One of my favorite things about watching PGA Tour players in a casual setting is trying to catch the little things they say without realizing how useful they are.
When Justin Thomas joined Bob Does Sports for a round, it was not exactly a clinic. There were smoothies, club throws, jokes and plenty of chaos. But mixed into all of it were a few golf thoughts amateurs can actually use.
Here are three that stood out to me.
Not every chip needs a landing spot
A lot of golfers are taught to pick a spot when they chip. Land the ball there and let it release.
That’s good advice in the right situation. But Thomas made an interesting point. His dad always chips to a spot. Thomas said he can’t do that on every shot.
Short game is not one system. The lie, grain, slope and amount of green all change the shot. Sometimes picking a spot simplifies things. Other times, it makes you force a shot that does not really fit.
Before you automatically look for a landing spot, look at what the shot is asking for. Does it need to check? Release? Come out soft? Use a slope? The landing spot may matter it just might not be the most important thing for you to focus on.
Lay up away from the yardage you hate
This was probably the best course-management tip in the video.
Thomas mentioned that a layup might be more about avoiding a number than laying up to a number.
Most golfers talk about approach distances they love. They want 100 yards. Or 85. Or a full sand wedge. But very few golfers think enough about the yardages they hate.
Maybe 40 yards is a disaster for you or you hate the 70-yard half wedge. Maybe you’re better from 105 with a full swing than you are from 58 trying to manufacture something.
Sometimes the goal is simply to avoid leaving yourself in a bad layup position. It’s a different mindset but it could help you choose a better club and plan of attack on your next layup shot.
Account for getting quick
Thomas talks about adrenaline which is a little different for somebody who has stood over Ryder Cup putts and major championship shots.
But the lesson still applies to amateurs.
Adrenaline does not just make you nervous. It can make you faster. Your routine speeds up and your transition gets quick. Some players get more active with their hands. Suddenly the 92-yard wedge you planned does not fly like your normal 92-yard wedge.
Most amateurs are not feeling Ryder Cup pressure on a Saturday morning but adrenaline still shows up. Maybe you get excited after a great drive or you have a chance to make an eagle or a birdie. Sometimes you get rushed because someone is waiting for you.
The next swing gets a little quicker and the shot does not come out the way the number said it should.
That’s the part to pay attention to. Adrenaline can change tempo and tempo can change distance, trajectory and spin.
Before you hit, make sure your swing matches the shot you picked. If you chose a smooth wedge, make a smooth wedge swing. If you’re already feeling fast, take a second and reset.
Final thought
The best part of watching Thomas in this setting is that the advice does not feel forced. He’s not standing on a range giving a lesson. He’s just playing golf and saying the kind of things great players think about naturally. Learning how players think and listening to them talk about it through a round is some of the most valuable advice I’ve found on YouTube.
Pat
2 hours ago
My least favorite is 240. But 170 and 70 are very comfortable and usually save par.