How many shots on average from 60 to 100 yards do you take per round? Three? Four? The typical weekend golfer averages about 3.2 shots from 60 to 100 yards out, also known as no man’s land. Players with high Golf handicaps probably average more.These shots, which often are less than full wedge shots, matter. They can add strokes to your score and bump up your golf handicap.

Compare that with the average number of shots Tour pros take from 60 to 100 yards. The average Tour pro takes about 1.5 shots per round from 60 to 100 yards. That means that Tour players average about six shots from no man’s land per tournament. That’s not much. So, their scores aren’t affected much by these shots. They also don’t practice them that much.

If you’re serious about shrinking your golf handicap, you need to work on shots from this distance. Improving from no man’s land can not only cut strokes from your scores and your golf handicap but also boost confidence. And that can impact your whole game. In other words, hitting pinpoint wedges from no man’s land can take your game to a whole new level.

Accuracy is the Problem

The biggest problem from no man’s land for weekend golfers is accuracy. A second problem is consistency. That’s especially true when compared to what the pros do from this area. Take the Tour’s Steve Stricker. On average, he leaves half of his efforts from no man’s land within 11 feet of the hole. Most pros average about 13 feet from the hole. That’s birdie range.

The average 80s-golfer leaves her shots from no man’s land within 23 feet of the hole, while the average 90-shooter leaves her shots within 31 feet of the hole. So, what’s the big deal? The average 90s-shooter could cut about a half-stroke per round if they were more accurate than before.

That’s not much stroke-wise, but the boost in confidence you get from hitting a great wedge shot can make a big difference to your game and, ultimately, your golf handicap. So, it’s worth working on and trying to improve from this distance on the course. Improve enough of these little things, and you become a whole new golfer.

Golf Tips on Surviving No Man’s Land

One golf tip on surviving no man’s land is to focus on just getting the ball on the green. Often, weekend golfers try knocking down the flag from that distance. That’s a tall order for many weekend golfers. Just getting on the dance floor is a simpler—and easier—goal to reach. Below is a drill to help you do that:

Hit five shots from the fairway, one each from 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 yards out in this order. Try to make four out of the five shots hit the green. Then measure your middle shots. Ignore the two closest and the two farthest from the hole. Your goal is to hit your shots within 25 feet or less. Keep challenging yourself as you practice this drill to get closer and closer to the hole. Remember, the average pro leaves his shot within 11 feet of the hole.

A Second Golf Tip

Another golf tip is to develop a go to shot from this distance. Then make that distance what you aim for when hitting approach shots when you know you can’t make the green. That’s your go-to shot from no man’s land. Here’s a drill that can help you do that:

Place a stake in the ground about 10 yards in front of you. Then try to hit draws or fades with an iron around it. Start the ball on one side of the stake, then hit shots that curve around it. The stake makes a great visual image for doing this. Also, rehearse your shot b efore actually hitting the ball, make sure your hands are ahead of the ball at impact, and pick out a target before hitting.

These two golf tips—just get on the dance floor and learning to hit a go-to shot—are probably the best things you can do to survive no man’s land and chop scores off your score and your golf handicap.

Additional Golf Tips

The two golf tips discussed above aren’t the only ones that can help you survive no man’s land. Additional golf tips to do that include:

• Learn to work the ball with your wedges
• Use your body to control your shot
• Target hunt in practice
• Work on making solid impact
• Practice staying in sync when hitting wedges.

If you’re serious about improving your game, you’ll work on these golf tips. Learning to survive no man’s land will not only lower your score and your golf handicap but will also boost your confidence and take your game to a whole new level. That’s worth the work involved.

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