Course Management · Tip
Three Simple Habits for Smarter Golf
Part of our course management programs for big numbers, picking targets. Build a program with it
Start with your yardages. You can't control a shot if you don't know how far each club really goes. Next, change how you aim at greens. A flag is just a point. Picture yard lines across the green, like on a football field, and try to finish between two of them. That gives you a zone, not a dot. Last, use the tee box. Spot the side of the hole with the most trouble. Tee up on that side so you're aiming away from it.
Step by step
- Learn how far each club really goes.
- Aim between imaginary lines, not at the flag.
- Think in distance zones.
- Find the trouble side of the hole.
- Tee up on that side and aim away.
Why it works
Knowing your real carry distances lets you pick a club for a number instead of a guess, which removes the most common distance errors. Aiming at a zone instead of a flag accepts that your shots land in a pattern, so you choose a target that keeps the whole pattern safe. Teeing up on the trouble side gives you a wider angle away from the hazard, so a slice or a miss in either direction has more room to finish in play.
Common mistakes
- You use your best-ever distance for each club instead of your typical distance.Hit several shots with each club and use the distance most of them reach, not the longest one.
- You aim at the flag even when it sits close to trouble.Pick the zone between two imaginary lines that is farthest from the trouble and aim at the middle of it.
- You tee up in the middle of the box without looking at the hole.Look at the hole from the tee, find the side with the most trouble, tee up on that side and aim away from it.
How you'll know it's working
- Your shots with the same club finish within a similar distance band, so your yardage numbers hold up.
- Most of your approach shots finish inside the zone you chose, even when they miss the flag.
- Your tee shots that curve, such as a slice, finish in play instead of in the trouble you teed up beside.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice on the range first, writing down the carry distance of each club before you try zones on the course.
Harder: Use a smaller zone between lines closer together, and choose a different tee position and target for each hole in a round.
Common questions
How do I find out how far I hit each club?
Hit a group of shots with each club and note where most of them land. Use that typical carry distance, not your longest shot.
Where should I tee up to avoid a slice going into trouble?
Tee up on the side of the hole with the most trouble and aim away from it. That gives your slice more room to curve and still finish in play.
