Editors Note: Each week, we receive hundreds of questions for our PGA Experts. Though we can't answer every one of them, we will take some of the most illuminating and beneficial questions and have one of the top authorities from the PGA of America to answer them for you. We are in the process of finding ways for more experts to answer more of your questions! Thank you for your support and keep the questions coming!
Instruction -- Bill Forrest: 2006 PGA Teacher of the Year
Hi there-
I feel I have been striking the ball better than i ever have (for me). but i have a very short back swing which i don't feel is traditional. it's been working well however as the rest of my swing is strong enough. Do you see any long term negative effects of this or should I keep using it?
thanks,
Erik
Erik: Some of golf's best ball strikers had short backswings. Hogan, Trevino, and Moe Norman come to mind along with Dan Pohl who was very long as well. If your golf swing is short and repeatable, it sounds like your body functions in a proper manner. A lot of tour players seem to be tightening up their swings these days, so I think it's a good thing. This compact swing will carry you into your old age with plenty of good golf.
Keep it simple.
Bill
I have come a long way in 15 yrs. Have never felt the work of the lower body in the swing and fight leading with the shoulders. What is best drill to initiate the legs?
Jim Searcy
Jim: Do this test; Cross your arms on your chest so that your right hand is on your left shoulder and left hand on right shoulder, bend forward slightly and assume a golfing posture. Without moving your hips rotate your shoulders backward and forward, then try rotating your hips without moving your shoulders. If this is difficult for you, then it will be difficult for you to separate the movement between your upper and lower body. The lower body supports the upper body during the swinging of a golf club and its movement is responsive not initiatory. Instead of trying to figure out what the lower body's job description is, try instead to understand where it is supposed to finish. Your belt buckle should finish facing the target with most of your weight on a straight left leg for a right handed golfer. Instead of trying to understand how to get there, simply prioritize that finishing position.
Allow it to be a response.
Fitness -- Dave Phillips: PGA Professional & Co-founder Titleist Performance Institute
I have a hernieted disc and as soon as i make progress i seem to fall back. numb foot he hole nine yards. i went from a 10 to a 20 hadicap. any ideas for me i don't want surgery. ive been getting pt. but ....
thanks
glenn
Glenn,
This is a very common problem. I would recommend three things:
1) Your rehab exercises should attack three things
a) Increasing your mid back (Thoracic Spine) range of motion. More mobility here goes a long way to take stress off your lower back.
b) Increasing your core stability. Think glutes and abs for strength and stability in the core.
c) Increasing your hip mobility - the hip should take all the force not your lower back. If you have tight hips your lower back will pay the price.
2) Numbness is not OK. Pins and needles or tingling is manageable, but numbness means your nerve is being compressed. This is serious and could be permanent if treatment is not given.
3) Manual Therapy. Nothing beats good manual therapy (Physical Therapist, Chiropractor, or Myofascial Release) when it comes to back pain. I recommend getting at least 2 sessions per week until the condition improves.
4) Finally is focus on good technique. If you have a Reverse Spine Angle at the top of your swing (see www.mytpi.com under The Swing / Swing Faults section if you don't know what this is) it could be the root of all your problems. See your local PGA teaching professional to get advice on how to prevent this!
Equipment -- Tom Henderson: PGA Professional & Master Club Fitter
Is a swing trainer considered one of the 14 allowable clubs in your golf bag?
Antoine
Antoine:
Swing trainers are not permissible in accordance with Decision 14-3/10. However, a weighted club may be used as one of the 14 clubs (Rule 14-4a/7).
You are allowed to use a stretching device such as a bar or rubber tubing during a round.
I have an 8 year old grandson who has gotten the golf bug!! I want to give him a seven iron to fan the flames. He is about 4 feet tall. What length should the club be for him to get started?
Jack Weiss
Jack:
Thanks for your question regarding Junior golf equipment.
There are several manufacturers (ex. Nike) that make wonderful equipment for junior golfers. Nike gives you height guidelines right on the packaging. It's just as important to make sure the equipment is light enough for your "little linkster". Cut-down equipment is off limits.
Once you narrow down your choices, have a PGA Professional check to see that the weight and the length are correct for your grandson.
Rules -- John Crumbley: Certified PGA Professional & Rules Expert
Our foursome is on the green, i putt my ball, it is heading toward the hole and before it goes in my partners hat blows off and lands in the pathway of the ball, striking it and stopping it, what is the rule, and is their a different rule should one of the opposition players hat does the same? thank you
carl mullin
Carl,
From you question I'm assuming you are playing fourball match play. The cap is part of your partner's equipment and under Rule 19 if your ball strikes yours or your partner's equipment it is loss of hole for you. In fourball play the penalty of loss of hole would eliminate you from the hole but your partner could play out his ball for the team. In the case of your opponents cap stopping your ball you would have the choice of either canceling the stoke and replaying it or you may play the ball as it lies.
I have been told "yes" and "no" to this question..
your ball is on the fringe and you want to "putt" but there is a sprinkler head between ball and hole...do you get relief from the sprinkler head??Thanks in advance for the answer..
Dave
If the ball lies off of the putting green you are entitled to relief from an immovable obstruction if the obstruction interferes with your stance or area of intended swing but not for your line of play. If your ball was ling on the putting green and the obstruction was on the putting green then you would be entitled to relief from interference for line of play in addition to stance and area of intended swing. It is possible that many years back there was some provision in the rules of golf for relief from an immovable obstruction that was very close to the putting green if it was in your line of play. But I'm not an expert on the history of the rules of golf but this is the second time recently this has come up that someone remembered their former pro telling them they were entitled to relief for line of play interference from an immovable obstruction within a certain distance from the green. I'll do a little Rules of Golf history research and post further information on what I find.
