Joe,
Sometimes I get to play alone, which is nice because I can play fast and hit extra shots, but sometimes I miss the competition of playing against others. I have tried to create my own competition by playing one brand of ball against another brand, but that just becomes a putting contest, and some shots are duplications from the same general spot with the same club. I need some new ideas.
Chet
Hi Chet,
Divide your set in half, one half against the other, like even numbered irons against odd numbered irons. The half that gets the putter cannot use the driver, and the half that gets the driver must also putt with the driver, which by the way works surprisingly well when you use the driver like a belly putter. You decide which side gets which wedges. Now you have drama on every shot because you cannot use the same club from the same spot, and you have to prove that your regular putter can beat your driver-putter. Also, you will get a feel for how to adapt when you are “in-between” clubs. If you do not want to go to that extreme, here is another idea. Play your first ball with your usual club selections, and play your second ball using one club more with an easier swing, and see who wins.
Joe
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Joe,
I have so many swing thoughts that I am afraid if I forget any one of them I might mess up the shot. I need a single swing thought that eliminates the need to worry about all the other ones. Any ideas? Do you have one for yourself? If so, what is it?
Theodore
Hello Theodore,
This is like the holy grail, the magic move that solves everything, wouldn’t that be nice? It is OK to have a list of “keys” for the backswing and another list for the downswing, but it is not realistic to think of too many at the same time while you are swinging. So the next time you are on the practice range, select one key at a time and see which one works best. This will not always be the best because your body muscles are always changing. Next time a different key might work best, but not forever. This approach will allow you to adapt more quickly when you have trouble on the course. My favorite for the backswing is to keep the front shoulder level while the back shoulder rotates around my neck. Everything else seems to fall into place when I do this. That is no guarantee it will work for you, but it might be worth a try.
Joe
I have so many swing thoughts that I am afraid if I forget any one of them I might mess up the shot. I need a single swing thought that eliminates the need to worry about all the other ones. Any ideas? Do you have one for yourself? If so, what is it?
Theodore
Hello Theodore,
This is like the holy grail, the magic move that solves everything, wouldn’t that be nice? It is OK to have a list of “keys” for the backswing and another list for the downswing, but it is not realistic to think of too many at the same time while you are swinging. So the next time you are on the practice range, select one key at a time and see which one works best. This will not always be the best because your body muscles are always changing. Next time a different key might work best, but not forever. This approach will allow you to adapt more quickly when you have trouble on the course. My favorite for the backswing is to keep the front shoulder level while the back shoulder rotates around my neck. Everything else seems to fall into place when I do this. That is no guarantee it will work for you, but it might be worth a try.
Joe
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Joe,
I read instructions that say to let your arms hang down at address, and there should be an angle between your arms and the club shaft. But when I do this, I hit a lot of fat shots. Then I tried the single plane setup where there is little or no angle between the arms and the club shaft and then I hit a lot of thin shots. Is it OK to simply find a happy medium between the two extremes?
Ned
Hi Ned,
In your case I think that would be one possibility for a quick fix. However, another possibility is maybe you were trying to be too rigid when extending your arms downward, so relax and keep your weight off your toes and the fat shots should be less frequent.
Joe
I read instructions that say to let your arms hang down at address, and there should be an angle between your arms and the club shaft. But when I do this, I hit a lot of fat shots. Then I tried the single plane setup where there is little or no angle between the arms and the club shaft and then I hit a lot of thin shots. Is it OK to simply find a happy medium between the two extremes?
Ned
Hi Ned,
In your case I think that would be one possibility for a quick fix. However, another possibility is maybe you were trying to be too rigid when extending your arms downward, so relax and keep your weight off your toes and the fat shots should be less frequent.
Joe
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Joe, do you believe exercising can help your golf game?
Answer: No, I don’t like exercising and here’s why…
I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there too. I found out the advantage of exercising every day is that you die healthier. The only reason I would take up exercising is so that I could hear heavy breathing again. My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. Now she's 97 years old and we don't know where the hell she is. I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing. I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country. And last but not least: I don't exercise because it makes the ice jump out of my glass.
Answer: No, I don’t like exercising and here’s why…
I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there too. I found out the advantage of exercising every day is that you die healthier. The only reason I would take up exercising is so that I could hear heavy breathing again. My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. Now she's 97 years old and we don't know where the hell she is. I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing. I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country. And last but not least: I don't exercise because it makes the ice jump out of my glass.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Joe,
I would like to know what you think of this. Hold your clubs in your right hand the same way you would hold a hammer and use a baseball grip, does that make sense or not?
Yvon Jervais
Hello Yvon,
This does indeed work for many people, but make sure you know the difference between a baseball grip and a ten finger grip. The baseball grip wraps the thumbs around the shaft the same way you do with a baseball bat, but the ten finger grip places the thumbs down the shaft, not around it. When you hold the hammer, do you wrap your thumb around it? Most people do not. I have said this before, but it bears repeating, that Gene Sarazen attributes much of his golfing ability to his job as a carpenter pounding a lot of nails, so it must make sense.
Joe
I would like to know what you think of this. Hold your clubs in your right hand the same way you would hold a hammer and use a baseball grip, does that make sense or not?
Yvon Jervais
Hello Yvon,
This does indeed work for many people, but make sure you know the difference between a baseball grip and a ten finger grip. The baseball grip wraps the thumbs around the shaft the same way you do with a baseball bat, but the ten finger grip places the thumbs down the shaft, not around it. When you hold the hammer, do you wrap your thumb around it? Most people do not. I have said this before, but it bears repeating, that Gene Sarazen attributes much of his golfing ability to his job as a carpenter pounding a lot of nails, so it must make sense.
Joe
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Joe,
The golf course of which I am a member here in Cape Town is set up in such a way where most of the better shots required is a draw. My “natural” shot is a fade and I suppose that I can aim/direct my shots more to the left side of the fairway but in many instances this is even more of a hazard because of the trees that line the fairway. I needed a draw shot in my bag – but also a consistent draw shot! So I went through all my books and magazines looking for the simplest instruction to play a consistent draw.
I found all the – “aim the club head to where you want to hit the ball and align your feet right of target then play your shot along the feet-line”. I also found the stronger grip instruction which does not refer to the feet-club alignment theory.
What I really need to know is if one must use a combination of these tips or just one or the other? Will the draw become a snap hook if the tips are combined? Does one have to play the ball forward or back of centre in the stance? Must the ball be teed up high or low and is it safe to play these shots with the driver or must one rather go for a 3-iron or 3-wood?
The crazy thing of it all is that I worked hard to join my club and when I arrived I was a good 15 handicap and improving. Not having the draw shot in the bag and trying all sorts of aiming techniques has pushed my score returns up as well as my handicap. It’s frustrating when one puts a lot of time into a sport you are really passionate about but the performances is poor. Your “guru” guidance in simple instruction will be very much appreciated.
Cheers.
Andre' Carstens
Hello Andre, and thank you for promoting me to guru.
If you do not want to change your swing, the simplest and quickest way to get a draw is to get a driver that is heel-weighted. Several brands offer these, such as the Cleveland Launcher or the Ping G2. If you cannot afford them, there are older less expensive models of the same brands and other brands that are also heel-weighted like the Loco Crazy Long. However, your comments on the stronger grip should help. The feet-alignment theory is really the same thing because when you aim the club at the target, the instructor is assuming you have not yet taken your grip, you are only placing the club on the ground. Then you align your feet right of target, then you take your grip. The result is a strong grip. It is just like taking your normal grip with the clubface closed. If you always hit a fade, your swing path is probably outside-in, so to hit a draw you must work on swinging inside-out especially on the downswing. You can experiment with different ball positions forward and back of center, most people get better results near center. Tee the ball as high as you can without hitting a popup, usually the equator of the ball is even with the top of the club. Let us know if this helps.
Guru Joe
The golf course of which I am a member here in Cape Town is set up in such a way where most of the better shots required is a draw. My “natural” shot is a fade and I suppose that I can aim/direct my shots more to the left side of the fairway but in many instances this is even more of a hazard because of the trees that line the fairway. I needed a draw shot in my bag – but also a consistent draw shot! So I went through all my books and magazines looking for the simplest instruction to play a consistent draw.
I found all the – “aim the club head to where you want to hit the ball and align your feet right of target then play your shot along the feet-line”. I also found the stronger grip instruction which does not refer to the feet-club alignment theory.
What I really need to know is if one must use a combination of these tips or just one or the other? Will the draw become a snap hook if the tips are combined? Does one have to play the ball forward or back of centre in the stance? Must the ball be teed up high or low and is it safe to play these shots with the driver or must one rather go for a 3-iron or 3-wood?
The crazy thing of it all is that I worked hard to join my club and when I arrived I was a good 15 handicap and improving. Not having the draw shot in the bag and trying all sorts of aiming techniques has pushed my score returns up as well as my handicap. It’s frustrating when one puts a lot of time into a sport you are really passionate about but the performances is poor. Your “guru” guidance in simple instruction will be very much appreciated.
Cheers.
Andre' Carstens
Hello Andre, and thank you for promoting me to guru.
If you do not want to change your swing, the simplest and quickest way to get a draw is to get a driver that is heel-weighted. Several brands offer these, such as the Cleveland Launcher or the Ping G2. If you cannot afford them, there are older less expensive models of the same brands and other brands that are also heel-weighted like the Loco Crazy Long. However, your comments on the stronger grip should help. The feet-alignment theory is really the same thing because when you aim the club at the target, the instructor is assuming you have not yet taken your grip, you are only placing the club on the ground. Then you align your feet right of target, then you take your grip. The result is a strong grip. It is just like taking your normal grip with the clubface closed. If you always hit a fade, your swing path is probably outside-in, so to hit a draw you must work on swinging inside-out especially on the downswing. You can experiment with different ball positions forward and back of center, most people get better results near center. Tee the ball as high as you can without hitting a popup, usually the equator of the ball is even with the top of the club. Let us know if this helps.
Guru Joe
Friday, September 09, 2005
Joe,
A question from a high handicapper with a limited budget. How much would it help if I got new clubs?
Cary
Hi Cary,
Some people think buying expensive clubs will automatically guarantee better scores. If you have a lot of money, go ahead and get custom-fitted clubs, but if you are a beginner or high handicapper, and you would rather not spend a lot of money, you might first start with less expensive clubs, or borrow some from a friend, and when you find some that you hit really well, then have the specs measured and use those specs when you are ready to buy newer clubs. Everybody is built differently, so your clubs should at least be the right length, shaft flex, and lie angle for you, in order to do your best. Otherwise you may be fighting a slice or hook only because those clubs do not fit your type of swing, while a different set of clubs might help correct slices or hooks without a swing change. For those of us who cannot afford the cost of new clubs, there is only a small financial risk to consider getting used clubs from classified ads, garage sales, or stores that sell used sporting equipment. To even further minimize your risk, ask if you would be allowed to try the clubs at a driving range and possibly get your money back if you do not like the way you hit with them.
Joe
A question from a high handicapper with a limited budget. How much would it help if I got new clubs?
Cary
Hi Cary,
Some people think buying expensive clubs will automatically guarantee better scores. If you have a lot of money, go ahead and get custom-fitted clubs, but if you are a beginner or high handicapper, and you would rather not spend a lot of money, you might first start with less expensive clubs, or borrow some from a friend, and when you find some that you hit really well, then have the specs measured and use those specs when you are ready to buy newer clubs. Everybody is built differently, so your clubs should at least be the right length, shaft flex, and lie angle for you, in order to do your best. Otherwise you may be fighting a slice or hook only because those clubs do not fit your type of swing, while a different set of clubs might help correct slices or hooks without a swing change. For those of us who cannot afford the cost of new clubs, there is only a small financial risk to consider getting used clubs from classified ads, garage sales, or stores that sell used sporting equipment. To even further minimize your risk, ask if you would be allowed to try the clubs at a driving range and possibly get your money back if you do not like the way you hit with them.
Joe
Monday, September 05, 2005
Joe,
There are so many different tips on TV, in magazines, in books, on videos, etc., and some of them seem contradictory to each other, for example on the backswing some say to set the wrist cock early while others say delay the wrist cock until you near the top of the backswing. I am drowning in too much information, how can anyone sort this out? Help!!!
Ian
Hello Ian,
Many tips are aimed a low handicappers who are trying to achieve every bit of distance and control. But the average golfer first needs to focus on consistent ball striking before worrying about distance. Some people have had success with early wrist cock while others avoid that. Some people like to grip it and rip it. However, I do not believe it is good advice for high handicappers to take a full turn and swing hard. Most tips may work for some people, but not for others. Avoid any instructions that are giving you more and more things to think about while you are swinging, since they must be assuming you already can make clean contact on every shot, and you must be playing several times per week. For higher handicappers, or people who play less frequently, I feel we must be careful to keep the game simple. It makes no sense to overly complicate the swing for them. Clean contact on every shot is of paramount importance. We are not robots. We all have different amounts of hand-eye coordination skills and athleticism. No two people are built the same. Everyone has some differences in bone and muscle structure, and the way our natural hinges work (wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees, etc.). Although it seems to make sense to try to imitate the way the pros swing to some degree, you can’t expect the average golfer to execute every single move like the pros can. Pros play every day and have personal swing coaches, and the best customized equipment. People who play less frequently and have average equipment, average physical skills, and cannot afford lessons, must tailor their expectations accordingly. It is OK to have a long list of swing keys, but it is hard to think of more than one or two at a time during your swing. Therefore, just pick from your list one key for the backswing and one for the downswing. There may be a certain combination of keys that seem to work better one day and a different combination on another day. Why is that? Because your swing is controlled by many different muscles of differing sizes and shapes, all of which are getting bigger or smaller, stronger or weaker in different combinations every day, so without you realizing it, your swing does change. This is true for all sports, not just golf. Nobody ever maintains a perfect swing for very long. Even Jack and Tiger have always been tinkering with their swings. Just stay with the tips that improve your ball striking consistency.
Joe
There are so many different tips on TV, in magazines, in books, on videos, etc., and some of them seem contradictory to each other, for example on the backswing some say to set the wrist cock early while others say delay the wrist cock until you near the top of the backswing. I am drowning in too much information, how can anyone sort this out? Help!!!
Ian
Hello Ian,
Many tips are aimed a low handicappers who are trying to achieve every bit of distance and control. But the average golfer first needs to focus on consistent ball striking before worrying about distance. Some people have had success with early wrist cock while others avoid that. Some people like to grip it and rip it. However, I do not believe it is good advice for high handicappers to take a full turn and swing hard. Most tips may work for some people, but not for others. Avoid any instructions that are giving you more and more things to think about while you are swinging, since they must be assuming you already can make clean contact on every shot, and you must be playing several times per week. For higher handicappers, or people who play less frequently, I feel we must be careful to keep the game simple. It makes no sense to overly complicate the swing for them. Clean contact on every shot is of paramount importance. We are not robots. We all have different amounts of hand-eye coordination skills and athleticism. No two people are built the same. Everyone has some differences in bone and muscle structure, and the way our natural hinges work (wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees, etc.). Although it seems to make sense to try to imitate the way the pros swing to some degree, you can’t expect the average golfer to execute every single move like the pros can. Pros play every day and have personal swing coaches, and the best customized equipment. People who play less frequently and have average equipment, average physical skills, and cannot afford lessons, must tailor their expectations accordingly. It is OK to have a long list of swing keys, but it is hard to think of more than one or two at a time during your swing. Therefore, just pick from your list one key for the backswing and one for the downswing. There may be a certain combination of keys that seem to work better one day and a different combination on another day. Why is that? Because your swing is controlled by many different muscles of differing sizes and shapes, all of which are getting bigger or smaller, stronger or weaker in different combinations every day, so without you realizing it, your swing does change. This is true for all sports, not just golf. Nobody ever maintains a perfect swing for very long. Even Jack and Tiger have always been tinkering with their swings. Just stay with the tips that improve your ball striking consistency.
Joe
Friday, September 02, 2005
Joe,
For some reason, I have acquired a huge slice that I never had before. Always had the confidence to walk up to the tee and drive it straight down the fairway, now I hesitate, not knowing where it may end up. Penalty strokes and bad lies are killing my game, not to mention adding to my utter frustration. (Trying to stay out of last place in my league). Friends have been helping me with my swing and I have now made so many changes to my grip, stance and position to the ball, nothing feels good or has helped correct the slice. The slice is not as pronounced with my 3 or 5 wood, but have lost all confidence with any club. Do you have any suggestions to starting from scratch? It is getting late in the golf season here in Canada and would like to end the year on a positive note. Not seeing my swing, I know it is not easy, but I will try anything.
(no name)
Hello Noname,
If you never had this slice before, are you using different clubs? If so, go back to the old ones, or at least try a different set. Clubs that are heel-weighted should reduce a slice. Since you say you have already experimented with grip, stance, ball position, etc., I can only say your best chance of success is to use a “strong” grip and an inside out swing path, extending the follow-thru outward to avoid coming across the ball, which is one of the main causes for slicing.
Joe
For some reason, I have acquired a huge slice that I never had before. Always had the confidence to walk up to the tee and drive it straight down the fairway, now I hesitate, not knowing where it may end up. Penalty strokes and bad lies are killing my game, not to mention adding to my utter frustration. (Trying to stay out of last place in my league). Friends have been helping me with my swing and I have now made so many changes to my grip, stance and position to the ball, nothing feels good or has helped correct the slice. The slice is not as pronounced with my 3 or 5 wood, but have lost all confidence with any club. Do you have any suggestions to starting from scratch? It is getting late in the golf season here in Canada and would like to end the year on a positive note. Not seeing my swing, I know it is not easy, but I will try anything.
(no name)
Hello Noname,
If you never had this slice before, are you using different clubs? If so, go back to the old ones, or at least try a different set. Clubs that are heel-weighted should reduce a slice. Since you say you have already experimented with grip, stance, ball position, etc., I can only say your best chance of success is to use a “strong” grip and an inside out swing path, extending the follow-thru outward to avoid coming across the ball, which is one of the main causes for slicing.
Joe
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Joe, is Golf better than sex?
Answer: Consider the following and judge for yourself: You don't have to sneak your golf magazines into the house. If you are having trouble with golf, it is perfectly acceptable to pay a professional to show you how to improve your technique. The Ten Commandments don't say anything against golfing with someone else. If your partner takes pictures or videotapes of you golfing, you are less likely to worry about them showing up on the Internet when you become famous. Your golf partner won't keep asking questions about other partners you've golfed with. It's perfectly respectable to golf with a total stranger. When you see a really good golfer, you don't have to feel guilty about imagining the two of you golfing together. Nobody will ever tell you that you will go blind if you golf by yourself. When dealing with a golf pro, you never have to wonder if they are really an undercover cop. You don't have to go to a sleazy shop in a seedy neighborhood to buy golf stuff. You can have a golf calendar on your wall at the office, tell golf jokes and invite coworkers to golf with you without getting sued for harassment. If you want to watch golf on television, you don't have to subscribe to a premium cable channel. Nobody expects you to promise to golf with just one partner for the rest of your life. A good golf partner will never say, "What? We just golfed last week, is that all you ever think about?" Foursomes are encouraged, you can still make money doing it as a senior, three times a day is possible, your partner doesn't hire a lawyer if you do it with someone else. A below par performance is considered good, you can stop in the middle and have a cheeseburger and a couple of beers, the game is always willing to screw you (with bad breaks), you don't have to cuddle with your partner when you're finished. If your equipment gets old and rusty, you can replace it.
Answer: Consider the following and judge for yourself: You don't have to sneak your golf magazines into the house. If you are having trouble with golf, it is perfectly acceptable to pay a professional to show you how to improve your technique. The Ten Commandments don't say anything against golfing with someone else. If your partner takes pictures or videotapes of you golfing, you are less likely to worry about them showing up on the Internet when you become famous. Your golf partner won't keep asking questions about other partners you've golfed with. It's perfectly respectable to golf with a total stranger. When you see a really good golfer, you don't have to feel guilty about imagining the two of you golfing together. Nobody will ever tell you that you will go blind if you golf by yourself. When dealing with a golf pro, you never have to wonder if they are really an undercover cop. You don't have to go to a sleazy shop in a seedy neighborhood to buy golf stuff. You can have a golf calendar on your wall at the office, tell golf jokes and invite coworkers to golf with you without getting sued for harassment. If you want to watch golf on television, you don't have to subscribe to a premium cable channel. Nobody expects you to promise to golf with just one partner for the rest of your life. A good golf partner will never say, "What? We just golfed last week, is that all you ever think about?" Foursomes are encouraged, you can still make money doing it as a senior, three times a day is possible, your partner doesn't hire a lawyer if you do it with someone else. A below par performance is considered good, you can stop in the middle and have a cheeseburger and a couple of beers, the game is always willing to screw you (with bad breaks), you don't have to cuddle with your partner when you're finished. If your equipment gets old and rusty, you can replace it.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Joe,
Golf sets used to have only two wedges and now I hear we should carry four, why is that, and how many wedges do you think should be in my bag, and which clubs should I replace with extra wedges?
Wayne
Hi Wayne,
In the past, golfers got by with only the pitching wedge and sand wedge because they wanted to stay within the 14 club limit without having to give up any other woods (3) or irons (8). Today’s irons have lower loft angles than before, so you need a Gap wedge for the distance between the pitching and sand wedges. Also with today’s course designs, a Loft wedge can do a flop shot better than a sand wedge. I recommend removing your long irons to stay within the 14 club limit. You can still carry 3 woods as long as one of them has some loft which covers the same distance as a long iron, and gets out of rough and bad lies better than a long iron.
Joe
Golf sets used to have only two wedges and now I hear we should carry four, why is that, and how many wedges do you think should be in my bag, and which clubs should I replace with extra wedges?
Wayne
Hi Wayne,
In the past, golfers got by with only the pitching wedge and sand wedge because they wanted to stay within the 14 club limit without having to give up any other woods (3) or irons (8). Today’s irons have lower loft angles than before, so you need a Gap wedge for the distance between the pitching and sand wedges. Also with today’s course designs, a Loft wedge can do a flop shot better than a sand wedge. I recommend removing your long irons to stay within the 14 club limit. You can still carry 3 woods as long as one of them has some loft which covers the same distance as a long iron, and gets out of rough and bad lies better than a long iron.
Joe
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Joe,
Every time I think I have really grooved my swing, the groove does not seem to last very long. Does this means that groove was not really a good way to swing?
George
Hello George,Maybe your swing was OK. This typically happens to people who do not follow a regular daily exercise routine. Their muscle tone changes more depending on their daily activities, and as the muscle tone changes, so does your swing without you even realizing it. People who keep their muscles toned with daily exercise are more likely to keep their swings in the groove because daily activities have less effect on changing your overall muscle tone.
Joe
Every time I think I have really grooved my swing, the groove does not seem to last very long. Does this means that groove was not really a good way to swing?
George
Hello George,Maybe your swing was OK. This typically happens to people who do not follow a regular daily exercise routine. Their muscle tone changes more depending on their daily activities, and as the muscle tone changes, so does your swing without you even realizing it. People who keep their muscles toned with daily exercise are more likely to keep their swings in the groove because daily activities have less effect on changing your overall muscle tone.
Joe
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Question for the Evil Twin:
Jody, since you and Joe play in Chicago you must have to compensate for a lot of wind, by the way, why is Chicago called the Windy City?
Answer: Because Wisconsin sucks and Indiana blows, and Chicago is caught in between. (note from Joe – apologies to our neighboring states, diplomacy is not Jody’s strong point; the real reason for the Windy City nickname is not due to weather, it is from the east coast politicians calling Chicago’s politicians a bunch of blowhards, that’s true, you could look it up).
Jody, since you and Joe play in Chicago you must have to compensate for a lot of wind, by the way, why is Chicago called the Windy City?
Answer: Because Wisconsin sucks and Indiana blows, and Chicago is caught in between. (note from Joe – apologies to our neighboring states, diplomacy is not Jody’s strong point; the real reason for the Windy City nickname is not due to weather, it is from the east coast politicians calling Chicago’s politicians a bunch of blowhards, that’s true, you could look it up).
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Joe,
I can usually chip pretty good, but when the grass is high near the green, I have trouble chipping. What can I do about this?
Chad
Hello Chad,
This is not an easy shot because the tall grass sometimes grabs your club and your shot comes up short, but if you give it a little extra oomph, sometimes the grass does not grab your club and the shot goes too long. Here are some things to try. First, play the ball farther back in your stance and use a more lofted club. This will force you to strike the ball with a more descending blow which will prevent the high grass from snagging your club. Second, open the face of the club. This will allow the club to slide thru the grass more smoothly without getting snagged. Of course, this will send the ball to the right of your target, so just compensate by aiming left and swing aggressively along your body line.
Joe
I can usually chip pretty good, but when the grass is high near the green, I have trouble chipping. What can I do about this?
Chad
Hello Chad,
This is not an easy shot because the tall grass sometimes grabs your club and your shot comes up short, but if you give it a little extra oomph, sometimes the grass does not grab your club and the shot goes too long. Here are some things to try. First, play the ball farther back in your stance and use a more lofted club. This will force you to strike the ball with a more descending blow which will prevent the high grass from snagging your club. Second, open the face of the club. This will allow the club to slide thru the grass more smoothly without getting snagged. Of course, this will send the ball to the right of your target, so just compensate by aiming left and swing aggressively along your body line.
Joe
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Joe,
Ever since I HAD MY LEFT KNEE REPLACED i DEVELOPED THE YIPS IN THESE TWO AREAS. My putting is okay & my long game is okay. If I'm within 20 yards from the green I rarely git up & down in 2. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Emmanuel Shedlock
Hello Emmanuel,
I don’t know which chipping method you use, but since your putting is OK, you can use your putting stroke for chipping, just choose the right iron that gives you the same distance control as your putter. Of course you must change your ball position to your back foot and make sure your hands stay ahead of the clubhead all the way thru the stroke. However, this only works for chips that do not have to carry very far over tall grass. If your carry must be longer, then take your wedge and strike the ball as hard as you would strike a putt which would have double the distance. In other words, if it is a 40 foot chip, then with the wedge strike the ball as hard as you would strike an 80 foot putt, because half the energy of your stroke is spent sending the ball upward.
Joe
Ever since I HAD MY LEFT KNEE REPLACED i DEVELOPED THE YIPS IN THESE TWO AREAS. My putting is okay & my long game is okay. If I'm within 20 yards from the green I rarely git up & down in 2. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Emmanuel Shedlock
Hello Emmanuel,
I don’t know which chipping method you use, but since your putting is OK, you can use your putting stroke for chipping, just choose the right iron that gives you the same distance control as your putter. Of course you must change your ball position to your back foot and make sure your hands stay ahead of the clubhead all the way thru the stroke. However, this only works for chips that do not have to carry very far over tall grass. If your carry must be longer, then take your wedge and strike the ball as hard as you would strike a putt which would have double the distance. In other words, if it is a 40 foot chip, then with the wedge strike the ball as hard as you would strike an 80 foot putt, because half the energy of your stroke is spent sending the ball upward.
Joe
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Joe,
I am desperate for help. I just can't bring my range swing to the course. I practice diligently. At the range I work on all my clubs & chipping. I can hit 200 balls at the range & never top a shot or shank an iron, 70% of my driver hits are long and true, my irons are high & straight, taking divots consistently. Well, I get to the course and sure enough start to shank & top shots, skull my short irons & chips, and pull many shots to the right (I'm a lefty), and rarely take a divot. My swing feels the same & I am relaxed. I know I'm a good ball striker, I watch myself do it all the time. Any suggestions?
Joe - Cleveland, Oh
Hi Cleveland Joe,
On the range there is no pressure, on the course every shot counts so you know you cannot afford to waste a shot. On the range you are swinging every few seconds, so you can get into a good rhythm. On the course you are only swinging once every several minutes, so it is harder to get into any rhythm. Did you ever notice while on the range if you hit too many consecutive shots with a driver, then you have trouble hitting a short iron? The lengths of the shafts are so different that it takes time to adjust if your muscles get too used to hitting drivers most of the time. I would recommend you make changes to your range routine. Start with wedges and whenever you hit a good shot, change clubs and work your way up to the driver. Then put some pressure on yourself by playing an imaginary hole. Pick two targets that define the left and right limits of your fairway, and pretend they are OB markers. If you get your drive in between them, pick any iron and target and see how close you can shoot to it. Then pick a target for a half wedge shot and assume one putt if you hit it very close, two putts if you are reasonably close, and 3 putts if you are way off. What did you score? Try this over and over again, creating the same pressure you would have on the course. For your mental game, it is OK to get butterflies, just make the butterflies fly in formation. It is natural for anyone to get nervous, just accept that and be determined to execute to the best of your ability on each shot, one at a time. Don’t let an occasional bad shot bother you, this happens to everyone, just forget it and do your best on the next shot.
Joe
I am desperate for help. I just can't bring my range swing to the course. I practice diligently. At the range I work on all my clubs & chipping. I can hit 200 balls at the range & never top a shot or shank an iron, 70% of my driver hits are long and true, my irons are high & straight, taking divots consistently. Well, I get to the course and sure enough start to shank & top shots, skull my short irons & chips, and pull many shots to the right (I'm a lefty), and rarely take a divot. My swing feels the same & I am relaxed. I know I'm a good ball striker, I watch myself do it all the time. Any suggestions?
Joe - Cleveland, Oh
Hi Cleveland Joe,
On the range there is no pressure, on the course every shot counts so you know you cannot afford to waste a shot. On the range you are swinging every few seconds, so you can get into a good rhythm. On the course you are only swinging once every several minutes, so it is harder to get into any rhythm. Did you ever notice while on the range if you hit too many consecutive shots with a driver, then you have trouble hitting a short iron? The lengths of the shafts are so different that it takes time to adjust if your muscles get too used to hitting drivers most of the time. I would recommend you make changes to your range routine. Start with wedges and whenever you hit a good shot, change clubs and work your way up to the driver. Then put some pressure on yourself by playing an imaginary hole. Pick two targets that define the left and right limits of your fairway, and pretend they are OB markers. If you get your drive in between them, pick any iron and target and see how close you can shoot to it. Then pick a target for a half wedge shot and assume one putt if you hit it very close, two putts if you are reasonably close, and 3 putts if you are way off. What did you score? Try this over and over again, creating the same pressure you would have on the course. For your mental game, it is OK to get butterflies, just make the butterflies fly in formation. It is natural for anyone to get nervous, just accept that and be determined to execute to the best of your ability on each shot, one at a time. Don’t let an occasional bad shot bother you, this happens to everyone, just forget it and do your best on the next shot.
Joe
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Joe,
ANY ADVICE TO CURE HITTING LEFT (EITHER BY HOOKING OR JUST PULLING IT STRAIGHT LEFT), ALSO POPPING THE BALL UP AND THEREFORE SHORT ON DRIVES,EVEN THOUGH THEY FLIGHT MAY BE STRAIGHT, IS ALSO A SYMPTOM.
Joe Damin
Hello to another Joe D,
Pulls are caused by the path of your club going to the inside at impact. Many people think they are swinging down the target line, but their body turn brings it to the inside before impact. Have a friend stand behind you to watch your swing path to verify this. The remedy is to make your backswing go inside out, that way your body turn will bring it back to square at impact. Hooks are caused by the face of the club being “closed” at impact. This can be corrected by adjusting your grip to a “weaker” position. Popup drives can be caused by incorrect ball position, I am sure you have already tried to tee the ball lower, right? If a centered ball position does not work for you, try it more forward, even as far as your front foot, and let us know how it turns out.
Joe
ANY ADVICE TO CURE HITTING LEFT (EITHER BY HOOKING OR JUST PULLING IT STRAIGHT LEFT), ALSO POPPING THE BALL UP AND THEREFORE SHORT ON DRIVES,EVEN THOUGH THEY FLIGHT MAY BE STRAIGHT, IS ALSO A SYMPTOM.
Joe Damin
Hello to another Joe D,
Pulls are caused by the path of your club going to the inside at impact. Many people think they are swinging down the target line, but their body turn brings it to the inside before impact. Have a friend stand behind you to watch your swing path to verify this. The remedy is to make your backswing go inside out, that way your body turn will bring it back to square at impact. Hooks are caused by the face of the club being “closed” at impact. This can be corrected by adjusting your grip to a “weaker” position. Popup drives can be caused by incorrect ball position, I am sure you have already tried to tee the ball lower, right? If a centered ball position does not work for you, try it more forward, even as far as your front foot, and let us know how it turns out.
Joe
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Joe,
Using a belly putter has improved my accuracy, but now I am having trouble lagging longer putts close to the hole. I do not want to give up the belly putter idea, so what can I try?
Ted
Hi Ted,
I use a belly putter also, and I have experienced the same problem. Here is something that has helped me, so maybe it can help you too. Hold the putter with your leading hand only, and bend your wrist so that the shaft stays pressed against your forearm. Then add your other hand to the grip and use your shoulders to make the stroke. The butt of the shaft is no longer against your belly, but this type of stroke feels more solid and smooth. Have a contest with your old stroke against this stroke and see which one wins.
Joe
Using a belly putter has improved my accuracy, but now I am having trouble lagging longer putts close to the hole. I do not want to give up the belly putter idea, so what can I try?
Ted
Hi Ted,
I use a belly putter also, and I have experienced the same problem. Here is something that has helped me, so maybe it can help you too. Hold the putter with your leading hand only, and bend your wrist so that the shaft stays pressed against your forearm. Then add your other hand to the grip and use your shoulders to make the stroke. The butt of the shaft is no longer against your belly, but this type of stroke feels more solid and smooth. Have a contest with your old stroke against this stroke and see which one wins.
Joe
