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
I am having difficulty in becoming too quick in my swing. Do you have any drills to keep me in proper timing especially what can be done on the course to remedy the problem.
Thank You
Don Miller
Don:
It sounds like you need some drills to prepare yourself for the golf course and some cues to use on course. I am a believer in practicing different lengths and different speeds and not just one " full length, full speed " swing. Hit some balls with a soft, a medium and a strong tempo....medium being your normal speed. Hit partial shots,especially with your short irons, to add to your distance control options. On course, use a mantra for all swings e.g. "tick-tock", "one-two", "New York-New York" or Vijay's "seven-teen." In other words, change your self talk to change your tempo.
Bill
I have been working on getting more length with my driver and now have a nice draw. Somewhere in the process I have developed a bad habit of hitting bad hooks that shows its ugliness especially in my long irons. A fade is currently very difficult for me to hit now. Do you have any thoughts, suggestions or drills that I can do to help me with this problem?
Bill Meckevech
Bill:
The first question that arises is regarding your golf clubs. Are the shafts in your long irons and some of your other clubs different than your driver's shaft? A softer or lighter shaft flex may cause the quick hooks. Also, do you practice hitting fades? If yes, how do you do so? Oftentimes, all of the things we do to create a fade, fix all of the things we are doing to cause the hooks and pushes. Example, align slightly open with the ball slightly forward in your stance, take the club straight away or thinking that you may be a little outside the line. Through the ball, hold the face square and complete your swing. You may find yourself hitting balls with a baby fade, some straight and some with a little draw. Practice hitting fades to control your golf ball and eliminate the hooks.
Bill
Rules: John Crumbley -- Certified PGA Professional, Rules Expert
Are there rules about how close to the edge of the green a pin placement can be?
Terry Ware
Terry,
There is not a "rule" that tells us how close the hole can be located to the edge of the green. It is up the committee to set guide lines for how close to the edge of the greens it will locate holes. The committee will have to take into consideration things like the skill level of the field, how long are the shots being hit to the greens on average, How sloped the greens are near the edge of the greens. One widely used guide line is no closer to the edge than the length of the flagstick. You might find the PGA Tour setting holes as close as 5 or 6 feet in some cases. For most competitions 7 to 8 feet is as close as they need to get.
Hi,
This question is for John any other rules guy.
I have a stereo installed in my golf cart. Is there any rule that would not allow me to play music while I play? I only play reggae so of course none of my playing partners ever have a problem with it. Just curious about any rules on the matter.
Also is it OK to wear headphones and listen music while I play or listen to "how to play golf like the pro's" tape while I play?
Thanks
Joe Jurgensen
Joe,
There is no rule that will not allow you to play music during your round. In a competition the committee may ask you not to play the music if it was bothering another player. The golf course you play at may also not allow it if they feel it would bother another player. It would also be ok to wear headphones to listen to music during the round as long as it is not done so to assist you with your swing, such as helping to set a tempo for your swing. Listening to advice would not be allowed though.
My ball was picked up from fairway by a bird. It flew with my ball and dropped it on next fairway. What is the penalty and from where do I hit my next shot? Please tell the ruling as well as the rule that applies in Match play.
Pradyot
Pradyot,
Under Rule 18-1, ball at rest moved by an outside agency (the bird), the ball must be replaced and there is no penalty. If the ball can not be retrieved then another ball can be substituted with no penalty. Because there is no penalty involved the rule is the same for stroke play and match play.
