Be a feel player like me: good touch comes from instinct and practice

Gripping down and adjusting my stance also lets me expand my toolbox of shots. For example, if the hole is cut close and my mind's eye sees a low-flying shot that checks up quickly, rather than a standard chip, I can choke down on a lob wedge, play the ball back and pinch it off the turf. The result will be a low shot with extra bite. Try adjusting your setup and playing new shots; you'll be on your way to becoming a feel player.

FROM 30 YARDS: I grip down a few inches on my wedge and let my hands hang naturally from my shoulders.

FROM 20 YARDS: I grip a little farther down and stand slightly closer. As I close in on the ball, I gain control.

FROM 10 YARDS: At close range, my setup is very compact-and my target is very small. I'm trying to hole this shot.

Golf's best thinkers, feelers and blenders

In his book Perfectly Balanced Golf, Chuck Cook describes right-brain (feel) and left-brain (analytical) players. The former tend to focus on tempo and visualization, love to create shots and are prone to hot and cold streaks; the latter key on swing mechanics, love to practice and are quite consistent. Cook says a third type- balanced players-blends the two. These golfers use analytical thinking to plan, but then switch to the feel side when they swing. Here are Cook's picks from the 1930s to today:

Feel players

1930s                Walter Hagen
1940s-'50s           Sam Snead
1960s                Arnold Palmer
1970s                Lee Trevino
1980s                Seve Ballesteros
1990s                Fred Couples
Today                Phil Mickelson

Analytical players
1930s                Paul Runyan
1940s-'50s           Ben Hogan
1960s                Billy Casper
1970s                Johnny Miller
1980s                Tom Watson
1990s                Nick Faldo
Today                Vijay Singh

Balanced players
1930s                Bobby Jones
1940s-'50s           Byron Nelson
1960s                Jack Nicklaus
1970s                Jack Nicklaus
1980s                Jack Nicklaus
1990s                Greg Norman
Today                Tiger Woods

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