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 National Teacher of the Year

Q: Hi,
I have spent thousands of dollars on golf lessons, and yet no one has been able to shorten my backswing. Once i get past parrallel i lost all the good angles. please help. sam the frustrated golfer.
sam rudzyn

A: Most of the time swinging back too far is a right arm problem for the right handed golfer. Fell like your right arm barely bends in the backswing, and that your right hand pushes against your left thumb as you complete your backswing, that should help.
Good luck,
Martin

Q: I've started hitting my wedges fat. Short shots, full shots -fat! I've tried a check list of diagnostics: tried flattening my swing, steepening by swing,weight foreward, head still, quiet lower body, active lower bory, shoulder turn, less active hands- still fat. Now, I try to keep my approach shots to 120 yds. I'm a 9 handicap and generally I know what I'm doing, but this has me stumped. HELP!chris steinmuller

A: Chris, sounds to me like you might be stopping your hip roatation through the hitting area, and throwing the clubhead at the ball with your hands. Try turning through more aggresively to the target and try to keep the right wrist bent back as you do that.
Good luck,
Martin

Rules: Brad Gregory, Vice Chairman PGA Rules Committee

Q: In match play scoring results I don't understand what a score, such as 2 & 1, or 3 & 2 means. Can you please explain what these numbers mean?
Michael Gibb

A: Match play is a game played by holes. A hole is won by the side that holes its ball in the fewer strokes. A match is won when one side leads by a number of holes greater than the number remaining to be played.

The numbers you mention represent the result of the match. The number of holes a side is up followed by the number of holes remaining. Therefore a match can end after 17 holes (e.g. 2 & 1 or 3 & 1), 16 holes (e.g. 3 & 2 or 4 $ 2), etc.

Q: While on the green, in the line of the putt there is an old hole depression. May a player take relief from that depression?
Perry Freeman

A: Decision 16-1c/3 asks that very question and states: "The player may attempt to raise or lower the plug to make it level with the surface of the putting green - Rule 16-1c. If this is impossible, he may discontinue play and ask the Committee to raise or lower the plug. If the Committee cannot level the plug without unduly delaying play, the Committee should declare the plug to be ground under repair, in which case the player would be entitled to relief under Rule 25-1b(iii)."

In your case, if you can't raise the plug and the Committee is not available, in stroke play you could play a second ball. Announce your intention to a fellow-competitor and select the second ball as the ball you wish to count. Play out the original ball, place a second ball at the nearest point of relief, play out the second ball and report to the Committee. This way the Committee can decide if the old hole plug is in fact ground under repair and if your second ball can count.

Equipment: Eric Hogge, PGA - PGA Learning Center

Q: I'm currently hitting a 9.5 degree Nike Driver. I've got a very fast swing, and a stock stiff shaft on the club. My shots seem to be coming off the club with a much higher trajectory than I'd like. What are my options to get a lower ball flight? Should I look at a stiffer shaft, an 8.5 degree driver, or something else?
Matt

A: Matt, club head speed and driver loft are factors in ball launch trajectory. However, they are not the only ones to consider. Shafts with a higher kick point will hit the ball lower. Heavier shafts will tend to hit the ball lower as well. Where the weight is distributed in the club head can also be a factor.

Hitting the ball lower will not necessarily maximize your performance with the driver. I would start by getting fit by a PGA professional to optimize your launch conditions. Having said this, to lower your trajectory, I would look for stiffer and heavier shafts, a higher kick point (tip stiff) shaft and less loft.

Thank you,

Q: Aloha,

My golfing buddies and I need a friendly bet settled. Do the Pros use different golf balls than the rest of us? One buddy thinks that because of sponsors and endorsements they get specially made balls. I say, because of USGA rules they can't. Please enlighten us.
Mahalo,
Leo

(Photo: Getty Images)

A: Leo, the tour players do hit the same balls that we play. The balls that we play are made well and are much more consistent than they have been in the past. Companies will hand select balls for a player based on a player's preferences (IE - only odd numbers). They also will change the ball in play much more often than the amateur player.

You are correct that the USGA allows only conforming balls from predetermined specifications for initial velocity, weight and size to name only a few of the requirements. This conforming ball list is the same that we use for any club tournament or local event. One of the traditions of this greatest of all games is that we play with the same rules from the tour champion to the weekend warrior.

Thank you,