5 things you can learn from juniors at the Drive, Chip and Putt

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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Over the past decade, Masters week at Augusta National has become more like “Masters 10 days,” with the creation of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Drive, Chip and Putt. For golf fans, each competition presents a unique opportunity to see all ages compete at Augusta National.

The DCP National Finals, which was played on Sunday, is not only a heartwarming tradition, but a glimpse into the next generation of golf stars. After all, with the creation of the event in 2014, we are starting to see DCP alumni compete and win in professional golf, most notably with PGA Tour winner Akshay Bhatia (who will compete in the Masters this week) and LPGA Tour winner Alexa Pano.

Suffice to say, there’s plenty we can learn from how these juniors drive, chip and putt. To gain specific insight about what we can apply to our own games, we caught up with tour coach and Golf Digest 50 Best Teacher Tony Ruggiero.

1. Keep turning on chip shots

What to look for: “Ben Crenshaw once told me on my radio show that the only way to take a three and turn it into a two (or turn a four into a three) is with a wedge and putter,” Ruggiero says. “Abigail Henriksen definitely gets that.”

The key here, Ruggiero says, is that Henriksen continues to rotate her body through the shot. She doesn’t stop at impact and let her arms take over. Watch her left hip and how it continues to move through impact. “Lots of golfers struggle because even on a small shot, there needs to be rotation. Golfers who are poor chippers allow their hips and chest to stop and then the clubhead goes by,” Ruggiero says.

How to do it: Keep your hips, chest and clubhead matched up together through the shot. You can do this, Ruggiero says, by focusing on rotating each of them at the same pace. When you finish, make sure your chest and belt buckle and facing the target and the club is directly in front of your body.

2. Separate your lower and upper body 2208830787

Michael Reaves

What to look for: Of course, these juniors have flexibility and mobility that many of us don’t have anymore, but incorporating more separation between your upper and lower body in the downswing will likely help you. Competing in the Girls 12-13 division, Natalia Velasquez demonstrates a tremendous impact position. “I love the rotation of the hips and separation between lower body and upper body,” Ruggiero says.

Notice how much Velasquez’s lower body has rotated at impact, with her right heel coming off the ground. Her upper body has rotated slightly open as well, but far less so than her lower half. This is crucial to keep the club on plane coming through the ball, Ruggiero says.

How to do it: Feel like your hips start bumping toward the target as you get to the top of the swing, which will initiate this separation. Once they bump a little, then start to turn your lead hip out of the way as your upper body stays closed to the target. Notice how Velasquez’s left leg is straight at impact. You might not be able to get there, but it’s a great marker for strong lower-body rotation.

3. Jump … at the right time

What to look for: Porter Dover beyond a doubt had the most eccentric swing at the DCP, with his active footwork very reminiscent of Scottie Scheffer’s shuffle. In all the movement, though, lies great technique. Ruggiero says, “Kids are learning how to create speed early these days using the ground and their feet. The thing that I think is important here is the timing of when the left foot comes off the ground. He holds the ground very close to impact with his left foot.”

Often, players are told to jump off the ground in the downswing to create power. Ruggiero agrees that this is a good move for power, but many people do it the wrong way. “Most golfers make the mistake of trying to jump off the ground to create speed and they do it too early, and they lose control of the clubface.”

Notice how Dover waits until just after impact to fully extend his lead leg, which creates that jumping look. He’s timed it just right.

How to do it: Avoid feeling like you’re jumping off the ground early in the downswing. Allow your hips to start rotating through the ball in the downswing, but save that jumping motion for just after impact. That’s when your lead leg can straighten.

4. Keep your clubface square on chips 2025 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals

Thomas Lovelock

What to look for: Lucas Dunaway won chipping portion of the Boys 7-9 competition, for Ruggiero analyzing his position here, it’s no wonder why. Dunaway has a perfectly square face in this position, with the clubface at the same angle as his spine. This is a textbook position for a standard chip shot.

Ruggiero says to also take note of his wrist positions. Notice how Dunaway slightly hinges his right wrist. Many golfers struggle chipping, Ruggiero says, because they roll or twist their arms in the takeaway, which gets the clubface out of position.

How do to it: As you take the club back to around waist high, allow your trail wrist to bend back slightly. Your lead wrist should be relatively flat. This should set the club on plane and in a square position to hit repeatable chips.

5. Hold your finish with the putter 2208824668

Richard Heathcote

What to look for: Maya Brown’s finish here reminds Ruggiero of Tiger Woods. Notice how she is holding her finish, staying in her posture and keeping the clubhead where it was at the end of the stroke. This is a great way to improve both your distance control and start line, as holding the finish, like Woods does, keeps the face square to the target for longer. Notice how Brown’s putter face is still pointed right down her target line.

How to do it: Wherever your finish your stroke, hold that position with both the putter head and your body for at least a few seconds. Don’t lift up or pull out of your posture.

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com