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 LONGER TEE SHOTSSTINGER TEES  US $10.00
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Lay Up From The Danger Zone
Despite their genuine experience and dedication to the game, I'm amazed by some golfers' naivity when it comes to course management.
Many can strike the ball well off the tee, off the fairway and out of the rough; can play bunker shots with finesse; even shape shots around trees and mounds.
But when it comes to playing a chip 20-40 yards short of the green, they're terrified they're going to flub it or thin the ball through the back of the green or into a hazard.
This was the tale of woe I heard the other day from an experienced ten-handicapper, who admitted he'd been playing for 20 years without really grasping the art of course management.
I told him that he shouldn't really be complaining about leaving himself with awkward chips and pitches in front of the green - he shouldn't be there in the first place!
Why take the risk of trying to rip a driver to a short par-4 on to or just short of the green, when he could take a more accurate long iron or fairway metal and leave himself a full shot into the green?
Nearly all mid to low handicap golfers can clip a wedge or sand iron on to a green from 90 yards with some degree of consistency. Why leave yourself with a tricky shot when you could ‘lay up' to leave the shot you're comfortable with?
My advice is to take the mystery out of golf by keeping clear of that danger zone in front of the green.
While I appreciate we nearly all want to tell our mates how we had the chance to reach certain par-5 holes in two shots or almost drove a dogleg par-4, common sense should be our secret weapon.
Tiger's ‘stinger' follow through
Ernie Els and Tiger Woods aren't just two of the best players in the world because they're among the longest, straightest hitters. They're two of the best strategists.
Notice how Tiger, for instance, takes 2-iron or 3-wood at many holes and leaves his Ignite driver in the bag. He hits his trademark ‘stinger' because he needs to leave himself an ideal distance to be able to control his approach shot to the flagstick, with pitching wedge or sand-iron from 90-110 yards.
When he's not fully on form, even he doesn't always trust himself to get close with a finessed lob wedge or pitch from 60 yards. He prefers to play a full or three-quarter shot with a straighter faced club.
Remember how he played the 2000 Open Championship at St Andrews in 21 under par? He used his driver only four times that week and didn't find one bunker.
Look at the way Els plays Wentworth. He's immaculate, leaving himself almost exact yardages to suit his approaches.
This is what you should do on the course you play the most. Re-think your strategy on some holes and instead of always reaching for that driver off the tee, hit an iron or fairway metal off the tee into position. Leave a full shot you know you can play well and to a specific distance.
It's even worth taking two dozen old practice balls on to a practice area and marking a dozen with ‘7' (for 7-iron) and a dozen with ‘W' (for wedge). When you collect them, pace out the average distance they travel and roll and make a note of it.
You'll be amazed how you can factor in those distances into your golf game by laying up to keep clear of the danger zone. I guarantee you will hit more greens in regulation and your scores will tumble.
About the Author
Discount golf shop provides discount golf clubs
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LONGER TEE SHOTSSTINGER TEES US $10.00
|
LONGER TEE SHOTS USE STINGER TEES 3 INCH 325 INCH US $7.40
|
LONGER TEE SHOTSUSE STINGER TEES 3 INCH OR 325 INCH US $3.95
|
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