The clever trick tour caddies use to keep players high
All golfers know the frustration that arises when they are convinced that their “perfect” club is not what they want. Most of the time we blame it on conditions, rangefinder failure or assume we must not have hit the target as well as we thought.
But the truth is, usually not the club or The condition – is the player. Solving this problem starts with understanding a key concept: the difference between carry distance and total distance.
For those who don’t know, dribbling distance is the distance the ball travels in the air, while total distance includes the distance gained after the ball hits the ground. Unfortunately, most amateurs only focus on total distance—a mistake that not only distorts their understanding of the game, but also causes them to overestimate how far they really hit the ball.
As Golf 100 coach Joey Wuertemberger explains, “Most amateurs always think they hit the ball farther than they actually hit it.”
To combat this, Wuertenberger says to focus on the distance you fly rather than the total distance.
“I rarely focus on total yardage because players need to know how to carry a bunker, hazard or any penalty area rather than how far the ball subsequently rolls.”
To figure out your flight distance, Wuertemberger says you can use a launch monitor to figure out how far the ball actually traveled. However, there are a few extra keys to help you adjust your iron like a pro.
Don’t just use your best shot
When most amateurs calculate the distance of their shots, they tend to focus only on their best shots—the ones that travel the farthest. But ask any high level player and they will tell you this is a mistake. To get an accurate number, you need to account for off-center hits and those slightly shorter yardage numbers, as this is a more realistic reflection of how far you’ll actually hit the ball on the course.
“Players have to understand that they’re not always going to hit the ball perfectly,” Wuertenberger said. “If you only rely on your best shots, the numbers are going to be skewed. Sure, if you hit the ball perfectly, you can hit it the full distance — but nine times out of ten, it’s not going to be that consistent and you’re going to be off by a few yards.”
Track your ball marks
If you really want to tune up your irons, Wurttemberg has a clever trick he learned from his former caddy, Zach Johnson: track your ball marks.
Here’s how it works: After you hit your shot onto the green, note where your ball mark is relative to the pin and where the ball actually came to rest. This will let you know if you have the right clubs. Did you land too short and roll to the pin, or did you have too much height? Tracking how far your ball rolls can also help you understand how your shot responds to course conditions, such as whether a firm green will give you extra roll.
“All of those are reference points to work from,” Wuertemberger said, “and then, later in the round, you can learn from those past drives. Remember that 120-yard field goal you had on fourth down? This is that field goal again.”
It’s a simple, tour-tested system: Know your offense, record your pitch and hit it to the middle. That’s how caddies keep their players elevated—and how to start hitting more greens.
FullSwing KIT launch monitor
Designed with state-of-the-art radar technology and a high-resolution camera, the Full Swing KIT launch monitor provides you with 16 points of data and video so you can clearly see your swing. Tested and trusted by Tiger Woods, built for everyone. Machine learning-enhanced radar combined with powerful radar and media-specific processors gives you the cleanest, most accurate data in the industry. The customizable head-up OLED display is designed to show you exactly what’s happening with every swing, or use the free app to view your data and videos on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or even listen to your data of choice through Bluetooth headphones. Take it to the course and set up in under a minute using the included durable case. Its battery life of up to 5 hours helps you get the most out of your swing, whether you’re on the driving range or using the net at home in your backyard, garage or basement. What’s included: FS Kit Launch Monitor Charging Block USB-C charging cable Protective travel case Tracking: Patented 24GHz dual-mode, ML Enhanced Radar Display: 5.3-inch ultra-bright, Full HD (1920×1080) OLED with 16.7 million colors Camera: Full HD 1080p, 60 fps Processor: Dual-core A9 Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac; Bluetooth® 5.0 BR/EDR/LE Battery: Internal Li-ion 8000mAh; ~5 hours of use (depending on conditions) Carrying case: Lightweight, waterproof, impact-resistant Charging port: USB-C Charger: 45W USB-C; 110-240v, 50-60Hz Charging cable: USB-C, 3′ (1m) Unit Dimensions: 10.23″ H x 6.57″ W x 2.32″ D (3.74″ with legs extended); (260 mm x 167 mm x 59 mm (95 mm)) Unit Weight: 4.0 lbs (1.8 kg) Housing Dimensions: 13″ L x 8.11″ W x 3.86″ H (330 mm x 206 mm x 98 mm) Unit, Case, Charger Weight: 5.7 lb (2.6 kg) Package Dimensions: 16.5 in L x 10.75 in W x 4.8 in H (419 mm x 273 mm x 122 mm) Package Weight: 8.4 lb (3.8 kg) Return Eligibility If you are not satisfied with your Full Swing device within the first 14 days 14 days from date of delivery for owners of an E6 Connect used with Full Swing Users of a perpetual license of the software may return the license for a full refund if you are dissatisfied with the E6 Connect software within the first fourteen (14) days of the date of perpetual license activation. After 14 days from the date of delivery, all returns involving equipment originally received outside the United States should be arranged through your local sales channel. To initiate a device return, you must contact the Sales Support Team at +1 (973) 636 -7354 or email sales@TheNetReturn.com so you can ship your device. The Net Return does not accept returns with all accessories including AC adapters and cables and travel cases. Return Processing Upon receipt of the returned device, the device shall be inspected by Net Return and if such inspection reveals that any warranty exclusions apply, the warranty will be void and separate terms and conditions established by Affirm will apply. Affirm is available on iPhone® (10 and later), iPad® running iOS 14 and later (7th generation and later), iPad® Air running iOS 14 and later (3rd generation and later), iPad® Pro running iOS 14 and later (all models), Apple Watch® 3 or later running iOS 14 and later, watchOS 7 or later Apple AirPods® or most Bluetooth® headphones
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