Golf is a sport of decisions. Regardless where you are on the course, you are making a plethora of decisions in order to shoot your lowest score possible. I think this game has more definitive decisions than most sports and as such experience is a key factor to being successful. Another critical factor about playing well is to check our ego. Sometimes our ego lures us down a rabbit hole into a wonderland of crazy. The key for most amateurs is to understand what they can and cannot do with their clubs in order to select the right shot for any given situation. This is a lesson I still learn from time to time, but I am getting better at checking my ego at the door. Are you?

Doctor Bob Rotella is a fantastic resource for amateur golfers. He offers plan solutions to would-be challenges on terms that we can understand. His view about which shot to hit next is very simple. Understand your game and hit shots you know you can execute more often than not. If we do this, then the positive results will show up on the scorecard. It is a very simple approach to golf.

There are times when a lower percentage shot is needed, but hopefully you were able to practice this prior to needing it. If not, then really your next shot is a hope and prayer type shot. You will be unsure what the results will be and most of the time this situation results in a double bogey or worse. Sometimes it is best to take our medicine and play for a bogey.

Below is a great ‘overall advice’ video that will help us manage our golf game in order to shoot the lowest score possible on any given day. I use the premise of Dr. Mo Pickens perspective on one of the most important elements in golf game strategy. Take a look:

If you are ever wondering what golf shot to hit next, I would stick to Rotella’s advice and hit the one you know you can execute. The majority of the time it will be the right shot to produce the lowest score possible on that day.

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