Annika Sorenstam’s 3 simple keys for hitting more fairways

Golf instruction is ever-evolving, but the best advice stands the test of time. In Timeless Tips, we highlight some of the greatest advice teachers and players have dispensed in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today we look back at our June 2003 issue where Annika Sorenstam shared her secrets for accuracy off the tee. For unlimited access to the full GOLF Magazine digital archive, join InsideGOLF today; you’ll enjoy $140 of value for only $39.99/year.

A few years ago when I interviewed Annika Sorenstam, she said something that stuck with me: “I never got tired of hitting fairways.” Smart logic.

In the era of bomb-and-gouge, the art of accuracy off the tee has lost its luster. But that’s not to say hitting fairways is unimportant. Playing from the short grass will always be easier than hacking it out of the rough. That’s why it’s imperative that you learn how to wield the driver in a way that ensures you’re keeping your ball in the fairway.

Sorenstam was excellent at this. During her career, she ranked inside the top 20 in driving accuracy eight times. Pair that with her legendary shot-making abilities and you had the makings of one of the all-time greats. It’s no wonder she’s the most decorated LPGA star of the modern era.

In the midst of her heyday, back in 2003, Sorenstam sat down with GOLF Magazine to share some of her secrets. Among them were some of her keys for pinpoint accuracy off the tee. Check ’em out below.

Annika’s driving accuracy keys

Everyone wants to know how I plan to compete with the men when my average drive goes only 265 yards. My answer: by keeping the ball in the short grass. Accuracy off the tee is one of my biggest strengths. Last year, I hit more than 80 percent of fairways on the LPGA Tour (which would have ranked second on the PGA Tour). If I do that at Colonial, I think I’ll do very well.

Most amateurs should consider thinking this way. I bet they’d score significantly lower if they made hitting fairways, instead of maximizing distance, their top priority. Even if your drive goes a long way, you can’t expect to hit many greens from the rough or from behind trees. Finding the fairway starts with striking the ball solidly, then being able to control where it goes. This is my plan for the Colonial.

Below are my three keys to hitting solid, straight drives: one for the backswing, one for squaring the clubface, and a third for tempo. Try them, along with a few bonus points I’ve included on how to score your best consistently. 

1. Focus on the trail hip

One reason I’m able to hit so many fairways is that my hips stay centered on my backswing. I simply turn my upper body over my right leg, with my hips. A smooth tempo allows this; when I swing too quickly, my right hip tends to pull up on the backswing, dropping my left shoulder. This throws my whole turn out of whack.

When my tempo gets quick, I think about turning my shoulders back level, like I’m steadying the wings of an airplane. This encourages my right hip to rotate, rather than lift. With my right hip fully turned, I can make a big shoulder turn to the top.

Try this: As you swing the club back, think of turning your hips within an imaginary cylinder the width of your stance; don’t let your right hip slide past your right foot. To train my hips to move in this fashion, I sometimes practice with an umbrella stuck in the ground just outside my right foot. The object is to turn my right hip without bumping the umbrella. If my hip sways at all, it will hit the umbrella.

2. Follow the ball

My head does not stay down after impact; it follows the ball. That’s not just an idiosyncrasy. As I swing through, I’m turning my head with my body, releasing both to the target simultaneously.

This head swivel may look unusual, but it’s been very effective — some call it my signature move. For one, it helps me release the clubhead more with my arms and body, so I don’t have to rely so much on the timing of my hands to square the clubface. Second, it changes my focus from the ball to the target, so all of my swing’s energy is directed to where I want to hit the ball. After impact, it feels like the club, my body, and even my head are chasing the ball.

Try this: I used to have a reverse-C finish, so my swing coach, Henri Reis, suggested this drill. To encourage my weight to shift left on the downswing, he had me hit balls turning my head to the target before impact. It worked so well getting rid of my reverse C, I made it a part of my normal swing. 

Try it yourself, especially if your weight tends to fall back at impact and you make inconsistent contact. Hit some wedges, letting your eyes track forward instead of trying to keep your head down. You’ll feel a better shift to your left side and square the face for straighter shots.

3. Groove your tempo

My caddie, Terry McNamara, tells me to “swing six” any time he sees my tempo quickening. Ona scale of 1 to 10, six is my speed limit for my driver. Any more than that, and I start to lose control.

Find a swing tempo with your driver that allows you to swing in control. Swing harder than six if you like, as long as you’re able to maintain your balance. You should finish with your weight on the outside of  your front foot and your back foot on its toes. Don’t go beyond your balance threshold; if you do, you’ll lose accuracy. To start in balance, distribute your weight evenly on the balls of your feet. You want to feel stable in every direction — front, back, left, and right. Then, as Terry reminds me, simply “swing six.”

Try this: If you finish in balance, with your body in a relatively straight line over your front foot, chances are you had good balance during the swing. And a balanced swing gives you the best chance to make square contact. The next time you play, rate your finish position from 1 to 10 on each drive — 1 for falling over and 10 for perfect balance. This drill will get you thinking about your finish and balance, which will ultimately keep you in the fairway.