Xander Schauffele is among the greatest all-around gamers in golf.
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Golf instruction is ever-evolving, however the perfect recommendation stands the take a look at of time. In GOLF.com’s new sequence, Timeless Suggestions, we’re highlighting a few of the biggest recommendation lecturers and gamers have disbursed within the pages of GOLF Journal. Right now, in honor of Xander Schauffele’s Open Championship victory, we glance again at our October 2018 concern for 5 suggestions from the two-time main winner on all-around consistency. For limitless entry to the complete GOLF Journal digital archive, be part of InsideGOLF at present; you’ll get pleasure from $140 of worth for less than $39.99/12 months.
Xander Schauffele seemingly has no flaws in his recreation.
He ranks inside the highest 5 in three strokes-gained classes, and eleventh in one other. The “weakest” a part of his recreation, statistically talking, is across the greens, the place he ranks thirty fourth on the PGA Tour. Suffice to say, Schauffele’s recreation has few — if any — weaknesses.
That dominant all-around recreation has been on full show in 2024. Again in Might, the 30-year-old lastly broke by way of for his first main title as he received the PGA Championship at Valhalla. Two months later, he duplicated the feat, successful the Open Championship. After going winless in his first 27 main begins, he now has two wins in his final three.
How does Schauffele handle to be dominant in all aspects of his recreation? Again in 2018, the then Tour sophomore joined GOLF Journal and shared his secrets and techniques. Test ’em out under.
Xander’s 5 swing suggestions
I’ve had a lucky begin ti my professional profession. A Tour championship title, a ROY award and three top-10 finishes in my first seven majors. And this being a Ryder Cup 12 months, I no less than performed myself into consideration for a captain’s choose.
Like Most Tour execs, I attribute a lot of my success to nice teaching (thanks, Dad!) and a ton of onerous work. However I do know the previous isn’t at all times out there to weekend gamers, and that’s the place I may help.
Under, I’ll present you the keys I take advantage of to realize consistency throughout the board, from splitting fairways to controlling irons and scoring on and across the greens.
These keys — my X-Elements — are easy sufficient for any participant to include into their recreation. You’ll be able to even nail a few of them in your subsequent observe session or spherical. Belief me and also you’ll see actual enchancment — and have a large smile throughout your face.
1. Driving: Test your stance
Some folks assume the motive force is the place golf will get onerous, but when your fundamentals are right, it’s truly the place every little thing will get simple, It begins with stance, On the driving vary |’ll place an alignment stick between my legs. On that Stick are marks drawn to point my most popular distance between the ball and the guidelines of my toes. If I preserve this distance constant, my contact with the ball shouldn’t change, boosting my possibilities of hitting the candy spot. With time, working towards with the stick nurtures muscle reminiscence that I can convey to the course.
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X-Issue: Discover out what distance from the ball works for you (everyone seems to be totally different) and mark your alignment stick the identical method. (Add marks to your 5-iron and pitching wedge, too.) Maintain it in your bag so you may carry out this examine anytime, anyplace, With it, there’s no extra guessing — and no extra mis-hits.
2. Iron play: Swing “L to L”
I’ve performed in sufficient pro-ams to know that the principle motive weekend gamers miss greens is that they over swing. The longer the swing, the extra room for hassle! | keep watch over this, too. My reference level: the L form created between my left arm and the membership shaft in each my backswing and thru swing. If 1 can management each Ls, | know my swing is in good condition.
X-Issue: Swing “L to L.” By this I imply cease your backswing when the primary L takes form, about when your left arm reaches parallel with the bottom. That’s an acceptable swing size for a leisure golfer. Sure, | go a bit additional — possibly only one click on previous left arm parallel — however that’s as a result of I’ma very constant Tour professional. The second your L begins toppling over your again is when your swing is just too lengthy. Similar goes for the goal aspect of your swing. Right here, although, it’s solely pure to swing previous left arm parallel. The vital factor is that you simply truly create the L by totally releasing your arms by way of impression.
3. Chipping: Rotate your chest
The brief recreation often is the most inconsistent a part of a leisure participant’s recreation. I can empathize: Each short-game scenario is totally different, and inconsistent lies off the inexperienced make for inconsistent swing ideas, which make for a wrist-dominant swing. To make issues worse, the extra wristy your swing, the much less dependable your contact level. Whether or not I’m working towards or taking part in, I attempt to take my wrists utterly out of most short-game pictures.
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X-Issue: Overlook your wrists and as a substitute focus in your chest, rotating it again and thru in order that by the point your attain your end, your chest is pointing just about down the goal line (as it’s within the picture above, far proper). Your wrists and arms? They merely come alongside for the trip powered by your higher physique. Rotating your chest on the similar tempo because the clubhead makes your chipping and pitching motions ultra-smooth by way of contact, no matter your lie—within the bunker, tough or on the perimeter. You’ll know you’ve finished it proper if, on the end, the clubhead is in entrance of your chest along with your left arm and clubshaft forming a straight line. That’s proof you’ve eradicated any flip or wristiness in your swing. Goodbye duffs, flubs and thinned wedges.
4. Placing: Eyes over impression
I’ve provide you with slightly saying: “You putt what you see.” Golf is all about hand-eye coordination. In case your eyes provide the right path, your arms will observe. It’s so simple as that.
X-Issue: Arrange along with your eyes over the ball. Sure, you may and will learn your putt from behind the ball, however your last learn — your really feel learn — ought to come instantly above the goal line, simply earlier than you pull the set off. It’s what your eyes take from this place that tells your arms how you can transfer the membership. In case your eyes aren’t over the ball, your view of this line can be skewed if you flip your head to your really feel learn. Have you ever ever missed a putt after making an ideal stroke? That is the issue.
5. Scoring: Get an edge
It’s all too simple to chase issues on this recreation. Typically all I wish to do is hearth at flags, however that isn’t what received me to the PGA Tour. Staying cool, calm and picked up — strictly taking part in my recreation — is the sensible participant’s path to going low.
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X-Issue: Everytime you face a vital shot, pause for a second and take a deep breath (you may even shut your eyes). Internally, inform your self you’ve finished this numerous tomes, so there’s no motive you may’t do it once more. That image above? That’s how I do it. One eye open, one eye shut, staring down the clubbed towards my goal. In my head, I’m constructing confidence. Anytime you see me doing this, you understand I’m dialed in.
