 |
February 2008 Lesson
Written by Jeff Steinberg
Download
a copy of this lesson here.
Hitting Better Tee Shots
PGA Teaching Professional
Putting is often referred to as the most important shot in golf. After all, there is no recovery from a missed putt. That shot is gone! I would propose that this could be true if your driving game is excellent day after day. For many golfers however, the tee shot is too much of an adventure, always out of play, right or left, or even worse frequently re-teeing with a penalty.
The wayward tee game will add more discouragement, difficulties, and strokes to your game. How do we start to change the tee ball? First, let’s examine strategy. Let’s look at probably the two finest players of the last fifty years. Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. They often select clubs other than a driver for the tee shot. A fairway wood – a long iron – a hybrid, whatever club will give them the most reasonable assuredness of a playable next shot. This strategy may be employed because of the hole distance or design, the wind or the weather, or perhaps just a “less than my A game day.”
Lets start then by determining our two most reliable distance clubs for solid contact and predictable direction other than the driver. Let’s practice with these clubs and use them at least one hole per nine to verify our premise.
Our next step is to develop a “safety valve” swing move or perhaps just a swing thought based on this move. Some options are to grip down one inch playing the ball back in your stance one to two inches, tee the ball very low without increasing tension reduce the length of the swing back ala Nicklaus, or ala Tiger’s Stinger.
If you typically hit one half or less of your fairways in a round – try this change of strategy or technique. You may well find yourself a much more enjoyable second shot and better score.
Despite the opening premise – all shots are equal in importance and value – however, poor driving is a down hill spiral into poor golf.
As with all information see your local PGA Professional for guidance.
Good Driving!
Jeff Steinberg
|
 |
 |
 |
