Two of the most basic yet misinterpreted elements in golf are distance management and club selection for a shot. Many golfers spend hours honing their swings on the range, but they often struggle to apply that skill on the golf course. The recent session by Coach Prithvi and Coach Folkert Hark helped players grasp not only what to do but also why it matters by combining it with technical insights, helpful suggestions, and examples from the course.
The Significance of Distance Control
How consistently golfers manage their distance is one of the most remarkable things about professional golf, particularly on tours. They are rarely noticeably long or short, yet they could miss shots left or right. Being “pin high,” which entails matching the distance of your shot to the flag even if you’re a little offline, is an essential ability, as Coach Prithvi noted.
For instance, a miss that is four yards right but pin high, for example, leaves a 12-foot putt, which is quite makeable. However, the same mistake four yards short and right frequently results in a lengthier, far more difficult putt. While falling short leaves you struggling, getting pin high gives you chances to score.
Elements that affect Club Selection
Selecting a club and assessing the yardage are only two aspects of clubbing. There are several factors that affect the ball’s actual distance traveled. Coach Prithvi and Coach Folkert deconstructed it into the following concise, valid factors:
- Yardage: The base number you start with is called yardage.
- Wind: Depending on whether it’s headwind, tailwind, or crosswind, you’ll always need a different club.
- Lie of the Ball: uneven, upslope, downslope, fairway, and rugged terrain all have an impact on distance.
- Elevation and Slope: Downhill targets require less yardage than elevated greens therefore a lighter club selection should be made.
- Altitude: The ball will travel farther on courses at greater elevations (such as 1,000 meters above sea level) than at sea level.
- Moisture: Rain or dew decreases spin, which causes the ball to fly higher and with less control, frequently producing a “flyer.”
- Time of Day & Conditions: The ball’s distance traveled may be affected by morning dampness, afternoon firmness, or temperature fluctuations.
- Form of the Day: If you’re not striking the ball cleanly, it’s smarter to club up and swing smoother rather than force a perfect shot.
These are referred to as the “low-hanging fruits” by Coach Folkert. Players can manage these minor changes, and using them gives an edge to any golfer and results in better performance.
How Slopes affect things
Besides discussing the club selection, the players meeting also had a brief focus on slopes, which golfers generally undermine. On an upslope, the ball launches farther and higher while on a downslope, the ball launches lower and has a greater range.
Another thing to consider is to realise the ball position. If the ball is above the feet, it influences the direction of start; because of the tilt of the face plane, right-handers’ shots frequently veer left. And balance in these situations is essential; swing more smoothly (around 80%) to keep contact. While if it is below the feet, it usually pushes shots to the right; the swing gets steeper, demanding more awareness and balance.
Although players generally rely on their intuition to determine this, the coaches stressed that understanding the science enables players to navigate steep slopes successfully.
Pin Location and Risk Control
The significance of modifying the technique according to the pin position was another important lesson learned. Even though it means leaving a longer putt, it is wiser to shoot slightly short on a back pin that is trouble long. Golfers should aim for the middle and make sure they are not under-clubbing on a front pin with danger short (such as water or bunkers). “Aim to get high 95% of the time,” Coach Prithvi emphasized. However, being mindful of the 5% is where it is safer to be long or short.
The Role of Contact Quality
It is difficult for even the best golfers to hit every shot flawlessly. Only three or four shots per round are hit exactly as planned, according to the majority of tour pros. The rest are controlled misses.
This fact is considerably more apparent for players who are still learning. It makes more sense to use a 7-iron if your “perfect” 8-iron is 150 yards, but your average is closer to 140. Instead of using the best shots, build yardages based on averages. This mode of thinking keeps the golfers away from risky under-clubbed misses, lowers pressure, and improves consistency.
The Effect of Moisture
The effect of moisture or dew on distance was one interesting topic of discussion. As we all know, in golf, moisture decreases spin on short irons (7-9), allowing the ball to fly farther but with less control. Since the ball lowers sooner owing to poor spin, dampness may actually shorten distance with long irons (4-6). Early on in the round, players must identify these important variables and modify their club selection strategies according to the game’s demand.
Physical and Mental Aspects
Judging the situation and making on-spot decisions is just as important in golf as technique. Additionally, players also need to consider factors such as:
- Fatigue: Swing speed decreases on hot days or toward the end of the round. Therefore, clubbing up increases consistency and saves energy.
- Adrenaline: Excitement can add distance during competitions. Being conscious helps you avoid missing important shots.
- Balance & Rhythm: Swinging more smoothly, even at the expense of less distance, guarantees better contact on awkward lays.
A Game of Missed Shots
The address about the missed shots of a round was perhaps the meeting’s most impactful message. Even the best golfers do make a few misses, but it’s ok, as a good golfer, you must ensure that those missed shots do not impact your game. Golf is about improving your misses, not about hitting every shot flawlessly. “Golf is a game of misses, and the player who misses the best usually wins,” goes a well-known adage.
Players can tighten their dispersion, be mindful of costly errors, and increase their scoring opportunities by concentrating on distance management, clubbing more intelligently, and adapting to the conditions.
Perspective and Appreciation
Coach Folkert delivered an important message near the end of the meet. He urged players to appreciate their advantageous position in having access to TSG’s top-notch facilities, coaching, and support. Around the world, many young golfers aspire to these kinds of chances. He also advised the players to take a moment to reflect and express gratitude on the kinds of opportunities they have got in association with Tarun Sardesai Golf Academy and make the best use of everything here, thereby becoming a good golfer and an amazing human.
More than a technical lesson, the clubbing and distance control session provided a comprehensive framework for more intelligent, self-assured golf. At TSG, we too consider ourselves lucky to have such aspiring athletes and amazing coaches to help these emerging stars shine better. With the coach’s guidance, overall development and a positive atmosphere is what helps golfers sharpen their approach play, give themselves more birdie chances, and ultimately lower their scores.
Happy learning, happy golfing!
