In every round of golf I play, I see amateurs underclub on their
approach shots to the green.
In every round of golf I play, I see amateurs underclub on their approach shots to the green.
Sure, you might be able to hit your 5-iron 150 yards in the air when you have a perfect lie and hit it just right. But how often is that going to happen — one out of 10 or even 20 times? You should always take the club that if you swing with around 80 percent of your power, you can fly the ball all the way to your target.
Flying the ball to your target is another key to this. Don’t plan on bouncing a ball up and onto the green unless that is your only option, or the greens are so hard they will not accept a shot that is flown onto it. Often times the front of the green is not accessible to the bounced shot.
If you don’t know how far you “carry” each club, then go to the range to determine that. And the word “carry” is important. I don’t care if you fly a ball 135 yards with your 7-iron, and it rolls another 10 yards for a total of 145. You hit your 7-iron 135; that is how far you carry it. The only club that you measure your total distance is the driver because you rarely are flying it on to a green.
So go to the range and determine the distances for your clubs. Then use the 80- to 85-percent rule when swinging. I guarantee you will be on the green more often and shoot a lower score because of it.
