Scratch Golf

To become a scratch golfer, you need to do everything well, but it starts with the driver. If you want to shoot low scores, you need to boom it down the fairway consistently, and the way to do that is with proper swing sequencing. In this video, Golf Digest Best Young Teacher Chris Mayson shows you how to move your body and the club to become an effective driver.

Scratch players hit their iron shots crisply, something that’s not easy to do consistently for many golfers. Great ball-strikers compress the ball at impact, hitting down on it rather than trying to scoop or help it into the air. Here, Chris Mayson shows you how to strike the ball purely and improve your distance and control with the irons.

Inside 130 yards, scratch players expect to hit the ball within 10 feet to create birdie opportunities. They known how to control the distance and flight of the ball by adjusting the length of the swing and using a consistent rhythm. Chris Mayson shows you how to stick your wedge shots and shave strokes where the great players do.

If you’ve ever played with scratch golfers, you’ll notice every putt they hit looks like it has a chance to go in. Amateurs tend to struggle with starting the ball on line and producing the correct speed. In this video, Golf Digest Best Young Teacher Chris Mayson demonstrates how to manage break and pace and shares some great drills to focus your putting practice.

One trait all great golfers share that helps them avoid big numbers is getting the most out of their mis-hits. But even high handicappers have predictable shot patterns—the trick is understanding them. Scratch players know how to manage their tendencies, thereby limiting the damage. Here, Chris Mayson helps you understand your mistakes and play for them.