After wrapping up the 2026 WM Phoenix Open with a stellar Sunday attack, Chris Gotterup attributed much of his success throughout the week to his ball striking and consistency.
“The first few rounds I definitely did a better job of keeping it in the fairway and hitting it in the right spots on the greens. Friday and Saturday I felt like I was trying to do the right thing, and I still wasn’t doing that,” Gotterup said at a post-round press conference.
While his game relies on strength, Gotterup knows that speed without control is a gamble, especially at TPC Scottsdale.
“You can get to some funky spots pretty easily on this course, especially with how rough it is and how firm it was. I was able to manage my game better and make a few putts when it mattered,” Gotterup said.
To manage his game under those conditions, Gotterup uses two exercises to set up his swing and create a repeatable motion that holds up under pressure.
Gotterup’s band practice
One exercise that Gotterup relies on regularly is his resistance band exercise. To do this, he wraps a light, circular exercise band around his torso, tucking his lead arm under the band while leaving his trail arm free. He then adjusts the band so that it runs across his chest and sits just above his lead elbow.
As he takes a few swings, Gotterup explains that the goal of this drill is to create connection and awareness in his takeaway and backswing so that he starts on the right plane every time.
“I want it to go this way [more inside] and keeping my left arm flat across my chest,” he says, “I tend to come out this way [more outside]and it gets steep, and I fall on it.
“When I take it back with this strap here, it just pulls me this way,” he says, “It’s something I like to use because it doesn’t hinder my swing like crazy and it doesn’t hinder my feel.”
Gotterup’s towel drill
Another important part of Gotterup’s practice routine is the towel drill, a simple feedback tool he uses to hone his strokes.
To set it up, he places a towel a few inches behind the ball, along the target line – roughly in line with his trailing foot. From there, the goal is simple: make swings while avoiding the towel.
“This is something that just makes contact, which helps drive the ball in and get clean contact,” he says. “If I hit the towel, I’ll probably come from the inside or shallower than I’d like.”
Which, as Gotterup explains, produces a miss pattern that causes his shots to leak to the right.
“That makes the ball go to the right for me, and I don’t want that,” he says. ‘I want him to start on the left.
“This [drill] In a very general way, this encourages me to hit it a bit and start the ball to the left.
#goto #drills #Chris #Gotterups #powerful #consistent #swing