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Approach Shots Made Consistent

By Greg Brown

Approach shots in golf can make or break your round. Whether you’re aiming for the green from the fairway or navigating hazards, the ability to hit accurate and consistent approach shots is crucial for scoring well. 

Here are some tips to help you become more consistent with your approach shots and improve your overall game.

Understand Your Distances

One of the keys to consistent approach shots is knowing how far you hit each club in your bag. Spend time on the driving range or practice area measuring your distances with each club, paying attention to both carry distance and total distance. 

Once you have a good understanding of your yardages, you can confidently select the right club for each approach shot, increasing your chances of hitting the green or getting close to your target.

Focus On Setup

Proper setup is essential for consistent ball striking on approach shots. Pay attention to your stance, alignment, and ball position. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart, with the ball positioned slightly ahead of center in your stance. 

Align your body parallel to the target line, and aim the clubface squarely at your intended target. A solid setup promotes a more natural and repeatable swing, leading to more consistent results.

“A lot of this stuff, to be very simple, you can do through your setup,” explains Scottish pro tour champion Rory McIlroy.

Practice with Purpose

Effective practice is key to improving your approach shots. Instead of mindlessly hitting balls on the driving range, practice with specific goals in mind. 

Work on hitting different types of approach shots, such as high and low trajectories, and practice shaping your shots to navigate around obstacles. Incorporate target-oriented drills and games into your practice routine to simulate on-course situations and improve your ability to execute under pressure.

Focus On Tempo and Rhythm

Maintaining a smooth and consistent tempo is crucial for reliable approach shots. Focus on swinging the club with a steady rhythm, avoiding any sudden or jerky movements. 

A controlled and balanced swing promotes better contact with the ball and helps ensure that you deliver the club to the ball consistently. Practice tempo drills and exercises to develop a smooth and repeatable swing motion that you can rely on when it counts.

Visualize the Shot

Visualization is a powerful tool for improving your approach shots. Before each shot, take a moment to visualize the trajectory and landing spot of your shot in your mind’s eye. Imagine the ball flying towards the target and landing exactly where you want it to. 

Visualizing successful shots helps you build confidence and focus, leading to more consistent execution on the course.

Manage Misses

Even the best golfers miss greens from time to time, but learning to manage your misses can help you save strokes and maintain momentum. 

Develop a repertoire of recovery shots for different lies and situations, such as chip shots from around the green or bunker shots from greenside bunkers. Practice these shots regularly so that you can confidently execute them when needed, minimizing the damage from wayward approach shots.

Stay Positive and Patient

Improving your consistency on approach shots takes time and effort, so it’s essential to stay positive and patient throughout the process. Focus on the progress you’re making rather than dwelling on the occasional bad shot, and trust in your ability to improve with continued practice and dedication. 

Hit Straighter, Farther Using This Easy Trick

By Greg Brown

For many players, hitting the ball farther and straighter is the ultimate goal, but achieving this can often feel elusive. However, with the right technique and practice, it’s entirely achievable. 

One effective method to improve both distance and accuracy in your shots is by incorporating a swinging drill into your training regimen.

Understanding the Mechanics

Before delving into the swinging drill, it’s crucial to grasp the fundamental mechanics of a golf swing. A proper swing involves a sequence of coordinated movements that generate power and control. 

Sometimes, that means just slowing down and feeling the shot, say the pros.

“I have a drill that I do often on the range and you’ll often see me before I hit a ball in a tournament, I’m often sort of rehearsing a feel. It looks like I’m putting the club way behind me,” says British PGA pro Justin Rose.

“And the reason I’m doing that is I’m trying to create the sensation and feel in my body that I need to hit the goal shot.”

These include the backswing, downswing, impact, and follow-through. Each phase requires precise timing, balance, and coordination to optimize clubhead speed and accuracy.

Swinging Drill: Step by Step

The following swinging drill is a valuable technique designed to refine your swing mechanics and promote consistency. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you incorporate this drill into your practice routine:

Grip and stance: Begin by ensuring a proper grip and stance. Your grip should be firm yet relaxed, with your hands positioned neutrally on the club. Maintain a shoulder-width stance, with your feet parallel to the target line.

Backswing focus: Initiate the swing by smoothly bringing the club back, focusing on a full shoulder turn while maintaining a stable lower body. Avoid excessive tension in your arms and wrists, allowing for fluid motion.

Pause at the top: Once you reach the top of your backswing, pause briefly to check your positioning. Ensure that your club is parallel to the ground and pointing towards your target. This pause helps reinforce proper alignment and sequencing.

Downswing transition: Transition into the downswing by shifting your weight from your back foot to your front foot while maintaining a controlled tempo. Rotate your hips and torso towards the target, unleashing the stored energy from your backswing.

Impact zone: Focus on striking the ball with a square clubface, aiming for a crisp impact at the center of the clubface. Maintain a slight forward lean with your hands ahead of the ball to compress it efficiently.

Extension and follow-through: After impact, extend your arms fully, allowing the club to swing through the ball and towards your target. Complete the swing with a balanced and relaxed follow-through, with your body facing the target and your weight transferred onto your front foot.

Mastering the Drill

To maximize the effectiveness of the swinging drill and enhance your performance on the course, consider the following tips:

  • Repetition is key to ingraining proper swing mechanics. Dedicate regular practice sessions to incorporate the swinging drill into your routine.
  • Record and analyze your swing, perhaps using a cellphone on a simple tripod. Identify any flaws or inconsistencies and work on correcting them systematically.
  • Improving your golf swing takes time and patience. Be prepared to endure setbacks and stay committed to continuous improvement.
  • Consider seeking advice from a certified golf instructor who can provide personalized feedback and guidance tailored to your specific needs.

Incorporating a swinging drill into your practice regimen can be a game-changer in your quest to hit the golf ball farther and straighter. By focusing on the fundamental mechanics of the swing and dedicating yourself to consistent practice, you can unlock your true potential on the course.

Try This Pro Driving Drill For Accuracy

By C. Pedroja

Sometimes when people get their driver in their hands, they immediately go into whacking mode like they’re in a long drive competition, thinking only about how far they can sail the ball. There’s not necessarily any problem with this if you’re working out some tension on the driving range. But when you’re actually playing a round, boy oh boy does accuracy matter. [Read more…]

Driving Drill: Distance vs. Accuracy

By N. Incoll

Hitting fairways in regulation is a critical measure, as it sets up the second shot options. While the mantra “drive for show, putt for dough” is readily acknowledged, there is room for a revised mantra that states, “He who drives wayward will lose a shot or two every hole, in an attempt to recover the rubbish shot that occurred off the tee.” It’s not quite as catchy but the sentiment is pure fact. [Read more…]

Can Mini-Golf Improve Your Putting?

By N. Incoll

Minimizing the flat stick shots is a surefire way to bring scores down and improve handicaps. It’s arguably the easiest part of the game to improve, since practice opportunities are so readily available. Apart from putting at home into cups or onto beer mats, or between sticks or tees, can mini-golf help? [Read more…]

Driver Vs. 3-Wood: How To Pick One

By C. Pedroja

It seems like recently everyone is experimenting with leaving their traditional driver in the bag in favor for the multi-functional three-wood. But what’s behind this trend, and should you get on board? [Read more…]

Driver Review: Callaway Epic With Jailbreak

By Ben Larsen

Based in Carlsbad, Calif., Callaway has long been one of the biggest names in all of golf. For more than 30 years, Callaway has been at the forefront of technology across the industry. Makers of some of the game’s best drivers, irons, woods, golf balls and wedges, Callaway is also one of the most recognizable names on the PGA Tour. [Read more…]

These 4 Things Are Costing You Distance (And How To Fix Them)

By N. Incoll

The long and the short of it is the average amateur generally pays little attention to the precise statistics of their game. They might know how far certain clubs are hit but mostly this is a gross underestimation of the real carry distance and finishing length. So, before entertaining a discussion about how we might make corrections to improve distance, we need to get back the ABC of the game — Assessing Basic Components! [Read more…]

Driver Review: 2017 TaylorMade M1 Vs. M2

By Ben Larsen

Every year, the golf industry’s major club manufacturers all unveil their new line of drivers and woods. And, each year, with those releases come a flurry of marketing messages, telling stories of new-and-improved technology and guaranteed distance gains. TaylorMade has typically been a company at the forefront of new technology. And this year, the Carlsbad, California-based club maker unveiled its new M1 and M2 drivers. [Read more…]

3 Drivers That Claim To Give You More Distance

By Andrew O’Malley

Golf is a fickle game. There are so many different variables that go into it that it can be hard to just focus on one area without worrying about another. There’s one aspect of the game that many players, amateurs and professionals alike are constantly tinkering with: equipment. Whether it is the clubs, balls or shoes, golfers are always trying out new products, going back to tried and tested clubs or researching the latest releases in the market. [Read more…]