Let’s face it, we would all like to play like the best of the pros but is their strategy killing your game? Are you trying to hit the miracle shots that we see on TV? Over 95% of golfers never shoot rounds in the 70’s or 60’s. It’s an excellent goal to reach that level but the image to be the best of the best is most likely holding you back from improving your game.
Why not set realistic targets and swing speeds to improve YOUR GAME? It’s like learning to walk before you run. You may be inspired by John Daly’s swing or the distance that the leading pros can hit their drives but until you hit a higher percentage of fairways you will never improve your Greens In Regulation (GIR). Set a goal for yourself and create a strategic game plan to make it happen.
YOUR GOAL for the Spring of 2018: Lower your score by 10 strokes.
1/ Hit more fairways. 2/ Improve your Chipping. 3/ Improve your Putting.
TIPS TO HIT MORE FAIRWAYS
A. Should you hit longer or straighter?
Professional golfers hit their drives over 275 yards. If their aim is ONLY 10 DEGREES to the right or left of center, they will end up in the rough every time. 10 degrees is not a large margin of error so the pros have to plan for a draw or fade on every shot to ensure that they hit the fairway. You should too!
Learn to avoid a hook or slice and master your draw or fade. A short drive landing in the fairway is always better than a long shot landing in the rough. Learn your swing limit to avoid harder and faster which causes your hooks and slices.
B. Should you draw or a fade your shots?
If you Google this question, you will find pros and cons for either one but the draw seems to be the favorite method to hit consistently longer drives. . Because we swing in a circle around out body, the draw appears to be the more powerful swing. A fade is a shot where the ball falls off the face of your club and a draw travels in the direction of the rotating club.
Improve your chances of hitting the fairway by aiming your draw to the right and your fades to the left (for right handed golfers). By doing this you will have an angle of over 20 degrees to land in before missing the fairway.
Phil Michelson knows how to use an iron when he’s in the rough. Want to save strokes, you should too.
C. So you hit the rough. What’s the best strategy for the next shot?
The odds are against getting a good lie or level ground in the rough. So you better limit your expectations! Accept the fact that you are not going to par the hole. Take the pressure off of yourself. Play for bogey. Use a lofted iron and take your “penalty shot” – to escape the rough. Plan a shot for the perfect position to make your next shot to the green for a possible 1 putt green.
D. Best idea to help you hit more fairways: Focus on your drives and give yourself a check mark on your score card for each hole if you hit the fairway. It works just like earning a gold star when you were a kid in grade school. Count them up and try to beat your total on your next round.
This is the first of a series of 3 blogs to hit more fairways, improve chipping and improve putting. Check next Thursday for the Weekend Warrior’s Strategy for Chipping. In the meantime practice with your GOLFSTR+ to build muscle memory to swing with a straight leading arm and up the slot. Buy one today at www.golfstr.com
Why not list HAVE FUN! Unless one is practicing on an ongoing basis, expecting to play “well” is probably not going to happen. But FUN can always be had. Being outside, with family/friends, hitting maybe one decent shot so that it shows you can still DO IT!
Thanks for this reminder. Good point. “Have Fun” goes without saying on every blog that we send out. Make sure that you really appreciate the great shots that you make so that you can cut back on the poor shots. Its a great personal inspiration when you are having fun enjoying every chance you make it to a golf course.