Joe,
If someone is in the sand trap and the golf ball is unplayable. So they take a unplayable ball do they have to put it in the sand trap or can they take it out of the trap and play it on the fairway? Let me know. I was told you can take it out of the trap and put it on the fairway as an unplayable ball.
Thanks Pati
Hello Pati,
According to Rule 28 you have 3 options, all of which are a one stroke penalty. You can replay your previous shot by walking back to where you started (not recommended due to pace of play),
or you can drop the ball as far behind your spot as you want, as long as you stay in the bunker, or you can drop in the bunker sideways to your spot within 2 club lengths but no closer to the hole. You cannot drop in the fairway. If your unplayable lie was at the back of the bunker, there may not be any legal place to drop, so you would have to go back to the previously played spot, which hurts the pace of play. Now remember these are rules for formal competition. If you are only playing for fun, then you and your partners can agree that hey, you have already been hit with a penalty, so drop it wherever you want, the USGA police are not going to arrest you, although they might arrest me for saying that. I won’t snitch if you won’t.
Joe
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Dear Joe
First I like to say I enjoy reading your e-mails, I learn a great deal.
I have been playing golf for approx. 2 years. I am having trouble hitting with my irons (yes with all of them.) The trouble is that I cannot get any loft on the ball, it flies just above the ground. What do I need to do? Thanks for taking the time to read my e-mail.
Garry Rodriguez
Lubbock, Texas
Hi Garry,
Many new golfers do the same as you because they are trying to lift the ball and therefore hit it too thin. Start with a wedge or 9-iron and try to hit the ball down into the ground. You may have noticed the pros on TV usually take a big divot on fairway shots. That is caused by striking the ball with a downward blow, and the club continues downward into the ground, producing the divot. In golf, you have to hit down to make the ball go up. You can see the same result with a ping pong paddle and ball. If you chop down on the ball, you give the ball underspin and the ball rises. If you swing up at the ball, you give the ball overspin and it drops quickly. When you can successfully hit down properly with your 9-iron, it will also work with your other clubs. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
Joe
First I like to say I enjoy reading your e-mails, I learn a great deal.
I have been playing golf for approx. 2 years. I am having trouble hitting with my irons (yes with all of them.) The trouble is that I cannot get any loft on the ball, it flies just above the ground. What do I need to do? Thanks for taking the time to read my e-mail.
Garry Rodriguez
Lubbock, Texas
Hi Garry,
Many new golfers do the same as you because they are trying to lift the ball and therefore hit it too thin. Start with a wedge or 9-iron and try to hit the ball down into the ground. You may have noticed the pros on TV usually take a big divot on fairway shots. That is caused by striking the ball with a downward blow, and the club continues downward into the ground, producing the divot. In golf, you have to hit down to make the ball go up. You can see the same result with a ping pong paddle and ball. If you chop down on the ball, you give the ball underspin and the ball rises. If you swing up at the ball, you give the ball overspin and it drops quickly. When you can successfully hit down properly with your 9-iron, it will also work with your other clubs. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
Joe
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
nice newsletter.
Where can I get some info/help. I make solid contact, I keep pulling my ball about 30 yards left with my irons, this is killing me. What to fix? What doing wrong ?
thanks!
Ralph
Hello Ralph,
There are two possibilities here, grip or swing path, maybe both. First the swing path. Most people think they are swinging down the target line, but while the body is turning, by the time the clubhead gets to the ball, it is no longer down the target line, the turn pulls the club inside the target line. Let’s say the target line is 12 o’clock. If you are right handed, your path is probably pulled toward 11 o’clock. To correct this, swing toward 1 o’clock and exaggerate the follow-thru in that direction. For the grip, my first guess is that you are using the interlock grip, which I have seen many people struggle with. My second guess is the overlap, which I myself have used for over 40 years with some success, but now I am using the ten finger grip because I have gotten in the habit of having contests with myself using different methods, and the ten finger grip won. Try such contests yourself and use the grip that works best for you.
Joe
Where can I get some info/help. I make solid contact, I keep pulling my ball about 30 yards left with my irons, this is killing me. What to fix? What doing wrong ?
thanks!
Ralph
Hello Ralph,
There are two possibilities here, grip or swing path, maybe both. First the swing path. Most people think they are swinging down the target line, but while the body is turning, by the time the clubhead gets to the ball, it is no longer down the target line, the turn pulls the club inside the target line. Let’s say the target line is 12 o’clock. If you are right handed, your path is probably pulled toward 11 o’clock. To correct this, swing toward 1 o’clock and exaggerate the follow-thru in that direction. For the grip, my first guess is that you are using the interlock grip, which I have seen many people struggle with. My second guess is the overlap, which I myself have used for over 40 years with some success, but now I am using the ten finger grip because I have gotten in the habit of having contests with myself using different methods, and the ten finger grip won. Try such contests yourself and use the grip that works best for you.
Joe
Monday, June 14, 2004
Question for the Evil Twin:
Jody, what do you say about having to follow all the rules of golf, no matter what?
Answer: For those who say a rule is a rule and you have to follow it, then make sure you also follow these rules:
In California, it is illegal to set a mousetrap without a hunting license.
In North Dakota, it is illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on.
In Seattle, residents may not carry concealed weapons longer than six feet.
In Vermont, it is illegal to whistle underwater.
In Carmel, New York, a man cannot go outside while wearing a jacket and pants that do not match.
In Denver it is unlawful to lend your vacuum cleaner to your next-door neighbor.
In Devon, Connecticut, it is unlawful to walk backwards after sunset.
In Alabama, it is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle
In California, it is illegal for anyone to try and stop a child from playfully jumping over puddles of water.
In California, it is illegal to eat an orange in your bath tub.
In Connecticut, a pickle is not officially a pickle unless it bounces.
In Sarasota, FL, it is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit.
In Kentucky, it is illegal to transport an ice cream cone in your pocket.
In Louisiana, it is illegal to rob a bank and then shoot at the bank teller with a water pistol.
In Louisiana, biting someone with your natural teeth is "simple assault", while biting someone with your false teeth is "aggravated assault".
In Massachusetts, mourners at a wake may not eat more than three sandwiches
In Nebraska, a parent can be arrested if his child cannot hold back a burp during a church service.
In Pennsylvania, a special cleaning ordinance bans housewives from hiding dirt and dust under a rug in a dwelling.
In Pennsylvania, no man may purchase alcohol without written consent from his wife.
In Texas, it is illegal to take more than three sips of beer at a time while standing.
In Washington, it is mandatory for a motorist with criminal intentions to stop at the city limits and telephone the chief of police as he is entering the town.
In Chicago, it is forbidden to fish while sitting on a giraffe's neck.
(if you don’t feel there is a need to change some of the golf rules, then don’t change these either)
Jody, what do you say about having to follow all the rules of golf, no matter what?
Answer: For those who say a rule is a rule and you have to follow it, then make sure you also follow these rules:
In California, it is illegal to set a mousetrap without a hunting license.
In North Dakota, it is illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on.
In Seattle, residents may not carry concealed weapons longer than six feet.
In Vermont, it is illegal to whistle underwater.
In Carmel, New York, a man cannot go outside while wearing a jacket and pants that do not match.
In Denver it is unlawful to lend your vacuum cleaner to your next-door neighbor.
In Devon, Connecticut, it is unlawful to walk backwards after sunset.
In Alabama, it is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle
In California, it is illegal for anyone to try and stop a child from playfully jumping over puddles of water.
In California, it is illegal to eat an orange in your bath tub.
In Connecticut, a pickle is not officially a pickle unless it bounces.
In Sarasota, FL, it is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit.
In Kentucky, it is illegal to transport an ice cream cone in your pocket.
In Louisiana, it is illegal to rob a bank and then shoot at the bank teller with a water pistol.
In Louisiana, biting someone with your natural teeth is "simple assault", while biting someone with your false teeth is "aggravated assault".
In Massachusetts, mourners at a wake may not eat more than three sandwiches
In Nebraska, a parent can be arrested if his child cannot hold back a burp during a church service.
In Pennsylvania, a special cleaning ordinance bans housewives from hiding dirt and dust under a rug in a dwelling.
In Pennsylvania, no man may purchase alcohol without written consent from his wife.
In Texas, it is illegal to take more than three sips of beer at a time while standing.
In Washington, it is mandatory for a motorist with criminal intentions to stop at the city limits and telephone the chief of police as he is entering the town.
In Chicago, it is forbidden to fish while sitting on a giraffe's neck.
(if you don’t feel there is a need to change some of the golf rules, then don’t change these either)
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Hello,
Is there a cure for the Yips?
Ann
Hi Ann,
When all else fails, you have to adopt an attitude with an edge to it. By that I mean you have to mix a little self anger along with determination that you are going to execute a stroke and you are not going to allow worry to affect the outcome. If the outcome is still not successful, tell yourself it is not because you did not execute the stroke properly, and therefore you have done the best you could. With this approach, the Yips should no longer be an issue. The Yips are only an issue if you worry about the outcome before and during the execution of the stroke. Take worry out of the equation with this “Edge” and execute. The outcome is going to happen whether you like it or not, but your outcomes will no longer be a result of worry, just execution, and things can only get better from there.
Joe
Is there a cure for the Yips?
Ann
Hi Ann,
When all else fails, you have to adopt an attitude with an edge to it. By that I mean you have to mix a little self anger along with determination that you are going to execute a stroke and you are not going to allow worry to affect the outcome. If the outcome is still not successful, tell yourself it is not because you did not execute the stroke properly, and therefore you have done the best you could. With this approach, the Yips should no longer be an issue. The Yips are only an issue if you worry about the outcome before and during the execution of the stroke. Take worry out of the equation with this “Edge” and execute. The outcome is going to happen whether you like it or not, but your outcomes will no longer be a result of worry, just execution, and things can only get better from there.
Joe
