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Golf/Questions Answered by Expert Michael Hoffman
| Subject | Date Asked |
| PGA Tour | 2/6/2012 |
| Q: I am a fit 19 year old 13 handicap. My goal is to obtain a spot playing in the PGA Tour. I currently ... A: Jonathon, I love your dedication and ambition. The best advice I can give you is to get yourself a ... | |
| I hit too high | 1/8/2012 |
| Q: I'm an 8 handicap, have a swing speed of about 117-120. I hit a long ball with all clubs and play ... A: Geoff, That is some kind of swing speed. Wow!! That swing speed in itself will send the ball to an ... | |
| how to hit a draw | 1/6/2012 |
| Q: How do I hit a draw shot? Is this a different process off the tee compared to the fairway? Thanks. ... A: Doug, There are two aspects to hit a high draw. It will be different from the tee than the fairway ... | |
| golf | 12/23/2011 |
| Q: what do the colors on ping clubs mean? A: Noah, The different colored dots indicate the different lie angles. The lie angle is the angle of ... | |
| Pin placements | 12/15/2011 |
| Q: What is the Rule on placing the Pins on a hill Or flat places? A: Vernon, I know there are guidelines as to how to set pin placements. I currently do not have the ... | |
| Shoulder tilt | 11/24/2011 |
| Q: I have been taking lessons and having my swing video taped and getting readings on shoulder tilt ... A: Bob, It sounds like a security issue. You obviously have the flexibility to turn your lead shoulder ... | |
| Driving Rule | 11/2/2011 |
| Q: playing a par 5 my golf partner hit a drive off to the left front fairway about 70 yards or so. He ... A: Michael, As the ball was visible by the player a provisional ball shouldn't have been played. The ... | |
| Driving Rule | 10/29/2011 |
| Q: playing a par 5 my golf partner hit a drive off to the left front fairway about 70 yards or so. He ... A: Michael, Here is what the player should have done. He needs to declare that he is playing a ... | |
| handicap after a long time not playing | 10/28/2011 |
| Q: I was wandering if you could help me. I have put my name down for a fun local golf tournament, but ... A: Caroline, Two rounds of golf in 18 years. Wow!! I would talk to the tournament coordinator and ... | |
| Golf Schedule/Practice | 10/22/2011 |
| Q: How do I practice more efficiently, I need a schedule on all parts of the game. Putting is my ... A: Mason, It's nice that you have 3 hours to practice each week. Practice can be fun if you know how ... | |
| Course Records | 10/13/2011 |
| Q: 1. If someone in a bonified medal competition records a score that betters the course record held, ... A: The term "course record" is not defined in the Rules of Golf. However, it is generally accepted that ... | |
| Course Records | 10/11/2011 |
| Q: 1. If someone in a bonified medal competition records a score that betters the course record held, ... A: Allan, Good question. I would say that it would be a course record if the holes on the greens were ... | |
| Hitting the ball thin | 9/26/2011 |
| Q: I have recently enjoyed some success by dropping my right shoulder in the downswing, rather than the ... A: Hal, Great question. I'm glad that you're no longer coming over the top. That is a very good fix. ... | |
| golfing terms | 9/17/2011 |
| Q: I would like to know what the following golf terms mean: system, deeds and tempo. A: I have been playing golf for 46 years and the only term that I associate with golf is the word ... | |
| New clubs or new shafts | 8/27/2011 |
| Q: I've been playing 2002 big bertha irons (Fenwick graphite 6.0 frequency - matched shafts for 9 years ... A: Jim, First of all sorry for the delay. What club head was on the X-20 that you hit? If it was ... | |
| club conformity | 8/24/2011 |
| Q: Is it within the rules to place a small (1/4" or so) decal, piece of tape, or paint mark on the top ... A: Joe, In reference to what I found it appears to that this would be an acceptable practice. ... | |
| Drop area | 8/13/2011 |
| Q: Im watching the PGA, and several water holes have drop areas. No answer. I have emailed the PGA and ... A: Ray, I can tell you're not a fan of drop areas. I agree with you as well, but in some situations it ... | |
| STARTING POINT FOR A COURSE RECORD | 8/13/2011 |
| Q: Our course for ladies does not have a recorded "course record". Can you please point me in the right ... A: Helen, The term "course record" is not defined in the Rules of Golf. However, it is generally ... | |
| Ball identification in bunker | 7/30/2011 |
| Q: Player A hooks his tee shot into rough among the trees. Player B "appears" to hit his tee shot into ... A: Joe, I would have let player B hit the ball out of the bunker. If the ball was not player B's, ... | |
| Driver Shaft Issues | 7/19/2011 |
| Q: Michael, I recently purchased a new Callaway FT-iZ 10 degree stiff flex shaft that I was told fit ... A: Thomas, It is unfortunate that you have had continuous problems with this particular shaft. I can't ... | |
| high ballflight and +1 inch shaft +standard lie | 7/14/2011 |
| Q: Michael, I play mizunos mp30 with +1 inch shafts midsize grip and people tell me my ballflight ... A: Peter, Sorry for the delay. It shouldn't be more difficult to shape a shot with those ... | |
| high ballflight and +1 inch shaft +standard lie | 7/13/2011 |
| Q: Michael, I play mizunos mp30 with +1 inch shafts midsize grip and people tell me my ballflight ... A: Peter, Your clubs with the standard lie and +1 inch would equal 2° upright. The fact the the shaft ... | |
| ball ruling | 7/12/2011 |
| Q: what is the difference between white and red stake hazards? A: Frank, White stakes are typically out of bounds stakes and just for a side note the stakes ... | |
| Hole in One | 7/11/2011 |
| Q: The ball comes to rest against the flagstick but still above the hole. The player bends the ... A: Shawn, Here's your answer....... 17-4. Ball Resting Against Flagstick When a player's ball rests ... | |
| Golf | 7/6/2011 |
| Q: I am a 14 year old boy in the 9th grade. I want to make my high school golf team. I usually shoot ... A: Hampton, I think the best thing to do since you are at the course 4-5 hours a day is to practice ... | |
| Rule 17-1/2 | 6/29/2011 |
| Q: I was playing in a 2-man head-to-head golf league match when we ran into a confusing situation ... A: Brian, Before making a stroke from anywhere on the course, the player may have the flagstick ... | |
| range or 9 holes? | 6/23/2011 |
| Q: Michael I am luckey enough to live close to a par three 'learner' course with a driving range. I ... A: Bud, I would do both. Alternate the practice session with playing 9 holes not including your Sunday ... | |
| rifle shafts | 6/18/2011 |
| Q: My son and I are looking for new clubs and have a question about shafts. I have heard the rifle ... A: Matt, The first thing I recommend is to contact a PGA Professional in your area that is an expert ... | |
| beginner clubs | 5/16/2011 |
| Q: I am wanting to get into golf and do not know very much about clubs and am looking for a complete ... A: Kyle, There are many options for you concerning a set of golf clubs. The one I suggest is to go to ... | |
| USGA RULE 17-1; NOTE 1 | 4/22/2011 |
| Q: Please clarify Note 1 of rule 17-1 with an illustration to help my friend. I was near a flag and a ... A: Leon, First of all I didn't receive the illustration. Note 1: If the flagstick is in the hole and ... | |
| Local Rule drop zone | 4/11/2011 |
| Q: The local rule on our card says If a ball is in, or it is virtually certain that a ball etc ... in a ... A: Christine, I have a couple of points to make if I'm reading your question correctly. You state that ... | |
| Playing wrong ball | 4/10/2011 |
| Q: My playing partner and I both hit good drives down the middle of the fairway. The balls ended up ... A: John, Two players hit their drives in the middle of the fairway close to one another. Your playing ... | |
| How to practice golf efficiently? | 4/9/2011 |
| Q: How can I practice golf efficiently? Thanks, Jack. A: Jack, I think the best way to practice efficiently is to have a schedule of what you are going to ... | |
| Playing wrong ball | 4/8/2011 |
| Q: My playing partner and I both hit good drives down the middle of the fairway. The balls ended up ... A: John, You place a ball on the position it was in before your playing partner hit it. No penalty to ... | |
| relief from lateral water hazard | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: In taking relief from a lateral water hazard that has a steep side slope my question is....after ... A: Rene, There is nothing in the rule book that states that you may re-drop if the ball after a drop ... | |
| relief from lateral water hazard | 3/21/2011 |
| Q: In taking relief from a lateral water hazard that has a steep side slope my question is....after ... A: Rene, Under rule twenty, c. When to Re-Drop A dropped ball must be re-dropped, without penalty, if ... | |
| Driver Problem | 3/16/2011 |
| Q: Michael, for some reason this year I am "Smothering" my drives low and left. It has almost gotten to ... A: Paul, Your club face is entering the impact area closed which is causing the ball to go low and ... | |
| RULES | 3/1/2011 |
| Q: IF A BALL COMES TO REST UNDER A BRIDGE IN A (MARKED ) DRIED UP WATER HAZARD IS THERE ANY RELIEF. I ... A: Tom, You are correct my friend. He shouldn't be in the hazard in the first place, therefore no ... | |
| Golf Rules unable to escape from a bunker | 2/8/2011 |
| Q: During the course of a round of golf my playing partner hit a shot into a green side bunker in which ... A: Andrew, Here is the rule. If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he must, under penalty ... | |
| club knockout doubles ruling | 1/24/2011 |
| Q: Its our yearly club doubles knock out comp, Me and my partner managed to get through to the next ... A: John, I think your response is natural however the rules seem to be in place to cover the situation ... | |
| Becoming a professional tour player | 1/18/2011 |
| Q: I am 23 and just recently started playing golf. I developed a strong passion for the game and as I ... A: Justin, I think your determination is admirable. I also think that anything is possible. The first ... | |
| rule 16-1 | 1/14/2011 |
| Q: on the green a player as a joke to test if his playing partners are looking marks his ball 10 cm in ... A: Mufaro, If the player places his ball 10 cm in front of his marker and doesn't pick up his marker ... | |
| How to become a PGA Professional? | 1/5/2011 |
| Q: I heard that there are two ways to become a head golf professional and was wondering what all you ... A: Ryan, Good question. There are two pathways that lead to PGA membership — the PGA PGM Apprentice ... | |
| DRIVER SHAFT | 12/22/2010 |
| Q: I am a senior(65), my swing speed is 95 mph and my launch angle is 14.6 and my spin rate is 2750. my ... A: Robert, Since changing shafts is an expensive proposition, I will suggest the following for you. ... | |
| golf rules hitting provisional ball | 12/13/2010 |
| Q: my question is this we had a 4some, player A, hit a ball off the tea, thinking it was straight. ... A: Wally, Once the player declares the ball lost, the player in this case must go back to the tee and ... | |
| lost ball off the tee | 11/22/2010 |
| Q: ball driven off the tee is searched for & declared lost returning to tee to play 3rd, subsequently ... A: David, If you have hit the second ball (third shot) that then becomes the ball in play. If the ball ... | |
| Repeatable Golf Swing | 10/25/2010 |
| Q: Michael, I am the master of the 42 front nine and 54 back nine (sometimes visa/versa). This year I ... A: Vale, First of all it sounds as if your fitness program is right in line. The only caution would be ... | |
| putting | 10/13/2010 |
| Q: My playing partner uses a barrel type putter and putts like playing shuffleboard.He doesn't push ... A: Joe, The "line of putt" is the line that the player wishes his ball to take after a stroke on the ... | |
| Hardest club in bag to hit. | 10/11/2010 |
| Q: I believe the hardest clubs to hit in bag are the 3 wood off the deck, and then the Driver anytime. ... A: Mark, You're both correct. Different players have trouble hitting certain clubs. Typically, for the ... | |
| when is a putt not a putt | 10/1/2010 |
| Q: in a recent game my partner putted short of the hole some 3inches, he then proceed to strike the ... A: Kevin, The player incurred a stroke according to the definition of a stroke. Stroke A "stroke" is ... | |
| Taking a shallower divot | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: I would like to take a shallow divot with my iron shots. I am tall so I have fairly upright swing ... A: Don, Here is what I suggest you try to minimize the depth of your divots. Try moving the ball up in ... | |
| Golf Rules | 9/24/2010 |
| Q: When your ball hits the ground and gets embedded into the ground what is the rule of play. Can you ... A: Carolynn, Here is the procedure to follow. Embedded Ball A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in ... | |
| putting | 9/23/2010 |
| Q: on a steep sloped 2 tier green I plugged my ball in the middle of the slope. The ball could not be ... A: Doug, Great question. This particular situation is not covered under the Rules of Golf. One must ... | |
| Trying to stay in the golf industry | 9/17/2010 |
| Q: I have been in the golf industry since 1996. Not something I originally wanted to do, but fell in ... A: Denise, It sounds like you're very ambitious and energetic. Even with the economy the way it is, I ... | |
| grip size | 8/29/2010 |
| Q: ive been golfing a while now with a standard grip size. i do have small hands and i still cant turn ... A: Nick, This is definitely the time for choices. My choice would be play a fade with less pain by ... | |
| Hook up hill | 8/9/2010 |
| Q: I have hcp 7,4 so I play actually quite good. There is one situation on the course which gives me ... A: Chris, Hitting the ball left is typical from an uphill lie. It's because of your hips being ... | |
| Golf Skins Money | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: We are having a golf outing for scholarships and we have a difference of opinion in regards to the ... A: Marie, There are many questions that I have to determine how to answer your question. 1) What is ... | |
| Golf club fitting | 8/2/2010 |
| Q: No one seems to mention arm length when getting fitted for clubs. I am 5'3" and have an arm span of ... A: Maryann, I would suggest hitting all of your irons off a lie board. This will determine if your ... | |
| Marking Ball on the green | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: Several years ago I seemed to remember a player being penalized for using his room key for a marker ... A: Robert, The rule book states the the ball should be marked with a ball marker, small coin or ... | |
| Ping Wedges | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: I have Ping ISI K Silver Dot irons. I have a sand wedge and a sand wedge 3. How would I best ... A: Kirt, The best way is to take the clubs to a Pro Shop or a golf retailer that has a lie/loft ... | |
| Swing Low Point | 7/25/2010 |
| Q: How does one practice to get a consistent low point in their swing? How much does proper weight ... A: Patch, By doing the same things in your backswing and downswing you'll have a constant low point in ... | |
| plus handicap | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: A member at our club is a plus 2 handicap should he play at a zero or give us 2 additional strokes A: Andy, If he's a plus 2 then he plays at a plus 2. If you're playing a net event you would subtract ... | |
| Provisional Ball into Hazard | 7/16/2010 |
| Q: We were playing a course we were unfamiliar with my opponet hit a ball that went into the rough and ... A: Scott, Since your opponent hit the provisional ball under the impression that the ball was lost ... | |
| bogey | 7/16/2010 |
| Q: I am somewhat ignorant about golf. If I read in the newspaper that a golf player hit a “bogey” did ... A: Al, Par is the number of strokes that a good golfer needs to complete the hole. If a player shoots ... | |
| playint within a hazard (red stake) | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: Mr. Hoffman, My opponent (brother) hit his second shot on a par 5 hole on the edge of a water hazard ... A: Dan, There is no penalty as your brother was not touching the hazard to test the conditions, he was ... | |
| Rules question | 7/11/2010 |
| Q: During a match play tournament, our local pro had a "beat the pro" competition on a par 3. One of ... A: Carl, Since this was an unusual circumstance, because of the Beat the Pro competition, I think he ... | |
| Blues or Whites? | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: I'm 63 can drive the ball 240 but not often, I'm am not consistent off the tee and will shoot in ... A: Dick, Here are three options for you. 1) Stand your ground and continue to play from the whites. ... | |
| Colors of Tee box vs Handicaps | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: Last evening after a golf round we were talking about that the man can tee off from "white" or ... A: Yulia, There are generally no defined tee box colors for each person with different handicaps. ... | |
| putting | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: When I have a easy putt I tend to either pull or push the ball. Is this just nerves or am I doing ... A: Dylan, I don't think it's nerves, it's probably a lack of practice. Try spending twenty minutes on ... | |
| watching another players putt | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: Was standing 4' to right and 2' back we both had putts on same line to hole other player was away ... A: John, Etiquette is a very important element of the game of golf. There really isn't a rule but ... | |
| playing professionally | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: I am 39 years old and a decent player. I realize I have 10 years before q-school for the sr. tour ... A: Jeff, I would suggest that you attend a Hooter's Tour event or a Nationwide event as a spectator. ... | |
| Driving | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: Every time i hit a golf ball it fades massively to the right, i am lucky in the way that most of the ... A: Sam, Fading massively is considered a slice, just to get the terminology correct. There are two ... | |
| Rule in the Bunker | 6/19/2010 |
| Q: In the normal golf tournament, if a player ball was in the bunker but he did not like its ball's ... A: J K, The following answers to your questions were found under Rule 28 in the Rules of Golf. 1) ... | |
| Equipment | 6/17/2010 |
| Q: Michael: Thanks for taking the time to review my question. My question is about my driver. Right ... A: Adam, The first thing I would do is to borrow your friend's driver and take it to the range. If you ... | |
| type of putter | 6/17/2010 |
| Q: Is there a rule on types of putters? I made a putter that I use like a croquet style mallet. I put ... A: Gary, There are many rules on the type of putters (and specs on clubs) in Appendix ll in the USGA ... | |
| Wrong shaft symptoms | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: I am a 68 year old who hit the ball fairly long not to many years ago. Now I am losing some ... A: Mickey, It sounds as though the shaft is not kicking correctly (releasing) thus keeping the face ... | |
| Penn Obedient Driver | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: I recently bought a Penn Obedient driver from someone. It comes with a set of 3 weights, 2 brass and ... A: Rob, I am not familiar with the Penn Obedient driver and like you could find nothing on line. ... | |
| Rule 7-1b practice | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: Before a shotgun start, while waiting for the siren, I hit some practice balls from the rough and ... A: Steve, It's not what my opinion is Steve but I can tell what you can practice before a stroke play ... | |
| Practice routines | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: my name is Justin and I have been playing the game for 5-7 years. I have been a scratch golfer for ... A: Justin, I would have you focus 70% of your practice time on your short game. This part of the game ... | |
| Practice routines | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: my name is Justin and I have been playing the game for 5-7 years. I have been a scratch golfer for ... A: Justin, I need to know how much time you have before I can make a recommendation as to your ... | |
| Distance | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: Michael, and thanks for volunteering for this service! I am a 55 y.o. male in good health. I've ... A: Mike, First let me address your first comment that "your just not that good". Playing just twice a ... | |
| Grips | 5/29/2010 |
| Q: Greetings Mike...I want to replace my grips. I have different grips on some of my clubs, because the ... A: Ken, There aren't any guidelines what so ever. It is really a personal preference. I would suggest ... | |
| New clubs | 5/25/2010 |
| Q: I am getting ready to purchase my second set of clubs. I owned the same pair for over 12 years. I ... A: Yaz, There are quite a few forgiving clubs on the market these days. The most important element in ... | |
| Driver Shaft and Loft | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: I have not gotten my swing speed clocked but I do believe it is fast. I am currently hitting a ... A: Chris, Your swing speed has to be over 115 mph if you hit the ball that far. This is a good thing. ... | |
| Golf - Course Records | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: How much needs to change on a golf course to make the existing course record invalid? A: Jo, That's a great question. I would think that it would be up to the committee that runs the golf ... | |
| Lost my Swing | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: Over the years I have been progressively improving my game and my average score seems to drop each ... A: Greg, There could be many reasons for this change to occur such as new equipment, your personal ... | |
| cut | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: When a golf player MISSES a cut what exactly does that mean? When a player MAKES a cut what exactly ... A: Al, When a player misses the cut that means he did not qualify for the weekend play which means ... | |
| cut | 5/1/2010 |
| Q: When a golf player “misses a cut” what exactly does that mean? When a player “makes a cut” what ... A: Al, When a player misses the cut that means he did not qualify for the weekend play which means ... | |
| Two off the tee out of bounds | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: I'm interested in knowing the penaltys to impose when hitting balls out of bounds (or lost). A chap ... A: Richard, The penalty for a ball out of bounds is stroke and distance. There is no limit on how many ... | |
| Question on Golf rules on nearest point of relief when ball is on cart path? | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: What if the nearest point of relief from the cart path has been properly determined as a point in ... A: Steven, The nearest point of relief would be on the golf course not out of bounds or in a hazard. ... | |
| Ruling | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: What options are there if a ball is lost in a clump of grass in a bunker? If you look for it and it ... A: Jenny, If the ball cannot be found after 5 minutes the penalty is stroke and distance. There is no ... | |
| Golf ball travelling over OB but landing in a hazard | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: The hole we were playing is OB left off the tee. About 175 yards out the white stakes are replaced ... A: Kevin, Thanks for the hole layout. What still needs to be determined is when does out of bounds ... | |
| Golf ball travelling over OB but landing in a hazard | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: The hole we were playing is OB left off the tee. About 175 yards out the white stakes are replaced ... A: Kevin, If the hazard is considered part of the golf course and the ball last crossed the margin of ... | |
| loss of power | 4/3/2010 |
| Q: I have been playing for about two years now and just before I lost power, I was shooting in the mid ... A: Jonathan, I really don't have enough information to make an educated guess. I would strongly ... | |
| shaft angle/high,low hands? | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: Hanging your arms relaxed and naturally down at address seems to be the best advice from everything ... A: John, Having your arms in a relaxed straight position from your shoulders is best the position at ... | |
| card-off | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: My women's club just finished a tournament and "card-off" rule was applied to four ties. Could you ... A: Hellena, The phrase "card off" is short for scorecard playoff. This is something the committee ... | |
| New clubhead came w/ little chip in it | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: I recently purchased a new set of titleist irons and my 7iron came with a relatively deep but small ... A: Dan, It may not affect ball flight but I would certainly have the Pro Shop or retailer have ... | |
| bunker/sand shot | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: Who hits first? There are 2 balls approx 12" apart one in front of the other. My understanding is ... A: Jan, You're right about the person furthest from the hole typically goes first. In this case if the ... | |
| moving ball | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: you have address the ball and as you take your back swing the ball moves can you continue the shot ... A: Mark, Here is the answer. If a player's ball in play moves after he has addressed it (other than ... | |
| SHAFT FLEX AND CLUB HEAD SPEED | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: Ten years ago I had a driver club head speed of about 105mpg and used X shafts. Aging and a hand ... A: John, That is strange that the distance stays the same regardless of the shaft. If the distance ... | |
| swing muscles | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: Can you tell me which muscles control the swing from take away to finish. i am not asking for names ... A: Jason, Great question. I'll make the answer very easy to understand. If you use your shoulder, back ... | |
| pulling with the left side | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: I am a right-handed golfer. I tend to pull hard from the top with the left side, arm and shoulder ... A: Ken, It makes sense that you hit quite a few blocks with this method. Most golfers that pull hard ... | |
| Marking of ball on putting green | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: I was the marker for a player whose ball was on the green. She indicated that she was taking relief ... A: Carol, I'm curious about the sprinkler head being on the green. You state that the ball was on the ... | |
| Players Card | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: What is the criteria for a player to lose his players card. Is it based on earnings or points gained ... A: Jannie, I will answer this is regards to the PGA Tour in America. The top 125 money earners retain ... | |
| Senior tees | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: What are the rules on senior tees? I just took over our company league & have people complaining ... A: Jeff, There are no "set" rules on senior tees or at what age one should play from them. As the one ... | |
| How much should I practice and on what? | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: I'm a 26 yr old, resonably new golfer, played for a couple of years. But have never really put the ... A: Daniel, First of all I think it's fantastic that you have two hours to practice every day. Here is ... | |
| Golf 1 iron | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: What is the best 1 iron for a high handicap golfer with the most forgiveness A: Alan, There isn't a good 1 iron for a high handicapper. Period. As a matter of fact, 1 irons are ... | |
| Ping eye 2 irons | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a full set of green dot eye 2's. How do I tell what version mine are, the years that they ... A: Ted, There is a code stamped in the hosel (where the shaft and club head meet). This has all of the ... | |
| Green - marking a ball more than once | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: Scenario: I am on the green, have correctly marked my ball, picked it up and cleaned it, placed the ... A: Andre, As you might expect, some of these scenarios are hard to get an answer in black and white. I ... | |
| Loft and Lie | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: I am thinking about weakening the lofts 2 degrees on my forged irons. I know that bending the loft ... A: Josh, Is this something that you will have someone else do for you that has the proper equipment? ... | |
| tilt vs turn | 1/16/2010 |
| Q: I am a tall guy -6'5". I tend to tilt my shoulders back and through rather than turning/rotating ... A: Ken, From your description it sounds as though your lead shoulder drops as your initiate your back ... | |
| Out of Bounds | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: If you hit a ball and it lands inside the out of bounds marker(ball is still in play) but you have ... A: Al, Yes it is ok to stand out of bounds to play your ball that is in bounds. Read below. Out of ... | |
| Hi | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: I asked another expert here to review my swing as well, but I thought it would be great to have a ... A: Jeff, Sorry for the delay in responding to your question. I looked at your swing with both the ... | |
| golf shaft | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: im a 54 yearl old male with a 10 hcp i was recently fitted with a49 gram shaft for my driver ,as i ... A: Mearl, My opinion is and always has been "play with equipment that gives you the best result". When ... | |
| rules | 12/21/2009 |
| Q: on a par 5,the club used for laying up is placed on the sides of the bag,about to play his 3rd,he ... A: Nash, This is my opinion since every situation is not in the rule/decision book. The marker and the ... | |
| plugged ball | 12/11/2009 |
| Q: Good evening, My question is regarding a plugged ball. My second shot on a par 5 I used a 4 iron. It ... A: Ray, Here is the verbiage for an embedded ball. A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ... | |
| golf rules | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: In a stroke play tournament player A drives his golf ball into the rough. He decides to mark his ... A: Alan, The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted under a Rule that requires it to ... | |
| Hitting a wrong ball | 11/27/2009 |
| Q: I just finished a round and had the one of the most awkward situations happen pertaining to the ... A: Mike, You did everything in accordance with the rules. Read below. b. Stroke Play If a competitor ... | |
| sliding | 11/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a bad problem sliding off the ball going back and then sliding through. Please help. Thanks ... A: Ken, You're not alone in this category. Many players slide while they attempt to shift their ... | |
| golf rules | 11/21/2009 |
| Q: "Player A and Player B both hit their drives in the trees and right rough. One ball was 25 yards ... A: Alan, Here is your answer. Rule 20-1 A ball to be lifted under the Rules may be lifted by the ... | |
| golf rules | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: "Player A and Player B both hit their drives in the trees and right rough. One ball was 25 yards ... A: Alan, Both players would have to consider their golf balls lost and proceed with the stroke and ... | |
| Lost vs. Lateral | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: I hit my tee shot into a bunker on the left side of the fairway which came to rest on the left side ... A: John, Here is the answer for you. "virtually certain" are the two important words here. The player ... | |
| Embedded ball | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: We had a situation the other day where there was a ball that was in its own pitch mark but one of ... A: Rob, Good question. The ball may bounce and then become embedded into it's own pitch mark. For the ... | |
| lie adjustment | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: please translate terminology. Flat vs upright and "+" vs "-". I'm about to order clubs and I need an ... A: Evan, Flat is - and upright is +, so from your question it would be 2 degrees upright. Have you ... | |
| Hazard rule | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: We have a hole on our course where much of a hazard is not in view from the tee and the practice is ... A: David, The question is somewhat confusing but I guess what you're saying is that there's proof that ... | |
| Procedure for marking a ball on the Green | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: During a tournament, I marked my ball on the green. As it lied on the line of putting of one of my ... A: Badrul, It appears that there is a one shot penalty on you for not replacing the marker with the ... | |
| TEAM EVENT | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: In a club team event teams of 3, two best scores to count, stableford. One score recorded lower than ... A: Melandy, I believe that the team would be disqualified based on the following, 6-6. Scoring in ... | |
| Marking the Ball on the green | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: When it is my turn to putt,ou2 is it legal to just place my putterhead directly behind the ball and ... A: Elaine, Yes it is but it is not recommended. 20-1/16 Method Used to Mark Position of Ball Q. The ... | |
| legal pin placement | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: Is there a rule in golf that tells how close to the edge of a green a pin may be placed? If so, ... A: Bob, I do not believe there is a rule that covers your question because I have researched it ... | |
| Rifle shafts | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: Michael: I'm a 10 handicapper, age 65. I hit a 7 iron 150 yds and play Mizuno MX25's with True ... A: Rudy, I don't have nearly the information that I need to give an opinion about whether those shafts ... | |
| Raking Bunker Prior to Play | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: Situation: A lot of players at my local course do not repair the bunker after they have played ... A: Reson, No it's not permissible to touch the sand with a rake, club or any object prior to hitting ... | |
| golf apprenticeship | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: I was just curious, what exactly it takes to become a golf pro? I've heard that there is an ... A: Jon, These days there are different ways to become a golf pro. You can work your way into the golf ... | |
| should i slow my swing | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: I swing really fast compared to my friends but i rarely get the ball onto the fairway. Would slowing ... A: Daryl, Slowing your swing speed is important and I will give you two swing tips to achieve this. ... | |
| Hitting of the heel | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: When hitting woods (3 wood, 5 wood) and driver off the tee, I am think I am striking the heel of the ... A: Anand, It sounds as if you are swinging the club on an outside to inside downswing path causing the ... | |
| Rules | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: My opponent in Match Play pulled his drive into the left rough.He was blocked out by a tree. He ... A: Greg, It may not of been. He gets to take relief at the nearest point. If it was there in the ... | |
| Match Play | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: My question is if in match play someone DQ themselves from playing their match with you. (person ... A: Kim, Let's first look at Rule 2-4 from the USGA web site. 2-4. Concession of Match, Hole or Next ... | |
| Draw/Hook everything! | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: I am a returning golfer who use to play of a comfortable 9 handicap,shot couple of 69's but have ... A: Joe, Without the benefit of seeing your golf swing I'll give you a couple of scenarios. It may be ... | |
| ball strikes flag stick in 4-ball format | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: Mike A & B are partners in a 4-ball better ball format. Whilst on the putting green A has to putt ... A: Jam, If the ball strikes the flag as a player putts from on the green the penalty is two strokes. ... | |
| OB & hazard | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: when a ball is directly sitting on the hazard or OB line, is it already in the hazard and OB? even ... A: Xavier, Here is your answer concerning the water hazard. 26/1.5 Status of Ball That Touches Water ... | |
| Chipping | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: I have been trying to get 'check' off chips from around 10-15m, is there a special technique? Even ... A: Matthew, First a divot is not required but hitting down and through the ball is the proper ... | |
| lifting the ball | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: I have a real problem of helping the ball into the air. When I do this the result is a bad block to ... A: Ken, This is common for most golfers, especially those that are just starting the game. They feel ... | |
| marking ball on green | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: A person was ready to putt from on the green. He noticed some mud on his ball. He placed the head ... A: Ed, The player should not have been given a 1 stroke penalty in that situation. The following was ... | |
| Rules | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: I Michael, I work at Black Bear Ridge G.C in Belleville, ON and I am always getting questions on ... A: Sarah, A rake is a movable obstruction so rule 24-1 is in place which is as follows from the USGA ... | |
| becoming a head golf pro | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: my boyfriend is very interested in golf as a career. We looked at the Golf Academy of America, but ... A: Kristi, It appears that you have done your research to this point. That's very admirable. The best ... | |
| Stance | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: My stance is affected by a sprinkler head located 2' from green. If my nearest point of relief is on ... A: Chris, You not allowed to drop a ball on the green. Here is an excerpt from the USGA web site. Rule ... | |
| Foursomes | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: if i play a shot into a hazard and we have to take a drop who plays the next shot? Is the drop ... A: Bob, Your shot into the hazard would incur the additional penalty stroke. Your partner would play ... | |
| Golf Rule | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: You answered a question from me under the heading "Partners may share clubs". The purpose of my ... A: Jack, You may have a maximum of fourteen clubs during a stipulated round. You may not borrow a club ... | |
| putting | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: i'm hoping you can help me,when both balls are on the green does the ball furthest from the hole ... A: Barbara, The ball that is furthest away has the next shot. With a declaration, (I'd like to finish) ... | |
| how to play pro golf | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: ive been playing for about four months i love this game if i could i would play everyday. I need to ... A: Anthony, First of all let me ask you how old are you? I think it's great you want to play ... | |
| Rules question - marking ball with tee.... | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: On the green, can I mark my ball with a tee (instead of flat object) if it's not in line with ... A: Jon, This what is preferred from the USGA web site. Note: The position of a ball to be lifted ... | |
| handicap | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: Can you explain to me how the handicap system works? I understand the concept of how it enables ... A: Ed, Let me address the question about allocating handicap strokes. First of all the myth is that ... | |
| Handicap | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: I entered a club match play competition on 1st June and have played 5 rounds so far. At the time of ... A: Jason, Typically in a Match Play event you would play with the handicap that you started the event ... | |
| Backspin | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: When i watch the pga tour on tv i see players hit bals that land on the green and sometimes have 10 ... A: Luke, First you need to make contact with the ball first with a descending blow. This in itself ... | |
| Golf Adress | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a prostaff set and a 60 degree lob wedge. I was wondering how far away my hands should be ... A: Luke, When you're in a good address position with your arms hanging freely from your shoulders will ... | |
| Major history question | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: Hoffman, Knowing what the modern day 4 majors are, and also knowing that Bobby Jones won the Grand ... A: Ross, When Bobby Jones won the Grand Slam the tournaments were The British Open, The British ... | |
| Golf clubs for 9 year old | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: I was trying to decide between the kids ultra-light vs the tour series. He has a beautiful swing ... A: Paul, I am glad that you are in the process of getting clubs that are best suited for your son. Too ... | |
| Rule 4-4 of Rules of Golf | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: Playing in a singles competition on the 18th hole, my co-player is in a greenside bunker and I'm on ... A: Jack, The following is from the USGA web site. b. Partners May Share Clubs Partners may share ... | |
| reading a put | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: we all cant read puts like Camilo Villegas, but what are the rules for how you can read a put. ... A: Kyle, The following is from the USGA web site. For your information. 16-1. General a. Touching ... | |
| Golf Buggy in hazards | 8/1/2009 |
| Q: Is taking your golf buggy into a hazard against the rules of golf or just poor golf etiquette A: Dale, It's not listed in the rules of golf as a violation, but it would be poor golf etiquette. ... | |
| my golf swing | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCib3XpiUCI thanks for your time A: Joshua, Let's back up a bit. Prior to changing to a "strong" grip, how were you hitting the ball? ... | |
| putting | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: When I line up my putt from behind the ball with a line through my ball, it looks good. However, ... A: Neil, First of all you're not unusual. Alignment in this game is simply a habit. In order for the ... | |
| ground balls | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: what is the reason i hit ground balls all the time i just don't understand what im doing wrong. If ... A: Luke, First of all when you change something that was a habit it will feel unnatural. This is very ... | |
| point of relief | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: my ball ended up in a cement drainage ditch behind the green. the nearest point of relief, according ... A: Salvador, That's what pals are for. Haha In this case you would be allowed one club length from ... | |
| Shaft damage | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: I just bought a new Nike Dymo2 driver. In the process of removing the price label, i ever so ... A: Todd, It sounds as though it is an extremely small scratch. I doubt if it will adversely affect the ... | |
| ground balls | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: what is the reason i hit ground balls all the time i just don't understand what im doing wrong. If ... A: Luke, The club is bottoming out before it gets to the ball. This means that the club is ascending ... | |
| downswing | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: im having trouble with my transition from the backswing to the downswing i was wondering if you have ... A: John, The first piece of advice I'll give you is to finish the back swing. Once the back swing has ... | |
| Ball in Hazard | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: If i ht a ball into a hazard on my tee shot, and elect to re hit from the tee box, may I use a tee? ... A: David, Good question. You may use a tee if you go back to the tee box after hitting the ball in the ... | |
| Golf swing | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: When i play golf i seem to hit alot of low line drives my friends and family say that i pick up but ... A: Luke, It sounds as though your club is ascending (going up) at impact instead of descending (going ... | |
| Inside-Out Swing | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: First, thank you for your time..I will try to be short and specific. I am a better player between 4 ... A: Paul, You have describe your issue very well. I would like to see a video of your swing which ... | |
| marking the golf ball on the green | 7/17/2009 |
| Q: May I mark another player's ball on the green? Must I ask permission to do so? Must I replace the ... A: Penny, You may mark another player's ball on the putting with that player's permission. The person ... | |
| Golf | 7/3/2009 |
| Q: Micheal When a longest drive compition is held and it is not stated that the ball must be on the ... A: Jamie, It appears this was an oversight by the competition committee. Typically, when a long drive ... | |
| provisional | 7/3/2009 |
| Q: what is the ruling if an opponet hits the provisional ball i hit after i have alraedy found and ... A: Norman, This is a good question and here is the answer. Your opponent would have hit a "wrong ... | |
| Marking position of ball | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: In a matchplay competition my ball was on the green and several centimeters directly in front of an ... A: John, What you did is a very common practice. I see players do this all the time. However, it is ... | |
| Found Lost Ball / Ball Unplayable | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: You hit the first ball off the tee into the "sagebrush". Rule 27-2a states "If a ball may be lost ... A: Douglas, You can declare the ball unplayable but you cannot play the provisional ball. You must ... | |
| Flagstick as backstop | 6/27/2009 |
| Q: I’d love to get a “ruling” on a claim my fellow competitor made this afternoon. I made a putt from ... A: Brian, You're right. Whenever the ball is not on the putting green you have the option of having ... | |
| No consistency with my Driver or fairway woods. | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: To begin, I'm 24 years old, 6'4, 200 pounds. I use a Mega Bear 450 10 degree loft driver with what I ... A: Blaine, I feel your frustration with your woods. One of the things that will help immediately is to ... | |
| Continued training / mental training | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: I have been playing golf a little over 3 years now and have worked my handicap down to a 7. The only ... A: Doug, You didn't provide some vital information such as how often you practice and play. ... | |
| Healer X Driver | 6/19/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a driver at a yard sale for $2.00, the name on the club sole is Healer X. It is ... A: Al, I have been around golf for over 40 years and the name Healer X does not ring a bell. Bottom ... | |
| Right golf set for my height | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: I have just started playing golf again after several years.I've been using a borrowed set of clubs.I ... A: Rich, here is what you need to do. First, find a "demo day" in your area. Talk to the local PGA ... | |
| Iron play | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: I'm a med. to high handicapper and my problem is with my irons. I can drive straight for 315-335yds ... A: Matt, It sounds like the club is reaching the bottom of it's arc before it reaches the ball. This ... | |
| Rules, strokeplay | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: I recently entered a strokeplay competition at my club, i signed for 83 gross score, 43 front nine ... A: Tony, Read below. From the USGA web site. b. Signing and Returning Score Card After completion of ... | |
| practice | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: can you practice chipping and putting on a green you have just played in stroke play? I belive in ... A: Kyle, This is from the USGA web site. Answer is below. 7-2. During Round A player must not make a ... | |
| putting | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: I made a long putt so I put my name on the flag for long putt. My partner putted her ball before I ... A: Mary, Congratulations for making the long putt. If your partner putted before you could remove your ... | |
| cart path play | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: I'm comfortable with the fact that under Rule 24 a concrete cart path is an obstruction and under ... A: Ned, Good question. Here is the answer that should please everyone. Below is from the USGA web ... | |
| Lie angle | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: Michael, do lie angle and shaft length go hand in hand? I had a custom fitting for my current set of ... A: Joe, I am so glad that you went for a club fitting. It is so important to get a set of clubs that ... | |
| putting pga rules | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a conflict with a buddy of mine on a putting issue. Are you allowed, when putting, after you ... A: Dave, Here is the definition of addressing the ball from the USGA web site. Addressing the Ball; ... | |
| Looking for new irons. | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: I have been playing for about 10 years now and have played with hand me down clubs and used clubs ... A: Josh, Whether you play one a month or 3 times a week, you will enjoy the game so much more if you ... | |
| driver c/c?? | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: I know nothing about golf. But I acquired some beautiful persimmon golf club heads and I'm trying to ... A: Melissa, The cc stands for the cubic centimeter of the club. It is a unit of measurement. The cc ... | |
| Rules Question - The lost ball dilemma! | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: I play saturday competitions at my local club and had an interesting situation arise: On the par ... A: Ben, First of all, after a search of 5 minutes the ball is considered a lost ball. Stroke and ... | |
| Shaft Flex | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: I have been looking into upgrading my 3-wood. My current one is the R7 Ti 3-wood with steel shaft ... A: Matt, The first thing I would recommend is to ask the PGA Professional at your course to contact ... | |
| Weak Drives | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: My drives off the tee are asymmetrical with a rise and sharp drop off, the roll is almost ... A: Scott, It sounds as though you are hitting down into the ball which makes the ball go up and when ... | |
| Orginal ball found | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: In the last two weeks, I have had very similar situations, but don't know the official rule and ... A: Michele, First let me apologize for the delay in getting to answer your question. Now to address ... | |
| hitting wedge shots off the heel of the club | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: I am a fairly solid ball striker and a decent player. (index of 5.0) Lately i have noticed that when ... A: Paul, Sorry for the delay. This is an interesting question. My first thought is that your wedge ... | |
| lie angle of club | 5/21/2009 |
| Q: What is two degrees upright mean on irons A: Jason, This means that the lie (shaft) angle is two more degrees vertical than "standard". In ... | |
| golf clubs | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: I have been using my husbands clubs and am finally getting my own. I am looking at spending around ... A: Christy, This is a great question. If you are unsure as to your continued involvement in the game, ... | |
| HITTING THE BALL OF A GREEN | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: A friend sliced his tee shot way right and onto a previously played green, can he hit the ball off ... A: Deric, The player that hit his ball onto another green would do the following. He would drop off ... | |
| Unplayable Lie | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: Hoffman, My ball came to rest against a fence and under a bush. According to rule 28-c under ... A: Brian, I agree with your interpretation of Rule 28-c. Remember that the ball cannot be closer to ... | |
| Q-School | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: Hey Michael, I just wanted to ask, who can I get into the first stage of Q-School? I am scratch ... A: Pipe, Here is the web site that has all of the information you need. ... | |
| Q-School | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: I'm a scratch golfer who is now on days studing in the U.S.A. I think I'm really good in golf so ... A: Pipe, This is a summary from Tom Kelly from about.com that I found on line. It covers all of the ... | |
| Club Question | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to find out what the loft is on an Original Callaway Big Bertha Heavenwood -- I think ... A: Pete, I just talked to a representative from the Callaway Company. The loft of the original ... | |
| check up | 5/10/2009 |
| Q: I want to know how to get chip or pitch shots to check up after a couple bounces. Is there a drill ... A: Jerome, The only way to make a ball stop or check up on the green is with backspin. In order to ... | |
| Question | 5/9/2009 |
| Q: are U allowed rake a bunker before U hit out of it, can U B penalized for same A: Lorcan, You are not allowed to rake a bunker prior to hitting out of it. This would be considered ... | |
| rules | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering what happens when you tee off and hook a ball into the woods about 200 yards from ... A: Jimmy, Thanks for the follow up. Let me address the unplayable lie situation first. Again from the ... | |
| rules | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering what happens when you tee off and hook a ball into the woods about 200 yards from ... A: James, I'm assuming that the ball cannot be found. If this is the case you would have to proceed ... | |
| Shanking | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: Just lately i have been shanking my sand wedge and my pitching wedge. Is there any tips how to cure ... A: Eric, Let me first explain that there are two types of shanking. The typical one is when the hosel ... | |
| Golf Balls | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: Michael, Not really a swing type question so I hope you don't mind but I think you can answer this ... A: Matthew, As long as the balls were kept in a climate controlled area, I think you should be fine. I ... | |
| water hazard | 5/2/2009 |
| Q: This has been a question at our club for a while. If you have a water hazard in front of you (not a ... A: Kyle, You always have to keep the water hazard (not lateral) between yourself and the hole. Here ... | |
| 3 wood shaft flex question | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: I am looking for some advice on the right flex for a tour edge exotics XCGV 3 wood that I ... A: Kevin, I will tell you that I am a huge proponent of testing clubs out before a purchase. Try to ... | |
| holding two clubs | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: can a player make a stroke with the club held in one hand while holding another club in the other ... A: Mike, In my opinion yes he can. As long as the player is not using the other club in an unusual way ... | |
| Golf - Provisional ball | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: Can a provisional ball be played if there is a doubt about whether, after a stroke, a ball has ... A: Jack, No you can't play a provisional ball if you think that the ball may be in a hazard. If you do ... | |
| Reshafting older irons | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a set of Callaway Big Bertha irons that is approximately 10 years old (bought used from a ... A: Steve, If you are seeing inconsistencies with your irons, I would consider reshafting them. If not, ... | |
| Left Foot Flaring to Left | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: before impact. Sometimes it completely leaves the floor! Please can you help with why this ... A: Matt, You should have 75% (or more) of your weight on the left foot at impact. It sounds like you ... | |
| Proper Weight Shift | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: My name is Mark and I have a question about the proper weight shift during the swing. I am a 8 ... A: Mark, I do have two other drills to practice to eliminate swaying off the ball. The first is to hit ... | |
| Reteeing | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: 2 questions. Player A tees off and goes 20 feet ahead, ball remains inside the teeing ground, can he ... A: Ewan, Player A can re-tee (hitting his third shot) according to the unplayable lie rule which ... | |
| poor accuracy | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: I seem to be hitting my ball everywhere except where I'm aiming.I'm thinking my led hand is to far ... A: Len, This isn't too much information to go on, but I'll give it my best. One of the ultimate goals ... | |
| swing help | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: i used to be a scratch golfer when i was younger, but it's been 6 years since i've picked up a ... A: Michael, It's great to hear that you're back playing golf. Before I get into critiquing your swing, ... | |
| high school golf | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: My daughter is playing on her high school golf team with all boys. I would like to know what if ... A: Ronald, I just got off the phone with my daughter's high school golf coach. Here in Texas, starting ... | |
| Beginner | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: I am a beginner golfer. I have been working mainly with my 7 iron. Which I have straightend out a ... A: Joe, I am stumped as to why your have two dents on the sole plate of your driver. Topping the ball ... | |
| Golf | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: When i watch great players swing they all have one thing in common and thats a great upper body ... A: Ryan, You're right. All good to great players have a full shoulder turn. The more you can turn your ... | |
| Golf career | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Hoffman, I am a 31 year old man who has been golfing for about 5 years now. I started shooting ... A: Sam, Let me address the decent paycheck part of your question first. If you accept money, you are ... | |
| Over the top | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I can even see my practice swings are ott. And even small chip shots have a deep divot pointing ... A: Ryan, I know how frustrating this can be for you. Let's try this to hopefully get you out of coming ... | |
| how i can better my golf game from course to course | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: Hey Michael, I am a senior for my high school golf team i have been playing golf now for five years ... A: James, Most everyone plays better at their home course than other courses because you're familiar ... | |
| Ball Flight Too High | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: I am a 2 handicap who hits the ball very high....too high for my liking. I lose distance in windy ... A: Jeff, Since you are a 2 handicap that can routinely hit the driver 300 yards, I wouldn't advise ... | |
| Shaft | 3/2/2009 |
| Q: I am 61, 6'4" 6-handicap, 7/8 iron from 150, I need for you to recommend a shaft for my driver, it ... A: Stuart, The first thing I would recommend is to place the ball further up in your stance and tee ... | |
| Golf ball inventory | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: Is there a limit to the NUMBER of golf balls that can be carried, in your bag, in either a PGA event ... A: Gene, The answer for the PGA players or the amateurs is simply no. Carry as many as you think you ... | |
| drivers | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: I'm looking to buy a new driver, Is there any difference in distance between a 9.5 degree club face ... A: Michael, The answer is yes. There is a difference in the distance that you would see between the ... | |
| high school golf coaching | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: I have been made the High School golf coach at a very small high school. I played in high school, ... A: Bill, Congratulations on your new position. It will be so rewarding for you to see them grow as ... | |
| golf question | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: off the tee with my diver i loose so much yardage by hitting the ball too high. i am wonding what i ... A: John, Let me tell you what causes a tee shot hit too high. First is the loft of your driver at ... | |
| Steel Irons flex of shaft. | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: I am looking into buying new irons and I'm not sure which flex to get. they are::: 5.0 6.0 6.5 ... A: John, Buying new irons is a very exciting time. The best way to determine which shaft flex is best ... | |
| Fitting | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: Michael; first some history. A few years back I bought a new set of clubs, and was fit for them at ... A: Blaine, You have experienced two fittings with different fitters with different results. Not ... | |
| golf apprenticeship | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: I would like to get into the PGA apprentice program in order to become a class a head pro. Is it ... A: Michael, I think it's wonderful that you want to be a Class A Head Golf professional. It has many ... | |
| Determining who is away. | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: I am off the green behind a bunker but closer than someone on the green. Who is away? Similar ... A: Les, Sorry for the delay. The answer to your question is the person who is furthest from the hole ... | |
| X-18 vs. MX-23 | 2/5/2009 |
| Q: Michael, Last year I went from a set of Mizuno MX-23 irons to the Callaway X-18 irons. Steel shafts ... A: Perry, I know you're going through a frustrating time. You said "hitting the X-18s at the pro shop ... | |
| Forgiving Irons | 2/4/2009 |
| Q: "I generally hit between the mid 80's to low 90's. I am looking to get a new set of irons and was ... A: Mike, In general, you might look at most of the perimeter weighted irons that are now available. ... | |
| Incorrect Handicap Issue | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: I am a member of a reasonably large Golf Society and recently played in a Match Play competition. ... A: Stuart, Let me address the 17.8 number first off. This appears to be a handicap index. The handicap ... | |
| golf scheduling | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: We have a 26 week schedule with eight golfers but only one tee time. How do we set up a schedule ... A: Guy, With the majority of golfers agreeing to this method, I would put all the players names in a ... | |
| golf tee colors | 1/21/2009 |
| Q: What skill-levels do the different tee marker colors designate? I know red indicates women, and ... A: Melinda, In theory, the lower handicaps would play from the tees that make the course the longest ... | |
| TEE BOXES | 1/16/2009 |
| Q: MY SONS AND I PLAY IN A TOURNAMENT 4 TIMES A YEAR AND HAVE BETWEEN 4 AND 12 GOLFERS PARTICIPATE. THE ... A: Kip, I feel the only way you can have a fair tournament for all is to play the same tee box. The ... | |
| TEE BOXES | 1/14/2009 |
| Q: MY SONS AND I PLAY IN A TOURNAMENT 4 TIMES A YEAR AND HAVE BETWEEN 4 AND 12 GOLFERS PARTICIPATE. THE ... A: Kip, I would like to know what type of format you playing before I can give you my suggestions, ... | |
| hooking | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: How can I stop hooking? The only thing that works for me so far is to use an extremely weak grip ... A: Bob, I feel your pain. Nothing worse than a hook out of control. I'm glad you gave me all of the ... | |
| golf grips | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: I'm looking to re-grip my clubs myself. Grips I want come in size .600 or .580. The tips if my clubs ... A: Joe, I really think that either size grip would fit. You'd have an easier time getting the .600 to ... | |
| Golf fitness program. | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: I'm 35 years old and haven't played golf in a while but now I'm ready to get myself back in shape to ... A: Josiah, Here is a web site to check out. There are some complimentary exercises and for $50 ... | |
| ball flight | 1/6/2009 |
| Q: I've been playing golf for alittle over a year and have always hit the ball low even my driver which ... A: Cody, here are a couple of things that you can try in order to realize a higher trajectory with you ... | |
| graphite shaft flexibility | 1/6/2009 |
| Q: i am new to the world of club building and am trying to gain an overall knowledge of options to ... A: Ed, Hope to see you on the tour. If you need a caddie, let me know. The following are the ... | |
| Golf fitness program. | 1/6/2009 |
| Q: I'm 35 years old and haven't played golf in a while but now I'm ready to get myself back in shape to ... A: Josiah, You have the right idea getting back in the game in better shape. It sounds as if you are ... | |
| best golf swing | 1/5/2009 |
| Q: If you could have any golfers swing (past or present) who's swing would you chose and why? Thanks, ... A: Jason, Wow, that is quite a question. There are literally so many swings that I have admired ... | |
| Golf Rules - Bunker shots | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: I would like to find out about penalties when hitting a ball out of a bunker. 1) If the ball is ... A: Gim, Answers are located at the end of the question. I would like to find out about penalties ... | |
| ping karsten 2 irons | 1/3/2009 |
| Q: I want to what the lofts of my ping karsten 2 irons 3-sw ? A: Brian, The best way to know the lofts of your clubs is to take them to your local PGA Professional. ... | |
| Getting fitted | 12/30/2008 |
| Q: I got a new set of callaways irons for christmas, and I have never been fitted. I plan on getting ... A: Eric, You are very wise to get fitted for the clubs you should be using. Go through the fitting and ... | |
| Hazard Rule | 12/28/2008 |
| Q: I'm playing a tee shot on a short par 4. There is a water hazard ~20 yards in front of the T box, ... A: Roy, The way you describe the situation it sounds like where your ball entered the hazard, the ... | |
| Stand Bag | 12/28/2008 |
| Q: How do you set up your stand golf bag with your clubs, Golf club placement, for golfers ease? A: David, It's best to have the the higher part of the mouth of the bag toward the rear. The woods ... | |
| ping anser original putter | 12/25/2008 |
| Q: i would interested in if you have any idea how much my putter is worth. it is ping original. has ... A: Paul, You are very fortunate to have one of these putters Paul. In the "eighties" I know they were ... | |
| New grips | 12/19/2008 |
| Q: Hey Michael, I am considering getting new grips on my current clubs. Is there a certain technique to ... A: Eric, There is a certain technique which once you've done once or twice is very easy. It is less ... | |
| ping irons | 12/18/2008 |
| Q: I keep seeing reference to "dot Color" black, orange etc. when looking at irons on ebay, what ... A: Gene, The dot color indicates the lie angle of the club. Black is standard. White blue and green ... | |
| Drivers | 12/14/2008 |
| Q: My question regards the driver. I am looking into buying a new driver. When I look at drivers, I see ... A: Eric, Yours is a very good and important question. First let me address the loft. This is the angle ... | |
| most important fundamentals | 12/11/2008 |
| Q: What do you think are the 5 most important fundamentals of the golf swing in order 1 through 5 and ... A: Jason, I will be giving you my top 3. Interestingly enough none of these three happen during the ... | |
| side saddle putting | 11/25/2008 |
| Q: I have some eye retina problems and can't see straight lines. Prefer to putt with a long putter ... A: Greg, You might want to experiment with long putters of various lie angles. I would find a putter ... | |
| Senior Tees | 11/15/2008 |
| Q: What is the purpose of the tee system. I thought it is to even up the playing field when you are ... A: John, You could look at it like that. Perhaps a shorter hitter plays a more forward tee box than a ... | |
| getting serious | 11/14/2008 |
| Q: hey hows it going well I love golf for 1 I have been playing for 2 and a half months serious i live ... A: Chris, Here are a couple a couple of options for you to find tournaments in your area. First ... | |
| callaway uniflex steel shafts | 11/12/2008 |
| Q: I recently purchased callaway x20 irons with steel uniflex shafts. My question has do with whether ... A: Geoff, First of all, Callaway is a very reputable club manufacturer. Then it's all about the ... | |
| Re-teeing in the teeing blocks | 11/5/2008 |
| Q: If your ball enters a lateral hazard (water) off the tee, can you re-tee from the same spot on the ... A: Jim, If you hit the second ball from the tee box you would have incur a one shot penalty. You ... | |
| Short Game | 11/5/2008 |
| Q: I have been trying for two years now to stop my wedge shots (from 50 yards in) flying straight ... A: Matthew, I understand your frustration. The ball can respond off the club going straight right in ... | |
| Career help | 10/23/2008 |
| Q: I work as a fund accountant for a reputable hedge fund company and it is a good job but it is not ... A: Gavin, There are many facets of the golf business. I started in 1981 and enjoyed every minute of ... | |
| grip change with offset irons? | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: My new clubs have more offset than my last set, and it's not good so far. How should the greater ... A: Brooke, My new clubs have more offset than my last set, and it's not good so far. MH Tell me why ... | |
| New irons | 10/19/2008 |
| Q: Today I was playing with my dad's co worker and he let me use his iron on a par 3. He didn't tell me ... A: Jeff, Mizunos don't have to be pricey. Check out some golf retailers that sell used clubs. It just ... | |
| in course ob | 10/18/2008 |
| Q: My home course has an in course(parallel holes) out of bounds tree line, marked with white stakes ... A: Greg, Under Rule 33 it is permissible to have out of bounds between holes on the course for safety ... | |
| cobra L4V or Speed Pro D | 10/17/2008 |
| Q: Hopefully you can help bc nobody else has been able to...I am trying to decide whether I should get ... A: Chris, First question - What type of golf course conditions do you play? is your course on average, ... | |
| deciding new golf balls | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: I'm almost done with my pack of noodles, so I'm debating whether or not to choose a new type. By the ... A: Jeffrey, From the internet Bridgestone Golf e6+ Golf Balls: The Bridgestone Golf e6+ golf ... | |
| how to become a head pro | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: I am fifteen and I want to become a club pro. I'm good at golf and i like working on the course and ... A: Austin, I think that's great. Golf is a business, so the business classes that you may be taking in ... | |
| deciding new golf balls | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: I'm almost done with my pack of noodles, so I'm debating whether or not to choose a new type. By the ... A: Jeffrey, Since you are willing to spend $30 a dozen, try to use the same ball every time you play, ... | |
| Shafts | 10/13/2008 |
| Q: When does one know, I am 61, 7 handicap, when one need to go from a stiff shaft to a regular. Stu A: Stu, There will be a few signs that will indicate when you need to change. The first will be ... | |
| Changing my swing | 10/7/2008 |
| Q: Today I was asking my coach on some tips for my swing... he noticed my swing was coming too far ... A: Jeffrey, I agree when the club is waist high, it should be it should be parallel to that club on ... | |
| Shooting a course record | 9/30/2008 |
| Q: Can a course record be scored playing in a pairs stableford competition. Even if the person scored ... A: Trevor, The following is from the USGA "Decisions On The Rules Of Golf", page 532. MISCELLANEOUS ... | |
| getting into the amature open | 9/27/2008 |
| Q: How would a golfer who have already won some local tournaments, go from local golfer to playing in ... A: Robert, Here is some information about getting into the United States Amateur Golf Tournament. ... | |
| getting new clubs | 9/25/2008 |
| Q: I'm thinking about getting a new set of clubs, one up from my teen set that I bought just over an ... A: Jeff, Here is what you need to do. First, find out what club in your area is going to put on a ... | |
| Golf Backswing | 9/24/2008 |
| Q: He has a huge rotation of the torso. I was wondering what allows this rotation? I know hes really ... A: Ryan, You are right. The amount that he turns on his back swing is quite unusual. Basically, his ... | |
| Golf | 9/23/2008 |
| Q: Ive been having trouble with my golf grip. When i swing my hands lose their position on the grip. ... A: Ryan, Good question Ryan. As you seem to know, the consistent position of the hands on the golf ... | |
| BALL MOVING ON GREEN | 9/20/2008 |
| Q: AFTER MARKING HIS BALL. CLEANING IT. HE REPLACED THE BALL AND LIFTED HIS MARKER. WHILE GETTING READY ... A: Bob, This is A question/answer from the 2008-2009 USGA Decisions on the Rules of golf that comes ... | |
| playing wrong ball in 2 man scrambles? | 9/17/2008 |
| Q: Is there a penalty for one player playing his partner's ball in a two man scrambles format? Both ... A: Jeff, You would have to consult the tournament organizer / PGA Professional on this one. The USGA ... | |
| golf ruling | 9/14/2008 |
| Q: are you now allowed to rake the bunker say if the rake is a long way from your ball and you want to ... A: Diane, Thanks for your patience. I've been dealing with Hurricane Ike and the aftermath here in ... | |
| wrist hinging in backswing | 9/14/2008 |
| Q: When taking the backswing, am I supposed to feel that I'm using my shoulders the entire way back? ... A: Jeff, Sorry for the delay. I went through Hurricane Ike and haven't had access to a computer with ... | |
| Golf | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: I personally have only hit around 10 golf shots in my life absolutely perfectly. These shots were ... A: Ryan, This is a great question. I feel like the only way to have an opportunity to feel powerful at ... | |
| upper back pain | 9/7/2008 |
| Q: Whenever I follow through, I feel this pain / popping feeling in my upper left back. I can also feel ... A: Jeff, My advice to you is to go see someone in the medical field that can diagnose your issue. You ... | |
| back swing | 9/4/2008 |
| Q: I am not a very good golfer, mainly because of lower back problems( this probably has nothing to do ... A: Milt, I think it's wonderful that you enjoy playing golf. Now that I know some of the ... | |
| back swing | 9/3/2008 |
| Q: I am not a very good golfer, mainly because of lower back problems( this probably has nothing to do ... A: Milt, Sorry to hear about your lower back problems. Have you consulted a physician about an ... | |
| Follow-Up | 9/2/2008 |
| Q: Michael: I just read a previous piece of advice (pasted in below) - I wanted to check if that ... A: Jimmy, The first thing that needs to be done is to determine what part of the club is making ... | |
| rules for two-person scramble | 8/30/2008 |
| Q: In playing this format, player one hit her second shot but then it was determined that player two's ... A: Carol, Once player one hit from a location, then that was the ball chosen. Player two should have ... | |
| Loft/Lie Adjustments Before or After Lessons | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: I'm a relative beginner when it comes to golf, and I got a new set of clubs about a month ago. The ... A: Nick, Great question. Take a lesson or two first because you will primarily working on grip, stance ... | |
| sicing/inconsistancy | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: my name is Dakota. I have been having a lot of problems lately with inconsistancy. If the ball ... A: Dakota, First of all let's take this one step at a time. You say that the divot is pointing to ... | |
| Taylormade Tour Burner Driver | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: What is the difference between the TP model and the regular tour burner? I am a 9 handicap and ... A: John, The difference in the two drivers is the shaft. The TP is designed for higher swing speeds, ... | |
| Golf shafts | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: I am 57 and a 7 handicap. My ball speed is 130-135 and I am thinking of changing to a regular shaft ... A: Bob, Never sacrifice distance. It is too precious of a commodity. Get with an experience club ... | |
| Rescue woods | 8/18/2008 |
| Q: What is the difference between normal woods and rescue woods. A: Brian, The only difference is in the depth of the face of the wood. Typically the "Rescue" woods ... | |
| searching for a lost ball | 8/17/2008 |
| Q: while looking for a ball is it allowed to go back and play another while my partners look to save ... A: Alex, This would seem to make sense as long as you declare that you are going to play a provisional ... | |
| new driver | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: reciently i bought a new ping g10 driver 10.5 degrees,with atfc 129 d regular tip flex control ... A: Larry, To answer your question directly, I have not heard of him. Here is his bio from the club's ... | |
| new driver | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: reciently i bought a new ping g10 driver 10.5 degrees,with atfc 129 d regular tip flex control ... A: Larry, As far as quality is concerned you have purchased one of the best. Ping has been a leader in ... | |
| putting more spin onto the ball | 8/7/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could give me some tips for hitting the ball with more spin from about 20-40 ... A: Jeffrey, At address make sure the ball is back in your stance. Your hands should be forward, ... | |
| Hi again, and need help! | 8/6/2008 |
| Q: I recently came back from a one week vacation... I went to play 9 holes yesterday, and I was ... A: Jeff, Congratulations on those record rounds. It's nice when you break through another barrier. ... | |
| Club Grips | 8/6/2008 |
| Q: Can you tell me how often and what is the best solution to clean grips. I clean my clubs after every ... A: Ken, Cleaning your grips is important. To keep your grips free from dirt and perspiration will ... | |
| Hi again, and need help! | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: I recently came back from a one week vacation... I went to play 9 holes yesterday, and I was ... A: Jeff, Don't panic. Go ahead and have a few more practice sessions and/or rounds of golf and see ... | |
| Golf | 7/30/2008 |
| Q: Bobby jones says the hips turn immediatly throughout the backswing. Ben Hogan says the hips dont ... A: Ryan, I have always taught that the hips are pulled into the swing. As your upper body turns into ... | |
| Shaft selection dilemma | 7/30/2008 |
| Q: I need more distance off the tee. I am 63 and my handicap is 11. In a recent test at a golf shop my ... A: Larry, That is a very different combination. It worked for 9 holes. Before you buy the club. put it ... | |
| senior golf | 7/24/2008 |
| Q: I am a 67 year old male wanting to return to the game after a 20 year absence. What hybrid clubs do ... A: David, I am glad to see you coming back to the game. Before you but any hybrids, make sure you demo ... | |
| hybrid clubs | 7/24/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering if I should just go with irons or use a combination of irons and hybrid clubs. Just ... A: William, Before you purchase anymore clubs I would suggest that you go to a local demo day and see ... | |
| Hybrid loft? | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: I was just wondering if hybrids were supposed to go really low and rolling. Because when I hit my ... A: Jeff, Would I be correct in assuming that you'd like to hit this 4 iron hybrid higher for more ... | |
| Hybrid loft? | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: I was just wondering if hybrids were supposed to go really low and rolling. Because when I hit my ... A: Jeff, No full shot in golf is supposed to go low and rolling. It sounds as if your hitting the ... | |
| Iron shaft selection | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: ..I recently had my clubs stolen out of my vehicle. The irons were custom fitted to me from Hot stix ... A: Ken, Hate to hear that your clubs were stolen. You say that you did well with the steel shafts. ... | |
| Continued... | 7/19/2008 |
| Q: Since there were too many follow ups I decided to post a new question :P I totally forgot about ... A: It sounds as though once you are warmed up, your game improves. Spend some additional time on the ... | |
| Golf | 7/19/2008 |
| Q: Does the ball start low and rise or does it rise at a constant. I have seen my local pro hitting a ... A: The perfect ball flight? The opinions are many on this subject. It really depends on the weather ... | |
| Continued... | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: Since there were too many follow ups I decided to post a new question :P I totally forgot about ... A: Jeff, If the club at the start of the downswing is being initiated by your upper body, arms or ... | |
| Continued... | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: Since there were too many follow ups I decided to post a new question :P I totally forgot about ... A: Jeff, Thin or "bellied" pitches are usually the result of the club ascending (moving in an upward ... | |
| dent in driver | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: I am a beginning golfer and i just noticed after i went to the range the other day that i somehow ... A: Brett, Glad that you have started to play this game. It really is a game for a lifetime. Learn the ... | |
| General Help. | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: I'm a 13 year old golfer with about an average score of 89-94. I have a few questions for you: I ... A: Jeffrey, Congratulations on your record round of 84. The next challenge is to break 80. With ... | |
| General Help. | 7/16/2008 |
| Q: I'm a 13 year old golfer with about an average score of 89-94. I have a few questions for you: I ... A: Jeffrey, It sounds as if the shaft may be too flexible on these clubs. Are they the same flex as ... | |
| General Help. | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: I'm a 13 year old golfer with about an average score of 89-94. I have a few questions for you: I ... A: Jeffrey, I would need to see your swing in order to comment on your first question. See a local PGA ... | |
| hitting a higher drive | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: I took lessons and used a swing trainer and have been able to groove an inside out swing. I am ... A: Joe, If you are satisfied with the direction of your drives, I have two suggestions for you. Try a ... | |
| why am i hitting it right? | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: IT hardly ever goes straight! SO what am I doing wrong? ANSWER: Jordan, I will assume that the ... A: Jordan, Explain what steps you took to improve your grip. Lesson, Hogan's book. It takes time to ... | |
| why am i hitting it right? | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: IT hardly ever goes straight! SO what am I doing wrong? A: Jordan, I will assume that the ball curves to the right. Your not alone. 85 of all right handed ... | |
| Proper Shaft fitting | 7/7/2008 |
| Q: My average driver swing speed is 100mph and 89mph with a 6 iron. I generally don't take much of a ... A: Ray, Torque is the shaft's designed resistance to turning throughout the downswing and impact. ... | |
| graphite or steel driver | 7/7/2008 |
| Q: I had been using graphite irons and woods and always had a problem either pull hooking or blocking ... A: Andy, From what you're telling me the answer is most likely go to a steel shafted driver. You are ... | |
| short tee shots | 7/6/2008 |
| Q: I am 81 years old and I am in pretty good shape, I exercise and use the treadmill just about every ... A: Milt, First of all I did some research on the club made of Zolex. It's lighter than titanium ... | |
| Golf | 7/5/2008 |
| Q: The ball whistled in flight and the divot was dollar bill sized pointing slightly to the right. At ... A: Ryan, I do have some ideas on this concept. I believe focusing on the ball is the worst thing a ... | |
| irons | 7/5/2008 |
| Q: I am a sophomore in high school and have been playing the game for about 5 years. I started off ... A: Josh, After reading your questions a couple of times, this is my response to you. It appears that ... | |
| shorten the shafts on golf clubs ? | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: I'm a senior golfer. Recently, I developed pain and stiffness in my shoulders which limits my left ... A: Joe, Instead of doing anything to your clubs, let's try the following first. If your limited in ... | |
| Golf | 6/29/2008 |
| Q: I tee off and when I find my ball it is just out of bounds. What options are there? A: Kris, If the ball is out of bounds there is only one option and that is a stroke and distance ... | |
| New Sport | 6/27/2008 |
| Q: I am involved in a large variety of sports, being that I've just turned 12, I think that it is time ... A: Pooch, Great choice. Golf is truly a game for life. Treat the game with respect and play by the ... | |
| golfer's elbow | 6/26/2008 |
| Q: I am writing an article on golfer's elbow. I want to know if golfers you have worked/played with, ... A: Donna, I have played with golfers that have this condition. They usually wear a band just below the ... | |
| Grass Cuttings on fairway or in the rough | 6/25/2008 |
| Q: If a ball is sitting on top of a small pile of grass cuttings on the fairway, is this classed as a ... A: Alan, If your ball is sitting on top a pile of grass clippings you must play the ball as it lies. ... | |
| pin placements | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: members at my club are very dissatisfied with the extreme pin placements. The pinsetter, a better ... A: Glenn, I would be equally upset and would find another game only if I thought the flags were placed ... | |
| Blocking - Push Slice Epidemic | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: I have been golfing for close to 25 years; at one time I was a scratch player. Now I hold a 4.5 ... A: Michael, There are several possibilities that we'll explore in this answer. The first would be ball ... | |
| Golf | 6/22/2008 |
| Q: g fred couples, colin montgomerie. I was wondering how they get their hands so high at the top of ... A: Ryan, They get their hands that high because of two things. One is shoulder rotation and the other ... | |
| Club Fitting | 6/18/2008 |
| Q: I am just getting started in golf and I was about to buy a set of Adams GT500 irons but I was told ... A: Ronnie, No, irons can be made of any length for the most part. Not only is the length important, ... | |
| Golf | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: Does the swing of the arms and hands pull the torso around? I see pros rotate their torso so well ... A: Ryan, In my opinion, the bigger muscles of the chest, shoulders and back should initiate the ... | |
| Club Fitting | 6/16/2008 |
| Q: Michael...I was recently fit for a new set of Mizuno MX-25s. I am 6'3", a 16 handicap, and hit a 7 ... A: Jay, All of us are different and you have to trust the clubfitter and the results. Effectively you ... | |
| Golf | 6/15/2008 |
| Q: I dont know how he rotates his upper body so well and has his arms and hands so high at the top. ... A: Ryan, Good question. First of all emulating Fred Couple's rhythum would be wonderful. His original ... | |
| Match Play | 6/15/2008 |
| Q: I have been told that in Matchplay if you hit the ball Out of Bounds that it is automatic loss of ... A: Shaun, The penalty for hitting a ball out of bounds is stroke and distance. This is true for match ... | |
| wood loft. | 6/11/2008 |
| Q: I have FT-3 [11 loft] and the Big Bertha Steelhead Plus [steel shaft] 5 wood, and need a 3 wood ... A: Pete, You're jogging my memory quite a bit, but I believe the Big Bertha 5 wood has 21 degrees of ... | |
| Handicap matchplay | 6/6/2008 |
| Q: In a handicap matchplay match I have to give my opponent two strokes, one each on the two hardest ... A: Mike, I just got off the phone with Mark from the USGA. His response was as follows; the player ... | |
| Equipment in Hazards | 6/5/2008 |
| Q: Are you allowed to have your Golf Buggy or equipment other than the club you are using inside the ... A: George, The penalty for having your golf buggy in any hazard on my golf course would be prompt ... | |
| Equipment in Hazards | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: Are you allowed to have your Golf Buggy or equipment other than the club you are using inside the ... A: George, You certainly can take other clubs with you into the hazard, but be careful not to ground ... | |
| Handicap matchplay | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: In a handicap matchplay match I have to give my opponent two strokes, one each on the two hardest ... A: Mike, Sorry for the delay. I have a call into the USGA to confirm the answer to your question. ... | |
| Handicap Calculation | 6/2/2008 |
| Q: I have a question about calculating handicap in a certain scenario. I have recently played 18-holes ... A: Mark, Good question and the answer is easy. The USGA course rating crew should have a course and ... | |
| Handicap scoring | 6/2/2008 |
| Q: I am in a match play handicap league. Acording to the rules of match play You may concede your ... A: Doug, It may affect his handicap but this is the way the USGA would like all match play events to ... | |
| lie adjustment | 5/30/2008 |
| Q: hopefully you can help. Im 6 ft 3 and have a wrist to floor of 37.5. ive always had the problem ... A: There shouldn't be any problem getting your clubs bent three to four degrees. What type of clubs do ... | |
| longer drives | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: so my question is this: i am a relatively long hitter with my irons, but my distance seems to ... A: Jeff, Seems like pretty good distances to me. The average for the PGA tour is 282. But your ... | |
| lie adjustment | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: hopefully you can help. Im 6 ft 3 and have a wrist to floor of 37.5. ive always had the problem ... A: Jeff, I understand your concern. This will be very easy and not cost you much to do. Put a piece of ... | |
| Practice Swings | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: A person in my golf league places a tee in the ground without a ball and takes a practice swing ... A: Sharon, This practice of swinging at an object, in this case a tee, is perfectly legal. It's ... | |
| saving shaft | 5/22/2008 |
| Q: I have R580xd driver that is about 3 years old. I love the shaft but not the look of the head, Can I ... A: Terry, You can have the shaft taken out of your current club and put into the head of your choice. ... | |
| Lateral Hazard | 5/14/2008 |
| Q: I am not sure I understand the rules of lateral hazards. If your ball enters a lateral hazard, my ... A: Dustin, Funny that you ask this question because I asked the group I played with yesterday if any ... | |
| holed out - removal of flagstick | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: Playing a foursome. I was 80 yards off the green. Hit my ball...it hit the green....bounced ... A: Angie, First of all congratulations on the nice shot. As far as if there was a penalty involved, ... | |
| Bunker Penalty | 4/25/2008 |
| Q: Player#2 ball is in a bunker. Player#1 hits first and his divot lands in the same bunker but is not ... A: John, If I understand your question player one was not in the bunker and his divot landed in the ... | |
| Problem with my driver | 4/23/2008 |
| Q: I have a Taylor Made R7 425. When hitting a ball the other day it seems a loose piece of metal is ... A: Kyle, This has to be driving you crazy. I don't think it will hurt the playability of the club ... | |
| swing | 4/22/2008 |
| Q: hi my name is ben i am 15 i am currently playing to a 7 handicap yet i have started a tendency to ... A: Ben, First of all congratulations on your 7 handicap. Nice. Let me ask you a question. Are you ... | |
| BALL STOPPED BY FLAG | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: What is the ruling in match or stroke play, when a player plays a shot to the green and the ball ... A: Paul, After researching this question in the USGA Decisions On The Rules Of Golf, here is the ... | |
| Golf club problems | 4/12/2008 |
| Q: I hit mp60 Mizunos - my clubs are approx. one year old. In the last month I noticed that my lie ... A: Dan, Interesting question. Did you have the lie checked when you first purchased your Mizunos? If ... | |
| Driver loft | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: I am looking at purchasing a Taylor Made burner driver and was told by one pro that the difference ... A: "Minimal" is a relative term. This is what I would suggest for you. Take both clubs (9.5 and 10.5) ... | |
| Provisional Ball | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: I recently played in an Open event in Alice Springs Australia. I hit my ball off the tee on the ... A: Toby, Here is what the rules of golf state regarding your question. b. When Provisional Ball ... | |
| golf clubs | 3/30/2008 |
| Q: Is a two way chipper a legal club? One of those upside down V shaped things that can be used with ... A: Jerry, Through the years in the business I know the the double sided club is not a legal club. I ... | |
| thin and fat shots | 3/29/2008 |
| Q: I am a ten handecap, lefty golfer. I can hit my driver perfect every time of the tee. But my iron ... A: Matthew, I can tell that you are very frustrated with your situation. I will explain what is ... | |
| O.B. | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: If you hit your drive O.B. of the tee can you use a tee for the next ball. A: Rule 27 states If a ball is out of bounds, the player must play a ball, under penalty of one stroke, ... | |
| re-shafting my irons | 3/26/2008 |
| Q: I was given a set of mizuno mp30 but with Stiff shafts (DG S300). However, I have a set of old ... A: Joel, This question is a good one. I'll tell you my feelings and what I know in this area. In a ... | |
| golf rules | 3/26/2008 |
| Q: i have just started working at my local golf club as a greenskeeper. before i worked at the course i ... A: Rhys, Here is what you need to do to see if you are eligible to play in your club events. Ask the ... | |
| height | 3/11/2008 |
| Q: i bought a 460 driver and it has an after market shaft i am only 5'4" would it help to get the shaft ... A: Duane, It's rare that a golfer considers sacrificing distance to gain control. This is very ... | |
| golf clubs | 3/5/2008 |
| Q: I have been playing for about a 2 years, I want to purchase some new golf clubs. Can you recommend ... A: Aaron, Here is my suggestion for you. First of all find a manufacturers' demo day at your club or ... | |
| Golf Equipment | 2/27/2008 |
| Q: Micheal: I am a high handicap senior golfer. I recently tried my friends Tailor made r7 regular ... A: Feel is such and individual thing that I cannot know how the R7 feels to you. Two suggestions. ... | |
| Black Dot Callaway Driver | 2/25/2008 |
| Q: I am looking at a Black Dot Callaway driver. What does the Black Dot mean? A: At this point I do not have enough details. As far as I know, Callaway never had a driver called the ... | |
| golf | 2/12/2008 |
| Q: how should the mechanics of my golf swing change between using woods and irons? A: Tom, Most golfers feel that they have to have two different full swings; an iron swing and a wood ... | |
| Golf & Sleep | 2/11/2008 |
| Q: How important is having a good night's sleep before you play a round of golf? A: Elaine, Having a good night's sleep is important regardless of what you have planned for that day. ... | |
Golf
Answers by Expert:
Michael Hoffman
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I have been a golf professional since 1981. I was elected into the PGA in 1987. I attained my master club fitter certificate in 1992. I have given thousands of lessons over the years and I can answer questions about instruction, golf in general, rules, equipment, practice techniques etc. I have served on the board of directors of the Southern Texas PGA for twelve years and was the President from 2002-2003. I am no longer a card carrying PGA member.
Experience
I started as as assistant golf professional in 1981. I have been a head golf professional at several clubs as well as the general manager at two clubs. I am master clubfitter and have given many individual as well as group lessons over the years. I was the President of the Southern Texas PGA 4 years ago. I have been a rules official for the tour qualifying school as well as other events. I have won the Merchandiser of the year award in our section twice.
Education/Credentials
AA IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
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