Play to YOUR Strengths – and Create New Ones!

As I am working with more and more players, and particularly players with higher handicaps, I see good opportunities for them to shoot lower scores, reduce their handicaps, and get greater enjoyment by playing with the right type of clubs to match their games and their swings.

This is based on the fact that…

1. Not all players can hit the ball the furthest, for them, with a 10 degree driver.

2. Not all players can hit low loft fairway woods to maximize distance.

3. Not all players can hit 3, 4, 5, and even 6 irons well.

4. Not all players can hit lob wedges well.

5. Not all players have great sand shot technique (for sure I am in this category!!)

Careful and thoughtful review of the clubs you play and what can work best for you can help you eek out a few strokes each round….

1. By getting enough loft on your driver and the right length for it so that you maximize center hits.

2. By playing fairway woods with enough loft so that you maximize distance with these clubs also.

3. By only carrying a 3 iron in your bag if you want to have a club that you can hit to escape from under trees. By either carrying high-loft fairway woods even up to 11 and 13 wood lofts – or playing the right hybrids to get long irons out of your bag.

4. By keeping a lob wedge in your bag if it helps your short game….but if not by taking it out and developing good technique with your sand wedge for short shots.

5. By carrying a club that you can dedicate to getting you out of the sand easily – the Wishon Wide Sole wedge and some of the Golfworks wedges are great examples of clubs that can really help you in the sand.

This strategy will help you to keep the ball in play, to maximize the number of good shots you hit because you are playing with clubs that fit your game and swing style, and by making it easy for you to get out of bunkers when you get in them. Then “ALL” you need to do is keep working on your putting (and using a putter that fits you well) and your short game.

Being strategic about the clubs you have in your bag is a good way to hit more great shots and shoot lower scores.

Tony