Tee Shot Strategy
Play zones, not perfect lines
The Concept
Golf is a zone game. Trying to thread the narrowest part of the fairway invites penalty strokes. Selecting a wider landing zone increases playable results and SG reliability.
Define a target area, not a point. Let dispersion work inside that area.
Zone Planning Checklist
- Left trouble? Shift zone right 10–15 yards.
- Angle matters? Pick zone that opens green.
- Firm ground? Allow for rollout into rough.
- Wind cross? Bias toward upwind side.
The Drill
3 Zone Round
Before teeing off: Circle (mentally or on a yardage book) the landing zone width you want for the first 9 holes (e.g., 30–40 yards wide). Commit to that area — not the center stripe.
Process: Pick start line relative to zone edges, swing without steering. If ball finishes playable inside zone = success.
After round: Count zone successes vs attempts. Compare SG:Driving to previous rounds where you “aimed narrow”.
Track in ClearCut
- Fewer extreme Left/Right entries
- Improved approach proximities from better angles
- SG:Driving stabilizes round-to-round
TL;DR
Aim for an intelligent area. Penalties kill gains; playable distance wins.