How to avoid “blow-up” holes when playing golf

If you play golf, you will experience an occasional blow-up hole. The secret to becoming a better golfer is to minimize these disaster holes. You may be having a great round of golf, and then comes the dreaded blow-up hole.

This can happen because of a bad decision, lack of course knowledge, a bad break or the pressure you are putting on yourself. Most blow-up holes start with a poor tee shot. These can be caused by poor club selection, mechanical breakdowns, not knowing the proper distance needed to avoid trouble or not having a consistent preshot routine.

Here are several strategies to help you become a more consistent golfer:

• On tee shots, always play short of trouble. If hitting a driver can get you into a fairway bunker, hit a fairway wood or hybrid off the tee.

• Always tee off on the side of trouble. For example, if there is out-of-bounds on the left side of the hole, tee off on the extreme left of the tee box and swing away from trouble.

• If you are going to lay up on a hole, lay up to a distance you can hit well. It may be easier for you to hit a 100-yard shot to a green than a 40- to 60-yard pitch.

• Use the 70% rule: Don’t try a shot on the course that you haven’t practiced. If you can pull it off seven out of 10 times in practice, then go for it.

• Practice recovery shots. You need to learn how to hit the ball high and low and how to curve it from left to right and right to left.

• Firing at the flagstick is not always a smart play. Picking a safe target on the green can help eliminate big numbers.

• Before executing a shot, using the word “don’t” can cause you problems. If you say, “Don’t hit it in the water,” your brain hears, “Hit it in the water.” Stay positive and say what you want to do.

• Your body language and self-talk are important after a bad shot. They can influence how you feel and cause you to hit another bad shot. Take a cleansing breath and go to your next shot with your head high and shoulders back.

• Finally, expect that you are going to hit a bad shot or get a bad bounce during your round. You can’t change the past, so concentrate on hitting your next shot into play. This will help you avoid disaster holes.

Dr. Jean Harris is an LPGA Master Professional and teaches at local golf courses. jean.golfdoctor.harris@gmail.com; golfdoctorjean.com