Jim McLean's Ring of Fire

This is a very simple tip -- and it's an old tip that comes from a 2007 article Jim McLean did for Golf Digest -- but it may help you hit more fairways.

In this case, a picture truly is worth a thousand words.



You may remember Jordan Spieth's caddie repeatedly telling him to aim small just before he hit shots. Instead of thinking about where he didn't want the ball to go, and instead of thinking about a general target ("just hit the fairway"), Jordan was picking a very small target and aiming at that. He gave the example of aiming at the end of a branch on a tree down the fairway.

The idea is that you won't miss a small target as easily as a large target because the small target forces you to focus more precisely.

Or, as an old proverb says, "If you aim at nothing, you're bound to hit it."

McLean's image is along the same lines. As he puts it:

"...pick a precise spot where you want your ball to land, and then imagine a flaming ring about the size of a Hula Hoop 10 to 20 yards in front of you on that target line. Now all you should be thinking about is threading that flaming ring with your tee shot."

Although McLean specifically mentions this as a driving tip, you can use the same image for any full shot you want to play. The key is to find some way of focusing on a small target when you aim. If you do, you should find your shots beginning to land closer to your target.

Given how well it's working for Jordan Spieth, why not give it a try?