When you’re hitting a fairway wood, you’ve got a lot of real estate to cover to get to your target. Your first instinct is probably to give it a little more power because you’re worried about coming up short. Ernie Els Read Quote
Spin is a tricky thing. When you’re trying to avoid it – say, on a tee shot, where sidespin puts you in the trees – it’s easy to make it happen. Ernie Els Read Quote
For the average player, most three-putts happen because of a poorly judged first putt from long range. Ernie Els Read Quote
You probably don’t hit as many fairway-bunker shots as you do the greenside ones, and that unfamiliarity might make you a bit nervous. Ernie Els Read Quote
From a good lie in the middle of a fairway bunker, I’ll make the same swing as I do from an average fairway lie. I’ll dig my feet in slightly and keep my lower body stable so I won’t slip, but I don’t change my club selection or setup. It’s only when the ball is sitting down in the sand that I’ll make some modifications. Ernie Els Read Quote
The key is to hit the ball first, then the sand. Even if you catch it a bit thin, you’ll still get plenty of run. Hitting it fat is what you want to avoid. Ernie Els Read Quote
You have to know how to read your lie and take a calculated risk when you hit out of the rough. Ernie Els Read Quote
I think most amateurs dread playing a 180-plus-yard par 3 even more than a hard par 4. Part of it is psychological: You think you should be getting a breather, distance-wise, and instead, you get hit with a long iron or hybrid shot over trouble. Ernie Els Read Quote
Check the card before you play. If you have a couple of long par 3s, put an extra hybrid in your bag. You’ll be glad you did. Ernie Els Read Quote
Grip pressure – not mechanical flaws – is the biggest factor when you’re nervous. You unconsciously grip it tighter, which keeps you from making a smooth swing with a natural release. Keep your grip pressure light, and you’ll be surprised how much your mechanics stabilize. Ernie Els Read Quote
