me know below!
Kind regards,
Karl
Ps – If you want to learn how to make really great decisions, you’ll find my 5 Shots Lower Program really useful. Adrian Fryer says it “is an outstanding product that is an essential to all golfers wishing to improve.”
