Let's talk about your tee shots. Next to putting, the tee shot is probably the most influential part of your golf game when it comes to how you score and your handicap.

First of all, remember this... your driver isn't always the best club for you to hit. Now knowing this and being disciplined enough to keep the driver in the bag may be two different things. Don't get me wrong...

If you're hitting the driver well, it's the right choice. But don't let your ego get involved in your score.

Approach each tee shot with a plan.

Pick out a spot where you want to play your next shot from then picture yourself hitting that spot. Remember, if you're having an off day with your driver, hitting your 2nd shot from the fairway is much better than taking strokes to recover from a wayward drive. So, if you need to pick out a spot a club or two down from your driver then do so.

After you've stood behind your ball and picked out your target from the tee, then pick out a shorter intermediate target on your line that you can line yourself and your clubface up to. When you do this you accomplish a couple of positive things. Number one and most obvious is that you have confidence that your alignment is correct. And since you have been practicing your alignment you now have confidence in your perceived confidence!

Secondly, there is a very beneficial side effect that picking out a shorter intermediate target has; it works for me and I continually see work with those golfers I work with.

By picking an intermediate target you'll find that you will take a lot of pressure off your swing. You won't feel as though you have to 'reach back for that little extra' to get to your target. As such your rhythm and tempo will be better. You won't have such a tendency to over swing; because you're just trying to get your shot started down the line that you know is correct.

Rolled up, what all of this means is that you'll provide the swing and let the club do the work instead of trying to get too much out both your swing and the club.

Remember the fairway is, over all, more important than extra distance.

The object here as we've discussed these tips is for you to stand on the tee box with a plan and with confidence. As part of your plan, you will pick out a target that coincides with where you want your tee shot to end up. This will trigger your focus and help eliminate other visual variables that the golf hole throws at you. Picking an intermediate target will help get you aligned and keep you swing within yourself know that the club will do good work when you allow it to do so.

Head off to practice now and continue on that rhythm and tempo thing... and just getting the ball started toward your target. You'll soon find that you can have both good distance along with accuracy. 

Play Good Golf!

Jeff O'Brien