5 Pro Tips from Tommy Fleetwood: From the Drive to the Green
On JCB, Tommy Fleetwood shares with Rick Shiels five things Tour players do: two swing drills—one with a driver and one with irons—a way to set up for a chip shot, a method for gauging distances, and an end-of-round ritual.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
At the driver, the only club you swing upward with; many amateurs swing downward to ensure contact: the drive comes out with too much spin and curves off course. Fleetwood moves the ball forward, steps his right foot back slightly, keeps his head behind the ball, and swings through. a tee in front of the ball that he has to miss as he swings through. At the irons, it's the opposite: the amateur wants to help the ball rise, stays on the right foot, and scrapes or takes a fat shot at the ball. The drill: lift the left foot during the backswing, then rest it on a surface To make contact, shift your weight to the left, then hit the ball and the grass.
At the chip, he goes through a “shot plan”: reading the green, choosing the landing spot, assessing the lie, selecting the club (a 52° in his demonstration), then telling himself, “a putt with loft.” Positive thoughts, not a list of dangers. For the distances, this isn't a single number: keep track of what each club does on the course until you come up with a range; be realistic (your best 7-iron isn't your maximum distance); and use one club longer when facing a water hazard that's right on the edge. Finally, after the game, analyze what needs improvement and pick your three best shots of the day—a habit his father made him follow.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Driver: Move the ball forward, bring your right foot back slightly, and keep your head behind the ball.
- Place a tee in front of the ball on the line and swing so that you miss it on the follow-through.
- Irons: On the backswing, lift your left foot, then plant it firmly before striking the ball, with your weight on the left side.
- Chip: Read the green, choose your landing spot, assess the lie and select your club, then decide what shot you're going to play.
- On the course, note the actual distance of each shot and the club used.
- At the end of the game, list what worked, what needs improvement, and your three best moves.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Swing the driver downward to ensure solid contact.
- Try to lift the ball with your irons and stay on your right foot.
- Let negative thoughts pile up before a chip.
- Use your best shot as your usual distance.
- Confuse total distance with flight distance, and fall short.
- Leave the course after hitting a few bad shots.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Driver: Tee in front of the ball, to be missed on every swing
- Irons: Lift the left foot and then put it back down; take a divot after the ball
- Chips: Call out the shot aloud before each ball
- Distance log filled out after each game
Your Questions
Where should you place the tee for the driver drill?
In front of the ball, in the line of play. If you swing down, the club hits the tee; to avoid hitting it, you have to swing up toward the ball, which results in a higher, straighter, and longer flight, according to Fleetwood.
How is the "step in irons" exercise performed?
During the backswing, lift your left foot off the ground, then plant it firmly to initiate the downswing. You can no longer stay back: your weight shifts to the left, you strike the ball first, and you take a divot.
What should you include in the “description” of a chip?
What you’re going to do, in practical terms: where the ball lands, how it spins, and which club to use. For his example, Fleetwood chooses his 52°, aiming for a landing just on the green, with a right-to-left slope, and “a putt with loft.”.
How can you track your distances without a launch monitor?
On the course: Note the distance to the flag, the club used, and where the ball landed. As you play more rounds, you’ll develop a range for each club—for example, never less than a certain distance, never more than a certain distance.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Tommy Fleetwood). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.