A Lesson Learned: Steve Stricker's technique could help your game

Sept. 8, 2009 -- Most people know that Steve Stricker is one of the nicest guys on the PGA Tour. What not enough people know is that the guy is one of the most talented players on the Tour as well. Quick, who's the no. 2 player in the world? Phil Mickelson? Padraig Harrington? It's the Wisconsin native who also happens to be leading the FedExCup Points race for the season. Yep, Mr. Nice Guy himself.

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And though his story, from success to the implosion of his game to his incredible comeback has been documented many times, it is a great lesson for all of us who love golf - to see someone who loved the game enough to set up shop in the cold Wisconsin winter and just hit golf ball after golf ball out of a hitting shed into the snow. There is no secret formula to his success, just the one that few people have the fortitude to under go. Great talent plus hard work -- it really can pay off.

Steve Stricker wrote another chapter in his fairy tale career when he chipped to two feet on the eighteenth hole of The Deutsche Bank Championship to set up a birdie and the win on Monday. It was a chip that had serious consequences, with the tournament on the line, and had a bit of a tough lie in the rough, but using the right technique meant that it really wasn't that difficult. Stricker's chipping technique is this week's A Lesson Learned.

I call his technique "the cock it and pop it" shot, which is the perfect way to play a chip shot out of heavy rough. To hit this shot you have to play the ball back in your stance, set your weight left, choose your most lofted club ( sand or lob wedge ) and create a vertical swing shape. On the backswing, cock your wrists as quickly as possible to elevate the club. On the downswing, drop the club down and through the ball into the grass. It is critical that the hands lead the club to a low, short finish. The dynamic of a high lofted club working up and down on a sharp angle, helps eliminate the amount of grass between the club and ball, creating solid contact and making the ball "pop up" and land softly.

Stricker's putting was phenomenal the whole week, however chipping the ball to within tap in range on the last hole for the win must have been a huge sigh of relief. The next time you are in the rough around the green, take a page out of Steve Stricker's book and hit the "cock it and pop it" shot.

Trevor Gliwski is the Director of Instruction for The Rick Smith Golf Academy at Tiburon, Ritz Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, Fl. His teaching career began in 1994 and has been with Rick Smith since 2000. Gliwski was voted by Golf Digest in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 to "Best teachers in your State" for Florida and "Top 10 golf professionals" by Gulfshore Life Magazine in 2006. He has appeared on The Golf Channel Academy and The Travel Channel. His students range from PGA Tour Pros to the beginning golfer. Trevor can be reached toll free at 1-877-464-6531 or ricksmithgolfacademy@wcicommunities.com.