Leone’s Lessons: On occasion, I’m asked the question,
”
How do you hit the ball straight?
”
My response: it’s almost impossible. The ball is going to curve
two different directions
— left to right or right to left, period. The best players in
the world don’t always hit it straight.
On occasion, I’m asked the question, “How do you hit the ball straight?” My response: it’s almost impossible.
The ball is going to curve two different directions — left to right or right to left, period. The best players in the world don’t always hit it straight.
Look at Bubba Watson; he sometimes curves it 30 to 40 yards one way or another. No, we’re not looking for the big slice or hook; you need to minimize the curve. So don’t fight it, play with it.
Example: The most common ball flight for the right-handed player is left to right. If you fall into this category, pay attention to where you tee the ball off the tee. Many amateurs tee it up in the middle of the tee box, not realizing they’ve cut the landing area in half. A ball that starts down the middle of the fairway and then curves to the right is going to end up in the rough or trees.
To avoid this, tee the ball up on the right side of the tee box and aim down the left side of the fairway. This leaves you with more room for error.
If you hit it straight, the ball may end up on the left side of the fairway. If it curves to the right some, the ball will end up in the middle, and, if it curves further to the right, it may end up in the right side of the fairway or right rough.
Conversely, if your ball flight is right to left, tee the ball on the left side of the tee box. Knowing the direction your ball curves helps you manage your way around the course — not in the trees or in someone’s backyard.
