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 Stadium Golf Center's Justin Hicks (PHOTO: Eddie Meeks). Age: 34 Current Handicap: 18 Lowest Handicap: 16 Plays: Once or twice a month Practices: Once a month Symptoms: I hear players talk about playing putts “one cup outside the hole” or seeing “three feet of break.” I’ve always just kind of putted by what feels right. Is there a more scientific way of determining how much a putt is going to break? Prescription: The more times you play a certain course, the better your reads should be based on experience. To give themselves the best chance of correctly reading greens, professional players spend ample time during practice rounds hitting multiple putts and making notes as to the different contours each green presents. They also use devices to digitally measure the direction and severity of the break. Using this information would be the scientific way of determining how much a putt is going to break, but it’s time-consuming and can’t be used during competitive rounds. Patient: Male Age: 44 Current Handicap: 10 Lowest Handicap: 7 Plays: About once a month Practices: Once a month Symptoms: I get in trouble every time I try to play smart and lay up off the tee. I make a bad swing and end up in worse shape than if I had just stuck with the driver. How do you decide when to lay up or hit driver? Prescription: I don’t have a set rule as to whether I lay up or go for it, but I do have a few factors that help me decide. How am I hitting my driver that day? If I’m struggling, then I’m more likely to lay up. What is the benefit gained by using my driver? Sometimes it’s a huge benefit and well worth it. Is it early or late in the round? I tend to be more conservative early in the round and would not be as inclined to hit driver. Frequently, you won’t know until you pull out the driver on the tee and see how you feel with that club in your hands. If there’s significant doubt, put it back in the bag and grab a 3-wood or hybrid and play it safe. Justin Hicks is a PGA teaching professional at Stadium Golf Center in San Diego. Reach him at (858) 254-0889 or justin@hicks-golf.com, or visit hicksgolf.com. |
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