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 Patient: Male Age: 41 Current Handicap: 10 Lowest Handicap: 10 Has played golf for: 12 years Plays: Twice a month Practices: Once a month The symptoms: I was at Riviera during the Nissan Open watching player after player hit bunker shots that took one bounce and spun to a stop. My bunker shots get out of the bunker, but they don’t have any spin on them. What is the pro doing to get all that spin, and is there something I can practice that will help me get that spin, too? Dr. Golf’s prescription: Loft is a big factor. Start with a 60-degree wedge, preferably something designed to increase spin like the Vokey Spin Mill wedges. More loft, however, requires a more aggressive swing to produce more spin. Next, create friction between the ball and the clubface by hitting the sand about an inch behind the ball. Since you’ll be hitting closer to the ball than you’re likely doing now, you won’t need a very lengthy swing. Maximize loft, stay aggressive, create friction and practice a lot. You’ll soon be hitting better bunker shots. Patient: Male Age: 33 Current Handicap: 20 Lowest Handicap: 15 Has played golf for: About five years Plays: Once a month Practices: Once a month The symptoms: I recently moved to an area were it seems like the wind blows all the time, especially on the golf course. I tend to hit the ball very high, but the wind is killing my shots. It knocks down my approach shots and exaggerates the slice of my drives. Is there something I can practice to get my shots to fly lower? Dr. Golf’s prescription: You probably have an open clubface at impact. Strengthen your left-hand grip or close the clubface at address. Play the ball slightly back in your stance, rotate your shoulders on the backswing and stop your arms when they reach shoulder height. This is a classic knock-down shot. A slightly closed clubface decreases loft and backspin, and better ball position keeps it from hooking too much. Shortening the arm swing encourages less hand action, which decreases the tendency to cast the clubhead past your hands, which also leads to high shots with lots of backspin. Don Parsons is the director of instruction at Sandpiper Golf Course. He can be reached at (805) 968-1541. E-mail your questions to scpgamedia@aol.com. |
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