Why Aiming at the Pin Was Making My Score Worse
I thought I needed better shots.
Turns out… I needed a better target.
Settle in. Let’s talk golf.
As I started getting closer to the green – pitch shots, chip shots – you’d think things would get easier.
They didn’t.
I kept missing… and not just missing.
I was missing into the rough.
Over the green.
Down into a ditch.
Sometimes into spots that make you question why you even came out that day.
Yeah… we’ve all been there.
And like any golf addict, my brain immediately went to:
“What am I doing wrong?”
Because I’ve read the articles.
The how-to books.
Watched the videos.
Heard all the tips.
(Probably too many… if we’re being honest.)
I digress.
But it did make me stop and think:
How do I actually get better at this?
Because pros don’t seem to end up in these spots very often.
And I remembered something I’ve heard over and over again:
“Don’t always aim at the pin.”
At first, that feels… wrong.
Isn’t the whole point to hit it at the hole?
The “Aha” Moment
Here’s what finally clicked for me:
It’s not just about hitting a good shot.
It’s about where you choose to aim in the first place.
Because one of the biggest ways golfers lose strokes isn’t a bad swing…
It’s poor target selection.
What Is a Short-Sided Miss?
A “short-sided miss” is when you miss the green on the side closest to the pin.
Which sounds harmless… until you’re standing over the next shot with:
• almost no green to work with
• trouble between you and the hole
• and very little room for error
That’s when things get… interesting.
(Not in a good way.)
What I Was Doing Wrong
I was aiming at the pin.
Every time.
Didn’t matter where it was.
Didn’t matter what was around it.
And what that meant was:
When I missed… I missed into the worst possible spots.
What Changed Everything
This is the part that simplified everything for me.
Where you aim… determines where your misses go.
So instead of always aiming at the pin…
I started aiming more toward the center of the green.
And just like that:
• More shots stayed on the green
• Fewer ended up in trouble
• And my next shot got a whole lot easier
Why This Works (Simple Version)
When you aim at a tight target (like a pin near the edge):
• your misses cluster around that area
• which usually includes rough, bunkers, or worse
When you aim at the center:
• your entire shot pattern shifts
• and your misses end up in safer spots
Same swing.
Better results.
Research data backs it up.
(This is something a lot of pros and coaches talk about.)
And now… I am a believer.
The Takeaway
Next time you’re lining up a shot into the green:
Don’t just ask:
“Can I hit the pin?”
Ask:
“Where is the safest place to miss?”
Because golf isn’t just about hitting great shots.
It’s about staying out of trouble.
One Simple Rule
Aim safer → miss safer → score better.
The Next Shot
Your next shot doesn’t have to be perfect – just smarter.
Pick a better target. Give yourself more room. Let the game come to you.
Real Talk. Play Better.
Effort builds results.
