Goodbye long ball.

**Ben** · February 2, 2005

At 5'11" and 160 lbs I've come to the conclusion that I'm not going to be the longest guy off the tee. I'll hit a 300-yarder down the pipe about once a round, after that I'll be all over the place, and as we all know, all over the place ain't the right place in this game.

After Justin Leonard's win last week,TGC aired some stats on his week. 278.xx yards off the tee which was way down on the stat chart, but first in fairways hit. If Justin can win a PGA tour event as a short guy, why shouldn't I adapt my game to that way too. Or at least give it a try...

Another tip I'm using I learned from Davis Love III. He mentioned, once upon a time, that he typically will only use 80% of his swing when hitting drives in order to assure solid contact and accuracy.

So yesterday I went out for a quick nine and hit all but one fairway, which I used a 4-iron off the tee. But of the holes I used driver or 3-wood, right down the middle! Yippee.

***iacas*** · February 2, 2005

At 5'11" and 160 lbs I've come to the conclusion that I'm not going to be the longest guy off the tee. I'll hit a 300-yarder down the pipe about once a round, after that I'll be all over the place, and as we all know, all over the place ain't the right place in this game.

Charles Howell III ain't exactly beefy, but he gets the job done. Don't give up

all hope, I'm sayin'.

After Justin Leonard's win last week,TGC aired some stats on his week. 278.xx yards off the tee which was way down on the stat chart, but first in fairways hit. If Justin can win a PGA tour event as a short guy, why shouldn't I adapt my game to that way too. Or at least give it a try...

He was also first in putting for the week. So shortening your long game is good, but don't neglect the short game itself.

Pretty nifty stats, especially with all the news we hear about "just drive it down there, better to have a wedge from the rough than an 8I from the fairway." And he came from behind on the last day, with tucked pins, so it's not like he was firing his longer shots from the fairway at easy pins every day.

Another tip I'm using I learned from Davis Love III. He mentioned, once upon a time, that he typically will only use 80% of his swing when hitting drives in order to assure solid contact and accuracy.

Tiger says it too on his DVDs. Some of my best rounds come when I try to hit every shot at 80%. Between clubs, I take the longer one and hit it 70%.

The most frustrating thing about that is how hard it is to make yourself play at 80%. The animal instinct to say "yeah, I hit my 9I from 155" is always there. 155 for me is now an easy 8I.

So yesterday I went out for a quick nine and hit all but one fairway, which I used a 4-iron off the tee. But of the holes I used driver or 3-wood, right down the middle! Yippee.

You missed the fairway with your 4I, but hit it every other time with your 3W/Driver?

I went to the dome today and practiced hitting 3Ws. I have the 980F and it's versatile, man. I can hit it like a 2W or a 5W. The 2W (drives) go 245 or so quite dependably, and I can shape the ball. My secret weapon.

I'm with ya. Better in the short grass.

**Ben** · February 3, 2005

Charles Howell III ain't exactly beefy, but he gets the job done. Don't give up

I put my theory to work today and not only did I hit the ball down the fairway, but I hit it as far as I would have when trying to swing at 100%. I was more than satisfied with my driving today. Too bad I couldn't hit a damn GIR! What a pain in the butt this game is. You get one aspect down, and there goes another to fix. I just wasn't paying enough attention on my second shots I suppose.

He was also first in putting for the week. So shortening your long game is good, but don't neglect the short game itself.

I made my putting revamp last week, and that's still on point. Drained a nice 25 footer for birdie today, actually. And my chipping has always been above average.

You missed the fairway with your 4I, but hit it every other time with your 3W/Driver?

Oddly enough, yes.

I went to the dome today and practiced hitting 3Ws. I have the 980F and it's versatile, man. I can hit it like a 2W or a 5W. The 2W (drives) go 245 or so quite dependably, and I can shape the ball. My secret weapon.

You now, I've only had my 980 for a month or so, but I've notice the same workability with it. I love that thing.

**mediaguru** · March 2, 2005

I would say that hitting in the CENTER of the driver face is more important than swinging harder and missing the center. I find if I RELAX and don't try to kill it, I strike the ball much more solid.

**flap** · March 2, 2005

When you swing easier you have less grip pressure so your hands release and you get more club head speed and therefore more distance,at least thats what the pro's seem to say.

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Goodbye long ball.

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