Joe,
I heard that the balls retrieved from water hazards do not go as far as new balls? Is that true? Do they get a little water logged?
Will
Hi Will,
I have read test reports that showed the "pond" balls travel only a few yards less than new balls on the average. What these tests did not say is how many yards does any ball lose after it has been used for awhile, even without being in a pond. I do not think they get water logged. My guess is that the more a ball is used, the less distance it will travel anyway, pond or no pond. So if you have a lot of money, and you want every single yard possible, just keep buying new balls. If you are like most people who want to save money, you might choose to use "experienced" balls that you find for free and live with the loss of a few yards.
Joe
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Joe,
What do you think is the best type of putter to buy? Does the shape really matter? Why are the expensive ones any better than the cheap ones?
Preston
Hi Preston,
When you count all the strokes used for each of your clubs for any round, the putter by far is used the most times, so it makes sense to get a putter that you like. That does not mean it has to be an expensive putter. Consider this, even if you have a perfect putting stroke, you still will not make very many putts unless you read the green perfectly, and stroke the putt with the perfect line and the perfect speed, and who is that perfect? To make matters more complicated, even if you read the green correctly and make a perfect stroke, the putt may still hit an imperfection in the green and lip out. The answer to your question, in my opinion, is that there is a good chance you can putt just as well with a cheap putter as you can with an expensive putter, just find one that feels good and have a contest using that one against a borrowed goochy-fufu-expensive one and see which one wins the contest. The mind is a powerful thing, so you are more likely to make a more confident stroke with a putter that you like, expensive or not. It is the confident stroke that makes you a better putter, more so than the brand or the type or shape of the club.
Joe
What do you think is the best type of putter to buy? Does the shape really matter? Why are the expensive ones any better than the cheap ones?
Preston
Hi Preston,
When you count all the strokes used for each of your clubs for any round, the putter by far is used the most times, so it makes sense to get a putter that you like. That does not mean it has to be an expensive putter. Consider this, even if you have a perfect putting stroke, you still will not make very many putts unless you read the green perfectly, and stroke the putt with the perfect line and the perfect speed, and who is that perfect? To make matters more complicated, even if you read the green correctly and make a perfect stroke, the putt may still hit an imperfection in the green and lip out. The answer to your question, in my opinion, is that there is a good chance you can putt just as well with a cheap putter as you can with an expensive putter, just find one that feels good and have a contest using that one against a borrowed goochy-fufu-expensive one and see which one wins the contest. The mind is a powerful thing, so you are more likely to make a more confident stroke with a putter that you like, expensive or not. It is the confident stroke that makes you a better putter, more so than the brand or the type or shape of the club.
Joe
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Two golfers happen to use the same brand ball, same number on it, and no other markings. They both hit their drives down the middle, the same distance, and they end up so close together that they could not tell which ball was theirs. What is the ruling?
A. Whenever you cannot identify your ball, the lost ball penalty applies. Go back to the tee and replay both shots.
B. It does not make any difference, you cannot prove either ball does not belong to either golfer.
C. Flip a coin to see which is which.
D. Have a swordfight with your drivers to determine who gets first choice.
A is officially correct, although I personally think it is stupid. Pros have forecaddies, so this can’t happen in tournaments. Recreational golfers do not have the luxury of forecaddies, so for recreational golf, B and C are both OK. For purists who take everything literally, D is only kidding.
Rule makers, use your head, the balls were not lost, they were clearly visible in the same spot. Anyone who says they are lost is a moron. If you can see the ball and play it, it is not lost. Proper skills were used to get the balls there. Furthermore, if you go back to the tee, you are going to delay the pace of play for all other golfers playing behind you. Golf should be a game of relative skills, not blockhead technicalities. Rules like this should be only for tournaments. Otherwise just flip a coin. If a coin flip is acceptable for football games, where there is a lot of money at stake, what is so wrong about doing the same in this situation where it really does not make any difference which ball is which?
A. Whenever you cannot identify your ball, the lost ball penalty applies. Go back to the tee and replay both shots.
B. It does not make any difference, you cannot prove either ball does not belong to either golfer.
C. Flip a coin to see which is which.
D. Have a swordfight with your drivers to determine who gets first choice.
A is officially correct, although I personally think it is stupid. Pros have forecaddies, so this can’t happen in tournaments. Recreational golfers do not have the luxury of forecaddies, so for recreational golf, B and C are both OK. For purists who take everything literally, D is only kidding.
Rule makers, use your head, the balls were not lost, they were clearly visible in the same spot. Anyone who says they are lost is a moron. If you can see the ball and play it, it is not lost. Proper skills were used to get the balls there. Furthermore, if you go back to the tee, you are going to delay the pace of play for all other golfers playing behind you. Golf should be a game of relative skills, not blockhead technicalities. Rules like this should be only for tournaments. Otherwise just flip a coin. If a coin flip is acceptable for football games, where there is a lot of money at stake, what is so wrong about doing the same in this situation where it really does not make any difference which ball is which?
Sunday, June 24, 2007
You Make The Call
You address the ball on the tee and accidentally knock it off the tee, and everyone watching thinks they are in a choir and they all sing in unison ONE. Then on the fairway you address the ball and when you ground your club the ball seems to move along with the soft grass but it does not move away from its original spot. Then on the green, you are about to address your putt and the wind moves the ball. Which one of these events is a penalty? (answer is below)
Joe,
At the recent Masters, they showed a replay of the telecast from 1960, during which Arnold Palmer left the pin in for a long putt, and his putt hit the pin. Why was that not a penalty?
Florence
Hello Florence,
By today’s rules that would have been a penalty, but at that time it was not a penalty for a putt to strike the pin. This is an example of how rules have changed over time despite those purists who say the rules are sacred (genuflect) and cannot be changed. I do not know why that rule was changed, I think they should have left it the same because it slows the game down when you have to wait for someone to walk up there and pull or tend the pin. I seriously doubt that there is any advantage gained by deliberately using the pin as a backstop because sometimes a putt might have fallen but the pin kept it out. There will always be debate about that, but I prefer rules that speed up the game. Then you have the jerks who would call a penalty on you if you tend the pin improperly. From a sportsmanship standpoint, I do not think the game needs that sort of nonsense.
Joe
Answer to You Make The Call (above)
No penalty for any of them. On the tee box you have not yet put the ball in play. On the fairway it is a penalty only if the ball moves away from its original spot, and on the green it is only a penalty if you have already grounded your club.
Jody, my Evil Twin, what do you think of these rulings?
Answer: Sometimes the rules do not allow for common sense. Common sense would dictate that if no advantage was gained by an accidental infraction, there would be no point in calling a penalty. And don’t feed me that line that says a rule is a rule, that is a brainless explanation. Let the scores be determined by shotmaking, not by bookworm technicalities.
You address the ball on the tee and accidentally knock it off the tee, and everyone watching thinks they are in a choir and they all sing in unison ONE. Then on the fairway you address the ball and when you ground your club the ball seems to move along with the soft grass but it does not move away from its original spot. Then on the green, you are about to address your putt and the wind moves the ball. Which one of these events is a penalty? (answer is below)
Joe,
At the recent Masters, they showed a replay of the telecast from 1960, during which Arnold Palmer left the pin in for a long putt, and his putt hit the pin. Why was that not a penalty?
Florence
Hello Florence,
By today’s rules that would have been a penalty, but at that time it was not a penalty for a putt to strike the pin. This is an example of how rules have changed over time despite those purists who say the rules are sacred (genuflect) and cannot be changed. I do not know why that rule was changed, I think they should have left it the same because it slows the game down when you have to wait for someone to walk up there and pull or tend the pin. I seriously doubt that there is any advantage gained by deliberately using the pin as a backstop because sometimes a putt might have fallen but the pin kept it out. There will always be debate about that, but I prefer rules that speed up the game. Then you have the jerks who would call a penalty on you if you tend the pin improperly. From a sportsmanship standpoint, I do not think the game needs that sort of nonsense.
Joe
Answer to You Make The Call (above)
No penalty for any of them. On the tee box you have not yet put the ball in play. On the fairway it is a penalty only if the ball moves away from its original spot, and on the green it is only a penalty if you have already grounded your club.
Jody, my Evil Twin, what do you think of these rulings?
Answer: Sometimes the rules do not allow for common sense. Common sense would dictate that if no advantage was gained by an accidental infraction, there would be no point in calling a penalty. And don’t feed me that line that says a rule is a rule, that is a brainless explanation. Let the scores be determined by shotmaking, not by bookworm technicalities.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Joe,
The TV announcer said he would not recommend the way Zach Johnson putts. Do you agree?
Johnny
Hello Johnny,
Putting styles are very individualistic things. If a conventional style is not working for you, what choice do you have but to try something unconventional? When Chris DiMarco started using the claw grip, people did not recommend that either, but when he started sinking putts from all over the place, more people started using variations of it. Bernhard Langer changes styles all the time, and so do many other pros. Zach tilts the shaft backwards and it works for him because he can keep the face square to the hole that way. This is the main point. Whatever style keeps the face square has to be OK for you.
Joe
The TV announcer said he would not recommend the way Zach Johnson putts. Do you agree?
Johnny
Hello Johnny,
Putting styles are very individualistic things. If a conventional style is not working for you, what choice do you have but to try something unconventional? When Chris DiMarco started using the claw grip, people did not recommend that either, but when he started sinking putts from all over the place, more people started using variations of it. Bernhard Langer changes styles all the time, and so do many other pros. Zach tilts the shaft backwards and it works for him because he can keep the face square to the hole that way. This is the main point. Whatever style keeps the face square has to be OK for you.
Joe
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Joe,
I find it hard to keep my left arm straight while I swing. I am right handed. Is it bad to bend it a little bit so I can take a longer backswing?
Alex
Hello Alex,
A bigger shoulder turn should help. Keeping the left arm straight accomplishes two good things. It assures the widest possible arc, and the wider the arc, the higher the clubhead speed. It also assures a more consistent arc, for example, if you allow the left elbow to bend, you have to be consistent in how much it bends or else the arc will be inconsistent, and therefore your ball striking will be inconsistent. In your case, as well as many other people, your body build will not let you keep it perfectly straight without restricting your backswing, so just keep it comfortably straight and you should be OK with a slight bend.
Joe
I find it hard to keep my left arm straight while I swing. I am right handed. Is it bad to bend it a little bit so I can take a longer backswing?
Alex
Hello Alex,
A bigger shoulder turn should help. Keeping the left arm straight accomplishes two good things. It assures the widest possible arc, and the wider the arc, the higher the clubhead speed. It also assures a more consistent arc, for example, if you allow the left elbow to bend, you have to be consistent in how much it bends or else the arc will be inconsistent, and therefore your ball striking will be inconsistent. In your case, as well as many other people, your body build will not let you keep it perfectly straight without restricting your backswing, so just keep it comfortably straight and you should be OK with a slight bend.
Joe
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Joe,
Help me settle confusion on keeping the head still. I thought it was a good thing but I read about Harvey Penick saying anyone who keeps the head still cannot play.
Hank
Hello Hank,
Harvey was referring to keeping the head absolutely still, which would restrict your motion. Steady is a better word because it is OK for the head to rotate a little bit. Some instructors say the head must move a little bit sideways if you have a proper weight shift. It is true that you can get more power by allowing the head to move sideways during the backswing, but that is only for people who have no problems with good ball contact. If you find yourself hitting shots fat or thin or wild, then I would recommend keeping the head more steady and avoid the sideways movement. Jack Nicklaus’ instructor used to grab the back of his hair to prevent too much head movement, and Jack was still one of the longest drivers of his era, so I am not sold on the idea that sideways head movement helps. I think Jack can play, don’t you?
Joe
Help me settle confusion on keeping the head still. I thought it was a good thing but I read about Harvey Penick saying anyone who keeps the head still cannot play.
Hank
Hello Hank,
Harvey was referring to keeping the head absolutely still, which would restrict your motion. Steady is a better word because it is OK for the head to rotate a little bit. Some instructors say the head must move a little bit sideways if you have a proper weight shift. It is true that you can get more power by allowing the head to move sideways during the backswing, but that is only for people who have no problems with good ball contact. If you find yourself hitting shots fat or thin or wild, then I would recommend keeping the head more steady and avoid the sideways movement. Jack Nicklaus’ instructor used to grab the back of his hair to prevent too much head movement, and Jack was still one of the longest drivers of his era, so I am not sold on the idea that sideways head movement helps. I think Jack can play, don’t you?
Joe
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Joe,
Sometimes I see golfers stop their backswing at the top and check their position. What can I learn from this?
Chester
Hi Chester,
Some people prefer to check the position of the leading wrist. I prefer to check whether or not the shaft is on the same plane as my leading arm, and also that the clubface is not overly open or shut.
Jody, my Evil Twin, what is your opinion on this?
Answer: You can learn how many hands you have, and which one is wearing the glove.
Sometimes I see golfers stop their backswing at the top and check their position. What can I learn from this?
Chester
Hi Chester,
Some people prefer to check the position of the leading wrist. I prefer to check whether or not the shaft is on the same plane as my leading arm, and also that the clubface is not overly open or shut.
Jody, my Evil Twin, what is your opinion on this?
Answer: You can learn how many hands you have, and which one is wearing the glove.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Joe,
Is there a drill for learning to stay down on the shot?.
Frank Danoy
Hi Frank,
Next time you are at a practice range where they have mats with permanent rubber tees, take several lazy swings back and forth, and try to clip the rubber tee on both the backswing and the downswing. This will help you stay focused on the spot. On the course, whenever you take a practice swing, visualize a ball being there as you swing. When you take your actual shot, visualize that the ball is not there and just execute the swing. Let us know if this helps you.
Jody, my Evil Twin, what is your opinion on this?
Answer: Tie some fishing line to one of your shirt buttons with a large fish hook at the other end, place the fish hook between you legs. Whenever you look up, you will receive a biofeedback reminder.
Is there a drill for learning to stay down on the shot?.
Frank Danoy
Hi Frank,
Next time you are at a practice range where they have mats with permanent rubber tees, take several lazy swings back and forth, and try to clip the rubber tee on both the backswing and the downswing. This will help you stay focused on the spot. On the course, whenever you take a practice swing, visualize a ball being there as you swing. When you take your actual shot, visualize that the ball is not there and just execute the swing. Let us know if this helps you.
Jody, my Evil Twin, what is your opinion on this?
Answer: Tie some fishing line to one of your shirt buttons with a large fish hook at the other end, place the fish hook between you legs. Whenever you look up, you will receive a biofeedback reminder.
Monday, May 14, 2007
thanks a lot for your email with lot of information regarding Golf. i have a question for Mr.joe Delorenzo
my left arm goes up before impact and result slightly bend in my left elbow (sign motion). i have been through many pros and watched many DVD. i put towel under my left chest, i hold my left arm attach to my left chest and etc.... i have handicap 13, but i am short with driver, and because at impact my left arm goes up and overpowered by right arm. so in this case i won't be able to have proper follow through. thanks in advance for your tips.
rgds
bahman
Germany Hamburg
Hello Bahman, this is Joe,
It sounds like you have what is called a chicken wing follow thru, where you left elbow stays high. You need to make it go low. To do that, you must roll your right arm over the top of your left arm at impact. Your left elbow then would be pointing toward the ground instead of the sky. Forget the towel and forget attaching your arm to your chest, this will only restrict you and cause loss of distance. You must extend your follow thru away from the body with your right arm above your left, and your distance should improve.
Joe
my left arm goes up before impact and result slightly bend in my left elbow (sign motion). i have been through many pros and watched many DVD. i put towel under my left chest, i hold my left arm attach to my left chest and etc.... i have handicap 13, but i am short with driver, and because at impact my left arm goes up and overpowered by right arm. so in this case i won't be able to have proper follow through. thanks in advance for your tips.
rgds
bahman
Germany Hamburg
Hello Bahman, this is Joe,
It sounds like you have what is called a chicken wing follow thru, where you left elbow stays high. You need to make it go low. To do that, you must roll your right arm over the top of your left arm at impact. Your left elbow then would be pointing toward the ground instead of the sky. Forget the towel and forget attaching your arm to your chest, this will only restrict you and cause loss of distance. You must extend your follow thru away from the body with your right arm above your left, and your distance should improve.
Joe
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Joe,
It is said that each higher club hits the ball that extra 10m or so longer. So if my PW travel about 100m the 9I about 110m etc... What I have found is that I have gaps between clubs. Let me explain, PW (100m), 9I(110m), 8I(120m)..7I(150m), 6I(155m), 5I(165m), 4I(175m), 3I(180m). I use the same set of irons (Taylormade RAC OS2). Without making it out to be a very private lesson, can you explain the big difference between the 8I & 7I... it is a problem for me as some of the Par 3s I am in between clubs & usually miss the greens as either I try & slam the life out of the 8I or ease off on the 7I & mess up both of them more often that not. I play off a 18 HCP
Thanks in advance.
Sid
Hello Sid,
Your information suggests that you need your loft angles adjusted on some of your irons. At minimum, your 7i needs more loft. However, most people who are not scratch golfers do not hit the ball squarely every time, so the distance can vary quite a bit. In your case even if you did hit your irons exactly the way you say, your handicap should be a lot lower than 18, so it would seem your short game should be more of a concern to you than your iron game. Try this experiment. Play a round using only your even numbered irons and PW. I suspect your score will not be much worse than with a full set, plus you will get a lot more practice on chipping and pitching since you are not likely to hit as many greens. You will also be forced to learn how to adjust your swing for those in between distances. Most of the time you will be better off swinging easier with more club rather than swinging too hard with less club.
Joe
It is said that each higher club hits the ball that extra 10m or so longer. So if my PW travel about 100m the 9I about 110m etc... What I have found is that I have gaps between clubs. Let me explain, PW (100m), 9I(110m), 8I(120m)..7I(150m), 6I(155m), 5I(165m), 4I(175m), 3I(180m). I use the same set of irons (Taylormade RAC OS2). Without making it out to be a very private lesson, can you explain the big difference between the 8I & 7I... it is a problem for me as some of the Par 3s I am in between clubs & usually miss the greens as either I try & slam the life out of the 8I or ease off on the 7I & mess up both of them more often that not. I play off a 18 HCP
Thanks in advance.
Sid
Hello Sid,
Your information suggests that you need your loft angles adjusted on some of your irons. At minimum, your 7i needs more loft. However, most people who are not scratch golfers do not hit the ball squarely every time, so the distance can vary quite a bit. In your case even if you did hit your irons exactly the way you say, your handicap should be a lot lower than 18, so it would seem your short game should be more of a concern to you than your iron game. Try this experiment. Play a round using only your even numbered irons and PW. I suspect your score will not be much worse than with a full set, plus you will get a lot more practice on chipping and pitching since you are not likely to hit as many greens. You will also be forced to learn how to adjust your swing for those in between distances. Most of the time you will be better off swinging easier with more club rather than swinging too hard with less club.
Joe
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Joe,
Every now and then I see an ad about secrets of golf. Are any of these secrets any good?
Bill
Hi Bill,
All of us are built differently, so a "secret" position or "magic move" move for one person may or may not work for another person. Many times a "magic move" will work for awhile, and then it will stop working and you won’t know why. There are a lot of things going on during a golf swing, and sometimes a magic move will result in aligning your muscles in a good way. But your muscles are changing every day, some stronger, some weaker, in different combinations, so it stands to reason that many of these "secrets" fall in the category of "Mannerisms" which are different than "Fundamentals" which are more important. For example, in Ben Hogan’s secret the supination of the wrist is a mannerism that leads to the fundamental of lining up the club shaft on the same plane with the leading arm for the downswing. The secret of driving the right knee is the mannerism that leads to the fundamental of shifting the lower body weight from the back leg to the front leg. If you only think of the mannerisms without the fundamentals, then you have to guess how much or how little to supinate the wrist or how hard to drive the knee. By thinking of the fundamentals instead, you can reduce this guesswork.
Joe
Every now and then I see an ad about secrets of golf. Are any of these secrets any good?
Bill
Hi Bill,
All of us are built differently, so a "secret" position or "magic move" move for one person may or may not work for another person. Many times a "magic move" will work for awhile, and then it will stop working and you won’t know why. There are a lot of things going on during a golf swing, and sometimes a magic move will result in aligning your muscles in a good way. But your muscles are changing every day, some stronger, some weaker, in different combinations, so it stands to reason that many of these "secrets" fall in the category of "Mannerisms" which are different than "Fundamentals" which are more important. For example, in Ben Hogan’s secret the supination of the wrist is a mannerism that leads to the fundamental of lining up the club shaft on the same plane with the leading arm for the downswing. The secret of driving the right knee is the mannerism that leads to the fundamental of shifting the lower body weight from the back leg to the front leg. If you only think of the mannerisms without the fundamentals, then you have to guess how much or how little to supinate the wrist or how hard to drive the knee. By thinking of the fundamentals instead, you can reduce this guesswork.
Joe
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Joe,
I have played golf once per week for many years, but from the third year onward, my scores have not improved. I should think that a person should continually improve over time, but I have not. I don’t understand why. Is there no hope of getting any better?
Rory
Hi Rory,
If you play once per week, but you do not practice in between, then it is not logical to assume that things will get better while you continue to do things the same way as always. Nothing is going to get better unless you change the way you do things. If you cannot get to a range in between rounds, just hit some wiffle balls at your local park. At least you ball striking should improve. Have a contest with your current grip against a different grip. Many people think the interlock grip is best just because it is used by Tiger and Jack, however many people find that the overlap works better, and the simple 10 finger grip may work best, despite the perception that it is a beginner’s grip, which is a false perception. Some people are blessed with a lot of natural athletic ability, while others must work at it to get better. Set some realistic expectations for yourself. Everyone has some bad shots. Just try to minimize them, or make them better bad shots. That may sound silly, but for example, a thinned shot is usually better than a fat shot, so make sure your strikes the ball before it strikes the ground.
Joe
I have played golf once per week for many years, but from the third year onward, my scores have not improved. I should think that a person should continually improve over time, but I have not. I don’t understand why. Is there no hope of getting any better?
Rory
Hi Rory,
If you play once per week, but you do not practice in between, then it is not logical to assume that things will get better while you continue to do things the same way as always. Nothing is going to get better unless you change the way you do things. If you cannot get to a range in between rounds, just hit some wiffle balls at your local park. At least you ball striking should improve. Have a contest with your current grip against a different grip. Many people think the interlock grip is best just because it is used by Tiger and Jack, however many people find that the overlap works better, and the simple 10 finger grip may work best, despite the perception that it is a beginner’s grip, which is a false perception. Some people are blessed with a lot of natural athletic ability, while others must work at it to get better. Set some realistic expectations for yourself. Everyone has some bad shots. Just try to minimize them, or make them better bad shots. That may sound silly, but for example, a thinned shot is usually better than a fat shot, so make sure your strikes the ball before it strikes the ground.
Joe
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Joe,
I usually hit a tee shot with a driver fairly high, and often see a ball mark not too far from where the ball comes to rest. This obviously means that I am getting very little roll on the ball after it hits the ground. A few weeks ago, I "accidentally" hit three drives low, and each of these drives ended up being by far the longest drives that I have ever hit on those three holes. I think it's obvious that I got a lot of roll on those drives, and that I should work on learning to hit lower drives (when needed). What is the best way to adjust my swing (including setup) to hit lower drives and get more roll on the ball after landing? Much appreciated.
Garth
Hi Garth,
The quick answer is to tee the ball lower, but there could be more to it than that, I would have to see how you setup and swing to comment further. If your ball flight starts out low and balloons upward, you are hitting down too much and giving the ball underspin, so your ball position might be too far towards center. If your ball position is forward and you hit all your shots higher than most people, and also tend to fade, it is likely the way you swing. If you only hit your driver high, and you do not fade, then I suspect your driver shaft has too much flex, so try a driver with a stiffer shaft and lower loft and compare results.
Joe
I usually hit a tee shot with a driver fairly high, and often see a ball mark not too far from where the ball comes to rest. This obviously means that I am getting very little roll on the ball after it hits the ground. A few weeks ago, I "accidentally" hit three drives low, and each of these drives ended up being by far the longest drives that I have ever hit on those three holes. I think it's obvious that I got a lot of roll on those drives, and that I should work on learning to hit lower drives (when needed). What is the best way to adjust my swing (including setup) to hit lower drives and get more roll on the ball after landing? Much appreciated.
Garth
Hi Garth,
The quick answer is to tee the ball lower, but there could be more to it than that, I would have to see how you setup and swing to comment further. If your ball flight starts out low and balloons upward, you are hitting down too much and giving the ball underspin, so your ball position might be too far towards center. If your ball position is forward and you hit all your shots higher than most people, and also tend to fade, it is likely the way you swing. If you only hit your driver high, and you do not fade, then I suspect your driver shaft has too much flex, so try a driver with a stiffer shaft and lower loft and compare results.
Joe
Monday, April 09, 2007
Joe,
Would you please answer this question?.... What do you do if your shot plugs in the lip of the cup?... I hit a shot yesterday that plugged on the edge of the cup. About on fourth of the ball was hanging over the edge of the cup...If I had repaired the plugged ball, the ball would have rolled into the cup... It was the first shot on a par three ... We did not count it as a hole in one... We counted it as a birdie. Hmmm... Thanks for any response....
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
A ball is not considered holed until it rests at the bottom of the hole. There have been cases where it looked like an ace because the ball was resting against the flagstick but when the flagstick was removed, the ball came out and did not fall. That technically is not an ace. In your case perhaps removing the flagstick would jar the ball loose, I do not know. If not, you must mark the ball, repair the ball mark, and replace the ball at the edge of the cup and then putt it in for your birdie.
Jody, my Evil Twin, what are your thoughts about this?
Answer: Joe, you are acting like a Purist again, cut that out. I would remove the flagstick and accidentally on purpose jar the ball loose. And I think anyone who thinks a ball resting against a flagstick is not holed is an idiot. And that is the name of that tune.
Would you please answer this question?.... What do you do if your shot plugs in the lip of the cup?... I hit a shot yesterday that plugged on the edge of the cup. About on fourth of the ball was hanging over the edge of the cup...If I had repaired the plugged ball, the ball would have rolled into the cup... It was the first shot on a par three ... We did not count it as a hole in one... We counted it as a birdie. Hmmm... Thanks for any response....
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
A ball is not considered holed until it rests at the bottom of the hole. There have been cases where it looked like an ace because the ball was resting against the flagstick but when the flagstick was removed, the ball came out and did not fall. That technically is not an ace. In your case perhaps removing the flagstick would jar the ball loose, I do not know. If not, you must mark the ball, repair the ball mark, and replace the ball at the edge of the cup and then putt it in for your birdie.
Jody, my Evil Twin, what are your thoughts about this?
Answer: Joe, you are acting like a Purist again, cut that out. I would remove the flagstick and accidentally on purpose jar the ball loose. And I think anyone who thinks a ball resting against a flagstick is not holed is an idiot. And that is the name of that tune.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Joe, in your opinion who was the best ball striker ever?
Zeke
Hi Zeke,
It’s Canadian pro Moe Norman, winner of over 50 events in Canada. Moe was called "Pipeline" because he hit the ball straight every time. Ben Hogan, who believed all straight shots were accidents, watched Moe on the range one day, and kept saying "accident" after every one of Moe’s shots. After awhile, Ben gave up and told Moe to just keep hitting those "accidents".
Moe’s comments on the golf swing:
"Why am I called the greatest ball-striker? Because I have the least moving parts. I keep it simple."
"Stay within yourself. I never swing 100 percent. Most of the time, it's 80 percent. Sure, you can swing 100 percent and the ball will go further, but it's work. Swing easy. Golf isn't a game of violence. Just bump it !"
"With a short backswing, you can't get off line. How can you not hit it straight when you do that?"
Moe’s comments on the mental side of golf:
"Be your own best friend. Have a good attitude. Don't let the game eat you – you eat the game. When you step up to the tee, be glad you're up. Don't be afraid."
"I never got mad at myself. Why? Because getting mad only makes you swing worse."
"Golf isn't supposed to be work. It's to have fun. So have fun!"
"Golf is easy. People make it hard."
Zeke
Hi Zeke,
It’s Canadian pro Moe Norman, winner of over 50 events in Canada. Moe was called "Pipeline" because he hit the ball straight every time. Ben Hogan, who believed all straight shots were accidents, watched Moe on the range one day, and kept saying "accident" after every one of Moe’s shots. After awhile, Ben gave up and told Moe to just keep hitting those "accidents".
Moe’s comments on the golf swing:
"Why am I called the greatest ball-striker? Because I have the least moving parts. I keep it simple."
"Stay within yourself. I never swing 100 percent. Most of the time, it's 80 percent. Sure, you can swing 100 percent and the ball will go further, but it's work. Swing easy. Golf isn't a game of violence. Just bump it !"
"With a short backswing, you can't get off line. How can you not hit it straight when you do that?"
Moe’s comments on the mental side of golf:
"Be your own best friend. Have a good attitude. Don't let the game eat you – you eat the game. When you step up to the tee, be glad you're up. Don't be afraid."
"I never got mad at myself. Why? Because getting mad only makes you swing worse."
"Golf isn't supposed to be work. It's to have fun. So have fun!"
"Golf is easy. People make it hard."
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Joe,
I can almost break 90, but just when I think I have my swing figured out, my shots become inconsistent again. I need some ideas on how to be more consistent. What should I try?
Kilton
Hello Kilton,
Give yourself some credit, you are an above average golfer and you have the desire to get better. Everyone suffers periods of inconsistency, all you can do is minimize this by developing your own set of "key" swing thoughts. Have a set of "keys" for the backswing and another set for the downswing. Of course it is not possible to think of more than one or two keys while swinging, but you can select a different key depending on what the particular problem happens to be at the time. Here is a sample list of some keys to select from on the backswing - head steady, keep the left arm comfortably straight, take it back low and wide, feel the weight on the inside of the back foot, while the wrist is hinging, get the shaft on the same plane as the leading arm. Here are some keys for the downswing - smooth tempo while shifting the lower body weight to the front foot, swing down at the ball on a path that is inside-out, extend the follow thru while you are still looking at the spot where the ball was after you hit it. These are just a few examples, there are many other things that may work for you, so compile your own list and then pick one or two at a time from the list until you find the right combinations for the backswing and downswing.
Joe
I can almost break 90, but just when I think I have my swing figured out, my shots become inconsistent again. I need some ideas on how to be more consistent. What should I try?
Kilton
Hello Kilton,
Give yourself some credit, you are an above average golfer and you have the desire to get better. Everyone suffers periods of inconsistency, all you can do is minimize this by developing your own set of "key" swing thoughts. Have a set of "keys" for the backswing and another set for the downswing. Of course it is not possible to think of more than one or two keys while swinging, but you can select a different key depending on what the particular problem happens to be at the time. Here is a sample list of some keys to select from on the backswing - head steady, keep the left arm comfortably straight, take it back low and wide, feel the weight on the inside of the back foot, while the wrist is hinging, get the shaft on the same plane as the leading arm. Here are some keys for the downswing - smooth tempo while shifting the lower body weight to the front foot, swing down at the ball on a path that is inside-out, extend the follow thru while you are still looking at the spot where the ball was after you hit it. These are just a few examples, there are many other things that may work for you, so compile your own list and then pick one or two at a time from the list until you find the right combinations for the backswing and downswing.
Joe
Friday, March 23, 2007
Joe,
Why do some same number woods have a shallow face and some have a taller face? What difference would I get if I used either? Are there any advantages for using either?
Trent
Hello Trent,
The wood with the shallow face will have a lower center of gravity, making it easier to get the ball airborne, especially from tight lies. You may have noticed the Adams company makes a complete line of shallow faced clubs called Tight Lies. The only disadvantage of this design would be the risk of popups from fluffy lies where the ball is sitting up, or from the tee because it is easy to tee the ball too high. A taller faced wood would solve both these problems but would not work as well from a normal or tight lie because the center of gravity is too high, resulting in lower shots with less carry.
Joe
Why do some same number woods have a shallow face and some have a taller face? What difference would I get if I used either? Are there any advantages for using either?
Trent
Hello Trent,
The wood with the shallow face will have a lower center of gravity, making it easier to get the ball airborne, especially from tight lies. You may have noticed the Adams company makes a complete line of shallow faced clubs called Tight Lies. The only disadvantage of this design would be the risk of popups from fluffy lies where the ball is sitting up, or from the tee because it is easy to tee the ball too high. A taller faced wood would solve both these problems but would not work as well from a normal or tight lie because the center of gravity is too high, resulting in lower shots with less carry.
Joe
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Joe,
When I take my kid to the miniature golf course, she beats me and I find that very embarrassing. I figure she is not yet old enough to be affected by nerves, while here I am getting the yips on every putt because of the pressure of losing to a little kid. She just steps up and putts it while I take my time and aim carefully, but to no avail. There must be something I can do, what is it?
Defeated Dad
Hello Defeated,
The Yips cause your left and right hands to fight each other for control. When one of them wins you push your putts, and when the other hand wins, you pull, and you never know which hand will win. You need a way to force them to work together. Try this as a drill, whether on your indoor rug or a practice green, take your Driver (yes, your Driver), which is about the same length as a belly putter. Put both hands low on the shaft, and press the shaft onto your belly, wherever it is comfortable. You will be surprised how smooth your putting stroke becomes, because when the shaft is anchored into your belly, the hands can no longer fight each other, therefore they are forced to work together. Also, you can experiment by gripping the club different ways to see which is best for you, like reverse overlap, left hand low, the claw grip, or hands split apart, etc., because almost any grip will work with a belly putter. Of course you will probably not want to do this at a miniature golf course, that would probably look a bit too weird. But now you should have a better feel for a smooth stroke, and with a shorter putter, you might also get good results by anchoring the grip against your leading forearm instead of your belly. Might be worth a try. Bernhard Langer actually did this for awhile, he actually used his right hand to hold the handle against his left forearm, and his grip was nicknamed Der Clamp. Another possibility is that your daughter happens to be a really good putter and if that is the case, you may never beat her. Instead of feeling defeated, tell her how proud you are of her and watch her eyes light up.
Joe
When I take my kid to the miniature golf course, she beats me and I find that very embarrassing. I figure she is not yet old enough to be affected by nerves, while here I am getting the yips on every putt because of the pressure of losing to a little kid. She just steps up and putts it while I take my time and aim carefully, but to no avail. There must be something I can do, what is it?
Defeated Dad
Hello Defeated,
The Yips cause your left and right hands to fight each other for control. When one of them wins you push your putts, and when the other hand wins, you pull, and you never know which hand will win. You need a way to force them to work together. Try this as a drill, whether on your indoor rug or a practice green, take your Driver (yes, your Driver), which is about the same length as a belly putter. Put both hands low on the shaft, and press the shaft onto your belly, wherever it is comfortable. You will be surprised how smooth your putting stroke becomes, because when the shaft is anchored into your belly, the hands can no longer fight each other, therefore they are forced to work together. Also, you can experiment by gripping the club different ways to see which is best for you, like reverse overlap, left hand low, the claw grip, or hands split apart, etc., because almost any grip will work with a belly putter. Of course you will probably not want to do this at a miniature golf course, that would probably look a bit too weird. But now you should have a better feel for a smooth stroke, and with a shorter putter, you might also get good results by anchoring the grip against your leading forearm instead of your belly. Might be worth a try. Bernhard Langer actually did this for awhile, he actually used his right hand to hold the handle against his left forearm, and his grip was nicknamed Der Clamp. Another possibility is that your daughter happens to be a really good putter and if that is the case, you may never beat her. Instead of feeling defeated, tell her how proud you are of her and watch her eyes light up.
Joe
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Joe,
Any thoughts on why the US keeps losing in the Ryder Cup?
Joss
Hello Joss,
Once upon a time it was the US against Britain, and the US had a stronger team since it had more golfers to choose from. Now it is the US against all of Europe, and the US is now the weaker team. Since golf is growing all over the world, it seems to me that the competition should open up for all countries, each country should have its own team. I do not say this just so the US would be the strongest team, I think they would still only be third best behind Australia and South Africa, who are both getting stronger and stronger. Of course the format would have to change. You could not have that many countries involved in match play or else the event would take several months to complete, and the best golfers would not want to miss their tour commitments. In order to hold the event over one weekend, it would have to be stroke play, but you still could have alternate shot, singles, and best ball formats going toward a team score. Hey readers, what do you think about this? How would you do it?
Joe
Any thoughts on why the US keeps losing in the Ryder Cup?
Joss
Hello Joss,
Once upon a time it was the US against Britain, and the US had a stronger team since it had more golfers to choose from. Now it is the US against all of Europe, and the US is now the weaker team. Since golf is growing all over the world, it seems to me that the competition should open up for all countries, each country should have its own team. I do not say this just so the US would be the strongest team, I think they would still only be third best behind Australia and South Africa, who are both getting stronger and stronger. Of course the format would have to change. You could not have that many countries involved in match play or else the event would take several months to complete, and the best golfers would not want to miss their tour commitments. In order to hold the event over one weekend, it would have to be stroke play, but you still could have alternate shot, singles, and best ball formats going toward a team score. Hey readers, what do you think about this? How would you do it?
Joe
