Nothing sends a little shiver down a golfer's spine quite like standing over a shot with a big stretch of water between you and your target. It's a card wrecker a round killer. This guide will give you a clear, simple plan to face those water hazards with confidence, covering everything from the smart strategies for hitting over water to what to do when your ball takes a swim, so you can stop letting water dictate your score.
Before we talk about swing mechanics or club selection, let’s address the real problem: the mental game. Water hazards cause tension. You get tight, your breathing gets shallow, and your swing gets fast and jerky. The fear of that splash makes you do things you'd never do on a normal shot on the range. So, the first step is to shift your mindset.
_
Stop focusing on the water. Seriously. Pay it no mind. Your brain will send your body where your eyes are looking. If you stare at the water, you're subconsciously telling your body, "Hey, let's go there!" Instead, pick a very specific, safe target beyond the water. It could be a tree, a particular spot in the fairway, or the fat part of the green. Get obsessed with that safe target. Visualize the ball flying toward that spot and landing softly. A positive mental image is your best defense against the water demons.
Your goal is not to "avoid the water." Your goal is to "hit the ball to your target." It's a subtle but powerful change in thinking.
Once you’ve got your head right, you can make a smart plan. Playing shots over a water hazard is all about good decision-making *before* you swing. A great decision with an average swing will almost always beat a poor decision with a great swing.
You need two critical numbers: the distance to carry the water and the distance to your final target. A GPS watch or rangefinder is a massive help here. Let's say it's 140 yards to clear the front edge of the water, and 155 yards to the middle of the green.
Don’t get greedy. Trying to hit a perfect shot to a flagstick tucked right behind the water is a low-percentage play, even for the pros. The smart play is to aim for the center of the green, far from the edge. This provides the largest margin for error.
This is probably the single best piece of advice for a water carry. If the carry is 140 yards and that's your perfect 8-iron distance, take a 7-iron. Why? Because a tense swing almost never produces your A+ best-case-scenario distance. Tension shortens the swing and reduces speed. Hitting a smooth, easy 7-iron is much more reliable and easier to execute under pressure than trying to smash an 8-iron. Taking more club allows you to swing with better tempo and rhythm, which promotes a solid strike - the exact thing you need to carry the water.
Remember: most amateur shots that find the water on an approach come up short. Club up and swing smooooooth.
Your setup provides the foundation for the swing. Don't rush it.
Once you are set, take a final look at that safe target, not the water. Make one last smooth practice swing, feeling tempo, and then step and hit it without overthinking.
It happens. Even the best players in the world find the water. The a big score from coming is knowing your and calmly making the move. When your enters penalty area (marked with yellow or you have options undera one-stroke anem>,.
You have two primary relief options:
Think about to hit the shot, and where the ball crossed. That's your reference to take.
ed_ stakes give an additional option because they often run alongside a hole where going back is not practical. In addition to the two yellow stake options, you also get:_ Lateral Relief:_ This is the most commonly used option for red penalty areas. From the point where your ball last crossed the red line, you can take drop anywhere within a two-club-length radius, no closer to the hole. This allows you to stay on the side of the hazard where the ball went in, which is usually a lot more convenient.<>/_li_The Long Shot: From Water _Its_elfWhen should consider it?
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
