Mental Mondays: Pick A Target

On every shot, be certain to pick a target. If you do not have a target, you can be absolutely sure that you will not hit it. Failing to aim at a specific location no doubt accounts for why—even on the widest fairways, and with the largest of greens—so many amateurs spray the ball wildly.

I once read a story in which Ben Hogan asked a caddy where he should aim on his tee shot. The caddy pointed out a couple of trees in the distance. “Aim for those trees,” he said. “Which one?” the Hawk asked.

Hogan knew that aiming in a general direction, rather than at a precise target, was asking for trouble. I’m surprised he didn’t ask “which branch.” The Hawk was nothing if not precise.

Imitate the Hawk by choosing a precise target on every shot. Don’t just aim “at the middle of the fairway” or “at the green.”  If you’re a high handicapper, you’re already missing a lot of fairways and greens, so clearly aiming at them isn’t doing the job.

For full tee shots, pick a spot in the fairway defined by a shadow, or an off-colored patch of grass. Then pick a smaller portion of that area. Divide again if possible. That’s your target.

On approach shots, don’t automatically choose the flag as your target. If you actually land the ball on target, it’s going to release and roll to the back of the green away from the flag. And too often, the flag is in a sucker position.

Pay close attention to the next televised PGA Tour event. Notice how often the players land the ball in a spot away from the hole, only to have it roll to within inches. It’s no accident. They were aiming for that precise spot, knowing it would roll from there.

Just as with a shot from the tee box, on approach shots, you should choose as narrowly defined a target as possible. Pick a mark if possible; otherwise, focus on a spot and burn its location into your brain.

Picking a target is just as important around the green as it is from the tee box or fairway. It’s also a easier because you’re a lot closer. Aim for a dent, or even a recognizable blade of grass at the location where you want the ball to land and begin its roll toward the hole.

Having a precise target helps your game on several levels. First, it’s necessary for proper alignment. You need to set up with your clubface on a line with the target, and your feet and shoulders parallel to that. None of that is possible without a precise target.

Second, having a precise target forces you to think about your goal. You’re not just chunking the ball down the course. You want to place each shot with an eye to the one after that. It’s not enough to land your tee shot somewhere in the fairway. You want it on the fairway in a position that maximizes your chances on the next swing.

And finally, on a more metaphysical level, focusing on a precise location allows your subconscious to come into play. Your body will try to do what the brain wants.

This tip is an excerpt from The Five Inch Course: Thinking Your Way To Better Golf. The complete book is available in Kindle format at Amazon.com.