Fix Your Big Misses

There are lots of ways to run up your score, but the biggest killers are penalty strokes. Hitting it out of bounds or in the water can quickly ruin your scorecard, and the culprit is usually a poor drive. In this video, Hank Haney teaches you how to keep the ball in play off the tee.

Of all the wasted shots out there, the most frustrating are the ones that come around the greens. When you get close to the hole, you need to get on the green in one shot, avoiding multiple attempts. Pitches, chips and bunker shots fall into this category. Here, Hank Haney focuses on greenside bunker play.

Even if you do everything right—keep the ball in play, hit a decent approach and get the ball on in two or three—it’s easy to spoil a good hole with a three-putt. For amateurs, this often happens because their mind-set is to get aggressive and try to make long putts rather than simply two-putt. In this video, Hank Haney covers the keys to efficient putting.

Even if you play cautiously, you’re going to sometimes find trouble, and how you get out will determine your score. You need to be able to hit the ball both high and low, and be able to curve shots in both directions. Here, Hank Haney shows you how to hit the basic recovery shots you need to get your ball back in play—fast!

Your No. 1 priority from any greenside scenario is to get on the green in one shot. The best way to do it? Putt as often as you can, even 15 or 20 feet—or 20 yards!—off the green. When you can’t putt because of longer grass or obstacles, always consider chipping before hitting a lofted shot. In this video, Hank Haney shows you how to avoid the pitfalls just off the green.