ORIGINAL: TideFlyer
Lining up on final with the airplane " coming at you " is advice that`s helped me too. I find that if I don`t do that I`ll likely as not land too far out. Also, I think developing a mental picture of a good approach that resulted in a well positioned landing is an excellent thing to strive for. If an approach doesn`t fit the picture, go around.
I've heard this advice from a fellow flyer at our field, but my instructor doesn't agree with it. Maybe it would have helped me more if I had tried it, as I always made the final turn much too soon. Now, finally, I'm getting the final turn more in line with the "runway". Our field has no hard strip, just grass cut short on two different strips for runways. They don't clean up the clumps of cut grass and you have to be careful you don't catch a wheel in one. I've heard the prop cut through them a couple of times.