The choices made before a shot change golf for the better

[[phN_open]]⛳ On the fairway as the afternoon light begins to fade[[phN_close]]

There is a time when the afternoon light slants, making the fairway grass look whitish.
After a nice shot, there is just over 100 yards left. The wind is light. The pin is at the back right.

“I can do this.”
The moment you think that, your heart can sometimes lean a little too far forward.

Should I go up a club or down a club?
Should I aim for the pin or go for the center of the green?
It only takes a few seconds, but that choice changes the atmosphere of the shot.

During a round, it is inevitable that only the big mistakes remain in your memory.
The shot that went into the pond. The shot that disappeared into the woods. The final three-putt.

And when you don't hit it well,
“Why didn't I make a different choice back then?”
Don't you ever think things like that?

[[phN_open]]😔 Feeling down is proof that you love golf[[phN_close]]

I have been watching many golfers for 15 years as an instructor.
But that doesn't mean I am always able to make calm choices myself.

Just the other day, I had 120 yards left.
I actually had the perfect club in my hand, but
I got greedy, thinking, “If I hit it a little harder, it should reach.”

The result was a tense, mishit shot.
The ball drifted halfway to the right, and I let out a small sigh as I walked.

I feel pathetic.
I tell others, “It’s okay not to push yourself,” yet I get greedy myself.
After the round, I sometimes replay that scene over and over in the car.

But that is surely because I love it.
Because I love it, I end up worrying about the smallest details.
I think the lingering frustration is proof that I value golf.

[[phN_open]]🏌️ The moment I saw on the course where a choice changed the flow[[phN_close]]

This happened when I was playing a round lesson with a student in her 50s.

It was a 150-yard short hole over a valley.
She said she always used her driver to hit it.

But the valley came right up to the right side of the green,
and it was a situation where it was easy to make a big mistake if the ball curved to the right.

So, instead of a driver,
I suggested we try aiming for the front left of the green with a U5, which is less prone to mistakes.

At first, she was confused, feeling like she was using a club that wouldn't reach.
But when she hit it, she carried it to the front of the green just as planned.
For her second shot, she used her putter to get it on the green, and she made par on that hole.

That day, she set her personal best score.

There wasn't a single flashy shot.
All she changed was the direction she aimed and how she chose her club.
But that small choice changed the flow.

💡 Your score is built on a series of choices

Lately, I've been feeling strongly about this:
golf isn't just about whether you hit the ball well or not.

Which club to use.
Where to aim.
Whether to go for it now or build the hole from a step back.

Your score changes based on a series of small choices like these.
That's why, even on days when you make mistakes, you don't have to conclude that you're no good.

The first thing I want you to look at is how you make choices before you even swing.
Choosing not to push yourself isn't being passive.
It's a very positive piece of wisdom that makes your next shot easier.

You don't have to change everything.
Start by being a little more careful with just one choice.
Even that alone will properly change the flow of your round.

📖 Today's words

"Value every single choice"

I like these words more than a flashy nice shot.
That's because a person's golf is reflected directly in their choices.

Hitting it far. Getting it close. Sinking the putt.
The quiet judgment that comes before all that—'What kind of shot will I make today?'—
even reflects your state of mind for the day.

A shot chosen with care is hard to blame yourself for, even if you don't hit it perfectly.
Because it's a shot you thought about and decided on properly.

When you start to enjoy the act of choosing, golf becomes much more interesting.
It stops being just a game of hitting the ball and becomes a time to find answers while consulting with the wind, the scenery, and your current self.

🎯 Just ask yourself for 3 seconds before you hit

In your next round, try pausing for just 3 seconds before you hit.
And ask yourself this in your heart:

'Where should I aim this shot to make the next one easier?'

Choosing a spot that makes the next shot easier rather than trying to get it close to the pin.
Just doing that will take a little bit of the tension out of your body.

Choose gently before you try to hit well.
Those 3 seconds will make your golf much calmer.

🌅 Making you want to go back to that course again

The wind rustles across the green as the sun begins to set.
As you put your club back in your bag, you feel a warm sense of satisfaction:

'That choice might have been a good one.'
'Next time, I'll try it this way.'

Those small feelings of success build up, and you find yourself called back to the course again.

It doesn't have to be a flashy birdie.
A carefully chosen shot will properly move your game of golf forward.

We are not perfect, and we continue to make choices each time, even while feeling uncertain.
I believe that is one of the true pleasures of the sport of golf.⛳

💬 Lastly, please let me hear from you

In your recent rounds, what kind of situation was it when you thought,
'That was a good choice'?

It could be about the club you chose, your target, or a decision not to push yourself too hard.
Please share your story of a small choice in the comments.😊