SHORT GAME
RELY ON THE CUT SPINNER
On days when you’re off with your driving or ball-striking, you can make things right with your short game. I use this “cut spinner” so much around the greens, it’s almost a default shot now. What is it? It’s a low-trajectory pitch with a high-lofted wedge and an open clubface. When it lands, it hops, then checks up. When you need to get the ball close to the hole on fast greens, it’s a get-out-of-jail-free card – but it does take more practice than the standard technique. First, set up closer to the ball with the handle vertical and the face slightly open ( left ). Most of your weight is going to stay on your lead side, and your head should drift slightly towards the target during the backswing. Then, as you swing down and through, pivot around your lead leg, keeping the clubface open. Feel like you’re getting taller through impact and that your hands are following your body’s pivot. The handle of your wedge will point at your left hip after impact. If you hang back, you’ll wreck the shot, hitting it fat or thin. The great thing about this shot is that the steeper angle of attack caused by swinging with so much weight on your lead foot makes it work from almost any lie where you can get the club on the back of the ball. Just remember: It won’t check as well if you play it from the rough. Allow for some more rollout.
VERTICAL SHAFT OPEN FACE
PUTTING HIT RESET WITH A FOCUS ON CADENCE
of rhythm and timing. A five-footer and
AimPoint system to read greens accurately, so I could be confident I was starting the ball on the right line. Now, way more of my putts look like they have a chance to go in on cold weeks. When I’m hot the hole looks huge. Even if you don’t use a green-reading system, you can still get a clean reset to your putting by paying attention to cadence. Think about your putts in terms
40-footer have strokes with the same beat and timing. The only difference is the 40-foot putt has a longer and faster swing. Instead of worrying about missing the putt, focusing on cadence also redirects your attention to something positive. When you don’t have your best stuff, the right attitude can do wonders.
Putting slumps get magnified when you
First, my story.
I used to have runs where I’d ram putts in from everywhere, but my success obscured the fact that my lines and speed weren’t always great. When I struggled or was under pressure, I couldn’t rely on my judgment. Phil taught me the
don’t understand what’s producing them. I figured out my issues and made my putting dramatically more predictable with the help of Mark and putting coach Phil Kenyon, but I’ll get you back on track.
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 31
NOVEMBER 2023
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