Golf Skills - Getting the Ball in the Fairway

The tee shot is the most important shot on any hole. A successful drive almost always sets up a good score, and a poor drive almost always guarantees a bad one. When you get the ball in the fairway, you're on offense. You can execute your game plan and par is yours for the taking.

There are two simple ways to hit fairways. So simple, most golfers won't even think of them. First, use the longest club that you can put in the fairway three times out of four. For most recreational golfers, that means something less than the driver. Sure, you'll lose distance, but two-twenty into the fairway beats two-fifty into the weeds/water/out-of-bounds every time.

Second, when it's your turn to hit, THINK before you pull that driver.

Most recreational golfers don't have the length to reach par 5s in two. Even with a well-struck drive, you'd still be hitting a third shot onto the green. Choose that shot and work backward. It might turn out that a 3-wood, a hybrid, and a pitch is all you need.

What about a long par 4? Those are the hardest holes, and the ones we most often take big scores on. It might be best to play this hole as a short par 5. You could hit a 3-wood or less into the fairway, a medium iron up to the green, and pitch on for a certain bogey, or a par if the breaks go your way.

Thinking pays off on a short par 4, too. Holes like this have "Par" written all over them. A wayward drive is a risk you don't have to take. Set yourself up to hit your favorite club into the green. Is it a 9-iron? Hit the club off the tee that will leave you a 9-iron away from the green.

When should you hit a driver? Only when there's enough room to hit it off the tee, and the length is needed to set up a reliable second shot into the green. Otherwise, keep it in the bag.

So do whatever it takes to hit that ball straight off the tee. I know that if you look back on your best rounds, they came on days when you hit a lot of fairways.

Bob Jones is dedicated to showing recreational golfers the little things, that anyone can install in their swing and game, that make a big difference in how they play. See more at http://www.bettergolfbook.com. See Bob's blog at http://recgolfer.blogspot.com.

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