When it comes to grips, one size does not fit all..

Just for fun next time you visit a retail golf store ask the clerk why they offer gloves in sizes from small to extra large, but their rows and rows of clubs all have the same size grip. Be prepared for an awkward response.

If you're like the majority of golfers you're probably not aware that grips are available in a variety of sizes, materials and shapes.

Why is it important to fit grip size?

The proper grip size gives a golfer a comfortable feeling at address and control during the swing without inhibiting his wrist action through the impact area. A proper grip feel also enhances how the golfer mentally perceives the club which adds confidence.

Grips that are too large can decrease clubhead feel, inhibit wrist action and cause a player to choke down where the grip diameter is smaller and feels better. This effectively shortens the club and reduces swing speed.

Grips that are too small may cause the clubhead to twist at impact because the player cannot get a firm hold on the club, or squeeze the club too tightly to "hold on" to the club, thus inhibiting his wrist action before impact. It may also cause the player to hold the club too far out on the end where the grip is larger, thus increasing his chances of "losing" the club at the top of the backswing and reducing control.

How to determine proper grip size.

The best way to fit grip size is to have the player take his normal grip on the club. Next, remove the right hand only from the club, and with the left hand remaining in the same grip position, bring the club up so that the fingertips of the left hand are visible. If the fingertips dig into the palm, the grip size is too small. If the fingertips barely touch or just miss touching the heel portion of the palm, the grip size is correct. If the fingertips are separated by more that 1/8" from the heel portion of the palm, then the grip size is too large.

Keep in mind that specialty grips are also available such as arthritic grips. These grips are designed to feel softer and install to a much larger size under both the right and left hand. The softer feel and larger size allows it to be more easily held during the swing while exerting less hand pressure than would normally be required.

Often players are not aware of the poorly transmitted grip feel by using a too small a grip, too large a grip, or in most cases, a slick or hardened worn out grip. Sometimes the size is correct and the grip is new, but the player may experience another grip material or style that he likes better based on personal preference.

Grips play an important role in the club fitting process as they provide the golfer his only physical contact with the club. If you have questions about your grips or are considering re-gripping your clubs stop by Golf Rx and talk to Steve. His response will be anything but awkward...

The anatomy of a lesson

Students are often curious and sometimes a little nervous about taking a golf lesson. As a player myself who has taken lessons I can relate to those feelings. I hope to ease those concerns by outlining for you the format of my lessons. But before I discuss that let me explain why the golf ball itself is your best teacher.

First, a golf ball is brutally honest and never lies. On every shot it tells you exactly what your clubhead was doing at impact. Also known as "Ball Flight Laws" this is extremely important information and is the basis for long term improvement to your game.

The second reason why the golf ball is such a good teacher is it doesn't care about your particular technique. It doesn't know or care if your grip is "weak" or "strong", if your swing plane is "flat" like Matt Kuchar or "upright" like Jack Nicklaus. Nor is it concerned with your posture, alignment or ball position. All that matters to the golf ball is what the clubhead does to it.

By watching the flight of the ball I know exactly what the student's clubhead is doing at impact. This is extremely helpful information in order to show the student what they must do in their technique in order to improve their shots. It is also a much more personal application than some rigid "method teaching" meant to fit all players into the same mold.

A student must first understand that their shots, whether good or bad, are determined by the impact conditions. Which direction was the clubhead moving when it contacted the ball? Was the clubface facing to the left or right, or straight down the club path? Was the clubhead moving down, up, or parallel to the ground at impact? Was it moving at a relatively fast or slow speed?

With this explained you will have a better understanding of my teaching format which contains three parts - Diagnosis, Explanation and Correction.

Diagnosis:
First, I watch my students hit a few shots standing directly down their target line. This allows me to see the path of the clubhead as it moves through the impact area. I also see the ball's flight including the initial direction and any subsequent sideways curve. The ball's flight combined with observing the clubhead's path tells me where the clubface was facing at impact. At this point I am able to make a diagnosis based on what the club is doing to the ball and what the player is doing to the club.

Explanation:
Second, I give the student an explanation of what the club is doing at impact as well as what it should be doing in order to improve his or her shots. I may hit a shot or two reproducing the student's impact conditions resulting in a similar ball flight. Then I'll hit a shot or two with proper impact conditions to show the student how an improved condition will similarly improve his or her shots.

Correction:
Third, I explain to the student what correction techniques will improve their impact conditions. Often I will demonstrate the correction accompanied by a drill or practice tip that will further simplify the student's effort.

This is not to say that our impact conditions aren't determined by the way we grip the club, set up to the ball and actually swing. They certainly are. What I am saying is that the flight of the ball greatly assists you in knowing what you should change in your technique in order to improve your shots.

In closing I would offer this advice to amateur and weekend players. Never accept a piece of instruction, no matter how impressive the presentation, without first asking just how this advice will improve your clubhead's impact with the ball.

Why are the pros going to the long putters?

Anyone who has watched tournament golf lately has noticed the enormous popularity of belly putters and long putters. In fact Keegan Bradley was the first player to win a major championship using a belly putter. When asked their reason for switching the players all came to the same conclusion. They feel more confident and are making more putts.

The biggest reason for poor putting is a stroke that is too wristy. This not only prevents solid contact with the ball, but also alters the alignment of the putter face at contact. The longer putters create a one-lever system which essentially eliminates the possibility of the wrists breaking down. The putts are hit solid every time creating a better roll. These putters are weighted heavier as well which minimizes the putter head twisting on off center hits.

If you struggle with your putting especially inside ten feet you may want to try a longer putter. We have a large selection of traditional and longer putters at Golf Rx. We can also modify your existing putter into a belly putter that will be custom fit for you for only $45.00.

Just arrived are the Adams Golf Idea Pro and Idea Tech V3 Hybrids and the Ping G20 Driver. Stop by soon and let us know what we can do to help your game.

Four Steps to Improving your Game

At first this may sound like a generalization to improving one's golf game, but speaking from experience I would say these four steps are vital.

Step 1. Evaluating your swing

The vast majority of tour players have instructors to turn to when things begin going wrong. The reason is simple: They can't see themselves and even if they could an experienced and competent teacher is better suited to evaluate the video. Weekend amateurs are certainly no exception to this. Locate a PGA Professional in your area and let him determine what is causing your shot problems, and develop a personal plan to help you correct your swing faults. This way your practice time becomes productive rather than further ingraining the same flaws.

Step 2. Short Game

The fact is whether your handicap is 2 or 32 approximately 65% of your strokes during a round of golf are from inside 70 yards. Again let your PGA Professional help you learn the proper techniques for less than full approach shots, bunker shots, chipping and putting. Then agree to devote two thirds of your practice time to the short game. This is the quickest way to lower your scores.

Step 3. Properly Fitted Equipment

We all have heard the saying, "It's not the arrow, but the Indian", but I can assure you if you're playing with antiquated or ill fitted equipment you're at a distinct disadvantage. Modern day equipment is light years ahead in terms of game improvement design and forgiveness. All major manufacturers now offer custom fitted equipment for the masses. Locate a PGA Professional that offers custom fitted equipment and make an appointment. You wouldn't buy a suit off the rack without trying it on, nor should you invest in new equipment with being custom fit.

Step 4. Course Management / Rules

Even if you could hit it like Jack Nicklaus you would still have to learn to think like him. Make an appointment with your PGA Professional for a 9 hole playing lesson. Not only will this give him an opportunity to evaluate your ball striking, but your decision making as well. I often see weekend players make a big number on a hole not because of a bad tee shot, but because of a bad decision on the following shot. Your professional can help you improve your decision making, strategy and course management skills.

Believe it or not the rules of golf are not designed to penalize a player, but rather to explain the options when in a particular situation. Knowing the basic rules makes the game more enjoyable and will often save you strokes as well as time when on the course. "The New Rules of Golf" by Tom Watson and Frank Hannigan is an excellent book with plenty of photographs and diagrams making the rules easier to understand.

Whatever happened to Customer Service?

When is the last time your called a business and an actual human being answered?

Most likely you got a recorded message followed by options to press 1 or 2 or 3. A computer voice asks your account number and then informs you the approximate waiting time to talk to a customer service representative is 15 minutes. Sound familiar?


When you call Golf Rx you're going to hear, "Golf Shop, this is Steve". That's because I answer every call personally, just like the old days.

You are going to talk directly to me everytime you call Golf Rx. Whether it's to make an appointment for a lesson, club fitting or if you have a question about club repair or your equipment.

Old fashioned customer service is alive and well at Golf Rx. If you're in the neighborhood drop by for a cup of coffee and visit for a while. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Flex your right knee, then coil against it

One of the most common faults I see with players is starting the downswing with their arms and shoulders rather than their lower body. This is often a cause and effect problem with the cause being an out of position right knee. Let me explain.
Regardless of your skill level it is imperative that you coil into the right knee when making your backswing. The right knee serves as the anchor which provides the resistance against the coiling of your upper body in the backswing. If the right knee collapses or straightens the resistance is lost
The two errors are locking the right knee where the left knee moves out toward the ball, and buckling the right knee where the player's weight moves to the outside of the right foot. Both faults lead to a poor turn forcing the player to start down with the upper body.
To correct this focus on flexing your right knee at address then retain the flex all the way to the top of your backswing. A sign that you've done it correctly is feeling some tension inside your right thigh as your trunk coils against it.
A good drill is to turn your right foot in at address about fifteen degrees then make some swings. You'll quickly feel the resistance in your right knee against the winding of your upper body. This in turn creates tremendous power delivered to the club head as your legs and hips unwind in the downswing.

"Hitting from the top"

"Hitting from the top" a fault seen often with higher handicappers is best described as an aggressive or too quick change of direction in an attempt to hit at the ball. Described as "swinging over the top" this jerky swing characterized by an overactive head and right shoulder leads to a loss of power and accuracy. The player lunges forward with their upper body forcing the club to approach the ball too steeply from outside the normal plane often resulting in sliced and pulled shots.

The transition from the top of the backswing into the downswing establishes the rhythm of the swing as is evident when watching a good player. There is no urgency to hit the ball from the top, but rather a smooth coordinated movement of the club and body which allows the acceleration of the club head to peak at impact. Because the lower body initiates the downswing in one synchronized motion it produces a swinging motion of the arms and club which appears effortless.

I would recommend this drill to improve the tempo of your swing during the transition from backswing to downswing. Using a 6 or 7 iron with the ball teed up slightly and your feet only a few inches apart hit a few shots. Swing the club back smoothly and let your lower body unwind to initiate the downswing. Focus on a fluid transition allowing the club to fall before releasing it through the ball. Keep your head steady as your downswing starts which will allow the club to approach the ball from the inside, on a shallower plane resulting in more solid contact with the ball.

After hitting a few balls you will begin to sense the swinging to the club head through the ball rather than hitting at it. Best of all your swing will feel effortless and your shots will fly straighter.