. Don't Get Stuck In The Middle Choosing The Right Club When You're Between Yardages By Mike McGetrick with Lana Ortega MTT Contributing Writers The person who said that "golf is not a game of perfect" captured the essence of the game of golf. So often golfers are faced with circumstances on the course which require set-up and swing adjustments to the "normal shot" due to course conditions, uneven lies, poor lies, etc. The practice range setting, with its flat, manicured surfaces, don't readily provide an opportunity to rehearse these less-than-perfect situations. If you use your practice time properly, not only will you practice shots from non-level lies, divots and deep grass, but you'll work to control the distance you can generate with each club. Just as rare as the "perfect" lie on the golf course, is a shot with a yardage that corresponds perfectly to the distance you hit a particular club. To maximize scoring potential, it's important to know how to squeeze an extra 5 to 10 yards out of a certain club, or how to gear down to hit a club 5 to 10 yards shorter than normal. Let's assume a 7-iron is your club of choice for a shot of 150 yards and your 6-iron goes 160 yards. You're faced with a 155 yard shot to hit your target. What do you do? You don't want to hit the shot if you're uncertain over which club is the right one for the shot. It's best to stand over the ball fully committed to your club selection to increase the chances of a successful outcome. You have a decision to make...do you hit the 7-iron in a fashion that will produce a few extra yards, or do you make some adjustments to hit the 6-iron a few yards less? Getting An Extra Five To Ten Yards There are a few set-up and swing adjustments that are required if you're to squeeze extra yardage out of a particular club. To set-up for more distance, take a slightly wider stance than you normally would to provide the solid base that is required to make a bigger, more powerful golf swing. The ball position should be one inch back of where it usually is, which will move your hand position more in front of the golf ball. Not only does this create a more descending blow, but changes the effective loft of your 7-iron into that of a 6-iron. In addition to centerface contact, it is clubhead speed that produces the distance a ball travels. To get the clubhead traveling a little faster, your swing must be a little longer than normal in the backswing with an increase in the amount of arm swing and body turn. Not only must the swing be a little longer, but you need to pick up the pace of your swing to increase clubhead speed. The pace of the forward swing should be slightly faster than normal. Most better golfers, and certainly the pros, have a little power in reserve when hitting their normal golf shots, so stepping up the speed a notch is no problem for them. Another factor in getting yardage above normal is related to the type of spin created by the type of shot you hit. The side spin created by "drawing" the golf ball - a shot that curves from right to left - will generally have a more boring trajectory and will land a little "hotter" than normal, running a few extra yards after it lands. Drawing the golf ball is best accomplished by altering your set-up and making your normal golf swing. Place the ball slightly back of normal at address, aiming the clubface where you want the ball to end up while you aim your body to the right - or the direction the ball should start. This "closed" stance sets up the required in-to-out path, and if the clubface is aimed at the target correctly, it will be closed relative to the path. The grip pressure in both hands should remain light to encourage the clubface to close a little sooner through the hitting area to impart drawspin on the golf ball. Taking Five To Ten Yards Off There are times when taking a little extra club and learning to control the distance so that it doesn't travel quite as far makes a lot of sense. In fact, this may be the best option for a lesser skilled player until ball-striking becomes a little more consistent. Taking more club is a good idea for higher handicapped players because they tend to bank on hitting their shots more solidly than they generally do, so consequently, they often don't take enough club even for normal shots. To hit the ball a little shorter than you typically do, grip down one to two inches on the handle and make the length of the backswing and the forward swing feel about three-quarters. The pace and tempo of the whole swing - hands, arms and body - should be slightly slower than normal. The swing should feel very smooth, but guard against deceleration or "quitting" on the shot. Teeing the ball up a little higher on tee shots will make the trajectory of the shot higher, fly a little shorter, and land softer with less roll. Just as drawing the golf ball will allow for a few added yards, hitting a "fade" - a shot that curves from left to right - will subtract a few yards. A fade will impart side spin much like an undercut tennis shot that just drops over the net and stops dead. To set-up to hit a fade, position the ball slightly forward in your stance. With the clubface pointed in the direction the ball should end up, aim the body left of the target line or the direction the ball should start out. This "open" stance will encourage the desired out-to-in path necessary to fade the golf ball and the clubface will be open relative to your body alignments. Firm up the grip pressure a little in both hands to keep the clubface from closing too soon through the hitting area. Are You A Hitter Or A Swinger? Tiger Woods would take one less club, Ernie Els would take one more. Tiger hits it hard, is generally an aggressive player, and can easily manufacture 5 to 10 more yards out of a particular club if need be. Ernie Els, on the other hand, has a slower tempo and is a swinger of the golf club. He would do better at making some adjustments to reduce the regular yardage produced with a certain club to hit it 5 to 10 yards less. Examine the type of golfer you are and decide what strategy may suit your particular style of play. You may find that this ingredient will sway you in one direction or another when faced with a "tweener" yardage. Other Circumstances There are other factors which may contribute to your decision to take one less club or choose one more when you're stuck in the middle. Here's a list of circumstances that may help push you in one direction or another so you can pull off the shot. Factors That Favor One Less Club There is no obstacle to carry in front of the green. The flagstick is toward the back of the green and the hole layout will accept a shot that comes in low and running. You're downwind. You always play with a little power in reserve and can call up a little extra zip when you need it. You're a more skilled golfer, hit the ball solid most of the time and have the ability to shape or curve shots when necessary. You're coming down the stretch in contention with adrenaline pumping. Factors That Favor One More Club The trouble is short of the green and a shot that flies farther would not jeopardize a good score as much as one that pulls up short. The flagstick is toward the front of the green. You're hitting into the wind. You're a swinger with a smooth, even tempo. You're a lesser skilled golfer who tends to come up short of the green in many cases. Distance Control Drill Controlling distance with your golf clubs is an important part of raising the level of your game. Try hitting three clubs the same distance on the practice range. Choose a flag on the range with a yardage that corresponds to the distance you normally hit one of your middle irons. Say you have chosen a 150 yard target which is a perfect 7-iron distance. Hit five seven irons to the flag. Then choose a 6-iron, making the appropriate set-up and swing adjustments, and hit five shots to the same 150 yard target. Finally, try hitting an 8-iron to the same target, using the set-up and swing techniques necessary to get a little more distance than normal. Make note of your success with each series of balls. One approach or the other will best suit your style of golf and afford the best opportunity to stick the ball next to the flagstick. For more information on how you can improve your golf game at the Mike McGetrick Golf Academy, call to receive information on individual lesson programs or golf academies at (800) 494-1818 or (303) 799-0870.