Christi Turn Trick Caddies are used to keep their players Pin-High

All golfers know the frustration of coming up with a club they were sure was ‘perfect.’ Most of the time we suspect these conditions, the finder of a faulty bead or the thought that we shouldn’t hit it and we thought we did.

But the truth is, it’s often not a club or Conditions – it’s a player. And fixing the problem starts with understanding one key concept: the difference between a grade and a whole grade.

For those who don’t know, distance management is how far the ball travels in the air, while total distance includes the distance your ball gains after landing. Unfortunately, most amateurs only focus on the absolute distance – and that mistake not only distorts their understanding of their game but also leads them to overestimate how far they can spend.

As Joey Wuertemberger, a top golf instructor, explains, “most amateurs always think they are hitting the ball much farther than they actually do.”

To fix this, Wuertemberger says to focus on your carry distance instead of the total distance.

“I’ve never focused on absolute sides because players need to understand what it takes to carry a bunker, a hazard, or any penalty area – rather than a penalty ball – rather than how long it takes after that.”

To find your launch distances, Wueltemberger says you can use the Launch Monitor to find out exactly how far the ball is flying. But, there are a few more keys that will help you drive in your benefits.

Don’t just use your best shot

When most teuurs work their distances, they tend to focus on their best clothes – the ones that go the longest. But if you ask any top player, they will tell you that is a mistake. To get an accurate number, you need to factor in the centers that are not in the center and those short layages, because that really shows how you can beat this course.

“Players have to understand that they’re not always going to hit it right,” Weertemberger said. “If you only rely on your best shot, the numbers are off. Sure, if you hit it right you can carry it the whole distance – but nine times out of 10, you’ll come up a few yards.”

Track your football grades

If you really want to dial in your gears, Wueltemberger has a clever trick he learned from former Zach Johnson: Track your football grades.

Here’s how it works: After your approach shot to the green, notice where your ball mark is relative to the pin and where the ball actually came to rest. This allows you to see if you are the right club. Were you short and pin curled, or sharp? Tracking how your ball rolls helps you and understanding how the shot responds to course conditions – like if the greens are tighter and give you more roll.

“All of these are pointers to work on,” said Weertemberger, “later, where you can get from these previous guns. Remember that you shot at 120.”

A simple, tour-tested plan: Know your carry, enter your ball marks and play in the middle. This is how caddies keep their top players – and how you can start hitting more greens.

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