We get asked all the time here on the Dewsweepers, "How do I know when it is right to get another driver?" A lot of people just go and get a new one every time a new model comes out and while that can be fun it can be costly and not always game improving. I advise my students in the following way First lets look at your golf swing: Is there something in your driver that keeps you from making a better golf swing. i.e. : A driver that is too stiff or does not have enough loft could prevent you from turning through the ball properly. If the make up of your driver makes you have to make an incorrect swing to launch the ball and flight the ball the way you and your teacher desire then you need to get fit for a new one. Second: Can you pick up substantial yardage with new product (8 yards) which is a club advantage. If so then a new driver should be in the bag. Third: Will a new driver make your mishits significantly straighter and more in play?? If you answered yes to any of these then it is time to get fit but make sure you don’t just go after distance but the right combo of distance and accuracy.

Watch Your Shot

One of the things I see amateur golfers Not do that Tour Players DO is that they watch the entire flight of the ball. When I watch junior or amateur golfers I see the players take their eyes off the ball flight , slump in their posture, let go of club in disgust whenever they hit a bad shot. I never see a really good player do this. Good or bad the Tour Player always hold finish in balance till ball lands. The reason for this is that you can learn a great deal about your swing and your misplayed shot from the flight of the ball. Amateurs are already complaining making excuses or reaching for another. Why watch? The flight of the ball is a great indicator of what you did wrong in your golf swing. For example: Too much curve you might have used too much hand rotation. Ball starts off line the problem could be the path. You will know based on work from your teacher what the issues to look for are. Tour players always then look at divot. The divot tells us a lot. Don’t rush off after a poor shot. Next time you play hold your finish watch ball flight and look at the divot this can help you know more about the shot you just hit so you can do what you are trying to do better on the next one.

Can You play with a Closed Club Face?

A question comes in from a Dewsweeper that says I have been told I have a shut club face is it possible to play with it. This dewsweeper is already a pretty good ball striker and player. The first question I ask is "what do you want to accomplish?" Play good at your club, amateur golf, or major amatuer golf or professional?? The goals you have will determine the need to change the face and if you can achieve what you are trying to do with out aquaring up the face. There have been several great players with shut face Azinger, Duval, Trevino. Note they all had things in common they play a fade. There is a reason for this and you should play accordingly yourself if you have a shut face. A shut face limits you. You won't be able to draw it under control the ball will tend to over hook If you want to play with a shut face which I certainly would prefer over an open face. It wold be best to learn to play a fade. Learn to aim left of target, swing shaft of club left and old face open for a cut. Understand the shots you can play based on your club face and you can play successful.

Gap Fitting

A dewsweeper writes in and asks how I suggest they select their wedges in there bag. Gap fitting of wedges has become very important. I always build a wedge set in the following way. First start with a club for the sand 56, 58 60 whatever it is we have to have a club you like to get out off the bunker. I personally use a 60 degreee wedge witha lot of bounce. But whatever the club is you need to find one that you love and trust. Put that in the bag as your sand wedge. Take that bunker club and then find out how far you carry and hit your pitching wedge. Then you fill in the gaps between your sand iron and your pitching wedge in order to create your set. If you have a huge yardage gap between the two and your bunker club is good for around the greens you might want to add a gap wedge. If the gap between the sand wedge and pitching wedge is smaller and you need more loft around the green you might add a 60 degree wedge. You might add both based upon your set make up if you dont carry a 3 wood or a hybrid and your game needs more help around the greens. To go through this process it is best to work with your teacher and get some help and feedback.

Tee it Lower Under Pressure

Having trouble hitting your driver off the toe? Can't hit it in play when it counts?? Try this for better driver a more solid hits not just on the 5th hole but when it counts coming down the stretch. If you tee the ball up too high it can help make you swing up at the ball too much. The result is that your trunk stays tilted too far behind the ball and you end up using your hands and flipping the clubhead at the ball causing hooks off the toe. Next time try teeing it down low. The result will be that you wont be able to swing up at the ball as much. You will keep your trunk more level and hit the ball straighter. I guarantee if you tee it lower you will drive it straighter under pressure!

Golve Wear??

A question from a Dewsweeper that says I always wear out my glove really fast and badly but I generally hit it ok what does this mean? One of the big signs that a left hand grip is placed on the club inclorrectly is excessive wear especially on the heel of the glove. When you have excessive wear on the heal pad generally it is because the club is not at base of fingers which places the heel on side of club and rubs hole in the glove. Placing the heel on top of club gives leverage and stops wear. Wear on side of fingers usually indicates too much hand action generally flipping or throwing of the clubhead Check your glove wear to make sure your grip is precise.