As I thought about these three terms Golf-Distance-Accuracy and jotted them down and looked them over, I thought, I’m guilty of getting distance and accuracy in the wrong order even when I write them down!

It’s beyond the truth.

I see it all the time with golfers. Whether they are trying to pick up the game or they have been playing for some time, the golf club everyone wants hit is their driver.

Oh it feels so good to put that ball in flight way out there doesn’t it.

When I first began playing I would go out to the local course and always find a game in the afternoon and more often than not, I would get paired up with a couple older gentlemen usually retired (in the middle of the afternoon during the week it was primarily retired folks playing).

For the longest time I couldn’t figure out how these old duffers could keep up with a young buck such as I. My drives, the distance on my irons was impressive (notice I said distance). But the older gentlemen would usually end up beating me or stay with me right to the end. How could it be I used to ponder?

Finally, it occurred to me.

One word. Accuracy.

The easiest shot in golf is the shortest shot.

The longer you intend for your shot to travel the more accurate you have to be with the ball off of the club face.

When you are practicing your golf game work on your accuracy first. Start with the shorter shafted shorter distance clubs and work to hit your target.

Master this activity. Hit your target.

Each club’s shaft gets longer as you make your way to your driver. The pure physics of this make your longer clubs more difficult to control and therefore the last to achieve consistent accuracy.

Don’t get frustrated by a wayward driver. If you’re honest with yourself and have a look at your shorter clubs, they probably aren’t that accurate either. They just aren’t as glaring at the shorter distances.

This may come as a surprise to you but if you are having trouble hitting the greens 100 yards out, what makes you think you’re going to be able to stripe your drive down the middle of the fairway some 280 yards out?

If NASA couldn’t hit the moon with a rocket do think they would then assume they would have better luck at Pluto?

Therefore, properly written it should be Golf: Accuracy-Distance.

And it then follows that this should be your mindset when it comes to your golf practice sessions. Start short, start small. Refine your swing with each club as you gradually work your way to the Holy Grail of distance… your driver. Be accurate first and distance will come. If the accuracy of your golf shots is consistent your golf scores will drop, and your wins will increase. Distance will come in time.

Play Good Golf!

Jeff O'Brien