Every golfer has to hit their ball over something. It may not happen every round, but it does happen where an obstacle is between the ball and intended target. I have experienced this situation many times with mixed results. The more practice I had (unfortunately playing out of tough positions) hitting over an obstacle, the more I was able to analyze my approach to making these shots. I was able to change my methodology such that now hitting over obstacles is easier and not as intimidating. My process is simple and more mental than physical.

The mental skill that I developed after years of practice is to decide on the shot I want to make, visualize the shot in my mind’s eye, and execute the shot as if the obstacle does not exist. Before you start to tell me to hold my horses and that I am crazy, this mental technique is easier than it sounds.

The first step is generally not as difficult as it sounds. Most times the situation will determine the shot we have to make. Therefore, deciding the proper shot to hit over an obstacle (hazard) is relatively simple. And yes, a short shot up the fairway is a perfect solution to many difficult shots. Once we have decided the location we want to land, the club to be used and type of swing we want to make, the decision phase of my process is finished.

The second step of visualization is the key to successfully hitting over an obstacle. We focus on how the ball flies, where it flies, where it lands and the roll out if any. We picture a successful shot in our mind’s eye to its completion. This process empowers our mind to tell our body exactly what shot we want to make. The key to this stage is confidence. Once we have decided on the shot and visualized its success, then all other thought processes must be pushed out of our minds. There is no room for second guessing or the ‘can’ts’. We must be completely committed to the shot. When we do, the obstacle seems to melt away from existence.

Once fully ready mentally, executing the shot physically is the easy part. Yes, there is always room for error (and I have made many), however it is less likely once we have committed to the shot. Our mind and body just flow in unison in order to make a successful shot. The last stage of my process really is the easiest.

There will be many readers who say ‘what if’ about each step in my process of hitting over obstacles. I would travel down that rabbit hole many times myself until I made the change to my current process. Now, I follow my process without fail. For full disclosure, I still execute some shots poorly because I do not fully commit to the shot. I know this failure, however it is usually because I am trying to bit off more yardage than the shot conditions allow. But that is a discussion for another day.

Hitting over obstacles is not as difficult as we think. By deciding, visualizing and executing in a confident and committed manner our success rate will increase exponentially. My process is mostly mental until the last seconds of the third stage and does take some practice. Once you have mastered this simple process, great shots are in your future.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!