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Tiger Woods
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One-Two Punch How to play my dominant shots How to play my dominant shots
BY TIGER WOODS
IHAVE REDUCED EVERY FACET of my game to a couple of fi ne points to keep it grooved. It’s a one-two punch for success that might benefi t you, too. The idea is to simplify what you’re trying to do, so there’s a better chance your swing will repeat. ▶ Take my iron play: (1) I make a full shoulder turn while keeping my head from moving to my right. At the top, my shaft is parallel to the target line and the toe is pointed down, which means the face is square. (2) I release stored power at impact. My head stays steady as my hips turn left and my arms extend. ▶ Read on to get my two steps to playing each of my dominant shots. — WITH PETE MCDANIEL of my game to a couple of fi ne points to keep it grooved. It’s a one-two punch for success that might benefi t you, too.
“At the top, the toe is pointing down, which means the face is square.”
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s w i n g a l o n g your feet
▶ I’ve regained my ability to shape tee shots with my woods. The 3-wood draw is a staple for me. With a slightly closed stance, I take the club back along my toe line. The shaft tracks to the inside halfway back. It tracks along that same path on the downswing, allowing me to deliver the club from the inside and impart right-to-left spin.
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k e e p y o u r right heel low
▶ You can’t draw the ball without releasing the club through impact. But release too soon and you’ll hook it; too late and it’s a block. In the past, I would get up on my right toe very quickly because I was swinging too hard. Keeping the inside of my right heel on the ground longer means I’ve swung within myself for a well-timed release.
s e t u p o p e n
▶ I love to control the trajectory of my shots. It gives me a bit of an edge in windy conditions. I don’t have to beat down on the ball or change ball position. It’s all in the release. Here I’m holding it against the wind coming from the right. A slightly open stance, one extra club and a delayed release are the main requirements for this little cutter.
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hold off the release
▶ To flight the ball down, I abbreviate my backswing and throughswing. With this fairly compact action, I attack the ball from the inside even for a cut shot, holding off the release a millisecond to impart left-to-right spin. When the wind is against me and from the right like on this shot, I’m careful to start the ball right of the flagstick.
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restrict your wrists
▶ Lag putting begins and ends with proper mechanics. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a rotational putter like me or a linear (straight back and through) putter like some others who can really roll their rock. You should position your eyes directly over the ball, hold your head in place and keep your wrists from breaking down. I do this with my right hand.
stroke through the ball
▶ Some players keep the putter low back and through. I have a pendulum stroke, where the club comes off the ground. My right hand controls my stroke. I’ve had posture problems in the past, so I’m cognisant of staying tall through impact. I allow the putterhead to release naturally, and impact feels very soft, as if the ball just gets in the way.
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