Here are three ways to improve your club selection and decision-making process out on the course:
1. Have Options: always have three clubs with you to give you options. I often observe golfers who grab just one club based on the yardage. Due to variables such as incline, wind, lie, etc., you will likely need club choices.
2. Plan the Shot First: before selecting your club, visualize and plan your shot. If the green is heavily guarded or the lie is less than ideal, the situation will help shape your plan and select your club. Rather than picking your favorite club or solely basing selection off a yardage number, keep your options open based on variables.
3. Plan for Normal: select clubs and make decisions based on your normal. To paraphrase a famous saying in the Navy Seals, “you sink to the level of your training”. Base your decisions on what you train during your practices. Plan your play from what you see regularly and not the “hero shot” or the “worst case scenario”.
Being prepared with several clubs and selecting based on the situation will give you confidence and improve pace of play as well.