Lexi Thompson has long been one of the women’s game’s biggest bombers.
The 29-year-old currently averages 267 yards off the tee with over 60 percent accuracy, and at GOLF’s recent cover shoot with the seven-time U.S. Solheim Cup team member at Panther National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Thompson shared her personal keys for approaching every tee shot.
Lexi Thompson’s 4 driving keys
1. Pre-shot routine
“I always make sure to do my pre-shot routine, which I think is so important that everybody should have one,” Thompson said.
The first part of Thompson’s pre-shot routine involves selecting an aimpoint.
“I’ll pick a super small target out in the distance,” she said. “I always say aim small, miss small.”
When you’re battling the elements, as Thompson was on our shoot day, hitting shots into a stiff wind, it’s also important to select not just one but two aimpoints.
“On a super windy day like today, I’ll pick a starting line and a finishing line,” she said.
Lexi Thompson taught me how to hit a punch shot into the wind
2. Visualize with practice swings
Thompson’s next step is to visualize the shot she wants to hit, and then take some practice swings with that image in her mind.
“I’ll visualize my shot and I’ll take one to two practice swings behind the ball, get a really good feel for my tempo and my golf swing,” she said.
3. Choke down
Thompson is comfortable with a choked-down grip.
“I choke down a little bit more than usual, than most people, just to gain that nice control at the top of my swing because my swing is a little bit longer,” she said. “And I’ll take a nice deep breath while walking into the shot, making sure I’m nice and relaxed. And I really try to visualize my shot and my lines.”
4. Address position
Thompson focuses on aim again as she walks into her address position.
“As I’m setting in with the face, I draw a line out to my starting target set in my feet,” she said. “I take another deep breath while I sit in and just focus on that tempo and I usually just hope it goes on my line.”
Check out the video to watch the full version of Thompson’s tip. And to read and watch more content from GOLF’s cover shoot with Thompson, including an in-depth interview and behind-the-scenes footage, click here.
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