In a round of golf, most of us expect a few mistakes. We’ll miss some makeable putts, hit an easy iron shot into a bunker and misread a couple of greens. That’s just part of the game. Then there are the shots you look back on and think, “Why did I even try that?” Most of those moments come from risky decisions that were avoidable. Here’s a look at four risky shots that could ruin your scorecard and what to do instead.
Cutting the corner on a dogleg
Dogleg holes are designed to test your decision-making. You’re standing on the tee and you see the opportunity. If you can hook one around the trees or cut the corner, you’ll have a short wedge into the green.
The reward is tempting but the risk is high. If you don’t shape the shot perfectly, you might catch a tree and end up blocked out from the green.
What to do instead:
Unless you feel confident, play the hole the way it was designed. Aim for the fat part of the fairway and give yourself a clear look at the green. The only exception is if your natural shot shape fits the hole. For example, if you play a fade and it’s a dogleg right, use that to your advantage.
Punching through the gap in the trees
Your tee shot ended up in the woods. You have one option to punch out sideways, and the other takes you through a small gap in the trees and leaves your ball close to the hole. That small gap in the trees looks just wide enough for your shot, but it’s risky.
The problem is that most golfers don’t even have the required alignment skills to hit the ball through that gap.
What to do instead:
Unless the gap is wide and it’s a shot you’ve practiced, grab a club and just get the ball back to the fairway (the shortest and safest way possible). Take double bogey off the table, even if it means accepting a bogey.
Keep in mind that the farther away that “window” in the trees is, the harder it is to hit. If the gap is close and directly in front of you, your alignment and control odds improve and it might be worth the risk.
Taking on a forced carry with a club you don’t trust
Forcing shots in golf doesn’t always work out. There’s also the issue of not being sure of your carry distance or total distance. When you have to force something with a club you don’t trust, and there’s water in front of the green, it’s probably not worth it.
What to do instead:
Take a safer line, even if it means laying up. Confidence in your club is non-negotiable. Also ensure you have a good sense of how far you carry every club in your golf bag.
The hero flop when a bump-and-run will do
When there is nothing between you and the pin and it’s easy to hit a club that you can bump on the green and let it run to the pin, take that shot. If you are reaching for your highest-lofted club to hit a pretty “hero” shot when you could keep it simple, it’s a mistake.
What to do instead:
Use a 9-iron or wedge and play a bump-and-run. You’ll make cleaner contact, get better rollout and avoid turning par into double.
Final thoughts
There will be times when you can pull off one of these risky shots and see great results. However, if it’s not a high-percentage shot, think carefully before you commit to it. Bogeys are easy to recover from; double bogeys (or worse) can ruin your round.
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