Joe,
Now that I am shooting in the 80s I believe I can par any hole, in fact I get mad at myself whenever I bogey. Of course when you shoot in the 80s you must be getting more bogeys than pars, so I am mad at myself most of the time, and as a result my overall enjoyment is less than it should be. Even when I am playing better than normal, I always seem to have 1 or 2 blowup holes to keep me out of the 70s. Since I am getting older I am not sure I will ever get any better, so is there a mental strategy I can use to enjoy the game more?
Everett
Hello Everett,
You are not alone. Everyone thinks they can shoot better scores than they really do. We take pars for granted when we should appreciate that fact that a par is a successful score to feel good about, especially if we are not zero handicappers. Join some competitions where you have a chance to beat an opponent. Even if you have a mediocre score, it still might be better than your opponent’s score. If your score always suffers from one or two blowup holes, try some match play competitions where no matter how bad one hole gets you only lose one hole, not the entire round. If you are playing alone, you can still have your own match play competition like this – if you get a par you win the hole, if you get a bogey you lose the hole. For other people who shoot in the 90s or higher, you can change this to say if you bogey you win the hole, and if you double bogey you lose the hole. Whatever you do, make it fun. The fun is in the challenges, so even when you are not scoring well, create some new challenges for yourself and go after them.
Joe
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Joe,
With all the modern technology, why is it that the average golf scores have not improved over the years?
Raul
Hello Raul,
I have seen people spend a lot of money on swing analysis and launch monitors to get custom fitted clubs with the proper shaft with the proper kick point and matched with the right type of multilayer ball, and they still cannot beat the guy who got his clubs at a garage sale and who uses whatever ball is found in the pond. All the technology in the world is not going to lower scores without a good short game. You can hit a par 5 in two shots and if you three putt, you cannot beat the guy who takes 4 shots to reach the green and only needs one putt. Over the years, golf courses have gotten more difficult, especially those that brag about their stimpmeter readings like it is a prestigious macho thing to have the fastest greens. However, I think that detracts from your enjoyment of the game when you hit a good shot that ends up above the hole, but you have no chance to 2-putt because there is no way to stop a downhill putt near the hole when the stimpmeter has the same reading as the hood of your car. The answer to that is to stay below the hole, but then if you stay too far below the hole you again are risking a 4-putt if your first putt goes past the hole, and if the pin is near the front of the green, you are likely to miss the green altogether, which still might be preferable to have an uphill chip instead of a downhill putt if the slope is severe. Stimpmeter readings should stay in the single digits, otherwise scores are not ever likely to improve.
Joe
With all the modern technology, why is it that the average golf scores have not improved over the years?
Raul
Hello Raul,
I have seen people spend a lot of money on swing analysis and launch monitors to get custom fitted clubs with the proper shaft with the proper kick point and matched with the right type of multilayer ball, and they still cannot beat the guy who got his clubs at a garage sale and who uses whatever ball is found in the pond. All the technology in the world is not going to lower scores without a good short game. You can hit a par 5 in two shots and if you three putt, you cannot beat the guy who takes 4 shots to reach the green and only needs one putt. Over the years, golf courses have gotten more difficult, especially those that brag about their stimpmeter readings like it is a prestigious macho thing to have the fastest greens. However, I think that detracts from your enjoyment of the game when you hit a good shot that ends up above the hole, but you have no chance to 2-putt because there is no way to stop a downhill putt near the hole when the stimpmeter has the same reading as the hood of your car. The answer to that is to stay below the hole, but then if you stay too far below the hole you again are risking a 4-putt if your first putt goes past the hole, and if the pin is near the front of the green, you are likely to miss the green altogether, which still might be preferable to have an uphill chip instead of a downhill putt if the slope is severe. Stimpmeter readings should stay in the single digits, otherwise scores are not ever likely to improve.
Joe
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Joe,
I have been told to chart my shots, but that seems like too much work. I need a simpler way to check my progress. Which things make the most sense to chart and which are those that do not matter so much and therefore are not worth charting?
Statman
Hello Statman,
I cannot believe that is really your name, but anyway it fits your question, I bet you are an accountant, right? My method is different because I only want to identify areas that I need to work on the most. I use 7 categories. When I count fairways hit, I also include a good drive that ends up in light rough with a good lie and a clear shot at the green (purists count that as a missed fairway). On the other hand, I do not count a poor drive that happens to end up in the fairway with no chance of hitting the green (purists count it as a fairway hit). For hitting greens in regulation, I include good shots that happen to end up on the fringe to allow a reasonable putt (purists count it as a missed green). On the other hand, I do not count a mediocre shot that ends up on the wrong end of a kidney shaped green where there is no chance to 2-putt (purists count it as a green hit). For counting putts, I include putts from the fringe (purists do not). After all, it is still a normal putt, not like a British Open roller from 20 yards out. In counting up and downs, I do not include the Texas Wedge, or putts from the fringe (purists do) because to me it is not a chip shot. In counting penalties, I include chipping out from behind trees, or other recovery shots where hitting the green is not possible (purists do not), because that amounts to the same thing really, and it makes me think about course management. I count mechanical errors that cost a stroke. Sometimes it does not cost a stroke, like a thinned shot traveling almost as far as a decent shot. I count mental errors if they cost me a stroke, like picking the wrong club and then realizing too late that I did not account for wind or elevation change or the type of lie. Keeping track of these things gives me a better idea of where to spend my practice time.
Joe
I have been told to chart my shots, but that seems like too much work. I need a simpler way to check my progress. Which things make the most sense to chart and which are those that do not matter so much and therefore are not worth charting?
Statman
Hello Statman,
I cannot believe that is really your name, but anyway it fits your question, I bet you are an accountant, right? My method is different because I only want to identify areas that I need to work on the most. I use 7 categories. When I count fairways hit, I also include a good drive that ends up in light rough with a good lie and a clear shot at the green (purists count that as a missed fairway). On the other hand, I do not count a poor drive that happens to end up in the fairway with no chance of hitting the green (purists count it as a fairway hit). For hitting greens in regulation, I include good shots that happen to end up on the fringe to allow a reasonable putt (purists count it as a missed green). On the other hand, I do not count a mediocre shot that ends up on the wrong end of a kidney shaped green where there is no chance to 2-putt (purists count it as a green hit). For counting putts, I include putts from the fringe (purists do not). After all, it is still a normal putt, not like a British Open roller from 20 yards out. In counting up and downs, I do not include the Texas Wedge, or putts from the fringe (purists do) because to me it is not a chip shot. In counting penalties, I include chipping out from behind trees, or other recovery shots where hitting the green is not possible (purists do not), because that amounts to the same thing really, and it makes me think about course management. I count mechanical errors that cost a stroke. Sometimes it does not cost a stroke, like a thinned shot traveling almost as far as a decent shot. I count mental errors if they cost me a stroke, like picking the wrong club and then realizing too late that I did not account for wind or elevation change or the type of lie. Keeping track of these things gives me a better idea of where to spend my practice time.
Joe
Monday, August 21, 2006
Joe,
My question has to do with the triangle and all swings. Due to limited shoulder/upper body flexibility, my back hand tends to separate (pull away) from the grip on the back swing. This pulling away, reduces the connection of the triangle, as I tend to only feel like I'm swinging with my front arm/ shoulder. It feels like I lose the connection of the back shoulder when I swing down. It's like trying to hit a baseball one handed, much harder. When I swing my arms, with no club, I can really feel the connection of shoulders/arms moving as one. Any ideas, I figure I can't be the only one with this problem.Thanks.
Larry
Hi Larry,
Here are some things to try. First the grip. There are 3 commonly acceptable ways to grip the club. Interlock, Overlap, and Ten Finger. Whichever one you are using, try the other two and use the grip that gives you the best results. If you find no improvement there, perhaps you are trying too hard to maintain the triangle since you said you already have limited flexibility. The triangle works best for those who have a lot of flexibility, so just use the triangle for the first part of your backswing takeaway, then get to the top of your backswing like Vijay Singh with your elbows not too far apart, which means the back elbow must fold down. In other words, if you try to maintain the triangle too long, you may end up with a flying elbow, which could result in your back hand separating. I hope this helps, good luck to you.
Joe
My question has to do with the triangle and all swings. Due to limited shoulder/upper body flexibility, my back hand tends to separate (pull away) from the grip on the back swing. This pulling away, reduces the connection of the triangle, as I tend to only feel like I'm swinging with my front arm/ shoulder. It feels like I lose the connection of the back shoulder when I swing down. It's like trying to hit a baseball one handed, much harder. When I swing my arms, with no club, I can really feel the connection of shoulders/arms moving as one. Any ideas, I figure I can't be the only one with this problem.Thanks.
Larry
Hi Larry,
Here are some things to try. First the grip. There are 3 commonly acceptable ways to grip the club. Interlock, Overlap, and Ten Finger. Whichever one you are using, try the other two and use the grip that gives you the best results. If you find no improvement there, perhaps you are trying too hard to maintain the triangle since you said you already have limited flexibility. The triangle works best for those who have a lot of flexibility, so just use the triangle for the first part of your backswing takeaway, then get to the top of your backswing like Vijay Singh with your elbows not too far apart, which means the back elbow must fold down. In other words, if you try to maintain the triangle too long, you may end up with a flying elbow, which could result in your back hand separating. I hope this helps, good luck to you.
Joe
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Joe,
Is it true that a hook rolls more than a slice because a hook has overspin?
Spud
Hello Spud,
Anyone who has ever played ping pong knows if you put overspin on the ball it will dive down quickly, and in golf that is known as a duck hook, so overspin is not the answer. The ball must have a little bit of underspin in order to stay in the air longer, and you can also prove that with a ping pong ball. There are two reasons why a hook rolls more than a slice. First reason is a hook has less underspin, and the other reason is that the clubface must strike the ball in a more closed position for a hook, which means less loft and lower shot trajectory than the slice, which has a more lofted open clubface position. As a result, the lower hook is likely to roll more than the higher slice.
Joe
Is it true that a hook rolls more than a slice because a hook has overspin?
Spud
Hello Spud,
Anyone who has ever played ping pong knows if you put overspin on the ball it will dive down quickly, and in golf that is known as a duck hook, so overspin is not the answer. The ball must have a little bit of underspin in order to stay in the air longer, and you can also prove that with a ping pong ball. There are two reasons why a hook rolls more than a slice. First reason is a hook has less underspin, and the other reason is that the clubface must strike the ball in a more closed position for a hook, which means less loft and lower shot trajectory than the slice, which has a more lofted open clubface position. As a result, the lower hook is likely to roll more than the higher slice.
Joe
Friday, August 11, 2006
Joe,
I enjoy your newsletter and was wondering if you can help. For some reason I keep topping the ball with the fairway metals on the fairway, never when I am hitting them off the tee or with the irons or driver and the annoying thing is that it only happens on the course. I can always hit the ball properly on the driving range and even draw and fade at will. The miss hits are costing me a lot of shots in our competitions.
Look forward to reading the solution in your newsletter.
Best regards Tom Boyd
Hello Tom,
There are a number of possibilities for this, without watching you swing I can only offer a few suggestions. Perhaps your fairway metals are not well matched to the rest of your set. Perhaps at the driving range you are hitting off synthetic mats, which are more forgiving than grass. If neither of these are the case, then other possibilities are the lack of tension on the range allowing you to make more relaxed swings while on the course tension causes a slight change. Some instructors say to swing fairway woods differently than irons, in other words sweep the ball without taking a divot, but I say if this is causing you to top the ball, then by all means swing the same way you do with the irons and hit down at the ball and make sure you complete the follow thru with all your weight on your front foot, or else you might be doing a reverse pivot with some of your weight on the back foot, which can also cause topping. I hope this helps.
I enjoy your newsletter and was wondering if you can help. For some reason I keep topping the ball with the fairway metals on the fairway, never when I am hitting them off the tee or with the irons or driver and the annoying thing is that it only happens on the course. I can always hit the ball properly on the driving range and even draw and fade at will. The miss hits are costing me a lot of shots in our competitions.
Look forward to reading the solution in your newsletter.
Best regards Tom Boyd
Hello Tom,
There are a number of possibilities for this, without watching you swing I can only offer a few suggestions. Perhaps your fairway metals are not well matched to the rest of your set. Perhaps at the driving range you are hitting off synthetic mats, which are more forgiving than grass. If neither of these are the case, then other possibilities are the lack of tension on the range allowing you to make more relaxed swings while on the course tension causes a slight change. Some instructors say to swing fairway woods differently than irons, in other words sweep the ball without taking a divot, but I say if this is causing you to top the ball, then by all means swing the same way you do with the irons and hit down at the ball and make sure you complete the follow thru with all your weight on your front foot, or else you might be doing a reverse pivot with some of your weight on the back foot, which can also cause topping. I hope this helps.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Joe,
Sometimes I read about good golfers being able to will the ball into the hole with positive thinking. I have tried this with no good results. I do not believe that can work, after all we are not magicians. Is this a bunch of baloney or not? How can the average golfer make this work?
Marvin
Hello Marvin,
Positive thinking cannot guarantee anything, but it will give everything a better chance for success than negative thinking will. This is why the better players visualize a successful shot beforehand, because that thought process leads to proper execution. You cannot execute properly if you are not sure the shot is going to work. This is most evident with putting. Those who commit to the read will usually make a better and more confident stroke than those who are not sure of the read and make a tentative stroke. The average golfer, or any other golfer, can make this work simply by convincing oneself to avoid making tentative strokes by focusing on proper execution and follow thru.
Joe
Sometimes I read about good golfers being able to will the ball into the hole with positive thinking. I have tried this with no good results. I do not believe that can work, after all we are not magicians. Is this a bunch of baloney or not? How can the average golfer make this work?
Marvin
Hello Marvin,
Positive thinking cannot guarantee anything, but it will give everything a better chance for success than negative thinking will. This is why the better players visualize a successful shot beforehand, because that thought process leads to proper execution. You cannot execute properly if you are not sure the shot is going to work. This is most evident with putting. Those who commit to the read will usually make a better and more confident stroke than those who are not sure of the read and make a tentative stroke. The average golfer, or any other golfer, can make this work simply by convincing oneself to avoid making tentative strokes by focusing on proper execution and follow thru.
Joe
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Joe,
Why is it that whenever I feel confident that I will have a good round, I am usually disappointed, and the opposite is true, when I am not so confident, sometimes I have a great round? I thought it was a good thing to have confidence, how should we handle this?
Fordham
Hello Fordham,
When we are overly confident, our human tendency is to lose a bit of focus because we just assume we are going to hit good shots without properly concentrating. The next time you feel this confidence, tell yourself that you are determined to execute your main swing thoughts. Take nothing for granted. You can only play the game one shot at a time, and any one of those shots can mess up your round if you lose concentration to execute each shot fully and properly. Once you understand this, you will have fewer disappointments.
Joe
Why is it that whenever I feel confident that I will have a good round, I am usually disappointed, and the opposite is true, when I am not so confident, sometimes I have a great round? I thought it was a good thing to have confidence, how should we handle this?
Fordham
Hello Fordham,
When we are overly confident, our human tendency is to lose a bit of focus because we just assume we are going to hit good shots without properly concentrating. The next time you feel this confidence, tell yourself that you are determined to execute your main swing thoughts. Take nothing for granted. You can only play the game one shot at a time, and any one of those shots can mess up your round if you lose concentration to execute each shot fully and properly. Once you understand this, you will have fewer disappointments.
Joe
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Joe,
I used to be a pretty good putter, and I never really believed what I read about how the yips affect senior golfers until I got them myself, and my putting got worse and worse. I have tried everything, fancy putters, belly putters, chest putters, claw grips, cross handed grips, you name it and I have tried it. I got books from Pelz, Utley, Crenshaw, Watson, and other putting gurus, but I still have the yips. I am right handed and I even tried putting left handed, nothing seems to work. I am out of ideas. I need a new and different idea, is there anything else I can try?
Bernie
Hi Bernie,
You came to the right place because I have been there too. When ordinary methods do not work, you might as well try something else. Here is what I did, and it is still working. Of course there is no guarantee that this will work for you, but at least it is another thing you can try. You won’t hear this anywhere else because this is my own discovery. Take a regular length putter and grip it with your left hand really low on the shaft below the grip. Use your wrist to press the handle against your forearm and keep it there. Now add your right hand below the left with an ordinary ten finger grip. Keep your head completely still, make sure the handle is still pressing against your forearm, and use your shoulders to make the stroke. I use an open stance and center ball position for this, but you can experiment with whatever stance and ball position that works best for you. Of course you will have to bend over quite a bit, so find a comfortable stance, but if this hurts your back, get a longer putter and you will not have to bend over so far. If this works for you, consider getting your putter regripped with a much longer grip so your hands do not have to grip the skinny shaft. Let me know how this turns out.
Joe
I used to be a pretty good putter, and I never really believed what I read about how the yips affect senior golfers until I got them myself, and my putting got worse and worse. I have tried everything, fancy putters, belly putters, chest putters, claw grips, cross handed grips, you name it and I have tried it. I got books from Pelz, Utley, Crenshaw, Watson, and other putting gurus, but I still have the yips. I am right handed and I even tried putting left handed, nothing seems to work. I am out of ideas. I need a new and different idea, is there anything else I can try?
Bernie
Hi Bernie,
You came to the right place because I have been there too. When ordinary methods do not work, you might as well try something else. Here is what I did, and it is still working. Of course there is no guarantee that this will work for you, but at least it is another thing you can try. You won’t hear this anywhere else because this is my own discovery. Take a regular length putter and grip it with your left hand really low on the shaft below the grip. Use your wrist to press the handle against your forearm and keep it there. Now add your right hand below the left with an ordinary ten finger grip. Keep your head completely still, make sure the handle is still pressing against your forearm, and use your shoulders to make the stroke. I use an open stance and center ball position for this, but you can experiment with whatever stance and ball position that works best for you. Of course you will have to bend over quite a bit, so find a comfortable stance, but if this hurts your back, get a longer putter and you will not have to bend over so far. If this works for you, consider getting your putter regripped with a much longer grip so your hands do not have to grip the skinny shaft. Let me know how this turns out.
Joe
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Joe,
I am not a golfer but my husband reads this newsletter, and now he makes me read it too. Up to now it seemed stupid to me, the complicated rule book makes no sense, all you are doing is hitting a ball into a hole. Is it OK to ignore the rule book and just have fun and go play? Otherwise give me some reasons why I should bother to try it?
Jane
Hello Jane,
If you are a beginner, don’t worry about the rule book so much until you decide to take the game more seriously. Golf can be simple but purists make it overly complicated. If you want reasons to try it, here are some facets of golf to consider. Ages and genders do not matter, all can play together. Children can learn to play it well, while adults can never master it. Every round brings unexpected thrills while seemingly good shots can end up in disaster. It can be treated like a science, or a puzzle. Answers to problems are only temporary, good swing corrections only last for awhile, and then they no longer work for no apparent reason, so one must learn how to make adjustments. It requires concentration, but is played better when feeling relaxed. It allows you get into the great outdoors and enjoy the beauty of nature. It satisfies the thirst for adventure, but frustrates the mind. It can be rewarding and it can be maddening. You can experience the thrill of a good shot and the agony of a shot gone awry. For every attempt you never know for sure which one you will get, until the ball stops rolling. It gives you a great opportunity to meet new friends and to recap the round afterward, recounting good shots and bemoaning bad breaks and injustices, encouraging each other and ourselves. Just as in life, you can use each experience as a chance to grow, improve, and reach your full potential. Because of these things, golf is the greatest game ever invented. That is why you should bother to try it.
Joe
I am not a golfer but my husband reads this newsletter, and now he makes me read it too. Up to now it seemed stupid to me, the complicated rule book makes no sense, all you are doing is hitting a ball into a hole. Is it OK to ignore the rule book and just have fun and go play? Otherwise give me some reasons why I should bother to try it?
Jane
Hello Jane,
If you are a beginner, don’t worry about the rule book so much until you decide to take the game more seriously. Golf can be simple but purists make it overly complicated. If you want reasons to try it, here are some facets of golf to consider. Ages and genders do not matter, all can play together. Children can learn to play it well, while adults can never master it. Every round brings unexpected thrills while seemingly good shots can end up in disaster. It can be treated like a science, or a puzzle. Answers to problems are only temporary, good swing corrections only last for awhile, and then they no longer work for no apparent reason, so one must learn how to make adjustments. It requires concentration, but is played better when feeling relaxed. It allows you get into the great outdoors and enjoy the beauty of nature. It satisfies the thirst for adventure, but frustrates the mind. It can be rewarding and it can be maddening. You can experience the thrill of a good shot and the agony of a shot gone awry. For every attempt you never know for sure which one you will get, until the ball stops rolling. It gives you a great opportunity to meet new friends and to recap the round afterward, recounting good shots and bemoaning bad breaks and injustices, encouraging each other and ourselves. Just as in life, you can use each experience as a chance to grow, improve, and reach your full potential. Because of these things, golf is the greatest game ever invented. That is why you should bother to try it.
Joe
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Joe,
i'm 67 years on this earth, (can't say old or young) started golf three years ago, have a fairly good athletic body, plays golf twice weekly, left handed , from 9iron to 3 iron between 85 &150 yds. with a slight draw 3&5 wood between 160 & 180 on good shots. my driver a vicious slice about 200 yds out of bounds, normaly use a strong grip, would i be better off to weaken my grip. also my clubs are a cheap grade would better clubs improve my game can't seem to break 100.
frank.
Hello Frank,
If you draw all your other clubs but slice the driver, get a different driver, it does not match the rest of your set, and yes, better clubs might help, but don’t discard your old clubs too soon, you might find a little draw is a good thing, and there is no guarantee that newer clubs will perform any better until you try them. I would not recommend changing your grip if you can draw the ball with your natural stroke. There must be another reason why you cannot break 100 besides your driver, I suspect you need to work harder at chipping and putting. Good luck to you.
Joe
i'm 67 years on this earth, (can't say old or young) started golf three years ago, have a fairly good athletic body, plays golf twice weekly, left handed , from 9iron to 3 iron between 85 &150 yds. with a slight draw 3&5 wood between 160 & 180 on good shots. my driver a vicious slice about 200 yds out of bounds, normaly use a strong grip, would i be better off to weaken my grip. also my clubs are a cheap grade would better clubs improve my game can't seem to break 100.
frank.
Hello Frank,
If you draw all your other clubs but slice the driver, get a different driver, it does not match the rest of your set, and yes, better clubs might help, but don’t discard your old clubs too soon, you might find a little draw is a good thing, and there is no guarantee that newer clubs will perform any better until you try them. I would not recommend changing your grip if you can draw the ball with your natural stroke. There must be another reason why you cannot break 100 besides your driver, I suspect you need to work harder at chipping and putting. Good luck to you.
Joe
Friday, July 21, 2006
Joe,
I am a 71 year old male in good physical shape. I am using Taylor 465 driver with 9.5 degrees. For a month now I haven't been able to launch the ball. They just seem to be low drives. Would I be helped with a new Taylor R545XD with 10.5 degrees?
ThanksJay
Hi Jay,
I had the same problem as you. Trying to adjust my swing to get more height did not work. I finally tried drivers with 15 degrees loft and for me they work great. I have a Ping G2 that has a draw bias and a Golfsmith Snake Eyes High Launch model that I can hit straight or fade with a little weaker grip. There is a theory that a shaft with a low kick point will make a big difference in launch angle, but for me it also introduces wildness, but maybe that’s just me. If you really like Taylor Made, try the shaft with the low kick point.
Joe
I am a 71 year old male in good physical shape. I am using Taylor 465 driver with 9.5 degrees. For a month now I haven't been able to launch the ball. They just seem to be low drives. Would I be helped with a new Taylor R545XD with 10.5 degrees?
ThanksJay
Hi Jay,
I had the same problem as you. Trying to adjust my swing to get more height did not work. I finally tried drivers with 15 degrees loft and for me they work great. I have a Ping G2 that has a draw bias and a Golfsmith Snake Eyes High Launch model that I can hit straight or fade with a little weaker grip. There is a theory that a shaft with a low kick point will make a big difference in launch angle, but for me it also introduces wildness, but maybe that’s just me. If you really like Taylor Made, try the shaft with the low kick point.
Joe
Monday, July 17, 2006
Joe,
I've got a problem I can't seem to shake. I keep hitting into my left side (in baseball we call it stepping in the bucket!). What drills can I do to solve this situation. When I do this the ball is either pulled left, or I cut across the ball and slice it. I'd appreciate any help I could get.
Tom VanoverSpringdale, Ohio
Hi Tom,
In baseball when you step in the bucket, your front foot actually comes off the ground and comes back down away from the target line. If you are doing the same thing you probably are shifting too much weight to the back foot on the backswing. I would recommend the toe drag drill as shown in the Body Golf videos. If your front foot is not really leaving the ground, your pull is probably caused by your downswing path. This happens to many people who try to swing down the target line while their body is still turning, and by the time the club arrives at the ball, the turning has caused the path to change, and that leads to a pull. Try to change your downswing path. If you consider your target line to be 12 o’clock, if you are right handed, extend your follow thru to 1 o’clock. If you are left handed, extend to 11 o’clock.
Joe
I've got a problem I can't seem to shake. I keep hitting into my left side (in baseball we call it stepping in the bucket!). What drills can I do to solve this situation. When I do this the ball is either pulled left, or I cut across the ball and slice it. I'd appreciate any help I could get.
Tom VanoverSpringdale, Ohio
Hi Tom,
In baseball when you step in the bucket, your front foot actually comes off the ground and comes back down away from the target line. If you are doing the same thing you probably are shifting too much weight to the back foot on the backswing. I would recommend the toe drag drill as shown in the Body Golf videos. If your front foot is not really leaving the ground, your pull is probably caused by your downswing path. This happens to many people who try to swing down the target line while their body is still turning, and by the time the club arrives at the ball, the turning has caused the path to change, and that leads to a pull. Try to change your downswing path. If you consider your target line to be 12 o’clock, if you are right handed, extend your follow thru to 1 o’clock. If you are left handed, extend to 11 o’clock.
Joe
Friday, July 14, 2006
Joe,
i have handicap 14. these days i suffer from putting. Most the time, when i take the club back it goes to inside and result miss the hole and cost me one shot extra. i have tried many way but without success. My main problem is one metter away from the hole. Kindly let me know if you have any tips for me in this regard.
rgds
bahman
Hello Bahman,
Since I have never seen the way you putt, I can only guess that your backstroke is too long. For a one meter putt, keep the backstroke as short as possible and keep the clubface square to the target all during your follow thru. If you can do that, you should make more putts.
Joe
i have handicap 14. these days i suffer from putting. Most the time, when i take the club back it goes to inside and result miss the hole and cost me one shot extra. i have tried many way but without success. My main problem is one metter away from the hole. Kindly let me know if you have any tips for me in this regard.
rgds
bahman
Hello Bahman,
Since I have never seen the way you putt, I can only guess that your backstroke is too long. For a one meter putt, keep the backstroke as short as possible and keep the clubface square to the target all during your follow thru. If you can do that, you should make more putts.
Joe
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Joe,
I don't know if it's due to improper use of arm, my shoulder inflexibility, but one point caught my intention. Someone watching my pitching/chipping noticed that my front arm wrist breaks way too early, about 1/2 the way to hip high. When that happens, bad things occur as my wrists/hands flip on the way down and I ground the ball. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
Larry
Hi Larry,
Some instructions say to break the wrists early and some disagree. I feel it is an individual preference, whatever leads to better ball striking. In your case whatever you do, you cannot allow your wrists to flip on the way down, keep your hands ahead of the club all the way thru contact. As a drill, take the club back and stop, set your wrists to the desired angle, and keep them locked in that position as you execute your downswing.
Joe
I don't know if it's due to improper use of arm, my shoulder inflexibility, but one point caught my intention. Someone watching my pitching/chipping noticed that my front arm wrist breaks way too early, about 1/2 the way to hip high. When that happens, bad things occur as my wrists/hands flip on the way down and I ground the ball. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
Larry
Hi Larry,
Some instructions say to break the wrists early and some disagree. I feel it is an individual preference, whatever leads to better ball striking. In your case whatever you do, you cannot allow your wrists to flip on the way down, keep your hands ahead of the club all the way thru contact. As a drill, take the club back and stop, set your wrists to the desired angle, and keep them locked in that position as you execute your downswing.
Joe
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Joe,
There is a theory that an object flies farthest when it starts with a 45 degree launch angle. That seems ridiculous to me because in golf that would be like a popup. What do you think?
Louie
Hi Louie,
This theory assumes the object has no underspin and the force path of the propellant is also at 45 degrees. In golf the ground obviously prevents such an angle for the path of the club, so there must be some loft on the clubface in order to keep the ball airborne longer. The more loft, the more you have underspin. If the ball were to be launched anywhere near 45 degrees with underspin, it would balloon up to an even higher angle, and the result would be like a 9 iron shot. So the ideal launch angle would have minimum underspin but still be as high as possible to stay airborne as long as possible. With the ground being in the way, it is not easy to hit the ball while the club is in the upswing, but if you play the ball further forward in your stance, you can at least reduce underspin.
Joe
There is a theory that an object flies farthest when it starts with a 45 degree launch angle. That seems ridiculous to me because in golf that would be like a popup. What do you think?
Louie
Hi Louie,
This theory assumes the object has no underspin and the force path of the propellant is also at 45 degrees. In golf the ground obviously prevents such an angle for the path of the club, so there must be some loft on the clubface in order to keep the ball airborne longer. The more loft, the more you have underspin. If the ball were to be launched anywhere near 45 degrees with underspin, it would balloon up to an even higher angle, and the result would be like a 9 iron shot. So the ideal launch angle would have minimum underspin but still be as high as possible to stay airborne as long as possible. With the ground being in the way, it is not easy to hit the ball while the club is in the upswing, but if you play the ball further forward in your stance, you can at least reduce underspin.
Joe
Friday, July 07, 2006
Joe,
I am fighting a hook, and I am told that my grip is OK (Vs pointing at the chin), but I am rolling my forearms too much, but that is my natural move, and whenever I try a move that feels unnatural, I have poor contact. Other than just playing for my hook, is there anything else I can try?
Herbert
Hello Herbert,
During the setup, look at your leading arm. If your leading elbow is pointing at the target, this could cause your arms to roll on the downswing. If you have ever seen a photo of Ben Hogan’s setup, both his elbows are pointing in toward his body. This helped Ben fight his hook because the forearms are less likely to roll as much from that position. I hope this helps you.
Joe
I am fighting a hook, and I am told that my grip is OK (Vs pointing at the chin), but I am rolling my forearms too much, but that is my natural move, and whenever I try a move that feels unnatural, I have poor contact. Other than just playing for my hook, is there anything else I can try?
Herbert
Hello Herbert,
During the setup, look at your leading arm. If your leading elbow is pointing at the target, this could cause your arms to roll on the downswing. If you have ever seen a photo of Ben Hogan’s setup, both his elbows are pointing in toward his body. This helped Ben fight his hook because the forearms are less likely to roll as much from that position. I hope this helps you.
Joe
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Joe,
With today’s better balls and better clubs, the experts say a lot of courses will become obsolete because they have no more room to expand. But everyone I talk to says they are not scoring any better than they ever did. How can this be if everyone is hitting the ball longer than before?
Tabby
Hi Tabby,
Many courses in my area cannot expand, so they have undergone renovations to make them more attractive and more difficult, some call it tricking up the course by adding more bunkers and water hazards and letting the rough grow taller. But the main thing I have noticed is faster and more sloping greens with thicker grass around and up against the edges, so if you miss the green, there are no easy chip shots. You can forget about chipping with any other iron but a wedge. Even if you hit the green, if these greens get firm, your approach shots will bounce on and over into the thick grass. So even when these courses are not longer, they are certainly not as easy to score on.
Joe
With today’s better balls and better clubs, the experts say a lot of courses will become obsolete because they have no more room to expand. But everyone I talk to says they are not scoring any better than they ever did. How can this be if everyone is hitting the ball longer than before?
Tabby
Hi Tabby,
Many courses in my area cannot expand, so they have undergone renovations to make them more attractive and more difficult, some call it tricking up the course by adding more bunkers and water hazards and letting the rough grow taller. But the main thing I have noticed is faster and more sloping greens with thicker grass around and up against the edges, so if you miss the green, there are no easy chip shots. You can forget about chipping with any other iron but a wedge. Even if you hit the green, if these greens get firm, your approach shots will bounce on and over into the thick grass. So even when these courses are not longer, they are certainly not as easy to score on.
Joe
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Joe,
If a wider swing arc leads to more distance, it would seem to make sense to use clubs with longer shafts than standard length. I have tried such clubs without much success. What is the reason for this?
Ray
Hello Ray,
It is true that clubhead speed increases with wider swing arc, but there is something more important going on here. The longer the shaft, the more difficult it is to strike the ball in the middle of the clubface, which we call the sweet spot. I have seen cases where a golfer improved simply by getting shorter shafts than normal and being able to strike the sweet spot more often. Longer shafts may give you occasional longer shots, but your average distance is not that great if you have more mis-hits. Unless you can strike the ball on the sweet spot every time, longer shafts may not be such a great idea.
Joe
If a wider swing arc leads to more distance, it would seem to make sense to use clubs with longer shafts than standard length. I have tried such clubs without much success. What is the reason for this?
Ray
Hello Ray,
It is true that clubhead speed increases with wider swing arc, but there is something more important going on here. The longer the shaft, the more difficult it is to strike the ball in the middle of the clubface, which we call the sweet spot. I have seen cases where a golfer improved simply by getting shorter shafts than normal and being able to strike the sweet spot more often. Longer shafts may give you occasional longer shots, but your average distance is not that great if you have more mis-hits. Unless you can strike the ball on the sweet spot every time, longer shafts may not be such a great idea.
Joe
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Joe,
Here's a question that I've never seen asked or answered: What is a drill or a technique to help hit the ball on the sweet spot more consistently? Everyone talks about hitting the ball on the sweet spot but what is a good drill to get you into hitting that sweet spot.
Thanks,
Bill Lapitsky
Hi Bill,
I like to start with the double clubber drill as shown in the Body Golf videos. Then I use a single club and a practice mat that has a permanent rubber tee and repeat this back and forth motion, trying to clip the tee on both the forward stroke and the backward stroke continuously. This helps to train your muscles into the same groove for each stroke. If you can do this every day, it should help your consistency.
Joe
Here's a question that I've never seen asked or answered: What is a drill or a technique to help hit the ball on the sweet spot more consistently? Everyone talks about hitting the ball on the sweet spot but what is a good drill to get you into hitting that sweet spot.
Thanks,
Bill Lapitsky
Hi Bill,
I like to start with the double clubber drill as shown in the Body Golf videos. Then I use a single club and a practice mat that has a permanent rubber tee and repeat this back and forth motion, trying to clip the tee on both the forward stroke and the backward stroke continuously. This helps to train your muscles into the same groove for each stroke. If you can do this every day, it should help your consistency.
Joe
