Golfer to know: Peter Vitali, head pro at Gaillardia Country Club
COMPILED BY RYAN SHARP
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Published: June 20, 2009
What is your practice routine?
I start with pitch shots with my sand wedge or lob wedge on the range. I lengthen the shots as I loosen up and then move to odd clubs thru the bag, then fairway woods and then driver. I putt before I head to the tee to begin a round and putt some short four footers to make putts and then I putt to the collar of the green without a hole and roll the ball to work on pace only. I don't putt practice putts before a round that I can't make. I want to start a round having only made putts before I start.
What's your pre-shot routine?
I pull the club, walk in to the ball from behind the ball and take one step to the left and walk into the target line with the club in my right hand. I set up to the ball and waggle the club from my wrists and fingers and rock from my left foot back to right and back again. I want to be moving all the time and never static. I make the whole process a moving engagement so that my arms and hands are relaxed and my grip pressure doesn't waver. I can tell when I watch people play weather they will hit a good shot or bad shot before they swing from their routine and waggle.Those amateurs that set up to the ball an stare down at it in a static solid posture are doomed before the club even starts back.
Any superstitions? Lucky ball marks, tees, etc.?
I put a line on the line of my Titleist with a sharpie. I play all No. 1 Pro V1x's and my initials are in UConn Husky Blue on all my golf balls.
Favorite three athletes to watch outside of golf?
Derek Jeter, Ray Allen and Maria Sharipova
Favorite three golfers to watch?
Tiger Woods, Geoff Ogilvy and Suzanne Peterson
Top courses you've played?
Old Head, Ballybunion, Seminole and Calusa Pines
Top course you'd like to play?
Augusta National, Pine Valley, and Cypress Point. There aren't any others that matter are there?
Number of holes-in-one?
Three. Two in college at Uconn.
Career low round?
63 at Old Marsh Golf Club in Palm Beach, Fla. It took down another members previous course record of 64 — Greg Norman.
IN THE BAG
Driver: Titleist D3, Voodoo X shaft
Fairway woods: 909 F 13-degree 3 wood, Voodoo X shaft
Hybrid: Cobra 16 degree, Fubuki x shaft
Irons: 4 - PW Titleist AP2's, Project X Rifle Tour Flighted shafts. Standard lie and length — 4-iron is bent strong 1 degree to eliminate my 3-iron.
Wedges: 52, 56 and 62 degree Titleist Vokey
Putter: Scotty Cameron Custom Newport — 34 inches.
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
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