Golfing for Novices: Part Three
The term ‘the long game’ refers to your drives (shots off the tee) and fairway shots; that is every shot except the shots you make to actually get onto the green.
Since each hole has a different difficulty level, different par and distinctive hazards, telling you to use your driver on every tee would blatantly be quite wrong.
This is something that you will need to learn over time as you learn the various shots you have to make depending on the club, the placement of the ball and your personal style of swing.
Without putting too fine a point on it, the lower the number of the club, the longer and lower your ball will travel through the air. So, for example, a 4-iron will make the ball travel on a long and low trajectory and that will most make it roll when it hits the ground, whereas a 9-iron will impart much more loft to the ball and ensuring that it will go less distance both in the air and over the ground.
Don’t the professionals on the television make it look easy? They whack the ball long and straight time after time after time and never slice the ball sending it a sickly eight or nine feet or miss the ball altogether.
One of the most important parts of the game is the drive. If you spend a few hours at the driving range you will see quite a big improvement in your long-distance shots. Use the same club in this experiment to see what affect it has, if you move the ball backward or forward or in your stance. And, if you can, take a lesson or two from a pro, to learn the proper swing from the start.
You must master the long game as it will help you get to the green in much fewer strokes, which will keep your score and frustration levels down. Don’t forget that it takes a long time to be consistently consistent and always remember: you’re supposed to be enjoying yourself!
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