Did you know that a staggering number of amateur golfers struggle with inconsistent ball striking and distance control? Many weekend warriors find themselves battling slices, fat shots, and uncertainty over which club to hit. Fortunately, improving your game doesn’t always require a complete swing overhaul. Sometimes, the most impactful changes come from understanding the fundamental approaches of the pros.
In the video above, one of the world’s best golfers, Tommy Fleetwood, generously shares five crucial tips that tour players employ to achieve amazing results. These aren’t complex, highly technical maneuvers, but rather practical insights that can help you play great golf right away. Tommy, a five-time winner on the European Tour and a two-time Ryder Cup player, provides accessible wisdom for golfers looking to refine their technique and strategy. Let’s delve deeper into these expert recommendations and see how you can apply Tommy Fleetwood’s golf tips to elevate your own game.
Mastering the Driver: Hit Up for Power and Precision
When it comes to the driver, Tommy Fleetwood emphasizes a unique principle: it’s the only club in your bag where you should intentionally hit up on the ball. Tour players refer to this as a positive “attack angle.” Rather than chopping down on the ball, which leads to excessive spin, slices, and a loss of distance, the goal is to create a sweeping motion that launches the ball high with less spin. Many amateur golfers mistakenly try to hit down on their driver, similar to how they’d strike an iron, resulting in frustrating “spinny, cutty, slicey” drives.
Achieving a positive attack angle involves a few key adjustments. First, proper ball position is paramount. For a driver, the ball should be positioned further forward in your stance, typically off the heel of your lead foot. This setup naturally encourages an upward swing path. Furthermore, maintaining your head position behind the ball throughout the swing helps you stay centered and promotes that crucial up-sweep motion, preventing you from getting on top of it and hitting down.
Tommy shares a fantastic drill to ingrain this feeling: placing a tee in front of the ball on the ground. The task is to swing and miss the tee on your follow-through. If you hit down on the ball, your club will invariably strike that second tee. To avoid it, you’re compelled to swing upwards, creating the desired sweeping motion. This simple, concrete exercise not only helps you understand the concept but also provides immediate feedback, allowing you to hit the ball higher, straighter, and significantly longer, much like powerful drivers such as Rory McIlroy.
Improving Your Iron Play: Hit Down and Compress the Ball
In stark contrast to the driver, iron play demands a downward strike to achieve optimal compression and a penetrating flight. This is where many amateur golfers get it wrong, attempting to “lift” the ball into the air because they don’t trust the built-in loft of the iron. Tommy Fleetwood highlights that while amateurs often hit down on their drivers, they frequently try to hit up on their irons, leading to thin shots, fat shots, or skulls.
Tour players, on the other hand, consistently hit down on their irons, making ball-first contact followed by taking a divot. This “ball then turf” contact is essential for compressing the ball against the clubface, transferring maximum energy, and creating a powerful, controlled trajectory. This action allows golfers to truly “feel the ground,” leveraging their weight transfer and footwork to generate power through impact. Amateurs who try to lift the ball often stay on their back foot, preventing this critical weight shift.
To cultivate this downward strike, Tommy suggests a dynamic drill: taking your lead foot off the ground during the backswing and then “stamping” or stepping into the shot. This physical action forces your weight to shift aggressively onto your lead side, preventing you from falling back and trying to lift the ball. By performing this “left leg up, stamp” drill, you cannot help but step into the shot, ensuring your weight is properly transferred. This promotes hitting the ball first, creating a beautiful divot, and producing the desired penetrating flight and consistent strike that every golfer desires.
Strategic Chipping: The Art of Planning and Visualization
Short game prowess is a hallmark of professional golfers, and Tommy Fleetwood underscores the importance of a clear plan and “shot description” for every chip shot. Unlike many amateurs who simply approach a chip with a general idea of hitting it close, tour pros meticulously analyze the shot before they even address the ball. This mental preparation is as crucial as the physical swing itself.
A comprehensive chipping strategy involves several steps. First, carefully read the lie of the ball – is it sitting up, nestled down, or on bare ground? This dictates how the club will interact with the ball. Next, assess the green: consider the slope, speed, and any obstacles between you and the hole. Visualize precisely where you want the ball to land, and how it will roll out to the target. Only after this analysis should you select the appropriate club, whether it’s a 52-degree wedge like Tommy’s example, or a pitching wedge or even a 9-iron, depending on the desired rollout.
Tommy’s personal “shot description” for a specific chip might be “a putt with loft.” This simple phrase provides a clear mental image: treat the chip like a putting stroke, but with a wedge to get the ball airborne. This reduces tension and promotes a smooth, controlled motion. By consciously talking yourself through the shot – describing the landing spot, the roll, and the intended feel – you eliminate negative thoughts and instill confidence. Developing a clear plan and vivid description for each chip transforms it from a hit-and-hope scenario into a calculated, repeatable execution.
Knowing Your Distances: The Foundation of Course Management
One of the most significant differences between amateur and professional golfers lies in their understanding of club distances. Tour pros meticulously track and know the consistent yardages they hit with every club in their bag, for various swing efforts. This isn’t just about knowing one maximum number; it’s about understanding a range of distances for full swings, ¾ swings, and even punch shots. This intimate knowledge is gathered through extensive practice with launch monitors, careful note-taking on the course, and hitting to specific targets on the range.
Many amateur golfers tend to “underclub,” consistently hitting shots short of the target because they often recall their absolute best-ever strike with a certain club as their average distance. This leads to them hitting short of the green, often finding bunkers or hazards. The reality is that your average carry distance will be less than your absolute best. Tommy emphasizes the importance of being realistic about your distances. For example, if your 8-iron goes between 142 and 155 yards, knowing that range is far more valuable than aiming for a mythical 164-yard shot every time.
To improve your distance knowledge, start by tracking your shots during practice and on the course. Use a rangefinder or GPS device to get accurate yardages to your pin positions. After each round, make a note of how far your ball actually traveled with each club on well-struck shots. Over time, you’ll build a reliable “list of shots” that gives you a realistic range for every club. This transforms club selection from guesswork to a calculated decision, making golf “a bit easier” by improving your chances of hitting the ball pin high and closer to the flag. Even tour players will often choose one club up if there’s a carry over water at the very limit of a club’s distance, prioritizing safety and a solid strike.
Post-Round Analysis: Reflect, Learn, and Improve
The learning doesn’t stop after the final putt drops. Tommy Fleetwood highlights that analyzing a round of golf is a critical habit for tour pros, yet it’s often overlooked by amateurs. After every round, professionals take time to reflect on what went well, what went poorly, and which shots they want to improve. This isn’t about dwelling on mistakes, but rather a structured approach to identifying areas for future practice and strategic refinement.
For amateur golfers, this post-round reflection can be incredibly valuable. Instead of simply packing up and forgetting the details, consider dedicating 10-15 minutes to review your round. Think about specific situations: Which drives were good? Which irons found the target? Where did you struggle with chipping or putting? Did your course management decisions pay off? This analysis helps you set focused goals for your next practice session or upcoming round. For instance, if you consistently missed greens to the right, your next range session might focus on a draw bias drill.
Furthermore, Tommy shares a fantastic psychological tip that his father taught him: regardless of how the round went, always pick out your three best shots of the day. This positive reinforcement ensures you leave the course with a sense of accomplishment and happy memories. Even after a challenging round, remembering those brilliant moments — a perfect drive, a phenomenal iron shot, or a holed chip — helps to keep your spirits high and fuels your desire to return to the course. It’s a powerful mental tool that fosters resilience and ensures golf remains enjoyable, making these Tommy Fleetwood golf tips invaluable.
Fleetwood’s Fairway Forum: Your Golf Q&A
How should I hit my driver to get more distance?
With your driver, you should aim to hit up on the ball. This creates a positive attack angle that launches the ball high with less spin for greater distance.
What is the correct way to hit iron shots?
For irons, you should hit down on the ball, making contact with the ball first and then taking a divot. This action compresses the ball for a powerful and controlled trajectory.
Before I chip the ball, what should I think about?
Before chipping, you should have a clear plan by analyzing the ball’s lie, assessing the green’s slope, and visualizing exactly where you want the ball to land and roll.
Why is it important to know how far I hit each golf club?
Knowing your club distances helps you choose the correct club for each shot, preventing you from hitting the ball short and improving your overall course management.
What should I do after playing a round of golf to help my game?
After a round, take time to reflect on what went well and what areas you can improve. Also, always remember your three best shots to stay positive and motivated for future games.
