Joe,
I get so mad when I have a good round going and then all of a sudden I start hitting iron shots straight to the right. It does not feel like I hit it off the toe, it feels like a fairly solid hit. My confidence is ruined because on every subsequent swing I am afraid it might happen again, so I get very tentative. This does not make any sense to me, one shot straight ahead, next shot straight to the right. Is there anything I can do to help prevent this?
Samuel
Hello Samuel,
Take a look at ball marks on the clubface. I think you are striking the ball too close to the shaft hosel, and this is called a shank, and it will send the ball far to the right. I also have experienced the shanks, and I found a couple of ways to cure them. I my case, I was standing with too much weight on my toes. When I put a little more weight on my heels, the shanks disappeared. Another possible reason for those who have a rather flat swing plane is that the harder you swing, the more the clubhead extends further from your body due to centrifugal force, increasing the chance of striking the ball on the hosel. If you like swinging hard, try a more upright swing plane, and let me know the results. One more thing to consider, maybe your irons are not fitted properly to your body build, better visit your local pro shop and check this. If the shafts are too long, just have them shortened and regripped, it is not that expensive. Good luck!
Joe
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Joe,
How about settling a friendly discussion. Bunkers and rakes. Are rakes to be left in or out of the bunkers?
Thanks, Dick Bruce
Hello Dick,
There is no rule one way or another. Each course may have its own preference, so ask at the pro shop. If you want to make it easier for the guys who mow the grass, put the rakes inside the bunkers but not on a sloping area. However, on the usga.org site there is a “decision” misc/2 that says it is better to leave the rakes outside the bunker just in case a ball rests against the rake, because if that happens and you move the rake, the ball might roll down the slope and you might not be able to replace it in the same spot, resulting in a stroke and distance penalty, which I think is really a stupid rule, because if the rake was not there the ball would have rolled down the slope anyway. You don’t want to get into debates with usga-holes, it is like trying to wrestle a pig. All you do is get muddy, and the pig likes it. After I make my first billion, I am going to buy the usga and change all their stupid rules.
Joe
How about settling a friendly discussion. Bunkers and rakes. Are rakes to be left in or out of the bunkers?
Thanks, Dick Bruce
Hello Dick,
There is no rule one way or another. Each course may have its own preference, so ask at the pro shop. If you want to make it easier for the guys who mow the grass, put the rakes inside the bunkers but not on a sloping area. However, on the usga.org site there is a “decision” misc/2 that says it is better to leave the rakes outside the bunker just in case a ball rests against the rake, because if that happens and you move the rake, the ball might roll down the slope and you might not be able to replace it in the same spot, resulting in a stroke and distance penalty, which I think is really a stupid rule, because if the rake was not there the ball would have rolled down the slope anyway. You don’t want to get into debates with usga-holes, it is like trying to wrestle a pig. All you do is get muddy, and the pig likes it. After I make my first billion, I am going to buy the usga and change all their stupid rules.
Joe
