Joe, thanks for your tips on putting (vijay's way with the belly putter). it has
proven to be worth -3 to 5 strokes per round to me (by cutting down on the
3 putts). now if i can somehow figure out how to putt straight with my 43'
odyssey white-hot 2ball from 3 feet in, i'll be able to cut another 4
strokes off the round. my question today is not about putting. you see, i
seem to have developed a distance problem. perhaps it is my swing or
perhaps i'm hitting it cleaner but my yardage has gone beserk lately. i'm
35 years old, 5'10, 165lbs with a 5'10 wingspan. i golf 2-3 times a week
(only in april since i'm clearing leave) and play hoops for 2-3 hours on
saturdays after golf in the morning. i use a set of forged titleist 690.cb
irons with royal precision flighted rifles 5.5 shafts and midsize softie
grips. about a month ago, i used to hit my pitching wedge 110 metres (121
yards). over the last 3 rounds (last week), the PW goes 125m (136 yards).
which means my 7-iron now goes to 155m (169 yards), up from 145m (158
yards). now this is normally a good sign for most golfers, but i'm missing
greens long by 20 yards or so, and it's irritating me to death. and it has
been inconsistent, because the yardage differences are small. here's my
carry yardage: 60*LW - 60m/66yds, 56* - 80m/88yds; 51* - 100m/109yds, 47*PW
- 125m/136yds; 9-iron - 130m/142yds; 8-iron - 137m/150yds; 7-iron -
155m/169yds; 6-iron - 165m/180yds; 5-iron - 180m/196yds. my clubs go at 4
degree increments from pw - 5-iron. i don't carry the 2-,3- and 4-irons
(although i can hit them); instead i carry a 19* rescue/utility club with a
39-inch flighted rifle and similar grip to my irons. this club gets me
(depending on whether i concentrate on the shot -- which is easier said
than done) anywhere from 180m/196yds to 230m/250yds. because of this
yardage, i almost never pull out my driver now, which is longer but gets me
penalties.
my question really is, will the yardage drop as i play less? and how do i
concentrate on releasing the club at the top of my swing, because if i
don't, i hook the little white fella into the jungle. that's why i said
it's easier said than done, beause i lose concentration quite often within
a round. is there a thought process which i can follow while at address?
i've resorted to mouthing out "release, release, release, xxxx" which is
irritating to my playing partners and looks quite stupid, and even then my
eyes sometimes lose focus of the ball during the backswing (the eye follows
the clubhead, and if i remember, i'll re-setup, if not, it's either a
pull/hook or push. i don't slice the ball anymore. help.
dc
Hello again dc,
I don’t know what the climate is where you live, but a month ago perhaps the weather was cooler, and that could account for the differences in distance per club. You are obviously doing everything you can to be physically fit. If this is a recent thing, that also could account for your increased strength. If you play more frequently only in April, the more you play, the stronger you get, that also could account for increased distance during April. I would have to see your swing in order to determine why you sometimes pull hook or push, but other people with the same problem tend to have a “flying elbow”. By keeping the back elbow closer to the front elbow especially during the downswing, and swinging inside-out, you might be able to correct this.
Joe
Friday, April 23, 2004
Joe,
What are shallow faced or deep faced woods. Some thing to do with there loft? Are there any 2 degree upright clubs available except.I have been told to buy 2 degree upright clubs (ping green dot).
Anand
Hello Anand,
Loft has nothing to do with deep face or shallow face. Measuring the clubface from bottom to top is the determining factor. Drivers have taller/deeper faces than fairway woods. Years ago, the Adams Tight Lies model introduced the shallow face concept to lower the center of gravity for fairway woods, making them easier to hit from any lie. However, if you try a shallow faced club from a tee or from fluffy grass, you risk hitting a popup. The upright lie angle is also not related to loft or deep/shallow face, it just measures the angle of the shaft when the sole of the club is resting flat on the ground. People who push or slice their shots might benefit from a more upright lie angle (if the divots are deeper at the toe), and the reverse is true for people who pull or hook their shots, they need a flatter lie angle. Forged clubheads can be bent to adjust the lie angle, but cast clubheads are at more risk of cracking when bent.
Joe
What are shallow faced or deep faced woods. Some thing to do with there loft? Are there any 2 degree upright clubs available except.I have been told to buy 2 degree upright clubs (ping green dot).
Anand
Hello Anand,
Loft has nothing to do with deep face or shallow face. Measuring the clubface from bottom to top is the determining factor. Drivers have taller/deeper faces than fairway woods. Years ago, the Adams Tight Lies model introduced the shallow face concept to lower the center of gravity for fairway woods, making them easier to hit from any lie. However, if you try a shallow faced club from a tee or from fluffy grass, you risk hitting a popup. The upright lie angle is also not related to loft or deep/shallow face, it just measures the angle of the shaft when the sole of the club is resting flat on the ground. People who push or slice their shots might benefit from a more upright lie angle (if the divots are deeper at the toe), and the reverse is true for people who pull or hook their shots, they need a flatter lie angle. Forged clubheads can be bent to adjust the lie angle, but cast clubheads are at more risk of cracking when bent.
Joe
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
My name is Howard and my wife has some hybrid woods that only reflect degrees. She has club degrees ranging from 13 degrees up to 22 degrees. Could you please advise me as to what these degrees equate to as compared to a normal driver, 3-wood, or 5-wood?
Thank you,
Howard Duarte
Hello Howard,
Normal drivers can be anywhere from 6 to 12 degrees, typical 3-woods are 15 degrees, and 5-woods vary to the point where it no longer makes sense to categorize a club by numbers, so it is better to use the number of degrees instead. Long ago, woods did not have numbers, they had names like Brassie, Cleek, and Spoon. Irons were called Mashie, Niblick, etc. but then the numbering system was made to correlate to specific degrees of loft, beginning with the sand wedge at 55 degrees, and four degrees apart uniformly downward. Then lofts became lower as the club manufacturers competed with each other to say their irons hit the ball farther, which was not really fair since the lofts were not the same. Anyway, a hybrid club is neither a wood nor an iron, so using the four degree “rule of thumb”, your wife’s 13 degree hybrid can either be a 2-wood or a 1-iron, and the 22-degree hybrid can be either a 5-wood or a 3-iron.
Joe
Thank you,
Howard Duarte
Hello Howard,
Normal drivers can be anywhere from 6 to 12 degrees, typical 3-woods are 15 degrees, and 5-woods vary to the point where it no longer makes sense to categorize a club by numbers, so it is better to use the number of degrees instead. Long ago, woods did not have numbers, they had names like Brassie, Cleek, and Spoon. Irons were called Mashie, Niblick, etc. but then the numbering system was made to correlate to specific degrees of loft, beginning with the sand wedge at 55 degrees, and four degrees apart uniformly downward. Then lofts became lower as the club manufacturers competed with each other to say their irons hit the ball farther, which was not really fair since the lofts were not the same. Anyway, a hybrid club is neither a wood nor an iron, so using the four degree “rule of thumb”, your wife’s 13 degree hybrid can either be a 2-wood or a 1-iron, and the 22-degree hybrid can be either a 5-wood or a 3-iron.
Joe
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Joe,
I need some help in stance, body weight shift ??? short swing arc, . I am a right handed golfer and have played for years and recently I had to have left leg amputated due to infection. I have since been fitted with an" otto bock" computerized prosthesis. Am wondering if you or anyone you know has any experience teaching my situation.
joe Chesla
Lino Lakes, Mn.
Hello Joe C,
I’m sorry to hear about your leg problems, but I am glad to hear you are still able to make a golf swing. Although I have no experience teaching your situation, I would have to ask if your prosthesis allows you to have good balance and you can put your body weight onto it without pain. If that is the case, there should be little difference in teaching the golf swing. However, if you do have some balance and pain issues, you will have to modify your swing to allow most of your weight to remain on the right leg. Assuming you are right handed, this is exactly what people do with the “reverse pivot” anyway, so although a reverse pivot is a fault, at least it will allow you to make a swing. Let us know how you are progressing and we can take it from there. Best of luck.
Joe
I need some help in stance, body weight shift ??? short swing arc, . I am a right handed golfer and have played for years and recently I had to have left leg amputated due to infection. I have since been fitted with an" otto bock" computerized prosthesis. Am wondering if you or anyone you know has any experience teaching my situation.
joe Chesla
Lino Lakes, Mn.
Hello Joe C,
I’m sorry to hear about your leg problems, but I am glad to hear you are still able to make a golf swing. Although I have no experience teaching your situation, I would have to ask if your prosthesis allows you to have good balance and you can put your body weight onto it without pain. If that is the case, there should be little difference in teaching the golf swing. However, if you do have some balance and pain issues, you will have to modify your swing to allow most of your weight to remain on the right leg. Assuming you are right handed, this is exactly what people do with the “reverse pivot” anyway, so although a reverse pivot is a fault, at least it will allow you to make a swing. Let us know how you are progressing and we can take it from there. Best of luck.
Joe
Monday, April 19, 2004
Joe,
I can't get rid of my fade, which turns into a slice as I tire......during a round.....it seems that no matter what I do to correct it, I can't....I have tried all the tried and true methods...videos, lessons...the most I have done was hit it somewhat straighter....until I tire...then fade and then slice!!!!!! Frustrating to say the least....Help!!!!!!! I am loosing distance....mostly with my woods, my iron play while the distance isn't as great as it was last year is still pretty much straight or to the left.....
Ed
Hi Ed,
Sounds like you need the Slice Buster video, available from the thinkandreachpar.com website. Make sure your clubs fit you properly. Perhaps you do not have the correct shaft flex and lie angle. Another possibility is your hand positions on your grip. The V’s formed by your thumb and first finger should point at your back shoulder.
Joe
I can't get rid of my fade, which turns into a slice as I tire......during a round.....it seems that no matter what I do to correct it, I can't....I have tried all the tried and true methods...videos, lessons...the most I have done was hit it somewhat straighter....until I tire...then fade and then slice!!!!!! Frustrating to say the least....Help!!!!!!! I am loosing distance....mostly with my woods, my iron play while the distance isn't as great as it was last year is still pretty much straight or to the left.....
Ed
Hi Ed,
Sounds like you need the Slice Buster video, available from the thinkandreachpar.com website. Make sure your clubs fit you properly. Perhaps you do not have the correct shaft flex and lie angle. Another possibility is your hand positions on your grip. The V’s formed by your thumb and first finger should point at your back shoulder.
Joe
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Hello. I am new to the golfing world and have a few issues. I am 6'5" tall and have extended length clubs (1.5" over standard length). I have an issue with lifting up on the down swing. Is there any exercises I can do to fix this issue? Also help with using drivers and fairway woods. I can hit my 3 iron around 210-230 yards almost everytime. When I try to use my driver or fairway woods it just does not feel right. I almost always top the ball. I know that the head lifting is part of the problem. Would a few lessons help me get this worked out? Please add me to your subscription I would enjoy the help. Does the brand of club matter? (TaylorMade, Callaway, etc.) I was always told its not the club its the person hitting the ball. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
Jason Steele
Hi Jason,
Lifting up on the downswing is usually caused by improper weight shift. The exercise that should help you is the “step-thru” drill on the Body Golf videos. If you can hit your 3-iron over 200 yards, I suspect it fits your swing better than your woods fit. Have your 3-iron specs checked against your woods’ specs, maybe your woods are not the right specs for you. The brand of club is not as important as the specs. TaylorMade, Callaway, and many other brands have a wide range of specs. Try to attend a “demo day” at a local driving range. You might be amazed at the different results you get with the same swing using different brands of clubs with different shaft flexes and lie angles.
Joe
Jason Steele
Hi Jason,
Lifting up on the downswing is usually caused by improper weight shift. The exercise that should help you is the “step-thru” drill on the Body Golf videos. If you can hit your 3-iron over 200 yards, I suspect it fits your swing better than your woods fit. Have your 3-iron specs checked against your woods’ specs, maybe your woods are not the right specs for you. The brand of club is not as important as the specs. TaylorMade, Callaway, and many other brands have a wide range of specs. Try to attend a “demo day” at a local driving range. You might be amazed at the different results you get with the same swing using different brands of clubs with different shaft flexes and lie angles.
Joe
