Butch Harmon’s Playing Lessons, (13) Hole 13, Notes

Post date: Feb 4, 2018 12:49:08 PM

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

Hole 13 - Atlanta Athletic Club, Par 4: 339 yards

• 1. Tee Shot.

     1. The nearer the tee shot is aimed at the trouble, the easier the second shot will be. The safer we play the tee shot, the more difficult the second shot will be.

     2. When playing short par-4s it is not worth it to gamble with the driver unless able to reach the green. Settle for a distance that leaves a full wedge shot into the green.

     3. When hitting a wood, tee the ball up only about a quarter to ½ inch, just a touch higher than an iron. Keep the swing compact and smooth.

     4. Play doglegs towards the center of the fairway (away from the dogleg), especially if we tend to fade shots. By giving the dogleg a wider berth, we can still end up in perfect position, even if we miss the ball slightly.

     5. If we have the problem of hitting woods off the heel and blocking irons, we may be pulling the club down into a shallower slot. There should be no violent pulling action in the hands. Let the lower body lead the downswing and the arms, hands and clubhead will follow. Once the left hip clears, the sweet spot of the club, rather than the heel, will head to the back center portion of the ball.

        1. Drill to correct heel shots: Practice hitting shots off sidehill lies. This drill teaches us to allow the toe of the club to lead the hill through impact, and train us to swing on an inside, to square, to inside path rather than an inside to outside path.

  2. Second Shot.

• • 1. If in between clubs, the greens are sloping from front to back, and especially if they are fast, lean toward taking the shorter club to keep the ball short of the hole/green. When the pin is lower, it’s easier to feed the ball to the hole with a chip shot from the front of the green, and score par than it is to putt downhill from the upper tier.

    2. A ball sitting down in thick rough, in a depression, requires a more lofted club. Play the ball in the middle of the stance with the hands ahead of the ball. Keep the backswing compact to prevent over hinging the wrists at the top and casting on the downswing. Because of the lie, it is necessary to pull down hard on the downswing.

• 3. Putting.

• • 1. Be decisive on short uphill putts. Limit the break by hitting them firmly to make a greater percentage of short putts.

    2. Always see the putt rolling in all the way to the hole. See it go in before putting. This mental rehearsal helps us get the ball all the way to the hole and prevents us from only concentrating on the line. Distance is more important than line on long putts. The right distance leaves the ball close enough for an easy second putt.