Ask the Pro
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Here are questions submitted by golfers from all over the world and my responses to them. There are over golf 500 questions and answers here! They are arranged from most recent to least recent (top to bottom) and the archive contains all the questions and answers that have appeared here in the "Ask the Pro" section (which is the tiniest fraction of the total number of questions that have been submitted). The archive index has the questions and answers organized by topic and somewhat alphabetized. You may find it interesting reading to see what others are asking and you can also ask a question yourself. But, be sure to check the Q's & A's here on this page, the FAQ's and the archive first, as your question may already have been answered.
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Question:
February 22, 2010
Is there a drill to make my hips turn faster through my swing?
Joel Powell
Augusta, GA
Answer:
It's dangerous to take isolated parts of the swing out and emphasize them like this without input from a qualified instructor, or unless you are sure it's the appropriate thing to do. But if I were looking for that myself I might try holding a club/shaft across the front of my hips, at the belt line or so, so I could see and feel the turning of my hips. Then, using this enhanced awareness of my hip area, my ability to turn faster might develop more easily.
There are so many other related pieces that, again, taking one out of context like this can cause trouble.
Technique is covered in detail in my books "The Full Swing", "The Short Game", "Beyond the Basics" and "Hitting it Longer".
You will also probably need to work with a reputable professional in person for analysis and correction. If you ever visit the San Francisco bay area of Northern California contact me for a Private Golf School or an individual golf lesson.
Thanks for visiting and best of luck with your game. MB
Question:
February 12, 2010
In a match play game on a hole that is par 5 for ladies and par 4 for gents. I (gentleman) have 6 strokes and my opponent (lady) has 6 strokes. Is this hole halved?
Gerald Beard
Port of Spain, Trinidad
Answer:
Hi Gerald,
Yes, the hole is halved. It's the score (number of strokes taken) that matters, not the par. Thanks for visiting PGAProfessional.com. MB
Question:
January 11, 2010
A dog steals a golf ball while we are playing. Happened more than once. What are the PGA [sic] rules? Do I have to take a penalty stroke or can I shoot the dog? Thanks.
Erich Serrano
Sacramento, CA
Answer:
Hi Erich,
Here's the answer but (for you and all others interested enough to ask rules-related questions) please look at this FAQ on golf rules questions before sending in questions of this type. There is only one of me, but thousands of golfers with questions.
First, it is the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) that jointly write, interpret and maintain the rules of golf; not the PGA. If a ball is moved by an outside agency (e.g., a dog, a spectator, a dinosaur) it is to be replaced, no penalty. If you don't know exactly where the ball was
***** quote from the Decisions *****
"...drop the ball in an area which was neither the most, nor the least, favorable of the various areas where it was equally possible that the ball originally lay."
***** end quote from the Decisions *****
That's pretty vague, I suppose, but it just means be reasonable or fair (also vague, but there it is - see Rule 1-4 and the Dictionary definition of "equity" for more). Thanks for visiting PGAProfessional.com and best wishes for success with your game. MB
Question:
December 10, 2009
If my index is 13.2 and my playing partner is 7.8, should he be giving me 5 or 6 stokes in a match play event? I think it should be 6, he believes it should be 5.
William Ross
Palm Springs, CA
Answer:
Hi William,
Always refer to the tournament committee for administration of competitions. But I suspect that in most cases the course handicap is used, which is a whole number, and which will vary from one course to another. So that means how many strokes you get will vary from course to course too.
In informal cases, like betting situations, you'll have to decide matters like this through negotiation between yourselves (e.g., though you each have concrete indexes one of you may be more "on his game" lately than the other, or one of you may be hungover or recovering from food poisioning, a hangnail, etc. -- not to give you any creative ideas for attempting to sway the negotiation via "modified reality"). Looking at it from a simple math perspective seems sensible. If you round off the indexes then yours would be 13 and his would be 8 (5 strokes difference). And if you round off the difference between your indexes (13.2 - 7.8 = 5.4) it's still 5. So from the math perspective your playing partner is correct. (Unless you make a huge stretch to assume that any fraction of a stroke (.1 or more) means you should get a whole stroke. That seems ridiculous to me -- like the phone company charging you for a full minute when you only used 4 seconds.)
Again, always refer to your tournament committee for specific details. And your local golf association -- in your case the Southern California Golf Association (SCPGA) -- can help you with matters of this type also. Thanks for visiting PGAProfessional.com and best of luck with your game. MB
Ask Your Question
Feel free to ask any golf-related questions. I'll do my best to respond but I can't guarantee that I'll get to everybody, especially if I've already answered the question here on the site. Be sure to check the Frequently Asked Questions and the Ask the Pro Archive, which contains all the questions and answers that have been posted since I started this feature. Not only might you find that your question has already been answered; you may find it informative and entertaining to read what others are asking and my responses to them. Note: It is assumed that if you submit a question I have permission to post it here on the site (pesky disclaimers).
To ask your question just fill-in and submit the form below. Please include your name, city and state (and of course your e-mail address if you would like a personal response - I won't post your email address, I promise).
