Just a reminder from Bryson DeChambeau to uncomplicate your putting.
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Welcome to Shaving Strokes, a GOLF.com series in which we’re sharing improvements, learnings and takeaways from amateur golfers just like you — including some of the speed bumps and challenges they faced along the way.
If there’s one area of the game of golf that can make or break a player, it’s putting.
Even when you’re not hitting the ball great with your driver or with your irons, if you’re an above-average putter, you can save strokes and give yourself more opportunities to score each round.
Nobody knows that more than this year’s U.S. Open champ, Bryson DeChambeau, who has seen his putting gradually improve over the past year or so.
Despite ranking in the middle of the pack during the LIV Golf season, DeChambeau steps up his game when the pressure is the highest: major tournaments. And his secret sauce isn’t anything crazy — so take a look below at two simple things that have helped his putting (which are easy-to-use even for a high-handicapper).
While DeChambeau is best known for crushing drives and having distance that many players (including most pros) don’t have, that’s not the only part of his game he excels in. On occasion, he’s shown the ability to be a great putter as well.
When you dive into some stats, in the events that DeChambeau putts well, he usually contends.
Bryson DeChambeau says 1 thing stresses him out on the practice range
For instance, at this year’s U.S. Open, he finished 12th in strokes gained: putting. During this year’s PGA Championship (where he finished 2nd), he ranked 19th in strokes gained: putting. And at this year’s Masters (a T6 finish), DeChambeau was +0.41 in the same statistical category — not a huge gain, but still a differentiator given his ability to bomb his tee shots.
So what’s been the key to his improved putting stroke? It’s not as complicated as you might think.
“I worked really hard and actually found something the week of Valhalla with my putting,” DeChambeau said at Pinehurst during his U.S. Open victory. “From there, I’ve just been smooth sailing, trying to retain that same feeling that I’ve had, not tinkering with it too much.
“I know it’s a really vanilla answer and you’re probably looking for more, but it’s more the same of what I’m doing. It’s a function of straight back, straight through, make sure the face angle is square to that target line for as long as possible and just controlling my speed profile.”
Despite all the complexities of putting — and all the stresses it can cause a golfer — this year’s U.S. Open champ says that simply getting back to basics has helped him the most. He’s also keen on using a Foresight launch monitor on the green before each round to give him instant feedback in the short game.
“That’s really all I’m focused on to make sure I’m hitting the right distance putts,” he adds. You see me working on that every day. Everybody sees it. So I’m probably one of the only people that uses a Foresight on the greens for practice. It really helps get my feel dialed in.”
In addition to the above, DeChambeau says that, after this year’s Masters, there was a bit of an epiphany with his putting — which helped build his confidence over the past few months.
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“As I was going through impact, I was essentially turning my shoulders open, which was allowing me to pull putts. I was pulling everything,” he said. “It seems so simple now, but under the gun and under pressure your body sometimes reacts in ways you can’t fully control. So really focusing on keeping my shoulder line square and keeping that putter face square through impact was huge. That’s what helped me to my success at [the PGA Championship] at Valhalla.”
While the two simple tips have helped DeChambeau improve his putting over the past half-year or so, it’s also been the amount of work he’s put into the short game that’s paid dividends — helping him understand the fine intricacies of putting.
“What makes me comfortable on these greens is years of practice. You’ve just got to practice and get comfortable with the grain and how it’s moving it, the roll-out numbers if you’re downgrain, into the grain, what that does. It takes a while to get comfortable with that.
“That’s the reason why I’m pretty comfortable — because I’ve done it for a long time now. If I was 22, 21, it would be a different situation.”
$6999
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR GAME.
As the newest addition to the storied line of GC launch monitors, the GC3 delivers everything you need to take your game to a whole new level. Use it outdoors on the course—or the range—for instant game-performance feedback. Use it indoors for the ultimate golf simulation experience. No other launch monitor delivers this level of accuracy, versatility, and portability for the price.
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What data the GC3 measures:
Ball Speed
Horizontal & Vertical Launch Angles
Total Spin
Side Spin / Spin Axis
Carry Distance
Club Head Speed
Smash Factor
Angle of Attack
Club Path
Each bundle comes with:
GC3 Launch Monitor
FSX Play Software
FSX 2020 Software
10 Courses
FSX Pro Performance Software
Foresight Fairgrounds
Foresight Sports Performance App
1-Year Warranty
Power Adapter & Cable
USB-C Cable
Alignment Stick
Club Markers
Courses included:
Blue Bayou Golf and Fishing Club
Broken Tree Golf Course
Linfield National Golf Club
Teton Pines Golf Course
Willow Crest Golf Club
The Farms Golf Club
Beaver Hills Country Club
Tall Pines
Butterfield Country Club (Red/Blue)
Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club
Terms & conditions:
U.S. customers only.
After 24 hours, a fee of $250 will be incurred by the customer for order cancellation of this product purchase.
Tax and freight not included in MSRP shown.
GC3 Specifications:
Technology: Triscopic High-Speed Camera System
Dimensions: 6“(w) x 5″(d) x 12″(h)
Weight: 5lbs / 2.3kg
Battery: Lithium-Ion
Data Interface: USB Type C / WiFi / Ethernet
Display: Transflective LCD Touch Screen
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$2500
Get the putt outta here
The world’s most advanced launch monitor just got even better. With Essential Putting Analysis, you’ve now got never-before-seen putting sight at your fingertips. From post-impact ball launch and skid measurements to precisely calculated roll distance, fitters, coaches, and players can now experience an entirely new level of putting performance insight on their GCQuad.
What putting data the GCQuad measures:
Ball velocity
Vertical launch angle
Horizontal launch direction
Total spin
Spin-tilt axis
Back spin
Side spin
Club speed
Smash factor
Club path
Angle of attack
Impact face angle
Impact lie
Impact location
Skid rate
Time to full roll
RPM’s at full roll
Note: All Sales are Final and subject to Foresight Sports Terms and Conditions of Sale published at http://www.foresightsports.com/content/legal-trademark. U.S. customers only.
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