Category: Golf instruction

Phil Mickelson: Secrets of the Short Game (2009)

Being a fan of Phil, I had to get a copy. Luckily there are sellers on Amazon that don’t charge retail and I picked it up for $23.

6-29-09 – Ok, finally got my copy of Phil’s DVD – Secrets of the Short Game. It’s a two DVD set and I’m working my way through some of the sections on the first DVD for a second time. I started watching the putting section and shouldn’t have been surprised to see a plug for a Dave Pelz putting alignment gadget, the putting tutor. This looks to be the best putting device that I’ve seen from Pelz. Of course, it begs the question, “How damn much?”

Appears to be about $43. Looks like it could be worth it.

I was most interested in the chipping section. Phil demonstrates his hinge and hold method which was easy enough to duplicate on a regular chip shot with the face of the club fairly neutral. I then tried it by opening the club fully. My initial results were a bunch of nasty shanks. I came back and re-watched that portion of the video. Once you open the club fully, you then have to re-align the club face so that it is aimed at the target. You do this by turning your body towards the left. Next, you take your grip. It’s really odd because when you fully open the club face, your grip will be way behind you. The ball also seems like it is quite a ways forward in your stance. Gripping the club in this position seems very odd. But after making these adjustments, I was able to hit the shot no problem. Distance control will take a lot of practice. Now the question is do I really need this shot out on the course. We will find out.

I also really enjoyed his three foot putting drill section. Not sure if I want to spend the time to try and make a hundie in a row. Phil’s point is to build a foundation with the three foot drill. If you can get your chip or your first putt to within three foot, odds are you will make that 3 footer or less 97-100% of the time. His three foot drill also allows him to deal with pressure. If he’s out on the course and has a critical three foot putt, he steps to the side and pretends to make one. In his mind, he goes back to the drill and picks a number. “Eighty-eight putts in a row.” Then he steps over the ball and strokes it in for 89 in a row. Just like he did in practice. Of course, as he gets closer to 100 in a row in practice, the pressure is building. In essence, he’s simulating the pressure that you would feel in a tournament through his practice drill.

– more later

It’s been about 8 years since the release of Tiger Woods: How I Play Golf. I’m glad I purchased the first edition because I’m sure Woods has or will be making plenty of changes to his book.

I can probably find several in just one chapter. How about Chapter 7, “How to Smoke the Driver.”

Tiger starts off Chapter 7 with an anecdote going back to the 2001 Masters. He had blown his drive by Mickelson’s on the 18th during the final round. During the 2009 Masters in the final round, Mickelson was consistently blowing it way past Tiger. My, how times have changed.

Tiger is pictured using Titliest equipment. We might be seeing a later edition with Nike substituted.

Here’s the biggie: “For more yards, I ‘snap’ my left leg.” “I’ve found that by snapping my left leg straight, my hips clear faster and speed up the movement of my shoulders, arms and legs.” (p. 173 and listed as Tiger secret no. 5)

Don’t be surprised if that tip mysteriously disappears from later editions of the book.

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