Editorial

2 Sep 2015 Corina Pelloni

THE GAME IS ALWAYS BIGGER

“No one is bigger than the game.”  This is a famous quote from sport that is highly recognized amongst many who have devoted their lives to golf.  Then, “Hello world” appeared on the scene. As Tiger Woods played the game for a period of 7-8 years at a level perhaps higher than any predecessor, we were not only witnessing greatness, but history. He had no competition when he was playing his “B” game, let alone his “A” game. Yes, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson conquered occasionally, but suffice it to say their respective stars and legacies would have shone far brighter be it not for Tiger’s presence. “Tiger-proofing” golf courses came in style; purses and TV ratings went ballistic; Nike launched  itself into the golf industry the moment Tiger donned the swoosh, and golf became cool from kids to great-grandmothers.  Nary would a minute pass without a Tiger update during tournament telecasts. Then, his public fall from grace, only to be followed with less than “Tiger-like” results, to serious signs of Tiger will never be the same. If Tiger is not the same, how will the game remain healthy?  Tiger is golf. The Golf Channel is even referenced as The Tiger Channel by some.  Sponsors’ dollars will dry up, purses will drop, and tournaments will be forced to dissolve. Tell us it isn`t true! Fast forward to 2015…the year that saved golf?  Or, in other words and punctuation, the year that saved golf!  One could argue Tiger`s 2000 season with three major wins and nine overall victories is the best ever.  One could also argue no one has ever come closer to winning the modern Grand Slam than Jordan Spieth this past season.  One could also make the claim 2015 is/was a defining year in golf. First there was Old Tom, then Harry, Bobby, Byron, “Slammin” Sam, The “Hawk” – otherwise known as Ben – Arnie and his “Army,” Jack, and finally Tiger.  These were the icons of the game. Yes, there was a supporting cast with other excellent players, with some in between generations.  However, these players helped define the game.  What they all held in common was they were actors on a stage. We will never see another Jack Nicklaus, or, who will be the next Jack?  Then Tiger came along.  Few have ever asked who will be the next Tiger, because no one thought it possible, probably because Tiger’s talent and exploits had never before been seen or even fathomed.  Once again, enter 2015.  If Tiger did anything for golf, it was to develop a mindset and confidence amongst the youth of today that has instilled the following attitude: “If he can do it, so can I.”  Athletes are flocking to golf; hence, the journey toward greatness for our present and future stars continues and always will. We are at the dawn of a new era.  The fourth Great Triumvirate. First, there was Harry Vardon, John H. Taylor and James Braid, followed by Byron Nelson, Sam Snead and Ben Hogan.  Later, we were spoiled with Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.  Barring injuries, we will see Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth become the next holders of this unique title. Every player has their respective place within the game, their legacy, their grandeur and stories of folklore, yet no one is irreplaceable.  Golf, the gentleman’s game, trumps all.  It’s just too beautiful a stage with a forever-changing and compelling play.

24 Aug 2015 Corina Pelloni

WATER BALL?

A few weeks ago, my oldest daughter was getting ready for her golf play day at our club.  She was in the garage over by my old golf stuff digging around for something.  When I asked her what she needed, she said she needed some water balls.  I asked her why; she told me there were a few par-3s that had a lot of water, and she didn’t want to lose any of her newer golf balls. I laughed a little, then told her she needed to think positive and not negative thoughts.  We spoke about visualizing where we wanted the ball to land, and what it looks like in the air while flying towards our target.  We also spoke of how negative thoughts normally lead to negative outcomes. Like every other golfing dad out there, I took out a brand new sleeve of balls from my golf bag and gave them to her.  I told her to only use them on the water holes and no other holes.  She understood how I wanted her to think prior to the shot.  Later that day, I was anxious hear about her round.  I came home from work and she proceeded to hand me the golf balls I gave her.  I was excited until I saw they were not used.  She said she was still scared to lose a brand new ball in the water.  She said she hit one ball in the water that day, and that she was thinking about not hitting it in the water on that hole. While laughing at the idea of her not using the brand new golf balls, I reminded myself how important our thoughts are prior to hitting a shot.  We all have friends who dig into their golf bags for old golf balls to use over water, and I’m sure most end up in a watery grave. Make sure pre-shot thoughts are an area you address with your students, no matter what level of player they are.  Whether is it “aim small-miss small,” “take dead aim,” or “focus only on the target,” we need to teach how to have positive thoughts.

6 Aug 2015 Corina Pelloni

MAKING GOLF HARDER NOT THE WAY TO GO

While reading a recent copy of Golf Georgia, I saw where a golf course was changing its greens from bentgrass to Champion Bermuda.  If you’re familiar with turfgrass, you know that bentgrass greens can be difficult to maintain in the South.  However, this particular course in north Georgia wasn’t having this problem.  It seemed that the bentgrass greens made the game too easy, in their view. The director of golf was quoted in the magazine as saying, “When the greens were soft you could shoot at the pins and could hold your shot.” So as not to embarrass the involved parties, I won’t name the course or the director who made this remark, but since when did a green holding a shot become a bad thing?  Do they really want greens that reject shots? If you have ever played true links golf, you know that firm and fast conditions are the norm.  However, these courses have adequate run-up areas that allow you to land your ball either short of or on the front of the green, and be able to control it in that manner.  This is not usually the case in America, as many courses have very soft areas in front of the green.  There is nothing more frustrating than having as your only two options: 1) land the ball short of the green and have it stop short, or 2) land on the green and watch the ball bound over it. This is not to say that the game should be too easy, but a balance is necessary.  Golf course owners and operators should keep this in mind when contemplating changes to their courses.  

4 Aug 2015 Corina Pelloni

GOLF LEADERS PILING ON TRUMP ARE OUT OF BOUNDS

I don’t dislike Donald Trump. I don’t necessarily like him, either.  I have the same feeling for him as I have for the Yankees, Patriots, Packers and Montreal Canadiens.  I hate them because they are always beating my teams. But I have to admit I respect them because they are so successful. I certainly respect Trump’s success. He does what he says and says what he does. I think people in general admire people like that.  Mr. Trump has done a lot for golf.  I was fortunate to play at Trump International in Palm Beach awhile back.  The course was quite impressive and the operation was first class. Now, the odds that I could play any of his courses on a regular basis are a million-to-one, but I am okay with that.  I don’t begrudge wealthy people having places to go that I, in my present state, could never set foot on. Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.  Remember that stuff?  When did we stop admiring success?  People at the top create opportunity for those down the line.  For every Trump International, there are hundreds of World Woods, a top-100 golf course that right now you can play for $30.  It’s $500 to play Pebble Beach, but down the road there’s Pacific Grove for $50, with vistas just as spectacular. The golf authorities want to distance themselves from Trump because of words.  Hey, whatever happened to free speech? Who made them the moral authority?  If people feel The Donald crossed a line, they will punish him with their wallets.  I loathe it when organizations, politicians, or talking heads begin a sentence with, “The American people want,” when they actually have no clue what the average person wants.  I have found over the years that people are pretty adept at running their own lives. It requires wealth to run in Trump’s circles, and in America anyone has an opportunity to accumulate wealth, but it is not required to live a pretty good life and enjoy a lot of good things.  Until Mr. Trump actually demonstrates discrimination against anyone, I say to the USGA, PGA, PGA Tour, and any other golf organization, mind your own p’s & q’s.  People in glass houses, as the saying goes.  

1 Aug 2015 Corina Pelloni

RELAXED CHIPPING MEANS LOW SCORING

I was fortunate to go to one round of the Masters and two rounds of the Heritage Classic, in Hilton Head, this Spring. As always, I spent a great deal of time watching the pros practice. I noticed a trend or change of thought in short game theory that is worth noting and passing to our students. Remember, tour pros base technique decisions on the best general result because it translates directly to money. They don’t chase theories that produce spotty results. In years past the tour pros felt like they were better off, when chipping, becoming adept with one or two clubs and then picking different landing spots. These clubs were generally some form of wedge. Now I see them using more of a Paul Runyan type of theory, which asks the player to refine a chipping STROKE and choose the right club to fit the length of the chip. Think of the reasons. They play on increasingly slick greens. They need a stroke that has the ball moving slow. To have deft touch, you must choose the club that allows the swing to be short and the clubhead to move slowly, on a shallow path along the grass. With the new, tight Bermuda grasses, understanding the grain is very important. Northern players are learning that their method developed on lush grass doesn’t travel well on tight Bermuda. A wedge swing that has the clubhead raising quickly and and using speed is very dangerous, especially against the grain. A less lofted club employed with a putting type stroke is much more reliable. I explain it to my students like this. If it is a younger student I know they are probably addicted to too much loft. I teach them that tour pros don’t shoot low because they pick difficult shots to play. They use their considerable talent to play easy shots, with less lofted clubs, because they know that they are very comfortable using a small, slow swing. Why select a bigger swing that worries us? This Spring we saw many tour pros chunking wedges (not just Tiger )because they didn’t know how to deal with the grain in the grass. I convince my younger students to use their increasing skill to open their mind and develop a menu of shots. Why take a talented athlete and make them one-dimensional? It isn’t hard to show a student that chipping up a hill with a lofted wedge is silly. You have just  selected a club that is fighting your intent. Older students are better served to find a chipping stroke that is comfortable. Ask them to imagine their stroke on a six foot putt. If it is smooth and disciplined, show them what that stroke will do with different lofted clubs. It is a real eye opener. It can quickly breathe life into a shaky chipping method. The technique is simple. Raise the handle up until the club is almost sitting on the toe, with the heel slightly in the air. You are putting the handle between your forearms and under your shoulders, much closer to the line of the shot.  It will likely feel more comfortable to use your putting grip. Standing this close to the ball, the path of the swing becomes very precise. Stand with the feet close together. Play the ball nearly on your right toe. Lean the shaft toward the target until your hands are over your left leg. Put your weight on the left foot. Now imagine that you are putting a six footer, with a smoth STROKE instead of any hit. The ball will come off rolling slowly, which is exactly what we want for chipping. Soon a 50 foot chip is nothing more than the right club selection and the same comfortable stroke we always use. If our decision making process keeps us relaxed and confident, we have set the stage for a level of performance that we can sustain for many more good shots and holes and rounds of golf. Why would we torture ourselves with risky decision making?

16 Jul 2015 Corina Pelloni

RAIN DELAYS

I was recently caddying in our local State Amateur qualifier for one of my young golf students.  After 10 holes, the skies opened up and the rain began.  We rushed to the clubhouse and saw the radar on the TV; it didn’t look good.  The golf course staff thought it would be at least a few hours’ delay. So, what to do during this time?  We ordered some food, talked about the round so far and small-talked.  After about 90 minutes, the staff said it would be another two hours at least.  After an hour of watching TV, I decided to play a little putting game in the clubhouse.  I set up a few folded napkins in an area with very few people.  We played a nine-hole putting match.  I made him go through his putting routine on all putts, so it took about 45 minutes to complete the “match.” Once we were done, it was time to loosen up again.  He went through his warm-up routine on the range and they sent us back out onto the course.  He played the last eight holes in -1 to make it into the State Amateur by three shots.  Talking after the round, he thought our putting game got his focus back on track. There are many things you can do during a rain delay.  Getting rest and eating food are the normal two.  But make sure you do something to get your mind focused back on the game before you leave the clubhouse.  I hope these tips will help you and your students in the next rain delay you encounter.

9 Jul 2015 Corina Pelloni

US OPEN ILLUSTRATES HOW MUCH THE GAME HAS CHANGED – AND MAYBE NOT FOR THE BETTER

During the recent US Open, I can’t recall the exact hole, but a graphic came on the screen, showing that the carry distance to clear a set of bunkers and reach the fairway was 270 yards. There seemed to be quite a few holes like that at Chambers Bay. As a fellow who in his best times never hit the ball more than 240 yards, it hit me how much different today’s game is than the one I grew up playing. Whether golf today is better can be debated, but the gap between a tour pro and an average golfer has increased exponentially. One of the great appeals of golf used to be that the average golfer could try to play the same shot a tour pro would play on a given golf course. Other than pitching and putting, that train has sadly left the station. I have been a single-digit handicap golfer just about all my life, and there is no way I could reach the fairway from the tees the pros played at Chambers Bay. Imagine the 20-handicap golfer and what his fate would be. Many will argue that the pros play a different game and leave it at that. Problem is, human nature is such that most golfers want to attempt to play that same game, or at least feel like they can. Most sports are spectator-oriented. You’re not going to get a chance to hit a 90 mile-an-hour fast ball in Yankee Stadium or return a 100 mile-an-hour serve at Wimbledon. But for years, anyone could try to hit shots on golf courses where pros played for a living. In those days, the pros did not hit the ball that much farther; they just hit it better. A 400-yard hole was a good test. Today it is considered pitch-and-putt for the best. I’d hate to see the professional golf game become a spectator sport similar to others, because that could result in people losing interest in playing the game. It remains to be seen, but if it happens, blame is squarely on the shoulders of the USGA. They have let the game get away from its roots. Poor regulation of equipment standards, course lengths, and setups are not helping golf. They are supposed to be the watchdogs. Problem is, no one is watching them.

1 Jul 2015 Corina Pelloni

GOLF APPS

Today’s technology has made playing a round of golf easier for the modern player. It has also pretty much eliminated the use of caddies. The golf app has essentially become the modern player’s caddie. There are still some courses that recommend taking a caddie, or there is a charge for not using one –  Pinehurst #2 comes to mind as one of them. Tiger Woods was asked recently if there was a reason why there are not many young black players entering the PGA Tour or golf in general. His answer was, “Because there are so few caddie programs available that would introduce them to golf.” Every college program today allows the use of GPS technology when competing against other schools. However, the NCAA only allows the use of laser devices. They do not permit use of devices that give information on slope. Sometimes the use of the GPS clouds the thinking of a good young amateur player as they may grab a 9- or 8-iron to try and hit something 162 yards, without giving consideration to just where the pin is located. Maybe they only have to hit the shot 150 yards or maybe 170 yards depending on the slope of the green as it relates to the pin position. But the thinking stays fixed on the original yardage given by the GPS. As golf pros, we should be up to speed when it comes to giving advice to a student who asks which golf app is available for him to use on their smartphone or iPad. The most basic golf apps available on the market today come fully equipped and provide information on thousands of golf courses all over the world. Some come equipped with a rule book to help the average player understand the rules of the game. The golf app has changed the way both experienced and casual golfers approach their round of golf. The golf app market has become a bit over-saturated.  With many of the options available today, which ones are really good and which ones are just okay? Do you really need to spend $3.99 – $29.99 each to try out a series of golf apps to find the one you like the best? There are plenty of very good, reliable, free apps available that can give both the experienced and routine player as much to work with as some of the more expensive apps out there. I know of three free golf apps that have earned a good reputation in the golf world. They are Golfshot, Swing by Swing Golf, and Golf Logix.  iTunes rates the golf apps, and you can check out how they rate by going to the iTunes web site. These free apps have a lot in common; handicap tracking systems, leaderboard features, accurate range finder, club recommendations, satellite photos of the hole being played along with a zoom in on the green feature to see the front, middle and back of the green. All three have upgraded packages available for a price. Some upgrading features are touchscreen layup distances to any point in the fairway, GPS distance to all hazards, and the ability to set exact pin positions. Other popular apps to consider for $4.99 are Who’s Your Caddie, iPing, PGA Tour Caddie, Golfcard GPS, Nike Golf 360, Golfzing, V1 Golf Swing Analysis, plus Tiger Woods My Swing.  For only$1.99, Skydroid Golf GPS, and for $29.99, GolfShot GPS device. Whether it costs money or not for the initial installation of the golf app or the one you are recommending to a student, they all have upgraded versions that can be custom-made to fit the interest level of any player, along with systems for swing analysis for the pro teaching a student.

10 Jun 2015 Corina Pelloni

TAKING TIME OFF

Recently, one of the college students whom I work with came home from school. He had a wonderful fall season, but didn’t do so well in the spring. He had made a few swing changes, but seemed like he was on a good path. His poor play was something neither of us had seen coming. After meeting and looking at his swing, I was surprised to note that his swing was better than it was before the spring season. The changes looked good, but it didn’t appear as though it felt natural for the student. While talking about the past few months, I could hear the desperation in his voice; he just wanted to play great golf. I knew right then that the problem wasn’t in trusting the swing changes, it was that he was putting too much pressure on himself and hitting the panic button too often. If he didn’t have a fast start, he felt like he was behind. From that point forward, instead of being satisfied with par, he felt like he could never catch up. His swing was tight with poor rhythm and he couldn’t get into a good routine. As competitive golfers, we have all been there, practicing harder than we ever have before, playing more rounds than normal, and analyzing every thought or process about our game. Then, when tournament time rolls around, the moment we have been preparing for, our performance doesn’t match our effort. What happened? We put too much pressure on each shot and don’t allow the scoring to come to us. Going back to my student and how we ended our conversation. I forced him to take two weeks off from golf. No range time, putting green, or even a fun round with buddies. But I did make him watch tournament golf on TV. So that’s what he did: observation, but no play or practice. After the two weeks, we discussed what he learned from this assignment. He talked about how the players he watched seemed like they were playing for a score versus working on their swing. They missed greens in the right places, hit less than driver off the tee on some holes, and didn’t seem too upset when they made a par on an easy par-5, or even a bogey. This is exactly what he needed: a little break to get back to what is important, scoring. If you or a student is in this rut, step back and take some time away from the clubs. It just might do the trick.

10 Jun 2015 Corina Pelloni

Some Top Myths of the Golf Swing

1. Myth: Head still / Head down The head moves slightly with the pivot of the swing but not up or down. It should never be ahead of the ball at impact. “Keep your head down” is bad advice because this tends to block the shoulder turn. 2. Myth: Toe of the club points up at the halfway-back position Use the clubface leading edge angle as a checkpoint as the toe of a club can be misleading with its design. In reality, the clubface angle should be somewhere near parallel to the spine angle. When the clubface angle is pointing straight up, it means that the hands have rotated more than necessary. 3. Myth: Hit with Your Legs / Hit the Ball with the Upper Body The legs should provide support and resistance for the torso’s and upper-body’s winding and unwinding. The real key to power in the golf swing is the core – the weight shift and rotation. 4. Myth: Weight should be on the Heels at Address Truth is, the weight should be on the balls of your feet, just like all athletic movements. During the backswing, the weight shifts into the trailing leg’s heel as the backswing loads the club in preparation for the downswing. 5. Myth: No Wrists in the Golf Swing The wrist should be freely swinging in a proper cocking and releasing motion. The wrists provide tremendous power in the golf swing. Sam Snead said the wrists should be “oily.” 6. Myth: Hold the Club for a Late Release One of the biggest myths in golf, as there is no such thing as a late release. The club gradually begins to release as the down swing begins. Attempting to hold back the release often results in the clubface being open at impact, the number-one flaw in golf. Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan. and Lionel Hebert all stated that the club gradually begins to release as the body unwinds. The key is this sequence is initiated by the body. and specifically the torso and hips. 7. Myth: The Over the Top Move Often when someone is “over the top” or casting the club, the teacher tries to get the student to delay the release. The true cure is for the lead-side (core torso) to pull and not be overtaken by the trailing side. One should not try to delay the release. but increase the pull of the torso leading the downswing. 8. Myth: Grip in the Palms of the Hands Actually, the grip should be more in the fingers of the hands. This includes the lead hand. Think about how you throw a ball: the grip is in the fingers. 9. Myth: Causes of the Shank The shank is basically caused by the following or combination thereof: • Incorrect setup (too close, too far, weight placement incorrect, etc.) • Clubface rolled quickly open and inside the intended target line on the move-away • The center of the swing (sternum) is ahead of the ball at impact and/or the weight falling toward the ball 10. Myth: Inside Move on the Downswing Good players do not approach the ball from the “inside” on the downswing. In reality they approach from the original shaft angle or near to this point. Next time you watch a good player, note the direction of his divots. If he were approaching the ball from the inside, his divots would point drastically to the outside of his intended target line. Good players will have very little dispersion off of the intended target line. Some may be slightly one way or the other, but in general, their divots will follow their intended target line. The myth comes from: • Sensation of clubhead lag • Lack of understanding that the swing is three-dimensional • Thinking linear instead of a tilted three-dimensional swing plane • Fact: many good players have a backswing steeper than their downswing. In reality, they are not dropping the club inside but only back to original shaft plane.