Short Game Deep Dive — with PGA Tour Coach, Derek Deminsky

·1 hr 3 min·5 clips

PGA Tour coach Derek Deminsky explains why amateurs get caught between hitting the ball first and using the ground in short game.

The episode begins with host Travis Fulton introducing guest Derek Deminsky, a PGA Tour coach known on Instagram as GolfBetterTucson. After brief personal catch-up and comments on recent golf events like Anthony Kim's LIV Golf win and the distance debate at Pebble Beach, Fulton steers the conversation to short game. The core technical discussion contrasts 'ball first' strikes, characterized by shaft lean and leading-edge contact, with 'ground first' shots that utilize the wedge's bounce. Deminsky analyzes video clips of his students, including Pearson Cootie and Eric Van Rooyen, to illustrate these concepts. He explains key elements like weight distribution, spine angle, and low-point control. The conversation delves into the role of wrist hinge, with Deminsky advocating for players to discover what feels natural rather than adhering to a strict method. A significant portion addresses 'arc depth'—how to get the club out of the ground after impact—and how this relates to avoiding fat shots. Deminsky shares insights on teaching amateurs, suggesting ground-first techniques can be simpler for casual players, while ball-first skills form a foundational golf skill. The episode also touches on the ongoing industry debate between coaches emphasizing leading-edge techniques (like Joe Mayo) and those favoring bounce, with Deminsky appreciating both perspectives. He concludes by discussing his hands-on coaching philosophy, his enjoyment of working with diverse players, and his anticipation of upcoming PGA Tour events.

As heard by us

A coaching-room look at steep chips, fat shots, and the narrow margin between mechanics and contact.

The Stripe Show uses a short-game discussion to sort out why golf advice can go sideways when everything gets boiled down to getting steeper. Travis Holden and Derek Dominski move through steeper attack angles, VSP, forward low point, and the fat shots that can still show up…

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Why you'd press play

You want to know why a steep-looking chip can still come out fat.

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