Dispersion

Rob Rashell
Director of Instruction
TPC Scottsdale
Scottsdale, AZ
http://www.robrashell.com 
robrashell@pgatourtpc.com

More Information

The picture is from a PGA Tour player I work with and it represents a set of 12 7 irons being hit at the same target. This set is from a perfect lie on level ground with almost negligible wind, and by hitting the same club, probably close to the best he can do from most left to most right, a little over 60 feet, from back to front 30 feet.

As a coach, I’m looking for that dispersion to be a bit more centered on the target, equal shots short, left, right, and long. If you can mix a great dispersion with some great course strategy, you can take some serious pressure off both the driver and the iron game.

Looking at the dispersion in the picture, this is a world class player and ball striker in perfect conditions who has a 20 yard window left to right with his 7 iron. If your dispersion falls equally on both sides of your intended target, you just have to find the point on the green where you have 10 yards on either side of the target and 100% of your shots will land on the green. And, even though you would be aiming away from the flag, you would unintentionally hit a shot that landed next to the flag every once in a while. The best part, much tougher to make a bogey hitting green after green.

What does this mean for you, as an amateur golfer? Maybe not as much fun, but probably should be ignoring flag locations that are under 6 or 7 steps from the edge of the green, and really working to hit the ball dead center of the green.

The toughest part about all of this? When you’re standing over a shot, the flag is 4 steps from the left edge, and at the last minute in your swing you try to pull the ball towards the flag. This may work out every once in a while, but doesn’t stay true to your intent. Pull the reigns in, target the middle, make more pars, you’ll have a lot more fun.

Rob Rashell is now the Director of Instruction at Desert Forrest located in Scottsdale, Arizona. You can reach Rob at rob@robrashell.com.