One Planer
Global Moderator
Everyone, I hope, has one shot in their round that stands out above the rest, in a good way.
Even if you've had an absolute 'mare, there is always (to me) one shot that keeps you going back again. Be it a long putt, good drive, knocking a wedge close, there's always something.
I had a great round at the weekend, shooting a gross 76. Even through I hit quite a few good shots, one stood out above the rest and it was a recovery shot.
From the tee, against a strong left to right wind, I tried to hit my usual draw and hold it against the wind. I managed to over-cook the draw and ended up in an orchard at the end (left) of the fairway.
The only clear shot I had out was at a 45° angle to the green. I had the option of pitching it out on that line, leaving me a full wedge/easy short iron approach to the green to be on in 3 (Par 4), or try something a little more risky.
I went for the latter
I decided to try and play a low, running hook. Purely on the basis that if the ball didn't hook, I would have a relatively easy wedge shot from where I was aligned. I aimed my club face just to the right of the trees I was trying to miss, and my stance much, much further right.
Stood over the ball with a 7 iron, with the club face was massively closed compared to my toe line and back a little more than usual.
Committed to my decision and played the shot.
The ball missed the lead tree and shot out low in the direction of the fairway. The ball started to curve, quite violently, to the left, and was then running straight down the fairway, online for the green. At this point I lost sight of the ball due to the trees.
After walking out of the trees, I could see my ball sat on the green. After my playing partners had played, we all walked to the green to find my ball 20ft from the pin, pin high left.
For me, it's a great feeling when you consider what options you have in a given situation, make a decision, commit, and get the result you played for. Purely as it doesn't happen every time you try it
Would I have played the same shot in competition play? Being honest, probably so.
As I said above, if the ball didn't hook, and flew straight, I would still have had a relatively easy pitch to the green. I guess you could call it a calculated risk.
So that's the shot of mine from my last round that stood out above the rest.
What's yours
Even if you've had an absolute 'mare, there is always (to me) one shot that keeps you going back again. Be it a long putt, good drive, knocking a wedge close, there's always something.
I had a great round at the weekend, shooting a gross 76. Even through I hit quite a few good shots, one stood out above the rest and it was a recovery shot.
From the tee, against a strong left to right wind, I tried to hit my usual draw and hold it against the wind. I managed to over-cook the draw and ended up in an orchard at the end (left) of the fairway.
The only clear shot I had out was at a 45° angle to the green. I had the option of pitching it out on that line, leaving me a full wedge/easy short iron approach to the green to be on in 3 (Par 4), or try something a little more risky.
I went for the latter
I decided to try and play a low, running hook. Purely on the basis that if the ball didn't hook, I would have a relatively easy wedge shot from where I was aligned. I aimed my club face just to the right of the trees I was trying to miss, and my stance much, much further right.
Stood over the ball with a 7 iron, with the club face was massively closed compared to my toe line and back a little more than usual.
Committed to my decision and played the shot.
The ball missed the lead tree and shot out low in the direction of the fairway. The ball started to curve, quite violently, to the left, and was then running straight down the fairway, online for the green. At this point I lost sight of the ball due to the trees.
After walking out of the trees, I could see my ball sat on the green. After my playing partners had played, we all walked to the green to find my ball 20ft from the pin, pin high left.
For me, it's a great feeling when you consider what options you have in a given situation, make a decision, commit, and get the result you played for. Purely as it doesn't happen every time you try it
Would I have played the same shot in competition play? Being honest, probably so.
As I said above, if the ball didn't hook, and flew straight, I would still have had a relatively easy pitch to the green. I guess you could call it a calculated risk.
So that's the shot of mine from my last round that stood out above the rest.
What's yours