Instruction: Jim Hardy, PGA National Teacher of the Year

Q: With my driver and fairway woods i have an outside to inside swing causing a severe slice. im fine with my irons only happens with woods. what can i do to correct this??? Joe Z.

A: Unfortunately your out-to-in swing is the same with both the irons as well as the woods. It does not show up with the irons because they are lofted and put backspin on the ball. The woods are less lofted and instead of backspin they put side spin on the ball and that produces a big slice. I will suggest two methods to try that will correct this. One method is to flatten your swing by allowing your right arm (if you play right handed) to extend as far behind you as you can in the backswing and then to allow it to rotate counter-clockwise in the downswing to close the club face and hook the ball. The other method is to swing more inside-out. To do so you must swing both arms more vertically DOWN near your right pants leg and then OUT to the ball. This is the reverse of your mistake of swinging OUTWARD first in the downswing and then DOWN at the ball. Try both methods and stick with the one that gives you the better results.

Q: How do i stop thinking about my score during a tournament or qualifiers? When i play for score i can not help thinking obout what i did on the hole before if it was a birdie or a bogey. I just can not help it. during practice i listen to music and that makes me not focuse on score but in tournaments you can not. i was just wondering if you guys had any tips for this kind of problem. John

A: You are always free to choose what you want to think about. No one is making you think score but you. All great sports psychologists say to immerse yourself into the process rather than the outcome. Score is an outcome of the process. If you think what you want to do and how to do it (PROCESS) versus where this shot might end up or what might happen to your score (OUTCOME) then you will be doing what all successful tournament players do. If you are worried about where the ball might go or what you are scores might be then you are thinking what all unsuccessful golfers are thinking about. I would like to recommend a book to you, "Golf's Sacred Journey" by Dr. David Cook. It is the best book on this subject I have ever read. You can find it at; www.linksofutopia.com

Rules: Brad Gregory, Vice-Chairman, PGA Rules Committee

Q: I take a practice swing on the teeing ground and unintentionally hit the ball. Is this counted as a stroke? I do the same thing in the fairway. Is this a stroke? Rusty Brett

A: The definition of a stroke says in part that "A stroke is the forward movement of the club with the intention of striking at and moving the ball." A practice swing is not a stroke. So in either case a stroke has not been made.

Before playing from the teeing ground, if you accidentally struck your ball during a practice swing there is no penalty and you must put a ball into play from the teeing ground (see Decision 18-2a/19). Even if this practice swing sent the ball 250 yards down the fairway.

If a practice swing moves your ball in the fairway, it's a different story. You would incur a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a for moving your ball in play, and the ball must be replaced (see Decision 18-2a/20).

Q: Can you be in a competition with lead tape on your driver or any of your clubs? Jeff

A: Yes (see Decision 4-1/4). Lead tape is an exception to Appendix II, 1b(ii) which says that "all adjustable parts are firmly fixed and there is no reasonable likelihood of them working loose during a round."

This lead tape may applied before a round. However, the player must not remove, add or alter this lead tape during the round unless it becomes detached in the normal course of play. In this case the player may restore the club, as nearly as possible, to its previous condition (see Decision 4-2/0.5)

Equipment: Tom Henderson, PGA Professional & Master Club Fitter

Q: The pro at dick's told me my x-16s were too short for me after looking at my broken 6 iron and all the marks were high on the outside.of club face. Is he right? Bill

A: Bill, the "Pro" may be right but it's hard to definitely say.

If a club is on the short side, the marks on the club face MAY be on the toe side of center while marks of the inside of the face MAY indicate a length that is too long. "MAY" is the operative word.

The best thing to do is to have your PGA Professional watch you hit balls, observing actual ball flight, to help you determine the proper length for you.

Q: Is there a formula to calculate the club head speed equals distance. lets say a swing speed of 105 mph with a 10.5 driver = say 200 yd carry. thanks C.J.
Christopher

A: C.J., oh, if it were that simple!

As I tell all of my students that the equation for distance is: Distance = Clubhead Speed + Centeredness of Hit. I seen some unbelievable clubhead speeds that can't find the center of the clubface and, as a result, hit the ball nowhere (on this planet). Learn to find the center of the face by hitting balls with face tape on your clubs.

Finding the center of the clubface with adequate clubhead speed will give you the best combination for distance.

Fitness: Dave Phillips, Titleist Performance Institute

Q: I hit the ball nearly as far and much straighter when I have my legs almost together. I am theefore not producing any real power or consistency with my legs. What are the best exercises to improve my foundation and balance? (handicap 10)

A: Your assuming that with your feet together you are improving your foundation and balance, but that can be a bad assumption. Most players have better stability and balance with their feet further apart. When players play better with their feet together I usually assume that they have limitations in flexibility and mobility as this allows them to rotate their hips better. I would look at your ability to seperate your lower body from your upper body. If you go to the www.mytpi.com website and go to the golf fitness tab, then select the exercise library and look up the video stork turns and side steps up's these would be great exercises to help improve your foundation.

Good luck Dave