Two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw built a Hall of Fame career on precision, not power. His timeless advice for finding more fairways centers on correcting ball flight and understanding your equipment, principles that remain essential in the modern game of golf.
Crenshaw identified his own primary fault as a high ball flight, which made control difficult, especially in windy conditions. He stated: “In comparing myself to the great drivers of the ball, it was immediately apparent that, unlike me, they hit the ball on a lower trajectory. My ball was flying out very high, and as a result, I had a lot of trouble playing in the wind.” This led him to switch to a stiffer shaft, sacrificing some distance for a significant gain in accuracy and a more penetrating trajectory.
On the course, Crenshaw advised against overthinking mechanics. Instead, he focused on a single feeling, such as grip pressure, to maintain tempo and avoid steering the ball. “About the only technical point that can help you at times is grip pressure. When you’re driving badly and getting tense as a result, lighten the pressure to the point at which you can feel the clubhead. Then go ahead and swing it.”
Simple adjustments to equipment and setup can also yield immediate results on tight holes where control is paramount. “You should also realize that choking down on the driver stiffens the shaft a little, as well as reducing the size of your arc. This is a useful technique to have on tight holes. On long holes, grip more at the end of the grip. It gives you a bigger arc, and you can truly feel the clubhead.”
Finally, Crenshaw emphasized awareness of the teeing ground itself, noting that course designers can use subtle tricks to deceive a player’s eye. “In addition, the golf course architect usually has a few tricks up his sleeve. The sneakiest is the misaligned tee. For example, on the sixth tee at Merion, if you align yourself parallel to the sides of the tee, you’ll hit straight out-of-bounds. Don’t fall for this one.” By focusing on these fundamentals, players can build a more reliable and accurate tee game.
