There has been a shortage of golf titles in the past decade. The last Tiger Woods game was released more than seven years ago. Rory McIlroy's PGA game was a flop, and neither EA or 2K have released a golf video game in six years. The Golf Club (TGC) and The Golf Club 2/2019 were the only popular golf titles released since 2015.
It makes sense that the developers of PGA 2K21 would be using the same engine as TGC . The game has proven to be a huge sales hit, which is good news for golfers. The mechanics, controls, and nuances of the game are almost exactly the same as TGC. Those that have not played TGC will want to incorporate the following basic tips to dominate the competition in 2K21.
8 Swing Path And Tempo Matter
Unlike older golf games, 2K21 uses a swing system that rewards accuracy as well as timing. Players will want to keep the cursor within the white swing path line on the screen to avoid hitting a hook or slice. Likewise, moving the stick back or forward too quickly will alter the shot. Good tempo involves a slightly slower backswing and a controlled flick of the stick forward.
- Focus on keeping the stick on a vertical plane
- Slower backswing and controlled flick forward
7 The Pinch Method
One way to increase control while moving the right stick is to use a two-finger method. Pinching the stick between the pointer finger and thumb can help some people with swing path control. It is not for everyone, but the method can minimize the severity of a miss hit. Players that are having trouble hitting the ball straight should give it a try. Perhaps there is another variation of the technique that will work even better, but you don't know until you try.
6 Know The Green And Fairway Firmness
Playing without knowing the firmness of the course is a classic rookie mistake. Just like in real life, firm greens and fairways impact the strategy of a golfer on the course. On soft greens, gamers can go right at the hole and the ball will sit nicely. On firmer courses, the ball will roll out if hit with any club that is not a wedge. Firm fairways have the same effect. The ball will roll out a lot further, which may increase the chances of rolling into a bunker or hazard. There are plenty of challenging courses with very firm surfaces in 2K21.
5 Pay Attention To The Power Indicator
Club Selection matters when hitting from any surface that isn't the fairway. The first cut of rough will reduce the distance the ball will travel. Sand will limit the distance the ball will go, and heavy rough will make the ball travel about 50% less than from the fairway. The shot projection does not factor in the reduced range when hitting the ball off of different surfaces. Gamers will need to look out for wind and elevation changes too, as they will alter the flight path of the ball.
4 Utilizing Different Shots
Every club has a few different shot choices. For example, players can punch, pitch, and flop many of the clubs in the game. Punches are great for recovery shots and advancing the ball when there is an obstruction in the flight path. Pitch shots are great in strong winds or when between clubs. Gamers can hit flop shots with wedges to get close to the hole when within 100 yards. Flop shots are great on courses with little wind, but they are harder to hit than a standard shot. It should also be noted that the difficulty of a shot correlates to how large the shot path is at the center of the screen. A small while line means that the swing will have to be precise for a successful shot.
3 Why The Putting Indicator Is Not Reliable
Gamers are given a power target while putting, which is supposed to represent the perfect amount of power needed to make a putt. However, this assumes the player is also aiming on the perfect line. If the line is too wide, or too close to the hole, the ball will not go in. This is just like putting in real life.
Users will want to follow that indicator when there is very little break in the putt. On difficult winding putts, it is probably better to read the green and estimate the line. Blindly following the power meter will result in a lot of missed putts.
2 Declare An Unplayable
PGA 2k21 is a fun game, but it is by no means bug-free. Players can get caught in impossible scenarios where the ball is stuck under a tree, rock, or even the stands. In the pause menu, there is an option to declare an unplayable and hit a shot from farther back in the fairway. Some of the courses have forested areas that are so thick no one can hit a shot back into the fairway. Desert hazards are just as tricky, and new players will waste their time incurring a lot of strokes trying to hit a recovery shot.
1 Approach Shots
When hitting an approach to the green with an iron or wedge, reading the contours of the greens is important. The white lines show which direction the green is sloping, and the color indicates how fast the ball will roll on the slope. Golfers will want to have an uphill putt (pin high) to convert on the greens. Aiming so that the ball will sit in a favorable location and not roll off the green is a tactic that most new players fail to employ.