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Why Distance Control Matters More Than Direction on Approach Shots

Photo by Lo Sarno on Unsplash Statistical analysis of amateur golf performance consistently reveals a counterintuitive finding: distance control errors on approach shots cost recreational golfers more strokes than directional errors, even though most golfers practice and worry about direction far more. The Statistical Pattern Shot-tracking data from systems used across recreational and competitive golf shows that amateur golfers are typically far more likely to miss an approach shot short or long of their intended distance than they are to miss significantly left or right of their intended line. A shot that's 15 yards short or long frequently finds trouble — a bunker, water, or simply a much longer subsequent putt — in a way that a shot 10 yards left or right of the pin, but still on the green, does not. Why This Happens Directional misses are usually caused by face-to-path errors, covered in our ball flight laws article , which tend to be relatively consistent for an individual g...

How to Get Better at Putting: The Complete Practice Guide

people playing golf on green grass field during daytime
Photo by Catharina Short Sundberg on Unsplash

Putting is 40% of your strokes. Here is the complete practice guide.

The Two Keys

Green reading and stroke mechanics — mechanics should come first since they make reading easier.

The Gate Drill

Two tees 4 inches apart, 6 inches ahead of the ball, forces a square putter face through impact.

The Clock Drill

Balls at 3/6/9/12 o'clock at 20 feet, targeting a three-foot circle around the hole for distance control.

The Circle Drill

Six balls at three feet around the hole, holing all six consecutively before starting again — builds short putt confidence.

Green Reading

Read from behind the ball and behind the hole, commit before setup, never change your mind after committing.

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