Reviving Old School Golf Techniques with Arron Oberholser

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From The Smylie Kaufman Show

Reviving a Classic Short Game Technique

In a recent episode of The Smylie Kaufman Show, there was an engaging discussion about a lesser-seen golf shot that could be particularly useful in certain situations on the course, especially with the kind of challenging lies often seen in professional golf.

The technique, inspired by the legendary short game skills of Paul Runyan, known affectionately as "Little Poison", involves using a wedge to execute a shot that mimics a putting stroke. The club is positioned way back in the stance with the toe of the club dug into the ground and an exaggerated heel lift. With a putting grip, typically a reverse overlap, the golfer makes a putting stroke. The result is a shot that emerges with a low, knuckly trajectory and rolls like a putt, providing great control especially from deep or fluffy lies that might otherwise lead to a mishit.

Such a technique is invaluable in situations where the ball is lying just off the fringe in thicker grass, where a standard chip could either come out too strong or get caught in the grass. By using the toe of the club and minimizing the wedging action, this technique helps prevent both the dreaded 'chunk' and the overshot, encouraging a controlled, rolling ball that closely mimics a putt.

Although this technique appears less frequently today, likely due to evolving teaching methods, it remains an effective shot choice under the right conditions. It was hinted that such a shot was missed at recent tournaments like Memorial and Colonial, where players faced challenging lies around the greens.

The conversation not only brought to light the technical aspects of this shot but also reflected on the storied history of golf techniques and their evolution. By revisiting such historical techniques, players might rediscover useful strategies that could enhance their short game arsenal.