Know Your Limits

One way to improve your overall golf score is to play within your limits. How many times have you tried to clear a hazard instead of laying it up short? How many times have you tried cutting a corner only to end up in the trees? We all do it at some stage, it’s human nature.

When playing, high handicappers tend to be risk takers. However, if you learn to control yourself, you are much more likely to come out with a better score in the end. Here are some simple guidelines to decide whether or not the risk outweighs the reward:

1. Will it eliminate a shot?
There is no point in risking cutting a corner if you’re going to be one shot away from the green if you hit to the dog-leg instead. If a risk does not come associated with a reward, then there is absolutely no reason to take it.

2. Are you having a purple patch?
If you’re having a good day, it might be worth taking the risk. You’ll need confidence and accuracy to make the shot worthwhile. If you’re getting to the end of the round and have had a horrible day, then you probably should just play it safe.

3. Have you practiced the shot?
If you have only read about how to play a shot like the one that you want to try, then you should play it safe. The driving range is where you need to get the funky shots worked out, not during the actual round.

4. Play bogey golf.
Change your thinking to playing bogey golf. If you have a high handicap, chances are, you won’t be scoring par, and this can frustrate people. However you have more chance of scoring bogey, so make that your “par”.