Ben Crenshaw shares his easy keys for hitting extra fairways

Golf instruction is ever-evolving, however the very best recommendation stands the check of time. In GOLF.com’s new collection, Timeless Suggestions, we’re highlighting among the biggest recommendation lecturers and gamers have distributed within the pages of GOLF Journal. Right this moment we revisit some driving ideas courtesy of Ben Crenshaw from our September 1981 challenge. For limitless entry to the complete GOLF Journal digital archive, be part of InsideGOLF as we speak; you’ll take pleasure in $140 of worth for under $39.99/12 months.

Ben Crenshaw is greatest identified for his silky placing stroke, however in his prime, he was a fairly nifty ball-striker, too. You don’t win two Inexperienced Jackets simply by placing nicely. With the ability to hit the ball with the very best of ’em was additionally one in every of Light Ben’s superpowers.

That wasn’t all the time the case, although. When Crenshaw first acquired on Tour within the early 70s, he was identified to wrestle along with his tee photographs. Then, he made a number of adjustments.

In as we speak’s version of Timeless Suggestions, we glance again at an article Crenshaw penned for GOLF Journal again in 1981 the place he detailed the adjustments he made to straighten out his tee photographs. Heed his recommendation and it would assist you hit it straighter, too.

Crenshaw’s driving ideas

Over the last 4 years or so, I’ve realized to drive the ball higher. I needed to, merely to outlive on the Tour. It was clear to me that had I continued driving the ball within the outdated approach, my future was greater than a bit of unsure. As late as 1976, I used to be more likely to miss as many as 10 fairways throughout a single spherical. This compelled me to take a tough take a look at my driving and to investigate what I may do to enhance it.

In evaluating myself to the nice drivers of the ball, it was instantly obvious that, not like me, they hit the ball on a decrease trajectory. My ball was flying out very excessive and in consequence I had a number of bother enjoying within the wind.

There have been technical the explanation why I hit the ball too excessive and had the tendency to spray it. I’ll get into these on the following web page, however right here I ought to point out that my gear was additionally hurting me. My stiff (S) shafted driver was a lot too versatile for me. By switching to a tipped additional stiff (X) shaft, I not solely acquired a decrease trajectory, however extra correct drives. I’ve given up about 15 yards in making this variation, but when I had to decide on between my outdated 280 yards within the tough and my new 265 yards on the golf green, I’ll take the brief grass any day, and so must you.

So, regardless that your first merchandise of examine must be the trajectory of your drives, when you’re hitting the ball too excessive or low or are inaccurate, you could additionally take a look at your gear. You need to discover a playable driver, one with which you’ll be able to mishit the ball and nonetheless get it into the golf green. Your skilled will help you discover the motive force with the best shaft and different specs to fit your sport.

I’m additionally going to recommend what to key on when driving the ball, give some technical tips and clarify the artwork of focusing on. So let’s go.

My swing issues (and yours)

I used to arrange with the ball very ahead in my stance, roughly off my left instep and my head approach behind the ball. I additionally had a big flip, in addition to an excessive amount of lateral sway off the ball. In consequence, I hit the ball too excessive, regardless that I may hit it a mile. I now play the ball off my left heel and arrange extra over the ball, with my proper leg higher, as you may see under. This has additionally lower down the size of my backswing and the quantity of my lateral sway. Everybody wants a bit of sideward movement with a tee shot, however not almost as a lot as I had.

I discovered in mu personal sport that an important precept of fine driving is to belief you to launch the membership accurately and hit straight. When you’re hitting wildly, you’re most likely attempting to steer the ball. The membership isn’t touring at its most by influence and that upsets your timing. That’s whenever you hit off beam.

One other good rule is to keep away from giving your self technical recommendation whenever you’re truly on the course; reminders akin to “Maintain the left arm straight” solely add to your issues. Key on easy ideas, on clubhead really feel or tempo. When you discover a swing key when warming up that appears to assist, use it, however don’t use two or three keys directly. One is sufficient.

About the one technical level that may assist you at instances is grip strain. While you’re driving badly and getting tense in consequence, lighten the strain to the purpose at which you’ll be able to really feel the clubhead. Then go forward and swing it.

Technical tips

The teeing floor is outlined by the skin edges of the tee markers and is 2 membership lengths deep. That’s vital to recollect. Usually, you tee up from a flat spot, as a result of then you may put your greatest swing on the ball. Some tees, nevertheless, have slight slopes. When you’re compelled to tee up the ball above your toes, you have a tendency to attract the ball. When you tee it up under your toes, you are likely to fade the ball. If it is advisable work the ball round a dogleg, attempt to discover the suitable slope. If you wish to guard towards a hook or slice, choose the slope that may have the other impact. 

The peak of the tee additionally impacts ball flight. Tee the ball decrease on tight holes. You’re going to get a decrease trajectory ball that may get on the bottom quicker and keep out of bother higher than a excessive ball. A decrease tee additionally encourages a fade which is able to deliver the ball shortly to a cease. The converse of that is additionally true. Typically, a better tee than regular encourages a draw.

You must also notice that choking down on the motive force stiffens the shaft a bit of in addition to lowering the scale of your arc. It is a helpful approach to have on tight holes. On lengthy holes, grip extra on the finish of the grip. This provides you a much bigger arc and you may really really feel the clubhead.

As well as, the golf course architect normally has a number of tips up his sleeve. the sneakiest is the misaligned tee. For instance, on the sixth gap at Merion, when you align your self parallel to the edges of the tee, you’ll hit straight out of bounds. Don’t fall for this one. 

choose a goal

There are two primary steps for choosing a goal. First, analyze how broad or tight the goal space is and the place the difficulty is. Second, image in your thoughts the perfect drive for you on that gap — see your self establishing, swinging and see the ball touchdown in your goal space. The thoughts directs the physique, and with out good pondering and visualizing, the drive can go anyplace. 

When choosing a goal, it’s vital that you just acknowledge and compensate for the way in which you’re hitting the ball. I performed golf with amateurs who’re slicing, and all day they aim the center of the golf green and wind up in the best tough. Had they focused extra to the left, they might have performed their second photographs from the golf green. 

It’s additionally very important to select a goal that you may realistically attain. In case you are a 220-yard hitter, goal a spot 220 yards out. Goal additional out than that and also you’ll are likely to swing too arduous and damage the shot.

When there’s bother on one aspect of the entire individuals say it is best to tee up on the identical aspect as the difficulty and hit away from it. That is wonderful recommendation for the excessive handicapper. for the extra skillful participant, there’s a second possibility. My trainer, Harvey Penick, used to inform me to line up on the bother after which draw or fade the ball away from it. It nonetheless works for me.

On open holes, you must work arduous in your focusing on. It’s very simple to not choose a goal, and you then’ll usually hit your wildest drives. Pressure your self to search out a focus, even when it’s the distinction in colour between the sting of the golf green and the tough. When lining up, work off that time. With no focus within the touchdown space or with a blind tee shot, discover some distant object, akin to a distinctively coloured tree or a rock, a chimney or a church spire, and line up on that. I ought to add that on broad holes there’s an ideal temptation to swing too arduous. Resist it. Decide your spot and swing easily.

Tight holes, however, actually pressure you to focus on accurately and focus higher. The temptation right here is to steer. You need to make an effort to swing freely. 

Lastly, by no means be too proud to drive with a three-wood on tight holes. Consider it because the amateurs 1-iron.

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com the place he spends his days running a blog, producing and enhancing. Previous to becoming a member of the workforce at GOLF, he attended the College of Texas adopted by stops with the Texas Golf Affiliation, Workforce USA, the Inexperienced Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all issues instruction and covers newbie and girls’s golf. He will be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.