Lee Trevino gave Ben Crenshaw ball-striking tips that all golfers should heed

One of the reasons the best golfers are, well…the best is their willingness to learn. They’re never under the illusion that they’ve figured it out. Golf is a game that can never be perfected, and even elite players are continually humbled by that fact.

Even major winners and Hall of Famers.

Look no further than a recent video from the PGA Tour Champions featuring Lee Trevino and Ben Crenshaw. The duo has won eight majors between them, but that doesn’t mean their quest for improvement is over. Far from it.

In the video, Trevino gives Crenshaw a few tips on ball striking. The lesson no doubt made Crenshaw a better golfer, but it can be of benefit to you, too. Here’s what you can learn from it.

Play the ball back

One of the first tips Trevino gives Crenshaw is to play the ball further back in his stance. What benefit does this have? Well, as Trevino has said in the past, it shortens your takeaway and helps you get steeper during the downswing. This helps you hit down on the ball and put more backspin on your shots.

You can also see Crenshaw playing the shots with his trail foot dropped a little back. This is a classic Trevino moves that he preaches for aging golfers.

“Us old guys, we need help turning,” Trevino told GOLF.com in 2021. “If I drop my right foot back, it gets my leg out of the way so I can turn more. I don’t hit it that far anymore, but when I get that hip back, it helps.”

By dropping the trail foot a touch, it makes it easier to make a full turn, adding a little extra power to your shots. Additionally, the setup tweak helps promote an in-to-out swing path, which results in more draws — and more distance.

Athletic setup

Trevino’s final tip for Crenshaw has to do with his setup. Trevino suggests more knee bend, which promotes a more athletic posture.

“Sit down a little bit,” Trevino says. “That’ll make your backswing a little more flexible … The older you get, the more you want to go down with your knees, because you’re going to be able to turn off better.”

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.