Hitting tight fairways can be a real challenge, especially for beginner golfers. The sight of a narrow fairway can cause panic among players, especially if the rough either side is heavy or there is a hazard such as water or sand.
Missing a tight fairway can cost shots and that’s the last thing you want so today we have some great tips which will help you keep your ball in play when faced with this situation.
In some cases, you could select a shorter club, which gives you more accuracy and play short of the narrowest point of the fairway. This will give your ball a better chance of finding the fairway but depending on the length of the hole and the location of the narrowest section, this option may not be available.
There may be little choice but take out your driver, especially on long par-4’s which have a tight fairway.
In this situation, the first thing to do is to focus on the landing zone. Where do you want you ball to land? By concentrating on the area in which you want your ball to land, not only will you add focus to your shot, you will forget about the areas of the hole you want to avoid, such as the rough and hazards.
Another great tip when trying to split a tight fairway is to tee the ball lower than usual. If you tee the ball so half of it is above the top of the driver, like many golfers do, you should try teeing it lower and this will help to improve accuracy. The ball will not fly as high but the extra precision teeing the ball roughly a quarter of an inch above the top of the driver will give you is vital when trying to find a narrow fairway.
Think about the natural shape of your shot, is it a fade or a draw. Look at the fairway and find which side of the hole the least danger is for your shot type. Having done this, you can tee up on the side of the tee box which will give your ball the best chance of landing on the fairway. This may mean you are aiming towards the rough but this is a must when playing to tight fairways.
Finally, try gripping down on the club. Place your hands about two inches lower than you would normally because this enhances your control of the club. Do not attempt to swing the driver as hard as you can, instead focus on control and if this means taking 10% off your usual swing then do it.
Do not look at a tight fairway and think the only way to deal with it is to try and clear it with the driver. The harder you try, the more likely it is your ball will drift offline and into trouble.
When having to take a driver on a tight fairway, think about the word ‘lower’. You want a lower tee, lower hands, lower swing speed and a lower trajectory. Keep this in mind the next time you are playing to a tight fairway with a driver.
Recent Comments