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Beware of Trying for a Few Extra Yards
 "Trying for a few extra yards at the last moment is the cause of most of the mistakes that happen on the tee." Bobby Jones
We all know the truth of Bobby Jones' statement. All too often we try to get something extra out of our drive, and the results are usually the opposite of what we desired. Even if we're lucky enough to find our ball, it has traveled less than our usual distance. Why?
The golf swing is a series of muscle movements, all in sequence. Any interference with that sequence, such as extra muscle tension, interrupts the flow of the swing, causing errors in body action, swing path, and contact point. The average golfer's idea of "trying to hit it farther" actually causes an excess tightening of muscles, which shortens the arc of the swing and reduces the whipping action of the arms, resulting in a loss of distance. That's why Jack Nicklaus explains that when he wants to hit his longest drive he tries to be extra relaxed.
Don't let your ego betray you
Most average players try to hit every shot as far as they possibly can. Ego is the culprit here: we think that how far we can hit a particular club is the measure how good we are. But that's not the point of the game of golf. Accuracy and consistency are much more important for lower golf scores.
Most tour players estimate that they swing at only 80% of their maximum power on most shots. It's called "playing within yourself," and the purpose is to make a consistent, smooth swing that produces consistent distances for each club.
Average golfers almost always leave their approach shots far short of the hole. Again, ego is at fault: we choose the club that would reach the hole only if we hit it absolutely perfectly. This creates a subconscious tendency to try to "kill the ball," which causes all kinds of problems.
With this attitude, a perfect shot is quite unlikely, which is why we very rarely reach our target. Instead, when faced with an approach to a green, choose the club that will take you near the back of the green with a perfect shot. More often than not you'll end up about in the middle, not too far from the hole.
Every drive is a lay-up
One type of shot that average golfers often experience excellent results from is the lay-up shot. All we're trying to do is put the ball in position for the next shot. We're not trying to hit it as far as we can, nor trying to get it close to an exact spot. Usually it's not aimed near a hazard (in fact we're often playing it to avoid a hazard). For these reasons it's a low-pressure shot, so quite often we make a very smooth, relaxed, rhythmic swing. And quite often our best shots are produced. Sometimes they are so good that the ball carries farther than we thought it would and goes into the hazard we were intending to be short of!
One time a student complained to me that he had been hitting his driver very poorly, so he tried using his three-wood off the tee, since he always hit it well. But now he was starting to hit his three-wood as badly as his driver. I guessed that he had the "trying for a few extra yards" problem, always trying to hit the tee shot as far as he possibly could, no matter what club he had in his hands. At the start of our playing lesson that afternoon, I suggested that he think of the tee shot as a lay-up shot, picking a spot on the fairway that he was confident he could reach with his three-wood. He was quite delighted as his relaxed swing sent the ball flying to and beyond the spot he picked, right down the middle.
Try thinking of every tee shot on a par four or par five as a lay-up shot. No matter what club you use, instead of just trying to hit it as far as you can, pick a spot on the fairway that's well within reach. This reduces the tendency to swing too hard and gives you a much better chance to hit a good shot. You'll be surprised how many times that relaxed swing sends the ball even farther down the fairway than you could imagine!
Other Articles by Dr. Parent
- Accentuate the Positive
- Beware of Trying
- Putt with Imagination
- Patience Pays
- Confidence in Mind and Body
- Be Decisive
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