Shot selection is obviously one of the keys to success on the golf course. Players that have a good process for selecting “the right shot” are consistently putting the odds in their favor and minimizing the risk of making bogeys or worse. Let’s break down the basic factors to take into account when choosing the right shots.
Whether we are talking about tee shots or approach shots the factors are not that many but at the same very important to include in the process on a consistent basis. First, determine what your target is by understanding the risks in the area such as rough, hazards, etc. Second, gather information such as yardage, elevation change, wind, ground conditions etc. Once you have all of this you will be able to choose a shot that gives you margin for error and allows you to avoid difficult recovery shots or difficult shots from around the green.
But, what about your confidence with certain shots over others? What do you do if the shot you have confidence in is not “the right shot”? This is an important conflict to understand and always address when it comes up. If the “the right shot” is not one that you want to hit then you should spend time to figure out how to improve your confidence on that particular shot. It could be that you don’t love that club or perhaps as simple as you haven’t practiced hitting that club enough.
Take the time to review your own process for shot selection and work to identify areas of conflict. This review process may lead to a different practice time allocation, a club fitting, work on mental game strategies, or just getting after it more in the gym. Either way, getting more specific with this process can only help you create a more robust plan for improvement.
