Don't try to max out distance with your full swing on all your clubs. A smooth, balanced swing is more consistent and will yield better results. Most professionals rarely hit their shots at 100 percent of their power. Copy this, taking one more iron---a 6 iron rather than a 7 iron, for example---and swinging more smoothly, in balance.
Play a round in which you make a full swing with every club you use (except for when you have to chip or putt). No half swings or three-quarter swings. If you're 70 yards from the green, hit a full sand or gap wedge. If you're 220 yards from the green, go with a full 3 wood or 5 wood (or 3 iron, if you're a strong player). This process will build confidence in your full swing.
Occasionally, try to force more distance out of a club. If you get into the habit of striking every full shot with about 90 percent of your power, you will still have 10 percent more power to add. So if you're faced with, say, a 120-yard shot for which you'd normally use a 9 iron, drop back to a pitching wedge and "lean on it." As you improve, you'll often discover that it's easier to "force" a club with a full swing, rather than trying to finesse less distance out of a club with an abbreviated swing.
Don't try to max out distance with your full swing on all your clubs. A smooth, balanced swing is more consistent and will yield better results. Most professionals rarely hit their shots at 100 percent of their power. Copy this, taking one more iron---a 6 iron rather than a 7 iron, for example---and swinging more smoothly, in balance.
Play a round in which you make a full swing with every club you use (except for when you have to chip or putt). No half swings or three-quarter swings. If you're 70 yards from the green, hit a full sand or gap wedge. If you're 220 yards from the green, go with a full 3 wood or 5 wood (or 3 iron, if you're a strong player). This process will build confidence in your full swing.
Occasionally, try to force more distance out of a club. If you get into the habit of striking every full shot with about 90 percent of your power, you will still have 10 percent more power to add. So if you're faced with, say, a 120-yard shot for which you'd normally use a 9 iron, drop back to a pitching wedge and "lean on it." As you improve, you'll often discover that it's easier to "force" a club with a full swing, rather than trying to finesse less distance out of a club with an abbreviated swing.
Don't be ashamed to hide from your full swing if you have to. If you're struggling, mishitting shots with your full swing, take one or two clubs more than the yardage calls for and hit an abbreviated punch shot, or give up some distance with a wood and play for accuracy. It's important to remember that golf is about scoring, not about making full, beautiful golf swings.
