You may have played with someone who was an absolute abomination off the tee. His drives were "military golf": left, right, left, right, hit the beach. But at the end of the day, he posted an honest score in the 70s. Success comes from the art of recovering from a bad shot, and recovery comes from selecting targets and knowing when to play it safe or go for it. Begin by knowing the precise distance you hit each club.
Learn Your Distances
Step 1
Go to a driving range with distance markers.
Step 2
Swing smoothly through 30 shots with each club in your bag, starting with your highest lofted club and working down.
Step 3
Record the approximate distance of each well-struck ball.
Step 4
Repeat until you have the average distances for each club in your bag.
Targeting
Step 1
Pick out a flagstick or green in front of the driving range. Refer to your sheet for the club to hit, and pull that one and one extra.
Step 2
Approach the ball with your regular stance.
Step 3
Place the shaft of the extra club along your feet. Step away from the ball and examine the angle. Too often, golfers work on their swing mechanics at the range without checking their alignment. Align the club shaft perfectly with your target.
Step 4
Approach the ball again with your toes in line with the club shaft. Swing through the ball. If the shot is errant, it's possible your torso is misaligned as well. Press the club shaft against your chest before your next approach and examine the angle, adjusting accordingly.
Step 5
Place a tee next to your front foot . This ensures that your feet do not open up and throw off your alignment. Check your torso and feet and try to adjust without the club shaft, then swing through the ball. Work to develop a naturally correct alignment to use on the course.
Things You'll Need
- Golf clubs
- Pencil
- Paper
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