If your game is anything like mine, relating to the best players in the world can be tough.
Their ability to consistently achieve a centred strike with driver, constantly maintain the perfect golf grip and hit the ball dead straight are things I can only dream of emulating, but there are some things that professionals do that us amateurs can copy!
In fact, according to PGA Fellow Professional Ben Emerson, there are three very simple things that every amateur should be doing on the tee box which all of the best players in the world use to their advantage...
3 Things The Best Golfers In The World Do On The Tee Box
1. Assess The Danger
Many club golfers get to the tee, pull a ‘favourite’ club and just crack on.
In the image below, I’m on the stunning par-3 9th at Trump Turnberry, and there’s plenty of readily available information.
First, look for any danger, which comes in the form of a large body of water between me and the green here.
The safe shot is long. Short is dead, so take a couple more clubs to ensure that you clear the danger.
2. Assess The Wind
It's important to calculate distance in the wind, but you also need to take time to pick the right target line.
With a strong wind off the left, aiming for the left of the green should bring the ball back to the centre, but if it suddenly drops, you’ll be on the left of the green, and there are worse places to be.
Never aim out of bounds, as you can’t predict the elements and how quickly they may switch. Take your time and remember, the tee may be more sheltered, so use all available methods to get an accurate picture, such as throwing up grass.
3. Make Setup Changes To Suit Conditions
Now it’s time for the set-up changes that will give you the best chance of success. If the wind is against, move the ball back in your stance and your hands slightly forward to create forward shaft lean.
Take more club than usual, commit to a nice smooth swing and trust that the information you have will serve you well.
If the wind is behind, move the ball forward and set your lead shoulder a little higher to give it that little bit extra and really make use of the tail wind.
How It Should Look On The Tee Box
This GIF will show you the full process from start to finish, so that you can head to the tee box fully equipped to implement these steps into your game.
What Happened When Golf Monthly's Instruction Writer Barry Plummer Tried Ben Emerson's Tips?
I would rather generously describe myself as an 'improving' golfer, with a handicap that is (slowly) dropping through the low 20s and hopefully into the teens in the 2025 season.
One of the biggest issues I face is a horrendous slice, but Ben Emerson's tips helped me to get around the course much more effectively.
By aligning the shot I was about to hit and looking for the 'safe shot' based on factors such as my shot shape, the danger on the hole and the wind conditions, I was able to keep the ball in-play much more successfully.
This translated into less penalty shots and therefore a much lower score - plus I enjoyed my golf a lot more. It's amazing what hitting a few fairways and greens can do for your confidence!
How Can I Be More Accurate Off The Tee In Golf?
We all want to hit more fairways in 2025, right?
According to Top 50 Coach Peter Finch, this achievable in four simple steps that I have outlined below:
1. Check your swing path, and work on the relationship between this and your start line
2. Check your grip - this is where many issues start
3. Allow your trail shoulder to sit slightly lower than your lead shoulder at address
4. Work on shot shaping and executing the ball flight you want to produce
