Go Big or Go Home

 

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Go big or go home.” It’s a pretty common joke among athletes doing something they know is stupid but plan on doing anyway. When it comes to golf, it is often used when golfers are about to attempt a shot that they know is going to end badly. While those types of shots almost always end up in side-splitting laughter and a great story, my question is whether they are really worth it. 

We've all found ourselves in a tight spot either from a bad tee shot, an unlucky bounce, or some other lousy break. The recovery shot is usually bad enough to make even a tour pro shake his head in disbelief. What do you do now? That is the question. Should you attempt the hero shot, or should you play conservatively? Go for the green or pitch out? The answer to that question is highly subjective, I know. I can't sit here behind my laptop and tell you always to pitch out sideways; that wouldn't be good advice. However, I also can't sit here and tell you to always go for it; that would be reckless advice. So, instead, I'll sit on the fence and tell you to assess each situation and play your shot accordingly. Every shot is different, and you have to be willing to accept when you need to play it safe, but you also need to be brave enough to go for it when you can. 

There is always going to be risk involved in attempting a heroic recovery shot. Imagine this scenario: you pull your tee shot left into the trees. When you get to your ball, you see that you've got a good lie and there is a small window, only a few feet wide, through which you can see the flagstick perfectly. It’s waving gently in the wind, almost daring you to take dead aim. Now, your immediate thought might be to go for it but think about the dangers involved. You might hit a beautiful shot right through the window and onto the green for a chance to make a birdie. But, and this is more likely, you might catch one of the trees and send the ball either ricocheting right back at you or, worse yet, deeper into the trees. In this particular case, it would be smarter to take a wedge and find an angle to advance the ball forward and make sure you get back into the fairway, into a good position to hit your next shot hassle-free. I'm a naturally conservative player, so my advice is almost always going to be to lay up and get into a good position for your next shot. I always tend to think about laying up instead of going for it. But that doesn't mean that you have to play that way. Golf is mostly about confidence, and if you are confident in your ability to hit the heroic recovery shot, then knock yourself out (just not literally). However, if you doubt whether you can hit it perfectly to avoid further danger, play smart and get back into position. 

The same logic can be applied to all kinds of risk/reward shots. Going for the green in two on a par five might be tempting and might even be doable, but it may not be smart. Just because you can hit the green in two doesn’t mean you need to hit the green in two. Zach Johnson won the 2007 Masters and didn’t even attempt to reach the green in two on any of the par fives that entire week. He laid up to yardage that put a wedge in his hands, the club that has literally made him a living for years, and he made more birdies on the par fives than anyone else in the field that week. He knew that the hero shot on the par fives didn’t suit his game, so he played conservatively. However, players like Dustin Johnson or Bryson DeChambeau dominate the field when their game is on because of their length, and it would be silly for them not to go for every par five they see. They win tournaments by attacking holes with their length and hitting shots that are risk/reward. You need to know your game and honestly decide whether you are comfortable and confident hitting the heroic shot. 

Whether you decide to go big or go home is up to you but remember that golf is about recording a good score, not hitting miraculous shots. You need to think about each shot and do whatever you need to shoot the best score possible. Whenever you get in trouble, and you will, make sure to strategically plan your next shot with confidence; that is how you will play better.