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In the last several years, a certain emphasis in golf has been focused on the long game. With changes in golf club manufacturing technology such as titanium face drivers and hot graphite shafts and deep face drivers, not to mention changes in golf ball manufacturing, phrases like "I hit it long" and "grip it and rip it" are getting the media headlines.
While it may be emotionally satisfying to get extra physical and have a drive reach 285 to 300 yards, that is only step one of playing a golf hole.
Maybe when we see small in stature PGA Tour players such as Jeff Sluman and Mike Weir hit a drive 300 yards, we as amateurs think maybe that is what we should be trying to emulate.
But remember, PGA Tour TV events showcase the top 156 players in the world. We have seen what the PGA players do after the long tee shot. What about us everyday garden-variety amateur golf mortals?
How about scenario #1. You are at your local golf course with a typical par 4 of 400 yards. You use your deep face driver 460 cc maybe even with a longer shaft. You swing really fast; hit a huge slice into the right rough 190 yards. The ball is sitting down in the rough and you should take maybe a 7 or 6 iron and get back in the fairway. But you are only thinking distance, look all the way down to the green, and try to rip a 5 wood. You slice it badly and are left with maybe 50-55 yards to the green. Now you take a 60 degree lob wedge to carry the greenside trap. Not experienced with the 60 degree, you dump it in the trap. Now you barely get out of the trap, and then stub a chip shot to 40 feet in 5 strokes. You then 3 putt for an 8, yes a quadruple bogey! Sound familiar! So much for the big driver and 5 wood from the rough.
How about a realistic idea. Hit a smooth easy 3 wood from the tee 190 yards. Then hit an easy 6 iron 145 yards down the fairway. Now with 65 yards remaining, hit a sand wedge or choked down easy pitching wedge to the center of the green. Left with 21 feet from the hole, you comfortably 2 putt for a 5! Yes a reasonable BOGEY! No stress. Eighteen bogeys equal a total score of 90! Bogeys never really hurt the average golfer. I don't think the average recreational golfer breaks 105, not on a regular basis.
The odds on making many bogeys using scenario #1 are slim and none and slim is out of town!
Gary Player said it on the Golf Channel. 70% of all golf shots are taken within 50 yards of the hole! How can you consistently score well? We must learn to be proficient in the SHORT GAME - Pitching, Chipping, Putting and yes trap shots. What you do within 50 yards is going to determine your score, not what you do from the tee box! Spend twice as much time on your short game PRACTICE as long game and you will be much happier with your results! Ultimately you will enjoy the game much more!
Read another recent article by The Putting Doctor on putting.
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