Shot selection
A Practical Guide to Shot Selection
A course-ready guide to shot selection, with practical shot selection choices explained in plain golf language.
Read the hole first
Good shot selection starts with the lie, the trouble, and the shot you would be happy to play twice. Use lie quality, wind, carry number, penalty areas, and the best side to miss to narrow the choice before the club comes out of the bag. The useful target in A Practical Guide to Shot Selection is the one that leaves a target your stock shot can handle. That may mean aiming at the fat side, taking one more club, or accepting 25 feet instead of flirting with a short-sided miss for shot selection.
Quick checklist
- Safety first: decide where shot selection cannot miss on this hole.
- Club after lie: let the turf and stance choose the shot shape before your ego does for shot selection.
- Next-shot thinking: picture the leave before you picture the highlight for shot selection.
- Full commitment: a cautious target still deserves an athletic swing for shot selection.