Raking a Bunker

photo credit: danperry.com   In many cases, after a bunker shot,  golfers simply try to cover over footprints or divots with their sand iron, this won’t cut it !  Raking a bunker after your shot is necessary and simply a matter of good etiquette.  The next time you hit out of bunker follow these steps:  1)  Use your foot to level out the club mark and footprints.  2)  Turn the rake upside down and push the sand forward.  3)  Turn the rake over once again and skim the top of the sand as you pull toward you.  Keep the rake handle low.  4)  Push the rake towards the hole.  5)  Rake your footprints on the way out of the bunker.  6)  When finished, place the rake behind the bunker.

Playing with a Caddie

photo credit: nsaplayer   A “looper” as they are sometimes called, has one purpose and that is to make your round more enjoyable.  Upon your introduction, getting on a caddie’s good side is easy.  Make sure your caddie calls you by your first name, its much more personal.  Before you begin, ask him to store the covers to your putter and driver in the bag.  When you make the turn, be sure to buy him snacks or lunch.  Discuss each and every shot with him, especially on the putting surface.  Getting his opinion will help you envision your shots and inspire confidence.  When the round is completed, fold or roll the money up and hand it to him in a discreet manner.  He’ll be eager to see you for your next round !

Telltale Signs of a Golf Hustler

photo credit: PinkMoose   1)  Upon introduction he tells you about his rotator cuff operation.  2)  His nickname is “Colorado.”  3 )  He pays for a hot dog and pop with a $50. bill.  4)  He carries an extra ball in his back pocket.  5)  After the first hole, you ask him for his score, he says, “Why, what did you have?”  6)  His cell phone rings to The Godfather’s theme song.  7)  When you offer to help him find his lost ball he says, “I’m good, it’s pretty clear in there.”  8)  You ask him about his ankle bracelet and he says, its for arthritis.”  9)  You mention that you were watching Meet the Press  and he says, “Did you say you want to press?”    10)  He claims the round he’s having is the best round he’s ever had.

Out of Bounds

White stakes indicate out-of-bounds.  When the entire ball is on the other side of a white marker it is considered to be “off the course.”  If any part of the ball is touching the boundary line, the ball is considered to be in bounds.  If your ball goes out of bounds you have the following choices:  1)  Hit a provisional ball from where your previous shot was played.  Hit the shot, and only then should you start looking for the original ball.  If your first ball was out of bounds, your provisional is now in play.  Its a one stroke penalty to get back on the course.  You must count the stroke of the original ball plus a stroke of your provisional.  2)  Take a one stroke penalty and hit again from the spot where you just hit the shot out-of-bounds.

Making a Solid Stroke

photo credit: idovermani   To make a solid putting stroke, rule number one is to keep your body and head perfectly still.  Looking up too soon, can kill solid ball contact.  Step No. 1 – Keep your head and body motionless until after the stroke is made.  Step No. 2 – Don’t allow your lead wrist to break down (the putter head never goes past the lead hand).  Step No. 3 – Swing the putter low on the backstroke (do not pick it up when starting back).  Step No. 4 – Keep your eyes directly over the target line.  Eyes inside or outside the target line cannot read the correct line.  (set up in the address position and drop a weighted string from your eye-line.  It should fall right over the ball).

If Your Ball is Taken

photo credit: josh99smith   An “outside agency” refers to someone or something that takes your ball.  It can be another player, a squirrel, a dog or anything that moves your ball that is not part of your match.  If there is reasonable certainty that someone or something has taken your ball, you are entitled to take a drop as close as possible to the spot where your ball was lost, but no closer to the hole.  There is no penalty, but you have to be absolutely sure the ball could not have been lost in another manner.  If it was lost, you have to play the previous shot with a one-stroke penalty. 

This problem commonly occurs when another player accidentally plays your ball, thinking it was their own.

Know how to Read Your Opponent

photo credit: Matti Mattila   Sam Snead, the master of gamesmanship; on how to read your opponent:  1)  “Watch their eyes.  Enlarged pupils mean fear, big pupils lead to big scores.”  2)  “Watch your opponent’s lips on the first tee.  Check throughout the round to see if they become white, if they do, the nervous system is acting up.”  3)  “Watch to see if your opponent scratches or acts like his clothes are uncomfortable, he’s nervous.”  4)  “When your opponent takes two waggles and then suddenly takes three or four, he’s hurting inside.”  5)  “Notice the natural rhythm of your opponent’s stride.  When he speeds up and charges toward the ball, he’s losing his cool.”

Knowing these unmistaken signs can mean the difference between winning and losing.

Square Your Clubface

photo credit: MargaretNapier   Keeping your clubface square to the target is essential in hitting good golf shots.  What is square?  Square means that your clubface is angled so that the flight of the ball will carry it straight at the target. 

A common habit among amateurs is to maintain an open clubface at address and through impact.  When the clubface is open (right handers) it is facing to the right of the target.  The result of striking the ball with an open clubface is placing side-spin on the ball which usually results in a slice or push.

No matter how well you are set-up at address, if your clubface is aiming away from the target (left or right), your shots will not be accurate.

To Ride or not to Ride

photo credit: akeg   For centuries, golf was a game played on foot but since the arrival of the golf cart, things have certainly changed.  Back before carts, most players carried their own clubs or hired a caddie.  Caddies can be expensive and in many cases, are not good options.  Enter the golf cart.

Riding a golf cart is the norm for most players and there are good reasons:  A)  Carts speed up play.  B)  Equipment that you would not have otherwise carried, can be stored on a cart.  C)  They eliminate walking.  D)  They allow the golfer vantage points that he or she would otherwise , not have.

When using a cart, it is still a worthwhile idea to walk at least 5 or 6 holes.  Walking is the way the game was originally meant to be played.

Loft

photo credit: mhofstrand   Loft is the angle, off of vertical, of your clubface.  It determines the length, angle and altitude of a golf shot.  Higher numbered clubs have more loft than clubs with lower numbers.

One of the least known aspects of loft is that it can change with time which is especially true with irons.  Through much use, irons receive a lot of punishment from the constant contact with the ground.  Over time the loft will gradually increase, therefore, it is important to have the loft checked regularly.  A qualified repairman can measure and bend your clubs back to their original loft configurations.

Older clubs can cost you distance.  Without getting them checked, you could be hitting a 5 iron with a 6 iron lie.

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