Hey,
I understand she was probably pretty excited to shake that monkey off her back and put an end to the constant comparison to the non-winning Anna Kournikova (although, most women would love just to be compared to her), Natalie Gulbis probably should have been a little more aware come time to pose for a photo with the trophy.
Google her name and you'll see photos of her sitting on a stool, drapped in the American flag. And while the flag is not only touching the ground (even though it's French ground), she's also sitting on it. Hmmm. Now, is this a display of blissful patriotism or is she trying to make a political statement?
We're kidding, Natalie. Even though we recommend you don't perch yourself on Old Glory anytime soon, America appreciates your willingness to show your patriotism overseas and it's very much appreciated. Congratulations on win #1.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Spin This...
I'm a glutton for distance. And frankly, I've never hit he ball TOO FAR in my life. Nope. Never. Not once. Now maybe I've hit through a few fairways that have landed in some lakes, bunkers or even OB, I've never blamed those poor shots on actually hitting the ball too far. Instead, I just blame myself for hitting the wrong club. And I'm a fairly long hitter. Even still, I'll never admit that the ball goes too far. Not until I can drive every par-4 and reach every par-5 in two. Maybe then I'll loosen up.
Also, I've hooked, sliced and just about everything in-between the ball, but those are bad shots not because I hit them too far, rather because I was poorly aimed or my clubface was shut or open. Those arent bad shots because of my macho distance. More distance in my mind, is always an advantage when compared to hitting it short. Never up, never in...
On the other hand, I have had times where I've spun the ball too much with an iron or wedge. Where my carry was robbed because the ball ballooned, hitting that atmospheric wall that sent my ball short into a greenside bunker. I've had pitches, chips, lobs--all that have come up short, thanks to having too much spin. I've had it happen in the rough too. Even there, I've had balls check up, while others didn't. In a sense, spin sometimes has had a negative effect on my ability to score, making me inconsistent. And while spin is obviously helpful for the bomb and pitch style of play we see on Tour, when Tiger is at his best with his wedge, it's not becuase he spins it a lot, its because he actually takes spin off it.
With that said, do you think it's possible for the USGA to put new restrictions on today's U-grooves? Can they really verify that added spin is helpful, or that the reason players on Tour are getting up and down is due to more spin from the rough? Maybe they're just getting better! Maybe it's the ball? Maybe their putting is better? What about the clubface finish? Weighting? Loft? Bounce? Maybe it's everything.
What do you think, folks?
PS: After writing that blog entry, I immediately retract saying I've never hit the ball too far. There was one time. To that foursome I hit into about 3 years ago at Tokatee GC in Hood River, Ore., I'm really sorry. I had no idea I could hit it that far. You really didn't need to hit my ball back at me.
Also, I've hooked, sliced and just about everything in-between the ball, but those are bad shots not because I hit them too far, rather because I was poorly aimed or my clubface was shut or open. Those arent bad shots because of my macho distance. More distance in my mind, is always an advantage when compared to hitting it short. Never up, never in...
On the other hand, I have had times where I've spun the ball too much with an iron or wedge. Where my carry was robbed because the ball ballooned, hitting that atmospheric wall that sent my ball short into a greenside bunker. I've had pitches, chips, lobs--all that have come up short, thanks to having too much spin. I've had it happen in the rough too. Even there, I've had balls check up, while others didn't. In a sense, spin sometimes has had a negative effect on my ability to score, making me inconsistent. And while spin is obviously helpful for the bomb and pitch style of play we see on Tour, when Tiger is at his best with his wedge, it's not becuase he spins it a lot, its because he actually takes spin off it.
With that said, do you think it's possible for the USGA to put new restrictions on today's U-grooves? Can they really verify that added spin is helpful, or that the reason players on Tour are getting up and down is due to more spin from the rough? Maybe they're just getting better! Maybe it's the ball? Maybe their putting is better? What about the clubface finish? Weighting? Loft? Bounce? Maybe it's everything.
What do you think, folks?
PS: After writing that blog entry, I immediately retract saying I've never hit the ball too far. There was one time. To that foursome I hit into about 3 years ago at Tokatee GC in Hood River, Ore., I'm really sorry. I had no idea I could hit it that far. You really didn't need to hit my ball back at me.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Pressure Cooker
By Charlie Schroeder
I found it very easy to be an armchair quarterback during yesterday's final round of the Open Championship. I also found it very easy for me to tear the stuffing out of my couch watching Romero try to hit a two-iron from the long grass, and Harrington hit it in the drink twice on 18. (It was just as nerve-wracking to see Garcia's putter go ice cold after having such a stellar week.)
I've never been in a situation with that much at stake so it's impossible to comprehend what goes on inside a golfer's mind and body, so this morning I consulted one the many golf psychology books I have for some words of wisdom. I paged through "Golf, the Ultimate Mind Game" by Rick Sessinghaus, and found this:
"...[some golfers] get a lead and begin to play not to lose it. The tension in their body increases. This tension stops the club from fully releasing and causes a block...playing to win is the attitude of staying present and treating each shot the same...playing not to lose is the intention of don't hit a bad shot! This affects confidence and our ability to close out rounds."
I remember hearing another great psychologist, Dr. David Wright say a few years ago: "when you have your opponent down, you have to step on his neck." Doc wasn't trying to be mean-spirited; he was trying to convey what athletes must do to win. Yesterday we saw a lot of golfers trying not to lose The Open and it wasn't until Harrington got to the playoff that we saw someone who finally wanted to win.
I found it very easy to be an armchair quarterback during yesterday's final round of the Open Championship. I also found it very easy for me to tear the stuffing out of my couch watching Romero try to hit a two-iron from the long grass, and Harrington hit it in the drink twice on 18. (It was just as nerve-wracking to see Garcia's putter go ice cold after having such a stellar week.)
I've never been in a situation with that much at stake so it's impossible to comprehend what goes on inside a golfer's mind and body, so this morning I consulted one the many golf psychology books I have for some words of wisdom. I paged through "Golf, the Ultimate Mind Game" by Rick Sessinghaus, and found this:
"...[some golfers] get a lead and begin to play not to lose it. The tension in their body increases. This tension stops the club from fully releasing and causes a block...playing to win is the attitude of staying present and treating each shot the same...playing not to lose is the intention of don't hit a bad shot! This affects confidence and our ability to close out rounds."
I remember hearing another great psychologist, Dr. David Wright say a few years ago: "when you have your opponent down, you have to step on his neck." Doc wasn't trying to be mean-spirited; he was trying to convey what athletes must do to win. Yesterday we saw a lot of golfers trying not to lose The Open and it wasn't until Harrington got to the playoff that we saw someone who finally wanted to win.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Monster Moves
By Ryan Noll
What's the secret to more power? If you read the CRUSH IT article, you'll see that having a hefty, muscular build like Jason Zuback (pictured) isn't the true source of power for these long hitters. Most agree that technique is more important than muscle, and the key is to learn how to swing faster, not necessarily harder. Proper tempo, leverage and timing--that's the way to find your monster move.
Check it out here.
What's the secret to more power? If you read the CRUSH IT article, you'll see that having a hefty, muscular build like Jason Zuback (pictured) isn't the true source of power for these long hitters. Most agree that technique is more important than muscle, and the key is to learn how to swing faster, not necessarily harder. Proper tempo, leverage and timing--that's the way to find your monster move.
Check it out here.
Monday, July 16, 2007
What's It Take To Win?
By Ryan Noll
I've never played in a British Open (and well, I probably never will), but I can say that from watching a few telecasts including 99's "Collapse at Carnoustie", it takes a couple things to go your way to win:
1. Putting: This shouldn't be a surprise, since putting well is a must for winning any tournament out there.
2. Outstanding fairway wood/iron play: Look for players known for their skills with fairway woods and long irons to be atop the leaderboard this week. Even good drives at Carnoustie can wind up in the rough.
My pick? Colin Montgomerie. Just a hunch...
I've never played in a British Open (and well, I probably never will), but I can say that from watching a few telecasts including 99's "Collapse at Carnoustie", it takes a couple things to go your way to win:
1. Putting: This shouldn't be a surprise, since putting well is a must for winning any tournament out there.
2. Outstanding fairway wood/iron play: Look for players known for their skills with fairway woods and long irons to be atop the leaderboard this week. Even good drives at Carnoustie can wind up in the rough.
My pick? Colin Montgomerie. Just a hunch...
Friday, July 13, 2007
Non-Traditional Shapes
By Charlie Schroeder
Sorry everybody, for how late this post is. I've been meaning to write about KJ Choi's equipment for the past five days.
Clearly the South Korean isn't afraid to think outside the box when it comes to his equipment. Not only does he play Nike's square Sumo2 driver but he has also been using the oversized Super Stroke putting grip that he learned about while watching a Golf Channel infomercial.
The Super Stroke promises quiet wrists and relaxed hands and that's just what Choi must have had last week. He averaged a staggering 1.65 putts per GIR, a feat that, as you know, can only lead to low scores.
Our question for you is do you integrate non-traditional elements into your arsenal? If so, we'd love to hear about it. Send us an email at editors@golftipsmag.com.
Sorry everybody, for how late this post is. I've been meaning to write about KJ Choi's equipment for the past five days.
Clearly the South Korean isn't afraid to think outside the box when it comes to his equipment. Not only does he play Nike's square Sumo2 driver but he has also been using the oversized Super Stroke putting grip that he learned about while watching a Golf Channel infomercial.
The Super Stroke promises quiet wrists and relaxed hands and that's just what Choi must have had last week. He averaged a staggering 1.65 putts per GIR, a feat that, as you know, can only lead to low scores.
Our question for you is do you integrate non-traditional elements into your arsenal? If so, we'd love to hear about it. Send us an email at editors@golftipsmag.com.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
A Mixed Bag
By Ryan Noll
A friend of mine just asked if it was a good idea to mix brands when it comes to a set of clubs. Should your driver and fairway woods be the same brand and model? Should all your irons match? What about hybrids? Wedges? The putter?
On the PGA Tour, it's not uncommon to see players locked into 12 or 13-club contracts, requiring them to use all but one or two clubs in their bag from a sponsoring clubmaker. And, since folks like you and I aren't on the PGA Tour, we actually have more opportunities than the pros do come time to divvy up our sets across various brands. But, as my golf buddy asked, is it a good idea to do mix and match?
The answer is yes. Sometimes certain companies lend very specialized versions of their products, often making clubs that can be custom-fit to your exact needs and specifications. But, if you're not aware of your current club specs and the specs of the clubs you're thinking about buying and you don't go through the lengths of getting them all fitted, your set of golf clubs will turn out like Swiss cheese---you'll have a set that looks great but with one bite you'll see there are holes all over the place. (Read Charlie's entry below for his take on the need for clubfitting if you need extra convincing.)
Several equipment companies' manufacture equipment to their own specifications, not to some industry standard. What may be labeled "Standard" with one company may be 2-degrees stronger-lofted with another, or what's upright 2-degrees with one company may be considered "Standard" with another. Therefore, always check the specs of your current set and what club(s) you're hoping to buy, and make sure the length, lie, loft and weight are an appropriate fit. (The variances generally aren't much, but they can make a significant difference.) This is especially crucial when mixing wedges and irons, as many go to great lengths in getting their irons custom-fitted but often neglect the wedges. Come on folks, get with it!
Also, come time to buy a hybrid, look first and what you hope to replace. Odds are it's a long iron, so check with a clubfitter to determine what hybrid length and loft will fit well into your set. The industry standard--well, there really isn't one so either trial and error or a launch monitor will help you decide if a 19-, 21-, or 23-degree hybrid (and so on) will work best for you (hey, maybe you need several!)
Do the same with your fairway woods and fill in the holes with the right shaft, clubhead and loft, and remember that having the right specs means a lot more for your ability to hit great shots than just having a set of clubs that sports a single manufacturer's logo.
Got any more questions for us? Email editors@golftipsmag.com
A friend of mine just asked if it was a good idea to mix brands when it comes to a set of clubs. Should your driver and fairway woods be the same brand and model? Should all your irons match? What about hybrids? Wedges? The putter?
On the PGA Tour, it's not uncommon to see players locked into 12 or 13-club contracts, requiring them to use all but one or two clubs in their bag from a sponsoring clubmaker. And, since folks like you and I aren't on the PGA Tour, we actually have more opportunities than the pros do come time to divvy up our sets across various brands. But, as my golf buddy asked, is it a good idea to do mix and match?
The answer is yes. Sometimes certain companies lend very specialized versions of their products, often making clubs that can be custom-fit to your exact needs and specifications. But, if you're not aware of your current club specs and the specs of the clubs you're thinking about buying and you don't go through the lengths of getting them all fitted, your set of golf clubs will turn out like Swiss cheese---you'll have a set that looks great but with one bite you'll see there are holes all over the place. (Read Charlie's entry below for his take on the need for clubfitting if you need extra convincing.)
Several equipment companies' manufacture equipment to their own specifications, not to some industry standard. What may be labeled "Standard" with one company may be 2-degrees stronger-lofted with another, or what's upright 2-degrees with one company may be considered "Standard" with another. Therefore, always check the specs of your current set and what club(s) you're hoping to buy, and make sure the length, lie, loft and weight are an appropriate fit. (The variances generally aren't much, but they can make a significant difference.) This is especially crucial when mixing wedges and irons, as many go to great lengths in getting their irons custom-fitted but often neglect the wedges. Come on folks, get with it!
Also, come time to buy a hybrid, look first and what you hope to replace. Odds are it's a long iron, so check with a clubfitter to determine what hybrid length and loft will fit well into your set. The industry standard--well, there really isn't one so either trial and error or a launch monitor will help you decide if a 19-, 21-, or 23-degree hybrid (and so on) will work best for you (hey, maybe you need several!)
Do the same with your fairway woods and fill in the holes with the right shaft, clubhead and loft, and remember that having the right specs means a lot more for your ability to hit great shots than just having a set of clubs that sports a single manufacturer's logo.
Got any more questions for us? Email editors@golftipsmag.com
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Bad Lies
By Charlie Schroeder
During my round yesterday at the newly refurbished "Ike" Course at Industry Hills Golf Club near LA, I put a new hybrid into play. Although it's not the manufacturer's newest model, Hot Stix (the high-tech club fitting studio) recommended I add it to my bag during my visit to their new Denver, CO facility. With a special hybrid shaft fitted in it I crushed it off the tee on the Ike's signature hole, number 17.
However, my ball flight bugged me. It hooked too much. In the past I would have taken it, but after my visit to Hot Stix, I know I'm capable of reducing spin (and gaining distance in the process).
How do I know this?
It's simple really. Standard clubs (bought "off the rack"), like my irons or that hybrid are too upright for me, meaning that when I address the ball the toe comes off the ground. There are a couple reasons for this including my height and how low I hold my hands at address. When I swing, the heel naturally returns to the ground first, causing the toe to "cross the line" and turn over. Thus, putting hook spin on the ball.
Hot Stix solved this problem by flattening my irons' lie angle by three degrees (about as extreme as you can get), but I've yet to flatten my new hybrid. According to the manufacturer's representative, my hybrid can be bent two degrees, which should straighten out my shots and add yards.
My tip for you, go to a clubfitter. At worst it'll improve your game, at best it could change your life.
During my round yesterday at the newly refurbished "Ike" Course at Industry Hills Golf Club near LA, I put a new hybrid into play. Although it's not the manufacturer's newest model, Hot Stix (the high-tech club fitting studio) recommended I add it to my bag during my visit to their new Denver, CO facility. With a special hybrid shaft fitted in it I crushed it off the tee on the Ike's signature hole, number 17.
However, my ball flight bugged me. It hooked too much. In the past I would have taken it, but after my visit to Hot Stix, I know I'm capable of reducing spin (and gaining distance in the process).
How do I know this?
It's simple really. Standard clubs (bought "off the rack"), like my irons or that hybrid are too upright for me, meaning that when I address the ball the toe comes off the ground. There are a couple reasons for this including my height and how low I hold my hands at address. When I swing, the heel naturally returns to the ground first, causing the toe to "cross the line" and turn over. Thus, putting hook spin on the ball.
Hot Stix solved this problem by flattening my irons' lie angle by three degrees (about as extreme as you can get), but I've yet to flatten my new hybrid. According to the manufacturer's representative, my hybrid can be bent two degrees, which should straighten out my shots and add yards.
My tip for you, go to a clubfitter. At worst it'll improve your game, at best it could change your life.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Yep, We're Lucky.
By Ryan Noll
As Senior Editor here at Golf Tips, I've got a great job. I spend my day talking golf, writing about golf and studying golf, with the intent of not only helping our readers improve at this game, but also in helping myself become better. (Hey, I'd be deceiving you if I didn't tell you I was in it for my good too.) In fact, the same holds true for my fellow editors, as we all are dedicated to helping you improve just as much as we enjoy improving ourselves. And so far, things seem to have gone our way.
We take pride in knowing the fact that our top three editors each play to a single-digit handicap, which for you means we can better work with our instructors to help make the game easier to understand. In addition, two of us (myself included) have worked as golf instructors, one of us as a PGA teaching professional. Not bad for a bunch of pencil pushers, eh? And judging by the improvements a few staffers have seen in the last few months, we can prove that if you apply the instruction we and our contributing instructors present, it definitely works.
Also, being on staff at Golf Tips affords us the great opportunity to be immersed in cutting-edge, world-class golf instruction every day. Whether it's a short tip, full-length feature, video tip or a mixture of each, we live and breathe this stuff. That said, we've also come to realize that not every tip is right for every kind of player. You can spend all day reading every story in Golf Tips and on this Website, and unless you know what you're looking for, the odds of you improving are less than the odds of you becoming more confused about the golf swing.
Instead, heed the following advice. Just as there are more ways than one way to slice a golf ball, there's also more than one way to fix the banana ball. No matter what your problem, you'll likely to encounter a bunch of tips that may sometimes contradict one another. That doesn't mean one is right or wrong; instead it proves that golf is an individual's game, and no two swings are ever exactly the same. Some swings respond to certain types of swing advice, while others don't. The key is in finding a particular teaching style and philosophy that resonates most with your learning and playing style. Once you do that, you'll find it easier to start implementing those tips into your golf game.
Start by perusing the articles on our Website written by different instructors, each of whom have their own take on how to improve. Skim each section then check out our Lesson Finder for tips on every facet of the game. When you find a tip that makes sense to you, take it with you to the practice range and give it a try. Success depends on your level of commitment, so don't expect overnight cures or magic swing fixes! This is a tough game, but lucky for you, we've got some of the brightest and most dedicated instructors in the business to help you get your game on track. And of the editors, we're right along with you in our pursuit to improve, so don't hesitate to ask us a question about what kind of stories you'd like us to cover, or if you have questions on a particular feature. Drop us an e-mail at editors@golftipsmag.com and who knows...maybe your plea will help us decide what kinds of stories to put together in next year's issues of GT.
Most of all, have fun on our Website! Check us out often. Oh and by the way, what you see now is just the beginning. We'll be rolling out all kinds of great stuff on our new Website this summer, including the opportunity to send messages directly to our instructors that will be answered in our upcoming Golf Tips Readers Forum. This will be your chance to post topics for discussion and share a dialogue with top instructors and equipment gurus from across the country!
It's just the beginning folks. Stay tuned for more!
Sincerely,
Ryan Noll
Senior Editor
As Senior Editor here at Golf Tips, I've got a great job. I spend my day talking golf, writing about golf and studying golf, with the intent of not only helping our readers improve at this game, but also in helping myself become better. (Hey, I'd be deceiving you if I didn't tell you I was in it for my good too.) In fact, the same holds true for my fellow editors, as we all are dedicated to helping you improve just as much as we enjoy improving ourselves. And so far, things seem to have gone our way.
We take pride in knowing the fact that our top three editors each play to a single-digit handicap, which for you means we can better work with our instructors to help make the game easier to understand. In addition, two of us (myself included) have worked as golf instructors, one of us as a PGA teaching professional. Not bad for a bunch of pencil pushers, eh? And judging by the improvements a few staffers have seen in the last few months, we can prove that if you apply the instruction we and our contributing instructors present, it definitely works.
Also, being on staff at Golf Tips affords us the great opportunity to be immersed in cutting-edge, world-class golf instruction every day. Whether it's a short tip, full-length feature, video tip or a mixture of each, we live and breathe this stuff. That said, we've also come to realize that not every tip is right for every kind of player. You can spend all day reading every story in Golf Tips and on this Website, and unless you know what you're looking for, the odds of you improving are less than the odds of you becoming more confused about the golf swing.
Instead, heed the following advice. Just as there are more ways than one way to slice a golf ball, there's also more than one way to fix the banana ball. No matter what your problem, you'll likely to encounter a bunch of tips that may sometimes contradict one another. That doesn't mean one is right or wrong; instead it proves that golf is an individual's game, and no two swings are ever exactly the same. Some swings respond to certain types of swing advice, while others don't. The key is in finding a particular teaching style and philosophy that resonates most with your learning and playing style. Once you do that, you'll find it easier to start implementing those tips into your golf game.
Start by perusing the articles on our Website written by different instructors, each of whom have their own take on how to improve. Skim each section then check out our Lesson Finder for tips on every facet of the game. When you find a tip that makes sense to you, take it with you to the practice range and give it a try. Success depends on your level of commitment, so don't expect overnight cures or magic swing fixes! This is a tough game, but lucky for you, we've got some of the brightest and most dedicated instructors in the business to help you get your game on track. And of the editors, we're right along with you in our pursuit to improve, so don't hesitate to ask us a question about what kind of stories you'd like us to cover, or if you have questions on a particular feature. Drop us an e-mail at editors@golftipsmag.com and who knows...maybe your plea will help us decide what kinds of stories to put together in next year's issues of GT.
Most of all, have fun on our Website! Check us out often. Oh and by the way, what you see now is just the beginning. We'll be rolling out all kinds of great stuff on our new Website this summer, including the opportunity to send messages directly to our instructors that will be answered in our upcoming Golf Tips Readers Forum. This will be your chance to post topics for discussion and share a dialogue with top instructors and equipment gurus from across the country!
It's just the beginning folks. Stay tuned for more!
Sincerely,
Ryan Noll
Senior Editor
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