The post Ben Crenshaw: This is my secret for sinking long putts appeared first on Golf.

The post Ben Crenshaw: This is my secret for sinking long putts appeared first on Golf.

Sure, we’d all love to hit it close to the pin every time we found the green, but unfortunately, that’s just not possible. That’s why it’s essential that you become a competent lag putter.

Being a great putter from distance is hugely beneficial to your scorecard. If you can eliminate three-putts, you’ll be amazed how quickly your scores plummet. Plus, without the stress of grinding over four-footers all day, it makes the game a heck of a lot more enjoyable.

When you face these lengthy putts, it’s important you make a few key adjustments in your stroke to find success. For more on that, we look back to the April 1985 issue of GOLF Magazine where two-time Masters champ Ben Crenshaw shared his secrets.

Ben Crenshaw’s lag putting keys

When you have a very long putt, stand taller to the ball. This increases the width of your swing arc so you can develop the extra force necessary to the stroke without swinging faster or using too much wrist action. 

Take a wider stance, which will let you make a longer stroke without moving your head from over the ball. Also, as you’ll see later, there has to be some leg action on long putts. A wider stance allows you to move the legs properly without swaying, a fault that makes a solid hit difficult. 

On an extra long putt, don’t become too line-conscious. What’s more important is the pace of the putt. The more of these putts you can lag to within a foot of the hole, the more you will hole. 

To help you do this, visualize a circle with a four-foot radius around the hole. Then try to make the ball finish within the circle. 

Below is a step-by-step guide for my lag-putting technique.

Backswing

Swing the putter back with the arms. Allow your shoulders to respond to the arm movement so that they turn, taking the club back to the inside. Note that the putter blade opens in relation to the target line. However, this is not something you should try to do; it results naturally from the shoulder turn.

Use just enough wrist action to keep the action fluid. You’ll also find that a little wrist action helps you make a smooth transition from backswing to downswing.

Regarding the length of the backswing, Bobby Jones made a good point when he said always take a backswing that is “long enough.” A long backswing gives you enough force in the swing without your having to change tempo. A consistent tempo on all putts is essential to good touch. A long backswing also gives you a smooth stroke.

The leg action in the backswing is similar to that of a chip shot of the same length. There’s just a little weight shift to the right foot, with the right leg staying firm.

Downswing and impact

On the downswing, key on swinging the arms and club through the ball. The shoulders respond to this action, bringing the club back from the inside to the ball, and then back to the inside in the follow through.

In the same way the turn of the shoulders opened the blade on the backswing, so the turn of the shoulders closes the blade through the ball. At impact, the blade is in the process of closing, so it’s turning very slightly over the ball. I catch the ball a little above the equator, and it starts rolling immediately. If you hit too low on the ball, it skids a long way before starting to roll.

With such a long stroke, you need a little leg action during the forward swing. If you tried to keep your legs still, you would stab at the ball rather than making a smooth stroke. By releasing the right leg to the left, there’s no chance of flipping at the ball with your wrists and pulling the ball left of target.

Follow through

If you compare the length of my follow-through on this putt to the length of the backswing, you’ll see they are mirror images. This is deliberate.

When I’m stroking a putt, I try to feel as if I’m part of a metronome: back on a count of “One,” through on a count of “Two.” This slow, even beat keeps my stroke smooth and rhythmic.

In contrast, if you try to accelerate the putter through the ball, you shorten the backswing and rush the forward swing. On short putts you can sometimes get away with this. But it is fatal on long putts. You lose your natural tempo and your touch, leaving the ball short or past the hole.

A quick summing up. On long putts, stand a little taller and wider. Aim for a four-foot circle. Swing back with the arms and shoulders. Use a “long enough” backswing with just a little wrist. Then swing the arms and shoulders through, letting the right knee release. Keep the swing as smooth as possible with the metronome beat. Then you, too, will hole your share of “monsters.”

The post Ben Crenshaw: This is my secret for sinking long putts appeared first on Golf.

The post A simple trick to make lag putting a breeze appeared first on Golf.

The post A simple trick to make lag putting a breeze appeared first on Golf.

When I ask my rec students how they adjust their strokes to roll the ball various lengths, they invariably reply, “by changing the speed of my stroke.” This is why they never get close. A fundamental fact is that the speed of your stroke naturally changes based upon the length of the backstroke. Shorter putts mandate shorter backstrokes and longer putts require longer backstrokes. Everything else stays the same. It’s that easy.

The question begs, then, “How long a backstroke should I make?” Here’s an easy way to find out. 

On any putt, stand next to the ball and simply walk toward the cup. Count how many steps you need to reach the hole. (One step should equal approximately three feet.) Now, some simple math: Add one inch of backstroke length for every step you take. For example, if it takes you five paces to reach the hole, then plan on making a backstroke five inches in length (with slight adjustments if the putt is uphill or downhill or if the green is running fast or slow).

 As you swing your putter, avoid the urge to add speed — great putters complete their backstroke, then simply let the putter fall to the ball. You may not always sink the putt with this technique, but you’ll always be near the hole, regardless of length. 

Kellie Stenzel is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher who teaches at the Palm Beach Par 3 and The Boca Raton in Fla.

The post A simple trick to make lag putting a breeze appeared first on Golf.

The post How to hit crisp irons that start on line every time appeared first on Golf.

The post How to hit crisp irons that start on line every time appeared first on Golf.

What I’ve noticed over the years is that most struggling iron players are overly concerned with body turn. Body turn is important but not when it comes at the expense of getting your hands and arms involved. Ignoring these body parts almost always results in holding on too long after impact. Great iron players release their hands and the club post-impact with authority.

To learn how they do it, grab any iron and set up to the ball with your feet close together. This narrow stance will curb you from using too much body action. Make your backswing and focus on moving only your arms as you swing through the ball and into your finish.

You’ve done it correctly if, after impact, your hands have released with the shaft pointing more toward the ground than behind you (a classic hold position). 

David Woods is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher and PGA Tour instructor. For more, visit prosendrgolf.com.

The post How to hit crisp irons that start on line every time appeared first on Golf.

The post 10 shots you must master to succeed playing links golf appeared first on Golf.

The post 10 shots you must master to succeed playing links golf appeared first on Golf.

If you’re trying to be a successful links golfer, there are a few shots you must master. Here are 10 I recommend.

1. Standard chip shot

With so many tightly mown areas surrounding the greens, it’s important to become skilled at the standard chip shot. You’ll want something that has predictable flight and roll out so you can cozy any shot around the green close to the cup. Focus on a consistent setup and proper shaft lean to generate the best contact.

2. Bump and run

The bump and run is another stock shot you’ll want to have in the bag. This shot will come out a little lower and roll out more than your standard chip shot. Take a lower lofted club and use more of a putting stroke to get the ball on the ground and watch it roll out.

3. Pitch from tight lie

Sometimes you’ll have a shot that needs to carry a bunker, but it’ll come from a tight lie. You’d be wise to learn how to hit a pitch from these tricky spots. Focus on engaging the bounce on the bottom of the club, and make sure you’ve got wedges that are fitted for firm turf conditions.

4. Shot from a pot bunker

Pot bunkers are beautiful, but they can be tricky to escape. You’ll need to get the ball up in the air quickly, so grab a wedge that has plenty of loft on it. Open the clubface up and don’t be afraid to take a full swing at the ball – just make sure you take enough sand to pop the ball out.

5. Escape from a fairway bunker

Bunker Shots

Fairway bunkers on a links course can be punishing, and sometimes the best strategy is just taking your medicine and simply pitching out onto the short grass. When you find yourself in this situation, assess how much club you need to clear the lip and then change your ball position from there. The higher the lip, the more forward you should put the ball so you can take more sand and get a a higher launch angle.

6. Fescue chop out

Fescue outlining the edges of the course make for beautiful scenery, but can be quite penal when you hit into it. Unless you get lucky and have a perfect lie, you’ll likely be best served to just hack it back into the fairway. Choose a club with plenty of loft and make a descending blow on the ball. (You can do this by putting lots of weight on your front foot.) The ball should pop right out and get back to safety in the fairway.

7. Draw with a driver

Being able to hit a draw with your driver is a huge asset as you can keep the ball from ballooning in the wind and losing distance. If a draw isn’t your typical shot shape, use the a club wrench to adjust the settings on your driver to help you out a bit.

8. Knockdown iron

Keeping your irons down in the wind is also a must. Use a knockdown shot is the perfect way to do that. Simply take a little more club and position the ball further back in your stance. Then take a three-quarter swing. The ball should come out a bit lower with less spin and stay down out of the wind.

9. Lag putt

Links courses have some of the biggest greens in the world, so you’ll likely face your fair share of lag putts. Be sure to dial in your speed on the practice greens beforehand so you’re able to properly gauge your lags and leave yourself some stress-free two putts.

10. Understand your terrain

This is not a shot, but rather a skill you need to master before you play links golf. You’ll be playing the ball along the ground quite a bit, so understanding the land movement is a must. I’d recommend GolfLogix as a great place to start.

The post 10 shots you must master to succeed playing links golf appeared first on Golf.

The post This clever 15-minute warm-up routine will dial in your short game appeared first on Golf.

The post This clever 15-minute warm-up routine will dial in your short game appeared first on Golf.

Unfortunately, when you walk up and down the driving range, there’s probably few amateur golfers actually putting in any work with their wedges, and most would rather hit a bunch of balls with their driver, woods, or irons.

Don’t get me wrong, those clubs are important — every club in your bag is — but if you’re trying to score lower and not just hit the ball better, focusing on the short game is the way to go.

Short Game

And a man who knows a little bit about sticky wedge shots is GOLF Teacher to Watch Parker McLachlin, aka the Short Game Chef, who works with players of all abilities to hone their touch around the greens.

As someone who has taken a couple of lessons from McLachlin, I’ve witnessed his magic firsthand. He doesn’t just make you think differently about an upcoming wedge shot, but he simplifies the process, too, allowing you to stay free and use your natural athleticism. Great results often follow immediately.

Use this short game warm-up before your next round

Although practicing the short game might not be as fun as trying to bomb drives, if you understand how to actually organize your practice, it can be both enjoyable and effective.

To help, McLachlin shared an easy 15-minute warm-up routine that every player should add into their daily plan.

As the video above shows, he simply hits five balls from 15 yards off the green, targeting different flags on the practice green to help dial in both his touch and distance control.

Short Game

After completing those five shots, McLachlin then moves back just 30 feet (to 25 yards), hitting five more balls. As you can probably see in the video, he’s really focusing on extending his backswing and follow through, and making sure his tempo is consistent each time.

When he’s done from that distance, McLachlin works on tighter lies, focusing on downhill greenside shots, ensuring he makes good contact and gets a feel for how the balls rolls once it lands on the green. These are often tricky types of shots — and can be round-wreckers without good practice and technique — so this is a key area for many mid-handicappers to save strokes from.

Finally, he moves to a higher, spinnier flop shot over a bunker, hitting five shots from this area. This allows him to open the face up, engage the bounce, and use the necessary speed to get some spin on the ball.

Put it all together and you’ve got a fun, challenging, and efficient short game warm-up that’s sure to improve your touch with the wedges. So ditch the driver and perfect your skills around the green the next time you’re at the practice range.

To see more short game tips from Parker McLachlin, head over to his website.

Titleist Vokey SM9 WedgeWorks 54 M Grind Wedge

$225

Introducing the Titleist Vokey SM9 WedgeWorks 54 M Grind Wedge, meticulously crafted by the legendary Master Craftsman, Bob Vokey. Known as Vokey’s most cherished tour grind, this wedge offers unparalleled shot manipulation capabilities for golfers seeking complete control around the greens. Now available on Fairway Jockey, this wedge is the ultimate weapon for players looking to elevate their short game to new heights. Designed specifically for those who thrive on rotating the club face open and closed to manufacture precise shots, the 54 M Grind boasts a medium bounce and a sophisticated heel, toe, and trailing edge sole grind. This combination provides exceptional versatility, making it the ideal choice for golfers who frequently encounter medium to firm soil conditions or firmer bunkers. Bob Vokey himself explains the essence of the 54 M Grind, stating, “It is also ideal for the golfer with a shallower, neutral, or more sweeping delivery who likes to play shots around the greens with the face in a variety of orientations or positions.” With this wedge in your arsenal, you can confidently execute a wide range of shots, from delicate flops to crisp pitch shots, while maintaining complete control over the club face orientation. Elevate your short game and unlock your true potential with the Titleist Vokey SM9 WedgeWorks 54 M Grind Wedge. Order now and experience the mastery of Bob Vokey firsthand, as you dominate the greens with unrivaled shot creativity and control.

Buy Now

View Product

The post This clever 15-minute warm-up routine will dial in your short game appeared first on Golf.

The post How high should you tee the ball up for maximum distance? We found out appeared first on Golf.

The post How high should you tee the ball up for maximum distance? We found out appeared first on Golf.

Everyone wants to hit the ball farther. It makes the game much easier when you’re hitting shorter clubs into greens, and it makes it more fun, too. If you can add 20 yards to your drives, you’ll see the game in a whole new light.

Adding yards to your drives doesn’t have to require speed training or a new fitness routine, though. If you can optimize certain variables with the driver, you can add easy yards to your tee shots.

One of those things is tee height. It might seem trivial, but tee height can have a huge impact on your driving distance.

How much impact? Back in 2006, we at GOLF Magazine ran an experiment to find out. In our June issue from that year, we published our findings, outlining the optimal tee height for maximizing distance with your driver. You can check it out below.

What’s the optimal tee height with driver?

You’re on the tee box of a brutal par-4 and really need to bust one if you’re going to get home in two. What’s your swing key? One thing that you’re probably not thinking about is how high you’ve teed your ball — but you should be. Tweaking your tee heigh, as it turns out, is one of the best — and easiest — adjustments you can make yo pound higher and longer drives.

Keep reading below to find out why.

The study

Who took part

Twenty-seven golfers, aged 25 to 71, with handicaps ranging from scratch to 29. Of the players, 25 typically used a mid-tee height and two preferred a high tee height.

The tee heights

—Low: The top edge of the ball was even with the top edge of the driver, so the entire ball was below the crown.
—Mid: Half the ball above the crown.
—High: The bottom edge of the ball was slightly above the top edge of the clubface so that the entire ball was above the crown.

The experiment

Players were divided into three groups of nine by handicap level: 0-9, 10-19 and 20+. Each golfer hit 10 drives at each tee height, with each group hitting from the three tee heights in varying order to ensure that fatigue and motivation were balanced within each group. Only the best five out of the 10 drives at each tee height were recorded so that mis-hits would not skew the data.

Carry distance was measured by a launch monitor, which also calculated clubhead speed, launch angle, ball speed and spin. Accuracy was also recorded: drives that landed in the fairway (33 yards wide) scored 1; those in the right or left rough (17 yards wide) scored 2; and those that landed beyond the rough scored 3.

The results

Within each of the three handicap levels, carry distance for mid and high tee heights was significantly longer than the low tee height, largely an effect of the higher tees promoting higher launch angles and less spin. The high tee height provided the most distance, giving the players an average of 12 yards more carry per drive than the low tee height.

Inside the numbers

The biggest winners

High-handicappers benefitted the most from the high tee height, picking up an average of 18 yards over their drives with the low tee height.

Long and straight

The increases in carry distance from the low to the mid and high tee heights did not come at the expense of accuracy in terms of hitting the fairway. The table below presents the percentage of tee shots landing in the fairway, rough and beyond the rough as a function of tee height.

Aftermath

Following the experiment, nine out of 27 players planned to change from mid to high tee height. Three of those nine were from the low-handicap group.

Thee tee height study was conducted by GOLF Top 100 Teacher Eric Alpenfels and Bob Christian, Ph.D dean emeritus of the School of Health and Human Performance at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

The post How high should you tee the ball up for maximum distance? We found out appeared first on Golf.

The post 10 ways to master par-5s and start scoring your best, per top teacher appeared first on Golf.

The post 10 ways to master par-5s and start scoring your best, per top teacher appeared first on Golf.

There may be plenty of bunkers on both sides of a narrow fairway, or water that’s just waiting to swallow up your golf ball, but it’s important to avoid letting this type of hole ruin your round.

True Spec Fitting

With over 50,000 clubhead and shaft combinations, True Spec Golf will custom fit and hand build you the most well-constructed, precise set of golf clubs you’ve ever played.

Book Now

How to see more success on par-5 holes

Since par-5’s can make or break a scorecard, it’s crucial to develop a plan and trust the process. So instead of letting the added length or obstacles get the best of you, here are 10 things you must do to successfully master par-5 holes.

1. Assess the hole

How wide or narrow is the hole, and how many hazards or obstacles do you have? Obviously, you want to avoid hazards and any out of bounds, so the more of these you have to navigate, the more conservative you’ll want to be.

To get a good idea of what lies ahead on a hole, I suggest using the Golflogix app, which has a cool flyover mode that’s perfect when it comes to planning your strategy — especially on courses you’re unfamiliar with.

2. Make note of the “no-go” zones

You do want to focus on where you’d like to hit your golf ball, but always be mindful of the locations you absolutely need to avoid. This is where proper club choice comes into play and knowing what your distances are.

If you keep notes in a book, it can be helpful to place an “X” on those no-go zones, which can be a good way to plan as you maneuver around par-5 holes. Avoid the temptation to always hit the driver if it doesn’t make sense, as playing it safe by going shorter off the tee might be the smartest play.

3. Play to the wider landing areas

As mentioned above, you don’t always need to maximize distance just because a par-5 is a longer hole. If there are “no-go” zones that add stress to your tee shot, consider clubbing down and finding a landing area that’s wider — which adds some insurance should you mishit your tee shot just a bit.

If you’re trying to decide whether to be more aggressive off the tee or not, ask yourself this simple question: “Is the gain worth the gamble?”

If the gain isn’t obvious, I suggest playing to the wider targets so that your small misses don’t result in any added penalty shots.

4. Put your tee shot in play

Sure, your tee shot is important on every hole you play, but it’s even more crucial on a par-5 hole — since anything landing out of play or in trouble can make each shot thereafter more difficult.

Based on your ball-striking ability, always be smart with your club choice off the tee. If your driver’s a bit of a struggle, it may be smart to just take a shorter club with more loft to help keep the ball in the fairway. Playing stressful golf is not playing smart golf.

5. Choose the clubs you’re most comfortable with

OK, so you’ve hit a good tee shot, but you’re still left with a lot of distance between you and the green. While many amateurs love to go back and forth between “going for it” by using a 3-wood, that mentality can get you in some trouble.

Instead of being aggressive — especially if that’s a club you don’t often hit well — choose the club you’re most comfortable with. That can be a different fairway wood, a hybrid, or even a low iron that allows you to hit it straight, get some distance, build your confidence, and allows for a comfortable third shot into the green.

6. Approach shot – avoid the short-side

As you get closer to the green, make some mental notes on where it’s OK to miss — since there’s a good chance you won’t hit the perfect shot. When doing this, I suggest avoiding the short-side, which is where the ball ends up on the side of the green that the pin’s closest to.

It can be great to be aggressive, but it’s smarter to find a landing area that leaves you in a better spot for your next shot. By leaving it short-sided, it puts tons of pressure on your short game and may require you to pitch instead of chipping.

7. Know the green tilt

Simply knowing the generic tilt of the green can be really helpful. This way, when your ball lands on the green from an approach shot or a pitch or chip shot, it rolls towards the pin rather than away from it. Use the course to your advantage rather than be surprised with how it controls the direction of the ball.

8. Leave yourself with a comfortable approach distance

If or when you can’t get your shot all the way to the green, simply plan on leaving yourself with a distance that you’re comfortable with in order to get up-and-down with the short game. So if you really struggle from 30 yards in, but excel from about 50 yards, it’s OK to take something off on your approach to feel confident with your wedges.

Know what your preferred distances are on longer par-5s, and always use this as a part of your strategy.

9. Know your short game yardages

Similar to the above, it’s crucial to know what your yardages are in the short game — since this area can make all the difference in the world on your scorecard. So not only do you need to be reasonable at chipping and pitching, but you really need to be able to control your distances.

If you’re a newer or more novice golfer and don’t have much time for golf practice, try calibrating your short game. To help, I’ve developed a course on Uscreen to teach you how to do so, which can lead to more pars and birdies on these longer par-5s.

10. Dial in your putting distance control

When you’re able to get your first putt close, it’ll help avoid those ugly (and frustrating) scores that can add up to ruin a round. To do this, you must master distance control on the putting surface, which alleviates pressure and leaves you with a more makable second putt.

Pre-Owned Ping G430 LST Driver w/ Tour AD TSG Red 55R

$599

Used/Open box Ping G430 LST 10.5* driver. Driver is in excellent condition and exhibits little wear. CONDITION  Like New (9/10) # of Rounds Played: 1-3 Very little wear SPECS Dexterity RH Loft 10.5* Shaft Tour AD TSG Red 55R Grip Golf Pride TV 60R Length 45.25″

Buy Now

View Product

The post 10 ways to master par-5s and start scoring your best, per top teacher appeared first on Golf.

The post 3 common swing position faults — and how to fix them appeared first on Golf.

The post 3 common swing position faults — and how to fix them appeared first on Golf.

“Golfers can move in six degrees of motion,” GOLF Top 100 Teacher Kevin Sprecher says. “They can bend (forward and backward), turn (right and left), tilt (right and left), be vertical (lift and drop), be lateral (left and right), and thrust (toward and away from the ball). All of these movements happen during a golf swing, unbeknownst to the golfer, because the swing takes less than three seconds to complete.”

Trouble is, when one of those movements becomes too extreme, it can impact another movement, leading to inconsistency and frustrating strokes on your scorecard.

While there are plenty of different swing flaws that can mess up your game, Sprecher focuses on the effect that bending toward and away from the ball has, and offers up three fixes to improve. Check out his tips below.

Avoid these 3 golf swing movements

“In the backswing, if you’re too close or or too far away from the ball, it ultimately affects the amount of coil you create,” Sprecher says. “Lack of body rotation in the backswing makes it difficult to generate power, shallow the shaft in the downswing and create a proper sequence of motion — resulting in poor contact.”

So here are Sprecher’s three faults and fixes for incorrect bending during the swing.

Fault 1: I see many golfers bend either too far forward or backward during the backswing because they start back with their arms instead of turning. The arms tend to travel independently of the upper body, causing incorrect movement.

Fix: Take an alignment rod and hold it along the shaft to extend under the lead arm. Keep the rod against the lead side of the torso until the hands are outside the trail leg. If the rod separates from the torso, you know the movement is compromised.

Fault 2: Standing an improper distance from the ball can cause you to bend either too far forward or backward.

Fix: Use a pre-shot routine to determine the correct distance from the ball. Start with both hands on the club and the clubhead behind the ball, then move uncomfortably close to the ball.

Now back up slowly and find a comfortable distance to play from while in balance.

Fault 3: Your backswing is too long, causing a backward bend in the backswing. Excessively long backswings can cause you to start the downswing with the arms and pull down with the upper body.

Fix: Work on a more connected backswing by placing a towel headcover under the lead arm. Placing an object under the lead arms restricts how far the arms can travel, which creates the feeling of a connection.

Take a few slow practice swings. As you get more comfortable with the backswing length, now try to add speed. Slowly ramp up to a normal speed and try to swing with nothing under your arm.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

GolfForever Swing Trainer

$199.99

THE MOST EFFECTIVE GOLF TRAINING TOOL EVER CREATED  Driven by personalized video routines in the GolfForever app, this first-of-its-kind golf training system embodies both an at-home workout tool and pre-round warmup club to build strength, mobility, speed, and consistency in your swing. What’s Included 44.5-inch premium resistance training bar Light & Medium resistance band with nylon safety sleeve 2 15-inch resistance band handles D3 swing weight ball attachment Overloaded quick-interchange ball attachment 2 polymer carabiners Door connector Carry Bag 30-Day Free Trial to the GolfForever App

Buy Now

View Product

The post 3 common swing position faults — and how to fix them appeared first on Golf.

The post The golf shanks are brutal. Using 4 tees can help you cure them appeared first on Golf.

The post The golf shanks are brutal. Using 4 tees can help you cure them appeared first on Golf.

While having the shanks is frustrating, what’s scariest about them isn’t just the shot results, but the uncertainty about when they might finally disappear. Since the shanks are caused by all sorts of wonkiness in the swing, fixing them can be a long and winding road.

Alas, there are ways to cure your golf shanks, though, but it requires patience and trust in the process.

Instruction

For me, my experience with the shanks came last summer when I just couldn’t hit a drive to save my life. My golf grip was messed up, my swing path was awful, my attack angle was all over the place — and I needed some time away from golf to regroup and recover.

But if you’re looking for an easy way to gradually cure your golf shanks, take a look at the video below (courtesy of LPGA’s YouTube channel), where top teacher Cathy Kim shows how four tees can improve your ball-striking ability in no time.

How 4 tees can fix your golf shanks

For those who can’t quite shake the shanks, Kim says a 4-tee drill is the way to fix the problem — and talks through how it works.

“Take four golf tees and set them down [into the ground], sort of making a wall of tees,” Kim says. “Then take a club, I’ve got a 7-iron, and I’m going to set it down on the front side of the tees [seen in the image below].”

Now that you’ve grounded your club, Kim says place the ball down in the middle of your clubface and confidently address your ball, avoiding any anxiety about mishitting or still shanking it.

“If you’re feeling anxiety about this drill, don’t worry, you won’t hurt anybody,” she quips. “The objective of this drill is to make sure we don’t strike the ball with the heel of the club — hence, the tees being on the other side.”

Rukket Sports Pathfinder Impact Mat

$69.99

Are you looking for a golf training mat to help your golf game? The Rukket Pathfinder Impact Mat was designed with input from professional golfers and golf teachers to help players of all abilities improve their game. The strike mat tracks club face alignment and helps ensure clean contact with the ball while the foam pylons can be used to keep your swing on plane. Use all four pylons to practice hitting straighter shots or remove pylons to practice hitting draw or fade shots. It’s the most versatile golf swing practice mat available and works with every club in your bag! Features 2-in-1 golf swing training mat combining the features of an impact mat / strike mat and a swing path trainer to help golfers quickly identify and correct common swing problems like hooks and slices. It’s a golf swing impact / strike mat to help identify and correct club face alignment. Use the “velvet” turf to ensure you’re making clean contact with the ball. It’s also a golf swing training aid to help with swing plane alignment. Use it to fix a slice or a hook, and to practice hitting draw and fade shots. What’s in the Box (1) Rukket Pathfinder Impact Mat (4) Foam Pylons (1) Instruction Booklet Product Specs 25in x 13in x 0.8in RUKKET FAIR PLAY GUARANTEE & LIFETIME WARRANTY: At Rukket Sports we know you came to win. We also understand that in order to win you need to train hard, so that’s why we’re proud to offer the Rukket Fair Play Guarantee & Lifetime Warranty for no-risk purchasing plus outstanding USA-based customer service!

Buy Now

View Product

Kim then demonstrates the anti-shank drill, showing how the wall of tees provides a visual for you to maintain a solid club path.

By avoiding any contact with the tees in the ground, you’re able to make contact away from the heel and near the center of the face — which will cure your golf shanks and lead to better ball-striking. So try this quick, easy, and effective drill to produce better results instantly.

Discover more great golf content on the official LPGA YouTube channel.

The post The golf shanks are brutal. Using 4 tees can help you cure them appeared first on Golf.

The post A go-to drill to never miss a short putt again appeared first on Golf.

The post A go-to drill to never miss a short putt again appeared first on Golf.

Those putts — outside the gimme range, but not necessarily easy to make — are crucial to your scorecard, and your success from that range might be what separates a great round from an average one (or an average one from a bad one).

For example, the best players in the world are roughly 8 of 10 from 5 feet. The PGA Tour average this season is 82% (with Denny McCarthy leading at 92%). Even the lowest-ranked player who qualifies for this stat category, Kevin Streelman, has made 63% of his putts from 5 feet. And if a two-time Tour winner is 6 of 10 from that range, can recreational players actually expect to make more than half themselves?

Good news — we’re here to help.

Shawn Callahan is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher who works out of Monroe Golf Club (Pittsford, N.Y.) and Abacoa Golf Club (Jupiter, Fla.). Last year at GOLF’s Top 100 Teacher Summit he offered up his go-to drill to drain more short putts. Here’s how it works.

Callahan takes a 4-foot T-Square and places it on the putting green with the long end pointed toward the cup for what would be a straight and/or slightly uphill putt. He then traces around the ruler part to create a runaway to the hole.

He adds four tees on the outside of the traced line: two to create a gate where you place your ball, and two others to form a gate about a foot in front of your putting line. Then it’s simply just rolling putts. (Check out the video below to watch one of Callahan’s students practice the drill.)

“It’s designed to get the face square and get the ball on line, and that’s it,” Callahan says. “Getting the face square, getting the ball on line, honestly as long as you just work on short putts, you don’t really have to work on long putts because your feel dissipates after a couple hours or a day anyway. If you putt well from 20 feet in, the long putts are a lot easier.”

Callahan says an ideal ball position is different for everyone, but once you find that and get comfortable, this drill should dial-in your stroke.

“The putter comes down and up on a pendulum, and it also comes around your body,” he says. “So you want to find the top of that arc and the bottom of that pendulum.”

Need help unriddling the greens at your home course? Pick up a custom Green Book from Golf Logix.

The post A go-to drill to never miss a short putt again appeared first on Golf.