Golf Teaching Aids - Lining Up Your Approach Shots

Most all golfers like to bomb the golf ball off the tee, but do you know what the most important shot in golf is? It's the approach shot. No matter how well or how poorly you hit your tee shot, if you knock your approach shot on the green, you're putting for birdie.

I get a chuckle out of going to the golf practice range and seeing the guys who pull out the big stick and pound ball after ball wanting to show everyone else how far they can drive the ball. I'm sure you've seen this too. These same golfers rarely spend any time hitting 7-8 or 9 iron shot to the practice greens. What we all need to do is just the opposite.

Approach shots in golf will dictate your scores for the round. I tell you what, I love fixing divots on greens. Why? Because it means I'm hitting them. If you do not have to repair any ball marks it means you're not hitting greens with your approach shots. So, what should you do to change that?

-Don't aim for the flag. That may seem crazy, but here's why. Flagsticks are placed in difficult spots on the golf course. When you try to hit a tight pin placement it can be a sure recipe for a bogey. Avoid this by aiming for the middle of the green. I guarantee that if you will, you'll score better every round. You'll avoid bunkers and other hazards which only add strokes to your card.

- Concentrate solely on your alignment, not on distance. I'll get into the details why in a second.

As a golfer, you know how far you generally hit your clubs. For example, you know from experience that you hit a well struck 8 iron 150 yards, etc. (If you don't know your distances, work on that first). So, distance isn't the reason for you missing greens.

The problem of missing greens with your approach shot is your alignment. This is the key in good approach shots, and more importantly, hitting more greens.

When you stop to think about it, it really makes sense. If you hit the ball strong, or hit it a little weak, it's usually 10 yards long or short. But, when your alignment is off, you can easily pull or push the ball 10-20 or more yards from your intended target. The results are obvious. You're in bunkers, in the rough, or worse yet, in the water.