Gary Player is one of the greatest golfers of all time, so it goes without saying that any advice he has to offer should be snapped up by any amateur golfers who are looking to improve.
Player won everything there is to win in the game with 150 tournament victories to his name, including nine major championships and 24 PGA Tour titles.
And now, using all of the wisdom he has accumulated throughout his years in the game, Player offers as much advice as possible to amateur golfers.
The diminutive South African more than punched above his weight during his time in the game.
His incredible work ethic and courage when faced with adversity enabled him to challenge true giants of the game in the form of Arnold Palmer and perhaps the greatest of all time, Jack Nicklaus.
Now Player has opened up on something that should help you, the amateur golfer, reach your full potential.
Gary Player tells amateur golfers the secret to driving which ‘every top player’ does
Player was an exceptionally good driver of the ball during his heyday.
And he has now lifted the lid on the secret which enables the best golfers in the world to produce the goods consistently off the tee.
Player explained how the swing path of your hands and your club are vitally important ingredients to driving the golf ball well.
He said: “That side of that club is cancer.
“The secret is this side of the club. When you stand here, and you take the club there, you’re looking for trouble.
“Every top player in the world, their hands will come slightly on the inside there with the club-head on the outside of his hands.
“You don’t see that, you never see your club do that (wrist hinge with club being taken away inside the plane). The man who strikes the ball from the inside and keeps the club on line the longest is the best player.“
What Player is trying to get across here is the importance of taking the club away with your hands slightly on the inside but with the club-head slightly outside of said hands.
This creates width in the backswing and it goes without saying that there will be more connection between your body and arms in your takeaway.
The tip Jack Nicklaus gave Gary Player to help him improve his driving
Back in 2020, Player, the grinder that he is, was working hard on his driving on the range in South Florida when a familiar face stopped by.
Nicklaus and Player have been very close over the past 60 years or so, and the American helped out his old friend when he was struggling with his swing.
The 18-time major champion told Player that his arms, and indeed the club, were moving too much on the inside and around his body.
Interestingly, that movement is preferable to taking the club on the outside with your hands, as Player highlighted in his advice above.
After Nicklaus’s advice, Player began to hit better shots immediately, which goes to show that even the best golfers sometimes struggle with their techniques.
Nobody is perfect and not one single person has ever mastered the game of golf, so go easy on yourself.
However, at the same time, it’s always worth giving yourself the very best opportunity to succeed, and by following Player’s advice, you’ll be doing exactly that.
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