- yesterday
In this video Alex Elliott explains how top hit 7 epic shots at the Belfry.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Welcome to the legendary Brabazon course here at the Belfry, home of four Ryder Cups.
00:11We've teamed up with Callaway and Alex Elliott and I are going to show you how to play seven epic shots.
00:24We're here at the third hole on the Brabazon.
00:27It's a reachable par five, so a real tempter.
00:30Alex has got his tee shot quite a way down, but as you can see, we've just slipped over into the rough here, so there's a decision to be made.
00:39Alex, what are you thinking right now?
00:41I guess there's two options. Depending on how your game's going right now, you could have started well and you might feel confident enough to take this on.
00:48Other options you've got here is if your game's not feeling quite good, and sometimes we have those days, is we could actually lay up down this right-hand side.
00:55But, we've seen people play these shots. I want to take it on right now as well.
01:00So, we're in the rough. Now, with this ball sat down a little bit, we've got to sort of use a club that's going to help us get it in the air.
01:08Out the fairway, we could probably get away with those long irons, the four iron, potentially something around there.
01:13But, 190 yards out, I'm thinking hybrid. Help me get that ball in the air. A little bit of help is all I need here.
01:20Great stuff. Right, so you've decided you're going for it.
01:23Yes.
01:23We've got the hybrid. Talk us through the technique of how you're going to play this shot.
01:27So, I guess there's sort of a feeling I want people to use here. I sort of kind of teach along sort of the feeling route.
01:35So, ball position's really key. We need to make sure we've got the ball in the correct position and the feeling through the shot.
01:40I want people to attach this very close to an iron shot. Let's not try and help it in the air.
01:45Let's try and feel like we get a little bit of a downwards hit and on a downwards lie as well, that's really, really important.
01:51So, in terms of ball position, what I really like to see for golfers with a hybrid is a club head inside their left heel.
01:57Probably where they're going to attach their longer irons or potentially like a five wood or three wood.
02:02But then the feeling through the hit, and I do this for every single shot out on the golf course, make a few practice swings.
02:08Just inside the ball, looking where I want to contact that ground.
02:13So, I'm really looking to sort of brush that grass in front, not sort of get a feeling of scooping it up into the air.
02:20And I think it's amazing that you see some of the best players on tour do this.
02:25They do exaggerated feelings relative to their swing thoughts from their coach, but also relative to the shot that they've got.
02:32Absolutely. Alright, there we go. So, we've got, take a hybrid to help you get it up in the air.
02:37Make sure you're aware of that ball position and make sure you get down into it with that exaggerated feel.
02:42You've talked us through it.
02:43I've talked a big game here.
02:44You've talked it up. Now, let's see it in action.
02:47Okay, so here we go.
02:48Work for your routine, take on one of these shots, and we all know our playing partners will enjoy it just as much as us, if we get it on.
03:02Oh, that looks pretty.
03:04I'll go a little.
03:08So, you're up around the green, chipping a puck for a birdie.
03:11Epic shots call for epic locations, and it does not get any more epic or iconic than the tenth hole here on the Brabazon course at the Belfry.
03:27We look at that behind me. We can all remember Seve Ballesteros being the first man to knock it on there.
03:33The amazing Ryder Cup moments we've seen. You're here. You stood on the tee.
03:38What's the thought process about how you're going to tackle this incredible golf hole?
03:43I think, first and foremost, if you're here, you want to have a go, don't you?
03:45Yes, you do.
03:45You just want to have a go.
03:47I think, if we look at this logically, we've got to sort of put it in that category of, it's just another drive.
03:52Now, I know it's not, and I know it's not, but if we're going to hit our drive our best, and give ourselves our best opportunity of getting it near or getting it on,
04:01I think if we stick to sort of three simple rules, good alignment, try and put some good rhythm on it,
04:10and in your head, really try and hone in on the target rather than a wide open fairway.
04:16So, triple track ball, what I would do in terms of, like, my routine, and actually, not just for this hole,
04:21I'd do this on every single hole, I'd always stand behind and place my lines down towards target,
04:30so I know straight away I'm aligned to where I want to be.
04:33Yeah.
04:33Second, I'm going to take my stance, build my stance around that,
04:40hone in on my target rather than looking in that wide open space, so in this case, a very tight front flag.
04:46And now, all I want you to picture is, can you be balanced?
04:49Yeah.
04:50Because this would be very easy for any golfer of any level, just to give it a little bit more,
04:55because of the situation, and think, can I get it there?
04:58So, be balanced, and try and not make it more than it is.
05:01And just on shot shape, obviously, most amateur golfers, and certainly myself included,
05:05we play with a fade, verging on a slice at times, that suits this perfectly, so let's roll with it,
05:11let's go with it, set up, allowing for that shape, taking it into the hole.
05:15And if we're honest, if we hit a good one and it does leak a little bit right, we might get a friendly
05:19balance off the tree and end up on the green.
05:20Well, let's see how lucky we're feeling today.
05:23Hopefully very.
05:23So, ball down, keep checking your target, checking your alignment, build your stance
05:31around those lines on the ball, last thing, be balanced.
05:36Oh, that looks pretty.
05:43Be good.
05:44Oh, if that's the right length.
05:47Oh, he's right over the top of it on the green.
05:51There you go.
05:52Epic moments, epic shots.
06:00We're on the 17th, another beautiful hole here.
06:03It's a par five, it's reachable.
06:05Every chance to go for it in two from here, Alex, but just one problem,
06:10those branches are overhanging, but you've got to go for it, right?
06:13Oh, 100%.
06:14I think this is a great situation, risk and a bit of reward here, or a lot of reward.
06:19Where the green's set, with it sort of funneling with those bunkers,
06:21it sort of lends itself to that ball, landing short, running up towards that flag, if we can pull it off.
06:27So, with that in mind, we've got to play a punch shot, essentially,
06:30to get it under these branches and running up onto the green.
06:34Explain to us how we do that.
06:35So, the first thing we've got to sort of go for is the lowest lofted club in our bag.
06:39Now, for some people, this may be a six iron.
06:42Some people, it could be upwards of a three iron.
06:44We've got a three iron here, so I'm going to choose my three iron.
06:47If you've got a six iron, five iron, just choose your least lofted club.
06:51So, we've got to control a few things here.
06:54How much we hit down on the golf ball, and the loft the golf club has at impact.
06:58Also, we could put speed into that mix as well.
07:01So, we want to feel as though we're going to hit more down and reduce our loft.
07:04Now, there's a lot of these things that we can do at the address position.
07:07So, let's work through in sort of like a five stage map, as I kind of like to think it.
07:13So, first off, let's grip down that golf club.
07:16It's going to help us control the speed.
07:18Second, we're going to build our stance with that ball towards the back of our stance.
07:23Number three, can we get a little bit of weight on our left side?
07:26Yep.
07:27Number four, I always like to do this without going too much into detail.
07:31We need to make sure that we're bodies aiming a little bit left,
07:34because we're hitting it earlier in our arc.
07:36So, aim a little bit left with that body.
07:38And then the fifth point, try and put a smooth three-quarter swing on it.
07:42All these factors help us control angle attack, help us control the loft of the club,
07:47and hopefully see that ball fizz out nice and low.
07:50Great stuff. Let's see it in action.
07:51Let's go.
07:52So, I think, as we've spoken about throughout this whole series,
07:55it's having a routine that you can stick to on these shots.
07:58So, pick my target.
07:59I'm going to walk in, gripping down that golf club,
08:02place that golf club down, ball slightly back in the stance,
08:06weight left, now we're in a position to go.
08:09Very nice. Chasing up in between the bunkers onto the putting surface.
08:21You've got an eagle putt.
08:22We're on the 15th, another beautiful hole here.
08:31Alex has hit a very, very rare bad shot.
08:34You've got yourself in a little bit of trouble.
08:36You're short-sided.
08:38There's a big old yawning bunker in front of you.
08:41What are you going to do to save your par from here?
08:43Well, I think there's only one thing to do, isn't there?
08:45Flop shot.
08:46Big, high flop shot.
08:47We're thinking Phil Mickelson style here, aren't we?
08:49100%.
08:51It's almost like the hero shot.
08:53If it comes off good, you're a hero.
08:54If it doesn't, it can make you look a little bit of a fool.
08:56So, what are you assessing to decide whether you can carry that off?
08:59I think the most important thing to do is,
09:01I always work it from the ball to target, like a ball to target line.
09:05So, I'd have a look at my lie.
09:06I think if we're going to hit this flop shot,
09:08we want that grass just to be cushioning that ball up a little bit.
09:11On a bare lie, we might have to look at a different option.
09:14I then would walk around this bunker,
09:16and probably walk to where I want to land it.
09:18Because you get a good understanding.
09:19Take this hole here, for example.
09:21We've got a bit of a backstop.
09:22Not a lot of green between the fringe and the flag.
09:25So, assessing it, going to where your target is,
09:28and you can get a full good understanding of where you want to hit that ball to.
09:31Great stuff.
09:32So, we're going to go for the most lofted wedge in the bag.
09:34100%.
09:35How are you setting up for this one?
09:39If I keep it really nice and simple.
09:43Bunker shot is all I'm sort of thinking.
09:45So, I would walk through a routine.
09:47So, I'd place that club down with the face open on the ground.
09:51I would then take my hold.
09:52If you look at that there, Kit.
09:53Like, my hold to me is relatively neutral, but relative to the club face,
09:57the club face is really, really open.
09:59And then place that club down behind the back of the golf ball.
10:03And for a lot of people now, it would be a bit of a scary situation.
10:05That club face looks like it's pointing a little bit to the right,
10:08but we'll correct that in a second.
10:09So, then take a nice wide stance with the ball just favouring the left half.
10:14Yep.
10:15And then this is the key thing here.
10:17You sitting down a little bit and getting the weight a little bit left
10:21actually will get that loft pointing somewhat to target.
10:24Right.
10:24I want you to actually work through a different sort of feeling in release.
10:28I want you to imagine there's a little smiley face on that club face.
10:31Yep.
10:31As you're swinging through, can you point it back at you?
10:34Rather than most people would release a club like this,
10:37because we want to feel a little bit more of an element of this.
10:41Brilliant.
10:41Make sure you take a few practice swings.
10:43Get used to the lie as well.
10:45You've got to get used to that club working through the grass.
10:49Picture how much force you've got to put into it,
10:52because I think the hard thing for most amateur golfers here
10:54and club golfers is it requires a lot more speed than you think.
10:57Yeah.
10:59So place your club down, take your hold, ball up in your stance,
11:03sit down a little bit, mirror that loft back at you.
11:09All right, very high, very soft, catch it on the right level
11:14and that is a very makeable par putt.
11:23It's the tricky 16th now.
11:25We've got an approach, but it's a difficult one.
11:28We all know how tough it is to be good from fairway bunkers.
11:32You're in one right here, Alex.
11:33That pin is tucked.
11:35What are you going to do?
11:37I think again, it's like we've had in this whole series,
11:39have a little bit of a formula for these big epic shots.
11:42So first and foremost, have a look at the lie,
11:45because if this is not lying well, we can get a bit of a clump of sand behind it.
11:48Sometimes even get a fried egg here.
11:51We've got to take our punishment and just take it out of the bunker
11:54and use the most lofted club.
11:55Then I'd have a look at the side profile.
11:57How quick have I got to get this ball up over the lip?
12:00Because how many times do we think,
12:03yeah, you know what?
12:04I can get a six iron and get a five iron out of here.
12:07We leave it in the bunker.
12:08Double bogey staring us back in the face.
12:11So we go lie.
12:11We look at the side profile.
12:13I then choose a club.
12:15So I've got 135 here.
12:17This would probably be a comfortable nine iron for me,
12:19but I'm going to go wedge.
12:20I'd rather get this ball out, come up short,
12:24and I've got a chance of making a bogey at worst.
12:26If again, if I leave it in here, we're talking making some big scores.
12:31So then take a nice normal hold.
12:33I wouldn't change too much on that.
12:35I tend to go with my wedges anyway,
12:37in the middle and an even amount of grip at the top and the bottom.
12:40Normal ball position.
12:42And this is where it differs from what we would have as a traditional bunker shot.
12:45We usually screw our feet right into the sand.
12:49We're staring a fat shot.
12:51So I think we want to sort of make sure we've got a compacted bit of sand under us.
12:56So we've got a stable base.
12:57So our final point is then pick out a little bit of a mark in front of the ball,
13:01make sure the legs stay a little bit quieter through the shot
13:04and really focus on trying to hit down on the ball, not get it in the air.
13:09And just one other point.
13:10Are we doing anything with the ball position here to encourage
13:13that we make sure we get contact on that little white sphere before the sand?
13:17You might want to put it a little bit further back in your stance.
13:19I mean, with a wedge, traditionally,
13:21you're going to have it sort of towards the back of your stance anyway.
13:23If you're on a bit further away, taking more like a 7-iron, 8-iron,
13:27you might want to put it half a ball to a ball back in your stance.
13:30Brilliant. Let's see you take it on.
13:31If you can get it close to that pin, that really is an epic shot.
13:34It's a tight flag.
13:35So a little bit of digging, keep the legs nice and quiet.
13:38Beautiful contact.
13:46Just a little bit short, but I'm not turning this situation into a double bogey.
13:51Give yourself a chance to save your partner.
14:00Here we are on the 18th tee at the Brabazon.
14:03It's a beautiful golf hole, but what an intimidating shot.
14:08Sometimes you just have to take it on.
14:10And when there's water lurking short and you know, the more you bail out,
14:14the more difficult that second shot is going to be.
14:16This is one of those moments, isn't it, Alex?
14:19Definitely. Like you said there, you bail out right.
14:22You're probably laying up for your second here.
14:23Yeah. So how are we going about hitting that absolute bomb off the tee?
14:28Well, we've got to stand up and deliver.
14:30That's first and foremost. And we'd go with driver here, definitely.
14:33Absolutely.
14:33So I would tend to have in my golf game, and as I go through a round,
14:38have sort of three different tee heights.
14:40My low one, if it's a little bit of a chippier one, into the wind.
14:43My medium one, which I sort of class as my fairway finder.
14:47And then what I call is my bombs away tee height.
14:50I love it.
14:51So what I look for here is, as I'm addressing the golf ball,
14:57is actually having half a ball above the face.
14:59I tend not to have this.
15:01I sort of have a quarter usually on like my fairway finder shot.
15:04So first and foremost, half a ball above the face.
15:07And I want to address the ball, ball up in the stance.
15:10That's really, really key.
15:11And just remind yourself, check what you could do nice and simply.
15:14Address it in the middle of your stance with your feet together.
15:17Just turn your left toe out, move your right foot away.
15:20I know right away I've got the ball in the correct position.
15:24Next point, can I make sure my shoulders are actually feeling
15:28as though they're parallel to my feet line.
15:31A lot of golfers, ball up in the stance, sort of get a little bit this way.
15:34And all this is going to encourage sort of this notion.
15:37If you think about it logically, if you get behind it,
15:40we've got a better chance of this upwards hit.
15:42And finally, I call that my gears sort of theory.
15:45Most of the drives that I hit sort of fairway finders, sort of gear four in our car.
15:50This one, we've got to step up.
15:51We've got to go gear five.
15:53So we've got to feel like we've got to be balanced,
15:56but we give it just that little bit more.
15:57Absolutely.
15:58Well, this is a new tee box here for the British masters.
16:03You are the first person to hit a ball off it.
16:05So no pressure.
16:06I feel it.
16:08Let's give it the bombs away.
16:09So walk in right shoulder back.
16:11Gear five with some balance.
16:19Oh, there's a bit of turn on that as well.
16:21So the line here is trying to start it at the bunker.
16:24And if you do get it to turn on that left edge,
16:27you're absolutely in the perfect position.
16:29Perfect.
16:29So aggressive off the tee, committing to it, nailed it.
16:33And now you've set yourself up for that iconic approach into the 18th here at the Belfry.
16:44Here we are in the fairway then at the 18th.
16:47And what an epic shot you are faced with right now, Alex.
16:52We've got the plaque down there from Christie O'Connor's magical two-arm in that Ryder Cup.
16:58Fortunately, two-arm isn't one of the options we need today with all the technology at our disposal.
17:04We've got a few options here.
17:05You can go hybrid, long iron, perhaps even a lofted fairway wood.
17:09What are you going to do from this position?
17:12I'm going to go three-iron.
17:13Notoriously a probably difficult club for most club golfers.
17:18For a couple of reasons, really.
17:20If I don't quite get it, I know I've got the cover over the water.
17:23And if I hit my Sunday best, I'm not going to go long.
17:26So that middle of the road sort of club for me there.
17:29I figure if I went a little bit longer, back edge, downhill chip.
17:32I don't like the fancy of that one.
17:34No, you don't want that.
17:35Using that long iron though, that brings the microscope onto your ball striking.
17:40As amateurs, we can often struggle when we get into those long irons.
17:43Yeah, I think we look down on it, we don't see a lot of loft on the club.
17:48Nine times out of ten, get a little bit thinny in that right shot.
17:50And that's certainly in a lot of wet trouble right here.
17:53So I think if we just think of three simple things,
17:56and these can be thought of off the golf ball.
17:58Number one, ball position.
18:02Number two, can we feel that club is traveling a little bit lower through impact
18:06rather than trying to scoop this ball up high.
18:09And the final one sort of ties into that second one.
18:13And I would simply make some movements.
18:15I mean, if we look at all the top tour players, we've mentioned this in the series before,
18:18of having a feeling to take into a shot.
18:21Most club golfers, a little bit fadey.
18:23So I would really try and feel we have this sort of long right arm feeling
18:28and this released down towards target.
18:31So make some little practice motion just like this without a golf club.
18:36And you're getting a great feeling.
18:37And nine times out of ten, this will probably send it dead straight.
18:40All right.
18:41We've got the pin tucked away there on the top of the three tiers.
18:45Yeah.
18:45This is your moment.
18:46I feel the pressure.
18:47Show us something epic.
18:48Come on, you've got this walking in ball position.
18:52I want to feel it's a club head and sort of on the right edge of this club head here
18:56on the heel side, inside my left heel down, mirror that feeling, hit it away.
19:07Oh, what a strike that is.
19:09If that is the right club.
19:11That is all over it.
19:12It's up there on the back tier.
19:14I think you might have about six foot.
19:16That is a truly epic golf shot.
19:21There we have it.
19:21That is how to hit seven epic shots here at the Belfry.
19:27I hope you enjoyed those tips from Alex.
19:29Next time you're on the course and you're faced with one of those situations,
19:33do what he said, and you'll have some epic shots of your own.
19:37Thanks for watching.
Recommended
5:36
|
Up next
3:56
1:13
4:10
0:15
20:29
15:58
1:40
5:10
10:51
6:31
2:30
19:17
2:44