Category: GOLF

Golf instruction, and tips for Beginners.  Golf equipment reviews.  Golf course reviews.  My personal Golf experiences, and stories.

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The right Game Improvement Iron – Beginner’s guide to Golf

Statistical Surprise

When I started looking for my first set of Irons I placed additional importance on three specific categories.  I had been practicing my swing at the Range with a friend’s old 5 Iron, and 7 Iron.  I was hitting the 5 Iron only about 130 yards, and the 7 Iron about 100 yards on a good day.  My miss was usually a slice, or catching it thin.  When I didn’t get centre face contact the ball practically flew half the distance.  So when I decided to buy my first set, Distance, Forgiveness, and Price were the big three for me.  After going to my local Golf store at least a dozen times to test clubs in the simulator I narrowed down my choices to three models.  In the end I went with a previous generation of the Adams Blue, and purchased the Adams Idea tech V4.  It was a demo set so the price was right.  It’s also a Hybrid/Iron set so it’s very forgiving.  During testing it also appeared to be quite long.  It wasn’t until much later that I realized it didn’t actually add any significant distance.  It only seemed that way because of how forgiving it was.  My swing was so bad during testing that I rarely caught a ball well enough for the distance characteristics to be accurate.  If you are in the market for your first set of clubs then I would like to make a suggestion.  The three factors I listed should be of importance to you.  When testing clubs bring along a friend that’s a significantly better Golfer than you.  When you find a few models that feel right, and are forgiving.  Have your friend test those same models for distance.  They can tell you if they are longer than what they are used to, average, or shorter.  As your swing develops the distance characteristics of that club will begin to take affect.  There is one more characteristic you should be aware of when selecting your clubs though, and that’s…

Spin

I’ve already begun researching what my next set of Irons will be.  This time I will focus on all four characteristics, Price, Distance, Forgiveness, and Spin.  The motivation for this article happened when I did a Google search for High Spin Game Improvement Irons, and basically got nothing useful.  You would think that with all the Golf equipment reviewers out there, I’d find something?  The reality of it is they still focus on the typical three characteristics.  Spin is basically overlooked, even though they have the Spin numbers readily available.  So how important is Spin?  Well it’s important enough that Ball manufacturers consider it one of the top two reasons to select their ball.  So much emphasis is placed on a ball’s Spin characteristics that most Golfers look at that first when selecting a ball.  Well what good is having a High Spin ball if your Irons don’t impart much Spin on the ball to begin with?  What if you are after more Distance, and select a low Spin ball, but your Irons are designed to increase the amount of Spin?  These combinations really don’t make sense do they?  While the Forgiveness, and Distance determine how well you can hit a ball.  The Spin has a far greater affect on how successfully you play the game.  As your swing improves, your ability to hold Greens, run through Fairways, or shape your shot is all determined by the Spin.  Too often Beginners believe that a ball change will make a significant difference.  In some cases it can, but only if their equipment, and swing allows it.  By the end of my second Season I had come to realize that Spin is more important to me than Distance.  I have around a 140 yard carry with my 7 Iron.  That’s really enough for me.  I’ve tried clubs that provide me with a carry of 150 yards, but sacrifice Forgiveness and Spin to do so. Thanks but no thanks.  I’ll take control over distance any day.

Low Spin Game Improvement Irons

Calloway Big Bertha

– Center of gravity is low and forward.

– has a 360 degree face cup to increase forgiveness.

– falls into the super game improvement category, and is quite chunky to look at.

– one of the three longest Irons tested.

– one of the three least forgiving Irons tested.

Cobra Fly-Z

– Center of gravity is low and back.

– has a speed channel groove for increased forgiveness.

– relatively attractive top line at address

– very easy to get the ball up in the air.

Ping G Max

– Center of gravity is low and back.

– uses COR Eye2 technology for increased distance and forgiveness.

– falls into the super game improvement category, and is quite chunky to look at.

– very dull appearance, but a satisfying sound and feel at impact.

Mid Spin Game Improvement Irons

Mizuno JPX EZ

– Center of gravity is low and back.

– thin sole cavity increases distance and launch.

– gorgeous looking Iron with the top line at address of a larger Players Iron.

– one of the three least forgiving Irons tested.

Taylormade RSi 1

– Center of gravity is low and back.

– uses face slots and a speed pocket to increase distance and forgiveness.

– slightly lower launch than most of the other Irons tested.

– one of the three most forgiving Irons tested.

Nike Vapor Fly

– Center of gravity is center and back.

– hollow body construction to increase forgiveness.

– NexCOR face to increase distance.

– the hollow body construction gives it a mini hybrid appearance.  A unique look that won’t appeal to everyone.

High Spin Game Improvement Irons

Cleveland Launcher HB

– Center of gravity is low and way back.

– hybrid/Iron design for greater launch and improved forgiveness.

– falls into the super game improvement category, and is quite chunky to look at.

– the most forgiving Iron tested.

Wilson D300

– Center of gravity is low and back.

– FLX face technology is used to increase distance.

– power holes around the face increase forgiveness.

– despite a relatively thin top line the urethane filled power holes can look odd to some Players.

– the longest of all the Irons tested.

– one of the three most forgiving Irons tested.

Titleist AP1 716

– Center of gravity is low and back.

– 360 degree cavity increases launch and distance.

– toe and heel weighting increases forgiveness.

– very classic looking Iron with a relatively thin top line.

– one of the three longest Irons tested.

– one of the three least forgiving Irons tested.

My Top 3 and Conclusions

First of all it’s important for you to know that “High Spin” is a relative measure.  Generally speaking Game Improvement Irons aren’t high spinning Irons.  In order to provide the additional forgiveness and Distance, Spin is usually reduced.  For the purposes of this study the Spin groups were: 7 Iron backspin

less than 3500 RPM   = Low Spin

3500 – 4500 RPM       = Mid Spin

more than 4500 RPM = High Spin

You’ll also notice that I include Irons manufactured from 2015 to 2017.  Unlike some of the better known Golf reviewers, I am not sent product from manufacturers to review.  I test whatever peaks my interest at my local Golf store.  Because price is also an important consideration I have a tendency to purchase clearance items.  Every Iron listed in this Review can still be found for purchase.

Now with the four factors carefully taken into consideration my Top 3 Irons for a Beginner that’s serious about improving at Golf are:

3rd Place – Nike Vapor Fly

Although the Nike Vapor Fly wasn’t the longest, or the most forgiving.  It was relatively easy to hit, forgiving enough on miss hits, and because  Nike got out of the equipment market available for a great price.  It still generates enough Spin that Beginners will learn to create enough control over the ball as their swing improves.  The looks won’t bother a newer Golfer that isn’t used to a traditional blade.  For practically half the price of most of the Irons on this list you can’t go wrong.

2nd Place – Taylormade RSi 1

I found the Taylormade RSi 1 to be the easiest Iron to hit.  Maybe it’s a result of the Face slots, and Speed Pocket.  I really don’t know.  One thing is for sure is that the RSi 1 is very forgiving.  Distance is good but not great, and it also generates enough Spin to control the ball as your swing improves.  The looks should appeal to most Golfers. Even the Face slots serve to frame the ball at address.  It’s the oldest model tested, and as such comes in at a very attractive price.

1rst Place – Wilson D300

You read that right, Wilson wins the day.  Shows you why you should take the time to test everything.  I’ll be honest with you, the looks of the D300 kind of bother me.  All those Power Holes make the club look very busy at address.  During testing I was so impressed with the performance that I stopped noticing.  It was easily the longest of the Irons I tested, very forgiving on miss hits anywhere on the face, and one of the highest spinning Irons tested.  The only other Iron that really came close was the Titleist AP1 716 but it fell far short in the Forgiveness category.  Not to mention that the D300 Iron set is currently $200 less than the Titleist.  That being said it still comes in at around twice the price of the Taylormade or Nike.  So depending on your budget it may currently be out of it.

Honorable mention goes to the Titleist AP1 716 Irons.  If you are a slightly better Player that has learned how to shape your shot, but still needs added distance?  Then the AP1 Irons could be for you.

Honorable mention also goes to the Cleveland Launcher HB Irons.  An absolutely great Beginners Iron that provides maximum forgiveness, and a lot of Spin.  Very easy to learn with but be prepared to want to upgrade after only a few seasons.

Beginner’s guide to Golf

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Going outside your comfort zone – Beginner’s guide to Golf

Your go to clubs

Every one of us has a couple of clubs in their bag that we can’t seem to ever hit poorly.  These are our go to clubs.  One of mine is my 52 degree MacGregor VIP Wedge.  A full swing will allow me to carry the ball about 82 yards with around 2-3 yards of roll out.  I can muscle it up to 92 yards with maybe 2 yards of roll out.  I can also swing easy and hit it about 78 yards with a couple yards of roll out.  I know this because I use it so often in any number of situations.  There are very few clubs that I will choose to muscle for additional distance.  My Gap Wedge is one of them, and my 3 Hybrid is the other.  My first full year playing Golf, the longest club in my bag was my 3 Hybrid.  You learn to muscle your longest club.  Especially when you usually hit it about 180 yards, and you need to hit your Tee shot 190 yards just to reach the Fairway.  It’s one of the only clubs in my bag that I can affectively shape my shot with.  If I need to hit a long low stinger to stay out of the wind.  The only club I would consider is my 3 Hybrid.

Having that kind of confidence can only help your game right.  Sure it does.  Knowing that you can make those shots will definitely help you work your way around a course.  What you may not realize is that you could also be limiting your opportunities by leaning on those particular clubs.  I’ve caught myself doing it at times.  Teeing off with my 190 yard 3 Hybrid when I could aim for an equally wide portion of the Fairway with my 205 yard 3 Wood.  Then having to cut the corner of a dogleg and carry my approach shot 160 yards.  Instead of having a clear approach to the Green of only 145 yards.  Just because I trust my ability with my 3 Hybrid more than I do with my 3 Wood.  I’ve passed up trying to reach the Green in two after a great Tee shot, because I wanted to set myself up for a Gap Wedge approach from 85 yards.  Chances are I wouldn’t have reached the Green, but I could have easily left myself with a 20 to 30 yard chip shot instead.  Sound familiar to any of you?

Practice what you hate

Too often we go out to the Range, or spend an hour in the simulator hitting whatever we are best at.  Marvelling at the distance, trajectory, and shot dispersion.  We might shoot a short video or take a picture for posterity.  I sure as hell do.  It lets us know that we have improved, builds confidence, and shows others that we know what we are doing.  To be honest though it doesn’t actually help us much.  Don’t get me wrong, any practice is better than nothing.  The problem with hitting your best shot during practice is that you should be using this time to improve your worst shots.  Think about it.  If you are nervous, or uncomfortable hitting difficult shots during Practice when the result doesn’t matter.  How are you ever going to hit a successful one of those shots out on the course when it does matter?  When I first began playing I’d only hit the clubs I was most comfortable with because I didn’t want to embarrass myself at the Range.  It didn’t take long for me to realize that Range embarrassment is much easier to take than Course embarrassment.  At that point I would bring the clubs I was struggling with, and one or two clubs I was confident with to the Range.  That way I could switch back and forth between clubs I hit well, and clubs I don’t.  Just so I wouldn’t get overly frustrated.  It wasn’t long before I realized that I started every Range session with clubs I hit well “to loosen up”, and finished the Range session with the same club.  I’d only hit a few of the clubs I’m struggling with in between.  All that actually accomplished was to reinforce my opinion of which clubs I hit best.  It was actually counterproductive.  My last trip out to the Range I only bought one club along to practice with.  I’ve been having trouble hitting my Driver with any degree of accuracy.  So I went out to the Range with the sole purpose of fixing my issues with the least accurate club in my bag.  It took about a full bucket to get my Driver swing to where I hoped it would be.  The first 20 balls I hit we’re ugly, and that’s putting it lightly.  If I had another club with me I would have probably given up, and switched to hitting that.  I’m glad I didn’t because by the time I had finished my bucket of balls I couldn’t wait to Tee off with the big stick on a course.

What’s the goal?

Golf is simply just a series of choices.  Each shot requires you to choose the right club, and choose the right shot.  Then you just need to execute.  In order to do this effectively you need to be able to treat every club in your bag as your go to club.  That way it doesn’t matter the distance, situation, or lie.  You will hit each and every shot with total confidence.

Beginner’s guide to Golf

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Golf budget Buyer advice – Beginner’s guide to Golf

Golf on a budget

Golf is an expensive sport to play.  There’s really no way around it.  When you add up the cost of your equipment, clothes, golf balls, travel, Range, and Course costs.  The final number isn’t anything to laugh at, and the cost to play never ends.  So when your leisure time is on a budget like mine.  Why choose Golf as your sport?  For me the answer is simple.  Golf can provide you with an experience that very few Sports can offer.  For a few hours on the course you can feel like you’re somewhere else.  I’ve described it to people as a one day vacation.  Being out on a well maintained course for a round of golf can feel like you just got off a plane, made your way over to the resort, and now you are enjoying a little R&R.  The bonus is that you didn’t have to go through customs, check your luggage, or sit in an uncomfortable seat for who knows how long between two strangers.  You can’t get that same sensation playing hockey on a rink, baseball on a diamond, soccer on a pitch, or basketball on a court.  The closest thing to it is skiing or snowboarding which I did do for a while.  Unfortunately winter doesn’t agree with me so I eventually gave it up.  So now you understand my main motivation.  That still doesn’t overcome the main obstacle to playing Golf.

The Cost, and how to reduce it.

Understanding the secondary market for Golf equipment is key to buying on a budget.   Most major retailers of used Golf equipment still charge a relatively high price.  In most cases you can find brand new clearance product for the same or in some cases an even lower price.  For instance I have seen a clearance set of Speedblade Irons for $100 less than a used set.  Another thing that you need to be aware of is the difference between Mass market, Large market, and Niche market manufacturers.  Mass market manufacturers like Wilson or Dunlop over complete sets of clubs for a reasonable price.  The quality is quite good for the cost, but the perceived value is much lower than the Large or Niche market manufacturers.  In other words don’t ever plan on selling your set for anywhere close to what you paid for it.  Of course most people won’t need to replace their clubs for many years with minimal maintenance so the resale value shouldn’t be much of a detriment.  Another issue some of the more serious Golfers will have with mass market golf sets is the lack of customization.  What you see is what you get.  There’s no bounce or degree options with the Wedges.  Don’t expect Drivers or Woods to be adjustable.  Hopefully the Putter suits you.  Of course you can add additional clubs after, but each club costs you more money.

Large market retailers like Taylormade, Cobra, and Calloway offer the smart consumer great deals provided they are willing to buy clearance stock.  In the constant battle to keep your interest.  These three companies constantly release new products.  Taylormade has been known to release three new sets of Clubs in a single year.  This would make models from the previous year undesirable by most, but still readily available.  In order to create display space for the new models, retailers will heavily discount last year’s product.  If you pay close attention to the product specs and reviews you will quickly realize that last year’s model might be almost identical to this year’s with only slightly different aesthetics.   For about half the price of the newer model you can get a brand new club that provides almost identical performance.  Although the resale value of Large market manufacturers isn’t very high either.  Chances are good that you will be happy with the clubs you personally selected for a long time.

Niche market manufacturers should be avoided by Golfers on a budget.  Companies like Titleist, PXG or Ping charge a high price for their equipment.  As a result the resale value is quite high as well.  This makes buying second hand equipment costly as well.

Take advantage of the off season

As much as the coming of Winter disappoints me because the Golf courses will all be closing for a few months.  It does provide the savvy buyer with many opportunities to stock up on golfing gear.  Golf stores are pretty dead during the winter so they will try almost anything to get customers in the store.  Buy a Driver and get the matching Wood free.  Get your clubs regripped for half price.  Stock up on Golf balls while they are being heavily discounted.  The clearance clothing stores like Winners or Marshalls will have racks of Summer Golf overstock in the late Fall.  Then of course there’s all the Boxing Week sales.  I got my $400 Driver for $160 on boxing day.  I was offered $250 for it three months later at the local Range.

Buy a little at a time

Buying everything at once can seem overwhelming, and depending on your budget impossible.  Spread out your purchases over time.  It allows you to wait for the best deal, and keep your budget under control.  I went through a full Season without a Driver.  I went through almost two full Seasons before I completed my Wedge set.  I got a great deal on each and every club.  As an added benefit it forced me to learn how to get the most out of each club I owned before I purchased another one.  Remember that if you are serious about taking up Golf.  You will be playing this Sport for many years.  There’s no real rush to complete your first set of 14 clubs.  Most courses can be played just fine with half that number.

Beginner’s guide to Golf

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The Presidents Cup – Starting from Scratch SS-20

Green in Regulation

A total mismatch

The conversation began when  the two teams were officially announced a few weeks ago.  The American team reads like a who’s who of PGA tour professionals.  Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed are enough to practically guarantee that the Americans were going to win.  The next six don’t make things any easier for the International team. Kevin Chappell, Charley Hoffman, Daniel Berger, Matt Kuchar, Kevin Kisner, and Phil Mickelson round out the rest of the team.  Keep in mind that Mickelson would count as the weakest link on that team.  How ridiculous does that sound?  Expecting the International team to have even a snowball’s chance in hell of winning was optimistic.  The International team’s stars are Jason Day (who finally started to find his form during the FedEx Cup), Marc Leishman, and Hideki Matsuyama.  Although Matsuyama hadn’t been playing as well as he is capable going into the event.  The rest of the team is made up of former stars, and Players that have had some recent success.  Si Woo Kim, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace, Adam Scott, Jhonattan Vegas, Anirban Lahiri, Adam Hadwin, and Emiliano Grillo would serve as the remaining fodder.

Even the most casual fan of Golf would recognize the majority of the American team.  The Internationals though, no so much.  Over the four days of competition I have watched only a handful of matchups.  It’s hard to get excited about watching Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler just obliterate their opponents.  I caught a bit of the Four Ball team selections, and couldn’t help but laugh when the Americans announced the pairing of Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka.  I mean come on.  Pairing  Johnson and Koepka together is like saying we don’t just want to beat you.  We want to humiliate you off the Tee while doing it.

Even the fans are frustrated

You know that the interest is lacking when even the fans at the actual event get tired of cheering on their team.  As the Tournament progressed the crowds got considerably quieter.  It became obvious that the American team didn’t require a boost from the fans to grind out a win.  The win was practically guaranteed, so why lose your voice cheering loudly.  I saw a number of great shots get minimal celebration.  The actual Golfers were trying to get the fans involved by pumping their fists, and motioning for the fans to get loud.  By Saturday their attempts to get the crowd involved was hopeless.  With still a day left to play the Tournament was already decided.  The Americans win, yeehaw!

So what’s the point?

It’s a really good question.  With the PGA tour being an American heavy organization.  It’s expected that the Presidents Cup will continue to be won by the American team every time.  To expect something different is truly optimistic.  There just isn’t enough competitive Golf being played at the development level in any of the International team countries.  The odds of there ever being a large enough number of top level International Players that peak at the right time to truly compete against an American team is slim to none.

That doesn’t mean that we should do away with the Presidents Cup though.  For many of the international Players it isn’t about winning the Cup.  It’s really about increasing their marketability, and presence on the PGA Tour.  This is true for some of the American Players as well.  Expect to see a lot more coverage of Players like Kevin Kisner, Adam Hadwin, and Jhonattan Vegas at next year’s PGA tour events.  Don’t be surprised if you notice a few more sponsor’s labels on their shirts.  Representing your country as a member of the International team can also be seen as a precurser to the Olympics as well.  Their number of fans will definitely increase as well.  As much as I prefer to have as few people as possible watch me when I’m out Golfing.  It can be the opposite for Players on tour.  It can be intimidating for a Player to be paired up on the final day of a PGA event when it feels like everyone watching is cheering for the other guy.  The more fans you have, the less likely you are to feel that way.

So it might be a heavily one-sided affair.  I definitely didn’t enjoy watching the little bits of it that I managed to watch.  I was happy that our Canadian representative Adam Hadwin earned a draw with Hideki Matsuyama as his partner against Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed.  That’s no easy feat.  Kevin Kisner will probably start being treated like the star that he is after this.  The end of the Presidents Cup means the end of another Season.  This Season was a great one, with new stars emerging, new rivalries beginning, and a true battle at the top for Golf supremacy.

I can’t wait for next season!

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From Range to course – Beginner’s guide to Golf

Unreal expectations

Most people that are serious about improving at Golf spend a fair amount of time at the Range, or in a Simulator.  I’m currently helping a friend of mine who is brand new to the game develop her swing at the Range.  Chances are good that she won’t actually play on her first course until next Summer.  Almost a full year away.  She began playing in April of this year so she will have been practicing at the Range or in a Simulator for over a year before she feels ready to take on a course.  Now not everybody has her patience.  I definitely didn’t.  In my first Season I began going to the Range in March, and played my first game on a course in June.  I had developed a poor but repeatable swing, and felt relatively confident with my 3 Hybrid, and Pitching Wedge.  I was ready!

No I wasn’t!

Something that every Beginner needs to know about Range, and Simulator practice.  It doesn’t actually prepare you for the real thing!  First of all hitting off the Fairway is very different from hitting off a mat.  At the Range, or in a Simulator you are always on even ground.  That isn’t the case in most situations on a course.  Even Tee boxes can be a little uneven.  Think about what an inch of difference in contact can make on your ball flight.  Another huge difference between hitting off a mat, and hitting off the ground is the amount of resistance each provides.  When you are at the Range hitting shot after shot a decent distance.  What you might fail to realize is how a mat can correct an imperfect swing.  You’ve probably seen many videos about making contact with the ground after hitting the ball.  The preferred angle of attack with an Iron is down through the ball, taking a divot that’s beyond the ball’s original position.  Most Beginners do the opposite.  They make contact with the ground just before they make contact with the ball, or as they make contact with the ball.  The reason for this is due to the amount of time they spend at the Range, or in a Simulator when they begin developing a swing.  It’s very unnatural, and possibly painful to swing at a downward angle with the intention to make contact with a solid surface.  Almost everyone begins as a “Picker”, hoping to essentially sweep the ball off the mat by making contact with the mat, and ball at the same time.  An unfortunate side effect of this is when we make contact with the mat before the ball.  The resistance of the surface will quite often help us make good contact with the ball.  That won’t happen at the course, unless you are playing on frozen ground in November.  Making contact with the ground before the ball will usually result in a “chunky” shot.  Whenever you hear someone say they “chunked” it, or caught one really “fat”.  That’s what they are talking about.  Usually this results in a shot that doesn’t travel very far at all.  It can be really confusing to a Beginner who has never experienced a shot that looked or felt like that one did.  At the Range, or in a Simulator the usual miss is a topped ball.  When only the bottom of your club makes contact with the ball.  This is considered by most to be hitting the ball “thin”.  You know when you hit those low line drives with something as lofted as your Wedge.  That’s what happens when you catch it “thin”.  What’s confusing when you are first developing your swing at the Range is how a poor swing that makes contact with the ground behind the ball, doesn’t sweep low enough to make contact with the ground at all, or actually makes contact with the ground beyond the ball but comes in at to steep an angle can all result in a thin shot.  The natural response to this in our minds is to focus on making hard contact with the mat as close to the ball as possible.  Expect a lot of ugly chunky contact if you take that opinion to the course.  The other issue that this creates is how contact with the ground can effect the squareness of your club face at impact.  If the ground didn’t effect your swing then hitting out of the Rough wouldn’t be an issue.  Anything that impedes your swing path to the ball will affect it’s flight.  If contact with the ground before the ball causes your club face to twist open just a little, you will hit a slice.  For the most part mats don’t effect your club face very much at all when you make contact with them.  Keep all of these things in mind when you head out to the course for the first time.

I know the difference but my course play still suffers!

As a Beginner that’s played a lot of Rounds of Golf.  I’ve gone through the great Range practice on Wednesday, didn’t seem to help at the course on Saturday.  So many times I have wondered what is wrong with my swing that day.  The answer was actually nothing.  There are a few factors that come into play on a course that are never a consideration at the Range.  Tee boxes are in different locations.  This seems like an insignificant thing but it’s not.  When you are at the Range you are continuously hitting balls from the same spot, with the same wind position, at the same targets, and in most cases zero hazards to worry about.  The wind is a far greater factor than most Beginners realize.  Hitting a ball 100 yards into an open field is a lot easier than hitting a ball 100 yards over a Pond.  Golf courses are designed to not only test your skill, and physical ability.  The courses are also designed to test you mentally.  I’ve yet to come across a Range, or Simulator that can recreate that.  Every shot you take that can be potentially lost in a hazard adds additional stress.  All around you there are other people playing that might get a good laugh at your expense if you Chunk one into the water.  These aren’t things that effect your swing at Range, or in a Simulator.  The best advice I can give you is that you shouldn’t worry about what other people think.  In most cases they are too focused on their own game to notice yours.  When dealing with Hazards, it’s best to just focus on the ball, and not the target.  Keep your head down through the swing, and believe in the result.  Beginners tend to focus on the target when needing to clear a Hazard.  By lifting their head too early to see if they have cleared the Hazard.  They end up making poor contact with the ball, and ending in trouble.

Play for the moment, not the score

Your first few times out to the course I wouldn’t even bother keeping track of your score.  I think my first time out I shot 58 over par.  Obviously I was seriously disappointed right.  Actually I thoroughly enjoyed myself!  I had no clue what my score was while I was playing.  My playing partner was keeping score privately.  What I remember is a Putt I sunk from off the Green with a fair amount of break in it, and the single Tee shot I hit on a Par 3 that actually found the Green.  Those two shots had me eager to come back, and play again the following week.  If you focus on the small accomplishments you make each time you play.  You won’t just love this game, you’ll keep improving.  Two Seasons later I shot 29 over on the exact same course.

Beginner’s guide to Golf

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Don’t forget the little things, Swing thoughts – Beginner’s guide to Golf

So many swing thoughts

Before, during, and inevitably after we think about our swing.  There’s so much going through our heads that sometimes we are the instruments of our own demise.  We forget that as complicated as the game of Golf can be.  In order to succeed at it things need to be simple.  I’m sure you have all seen videos, or read articles relating to swing instruction.  Too often they describe swing path, angle of attack, transfer of weight, club head release, follow through, the direction your belt buckle should face at the conclusion of your swing, and I could keep going on and on.  How are you ever going to make successful contact with the ball if you are thinking about all of these things at once?  When I was first developing a swing, my only thought was to make contact with the ball.  After a few trips out to the Range I was able to make pretty consistent contact.  Of course I had very little distance, or directional control.  In an attempt to further develop my swing I started watching those videos I mentioned.  What I learned is that too much information can do more harm than good.

It wasn’t all useless though

There are a few tips I picked up on that I believe can help any Beginner.  First of all it’s important to separate your swing setup from the actual swing.  Too many Beginners concentrate on both at once.  It sounds quite easy to do, but it isn’t.  What happens is that during your practice backswing, or waggle you adjust your stance.  While doing so you begin to think about your swing.  The two thoughts become one.  What I’ve learned to do is make my practice backswing a part of my setup.  Once I’m satisfied with my position I take a moment to clear my head.  Then I begin my swing preparation.  I’ve simplified my swing thought to three things.  A smooth controlled backswing, then a balanced fore swing without drifting my weight from back to front too much, and a complete follow through.  That’s it!  To be honest I am limiting my maximum distance by purposefully decreasing my weight transfer.  What it does do is significantly reduce the number of miss hits I make.  For me that’s far more important.  Another tip I can offer you that will surely improve your scores, is to hit every putt with the intention to go three feet passed the hole.  Any putt that comes up short has no chance of rolling in.  Better to hit your ball too far passed the hole than leave it short.  An additional bonus to playing this way is that you get a lot of practice hitting 3 to 5 foot putts.  You will get so accustomed to hitting them that soon any putt within 5 feet will feel automatic.

Short shots are the most important

When it comes to practice, spend the majority of your time working on your shorter clubs.  In actuality you should spend the most time practicing your putting stroke.  Then you should spend almost as much time working on your Wedge game.  Then your Irons, your Hybrids, your Woods, and last of all your Driver.  Too many Beginners do this in reverse.  Think of it in terms of what you will likely use the most during a Round.  As a Beginner there’s a very good chance that you will have to make 2 or 3 putts per hole.  You might have to hit 2 or 3 Wedge shots as well.  On average only 1 or 2 Iron shots are required per hole.  Most holes only require 1 shot with a Wood or Hybrid.  Most of the courses I play only require the Driver on a couple of the holes on the entire course.  It wouldn’t make much of a difference to my final score if I hit my Driver best.  If I was in top form with my Putter and Wedges though.  I could easily reduce my final score by at least one stroke per hole.  In fact it only took me about 12 months of regular practice with my Putter and Wedges to reduce my handicap from a 36 to 20.  I have to admit that I’m not very consistent with my Driver yet.  In some cases I don’t even use it once during a Round.  That hasn’t prevented me from reducing my scores though.

Remember that you are a Beginner

It’s very easy to get tempted to play some of the more professional style courses in your area.  Be realistic about your expectations when you do.  There can be a huge increase in difficulty.  Don’t be a hero and play from the back Tees.  Don’t get too preoccupied with your score to Par.  Just focus on making good shots, and playing within your ability.  Trust me you will enjoy the experience far more.

Beginner’s guide to Golf

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Dealing with Injuries Starting from Scratch SS-17

Remain Patient

We are in the last month of Summer.  The temperature has already dropped, and shorts aren’t always an option.  My last three Rounds of Golf were excellent by my standards.  My ball striking has been good.  My chipping has been great.  I’m satisfied with the way I’ve been putting.  I have kept the blow up Holes to a minimum.  All in all my game is where I hoped it would be about two months earlier than I had hoped.   Amidst all the excitement, and celebration I’ve been feeling the inevitable happens.  I severely pull a muscle in my back.  Not a big deal right.  I’ll take a week to relax, and then loosen up at the Range.  Well it only took about 10 balls at the Range to realize that my back was going to require a lot more rest.  What to do now?  What if all the progress I’ve made is slowly fading away with each day I don’t get out and play?  I’m sure many of you have worried about the exact same thing.  Maybe it wasn’t due to injury.  You could have been on vacation, or were blocked from playing by weather.  It can feel like any considerable amount of time spent away from Golf, can have you feeling like you are starting over when you return to the game.   Trust me when I tell you,  that isn’t the case at all.  The reason I can assure you of that is because every step you make to improve your game is significant.   If you haven’t read my Beginner Golf Focus Starting from Scratch SS-16

I suggest that you do.  Your game improves because you have found your grip, perfected your backswing, know your distances with each club, and increased the number of shots you can effectively make.  These aren’t things that you will easily forget, because it took an incredible amount of time to learn them in the first place.

Change your Focus

Everyone has cancelled a day of Golf for some reason beyond their control.  On those days I’ll make up for it by hitting a few Putts on my putting mat at home.  Maybe I’ll watch the Golf Fix on Golf channel, and see if I can pick up a few tips.  Sometimes I will go over previous Rounds of Golf that I’ve played to see where different choices would have benefitted me.  Would I rather be playing a Round of Golf?  Of course I would.  There are many ways to improve your game without actually playing though.  In some cases your handicap has a better chance to improve if you take a moment to really analyze your previous Rounds of Golf.  Learning where your game is weak, and then focusing on ways to either improve it, or avoid those situations in upcoming Rounds of Golf.  This can significantly improve your scores without experiencing a major improvement in your actual game.  Just by treating long Par 4s as Par 5s has reduced my handicap by 3 strokes.  I was able to identify that approaches to the Green over 150 yards were dangerous plays for me.  It was a far better play to lay up, and leave myself with a 50 to 100 yard approach.  By limiting my mistakes I was able to improve my scores.

Check your equipment

The more your game improves, the happier you will be with your Golf equipment.  Don’t believe me?  Think about how quickly you are at your local store, or online reading reviews when you aren’t playing well.  Hit a few slices with your Driver the last time you were out.  You can’t get to your local store fast enough to try whatever is new.  90% of the time it isn’t your equipment that’s holding you back.  What about the 10% of the time that it is?  If you are sidelined by injury.  Take this time to really inspect your equipment.  Maybe you haven’t changed your grips in a while.  Could be the perfect time to get the whole set regripped.  How are the grooves on your Wedges?  Do they still have grooves?  Are the hosels still tight on all of your Woods?  These are things that many of us tend to overlook during the Golf Season.  I switched from a Standard to a Midsize grip this year, and it made a huge difference.  Take notice of new technology on the market that may help improve your game.  I know a couple of guys I play with that had never tried a Hybrid club before.  They thought that Hybrid clubs were only for Beginners until I urged them to try one.  They were amazed by the versatility, and penetrating ball flight.  One of them immediately bought one to replace their 4 Iron.   Don’t dismiss everything you read about as being some sort of gimmick.  Improving your game isn’t just about becoming a better Golfer.  It’s also about identifying which equipment is right for you.

Even when life throws you a curve ball, and something prevents you from playing.  There are a lot of things that you can still do to get your Golf fix.  You can even use the time creatively to improve your future scores.

 

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Beginner Golf Focus – Beginner’s guide to Golf

The key to improving at Golf

I’m in my second full Season as a Golf enthusiast.  It was August of 2015 that I played my first full Round of Golf at Centennial Golf course in Etobicoke.  To say that I sucked would be a gross understatement.  I probably shot 140 that day and went through about 7 Golf Balls.  What I will remember most about that day was the great Putt I made on the 12th Hole, and the amazing Drive I made on the final Hole.  As much as I would like to score well each and every time I go out.  Golf is also a game of amazing moments.  Do you think I’d be disappointed if I shot 40 over, but made a Hole in one that day?  It would probably go down as one of the most memorable Rounds of Golf I’ve ever played.  The final score wouldn’t bother me at all.  This article is about scoring though.  In only two full Seasons of Canadian Golf I’ve gone from a total hack to a Bogey Golfer.  In other words I have earned myself through a lot of work an eighteen handicap.  To clarify, because a lot of Amateur Golfers are unclear of what a handicap actually means.  An eighteen handicap means that on my best day I should finish a Round of Golf 18 strokes over par.  On a Par 70 course I realistically average between 26, and 36 strokes over par.  I have a tendency to really blow it on a couple of Holes and that’s why my score ends up being that high.  Playing a solid mistake free Round has become my current goal.

How to play mistake free?

The key to reducing your handicap is the same for you, as it is for me.  You need to focus on the things that are totally in your control.  I’m sure a few of you are thinking wait a minute it’s Golf.  There’s nobody tackling you, or checking you.  You don’t even have an opponent really.  Everything is totally under your control.  Well you would be wrong.

You can attempt to make center face contact with the ball every swing but it won’t happen.  You can attempt to hit a power draw, or a baby fade whenever the situation calls for it but it won’t always happen.  You can attempt to hit every approach shot with enough backspin to have it hold the Green but there’s no guarantee that you will even hit the Green.  Here’s the good news though.  You can control how you grip each club every time.  You can set yourself up with the ball a specific distance away from you, and further forward or back in your stance every time.  You can duplicate how far, and how fast you make your backswing with every club.  You can find the ball that feels right for you, and play only that ball so every putt feels the same.

Small things add up to becoming a better Golfer.

It would probably surprise you how much a consistent grip will improve your game.  Your grip helps determine how your swing will feel throughout rotation around your body.  Swing plane is partially determined by your grip.  Resistance at the top of your backswing is partially determined by your grip.  Club face release through contact is also affected by your grip.  I would slice every shot to some degree in the beginning.  It wasn’t until I developed a consistent grip that I was able to control it.  Any corrections you make before you’ve settled on a particular grip are only temporary.  So first things first, find your grip.   Knowing the correct distance to stand from the ball at set up takes time.  It took me about 12 months of playing to really figure it out.  It’s natural to want to stand far enough away that simply swinging your arms back around you, and then forward through the target makes contact.  Most Beginners, myself included start this way.   Standing that far away will cause a number of swing faults.  Making neutral face (not open or closed) contact with the ball  becomes almost impossible.  The amount of sidespin generated at impact is greatly increased.  It becomes far more difficult to hit out of rough lies.  Standing closer to the ball creates a more vertical swing plane.  Essentially correcting all of the issues I just listed.  It will feel uncomfortable at first because a proper swing will require far more body rotation the closer you are to the ball.  Begin practicing at the Range standing a little closer to the ball.  It won’t take long before you begin to see a significant improvement in ball flight, and target consistency.  If you were to break down a Golf swing into two parts.  It would be the backswing, and forward swing.  Of the two, the backswing is obviously the easiest.  When I first got into Golf I’d attempt to generate power through the backswing.  My backswing was about 75% as fast as my forward swing.  Nowadays my backswing is about 15% as fast as my forward swing.  My accuracy, and quality of contact is probably 5 times better than it used to be.  The faster your backswing, the more likely you are to become unbalanced, or make poor contact with the ball.  I’d rather hit my 7 Iron 140 yards straight 90% of the time.  Instead of hitting my 7 Iron 155 yards straight 25% of the time.  The only thing you really lose by hitting the ball straight, but 10 to 15 yards shorter is distance.  Really though the only distance you are sacrificing is off your longest clubs.  If your target is 150 yards away then just use your 6 Iron instead.  Maybe your playing partner can hit their 4 Iron 200 yards.  Well good for them.  Doesn’t bother me to pull my 3 Wood out of the bag to achieve the same.  Always use the same ball! 

I can’t stress this enough.  The difference it will make when putting is reason enough.  If you haven’t selected a ball yet read my Golf Ball selection Starting from Scratch SS-10

Play within your ability

This is probably the most difficult aspect of the game of Golf for me.  It’s actually the one thing that we are all able to control from day one.  Resisting the urge to attempt shots that I have no business trying is one of the most difficult things for me to do.  Everybody wants to make that hero shot.  If you actually want your scores to improve?  Don’t waste your time trying to hit draws out of the rough around trees to hopefully make the Green.  Do the smart thing and just punch out on to the Fairway.  Playing within your limits isn’t just about trying to make hero shots.  It’s also about knowing what you are capable of from the very start.  I used to attempt to make a Green in Regulation on every Hole.  Even if it meant having to make potentially dangerous shots to do it.  For instance on a 390 yard Par 4 with a tight Fairway.  I would consider using Driver strictly based on distance.  If the landing area seemed too small I would take one club less and go with the 3 Wood off the Tee.  Landing in a Tight Fairway with my 3 Wood is a very low percentage play for me.  Even if I hit a perfect Drive.  I’d still leave myself with about 180 yards to the Pin.  Most Greens are protected by Hazards.  Bunkers at best, water or thick Woods at worst.  Expecting to land on the Green, and stick it close from 180 yards out is ludicrous.  Trying to play a Hole like that would usually go something like this.  Tee off with the 3 Wood, and miss the Fairway left by around 20 feet.  Second shot out of the rough at a terrible angle to the Green with the 3 Hybrid.  Hit it about 170 yards, and land about 30 yards right of the Green.  Third shot out of the deep rough with the 56 degree Wedge.  Hit a flyer that clears the Green, and lands in the bunker on the opposite side.  Shots four and five to successfully exit the bunker.  Shot six is a short chip on to the Green with my 52 degree Wedge. So much for the Green in Regulation right. Finally on the Green I end up two putting for quadruple bogey.  Definitely not the score you are looking for on a Par 4!  It’s taken me a long time but I have finally learned to play within my ability.  The way I play that same Hole goes something like this now.  Tee off with my 5 Hybrid landing on the left side of the Fairway 165 yards out.  Instead of trying to hit a hero shot on or close to the Green.  For my second shot I’d choose to hit my 7 Iron 135 yards down the Fairway.  This leaves an easy 90 yard shot with my 52 degree Wedge on to the Green.  Sure I never had a chance at getting that Green in Regulation.  What I have done is avoid any real danger.  I land my Wedge shot on the front edge of the Green.  Then two putt for bogey.  A difference of three strokes!  Sure my chances at Birdie are close to null.  So what.  I’ve actually one putted for Par many times in similar situations because the approach shot from within 100 yards is so easy.

Do yourself a favor, and focus on the few things within your control the next time you are out at the course, or on the Range.  Your handicap, and your enjoyment of the game will definitely improve.

Beginner’s guide to Golf

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Getting paired up Starting from Scratch SS-15

Playing with Strangers

You have finally developed a half decent swing.  Your last Range session left you feeling confident about using your 3 Wood off the Tee.  You managed to hit a few targets with your short Irons.  It’s time to get out on the course, and put all of that practice to good use.  You are probably about a 40 handicap.  Not including Mulligans, and duffs.  Still you’re confident that you can get through a Round of Golf on a short course with a few balls.  You give your Golfing buddy a call.

It’s Time

You arrive at your local 18 Hole public course that’s only 3000 yards long.  It has a practice putting Green, so you hit a few while waiting for your friend to arrive.  You even manage to sink a couple mid-length putts.  Your confidence is high.  This is going to be a great day!  Your friend arrives, and the two of you head into the club house to pay for your Round.  You almost carry your clubs inside when your friend informs you that you aren’t allowed to.   What?  These clubs cost me a pretty penny!  You realize that everyone else’s clubs are standing by the door as well so uncomfortably you do the same.  With your Round tickets in hand, the two of you head over to the starter.  “Good morning, great day for a Round” he says.  What he says next will shatter your positive outlook for the day.  “It’s pretty busy today, so I’ll be pairing you up”.  Pairing us up!  What does that mean? “You will be playing with those two people waiting by the first Tee” he tells us.

Oh shit no!

Your friend acts like nothing has happened.  Obviously this has happened before.  How could they not tell you that this was a possibility?  Your heart starts racing.  You suddenly are aware that your hands are a bit sweaty.  So many possibilities of what could happen start swirling through your mind.  What if I shank my first Tee shot?  What am I going to do if I hit one in to the bunker?  I’ve never practiced a shot out of a bunker.  I haven’t been hitting my Wedges well. I was hoping to learn how to do it during the Round.  I’m going to be holding everyone up.  I should have gone to the Range yesterday to get my swing perfect.

Settle down

I went through this exact scenario, my second time out.  There’s a common misconception that Golfers are intolerable jerks.  What I’ve learned over the last two Seasons is that they are actually the opposite.  Provided you know basic Golf etiquette.   Read my Golf Etiquette Starting from Scratch SS-12  Most Golfers are happy to see new Players getting into the game.  Quite a few of them actually gave me pointers during our Round together.  Another common misconception made by Beginners is believing that every Golfer you come across is leaps and bounds better than you.  What you need to remember is that Golf is a really difficult Game to master.  I’ve played with Strangers that have been golfing for 10 years, and finished with a better score.  Remember that this is only my Second full Season of Golf.  The first thing I do whenever I get paired up is introduce myself, and inform my new playing partners that I’ve only been playing for 2 years.  I let them know I’m serious about Golf though so my game isn’t terrible.  Just don’t be surprised if I slice or duff a few.  That little bit of information prepares them to have to play a little slower, or in some cases be surprised by my ability.  Even if you are making terrible shots all day.  As long as you are making an effort.  There’s a very good chance that everyone you are playing with will support you.

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PGA Championship Starting from Scratch SS-14

A marked improvement

I’m just going to come right out and say it.  Watching Golf on TV isn’t the most exciting thing that you can do.  Even if you are a fanatic like me.  Most PGA Tour events are about as exciting as The Antique Roadshow.  They have their moments, but most of the time it’s just more of the same.  The commentary doesn’t help either.  Nothing like stating the obvious 90% of the time.  God forbid if it’s overcast.  Even the network camera men have a difficult time locating where balls landed.  Good luck with figuring it out from home.  Now with all that having been said.  I do get a little excited for the Majors.

My four Majors in order from my most favourite to the least is The Masters, The Open, The U.S. Open, and then the PGA Championship.  Although it isn’t a Major I actually like The Players Championship more than the U.S. Open, and the PGA.  Why so little love for the PGA you wonder.  Well traditionally it’s played on the easiest course of the bunch.  I prefer seeing the top Golfers tested.  The other three Majors are filled with tradition, and a substantial amount of reverence.  The PGA Championship just feels a bit plastic to me.  It’s the last Major of the Season, so fans of the sport have witnessed a fair amount of drama in previous events by then.  Great shots begin to feel a bit pedestrian when you’ve already seen them achieved numerous times.

Well I’m watching the final round of the PGA Championship while writing this, and it’s more than grabbed my attention.  First of all, the changes that have been made to Quail Hollow in preparation for this event are stellar.  They took what was once a course that could be dominated by brute force long hitters.  They’ve turned it into a course that rewards precise Tee shots, and calculated risk, over basic long driving.  Any mistake made on this course can punish even the best scramblers.  I’ve complained that the PGA is far too easy at times.  Well it’s Sunday and the final group has just begun the back nine.  Currently five Players are tied for the lead at only 7 under par.  With the most difficult section of the course still to come.  This is anyone’s PGA Championship to win.  Another considerate addition for us watching at home is the addition of shot tracer technology when Players Tee off.  Actually getting to see how each Player shapes their shot.  It adds an element that was sorely missing from most PGA Tour broadcasts.  Not only do you get to see the end result of each Tee shot.  You begin to understand why each Player approaches each shot the way they do.

So only the final group is left on the course.  Justin Thomas out paced the field and has a 2 shot lead.  Only Kisner can catch him, but after missing his Birdie putt on 17 it seems very unlikely.  It was on the tenth Hole when I realized Thomas was going to win it.  Call it fate, luck, or divine intervention.  It began with an errant Tee shot.  It looked like he might have caught it out of the heel.  He hit a massive Draw heading way left of the Fairway.  What was likely to take Birdie, or maybe even Par out of the equation turned into a great Drive when his ball ricocheted off a tree, and landed in the Fairway.  His approach shot to the Green went long.  Still it left him with a relatively easy chip to get up and down for Birdie.  What should have been an easy Chip came out soft from the Bermuda rough, and left a tricky 8 footer.  Thomas’ Putt literally stopped on the left edge of the cup.  How it didn’t go in amazed everyone.  Thomas took the full 10 seconds to give it a chance to drop.  In the tenth second it did!

From that moment on Thomas played like a man destined to win, and win he did.

Your 2017 PGA Champion is Justin Thomas!