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Devil Ball Golf

Wed Jul 01, 2009 3:57 pm EDT

Phil Mickelson hits backwards better than you hit forwards

By Jay Busbee

Say what you will about Phil Mickelson, this is flat-out cool. Courtesy of Waggle Room and Golf.com, we bring you this video from Phil's new short-game DVD where he demonstrates how to handle a ball on the downward lip of the back edge of a bunker, a shot you simply cannot hit forward without dropping it into the sand. So what do you do? Punch it out sideways? Pfah. If you're Phil Mickelson, you turn around backwards, twist the club in your hands so that it looks like a spatula, and presto ...

Oh, Phil. If only there was a shot that could send you back in time a couple weeks, to take another shot at that putt at 15 at Bethpage in the U.S. Open.

Phil Mickelson shows you how to hit a golf ball backwards and on purpose [Waggle Room]
How to hit Phil Mickelson's backwards bunker shot [Golf.com]

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Phil Mickelson's 'pink armada' shows him a little love
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Phil Mickelson kicks off his return to golf with a two-under day

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388 Comments

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  1. Go Chargers
    1. Posted by Go Chargers Wed Jul 01, 2009 4:38 pm EDT

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    He has a lot of practice at those kinds of shots..LOL
  2. Ron H
    2. Posted by Ron H Wed Jul 01, 2009 4:40 pm EDT

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    If I tried that shot I would probably hit myself in the face with the ball.....
  3. ajax33@...
    3. Posted by ajax33@... Wed Jul 01, 2009 4:43 pm EDT

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    If I didn't see it - I wouldn't have believed it...After seeing that I truly do believe the pros absolutely practice shots we can't even think of....I wonder how great the danger is of a double hit?
  4. One-Eyed Golfer
    4. Posted by One-Eyed Golfer Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:06 pm EDT

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    The original of Phil doing this was when he was 21-22 years old. Wow, what 17 years on the tour does for you.
  5. One-Eyed Golfer
    5. Posted by One-Eyed Golfer Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:12 pm EDT

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    I just watched the original again. Ironically, In the original one, he mentions flipping his wrists to accomplish the shot and in the newer one he discusses cupping his wrists. I could break my wrists and not do that shot.
  6. Hitman
    6. Posted by Hitman Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:57 pm EDT

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    " Greatest short game ever"- What a load.
  7. KC
    7. Posted by KC Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:09 pm EDT

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    Wow sweet shot! If golf was this exciting to watch I would watch more often. Sadly, it's only fun to play.
  8. cody k
    8. Posted by cody k Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    To bad PHILDO !! cant putt !!
  9. LoLife
    9. Posted by LoLife Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:14 pm EDT

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    I actually laughed out loud at the end of the video when they said he has the "Greatest short game ever"
  10. Justin C
    10. Posted by Justin C Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:17 pm EDT

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    thats sick
  11. logiberra
    11. Posted by logiberra Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:18 pm EDT

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    Yeah I agree with #2 that the same outcome would turn out for me.
  12. logiberra
    12. Posted by logiberra Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:19 pm EDT

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    Ya and sometimes we might also hit it forwards.
  13. Indiana
    13. Posted by Indiana Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:21 pm EDT

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    Nice! Phil what a great guy....
  14. Chase G
    14. Posted by Chase G Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:22 pm EDT

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    What they didn't show was Phil missing the putt right after and coming in 2nd place
  15. Justin
    15. Posted by Justin Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:25 pm EDT

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    holy crap that was cool!
  16. nic
    16. Posted by nic Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:26 pm EDT

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    It was better when Lee Trevino did it about 25 years ago!
  17. Deepak P
    17. Posted by Deepak P Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:27 pm EDT

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    Phil Mickelson is not the "GREATEST short game player ever". He is good, but not the greatest
  18. MyMobileUpload.com
    18. Posted by MyMobileUpload.com Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:28 pm EDT

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    Hey Ron H #2....if you think you'd hit yourself in the face with the ball....I think you'd hit yourself in the face with the club as well 8-)
  19. NorCal530
    19. Posted by NorCal530 Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:32 pm EDT

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    Nice shot...but lets see him hit that right handed....
  20. dan d
    20. Posted by dan d Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:33 pm EDT

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    why "say what you will about phil mickelson", as if people are constantly ragging on the guy?
  21. image guy
    21. Posted by image guy Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:33 pm EDT

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    thats crazy! love the comment above about trying this shot and hitting myself in the face.. lmao!
  22. Dustin W
    22. Posted by Dustin W Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:33 pm EDT

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    yeah this isnt hard as long as the angle is severe enough.. we would do it after golf practice all the time
  23. BenAl Moore
    23. Posted by BenAl Moore Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:33 pm EDT

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    Thanks for another terrific commercial, yahoo!
  24. bucs fan
    24. Posted by bucs fan Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:33 pm EDT

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    "Greatest short game ever?" How about "Greatest at coming up short" ever?
  25. Jellybean
    25. Posted by Jellybean Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:33 pm EDT

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    LOL Chase.

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