Why you should avoid thinking about your best shots from the range while playing on the course

By: Georgette Rolle June 29, 2021

Instead of knowing your maximum yardage, playing to your average yardage will help you improve.

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In this three-part series, Baha Mar Head Golf Professional Georgette Rolle will take on three swing-related topics: form, fashion and function. “Form” refers to the setup and positions of the golf swing. “Fashion” refers to the style of the swing and “function” refers to how to play to your strengths and think your way around the course.

Click here to read her first week’s piece on form, and here for the second week’s piece on fashion. In this third and final piece of the series, Rolle will focus on function.

Your swing’s “function” is about playing for the best results, playing to your strengths, and thinking your way around the course. Most golfers make decisions based on their best shots from practice, which can be misleading once you get on the course. Ninety percent of the time, we produce the average of our shots, not our best. Therefore, it is important to increase the number of practice shots adding to your sample size, and hopefully improving your average result.

So how can you avoid this tendency? The key is knowing the average distance and the average direction of your shots. For example, if you ask a typical golfer how far they hit their 8-iron, they may tell you 160 yards, when in truth, this is the probably the farthest they have ever hit their 8-iron. Then, during play, they have an approach from 160 yards to the hole, use the 8-iron and end up short of the green.

Knowing your average yardage is the easiest way to play better golf and ensure you carry or cover the necessary distances to the front edge of the green or other targets.

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By: Georgette Rolle

Next, it’s helpful to know the average dispersion of your shots. This can help you to align yourself so that your average miss can end up somewhere playable. Some players are not certain if they hit more of a draw, push, or other ball flight. They do know, however, the direction they want the ball to travel. We need to focus on the reality of our misses to ensure a playable shot as best we can.

In summary, do your best to play to your strengths. Remember that form is important in terms of the position of the arms, hands, body, clubface and club path. Fashion — or the length of your swing — can be great to test your skills but may ultimately lead you to higher scores. Use the fashion that is best for you. Function is most important, but will be most effective if you have your true numbers and a realistic idea of where your shots tend to travel.

So, nail down your distances, then play strategically based on your average worst distance, and average direction of ball flight. It won’t take long for your course management — and your scores — to improve greatly.

Georgette Rolle may be reached at georgette.rolle@bahamar.com.