Has Jake Knapp unlocked a genius on-course training aid?

If you’re a student of the rules of golf, you’ll know that training aids on the course are a big no-no.

If, for example, you were to place an alignment stick down on the tee to help you aim, you’d be getting a penalty.

So, when Jake Knapp teed up incredibly close to a tee box while in contention at the Cognizant Classic, it got many people raising their eyebrows, with some suggesting he’d found a new ‘on-course training aid.’

Now, we’re not for one moment suggesting that Knapp is bending the rules here. He’s perfectly within his right to tee the ball up wherever he likes as long as it’s not in front of the tee markers, so there’s no issue there.

However, it might just be a clever way to help you in your swing.

Why did Jake Knapp tee his ball up so close to the box?

There are a couple of reasons that Knapp, who made history earlier in the week by shooting 59, might have chosen to place his ball so close to the tee box.

Firstly, and this is surely the main reason, is that it’s given him the best possible angle on the hole. PGA National, despite how the smooth swinging 30-year-old made it look in his opening round, is narrow and home to some very tight tee shots and this is one of them.

Even the smallest difference in angle can make a difference to the shot he’s able to play and if it gives him more chance to hit the fairway, then all the better.

Jake Knapp is clearly not claustrophobic 🫣 pic.twitter.com/avsnLwbeXo

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 2, 2025

There is another reason that teeing up that close to a tee box can have a benefit. If, like most golfers, you struggle with getting over the top in your swing, having something that will stop you from moving the club in that direction is a good thing.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Teeing it up so close to the box here brings some seriously bad potential outcomes into play. Get it wrong and you’ll look very silly and will probably do some damage.

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However, there is something you can do on the course if you want to replicate that feeling, without the potential repercussions.

It’s something that long-time bunkered Performance Panel member Steve Johnston highlighted in a tip on driving. While he recommends using a water bottle in practice, he explains that teeing the ball up with a leaf or old divot outside your ball can help you straighten out your slice on the course.

“Look on the ground for something like an acorn or an old divot and tee up your ball in relation to that,” says Johnston.

“Make sure you miss the visual aid that you’ve chosen and, of course, make sure your ball isn’t in front of the tee markers.

“Without thinking about rhythm and swing path, you’ll strike the ball better and hit longer, straighter shots.”

Was Knapp using this tee box to promote a better swing path? It’s unlikely – he doesn’t exactly need the help – but doing something similar can help you hit better shots on the course.

A word of warning, however, if it’s your first time doing this, make sure whatever you’re trying to miss is something you don’t mind hitting.

Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor