You Make The Call:
After watching his putt stop at the lip of the cup, a frustrated golfer kicks the shaft of his putter and bends it a little. Then he taps in. Is this a penalty? Why or why not?
Answer - You cannot use a club that has been altered or damaged other than during the normal course of play (a display of temper isn't considered normal). The Rules call for disqualification.
Conclusion - If nobody is looking, you can cuss up a storm, uproot the ball washer, tip over your golf cart, use the flagstick as a javelin, and you can continue to play, but if you bend your putter, the purists will hunt you down and descend upon you, and drag your sorry carcass off the course.
Friday, April 15, 2005
Joe,
Why do instructors say that a harder swing can result in less distance?
Larry
Hi Larry,
A harder swing has less of a chance to hit the “sweet spot” on your clubface. An easy swing that hits the sweet spot will send the ball farther than a hard swing that misses the sweet spot.
A hard swing may cause improper weight shifting, which may reduce your clubhead speed. Proper weight shift from the top of the backswing starts going from the back foot to the front foot before the downswing begins, setting up the power of a whip without extra effort.
Clubhead speed at impact is the sum of arm swing and wrist snap. A hard swing usually starts the wrist action too soon when the downswing begins, so there is no more acceleration added from the wrist by the time the clubhead gets to the ball, resulting an “all arms” swing and overall slower clubhead speed. For maximum distance, you must save the wrist action until just before impact. Watch the slow motion replays of the pros on TV, and you will see the wrist snap is held back until the last possible instant. That is why most of the pros may look like they are swinging very easy, but they still generate a lot of clubhead speed with that last-second wrist snap.
Joe
Why do instructors say that a harder swing can result in less distance?
Larry
Hi Larry,
A harder swing has less of a chance to hit the “sweet spot” on your clubface. An easy swing that hits the sweet spot will send the ball farther than a hard swing that misses the sweet spot.
A hard swing may cause improper weight shifting, which may reduce your clubhead speed. Proper weight shift from the top of the backswing starts going from the back foot to the front foot before the downswing begins, setting up the power of a whip without extra effort.
Clubhead speed at impact is the sum of arm swing and wrist snap. A hard swing usually starts the wrist action too soon when the downswing begins, so there is no more acceleration added from the wrist by the time the clubhead gets to the ball, resulting an “all arms” swing and overall slower clubhead speed. For maximum distance, you must save the wrist action until just before impact. Watch the slow motion replays of the pros on TV, and you will see the wrist snap is held back until the last possible instant. That is why most of the pros may look like they are swinging very easy, but they still generate a lot of clubhead speed with that last-second wrist snap.
Joe
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Joe,
Please help me because I am desperate. I am shanking nearly all my chip shots and short pitches from every distance whichever technique I use yet I seem to be okay with the longer pitch shots.
Frank Orrell
Hello Frank,
Shanking usually results from your weight being too much on your toes. Try standing a little more on your heels. Try a more upright backswing because a flat swing can cause shanks. Also compare the length of your wedge shafts with your friends’ wedges, you might find that your shaft is too long for you. Even if it does not seem too long, it might help to have the shaft shortened by at least one inch, maybe more, and have it regripped with a fat jumbo grip. The shorter shaft brings you a little closer to the ball, and the fat grip should give you more control. If you don’t want to alter your club, find an inexpensive used wedge that has a shorter shaft and compare results. I hope this helps.
Joe
Please help me because I am desperate. I am shanking nearly all my chip shots and short pitches from every distance whichever technique I use yet I seem to be okay with the longer pitch shots.
Frank Orrell
Hello Frank,
Shanking usually results from your weight being too much on your toes. Try standing a little more on your heels. Try a more upright backswing because a flat swing can cause shanks. Also compare the length of your wedge shafts with your friends’ wedges, you might find that your shaft is too long for you. Even if it does not seem too long, it might help to have the shaft shortened by at least one inch, maybe more, and have it regripped with a fat jumbo grip. The shorter shaft brings you a little closer to the ball, and the fat grip should give you more control. If you don’t want to alter your club, find an inexpensive used wedge that has a shorter shaft and compare results. I hope this helps.
Joe
Monday, April 11, 2005
Question,
Maybe you can help me understand shifting weight. When I try to go to the right side on the backswing and the left side on the follow-through, I move off the ball and mis-hit it...
An instructor said to keep the lower body still and turn the upper body, but when I do that I don't get any distance and feel that I am not shifting my weight properly....Help!
Answer - In your case, I would recommend starting with your weight already on the back leg, that way you do not have to worry about shifting back and off the ball. It is much more important to shift your weight properly on the downswing, and you can do that by pushing off the inside of the back foot to start your downswing.
Joe
Maybe you can help me understand shifting weight. When I try to go to the right side on the backswing and the left side on the follow-through, I move off the ball and mis-hit it...
An instructor said to keep the lower body still and turn the upper body, but when I do that I don't get any distance and feel that I am not shifting my weight properly....Help!
Answer - In your case, I would recommend starting with your weight already on the back leg, that way you do not have to worry about shifting back and off the ball. It is much more important to shift your weight properly on the downswing, and you can do that by pushing off the inside of the back foot to start your downswing.
Joe
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Joe,
I was told that I should get a driver with a longer shaft because it will give me more distance, but whenever I try a longer shaft, my distance is actually less. How do you explain this?
Linda
Hello Linda,
This is one of those theories that seems to make sense, but it only works if you can strike the sweet spot of the clubface every time. A longer shaft also theoretically makes it harder to hit the sweet spot because the ball is a little farther away from you. Any shot that misses the sweet spot will not go as far as a shot that hits the sweet spot, so if the shorter shaft allows you to hit the sweet spot more often, then that would be a better choice.
Joe
I was told that I should get a driver with a longer shaft because it will give me more distance, but whenever I try a longer shaft, my distance is actually less. How do you explain this?
Linda
Hello Linda,
This is one of those theories that seems to make sense, but it only works if you can strike the sweet spot of the clubface every time. A longer shaft also theoretically makes it harder to hit the sweet spot because the ball is a little farther away from you. Any shot that misses the sweet spot will not go as far as a shot that hits the sweet spot, so if the shorter shaft allows you to hit the sweet spot more often, then that would be a better choice.
Joe
