Learn to Read Greens

Every person that has watched a PGA Tour event has witnessed a player circling a putt for what seems like an eternity. Unfortunately, amateurs copy this tactic without knowing what to look for. Truly great putters don’t just look from the ball to the hole. They survey there entire surroundings in great detail. The mound that is 20 feet to the left of your ball can affect the break,  most players would not even notice it. This is why nearly every amateur plays way too little break. Every so often you hear something like everything breaks towards the water, in order to be good, it has to be more detailed than this.

Next time you are on the practice green find a putt with a decent amount of break. Hit a couple putts without attempting to read the break at all. Now step back and take a look from behind the spot you were putting from. This time don’t just look between the ball and the hole. Look  at both sides of the green. Take note if the green is slanted from front to back, or left to right. A putt that appears to be straight can be severely affected by something you may not notice at first glance. Becoming  a great putter does not happen in a single practice session. It can take years for some to really learn to read greens. Being more aware of your surroundings can certainly put you on the right track.

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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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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
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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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Always Ask Better Players

One thing always surprises me when I am playing with amateurs and professionals in the same group. I rarely here golfers ask better players for advice or tips. Golf is something that takes years to master and often times a simple tip or piece of advice can work wonders on the course. It seems that often times people get intimidated when paired with better players. Often times they are nervous and simply afraid to come out and ask advice for a shot or how to play a hole.

The best advice is to ask away. I have never met an accomplished player that is not willing to help out another player. Golf is something they are all passionate about and more times than not they will be more than willing to help you out. So next time you are paired with someone that seems to have it all together on the course don’t be afraid to ask a few questions.

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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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Make the most of your winter golf trip

With some of the country buried in snow before Halloween many are already counting down the days to their winter golf trip. There is not much better than enjoying warm weather and sunshine on the course in the middle of the winter. The problem is that many of us that go on winter trips have not played in weeks if not months prior. This often leads to bad scoring and frustration and can dampen the fun of a winter getaway.

Making a couple preparations before your trip can not only lower your scores but also make your vacation more enjoyable. Obviously if you are able to play or go to the range then get as much playing time as you can before your trip. The following tips are for those that are either snowed in or kept off the course by freezing temperatures.

Practice putting whenever you can. The short game is the first thing to get rusty during the off season and making a twenty foot putt can make up for a lousy hole. Practice putting whenever and wherever you can. Practice on your living room floor or even on smooth tile. It will amaze you what a difference it makes when you get out on the course.

Buy a package of Table Tennis (Ping Pong) balls. This may sound strange but they allow you to practice pitching and chip shots inside without breaking the lamp. Practice hitting them onto the couch from varying distances and onto tables or nightstands. Just make sure you have plenty of room to swing without hitting anything valuable or breakable.

Finally play it safe on the course when you get there. If your game is rusty there is no need to try to take any unnecessary risks. Make sure that you are hitting to the widest part of the fairway and the middle of the greens. This will give you the most room possible for any errors. While this seems like something that people would automatically try to do they often get out on the course and try to swing as hard as possible on every shot. When you have not played for awhile this will not work. Play it safe and stay out of trouble to shoot your best vacation scores.

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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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Swing on one leg to improve balance

Trying to hit a golf ball while off balance is as hard as it gets. When watching a good golfer the easiest thing to recognize is how they remain in balance throughout the swing. Most amateur golfers have trouble with balance throughout the entire swing. Often times you will see people having to step out of the golf swing because their balance is so bad. While many golfers can set up to the golf ball in balance they often lose it quickly during the swing.

There is a very simple drill that is very effective in the development of dynamic balance, or balance during the swing. On the driving range set up to the ball with a narrow stance and lift your right leg, for right handed golfers, off the ground. From here simply hit golf balls. It is best to start out small just hitting pitch shots and work your way up from there. Chances are you will quickly see how off balance you get from the very beginning of your swing. Practicing this on a regular basis can help develop sound balance and greatly improve your swing.

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