Long and straight down the middle. That’s how we’d all like to hit them. It also boosts your game. In fact, there’s no better way to chip strokes from your scores than by starting every hole from the middle of the fairway. Hitting one long really takes pressure off your short game. So, if you’re like me, you’re always looking for tips to play it long and straight down the middle.
But hitting them down the middle is easier said than done. Even the pros have a hard time doing it. One PGA pro that comes close is Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters Champion and one of the game’s top young players. Ranked 7th in the world in 2016, Scott has a driving accuracy rate of 66 percent in 2017, hitting 74 of 112 fairways in two events. That’s great ballstriking.
Below are some golf tips on what makes Scott such a great ballstriker. Use them to boost your yards off the tee and card more birdies and pars:
• Setup in sync — You don’t need to feel like an athlete when taking your stance. But you do need to feel good. For Scott, three keys trigger this feeling—heels set shoulder-width apart, knees bent just enough to cover his shoe tops when he looks down, and feet slightly turned out. This setup “grounds” him and provides a solid foundation from which to power his drives.
• Slow the takeaway down — Scott focuses on tempo while executing a slow, deliberate takeaway. This type of takeaway boosts tempo and rhythm, lets him hit key positions in his backswing, and enables him to correct errors before reaching the top of your swing. Golf Tip: Envisioning a balanced finish at address promotes both a smooth takeaway and a fluid swing.
• Stop at the top — The secret to Scott’s smooth transition is that he makes a full backswing, then stops everything once he gets to the top. Plus, he never rushes the transition and stays under control. Rushing wastes energy, sends your swing wildly off plane, and short-circuits power. Golf Tip: Focusing on getting everything—hips, arms, hands, and clubhead— to stop at the top simultaneously is a good thought to have.
• Use a one-piece downswing — Another key to Scott’s power is his downswing—a one piece move with everything going down together. He also keeps it simple and straightforward, with every element moving toward the ball simultaneously. He then rotates around his spine, eliminating any swaying in the process. More important, he extends himself beyond impact. Golf Tip: Picturing your spine as a rod around which you turn while keeping your head in place helps.
• Anchor your front foot —Scott plants his front foot on the downswing and keeps it planted throughout the swing. Planting your foot encourages better rhythm, generates more power, and helps you turn through the ball instead. It also helps you stop swaying. An overly active front foot often gets your hands involved too much in your swing, resulting in mishits.
These five keys help Scott belt drives long and straight. They also promote the kind of consistency he needs to compete as a PGA pro. When you’re powering the ball down the middle, you have shorter and easier shots into the green, resulting in more birdies and pars—and that’s a key to cutting strokes from your scores, lowering your golf handicap, and breaking 80.
