I recall reading statistics on the rate at which approach shots to the green (a) end up short of the pin, (b) end up about pin high, or (c) go long. For amateurs the percentage that fall short is incredibly high and the percent that go long is very low.

I think this is due to two factors. First, there are occasions when we simply cannot get it there. But the other factor is that we overestimate our ability. We look at the distance and figure what club to use if we hit it “perfectly.” Unfortunately the times we hit it perfectly is not that high.

I have changed my approach. I now try to calculate which club is right for the distance of my “average” shot. In most cases I find being a little long is no worse than being a little short. I think more amateurs need to take this into account. Select the right club for your average, not your perfect shot.

There is a life lesson here that needs to be addressed. I recently found that I had fallen short in a relationship. I made a mistake and fell short of my own expectations and those of the other person. Falling short is something we hate to do. We need to learn from it.

Knowing that I can fall short causes me to be more aware of my behavior and attempt to do better the next time I face the same situation. In the meantime, I need recover from my mistake and move forward. So whether you have a relationship in which you’ve fallen short, or whether you routinely pick the wrong club, you can learn from this as well. Be realistic about your skills. Improve your approach. .