Dubbed Chip Shot

photo credit: mrnoy9n     A dubbed chip shot from off the green, can not only cause great embarrassment but it can  rattle your confidence for the remainder of the round.  

It all starts when the clubhead hits the ground before the ball and bounces into the center of the ball.   The ball  squirts out and either remains in the rough or rolls slightly onto the green.   This  type of dubbed shot is the result of trying to help the ball into the air.    The causes of this type of shot are:   A)    Too much weight on the  rear foot.   B)   Hands positioned behind the ball at address.   C)   Ball too far forward.

Corrective Action:   1)   Position hands in front of the ball at address.   2)   Make sure  your weight is primarily on your lead foot.    3)   Maintain light grip pressure.

Chipping With the Hybrid

photo credit: mrnoy9n     One of the most popular shots on the PGA Tour is the hybrid or five-wood, chip shot.   This is the ideal shot when faced with a fluffy lie, just off the green, with plenty of green between the golf ball and the pin.  

With a conventional chip-shot, it would be very easy to catch   the ball a bit heavy and leave the ball half-way to the cup.   With a hybrid or five-wood, the clubhead simply glides   through the grass.  

TIPS:   1)   Play it like a putt, choke down and  address the ball as you would a putt.    2)   Keep the clubhead low throughout  the swing.   3)   Make sure to carry the ball over the fringe, once  on the green it will run just like a putt.   4)   Use your normal putting grip.

Penalty Strokes

photo credit: Kelowna09     Sometimes, you have to take your   medicine and go quietly.   Shooting good scores isn't always about playing well, it's also about using  good judgement.

How many times have you found yourself stymied behind an immovable object?   Did you make the right choice by taking a drop with a one stroke penalty or did you decide to take your chances and go for broke?   More often than  not, most players will risk more trouble by trying to execute an almost impossible shot.

Golf is  not only about making good shots, it's about  using the correct strategy during play.   In  almost every case, it's better to take your medicine  and take  a one stroke penalty than to risk a double or triple bogey.    Losing a stroke  isn't the end of the world.

Deep Rough

photo credit: akeg     The objective of coming out of deep rough is to control the ball so it lands softly on the putting surface.   The ball should land on the fringe or the  very edge of the green and roll to the cup.   Quitting on a shot like this is very common, even with professionals.

Tips:   A)   Do not allow your wrists to roll over.   This will allow the clubface to remain open through impact which maintains the club's loft.   B)   Accelerate steeply into the back of the ball.   C)   Use a 60 degree L wedge and open the face.   D)   Play the ball in back of the center position.   E)   Maintain a narrow stance.   F)   Weight mostly on front side.   G)   Break your wrists early to increase club loft.   H)   Aim left of target.   I)   Make a full shoulder turn.

Solid Putting Stroke

photo credit: tienvijftien     There are several important factors involved if you intend to be a successful putter.   You need a stroke that delivers the putter to the back of the ball on the correct line.   The putter-face has to be square and it has to be traveling at the right speed.  

A good putting stroke is a shoulder-controlled movement and what that means is that the shoulders rock to and fro while the hands and arms remain very passive.   The putter is an extension of the triangular shape of the shoulders and arms.

There is some question as to the correct ball placement, however.   Many fine putters believe in hitting the ball on the upstroke (playing it further left of center), while others feel that hitting on the downstroke is more productive.   You decide?

Judging the Speed

photo credit: jlastras     Putting is the easiest part of the game to practice, where improvement can occur the quickest with the least amount of effort.   Judging speed is the secret to good putting.   Speed is the determining factor as to the read and break of all putts.

The first step in reading a putt is judging how hard you need to hit the ball because the speed will determine the line.   When faced with a breaking putt, hitting the ball harder takes break out.   If softer contact is made, more break will occur.   The process of determining  the speed  of a putt, creates a mental picture with a set goal in mind; to make the putt.  

Make sure your practice swing/s replicate the actual stroke you are about to make.

GOLF MAGAZINE 2009 Survay Part ll

photo credit: richardmasoner     77% of American golfers  said their favorite Major is the Masters.   75%  would skip a major life event to play Augusta National GC.    Tiger is chasing Jack's record for Major wins, 53% are  rooting for Tiger.   57% said they would be willing to play Augusta with their worst enemy.    If given $3000 to spend on their game 44% said they would take lessons from  Butch Harmon, 38% said they would take an exotic  golf vacation.   71%  buy a new driver every year.   When asked if they could change one thing about golf, 66% said “high expense.”   67% said they are happiest when they are  hitting  the ball well.   55% said modern equipment has saved them 3 or more strokes.   Typical round lasts 4 hrs.   28%  fear long bunker shots, 21% short putts in a close match.

GOLF MAGAZINE 2009 Survey Part l

photo credit: richardmasoner     Statistics from a recent GOLF MAGAZINE survey:   Average American golfer is:   46 yrs. old, practices 1 hr. per week, plays 46 rounds per year, handicap of 15.1, has played for 23 yrs., household income of  $100,980.   37% believe they can play better with a drink or two.   61% have thrown a club in anger.    64% break the “improving lie” rule.   90% believe their best scores are yet to come.    The average golfer spends $2,776 on  golf annually.   66% think that golf has become too pricey.   56% said Pebble  Beach is not worth playing for the $495 greens fee.   91%  think that Tiger's dominance is good for  the game.   31% said Johnny Miller is their least favorite broadcaster (Kelly Tilghman 17% – Jim Nantz 11%).

New Irons for 2010

photo credit: andrea.pacelli     Titleist AP1,   Retail –  $699 steel ($899  graphite)  - thinner face and smaller blade length and less offset than the previous model, featuring  a 65-gram tungsten-nickel bar along the sole for a lower COG.  

Cleveland CG7 BP,   Retail – $699 steel ($799 graphite) –  same chassis as the present CG7 irons, however, there is a new finish (black pearl).   laser milled clubface and grooves.   Same aggressive “zip” grooves that are found on Cleveland  wedges.

TaylorMade R9,  Retail – $799  steel ($999 graphite) – the  3 through  6 irons  have hallow heads with a thin unsupported face which creates a “wrap-around” design for increased clubface flexibility.    

Ping G15,   Retail – $699 steel ($899 graphite) – increased perimeter weighting and MOI with a wider sole.   A thinner clubface increases ball speed which  means 3 – 6 yards of extra distance.

Golf & Foul Language

photo credit: gitsul.     It would be interesting if a poll could be done on the topic of  golf and swearing.   I think the results would not only be interesting but pretty funny also.   Swearing and golf go hand in hand, why, I've even heard priests swear on the golf course!

I'd love to hire a lip-reader, the next time Tiger's in a tournament.   Even novices such as I, can read Woods' lips whenever he finishes a bad stroke, especially when he is on the putting green.   You really can't blame a guy for cussing except these guys are supposed to be professionals   not whining kids.

I am certainly no exception in that I have my own favorite cuss word which sounds a bit like custard and begins with a “B.”

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