After closing 2026 WC Phoenix Open with a stellar Sunday fare, Chris Gotterup credited much of his success during the week to his hitting and consistency with the ball.
“The first two rounds, I definitely did a better job of keeping it fairway and hitting the right spots on the green. On Friday and Saturday, I felt like I was trying to do the right thing and I still didn’t,” Gotterup said in a post-round press conference.
While his game relies on power, Gotterup knows that uncontrolled speed is a gamble — especially in TPC Scottsdale.
“You can find yourself in some spots on this course very easily, especially with the rough stance and how strong it was. I did a better job of managing my game and made some shots when it mattered,” Gotterup said.
To manage his game under those conditions, Gotterup uses two drills to dial in his movement and produce a repeatable movement that holds up under pressure.
Gotterup’s group training
One workout that Gotterup relies on regularly is his resistance band training. To do this, he wraps a lightweight circular exercise band around his torso, placing his lead arm under the band while leaving his trail arm free. He then adjusts the tape so that it goes across his chest and sits just above his lead elbow.
As he takes a few swings, Gotterup explains that the purpose of this exercise is to build connection and awareness in his pick-up and return, helping to ensure that he starts in the correct plane every time.
“I want it to go this way (more in) and keep my left arm across my chest,” he says.
“When I’m bringing it back with this set right here, it just pulls me in that direction,” he says, “it’s something I like to use because it doesn’t interfere with my movement like crazy and it doesn’t disturb my feelings.”
Gotterup’s towel training
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Another staple in Gotterup’s practice routine is the towel drill, a simple feedback tool he uses to sharpen his shots.
To set it up, he places a towel a few inches behind the ball, positioned along the target line—roughly in line with his trail foot. From there, the objective is straightforward: make swings while avoiding the towel.
“It’s something that’s just contact-wise, it promotes getting on the ball and making clean contact,” he says, “if I hit the towel, I’m probably going to come inside or shallower than I’d like.”
Which, as Gotterup explains, produces an error pattern that causes his shots to drift to the right.
“That’s going to make the ball go right for me, and I don’t want that,” he says, “I want it to go left.
“This (drill) kind of, in a very general way, promotes me kind of hitting down and through it and launching the left ball.”
