Joe,
I have been golfing for 5 years and have a very good drive, long irons and putting. My whole game goes to the dogs when I have about a 30 yd. pitch or shorter chip, which is sometimes my second shot on a short hole. I don't like to take a divot, but I think I'm not hitting the bottom of the ball by not doing so. Is there a tip out there to help me? I enjoy the newsletter and all the advice.
Thanks, Bette
Hi Bette,
Pitches and chips are the scoring shots that separate the low handicappers from the high handicappers. You can go to any driving range and watch two people banging out impressive shots, but their handicaps may be 5 shots apart and you would not be able to tell which person was better, which means more time should be spent on the short game instead of the long game. In your case, if you do not like taking a divot, that means your swing is a “sweeping” swing that has little margin for error. I would recommend improving your margin of error by striking the ball at the equator with a downward stroke. That way, the ball will spin up the clubface, unlike the sweeping swing which strikes the equator resulting in a low line drive or topped shot. Also on the downswing do not break your wrists, let the hands lead the clubhead all the way into the follow thru.
Joe
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Question for the Evil Twin:
Jody, what do you think about the Taylor Made R7 driver with the adjustable weight screws?
Answer: It’s a screwy idea, but it might be fun to screw around with, as long as you don’t screw up your swing trying to screw the right weights into the right screw holes. It gives a whole new meaning when you hit a bad shot. Instead of saying screw it, you can actually do it.
(note from Joe – Jody, I think you have a screw loose, and it’s not in your driver)
Jody, what do you think about the Taylor Made R7 driver with the adjustable weight screws?
Answer: It’s a screwy idea, but it might be fun to screw around with, as long as you don’t screw up your swing trying to screw the right weights into the right screw holes. It gives a whole new meaning when you hit a bad shot. Instead of saying screw it, you can actually do it.
(note from Joe – Jody, I think you have a screw loose, and it’s not in your driver)
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Joe,
I can’t afford to buy new balls all the time, so how long do older balls keep their distance?
Matt
Hi Matt,
One way to tell is to hold a new ball in one hand and another ball in the other hand. On a smooth sidewalk, hold them as high as you can and drop them at the same time and compare how high they rebound.
Joe
I can’t afford to buy new balls all the time, so how long do older balls keep their distance?
Matt
Hi Matt,
One way to tell is to hold a new ball in one hand and another ball in the other hand. On a smooth sidewalk, hold them as high as you can and drop them at the same time and compare how high they rebound.
Joe
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Joe,
If Ben Hogan was such a great ball striker, why did he say that all straight shots are accidents?
Ray
Hello Ray,
I have no business speaking for Ben, but here is what I think he meant. If you try to hit a straight shot every time, you will only sometimes succeed. If you can “shape” your shots by deliberately hitting a fade or a draw, then you have taken away the dangers that are on one side of the hole or the other side, and even if the ball happens to go straight you are still safe as long as you are not aiming directly at the dangerous area. This does not mean you need two different swings, you can have the same swing with two different grips, one “stronger” to promote a draw, and one “weaker” to promote a fade. If you think about it, when you try to hit the ball straight you do not really know if it might go left or right, so you can get into trouble more easily because your margin of error is smaller. When you can shape your shots, fairways and greens become essentially twice as wide because you know you are not as likely to miss on the wrong side, so you do not have to aim down the middle, and therefore your margin of error becomes larger to the other side.
Joe
If Ben Hogan was such a great ball striker, why did he say that all straight shots are accidents?
Ray
Hello Ray,
I have no business speaking for Ben, but here is what I think he meant. If you try to hit a straight shot every time, you will only sometimes succeed. If you can “shape” your shots by deliberately hitting a fade or a draw, then you have taken away the dangers that are on one side of the hole or the other side, and even if the ball happens to go straight you are still safe as long as you are not aiming directly at the dangerous area. This does not mean you need two different swings, you can have the same swing with two different grips, one “stronger” to promote a draw, and one “weaker” to promote a fade. If you think about it, when you try to hit the ball straight you do not really know if it might go left or right, so you can get into trouble more easily because your margin of error is smaller. When you can shape your shots, fairways and greens become essentially twice as wide because you know you are not as likely to miss on the wrong side, so you do not have to aim down the middle, and therefore your margin of error becomes larger to the other side.
Joe
Monday, September 20, 2004
Joe,
Just a quick question, I’m a 2 handicapper and I hit my driver about 290 metres and my wedge 125 the problem is that all my short irons go a long way for a short iron e.g. 8 iron 155, 6 iron 180, but that’s where it stops if I’m 200 out I can’t get there with a well struck 3 iron, what’s the deal there. Thanks for listening and hope to get some feedback.
Phil
Hi Phil,
You must be stronger than a gorilla (or is that you, Lefty? nawwww). Since a meter is about 10% longer than a yard, that means (rounding it off) you are hitting your driver about 320 yards, your 8 iron 170 yards, your 6 iron 200 yards. That begs the question about how far can you hit your 5 and 4 irons, my guess would be (using a rule of thumb 10-15 yards per club) your 5 iron would go 210-215 and your 4 iron would go 220-225 yards. If that is the case I would bench the 3 iron and use a hybrid club or 7 wood instead. Many people besides you have trouble hitting longer irons, that’s why the new sets are coming out with hybrid clubs replacing the longer irons, so why fight it? Just go with technology.
Joe
Just a quick question, I’m a 2 handicapper and I hit my driver about 290 metres and my wedge 125 the problem is that all my short irons go a long way for a short iron e.g. 8 iron 155, 6 iron 180, but that’s where it stops if I’m 200 out I can’t get there with a well struck 3 iron, what’s the deal there. Thanks for listening and hope to get some feedback.
Phil
Hi Phil,
You must be stronger than a gorilla (or is that you, Lefty? nawwww). Since a meter is about 10% longer than a yard, that means (rounding it off) you are hitting your driver about 320 yards, your 8 iron 170 yards, your 6 iron 200 yards. That begs the question about how far can you hit your 5 and 4 irons, my guess would be (using a rule of thumb 10-15 yards per club) your 5 iron would go 210-215 and your 4 iron would go 220-225 yards. If that is the case I would bench the 3 iron and use a hybrid club or 7 wood instead. Many people besides you have trouble hitting longer irons, that’s why the new sets are coming out with hybrid clubs replacing the longer irons, so why fight it? Just go with technology.
Joe
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Friday, September 17, 2004
Joe,
I noticed there are a lot of new types of tees available like the “brush” tee to reduce the friction of the ball leaving the tee. Does this really make that much difference?
Harvey
Hi Harvey,
I read somewhere that makes about as much difference as your car being slowed down from a bug hitting your windshield. However, here is an experiment you might want to try. Take one of those rubber cylindrical tees that are used on driving range mats, and cut it to your desired height. Then cut a notch about a quarter inch square at the top. Point this notch toward your target and tee the ball. The idea here is that when the ball is struck, there might be some side friction from the tee to the ball which might reduce sidespin and thus reduce slices or hooks. It might be worth a try.
Joe
I noticed there are a lot of new types of tees available like the “brush” tee to reduce the friction of the ball leaving the tee. Does this really make that much difference?
Harvey
Hi Harvey,
I read somewhere that makes about as much difference as your car being slowed down from a bug hitting your windshield. However, here is an experiment you might want to try. Take one of those rubber cylindrical tees that are used on driving range mats, and cut it to your desired height. Then cut a notch about a quarter inch square at the top. Point this notch toward your target and tee the ball. The idea here is that when the ball is struck, there might be some side friction from the tee to the ball which might reduce sidespin and thus reduce slices or hooks. It might be worth a try.
Joe
Friday, September 10, 2004
Joe,
Three years ago my handicap was 17 now it is 31! I simply can not resist looking up and hitting from the top. I go to the driving range and my swing is fine but I can not take it to the course. After fifty five years of golf maybe its time to give it up. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Best regards, Bob Schuessler
Hello Bob,
Hitting from the top and looking up are both related to a “reverse pivot” which results in your weight ending up on the wrong foot. The Body Golf videos have some excellent drills that will surely correct this, like the toe drag drill and step-thru drill, both of which will assure that you finish with all your weight on the front foot. Once you can do that, it will be easier to keep looking at the ball spot after contact. Also, you must realize that on the range there is no pressure while on the course the fear of a bad shot will make your muscles behave differently. On the range you are swinging every few seconds so it is easy to get into a good rhythm, while on the course you are only swinging once every several minutes, so be sure to take a few practice swings before every shot. Don’t give up, just swing easy and make good contact on every shot. Even if you bogey every hole, that alone will get you back to your original handicap. Best of luck.
Joe
Three years ago my handicap was 17 now it is 31! I simply can not resist looking up and hitting from the top. I go to the driving range and my swing is fine but I can not take it to the course. After fifty five years of golf maybe its time to give it up. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Best regards, Bob Schuessler
Hello Bob,
Hitting from the top and looking up are both related to a “reverse pivot” which results in your weight ending up on the wrong foot. The Body Golf videos have some excellent drills that will surely correct this, like the toe drag drill and step-thru drill, both of which will assure that you finish with all your weight on the front foot. Once you can do that, it will be easier to keep looking at the ball spot after contact. Also, you must realize that on the range there is no pressure while on the course the fear of a bad shot will make your muscles behave differently. On the range you are swinging every few seconds so it is easy to get into a good rhythm, while on the course you are only swinging once every several minutes, so be sure to take a few practice swings before every shot. Don’t give up, just swing easy and make good contact on every shot. Even if you bogey every hole, that alone will get you back to your original handicap. Best of luck.
Joe
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Joe,
My buddies and I had a discussion, since golf is a never ending search for perfection, and we cannot agree on what a perfect round of golf would be, what is your opinion?
Ronnie
Hello Ronnie,
Be reasonable, nobody is going to score 18 for 18 holes. No matter how good a player is, many players can shoot their best round ever and still say there were a few more putts that they could have made. So absolute perfection is an unrealistic goal. Instead, look at it in terms of realistic expectations vs. “successes” or “good feelings” about having achieved something. Unless you play every day, you should not expect to shoot in the 60’s. Unless you play more than once per week, you should not expect to shoot in the 70’s. If you play less than once per week, you probably should not expect to break 90. Those who play only once or twice per month should be happy to break 100. So what brings the good feelings of success? If you have never broken 100, but that is your goal, it is a perfectly good feeling when you finally do it. Even if your score was not your best, but you won a match, that’s a success and a perfectly good feeling. If you don’t have a match, create your own against the course. If you had more good holes than bad holes, that’s a win. If you hit more fairways and / or greens than you missed, that’s a win. If you one-putted more times than you 3-putted, that’s a win. If you avoided lost balls or penalty strokes, that’s a win. Learn to enjoy each of these wins. Even if you did not accomplish any of these things, your misadventures can always get a few laughs during the recap of the round afterwards with your friends. Laughter is the best medicine, a good feeling, and what can be more perfect than that?
Joe
My buddies and I had a discussion, since golf is a never ending search for perfection, and we cannot agree on what a perfect round of golf would be, what is your opinion?
Ronnie
Hello Ronnie,
Be reasonable, nobody is going to score 18 for 18 holes. No matter how good a player is, many players can shoot their best round ever and still say there were a few more putts that they could have made. So absolute perfection is an unrealistic goal. Instead, look at it in terms of realistic expectations vs. “successes” or “good feelings” about having achieved something. Unless you play every day, you should not expect to shoot in the 60’s. Unless you play more than once per week, you should not expect to shoot in the 70’s. If you play less than once per week, you probably should not expect to break 90. Those who play only once or twice per month should be happy to break 100. So what brings the good feelings of success? If you have never broken 100, but that is your goal, it is a perfectly good feeling when you finally do it. Even if your score was not your best, but you won a match, that’s a success and a perfectly good feeling. If you don’t have a match, create your own against the course. If you had more good holes than bad holes, that’s a win. If you hit more fairways and / or greens than you missed, that’s a win. If you one-putted more times than you 3-putted, that’s a win. If you avoided lost balls or penalty strokes, that’s a win. Learn to enjoy each of these wins. Even if you did not accomplish any of these things, your misadventures can always get a few laughs during the recap of the round afterwards with your friends. Laughter is the best medicine, a good feeling, and what can be more perfect than that?
Joe
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Joe,
Any idea about what happened to Kenny Perry’s swing?
Kenny
Hi Kenny (hmmm, this would not be the real Kenny, would it? nawwww),
KP has an unusual backswing, which supports my theory that the only purpose of the backswing is to arrive at a strong position at the top of the backswing. That position may be different from person to person, so this position is studied carefully by serious golfers. When they are playing well, they have their swing videotaped, and then when they are not playing well, they compare their current swing to their best swing and look for differences. One of the things they seem to believe, which I do not think is so important, is to point the club down the target line at the top of the backswing. I believe there are other things more important to look for, and to focus on that “mannerism” may distract attention to other “fundamentals” that occur during the downstroke. KP and Tiger have both gotten concerned when they viewed themselves “coming across the line” at the top. As we have pointed out before, many successful golfers come across the target line all the time, so maybe that is not the right thing to focus on. I would prefer to look at the path of the downswing, the amount of weight shift, and the position of the back elbow before impact. Good luck, Kenny.
Joe
Any idea about what happened to Kenny Perry’s swing?
Kenny
Hi Kenny (hmmm, this would not be the real Kenny, would it? nawwww),
KP has an unusual backswing, which supports my theory that the only purpose of the backswing is to arrive at a strong position at the top of the backswing. That position may be different from person to person, so this position is studied carefully by serious golfers. When they are playing well, they have their swing videotaped, and then when they are not playing well, they compare their current swing to their best swing and look for differences. One of the things they seem to believe, which I do not think is so important, is to point the club down the target line at the top of the backswing. I believe there are other things more important to look for, and to focus on that “mannerism” may distract attention to other “fundamentals” that occur during the downstroke. KP and Tiger have both gotten concerned when they viewed themselves “coming across the line” at the top. As we have pointed out before, many successful golfers come across the target line all the time, so maybe that is not the right thing to focus on. I would prefer to look at the path of the downswing, the amount of weight shift, and the position of the back elbow before impact. Good luck, Kenny.
Joe
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Joe,
what is the most satisfying thing about golf?
Answer: I agree with Henry Longhurst. The most exquisitely satisfying act in the world of golf is that of throwing a club. The full backswing, the delayed wrist action, the flowing follow-through, followed by that unique whirring sound, reminiscent of a passing flock of birds, this is without parallel in sport.
what is the most satisfying thing about golf?
Answer: I agree with Henry Longhurst. The most exquisitely satisfying act in the world of golf is that of throwing a club. The full backswing, the delayed wrist action, the flowing follow-through, followed by that unique whirring sound, reminiscent of a passing flock of birds, this is without parallel in sport.
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
) Joe,
About 6 weeks ago I was playing well before we went on vacation, in fact I was on the verge of breaking 80 at our home course and played well while on vacation, but as soon as we got back from vacation it was like I left my swing on the plane to go somewhere else? For some reason I have started hitting everything with my shoulders instead of with my arms and hands. I know by bringing my shoulders through first it leads to a direct pull or a serious slice, and I notice now that since I'm not swinging through I'm also hitting off my back foot. I know what I'm doing, but I can't stop swinging with my shoulders, can you help?Chad
Hello Chad,
Everyone has their own favorite swing thoughts, but sometimes they get in the way. In your case, I see no reason why your shoulders, arms, and hands cannot work together rather than separately. Do the double clubber drill as shown in the Body Golf videos, and you will feel a flowing motion starting from the lower body followed by the shoulders, arms, and then the hands. Delay the wrist break as long as possible. Make sure you start the downswing with the lower body, that way you are less likely to hit off the back foot.
Joe
About 6 weeks ago I was playing well before we went on vacation, in fact I was on the verge of breaking 80 at our home course and played well while on vacation, but as soon as we got back from vacation it was like I left my swing on the plane to go somewhere else? For some reason I have started hitting everything with my shoulders instead of with my arms and hands. I know by bringing my shoulders through first it leads to a direct pull or a serious slice, and I notice now that since I'm not swinging through I'm also hitting off my back foot. I know what I'm doing, but I can't stop swinging with my shoulders, can you help?Chad
Hello Chad,
Everyone has their own favorite swing thoughts, but sometimes they get in the way. In your case, I see no reason why your shoulders, arms, and hands cannot work together rather than separately. Do the double clubber drill as shown in the Body Golf videos, and you will feel a flowing motion starting from the lower body followed by the shoulders, arms, and then the hands. Delay the wrist break as long as possible. Make sure you start the downswing with the lower body, that way you are less likely to hit off the back foot.
Joe
Saturday, August 28, 2004
Joe,
i am 13 and i would like to know which is the best make of golf ball and golf club
david
Hi David,
All the major brands of balls and clubs are pushing the limits of technology, so there is no single brand that stands out over all the others. You will see from magazines and web sites that the clubs used by the pros are many different brands. Pick your favorite pros and see what equipment they use. Annika likes Calloway, Phil likes Titleist, Tiger likes Nike, Vijay likes Cleveland, Padraig likes Wilson, lots of people like Ping. If cost is not an issue, and you want to play your very best, get custom fitted whenever you buy clubs. Some people still think new technology is a big advantage, but if that is true, why is it that the average scores for all golfers have not improved for many years? Think about it, it’s just a stick with a hunk of metal on the end. Since you are still young and growing, I would not invest a lot of money at this time because you will be outgrowing your clubs often. If you do not have a lot of money, you can still do very well by getting second-hand clubs from used equipment stores or even from flea markets and garage sales. Try them at a practice range and if they don’t work, just keep trading them in for other sets. Some of these sets are surprisingly good even if they look a little beat up. And if you want to save money on balls, just get a ball retriever and walk along some of the water holes on any course, and you will never have to buy balls again, and you will have many brands to choose from and decide which is best for you.
Joe
i am 13 and i would like to know which is the best make of golf ball and golf club
david
Hi David,
All the major brands of balls and clubs are pushing the limits of technology, so there is no single brand that stands out over all the others. You will see from magazines and web sites that the clubs used by the pros are many different brands. Pick your favorite pros and see what equipment they use. Annika likes Calloway, Phil likes Titleist, Tiger likes Nike, Vijay likes Cleveland, Padraig likes Wilson, lots of people like Ping. If cost is not an issue, and you want to play your very best, get custom fitted whenever you buy clubs. Some people still think new technology is a big advantage, but if that is true, why is it that the average scores for all golfers have not improved for many years? Think about it, it’s just a stick with a hunk of metal on the end. Since you are still young and growing, I would not invest a lot of money at this time because you will be outgrowing your clubs often. If you do not have a lot of money, you can still do very well by getting second-hand clubs from used equipment stores or even from flea markets and garage sales. Try them at a practice range and if they don’t work, just keep trading them in for other sets. Some of these sets are surprisingly good even if they look a little beat up. And if you want to save money on balls, just get a ball retriever and walk along some of the water holes on any course, and you will never have to buy balls again, and you will have many brands to choose from and decide which is best for you.
Joe
Friday, August 27, 2004
Joe,
Are we supposed to leave rakes inside the sand traps or outside the traps?
Andrea
Hi Andrea,
There is no requirement either way. Some courses recommend one or the other. If you leave the rake in the trap, you make it easier for the guys who mow the grass. If you leave it outside the trap, you make it easier for the next person to use (or to trip over). Most courses prefer to leave them in the sand.
Joe
Are we supposed to leave rakes inside the sand traps or outside the traps?
Andrea
Hi Andrea,
There is no requirement either way. Some courses recommend one or the other. If you leave the rake in the trap, you make it easier for the guys who mow the grass. If you leave it outside the trap, you make it easier for the next person to use (or to trip over). Most courses prefer to leave them in the sand.
Joe
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Joe,
which is more strict, the 10 Commandments or the Rules of Golf?
Answer: We had better hope “Thou Shalt Not Kill” is not interpreted by the USGA. It would be a penalty if you take a divot, because you are killing the grass. You usually have to kill whatever food you are eating, even fruits and veggies are a form of life. So I guess in order to avoid a penalty you would have to starve. Also, don’t ever kill any mosquitos, roaches, ants, spiders or any other kind of bug, just let them bite you, or else, as in the Rules of Monopoly, you will be handed a card that says “go to Hades, go directly to Hades, do not pass Go, do not collect $200.”
which is more strict, the 10 Commandments or the Rules of Golf?
Answer: We had better hope “Thou Shalt Not Kill” is not interpreted by the USGA. It would be a penalty if you take a divot, because you are killing the grass. You usually have to kill whatever food you are eating, even fruits and veggies are a form of life. So I guess in order to avoid a penalty you would have to starve. Also, don’t ever kill any mosquitos, roaches, ants, spiders or any other kind of bug, just let them bite you, or else, as in the Rules of Monopoly, you will be handed a card that says “go to Hades, go directly to Hades, do not pass Go, do not collect $200.”
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Joe,
I am 70 yrs.old and 5' 3"and resumed golf after 25 years. My equipment is almost as old as I am. I wish to buy new irons and woods. Do I need graphite shafts and should they be adjusted for my height? At the moment I am not getting any distance. I would be grateful for any help.Bob Ivinson
Hello Bob,
Yes, I think anyone who is going to buy new clubs should get properly fitted, or else your new clubs might not work very well for you. Graphite shafts are not an absolute necessity, but they might help, depending on how you swing. Try to visit a store that has a computerized hitting bay where you hit into a video screen and it tells you how many yards your shot would have traveled, it shows you the ball flight, hooks or slices, and launch angles. Then you can more easily compare results with different types of clubs.
Joe
I am 70 yrs.old and 5' 3"and resumed golf after 25 years. My equipment is almost as old as I am. I wish to buy new irons and woods. Do I need graphite shafts and should they be adjusted for my height? At the moment I am not getting any distance. I would be grateful for any help.Bob Ivinson
Hello Bob,
Yes, I think anyone who is going to buy new clubs should get properly fitted, or else your new clubs might not work very well for you. Graphite shafts are not an absolute necessity, but they might help, depending on how you swing. Try to visit a store that has a computerized hitting bay where you hit into a video screen and it tells you how many yards your shot would have traveled, it shows you the ball flight, hooks or slices, and launch angles. Then you can more easily compare results with different types of clubs.
Joe
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Joe,
Any ideas on how to get better tempo into the swing? I am smooth on the backswing but seem to want to hurry on the down swing. My back swing looks good until I reach the top and then I seem to want to unload. How do I ease into the downswing?
Scott
Hello Scott,
I think the double clubber drill shown in the Body Golf videos will help to promote better tempo. This drill makes it pretty hard to hurry the downswing, you can just feel the better tempo, so just don’t fight it, go along with it. The more you do it, the more your motor muscle memory ingrains the smoother tempo. Another benefit from this drill is that you can more easily see the path the clubhead is taking at the ball position. Most people are not aware whether or not this path is down the target line or across the ball.
Joe
Any ideas on how to get better tempo into the swing? I am smooth on the backswing but seem to want to hurry on the down swing. My back swing looks good until I reach the top and then I seem to want to unload. How do I ease into the downswing?
Scott
Hello Scott,
I think the double clubber drill shown in the Body Golf videos will help to promote better tempo. This drill makes it pretty hard to hurry the downswing, you can just feel the better tempo, so just don’t fight it, go along with it. The more you do it, the more your motor muscle memory ingrains the smoother tempo. Another benefit from this drill is that you can more easily see the path the clubhead is taking at the ball position. Most people are not aware whether or not this path is down the target line or across the ball.
Joe
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Joe,
We are starting a new recreational league, and we would rather do something new and different other than the conventional handicapping system. Most of us shoot between bogey and double bogey. Do you have any other ideas on how we can level the playing field and have a little more fun?
Grace
Hello Grace,
Here are some ideas for situations like yours. 1-You can use a modified “Stableford” scoring system where your league decides how points are awarded, for example, 1 point for a bogey, 2 points for a par, 5 for a birdie, 0 for double bogey, and minus one point for higher, that way a disastrous hole will not hurt so much, and pace of play will improve when you fail to hole it for a double bogey, just pick it up. Another idea – play “bingo-bango-bongo” where points are given for the first person on the green, the person closest to the hole when everyone is on the green, and the first person to hole a putt. To be fair, the person furthest away must shoot first. Another idea -instead of handicaps, award a certain amount of “mulligans” per round depending on a person’s average score. Another idea - award mulligans according to their position in the standings, for example, first place gets 1 mulligan for the next week, 2nd place gets 2 mulligans 3rd place gets 3, etc., but if you do that, be careful to avoid slow play. Have fun!
Joe
We are starting a new recreational league, and we would rather do something new and different other than the conventional handicapping system. Most of us shoot between bogey and double bogey. Do you have any other ideas on how we can level the playing field and have a little more fun?
Grace
Hello Grace,
Here are some ideas for situations like yours. 1-You can use a modified “Stableford” scoring system where your league decides how points are awarded, for example, 1 point for a bogey, 2 points for a par, 5 for a birdie, 0 for double bogey, and minus one point for higher, that way a disastrous hole will not hurt so much, and pace of play will improve when you fail to hole it for a double bogey, just pick it up. Another idea – play “bingo-bango-bongo” where points are given for the first person on the green, the person closest to the hole when everyone is on the green, and the first person to hole a putt. To be fair, the person furthest away must shoot first. Another idea -instead of handicaps, award a certain amount of “mulligans” per round depending on a person’s average score. Another idea - award mulligans according to their position in the standings, for example, first place gets 1 mulligan for the next week, 2nd place gets 2 mulligans 3rd place gets 3, etc., but if you do that, be careful to avoid slow play. Have fun!
Joe
Friday, August 20, 2004
Joe,
I have read and heard in several places that you can hit chip shots just like you hit putts, but when I try that, my club gets slowed down by the taller grass and my chips end up short. If I try to hit it harder to compensate, then the club does not get stuck in the grass and my chips end up too long. How can I fix this?
Adam
Hi Adam,
For chip shots, the putting method only works on short grass. When the grass is taller, you must make the following adjustments. First, change the ball position to the back foot, or even further back depending on how tall the grass is. This allows your backswing to come up out of the taller grass and results in a more descending downstroke which again avoids getting caught in the taller grass. The more you play it back, the more lofted club you will need or else the shot will come out too low. Start with an 8-iron and see what happens. Also you must remember to keep your hands way ahead of the clubhead all during the stroke. Lock your wrists to prevent them from breaking, and your follow thru should end with the clubface still pointing at the hole. Let us know how it turns out.
Joe
I have read and heard in several places that you can hit chip shots just like you hit putts, but when I try that, my club gets slowed down by the taller grass and my chips end up short. If I try to hit it harder to compensate, then the club does not get stuck in the grass and my chips end up too long. How can I fix this?
Adam
Hi Adam,
For chip shots, the putting method only works on short grass. When the grass is taller, you must make the following adjustments. First, change the ball position to the back foot, or even further back depending on how tall the grass is. This allows your backswing to come up out of the taller grass and results in a more descending downstroke which again avoids getting caught in the taller grass. The more you play it back, the more lofted club you will need or else the shot will come out too low. Start with an 8-iron and see what happens. Also you must remember to keep your hands way ahead of the clubhead all during the stroke. Lock your wrists to prevent them from breaking, and your follow thru should end with the clubface still pointing at the hole. Let us know how it turns out.
Joe
