Hello, I'm a 14 yr old boy and have been playing golf 4 about 1.5 years. I got a bit of consistency of late, and I am hitting the ball fairly well (At least for my age). I want to ask you if there is any way I can increase the yardage of my shots and also increase it's height.
Thanking You,
Yours faithfully,
PP
Hello P,
Ben Hogan says it is a good thing to hit low shots, so instead of adjusting your swing to hit higher shots, just use clubs that have more loft. However, if you are speaking of drivers, you are correct to say you might lose distance if you consistently hit the ball too low. As you grow older and stronger, your power will increase, and this will give your ball more underspin when you swing down at it, and the extra spin will cause the ball to fly higher. Just keep a wide arc and smooth tempo with your weight shift. If you already have consistent ball striking as you say, you have a lot of potential. Oh to be your age again. A lot of us wish we were in your shoes, you have a lot to look forward to. Good luck and keep us informed on your progress.
Joe
Thursday, April 08, 2004
Joe,
Thanks for your tips I receive every week, they are a help. My question is, I have the opinion, that I swing easier a wooden 5 than an iron 3/6. Could a wooden 7 may be usefull for distances between 100 to 150 meters. I way for your answer.
With kind regards
Jos Logister,56 yrs.
The Netherlands
Hello Jos,
Many people are finding a 7-wood to be a better alternative to long irons. In fact, some manufacturers are offering sets of irons without the 2-3-4, replacing them with “hybrid” clubheads which are thicker than irons but not as fat as the wood shape. Whether or not this really helps is an individual preference. I have seen some people so psyched out by the shape of a long iron that they will not even try one, and the same is true for others who are just as much psyched out by the shape of a wood. Some golfers benefit from this new hybrid shape, some do not. The only way to tell is to borrow different types of clubs and try them on the range before you purchase. You may also want to check to make sure your irons 3/6 are correctly matched to your wooden 7. If they are not matched, that might explain why you can hit your wooded 7 better.
Joe
Thanks for your tips I receive every week, they are a help. My question is, I have the opinion, that I swing easier a wooden 5 than an iron 3/6. Could a wooden 7 may be usefull for distances between 100 to 150 meters. I way for your answer.
With kind regards
Jos Logister,56 yrs.
The Netherlands
Hello Jos,
Many people are finding a 7-wood to be a better alternative to long irons. In fact, some manufacturers are offering sets of irons without the 2-3-4, replacing them with “hybrid” clubheads which are thicker than irons but not as fat as the wood shape. Whether or not this really helps is an individual preference. I have seen some people so psyched out by the shape of a long iron that they will not even try one, and the same is true for others who are just as much psyched out by the shape of a wood. Some golfers benefit from this new hybrid shape, some do not. The only way to tell is to borrow different types of clubs and try them on the range before you purchase. You may also want to check to make sure your irons 3/6 are correctly matched to your wooden 7. If they are not matched, that might explain why you can hit your wooded 7 better.
Joe
Monday, April 05, 2004
Joe,
I have just been fitted with new clubs, but when I address the ball the clubs do not lay flat on the ground, the toe is up in the air. Does this sound wrong? Should I return the clubs?
JD
Hi JD,
Actually, this sounds correct, because when you address the ball your arms are hanging down and are not on the same plane as the club shaft. However, when you are swinging, the force of the swing causes your arms to go on the same plane as the club shaft, which means the bottom of the club will be correctly flat to the ground. Watch any slow motion replay of anyone’s swing and you will see this to be true. Therefore, unless you extend your arms at address (like Natural Golf), the bottom of the club will probably not be flat to the ground. The best way to tell if your clubs have the correct “lie angle” is the “striking board”, where you put tape on the sole of the club and when you hit the striking board, you can see where the tape is damaged. It should be damaged in the center of the sole if you are correctly fitted. Also notice your divots on the course. Are they deeper near the toe, or are they just as deep from heel to toe? Very few people have clubs with lie angles that are too upright, and the results will be pulls or hooks, so unless that is your problem, you may want to keep these clubs. Most people slice, and part of the reason could be their lie angles are too flat.
Joe
I have just been fitted with new clubs, but when I address the ball the clubs do not lay flat on the ground, the toe is up in the air. Does this sound wrong? Should I return the clubs?
JD
Hi JD,
Actually, this sounds correct, because when you address the ball your arms are hanging down and are not on the same plane as the club shaft. However, when you are swinging, the force of the swing causes your arms to go on the same plane as the club shaft, which means the bottom of the club will be correctly flat to the ground. Watch any slow motion replay of anyone’s swing and you will see this to be true. Therefore, unless you extend your arms at address (like Natural Golf), the bottom of the club will probably not be flat to the ground. The best way to tell if your clubs have the correct “lie angle” is the “striking board”, where you put tape on the sole of the club and when you hit the striking board, you can see where the tape is damaged. It should be damaged in the center of the sole if you are correctly fitted. Also notice your divots on the course. Are they deeper near the toe, or are they just as deep from heel to toe? Very few people have clubs with lie angles that are too upright, and the results will be pulls or hooks, so unless that is your problem, you may want to keep these clubs. Most people slice, and part of the reason could be their lie angles are too flat.
Joe
Sunday, April 04, 2004
Joe,
I am told, I'm sure correctly, that I need to get my hips turning towards the hole at impact. I am aged 68, 12 handicap, and not as flexible as I used to be. My question is "what should be my swing thought on the downswing?" Left hip back? right hip through? rotate both hips? Right knee through? right heel off the ground? Something else? I would appreciate your advice.
Colin Sowter
England
Hello Colin,
I need to know what prompted your getting advice on hip turning, are you having a problem with pushed or sliced shots, or simply a loss of distance? You are correct in saying people in their 60’s should not be expected to have the same flexibility they had when they were younger, so sometimes the standard swing theories are not realistic for you. However, if you think you can get better results with a bigger hip turn, try a more aggressive weight shift during the downswing, and your hips should automatically turn more without you having to think about it.
Joe
I am told, I'm sure correctly, that I need to get my hips turning towards the hole at impact. I am aged 68, 12 handicap, and not as flexible as I used to be. My question is "what should be my swing thought on the downswing?" Left hip back? right hip through? rotate both hips? Right knee through? right heel off the ground? Something else? I would appreciate your advice.
Colin Sowter
England
Hello Colin,
I need to know what prompted your getting advice on hip turning, are you having a problem with pushed or sliced shots, or simply a loss of distance? You are correct in saying people in their 60’s should not be expected to have the same flexibility they had when they were younger, so sometimes the standard swing theories are not realistic for you. However, if you think you can get better results with a bigger hip turn, try a more aggressive weight shift during the downswing, and your hips should automatically turn more without you having to think about it.
Joe
