Ben Crenshaw shares his easy keys for hitting extra fairways

Golf instruction is ever-evolving, however the perfect recommendation stands the take a look at of time. In GOLF.com’s new collection, Timeless Ideas, we’re highlighting a number of the biggest recommendation academics and gamers have distributed within the pages of GOLF Journal. In the present day we revisit some driving suggestions courtesy of Ben Crenshaw from our September 1981 challenge. For limitless entry to the complete GOLF Journal digital archive, be a part of InsideGOLF immediately; you’ll take pleasure in $140 of worth for less than $39.99/12 months.

Ben Crenshaw is greatest recognized for his silky placing stroke, however in his prime, he was a fairly nifty ball-striker, too. You don’t win two Inexperienced Jackets simply by placing nicely. Having the ability to hit the ball with the perfect of ’em was additionally one in all Light Ben’s superpowers.

That wasn’t all the time the case, although. When Crenshaw first received on Tour within the early 70s, he was recognized to battle along with his tee photographs. Then, he made a number of modifications.

In immediately’s version of Timeless Ideas, we glance again at an article Crenshaw penned for GOLF Journal again in 1981 the place he detailed the modifications he made to straighten out his tee photographs. Heed his recommendation and it’d assist you hit it straighter, too.

Crenshaw’s driving suggestions

Over the past 4 years or so, I’ve discovered to drive the ball higher. I needed to, merely to outlive on the Tour. It was clear to me that had I continued driving the ball within the outdated manner, my future was greater than a little bit unsure. As late as 1976, I used to be prone to miss as many as 10 fairways throughout a single spherical. This pressured me to take a tough take a look at my driving and to research what I might do to enhance it.

In evaluating myself to the good drivers of the ball, it was instantly obvious that, not like me, they hit the ball on a decrease trajectory. My ball was flying out very excessive and because of this I had plenty of bother enjoying within the wind.

There have been technical explanation why I hit the ball too excessive and had the tendency to spray it. I’ll get into these on the subsequent web page, however right here I ought to point out that my tools was additionally hurting me. My stiff (S) shafted driver was a lot too versatile for me. By switching to a tipped additional stiff (X) shaft, I not solely received a decrease trajectory, however extra correct drives. I’ve given up about 15 yards in making this modification, but when I had to decide on between my outdated 280 yards within the tough and my new 265 yards on the green, I’ll take the quick grass any day, and so must you.

So, although your first merchandise of research needs to be the trajectory of your drives, if you happen to’re hitting the ball too excessive or low or are inaccurate, you could additionally take a look at your tools. You must discover a playable driver, one with which you’ll mishit the ball and nonetheless get it into the green. Your skilled may also help you discover the driving force with the best shaft and different specs to fit your sport.

I’m additionally going to counsel what to key on when driving the ball, give some technical tips and clarify the artwork of concentrating on. So let’s go.

My swing issues (and yours)

I used to arrange with the ball very ahead in my stance, roughly off my left instep and my head manner behind the ball. I additionally had a big flip, in addition to an excessive amount of lateral sway off the ball. Because of this, I hit the ball too excessive, although I might hit it a mile. I now play the ball off my left heel and arrange extra over the ball, with my proper leg higher, as you’ll be able to see under. This has additionally minimize down the size of my backswing and the quantity of my lateral sway. Everybody wants a little bit sideward movement with a tee shot, however not practically as a lot as I had.

I discovered in mu personal sport that crucial precept of excellent driving is to belief you to launch the membership accurately and hit straight. If you happen to’re hitting wildly, you’re in all probability making an attempt to steer the ball. The membership just isn’t touring at its most via influence and that upsets your timing. That’s if you hit off beam.

One other good rule is to keep away from giving your self technical recommendation if you’re really on the course; reminders akin to “Hold the left arm straight” solely add to your issues. Key on easy ideas, on clubhead really feel or tempo. If you happen to discover a swing key when warming up that appears to assist, use it, however don’t use two or three keys without delay. One is sufficient.

About the one technical level that may assist you at occasions is grip strain. If you’re driving badly and getting tense because of this, lighten the strain to the purpose at which you’ll really feel the clubhead. Then go forward and swing it.

Technical tips

The teeing floor is outlined by the surface edges of the tee markers and is 2 membership lengths deep. That’s necessary to recollect. Usually, you tee up from a flat spot, as a result of then you’ll be able to put your greatest swing on the ball. Some tees, nevertheless, have slight slopes. If you happen to’re pressured to tee up the ball above your toes, you have a tendency to attract the ball. If you happen to tee it up under your toes, you are likely to fade the ball. If it is advisable work the ball round a dogleg, attempt to discover the suitable slope. If you wish to guard in opposition to a hook or slice, choose the slope that can have the alternative impact. 

The peak of the tee additionally impacts ball flight. Tee the ball decrease on tight holes. You’ll get a decrease trajectory ball that can get on the bottom sooner and keep out of bother higher than a excessive ball. A decrease tee additionally encourages a fade which can deliver the ball rapidly to a cease. The converse of that is additionally true. Typically, the next tee than regular encourages a draw.

You also needs to understand that choking down on the driving force stiffens the shaft a little bit in addition to lowering the scale of your arc. This can be a helpful method to have on tight holes. On lengthy holes, grip extra on the finish of the grip. This offers you a much bigger arc and you’ll actually really feel the clubhead.

As well as, the golf course architect often has a number of tips up his sleeve. the sneakiest is the misaligned tee. For instance, on the sixth gap at Merion, if you happen to align your self parallel to the perimeters of the tee, you’ll hit straight out of bounds. Don’t fall for this one. 

Find out how to choose a goal

There are two fundamental steps for choosing a goal. First, analyze how vast or tight the goal space is and the place the difficulty is. Second, image in your thoughts the perfect drive for you on that gap — see your self organising, swinging and see the ball touchdown in your goal space. The thoughts directs the physique, and with out good considering and visualizing, the drive can go anyplace. 

When selecting a goal, it’s necessary that you just acknowledge and compensate for the best way you’re hitting the ball. I performed golf with amateurs who’re slicing, and all day they aim the center of the green and wind up in the best tough. Had they focused extra to the left, they may have performed their second photographs from the green. 

It’s additionally very important to choose a goal which you can realistically attain. In case you are a 220-yard hitter, goal a spot 220 yards out. Goal additional out than that and also you’ll are likely to swing too onerous and spoil the shot.

When there’s bother on one aspect of the entire folks say you need to tee up on the identical aspect as the difficulty and hit away from it. That is wonderful recommendation for the excessive handicapper. for the extra skillful participant, there’s a second possibility. My trainer, Harvey Penick, used to inform me to line up on the bother after which draw or fade the ball away from it. It nonetheless works for me.

On open holes, you must work onerous in your concentrating on. It’s very simple to not choose a goal, and then you definitely’ll typically hit your wildest drives. Power your self to seek out a focus, even when it’s the distinction in coloration between the sting of the green and the tough. When lining up, work off that time. With no focus within the touchdown space or with a blind tee shot, discover some distant object, akin to a distinctively coloured tree or a rock, a chimney or a church spire, and line up on that. I ought to add that on vast holes there’s a fantastic temptation to swing too onerous. Resist it. Decide your spot and swing easily.

Tight holes, however, actually drive you to focus on accurately and focus higher. The temptation right here is to steer. You must make an effort to swing freely. 

Lastly, by no means be too proud to drive with a three-wood on tight holes. Consider it because the amateurs 1-iron.

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com the place he spends his days running a blog, producing and enhancing. Previous to becoming a member of the group at GOLF, he attended the College of Texas adopted by stops with the Texas Golf Affiliation, Workforce USA, the Inexperienced Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all issues instruction and covers beginner and girls’s golf. He might be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.