Greg Schulze, the director of instruction at Sawmill Golf Club in Stillwater, Minn., is one of 51 PGA Professionals to earn Specialty Certification in Teaching. He is a member of the PGA National Teaching Faculty, and has been selected by Golf Digest as a "Top Teacher in Minnesota." Schulze also won the Distinguished Service Award by the Minnesota Special Olympics.
Q.: I am a young player who would like to start breaking 70 by the end of this summer. Is this feasible? Right now I am at about 79 or 80 and feel that if I get my chipping down, I could break 70. Are there good chipping drills? Also, is there a good weight workout for golf? -- Vern Nelson, Sultan, Wash.
A.: Breaking 70 is a big step, but certainly not impossible. You are on the right track believing that chipping may be the fastest way to that goal. Since you are already a good player, you probably make good contact with your chips, but need better distance control. A great drill is a simple one. Just lay a few clubs down on the green a few feet apart and practice chipping over one, but not "hopping" over the next. There are many workouts for golf, and since I probably shouldn't endorse one, I would suggest finding one that sounds interesting on the web.
Q.: I have trouble taking a divot with an iron. I seem to pick the ball clean, regardless of how I change my ball position. I just cannot stay down to the shot! Any suggestions?-- Glen Auld, Gualala, Calif.
A.: The inability to take a divot means that prior to impact your wrists have already unhinged, causing weak and "scooping"-type shots. Try to develop an image of the wrists remaining hinged longer through impact. Start with half swings to get the feeling before moving on to full shots. Changing ball position is not the answer since you will be compromising another fundamental. Don't worry about trying to stay down -- sometimes making a conscious effort to stay down forces you to do the opposite.
Q.: I have trouble hitting fairway woods in the air. What do you see as typical faults? I do hit long irons without problems. -- Don Spoenlein, Cherry Hill, N.J.
A.: Make sure the ball is positioned slightly forward of center to take full advantage of the clubs? loft. If the ball is positioned too far back, you lose loft, and if it is positioned too far forward, the clubhead will contact too high up on the ball, reducing backspin and therefore height.
Q.: Is it unusual for someone to go a round or two or three without finding the rhythm of his swing? If so, is there a fast way that I can find it early in a game? It feels like I can't get there even with hitting range balls. -- James Brock, Miami, Okla.
A.: I wish it was unusual for players to lose rhythm for many rounds, but unfortunately it's quite common. Often times this is caused by bringing technical thoughts from the range onto the course. Rhythm is compromised if the mind is occupied with a "to-do" list during the swing. Most top players have a favorite jingle or two that they rely on during actual rounds to maintain rhythm. A simple refrain of "1 and 2" or "back and through" during the swing should help.
Q.: I have developed arthritis in my hands. Both thumbs are not flexible enough to painlessly use a standard grip. Would I have more flexibility in my wrists if I changed to a 10-finger "baseball" grip? -- Bob Arney, Emmetsburg, Iowa
A.: Sure. Some great champions have used the 10-finger grip. Remember, how you choose to connect your hands is not as important as the positioning of them relative to the handle. So as long as you have proper positioning, the 10-finger grip is fine.
