Chris Gotterup is a big name in golf right now. He’s confident, aggressive and when he gets on a run, it looks almost effortless.
But if you’ve watched him closely during a broadcast, you’ve probably noticed something when he’s set up to hit a shot. There are times when he looks like he’s aiming 20 yards left of the target. It almost looks wrong but it’s working.
Here’s why he does it, why it works and whether or not you should try it.
Why is Chris Gotterup aiming left?
First, let’s clear up the most important point. His body is aimed left but that doesn’t mean his clubface is.
Gotterup plays a controlled fade on most shots. When you want the ball to start left and work back to the target, your alignment often reflects that intention.
You’ll typically see:
- Feet open
- Hips slightly open
- Shoulders open relative to the final target
That alignment supports a path that moves slightly left of the target. If the clubface is just a touch right of that path, the ball starts left and falls gently back.
What his clubface looks like at the top
At the top of the backswing, Gotterup’s clubface is generally square to slightly open relative to his lead forearm. You don’t see a dramatically bowed, shut position.
His lead wrist is fairly neutral, sometimes slightly extended. If he paired that left alignment with a heavily shut clubface, he’d risk pull-hooks. Instead, his face is stable and controlled and he’s able to rotate through the ball with speed and power.
In simple terms:
- Body aligned left
- Path slightly left
- Face just right of the path
That produces the controlled fade you see on TV.
Why it works for him
Gotterup plays a strong grip and that plays a big factor in why this alignment works for him.
The strong grip makes it easier for the clubface to square naturally without a lot of manipulation late in the swing. He doesn’t have to “save” the shot with his hands. The club can rotate with his body instead of fighting it.
He also makes a full athletic turn. He shifts hard into his lead side. He keeps rotating through impact. There’s no stall.
It’s a much different move than the average golfer who swings across the ball and leaves the face open. If that player adds a more open alignment without understanding what the clubface is doing, the result is usually a bigger miss.
Should you try it?
If you’re watching Gotterup make six birdies in a row and thinking to yourself, “I’m going to aim a little left when I play later,” I’ll stop you now.
That alignment isn’t the whole picture. And, for most golfers, copying just that piece isn’t going to produce the same result. It’s easy to focus on it because it’s obvious but it won’t work for every player.
What you can’t see as easily (as the left lineup) is how stable the clubface is, how hard he’s rotating through the ball and how comfortable he is starting the ball left of the target.
If you naturally play a controlled fade, one that starts slightly left and falls back, opening your alignment a touch could help you commit to that shape. But if you already fight a slice or struggle to control the face, aiming more left usually just makes the miss bigger. The ball will still curve.
My takeaway
I’ve always believed you have to build your swing around what works for you.
I’ve always hit a draw. That’s my natural shot. When I was younger, I worked with someone who wanted to change everything so I could play a fade full-time. I tried and it never felt right.
Could I hit a fade? Sure. Most good players can move it both ways. But, as my stock shot, it didn’t feel natural and it wasn’t something I trusted when it mattered.
That’s what stands out to me with Gotterup.
He’s not trying to look textbook and he’s not forcing a neutral setup just because it’s supposed to look that way. He’s simply found what works for him and it’s good enough to win more than once on the PGA Tour.
Top Photo Caption: Chris Gotterup often sets his feet well left of the target. (Twitter/Jamie Kennedy)
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