LET YOUR DRIVER ‘CATCH ITS BREATH’ NEAR THE TOP

• Another area where Glover experienced a lot of yip-induced pressure was off the tee. He felt like he had to always hit the fairway to make sure he was in position to hit iron approaches close. Glover’s go-to drive for accuracy is a low, “trapped” shot. He says the approach into the ball is “flat,” like he’s “brushing the ground for a long time with the clubhead” through impact, and that creates the controlled flight.

The key, Glover says, is making sure he is slow and calm off the ball, which encourages a more complete shoulder turn and, more importantly, serves as a reminder not to rush into the downswing.

“I have a short backswing, so I need to make sure I have time to sync everything down into the ball,” says Glover, who ranked first in driving accuracy in his win at the Wyndham, hitting 46 of 56 fairways. “Fast off the ball means I’m too fast into it. If I’m patient a foot or two at the start of the swing (above, left), then everything takes care of itself rhythm-wise. The transition feels smooth.”

Adds Baile: “If he takes the club back too fast, he’s going to create too much lag on the downswing, and there won’t be enough time to square the clubface by impact. Staying patient is key.”

Amateur golfers often lose the synchronicity of their swing at this moment, Baile says. The backswing is quick and jerky and the transition rushed, as if they’re trying to put all their energy into the change of direction. Instead, Baile says a good thought is to feel like your arms and club are “more organised,” or balanced, at the top of the backswing

(above, right). He cites Glover and Cameron Young as pros who are very “collected and prepared” at the top.

“The club has to reach zero velocity going back and change direction at some point,” Baile says. “It’s almost as if you want the club to catch its breath. Then you have more time to square the face.”