Golf Tips for Amateur Golfers

Playing with amateurs on a regular basis, I have noticed most of the advice I give boils down to one thing.  Give a simple tip that gets them back on track. Following are several useful golf tips that have helped many amateur golfers over the years:

Ten Finger Grip

• Practice with a ten finger grip to improve the chipping technique.
• For golfers who come over the top on their down swing, practice hitting balls with a closed stance to improve the swing path.
• Think of the golf swing as one continuous motion.  This will help to gradually accelerate club speed without any wasted motion during the downswing
• To make contact with the ball, practice using a ½ to ¾ backswing and ½ to ¾ finish.  This will get the arms and body together and help to build confidence.
• Putt like there is no ball there. This takes the anticipation out of the hit of the stroke and improves speed control.

These are a few golf tips from “Golf Tips from the Tour.” For more golf tips or to learn about the “Pocket Pro” edition of “Golf Tips from the Tour” visit JLLewisGolfTips.com.

Interview: PGA TOUR TaylorMade Golf Equipment Representative Paul Loegering

The USGA enforced a new rule, put into effect in January of this year.  The rule puts restrictions on the shape of grooves in irons and wedges for professional competitive golf. Visit the USGA’s website for more details about this rule change. Paul Loegering, a TaylorMade representative for the PGA TOUR discusses the changes in his company’s clubs and gives his opinions on how the golf marketplace will change in response to this new rule.

Q:  How does the new equipment groove rule change effect your company’s production of golf clubs?

A: In reference to general production, it’s like starting over. We have to spend research and development time as well as marketing and production dollars to put a new product in line. March 2009 is when we started making changes. For anything that’s done in reference to changing a product line, the research and development team is working a year to a year and a half before the new products are released.

Q: How are you going to adapt or have already adapted your equipment to the market place and on the professional golf tours?

A: The new groove rule change will be grandfathered in for competitive amateur play in 2014. Since the groove rule change is in place for the professional golf tours this year, selling new grooves in irons is what we’re doing now. We are trying to refit every PGA TOUR player for irons.  That is my goal. We are also selling our new irons, called R-9 to the public beginning in March 2010. Also, we have a great technology in our wedges. They have an interchangeable face, so the face can be taken off just where the grooves are. These new wedges will create less spin.  So to keep grooves fresh when  they wear down, just change the face.  These new irons are in play this week at the Sony Open.

Q: Will golf equipment companies modify equipment for professional golfers only or for the general golfing community also? How will this new groove rule change effect the amateur golfer?

A: It is too soon to tell how the clubs will affect the amateur.  My focus is to make sure PGA TOUR golfers are ready to play products.  Their new products will go into retail stores in March 2010.  We will know then how amateurs will accept the new clubs.

Q: Will golfers have to change golf balls because of the new groove change? Will this effect golf ball sales?

A: From a Taylormade standpoint, yes, golf ball sales will be effected 100% on the pro level.  Within the industry everyone is designing new golf balls to accommodate the less aggressive grooves. TaylorMade’s new ball – Penta – is adapted for the new grooves. Penta stands for five layers.  The cover is softer, and the additional layer underneath the cover is to make the ball softer also.

Q: Does the rule change help or hurt your business?

A: It is a double-edged sword. And it’s too early to tell.  Obviously there are a lot of overhead and research and development costs that go into any new product. Having to change the entire iron line costs a lot of money.

Q: Do you expect any other equipment rule changes in the near future?

A: Like with any governing body the USGA creates the rules. There will definitely be changes. If you go back five years the biggest changes were limiting the rebound affect and Momentum of Intertia (MOI) on drivers, and limiting what technology you can put on the golf ball to create distance. I hope it’s not the case that there will be more changes in the future.

How the USGA’s Groove Rule Change will Affect the PGA TOUR Professional

The new rule implemented by the USGA which went into effect January 1, 2010 will change the game of golf in several ways. The rule puts restrictions on the shape of grooves in irons and wedges for professional competitive golf. Visit the USGA’s website for more details about this rule change.

The ball is going to have as much as 50 percent less spin on irons and wedges. This means the ball will fly lower, land harder, and react totally different on shots from the rough and around the greens. For example, a 175 yard shot from medium height rough is going to have half as much spin which will cause the ball to fly inconsistently and scoring to be more difficult. Manufacturers have spent the last 30 years making the ball harder with less spin to create more distance. The new groove regulations have caused manufacturers to spend extra time and money to make grooves that conform and golf balls with more spin. For PGA TOUR players this is a big adjustment which will take time and effort to find the correct ball to accommodate the new V-shaped grooves. Both long and short hitters will be affected in different ways. Long hitters will not be able to get the extra yardage they have grown accustomed to. Since the ball spins less, a softer ball must be played to get the ball in the air on the proper trajectory. Short hitters will also have to find a softer ball to help them with getting the ball in the air and this could add to their distance disadvantage. The ball will feel different on and around the greens for all players. The flyer from the rough will be much more common which should cause players to be more conservative on approach shots.

Everything considered, the groove change is going to affect all players and make scoring more challenging. As many as 90 percent of PGA TOUR players will need to change their golf ball to accommodate the new grooves. Any equipment variations take time and effort in competition. This is the most significant equipment alteration in a long time and it will be interesting to observe who can make these adjustments effectively.

In 1983 I asked our local professional if he thought I could make it on the PGA TOUR. His reply has stuck with me to this day. He said, “There is no way anyone else could ever answer that question for you. You have to believe in yourself and what you are capable of. What you achieve will be a reflection of your own thoughts.” This was great advice because it made me realize that the amount of effort, the intensity of my desire, the ability to overcome adversity, and the level of tolerance and perseverance needed to succeed are all controlled by my own self motivation.

Ability is a factor in being able to play any sport professionally. However, there are extremely talented athletes that never achieve their potential. On the PGA TOUR numerous players have done extremely well contrary to what many critics believed they would do.

PGA TOUR Player Personas:
There are many examples of players on the PGA TOUR who have created their own winning personas. Corey Pavin has had many PGA wins including a major championship during his career. He makes up for a lack of distance with gritty determination and an outstanding short game. Additionally, Corey has a tremendous desire to win and works nonstop on all parts of his game. Scott Verplank has been one of the most consistent money winners in the history of the PGA TOUR. His caddie once told me that on approach shots from inside 100 yards Scott rarely ends up with a putt of more than six feet. Since forty-three percent of all strokes are taken from inside 100 yards, mastering this aspect of the game, short game and chip shots, has led to his success. Many criticize Jim Furyk’s unorthodox golf swing; however, results are what matter. Jim has improved his golf swing to perfection which now produces consistently good shots and top finishes with regularity. Corey Pavin, Scott Verplank, and Jim Furyk have developed outstanding skills to go along with the work ethic needed to be successful on the PGA TOUR.