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FundamentalsEight breakthrough lessons that will prepare

you for your best season ever

IT’S EASY TO FORGET that your game comes down to repeatedly executing a fewbasic fundamentals. And that’s the thing about the basics: Because you must do themevery time, you tend to forget about them in the way that you don’t really think abouttying your shoes—you just do it. But since there is so much movement and focusrequired in your swing and the preparation for it, if you don’t think about the

basics you’ll pay for it on your scorecard. There is something about the fundamentals ofyour game that you also may not have considered: The game has changed. Your equipmenthas changed, and so, too, have the methods to wield it. Our all-star collection of Top 100Teachers have researched the moves you’ve been using—both the bad and outdated—andreplaced them with new and improved ones that will turn your game around in a singlepractice session. Forget what you know—the New Fundamentals are here.

B y T h e To p 1 0 0 Te a c h e r s w i t h D a v i d D e N u n z i o a n d M i c h a e l Wa l k e r, J r.

P H O T O G R A P H Y by S C H E C T E R L E E

TheNew

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How to Aim at Your TargetFULL SWING NEW FUNDAMENTALS

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The Old WayAim the clubface at yourtarget and then set your feetperpendicular to the leadingedge of the clubface.

The New WayAlign your body to your targetfirst and your clubface willautomatically point whereyou want the ball to go. Followthe steps at right.

Why It’s BetterThe toe of your clubs restslightly up at address (more sowith your irons), creating anoptical illusion that makesyou think the clubface is openwhen it’s actually aimed left ofyour target. If you set yourbody to the clubface—asyou were always taught—you’re setting up left ofthe target line. Instead, setyour body to your target firstand you’ll automatically aimthe clubface dead-on.

Stand square behind the ballwith your shoulders and hipsfacing the target. Picture a linefrom the ball to a very precisetarget, like a specific shingle ona rooftop or a branch on a tree(don’t use just a house or a tree).

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Pick a blade of grass along yourline 6 inches in front of the ballas an intermediate target.Walkout wide to the left so you canapproach the ball at a 90-degreeangle.As you walk, keep youreyes on the intermediate target.

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Step toward the ball.Whenyou’re the correct distance from it, draw an imaginary line from your intermediate target to the ball.Arrange your feetparallel to this line about 2 to 3 inches apart.

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Take your grip and ground theclub. For iron and hybrid shots, aline from the middle of your rightfoot should go through the backedge of the ball. For woods, aline through the middle of yourleft foot should go through themiddle of the clubhead.

Swivel your head to the left andlook at your primary target (thatspecific shingle or tree branch inthe distance) and keep youreyes on it for a few counts. Burnthe target into your brain.Themore you make this gamevisual, the easier it becomes.

So far you haven’t bent yourknees.This keeps your hips andshoulders parallel to each otherwhile you aim the clubface. Nowthat it’s pointed at your target,bend your knees slightly, spreadyour feet to your preferredstance width, and swing.

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TOP 100 TEACHERDR. DAVID F.WRIGHTArroyo Trabuco G.C.Mission Viejo, Calif.

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How to Shift Your Weight

MARCH 2008 GOLF MAGA ZINE 103GOLF.COM

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The Old WayShift your weight to your right side on your backswing.

The New WayShift nothing.

Why It’s BetterWeight shift happens by itself. In fact, if you try to shiftyou’ll more than likely slide your hips awayfrom the target and throw your whole backswingout of whack. Instead, simply turn your hips to theright. Try and get your right pants pocket behind youbut keep the edge of your right hip in thesame position it held at address. The keyis to pair your hip turn with a shoulderturn that sets your left shoulder aboveyour right foot. That automatically takescare of your weight shift and loads you uppowerfully behind the ball.

How to Practice ItTake your left hand off the club and set itagainst the middle of your chest [photobelow].Without any thoughts of “shifting,”turn your right hip behind you and your leftshoulder away from the target. Check thatyour left hand is now behind the ball. If it is,your weight—indicated by the center ofyour chest—is in the right place.

To shift andnot slide, turnyour right hip(but keep itin the sameplace it heldat address).

TOP 100 TEACHERKIP PUTERBAUGHAviara Golf AcademyCarlsbad, Calif.

Shifting weight meansmoving your upper body...

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...to the right via hip andshoulder rotation.

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TOP 100 TEACHERTOM F. STICKNEY IIThe Club at CordilleraVail, Colo.

The Old WayPutt using the grip that feelsthe most comfortable to you.

The New WayUse the grip that best takescare of your particular faults.

Why It’s BetterWe tested the ten mostcommon alternative gripsand discovered that some arebetter for improving distancecontrol while others are betterfor directional control. Thehigher your handicap, themore help you need withdistance control—go with agrip that keeps your left wristfrom breaking down andchanging the shaft angle(which adds or subtracts loftfrom your putter). If you're a more accomplished player,you probably need to workon fine-tuning your impactposition—look for grips thatkeep the putterface fromunduly opening and closing onyour forward stroke. In thefollowing tables, the bestoverall grip for each handicapgroup is highlighted in yellow.

Results determined using SAM PuttLab and AdvancedMotions Measurement’s 3D Motion Analysis System.

GripYourPutter

PUTTING NEW FUNDAMENTALS

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INTERLOCKINGHandicap Impact Impact

Aim LoftScratch 0.3˚ open -1.6˚10 0.4˚ closed +1.2˚18 1.9˚ closed +0.8˚25 2.9˚ open +0.9˚36 1.8˚ closed -0.2˚Best used in the hands of askilled putter, but provides noadditional benefit compared to other grips.

SPLIT BASEBALLHandicap Impact Impact

Aim LoftScratch 0.6˚ open -2.0˚10 0.5˚ open +1.2˚18 1.8˚ open +0.2˚25 1.1˚ open +1.7˚36 0.7˚ closed +.4˚A solid option for higherhandicaps, but in the hands of ascratch player it will cause puttsto dive into the turf and bounce.

LEFT-HAND LOWHandicap Impact Impact

Aim LoftScratch 0.4˚ open -0.9˚10 0.2˚ open +2.0˚18 0.7˚ closed +2.4˚25 3.2˚ open +0.4˚36 3.3˚ closed +2.4˚An effective grip for keeping theputterface pointed at the targetthrough impact. High handicapsmight have difficulty adjusting.

CLAWHandicap Impact Impact

Aim LoftScratch 0.4˚ closed -1.0˚10 0.1˚ closed +0.7˚18 1.0˚ closed +0.9˚25 2.1˚ open -0.7˚36 0.6˚ closed +1.6˚Encourages extra shoulderrotation for scratch golfers(closed face), but cures faultstypical of mid-range players.

OVERLAPHandicap Impact Impact

Aim LoftScratch 0.2˚ open -1.6˚10 0.3˚ closed +1.3˚18 1.1˚ closed +0.6˚25 1.3˚ open +1.0˚36 1.0˚ open -0.1˚Provides a similar feel to thefull-swing grip—a comfort tohigh-handicappers who losetouch when they switch to anew grip on the greens.

REVERSE OVERLAPHandicap Impact Impact

Aim LoftScratch 0.5˚ open -0.6˚10 0.9˚ closed +1.5˚18 2.9˚ closed -0.2˚25 2.3˚ open +0.5˚36 2.3˚ closed +2.1˚A middle-of-the-pack grip for allhandicap levels.

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TOP 100 TEACHERKIP PUTERBAUGHAviara Golf Academy,Carlsbad, Calif.

The Old WaySwing your putter back andthrough with your shoulders.

The New WayKeep your right shoulder in the same position it was in at address.

Why It’s BetterStart thinking “shoulderstroke” and you’ll find yourselfopening up through impactand cutting across the ball.But if you keep your rightshoulder in place, your rightforearm and right hand (alongwith your putterhead) willmove straight down the targetline. When you see Tigerputting with just his righthand on the club, he’singraining this move.

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Roll It Pure8

How to Practice ItAssume your putting address position and then place your lefthand on your right shoulder [photo, above left]. Make your strokeand use pressure from your left hand to keep your right shoulderfrom moving out on your forward stroke. If you do it correctly, you’llfeel like your right shoulder drops slightly toward the groundthrough impact. Hold your follow-through and put your left handback on the grip. Remain in this position for a few counts to ingrainthe feel of a proper finish.

LANGERHandicap Impact Impact

Aim LoftScratch 0.1˚ closed -1.7˚10 0.5˚ open +0.6˚18 2.5˚ closed -0.1˚25 3.5˚ open +0.9˚36 2.7˚ open +0.4˚Another solid option for the 10-handicapper, a player whoseprimary fault is excess handaction and poor face control.

STRONG RIGHT HANDHandicap Impact Impact

Aim LoftScratch 0.9˚ open -1.1˚10 0.3˚ open +1.6˚18 2.2˚ closed -0.1˚25 1.3˚ open +0.9˚36 1.6˚ closed -2.5˚Unlike its role in the full swing, astrong right hand position doesvery little to control putterfaceposition at impact.

REVERSE OVERLAPW/EXTENDED FINGERHandicap Impact Impact

Aim LoftScratch 0.4˚ open -2.1˚10 0.5˚ closed +1.0˚18 1.7˚ closed -0.7˚25 0.7˚ closed +1.5˚36 1.8˚ open -1.4˚Helps 25-handicappers keepexcess hand action in check butwith less distance control. Stillthe best option for this level.

BASEBALLHandicap Impact Impact

Aim LoftScratch 0.8˚ open -1.6˚10 0.5˚ closed +1.3˚18 1.2˚ closed -1.1˚25 2.1˚ open +1.2˚36 2.4˚ open +1.2˚Provides too much control forthe already skilled hands of ascratch player (shaft leaningforward at impact).

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