Hello, I was excited when I saw the title of your ezine on 8/3 'thumb and palm' because I have had a reoccurring problem with my left thumb (I'm right handed golfer). The problem is a pain after play sort of like I've been stressing that joint. My game is ok (just need more practice to keep the cobwebs away), handicap about 6.1, but my thumb is sore all the time. Are you familiar with this complaint? Anything I can do... I don't like bowling!!!thanksdave baehr
Hi Dave,
If your thumb has no pain unless you play golf, then your grip may need adjustment. If you have not already been experimenting with different grip styles, I would suggest trying the ten finger grip, no overlapping or interlocking of the fingers, and weaken the left hand position to take the pressure off the thumb. Your handicap indicates you are a good golfer, so your ball flight must be fairly consistent. If you can strike the ball solidly and consistently with a different grip, and the thumb no longer hurts as much, then just learn to live with whatever new ball flight tendency you might have as long as it is consistent. The weaker left hand position may lead to a fade, but if so, you may be able to compensate with a stronger right hand position.
Joe
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Joe,
Greetings and Salutations. Hi My name is Brian Varley. I watch the Golf Channel over here in Britain. Dave has had a clinic on putting recently. However he did not cover my own method which was used by Sam Snead. When the system of putting -Croquet style was banned, Sam went over to the 'Side Saddle' method. Now I have used that for 30 years and find it the best because, it is like bowling, and skittles. There is no movement across the body, just a straight line through the putt. There is no turning of the hands after the putt has been struck. I still cannot comprehend why it has not been seized on by the golfing instructors. Your comments would be welcome.
Brian the Lion
Hello Brian,
Most people are too embarrassed to try different things, but the embarrassment goes away when the putts start to fall. Sam Snead and Ben Hogan were two of the best who ever played, but both of them, as well as many other golfers, lost their putting touch in their later years, so they had to do something. In Sam’s case, the side saddle method worked for him, and I commend you for also having the courage to try it. I myself have tried lots of different methods because I was never satisfied with my putting. I decided to have a series of contests to determine which method was best for me. You need the pressure of a contest or else everything seems to work well on the practice green. I tried different grips, different putters, different stances including side saddle, and the clear winner, and I repeat, the CLEAR winner, was the belly putter with left hand low like Vijay Singh (even though Vijay has now gone back to a conventional putter). Here is the reason this works for me. My hands would not work together consistently, one hand would always overpower the other and I never knew which one would do that (this may be one of the main reasons for The Yips). The belly putter method removes this problem by reducing the hand action. Anyway, there is no guarantee this will work for you, you must have your own contests and see which method is best for you, including the side saddle. Best of luck.
Joe
Greetings and Salutations. Hi My name is Brian Varley. I watch the Golf Channel over here in Britain. Dave has had a clinic on putting recently. However he did not cover my own method which was used by Sam Snead. When the system of putting -Croquet style was banned, Sam went over to the 'Side Saddle' method. Now I have used that for 30 years and find it the best because, it is like bowling, and skittles. There is no movement across the body, just a straight line through the putt. There is no turning of the hands after the putt has been struck. I still cannot comprehend why it has not been seized on by the golfing instructors. Your comments would be welcome.
Brian the Lion
Hello Brian,
Most people are too embarrassed to try different things, but the embarrassment goes away when the putts start to fall. Sam Snead and Ben Hogan were two of the best who ever played, but both of them, as well as many other golfers, lost their putting touch in their later years, so they had to do something. In Sam’s case, the side saddle method worked for him, and I commend you for also having the courage to try it. I myself have tried lots of different methods because I was never satisfied with my putting. I decided to have a series of contests to determine which method was best for me. You need the pressure of a contest or else everything seems to work well on the practice green. I tried different grips, different putters, different stances including side saddle, and the clear winner, and I repeat, the CLEAR winner, was the belly putter with left hand low like Vijay Singh (even though Vijay has now gone back to a conventional putter). Here is the reason this works for me. My hands would not work together consistently, one hand would always overpower the other and I never knew which one would do that (this may be one of the main reasons for The Yips). The belly putter method removes this problem by reducing the hand action. Anyway, there is no guarantee this will work for you, you must have your own contests and see which method is best for you, including the side saddle. Best of luck.
Joe
Monday, August 09, 2004
A Bit of Golf Trivia:Which golfer has a reputation for being one of the best ball strikers ever? Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, Greg Norman, Moe Norman?
It's Canadian pro Moe Norman, winner of over 50 events in Canada. Moe was called “Pipeline” because he hit the ball straight every time. Ben Hogan, who believed all straight shots were accidents, watched Moe on the range one day, and kept saying “accident” after every one of Moe’s shots. After awhile, Ben gave up and told Moe to just keep hitting those “accidents”.
Moe’s comments on the golf swing:
"Why am I called the greatest ball-striker? Because I have the least moving parts. I keep it simple."
"Stay within yourself. I never swing 100 percent. Most of the time, it's 80 percent. Sure, you can swing 100 percent and the ball will go further, but it's work. Swing easy. Golf isn't a game of violence. Just bump it !"
"With a short backswing, you can't get off line. How can you not hit it straight when you do that?"
Moe’s comments on the mental side of golf:
"Be your own best friend. Have a good attitude. Don't let the game eat you – you eat the game. When you step up to the tee, be glad you're up. Don't be afraid."
"I never got mad at myself. Why? Because getting mad only makes you swing worse."
"Golf isn't supposed to be work. It's to have fun. So have fun!"
"Golf is easy. People make it hard."
It's Canadian pro Moe Norman, winner of over 50 events in Canada. Moe was called “Pipeline” because he hit the ball straight every time. Ben Hogan, who believed all straight shots were accidents, watched Moe on the range one day, and kept saying “accident” after every one of Moe’s shots. After awhile, Ben gave up and told Moe to just keep hitting those “accidents”.
Moe’s comments on the golf swing:
"Why am I called the greatest ball-striker? Because I have the least moving parts. I keep it simple."
"Stay within yourself. I never swing 100 percent. Most of the time, it's 80 percent. Sure, you can swing 100 percent and the ball will go further, but it's work. Swing easy. Golf isn't a game of violence. Just bump it !"
"With a short backswing, you can't get off line. How can you not hit it straight when you do that?"
Moe’s comments on the mental side of golf:
"Be your own best friend. Have a good attitude. Don't let the game eat you – you eat the game. When you step up to the tee, be glad you're up. Don't be afraid."
"I never got mad at myself. Why? Because getting mad only makes you swing worse."
"Golf isn't supposed to be work. It's to have fun. So have fun!"
"Golf is easy. People make it hard."
Sunday, August 08, 2004
Joe,
I have a problem on the course with my irons, in that I'm hitting them higher but shorter in distance. I use to hit my PW 120 yards; 9-130; 8-140; 7-150; 6-160; 5-170; 4-180; and 3-190 yards. Now, my irons distances are 20 yards or more less, but my shots are straighter and more consistent than before. I'm just wondering what I'm doing wrong and how I can fix this because of the changes in distances I'm having trouble hitting the greens with my irons. I practice a lot but again those distances fluctuate. Please Help.
Thanx,
Mike
Hi Mike,
I am guessing you noticed this when you got a new or different set of irons. This happened to me when I began using a different set. There are two reasons for this. The lofts are different from brand to brand, and also a more flexible shaft tends to send the ball higher than a stiffer shaft. Now if you tell me your “problem” happened all of a sudden with the same set of irons, then I have to ask if you have changed your swing recently. If so, you have to tell me how you changed it before I can comment any further. Actually, this may not be a bad thing if you just trust your new distances since you said you are straighter and more consistent. I would think you should be able to hold more greens with higher shots. Golf is a control game, so don’t get caught up in the macho mentality that you must hit your irons farther than everyone else.
Joe
I have a problem on the course with my irons, in that I'm hitting them higher but shorter in distance. I use to hit my PW 120 yards; 9-130; 8-140; 7-150; 6-160; 5-170; 4-180; and 3-190 yards. Now, my irons distances are 20 yards or more less, but my shots are straighter and more consistent than before. I'm just wondering what I'm doing wrong and how I can fix this because of the changes in distances I'm having trouble hitting the greens with my irons. I practice a lot but again those distances fluctuate. Please Help.
Thanx,
Mike
Hi Mike,
I am guessing you noticed this when you got a new or different set of irons. This happened to me when I began using a different set. There are two reasons for this. The lofts are different from brand to brand, and also a more flexible shaft tends to send the ball higher than a stiffer shaft. Now if you tell me your “problem” happened all of a sudden with the same set of irons, then I have to ask if you have changed your swing recently. If so, you have to tell me how you changed it before I can comment any further. Actually, this may not be a bad thing if you just trust your new distances since you said you are straighter and more consistent. I would think you should be able to hold more greens with higher shots. Golf is a control game, so don’t get caught up in the macho mentality that you must hit your irons farther than everyone else.
Joe
