The Fundamentals of Recovery Shots

The shot has a job

Recovery shots are not about looking clever. Before the hero gap tempts you, they are about controlling the next problem. With the next shot protected, start by deciding what the ball must do: fly through a window, roll like a putt, finish below the hole, or simply get back to the fairway.

For most players, the foundation is find the biggest window, choose a landing spot, and protect the next shot. With the next shot protected, from there, keep the motion quiet and the finish matched to the shot.

Feel before force

Use wedge, 8-iron, hybrid, or even putter and rehearse the length of swing that produces whatever flight gets back in play. When the ball is in trouble, if the practice swing feels violent, the plan is probably wrong.

The useful miss

For a recovery shot, a good miss leaves another ordinary shot. When the ball is in trouble, that is the difference between technique and gambling. For a recovery shot, choose the version of the shot that turns trouble into a playable next move.