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Patient: Male Age: 44 Current Handicap: 14 Lowest Handicap: 11 Has played golf for: 20 years Plays: About once or twice a month Practices: Rarely The symptoms: I have a no-man’s land in my golf bag. I can hit my irons well up to about a 5-iron. I can hit it about 160 yards. I’ve tried fairway woods and I can hit the 7-wood about 185 yards. That leaves me a 25-yard gap where I don’t have a shot that I’m comfortable with. Unfortunately, there are three par-3s at my course that are about 175 yards. I can’t reach them with the 5-iron and I have to baby a 7-wood to get it there. Most times, I end up short in the water. Should I take some lessons and learn how to hit the longer irons, or is there something else I could be doing to bridge this gap in my bag? Dr. Golf’s prescription: It sounds as if you have some talent. For as little as you play and practice you still maintain a relatively low handicap. I will always recommend taking some lessons to work on fundamentals, such as grip, alignment, posture and ball position. These four elements will help lead to more consistent shot-making with every club. There really isn’t that much different between a 5-iron and a 4-iron, except your mis-hit shots will be more exaggerated with a 4-iron. If you’re hesitant to take a few lessons, the quick solution would be to choke down on your 7-wood and make a full swing, versus trying to hit it softer. Choking down on the club will reduce yardage and making a full swing is always more reliable than trying to ease up on a shot. Patient: Male Age: 33 Current Handicap: 15 Lowest Handicap: 15 Has played golf for: About 5 years Plays: About once a week Practices: About once a week The symptoms: I love playing golf. I’ve made a goal this year to work real hard on my game and I’ve brought my handicap down from being a 100’s shooter to regularly scoring in the 80s. But I’m struggling with the same shots all the time. First of all, I can’t seem to get off the first tee. I usually make my worst swing of the day here. Second of all, anytime I have a meaningful putt, such as for a birdie or a putt to win the hole, I seem to make bad contact and end up three-putting. Do you have any suggestions? Dr. Golf’s prescription: There is not doubt hitting a golf shot under pressure is very difficult. One of the things that I think about when I am under pressure is staying in my routine. I always try to continue to do the same pre-shot routine before I hit the ball. These kind of things are taking a practice swing, visualizing the golf shot, lining up, walking into the golf shot and committing to the shot that I want to hit. When you hit a tee ball under pressure make sure you don’t rush. Take your time and clear your head of negative thoughts. Do the same with putting. Most of the time when we have to make a putt under pressure the first thing we do is peek, or allowing your eyes and head to move before making contact with the ball. This causes the putter to open or close (most of the time open) and you will miss it short. Go through your routine and commit to your line and listen for the ball to hit the hole. This will ensure solid contact. Overall, the more you practice the more confidence you will have to make these shots. Scott Miller is the head pro at Moorpark Country Club and the 2005 Southern California PGA Club Professional champion. He can be reached at (805) 532-2834. Patients in need of help should e-mail their ailments to scpgamedia@aol.com. |
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