The Sunday Bag: Pop-Stroke, Staying Safe at PGA Events, Lag Putting Visuals.
5/17/2026
Happy Sunday everyone. This will release before the PGA Championship concludes, so I hope it’s a good one. I’ll be watching.
Here’s what’s in the bag.
Today’s quote:
“You swing your best when you have the fewest things to think about.”
-Bobby Jones
Brandt Snedeker’s Pop-Stroke
After Brandt Snedeker’s win last Sunday, I couldn’t help but relive some old-school Sned footage. One of the first clips I came across was this classic where he explains his throwback putting stroke which many have referred to as a “pop-stroke” style.
My favorite part is when he casually drains 3 straight 15-footers.
Be Careful at PGA Events
There is a viral clip going around of Wyndham Clark pulling an iron shot directly into a group of spectators. Pretty scary stuff. Watch the video first and then I’ll go over two things that I thought would be useful for you all.
Most of you reading this are pretty serious golfers, so I’m assuming you’re all aware of how dangerous an errant shot can be. But if you do go to a PGA event, don’t risk your life for a cool video. These guys are insanely good, but they aren’t machines. Someone is eventually going to take a golf ball straight to the dome on live TV and it’s not gonna be pretty.
The more actionable advice for you: those ugly lies with an awkward downhill stance are a perfect recipe for pull hooks — like Wyndham hit. I can’t be certain where he was intending to hit it, but I’m assuming it wasn’t directly at the spectators lol. Nonetheless, the key with those shots is to stay unbelievably still in your posture. If you come up out of it at all, you’ll have a real chance of hooking your ball into trouble. Or worse maybe OB. Stay still and deliver solid contact.
This Week’s Premium Post
This week’s premium post will be on flyer lies.
A preview:
“The flyer is unique because it’s the only shot where gaining distance is a bad thing. No one wants to gain distance if it means sacrificing control and predictability.
Where amateurs get into trouble is lie assessment. Pros build entire pre-shot routines around reading flyers. Amateurs barely glance at the grass behind their ball.”
The post will be for paid subs only. If you haven’t already, you can upgrade HERE.
Lag Putting Visual
Lag putting is one of the few areas of the game where visualization can have a major impact. When I first started playing I used the old trash can lid visual, and now I visualize the entire putt rolling along the green into the side of the cup. It’s helpful to develop a consistent mental routine for how you want to roll these longer putts.
I saw this great post by @drakesmith_ on X and thought some of you might find it useful. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen the 3 feet in front/back visual, but I’m sure it will be helpful for some.
Alignment Vs Intent
This is a concept I’ve talked a lot about in this newsletter. Alignment does not always equal aim. You can read the full article on it here:
The video below is of Chris Gotterup aligned at what looks to me like the right side of the trees. Watch the clip and you’ll see his ball take off way right of the screen. There is no denying Gotterup is very unique in this regard. He plays somewhat of a push draw. But the point is that there’s no hard rule that says swing path needs to follow feet path.
If you’re going to stand open to your target, just make sure your intent is where your eyes are looking. Trevino and Fred Couples are a couple of names that come to mind.
That’s it for today. Hope you all have a great week and can get out and play.
If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to email me at tourswingstommy@gmail.com. I read everything.
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