A golfer may strike the ball well on the range yet struggle to make a clear decision when confronted with a real green, bunker or awkward lie. In the final instalment of her on-course lesson, published on 1 November 2026, former Ladies European Tour winner and coach Martina Eberl connects shot-making with decisions: picking a target, understanding alignment and choosing a club you trust.
Decide what the ball should do
Before settling into address, identify more than a vague intention to “hit the green”. Pick a reasonable landing area and expected next movement of the ball. For a low bump-and-run, both the landing point and the amount of roll matter. Firm and soft surfaces will behave differently, so reading the ground comes before repeating a stock shot.
Eberl's lesson moves through different on-course examples, including an awkward shot, a bump-and-run and a bunker shot. They demonstrate the need to match a technique to the situation, not to use one club for every lie.
Alignment is a check, not a secret formula
The lesson also explores eye dominance and how a golfer perceives the target line. Knowing which eye is dominant does not, by itself, prove where the club is aimed or guarantee accuracy. Keep two questions separate: where do you intend to send the ball, and where are the clubface and body actually aimed at address? A coach or a deliberate practice-round check can help identify a mismatch.
Select a club for the task
Eberl discusses comfort and confidence in club selection. That does not mean always choosing a favourite club regardless of the distance. Consider the required carry, hazards, the cost of a miss and how predictably you can play that particular shot. An accessible landing area short of the green may be preferable to a maximum-effort shot over trouble.
Editorial practice routine: three questions, five shots
On your next practice round, pause before five shots and answer:
- Target: where should the ball land, and where is a miss acceptable?
- Line: where is the clubface aimed, and how are the feet and shoulders aligned?
- Club: can the club cover the required distance while leaving a margin for error?
After each shot, evaluate whether you followed the plan, not only the score. If the decision was poor, change one variable at a time. This is an editorial exercise inspired by the lesson, not a tested protocol attributed to Eberl.
Limits: the routine will not automatically fix swing mechanics or guarantee a lower handicap. It can help distinguish an execution mistake from a questionable choice of target, alignment or club.
Source: Martina Eberl's on-course lesson, Women & Golf, 1 November 2026. The practice routine and its limitations were formulated by GOLFTWITT's editorial team.
