Joe,
I cannot hit a pitch shot to save my life. I have tried everything. I understand the basics and I try to execute properly, but I either blade it or chunk it? What can I do?
Pete
Hello Pete,
Lots of people have this problem, because the pitch is a very unforgiving shot, either you execute it right or the results are terrible. Try different ball positions, a little further to the front foot or back foot, also closer to or further from your body. Experiment with a more upright swing arc while keeping the body very steady. If you have already tried all that, here is another idea that sometimes works, but I cannot guarantee if it will work for you. Sometimes the club itself is part of the problem. 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, 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 help control. If you don’t want to alter your club, find an inexpensive used wedge that has a shorter shaft and compare results. Let us know how it turns out.
Joe
Friday, April 22, 2005
Joe,
I get really frustrated by slow play. Can anything be done?
Sam
Hi Sam,
If you are speaking of competition, then your marshals need to apply penalties to those who are causing delays. If you are speaking of recreational golf, then your local courses need to make some new local rules because if they don’t do this, they will lose money for several reasons. First, golfers will not return to a course where play is slow. Second, the slower the pace, the fewer the number of people that can be on the course at the same time. A quicker pace allows more golfers to play. Third, if the only solution the course can think of is to have their marshals push the pace clock, that will only make people angry, and less likely to return to that course. Here are some local rules that could help solve the problem for recreational play:
..No stroke and distance penalties. Instead, drop where a ball went out of play, the same way as a lateral water hazard.
..No provisional balls, since they are no longer needed (previously only needed for stroke and distance penalties which would no longer be in effect).
..Do not use the “honors” system. Instead play “ready golf” and hit whenever you are ready, as long as you are not distracting another player by doing so.
..Do not mark scores at the green, get to the next tee before you mark scores.
..No penalties for long putts that happen to strike the flagstick. This avoids wasted time waiting for someone to walk over and tend the pin, and then go back to read their own putt.
..Line up your putts from behind the hole while others are putting. When it is your turn, you can only line up your putt from behind your own ball. This avoids wasted time waiting for people to walk back and forth.
..People who cannot keep up with the Pace clock must pick up after 2 putts, and also pick up if they cannot make double bogey.
I am sure our readers have other similar good ideas, let’s hear them! Nobody likes slow play, so let’s help to fix this problem!
Joe
I get really frustrated by slow play. Can anything be done?
Sam
Hi Sam,
If you are speaking of competition, then your marshals need to apply penalties to those who are causing delays. If you are speaking of recreational golf, then your local courses need to make some new local rules because if they don’t do this, they will lose money for several reasons. First, golfers will not return to a course where play is slow. Second, the slower the pace, the fewer the number of people that can be on the course at the same time. A quicker pace allows more golfers to play. Third, if the only solution the course can think of is to have their marshals push the pace clock, that will only make people angry, and less likely to return to that course. Here are some local rules that could help solve the problem for recreational play:
..No stroke and distance penalties. Instead, drop where a ball went out of play, the same way as a lateral water hazard.
..No provisional balls, since they are no longer needed (previously only needed for stroke and distance penalties which would no longer be in effect).
..Do not use the “honors” system. Instead play “ready golf” and hit whenever you are ready, as long as you are not distracting another player by doing so.
..Do not mark scores at the green, get to the next tee before you mark scores.
..No penalties for long putts that happen to strike the flagstick. This avoids wasted time waiting for someone to walk over and tend the pin, and then go back to read their own putt.
..Line up your putts from behind the hole while others are putting. When it is your turn, you can only line up your putt from behind your own ball. This avoids wasted time waiting for people to walk back and forth.
..People who cannot keep up with the Pace clock must pick up after 2 putts, and also pick up if they cannot make double bogey.
I am sure our readers have other similar good ideas, let’s hear them! Nobody likes slow play, so let’s help to fix this problem!
Joe
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Joe,
I've been playing golf for almost 3 years now. I'm still having a problem in achieving consistency in my swing as a result of severe over-swing problem. I have also been trying several methods to resolve the problem but still unable to get rid of this bad habit. Do you have any good advise or method that I could practice to eliminate this bad habit of my golf swing!
TksChris
Hello Chris,
Habits can be hard to break, so let’s try a different approach. Next time you are on one of those driving range mats with the permanent rubber tee, go to the top of your backswing and pose like a baseball player waiting for a pitch. Do you feel that you are in a strong hitting position? If not, adjust your posture, you must feel comfortable here. Make sure your weight is on your back foot. Check the shaft to see if it points toward the target parallel to the ground. From this position, see if you can strike the rubber tee every time. If you cannot, then try a different posture at the top, for example, do not let the shaft reach parallel, which means your backswing will have to be shorter. If you can view yourself in a mirror it will help. When you find a posture at the top that works for you, then the only purpose of your backswing is to arrive at that position with a nice smooth tempo.
Joe
I've been playing golf for almost 3 years now. I'm still having a problem in achieving consistency in my swing as a result of severe over-swing problem. I have also been trying several methods to resolve the problem but still unable to get rid of this bad habit. Do you have any good advise or method that I could practice to eliminate this bad habit of my golf swing!
TksChris
Hello Chris,
Habits can be hard to break, so let’s try a different approach. Next time you are on one of those driving range mats with the permanent rubber tee, go to the top of your backswing and pose like a baseball player waiting for a pitch. Do you feel that you are in a strong hitting position? If not, adjust your posture, you must feel comfortable here. Make sure your weight is on your back foot. Check the shaft to see if it points toward the target parallel to the ground. From this position, see if you can strike the rubber tee every time. If you cannot, then try a different posture at the top, for example, do not let the shaft reach parallel, which means your backswing will have to be shorter. If you can view yourself in a mirror it will help. When you find a posture at the top that works for you, then the only purpose of your backswing is to arrive at that position with a nice smooth tempo.
Joe
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Joe,
My putting is erratic. What is the best putting grip and how can I check myself for proper alignment?
Greg
Hi Greg,
The most popular putting grip is the reverse-overlap, but some people have also had success with other types of grips including regular overlap, ten-finger, split hands, left hand low, index finger down, and the “claw” (different variations used by Mark Calcavecchia and Chris DiMarco). One way to test what is best for you is to use a square tiled floor as a guide. Using a putter that has an aiming line on top, position that line along a floor tile line and take a stroke, while watching how the line on the putter follows the tile line. Is it steady or does it wobble too much? Whatever grip/stroke keeps you closest to the tile line may be best for you. It is normal for the backswing and the follow to move slightly inside the tile line. To check your alignment, again use the tiled floor where the tile lines intersect. First, hide the intersection of the lines with a piece of paper or cardboard and place your putter in the address position, aiming down the tile line. We are going to use the vertical tile line to check that your clubface alignment is perpendicular to the target line. Have someone pull out the piece of paper and see if your putter face is lined up straight with the vertical line. Do this several times to see how consistent your aim/alignment is. The next step is to place a ball along the tile line and see if your stroke can keep the ball rolling along the tile line. You may be surprised to find that you have a tendency to pull or push your putts. If you cannot keep the putts straight along the tile line, then try to keep the putter square to the hole all during the follow-thru. Have another person behind you to verify whether or not the path of your stroke is pulling or pushing the ball off line. Try this using different putting grips to prove which one is best for you.
Joe
My putting is erratic. What is the best putting grip and how can I check myself for proper alignment?
Greg
Hi Greg,
The most popular putting grip is the reverse-overlap, but some people have also had success with other types of grips including regular overlap, ten-finger, split hands, left hand low, index finger down, and the “claw” (different variations used by Mark Calcavecchia and Chris DiMarco). One way to test what is best for you is to use a square tiled floor as a guide. Using a putter that has an aiming line on top, position that line along a floor tile line and take a stroke, while watching how the line on the putter follows the tile line. Is it steady or does it wobble too much? Whatever grip/stroke keeps you closest to the tile line may be best for you. It is normal for the backswing and the follow to move slightly inside the tile line. To check your alignment, again use the tiled floor where the tile lines intersect. First, hide the intersection of the lines with a piece of paper or cardboard and place your putter in the address position, aiming down the tile line. We are going to use the vertical tile line to check that your clubface alignment is perpendicular to the target line. Have someone pull out the piece of paper and see if your putter face is lined up straight with the vertical line. Do this several times to see how consistent your aim/alignment is. The next step is to place a ball along the tile line and see if your stroke can keep the ball rolling along the tile line. You may be surprised to find that you have a tendency to pull or push your putts. If you cannot keep the putts straight along the tile line, then try to keep the putter square to the hole all during the follow-thru. Have another person behind you to verify whether or not the path of your stroke is pulling or pushing the ball off line. Try this using different putting grips to prove which one is best for you.
Joe
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Joe,
I seem to pull all putts. The best I can do is not look. Please help!!Sam
Hello Sam,You have already provided a clue. When you don’t look, you don’t pull. Trust your line and execute your stroke, keeping your blade square to the target. If you look up too soon, your blade may no longer be square to the target, thus causing a pull. After the ball is struck, keep staring at the spot where the spot where the ball used to be. Don’t look up until you have completed your follow thru with the blade still square to the target, even if you can’t wait to see if you made the putt. Don’t worry, nobody is going to move the hole while you are not looking.
Joe
I seem to pull all putts. The best I can do is not look. Please help!!Sam
Hello Sam,You have already provided a clue. When you don’t look, you don’t pull. Trust your line and execute your stroke, keeping your blade square to the target. If you look up too soon, your blade may no longer be square to the target, thus causing a pull. After the ball is struck, keep staring at the spot where the spot where the ball used to be. Don’t look up until you have completed your follow thru with the blade still square to the target, even if you can’t wait to see if you made the putt. Don’t worry, nobody is going to move the hole while you are not looking.
Joe
Monday, April 18, 2005
Joe,
I have a question, When I start the down swing do I pull the club through With my left side? I know my power comes from my right side but I've been pulling the ball to the left, I hit it solid but left, not all the time but enough to cause me problems.I'm 72 years old and I don't have the club head speed I used to have. I've been play golf for about 50 years.
Thank you
Jim
Hi Jim,
Different swing thoughts work for some people but not all people. If pulling down with the left side causes pulled shots, but it also improves your ball striking, then all we have to do is to cure the pull, because good ball striking is most important. If you are pulling down along the target line, don’t forget that your body is also turning at the same time, which means by the time your club gets to the ball, the turning action is no longer down the target line, but instead it starts to turn to the inside, which will cause a pull. Try to adjust by pulling down on a path that is inside out. Then your body turn will bring you back to square at impact.
Joe
I have a question, When I start the down swing do I pull the club through With my left side? I know my power comes from my right side but I've been pulling the ball to the left, I hit it solid but left, not all the time but enough to cause me problems.I'm 72 years old and I don't have the club head speed I used to have. I've been play golf for about 50 years.
Thank you
Jim
Hi Jim,
Different swing thoughts work for some people but not all people. If pulling down with the left side causes pulled shots, but it also improves your ball striking, then all we have to do is to cure the pull, because good ball striking is most important. If you are pulling down along the target line, don’t forget that your body is also turning at the same time, which means by the time your club gets to the ball, the turning action is no longer down the target line, but instead it starts to turn to the inside, which will cause a pull. Try to adjust by pulling down on a path that is inside out. Then your body turn will bring you back to square at impact.
Joe
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Question: How many purists does it take to change a light bulb?
Answers:
-Two, one to recite and oversee the proper procedure while the second guy removes the old bulb and marks the spot with a coin while the power is still on. Then the first guy makes funeral arrangements.
-It takes 2 or 3, one to hold the lamp upside down while another holds the bulb with arm extended at shoulder height and tries to drop it into the socket. After 3 attempts you are allowed to call an electrician.
-I just spent over an hour searching thru the rule book, and I cannot find anything that describes how to do this. We will have to call an official for a ruling.
-None. That is my spouse’s job and she is not a purist. (burp) Honey, another beer please while you are getting the bulb, and hurry up, it is dark in here.
-And the winner is…You know how a good idea is signified by a light bulb going on over your head? Well, there are some purists out there whose bulbs definitely need to be changed, but they won’t allow it.
Answers:
-Two, one to recite and oversee the proper procedure while the second guy removes the old bulb and marks the spot with a coin while the power is still on. Then the first guy makes funeral arrangements.
-It takes 2 or 3, one to hold the lamp upside down while another holds the bulb with arm extended at shoulder height and tries to drop it into the socket. After 3 attempts you are allowed to call an electrician.
-I just spent over an hour searching thru the rule book, and I cannot find anything that describes how to do this. We will have to call an official for a ruling.
-None. That is my spouse’s job and she is not a purist. (burp) Honey, another beer please while you are getting the bulb, and hurry up, it is dark in here.
-And the winner is…You know how a good idea is signified by a light bulb going on over your head? Well, there are some purists out there whose bulbs definitely need to be changed, but they won’t allow it.
