Annika Sorenstam’s 3 Simple Keys to Hitting More Roads

Golf instruction is always evolving, but the best tips stand the test of time. IN Eternal advicewe highlight some of the greatest tips that teachers and players have shared in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today we look back at our June 2003 issue, where Annika Sorenstam shared her secrets to first-time accuracy. For unlimited access to the complete digital archive of GOLF Magazine, join Inside GOLF tODAY; you’ll enjoy $140 worth of value for just $39.99 per year.

A few years ago, when I interviewed Annika Sorenstam, she said something that stuck with me: “I never got tired of hitting fairways.” Clever logic.

In the bomb-and-gauge era, the art of precision off the mau has lost its luster. But that doesn’t mean hitting the fairway is unimportant. Playing from the short grass will always be easier than removing it from the rough. That’s why it’s imperative that you learn how to use your driver in a way that ensures you’re keeping the ball in the fairway.

Sorenstam was brilliant at this. During her career, she ranked in the top 20 in driving accuracy eight times. Combine that with her legendary shooting skills and you had the makings of one of the all-time greats. It’s no wonder she’s the most decorated LPGA star of the modern era.

In the midst of her prime, in 2003, Sorenstam sat down with her GOLF magazine to share some of her secrets. Among them were some of her keys to determining accuracy off the tee. Check them out below.

Keys to Annika’s driving accuracy

Everyone wants to know how I plan to compete with men when my average speed only goes 265 yards. My answer: keeping the ball in the short grass. Accuracy off the tee is one of my strengths. Last year, I hit more than 80 percent of the fairways on the LPGA Tour (which would have ranked second on the PGA Tour). If I do this at Colonial, I think I will do very well.

Most amateurs should think this way. I bet they would score significantly lower if they hit the fairway instead of maximizing distance, their main priority. Even if your swing goes long, you can’t expect to hit many greens from the rough or from behind the trees. Finding the fairway starts with hitting the ball hard, and then being able to control where it goes. This is my plan for the colonial.

Below are my three keys to hitting hard, straight drives: one for backswing, one for squaring the clubface, and a third for pace. Try them, along with some bonus points I’ve included on how to score your best consistently.

1. Focus on the hip of the track

One reason I am able to hit so many fairways is that my hips stay centered in my backswing. I just turn my upper body over my right leg, with my hips. A relaxed pace allows for this; when I swing too fast, my right hip tends to pull into the backswing, dropping my left shoulder. This puts my entire turn out of danger.

When my pace gets fast, I think about bringing my shoulders back level, like I’m holding the wings of an airplane. This encourages my right hip to rotate, rather than lift. With my right hip fully turned, I can do a big shoulder turn up.

Try this: As you swing the club back, think of turning your hips inside an imaginary cylinder the width of your stance; don’t let your right thigh slide over your right leg. To train my hips to move this way, I sometimes practice with an umbrella stuck to the ground just outside my right leg. The object is to turn my right hip without hitting the umbrella. If my hip swings at all, it will hit the umbrella.

2. Follow the ball

My head does not stay down after the blow; follow the ball. This is not just an idiosyncrasy. As I swing, I’m turning my head with my body, launching both at the target simultaneously.

This head turner may seem unusual, but it has been very effective – some call it my signature move. For one, it helps me release the clubhead more with my arms and body, so I don’t have to rely as much on timing my hands to square the clubface. Second, it changes my focus from the ball to the target, so all the energy of my swing is directed where I want to hit the ball. After hitting, it feels like my club, body and even my head are following the ball.

Try this: I used to have a reverse-C finish, so my swing coach, Henri Reis, suggested this drill. To encourage my weight to shift left and down, he had me hit the balls with my head turned away from the target before impact. It worked so well getting rid of my reverse C, I made it part of my normal movement.

Try it yourself, especially if your weight tends to drop back into impact and you have unstable contact. Hit a few wedges, letting your eyes follow ahead instead of trying to keep your head down. You’ll feel better offset to your left side and square the face for straighter shots.

3. Improve your pace

My co-worker, Terry McNamara, tells me to do “sixes” whenever he sees my pace quickening. On a scale of 1 to 10, a six is ​​my speed limit for my driver. Any more than that, and I start to lose control.

Find a swing rhythm with your driver that allows you to swing in control. Swing harder than six if you want, as long as you are able to keep your balance. You should end up with your weight on the outside of your front foot and your back foot on its toes. Do not go beyond the balance threshold; if you do, you will lose accuracy. To start in balance, distribute your weight evenly on the balls of your feet. You want to feel stable in every direction – forward, backward, left and right. Then, as Terry reminds me, just “swing six.”

Try this: If you end up balanced, with your body in a relatively straight line over your front leg, chances are you had good balance during the swing. And a balanced swing gives you the best chance of making square contact. Next time you play, rate your finishing position from 1 to 10 on each car – 1 for a crash and 10 for perfect balance. This drill will make you think about your finish and balance, which will ultimately keep you on the fairway.