The 2nd Cut Newsletter: Edition #47
WTF, Cheaper Buckets, Hanging Back, Scottie and Rory Chipping, Tiger and Nelly Driving, PGA Championship Poll
“I like to feel shallower on my chips. I like to practice feeling shallow.” - Scottie Scheffler
📰 Edition #47 📰
Welcome back to The 2nd Cut Newsletter!
📫 In today’s Newsletter 📫 :
WTF, Cheaper Buckets, Hanging Back, Scottie and Rory Chipping, Tiger and Nelly Driving, PGA Championship Poll
Last week’s Edition #46 IMO was one of the better editions in recent memory, but it appears to have not been sent to all subscribers. It might of been a capacity issue. Anyway, if you missed it, check out the post below!
WTF!
I was talking to a longtime reader and family friend the other day (shout out to Jay). He was having trouble with his driver, which understandably was affecting the rest of his game. We talked about how much of a mind game golf can be. I gave him some tips, sent some old articles, and wished him good luck.
Then I played the next day…
Talk about driver issues. I proceeded to hit a worm burner shank off the tee six different times throughout the round. Each drive went somewhere around 75 to 100 yards, leaving me with quite a bit left. Driver is historically my best club by far. I had no idea what I was doing differently. ZERO. I was baffled.
I did manage to hit some good 5-woods, which makes no sense to me, but okay. I hit some great irons, a phenomenal bunker shot, and putted generally well. So it wasn’t all for nothing. But as Jay said to me, when you’re having trouble off the tee, it can be demoralizing. Everything is harder after a bad drive: club selection, mental game, added strokes.
There is no doubt that I was frustrated during the round. It did affect me. But after reflecting on the round, I realized I also managed to scrounge together some decent shots and scores. Instead of overreacting to my driver troubles, I knew it just wasn’t my day.
So what’s the plan? I need to get to the range, maybe get a professional set of eyes on my swing, and go from there. Don’t dwell. Look at the positives.
I’ll let you know how it goes…
🐦 Tweets of the Week 🐦
Amen. Paying $16 for a bucket is absurd. And on top of that many places only offer a way too small bucket or a giant one that is way more than I need. Offer a medium for $10, please!
Hand up! I’m working on this exact issue, really trying to feel my weight on the front side and my hands working forward as well. If you are hitting weak fades, this could be part of the issue.
📺 💻 T2C Media 📺 💻
Viktor Hovland is one of my favorite golfers. Not only did he look like one of the best players in the world last year, but he also had an infectious smile and a unique personality to match—something you don’t often find on the PGA Tour.
But this year has been a rough go for Viktor. His smile seems to be absent, along with his dominant form. Kevin Van Valkenburg of No Laying Up (and formerly ESPN) does his best to unravel this mystery.
“He is a deep thinker and a frequent tinkerer. He craves information, and not just about golf but about science and aliens and conspiracies. When he gets curious about a subject, he likes descending down into YouTube rabbit holes in search of more. According to people who have worked closely with him, the things that make Hovland unique — that feed some of his genius — can also work against him at times.
He is manic about his work ethic, his prep, his diet, and his process. He is also, in the words of one person who knows him, one of the most stubborn people alive. On any given day, Hovland’s goal is to consume as much information as possible, then sort through what he likes, and apply it to his own game. He has been this way ever since he was a teenager growing up in Oslo, Norway.”
It’s a great read. Check it out. LINK
This video from TaylorMade is excellent. As you know, I’ve been on a big short game kick, and this video delivers. Scottie and Rory detail their various short game shots, how they approach various lies and the feels they use.
The biggest takeaway from this video was the use of the bounce, shallow attach angles, and FEELING like they are hitting draws.
TaylorMade is on a roll with these videos. Here’s another one, with Nelly Korda, Rory, and Tiger talking about drivers. This one wasn’t as helpful technically, but it was amazing to hear them talk casually about various shot types and ways they approach tee shots.
Nelly Korda likes to exclusively hit a low baby draw, while Rory’s stock drive is a high draw and Tiger’s is a cut. Very interesting.
📊 Poll of the Week 📊
This week's PGA Championship at Valhalla should make for an exciting battle with one of the best fields in golf. Brooks and Rory both won last week, and Scottie is coming off a win and a new baby. So, who ya got? (comment below if you have someone else).
Per usual, I’m going with Scottie. Baby or no baby, Scottie is unfazed. I also put some money on Rory (which is usually a mistake). Maybe his work with Butch Harmon is finally paying off?
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Til next time.
