Joe,
I have been playing golf about 18 months now with a 20 handicap. I am having a problem with distance. When I hit my lofted clubs and wedges the ball flies straight but the ball is really high. I just do not get the carry I feel I should. For instance a 160 yard shot I am using a seven iron. My mid and long irons have good distance but also fly really high.. What in your opinion could be the cause? Also any ideas on exercises that could cure the problem? Thanks for any help you can give.........
Sean
Hi Sean,
This sounds like a nice “problem” to have. Lots of people would love to hit their shots high and straight. You should have no problem holding any green. However, since you want more distance, there are some things you could try. First of all, if you have older clubs, the lofts may be higher than modern clubs. Borrow another set at a range and see if you get the same or different results. If that is not the case, you may need a more aggressive weight shift to the front foot on your downswing. If you are looking for exercises and drills, the Body Golf videos have some excellent examples.
Joe
Thursday, June 24, 2004
) Joe,
I would like to know how to handicap, alternate stroke play for a 2 person team. What percentage of a person's handicap is used. This format will be used in a member-member tournament to be played in July in South Carolina. I feel this will speed up play when the temperature is in the 90"s.
Thank you,
Joan Strasser
Hello Joan,
The official rules of golf do not say anything specific about this, so the local rules take precedence. One simple example might be to simply add up the handicaps of both players and use the sum for the team. Personally, I never cared much for alternate stroke play because you are paying two greens fees to play one ball, you only get to hit half the shots. For the money, I would much prefer playing every shot, but that’s just me. Also, if your partner is having a bad day, there is very little you can do to save the team unless you hole everything, and then your partner feels guilty, and then you feel bad, etc. I don’t mean to rain on your picnic, I just prefer the scramble format, that way nobody has to feel guilty for bad shots. If speeding up play is the issue, you can make other local rules, such as max-double-bogey (pick it up if you do not hole the bogey shot), and max 3-putt (pick it up if you do not hole the second putt). Have fun!
Joe
I would like to know how to handicap, alternate stroke play for a 2 person team. What percentage of a person's handicap is used. This format will be used in a member-member tournament to be played in July in South Carolina. I feel this will speed up play when the temperature is in the 90"s.
Thank you,
Joan Strasser
Hello Joan,
The official rules of golf do not say anything specific about this, so the local rules take precedence. One simple example might be to simply add up the handicaps of both players and use the sum for the team. Personally, I never cared much for alternate stroke play because you are paying two greens fees to play one ball, you only get to hit half the shots. For the money, I would much prefer playing every shot, but that’s just me. Also, if your partner is having a bad day, there is very little you can do to save the team unless you hole everything, and then your partner feels guilty, and then you feel bad, etc. I don’t mean to rain on your picnic, I just prefer the scramble format, that way nobody has to feel guilty for bad shots. If speeding up play is the issue, you can make other local rules, such as max-double-bogey (pick it up if you do not hole the bogey shot), and max 3-putt (pick it up if you do not hole the second putt). Have fun!
Joe
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Joe,
The pro's are able to swing smoothly inside, outside to back inside. They are able to open there shoulders very soon. Most everyday golfers slice and never get that swing plane where it belongs. I know there are many gadgets and simple fixes out there for sale. How about a simple training tip for free that can get people swinging on the right track.
Jim West
Hi Jim,
I’m not sure there is such a thing as a “simple fix”, there is so much information available that you never know which piece is best for you. It depends on your individual physique and how you swing, and since I have never seen you swing, I can only suggest a few things. Slices (or hooks) occur when the clubface is not square to the ball at impact, so you may have to adjust your grip. Swing plane could be a factor if the path is not square to the target line. When analyzing a pro’s swing, pay less attention to the shoulders and more attention to the way they execute the downswing, especially the weight shift to the front foot. The Body Golf videos have some excellent drills for this, and for fixing slices.
Joe
The pro's are able to swing smoothly inside, outside to back inside. They are able to open there shoulders very soon. Most everyday golfers slice and never get that swing plane where it belongs. I know there are many gadgets and simple fixes out there for sale. How about a simple training tip for free that can get people swinging on the right track.
Jim West
Hi Jim,
I’m not sure there is such a thing as a “simple fix”, there is so much information available that you never know which piece is best for you. It depends on your individual physique and how you swing, and since I have never seen you swing, I can only suggest a few things. Slices (or hooks) occur when the clubface is not square to the ball at impact, so you may have to adjust your grip. Swing plane could be a factor if the path is not square to the target line. When analyzing a pro’s swing, pay less attention to the shoulders and more attention to the way they execute the downswing, especially the weight shift to the front foot. The Body Golf videos have some excellent drills for this, and for fixing slices.
Joe
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Joe,
Thanks for the ongoing tips, I've taken some of the advice and been successful at improving little aspects of my game. I am a 22 handicap and only an average putter (32-35 putts/round) and would like to improve that aspect. I would like to incorporate the "plumbing" aspect to improve on ability to read the proper breaks. What is the proper way to learn and use this technique?
Peter
Hi Peter,
Plumb-bobbing does not work for everyone, Lee Trevino was asked about it and he said the only thing he saw when he tried it was “Stiff flex” on the shaft. Anyway, the way it is supposed to work is to hold the top of the grip lightly and look at the putter’s shaft against the hole, and see if the hole line is perpendicular to the shaft, or does it tilt one way or the other. If there is a tilt, then the putt will likely break toward the low side. This could give you a false reading if your putter head has more weight away from the shaft line, so be careful to rotate the putter head to a position where the shaft is hanging straight down. Do this inside a building against an inner wall’s floor line that you know is level, and then you will know the correct way to hold the putter on the green.
Joe
Thanks for the ongoing tips, I've taken some of the advice and been successful at improving little aspects of my game. I am a 22 handicap and only an average putter (32-35 putts/round) and would like to improve that aspect. I would like to incorporate the "plumbing" aspect to improve on ability to read the proper breaks. What is the proper way to learn and use this technique?
Peter
Hi Peter,
Plumb-bobbing does not work for everyone, Lee Trevino was asked about it and he said the only thing he saw when he tried it was “Stiff flex” on the shaft. Anyway, the way it is supposed to work is to hold the top of the grip lightly and look at the putter’s shaft against the hole, and see if the hole line is perpendicular to the shaft, or does it tilt one way or the other. If there is a tilt, then the putt will likely break toward the low side. This could give you a false reading if your putter head has more weight away from the shaft line, so be careful to rotate the putter head to a position where the shaft is hanging straight down. Do this inside a building against an inner wall’s floor line that you know is level, and then you will know the correct way to hold the putter on the green.
Joe
