Winning Ways of Golf's
"Walrus"
By John Andrisani
USGTF Level III Member and Contributing Writer - Sarasota, Florida

One chief advantage our worldwide USGTF teachers have over so many PGA veteran coaches is flexibility – the ability to avoid strict methodology and, instead, work with a male or female student’s strengths and around their weaknesses. In addition, rather than have the typical student try and clone the swing of a super-athletic golfer such as Tiger Woods, our instructors often point to feel players – tour pro models who employ somewhat non-classical techniques, but still get the job done well using a natural action that’s more easily learned and grooved.

One such unorthodox golf professional who has my admiration is 1982 Masters champion Craig Stadler. The “Walrus” had a wonderful winning year on the Champions Tour in 2004, even though he is anything but a flat-belly super-fit pro who swings and hits shots by the book. Having worked with Stadler on instructional articles during my long stint (1982-1998) as senior editor of GOLF Magazine, as well as collaborated with this fine player and great guy on the book, I Am The Walrus: Confessions And Tips From A Blue-Collar Golfer, I’d like to share with you some of the most valuable lessons I learned. I consider these tips “outside the box,” yet extremely valuable to you in keeping up your reputation as a USGTF teacher who helps golfers by being creative in your approach. So what follows is advice for your students, passed onto me from a pro golfer who has always believed in taking alternative measures on the golf course.

Driving Tip: A key to good driving is to contact the ball with the driver club-head traveling on a path virtually level with the ground. This means the club will impart the greatest amount of forward momentum to the ball with the least amount of backspin, which is what you want.

A good mental image is to think of your driver as a hammerhead. Imagine you want to drive a nail squarely into the back of the ball. This image will help you smooth out any tendency to chop downward on the ball and thus prevent you from losing distance. Rather, you will guide the club into and through impact on a streamlined path and really wallop the ball.

Iron Play Tip: Never hit an iron shot from the fairway as hard as you can. You’ll hit the ball closer to the hole if you learn to make a slower three-quarter swing on all standard iron shots.

Whatever the length of your full swing, make up your mind to go only three quarters of that distance back with your irons. This will keep you centered over the ball with less weight shift on both the backswing and downswing. After impact, you should finish in a nicely balanced position on your left foot. The club-shaft will be in front of you rather than over your right shoulder because of the lesser momentum through the impact zone.

You’ll hit the ball much more solidly and hit many more greens by keeping your iron swing at the three quarter mark. Even Tiger Woods has learned that lesson.

Short Game Tip: Occasionally, you’ll face a pitch to a pin on the top tier of a firm, fast-running green. You can’t loft the ball to the top tier and expect it to stop. The best way to hit the ball close to the hole is with a lower pitch that skips up to the top tier then breaks to a halt.

Play the skip-wedge pitch with a pitching wedge. Move the ball back of center in your stance and keep the hands ahead at address. Swing the club back mainly with your arms while keeping your head steady.

Swing the club down into the back of the ball. Keep the follow-through low with the club pointing to the target.

When executed properly, the ball will dart out on a low trajectory, so you might even think it’s going too far. However, it will carry plenty of backspin and pull up to a quick stop after taking one big bounce.

Putting Tip: If you’re a golfer who just can’t seem to get the ball rolling on line and into the hole or, plain and simply, you have a case of the “yips,” try the “Over Fifty” grip.

The distinguishing feature is the position of the right forefinger. Instead of wrapping it around the handle as in the normal overlapping grip for full shots, place the right forefinger down the rear of the shaft. This finger acts like a pointer or guide, helping you push the putter’s club-face directly toward your target.

Try some practice putts with right forefinger along the back of the grip. You’ll immediately sense how it guides and supports the stroke and allows you to putt with confidence.

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