In this section, we are going to talk about the transition from the driving range to the golf course. This is always an important topic in golf instruction, as one of the hardest things to do in this game is take what you’ve learned in practice and apply it during an actual round. Even if you are confident that you’ve made progress on the range, it is easy to fall back into old habits once a round begins.

At this point, we are going to assume that you have done a good job of improving your driver swing. You are making a great turn away from the ball, and you are delaying the unwinding of your upper body in the downswing to give your lower body a head start. So, how do you take this swing from the range to the first tee of your local course successfully? The points below should help.

• Always have a target. One of the best ways to focus your mind on executing a great swing is to pick out a specific target for every shot. This is something that most golfers do on approach shots, but not always on drives. When looking down a wide fairway, you may think you can just aim somewhere near the middle and swing away. That isn’t going to be good enough, and the lack of direction may pull you away from your new swing fundamentals. Pick out a very specific spot in the fairway that you want to hit, and then do your best to execute a great swing toward that spot.
• Cut off the conversation. We aren’t suggesting that you should never talk to those in your group while playing a round of golf. However, with this point, we are suggesting that you need to stop chatting a few moments before hitting each shot, so you can focus your mind on the job at hand. Many golfers keep on talking right up until it is time to make a swing, and they never manage to get focused as a result. You don’t have to be rude – simply get in a pattern of talking with your playing partners between shots and cutting off that conversation while prepping for each new swing. If the other players in your group are at all serious about their games, they will likely want to do the same thing.
• Use your driver in the right situations. Sometimes, a poor drive can come down to nothing more than using your driver in the wrong spot. Sure, you’ll probably want to use it on the par fives that feature wide open fairways, and the par fours with plenty of space as well. But what about when facing a narrow par four with hazards down both sides? In that case, you may want to reach for a shorter club. Not every hole was meant for a driver, so don’t force it into action where it isn’t warranted.

Adding to your driving distance is exciting, but only if you can maintain proper control over those drives. We hope the tips offered in this article will help you pick up extra yards – and we hope those longer drives land in the fairway most of the time. Good luck and have fun out there!