Editors Note: Each week, we receive hundreds of questions for our PGA Experts. Though we can't answer every one of them, we will take some of the most illuminating and beneficial questions and have one of the top authorities from the PGA of America to answer them for you. We are in the process of finding ways for more experts to answer more of your questions! Thank you for your support and keep the questions coming!

Instruction: Martin Hall, 2008 PGA Teacher of the Year

Q: I'm a senior golfer and I use graphite shafts - I have for several years. Please explain the punch shot. I was watching the Sony Open and I saw several players with abbreviated swings. Nick Faldo tried to describe it but I didn't understant. I've played for almost 50 years and my distance has lessened. I can still make a full turn. I usually try to avoid playing if it's real windy because I have an upright swing and hit the ball high. Thank you for your time.
David Forgrave

A: The "Punch" shot is just another name for a low ball, usually hit into the wind. The key is at impact to de-loft the club you are using, thus resulting in a lower shot which will be less affected by the wind.

Keys to a successful punch shot.

1) put more weight on your front foot than normal
2) play the ball back in the stance
3) keep the weight on your front foot as you make your backswing
4) perhaps most important, have the hands ahead at impact, a feeling that the right wrist is still bent back as you hit the ball.

This should help,
Martin

Q: Dear Martin, my daughter suffers from crossing the line at the top. She is right handed and her shaft at the top many times points to right feild. I have tried many things but have not come up with a simple cure. She says she cannot even feel it when she does it. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Mike Hainline

A: Crossing the line is a "slippery fish" to deal with but is flexible. At the end of her backswing try to get more weight on her right heel, not at the toes of the left foot. Also, encourage your daughter to rotate both arms clockwise as she finishes her backswing, so the back of the left hand and the palm of the right hand point more skyward and her thumbs point behind her.
Good luck,
Martin

Rules: Brad Gregory - Vice Chairman, PGA Rules Committee

Q: I mark my ball on the putting green, pick it up and clean it, replace it and before I take my marker away the ball rolls to another spot. What is the ruling?
Thank you
Regards
David

A: Under Rule 20-4 (When Ball Dropped or Placed Is in Play), your ball is in play when it is replaced regardless as to whether the ball-marker has been removed. If a your ball came to rest when replaced and subsequently was moved by water, wind or gravity you must play the ball from its new location. This new location may be closer or farther from the hole. In either case there is no penalty.

Q: If a rake is in the bunker and the ball rest against it in such a way moving the rake will cause the ball to move, can the rake be moved without penalty if the ball is replaced to it's original place?
Dennis Bertzyk

A: Yes. A rake is a movable obstruction. If your ball is resting against or near a movable obstruction Rule 24-1 (Movable Obstruction) says in part that; "the obstruction may be removed. If the ball moves, it must be replaced, and there is no penalty, provided that the movement of the ball was directly attributable to the removal of the obstruction." This means there is no charge for the ball moving unless for example; as you were approaching the ball you kicked with your foot. This is a one stroke penalty under Rule 18-2a (Ball at Rest Moved by Player). I would recommend marking the position of the ball prior to the removal of the rake, in case the ball does move, you will know the spot on which to replace it.

Equipment - Eric Hogge, PGA Professional

Q: i tend to hit my woods - 8iron in the center of the club face most of the time but when i get to my 9 - sw, the worn area of my blades is toward the toe and not in the center like the rest. can you give any suggestions? my clubs are 1" longer than standard and bent one degree upright.
thanks
pat

A: Hitting on the toe can be the result of many things. However, because it only occurs in your shorter clubs may speak of these clubs not matching the others. Clubs (especially the ones we use often) can, through ware, move in their specifications. The first thing I would check is to see if this is the case with a PGA Professional putting your clubs on the rack and having them "speced" out. Some players will make their shorter clubs flatter than the rest of the matched set. This allows the player to open the blade on the wedges more comfortably.

Because you are one degree upright and one inch long, traditionally this approach would make sense. However, I do not believe that making your clubs flatter will lead to fewer toe hits.

If the club specifications are not the issue I think a specific short game / short club lesson and fitting is in order. Perhaps the swing your are attempting to make with these shorter clubs changes from your "usual" motions (ball position, grip, alignment...). An incorrect ball position could lead to inconsistency this part of your set.

Q: I have a tendency to get very quick at the top and start my downswing. Will increasing the swingwight help me slow down.
Bryan

A: I believe that making your swing weight heavier will have a minimal effect in slowing down your timing. As I am sure you know, swing weight is a weight relationship between the grip end and the club head end. It has nothing to do with overall weight. In other words, a feather and a railroad spike may have the same swing weight. I think making the overall weight heavier might slow things down if this is an issue but in most instances I would recommend against it.

I am more convinced that the timing of the swing (even at the top) has more to do with the swing than the club. For instance, if a swing is out of position a player may have a need to hurry in order to get back into a proper position mechanically. Interestingly, through my teaching I have found that touring professionals tend to have faster rhythms than a large percentage of the amateurs. In general, I would look for a reason for the quick transition. Instead of it being the villain, it may be the victim.

Fitness: David Donnatucci - Director of Fitnes, PGA Learning Center

Q: Good afternoon. I'm having a problem with stamina. I start of real good then I seem to tail off on the back nine. I believe it might be what I'm eating. Can you recommend some foods that I could eat while playing. Thanks.

A: The best advice is to eat every 2-3 hours while playing and consume low sugar foods. also referred to as low glycemic. If you balance your foods with protein during the round you should avoid the sugar highs and lows.

Gatorade can produce a high and low as well. Bars that you consume should have a 2:1 or max 3:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio. Meaning the number of grams of protein should be at least half that of the carbohydrates. Try to avoid white breads, and candy while playing.