MY GOLF BLUEPRINT
Avoid penalty strokes with earlier decisions
Many penalty strokes begin with a club or target choice made before the swing. A playable next shot can be more valuable than a small distance gain.
Work through it
- Identify penalty areas and boundaries from the tee.
- Choose a club whose normal pattern fits the landing space.
- Play a provisional when the rules allow and uncertainty warrants it.
- Review where repeated penalties occurred after the round.
A practical example
A shorter tee club may help on one narrow hole; on another, its wider relative spread or longer approach may offer no advantage.
Practice task
Mark each penalty on a course sketch and note the decision that preceded it. Choose one safer target or club for the next round.
Common mistakes
Do not treat every penalty as a purely technical error. Do not aim away from one hazard without checking what lies on the other side.
Related video
Watch the demonstration, then return to the practice check in this guide.
Course decisions with Michael BreedKeep learning
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