Gutta-Percha Ball

photo credit: Andy on Flickr   The advent of the gutta-percha ball led to several changes.  Harder than a featherie, which came before the gutta-percha, it could damage the skinny wooden-headed clubs.  Many golfers found their clubs breaking where the neck joined the head.  Clubmakers designed smaller, deeper heads to better absorb the blow against the harder “guttie.”  The clubhead began to assume its squat appearance. 

Later a club called the “bulger” (the face bulged forward), was used.  A “brassie” found its way into the game, so called because of a piece of brass put on the sole of the club to prevent damage when it hit the hard ground such as roads or footpaths which were found on courses.  The brassie was close in loft to the driver and eventually became the 2 wood.

Ancient Courses

photo credit: danperry.com   In golf’s early days, course conditions were far from what they are today.  Back then, the game was played on fields barely cleared.  Courses weren’t maintained, they were just accepted. 

The first ball in use was called the featherie and it was prone to splitting.  It also got much heavier when wet.  What followed wasn’t much better: the gutta percha ball was introduced in 1848 and was a rounded piece of tree resin.

Greens were hardly distinguishable from fairways (the word fairway wasn’t used until the late 1800’s), nothing like today’s manicured surfaces. 

Golf began in the British Isles and was played under horrible conditions.  Once the game started, it was customary to complete the round, even in a raging blizzard.  How would today’s players fare under those same conditions?

Fed Ex Playoffs

photo credit: nsaplayer   The PGA Tour was the only major sport that did not have playoffs and its own “super-bowl.”  Then came the Fed Ex playoffs, a series of four tournaments, played within about five weeks of each other.  Who ever has the most points at the end of the 4th playoff event, wins the Fed Ex cup and becomes the so called “best player.”

Unfortunately, the schedule and method of play is a failure.  There is little excitement generated with the way the schedule is now played.  It is my view that there should be only three tournaments, with the final playoff being a match play event. 

In the first half of the 1900’s, most tournaments were match play.  Match play is more exciting, and excitement is what golf has been lacking.

“Go in the Hole!!”

photo credit: linein   Tiger is on the tee, you could hear a pin drop.  He hits his drive and you hear “go in the hole!”  If he’s hitting a fairway bunker shot, if he’s in the woods behind a tree, if he’s got a 99 foot bogey putt, someone yells, “go in the hole!”  Can you imagine what this must be like for Tiger?

Where did it start?  If you know, let us know, but I think it actually started with Tiger’s ascension into the limelight.  People who yell, “go in the hole,” are obnoxious, rude and insecure and I think it demeans the magnificent game that golf is.  It lowers golf to the caliber of the NFL, permeated with players with criminal records.  Golf fans should be above that !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

its “go in the hole!”

Putt vs. Chip

photo credit: Elite PhotoArt   Some players feel compelled to chip the ball even when their ball is on the green’s fringe.  Putting from the fringe, if you’ve got a clean lie, is always a surer bet than chipping.  The reasons:  1)  Too many things can go wrong when using an iron.  2)  There is a possibility of “chunking” the shot with a lofted club.  3)  With a pitch shot, the ball will be in flight which can be unpredictable at times.

In almost every case, using a putter when off the green is a sure bet.  Putting is all about feel, its much easier to “feel” the distance your ball needs to travel by putting it.  Stroking the ball with an iron can have serious consequences.  Putting puts the odds in your favor !

Don’t Sway

photo credit: spaceamoeba   The correct address position should duplicate the exact position you should be in, when you make contact with the ball.  Many players do not fully understand this important swing fundamental.  

Swaying to the right on the backswing (right handers) will make it nearly impossible to return the clubhead squarely to the ball.  During the backswing, do not move your weight to the right, if you do, your head will move off center and that can be detrimental to hitting a good golf shot.  Try placing about 75% of your weight on your left side at address.  Place your weight on the inside of your right foot.  On the backswing, make sure that your weight does not move to the outside of the right foot.

Flexed Knees on Bunker Shots

 
photo credit: www.theedinburghblog.co.uk   When playing a bunker shot, one of the most critical parts of the set-up is establishing the correct knee flex.  All great bunker players have a lot of knee flex, they look like they are preparing to sit down.  The good bunker player executes the shot with the arms accelerating through the ball and a full follow-through.  Very little movement occurs in the legs.

Using just the arms during a sand shot means that you will not very likely raise up or drop down during the execution of the shot.  Swinging with just the arms makes it easier to cut through the sand with the clubhead.  Once contact is made with the sand, the club’s bounce will do the rest.

Strong Left Hand

photo credit: klavr   Every golfer should be concerned about utilizing the proper grip.  Because the swing can be so intricate, your only attachment to it (your hands), should be correct.  (For right handers) – The most important part of your grip is your left hand, if it is set on the club properly you are on your way to a good shot. 

The “V” formed by the forefinger and thumb on the left hand should point to the right shoulder.  This will put you in a “strong” grip posture.  Make sure that the thumb of the left hand rests on the right-top part of the shaft.  The strong grip (left hand turned clockwise) will give you the tendency to fade or hook the ball.  A weak grip (left hand turned counterclockwise) creates the tendency to fade or slice the ball.

Short Pitch From Deep Rough

photo credit: eMaringolo   If you are just off the green and face a short pitch from deep grass, the best way to extricate yourself from this position is to play it like a bunker shot.

Thick grass has more resistance than sand, you have to swing pretty hard to get the ball to the green.  Open the clubface and choke down on the club a couple of inches for more control.  Remember, the clubface will have a tendency to close so make certain you open it.  Accelerate through the shot and make sure you complete your finish.

Be carefull not to just chop down into the grass.  The shot will not have much spin on it because you are not actually hitting the golf ball, your hitting the grass first.

Chipping From a Bunker

photo credit: danperry.com   If you are lucky enough to have a perfect lie and a shallow front bunker lip, a chip shot may be the best play.  This shot requires some good technique.

Use a seven-iron and play the ball in the middle of your stance at address.  Make sure your hands are ahead of the clubface and keep most of your weight on your lead foot.  This shot (as does a long fairway bunker shot) requires that you keep your lower body perfectly still throughout the swing.  Any movement with your legs can mean that you may be faced with the very same location with your next shot.  Your foremost thought, when executing this shot, is that your hands lead the clubhead through the ball.  The ball should be picked cleanly off the sand, unlike a typical explosion shot.

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