Jack Nicklaus on When to Gamble

I found this interesting graphic over at the Golf Digest site. It's part of an article by Jack Nicklaus on how to decide whether you should gamble on a recovery shot or just chip out sideways. The main part of the info is in the graphic, which I have copied below. However, as you can see, the graphic is too small to read all that well, and there is no easy way to make it larger in the article.

The good news is that Golf Digest actually embedded a much larger version of the graphic in the article -- they just didn't make it easy to get to. Well, I have. Just click on the graphic below and you'll get a new window with the full-size easy-to-read version.



Note that Jack's guiding principle is that your chosen recovery shot should leave you in a better place than you are now. This is a simple guideline but it can be hard to do, and that's why Jack gives you the guidance in this graphic.

If you can gain a full shot with your proposed recovery shot -- that is, if your score would be a full shot better than you'd make with a chip out -- the recovery shot is worth a try. You should be sure you can pull this shot off 90% of the time. Ask yourself if you can make this shot 9 out of 10 times. If you can't, chip out.

Can you gain half a shot? You probably wonder how you figure that out. Here's the idea: If your shot doesn't work out, will you still be in an easier spot for your next shot? Will it leave you close enough to have an easy up and down? If your worst case result is still better than what you have now, then the shot may be worth a try.

Finally, if the recovery shot is difficult and a bad result will leave you in the same trouble or worse, DON'T TRY IT. Just chip out and take your medicine.

Remember Jack's rule: Your chosen recovery shot should leave you in a better place than you are now. Keep that in mind and you'll post lower scores.