Caddie On Your Shoulder

Positive plays to take danger out of the equation.

This spectacular hole is the 4th at Las Ramblas GC, near Alicante. A par 5, its green is just about reachable in two from that plateau way back on the fairway… but with a fearsome gorge in front of the green, a lay-up makes a lot more sense.

The pitch you will leave yourself is just slightly uphill and relatively straightforward. However, there’s still that gorge to carry… and the fact this will be the make-or-break shot for the hole can create its own pressure. Here’s how to make sure it’s the former...

1 Don’t talk yourself out of it

Whenever you find yourself with a pitch shot into a par 5, to set up a par or maybe even a birdie, how often do you approach the shot thinking “just don’t fat it!”? A heavy contact here will put you into that big, horrible chasm in front of the green and see you having to play the shot again. And you really don’t want that. There’s no harm in understanding and accepting the chasm is there. That’s a fact, and no amount of positive thinking is going to spirit it away. But a much more effective approach is to accept the problem, then move on. After all, your mind can only focus on one thing at a time.

2 But how do I do that?

By filling your mind with useful information. On a shot like this, here’s what you can consider useful information... The ball’s lie. Is it tight and firm – aiding spin – or is the grass long and wet, reducing it?

An accurate assessment of yardage – both to carry the ravine and to the flag.

A sharper picture of the factors that can affect that yardage: slope, wind, atmospheric conditions.

An honest assessment of your pitching form today. If you’re ‘on it’, you can afford to be more aggressive.

3 Create a detailed picture

The answers to these types of questions will allow you to begin to form a vivid image of the shot you want to play. This image is central to your success on shots like these as it ensures your brain is consumed with the task of creating a positive result, and not fretting about a negative outcome. Picture the ball coming off the face, its speed and rate of climb. Follow it right through its journey, pitching and settling near your chosen target. Don’t be afraid to use detail and colour here; this could be anything from the sound of impact to the feel of the club’s sole bruising the turf post-impact.

4 Convert it into a good shot

Once you can ‘see’ the ball’s flight in your mind, you are giving your brain a very clear message of intent. Left alone, it will then send the appropriate messages to your body. Use your practice swing to tap into this: allow your brain to create the pace, length and tempo that will deliver the shot you have pictured. Once you are happy with your practice swing, do not second-guess yourself; keep your focus on that positive result, step into the shot at a comfortable pace, and hit. By following this process you will have given yourself your best chance of success.