Importance of Distance Control

To hit the ball closer to the pin, would it be better to improve your directional accuracy or distance control?  Although it's true that directional accuracy is still important, golfers of all ability levels could benefit more from improved distance control.  We know from TrackMan research and results from the TrackMan Combine, that the average male amateur misses targets more as a result of poor distance control than from poor directional control.

The Problem? Most amateur golfers don't really know how far they hit their clubs. 

You can see on the chart below, the dispersion of the 'Average Male Amateur' at a 160 yard target.  Notice how few shots land past the green.

Photo courtesy of TrackMan

More often than not, when an amateur golfer is asked how far they hit a particular club, they answer with a number that is higher than their actual average.  Although it may be true that sometimes you can hit your 9-iron 150 yards (downwind on a really hot day), chances are that you aren't going to average 150 yards with a 9-iron.  

To be great at controlling your distance, it is important to ask yourself the following question:  "What club am I most likely to hit pin high?" 

  

An excellent way to learn the answer to this question is through a Distance Check on the TrackMan Launch Monitor.  The Distance Check takes less than an hour, and will give you a precise carry distance and total distance for each club in your bag. 

Sample Pages from TrackMan Distance Check Report:

 TrackMan does not calculate your yardages with each club, rather, it actually measures them. TrackMan can even account for wind, humidity, temperature, altitude and even the type of ball you play to give you an exact yardage for each club. 

Once you know your exact yardages with each club, you can start hitting more greens without any change in technique!  Sign up for a Distance Check this Spring, and start playing better golf!