| Once you have your tee shot in the fairway, | | | | should be: regardless of where the pin is, aim for |
| you're in control. Choose your next shot carefully, | | | | the center of the green and favor the side of the |
| though. It can open the door to a par, or it can | | | | green where there's less trouble. |
| lead you to one shot after another, after another, | | | | Say that when you miss an iron shot, you usually |
| after another. | | | | miss to the right. If you have a clean lie and all |
| Therefore, you have some thinking to do when | | | | the trouble is on the left, the green from the |
| you're about to hit the ball into the green. This is | | | | center to the right edge is yours. Fire away. |
| how. | | | | Check your yardage and pull your club. I assume |
| Most recreational golfers check the distance to | | | | you know your exact yardages with each iron, |
| the green, maybe the wind, and give it a go. The | | | | but that's another article. |
| first think you should check is the lie. Maybe you | | | | When variables such as lie, distance, wind, the |
| can hit your 7-iron 150 yards, but only off a clean | | | | availability of bail-out areas around the green, how |
| lie. What if the ball is on hardpan, or in light rough, | | | | you're hitting the ball that day, all start to add up |
| or in an old divot? Less than ideal lies make it | | | | against you, be more cautious. It might get to the |
| harder to hit the ball straight, too, especially if you | | | | point where the best way to get on the green is |
| can't get all of the club on the ball. The lie affects | | | | a lay-up and a chip. That ensures a bogey, puts |
| your choice of club. You might be able to hit an | | | | par in play, and eliminates the double or worse. |
| 8-iron off a lie you wouldn't dare hit a 5-iron off | | | | Finally, notice which way the green slopes. You |
| of. | | | | always want to be playing into the cup from the |
| If the lie is good, professional golfers look where | | | | downhill side, whether you're chipping or putting. |
| the pin is to plan their shot. Recreational golfers | | | | Even missing the green on the downhill side of the |
| should be thinking only in terms of hitting the | | | | hole could bring you a better score than hitting |
| green and the consequences of missing. Your rule | | | | the green on the uphill side. |