Before hitting a golf shot, it is important to consider the following six factors that could affect your decision of how and where you intend to hit the golf ball.
Wind is the movement of air that can affect the distance and direction of a golf ball. A golfer should use less club when in a downwind and more club in a headwind.
Lie resembles the status of the golf ball as it rests on a surface. Good lies make it easier for a golfer to hit a solid golf shot, whereas a bad life makes it challenging for a golfer to make clean contact with the golf ball.
Pin placement is the location of the pin on the green. A golfer should know where on the green the pin is situated in order to choose the correct club to hit an approach shot.
A tucked pin is a pin that is located close to an edge of the green, and is usually framed by a hazard or bunker. A tucked pin makes for a difficult approach shot and creates more risk for a golfer.
Distance to the hole marks the total yardage a golfer must consider when evaluating what club and shot type to hit. To help with this decision, a golfer should practice with each club to know how far that particular club hits the golf ball on average.
A risk-reward hole challenges a golfer to hit a shot that has less margin for error, but upon hitting a good shot, can leave the golfer with a greater opportunity to make a lower score on that given role rather than playing the hole safely.