If you were playing a game of darts with your friends, would you just fling the dart in the general direction of the board, hoping to hit the bulls eye? "Of course not" you say, but that is exactly how most people play golf. They stand on the tee and look out towards the fairway and "sort of" line up in that general direction, hoping to hit the fairway.

During a golf lesson, when I ask my students where they are aiming, they usually say, "uh," then in panic, pick a target. I laugh and say, "busted!" No one ever thinks to pick a specific target, because for the most part we are just hoping and praying to keep the ball in play. But like the game of darts, that kind of thinking will only forsake our score to the realm of chance, which ultimately does not produce very satisfying results.

Here's the solution that will give you more control over where the ball flies, without having to grind away for hours on the driving range. When you get to your shot, pick a very definitive target. Not just the fairway, not just the green. Those are far too big and ambiguous. I'm talking about a SPOT in the fairway or a SPOT on the green. Why not just the entire fairway? Because if the fairway is your target and you miss your target, where are you? Likely in the rough, trees, water, or sand. But if that nice dark green spot in the fairway is your target and you miss that target, then where might you be? Probably still in the fairway. So be very specific about where you want the ball to go.

This goes for the putting green as well. Always have a specific target to stroke your putter towards. When I get close to the hole, I will even pick something so small as a blade of grass on the edge of the cup on which to focus. Hey, if I miss that blade of grass the ball still might drop. If the entire cup is my target and I miss that, well, it's the 3-putt blues for the rest of the round.

Now here are some very practical aspects to picking a specific target.

		This sends a message to your brain exactly where you intend to hit the ball and eliminates any chance for confusion about your intentions.
		A smaller, more specific target helps you to line up more accurately. Remember, aim and alignment just doesn't determine where the ball goes, it also determines the quality of the swing itself.
		It gives you something specific to swing towards. Believe it or not, this will do as much to help groove an efficient swing as any mechanical skill you can learn.
		Being focused on a specific target keeps you preoccupied with the task at hand. A much more productive thought process than drifting off into the land of distractions and worries.

So the next time you head to your practice facility or golf course, start developing a new habit of picking very specific targets. You will be amazed at the effect just this small change in your thinking will have upon your game.

© Melissa Whitmire