BREAKING 70
Distance, Trajectory, and Spin, Oh My!
What are the three things all great ball strikers have in common?
They have supreme control over the distances they can hit shots, with any club.
They control the trajectory of any shot, based upon what the conditions call for.
And in turn, they control the spin at which their ball turns, enabling better shot making throughout the round.
How can you achieve these three things? Let’s start with distance control as the benchmark, with trajectory and spin as the second two legs of the tripod.
Next time you practice, pick out one target length you feel very comfortable with. Hit one or two shots to that target as you normally do. Then choose the next longest club and hit one shot adjusting a set up position, such as your hand position on the grip, to shorten the length of the shot.
Using the same longer club, now hit a shot adjusting your swing speed, while not sacrificing your ability to accelerate through impact.
Next, hit a shot with the same longer club by altering the ball position. Repeat this same type of practice routine, using the same target but choosing the next shortest club than the one that you normally use.
What are the results? And what did you see in the way the ball changed flight? Were you able to still achieve the same distance? Did you see the ball initially fly lower or higher than normal? All these questions you’ll answer over time. And as you answer these questions, you’ll find the “overlapping” of distances with the variations you’ll need to achieve supreme distance control.
MARK YOUR GOLF MILESTONES PART 2
MARK YOUR GOLF MILESTONES PART 3
John Hughes is a PGA Master Professional, 2009 Northern Florida PGA Teacher of the Year and founder of John Hughes Golf in Orlando, Florida. Reach him at www.johnhughesgolf.com
