December 2005

December '05 Golf Magazine Instruction Critique

Many golfers look to Golf Magazine for information to help them play better. Unfortunately, the instructional information often appears contradictory but, more seriously, too often it is problematic. By problematic, I mean that the words in the instruction don't match the picutres and that the instruction given cannot produce the results being sought. The objective of this blog is to alert players to such instruction.

This month's articles:

MAKE YOUR WEAK SLICE EXTINCT. Let's ask Michael if (for a million dollars) he could "bump the door" and still come over the top. Try it. The answer is yes. You might be able to "bump" and swing on the correct path but "bumping" will not rule out coming over the top. It's possible that "bumping" could in fact worsen your ball flight.

NOW WHAT. Mark's comments are ok. With regard to club selection, 52 and 56 degree wedges will produce an aggressive trajectory. Before you open the club face and make the shot more complicated than necessary, step on the club face (not in the bunker) with your foot making the club's face parallel to the ground. The shaft will be point up to the sky. Then angle of the shaft will give you an indication of the trajectory of the ball flight it will produce. Use this to determinie if you need to create added trajectory by opening the club face.

HOW TO TAME A PAR 5. Ok

ASK THE TOP 100
READING PUTTS. Ok
GRIP. Ok
SPIN. Ok
LONG BUNKER. Ok
TURN ON YOUR POWER. Craig says one thing and then does something else. Notice him doing the "chair drill"--how much weight shift is there? None. And that's the way it should be. A golfer will find great advantage in developing a swing built around being balanced through impact.
CASH IN ON YOUR SCORING CHANCES. Ok
I'M NINE STROKES BETTER. The grip change was ok. But the takeaway info is not. Brad's suggestion was that at waist high the clubhead is outside your hands( ie. the shaft of the club is pointing at you). From this position if you return the club to the ball you will see that the diretion of the swing is to the left. Instead, at waist high the shaft should be pointed parallel to the target line. Finally, not that Bad says, "You should feel as if you're starting the swing with a body turn and letting your hands follow along." But note that John (the student) explains that how he improved was, "I start my downswing with my arms, rather than my body." It's John (not Brad) whose got that one right.
THUMB IT, HIT A DRAW. OK
GROOVE YOUR STROKE TO A TEE. OK
SAVE PAR WITH THE CUT LOB. Many golfers have come upon ways they like to make the ball do this or that. However, many of those ways are too complicated and unnecesary. Always try to produce special ball flights by way of setup versus having to learn and perfect various swings. If you want a steep trajectory move the ball forward in your stance (aim more right) or open the club face (aim more left). Use your normal swing.

THE BEST SWING FOR YOUR BODY TYPE. Beware this article is filled with problems. First, it virutally impossible to tell if a tee sticking out of the butt of your grip is pointing at the target line or six inches either side of it (and that's assuming you even have a chalk line laid out on the ground). On page 94 it is suggested that this body type may have insufficient hip turn. On the same page it is suggest that a wider stance be used--but a wider stance further inhibits turning. This wider stance is then combined with a lateral shift of the hips that makes correctly returning the club to the ball very unlikely.

TAKE A WRIST FOR POWER. OK

CONQUER WET SAND. OK

COPY OLAZABAL'S TURN AND SHIFT. OK

GET IN POSITION FOR YOUR PUTT. This article has problems. See page 70 from last month's issue for correct set up.