Get out of jail

Do not compound one mistake with another when you get into trouble

BEING too greedy after hitting into trouble often leads amateurs into compounding the error. Indeed, instead of making things better, things get worse.

Whether it’s a short par-4 that you’ve taken on with the driver or a long par-5 that you’ve tried to hit in two, we all misjudge things and put ourselves in trouble, says Steve Astle, a European PGA pro.

With your head spinning, the most important thing is not to do the same thing with your next shot. From this type of position, under the trees, your only thought should be ‘how can I get this into the hole in the fewest shots?’

Look at the lie and consider the strengths of your game and club selection. Can you really pull the miracle shot off? If not, think where you want to play the next shot from.