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

) 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

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

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

Question for the Evil Twin:
Jody, based on your comments about the rules, it seems you are not a “Team Player”, don’t you know there is no “i” in “Team”?
Answer: Yes, but Team does have “m” and “e”.

Joe,
If someone is in the sand trap and the golf ball is unplayable. So they take a unplayable ball do they have to put it in the sand trap or can they take it out of the trap and play it on the fairway? Let me know. I was told you can take it out of the trap and put it on the fairway as an unplayable ball.
Thanks Pati

Hello Pati,
According to Rule 28 you have 3 options, all of which are a one stroke penalty. You can replay your previous shot by walking back to where you started (not recommended due to pace of play),
or you can drop the ball as far behind your spot as you want, as long as you stay in the bunker, or you can drop in the bunker sideways to your spot within 2 club lengths but no closer to the hole. You cannot drop in the fairway. If your unplayable lie was at the back of the bunker, there may not be any legal place to drop, so you would have to go back to the previously played spot, which hurts the pace of play. Now remember these are rules for formal competition. If you are only playing for fun, then you and your partners can agree that hey, you have already been hit with a penalty, so drop it wherever you want, the USGA police are not going to arrest you, although they might arrest me for saying that. I won’t snitch if you won’t.
Joe

Dear Joe
First I like to say I enjoy reading your e-mails, I learn a great deal.
I have been playing golf for approx. 2 years. I am having trouble hitting with my irons (yes with all of them.) The trouble is that I cannot get any loft on the ball, it flies just above the ground. What do I need to do? Thanks for taking the time to read my e-mail.
Garry Rodriguez
Lubbock, Texas

Hi Garry,
Many new golfers do the same as you because they are trying to lift the ball and therefore hit it too thin. Start with a wedge or 9-iron and try to hit the ball down into the ground. You may have noticed the pros on TV usually take a big divot on fairway shots. That is caused by striking the ball with a downward blow, and the club continues downward into the ground, producing the divot. In golf, you have to hit down to make the ball go up. You can see the same result with a ping pong paddle and ball. If you chop down on the ball, you give the ball underspin and the ball rises. If you swing up at the ball, you give the ball overspin and it drops quickly. When you can successfully hit down properly with your 9-iron, it will also work with your other clubs. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
Joe

nice newsletter.
Where can I get some info/help. I make solid contact, I keep pulling my ball about 30 yards left with my irons, this is killing me. What to fix? What doing wrong ?
thanks!
Ralph

Hello Ralph,
There are two possibilities here, grip or swing path, maybe both. First the swing path. Most people think they are swinging down the target line, but while the body is turning, by the time the clubhead gets to the ball, it is no longer down the target line, the turn pulls the club inside the target line. Let’s say the target line is 12 o’clock. If you are right handed, your path is probably pulled toward 11 o’clock. To correct this, swing toward 1 o’clock and exaggerate the follow-thru in that direction. For the grip, my first guess is that you are using the interlock grip, which I have seen many people struggle with. My second guess is the overlap, which I myself have used for over 40 years with some success, but now I am using the ten finger grip because I have gotten in the habit of having contests with myself using different methods, and the ten finger grip won. Try such contests yourself and use the grip that works best for you.
Joe

Question for the Evil Twin:
Jody, what do you say about having to follow all the rules of golf, no matter what?
Answer: For those who say a rule is a rule and you have to follow it, then make sure you also follow these rules:

In California, it is illegal to set a mousetrap without a hunting license.
In North Dakota, it is illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on.
In Seattle, residents may not carry concealed weapons longer than six feet.
In Vermont, it is illegal to whistle underwater.
In Carmel, New York, a man cannot go outside while wearing a jacket and pants that do not match.
In Denver it is unlawful to lend your vacuum cleaner to your next-door neighbor.
In Devon, Connecticut, it is unlawful to walk backwards after sunset.
In Alabama, it is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle
In California, it is illegal for anyone to try and stop a child from playfully jumping over puddles of water.
In California, it is illegal to eat an orange in your bath tub.
In Connecticut, a pickle is not officially a pickle unless it bounces.
In Sarasota, FL, it is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit.
In Kentucky, it is illegal to transport an ice cream cone in your pocket.
In Louisiana, it is illegal to rob a bank and then shoot at the bank teller with a water pistol.
In Louisiana, biting someone with your natural teeth is "simple assault", while biting someone with your false teeth is "aggravated assault".
In Massachusetts, mourners at a wake may not eat more than three sandwiches
In Nebraska, a parent can be arrested if his child cannot hold back a burp during a church service.
In Pennsylvania, a special cleaning ordinance bans housewives from hiding dirt and dust under a rug in a dwelling.
In Pennsylvania, no man may purchase alcohol without written consent from his wife.
In Texas, it is illegal to take more than three sips of beer at a time while standing.
In Washington, it is mandatory for a motorist with criminal intentions to stop at the city limits and telephone the chief of police as he is entering the town.
In Chicago, it is forbidden to fish while sitting on a giraffe's neck.
(if you don’t feel there is a need to change some of the golf rules, then don’t change these either)

Hello,
Is there a cure for the Yips?
Ann

Hi Ann,
When all else fails, you have to adopt an attitude with an edge to it. By that I mean you have to mix a little self anger along with determination that you are going to execute a stroke and you are not going to allow worry to affect the outcome. If the outcome is still not successful, tell yourself it is not because you did not execute the stroke properly, and therefore you have done the best you could. With this approach, the Yips should no longer be an issue. The Yips are only an issue if you worry about the outcome before and during the execution of the stroke. Take worry out of the equation with this “Edge” and execute. The outcome is going to happen whether you like it or not, but your outcomes will no longer be a result of worry, just execution, and things can only get better from there.
Joe

Hello,
I recently bought a DVD that claims that thru Neuromuscular exercises will help us in our swing. The theory is by watching a perfect swing over and over again with different clubs should give you a good tempo swing. I observed that the guy is swinging with his left heel off the ground during his backward swing. The guys on tour do not seem to swing like that. Is there a concern? Even Mark Sensei (Body Golf) doesn’t swing like that. Should I stop seeing it before I swing like a cockadoo? :) I also noticed that he is hitting with a very old wood, steel shafted. Ball flight is amazingly good!
Thanks
Jack

Hello Jack,
If you have ever seen Bobby Jones swing, you will notice that his heel comes way off the ground, and since Bobby Jones was one of the greatest golfers who ever lived, it is logical to say that this is only a mannerism, not a fundamental. If you try to copy every mannerism from every video, you will fry your brain. Mannerisms are minor differences in appearance that are not as important as the fundamentals that you must do to improve. Most mannerisms occur during the backswing (like Jim Furyk) and follow-thru (like Arnold Palmer), most fundamentals, the important things, occur from the top of the backswing to the point of contact. Watch the downswing, how the pros move their weight to the front foot, watch the position of the back elbow, and watch how they delay their wrist action until the last possible instant before contact. If you can imitate those things, then it won’t matter if you look like a cockadoo (whatever that is).
Joe

Hello,
I am a beneficiary of the advice given in your newsletter. I have a question for you...a pro measured me and told me to use Ping green dot clubs which, when I checked on the Ping web site, meant that these are 2 degree upright clubs. My question is which all companies make such clubs. I play with Lynx blade irons and the heel of it some times is above the ground and I have to readjust the club. I do not intend to buy some thing very expensive here in India as choices are a bit limited. Thanks for being there.
Admiringly
Anand (dr.A.V.Pathak)

Hello Anand,
Many golfers are not aware that they need more upright lie angles, and that is part of the reason why their shots are pushed or sliced. I assume you feel that the Pings are too expensive for your taste. The least expensive approach is to try to get your Lynx irons bent more upright, but you must understand there is some risk of cracking the club. If you intend to purchase new clubs, you can usually search the internet to find out which companies in India offer clubs made to your specs. If you can try some “demo” clubs, make sure you use “striking tape and board” to see where the tape gets scuffed when you swing down on the board. The tape should scuffed in the middle of the sole if it fits you properly.
Joe

Question for the Evil Twin:
Jody, how can I get more distance on my drives?
Answer: Purchase a more fuel-efficient vehicle.

Joe, my local courses are either too crowded, or too expensive. The only courses that are affordable and uncrowded are the shorter par 3 courses, but I like to hit my woods someplace else besides a driving range, and I don’t like traveling long distances to get to other courses. Any ideas?
Abe

Hello Abe,
Years ago, Jack Nicklaus was looking into the future and he saw this happening. His idea was to make a new ball called “half-golf” which would allow the construction of more short courses for people to play without consuming so much real estate. Jack’s idea did not catch on, but another company has come up with a similar idea. In my opinion, this is an idea whose time has come. I recently visited a website ‘almostgolfball.com’ where they have designed a new ball that travels about one-third as far as a real ball, but it is dense enough to allow chipping and putting, unlike most practice balls. It also hooks and slices just like a real ball. If you try these on a short par 3 course, it suddenly plays like a full sized course. At first it might seem like it will mess up your distance judgment, but just change the ‘yardage’ to ‘footage’. Since the ball travels only one-third the distance, and a 100 yard hole is 300 feet, the hole will play like 300 yards if you use the “A-Ball”. You already know what club to use for yardage with a real ball, so that translates into FEET for that same club with the A-ball. That same website also has a lot of other interesting information, check it out. For example, they have tournaments and Happy Gilmour style driving contests in any open field. The A-Ball is safer also, you are not likely to be hurt if you are accidentally hit by one. These balls are available on line, and also at some of the larger golf stores like Golf Galaxy.
Joe

Hi,
I am still considered a novice golfer as I took the sport up 4 years ago. I try and get out as much as I can and truly love the sport and wish I had taken it up at an earlier age. I'm 44. I can hit my irons pretty well but have limited success off the tee. I find that most of the drivers available today have graphite shafts and that is where I have the most trouble. I've been told that you need to alter your swing to allow for the "flex" in the shaft. How is one supposed to do this without totally screwing up our normal method of swinging a club? Should I instead try and find a driver that has a stiff shaft so I can swing the same as with my irons?
Thank you,
Jeff J. Najduk

Hello Jeff,
I like your thought process, you should not have to change your swing for a driver or any other club, especially if you are hitting your irons pretty well. You should definitely find a different driver. Too much flex results in wildness. Too little flex results in loss of distance, but usually better accuracy. Many people are having success with graphite shafts that have “low torque”, which means it has flex without twisting. It is the twisting that causes wild shots. Also, most drivers do not have enough loft for the average player, so you lose distance when your ball has less hang time. That is why many golfers do better with a 3-wood. Try to attend demo days where you can try different drivers with different specs and see which ones work best for you. Some driving ranges also will let you try some of their demo clubs. Phone ahead and find out which ones will do that. Good luck, and let us know how it turns out.
Joe

Hi Joe, I have a question, I have observed that the left foot of professionals golfers after striking the ball stays perpendicular to the target like at address but most of us would turn the left foot after striking the ball more that 45* outward. I tried to restrict my left foot from turning but it hurts and it feels like I am restricting my turn. Does the position of the foot after impact makes a difference to distance and accuracy of the shot? Do you know what they did right that I didn't while imitating their swing? I am a golfer that believes in text book swing and have change my swing 3 times to get it close to perfect. Its painful during those times but very rewarding at the end. I tend to analyse what I do right to hit a good shot then the reverse so that I can always fall back on the drills that allows to hit the best shot I can hit. Hence, I am assuring you that I am prepared to change my swing again for the better. Thanks,
Jack

Hello Jack,
The pros are people who have been blessed with a high degree of athleticism, and they get to play every day, so they can more easily execute moves that the rest of us cannot. In the case of the front foot, some people can keep it perpendicular while others feel restricted by that. Once planted, the spikes keep it from moving during the swing. In my case, I have had knee surgery so I like to turn the toe outward a little bit to take some of the pressure off the knee. I do not believe that affects distance or accuracy. Rather than pursue a textbook swing, you might do better if you take a look at the Body Golf videos.
Joe

Hi, I love the news letter. I am 9 index, but just lately I have developed a very bad push off tee with driver, sometimes with 3 wood also. Not a slice, just a dead straight push. Any suggestions? thanks.
Milt

Hi Milt,
Assuming you do not push your irons, I have to wonder if your woods are from the same matched set, like maybe your shafts are too long for you. If that is not the case, then your problem could be any number of things, starting with proper grip, weight shift, swing path, wrist action, etc. Without being able to see your swing, I can only guess. You might want to experiment with different ball positions. Some people have success playing all clubs from the same ball position while others get better results playing the ball more toward the front foot.
Joe

Hello.
I'm 15 years old and I love to golf. My only problem is, I'm a very inconsistent player. Some days I can play really well and other days it looks like I've never played before in my life. It gets very frustrating. Do you have any tips on how I can become more consistent on my game? Thanks a million,
Nicole Thielges

Hi Nicole,
Everyone has varying amounts of inconsistency, all you can do is minimize this by developing your own set of “key” swing thoughts. Have a set of “keys” for the backswing and another set for the downswing. Of course it is not possible to think of more than one or two keys while swinging, but you can select a different key depending on what your particular problem happens to be at the time. Here are some keys to try on the backswing – head steady, keep the left arm comfortably straight, take it back low and wide, feel the weight shift to the inside of the back foot, while the wrist is hinging, get the shaft on the same plane as the leading arm. Here are some keys for the downswing – smooth tempo while shifting the lower body weight to the front foot, swing down at the ball on a path that is inside-out, extend the follow thru while you are still looking at the spot where the ball was after you hit it. These are just samples, there are many other things that may work for you, so compile your own list and then pick one or two at a time from the list until you find the right combinations for the backswing and downswing. Let us know how it turns out.
Joe

TRUE OR FALSE:
1) The number one fundamental of a good golf grip is comfort.
>____ False. Hand position is number one, comfort is nice, but you can feel comfortable with your hands in the wrong position.

2) The address position is similar to the position at impact.
>____ False. At address, the arms are not on the same plane as the shaft, at impact the force of the swing brings the arms to the same plane as the shaft. Also, at address the knees are bent about the same amount, but at impact the forward knee is straightened and the back knee is driving forward. Also, the hips are square at address, but are turning forward at impact.

3) For more distance, after the backswing it is important to get the clubhead online with the target line as quickly as possible.
>____ False, this may rob you of distance by causing “casting” or “hitting from the top”. For maximum distance, delay this action until the last possible instant.

4) At impact, both legs and arms should be extended as straight as possible.
____ False. Although the forward arm and leg should be straight, the trailing elbow and knee are flexed until after impact.

5) For straight shots, the clubhead should be square to the back .
of the ball at impact.
____ True.

6) There are six basic swings in golf: the driver off the tee, fairway woods, irons, flop shots, chipping and putting.
____ False, unless you consider greenside sand bunker shots to be in the same category as flop shots. I’m not sure if the author meant to say “types of shots” instead of “basic swings”, most of which are not really all that different.

7) The more upright the golfswing, the more explosive the impact can be.
____ False. There is such a thing as being too upright.

8) The general rule of thumb is: "The harder the sand, the harder the swing must be."
____ False. Club selection is more of a factor. Use a wedge with less “bounce” on the sole for hard sand.

9) Most hooking and slicing problems are caused by alignment problems.
____ False. Hooking and slicing are caused by the face of the club not being square at impact, no matter how you are aligned.

10) The more effort applied during the downswing, the further the ball goes.
____ False. This causes an arm swing, and robs you of the clubhead speed that you would get if you concentrate more on the effortless delayed wrist action at the last instant.


Responses from the Evil Twin:
TRUE OR FALSE:
1) The number one fundamental of a good golf grip is comfort.
>____ I can comfortably grip the wrong end of the club.

2) The address position is similar to the position at impact.
>____ True, when I am putting.

3) For more distance, after the backswing it is important to get the clubhead online with the target line as quickly as possible.
>____ Imagine the size of the outside-in loop that would create.

4) At impact, both legs and arms should be extended as straight as possible.
____ This might result in a leap.

5) For straight shots, the clubhead should be square to the back .
of the ball at impact.
____ Duh.

6) There are six basic swings in golf: the driver off the tee, fairway woods, irons, flop shots, chipping and putting.
____ This quite accurately describes my average hole but you forgot the foot-wedge.

7) The more upright the golfswing, the more explosive the impact can be.
____ And it produces a divot the size of a pizza.

8) The general rule of thumb is: "The harder the sand, the harder the swing must be."
____ The harder the swing, the more chance of skulling it. Maybe you could bank it off the clubhouse.

9) Most hooking and slicing problems are caused by alignment problems.
____ And the phase of the moon.

10) The more effort applied during the downswing, the further the ball goes.
____ The further it goes off line.

Question for the Evil Twin:
Jody, what is the easiest shot in golf?
Answer: I used to think it was the 4th putt until I saw Phil Mickelson 5-putt in a tournament last year.

Joe,
I've got the yips on short chips. Help. Marshall

Hi Marshall,
You are a poet and you didn’t know it. Here are a couple of things to try. For short chips, try using a 5-wood like a belly putter. Press the end of the shaft into your belly just above the belt, put both hands down the shaft and putt. If that seems too weird for you, use a 7-iron with your regular putting stroke, but play the ball off your back foot to ensure better contact. If neither method works, then you are probably being to wristy. Keep your hands ahead of the clubhead at all times, even during the follow thru. Let me know how it turns out.
Joe

Hello,
I can hit off the tee ok, and get about a 200 yards, drive well in the fairway. But when I use my irons I dub it or shank it or put the grass farther than my ball (in the right direction). I am thinking of hitting the ball first and then the ground. I am swinging with the natural golf way. What is the way to hit the ball forward down the fairway straight? Where is my aim going? Help me…
Silly in love, happy in heart.

Hi Silly,
What you describe is typical of a “reverse pivot” which means you have your weight on the wrong foot at the wrong time. You need to transfer your weight correctly. The “dance of golf” is described as shifting the weight to the inside of the back foot while turning, and on the downswing, shifting your weight entirely onto the front foot. On the follow-thru, the only part of the back foot that is touching the ground is the tip of the toe. Watch the pros on TV, they do it perfectly. If you do this correctly, you should see some improvement in your shots.
Joe

Hello,
I was wondering if you could explain how an incorrect lie angle can affect the shape of a shot. The reason I ask is I feel like the toe of the irons I use sits up too high (they are standard lie). I have noticed if I hold my hands high at address so the club sits flatter on the round it is easy to work the ball left, (I am right handed) but it feels a little unnatural with my hands so high. Do you think changing the lie angle (bending the toe of the club down) will help.
Regards
Jeff Sinclair
Newcastle, Australia

Hi Jeff,
For right handers, lie angles that are too flat will send the ball more to the right, too upright will send the ball more to the left. Are your divots deeper near the toe or the heel? If neither, then your lie angle is correct. For most people, it is normal to address the ball with the toe up because your arms are hanging down and are not on the same plane as the club shaft. However, when you are swinging, the force of the swing causes your arms to go on the same plane as the club shaft, which means the bottom of the club will be correctly flat to the ground. Watch any slow motion replay of anyone’s swing and you will see this to be true. When you extend your arms at address (like Natural Golf), the bottom of the club is more flat to the ground, as you said. If you enjoy working the ball left, do not bend the toe down. If you do not like holding your hands high at address, but you still want to work the ball to the left, then bend the toe up. The best way to tell if your clubs have the correct “lie angle” is the “striking board”, where you put tape on the sole of the club and when you hit the striking board, you can see where the tape is damaged. It should be damaged in the center of the sole if your lie angle is correct.
Joe

Hello,
Can you or anyone explain why the golf shoe makers have reduced the number of spikes on a golf shoe? It was 11 or 12 at one time, and now it is down to 6 or 7. It certainly does reduce the amount of traction for us amateur golfers who have to use soft spikes. Is it merely a cost savings for the shoe makers ?
Thank You,
Marshall

Hi Marshall,
The older shoes were designed for metal spikes, one point per spike totaling 11 or 12 points of contact with the ground. Newer shoes are designed for soft spikes, which typically have 6 points per spike totaling 36 or 42 points of contact with the ground, which should be enough for good traction. However the soft spikes wear out quickly, so replace them if you feel your feet slipping. You might also want to try a style of shoe that does not have removable spikes, instead they have built in permanent rubber points.
Joe

Hello,
I am 63 years old and started golfing right after my retirement in 1992. I am slowly dropping my handicap down from once a 36 to now a 18 yet want to get better. I realize you must practice a lot which I rarely do and that could be the main problem. I would like to get better with my irons without changing a whole lot of things. I have bought numerous videos and golf magazines and after I've watched or read hints to improve my game I get worse. I know old habits are hard to change and I seem to be a little stubborn when things don't go right and go back to what got me where I am at the present. I seem to pull the ball left on 90 percent of my shots where I know I could improve my game if I could only straighten this problem a little. I'm getting a divot before the ball is struck, seems as though I'm taking the club back to fast and dropping my shoulder on the down stroke to get as much distance as I possibly can get with an iron. I think should get me to the green. Usually a 5 iron gets me 150 yards, then a 7 iron does the same thing at times but always left of the green. I try to compensate by aiming right of the flag by a whole lot and the ball goes right where I was aiming most of the time to the right of the green. Yet when I aim at the pin the ball goes left of the green. No consistency what so ever. I know your going to say go practice on a range, but I'd rather be out on the course where I enjoy doing what I like to do. All I want is a tip from you that I can take with me while I'm golfing and improve my game just a little. I know this may seem stupid to you for what I'm asking and what I refuse to do and that is go to a range and hit balls. I've tried this many times before and my game didn't improve, I believe in on the job training while playing cause it's more fun. Three more strokes off my handicap and I'd be happy for now.
Thanks,
Gerald Koski Sr

Hi Gerald,
The mind is a powerful thing, and sneaky too. When you aim at the flag, the mind allows your natural tendency to pull, and when you aim to the right, you mind adjusts your swing to finish to the right, and the ball goes right where you aimed. You may have already discovered the solution to your problem, and many others also have this problem. Convince your mind that if you try to swing down the target line while your body is turning, by the time your club gets to the ball, your body turn causes the path of the club to turn left also, which causes a pulled shot. Your mind already knows when you aim to the right, the ball goes straight, so your solution is to line up at the flag, but do not swing down the target line, direct your downswing a little to the right, and your body turn will bring is back to square, which is down the target line. Let us know how it turns out.
Joe

Hello,my name is Mike. I’m 13 years old and I love golf. I can hit 200 yards on an average swing but on some swings the ball just goes straight down to the ground and doesn’t hit the fairway. Why is this? Please email me back with your best answer. Thank you.

Hi Mike,
I am assuming you are using a driver with a deep face. If you look closely, you can see a bulge in the face, so if you strike the ball high on the face, it will fly high and long. However, if you strike the ball low on the face, the bulge is your enemy because it sends the ball too low. Try teeing the ball as high as you can without hitting popups. If this does not work for you, find a 3-wood with an oversized head. The extra loft might be all you need. Good luck!
Joe

Question:
what is the best tip you ever heard?
Answer: Don’t speak to strangers.

Joe,
My putting has been scaring the heck out of me....I read the putts and hit the distance but my line is off..Especially short ones...I push, I pull...Is this the yips?...I'm from Kansas City and remember Watson having a similar problem...My buddies accuse me of having a pebble taped to the front of my putter...please help..
Sincerely, Sean

Hello Sean,
It could be the Yips, it sounds like your left and right hands are fighting each other for control. When one of them wins you push your putts, and when the other hand wins, you pull, and you never know which hand will win. Here is a way to force them to work together. Take your Driver (yes, your Driver), which is about the same length as a belly putter. Put both hands low on the shaft, and press the shaft onto your belly, wherever it is comfortable. You will be surprised how smooth your putting stroke becomes, because when the shaft is anchored into your belly, the hands cannot fight each other. When you see the improvement, you can either invest in a belly putter or make your own by simply cutting off part of the rubber top of your putter’s grip and inserting any type of shaft extension down into the hollow shaft of your putter. Even a wooden dowel will work, or a piece of broken shaft that already has a grip on it. Also, you can experiment by gripping the club different ways to see which is best for you, like reverse overlap, left hand low, hands split apart, etc., almost any grip will work with a belly putter. Good luck and let me know how it turns out.
Joe

Richard, Your article the other day on keeping the back swing shoulder high (for a big guy) as opposed to over the head was of real interest. I find that my divot is much straighter however my distance is lacking. I use a strong grip. I feel this is for me but something is not quite right. Is it weight shift-turn or what happens first on the down shift. Could you perhaps shed a little more light . My 7 iron is good for about 105-110 yards if hit real well.
Dave

Hello Dave,
Richard asked me to answer this one. To start the downswing, your weight should already be on the inside of your back foot. You can shift your weight to the front foot by pushing off the back foot to start your downswing. If you can keep your front leg straight, you do not have to think about turning on the downswing because a proper weight shift will automatically result in a turn. If you want more distance, delay your wrist snap until the last possible instant before contact. Watch the slow motion replays of the pros on TV and you will see this is how they get maximum clubhead speed even when it looks like they are swinging easy.
Joe

Richard, Your article the other day on keeping the back swing shoulder high (for a big guy) as opposed to over the head was of real interest. I find that my divot is much straighter however my distance is lacking. I use a strong grip. I feel this is for me but something is not quite right. Is it weight shift-turn or what happens first on the down shift. Could you perhaps shed a little more light . My 7 iron is good for about 105-110 yards if hit real well.
Dave

Hello Dave,
Richard asked me to answer this one. To start the downswing, your weight should already be on the inside of your back foot. You can shift your weight to the front foot by pushing off the back foot to start your downswing. If you can keep your front leg straight, you do not have to think about turning on the downswing because a proper weight shift will automatically result in a turn. If you want more distance, delay your wrist snap until the last possible instant before contact. Watch the slow motion replays of the pros on TV and you will see this is how they get maximum clubhead speed even when it looks like they are swinging easy.
Joe

Joe,
Tempo, that is exactly my problem. I do not know how to get my body into the shot. I hit fairly consistently, but not very far. Can you help me with this? What is the sequence, hips, legs, arms? Is there an exercise for this? How can I get the tempo? If I try to move my hips or legs I wind up "sliding". If you can fix this, I will really be able to score.
Thanks,
Susan

Hi Susan,
For your problem, I highly recommend the Body Golf videos because they show you the drills you need to achieve better tempo, like the 2 club drill. If you think in terms of a sequence, it is like a house of cards, one false move and the whole swing is ruined. Get your body to work together smoothly. Hal Sutton says the smaller muscles do not work well under pressure, so instead rely on the larger body muscles (shoulders and hips) and simpler swing thoughts.
Joe

Question for the Evil Twin:
Jody,
What kind of holes are you favorites and why?
Answer: The 19th hole, of course, and the reason is BEER. I am not alone on this, here are other famous people who agree with me:

Sometimes when I reflect on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. I think, "It is better to drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver." -- Babe Ruth

I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. -- Lyndon B. Johnson

An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools. -- Ernest Hemingway

When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading. -- Paul Hornung

24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not. -- H. L. Mencken

When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we commit no sin. When we commit no sin, we go to heaven. So, let's all get drunk and go to heaven! -- George Bernard Shaw

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. -- Benjamin Franklin

Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza. -- Dave Barry

BEER: helping ugly people find love since 3000 B.C. -- W. C. Fields

Remember "I" before "E", except in Budweiser. -- Professor Irwin Corey

To some it's a six-pack, to me it's a "support group." Salvation in a can! -- Leo Durocher

One night at Cheers, Cliff Clavin explained the "Buffalo Theory" to his buddy Norm: "Well ya see, Norm, it's like this. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular elimination of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain! can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine! That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers." --Cliff Clavin

Joe,
I would like to know the exact way that you propose to "Hit thru the ball" I have a good hands and arm swing but do not get the yardage I should receive. I am 77 yrs young and would like to hit further.
Leroy Grossman

Hello Leroy,
Try this experiment. Take a ping pong paddle and ball, hold the ball out in front of you and swing at it with an arm swing. Then do the same thing, but this time delay the wrist snap until the last possible instant and watch how much farther the ball goes. A golf swing works the same way. Watch the slow motion replays of the pros on TV. You will see that the wrists do not snap until the last possible instant, which adds to clubhead speed at contact. People who fail to do this are “hitting from the top”, which means they use up their wrist snap too soon, reducing their clubhead speed at contact. This idea, along with a more aggressive weight shift on the downswing, should result in better distance.
Joe

Dear Joe:
I’m not sure if you’ve ever gotten a question like this or if you will be able to help me. If you can’t maybe you know someone who can. My problem is that I’m a well endowed woman. Not extremely, but well enough for it to cause problems with my swing. Most videos and books tell you to let you arms hang naturally at your sides to swing. Well, if I do that something gets in the way when I take the club away. I usually try to set my arms over them, but then I end up reaching for the ball which puts my weight on my toes, which in turn limits my weight shift and I end up hitting mostly with my arms. Any suggestions?
M.C.

Hi M.C.,
My evil twin is dying to answer this one, but I won’t let him. Did you ever see Nancy Lopez swing? Just before she starts her backswing, she extends her arms outward to be on the same plane as the club shaft. There are many books and videos on the market that give a lot of information, but some of the many ideas may not work for you, like the one you mentioned about how you must let your arms hang down. That is only a mannerism, not a fundamental. Natural Golf has built an entire system based on extending your arms outward to a single plane setup, so there is nothing wrong with reaching a little bit for the ball. However, do not allow your weight to go to your toes, stay back a little bit on your heels to maintain good balance. Another thing that might help is the type of sports bra that women athletes are using in today’s sports and exercise programs. My evil twin has offered to help you get fitted for this, but I won’t let him.
Joe

Hello, I am a keen follower of your articles. I have one question---how does one achieve a flat left wrist while gripping the club with your left hand. If you could guide me through I will be grateful.
Rgds
Bala
Bangalore India

Hello Bala,
A flat left wrist is a concept that is achieved at the top of the backswing, not when you grip the club. At the top of the backswing this helps to keep the clubface square for better ball striking. When gripping the club, assuming you are right-handed, place the shaft diagonally across the left palm and close the fingers. The V formed by the thumb and forefinger should point to your back shoulder, unless you hook the ball too much, then you can have this V point more toward your chin. Then as you take your backswing, your wrist can bend into the flat position at the top of the swing. If you have trouble doing this, here is a drill. Begin at the top of the swing and look at your wrist. Make it flat, and memorize how that feels as you start your downswing. The purpose of the backswing then is to arrive at that feeling.
Joe

– Joe, Please advise me...
I am a weekend golfer and could it be better for me to use blade clubs or I should I remain with my Oozler cavity backs. Awaiting for your favourable advice. My last weekend game was good among my previous game, my score was 95, from 142 to 95 (BIG Change)
Rgd Joe

Hi big change Joe,
If you just improved by 47 strokes, you might want to stay with your current clubs. But you are my kind of guy, 47 strokes is not good enough, you want more, I like that kind of attitude. Blade irons are for golfers who can hit the sweet spot every time, and it is a really sweet crisp feeling when you do, but if you miss the sweet spot, the errors are magnified. Cavity backs are a little more forgiving when you miss the sweet spot, so unless you are a single digit handicap, blades are probably not going to help you. Of course there are a lot of other factors in any club that may or may not be suitable for you, like proper shafts, lie angles, etc., so the only way to tell is to borrow different types and compare results on the range.
Joe

Joe, I have problems with the grass down here the ball lies like it was on hard pan. U have to go down after it. with the long irons and 5 wood I have a lot of trouble with it. How do U hit a ball like that with hardly any grass under it. Any advice U could give will help a lot. thanks
nick

Hi Nick,
From your description, I am guessing you are topping the ball or hitting it thin, right? When you say U have to go down after it, are you departing from your normal swing? Most people have better results when their normal swing goes down after it, no matter what the lie. In your case, ball position may be a factor. Play the ball in the center of your stance and hit down. If you are already doing that, and your results are not good, experiment with a more forward ball position and more aggressive weight shift on the downswing.
Joe

Question: On the range I am great, but on the golf course I stink. What should I do?
Answer: Bring some deodorant.

Hello Joe, I Would appreciate any help in assisting me to be able to hit down and through the ball and take a divot. I have always scooped the ball and realize this is not the way to play the game, especially with the short irons. Any drills or suggestions would be appreciated.
Don

Hi Don,
There are plenty of good drills in the Body Golf videos for this. Since you have been a scooper, you probably are not shifting your weight on the downswing to your front foot. If you can accomplish a more aggressive weight shift, it will be easier for you to hit down and take a divot. The step-thru drill is my favorite for this.
Joe

Hello Joe, I don't know why I am topping now? not my irons but with my woods. Can you help me. Thank You
David C.

Hi David,
If you are OK with your irons, but not with your woods, I suspect your woods may not be correctly matched to your swing. Many driving ranges have samples of different brands that they will let you try. Also try to attend demo days in your area, where you can hit different brands for free. You might even find decent woods at a garage sale for just a few bucks, which may or may not fit you, but for such a small investment, you never know, it might be worth a try.
Joe

Joe, thanks for your tips on putting (vijay's way with the belly putter). it has
proven to be worth -3 to 5 strokes per round to me (by cutting down on the
3 putts). now if i can somehow figure out how to putt straight with my 43'
odyssey white-hot 2ball from 3 feet in, i'll be able to cut another 4
strokes off the round. my question today is not about putting. you see, i
seem to have developed a distance problem. perhaps it is my swing or
perhaps i'm hitting it cleaner but my yardage has gone beserk lately. i'm
35 years old, 5'10, 165lbs with a 5'10 wingspan. i golf 2-3 times a week
(only in april since i'm clearing leave) and play hoops for 2-3 hours on
saturdays after golf in the morning. i use a set of forged titleist 690.cb
irons with royal precision flighted rifles 5.5 shafts and midsize softie
grips. about a month ago, i used to hit my pitching wedge 110 metres (121
yards). over the last 3 rounds (last week), the PW goes 125m (136 yards).
which means my 7-iron now goes to 155m (169 yards), up from 145m (158
yards). now this is normally a good sign for most golfers, but i'm missing
greens long by 20 yards or so, and it's irritating me to death. and it has
been inconsistent, because the yardage differences are small. here's my
carry yardage: 60*LW - 60m/66yds, 56* - 80m/88yds; 51* - 100m/109yds, 47*PW
- 125m/136yds; 9-iron - 130m/142yds; 8-iron - 137m/150yds; 7-iron -
155m/169yds; 6-iron - 165m/180yds; 5-iron - 180m/196yds. my clubs go at 4
degree increments from pw - 5-iron. i don't carry the 2-,3- and 4-irons
(although i can hit them); instead i carry a 19* rescue/utility club with a
39-inch flighted rifle and similar grip to my irons. this club gets me
(depending on whether i concentrate on the shot -- which is easier said
than done) anywhere from 180m/196yds to 230m/250yds. because of this
yardage, i almost never pull out my driver now, which is longer but gets me
penalties.
my question really is, will the yardage drop as i play less? and how do i
concentrate on releasing the club at the top of my swing, because if i
don't, i hook the little white fella into the jungle. that's why i said
it's easier said than done, beause i lose concentration quite often within
a round. is there a thought process which i can follow while at address?
i've resorted to mouthing out "release, release, release, xxxx" which is
irritating to my playing partners and looks quite stupid, and even then my
eyes sometimes lose focus of the ball during the backswing (the eye follows
the clubhead, and if i remember, i'll re-setup, if not, it's either a
pull/hook or push. i don't slice the ball anymore. help.
dc

Hello again dc,
I don’t know what the climate is where you live, but a month ago perhaps the weather was cooler, and that could account for the differences in distance per club. You are obviously doing everything you can to be physically fit. If this is a recent thing, that also could account for your increased strength. If you play more frequently only in April, the more you play, the stronger you get, that also could account for increased distance during April. I would have to see your swing in order to determine why you sometimes pull hook or push, but other people with the same problem tend to have a “flying elbow”. By keeping the back elbow closer to the front elbow especially during the downswing, and swinging inside-out, you might be able to correct this.
Joe

Joe,
What are shallow faced or deep faced woods. Some thing to do with there loft? Are there any 2 degree upright clubs available except.I have been told to buy 2 degree upright clubs (ping green dot).
Anand

Hello Anand,
Loft has nothing to do with deep face or shallow face. Measuring the clubface from bottom to top is the determining factor. Drivers have taller/deeper faces than fairway woods. Years ago, the Adams Tight Lies model introduced the shallow face concept to lower the center of gravity for fairway woods, making them easier to hit from any lie. However, if you try a shallow faced club from a tee or from fluffy grass, you risk hitting a popup. The upright lie angle is also not related to loft or deep/shallow face, it just measures the angle of the shaft when the sole of the club is resting flat on the ground. People who push or slice their shots might benefit from a more upright lie angle (if the divots are deeper at the toe), and the reverse is true for people who pull or hook their shots, they need a flatter lie angle. Forged clubheads can be bent to adjust the lie angle, but cast clubheads are at more risk of cracking when bent.
Joe

Question:
I am told I am way too conservative, what should I do?
Answer: For starters, you can stop painting your Easter eggs white.

My name is Howard and my wife has some hybrid woods that only reflect degrees. She has club degrees ranging from 13 degrees up to 22 degrees. Could you please advise me as to what these degrees equate to as compared to a normal driver, 3-wood, or 5-wood?
Thank you,
Howard Duarte

Hello Howard,
Normal drivers can be anywhere from 6 to 12 degrees, typical 3-woods are 15 degrees, and 5-woods vary to the point where it no longer makes sense to categorize a club by numbers, so it is better to use the number of degrees instead. Long ago, woods did not have numbers, they had names like Brassie, Cleek, and Spoon. Irons were called Mashie, Niblick, etc. but then the numbering system was made to correlate to specific degrees of loft, beginning with the sand wedge at 55 degrees, and four degrees apart uniformly downward. Then lofts became lower as the club manufacturers competed with each other to say their irons hit the ball farther, which was not really fair since the lofts were not the same. Anyway, a hybrid club is neither a wood nor an iron, so using the four degree “rule of thumb”, your wife’s 13 degree hybrid can either be a 2-wood or a 1-iron, and the 22-degree hybrid can be either a 5-wood or a 3-iron.
Joe

Joe,
I need some help in stance, body weight shift ??? short swing arc, . I am a right handed golfer and have played for years and recently I had to have left leg amputated due to infection. I have since been fitted with an" otto bock" computerized prosthesis. Am wondering if you or anyone you know has any experience teaching my situation.
joe Chesla
Lino Lakes, Mn.

Hello Joe C,
I’m sorry to hear about your leg problems, but I am glad to hear you are still able to make a golf swing. Although I have no experience teaching your situation, I would have to ask if your prosthesis allows you to have good balance and you can put your body weight onto it without pain. If that is the case, there should be little difference in teaching the golf swing. However, if you do have some balance and pain issues, you will have to modify your swing to allow most of your weight to remain on the right leg. Assuming you are right handed, this is exactly what people do with the “reverse pivot” anyway, so although a reverse pivot is a fault, at least it will allow you to make a swing. Let us know how you are progressing and we can take it from there. Best of luck.
Joe

Joe,
I can't get rid of my fade, which turns into a slice as I tire......during a round.....it seems that no matter what I do to correct it, I can't....I have tried all the tried and true methods...videos, lessons...the most I have done was hit it somewhat straighter....until I tire...then fade and then slice!!!!!! Frustrating to say the least....Help!!!!!!! I am loosing distance....mostly with my woods, my iron play while the distance isn't as great as it was last year is still pretty much straight or to the left.....
Ed

Hi Ed,
Sounds like you need the Slice Buster video, available from the thinkandreachpar.com website. Make sure your clubs fit you properly. Perhaps you do not have the correct shaft flex and lie angle. Another possibility is your hand positions on your grip. The V’s formed by your thumb and first finger should point at your back shoulder.
Joe

Hello. I am new to the golfing world and have a few issues. I am 6'5" tall and have extended length clubs (1.5" over standard length). I have an issue with lifting up on the down swing. Is there any exercises I can do to fix this issue? Also help with using drivers and fairway woods. I can hit my 3 iron around 210-230 yards almost everytime. When I try to use my driver or fairway woods it just does not feel right. I almost always top the ball. I know that the head lifting is part of the problem. Would a few lessons help me get this worked out? Please add me to your subscription I would enjoy the help. Does the brand of club matter? (TaylorMade, Callaway, etc.) I was always told its not the club its the person hitting the ball. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
Jason Steele

Hi Jason,
Lifting up on the downswing is usually caused by improper weight shift. The exercise that should help you is the “step-thru” drill on the Body Golf videos. If you can hit your 3-iron over 200 yards, I suspect it fits your swing better than your woods fit. Have your 3-iron specs checked against your woods’ specs, maybe your woods are not the right specs for you. The brand of club is not as important as the specs. TaylorMade, Callaway, and many other brands have a wide range of specs. Try to attend a “demo day” at a local driving range. You might be amazed at the different results you get with the same swing using different brands of clubs with different shaft flexes and lie angles.
Joe

Hi, Thanks for your newsletter, I find the tips very helpful! I need specific help on body alignment. I have tried everything. What tips do you have on alignment, or do the golf videos address this? I make some good swings when I am set up and aligned correctly. Please help!!!
Willie Singleton

Hello Willie,
Stand behind the ball along the target line, and hold your club up so you can see both the ball and the target along the shaft. Pick a spot on the ground two feet in front of the ball. Usually there will be something on the ground like a weed or a divot or just discoloration. Then place your clubhead behind the ball, aimed at that spot. Then take your stance and you should be able to easily align the rest of your body (feet, hips, shoulders) parallel to that target line.
Joe

Question: Will it make a difference for me to use a 3-dollar ball instead of a 1-dollar ball?
Answer: YES, IT WILL MAKE YOU TWO DOLLARS POORER.

Why do so many people think it is OK to improve their lies?
Lyle

Hello Lyle,
There two schools of thought on this topic. The purists say you will never improve unless you learn how to play from bad lies, while others disagree. I have mixed emotions about this. Those who want to play in competition might as well get used to “playing the ball down”. Their handicaps will become higher, which gives them an advantage in formal competition. However, those who do not play in formal competition may not want to see a good round spoiled by a bad lie, especially when they don’t get to play very often, and are playing on course conditions that are nowhere near as good as tournament courses. One could argue that high handicappers have no business playing the ball down for two reasons. The pace of play will suffer due to more bad shots. If they cannot hit good shots from good lies, how on earth do you expect them to hit from bad lies? They will never gain any confidence. They can never be sure if the bad shot was due to a bad swing or a bad lie. With this in mind, it seems sensible for recreational golfers to improve their lies to get the most enjoyment out of the game and to improve the pace of play. However, if they ever want to establish a formal handicap, they will have no chance in competition when they have to play the ball down. Purists, stop and think about that, you should welcome it.
Joe

Hello, I'm a 14 yr old boy and have been playing golf 4 about 1.5 years. I got a bit of consistency of late, and I am hitting the ball fairly well (At least for my age). I want to ask you if there is any way I can increase the yardage of my shots and also increase it's height.
Thanking You,
Yours faithfully,
PP

Hello P,
Ben Hogan says it is a good thing to hit low shots, so instead of adjusting your swing to hit higher shots, just use clubs that have more loft. However, if you are speaking of drivers, you are correct to say you might lose distance if you consistently hit the ball too low. As you grow older and stronger, your power will increase, and this will give your ball more underspin when you swing down at it, and the extra spin will cause the ball to fly higher. Just keep a wide arc and smooth tempo with your weight shift. If you already have consistent ball striking as you say, you have a lot of potential. Oh to be your age again. A lot of us wish we were in your shoes, you have a lot to look forward to. Good luck and keep us informed on your progress.
Joe

Joe,
Thanks for your tips I receive every week, they are a help. My question is, I have the opinion, that I swing easier a wooden 5 than an iron 3/6. Could a wooden 7 may be usefull for distances between 100 to 150 meters. I way for your answer.
With kind regards
Jos Logister,56 yrs.
The Netherlands

Hello Jos,
Many people are finding a 7-wood to be a better alternative to long irons. In fact, some manufacturers are offering sets of irons without the 2-3-4, replacing them with “hybrid” clubheads which are thicker than irons but not as fat as the wood shape. Whether or not this really helps is an individual preference. I have seen some people so psyched out by the shape of a long iron that they will not even try one, and the same is true for others who are just as much psyched out by the shape of a wood. Some golfers benefit from this new hybrid shape, some do not. The only way to tell is to borrow different types of clubs and try them on the range before you purchase. You may also want to check to make sure your irons 3/6 are correctly matched to your wooden 7. If they are not matched, that might explain why you can hit your wooded 7 better.
Joe

Joe,
I have just been fitted with new clubs, but when I address the ball the clubs do not lay flat on the ground, the toe is up in the air. Does this sound wrong? Should I return the clubs?
JD

Hi JD,
Actually, this sounds correct, because when you address the ball your arms are hanging down and are not on the same plane as the club shaft. However, when you are swinging, the force of the swing causes your arms to go on the same plane as the club shaft, which means the bottom of the club will be correctly flat to the ground. Watch any slow motion replay of anyone’s swing and you will see this to be true. Therefore, unless you extend your arms at address (like Natural Golf), the bottom of the club will probably not be flat to the ground. The best way to tell if your clubs have the correct “lie angle” is the “striking board”, where you put tape on the sole of the club and when you hit the striking board, you can see where the tape is damaged. It should be damaged in the center of the sole if you are correctly fitted. Also notice your divots on the course. Are they deeper near the toe, or are they just as deep from heel to toe? Very few people have clubs with lie angles that are too upright, and the results will be pulls or hooks, so unless that is your problem, you may want to keep these clubs. Most people slice, and part of the reason could be their lie angles are too flat.
Joe

Joe,
I am told, I'm sure correctly, that I need to get my hips turning towards the hole at impact. I am aged 68, 12 handicap, and not as flexible as I used to be. My question is "what should be my swing thought on the downswing?" Left hip back? right hip through? rotate both hips? Right knee through? right heel off the ground? Something else? I would appreciate your advice.
Colin Sowter
England

Hello Colin,
I need to know what prompted your getting advice on hip turning, are you having a problem with pushed or sliced shots, or simply a loss of distance? You are correct in saying people in their 60’s should not be expected to have the same flexibility they had when they were younger, so sometimes the standard swing theories are not realistic for you. However, if you think you can get better results with a bigger hip turn, try a more aggressive weight shift during the downswing, and your hips should automatically turn more without you having to think about it.
Joe

Hello, my game from Tee to close to the green is not bad. Putting comes along occasionally. BUT, I seem to go brain dead with short chips. I hit them everywhere. Skulls, ground first, too hard, too easy, etc. I need something to make me better and more consistent on these short @#$%^&* shots. I am even willing to listen and practice. I can't be much more cooperative than that. Thanks and I enjoy your tips.
Danny Shepherd

Hello Danny,
Here are three things to try. First, for the chips that are just barely off the green, always use a putter unless the grass is too tall. Second, if the grass is too tall, but you are still close enough to the green, putt with a 5-wood, it should loft the ball just enough to carry over the tall grass. Since the shaft is rather long, try the belly-putter stroke. Third, if the chip is a little too far from the edge of the green, you must use a more lofted club to carry over the tall grass and land on the green. Here is where most people have trouble with ball contact as you described. Most of the trouble is caused by the wrist action. Use a wedge, play the ball at your back foot, and keep your wrist locked so you only use your arms. Contact the ball with a downward stroke. Your hands must stay ahead of the club at all times, even after you hit the ball. For distance control, hit the ball twice as hard as you would for a putt of the same distance. Let me know how this works for you.
Joe

Hi,
I can never remember where to position the ball in my stance if I want to hit a low shot versus when to put it if I want to hit a high shot. What is the answer?
Paul Larsen

Hello Paul,
For lower shots, play the ball more toward your back foot. For higher shots, play the ball more toward your front foot. However, this takes a bit of practice because there is danger of chunking shots whenever you feel awkward with unfamiliar ball positions. So rather than risking this danger, you might do just as well to pick a lower lofted or higher lofted club without changing your ball position. Of course it depends on the situation, the amount of distance needed is also a factor, so you may have to adjust how hard you swing according to the distance, and that again may feel awkward and therefore is also a risk for chunking shots. Try both these ideas on the range and see which one works best for you before you risk it on the course.
Joe

Joe,
I have been golfing for about 3 years. I carry a sand wedge but no other wedge. It was recently recommended that I purchase a couple of other wedges as I usually am laying somewhere within a 100 yards of the green. What degree wedges are available, what is available and are they really useful? Pat

Hi Pat,
Are you able to adjust your swing for varying distances with your sand wedge? If you can do that, and if you are happy with your results, you are a “shotmaker” and you may not need more wedges, although I am a bit surprised that you do not have a pitching wedge since that comes standard with most sets of irons. I assume you can also finesse your 9-iron for varying distances as well, so maybe you feel you don’t need a pitching wedge. If I ever get to be king for a day, I am going to institute a new set of rules called “Shotmakers Rules” where you can only carry 7 clubs and you will be forced to use finesse shots instead of no-brainer full swings for any distance, for example you can get 3 distances out of any club simply by swinging easier, harder, or normal. However, to answer your question, most people who seek lower scores are carrying 4 wedges. Modern irons have lower lofts than older irons, so today’s pitching wedge is about the same as yesterday’s 9-iron. Therefore if you like taking a full swing with a wedge, you would need a “gap” wedge which has a 52 degree loft, which is in between the 48 degree pitching wedge and 56 degree sand wedge. If you like flop shots, you might want to try a 60 or 64 degree lob wedge. Are they really useful? Generally yes, they should get you closer to the hole, but if you are really good with finessing your sand wedge, you may not need the others. The only way to know for sure is to have a contest and see which clubs win at varying distances. If you try this, let me know what happens.
Joe

Joe,
If you break your putter or forget to put it in your bag, what other club should you use to putt with? John

Hi John,
If you are in a friendly foursome, you can borrow someone else’s putter, but let’s assume you really want to try a different club. Tournament pros sometimes get angry and break their putters, and then they usually putt with their flattest long iron, either a 2 or 3-iron. However, it seems to me that the longer shaft is an awkward length. I am always having contests on the practice green with different putters and putting styles, and I got some really scary results when I had a contest between a long iron and a driver, and the driver won big-time. Now you would think that the flatter surface of the long iron would be more accurate than the curved face of the driver, right? Plus, if the length of the long iron shaft is awkward to me, why isn’t the longer driver shaft even more awkward?
Here is what I found out. The driver shaft was so long that I had no choice but to bury the butt end of the shaft into my belly and putt with my hands way down the shaft like Vijay Singh. Actually the length of the driver shaft is about the same as the length of a belly putter anyway. And then came the scary part about accuracy. Could it be that the curved face on the driver actually helped to keep the ball on line when I happened to strike the ball a little off center? Think about it, if you strike the ball a little toward the toe or the heel, that means your stroke went off line one way, and the curved face sent the ball the other way, which is back on line.
Then I could not resist having a contest between my driver and my regular putter, and it was a tie! Then I got a real belly putter and it beat both my regular putter and my driver, so now I am sold on the belly putter concept, and that explains why the driver did so well. The scary thing is how the curved face of the driver is somewhat self-correcting for an errant stroke. Maybe this only works for me, I guess you will have to try it and see for yourself.
P.S. Here is another scary thing, I just had another contest, and belly-chipping with a 5-wood beat my regular chipping with an iron (yikes!). Sounds strange, but don’t knock it until you have tried it. This is why you must constantly challenge your regular methods with other methods to see which ones can stand up under pressure.
Joe

Joe,
One of the most difficult shots for me is the little 20 yard pitches. I only get to play once a week. I do practice twice a week. I currently have a +.5 index. I play four wedges. 50*, 53*, 57*, 60*. I am much to quick with the shot. I am currently using a flop shot with the 60*, and open it to regulate the distance. I would like to be able to make a more fluid swing and use a less lofted club in those distances. From the fringe, my shots are ok. I make some and get the rest up and down more than 60% of the time. From 50 yards plus, I can get it close most of the time. Overall the mechanics are good, I just need a mental transplant!
Regards,
Jack Mitchell

Hi Jack (never say this in an airport),
Wow, a scratch golfer who only plays once per week? I’ll bet that over 99 percent of all the golfers in the world will volunteer for your mental transplant if they could have your game in return. Like you, most golfers have a “no mans land” of partial-swing wedge shots that give you The Yips. Most people only associate The Yips with putting, but I feel The Yips can be even worse with the wedge because there is the added danger of hitting it fat or thin. You say you are too quick with the shot, but what is your result? Is it poor ball striking or just distance control? If it is only distance control, just try to more carefully control the length of your backswing depending on the distance. If it is poor ball striking, have a contest with all 4 of your wedges and use only the winner when it counts on the course. As a matter of course management in competition, try to stay away from “no mans land”.
Joe

Joe,
I copy many of the lessons and save them in a "Golf File" Subject Request. Equipment: Are there advantages with "Name Brand Equipment" ? I love building clubs, but have no data as to best shafts for me, frequencing, etc. What Skill level should a golfer consider custom made clubs?
Thanks for considering,
Byron L. Sanders

Hello Byron,
Getting custom made clubs is not so much a matter of skill level, it is more of a matter of how much improvement is expected for how much cost. I am seeing more and more technology improvements every year, and yet the average golf scores have not improved for many many years. There is a lot of competition among the many golf club manufacturers, so you will always hear the techno-geeks jumping all over the detailed specs of a club. Now there are so many variations to consider, that you can never be sure which combination of which variables will be best for you. It is like saying if your current clubs are 98 percent perfect fit for you, and yet you are still going to seek 100 percent. If you do the math, how many strokes does that gain you (remember less than half of your shots in a round are full swings)? How did the old timers manage to shoot under par with comparatively lousy balls and clubs that were not much more than a stick with a hunk of wood or metal on the end? Anyway, to answer your specific questions, I prefer stiff/low torque shafts because they reduce variables and should make your shots more accurate. The only danger of getting shafts that are too stiff is that you might lose a little distance and your shots may go lower, but hey, Ben Hogan said you should try to hit your shots lower anyway, and it is hard to argue with anything Ben said. If you can afford the name brands, go ahead and get custom-fitted because they have put a lot of research into their designs and their quality control is probably better than lesser known brands. If you cannot afford name brands or custom fitting, you can still get good results with lesser known or off-the-shelf brands. Try to attend some free demo days to get a feel for the best shaft lengths and lie angles for you, and then you will have a better idea of what to buy off the shelf.
Joe

Joe,
Why is it a penalty if you accidentally have a double-hit?
Randy

Hi Randy,
This is one of many rules that seem unnecessary. Rules are supposed to to prevent cheating or gaining unfair advantages. Aside from putting, I think it would take a lot of skill to do a double-hit on purpose, and even if you could, I don’t see what advantage you could possibly be gaining by deliberately doing that. I hope some day the overriding question to any Ruling is "Was there any advantage gained by an unintentional infraction?". If the answer is clearly NO, logic says there should be no penalty. Scores should be determined by shot-making skills, not by technicalities. A double hit is not something done on purpose to gain an advantage, it was an accident, and it is never a good thing. The golfer was only taking one swing, not two. I had to shake my head while reading a magazine that suggested that a shanked shot is a double hit, once on the hosel and once on the clubface. Geez, isn’t a shanked shot bad enough, and now you want to add a penalty besides? Just shoot me instead. I’m not sure that people who like these rules should be allowed to reproduce. We need a new set of rules for the 21st century, and let the archaic rules of prior centuries go the way of the archaic equipment like the hickory shaft and the gutta-percha ball.
Joe

Joe,
Please advise me as to a solution to a problem of freezing over the ball (esp with the driver and long to middle irons). This problem began about 6 months ago and has gotten worse. I am fine on the practice tee and can make a practice swing on the course with no problem but when I get over the ball to hit it, the freezing starts. I have played golf for over 40 years and have played well (5 handicap until this problem began). I can chip and putt and hit sand wedges with no problem also. Please help!
Bill Coons

Hi Bill,
Many people have had this problem, including myself. We are just trying to be too careful to start the swing correctly. Some people develop a “waggle” as part of a pre-shot routine, like 3 waggles and GO. When I tried that it was 3 waggles… and… I’m still not ready yet. What finally worked for me was to realize that almost every time I froze over the ball, I would hit a bad shot. So a mental strategy is in order. You must convince yourself that you will guarantee a bad shot if you freeze over the ball. Try a “trigger” or forward press with either the hands or the back knee, or both. This has worked for me and for many others, because it seems to lock everything else into place, so there is no further need to worry about how to start the swing.
Joe

Joe,
I have often heard that shifting of bodyweight is of great importance in the swing. I am sure that this is right. Anyway, isn´t it the move you make that result in the shift of weight and not the opposite. What should I focus on? Could you please clear this out for me?
Best regards
Christer Lindeman
Sweden

Hello Christer,
The most important part of shifting the body weight is on the downswing. You must finish with all your weight on the front foot. Of secondary importance is the weight shift of the backswing. At the top of your backswing, you should feel pressure on the inside edge of your back foot (this may be the “move” you are looking for), this enables you to push off as you start your downswing, and helps to get your lower body going forward on the downswing.
Joe

Joe, I have read many articles that refer to reading the green. grain, but they don't tell you what to look for and give examples. Up hill breaks, downhill breaks what to look for and where to putt to. Please help as this is the only weak part of my game. Thanks Royal III

Hello Royal III,
The first thing to do on every hole is to observe the terrain as you walk up to the green from 100 yards inward. Which way will water likely drain off the green? That is the way putts will break in general if you do not observe any further undulations while reading any specific putt up close. Try the “plumb-bob” method where you stand behind the ball and hold up the putter’s shaft so you can see the hole along the shaft. Does the hole look perpendicular to the shaft, or is there a tilt? The third idea is to aim at an intermediate target, rather than aiming at the hole. You should already have estimated how much the putt will break, so pick a discolored spot on the green along that line and aim at that spot, it is much easier to hit a spot closer than the hole. Find a practice green that has a lot of slope and observe the differing amounts of break on uphill or downhill putts along the same line. Only with practice and observations can you get a feel for this.
Joe

Joe,
Is it a good idea to use a 1-iron?
Ray

Hi Ray,
Lee Trevino says when there is lightning, hold a 1-iron up in the air because even god cannot hit a 1-iron. Jim Murray says the only time he ever used a 1-iron was to kill a tarantula and that took him 7 strokes. Someone else once said a 1-iron goes just as far as any other club, when you throw them.
When I tried it, I found that a 1-iron hits the ball about as far as a fairway wood when I hit the sweet spot, maybe with a little more accuracy, but the sweet spot on a 1-iron is very small, so when I miss the sweet spot, the distance is much less, so in my opinion it is better to use a fairway wood instead.
Joe

Joe, could u explain how to let go of the built up feeling in the muscles in left side in back swing in forward swing for u can feel the twisting feeling in back swing but forward swing u feel nothing.
(no name)

Hi (no name)
If I understand you correctly, the backswing is stretching the muscles in your left side like a rubber band. This is not a bad thing. When you let go of the rubber band (begin the forward swing with a lower body weight shift), power and speed are released. If you feel nothing in the forward swing, it is because the rubber band has been released and there is no more stretching going on. However, I would like to see you extend your follow thru more, or else you might quit on the shot too early. Try to make your right side feel a stretch when you are posing at the end of your follow thru.
Joe

(from a personal friend in the land of the rising sun…)
Joe,
Sometimes, my biggest frustration is when I go through periods of good ball striking and then into a time when I do not think that any part of my swing feels right. When you take the club back and it doesn't feel right, how do you get that back???
Maybe it is just me, but I found that playing with the right feel adds confidence and I know when I am not doing something correctly. Usually, 95% of the time when I hit a bad shot, I know exactly what I did wrong, because I could feel it. I think it is fair to say that when you are playing well, it just feels right. It can be the short or long game only or the whole thing. I know that I have played many a round where I putt great and it all felt like instinct, but my other swings just did not feel right all day or just the opposite.
Maybe I am bringing this up now because for the last month, nothing feels right outside of my short game. There isn't an iron or wood that feels comfortable when I swing and it shows in my ball flight. I still make solid contact with the ball, but I cannot count on where it will tend to go. Normally, when the feel is there, I know exactly where the ball is going to go.
I am sitting around 83 and cannot move lower. I cannot escape this out of body experience.
David from Japan

Hello David,
Feel is an elusive concept. It seems to come naturally to those who are the most gifted with athletic ability and who play several times per week, but many golfers are not so physically gifted and they cannot play as frequently, and therefore they cannot always count on feel, so instead they must concentrate on mechanics. After reading your symptoms, here is something to try on the range:
(Right handers) Use the left arm to start the backswing, take it straight back (and wide) along the target line. While you are taking it back, your hips are turning naturally and comfortably (unforced). Here is where the "single plane" concept kicks in - before you get to the top of your backswing, use your wrist cock to get the shaft on the same swing plane as your left arm. This should help to arrive at a strong hitting position at the top of the backswing. You can experiment with how high your hands are to optimize your ball striking. For me, higher is better, but may not be the same for you, but it is worth a try. Also, if your target line is 12 o’clock, extend your follow-thru toward 1 o’clock.
Joe

Follow-up from David:
Joe,
I have been meaning to write you back and tell you that I worked mostly on only one thing and that was the 1 o'clock image. I have to tell you that it works like magic. I am able to get much more length without losing accuracy. The confidence it has put into my driver swing as well as my other woods is amazing. While I should not get too carried away, I played around with how comfortable this feels and I am able to swing much harder at the ball than I ever have before. Usually, when over swinging, all kinds of bad things happen, but in my experimentation, focusing on keeping my head behind the ball at impact has allowed to keep everything together when I swing max at the ball.
My wife also tried this advice since I had to share this revelation with her. She also thanks you so much.
Your single plane image fits well as I have tried to eliminate my outside takeaway. I finally shot a 79, first time out with this method. Thank you so much for being the swing doctor.
Talk to you later. Best regards,
David from Tokyo, Japan

Joe,
Please explain the reason(s) why men can hit the ball farther than most women. My husband and I went to a local golf shop and were measured for head speed and were found to be exactly the same, however I cannot hit the ball as far as he can.
Thanks,
Sherry Sanders
Birmingham, AL

Hello Sherry,
Uh oh, my evil twin Jody saw this one, and Jody is one of those male chauvinists with a superiority complex. Since he is really loud, I will put his comments in all capital letters, while my comments are in lower case. HEY JOE, THIS IS A TRAP, DON’T GO THERE. Wait a minute, Jody, there may be some other factors at play here, like is the man outdriving the woman by only a few yards or 20-30 yards? OH COME ON, IF THE SWING SPEED IS THE SAME, THE RESULTS SHOULD BE THE SAME. THE READERS ARE JUST TRYING TO STUMP YOU. Maybe not, is the launch angle the same? We don’t know. WHAT IF IT IS THE SAME, THEN WHAT? Then maybe the man is using a club with more C.O.R. effect, like a trampoline. WHAT IF THEY ARE USING THE SAME CLUB? Then the only other factor I can think of is the rate of acceleration at the point of contact. Measuring swing speed is a snapshot which cannot measure acceleration. Whichever club is accelerating more at the point of contact should propel the ball further. WHAT IF THE WOMAN’S CLUB IS ACCELERATING MORE? Jody, what if the woman is using a very light club while the man is using a heavier club, don’t you think the heavier mass would compress the ball more? BALONEY, ADMIT IT JOE, MEN ARE JUST SUPERIOR. Jody, I bet you don’t get a lot of second dates, do you? Ladies, take heart, you are the only ones who can give life, and then you make life worth living. God bless all of you.
Joe

Joe,
Thanks for the all of the tips and the speed in which I received my videos.
As I have begun working on my goal of at least 20 strokes this season, I
wonder if you have any advice about the golf ball itself.
I like many others (I guess) are using balls based on marketing and golf
buddies. Is there a better way to select golf balls? I begun using Strata
"Straight" as a way to avoid my slice. It seemed to work well but I noticed
that the hold on the greens was not there. This is more likely than not due
to my bad short game.
But what are the concerns we should have when selecting ball purchase??

Hi there, all of you who wonder about the types of balls, unless you are a single digit handicap, most any ball brand or type will do. If you really want to get technical about the types of balls, check out the March issue of Golf Digest. I don't get any commission for saying that, I just think there is far too much marketing hype about what a ball can do for you. Consider this - How did the old timers ever shoot under par using balls that were far inferior to today's balls? To answer your questions more specifically, if your goal is to improve by 20 strokes, you probably are only going to accomplish that with improved ball striking and improved short game. Until you do that, your ball selection will not make that much difference. Spin is unlikely to help holding a green unless your course conditions are very good, and most of us play in conditions that are “firm” (like a parking lot), so the effect of spin is reduced. Every now and then I am asked to divulge my tongue-in-cheek “meticulous scientific method” of selecting a ball, but you would not like it, so never mind.
Joe

I have a problem with hitting the ground behind the ball at times. I cannot seem to correct it. Could you give me a pointer on how to correct hitting the "big ball" before the small ball? My game would improve by at least 5 or 6 strokes if I could correct this.
Thanks
Jerry Brown

Hi Jerry,
Most of the time I have seen this problem, it was due to improper weight shift. When your swing is finished, all your weight should be on the front foot. If that is not the case, you must work on this. If that is not your problem, then make sure your head remains steady during the swing. Jack Nicklaus's instructor used to grab the back of his hair before he swung to make sure he knew when he was moving his head out of position. Some instructors say it is OK to allow your head to move sideways, but that is only for people who want extra distance and they already have no problems with ball striking.
Joe

hi joe,
since the last time i emailed you about my duffing problem, i've managed to remove most of it. it still happens -- but not much now. how did i do this? i found a usgtf pro in singapore (67-year old single handicapper), who taught me rhythm and swinging with my shoulders. or and the proper way to address the ball. he suggested i hover the ball, take a rhythmic and slower 3/4 backswing and use my right shoulder to release the club from top. He said hit down on the ball, and throw the release to the right and release low (for irons). the result? straight (or if i prefer, draw or fade) shots. wow, i normally take between 26-30 shots (excluding putts) per 9 holes. this past saturday i hit 23 shots (5 of which were penalty strokes - he hadn't taught me how to drive yet, hence the penalties). By the way, i use a 10-finger grip because i've a torn ligament in my right last finger, and that finger hits a lot after a round if i use the overlapping. the shoulder turn bit is fantastic ... i now use a lot less hands, and connect cleanly on almost all the shots (i get the occasional duff and mishit when i look up). coach says i'll be able to cut my handicap to single digits by year's end. yesterday i got the lesson on woods and lo and behold, the ball goes straight now. long and i think i probably got 20 more yards from my 265-275 avg. the only thing is, i putt like a person without a clue. i use a 43" odyssey 2-ball belly putter (i'm too handsy). try as i might, i avg about 18-22 putts per 9-holes. the lowest i've had were 15 and 16 putts per 9 (and that's probably because i landed in the bunker often so i got it close ...because the net scores were about the same). Is it mental? strength? everybody tells me putting is about feel ... how you you learn feel? i got my long game in place now, and i can even chip and bunker out some. but putting .... oh my!
thanks for the advice.
DC

Hi DC,
Glad to hear about your progress. You are using an instructor from the USGTF (just like me), good decision. Now let's try to fix your putting problems. I also think your decision to use a belly putter is good. However, I am not sure you are using it correctly. Here is what I want you to try. Assuming you are right handed, put both hands lower on the shaft. Use your left hand to firmly press the end of the shaft into your belly all during the stroke. Experiment with different types of grips. Vijay Singh uses the belly putter with a left hand low grip. I use the right hand low, with both hands split apart. You have to find out which one works best for you. Have a contest and let us know how it turns out.
Joe

Hey there is too much information, both audio and video. We all can't afford to buy ever one of them. Since 80 % of all golfers slice could you please give us a little info on how to stop it. I have just recently signed up for your tips and greatly appreciate them. My son and I enjoy golf and I would like to be able to rid him of that slice. Any help at all would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Jim West

Hi Jim,
There are many things that contribute to a slice, such as the hand positions on your grip, your swing path, the way you use your hands during the swing, the way you shift your weight, the clubface position at impact, and even the type of equipment you are using. You don’t have to buy every video, just the right video for your problem. Having never seen your swing, I can only guess that you need to change your grip to a “stronger” position and swing with more of an inside-out swing path on the downswing.
Joe

Question, I just received your newsletter for the first time and enjoyed reading it very much. I have a question I'm sure you can answer for me but first a little history about my self. I'm 59 years old with a handicap of around 15. My big problem is, I'm still trying to kill my driver and fighting the urge to hold back. My driver is a 10 deg 580 with a regular shaft and my swing speed is 92 to 95 with a 3/4 swing. The old bones are to stiff to get it back any further, if you know what I mean. I usually hit it about 255 (+ -) 20 yards somewhere usually on the golf course but have been known to hit water holes, houses, and a lot of other places I shouldn't be. Matter of fact you could probably use some of my drives in your daily jokes material. My irons are the new Ping G2's with the 3 and 4 being HL's and to my standards, I'm very much satisfied with how I hit them. (Love the HL's) I would like (I think) to start using a 3 wood of the tee's to give me more consistency hitting fairways. I've been told and read many times over the years that the 3 wood would do the trick. (You know, a lot more straight and a little less distance) The 3 wood I have now has a very narrow face and it's almost impossible to hit off the tee, which is another consistency story. My question is: What type of a 3 wood would you advice/recommend I try to hit of the tee box. Is a high dollar club compatible with the mid range clubs in reference to 3 woods, or does it matter? Trying out a club all spring is something I really don't have time or patience for. Keep in mind that I would not use it the fairway just on the tee box?
Again, I appreciate you and your newsletter...I look forward to here your comments.
Thx's....Eddy

Hi Eddy,
I had the same problem, so I got a jumbo 3-wood with a deep face and I am very happy with it. I cannot hit it off the fairway but I don’t care because, as you said, that shot is for the club with the narrow face. If you cannot find a suitable 3-wood, look for a driver with maximum loft, like 15 degrees. I have never seen one, but I have heard they are available. To me the only difference between that driver and my 3-wood is the number 3 on the bottom. Both have huge heads and the same amount of loft. My choice is the John Daly Extreme model which is very reasonably priced.
Joe

The old pro in Milwaukee, ( I forgot his name) said you should use your hands on the upswing and your arms on the downswing. Forget your hips, etc. What do you think?
Frank Harenza

Hi Frank,
I believe there is no single method that will work for all golfers, but there are a lot of good ideas and bad ideas to choose from. I think the simplest ideas have the best chance of working, so I think the idea you mentioned is worth trying. There is nothing wrong with this idea, but I predict it will work for some folks and will not work for others due to other things going on with the swing that I would have to personally see in order to better understand. You forgot to mention whether or not it worked for you or for others. Let us know.
Joe