I like to ask golfers what they are thinking before they hit.
As a former professional golfer, I still find it interesting how quickly mindsets can change. A player takes a rough lie and instead of thinking, “Just get this on the green,” the thinking turns to, “Maybe I can open this or pull off something special.”
That’s what stood out to me while watching Cameron Young talk through tough lies in a recent Titleist video. He is one of the best players in the world and is even quick to admit when a lie has taken a few strokes off the table. He’s not trying to force something heroic. He is solving the problem in front of him.
This is the part that most golfers get wrong.
1. Admits the lie before trying to fix it
Young doesn’t go into these pictures acting like every bad lie still allows for a perfect score. He’s quick to admit when he’s made a mistake, when the shot is difficult, and when the best realistic outcome is just letting himself get an easy shot.
It sounds simple, but most golfers get this wrong. They see a short lie or a brutal slant and still think about getting it close (or in).
Sometimes, the smartest thing you can do is admit that the lie has already taken away your options.
2. His first priority is strikenot a perfect looking shot
Many amateurs are obsessed with how the shot should look. Visualization is important, but in situations where lying is less than ideal, you should prioritize contact.
From downslope, from splits and even from the worst rough, Young’s focus is on producing the cleanest shot that the lie will allow.
Bad lies are not the time to chase style points. They are the time to make sure that the club reaches the ball in the right way. If the contact is weak, none of the others matter.
3. He plays for the next best miss, not the flag
Young is also thinking about what will happen if he doesn’t make the shot. In a bunker shot, he talks about why being a little long is good because there is a back stop while leaving short brings another bunker shot into play.
On the tricky downhill at the start of the video, the first goal is simply to get the ball over the bunker and onto the green.
Most golfers only see the hole. Young seems to be the first to see trouble. He wants to remove the mistake that leads to a double batak. If more amateur players thought this way, they would save a lot of strokes without changing anything in their swing.
4. He trusts a known club instead of trying to invent every shot
From the parting lie, Young mentions that he would still reach for the wedge he practices with the most because this is the club he trusts for the quality of the shot. He even says that amateur players don’t need to know every short shot. If you can consistently hit a club and understand what it’s going to do, you can make a lot of situations manageable.
This is a much more helpful message than the usual short game advice that makes players feel like they need six different shots from 40 yards and up. Most players would score better if they were very good with one club swing and one action rather than trying to get creative from every lie.
When you have a shot down, go ahead and expand your skill set.
5. Sometimes the right shot is ugly on purpose
This was my favorite take from the video.
In a particularly bad lie, Young pretty much describes the hit as a controlled mess. He talks about trying to chop it up a bit, using speed, opening up the face and relying on bounce to get the club on the ground. He even calls it a poorly calculated shot and later refers to it as part of the goal.
This is such a useful reminder for everyday gamers. The best players aren’t always making great shots from impossible lies. Sometimes, they are simply better at choosing the least harmful option. The shot may not look pretty, but if it puts the ball back in play and gives you a chance to save a level or make a player stress-free, it did its job.
Final thought
The mindset Cameron Young use is something we can all copy. You may never reach his skill level, but if you can start thinking more like him, it will have a positive effect on your short game.
