For the sake of simplicity, all advice on swings and drills is provided from a right handed perspective; lefties …. well, you know what to do!
Many players never consider aggressive or conservative swing – target combinations when they are setting up for their shot, and it’s actually a critical element for low scoring.
Swing – target selection is the art of matching your swing with your target, considering factors such as target accessibility, your comfort level with the club you have selected, your comfort level with the distance of the shot, your comfort level with the shape of the shot you need to execute, your comfort level with the swing effort you need to expend, and your position in your match or tournament.
There are two mind sets involved in matching the correct swing – target combinations: aggressive and conservative.
Furthermore, there four combinations of these mind sets that need to be considered with swing – target scenarios:
- Conservative Swing – Conservative Target
- Conservative Swing – Aggressive Target
- Aggressive Swing – Conservative Target
- Aggressive Swing – Aggressive Target
If you develop a mindset that hates bogeys more than you love birdies, you’ll be on the right mental track to make good swing – target decisions.
Here are examples of when to use each of the four swing – target combinations mentioned above.
- Conservative Swing – Conservative Target
Match Situation: you are all even on the 8th hole in a match play tournament.
Shot Scenario: Tee shot on medium length par four, out of bounds on right, average width fairway.
Action: select a stock swing 3 wood for your tee shot to keep the ball in play in the fairway. - Conservative Swing – Aggressive Target
Match Situation: you are one shot behind the leader in a stroke play tournament, 17th hole, final round
Shot Scenario: 100 yard approach shot, pin tucked in right corner of the green with bunker 25 feet behind the pin.
Action: select a stock swing knock down PW for shot, a shot that you feel you can control the distance and aim better than any other club in your bag, aim one yard left of the pin - Aggressive Swing – Conservative Target
Match Situation: you are two up in a match play tournament, 10th hole
Shot Scenario: 155 yard approach shot, modest breeze at your back, pin slightly left of center in large green.
Action: select 8 iron (stock 8 iron carry 145 yards) with an aggressive swing, aim for the center of the green, hit the shot hard with draw bias - Aggressive Swing – Aggressive Target
Match Situation: you are in a stroke play tournament tied for the lead, 14th hole, final round.
Shot Scenario: 2nd shot on reachable par 5 from the fairway, 255 to the pin, pin left of center on large green, greenside bunker to the right of the green.
Action: select a 3 wood with aggressive swing (stock 3 wood 235 yards) with draw bias, aim between the pin and the right edge of the green.
These are a few scenarios give you examples of how to think your situation through using swing – target considerations.
Review a few tight matches you lost last year, and think about how things might have changed if you thought your shots through this way.
If you haven’t thought this way before, work these considerations into your thought process this year and watch your handicap go down.
Love your practice, enjoy your golf,
Tom
Tom Tucker is a World Golf Teachers and United States Golf Teacher Federation-certified golf instructor. He may be contacted via his website or at the Plum Creek driving range in Batavia, NY.
