Rickie Fowler's Driver by Butch Harmon: Cut, Draw, Height
On the driving range, Butch Harmon has Rickie Fowler practice all the different shot trajectories with his driver. The coach calls for each shot, and the student explains how it feels: a cut as the basic shot, then a low shot, a high shot, and a draw—all with one common thread: staying behind the ball and releasing the club.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
Rickie Fowler's approach shot to hit the fairway is straight or with a slight cut, a ball that drops to the right without much curve. Butch Harmon notes that his cleaner, higher stance at the top of his swing allows him to completely let go of the club, arms and body moving in unison. For drop the ball Facing into the wind, Rickie Fowler thinks about relaxing his chest and head and feels the logo on his glove turn slightly toward the ground. For a draw, he aims a little further to the left, stays behind the ball, and swings through: he thinks about hitting a draw without trying to cut the ball.
For the high ball, he tees up a little higher, stands a little further back from the ball, with a little more lean and weight shifted back, and then releases. Butch Harmon doesn't like the idea of hitting the ball very high for someone who needs to find the fairway. The draw He rarely uses the driver: if he really needs to curve the ball, he uses the 3-wood, because forcing the shot with the driver carries the risk of a double effect. The final shot, the longest one: a deliberate, slightly slower backswing, the key that Butch Harmon recommends to amateurs, who are often too fast on the way up and too slow on the way down.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Determine your basic shot with the driver: straight or with a slight cut.
- To lower your path, relax your chest and head, and feel the back of the glove turn toward the floor.
- For a cut shot, aim a little further to the left, stay behind the ball, and follow through completely.
- For a high shot, raise the tee slightly, stand behind the ball with your weight shifted back a little, and then let go.
- If you really need to hit the ball from right to left, consider using a 3-wood instead of forcing a draw with the driver.
- To gain distance, start off deliberately and a little slower, then let go.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Swing toward the target while aiming for the cut: the ball comes out with too much spin.
- Try to cut the ball instead of just thinking about cutting it.
- Hit the ball high when your main priority is to find the fairway.
- Hitting a strong draw with the driver, with the risk of a double effect.
- A backswing that's too fast and a downswing that's too slow when you try to hit hard.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Series of basic drives, straight with a slight cut
- A low shot into the wind, then a high shot with the tee set higher
- Cut and then draw toward the same imaginary target
- Last long drive with a deliberate uphill shot
Your Questions
What is Rickie Fowler's go-to shot with the driver?
a straight shot or a slight cut shot that curves slightly to the right at the end of its flight. Butch Harmon notes that most players on the tour hit the ball this way right from the start.
How does Rickie Fowler lower his ball flight?
He tries to relax his chest and head, and feels the logo on the glove turn slightly toward the ground, which allows the club to relax and lowers the ball.
Do we need to hit the post to advance?
Butch Harmon doesn't like this idea for someone who needs to hit the fairway. For a high shot, Rickie Fowler tees off a little higher and stays behind the ball, without overdoing the upward angle.
What advice does Butch Harmon give to amateurs who want to hit the ball hard?
Do it like Rickie Fowler: a deliberate, slightly slower upward stroke, then let it go. Amateurs are often too fast on the upswing and too slow on the downswing.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Butch Harmon). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.