Driving · Tip
Three Simple Habits for More Fairways
Part of our driving programs for slice. Build a program with it
You don't need a new swing to find more fairways. Start with your mind. Before you tee up, picture a good drive you've hit before. Next, use the tee box. Do you tend to miss right? Then set your ball on that same side and point away from trouble. That opens up the whole fairway for you. Last, hold your finish. Stay in balance until the ball lands. You can't finish in balance after a bad swing, so it keeps you honest.
Step by step
- Picture a good drive before you tee up.
- Tee up on the side of your usual miss.
- Aim toward the open side of the fairway.
- Swing to a full, balanced finish.
- Hold it until the ball comes down.
Why it works
A clear picture of a good drive gives you one target to swing toward instead of a list of things to avoid. Teeing on the side of your usual miss and aiming away from trouble means your normal miss still ends up in play. Holding your finish shows you whether you stayed balanced, because a swing that is out of control rarely ends in a steady position.
Common mistakes
- You picture the trouble you want to avoid instead of a good drive.Recall one specific good drive, with its start line and landing area, and keep that picture as you step up.
- You tee up on the side of your miss but still aim at the trouble.Set your aim line toward the open side of the fairway so the miss has room to finish in play.
- You let go of the finish as soon as you hit the ball.Stay in your finish with your weight on your front foot until the ball lands.
How you'll know it's working
- You can hold your finish without stepping or stumbling until the ball lands.
- Your misses end up in the fairway or light rough instead of in trouble.
- Your ball starts toward the open side of the fairway you picked.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice the three habits with a shorter club off a tee at a relaxed pace until the routine feels natural.
Harder: Use all three habits on every tee shot during a full round and count how many drives finish in the fairway.
Common questions
Where should I tee up if I slice?
For a right-hander, a slice goes left to right, so tee up on the right side of the tee box. Aim toward the left side of the fairway so the curve brings the ball back toward the middle.
Why does holding my finish help my driving?
You can only hold a balanced finish if your swing stayed in control. If you fall off balance, it tells you the swing was too fast or off line, so you can adjust.
