Mario Golf: World Tour is one of the best entries in Nintendo’s long-running series because of its accessibility. Kids and rookie players can get into the game with little difficulty, while it also has something to offer for veterans and golf fanatics.
In regard to mastering your swing, there are several things you’ll want to keep in mind. We’ll cover the basics so you can jump right in and achieve success.
Power and Accuracy
When it comes to the general basics of your swing, it’s reliant on a classic three-tap system. The first button press will initiate your swing, sending your power meter to the left.
Next up is power. As the meter swivels to the left, you’ll want to hit the button right when it’s at the edge of it. That way, you guarantee the maximum strength you can put into a shot without the use of a power-up. If you’re using a golf club like the 1W, when hit correctly, you should be able to get a 220 yard shot – maybe more depending on the wind.
Finally, there’s accuracy, which revolves around the third button press. If you’re playing on the Easy difficulty, you won’t have to worry about this, as accuracy is usually done for you. However, when playing on Manual, you’ll want to hit the center of the lit-up bar as closely as possible. Hitting the button too soon or too late will result in a slice or a fade, forcing the ball away from the green.
This system is easy to grasp after a few swings. You’ll also need to adjust if you land in the rough or a sand trap, as the meter will indicate. Although you won’t get as much power from these shots as you would on a fairway, you should still be able to clear the trap and land closer to the green.
If you manage to nail every aspect of your shot, including power and accuracy, you’ll see a rainbow-like trail emerge from your player, along with a “Nice shot!” announcement. Try to get these as often as you can, as they indicate that your game is spot-on.
Aiming
With aiming, there are two things you’ll want to master – distance and wind.
Distance shows you where your ball will end up should you make an accurate shot. A map-like grid will display the trajectory of your shot, and allow you to adjust in case you want to avoid trees or sand traps. You can switch the camera view with this, and the aerial view is your best bet, without anything getting in the way.
This is also true for the putting cam. In fact, the best angle you can get is behind the hole, as it shows how your shot will go throughout, depending on the angling of the green. Make proper adjustments, then take your shot. It’ll switch back to behind-the-player view when you’re ready to go.
As for wind, this will play a part in the ball’s movement, especially strong gusts that go up to 11 MPH or more. As your shot flies through the air, you’ll see the wind working against it, partially blowing it off course.
When aiming, make sure you account for wind so you don’t go flying off the fairway. If it’s blowing hard left, aim it a little further right. The fairways should be wide enough that you can do this without worrying about landing out of bounds. After a couple of practice shots, you’ll get it down.
Top Spin, Back Spin and Shot Location
When you’re playing on Easy, you won’t have the opportunity to fine-tune your shot. On manual, however, you can access special tools to modify your swing.
First up is shot location. Usually, you hit the ball dead center to get the most traction. However, if you’re trying to get over a lake or some obstacle, you’ll want to hit closer to the bottom, giving it a bit more upward pitch. This won’t add much distance, but will give you the height you’ll need to get over the water. You won’t use it that often, but it’s nice to have.
Then there’s top spin and back spin. Applying spin to your shot will either give it additional distance to reach the green, or roll it back a bit. You’ll mostly use the back spin when it comes to greens, since you want the ball to be as close to the green as possible. You’ll use top spin as well, but only if you don’t have enough power to get there in the first place.
Top spin is also useful on fairways, as you can get a fair amount of extra distance on your first shot. This is especially useful on holes where sand traps or trees can get in the way on your opening drive. If you want, combine your original swing, a Power shot (or Item power-up like a Bullet Bill) and the top spin to get the most distance. On a good shot, you should be able to get 250 yards from it – and on a 500-yard hole, that’ll make all the difference in getting an eagle.
Good luck, and keep on swinging!
Mario Golf: World Tour is available now in physical retail form and through the eShop for Nintendo 3DS.
