If you need to hit extra fairways — and provides your self extra birdie probabilities — observe these three tips from Anthony Kim.
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Golf instruction is ever-evolving, however the most effective recommendation stands the check of time. In GOLF.com’s new sequence, Timeless Tips, we’re highlighting among the best recommendation academics and gamers have disbursed within the pages of GOLF Magazine. This week, we revisit our December 2008 challenge for some tips from Anthony Kim on how to hit extra fairways. For limitless entry to the complete GOLF Magazine digital archive, be a part of InsideGOLF at the moment; you’ll take pleasure in $140 of worth for less than $39.99/12 months.
After a decade-plus absence, Anthony Kim is formally again (we expect).
Last month, GOLF’s Dylan Dethier broke the information that Kim was mulling a comeback, and over the weekend, a number of retailers reported he’d make his LIV Golf debut in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday. Greg Norman even added to the hypothesis when he tweeted a cryptic video suggesting Kim’s return is imminent. Nothing is definite at this level, however all indicators are pointing to a return of certainly one of golf’s most mysterious skills.
Back within the 2000s, when he made headlines as a golfer fairly than an enigma, Kim was hailed as some of the promising younger skills within the recreation. He received thrice on Tour, helped Team USA to a victory within the 2008 Ryder Cup and set Augusta National ablaze with 11 birdies in a single Masters spherical in 2009. There had been few younger gamers with as a lot promise as Kim.
In 2008, Kim ranked third on Tour in strokes gained, buoyed by his efficiency off the tee. That season, he gained .549 strokes off the tee per spherical, good for ninth on Tour. At the conclusion of that season, GOLF sat down with the younger star to decide his mind on the keys to driving.
Anthony Kim’s keys for driving accuracy
As you’ll be able to guess, the Ryder Cup was a breakthrough occasion for me, however I actually didn’t do something particular. Regardless of whom I used to be enjoying towards or the format of the match, I centered on making the identical swing that received me to Valhalla within the first place — strikes I beat into my muscle reminiscence at an early age on the ranges of Southern California. I’ve all the time been a bit smaller than my opponents, so my swing emphasizes squeezing as many yards out of my driver as attainable.
But that’s simply half the story: my main concern is accuracy — it’s not fairly often you make birdie from the tough. Copy my accuracy keys (and heed the recommendation offered by my coach, Adam Schriber) and also you’ll hit drives that constantly discover the green.
1. Choke up
The most evident quirk in my approach is that I choke method up on the grip — about two full inches. And I choke up with each membership within the bag. I began doing this out of necessity: I’ve a brief torso and lengthy arms, and if I took a “normal” grip I’d be too distant from the ball. Over the years, nonetheless, I observed that the choke gave me extra management — particularly with the driver — and I’ve by no means regarded again.
Since the choke robotically makes the membership shorter, I sacrifice a long way. But it’s lower than you assume — 10 yards on the most (and I nonetheless common 300 yards off the tee). So I’ve to hit 7-iron into the inexperienced as a substitute of an 8-iron. Big deal. I’d take an extended iron from the green than a shorter one from the tough any day. You noticed the advantages of this technique throughout the Ryder Cup. The guys who constantly hit fairways and greens had been a ones who received factors for his or her aspect. When you’re correct, your opponent feels it.
My coach, Adam Schriber, says: (*3*)
2. Throttle again
Whenever I’m enjoying in a pro-am, I’m amazed on the size of most amateurs’ swings — it’s like they’ve spent three months on the John Daly School of Driving. Over-swinging is a loss of life transfer for me. I can get away with swinging the membership to parallel and past from time to time, however on Tour, time to time means a string of missed cuts.
I’m extra snug making a three-quarter backswing, with my arms stopping at shoulder top and my membership method in need of parallel. I knew from an early age that I wouldn’t have the ability to generate energy with my arms alone on account of my measurement, so I don’t swing them again as far. Instead, I deal with turning my higher physique as a lot as attainable and holding my legs steady, like I’m holding my hips again. So regardless that my arm swing is brief, I’ve constructed up resistance between my higher and decrease physique, and that’s the place my swing energy comes from.
Adam Schriber says: “The best backswing for you is the one that sets up your best downswing. Anthony has incredible torsional flexibility, and he takes advantage of it by resisting with his legs and turning his shoulders more than his hips. This stretches his torso muscles, a move that can be a big power source for anyone’s swing.”
3. Squat down
When you swing down from the highest utilizing solely your arms, it’s straightforward to get off aircraft. The secret to swinging on aircraft and with energy is in your legs. I begin my downswing with my decrease physique, which pulls my arms into motion. You can see how I squat from the highest. I really feel like I’m pushing my physique into the bottom, making a powerful connection between my toes and the turf. As I do that, my arms fall naturally, with my left arm hanging shut to my chest.
After sitting down, I flip as quick as I can via influence, utilizing the bottom as leverage and getting my weight over my left foot. It’s a burst of power on the backside of my swing, which is why once I raise weights I solely do “explosion” workout routines, not high-repetition units. You solely want to be quick via influence.
Adam Schriber says: “Anthony does an excellent job ‘using the deck,’ or interacting with the ground, to create leverage in his downswing. It’s a difficult concept to teach, but a good way to feel it is to make your backing and downswing while standing on an unstable surface, like two balance discs. You’ll learn pretty quickly how to train your lower body to use the ground for leverage, stability and power like Anthony does.”
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