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
Can the yips be cured? They affect both putting and chipping. I used to play to scratch but have become very disolutioned that I hardly play, I love the game can you help?
Regards
Andrew
Andrew: When watching students that struggle both on and off the green with "yip-like" strokes, I see an imbalance in the length and speed of the stroke. It appears that the strokes are either short back and then long through, or slow back and fast through. You should focus your attention in practice or rehearsal on the tempo of your stroke. Attempt to make it same length back, same length through and same speed back, same speed through. If this doesn't help, seriously consider hypnosis. Report back.
Bill
My most common mistake is to pick the club up on the backswing with my hands, rather than turning away from the ball. I end up losing my spine angle and getting very steep leading to thin or fat shots. Can you recommend a drill to help me engrain the proper turn on the takeaway? Thanks. RP
Robert Prevost
Robert: Find something that is waist height.....a chair, golf car, bag stand, and address an imaginary ball with your tailbone and glutes up against it. Set your spine angle, club behind ball and practice making some swings without your bottom leaving the practice aid. A broken golf shaft can also be placed in the ground and used in a similar manner. If you lose your spine angle either in the backswing or if you "pelvic thrust" through impact you will lose contact with the shaft. You should be able to make a full backswing and swing through to your finish having at least a part of your backside in contact throughout.
Bill
I am looking for a practice routine that I should follow at the driving range. I am a high handycapper (aprox +20). I can only practice about once a week. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks
Jeffrey
Jeffery: Take an hour out of your day and use it in this manner;
putt - 15 minutes (10 minutes on putts 6 feet or less)
chip (7 iron) - 5 minutes
lofted chips (PW) - 5 minutes
pitches (LW) - 10 minutes.........2 different types
bunker (LW) - 5 minutes
Total - 40 minutes
The remainder (20 minutes) of your practice session is on the range, beginning with short clubs, short swings to hit short shots and ending with long clubs, long swings to hit long shots.
Example:
SW/PW - half swings
7/8 iron - half swings
4/5/6 iron - 3/4 swings
Fairway wood - full swings
Driver/3 wood - full swings
Always divide your balls into fifths.
That's your hour, practice with a purpose.
Bill
Equipment -- Tom Henderson; PGA Professional, Master Club Fitter
I am really puzzled, when I went to a golf shop to find out the right shaft for me; I hit every shaft they had from Senior to extra stiff and to the amazement of the golf instructor there; I hit every club the exact distance (all drivers); can you help please.
Thanks,
Michael G. Lester Sr.
Michael:
How is the golf instructor measuring "exact distance?" Were you hitting balls indoors or outdoors? These are important questions to answer.
I would strongly recommend that you get tested outdoors with a PGA Professional that uses a launch monitor. My guess is that you were hitting balls indoors, relying solely on launch monitor readings. These machines are known to produce faulty readings on more than one occasion and I would not rely solely on this data.
Hitting outdoors with a launch monitor, observing actual ball flight, and cross checking your observations with monitor readings of launch angle, spin rate, club head speed, and ball speed will provide you with the best information to help you make your next driver purchase.
As the degree of loft goes up in a wedge, should I look for less bounce? I currently have two old wedges (the newer is "only" 15 years...one 56 degrees / one 60) but the clubs have no indication of their bounce. Also, I would like to play the same degree/bounce in my new choices, so would a pro or associate at a golf only store be able to answer my question if I brought in my wedges?
Thank you,
Chris Coogan
Chris:
Thanks for your question on PGA.com.
Bounce can be measured by a tool that any reputable club maker or PGA Professional should have. As a general rule, "softer" playing conditions would favor more bounce while "firmer" conditions would warrant a club with less bounce.
With this said, measure the bounce on your existing wedges. If you are happy with them, their specifications should be pretty easy to duplicate. If not, experiment with different combinations, testing the new equipment outdoors in conditions similar to what you normally play in.
Hope this helps you sift through the confusion.
