Five keys to make the right recovery shots
As our country rebounds from the COVID-19 crisis, the safe- ty of the world, along with the success of the global markets, will eventually come down to our world leaders and one decision: How and when to reopen the economy? Decisions made during crisis can lead to success or failure in all aspects of life, and I can think of no better way to experience the thrills and agony of the decision-making process than by playing a round of golf.
As a PGA teaching professional for over 20 years, I believe that the most important decision a golfer has to make on the golf course is the decision they make after a poor shot. Think about it. If I hit a drive in the middle of the fairway 100 yards from the green, I don’t have to make too many major decisions. Sure, I have to figure my yardage, wind, target, lie and club selection, but those decisions are made on virtually every shot. Life in the short grass is mostly trouble free compared to life off the fairway in the trees, bunkers and hazards that line virtually every hole in golf.
So what happens when you hit a ball into the trees, and you have a limited backswing? Or you bury a ball under the lip of a bunker? These adventures are the realities of the game, and the decision, not the next shot, is what separates the great players from the average weekend golfer. It is not always their ability to pull off the miraculous shot; it is their ability to process the information and make a good decision first, before executing their next shot.
When working with players of all levels on their course management skills, I will often take a ball, put it behind a tree and ask the student, “How do you play the hole from here?” I am amazed at some of the answers I have heard in my career, and let’s just say that most of the answers are not only wrong but also sometimes require shots that are impossible, even for a PGA Tour player.
Here are five keys to assist in your decision-making process for recovery shots:
Know the rules. The rules are designed to help you, not hurt you. Often taking an unplayable lie is your best option from behind a tree, or taking full relief with a two-shot penalty from the bunker lip may end up saving strokes in the long run. Remember, there is always a way out of trouble, and the rules of golf can get you out and back into play. Your local PGA professional is a great resource for rules questions.
Think forward, sideways and back. Ideally, we want to go forward, but sometimes we can’t. Next, look sideways (even from bunkers) as your second option. If those options don’t work, consider playing back away from the green, to get back into play.
Have a go-to yardage. I love 90-yard shots, so if I’m in trouble or laying up on a par-5, I'm always looking for that yardage. I think of 90 to 100 yards as my safe zone. I often see players hit a punch shot forward under a tree and leave themselves 40 yards over a bunker to a tight pin (an extremely difficult shot). Why not play out sideways and have a 90-yard shot? It’s still one shot taken and a yardage that’s easier to play from.
When in trouble, set a goal. For example, say to yourself, “I lie here in one, play sideways to fairway in two, on the green in three, and two-putt for a bogey.” That’s a realistic goal, and who knows? You might make a 30-footer for par and beat your goal by one.
Never give up! My mentor, the late Phil Rodgers, taught me to never give up on a hole. Use your short game to save strokes, but mentally never give up. It’s amazing how one long putt or chip-in can change the momentum of a round. This quality is not only why Tiger Woods has won so many majors but also why he has made so many cuts.
It doesn’t take long to find trouble on the course. Apply these five principles, and you will lower your scores. Be safe, and make the decision to get out and play golf again. It is a decision you won’t regret!