Joe,
I have had problems lining up these new large head drivers with closed faces. Can you explain the proper setup for these? I was used to lining up the bottom of the driver head perpendicular to the target line, now what?
Gregory
Hello Gregory,
Not all drivers have closed faces, so just look around and you can find one to your liking. If you have already purchased this driver with the closed face, and you do not like it, you can always trade it in. If you do like it and you want to keep it, there are two things you can do.
First, you can hold the club an inch off the ground, line up the bottom of the driver head perpendicular to your target line and re-grip while you are doing so. Don’t lay the club on the ground or else it might throw you off again. If this happens to cause a push or slice, then you might be better off gripping with the closed face.
Second, you can change your setup routine. When lining up a shot, I would recommend doing the same thing that “spot bowlers” do, which means they do not look at the pins, instead they aim at a spot on the lane that is aligned with the target. For golf, just stand behind your ball and pick a spot on the ground along the target line a few feet in front of the ball. Then take your stance aligned at this spot without worrying about whether or not the bottom of the driver is perpendicular to the line.
Joe
(got a question, send it to golfwithjoey@yahoo.com)
Thursday, December 11, 2003
For some reason, when I feel that I am properly "stanced" in preparation to hitting a golf shot, my club head over hits the ball; that is, the ball and the head of the club make contact at the heel of the club head.
As a result, even when I fell like I have the perfect stance, and after taking some preliminary swings which feel good, I then align my club head about an inch or two from the ball prior to swinging. This has for the most part accounted for the over swinging and brings the clubhead back square with the ball. I have taken lessons trying to work this problem out, with no success; have practiced ad nausium to correct it, with little success, and finally came to the conclusion that maybe I am rotating on my feet during my down swing which is pushing the club forward as I attempt to hit the ball. Thus, leaning purposefully on my toes at set up has brought me some success but it is not very comfortable trying to hit the ball with that kind of set up.
For the most part, and I do play a lot, I am more comfortable positioning the club head back from the ball at set up, allowing that during my swing, for some reason, the club will advance forward and position the club head squarely with the ball. If I don't do that, I will hit my irons fat, and with my driver will "swing over the ball", thus hitting the ball with the heel of the club head and hitting the ball decidely to the left. I am a right handed golfer.
I want to go back to my days of yore, where I could set up with the club head directly behind the ball, knowing that when I swung, the club head would come directly back through that swing plane.
Anything you can offer in the form of suggestions would be very helpful, I'm sure.
Oliver
Hello Oliver,
There are a number of possible reasons for this. I will have to assume this is true for all of your clubs, and therefore you are shanking your irons. If not, then your set is not matched correctly. Anyway my number one suggestion is to avoid putting your weight on your toes, instead put your weight back more to your heels. This usually solves the problem, but if not, then perhaps your knees are flexed too much in your stance. Just use a little bit of knee flex, not too much.
Posture is very important, so you must extend your derriere backwards to keep your spine in proper position. If the problem still persists, then another possibility is that you were using different clubs during your days of yore. If you still have your old set, try them again and see if there is any difference.
If that does not help, the next thing to try is borrowing clubs with shorter shafts and stiffer flex. Let me know what happens after all this.
Joe
As a result, even when I fell like I have the perfect stance, and after taking some preliminary swings which feel good, I then align my club head about an inch or two from the ball prior to swinging. This has for the most part accounted for the over swinging and brings the clubhead back square with the ball. I have taken lessons trying to work this problem out, with no success; have practiced ad nausium to correct it, with little success, and finally came to the conclusion that maybe I am rotating on my feet during my down swing which is pushing the club forward as I attempt to hit the ball. Thus, leaning purposefully on my toes at set up has brought me some success but it is not very comfortable trying to hit the ball with that kind of set up.
For the most part, and I do play a lot, I am more comfortable positioning the club head back from the ball at set up, allowing that during my swing, for some reason, the club will advance forward and position the club head squarely with the ball. If I don't do that, I will hit my irons fat, and with my driver will "swing over the ball", thus hitting the ball with the heel of the club head and hitting the ball decidely to the left. I am a right handed golfer.
I want to go back to my days of yore, where I could set up with the club head directly behind the ball, knowing that when I swung, the club head would come directly back through that swing plane.
Anything you can offer in the form of suggestions would be very helpful, I'm sure.
Oliver
Hello Oliver,
There are a number of possible reasons for this. I will have to assume this is true for all of your clubs, and therefore you are shanking your irons. If not, then your set is not matched correctly. Anyway my number one suggestion is to avoid putting your weight on your toes, instead put your weight back more to your heels. This usually solves the problem, but if not, then perhaps your knees are flexed too much in your stance. Just use a little bit of knee flex, not too much.
Posture is very important, so you must extend your derriere backwards to keep your spine in proper position. If the problem still persists, then another possibility is that you were using different clubs during your days of yore. If you still have your old set, try them again and see if there is any difference.
If that does not help, the next thing to try is borrowing clubs with shorter shafts and stiffer flex. Let me know what happens after all this.
Joe
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
I have thin hands and arms, what is the best grip ? I currently have a strong grip , otherwise the club gets loose. My arms are as close together so that i complete my swing with arms, shoulders and hands, one compact unit. When i used more right hand , got more distance but the obvious hook or fade. Now i've changed to a more controlled swing using my left arm. But distance has been sacrificed , my 6 irons goes 145 yards. sam
Hello Sam,
The interlock grip must be OK, because that’s what Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus use (I don’t use it for the same reason you mentioned, the club gets loose in my hands during the swing). The overlap grip must be OK because that is what the majority of good golfers use. The baseball grip, if you want to be picky, is a misnomer because when holding a baseball bat, your thumbs are wrapped around the grip, while in golf the thumbs do not wrap around the grip, but point down instead. Hence the term “ten finger grip” is more appropriate, and although it is not as widely used as the other grip types, it is gaining more popularity, and some very good golfers are using it.
It has been said that the interlock grip is most effective for people with smaller hands. I have seen cases where people with larger hands have been using the interlock and have struggled with it, and their games improved when they used a different grip. Personally I do not have big hands but I have never had much luck with the interlock. Most of my life I have used the overlap, which feels most comfortable to me, so for a long time I never considered changing it, but now I am experimenting with the ten finger grip. Why? Because like most people, I am never totally satisfied with my ball striking consistency, so I cannot resist tinkering. So here is what I have discovered, although I admit this is a bit unconventional, and may not work for you, but I like to share new ideas (purists may have a problem with this, but I don’t care because it works for me). Instead of looking where the V’s are pointing, I look where the “lifeline” is pointing.
When I take my stance, I view the circle of the top of my club shaft as a clock, 12 o’clock being up and 6 o’clock being the side closest to my body. Since I am right handed, I place my right hand on the shaft first and notice where my palm’s “lifeline” is on the clock. Then I just snuggle the left hand in. I hit my straightest shots when this lifeline is at 4 o’clock, and if I want to fade I put it at 3 o’clock or 3:30, and if I want to draw I put the lifeline at 4:30 or 5 o’clock. Not only is my ball striking improved, but I am also able to shape the shots much more predictably than before without having to change the way I swing the club.
Most right-hand instruction says to place your left hand on the club first, but if you do that it gets in the way and you cannot see where the lifeline meets the clock on the shaft. Not only that, but then the position of the left hand becomes an unwanted variable which you would not have to worry about if you just snuggle it in when the right hand goes on first. However, if you like placing your left hand on first, I suppose you can find your own way to get the same results. But that’s just my way, unconventional as it may be. I’m not saying this is best for everyone, it is just something to try if you are struggling with other grips. You have to decide for yourself which grip works best for you and how to adjust it. Try them all on the range, especially if you are in a prolonged slump.
Joe
Hello Sam,
The interlock grip must be OK, because that’s what Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus use (I don’t use it for the same reason you mentioned, the club gets loose in my hands during the swing). The overlap grip must be OK because that is what the majority of good golfers use. The baseball grip, if you want to be picky, is a misnomer because when holding a baseball bat, your thumbs are wrapped around the grip, while in golf the thumbs do not wrap around the grip, but point down instead. Hence the term “ten finger grip” is more appropriate, and although it is not as widely used as the other grip types, it is gaining more popularity, and some very good golfers are using it.
It has been said that the interlock grip is most effective for people with smaller hands. I have seen cases where people with larger hands have been using the interlock and have struggled with it, and their games improved when they used a different grip. Personally I do not have big hands but I have never had much luck with the interlock. Most of my life I have used the overlap, which feels most comfortable to me, so for a long time I never considered changing it, but now I am experimenting with the ten finger grip. Why? Because like most people, I am never totally satisfied with my ball striking consistency, so I cannot resist tinkering. So here is what I have discovered, although I admit this is a bit unconventional, and may not work for you, but I like to share new ideas (purists may have a problem with this, but I don’t care because it works for me). Instead of looking where the V’s are pointing, I look where the “lifeline” is pointing.
When I take my stance, I view the circle of the top of my club shaft as a clock, 12 o’clock being up and 6 o’clock being the side closest to my body. Since I am right handed, I place my right hand on the shaft first and notice where my palm’s “lifeline” is on the clock. Then I just snuggle the left hand in. I hit my straightest shots when this lifeline is at 4 o’clock, and if I want to fade I put it at 3 o’clock or 3:30, and if I want to draw I put the lifeline at 4:30 or 5 o’clock. Not only is my ball striking improved, but I am also able to shape the shots much more predictably than before without having to change the way I swing the club.
Most right-hand instruction says to place your left hand on the club first, but if you do that it gets in the way and you cannot see where the lifeline meets the clock on the shaft. Not only that, but then the position of the left hand becomes an unwanted variable which you would not have to worry about if you just snuggle it in when the right hand goes on first. However, if you like placing your left hand on first, I suppose you can find your own way to get the same results. But that’s just my way, unconventional as it may be. I’m not saying this is best for everyone, it is just something to try if you are struggling with other grips. You have to decide for yourself which grip works best for you and how to adjust it. Try them all on the range, especially if you are in a prolonged slump.
Joe
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
i just cannot get my clubface parallel to my left arm on the backswing, its close but not good enough, it causes inconsistency.
Mukesh Singh
Durban, South Africa
Hello Mukesh, it is a pleasure to communicate with someone so far away. Sometimes we focus on a theory that we think is correct for all golfers, such as your comment on getting the clubface parallel to the left arm on the backswing. I have see cases where golfers perform better with the clubface being slightly closed, rather than parallel to the left arm. I would recommend trying instead to focus on getting the shaft parallel with the left arm.
Mukesh Singh
Durban, South Africa
Hello Mukesh, it is a pleasure to communicate with someone so far away. Sometimes we focus on a theory that we think is correct for all golfers, such as your comment on getting the clubface parallel to the left arm on the backswing. I have see cases where golfers perform better with the clubface being slightly closed, rather than parallel to the left arm. I would recommend trying instead to focus on getting the shaft parallel with the left arm.
Monday, December 08, 2003
I have started golf at the age of 61 years. Seeing people hit the ball long distances, I have been trying get the same distance. I get a maximum of around 220 yards with driver. But that too not very consistently. After practicing for several months, I was told that it is becasue of my age that I don't get the desired distance. Do you think this is true? and if not what should I do get a longer distance. Should I slowly increase the speed of the drive in its down swing (I have tried to bring the club down with a greater force. This way I lose control of the stroke and my whole game get badly affected. In fact changing into my normal swing become difficult then. I have therefore stopped trying to get long distances.) Do you have any suggestion?
Sen
Hello Sen,
A forceful swing has less of a chance to hit the ball on the “sweet spot” on your clubface. An easy swing that hits the sweet spot will send the ball farther than a hard swing that misses the sweet spot.
A hard swing may cause improper weight shifting, which may reduce your clubhead speed. Proper weight shift from the top of the backswing starts going from the back foot to the front foot before the downswing begins, setting up the power of a whip without extra effort.
Clubhead speed at impact is the sum of arm swing and wrist snap. A hard swing usually starts the wrist action too soon when the downswing begins, so there is no more acceleration added from the wrist by the time the clubhead gets to the ball, resulting an “all arms” swing and slower clubhead speed. For maximum distance, you must save the wrist action until just before impact. This is best demonstrated with a ping pong ball and paddle. How far can you hit the ping pong ball with an all-arms swing compared to using your wrist? Watch the slow motion replays of the pros on TV, and you will see the wrist snap is held back until the last possible instant. That is why most of the pros may look like they are swinging very easy, but they still generate a lot of clubhead speed with that last-second wrist snap, followed by a long high follow-thru.
Joe
Sen
Hello Sen,
A forceful swing has less of a chance to hit the ball on the “sweet spot” on your clubface. An easy swing that hits the sweet spot will send the ball farther than a hard swing that misses the sweet spot.
A hard swing may cause improper weight shifting, which may reduce your clubhead speed. Proper weight shift from the top of the backswing starts going from the back foot to the front foot before the downswing begins, setting up the power of a whip without extra effort.
Clubhead speed at impact is the sum of arm swing and wrist snap. A hard swing usually starts the wrist action too soon when the downswing begins, so there is no more acceleration added from the wrist by the time the clubhead gets to the ball, resulting an “all arms” swing and slower clubhead speed. For maximum distance, you must save the wrist action until just before impact. This is best demonstrated with a ping pong ball and paddle. How far can you hit the ping pong ball with an all-arms swing compared to using your wrist? Watch the slow motion replays of the pros on TV, and you will see the wrist snap is held back until the last possible instant. That is why most of the pros may look like they are swinging very easy, but they still generate a lot of clubhead speed with that last-second wrist snap, followed by a long high follow-thru.
Joe
Sunday, December 07, 2003
Joe, I have been suffering for a long time in perfecting my putting. I have changed the way I putt several times. I discovered that I don't get the direction nor the feel of the distance. This was even after reading quite a few books on putting, but I have not been able to perfect it. I still find it difficult to putt as close as 5 ft away.
This is how I putt. By resting my elbow on my stomach I find that I have greater control on the putter, i.e. the putter moves in a straight line (Earlier when I was not resting my elbow on the stomach I used to find that the putter shakes while striking the ball. Thus making it difficult to keep the direction, and at the same time there was no feel of the direction) With the current technique, I have a better feel of the direction as well as distance. However, I still don't feel confident about putts as short as 5 ft from the whole. Is there any way I can improve my putting?
Prashanta
Hello Prashanta
Most people have a putting stroke that is not steady enough. To prove this, go to any square-tiled floor and see if you can keep your stroke steady along (or slightly inside) one of the lines in the floor. You will likely see the club jittering above and below the line during the stroke. Some people will spend a lot of money on a new putter, thinking that this might solve their problem, but before you waste your money, you must first do something about the steadiness of your stroke.
Here is how I found instant improvement. Recently I was in a Wal-Mart store which had square-tiled flooring, and while my wife was taking her time shopping, I went over to the golf aisle and tried various types of putters along the floor tile line, all of which showed a little jitter in my stroke. Then I noticed for the first time that there were some belly-putters on the rack. I never had tried these things because they were too expensive, but I put it to the tiled-floor test, and I noticed that by pressing the longer shaft against my belly, the stroke really did improve, very steady, no more jitters. It still seemed a bit expensive, so I made my own belly-putter by cutting a hole at the top of my putter’s grip and inserting a piece of broken shaft, making the overall length 43 inches. My next round showed immediate improvement in my putting, so I am sold on this belly-putter idea. I believe the shaft being pressed onto your belly will prevent and eliminate the unwanted wrist actions that make the stroke unsteady. You might want to try one yourself.
Joe
This is how I putt. By resting my elbow on my stomach I find that I have greater control on the putter, i.e. the putter moves in a straight line (Earlier when I was not resting my elbow on the stomach I used to find that the putter shakes while striking the ball. Thus making it difficult to keep the direction, and at the same time there was no feel of the direction) With the current technique, I have a better feel of the direction as well as distance. However, I still don't feel confident about putts as short as 5 ft from the whole. Is there any way I can improve my putting?
Prashanta
Hello Prashanta
Most people have a putting stroke that is not steady enough. To prove this, go to any square-tiled floor and see if you can keep your stroke steady along (or slightly inside) one of the lines in the floor. You will likely see the club jittering above and below the line during the stroke. Some people will spend a lot of money on a new putter, thinking that this might solve their problem, but before you waste your money, you must first do something about the steadiness of your stroke.
Here is how I found instant improvement. Recently I was in a Wal-Mart store which had square-tiled flooring, and while my wife was taking her time shopping, I went over to the golf aisle and tried various types of putters along the floor tile line, all of which showed a little jitter in my stroke. Then I noticed for the first time that there were some belly-putters on the rack. I never had tried these things because they were too expensive, but I put it to the tiled-floor test, and I noticed that by pressing the longer shaft against my belly, the stroke really did improve, very steady, no more jitters. It still seemed a bit expensive, so I made my own belly-putter by cutting a hole at the top of my putter’s grip and inserting a piece of broken shaft, making the overall length 43 inches. My next round showed immediate improvement in my putting, so I am sold on this belly-putter idea. I believe the shaft being pressed onto your belly will prevent and eliminate the unwanted wrist actions that make the stroke unsteady. You might want to try one yourself.
Joe
Saturday, December 06, 2003
Joe, My buddy has always been just a little better than me. He keep busting on me that i have a great swing but the final score tells the picture. If my swing is so good why can't i beat him. I need tips, training ideas, mental strategies, is there anything I can do to shut this guy up for next year, I just got promoted at my job so the money should allow me to get some one on one training with a golf pro but anything you can help with would be greatly accepted thanks again. Drew
Hello Drew,
Sometimes you can go to any driving range and see golfer A hitting next to golfer B. They both hit the ball about the same. However, golfer A cannot break 90 and golfer B has a single digit handicap. The moral of the story is that a great swing will only get you so far. Golfer B is better at chipping and putting, but you could never tell that by watching full swings.
If you were to keep charts on both yourself and your buddy, you might find that both of you hit the same number of fairways and greens, but your buddy has more 1-putts than you do. You might think your putting is just as good as your buddy's, but maybe your buddy gets his/her chip shots closer to the hole. The charts will tell you which parts of the game you need to improve on, if you are ever going to beat your buddy. Set goals for yourself. Make every putt within 3 feet. Lag every long putt to within 3 feet and you will seldom 3-putt. Get all chip shots as close to the hole as possible. The more you practice these "scoring" shots, the better you will get at this. Good luck!
Joe
(got a question? Send it to golfwithjoey@yahoo.com)
Hello Drew,
Sometimes you can go to any driving range and see golfer A hitting next to golfer B. They both hit the ball about the same. However, golfer A cannot break 90 and golfer B has a single digit handicap. The moral of the story is that a great swing will only get you so far. Golfer B is better at chipping and putting, but you could never tell that by watching full swings.
If you were to keep charts on both yourself and your buddy, you might find that both of you hit the same number of fairways and greens, but your buddy has more 1-putts than you do. You might think your putting is just as good as your buddy's, but maybe your buddy gets his/her chip shots closer to the hole. The charts will tell you which parts of the game you need to improve on, if you are ever going to beat your buddy. Set goals for yourself. Make every putt within 3 feet. Lag every long putt to within 3 feet and you will seldom 3-putt. Get all chip shots as close to the hole as possible. The more you practice these "scoring" shots, the better you will get at this. Good luck!
Joe
(got a question? Send it to golfwithjoey@yahoo.com)
Friday, December 05, 2003
Joe,
I wonder how much winter generally effects a golfers game. (I live in the Baltimore, Maryland area) I know I am somewhat effected by the excess clothing that hinders my full swing. In addition to that it just seems like I am not getting my normal distance. How does the cold effect ball flight? Do you have any suggestions for swing modifications to accommodate the excess clothing.
Sheila
Hello Sheila,
For clothing, I would recommend a few layers of light loose-fitting clothing rather than one heavy layer. Don't try to overswing. Cold weather will cause the ball to lose distance anyway, so you will have to adjust your club selections accordingly.
Joe
I wonder how much winter generally effects a golfers game. (I live in the Baltimore, Maryland area) I know I am somewhat effected by the excess clothing that hinders my full swing. In addition to that it just seems like I am not getting my normal distance. How does the cold effect ball flight? Do you have any suggestions for swing modifications to accommodate the excess clothing.
Sheila
Hello Sheila,
For clothing, I would recommend a few layers of light loose-fitting clothing rather than one heavy layer. Don't try to overswing. Cold weather will cause the ball to lose distance anyway, so you will have to adjust your club selections accordingly.
Joe
Thursday, December 04, 2003
Joe, I thoroughly enjoy the tips. I am a new golfer and have a problem. I can hit my irons fine, but when it comes to the driver, I cannot hit the driver. I spent two practice sessions working on hitting the driver and did not work on the irons and got to where I could hit the driver with very good accuracy. On my next practice session I picked up the irons, and I could not hit the irons. Everything seemed to be out of whack. Then when I got to hitting the irons right again, I could not hit the driver. It kept going back and forth. Is this typical for a new golfer, or are there two swings. One for the irons and one for the driver?
Bill
Hi Bill,
Some people are able to get away with using a different swing for the driver and the irons, but I would recommend finding a different driver that allows you to use the same swing for all clubs. If you are anything like me, you might need a driver with a loft of more than 12 degrees, or a 3 wood with an oversized head and deep face (to avoid popups), which is really no different than a driver with extra loft.
Joe
(got a question? Send it to golfwithjoey@yahoo.com)
Bill
Hi Bill,
Some people are able to get away with using a different swing for the driver and the irons, but I would recommend finding a different driver that allows you to use the same swing for all clubs. If you are anything like me, you might need a driver with a loft of more than 12 degrees, or a 3 wood with an oversized head and deep face (to avoid popups), which is really no different than a driver with extra loft.
Joe
(got a question? Send it to golfwithjoey@yahoo.com)
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Joe,
I am a 11 H'Caper. I have been going thru your articles almost everyday. They make very interesting reading. I wanted some advice---- When the round is going exceedingly well, suddenly from out of the blue I begin to shank especially so with the 3 & 4 irons. What could be the reason----is it a flat swing which is what I suspect or any other. If you could rectify this I will be extremely greatful.
Thanks, Bala
Hello Bala,
Although shanks with long irons can be partly attributed to a flat swing, the first thing you should try is to keep your weight more on your heels. I also had the shanks until I realized my weight was too much on my toes. If you find that you still have the shanks, you may want to consider using a 5-wood and 7-wood instead of the long irons. I hope this helps.
Joe
I am a 11 H'Caper. I have been going thru your articles almost everyday. They make very interesting reading. I wanted some advice---- When the round is going exceedingly well, suddenly from out of the blue I begin to shank especially so with the 3 & 4 irons. What could be the reason----is it a flat swing which is what I suspect or any other. If you could rectify this I will be extremely greatful.
Thanks, Bala
Hello Bala,
Although shanks with long irons can be partly attributed to a flat swing, the first thing you should try is to keep your weight more on your heels. I also had the shanks until I realized my weight was too much on my toes. If you find that you still have the shanks, you may want to consider using a 5-wood and 7-wood instead of the long irons. I hope this helps.
Joe
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
Joe,
I'm having a problem hitting my fairway woods, some times I strike them well and other times I can't hit one for the life of me. Also I don't get the distance I should out of them when I do hit one well. can you help me with this problem.
Jimmy
Hi Jimmy,
Of course I would have to see your swing to say for sure, but I can surmise that your fairway woods do not have enough loft. If you like the model you are using, try the 5-wood and 7-wood, the distance you lose will not be much. Compare that distance to your long irons. If there is no difference, then try different models of fairway woods.
Joe
I'm having a problem hitting my fairway woods, some times I strike them well and other times I can't hit one for the life of me. Also I don't get the distance I should out of them when I do hit one well. can you help me with this problem.
Jimmy
Hi Jimmy,
Of course I would have to see your swing to say for sure, but I can surmise that your fairway woods do not have enough loft. If you like the model you are using, try the 5-wood and 7-wood, the distance you lose will not be much. Compare that distance to your long irons. If there is no difference, then try different models of fairway woods.
Joe
Monday, December 01, 2003
Joe, u r doing a great job and helping alot of golfers,can u help me to solve my swing problem: My practice swing is very good (though fast by normal standards as pointed out by my fellow golfers) but when it comes to actual ball striking ,back swing becomes much much shorter, which people attribute to me becoming (maybe) tense,can u help in my case ,I am 52yrs old,but has atheletic body ,i am encouraged to write in view of ur offer of seeking help from joe by sending email
Thanx, Resham
Hello Resham,
You are correct in your self-diagnosis on being tense causing your quick backswing. I have read things from several experts who say that nobody ever swung the club back too slow, so take that advice, and go real real slow and see what happens. If that does not work, let me know something more specific, like are your bad shots fat or thin, sliced or hooked, all clubs, or just woods, or irons, etc.
Joe
Thanx, Resham
Hello Resham,
You are correct in your self-diagnosis on being tense causing your quick backswing. I have read things from several experts who say that nobody ever swung the club back too slow, so take that advice, and go real real slow and see what happens. If that does not work, let me know something more specific, like are your bad shots fat or thin, sliced or hooked, all clubs, or just woods, or irons, etc.
Joe
Joe, u r doing a great job and helping alot of golfers,can u help me to solve my swing problem: My practice swing is very good (though fast by normal standards as pointed out by my fellow golfers) but when it comes to actual ball striking ,back swing becomes much much shorter, which people attribute to me becoming (maybe) tense,can u help in my case ,I am 52yrs old,but has atheletic body ,i am encouraged to write in view of ur offer of seeking help from joe by sending email
Thanx, Resham
Hello Resham,
You are correct in your self-diagnosis on being tense causing your quick backswing. I have read things from several experts who say that nobody ever swung the club back too slow, so take that advice, and go real real slow and see what happens. If that does not work, let me know something more specific, like are your bad shots fat or thin, sliced or hooked, all clubs, or just woods, or irons, etc.
Joe
Thanx, Resham
Hello Resham,
You are correct in your self-diagnosis on being tense causing your quick backswing. I have read things from several experts who say that nobody ever swung the club back too slow, so take that advice, and go real real slow and see what happens. If that does not work, let me know something more specific, like are your bad shots fat or thin, sliced or hooked, all clubs, or just woods, or irons, etc.
Joe
Saturday, November 29, 2003
Hi,
Any idea why I am hiting my driver 260yards and yet my 3 iron could not go further than 190 and my 7 iron goes not farther than 145 yards. I also only hit my 3 wood no more than 210 yards. but my irons give a consistent distance of about 10 yards. I am a 15 handicapper. Do I need to change my equipment or practise more?? Since I know that the driver usually hits about 20 yards further than the longest club and that is crucial on approach shots. Please recommend. Thanks
Jack
Hello Jack,
If you can hit shots consistently to the distances you mentioned, then your 15 handicap is probably not due to your equipment, it is probably due to your short game. Let's say you are always on or near every green in regulation. If you can get "up and down" half the time, your handicap would be around 9. Anyway, what kind of equipment do you have? I am surprised by the difference in distance between your driver and 3-wood, are they the same brands and same shaft flex? If you truly can hit your driver 260 yards, then you ought to be able to hit irons a little farther than the distances you mentioned, so newer equipment might also help. Just make sure you get better at getting up and down.
Joe
Any idea why I am hiting my driver 260yards and yet my 3 iron could not go further than 190 and my 7 iron goes not farther than 145 yards. I also only hit my 3 wood no more than 210 yards. but my irons give a consistent distance of about 10 yards. I am a 15 handicapper. Do I need to change my equipment or practise more?? Since I know that the driver usually hits about 20 yards further than the longest club and that is crucial on approach shots. Please recommend. Thanks
Jack
Hello Jack,
If you can hit shots consistently to the distances you mentioned, then your 15 handicap is probably not due to your equipment, it is probably due to your short game. Let's say you are always on or near every green in regulation. If you can get "up and down" half the time, your handicap would be around 9. Anyway, what kind of equipment do you have? I am surprised by the difference in distance between your driver and 3-wood, are they the same brands and same shaft flex? If you truly can hit your driver 260 yards, then you ought to be able to hit irons a little farther than the distances you mentioned, so newer equipment might also help. Just make sure you get better at getting up and down.
Joe
Friday, November 28, 2003
Joe, how do one pick a ball because of the dimples is it more or less any guide lines one could go buy.
thanks ////ron
Hi Ron,
Unless you are a low handicap player, the dimples are not going to matter. If you are already a low handicapper, you probably already know which ball works best for you. Since all of us are unique individuals, the only way to tell which ball is better for you is to have a contest. The ideal way would be to find an uncrowded course (if there is such a thing in your area) and play two balls. Which one wins? In prior newsletters I have already stated my "meticulous scientific method" of selecting a ball, so let me know if it bears repeating.
Joe
thanks ////ron
Hi Ron,
Unless you are a low handicap player, the dimples are not going to matter. If you are already a low handicapper, you probably already know which ball works best for you. Since all of us are unique individuals, the only way to tell which ball is better for you is to have a contest. The ideal way would be to find an uncrowded course (if there is such a thing in your area) and play two balls. Which one wins? In prior newsletters I have already stated my "meticulous scientific method" of selecting a ball, so let me know if it bears repeating.
Joe
Thursday, November 27, 2003
Joe, I have a quick question for you. I play with a set of 1996 callaway big bertha irons and i love these irons. Recently 3 of the little badges (dome stickers) have fallen off during swings, and i could find them. How do i go about getting some replacements without having to buy new irons. I guess it is just a cosmetic flaw. I just want them to look good again. Callaway just suggested getting newer irons. What do you think?
Thank you for your time. Joe from Indiana
Hello Joe,
Well, if you said you did find them, then just glue them back on. If that is a typo, and you really meant that you could not find them, ask your local golf shops if they could put a replacement badge on your club. If you buy a new club, you run the risk of that club not being as good as your present club due to tolerance differences. If it were me, and I really liked the club, I would not give a #$%*& about the sticker, but that is just me, you decide.
Joe
Thank you for your time. Joe from Indiana
Hello Joe,
Well, if you said you did find them, then just glue them back on. If that is a typo, and you really meant that you could not find them, ask your local golf shops if they could put a replacement badge on your club. If you buy a new club, you run the risk of that club not being as good as your present club due to tolerance differences. If it were me, and I really liked the club, I would not give a #$%*& about the sticker, but that is just me, you decide.
Joe
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Joe, I have recently changed over my Irons from blades (Lynx) to the Oversize offset clubs King Cobra. I am an 8 handicapper, now playing like 18, I either skull the ball or the club digs in behind the ball. The problem is obviously the OFFSET, so how do I overcome this. Secondly, can Joe tell me how to go about deciding wether to make the clubs 1 or 2 or even 3 degrees upright, if the lie is too flat ?
Regards, Nippy
Hi Nippy,
It sounds like you did not get fitted properly before you bought new clubs. It is possible that your blades had more appropriate specs for you, such as length and shaft flex. I am not sure how you came to the conclusion that you need your lie angle adjusted to be more upright, but if you did notice the scuff marks on the bottom of the sole being more toward the toe, then you are correct, but before you take them to a golf shop to have them bent more upright, compare the shaft lengths and flexes. You can only blame the offset if all other variables are equal.
Joe
(got a question? email to golfwithjoey@yahoo.com)
Regards, Nippy
Hi Nippy,
It sounds like you did not get fitted properly before you bought new clubs. It is possible that your blades had more appropriate specs for you, such as length and shaft flex. I am not sure how you came to the conclusion that you need your lie angle adjusted to be more upright, but if you did notice the scuff marks on the bottom of the sole being more toward the toe, then you are correct, but before you take them to a golf shop to have them bent more upright, compare the shaft lengths and flexes. You can only blame the offset if all other variables are equal.
Joe
(got a question? email to golfwithjoey@yahoo.com)
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Joe,
I play mostly all woods like 15,13,11, and so on. I carry a 9
iron a pitching wedge and sandwedge. My reason are simple as I
don't draw the woods but do draw all of my irons. I am now trying
to keep to wrist stiff and I can see by doing that I am now
hitting a 7 iron straight. My only problem I am not holding the
club in my left hand softly rather I am holding it a little
tight. Is this wrong? I find when hitting a iron ,it seems to
me that I come over the ball instead of hitting straight thru the
ball. With wood I feel I definitely hit straight thru the ball.
Should I still be holding the club a little tight or try to
loosen up on it?
Carole
Hello Carole,
It sounds like you have different swings for different
clubs. It would be nice if you could have the same
swing with all clubs. It is possible that your set of
clubs is not matched very well. If they were, you
would not have to worry about how to make adjustments
for this club and for that club. Your grip should be
neither too tight or too loose. Try to attend some
"demo days" where you can try different types of clubs
for free, and you might be surprised at how much
difference there is between brands.
Joe
I play mostly all woods like 15,13,11, and so on. I carry a 9
iron a pitching wedge and sandwedge. My reason are simple as I
don't draw the woods but do draw all of my irons. I am now trying
to keep to wrist stiff and I can see by doing that I am now
hitting a 7 iron straight. My only problem I am not holding the
club in my left hand softly rather I am holding it a little
tight. Is this wrong? I find when hitting a iron ,it seems to
me that I come over the ball instead of hitting straight thru the
ball. With wood I feel I definitely hit straight thru the ball.
Should I still be holding the club a little tight or try to
loosen up on it?
Carole
Hello Carole,
It sounds like you have different swings for different
clubs. It would be nice if you could have the same
swing with all clubs. It is possible that your set of
clubs is not matched very well. If they were, you
would not have to worry about how to make adjustments
for this club and for that club. Your grip should be
neither too tight or too loose. Try to attend some
"demo days" where you can try different types of clubs
for free, and you might be surprised at how much
difference there is between brands.
Joe
Monday, November 24, 2003
Joe, I have a one and three iron-wood, Calloway brand. Number One wood is 11 degree. Am able to hit my three wood between 180 and 200 yards. My one wood goes 20 yards shorter than the three. When first acquired I used to slice consistantly with the three wood. It was so much lighter than my old small head woods so I decided to add some lead tape to the bottom back section of the head. This definitely helped to get me back on my 'straight ball'. Weight added to the one wood made no difference as far as being able to hit it longer than the three wood. In spite of my advanced age I am still quite flexible and do have a good body turn. Not seeing me swing ,I'm sure makes it difficult to analyze but perhaps you might have several reasons for the discrepency. (My short game keeps me shooting in the mid eighties )
Thank you....... Ed
Hello Ed,
There are a lot of people who cannot hit their driver as far as their 3-wood because their drivers do not have enough loft. Installing lead tape on your club is a good thing, if you want to reduce a slice, you put the tape at the heel. I recommend you get a driver with more loft, or a 3-wood with a huge head and a really tall face. If you cannot find one, I recommend the John Daly "Extreme" model. The 5-wood is just as big as most normal drivers, but it has the extra loft of 20 degrees. The 3-wood has 15 degrees loft and is just as big as most jumbo drivers. The driver is 500cc, which is about the size of a Buick.
Joe
Thank you....... Ed
Hello Ed,
There are a lot of people who cannot hit their driver as far as their 3-wood because their drivers do not have enough loft. Installing lead tape on your club is a good thing, if you want to reduce a slice, you put the tape at the heel. I recommend you get a driver with more loft, or a 3-wood with a huge head and a really tall face. If you cannot find one, I recommend the John Daly "Extreme" model. The 5-wood is just as big as most normal drivers, but it has the extra loft of 20 degrees. The 3-wood has 15 degrees loft and is just as big as most jumbo drivers. The driver is 500cc, which is about the size of a Buick.
Joe
Sunday, November 23, 2003
Joe,
I have developed a problem with my swing although being a capable golfer (h,cap 20)i can not seem to be able to rectify it. on driving of the tee i keep hitting it right or left with no obvious reason this dosn't happen with irons off the tee or the fairways please can you help
thankyou steve
Hello Steve,
If it is true that all your shots are fairly straight except your drives, then perhaps all your clubs are properly fitted to your swing, but your driver is not. You might be surprised how many differences there are in drivers. Try to attend some demo days or go to a golf store that has a computerized hitting bay and bring your driver with you to compare results against other brands.
Joe
I have developed a problem with my swing although being a capable golfer (h,cap 20)i can not seem to be able to rectify it. on driving of the tee i keep hitting it right or left with no obvious reason this dosn't happen with irons off the tee or the fairways please can you help
thankyou steve
Hello Steve,
If it is true that all your shots are fairly straight except your drives, then perhaps all your clubs are properly fitted to your swing, but your driver is not. You might be surprised how many differences there are in drivers. Try to attend some demo days or go to a golf store that has a computerized hitting bay and bring your driver with you to compare results against other brands.
Joe
