What is it with hitting over water that seems to screw me up!!!

[David in FL]

The brain is VASTLY overrated as having any benefit whatsoever in the game of golf......

[zeg]

I used to have trouble, but now water is basically a non-factor, even though I don't see any on my home courses. My approach for that kind of shot that works is to first of all make certain that I'm playing a comfortable shot. If there's a distraction like that, I'm not going to add stress by trying for a distant green with a long club or using a club that my last shot on had a problem. That way I'm playing something easy. Then, when setting up and preparing, I pick a target and just look at that. The water is there, of course, but there's nothing I can do about it. My shots always go up in the air, so there's no reason to make a special swing to add loft. I won't pick a club that takes a pure shot to clear the water, so there's no reason to swing hard. Then in the swing, I just be extra sure to see the club make contact (which I mean to do on every swing).

What happens after that is not my concern until the next shot. Sure, some of what I wrote up there is rosy thinking, but that's the mindset you've got to have. Your shot will get over it. Don't think about the what-ifs until they're part of your round. Despite all the problems with my game, it's been a long time since even a moderate carry over water has been a problem. It's 100% mental, and learning to get past it will help with other scary trouble as well.

[Paradox]

I can say with absolute certainty that the people who have trouble with water are the same people who see the water and say "aww damn, theres water!?!" These people then proceed to top, skull, shank, and make any number of horrible swings because they are so focused on the water and not on the shot at hand.

See green, trust your club, and make the same swing as always.

[Shanks A Million]

There's a course I practice at that has 27 holes. 24 of them have water in play. 20 have forced carries over water, and 19 tee shots must clear water. You play there, and you learn to be at peace with the water. When you get that used to it, water becomes almost invisible. I don't even notice water anymore, until of course, I land in it... But still, being used to, and comfortable with it is one way to really take care of the problem.

[saevel25]

The only thing that gets me is pitching over a bunker to a pin that is just over the bunker, i am usually 20 feet past the hole. I hate duffing the ball into a bunker.

Water, its non existence. It doesn't matter, the water isn't there. You get your yardage, you get your club, you swing, period. I don't see the big deal. If the water is on the left of the green and you hit a draw, aim at the right edge of the green, if you play a fade aim at the center. Its not an issue really, most people get caught up with it or the pin and have issues..


The only time i had issue with water, hole 17, Firestone CC north course, the downhill monster to a peninsula green. That is just an evil hole because its only like 10 yards deep, such a bitch of a hole. But there is so much water there you can't help it.

[normdamarine]

I can't remember where I read this but it stated your brain will remember what you think and then make that thought happen. If you say, don't hit it right, you will almost always hit it right. The same is true about saying don't hit it in the water. You must use PMA, Positive Mental Attitude... So, when I stand over a shot the last thing I will think in my head is something like, don't hit this in the hole or just hit another boring bomb down the middle....