Flight your short irons lower to be a better iron player!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
If you want to become a good short iron player, learn from Travis Fulton and Callaway Golf on how to flight your short irons lower for better control and accuracy. Turning your lower hand down as you move through impact is one of the big keys to learning this shot!
If you struggle to keep that angle of the lower hand through impact, there is a training aid on the market that will help. It’s called “The Secret” and was based on Ben Hogans’s move through impact. Many instructors thought this was Hogans Secret to becoming a phenomenal iron player. Certainly something worth looking into. Here is the link.
When you first start working on this drill, I would suggest the backswing and follow-through are even shorter than Travis is suggesting. Build up your confidence slowly, then build up the pace as you get better!
PGA Professional Travis Fulton shows you how to take dead aim with your short irons and ensure you’re making solid contact.
Which is your all-time favorite logo on the PGA Tour?
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
You just have to see a product with an umbrella on it and you know immediately Arnold Palmer has put his stamp of approval on that item! Branding has become big business around the world and an outstanding logo will definitely set you apart from your competition. My Favorite? Gary Player’s “Knights Head” logo. Simple but says it all about the man. Which is your favorite logo on the PGA Tour? Comments, please.
If you’re not building your brand in today’s world, what are you really doing? Well, as it turns out, golfers are their own brands and some of the most iconic names in the sport are synonymous with bears, umbrellas, or in Phil’s case, themselves. Here’s a look at the 10 of the best Tour pro logos over the years.
Air Phil
Representing Phil’s masters Win!
Phil threw his hat into the logo game ring at the start of his 2017 season by introducing us to “Air Phil.” By far one of the most hilarious on this list, it’s of course, a tribute to his 2004 Masters win. Thumbs up, Phil!
The man, the myth, the legend John Daly uses this lion as his logo. It screams business in the front and party in the back, kind of like Long John himself. Grip it and rip it!
The Shark has been a longtime favorite in the logo world. Its sleek design and unique colors always stood out, especially when Greg Norman wore that phenomenal straw hat.
The Golden Bear
A Lasting Image.
via walczy.com
The Golden Bear is a timeless classic. Jack Nicklaus was truly the man to carry that name. With his golden flowing locks and ferociousness on the course, it just was perfect.
Jordan Spieth
A Very New Image
via golfdigest.com
Jordan Speith unveiled this logo not too long ago, but you already see grown men wearing the initials of 23-year-old’s initials on their caps. What a world! It is pretty sweet looking though.
How do you play those shots that are in between Clubs?
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
We have all experienced the situation where we need to hit a shot 165 yards to get the ball close to the hole, but our regular 7 iron goes about 160 yards, and our 6 iron goes 170 yards. Today Greg Hiller, an instructor with the Alamo City Golf Trail walks you through the steps needed to play those shots that are in between clubs and make this shot a success.
The two keys to selecting the right club are:
Take the longer of the two clubs and grip down an inch, this will take a half a club off the shot.
Look at where the trouble is. Most of the time it is short of the green, but occasionally you don’t want to go long. Thake this option into consideration before you play your shot.
Take wind and elevation into consideration. If the green is above you you need more club. If the green is below you you need less club. You might not be in between clubs after all!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
I have personally put the Callaway Supersoft golf ball in my bag and I am currently testing to see whether this ball will make a difference to my game. I certainly like the feel, but am not sure if this ball is right for me with a 100 mph clubhead speed. When I visit the PGA Merchandise Show later this month and will personally talk to Callaway to get their thoughts on the subject of the “Soft Revolution.” Watch this site for my report back in early February! Thanks to Andrew Tursky of GolfWRX for this interesting article!
The Calloway Chromesoft is just one of many softballs on the market today.
Everything you need to know about Callaway’s new SuperSoft golf balls
In 2014, Callaway launched its SuperSoft golf balls. The two-piece design had an insanely low compression, yet our testing showed it was not just another soft-feeling ball. “It could be one of the best non-premium balls for golfers with slower clubhead speeds,” our reviewer Kane Cochran said.
When Callaway did market research on what golfers thought about the feel and the greenside spin of its SuperSoft golf balls, the results showed that 74 percent of golfers thought the feel was “just right.” Only 58 percent of golfers answered the same way about greenside control, however.
That’s why the new SuperSoft golf balls are made with a new “Tri-Ionomer” cover, which Callaway says gives the balls both a softer feel and more spin around the greens.
How much more spin are we talking about? On a 40-yard shot, Callaway testing showed the 2017 version of the SuperSoft launched with 5035 rpm of spin, while the 2015 version launched with 4950 rpm of spin. It’s change that Callaway’s Senior Director of Golf Ball R&D Dave Bartels says golfers should notice.
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Piers Ward and Andy Proudman of Meandmygolf are at it again, this time on a pretty chilly morning by the looks of their gear! The topic today is one that amateur golfers seem to struggle with fairly often and that is hitting the fairway woods solid. The big key is controlling the bottom of the arc because this is right where the impact takes place! Enjoy!
Trackman does not lie!
The numbers given by Trackman on Piers Ward’s fairway wood shots. The angle of attack is negative. That means he is hitting slightly down on the ball. The bottom of the arc is 1.7 inches in front of the ball. This is great info for amateurs that think you should sweep the ball off the grass. NO! It is still a slightly downward strike and the loft on the club (usually 15 to 16 degrees) will get the ball up in the air. If Piers’ is angle of attack is -1.7 then the effective loft is 13.30 to 14.3 degrees. Plenty of loft to still get the ball comfortably in the air.
In todays Impact Show we discuss what is required to pure those fairway metals. The fairway metal is an important weapon in the arsenal of the amateur golfer and is often misunderstood on how to get the best out of it. In the show we use Trackman to get the all important delivery numbers and then give you an easy practical drill in how to hit that pure strike.
Learn how to play the Buried Lie in the Bunker with Hank Haney!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
This is not the way I teach the buried lie in the bunker, but who am I to argue with Golf Digest Top 100 Teacher Hank Haney? The key that both of us agree on is that you want the leading edge of the club to hit the sand first and hit DEEP! Those are the 2 keys to making this shot a whole lot easier!
I like to hood the clubface slightly. This moves the bounce of the club out of the way and guarantees that the leading edge will strike the ground first. The ball will come out slightly lower because of the closed clubface, and there will be no backspin on this ball at all! So swing a little softer to allow the ball to roll out a little more than normal.
Hank Haney offers advice on how to recover from a buried lie in the bunker.
Is the Shaft in your Driver the Right One for You?
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
The Right Shaft to maximize your Distance.
Trying to get the right shaft flex to maximize your driving distance and accuracy is a complicated business. However, we do have launch Monitors like Trackman, FlightScope and GC2 to make our job a whole lot easier. Factors to consider. Clubhead speed, shaft flex, shaft type, shaft weight, shaft length, launch angle, ball speed and total carry distance. So to say I swing at 100 mph, will not help. Unless I take all these other factors into consideration. Randy of Fried Eggs Golf tries to help, but in the final analysis, you need to see a club-fitter and be prepared to spend a couple of hours testing to come up with something close to what you need. As this is a tiring process, you may want to split it up into two days instead of trying to fit in in all in one day! Good hunting!
It’s experiment time… I use a Ping G driver and three Alta 55 shafts in Stiff, Regular, and Senior to see how flex affects ball-flight.
Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons presented by Kendra Vallone!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons on the Modern Fundamentals of the Golf Swing
This is the book that I and many professional golfers grew up reading. Hogan was the ultimate ball striker and despite a major car crash halfway through his career, he still managed to win 9 Major Championships. Thank you, Mr. Hogan, for these great lessons which are still relevant today and thank you, Kendra Vallone, in conjunction with Cam Elkins for sharing!
I think Kendra has got Hogan’s waggle wrong! If you watch Hogan as much as I have, the waggle is much more with the hands rather than the still shoulder movement Kendra shows. He also moves his feet while he is waggling, just to keep the motion fluid. I also noticed in her swings, that she does not do the waggle. Either her way or Hogan’s way! Practice what you preach, Kendra!
Professional golfer, Kendra Vallone runs through the essentials of Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf. This video includes “The Grip” and “The Waggle”.
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
This list put together by Golf Digest, shows just how uneven the playing field is for men and women golfers! When a golfer like Jason Dufner (who is no slouch on the golf course) is ahead of World #1 Lydia Ko in earnings, that is just wrong! Folks, start watching the LPGA Tour on TV and you will find these women can really play! Just as exciting and competitive as the men.
For the first 12 years of the Golf Digest 50 all-encompassing money list, Tiger Woods was No. 1, usually by a wide margin. But reduced play because of injuries and the loss of more than half a dozen A-list endorsement partners after the 2009 scandal caught up to him in 2016, when he fell to No. 3 behind Jordan Spieth and Mickelson. This year, Woods is No. 4 behind Rory McIlroy, Arnold Palmer and Mickelson.
10.) GARY PLAYER
Certainly surprised me!
PREVIOUS RANK: 10
ON COURSE: — $0.00
OFF COURSE: $15,000,000
TOTAL: $15,000,000
9.) ADAM SCOTT
Money does not seem important to him!
PREVIOUS RANK: 18
ON COURSE: $8,160,920
OFF COURSE: $6,900,000
TOTAL: $15,060,920
8.) JASON DAY
Has never quite fulfilled his potential!
PREVIOUS RANK: 7
ON COURSE: $8,845,112
OFF COURSE: $10,750,000
TOTAL: $19,595,112
7.) DUSTIN JOHNSON
Thought he would have been much higher.
PREVIOUS RANK: 13
ON COURSE: $12,664,185
OFF COURSE: $7,100,000
TOTAL: $19,764,185
6.) JACK NICKLAUS
Did not build an empire like Arnie!
PREVIOUS RANK: 6
ON COURSE: $42,000
OFF COURSE: $20,000,000
TOTAL: $20,042,000
Impact – The only position in the golf swing that really matters!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
With all that has been written, filmed, and discussed on how to swing a golf club to produce good shots……. the only position in the golf swing that really matters is IMPACT! Peter Finch of Peter Finch Golf explains this impact position. So pay attention. Once you understand this position you will definitely improve your golf!
Additional Ingredients.
Delivering the clubhead path slightly for the inside and at the same time slightly upward, although not the be-all and end-all of gaining distance, it does help! Also into this equation would be the loft of the driver and the ball used as these two ingredients affect ball spin. The shaft of the driver is also important to allow you to allow the club to be traveling at its maximum speed for your golf swing. The final additional ingredient will be angle of attack. To get the ball flying the furthest distance possible, these must be a positive angle of attack!
In the final part of this Smash It Long Series, we look at how to improve your impact and help link all the other areas of a powerful golf swing together.