Here’s a clever trick to use the next time you’re struggling to hit the fairway
We’ve all had those days off the tee when you can’t hit a fairway to save your life. It may only start with one poor drive, but then it kicks off a sequence of events that ends with you standing over the tee, looking at a wide-open fairway, with absolutely no idea where your ball is going go.
All of which is to say that I enjoyed this tip from GOLF Top 100 Teacher Terry Rowles a lot.
You don’t have to do anything different with your swing. You don’t even need to change your mindset. All you need is three things, Rowles says:
- Stand closer
- Choke down on the club
- Tee the ball slightly lower
Do that, Rowles says, and something rather magical happens: you start hitting the ball off the heel of the club. Ordinarily that’s not a good thing, but in this case, it’s exactly what the doctor ordered: Hitting the ball off the heel will deaden the hit slightly, but will cause the clubhead to twist open, due to the gears effect. As a result, the shot will fly lower with a left-to-right fade shape. It won’t go as far — because you’re intentionally trying to hit it off the sweetspot — but it’ll be controlled. And, crucially, it’ll accomplish your goal of getting your ball in the fairway, and building some momentum.
Watch the full video below:
All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.
Latest In Instruction
