Stop Aiming At The Flag: How To Shave Off 5 Strokes Today

Here’s a question that’ll tell me everything I need to know about your golf game: when you pull a club on an approach shot, where are you aiming?

If your immediate answer is “at the flag,” we need to talk.

Because aiming at the flag is one of the fastest ways to rack up bogeys and doubles without even realizing you’re doing it. It feels like aggressive, confident golf. It feels like you’re “going for it.” But most of the time you’re just making the hole way harder than it needs to be.

If I were to ask a scratch golfer the same question: when you pull a club on an approach shot, where are you aiming?

They most likely would say something like “well that depends”. And there is the difference.

Because good golfers are smart golfers, and they understand that “middle of the green golf” is winning golf. To your average weekend hack and your work buddies who shoot 110, a shot at the safe side of the green isn’t going to cause them to spit their beer up in excitement. But it’s sound course management, and it can seriously help you shoot lower scores. Which is the entire point of the game no? So let me explain.

The Flag Is a Lie

Let me start with this: the flag isnt there to help you. It’s there to make the hole harder. DO NOT FORGET THAT.