In my opinion the best current deals in golf equipment belong to Ping. The Ping G400 driver has been repositioned by Ping and is now available for $299.00. Considering that most of the top line drivers are selling between $400 and $500 makes this a tremendous value.
Also in the Ping stable is the Ping G iron. This model preceded the G400 iron but is very similar in looks and feel. This iron is available in steel for $85 per iron and graphite for $99 per iron. Keep in mind this includes any custom fitting needed. For the player who wants to move up to a professional grade custom fit set of clubs this is the best value by far.
At Golf Rx we have gift cards available that can be used for lessons, golf equipment or club repair services. Call Steve or stop by the shop if you have any questions.
Monday, November 19, 2018
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Quick cure for a slice
I have found during my teaching career that chronic slicers of the ball have two faults in common: a weak grip and a tendency to fan the club open early in the backswing. If you have always fought a slice do these two things to cure it.
First, adjust your grip so you can see 2-3 knuckles on your left hand, and the V's formed between the thumbs and forefingers of both hands are pointed at your right shoulder. Your left hand will feel more on top of the grip and your right hand will feel more under the grip.
Second, keep the club facing the ball as you begin your backswing. The feeling will be of the club facing downward rather than skyward until it reaches waist high.
These two adjustments will deliver a square clubface at impact so the ball will no longer curve to the right.
First, adjust your grip so you can see 2-3 knuckles on your left hand, and the V's formed between the thumbs and forefingers of both hands are pointed at your right shoulder. Your left hand will feel more on top of the grip and your right hand will feel more under the grip.
Second, keep the club facing the ball as you begin your backswing. The feeling will be of the club facing downward rather than skyward until it reaches waist high.
These two adjustments will deliver a square clubface at impact so the ball will no longer curve to the right.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
PIng G400 has big week
The Ping G400 driver was in the bag of both the winner and runner up last week at The Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi. In only his second event as an official member, Cameron Champ led wire-to-wire to win his first PGA Tour event. Champ was using a G400 Max driver. Another Ping Pro, Corey Conners finished in solo second using a G400 LST driver.
Tony Finau, who also plays the G400 driver tied for first place in the WGC-HSBC Champions in China. Needless to say, the Ping G400 driver had a pretty impressive week.
Tony Finau, who also plays the G400 driver tied for first place in the WGC-HSBC Champions in China. Needless to say, the Ping G400 driver had a pretty impressive week.
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Speed comes from Flexibility
The phrase "The less I try the better I do" certainly applies to the golf swing. Often times my students return from their first PGA Tour event describing the player's swings as "effortless" and yet they create amazing distance.
The reason is speed comes from flexibility and flexibility means lack of muscle tension. The more speed you desire the more important flexibility becomes. Try to throw a baseball with a tense, stiff arm or try to run fast with stiffened legs. You get the idea...
For golfers, tension is their biggest enemy, and flexibility is their greatest ally. At address your arms should be completely tension free and remain this way until the swing is completed. When you arms are tension free the feeling is transmitted to the entire body. This allows you to swing the club with a feeling of effortlessness.
Most players think the harder they swing the farther the ball will go. NOTHING COULD BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH! Trying to hit the ball harder creates tension. Remember, tense muscles do not move fast - they are a speed killer. Speed comes from flexibility and flexibility means lack of muscle tension.
Next time you practice or play focus on making relaxed swings with a more relaxed grip pressure. Ensure you can feel the clubhead in your hands throughout the entire swing. You will hit straighter, more solid and longer shots.
The reason is speed comes from flexibility and flexibility means lack of muscle tension. The more speed you desire the more important flexibility becomes. Try to throw a baseball with a tense, stiff arm or try to run fast with stiffened legs. You get the idea...
For golfers, tension is their biggest enemy, and flexibility is their greatest ally. At address your arms should be completely tension free and remain this way until the swing is completed. When you arms are tension free the feeling is transmitted to the entire body. This allows you to swing the club with a feeling of effortlessness.
Most players think the harder they swing the farther the ball will go. NOTHING COULD BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH! Trying to hit the ball harder creates tension. Remember, tense muscles do not move fast - they are a speed killer. Speed comes from flexibility and flexibility means lack of muscle tension.
Next time you practice or play focus on making relaxed swings with a more relaxed grip pressure. Ensure you can feel the clubhead in your hands throughout the entire swing. You will hit straighter, more solid and longer shots.
Monday, October 8, 2018
Determing the proper length club for a golfer
Determining the proper length club for a player is one fitting component that is often done incorrectly, resulting in a player using clubs that are either too short or too long. Using a ruler or yardstick to measure wrists or fingertips to floor is an incorrect method, and has little to do in determining the proper club length for an individual. This method doesn't take into consideration a player's ability level or posture when addressing a ball.
A player should use the longest possible length club they can handle that produces consistent center face impact, good directional control and a solid feel at impact. Keep in mind as a club gets longer it is more difficult to hit in the center of the face resulting in a loss of distance and directional control.
Using impact tape on the clubface is the correct method to determine the proper length club for a player. During the process the player is given a progressively longer iron of the same number (i.e. 7 iron) We know we have exceeded their proper club length once the player can no longer produce consistent impact marks near the center of the face.
As you can probably tell by now the biggest factor in determining proper club length is the player's ability. As a player's expertise improves his impact patterns will be more consistent and closer to center.
In regards to the driver it is interesting that a shorter driver length will often increase a player's distance. This is because the ball is struck closer to the center of the clubface applying more energy to the ball. Most weekend players will hit the ball straighter and more consistent using a driver no longer that 44 1/2 inches in length.
A player should use the longest possible length club they can handle that produces consistent center face impact, good directional control and a solid feel at impact. Keep in mind as a club gets longer it is more difficult to hit in the center of the face resulting in a loss of distance and directional control.
Using impact tape on the clubface is the correct method to determine the proper length club for a player. During the process the player is given a progressively longer iron of the same number (i.e. 7 iron) We know we have exceeded their proper club length once the player can no longer produce consistent impact marks near the center of the face.
As you can probably tell by now the biggest factor in determining proper club length is the player's ability. As a player's expertise improves his impact patterns will be more consistent and closer to center.
In regards to the driver it is interesting that a shorter driver length will often increase a player's distance. This is because the ball is struck closer to the center of the clubface applying more energy to the ball. Most weekend players will hit the ball straighter and more consistent using a driver no longer that 44 1/2 inches in length.
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Interesting facts
Here are some amazinging facts that occur during the golf swing.
1. During the downswing the shaft is flexing in various directions causing the club's length to actually shorten. A driver's length will shorten by approximately 1/4 ".
2. The elapsed time from the very top of the backswing to just before impact with the ball is approximately 1/5th of a second. During this short time the average male player will generate a clubhead speed of 90 to 100 MPH.
3. During impact the ball stays on the clubface for 5/10,000 of a second. During this time the ball travels a distance of 3/4 " to 1".
4. The maximum forced (energy applied to the ball) at impact approaches 2,000 pounds, or one ton and causes the ball to compress 15% to 30% of its original diameter.
5. The centrifugal force exerted downward and pulling on the golfer's hands at impact is the equivalent of 40 to 60 pounds.
6. Because of the time required for the impact to travel through the clubhead, up the shaft, into the golfer's hands and register with the brain, the golf ball is already 10" to 12" from the club face when the player feels the hit.
1. During the downswing the shaft is flexing in various directions causing the club's length to actually shorten. A driver's length will shorten by approximately 1/4 ".
2. The elapsed time from the very top of the backswing to just before impact with the ball is approximately 1/5th of a second. During this short time the average male player will generate a clubhead speed of 90 to 100 MPH.
3. During impact the ball stays on the clubface for 5/10,000 of a second. During this time the ball travels a distance of 3/4 " to 1".
4. The maximum forced (energy applied to the ball) at impact approaches 2,000 pounds, or one ton and causes the ball to compress 15% to 30% of its original diameter.
5. The centrifugal force exerted downward and pulling on the golfer's hands at impact is the equivalent of 40 to 60 pounds.
6. Because of the time required for the impact to travel through the clubhead, up the shaft, into the golfer's hands and register with the brain, the golf ball is already 10" to 12" from the club face when the player feels the hit.
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Understanding clubface rotation
I have found during my teaching career that students have many misconceptions as to how to swing the club. One of the most frequent misunderstood concepts is the rotation of the clubface during the swing.
It is true the clubface opens in the backswing and closes in the follow through. The confusion comes in how this is interpreted. The opening and closing of the clubface is relative to the target line rather than a rolling of the hands around the circumference of the shaft.
Try this simple exercise to understand the correct motion. Take an iron and hold it straight out in front of you with the toe pointing straight up. The clubface is now pointing directly toward your target. Now rotate your body around your spine slightly to the right so the club has moved about two feet from its starting point. Do this without any rolling of the hands so that the toe is still pointing straight up. Notice how the clubface is now pointing right of the target line. At this point the clubface appears to have opened. Do the same exercise except this time rotate your body slightly to the left so the club again has moved about two feet. Notice how the clubface is now pointing to the left of the target line. At this point the clubface appears to have closed.
During the swing the clubface remains square to the arc. The opening and closing refers to the clubface and the target line. If you roll you hands clockwise during the backswing you must roll them back the exact amount in order to square the clubface. It is nearly impossible to do this with any amount of consistency.
Here is a simple drill to help demonstrate the correct motion. Grip your putter with the flat part of the grip facing up - while making three quarter swings make sure the flat part of the putter grip is always facing towards you. After doing this with your putter take a short iron and create the same motion. You'll soon be hitting straighter and more consistent shots.
It is true the clubface opens in the backswing and closes in the follow through. The confusion comes in how this is interpreted. The opening and closing of the clubface is relative to the target line rather than a rolling of the hands around the circumference of the shaft.
Try this simple exercise to understand the correct motion. Take an iron and hold it straight out in front of you with the toe pointing straight up. The clubface is now pointing directly toward your target. Now rotate your body around your spine slightly to the right so the club has moved about two feet from its starting point. Do this without any rolling of the hands so that the toe is still pointing straight up. Notice how the clubface is now pointing right of the target line. At this point the clubface appears to have opened. Do the same exercise except this time rotate your body slightly to the left so the club again has moved about two feet. Notice how the clubface is now pointing to the left of the target line. At this point the clubface appears to have closed.
During the swing the clubface remains square to the arc. The opening and closing refers to the clubface and the target line. If you roll you hands clockwise during the backswing you must roll them back the exact amount in order to square the clubface. It is nearly impossible to do this with any amount of consistency.
Here is a simple drill to help demonstrate the correct motion. Grip your putter with the flat part of the grip facing up - while making three quarter swings make sure the flat part of the putter grip is always facing towards you. After doing this with your putter take a short iron and create the same motion. You'll soon be hitting straighter and more consistent shots.
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