72 from the tips... Hot tip #2

Quit Trying to Kill the Ball.

The number one most common cause of a bad shot is swinging too hard...Trying to Kill the Ball.

Over swinging, swinging too hard, and trying to hit the ball farther than anyone in the history of the world...whatever you call it. Swinging too hard is killing your game and elevating your golf score.

The worse thing is that every once in awhile a golfer will get lucky and hit the ball a long way. The problem is that if you can do it only once in awhile, it is just lucky. If you cannot repeat it time after time, swinging 100% or 110% will get you in trouble more often or not.

Case in Point...A Tale of two golfers.

I once went golfing at my favorite course, Hobblecreek Golf Course, in Springville, Utah. I was paired with two other golfers. One was an old man who must have been in his 70's. He was short and almost looked frail. The other guy was in his mid 20's. He was tall, and very athletic. He could "drive the ball a mile." Very impressive length.

After playing a few holes, i noticed that the young stud was killing the ball a long way...mostly deep into the woods. He would have to hit two or three tee shots on each and every hole. I also noted that he had a terrible short game and could not putt worth a darn. The older fellow, on the other hand, hit every drive straight down the middle. He had a very smooth comfortable swing. He did not hit the ball super long, and he played up one tee box. His approach shots were either on the green or he would chip the ball up very close and had short one-putt pars.

While I was initially very impressed with "Mr. Longdriver," by the seventh whole I began to realize that the old man was beating the heck out of the young proud stud. On the seventh tee box the younger golfer finally got his first drive in the fairway right down the middle...and he almost drove the green. I was really impressed and wished that I could someday hit a drive like that.

The old man well short of the green and hit his second shot just short of the green perfectly positioned between the two sand traps. His chip shot was perfect to within two feet for a short par putt which he easily made.

Next, it was time for the young stud to hit his short approach shot to the green. He made the most awkward swings and "chili-dipped" and almost totally missed the ball. Then came another attempt and then another. Frustrated and embarrassed, he headed towards the club house.

It was at that defining moment that I realized that Golf is not a long drive competition (unless you are in a long drive competition). From that moment on, I began to focus on keeping the ball out of trouble and working on my short game.

Golf is about staying in control at all times, staying out of trouble, getting the ball on the green in regulation, and then being able to two-putt every hole.