Ahead of the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, which demands golfers navigate their ball on and around the baked-out slopes, we're launching a daily Ground Game series. A slate of daily articles to help you better understand how to use the ground to your advantage.
Pinehurst Golf Club is famously built on the sand hills of North Carolina. Water drains through the course quickly, and it means that when the sun comes out, the fairways get hot. When the ball starts rolling—it doesn't stop.
If you're a shorter hitter, there will be some instances when you actually want the ball to keep rolling and rolling. A draw with a driver or 3-wood usually gets the ball tumbling down the fairway much better than a fade.
Turn your forearms over
To create this shot shape, practice from a narrow stance, making slow half swings with the intent of rolling your right forearm over your left through impact (left). This rotation closes the clubface in relation to your swing path and helps produce the draw. Eventually, get back to your normal stance and try to recreate this feel when you hit tee shots. The result should be a nice, sweeping draw that bowls the ball down a firm fairway.