Playing in anger has never been the way to lower scores
I was watching a player attempt a downhill chip shot with a high lofted club from behind our No. 9 hole at Gilroy Golf Course. His club selection was correct, because a high loft club will get the ball to land softly on the downhill slope. Unfortunately, he hit behind the shot and the ball stayed well short of the green. In anger, he tossed away his wedge and grabbed his putter instead. Now he was letting his emotions get in the way with his decision.
The putter was the wrong club. It puts over-spin on the ball, and over-spin on a downhill shot is a recipe for disaster. Sure enough, the ball rolled and rolled, finally ending off the green, in the front.
Just because you don’t succeed with a certain club doesn’t mean it was the wrong club. Chances are it was execution.
When you flub a shot, try and step back and take a breath. Let one of your partners play and calm yourself. Playing in anger has never been the way to lower scores.
Don DeLorenzo is a PGA-certified instructor at Gilroy Golf Course. To schedule a lesson with Don, call Gilroy GC at (408) 848-0490.
