Put Chris Gotterup's game to work for you
I'm at a cool time in my life. I’m 26, got on the PGA Tour four years ago and have been able to grab a few wins. Everybody says there’s pressure when you’re not winning and a different kind of pressure when you are, but I don’t get too stressed. I can’t grind all the time. That’s not me.
I’m probably a lot like you. When I go to practice, I’m finding a drive-thru on the way to get a giant iced coffee. I don’t like to tie my shoes—my swing coach, Jason Birnbaum, gets on me for that one—or fix the flap on my glove. I’m most comfortable hat backward, shirt untucked, talking college sports. Having fun helps me recharge for the days when I have to be sharp.
Even more, you and I probably have some of the same swing issues. I like to go at it fast, and my miss is to the right, although we never say “slice” on tour. My grip feels weird some days, and I have to keep an eye on ball position. I need to get better with my wedges. If any of this sounds familiar, let me show you what I’m working on. —with Peter Morrice
KEEPING A FADE IN CHECK
My natural ball flight is left to right. If I’m on the last tee with a chance to win, I’m aiming that thing left and ripping a fade. I never want to lose that shot, but I do have to make sure I don’t overdo my fade positions. In the 2-Minute Clinic below, I'll show you how I shallow out my golf swing to avoid losing shots to the right—and how you can, too.
SQUEEZING IRON SHOTS OFF THE TURF
To hit my irons flush, I work on a few things. I’m naturally a little steep so it’s critical that I catch the ball first, then the turf. If I get it at all heavy, it’s going nowhere. Another common miss from a steeper swing is wiping across the ball from out to in—that’s the hated high-right shot. In the clinic below, I'll show you how I "cover the ball" to catch it solid with the irons.
FLIGHTING WEDGES LOW
When I get to the wedges, I shake things up. I try to draw them because my normal cut move puts so much spin on the ball and it flies too high. Plus, they sometimes spin back off the green. Trust me, a lower shot that hops once and grabs—that’s better to control distance. Check out the clinic below to see how I stick my wedges close.
