Stateman Column

Practice and Equipment:

 

There is a lot of talk these days about power, customized equipment and length.  The PGA Tour promotes length and has many players that look like they could play in the NFL.  Their power and length off the tee is stunning. 

 

So, for you and I to improve our games should we go to the gym, buy the hottest driver on the market, and hit tee shots on the range?  Probably not, but what could be beneficial is to get a driver fit with the right shaft and enough loft to match your swing speed (meaning the slower you swing the MORE loft you need in a driver).  A lot of manufacturers are making drivers with 12 degrees or more of loft.  On the Champion’s Tour most players are using at least 10.5 degrees (I use a Taylor Made 425, with a 55 gram shaft and 10.5 degrees of loft).  So make sure your driver has enough loft.   A lot of players will even hit a three wood further than a driver off the tee, so don’t be afraid to try that.

 

But more importantly to your game, practice PITCHING and CHIPPING!  A high percentage of the amateurs that I play with in social rounds or pro-ams waste more strokes and create more frustration around the greens than they do off the tee.  Most amateur players have NO idea how far they hit the ball in the air and so NEVER hit the ball the right distance around the greens.  I spend 80% of my practice time hitting shots from 110 yards and shorter and I carry four wedges:  60,54,50 and 46 degrees.  I can hit each of them two specific distances, so in essence, I’ve turned 4 clubs into eight and when I get inside 110 yards, I KNOW what shot to use to get the ball the right distance.  Every player, regardless of age or athletic ability should have a shot in their bag that they KNOW they can get in the air and carry 30 yards.

 

In summary, to improve your score this year, understand that distance IS important.  But not in the way you might think.  Driving the ball a longer distance probably isn’t going to help your score, but hitting your wedges the RIGHT distance will.  So the next time you go out to play, take half of the warm up time that you normally spend hitting drivers and find some targets and pitch the ball at those targets and see if your score improves.   I’ll bet it will.