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!

Rules: Brad Gregory, Vice Chairman PGA Rules Committee

Q: Brad, please explain the near disqualification of McIlroy for the supposed "kicking sand" incident during his 2nd round. Why was there so much discussion about this potential violation? Thank you.
Butch

Rory McIlroy's actions in a bunker during the second round nearly disaqualified him from the Masters. (Photo: Getty Images)

A: The incident occurred at the 18th hole. Rory McIlroy played a stroke at his ball from the green side bunker and left it in the bunker. He immediately made a swipe with his foot moving some sand. This action came to the attention of the Rules Committee after Rory had signed his card.

Rule 13-4 says in part; before making a stroke at a ball that is in a hazard, the player must not test the condition of the hazard. This testing would include kicking the ground in a hazard (Decision 13-4/0.5). The penalty for breach of Rule 13-4 in stroke play is 2 strokes and since he did not include this penalty on his scorecard Rory would be subject to disqualification. However, Exception 2 to this Rule allows a player after making a stroke to smooth the sand as long as it does not improve his lie, area of intended stance or swing, or line of play for his next stroke. Was Rory kicking or smoothing?

Friday evening he was asked to return to the Club and review the tape. Rory explained the purpose of swiping his foot after playing a bunker shot is to fill in the hole made by his swing and said he does this on most bunker shots. It was ruled that Rory was smoothing and no penalty was incurred.

Q: I was just watching the Masters. Padraig Harrington was addressing the ball on the 15th putting green, he stepped away and gust of wind came up and pushed the ball down the hill. He was penalized one penalty stroke and he replaced the ball. That must be the Rule but it makes no sense. He did nothing wrong. What do you think?
Rick Craig

A: Rule 18-2b (Ball at Rest Moved; By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment; Ball Moving After Address) states: "If a player's ball in play moves after he has addressed it (other than as a result of a stroke), the player is deemed to have moved the ball and incurs a penalty of one stroke." Once Padraig took his stance and grounded his club, he is under risk even though he had stepped away from the ball. The term "deemed" does not contemplate whether the movement of the ball was actually caused by the player. It is presumed he did.

There is a way Padraig could have "unaddressed" the ball. If he were to mark, lift and replace the ball again. In this case Decision 18-2b/8 (Player Addresses Ball, Steps Away, Lifts Ball and Replaces It; Ball Then Moves) says in part; "the presumption inherent in the Rule that the act of addressing the ball caused the ball to move is no longer valid."

When playing fast greens in windy conditions and the ball is precariously balanced on a slope... don't ground the putter! This way the only time one incurs a penalty stroke is if he or she causes it to move.

Instruction: Martin Hall, 2008 PGA National Teacher of the Year

Q: Dear Mr. Hall,

Since many years I'm affected by a bowed left wrist at the top of my backswing, getting worse during the transition. Can you please explain to me which could have been the origin and what would be the cure for that problem?

Many thanks in advance, Best regards
Stefano Costigliolo (8 hcp)

Answer: A bowed left wrist is also the equivalent of an extremely bent right wrist. Most likely as you take the club away from the ball, the club head goes inside to quickly, behind the hands to early, and the right wrist bends back to much, many times making the club face close. Try the feeling of keep the right wrist flat through the swing, that will probably help.
Good luck,
Martin

Q: For some reason when I swing my 3 wood the swing speed is about 10 mph faster than when I swing my driver. I feel like I am making the same swings, but something is causing the decrease in clubhead speed. Any explaination as to why this might be happening?
Justin St. Clair

Answer: The only reason I could think of why your swing speed would be greater with your 3-wood than your driver would be if either your driver shaft is to short or to flexible. Or, your 3-wood shaft is longer than standard. I would take both clubs to a professional club fitter and have them checked out.

Good luck,
Martin

Equipment: Eric Hogge, PGA - PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance

Q: My question is about shaft torque.

I understand that the torque number of a golf shaft relates to the resistance to twisting at impact but what I would like to know is what advantage is there to a higher torque number over a lower one? My swing speed is 90 mph with a driver and I fly the ball about 225yds with a 54gm Harrison shaft 2.8 torque.

What would a higher torque value do to my slight draw. Thank you Eric.
Ken Hanley

A: Mr. Hanley,

A higher torque shaft will generally give a player a higher ball flight with more spin. Torque also helps control the closing of the club face through the impact zone. A high torque number (say above 4.0 degrees) would have more rotation through this zone. Because of this and your existing slight draw, a higher torques shaft could encourage more left shots (for a right handed player).

At 90 miles per hour club head speed and carrying the ball 225 with your slight draw, I would say that your shaft is efficient and would feel uncomfortable recommending more torque.

Thank you,

Q: There is a demo day that all the "big" club makers will be attending in my city in a few weeks. I have never attended one before and looking for a new custom set of irons. I don't hit the center of the clubface on a regular basis and get lessons when I have the extra money. What is the recommended way to be able to handle a demo day with so many options. What is the best way to decide on which brand to buy.

Thanks so much
Jeff R

A: Jeff,

The club fitting is the key here. One of the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) vendor representatives or a PGA Professional can help you with the club specifications to fit your game. This will include lie, length, shaft flex and material, club head style, grip size and style and set make up to name a few of the fitting variables.

Armed with this information, I would "test drive" as much of the equipment that fits your specifications as you can. One of the brands should stand out as the clear winner with regard to look and feel. Do not discount the cosmetics of the clubs you try. If the appearance of the clubs is pleasing to you, it will increase your enthusiasm for playing and hitting quality shots.

Thank you,

Fitness: David Donnatucci, PGA Director of Fitness

Q: Hi.

I broke my right wrist a year ago and was 7 hcp how can i strenthen my wrist back to what it was.
Stuart

A: Stuart There are many ways to strengthen the wrist. You need to perform extension, Flexion, supination, pronation, and squeezes.hold arm straight out from your body and point fingers to the sky (extension) fingers point down (flexion) rotate hand so palm faces up (supination) return hand and thumb points down (pronation), squeezes-grab a soft ball (tennis, racquet, rubber, etc.) place it in the palm of your hand and squeeze. Perform 1-2 exercise per day for 10-15 reps each every day.

Q: I am a 64 year old male and play roughly 120 games per season. During the off season I attend a fitness center in an attempt to increase strength and flexibility. I have been told to do my strength training using slow motions. I have read a little about fast twitch muscles and feel they play a role in the golf swing. Am I correct and if so how do I add this to my routine?

A: The golf swing is effortless power, which is the systematic firing of your muscles to generate speed to hit the ball far. The "fast twitch" is the firing capacity of the muscle. Some muscles are predominately fast twitch while others are predominately slow twitch. Training should combine both fast or power movements and strength or stability movements. I term slow motions in strength training to be greater than 3 second movements either in the push or pull of the activity. If you are performing these or slower motions, 10 plus seconds of movement, you are training to be a slow moving golfer. Your body or muscles respond to training directly; meaning if you train slow you will be slow. Increase swing speed equals increase distance. The combination of power, strength ( 1-2 second movements), stability and mobility are essential to improve golf performance.