Tips for Clearing Water on a Long Par 3

You can see the green but there’s a water obstacle between you and your goal, making for a challenging swing. Learn how to handle this tough shot with four simple tips.

The shot is relatively short — you should be able to reach the green in a single swing. But it’s a long par 3, and there’s a water hazard in your way.

It might be a pond or a small body of water, but whatever it is could really muck up what is supposed to be an easy hole. To overcome this, keep the following tips in mind:

  1. Don’t focus on the water, focus on the green in the distance.
  2. Relax! Accept that you may hit the water and decide to deal with that, if and when it happens.
  3. Don’t watch the ball’s trajectory. If you lift your head, you may lift your entire body, opening the face of the iron and popping up the ball. This will shorten your ball’s distance.
  4. Swing smooth and stay in your swing. Commit to it.

These four tips will allow you to get the most out of your swing and can help you overcome a long par 3.