Feb. 25 -- Instruction: Jim Hardy, 2007 PGA National Teacher of the Year

Q: I've been golfing for several years. For the life of me, I still can't hit any long irons. I've tried different things, taken lessons but just can't get it together. I've been told the hybrids are the way to got but I think I need to fix my fundamentals first. Would new equipment help? Can you offer any advice?
Chuck McCabe

A: Chuck, you are not alone in having a difficult time with long irons. Even some great players did as well. Trevino claimed that you could use a long iron in a lighting storm because even God couldn't hit a 1 iron. Long irons require a swing angle that is decidedly up/down/under and then back up again. More like a Ferris-Wheel than a Merry-Go-Round. That is why Nicklaus and Watson were great long iron players and Trevino and Player were not. My advice would be to NOT change your swing to just hit better long irons, it might wreck the things you already do well. Instead do what most all are doing...go to the hybrids.

Gary Player has won 163 times worldwide and 9 major championships. (WireImage.com)

Q: Hi Jim, I'm about a 10 handicap, and I'm trying hard to perfect my swing. I hit the ball very well, but often topple forward toward the target (like Gary Players step through drill). I do believe I may have too much lateral movement to the left leg to start the downswing, and maybe my legs are outracing my arm swing, but I do hit the ball well this way. One golf DVD I purchased calls it a collapsed left leg, and prescribes hitting balls with the left toe pointed inward (pointed behind the ball), but that doesn't seem to work for me. It also seems to indicate that hitting against a "softer" left side costs me distance (but I hit my 6 iron 170 yards.) Sure I would like more yardage too! I'm pretty good at hitting balls with my feet together and staying balanced, so maybe I'm just trying to hit it too hard...I dont know! What do you think? Any drills you could prescribe? Thank you very very much.

A: Rob, what you describe as the Gary Player step through is in fact a drill I use with many players to help them get the right side through the ball better. I very much subscribe to what Gary Player did, especially for flatter, one-plane golf swings. It is an excellent way to play for those golfers and I would advise you to continue to do it if it is working for you. Tell the golfers that find it strange that if it was good enough for Player, it's good enough for you.
Rob

Rules: Brad Gregory, Vice-Chairman PGA Rules Commitee

Q: When you address the ball on the tee and your club accidentally touches the ball making it fall from off tee does that count as a stroke? If so, do you have to hit the ball from the ground without teeing it up again?
mark gilley

A: Prior to making a stroke at a ball from the teeing ground, the ball is not in play. If such a ball falls off the tee or is knocked off the tee by the player in addressing it, it may be re-teed, without penalty. See Rule 11-3 (Ball Falling off Tee). The same would be true, if the player were making a practice swing and accidentally struck the ball. A practice swing is not a stroke and since the ball was not in play the player incurs no penalty. In any of these cases, the player must put a ball into play from the teeing ground by making a stroke at it.

Q: While putting on the green, a ball from the group behind hits me making me miss my putt. What is the ruling for both myself and the player who hit me.
Thanks Dennis ..Bakersfield, CA

A: Unfortunately, the distraction of the incoming ball is just that, a distraction (even though it may leave a bruise) and there is nothing the Rules can do for you. If the incoming ball moved your ball or if your ball was in motion and it deflected or stopped it, Rules 18-5 (Ball at Rest Moved; By Another Ball) or Rule 19-5 (Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped; By Another Ball) would apply. However, in your case, you must play your ball where it came to rest after the stroke.

The player playing behind you would also play his ball where it came to rest, without penalty. He should certainly apologize to you and in the future ensure that players in front are out of range before he makes a stroke.