Crane Wins, Mickelson Causes Controversy, Where is Tiger?

Ben Crane ended a five year drought on the PGA Tour with a win at the Farmer’s Insurance Open. Crane was able to hold off Marc Leishman by one stroke. Many of you may remember Leishman from his fantastic run in last year’s FEDEX Cup playoff which secured his tour card for the 2010 season. While Crane won the tournament the biggest news of the week was regarding the wedges of one Mr. Phil Mickelson. Phil decided to use wedges from Ping that are older than many of the players on the Tour this season. In a complicated loophole in the rules; a lawsuit filed against the USGA by Ping allows their Eye 2 wedges, produced in the more than twenty years ago, to be exempt from the 2010 groove restrictions.

Many people have their opinions and they range from declaring him an outright cheater, to others who believe he is doing nothing wrong. While this debate can go on forever the fact is that he is not breaking any rules according to the USGA. Other players and fans may not agree, but the bottom line is he can play them all year if he chooses. I don’t believe the groove rule should have ever been enacted so I applaud him for shoving it back in the face of the USGA, an organization that seems to make it as difficult as possible to play by the rules. Having said that it his decisions may show some poor taste given the current state of affairs on the PGA Tour. Without Tiger in the picture it seems as though the PGA may have a rough year.

I am in no way condoning what Tiger Wood’s did in his personal life. However, it does remain his personal life and it should not detract from the fact the he is the greatest golfer to ever live. He lives a life that few others have to live and clearly did not handle his personal life as many expected him to. He has let down millions of fans, sponsors and more importantly his family. It is now time to move on. The fact is the PGA Tour needs Tiger Woods to thrive. He has given golf the excitement that kept it from being considered a mainstream, or cool, sport for so many years. Tiger needs to come back so Phil can have someone to take the heat off his wedge situation.

While many have speculated that he may not return in 2010 I have to disagree. Whenever he comes back he will face the backlash for months or years to come so he might as well get it over with. I just can’t picture Woods missing a Master’s in April. So until he makes his return we will continue to talk about Phil’s wedges look for a newcomer to make a rise to the top.

Posted in FEDEX Cup, Golf Equipment, Golf Rules, Major Articles, PGA TOUR, San Diego Golf Courses | 1 Comment »

Find the Right Clubs

Nothing beats the classic look of blade irons, except the forgiveness of cavity backs. While it is tempting to buy a new set of clubs based on looks it can seriously hurt your scores. Golf club manufacturers spend millions of dollars on research and development to build a club that is more forgiving and well suited to 99% of the golfing public. The fact is that people usually buy what they see professionals playing with and it can be a big mistake.

The biggest part of the problem is that the clubs professionals and top amateurs play with are built specifically for them, and not just shaft flex and length. Professionals spend countless hours with fitters to determine the best sole grind, shaft weight, kick point, grip size, swing weight, lie, head shape and material before deciding on a new set of irons, woods, or putter. While this kind of service is available to the public you can expect to spend $5,000-$10,000 on a set of clubs depending on the shaft options and fitting charges. This is something that is just not realistic to the average person.

The absolute best thing any amateur golfer can do is find a demo day and hit as many different clubs as possible. Your local course will often host demo days. If they do not have any scheduled feel free to ask them to look into it. It offers the average golfer to get a glimpse of what a tour player experiences. While the average demo day is not as intense or scientific they should offer plenty of options for the average golfer. Every major golf club manufacturer has upcoming demo days listed on their websites as well. If you cannot find a demo day ask your local professional for a fitting. They will be able to explain the benefits of different club designs and make sure you order what works best with your swing.

Going to the demo day or fitting with an open mind is perhaps the most important factor. It is easy to see someone win a PGA Tour event with a new driver and want to run out and get it. The fact is that it may not help your game at all. I know several fantastic golfers that are playing with Ping irons from the 1980’s and can still compete with anyone around. Just be sure to go into the process willing to try anything if it will help your game. By looking in a different direction you may find something that fits just right.

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PGA Tour 2010

Roughly a week away from the beginning of the new season it remains to be seen just what kind of impact the Tiger scandal will have on his schedule. Given his limited number of tournaments on a yearly basis he may not be seen until the Masters, in April. Just because Tiger is missing does not mean there won’t be great golf tournaments.

Some changes have been made to the schedule, such as Waste Management taking over as title sponsor for the FBR Open and the date being pushed back a month. Two goals will hopefully be accomplished by this move; putting an end to frost delays and getting a stronger field. The Waste Management Open will now be played the week after the WGC match play which is just north of Tucson. The hope is that with the top 64 players in the world an hour away to the week before, more will stick around for the WM Open. The tournament is famous for having outrageous crowds of over 100,000 a day and some 25,000+ on the 16th hole alone.

The player to watch has to be Phil Mickelson after his strong finish in 2009. If Tiger stays away for an extended period of time and Phil plays as well as he did last year we could have a new number one golfer in the world. Adam Scott seems to be coming back after a terrible year with some solid finishes in the fall. It seems as though every year on the PGA Tour the tournaments are more exciting and the fields are more evenly matched. Look for the spring schedule to bring some great tournaments to your TV.

The 2010  USGA Groove Rule also takes effect January 1. We may not see the full extent of the change until this spring and summer when the Tour heads to courses with long, thick rough. There is no doubt that it will have some affect but it may be hard to notice to those of us watching at home.

Overall the new season will have plenty of drama. Tiger will most likely have to dodge questions for his first few tournaments and Phil is playing the best golf of his life. It all sets up for a great year for golf fans.

Posted in FEDEX Cup, Golf Equipment, Golf Rules, PGA TOUR | No Comments »

Bridgestone J38 conforming wedge review with pictures

Roughly two weeks from today the USGA will adopt the new groove rule. It essentially limits the size and shape of the grooves that will be allowed in USGA sanctioned competitions. While the PGA Tour, golf club manufacturers, and many players fought the rule change, the USGA refused to budge. We recently had the opportunity to test and photograph the new conforming J38 wedge line from Bridgestone Golf.

The J38 line is a continuation of the Bridgestone J series, which started with the J33 line, and continued last year with the J36 line. Bridgestone has long been known for their high quality clubs and superior array of performance golf balls. With the previous release of the West Coast Design wedge they also became a serious contender in the wedge market. The J38 continues this move with a similar design, new finish, cleaner looks, same great feel, and conforming grooves.

Looks:

Like most companies today, Bridgestone has ditched the chrome look and gone with the popular black oxide finish. Everyone that has played with a chrome wedge on a sunny day knows it can be extremely distracting. The black oxide finish takes care of the problem. The thing that first caught my eye is the simplicity of the graphic design. Too many companies are creating clubs that look more like a billboard than a golf club. The J38 brings us back to a time where a brand, model, and loft were enough. It makes for a very classy wedge.

Grinds & Design:

The J38 series has the same variable bounce technology that the West Coast line featured last year. This grind creates low bounce areas in the heel and toe of the club allowing for a more versatile wedge. The J38 is made from soft heat treated 8620 mild carbon steel and incorporates a milled face. The heat treating makes the metal 13% softer than a Vokey wedge. The micro-milling process actually increases spin when the wedge face is open for shorter shots and lessens spins on full swings. As stated previously, Bridgestone has incorporated V-Grooves to conform to the upcoming USGA rule change.

Performance:

The 52, 56, and 60 wedges were tested in a variety of lies from the sand, rough, and fairway. All three wedges exceeded my expectations. Whatever concerns I had about being able to spin the ball out of the rough were quickly dismissed. I had no problem putting spin on shots out of freshly watered two+ inch rough. The wedges performed well from the sand and fairway but the variable bounce is what won me over. Testing shots with the face wide open, closed, from buried lies, and from a flat surface were all met with great results. Overall the J38 line was everything I expected and more. After more golfers test these wedges, I believe the bickering regarding the new rule will quickly fade. As many of us will be forced to look at wedges, along with irons, I strongly recommend testing these before making any decisions.

The J38 series wedges will be offered in lofts of 52, 54, 56, 58, and 60 degrees. They will be shafted with a True Temper Dynamic Gold shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet grip. Custom options will be available as well.

Tags: Bridgestone J38, Bridgestone J38 pics, Bridgestone J38 Wedge Pictures, j38 pics, j38 pictures
Posted in Golf Equipment, Golf Rules, Golf Tips, Golf-News | 2 Comments »

Christmas Gifts for Golfers

Every single person that loves the game of golf has gotten a gift that made them chuckle. Every golf superstore has an aisle or two loaded to the brim with “great gifts” for the golfer who has everything. Often times it is hard to find something for a golfer that is inexpensive and useful. There are ways to avoid the look of disappointment when your loved one opens that new stroke counter this Christmas.

The best bet is to stick with the essentials. Hats, a round of golf, balls, and gloves are always winners. Grips are also a great idea. Most grips are designed to last for a year of average play. I have to change mine every four months or so. The typical golfer probably never changes them as long as they have their clubs. Most grips are only a couple dollars each and are often sold in kits to do it yourself. If you are in doubt ask someone at your local golf course. The employees at courses are more likely to guide you towards a useful gift than an employee at a big box store. If you don’t want to take the time to decide what to get, just go with a gift card to your local course. If they don’t need anything from the pro shop they can always use it on a round of golf or range time.

Tags: Christmas gifts for golfers
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USGA Conforming Grooves Database

With only a couple weeks until the new year, and a new groove rule, the acceptance has begun. The USGA now has a website database allowing players to check the legality of their clubs. The database can be found here. While the new rule offers a grace period for amateur golfers not competing in top level events, it will still affect a large number of golfers. Any person attempting to qualify for a sanctioned USGA event must use conforming clubs starting January 1. For the U.S. Open last summer there was a total of 9,086 entries into local and sectional qualifying. That is an extremely small amount compared to the number of golfers in the United States and abroad but that is just one event. People have been quick to dismiss the numbers claiming that professionals all get clubs for free. This is simply not case, particularly in the last couple years. Most companies offer little or no discount to mini tour players. This leaves thousands of golfers asking for new wedges and irons from Santa this year. At least those of us who do not get new wedges sent our way every week.

All efforts have obviously been exhausted by PGA Tour players, golf club manufacturers, and many amateurs. What remains to be seen is what kind of effect it will have on the world’s top golfers. The miraculous stop and drop shots out of the rough may be more rare, but don’t expect scores to go up much. There is a reason that these guys are so good, and it has little to do with the grooves on their wedges. With PGA players replacing their wedges every week or two it seems as though we may not see a huge impact. Some tour players using older clubs are already playing with conforming grooves and can still compete. It seems as though a much more public friendly option would have been to change the ball and not the club. With three weeks to go it is too late to wish for a different outcome. All that is left to do is check the list and buy some new clubs.

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Find a Demo Day Before Buying Clubs

Golf club manufacturers are making it extremely easy to try before you buy. With demo days, demo programs at local golf shops and courses there is ample opportunity to try multiple clubs and brands before buying. It can make a big difference in your club selection and save you strokes on the course. Too often people buy a club simply because of an ad they saw on TV promising 15 more yards or more accuracy. While club design has come a long way there is no way to know what club is best without hitting them all.

Demo days give all golfers an opportunity to test all the latest and greatest clubs out there. Local golf courses host these events to give their customers the opportunity to find the best set of clubs. They are almost always free of charge and often times offer free fittings. In order to take advantage golfers must keep an open mind when buying a new club. It is easy to buy into the advertisements and buy a club that was used to win the latest PGA Tour event. The truth is that there are dozens of companies making great clubs that get almost no exposure on the PGA Tour simply because they cannot afford to sponsor anyone. This does not mean that there clubs are low quality or that they would not be the best fit for you. Sign up next time you see a demo day at your local course, even if it is a brand you are not really familiar with. You may be surprised at what you find.

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Tour players tinker too

Phil Mickelson recently stated that he has not putted well for two years. Something that is hard to believe given the fact that he has five wins over that time period. It was a simple putting tip from Dave Stockton turned it all around. He simply told Phil that it is fine to have a forward press in the putting stroke, or lean the hands towards the hole prior to making the stroke. While Phil’s change was small this time other tour players are taking drastic measures in order to compete with the best golfers in the world. Adam Scott has made a coaching change in order to attempt to climb back up the world rankings and others are trying different, not new, swing techniques such as the Stack and Tilt.

All this means is that the top golfers in the world tinker just like the rest of us. The test out new clubs, swing tips, and golf balls more frequently than anyone realizes. The fact is that golf is a streaky game. Besides a few top players on tour most players make the majority of the earnings in a few tournaments. There are several things that average golfers can learn from this. First of all don’t be afraid to try new things given that they have some merit. Swing tips from a local golf professional are much better than from a magazine. All of our swings are different and some drills may hurt more than help. Secondly you will have bad days on the golf course. There is something about the game, perhaps beyond explanation, that makes it simple one day and impossible the next. So remember that it is fun and just relax during the bad rounds. It is still better than being at work.

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Is it the clubs?

It is not always easy to figure out when a new club will actually help your game. I get asked all the time how often clubs need to be replaced, and my answer varies depending on the golfer I am talking to. Like any other sport the quality of the equipment does make a difference in performance. There are many factors that determine the need for new clubs, a fitting, or simply more  instruction.

The first question is always the skill level of the golfer. Experienced golfers are more likely to notice small changes in design and performance than casual or beginner golfers. It is easy to get sucked into the media blitz from the golf club manufacturers promising ten more yards every time a club is released. The fact is that golf clubs have changed a great deal in the past decade. New materials, advanced design and manufacturing techniques have led to more stable shafts and powerful drivers. However, this might not help the average golfer at all. Not too long ago drivers were only 43″ in length. Now most companies use 45.75″ as a standard length. Adding nearly three inches to a driver will certainly increase distance, but there is a trade off in control. Irons for the most part have not changed a great deal. In fact the new releases from Titleist look a lot like their irons from 2000 to 2003, and the craze of the bigger drivers also seems to be coming to an end with new releases taking some 60-100 CC’s off the size of previous drivers.

In reality the life of an iron for an average golfer can be twenty years, many people are still playing Ping Eye 2’s from the 1980’s. Just make sure that you change your grips once a year. As for drivers, every three years should keep you near the top of the technological advances. There is one thing that will trump any new driver or irons purchase and that is practice. A skilled golfer can play with any clubs in good shape and score well. Next time you find yourself blaming your clubs try taking a lesson and checking to see if your clubs fit properly. This will make a  bigger difference every time, and if you think you do need new clubs ask a PGA Professional at your local course. They are there to help, so take advantage of them. If you do decide to buy new clubs, take advantage of club demos offered by golf companies and hit as many different models as you can. It is free and is the best way to see what works best for you.

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Tour Players Adapting to New Groove Rule

Some of the miraculous par saves may disappear from your television screens during PGA Tour events next year. Starting January 1, 2010 the PGA and USGA will start enforcing the new groove rule. This rule will effectively roll back technology and make it much harder to spin the ball from the deep rough often found during tour events. Players have begun testing the new clubs and the Tour has started testing during tournaments so players can become accustomed to the procedure.

Many have fought the rule change, including PGA players and golf club manufacturers. The new rule essentially makes roughly three quarters of the irons and nearly all of the wedges currently on the market illegal for professionals and top amateurs. It will not affect the average golfer for years to come in local tournament play but will have another impact. The equipment companies release from this point forward will most likely conform to the new rule. So the next time the average golfer buys a set of irons or a new wedge they will most likely have the new grooves. This is causing many amateurs to plan ahead and buy several wedges with the current grooves. Many companies are releasing clubs that are very similar to the current offerings but with the adjustment to wedges.

It remains to be seen exactly what impact the new wedges will have on tour. So far players have stated that it will be significant out of heavy rough. Add to that the speed of the greens that they will be playing to we may see some less than stellar shots on tour.

Posted in Golf Equipment, PGA TOUR | 1 Comment »