Hitting more Fairways

by Jack Moorehouse

Employing your natural shot shape, cutting back on your power, and maintaining balance and rhythm throughout your swing not only improves your ball striking, it also increases the number of fairways you hit and chops strokes off your golf handicap—all in the same process.

My golf lessons often focus on teaching students how to take advantage of their natural shot shape, like Colin Montgomerie does. Considered one of the most accurate drivers on tour, he combines his natural shot shape with a simple driving strategy for increased accuracy.

Montgomerie hits a slight left-to-right fade off the tee. To take advantage of his fade, he tees his ball up on the right-hand side of the tee box and aims down the left-hand side of the fairway. If he hits a slight fade, he ends up on the left side of the fairway. If he hits a pronounced fade, he ends up on the right side of the fairway but still in good position for the next shot.

Also, he tees the ball up a little lower than normal. That’s to promote his fade. If you want to encourage a fade, tee the ball lower than normal, choke down on the grip, and stand closer to the ball. If you want to encourage a draw, tee the ball higher than normal, hold the club toward the butt, and stand farther from the ball.

In addition, he swings only about 70 to 80 percent of his power. Taking a little something off promotes solid contact and provides distance. More importantly, it helps him retain control of his swing and maintain balance and rhythm—two keys to a consistent swing.

Whether your natural shot shape is a fade or a draw, learn to capitalize on it when hitting from the tee box, like Colin Montgomerie does. You’ll hit more fairways and have better approach shots to boot.

Here are five keys to hitting more fairways:

• Find the right shot shape

• Learn to play your shot shape

• Keep some power in reserve

• Maintain balance and control

• Practice to develop consistency

Practice these five things and you’ll be hitting more fairways in no time at all.

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