You Got That Shot!

What is the object of the Game?

I am reminded of this each time I play with new players. I have to ask, what is the object of their game? They are constantly trying to hit shots that they are not able to hit. If the object is to hit one career shot each time you play, you will certainly be disappointed after most rounds. Players need to realize that playing out of trouble is one of the hardest skills to acquire. It also takes allot of discipline to resist temptation.

Here is the situation: I pull my drive left on hole one at JW Parks. This leaves me with little or no shot to the green. I now have to make a decision about my next shot. Do I try to go over the trees or do I punch it out into the fairway? This is a defining moment in my round and I have only played one shot of the tee. If I go for it and hit that career shot, I might get on the green and have a shot at a birdie. If I punch it out to the fairway I will for sure have a chance to pitch the ball on the green and make a par or bogie at worst. I know that Out of Bounds lurks over the green and the trees may knock my ball down into the woods.

There really is only one answer to this situation. Put the ball back into play and try to make the best score on the hole you can. You may hit the career shot, however the odds say that you will not and suffer the painful start of a double or triple bogie. I always look for my tee shot to tell me what score is par for the hole. If I am out of position off the tee I look for bogie as par. If I score better that it's a bonus.

Always remember the lowest score wins and nobody paints pictures on the scorecard. With a little course management, you may be able to save a few shots.

Down The Middle

As the weather gets better, most of us are getting a few more rounds of golf in. We are a little more comfortable with our swings and the course conditions are steadily improving. However, this season the ball seems to have just a slight tail from left to right (a fade) or the dreaded SLICE. As we work our way through a round with our new found shot pattern, we start aiming a little left to compensate for the fade. This is all too common in the beginning and here are some reasons why.

For most golfers the winter months are an opportunity for some outdoor recreation. Most of these activities such as skiing and snowmobiling are great fun but use different muscle groups than golf. That makes the first swings of the new season tight. With the lack of swings, we all lose flexibility and the result is a change in the club swing path. The fade or slice is created by an outside-in swing path which cuts across the ball and imparts a left to right spin. This swing path also opens the club face so the ball will go higher and lose some distance. Here are some common misconceptions about the slice:

1. If I aim more left the ball will come back to the center of the fairway. This is true if your natural swing pattern is a fade and not a slice. This technique usually will create more of an outside-in swing path and create a bigger slice.

2. I will play the ball more forward in my stance to allow the club to square up more at impact. This promotes less turn in the back swing which will cause more of a sway in the swing making you get in front of the ball on the downswing.

3. The one we all dread, my clubs may not fit me anymore and I need something with more flex in the shaft. This can be true in some instances. However, for most your clubs are just fine.
Remember that there are only the fundamentals of the swing that produce a quality golf shot. They are: Grip, Posture and Alignment. The grip is how we hold the club and needs to be consistent. Our posture need to be centered and in an athletic position to allow the transfer of weight throughout the golf swing. Alignment will need to be correct to allow for the club to swing around the body creating a swing path that comes from the inside on the downswing an out towards the target after impact.

Curing a fade or slice is more than aiming to the left. The best cure is to work on having more flexibility with you upper body and working on posture. This will allow you to make a better turn in the backswing. With a better turn, you will be able to hit from “Behind” the ball as opposed to “On Top” of the ball. The “behind” position promotes a forward swing that is from the inside and will straighten your shots out.

From the old adage, “It’s the Indian not the arrow”. Work hard and never give up on trying to improve your swing and overall golf game.

Michael Dugas
PGA Professional

Stretch Out The Kinks!

As time goes on we all lose flexibility. We see it more and more with each winters passing. What does that mean for your golf game? It can mean several different things. The most evident will be a loss of distance. You may also may see a drop in your accuracy as well.

What can you do to help? Here are a couple of simple exercises that will help you regain your Flexibility.

1. Put a club behind your back and put your arms over the club. The club should line up in the crease of your elbows. Work your upper body back and forth like you are making a full swing. try and hold you lower body still to give slight resistance.
2. Hold each arm one at a time across your chest with the other arm. You should feel a stretch in your shoulder.
3. Go outside and grip two club together and swing them as you would if you are hitting a full shot.

This will be a start to helping to stretch the kinks out for a new season. Remember, there is only so much you can do without solid fundamentals. Stay tuned as I will outline the fundamentals in future posts.

Sincerely,

Michael Dugas PGA Professional

Unplayable Ball

There are times in a round that you will find yourself in this position. A shot has been played and it is impossible or dangerous to swing at the next shot. The rules allow for this instance with the "unplayable Ball" rule 28. It is important to understand the options under the rules.

Under rule 28 "Unplayable Ball" there is three options under penalty of 1 stroke:

1. Drop a ball with in 2 club lengths from where the ball lies in any direction no closer to the hole.
2. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is to be dropped. There is no limit on how far back you may go.
3. Replace the shot from the spot where you just played from.

If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may proceed with options 1,2 or 3. If you elect to proceed under option 1 or 2 a ball must be dropped in the bunker.

While proceeding under this rule the player may lift and clean his/her ball or substitute a ball.

Penalty for breach of rule: Match Play- Loss of Hole Stroke Play-2 stroke

Option 3 is the most penal because it is a stroke and distance penalty, however to play a shot you may need to choose this option. There are some key factors to keep in mind, the rule allows the player to solely determine whether or not the ball is playable. It also does not mean you will have a clean and clear shot once proceeding under this rule.

Do not confuse the penalty of breach with the one stroke for involking the rule. The penalty for breach of the rule is only applied if you fail in the procedure of the rule.

Rules Questions

I am looking to answer any rules questions you may have. Send them to jwparksgolf@myfairpoint.net and I will post the question and answer to Mixed Grille Room.

Are you ready for the 2010 season?

As the weather turns to spring, we are all excited about breaking out our clubs. After five months of cold weather and indoor activity, it is refreshing to get outdoors. Here are a few tips to kick the 2010 season off right.

Make your clubs feel like new. All it will take is a new set of grips. After being in storage for five months and usually in the garage grips will harden. Sometimes they will even start to crack. It is a small amount of money to get a new set of grips today. A basic set installed will only run about $60.00. That's not much to make your clubs feel new again.

Get the most out of your old shoes. Chances are the ground will still be wet when you play your first round. This is why I always use my older shoes for the early round. I accept the fact they will get wet and dirty. This will also keep the new pair I bought last season fresh for when the ground hardens up.

One last thought, If I had a dollar for the times I have heard "I started out playing well and now my game has gotten worse" I would not have to work at all today. This is my theory, we all start a new season just happy to be outside. For this reason we do not have any expectation on our golf game. This allows us to just play and be thankful for the opportunity. As time goes on, we all think that our games should and will get better. There are no "givens" in golf other than we will have good days and bad. Practice and a pure enjoyment of the game will lead to more success.

Start the season off right. Maybe get some new grips or take a refresher lesson. Give yourself an opportunity to get the most out of the season.