Hi Reader,

🏌️‍♂️ Ever wondered if you should actually be swinging harder off the tee?

I'll be honest – I used to be one of those golfers who'd consistently grab a 3-wood "for accuracy" on tight holes.

You know the scenario. Standing there thinking I'm being smart choosing accuracy over distance and then hitting it into the deep rough or bunker anyway!

Turns out, the data suggests I was making a classic mistake the vast majority of the time.

📊 The Numbers Don't Lie (And They're Surprising)

Thanks to Arcos' latest analysis of 6.5 million tee shots, we finally have definitive answers to one of golf's most heated debate - is distance more important than accuracy or vice versa?

The results? Absolutely eye-opening.

Here's what surprised me post;

• Low handicappers (Scratch to 4.9) hit only 8.7% more fairways than 30+ handicappers (49.3% vs 40.6%)
• But there's a whopping 65-yard distance gap on average between the same players
• Players in their 70s are the most accurate age group
• The stroke penalty for hitting it in the rough vs fairway is often just 0.1 strokes or less

That last point really got me thinking about all those "safe" plays I've made over the years.

The kicker? A 50-yard drive that finds the fairway technically counts as "better accuracy" than a 300-yard bomb that's just a couple yards in the light rough.

But which would you rather have for your approach shot?

⚡ What This Means for Your Game

Stop tracking fairways hit.

Instead, track your major driving mistakes – penalty shots and recovery shots where you're punching out sideways.

That's where accuracy really matters, and it's where better players genuinely separate themselves.

The practical reality? Distance isn't everything, but it's the foundation that makes everything else easier.

⏩ Watch the video: How Accurate AND Long Should You Be With a Driver? (By Age + Handicap)

🎯 Speaking of Foundations

What a finish to the major season at Royal Portrush! Scottie Scheffler's dominant victory wrapped up what's been an incredible year of championship golf.

With wins at both the PGA Championship and The British Open this year, plus his 2022 Masters victory, Scheffler now needs just the US Open to complete the career Grand Slam.

Will Scottie Scheffler win the 2026 US Open to complete his career Grand Slam? Yes No

And the American dominance in Northern Ireland was striking:​
• Scheffler, Harris English, and Chris Gotterup claimed the top 3 spots
• 5 of the top 10 finishers flew the Stars and Stripes.

Meanwhile, Team Europe's hopefuls:​
• Rory McIlroy (T7) and Matt Fitzpatrick (T4) led the European charge

And that of course brings us nicely along to one of the greatest events in world sport.

🏆 The Ryder Cup (September 26-28) Can't Come Soon Enough

With the majors now complete, all eyes turn to Bethpage Black for the Ryder Cup.

After The Open's results, Team USA looks formidable. But we all know the Ryder Cup has its own special magic – just ask anyone who was at Marco Simone last time.

Current automatic European qualifiers include McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, and Tyrrell Hatton. Strong players, but they'll need to find that extra gear against what's shaping up to be a powerful American side.

🏌️ Our Season Remains in Full Flow!

Here's something worth remembering: while the pros are already done with their major season, there's still lots of golf to be played in the amateur ranks.

The weather's perfect (hopefully!), your swing's had time to settle in, and those regular summer rounds are calling.

Whether it's your club championship, monthly medals, society matches, or just trying to finally break that scoring barrier you've been chasing – this is when it all comes together.

Good luck, let us know how you're getting on and stay Golfing Focused 👍

Graeme Hay Founder, GolfingFocus.com

P.S. Remember, the next time you're standing over a tight driving hole reaching for that 3-wood or hybrid or long iron, ask yourself: "Am I being smart, or just not committing to the right target with driver?" The data says being brave and hitting driver will serve you better than caution more often than not!