Sometimes, we need to step up our game. The trees, bunkers, and careless observers can ruin a perfect swing, and before you know it the obstacles have tripled your score for the hole. Not exactly a promising way toward improving your game. Don’t worry, we got you covered.
Can My Swing Avoid It?
You should ask yourself whether a carefully executed swing can put you in a favorable position. Consider a tree in your way. If it is too big and/or too near, you will have to make peace with the fact that there is going to be an extra stroke or two on this hole. If you aim high enough, you can get over the tree, and if you are skilled with a low swing, you can avoid the branches and still stay on the course.
The same goes for all of the other obstacles. If you can really put a spin on the ball, or move it around the obstacle like it wasn’t there, you are good to go. If you doubt your abilities or if you are in a truly unavoidable position, don’t waste your energy on skill shots.
Distance
We cannot stress enough the importance of the distance between the golfer and the hazard in question. Trees require you to take some distance away from them, whereas bunkers and water hazards are fine to get close to. In fact, this could be a deciding factor in your ability to hit the ball over them. Rivers are, in a way, the easiest to conquer. This is, in part, due to the fact that the sound of a river can have a calming effect on the player. Speaking of which…
Stress VS Focus
Like with any competitive game or skill, we need to focus on the task at hand. Unfortunately, that can lead to overthinking, and this affects our game immensely. Having focus is not just important, it is necessary. However, having focus is not the same as frowning and getting snippy. You need to be in the zone, not thinking about your swing. Instead of analyzing your every move, relax your shoulders, bend your knees, and let your body do what it knows best.
Don’t Take Shortcuts
Seriously. Sometimes, the shortest distance between two points is not a straight line. It is perfectly fine to try and avoid an obstacle in stages, rather than all at once. Being too eager to finish with a good score will stress you out and ruin your game. If you are having trouble relaxing, forget golf for a second and enjoy the scenery. The wind, the green, and the weather are all there for you. You will feel connected with your surroundings. Enjoy.
