Drive, Chip & Putt : How to play and practice golf's three most important strokes

Golf Digest, June, 2002 by John Daly, Ron Kaspriske, Rick Smith

When it comes to a general approach to the game, PGA Tour star John Daly and noted instructor Rick Smith couldn't be more different.

For Daly, who has no swing instructor, his "grip it and rip it" philosophy is not just a marketing slogan. He truly believes the brain only gets in the way of an effective swing.

It's Smith's job, on the other hand, to think about the mechanics of golf. To help his students improve, he must understand the technical aspects of the swing and how they translate to better scores.

We asked Daly and Smith for their thoughts on these fundamentals. We start with Daly's simple but effective mental checklists for playing golf and then follow up (starting on page 88) with Smith's checklists for practice.

We produced this article in recognition of The Golf Channel's national Drive, Chip & Putt Junior Golf Skills Competition, co-sponsored by Golf Digest. The competition attracted more than 15,000 participants last year. For more information, go to www.thegolfchannel.com.

Daly's checklist/Driving

I've never been the type of guy to stand over a ball and think about what I'm supposed to do. I just see that little white ball and try to hit it as hard as I can. But that doesn't mean I don't know when to leave the driver in the golf bag. I think one of the reasons I've been playing well lately is that I've been able to play smarter. Still, when the shot does call for a driver, my best advice is, never hold back. Grip it and rip it.

* Take the club back low and slow. Tempo is everything.

* Turn your right side as far away from the ball as you can.

* On the downswing, pull through with the left hand.

* Follow through strong. The swing doesn't end at impact.

* At the finish, your weight should feel like it's on the left side.

Daly's checklist/Chipping

When I play in a pro-am, the first thing I notice about my amateur partners is that they struggle to control distance with their chips. You won't be a good player until you learn how to chip it close and turn a missed green into a par save.

* You've got to have loose hands. Tension is the No. 1 cause of bad chips.

* Play the ball back in your stance. This helps make sure the club hits the ball first, the ground second.

* Keep your left wrist firm. The lead hand's wrist should not break until after the ball is on its way.

Daly's checklist/Putting

Although I'm known for my drives, I have always felt that when I'm on, putting is the strongest part of my game. For me, putting is all feel. I know if I'm going to make it.

* Don't break your wrists. Make a stroke with your shoulders, and stay with it.

* Play the ball off your left heel.

* Center your eyes directly over the ball.

* Just like with chipping, you need loose hands. No tension.

Back to Basics

I always liked watching those punt, pass and kick competitions at halftime of the big game. But if you think about it, those three things aren't nearly as vital to playing football as driving, chipping and putting are to playing golf.

I admire John Daly's free-thinking approach to playing golf, but when you're on the range or a putting green, you should be practicing with a purpose. Honing the fundamentals of driving, chipping and putting won't come without some conscious effort.

Think of it as going back to the basics. The best players don't always hit perfect shots, but you'll rarely see these three parts of their game break down on a single hole. That's because they have mastered the fundamentals through quality practice. Here are some drills that will help make the game almost as easy as the pros make it look.

Set up with head behind

A bad setup leads to a bad backswing, which leads to trying to correct the problems on the downswing. At address, your lead shoulder should be higher than the other, your head behind the ball.

Rotate over stable legs

At least a 90-degree shoulder turn and 45-degree hip turn is crucial to solid drives. Your lead shoulder should rotate down and back behind the ball and your trailing hip away from it. The legs stay stable as you rotate. Don't let your arms get behind your body. Feel as if your body has remained behind the ball.

Smith's checklist/Driving

Getting off the tee and keeping the ball in play are the catalysts for your entire round. You may not always hit the fairway, but you need to avoid getting in positions where your next shot is a punch-out or penalty drop.

* Posture: Bend at the hips and feel athletic.

* Don't let your arms get behind your body.

* Make a good shoulder turn in the backswing while keeping the lower body stable.

* On the downswing, feel the trailing leg push off the ground as your body moves forward.

* Move your trailing shoulder down and through, finishing with it ahead of the tee position.

Split-hands drill leads to powerful draws

Grip the driver so your hands are not touching (above). Then place the club on the ground directly in front of your trailing foot. From this position, swing from low to high, rotating your right forearm over your left. You can use a golf ball as reference, but you don't have to hit it. This drill helps you get the feeling for a good, powerful downswing and release. Most golfers (slicers) don't feel this.