Long Range Bunker Shot

photo credit: D.Hilgart   Making a clean strike, without hitting the sand with your clubface, is the key to executing a long range bunker shot.  The first priority is to make sure that you can get over the front lip of the bunker so choose a club with the appropriate loft.  it does no good using a 4 iron if you slam the ball into the bunker’s edge. 

This shot requires precision.  Arrange your stance so you are comfortably seated in the sand and square to the target.  Digging-in slightly with your feet, will lower your center of gravity so choke down on the club about 1 inch.  Once in the address position, play this shot no differently than you would an ordinary fairway shot.

Sideslope Bunker Lie

photo credit: nsaplayer   Just about any shot from a bunker can be very intimidating especially on an uneven slope.  If your ball is on a sideslope and above your feet, try these tips:  1)  Use a square stance and aim slightly right of target (typically, you would use an open set-up and aim left of target).  2)  grip the club with your right hand nearly touching the shaft.  This compensates for the higher level of the ball.  3)  Make your backswing more rounded, taking an inside path which is more behind you than upward.  4)  Swing down on the same path you went back on, moving the clubhead from inside the target line to right of this line through impact (referred to as an in-to-out swing path.

Three Part Strategy

photo credit: christophercjensen   It’s easy to be intimidated by a par 5 hole.  A player’s first instinct is to blast a long drive and that’s where the trouble begins.  Use the “Three Part Strategy” by dividing the hole into three separate sections (parts).  Your only real requirement is that your drive should be a length of between 195 and 200 yards, a very achievable distance.  Section One – hit a drive of approximately 200 yards in the fairway.  Think of your second shot in the same manner as your first.    Section Two – Don’t try to kill the ball, concentrate on position only.  Now you should be faced with short to medium iron into the green.  Section Three – Aim for the center of the green and prepare for a birdie try.

Aces Gone Wild

photo credit: Kevitivity   In an unbelievable coincidence, four players aced the same hole during the same round of the 1989 U.S. Open.  Mark Wiebe, Jerry Pate, Nick Price and Doug Weaver all used seven-irons to knock their tee shots into the cup on the par 3, 167 yard 6th hole at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y.  The odds of this happening are one in 8,675,083 !

In 1992, amateur J.  T.  Ward scored a hole in one-with his putter.  He used a putter with a six-inch-long head (blade) that he claimed allowed him to hit the ball straighter than his other clubs.  Ward teed off with his putter at the 177-yard 3rd hole at Yarborough Landing G.C. in Ashdown, Arkansas and made his awesome ace !

Ping G15 Irons

photo credit: foxypar4   Forty years ago, Ping changed the world of golf by introducing their Ping putters.  Known for their innovative product designs, the company claims that their new G15 irons provide higher launch, more accuracy and longer carry.  The new clubs are cavity-back  perimeter weighted which assures maximum forgiveness.  With a thicker top flange the clubs have a pleasing appearance and a very solid feel. 

Ping also has the mid-sized i15 which offer workability with cavity-back forgiveness.  The i15′s deliver long-iron forgiveness with short-iron control.  The new irons are on Golf Digest’s “Hot List” for 2010.

The Ping Corporation is located in Scottsdale, AZ.  To learn more about these newly introduced irons, go to www.ping.com.

Woods is Whining

photo credit: Brian J. McDermott   Pebble Beach Golf Links was the scene of Tiger Woods’ greatest victory, the 2000 U.S. Open Championship where he defeated the field by 15 shots.  The Open is back for 2010. 

With a first round, three over-par 74, Woods had plenty to say.  In a post-round interview Woods said ”it was so bouncy out there,”  Woods said of the Pebble Beach’s poa annua greens, “it is what it is.  It’s poa in the afternoon and they’re fast.  The holes are much different and the bunkering is much different.  A few of the tees are totally different,” Woods said.

Woods was not the only player to play the course, he seemed to have forgotten that the entire field was playing on exactly the same course on that day.  True champions don’t whine after bad rounds.

Nature Valley Amateur Tournaments

photo credit: Brian J. McDermott   Play like a pro at the Nature Valley Amateur Tournaments being held nationwide through the end of August 2010.  There will be 2000 golfers with four flights, playing the following 18 championship golf courses.  TPC Tampa Bay 6.7.10, TPC Snoqualmie Ridge 6.7.10, TPC Jasna Polana 6.28.10, TPC River’s Bend 6.28.10, TPC River Highlands 7.5.10, Atlanta National Golf Club 7.12.10, Cog Hill-Dubsdreak 7.19.10, TPC Stonebrae 8.2.10, TPC LasVegas 8.9.10, TPC Piper Glen 8.16.10, Torrey Pines (S. Course) 8.16.10, TPC Myrtle Beach 8.27.10, TPC Las Colinas 8.30.10, TPC Michigan 9.13.10, TPC San Antonio 9.13.10, TPC Scottsdale 9.20.10, TPC Blue Monster at Doral 9.20.10, TPC Deere Run 9.27.10.  The Championship Event will be played at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach FL., 11.5.10 & 11.6.10.  For more information go to www.naturevalleygolf.com.

Putt or Chip?

photo credit: D.Hilgart   If your approach shot lands on the apron or close to it, what shot do you play that has the greatest chance for success?  As with just about any other shot in golf, you have to go with the best odds.  In this case it’s the putter.

Most pros will confirm that using a putter gives the best odds.  The putting stroke is the percentage play because it’s much easier to control a putt than a chip shot.

Facing a 35 foot putt, with three feet of fringe to putt through, is not a very inviting scenario, however, hitting a chip shot can even be more daunting.  It’s always better to play the percentage shot and in this case it’s with the putter.

The Golf Bag Hot List

photo credit: tienvijftien   GOLF DIGEST’S golf bag ”Gold List.” >  Bag Boy Revolver Plus – cart $180.  Datrek Assault – cart $180.  Nike Collegiate – carry $150.  Ogio Ozone – carry $150.  Ogio Syncro – cart $180.  Ping Hoofer C-1 - carry $180.  Sun Mountain SLX – carry $170.  Taylormade Pure-Lite – carry $150. 

“Silver List” > Callaway ORG. 14Xtreme – cart $170.  Callaway X-22 – carry $160.  Cleveland Trooper – carry $150.  Datrek Sabre – carry – carry bag $150.  Izzo Geo - carry $120.  Mizuno Aerolite – carry $150.  Nike Tour Cart II – cart $200.  Ogio Sultan – cart $200.  Ping 4-Under – carry $135.  Sun Mountain C-130 - cart $200.  TaylorMade Catalina – cart $170.  TaylorMade Micro-Lite – carry $140.  Titleist Lightweight Stand – carry $160.

Golf Gear

photo credit: Let Ideas Compete   The Pivot Pro is a shoe add-on which helps to prevent slicing, it adds shot distance and helps to stabilize bunker shots.  It recently won the prestigious PGA Best New Product Award.  > www.PivotPro.net at (1.888.842.8777).  For a full line of lithium motorized walking golf carts go to > www.GolfSellersDirect.com at (1.800.337.7692).  To sharpen your clubface grooves, which will help achieve more backspin, go to > www.GrooveSharpener.com.  For the ultimate in performance socks go to > www.JoxSox.com and get one free pair with your first order.  Hank Haney has a new product that will help strengthen your hands and fingers.  Go to www.prohands.net  > at 1.800.880.3427.  For stronger forearms, wrists and hands try the Mojo weight development bars.  > www.SwingTheMojo.com.

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