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Playing it smart

Launch your shots farther with a driver that fits your swing; and, shoot lower scores by thinking your way around the golf course.

BY DALE ABRAHAM, PGAPublished: July, 2009

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Dale Abraham.

Patient: Male
Age: 38
Handicap: 16
Plays: Once a week
Practices: Once or twice a month

Ailment: I want to hit the ball farther off the tee. My driver is about five years old and I think I’m due for an upgrade. How do I go about picking a new driver? How much has technology advanced in five years?

Prescription: One of the biggest changes in technology is the way people are fit for clubs. Advanced clubfitting allows us to give golfers measurements on variables such as clubhead speed, spin rate, launch angle and other factors that make fitting a more exact science.

Combining professional swing instruction with scientific launch optimization will give you the most benefit. We recently had the Callaway fitting van here, enabling me to get the correct driver in one of my student’s hands — and he gained 30 yards.

If you haven’t been fit in the past using a launch monitor, I recommend it. It takes the guesswork out of buying a new club and will help you gain distance with your current swing.

Patient: Male
Age: 55
Handicap: 8
Plays: Three or four times a month
Practices: Once a week

Ailment: I like to play aggressively, but I make one or two stupid decisions a round that cost me a few extra shots. How do you decide when to be aggressive and when to play smart?

Prescription: I have two questions I like my students to ask themselves before going for a risky shot: Do I have at least a 50 percent chance of pulling the shot off; and if I pull the shot off, will it save me a stroke versus going with the more conservative play?

If the answer to either question is no, you’re better off with the conservative option.

Also, a normal golf course setup has six front, six middle and six back pin locations. If you hit the middle of the green on all 18 holes, you’d have six legitimate shots at birdie and 12 putts of approximately 24-30 feet. If you 2-putted the longer putts and made just a few of the shorter putts, you’d shoot in the 60s. Try this approach and you’ll be amazed at how consistent your scores will become.

Dale Abraham is PGA director of instruction at East Valley Golf Club in Beaumont. Reach him at (877) 742-2500 or swingmd@yahoo.com.

Readers Feedback:

Hello, Dale.....been reading all your golf info, on the internet....Julie is taking classes...since her 8 year old son, received a gift of a set of clubs, and classes, for his birthday, recently...she liked it so well, now she is busy taking classes too...She works for the CIA, and lives in Leesburg, Va.. is married to Tim Saville, who is the greatest father, ever!!...they now have two little boys, Tyler, and Travis, who is 1 yr. old..Tim is a stay at home Dad, and is the nicest, most thoughtful young man, ever!...keep up the good work, Dale!....love, your aunt Dice

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Dr. Golf

Playing it smart

Launch your shots farther with a driver that fits your swing; and, shoot lower scores by thinking your way around the golf course.

Readers Feedback: