Now that I have finished playing full-time in Europe, I will have more time to spend coaching at Wembley Golf Course, helping you to lower your scores.
Ben Hogan is famously quoted as saying, “Any time you hit a straight shot it is a fluke.” And yet, when I give a lesson, hitting the ball straight is a high priority for most people.
Golf is a tough enough game without adding the pressure of hitting a perfectly straight shot that requires a bunch of moving parts to be as in sync as a Swiss watch. I think that the expectation of having your ball fly like an arrow comes from a misunderstanding of what pros actually mean when they refer to hitting a straight shot.
The best way to lower your scores is by improving your accuracy, which does not necessarily mean you need to hit perfectly straight shots. Accuracy is about where the ball finishes, not how it gets there.
You will often hear a pro refer to their preferred shot shape. Indeed, we all have a natural shot shape that lends itself to hitting the ball with a fade or a draw. Much of this comes from the fact that we come in different shapes and sizes; different strength and power; different flexibility. So, we shouldn’t all be trying to hit the ball dead straight or with the same flight. If your mate hits a draw, that doesn’t mean that you should.
Trying to hit perfectly straight shots requires flawless precision and leaves no margin for error. The fact is that hitting the ball accurately relies on a relationship between two things at impact: the direction of the clubface at impact and how it relates to the path your club is travelling on. This relationship is easier to control if we use our natural draw or fade. Contriving a swing that is contrary to your natural swing shape with a view to hitting the ball dead straight can be problematic.
So, what are the benefits of embracing a natural, preferred shot shape, and why do professionals strive for this?
Having a shot shape that suits your swing, rather than trying to force the ball to go straight, is easier to repeat, which in turn leads to better consistency, confidence, and accuracy.
Trying to hit perfectly straight shots means you are always aiming at the middle of the fairway or at the flag. The problem is if you don’t catch the ball perfectly, your ball will always be heading away from your target. However, if you are aiming to hit shots with a natural shot shape, the ball will always be heading towards your target rather than away from it.
Now, I’m not saying that a big slice or hook is preferable either. But understanding what makes a ball curve, then embracing and learning to control your natural or preferred shot shape, will help you achieve more predictable shots and ultimately hit the ball closer to your target … and lower your scores.
I’m happy to help you to figure which shape of shot best suits your natural swing.
To book a lesson visit michaellonggolf.com
— Michael Long
