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Dispersion refers to the area where your balls land when you hit several shots toward the same target with the same club. It appears as a “cloud” of balls, which never all group in the same spot, even among the best players in the world.
Rather than imagining a perfect shot every time, think of golf as a game of managing imprecisions. The goal is not to eliminate dispersion – that’s impossible – but to understand it, accept it, and above all use it to your advantage to make better decisions.
When you know where you tend to miss, you can adjust your aim accordingly.
For example, if 70% of your shots with the 7-iron finish to the right, it becomes relevant to aim slightly left of the flag. This simple strategic adjustment allows you to compensate for your most frequent errors and increase your chances of finishing on the green.
Dispersion also influences your club choice. If your shots are regularly too short, it might be wise to take one club longer. A shot a bit too long on the green will often be less penalizing than a shot too short in a bunker or in the water.
👉 Example: between an 8-iron that lands 60% of the time short of the green, and a 7-iron that guarantees to clear the hazard, the choice is easy.
By understanding your dispersion, you can avoid high-risk zones such as water hazards, out-of-bounds, or deep bunkers. This is an essential lever to reduce your costly mistakes.
Let’s take a classic example:
If you know that your drive has a strong slice tendency, it’s dangerous to aim for the left side of a fairway bordered by water on the right. Knowing this weakness, you can refocus your strategy, choose a safer club, or aim for a wider part of the fairway.
Imagine a situation on the course:
You are on a 145-meter par 3 with a green protected by a water hazard in front.
Your history shows an average dispersion with the 8-iron of 12 meters (8 m in depth, 4 m in width) and 60% short shots.
➡️ You opt for a 7-iron, which better covers the distance.
➡️ You aim for the heart of the green, a more forgiving zone.
Result: even with an imperfect shot, you are safe from the water. You give yourself a chance for birdie and, at worst, a two-putt for par. That’s exactly what “playing smart” means.
The good news is that you can analyze your dispersion right now without sophisticated tools. Here is a simple method to apply at the driving range.
Position yourself as if you were on the course, with a clear objective.
Use the same club, stick to your full routine on every shot, and vary the shots as little as possible.
For each ball, note:
Estimate the lateral dispersion (left/right) and depth dispersion (short/long). This gives you a concrete picture of your precision level with that club.
Do it with different clubs (driver, hybrid, long iron, wedge). You’ll be surprised to see that each club has its own dispersion profile.
Until now, you could only measure your dispersion at the driving range. But a major evolution is coming: the Teech Golf app will soon allow you to know your real dispersion in playing conditions thanks to a new input mode.
This feature will revolutionize how amateur golfers approach strategy: instead of relying on feelings or vague memories, you’ll be able to rely on reliable data from your real rounds.
👉 You will know precisely how you play in real conditions, with pressure, elements, and human errors.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, dispersion is an essential data to improve. By understanding it, you will:
Golf will never be a game of perfection. But it can become an intelligent, strategic, and above all more enjoyable game… provided you play with your strengths, not against your weaknesses.
Start today to observe your dispersion. Note your tendencies. And above all, use them to your advantage.
Passionate golfer and co-founder of Teech Golf. My mission with Teech is to build technology that becomes a true companion in helping you improve your game.
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