Butch Harmon’s Playing Lessons, (11) Hole 11, Notes

Post date: Dec 29, 2017 4:53:33 PM

Butch Harmon’s Playing Lessons by Butch Harmon with John Andrisani

Listen to these notes

Hole 11- Tournament Players Club, Par 5: 508 Yards

• 1. Tee Shot

     1. If the fairway is wide we are able carry the driver at least 250, use the driver. It provides the best chance to be able to go for the green in two. At the very least, a decent drive puts us in position to hit a second shot that sets up a relatively easy third shot. Stay smooth. Driver tempo should be the same as any other club. Focus on making a smooth, balanced swing. Resist the temptation to hit the ball farther than we know how. Just try to swing smoothly and level through impact.

     2. To start the driver down the right side and turn it over from right to left so it works its way back to the center of the fairway with plenty of roll: make a conscious effort on the backswing to move the left knee to the right, so that it works inward and behind the ball at the top of the backswing. This move (1) gets the lower body weight loaded behind the ball so that more power can be delivered through impact and (2) working the knee to the right promotes a more rounded backswing, a flatter plane to more easily impart left to right draw spin to the ball.

     3. If only able to reach the green in 3 with perfect shots, play it as a par 6. Playing smart golf is even more important for ‘C’ level players because we lack score making ability to make birdies that make up for a bad hole. Never hit shots that we do not have in our bag right now. Our main objective is to avoid a snowman. Choose the club we are able to hit most consistently and most confidently and simply take a relaxed swing. Just put the ball in play. Work on all types of shots in practice first. But to lower our handicap, on the golf course only play shots we know we are capable of hitting consistently. To mature as a player, start thinking strategically and a lower handicap will follow. It is more fun as well to plan out our shots, like playing chess. Be an artist. Learn how far each club goes; how far the ball goes in the air, then rolls on chips; how the ball reacts in different types of sand, etc. The first step is to figure out how far our average shot goes with each club so we can put the ball in position with pinpoint accuracy time after time.

     4. To groove a level swing through impact and hit the ball on a more penetrating trajectory:

        1. Drill 1 - assume the address position but put the thumb of the left hand in the left pocket. Now pull on the pocket to encourage the hip to rotate or ‘clear’ to the left of target. This type of rotation is needed to return the club squarely and powerfully to the ball.

        2. Drill 2-Imagine a second ball a couple inches in front of the real one. Swing, trying to hit the imaginary ball. This promotes an extended release of the arms, preventing the right hand from turning under the left one.

  2. Second Shot

• • 1. Unless the lie and conditions are ideal (wind,etc) and we are absolutely comfortable we can reach the green with the fairway wood, take out an iron or a more lofted 5-wood that will put us in position for good pitch to the pin. Think about the distance we would like to leave our self for the most easiest possible third shot. Imagine the lay-up as a shot to a par-3 hole. Pick the landing spot carefully and make sure both the clubface and body are accurately aligned to it. Hit it as precisely as any other. Don’t go to sleep. Don’t bail out on any shot, including a lay up second.

    2. If laying up short of the end of a fairway choose a club that will give about 15 yards of cushion. By keeping the shot demands simple, we increase the odds of keeping it in the fairway. It’s better to lay up short than try to hit a ‘career’ 3-iron over a hazard.

• 3. Third Shot

• • 1. Know exactly where the flag is. Depending on the size of the green and whether its well up front or way back it could add or subtract 10 to 12 yards from the base yardage. Pin position might alter the type of pitch played (a high lofted pitch to stay in the front or a pitching wedge to let it land in the front or middle and release to the back of the green)

    2. The high sand wedge shot requires the clubface to be open and the club to accelerate faster in the impact zone. Otherwise we’ll fall short of the green. Look at the front of the ball to help accelerate through the ball and hit shots to the pin.

    3. With wind in the face and 100 yards to go, play a 9-iron punch shot. Address the ball from a narrow stance with the ball just back of center (off the inside of the back heel). Keep most of the weight on the left foot. Make a compact swing with the arms so that less weight is shifted back and forward as we would in a normal swing. On the downswing, pull the club firmly down and through the ball, with an abbreviated follow-through, finishing with the club pointing to the target. The shot will start off much lower than a normal pitch and will take one or two skips upon landing, but if struck cleanly, will then check up. This shot is much easier to control in the wind than a high pitch shot.

    4. Never try to ‘scoop’ the ball up on pitch shots, but give it a crisp descending blow instead. The sand wedge has plenty of loft to get the ball nicely into the air when we hit down on it. Address the ball in the center of the stance with the hands about two inches ahead. Swing back to the halfway point, then down and through with the arms. Look at the front of the ball to ensure hitting through the ball.