The Perfect Golf Shot Does Exist!

(2-min reads)

Just yesterday (10^th October 2024), I nearly holed out for eagle. Okay, so what’s so special about “nearly” holing out? Let me explain… I don’t know about you, but I am super critical of every shot I hit. There’s always a niggle: imperfect impact, push, pull, hook, draw, over-swing, too quick, poor rhythm etc, etc. This doesn’t impact how I feel about the result mind. There are essentially two broad things we are in control of that determine our ability to execute the perfect shot:

1. Shot choice: The yardage, club choice, type of shot. Conditions; the lie, weather, hole design.
2. Technique.

I was playing the 15^th hole at Oulton Hall, West Yorkshire, UK, one of my favorite holes on the course. For many, it’s a pain. It’s a shot makers par 4 that requires two good iron shots to hit the green in two. It has an incredibly tight green, framed by steep tree-lined banks either-side. I played a well placed 5 iron off the tee leaving a perfect view into the green. It’s easy to block yourself out by trees with even a slightly wayward tee shot. I was left with 135 yards downhill to the pin in the centre of the green. There was a slight head wind. My shot choice with the narrow approach and green is my best attempt at a Fleetwood style punch shot. As straight as I can. I chose my 9 iron, slightly down on the grip. I took the shot.

As soon as I made impact, I knew there was little I did wrong. I shouted to my playing partner “that’s the best I could have hit that shot”. The whole execution felt really good. It headed straight at the pin and didn’t move. It pitched 6ft before the pin and rolled up past the hole finishing 6ft beyond. The roll-out surprised me since we’d had heavy rain 2 hours before. The greens were soft – I had a plugged ball on the 5^th green. I was happy with both my shot choice and technique in execution. I didn’t make eagle. I did make birdie!

What this illustrates, is that not every perfect shot has a perfect ending. Without doubt, regardless of result, this was one of the few perfect shots I’d hit this year. I did as planned. On the flip side, not every shot you hit is perfect, but you can get a great result. That’s why we love the game of golf and keep coming back right?

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