Expert Answers: Vol. 13

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:

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

Question: What is the best way of ensuring the swing is on plane during the early part of the take away.
Thanks
Stephen Horsfield

Answer: An easy way to check yourself would be to lay a club down in front of your feet parallel to your target line. As you take the club back, when the shaft of the club is parallel with the ground, it should also be parallel to club that's along your feet. If it is parallel to the club on the ground and parallel to your target line, you know the first part of your swing is on plane. Just remember to let your body move your hands into this position and NOT just by bending your wrists.
Best of luck,
Martin

Question: My 16 yr old hits a nice little draw , but lately he sometimes starts to push the ball straight right and he gets frustrated because i can't figure it out. HELP> i think he quits on his follow through maybe trying to guide the ball instead of crushing it, could this be a fault.
Todd

Answer: Hello Todd. Yes it could be a fault if he's not finishing the swing but it also might not be the actual root of this evil. If you want to incorporate more of a draw spin we'll have to get the club face to rotate just a bit more on the way down. A great way of doing this is starting with the grip. Make sure that when your son puts his grip on the club that both V's in the grip are parallel to one another and that they both point up between the right ear and the right shoulder (right handed player). Make small adjustments and you'll see big results.
Best of luck,
Martin

Rules: Ron Hickman, Vice Chairman PGA Rules Committee

Question: A ball comes to rest behind a green, in the rough, where the maintenance crew had dumped cuttings of grass after mowing the green. The ball is in that pile. Is there relief?
Johnie Davis

Answer: The grass clippings are loose impediments. Since the ball is at rest through the green the player may remove the lose impediments but must be mindful that this action must not cause his ball to move. If grass clipping adhere to the ball then the grass clipping that adhering must not be removed.

Free Relief for your ball which has come to rest on a pile of grass clippings will depend on the maintenance practice at the course. Relief under Rule 25 (ground under repair) is only available when the grass clippings have been piled for removal by the course staff. The removal would likely take place on a daily basis.

At many course the scattering of grass clippings is a very common practice. When scattered without the intention of removal there is no relief under Rule 25. Remember that these clippings will always be loose impediments regardless of the maintenance practices of the club. See Decision 25/11 for more details.

What are the rules about ball placement and foot placement in the tee area?
Joe Pizza

Answer: The teeing area is a very defined area and in fact is one of the definitions. " It is the starting place for the hole being played. It is a rectangular area two club lengths in depth, the fronts and sides of which are defined by the outermost limits of two tee markers." The key point is measuring for the outside of the tee markers.

The rules only require that a part of the ball be played from within this defined area. That means if ¾ of your ball is positioned outside of the defined area, then the ball is considered to be within the teeing ground.

Regarding the location of your feet, well the rules do not care but as a teacher I would suggest level ground in or outside the tee ground. The last sentence of the definition sum it up best "A ball is outside the teeing ground when ALL of it lies outside the teeing ground.

Equipment: Eric Hogge, PGA - Director of Clubfitting for PGA of America

How do you determine the loft of your driver. I play a 9 degree loft and hit a very high shot. I drive fairly accurate and drive the ball an average of 225-235 yards. Whould I gain anything with more loft?

Answer: Mr. Beatty,

The loft of a driver is a critical factor in maximizing distance on the tee shots. More loft, in general, will give you a higher launch with more backspin. From your description of "a very high shot" I would think more loft would not be the way to go. At your distance, I am assuming that your club speed is in the 90-95 miles per hour range. This usually fits between 9 degrees and 10.5 degrees of loft with a regular flex to optimize your launch conditions.

Today the PGA Professional is armed with computer based launch monitor technology to accurately measure ball flight. We have learned that the one size fits all approach is not viable. There are many factors to consider and I would recommend visiting a PGA Professional to help you sort out your driver fitting. These factors can include shaft flex and kick point (if the kick point of the shaft is low, a player tends to hit the ball higher), length and weight of shaft, the center of gravity of the club head and even ball type plays a roll.

Thank you

How do i go about ensuring a good club fitting? I am in the market for new clubs and would like to know if having custom clubs made is better than buying them off the rack from a brand name manufacturer.

For a bogey golfer in his late fifties, are forged irons better than investment cast? Are steel shafts better than graphite? Are over-sized heads better than regular sized heads for irons and woods?
Help!
Best regards,
john nowitsch

Answer: The reputation of a club fitter and the recommendations of trusted friends and experienced professionals is the best way to ensure a proper club fitting from a trained professional. In a perfect situation your golf instructor actively participates in the club fitting process in partnership with the fitter.

I believe that the characteristics of your clubs can alter your swing. If you were to shoot an arrow with a bow that consistently shot 10 degrees to the left of the bull's eye, you would learn to aim 10 degrees to the right. I think the same is true about the clubs we use. If my clubs are misfit, I have to alter my swing to hit a successful shot. This game is difficult enough without having to make my swing fit the equipment. I would rather have the equipment fit the swing.

I feel that the decision between cast and forged clubs is one of preference. There are many great players, including the current Masters Champion, playing cast clubs and many others playing forged. Some would say that forged clubs "feel" softer but individual "taste tests" may vary. Try both and decide based of feel.

In general, steel shafts are heavier than graphite. In the irons, where a player is not trying to maximize distance but consistently trying to hit a distance gap, steel shafts may be desired. However, graphite does have more vibration dampening capabilities than steel and those with joint pain may like this feel better.

Oversized heads usually are better on off-center strikes because of a larger moment of inertia (MOI) or sweet spot. Because of this larger window for error, shaping shots or "working" the ball is more difficult. The cosmetics of a club is important as well. A particular shaped club head may be appealing to some and not others. With all fitting questions it is best to have a trained PGA Professional lead you through the process.

Thank you,

Fitness: David Donnatucci, PGA Director of Fitness

I have read that core exercises are very beneficial to the golf swing. Are there any specific exercises that are better or any that should not be done?
Brad Palmer

Answer: Brad

I believe any exercise can be effective if done for a specific purpose. Meaning "core exercises" are designed to strengthen, stabilize and make the core region more explosive. Depending on the exercise will determine the outcome. The region needs to be trained multiple different ways to get the best result. The following are examples of different ways to train the region; Linear; moving straight up and down (example crunch) rotational (example slow bicycle crunch) vertical (standing plate front raise), stability (pillars or planks), explosive (medicine ball drills). Adding in different apparatuses make for increase of difficult or changes the emphasis. (adding a stability ball for crunches, increases the range of motion and stabilization)

I already work with weights, swim and exercycle a total of 7X/week, but would like more flexibility (limited by arthritis). I especially would like more rotation, without putting too much stress on a spine with fusion already at L2 and L3. I love golf and work on my game regularly, but limited rotation (including in my neck) has hampered my play.

Mark Litman

Answer: Mark
I would highly recommend you go see a medical professional in your area to get an evaluation and flexibility program for increases in these areas. I would have to perform an evaluation to determine strengths and weaknesses. The program design would be specific to your needs and not generic. A generic program can cause more harm than good. A sports physical therapist would be a good starting point.