What's more important and why: distance control or direction?

[lia41985]

Not sure myself. Tiger seems to think that distance control is more important. This is apparently something he learned through O'Meara. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts, specifically Brian and the Academy folk!

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Not sure myself. Tiger seems to think that distance control is more important. This is apparently something he learned through O'Meara. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts, specifically Brian and the Academy folk!

neither, it's a combination of the both and i'd say 70/30 for distance control

 

[tongzilla]

distance control is more important for irons.

direction more important for woods.

 

[rcw]

It is...

Distance Control.

 

[multi]

Depends whether hazards/bad positions are left/right or near/far. I don't see how one can always trump the other. 10 yards over the flagstick or left of the flag stick you're still 30 feet away unless one puts you at a bad position.

 

[Damon Lucas]

Depends on each individual shot for me.

1.Where is the trouble, most to least.
2. Hit the shot I need to hit, and that I can hit.

I think that you'll find most players will say that the aspect that they find more difficult, is more important.

Most players will practise directional control.

BOTH are important!

 

[matt kluck]

Good Post!

Damon,
Distance control at the level of play you are commenting upon because the skill level is so high.

 

[cmartingolf]

Distance control is of little concern to a very good player. Normally, a very good player lands the ball the distance they want within reason (with exception to fliers, etc). Of course, practice is necessary to dial in yardage for scoring purposes.

Direction is the challenge for very good players and distance control (due to miss hits and uneven pressure) is the challenge for poor player.

When's the last time a scratch player was worried about hitting a eight iron over a pond to a green (not talking about 12 at Augusta either), yet a high handicapper frets about he pond and may even pull out the "lake" ball or hit way too much club to play for the miss.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

distance control is more important for irons.
QUOTE]

So you don't mind being hole high 30 yards right of the green?

 

[tongzilla]

distance control is more important for irons.
QUOTE]

So you don't mind being hole high 30 yards right of the green?

I WON'T be, unless something really bad is going on. However, it's not unusual for me to go 30 yards right/left with a driver. I don't mind whether my drive is 260 or 290 yards as long as it's on the fairway. And because direction control is relatively much easier with an iron, I think distance control is more important. It's all about being pin high...nice little uphill putt!