Driving Strategy: Play Smart, Not Just Hard

Hitting fairways is important, but smart golf is about managing your mistakes. Even the best players in the world miss the fairway constantly. The difference is that they miss in safe places. Here is how to create a strategy that keeps you in play.

1. Understand Your "Shotgun" Pattern

Stop thinking of your shot as a laser beam. Think of it like a shotgun spray. Even on your best days, your shots will land in a scattering circle, not a single point.

• Don't Aim Down the Middle: If there is water on the left and a wide open rough on the right, aiming down the middle brings the water into play.
• Shift Your Aim: Aim closer to the safe side (the rough). It is much better to play your second shot from the grass than to take a penalty drop from the water.

2. Eliminate One Side of the Course

The hardest shot in golf is trying to hit a straight ball while worrying about trouble on both sides. Pick a reliable shot shape—usually a fade (curves left-to-right) for most amateurs.

• Trust the Curve: If you play a fade, aim at the left edge of the fairway.
• The Safety Net: If you hit it straight, you land on the left side. If it curves, you land in the center. You have effectively taken the left side of the course out of play.

3. Use the Tee Box to Your Advantage

You have the entire width of the tee box to use, yet most amateurs tee up exactly in the middle every time. Change your angle to make the fairway look wider.

• Tee on the Side of Trouble: If there is Out of Bounds on the right, tee up on the far right side of the tee box and aim left. This points your body away from the danger.

4. The "Driver vs. 3-Wood" Myth

Many golfers believe hitting a 3-wood is safer. However, leaving yourself a very long approach shot often leads to more bogeys than being closer to the hole in the rough.

The Golden Rule: Only put the Driver away if your typical miss would put you in a penalty area (water/OB) or behind a tree. If the worst case scenario is just normal rough, hit the Driver. Distance is a massive advantage.

5. Aim Small, Miss Small

Your brain works better with specific targets. Never just aim at "the fairway." Pick a very specific target in the distance, like a specific tree branch, a chimney on a house, or a cloud.

Additional Reading

For more on course management and strategy, we recommend these top resources:

• Scott Fawcett's 10-Step Guide (Golf.com): A fantastic breakdown of the DECADE system, explaining exactly how to aim to avoid penalty strokes without buying the app.
• Course Management to Break 80: A practical guide from GOLF.com specifically designed for the amateur trying to lower their handicap.
• Practical Golf: One of the best blogs on the internet for honest, relatable advice on strategy and the mental game for regular golfers.