Why treating tee shots like putts can help you find more fairways

Most amateurs play golf by teeing it up in the middle of each tee box, aiming straight ahead and hoping for a “straight” golf shot. Most of the time, this approach ends up with a wild miss right or left of the middle of the fairway. To avoid this, I recommend trying to think of setting up for your tee shot like you do for a breaking putt.

For example: If the ball is going to break right to left, you aim your putter more to the right. So with that in mind, if your tee ball curves right to left, go to the left side of the box and aim down the right center. And if you curve it left to right, go to the right side of the tee box and aim down the left center. 

Instruction

Setting up this way can help your ball curve into play instead of out of play! It can even give you a slight advantage to finding your ball off the tee. It’s very important to aim for the curve you want to have happen rather than have to overcompensate for a wild miss. 

Another reminder: Don’t be fooled by what you watch on TV. The pros don’t hit the ball perfectly straight — they hit it with a predictable curve. Yes, their curve may be less severe than yours, but their ball still curves. Your ball curves too, and you probably know which way. 

Next time you head out for a round, pay attention to your pre-round warm-up with your driver. Watch which way it curves, and instead of fighting it, play it to your advantage! 

Sarah Stone, PGA, is one of GOLF’s 2021-22 Teachers to Watch, and is the Director of Instruction at Chevy Chase Club in Bethesda, Maryland. For more tips from Stone, click here.