Instruction
The Quest for 300: It Starts with Your Clubs (Part 3)
So far in this series I have discussed the prerequisites for hitting a true 300-yard drive. This means hitting it 300-plus yards without the aid of wind, elevation, a sprinkler head or a cartpath.
It is true that only a small segment of golfers who read this are capable of this feat. Heck, many golfers would love to hit their drivers 250 yards once in a while. I understand the struggles of those golfers, and aim to help every one of them hit their drivers as far as they can, even it that distance is much less than 300 yards.
One of the most talked about aspects of driving a golf ball long and straight is the club that is used. Since this article is published on GolfWRX, I feel very confident assuming that my readers are using drivers that are six years old or less. If you are playing something older than this, consider upgrading, because you’re really missing out on forgiveness.
Click here to read other articles written by Steve Pratt.
To maximize performance, a golfer needs a driver that fits their swing, not just an expensive or flashy one. It needs to create the correct launch and spin to have a landing angle between 36 and 39 degrees. If golfers see their tee shots “climb” in the air, and their shots don’t roll much when they land on a firm fairway, they probably have a landing angle of more than 45 degrees. If they hit low line drives, they likely have a landing angle under 30.
There are infinite combination of launch angles and spin rates that will produce the correct landing angle for a golfer’s course conditions. For example, golfers who play in the desert might get more total yards out of drives with a lower landing angle, while golfers who play in softer conditions might get more distance from drives that carry farther. The ideal launch, spin and landing angle will also vary by a golfer’s club head speed and angle of attack.
Let me give an example of wildly different launch and spin numbers that will produce an optimal landing angle. Some golfers might launch their drives at 6 degrees with 3600 rpms of backspin with a landing angle of 38 degrees. They might get similar results by launching their drivers at 16 degrees with 2200 rpms of backspin. It is a delicate balance, but the distance golfers gain from finding the ideal launch, spin and landing angle will be well worth it. For the golfers who I have fitted, the average gain has been 33 yards.
Here are a couple of tips to help you find the right driver for your swing:
- The loft stated on the bottom of the club can be misleading. Head design and shaft can change the actual spin loft of that driver by several degrees. Just because you’re a 9.5 in one brand doesn’t mean you will be in another brand — or next year’s model from the same brand.
- Shaft choice can affect ball flight by affecting the overall spin loft of the club. This is why the “bend profile” and “tip stiffness” of a shaft can be so important. Knowing “cpms” may also come in handy, considering that a stiff shaft in one major brand can differ significantly from another.
- A golfer’s angle of attack (AoA) will profoundly affect what driver will work best for them, so it is integral that they knows what their AoA is. Keep in mind that AoA does not affect spin rate. Trackman has discovered scientifically (and in practice) that hitting down by itself does not cause an increase in backspin.
- User error will trump equipment changes by a large margin. Unless a golfer is a really good player (2 handicap or less), they will not see a meaningful differences in spin or ball flight by making small changes in shafts or heads. They’ve got to compare apples to apples, and the average golfer hits a lot of oranges. Even small mishits will result in gear effects that will easily overcome a minor change in equipment.
For example, I’ve seen golfers go from 4000 rpms of spin to 2000 in a half hour without changing gear. They merely worked to hit the ball more solidly and squarely. It would be very difficult to simply change gear and get this much change, and much more expensive too!
While technique plays the biggest role in the efficiency of ball flight, a poorly fit driver can cost golfers as much as 60 yards. If golfers can understand what optimal ball flight looks like and decode what the target audience of a particular driver head or shaft is, they will be on their way to adding free distance off the tee. Their best bet is get on a FlightScope or Trackman with an experienced fitter and learn what they can do to hit it farther.
Coming next: I will talk about a simple training routine that can steadily increase your club head speed so that you can realize your distance goals.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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Steve Pratt
May 16, 2013 at 5:17 pm
@tmk – For 115 mph I like 2000-2300 spin a lot more than 1500. Even at 14 degrees launch I doubt that the ball is hanging up long enough. Can you share what you’re hitting to get that low spin?
You may have overshot the mark here a bit. The penalty would be not being able to carry bunkers or doglegs on command, which is two advantages a long hit can gain. Of course, the built in hazard of going from, say a 9.0 to a 7.5 is the slight extra curve on a face error.
tmk
May 20, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Thanks Steve. The club I was fitted for that brought my spin down that low is an Adams speedline super LS in an 8.5 degree loft. Loved it on the launch monitor as it was getting me about 15 extra yards. But your prediction was correct. I was able to demo before buying, and, on the course this weekend, in soft conditions, the Adams generally was not quite as long as my gamer (Ping Rapture V2 with Fuji Rombax 6w06, x flex). Now, I’m at a total loss. Maybe just stick with my current gamer.
tmk
May 16, 2013 at 10:54 am
Great article Steve. Quick question — I have a 115 swing speed and recently was fitted to a very low spinning head (slightly lower loft as well). With just this change, my spin dropped from 3000 to 1500. LA is around 14 degrees. All this seems good as I know I’ll get more distance on solid hits. However, I’m sure there is going to be some downside as well. Will I have less control in general? Will mis-hits be penalized more severely? Thanks in advance.
Steve Pratt
May 15, 2013 at 9:01 pm
Hey Andy!
A full set of data makes it really easy to give feedback.
You would ideally want to launch it higher and land it steeper. You could either add loft, keeping the same swing…or you could change the swing direction from -4.8 to +4.8 by swinging significantly more to the right. This will dramatically increase your AoA and launch automatically.
Of course the kicker is that you will have to square the face to the new path and not leave it open. Overall it appears you are losing about 15-16 yards here.
Andy
May 17, 2013 at 4:14 am
I’m continually working on getting more from the inside, but this has always been a weak point. I come from a steep swing that was from the outside with a big cast. Now (years later) that’s gone, but when I haven’t played for a while I slip back into that weak cast a little from the outside. The data above shows this clearly.
Having hardly played in Jan-April (terrible winter here in the UK) it’s as bad as it gets right now and will improve over the summer as I get into comps, training and much more practice.
But I need to get the swing speed up a LOT if I’m going to get the ball further out there. Right now 98 is an average with my best peaking at 101 / 102.
I will definitely up the loft on the driver during the winter / wet conditions. But in the summer I’m going to be enjoying watching that ball roll out. 🙂
Andy
May 15, 2013 at 5:16 am
Hi again Steve. Still enjoying the articles and especially looking forward to part-4.
Looking at the Trackman data from the fitting session at TaylorMade Wentworth recently… Landing angle averaged at 32.5 (lowest 31.7, highest 35). Averaging 231 carry + 30 roll.
I have regular sessions with my PGA Pro and suspect that extra strength / fitness is the key to raising club speed and therefore distance. I doubt that there are any easy fixes.
Below is my Trackman data for the R1 TP driver with Rul 60 shaft.
Att Ang — -1.8
Club Path — -3.1
Face to Path — 2.1
Club Speed — 98.7
Ball Speed — 146
Launch Angle — 11.2
Spin — 2553
Carry — 231.6
Total — 261.7
Land Angle — 32.5
Smash — 1.48
Spin Ax — 5.3
Spin Loft — 15.1
Face Ang — -0.9
Dyn Loft — 13
Swing Dir — -4.8
Andy
May 15, 2013 at 5:37 am
It’s also worth adding that this data was taken with range balls. Although they were 100% compression the fitter stated there would be a small performance loss (up to 5%) over a premium ball.
Weather was around 9 degrees Celsius and fairly calm. It didn’t rain during the fitting, but had done so earlier. I’m guessing they set the TrackMan to “concrete” ground settings to make you look better – lol.
The driver was set to 10deg loft, draw bias (10g in the heel -1 in toe), face alignment left as standard.
G
May 13, 2013 at 1:15 pm
You’re not helping manufacturers sell more gear if you’re telling people they can improve their spin rate just by changing their swing in a half-hour session!
Andy
May 15, 2013 at 4:26 am
We all know that working on our swing is far more important than any equipment. But that fact will never stop us buying more equipment anyway 🙂
Steve Pratt
May 13, 2013 at 12:55 pm
@Niles – Yes chances are pretty good that you can pick up 25 or 30+ yards. From your information I would guess that you have high clubhead speed and a fairly severe negative AoA on the driver (-5 or more). It also sounds like your driver probably fits your current swing pretty well…if the smaller devices can be trusted.
It would take some adjustments to your swing, but you would probably end up hitting your 3 wood as far as your driver.
Your first step could be to check out the Trackman locator on their site, or just google it.
Niles
May 13, 2013 at 11:18 am
I am a +1 and have a low launch angle (6 degrees or so and create 3300 rpms or so) I’ve never been on a Trackman rather smaller devices at demo days and simulators. I am as long or longer than most people I play with in competitive state and USGA events. I am often told I should hit it further than I do. I am located in Iowa and would love an accurate driver fitting. What are options in central Iowa?? Thanks!
Steve Pratt
May 13, 2013 at 3:25 am
Trackman has shown conclusively that AoA has virtually no effect on spin rate. This is because the spin loft stays the same, no matter what the AoA is. You only change dynamic loft and launch angle by hitting down.
Tony Wright
May 13, 2013 at 11:43 pm
Thanks for the reply Steve. So you are saying, as an example – say I am using a 9 degree loft driver, if I hit a drive with a -3 degree AofA and then another with a +3 AofA that the spin rates of the two shots will be the same? Or am I missing something here. Thanks again.
Tony Wright
May 12, 2013 at 11:40 pm
I am enjoying this series of articles thanks Steve. I do have a question. You say AofA does not affect spin rate. That has not been my experience. Can you elaborate with details on why you said that thank you.
nick
May 12, 2013 at 12:15 pm
very beneficial info regarding multiple options to achieve landing angle.