As I watched the tour players practice their shortgame day by day, as the greens firmed up, I was really impressed with their ability to adjust to the changing conditions – from all kinds of lies. As the greens firmed up and got faster throughout the week, the first bounce changed markedly – from “dead” to “wicked.” Also the rollout got a lot faster. So the players had to adjust on the fly from bump-and-run hand action to semi-cut and full flop shots.
Most of the players have tremendous control of both their hand action and their swing speed as they adjust to the ever thickening and deeper rough as the week goes on. Those who don’t posess this skill make a lot more bogies.
As a former assistant professional at Ridgewood who practiced often into the late evening (Iwas single at the time) learning the intracies of the up and down game at Ridgewood, I can attest to the fact that Tillighast’s design of the “ridge” greens on this course really does separate the men from the boys.
Practice Suggestions: First, work from good lies around the green. Practice hitting landing spots approximately 3-4 feet onto the green with each of your different clubs from 8 iron to lob wedge to learn how far each rolls after it lands. When you can repeatedly hit your landing spot with consistent trajectory and spin control, try this: hit a shot and go putt it in. See how many times you can get up and down out of ten tries. Your goal is to get to 8 of 10.
Next, practice from more difficult lies: from the first cut, from the deep rough and from various types of sidehill lies. Your goal here will be 5 of 10. As you practice you will learn the need for both semi-cut (cock and uncock along the “v’s” of thumbs/forefingers) and the full cut (left wrist and elbow collapse immediately after impact) to convert forward power into height power. When “bird nested” in deep rough, set-up to intentionally deliver the bottom of your swing arc slightly behind the ball so you trap lot of grass between the clubface and the ball. This actiom makes the ball float out softly and land like a cat with sore feet.
As I watched the players at the Barclays move from the range (where they are each working on finding specifically identified feels and motions to “groove” their ball stiking) to the putting green, I observed what I believe to be, a surprisingly uncertain approach as to how to ”groove” their putting.
Watching the tour players warm-up their putting each day left me questioning their approach to: a) finding their speed stroke for the day ; b) finding their line stroke for the day; c) finding their delivery feel for the day (performance routine); and finally, finding their reads for the day as they adjusted to faster green speeds each day.
Putting is that facet of the game that demands the greatest precision (the target is the smallest). So to warm-up by missing approximately 75% (by my count) of the putts you stroke just prior to heading out to compete, makes very little sense to me. We can miss putts without practicing! And the more putts we see missing the hole, the less confident a putter we become.
A Better Putting Warm-Up Routine: When you first get to the putting green, roll putts from about 20 feet to the fringe on the flattest surface you can find, in several directions (to account for the strength of the grain) - to get the feel of both your “speed” stroke and the speed of the greens for the day.
Next: work on your on-line stroke at no more than 2 feet from the cup. Line up your ball and observe a true roll of the line over a specific blade of grass as it enters the cup. Also observe the square, online position of your finish to a specific swing target (finish position) for each putt. When you can consistently finish on-line and square at pendulum speed, from a fixed fulcrum and see your ball roll true over a specific blade of grass, you have the feel of your line stroke for the day.
The Six Footer Drill: Once you have properly warmed up both your speed and line stroke, you are now ready for the 6-footer drill. Practice from six feet working your way fully around a sloped cup so you read the line and speed for all shapes of putts across all grain directions. As you practice locating target cups and specific swing targets (intended finish position required to deliver line and speed) and using your routine to deliver to swing targets – so you make all of these up/down/breaking putts – your feel and confidence for today – GROW!
Next you are ready to read and putt (routinely) those par saving and birdie range putts. Now you are ready for today’s challenge and can leave the putting green with a great attitude and a good visual perspective and stroke feel that will serve you well, today.
This past week at the Barclays as I was up close and personal with the players on the practice range, I came away with several impressions and observations that I believe can be helpful to all golfers who aspire to play better.
Alignment: many of the players used alignment rods along the ground as they warmed-up. Those who didn’t: Els & Cink (who I noticed in particular) struggled during the week with their accuracy. The best I saw was Camilo Villegas who used (3) rods: two straddling the ball line for the clubhead to track and one across his toe line for alignment.
Note: a rod placed along your toe line parallel to your target line and 1- 2 inches from your toes can be used as a track line for your hands to swing along – back, down and through. When you get your hands on track, accuracy follows.
Set-Up: To my eye, way too many of the players are shortchanging their consistency by not sufficiently using their set-up to establish balance.
Note: In the ideal set-up the butt is behind the heels as far as the eyes are ahead of the toes with the weight balanced over the arches, knees minimally flexed and the arms hanging vertically from the shoulders. I believe Ernie Els could really benefit by adapting to this position.
From Saturday to Sunday, when Luke Donald made a slight adjustment to this “balanced set-up” by moving approximately 1″ closer to the ball, at my suggestion, he rediscovered his “feel” and began striping it. He was hitting it so well on Sunday that, as he left the range I said, “now, go make some birdies.” He did – six in a row to start his round! Well done, Luke! And congrats on making Europe’s Ryder Cup team.
Focus 1: Most of the players were paying great attention to the first two feet of their takeaway.
Note: If you get disconnected, off track or change the club face alignment during your takeaway, you are in recovery mode from the get go. Also, your “connected” takeaway should feel like a locomotive pulling out of the station, not a Ferrari off the drag strip.
Focus 2: Most of the players paid particlar attention to their downswing move into impact. Their feeling of connection and target line with path and face (squaring of the hands) as they approached impact seemed to be the “feel” they were consistently trying to produce.
Note: We would all do well to work on the “sequence” of our transition from backswing to downswing. What we notice among the tour players is how smooth and quite this transition tends to be. There is no rush or hurry here. Rather, we see the upper body/arms/club wait patiently at the top while the feet/legs/hips do the work of post/spin/fire in order to deliver an accelerating clubhead at impact.
Auto Pilot: As I observed the swings of the tour players, for the most part they seem to be on “auto pilot” from impact to finish. Few seem to focus their attention on their motion from ball to target. Yet, it is this segment of the swing – delivery – that actually produces the ball flight.
Failure to feel/observe this “delivery” segment of swing motion can be a two edged sword: On the positive side, when swinging well, your mind doesn’t get in the way of your body’s ability to perform. But, when struggling with errant ball flights, observing and feeling the delivery segment of your swing is the absolute fastest way to get back to “good.”
Connections: I observed many of the players, including Tiger, swinging with a golf glove under either their right armpit or their left in an effort to “stay connected.” This restriction of armswing serves to make sure they turn fully away and through so their arms are not left on their own to produce the swing arc.
Note: As we moved from the Ben Hogan era (towel under each arm) to the Nicklaus era (the elbows could extend away from the chest to produce a wider-moe powerful arc so long as the elbows stayed together and pointed to the ground), we discovered the more important connection to be that of both elbows to the left pivot, not the arms to the chest. So though Tiger’s swing connections are indeed improving, I am of the belief that he could improve even faster if he were working on “the better connections” of both mind and body to target.
This article, written by Ozzie Carlson, appeared in the Bergen Record 2010 series
Scoring From ½ Wedge Distance
One of the questions I am most often asked is how do I feel and control distance from less than a full wedge shot away. My first answer is don’t put yourself in the “throw-up zone.” You need to avoid those 30 to 70 yard shots by laying up to a more comfortable full wedge distance.
This past week I had the great pleasure of playing golf with two of my former Ramapo players. James and Brian’s 300+ yard drives consistently split the fairway, but often left them at less than full wedge distance to the green. Recognizing that perhaps they shouldn’t have hit driver, they asked, now that I am at less than ideal distance, what should I do? What I have found to hold up in the heat of battle is the following method of feeling and controlling distance, trajectory and spin – so you can get close enough to one-putt.
Think of your left hip joint (left pivot) as the center of a bicycle wheel (right handed golfers) and your arms as spokes attached to the center of the wheel at the elbows. Now think of your clubhead as the rim of the wheel. To get your clubhead to travel through an arc, simply turn the center of your wheel – the left pivot – away from and through to your swing target, or intended finish position.
How far and how fast you turn your left pivot away and through to your intended finish position will determine the length of your swing arc and the amount of clubhead speed you deliver. The more speed you deliver the farther the ball will go, and conversely.
There are teachers who suggest that you gauge the length of your backswing to control your distance, but I have never found a player who uses that method to be any good, particularly under pressure. That would be like trying to drive your car to somewhere while looking backward over your shoulder. Good Luck!
The beauty of feeling your arms merely as spokes in a wheel is that your elbows stay connected to your left pivot (the center of your wheel) rather than wandering around on their own. When they stay connected (turn together), you will consistently make solid contact. No more chunking and sculling these difficult shots.
The art of learning to control your distance is coming to understand and feel how far and how fast to turn your hips. So start each shot by asking the golfer’s question: where do I have to finish to land my ball at that precise distance.
Then, simply focus on your intended finish position (now you are driving your car with your mind on where you are going), and turn your left pivot away from and through to there. Always observe your finish position so that you can learn from each shot; i.e. did I swing “connected” to my intended finish at pendulum speed, did the ball land where I expected?
Using this method you will soon learn the feel of motion required to land your ball at different distances. And more importantly, your clubhead will naturally be accelerating at impact, so you have the benefit of gravity and centripetal force keeping it in the arc for you.
In the 40 – 70+ yard range, simply choke down on the grip of your wedge, narrow your stance and adjust the speed of your left hip spin to control how much speed you deliver. By focusing on the speed of your hip spin and feeling “connected” at the elbows, you will find that your hands/arms/shoulders can relax sufficiently to develop “touch.” When James and Brian develop touch, look out world!
This article, written by Ozzie Carlson, appeared in the Bergen Record 2009 series
ONE MOVE TO BETTER GOLF
Article 5: Title: The Game Plan for Wet Conditions
Well, here we are, one round yet to play in the Open – that nearly drowned. But this is New York! And there is just no way New Yorkers are going let a little weather stifle their indomitable spirit, the grounds crew included! The roars just keep coming as the players show us, time and again, just how good they really are.
The great thing about the US Open is there are so many reasons to root for so many different players – the amateurs (Nick Taylor, Drew Weaver), the qualifiers (Ricky Barnes, Lucas Glover), the comebackers (David Duval, Rocco Mediate), the favorites (Tiger, Phil) the journeymen (Steve Stricker, Mike Weir) and the young guns (Anthony Kim, Rory McIlroy, Azuma Yano, Hunter Mahan). And then there’s The Black – the toughest test, tee to green, in the game. The players are absolutely wearing out their long irons and their hybrids this week.
So let’s get to that test and how the rain and turf saturation have changed the players’ approach to their shotmaking this week at Beth Page. First, the soft fairways keep the tee shots from running away into the rough, thus making them, in effect, wider targets. Huge advantage to those driving the ball well. Next, the soft greens change the game in two ways: the players can hold the greens from the rough, and fire right at the pins from the fairways. So far, the softness of the turf seems to be an advantage. For example, the leaders in fairways and greens hit are non-coincidentally, also leading the tournament
But is it? The soft turf makes an already long course even longer. But the real difference with the wet grass comes in playing shots from the rough, both from off the fairway and from around the greens. We could make a highlight real just using Mike Weir’s second shots. He’s been in the rough all week and still has managed to keep himself in the tournament. Amazing!
So what adjustments do we have to make in our shotmaking when the grass is wet and thick? There are two major factors to consider: the added resistance we feel as we swing through the wet grass; and the water that gets trapped between the ball and the clubface. While it is difficult to predict the combined effect on the ball flight, of these two opposing factors, there are a couple techniques we can use that will help is to do just that.
When the ball is sitting up (in the first cut of rough) where we can get the clubface fairly cleanly on the ball, it will generally come out a little hot. We refer to these types of shots as “fliers.” The ball will often fly as much as a full club farther than normal. This happens when we get a few blades of grass and water trapped between the ball and the clubface causing the ball to come out of the rough with very little (back)spin.
When faced with this type of lie, we adjust in two ways: take one less club (7 iron instead of 6) and play the ball a little more back toward the middle of the stance so we deliver from a slightly steeper angle of attack.
Alternatively, when the ball is sitting slightly down in the rough (second cut), we will meet more resistance as we try to “knife” it out of the grass. Here we need to take one more club (5 iron instead of 6), play it back toward the middle of our stance, choke down about an inch on the grip, aim slightly left and swing steeply down and slightly across the line, holding on hard with the last three fingers of the left hand to hold the clubface square through impact.
Notice how important it is that we properly judge the nature of the lie and therefore its influence on the ball flight. In one instance we are taking one less club and in the other we are choking down a bit on one more club.
When in the deep rough or tall fescue take a wide stance with your wedge and hack down steeply to get it back into the fairway. You must guard against letting the grass wrap around the hosel (the clubface closing abruptly upon impact) by leading with the heel of the left hand to get the ball up quickly out of this tall stuff. Don’t try this with a lower lofted club. When in trouble, get out of trouble!
Finally, around the greens, you must open the face slightly and aim a little left of target, swing a little steeper down and focus totally on the feel of getting to your intended finish position. You cannot allow the wet/thick grass stop you club at the ball.
Let’s enjoy today’s final round at the world’s greatest golf tournament.
About 90% of golf shots are played, standing too far from the ball. Result: the perpetrator is standing too close to the ball -after he hits it!
So what is the proper distance and how can we set-up to know we have it right every time? Try adding this to your set-up routine. Once you have determined the shot you intend to produce, sole the clubhead flat on the ground behind the ball and square the face to your target spot (a blade of grass 12″ to 18″ in front of the ball on line to your target.
Place your front foot in line with where you intend to strike the ground, i.e. approximately 1″ beyond the ball for most iron shots or in line with the back of the ball for most woods and hybrids. Then, when standing absolutlely erect, adjust your distance from the ball so that the club handle just brushes your lead pantleg.
Then simply tilt your spine so that your butt gets well behind your heels making room for your arms to hang freely and vertically. You should feel balanced over your arches and be able to wiggle your toes up off the ground. Then siply tilt your spine sufficiently for your hands to reach the grip.
Once you are close enough to the ball, you will find it far easier to swing your arms on-line rather than in a circular motion. Result: consistently better contact and greater accuracy.
The biggest problem I see with players who tend to chunk and skull chips shots is the tendency to hit these shots solely with the arms and hands. As you will see in the following video clip, these shots are far more predictable when the body does most of the work.
Learn to use your practice swings to determine your intended finish position. Leave your lower body turned through, i.e. feeling connected to that finish position in your set up. Then simply turn your chest away from and through to your intended finish to consistently hit your landing spot. Note: with relaxed hands, simply allow the wrists to cock naturally in your backswing as you turn your chest back and through. This motion will generate a steeper angle of attack, thus producing crisper shots with more backspin.
You’re too good of player to not be in contention more often. Consistency and Predictability! You hit a lot of great shots every week, but you also hit way too many – for a player of your talent - that put you in places you hadn’t planned on being. So let’s get to work on your consistency. Let’s figure out what’s causing the wayward shots.
I know you’ve been to Rotella, thinking your mental game is weak. I don’t think that’s the answer. I went to him too, when I was on the senior tour. There’s no doubt he’s helped some players, but your problem, I believe, calls for a pretty simple fix.
We need to get you connected – back, down and through! That’s all! When you learn the feel of connected and can apply it to your set-up, you’ll step up to your shots knowing where you’re going – before your swing! When you do, your mental game will be just fine!
I also noticed something with your putting. You don’t naturally accelerate through to the front of the ball, ala Walter Travis and Bobby Jones. The adjustment you need to make here is also quite simple. I really can help, and in short order. More importantly, I would really like to help you as I have an important business opportunity I’d like to discuss with you.
We met at the Barclays, on the practice tee, when it was at Ridgewood. I was covering the tournament for the Bergen Record. I’ll be there again this year. If we get together well before that, you could be ready to win it. By the way, I was an assistant pro there years ago and I know those greens better than anyone. You’ll need that local knowledge to win at Ridgewood! I look forward to getting you into the winners circle.
All the best,
Ozzie Carlson – taught by the best to make you your best.
Congrats to Justin Rose on his 1st victory on US soil. Well done, Justin. And based upon the fundamental improvements he has made to his set-up and connected swing motion, I anticipate this will be only the first of many. Justin, here’s to continuing to use your set-up to feel the direction your right side will fire.
Our Close but No Cigar Award this week goes to Ricky Fowler. Just one bad swing short of victory! Splashing that tee shot on the par 3 12th cost Ricky a shot at the winners circle. But notice, he came right back with two consecutive birdies. Notice how much better Ricky plays when in “attack mode” than in “protect mode?”
To get into the winners circle Ricky will need to to feel wide, along the ground, beyond the ball as he delivers to his intended finish – when in protect mode. He tends to quit on his shots when playing his soft knockdown shots (his safe shots). When he learns to feel through those shots, he can play more aggressively while in protect mode, which will give him more birdie chances, while playing safe. Feeling aggressive through the ball is Ricky’s nature. It keeps him in rhythm while controlling his tempo. I believe , with a little better understanding of the difference between rhythm and tempo, Ricky will log his first victory in this, his Rookie year on tour.
All the best, Ricky. You’ve gained a lot of fans in a short time. I hope PUMA appreciates your billboard appeal! Oh, one more thing. While the commentators are hyping your “quick” play, I’m sure Nicklaus would instruct you to be sure to take enough time to visualize your entire ball flight, bounce and roll to where you intend to putt from – before you even take a club out of the bag. It would be wrong to short change this important step in the process of shotmaking just for the sake of being “quick.”
Congrats to Zach Johnson on his record breaking 21 under par victory. He made a bushel of 20+ footers this weekend posting back-to-back 64’s. That’s Ryder Cup good! And to top it off, Zach just may be the nicest guy on tour! But I wouldn’t be in a hurry to copy his putting style! Zach lives and dies with that straight right arm/cupped left wrist approach to putting. When he’s on, he’s terrific. But he’s just not off as often as we’d like to see him be. The same goes for his overly strong “kid grip” in his full swing. When his timing is on, he stripes it, but again that isn’t often enough.
As I constantly remind my student’s: quality fundamentals + talent will win more often than talent and timing alone.
Our Close But No Cigar Award this week goes to Brian Davis (and for the 2nd week in a row, Jeff Overton). This is also Brian’s 2nd runner-up tournament in a month. Remember the penalty he called on hiself in the play-off at Harbourtown? To get into the winners circle Brian needs to learn the feel of driving his right shoulder blade into his left heel as the first move of his downswing. Right now his right shoulder gets “outside” on the way down so he can’t attack from the inside corner of the ball. This “over the top” move causes him to lose power and pull shots left – particularly in crunch time. He missed left 3 times down the stretch this week. When he makes this adjustment, we just may see him finally break through!