Ask the Pro!
Each week one of our resident “Pros” will answer questions submitted by you. To ask the pro a question, submit the form at the bottom of page. Read about our Golf Pro below.
Q. My irons - I am constantly hitting them right, no fade just straight right. Is it alignment? What is a good drill for alignment?
A . "Pushing" the ball to the right could be a variety of things. But it is quite logical to approach your alignment first. A great drill to use involves the use of equipment you already own. Lay your clubs down in a "T" formation on the ground. Place the "torso" of the tee in between your feet and the "top" of the tee lined up parallel to your target line. Line your feet up equally distant from the parallel club shaft in order to line your body up toward the target. This little drill will help you to become visually and physically acclimated to your "lined up" stance.
Q. Every time I tee off I slice to the right, help!
A . My best advice to help reduce your slice is to try the Polara golf ball! Without seeing your swing, it is almost impossible to recommend some change that will help you. It is highly more probable that the changes I suggest could hinder your progression. By using the Polara golf ball, the pure physics of the construction of the ball can help reduce the negative spin being created. This is your best bet right now. Good Luck!
Q. I was playing a round with a friend last week and my approach to the green landed in a sand trap. My partner told me to try putting this out. Was he joking with me or is this a legitimate option when you’re in a sand trap?
A. Putting the ball out of the bunker is a legitimate option when the "lip" of the bunker is even with the sand. Often, you will get hard packed sand that is difficult to hit out of and utilizing the putter can be a great choice. But, if there is a significant "lip", the ball may get caught up in it and never get out of the bunker. The important thing is to look at all your options and select the one that you have the most confidence in. Just a reminder, there are no limitations to which clubs you are allowed to use out of the bunker, use what is best for you.
Q. It seems like I always play better after the first few holes when I finally loosen up. I hit balls before more round when I have time, but I still seem to be tight when I get to the first tee. Are there any quick stretching exercises that you can recommend?
A. It is very important to stretch properly before a round of golf. You should focus on any type of warm up exercises involving your back, your trunk, your shoulders and your legs. Each golfer should select exercises based on their own physical condition, it never hurts to consult with your physician prior to the start of the season. Because personal fitness is so individualized, you really should take the time to consult with a professional on which "quick" exercises are best for you.
Q. I’m new to golf. Should you position the ball differently in your stance based on the slope of the fairway?
A. Yes, you should position your ball differently on the slope of the fairway. If you have a downhill "lie", you should position the ball slightly "back" in your stance. If you have an uphill "lie", you should position the ball slightly "forward" in your stance. When you have a "sidehill lie", you should position the ball in the center of your stance for most shots. These are truly guidelines only and there will be instances where you may deviate from them.
Q. I’ve heard a lot about reading greens and think I read them ok. However I’m not a very good putter and am not sure if it’s my stroke or my read. Are there a couple of things I should be looking for when I read the green?
A. The first thing I would suggest is to look at where you miss most of your putts. If you miss them in consistently the same place, you more than likely need to take a good, hard look at your stroke. When reading a green, look at the contour and slope of the ground. On bent grass greens, the contour is the most important. Just do your best once you've analyzed this aspect and play the speed of the green. Remember, reading a green is truly just a very good guess as to where the ball will go.
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