Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2016 i Golf Monthly

There are many shots in the game that offer the golfer a great deal of pleasure. The well-judged long putt you knew was going to drop in before you hit it; the wedge shot that checks up by the flag; a precise long-iron that finds the putting surface and the powerful fairway wood that sneaks you on a par 5 in two. But for me, and I suspect many a golfer, the well-struck drive that has a seemingly infinite arc and lands a long way down the fairway is the shot that gives the most satisfaction. The desire to drive the ball further and straighter is something that fires all golfers. Therefore, this issue features a whole host of tips on how to gain extra yards when you need to…

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“GOLF IS A HUGE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHALLENGE – IT JUST THROWS SO MANY THINGS AT YOU” How does team composition work in the Olympics? It's picked through the Olympic golf rankings – they run alongside the world rankings, really. If you are in the top 15 of the world rankings, you will qualify – but there is a proviso. There's a maximum of four per country. So if the top 15 on the men's rankings are all American, it's only the top four who will play. After that, it goes down the list and – if you are not in the top 15 – you have a maximum of two players. Could GB have three players in the men’s competition? We could, yes. At the moment we have two…

Photography Mark Newcombe, shot on location at Al Zorah Golf Club, Ajman, UAE “TRY TO MAKE A BIG UPPER BODY TURN AND ALLOW YOUR HIPS TO ROTATE TO ABOUT 45 DEGREES" One of the great things about golf is that you don't have to be hugely strong in your arms to hit the ball a long way. What is far more important is how efficiently you work your body. Start by setting a wider stance than you would for any other shot. It needs to be wide enough to support your frame, and this will help you when it comes to rotating your body. As you take the club back, try to make a big upper body turn and allow your hips to rotate to about 45 degrees. When you…

Photography Kevin Murray “We have an embarrassment of riches in terms of world-class players. I think we’ll see the World No.1 slot rotate pretty often over the coming years” There has been talk of late about the Big Four: Jordan, Jason, Rory and Rickie. It sounds like a boy band. I don't think Rickie belongs in that group just yet. Yes, he's won this year in Abu Dhabi, in very impressive circumstances, and come close on other occasions. In the last 12 months, he's won in the desert, the Players Championship, the Scottish Open and the Deutsche Bank Championship – four of the biggest non-Major events on the global golfing calendar. But still, many people believe Bubba Watson is the closest to the top boys, and I'd find it hard…

Innovation is at the heart of everything Ping does as a company today, and this was no less the case back in the 1950s, when founder Karsten Solheim started creating golf clubs that would change design philosophy forever. To him, it didn't matter if clubs looked different or unusual, as long as they helped the golfer perform better. This passion stemmed from when Karsten was aged 42, working as an engineer for an aircraft manufacturing company. Karsten loved planes; in fact, he owned one before he owned a house with his wife, Louise. He started to play golf and realised his putting was preventing him from improving upon his 5 handicap. Frustrated with the product, rather than the stroke he made with it, he decided to start designing putters of…

“You wonder sometimes why you put yourself through this.” Colin Montgomerie “This hurts because I had it won… I made it look extremely difficult.” Phil Mickelson “I’ve always been decent at grinding it out when par is a good score, and if you get the right attitude it can be quite enjoyable when you see everybody else making bogeys.” Geoff Ogilvy “I played my heart out and it didn’t work. I think I could have got in easily at four-over, but I guess there are a number of guys thinking exactly the same thing.” Jim Furyk…

1 GARY ALLISS “When chipping, pick the nearest spot on the green to you that’s flat to land the ball on. If you land the ball on a slope, the bounce becomes much harder to predict.” £50 per hour Abbey Hotel & Lea Marston Hotel, West Midlands 2 PAUL ASHWELL “You don’t have to use your sand wedge for a greenside splash shot. Keep your technique the same but use a less-lofted iron for longer bunker shots – maybe an 8- or 9-iron.” £90 per hour St Ives GC, Cambridgeshire NEW 3 DOUGIE BELL “Pick five spots round the green and give yourself five points for holing one, three points for inside five feet or one point for inside ten feet. Keep score to test yourself under pressure.” £40 per…

Most swing errors happen when you push your backswing beyond its natural limits – that is, when you try to make a turn that is too big for your physique. You not only lose your posture and balance but your timing is affected, too. Here's a simple range drill to help you find the perfect backswing length for your level of flexibility. Take your normal set-up, and without turning your hips, raise your right arm as though you were holding a tray or a pizza box. Hold it as far behind your right ear as your shoulder will allow. Now join your left hand (and the club) to your right hand. This is your natural turn! No need to go any further. From there, you will have the right blend…

1 What is swing path? As coaches, we often use the term ‘swing path'. But before we can talk about the rights and wrongs, it's worth underlining what we are referring to. For the majority of coaches, swing path is the area just before, through and just after impact. Ideally, the club will move from just inside the ball-to-target line, to square, to just inside that line. This ‘ideal' path would be perfectly orthodox, but there are numerous examples of top players who do not swing it on the textbook path. However, I think it helps to know where the orthodox path is. If your club starts to move from either too far inside or outside the ball-to-target line, knowing where the neutral path is will usually help you get…

KEY TECH New GPS watch includes stat-tracking system AIMED AT Golfers who want yardages and shot tracking in one device HOW MUCH £269.95 (full package) or £229.95 (watch with trial tag) Over the last decade SkyCaddie has launched a number of hugely popular GPS watches, but for 2016 it's entering the tech race by combining its distance-measuring device with a tag set that tracks your statistics. The core function of the new Linx GT is to deliver yardages that are measured on foot by professional mappers – SkyCaddie's USP. This year, however, the watch can also pair wirelessly with the SkyCaddie mobile app to turn your phone into a GPS device, with hole overviews and lay-up yardages. As with previous SkyCaddie watches, it also displays notifications, texts and email alerts,…

KEY TECHNOLOGY The new face insert on the White Hot RX line is alleged to feel softer than the Fusion RX insert, as well as roll the ball better. It does this through a dual-layer, injected-molded insert that has a softer core made of elastomer to enhance feel, ball speed and sound. The oval Metal-X roll pattern on the face also improves roll. GM REVIEW Looks Soft edges on the putter heads, which boast a premium brushed-satin finish combined with blue trim, make these flat sticks very pleasing on the eye. Alignment aids come in various forms across the models, be it lines, shapes or dots. There should be a shape to suit everyone's preference. Performance The first thing you notice is the feel. Odyssey putters have always felt soft,…

MEET THE TESTERS MICHAEL HARRIS Handicap: 7 Swing Speed: 97mph NEIL TAPPIN Handicap: 5 Swing Speed: 112mph JOEL TADMAN Handicap: 4 Swing Speed: 109mph JEZZ ELLWOOD Handicap: 5 Swing Speed: 99mph JAKE O’REILLY Handicap: 11 Swing Speed: 98mph ROB SMITH Handicap: 15 Swing Speed: 94mph With every driver seemingly offering the latest and greatest technology to hit the ball longer and straighter, choosing the one best suited to your game can be a daunting prospect. There's no one driver that is best for everyone, that is obvious, but the Golf Monthly 2016 Driver Test should hopefully narrow down your list of contenders. We've doubled our testing panel from three last year to six to ensure the most suitable type of player tests each driver and to create more diverse and…

Photography Tom Miles “If McIlroy wishes to surge forward over the next few years, he should stop tinkering, slow down, try to relax and enjoy the putting experience” By the time you cast a jaundiced eye, maybe two, over this article, all may be wonderful again in the wee man's wonderful world. Rory McIlroy may be Masters champion; his big ambition achieved; a personal Grand Slam in the bag; his move back to the top of the pile all but complete. However, even if this turns out to be true, there remains a nagging question about his ability to turn a sensational talent for the old game into an ongoing, sensational and long-lasting career. What causes this sliver of doubt? The answer here is the oldest of banana skins for…

Get a move on Having recently enjoyed your 'Big Three' special, I was pleased to see Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth all playing well at the recent WGC Match Play in Texas. However, my building excitement was soon railroaded when the hive of activity in the group stages ended, and we were left with the snail's pace we have unfortunately become accustomed to as the knockout stages unfolded. This issue came to a climax, or standstill if you will, when Jason 'AllDay' slowly dismantled Louis Oosthuizen in the final. Yes, Day had played in the morning, suffered an injury and competed in seven matches in five days, with millions on the line, but none of those are suitable excuses for taking four hours as a two-ball on an…

“THE DIGITAL DISPLAY AND BACK UNIT TURN ON WITH A SINGLE CLICK AND DISPLAY REAL-TIME DATA“ If you're struggling with the fundamentals and looking to find a more consistent set-up, the Talon Training Aid from Ojee Golf should be right up your street. Many flaws in the golf swing stem from incorrect basics, something which is widely recognised but often overlooked. As Jack Nicklaus once said, hitting a specific shot is 50 per cent mental picture, 40 per cent set-up and 10 per cent swing. The Talon is a two-part package, comprised of a digital display unit that clips to the butt of any club's grip and a separate belt with a digital back unit. The two components combine to provide data on four critical address positions: spine angle, club…

Photography Paul Severn “If simply making the cut is your goal, yes, you’re happy if you do, but it can then take the intensity out of the weekend and make it hard to push on” The 36-hole cut is an interesting concept, because for me, it's not real. It's there, and obviously is real, but in your mind you just don't want to acknowledge it. I've always believed that you become what you think – that you achieve what you've set out in your mind or dreamt of. For me, the cut is simply a shorter version of your career and what you're trying to achieve there. What I mean by this is that we all have dreams and goals that drive us from day to day, which are embedded…

The opening round of the 2013 Abu Dhabi Championship is under way and Tiger Woods is standing on the 1st tee having already completed the back nine. The weather is perfect, he has just made back-to-back birdies to round off his opening nine and the shot facing him is routine... What happened next left both the gallery and Woods himself speechless. The greatest golfer of his generation topped his drive! It was a shot that would have turned even the most inexperienced beginner bright red. This snapshot illustrates both the beauty and the beast in our great game. Never too good to be humbled; never too hopeless to be incapable of a truly great shot. Golf is a sport that drags you along in its wake, teasing you with promises…

THE FOLLOW-THROUGH SECRET You don't have much trouble finding the fairway, but your tee shots tend to lag far behind those of your playing partners. If the yards simply aren't there, shift your attention from your backswing to your follow-through – in particular, to the positions of your right forearm and left elbow just after impact. As you swing through, your right forearm should cross over your left, forming an X with the arms when viewed from above. At the same time, your left elbow should begin to fold and point down towards the ground, creating an L between your left arm and the clubshaft. This folding action helps you rehinge the club so you can release your arms and square the clubface, providing an additional burst of clubhead speed…

If you're struggling to hit fairways, put more emphasis on where the ball starts and less on where it lands. Odds are, if you start the ball on line, it will finish in the short grass. Try this drill on the range: stick two umbrellas (or broken shafts) into the ground several feet in front of you and on either side of the target line. This will form a ‘doorway' several feet wide. Try to hit some balls through the doorway without paying any attention to where they land. Once you're on the course, picture the two ‘goalposts' in front of you and try to split them with your tee shot. By aiming at a target that's several feet in front of you rather than one that's a few hundred…

1 Aim high There is a certain spot on modern-day drivers that – if you can find it – will produce the ideal high-launch, low-spin impact conditions that deliver maximum yardage. Generally, this spot is high on the face – a little above where you might think the meat of the sweetspot would be positioned. With my driver, this point also sits a fraction towards the toe. The next tip shows you how to address the ball to increase your chances of finding that spot, but I'd advise everyone to think about where on the face they are hitting their drives from in practice. Hone in on a slightly higher strike point and you might gain a few yards instantly. 2 Launch pad Once you've found the sweetspot, remember that…

KEY TECH Electric trolley that matches your pace via a simple touch operation AIMED AT Golfers who want fuss-free controls and plenty of features HOW MUCH £399.99 to £599.99, depending on the chosen battery After stepping things up over the last few years following the brand's relaunch, PowaKaddy looks to have again made great strides forward with its latest Touch electric trolley. As its name implies, the new model starts moving and matches your pace as soon as you place a hand on the ambidextrous grip and start walking. It then continues to travel at the same speed, even when you take your hand off the handle. To make the trolley stop, you just lightly hold the grip and stop walking. A clever LED display turns green when the trolley…

KEY TECH Four-wheel trolleys offers a high degree of manoeuvrability and stability AIMED AT Those who play a lot of golf on fairly uneven terrain HOW MUCH £699 (Hunter Quad) and £799 (Coaster Quad Brake) Hot on the heels of its new push trolley, which we revealed in these pages last month, Big Max has announced the launch of two new electric models to augment its growing line-up this year. Both the Hunter Quad and Coaster Quad Brake will sit in the new Quad series, which takes its name from the trolleys’ four-wheel designs. The four-wheel base was chosen as it provides extreme stability and, when paired with rotating front wheels, offers a high degree of manoeuvrability. The front wheels, which can also lock in place as and when required,…

KEY TECHNOLOGY Designed in conjunction with Rory McIlroy, the fourth generation of the Lunar Control shoe focuses on stability, grip and comfort. New for this model is Dynamic Nike Flywire technology – which provides lateral support in the midfoot – as well as a robust external heel counter that helps lock the foot in place for better stability. A split tongue provides relief while walking. GM REVIEW Looks It would be safe to assume this shoe is aimed at the younger golfer or ‘modern athlete' from the colours and the oversized Nike Swoosh on the toe. The styling will divide opinion, but it isn't distracting and it adds to the shelf appeal. Performance There's plenty of substance behind the design. The upper is synthetic, rather than leather, so it won't…

“THE THOUGHT OF REPLACING THESE TRUSTY CLUBS DOESN’T EVER CROSS MY MIND” Joel Tadman It would be unwise for a man in my privileged position to speak damningly of modern golf clubs. So I'll put on record that I do, in fact, have a great admiration for the innovation we see every year in equipment launches, and what this gear has the potential to do for the amateur golfer. In this line of work (it's a tough gig, but someone has to do it) I am fortunate enough to try out all the latest equipment from every major manufacturer, and if I like it, I usually get the chance to undertake a longer-term trial. And yet, the clubs in my golf bag aren't as up to date as you might…

1 NEFYN & DISTRICT Nefyn & District is blessed with a truly stunning setting and some of the finest views in golf. It now has 27 holes configured as two distinct 18-hole layouts, but it is those on the promontory - The Point - that will blow you away… sometimes quite literally. The fairway blowhole, through which the sea occasionally rises, is perhaps unique in golf. The lighthouse hole will shine brightly in the memory, and there is even a footpath down to a beachside pub. Stats: Par 70, 6,267 yards W: nefyn-golf-club.co.uk 2 SHERINGHAM Norfolk is a peaceful, idyllic county, and this beautiful clifftop course offers a fine contrast to its testing links. Holes 3 to 7 run closest to the precipice, and there are some terrific vantage points…

Photography Paul Severn “Keith feels that we need European Tour prize funds to increase, and the only way to achieve that is to make the brand better and make people more aware” There's a new man in charge at the European Tour, and I've been hugely impressed with Keith Pelley and the job he's been doing. David Park of the European Tour told me Keith would like to speak to me when he first got the job, because not only had I been on tour for 25 years, but I also had my own tournament. He wanted to know how that had gone, so we had an hour's chat in the Old Course Hotel during the Dunhill Links. He did a lot of listening as I told him how I…

The year 2005 had seen a renaissance for European golfing legend Colin Montgomerie. After a couple of mediocre seasons, the then 42-year-old returned to prominence, claiming an eighth European Tour Order of Merit. His season highlight was a runner-up finish in The Open at St Andrews – only an untouchable Tiger Woods surpassed him that week. Monty went into 2006 full of confidence after a win in Hong Kong before Christmas, but his early season form was patchy. He missed the cut at The Masters, and four further missed cuts were cause for concern. But his game was always well suited to the examination set by the US Open, and, having also racked up four top tens in 2006, he travelled to Winged Foot believing he could feature. Phil Mickelson…

Dougie Bell Coaching full time at his own academy, while looking after trainee professionals in Ireland and working as an Irish ladies' regional coach, allows Dougie to continue his obsession with golf every day. Dougie started playing at his local club, Cawder in Glasgow, with his father. Despite not reaching the level he wanted to reach as a player, he found himself drawn to teaching. He qualified as a PGA professional and his coaching journey has taken him from Glasgow to Amsterdam, Italy, London and now County Down in Northern Ireland. Having coached everywhere, from huge 80-bay ranges with 12 coaches on site to small golf venues, Dougie has assembled a tool bag full of ideas to help golfers at all levels improve. His greatest motivation comes from the knowledge…

Copyright ©2016 TI Golf Holdings, Inc, reprinted with permission ÒSTART YOUR TAKEAWAY WITH YOUR ARMS, SHOULDERS AND HIPS MOVING AS A SINGLE UNITÓ 1 Everything starts back together Let your arms, shoulders and hips work as a single unit to take the clubhead away from the ball. If your arms move independently of the other parts, the path of the club will be overly steep. If your shoulders move prematurely, you risk pulling the clubhead too far to the inside. Linking up all three pieces lets you start the club back on plane. 2 Arms and body finish backswing together Don't worry about turning your shoulders. Focus on rotating your right hip pocket behind you on the backswing. Do this and your arms and torso will reach the top together,…

Torque is a term you will often hear club fitters use as you search for the right shafts for your game. Quite simply, it refers to the resistance the club has to rotational twisting in the downswing. There is no one-size-fits-all approach here – what works for someone with a slow swing speed will hurt a player with more speed through impact, and vice versa. The basic rule of thumb is that a slower-swinging player will need a higher-torque shaft (one that will twist more through impact). That is, a more flexible shaft that will provide some crucial extra clubhead speed. This extra speed will provide a higher launch angle and spin rate to help you generate as much carry through the air as possible. It can also help square…

KEY TECH F6 Baffler's sole rail aids versatility AIMED AT Golfers looking to plug long-game gaps HOW MUCH Baffler (£149-£169), King Utility (£179) Keen to capitalise on Rickie Fowler's early season success, Cobra has launched two of the clubs he's been playing – the King F6 Baffler fairway wood (£179) and the King Utility iron. The former combines Cobra's famous Baffler rail design – which helps the club enter and exit the turf smoothly – with two sole weights that can be switched to generate a more penetrating or more towering trajectory, according to the conditions you are most likely to face. Cobra's MyFly8 adjustable hosel also delivers eight lofts between 16° and 19°, while the high-strength steel forged face is now thinner and lighter to increase speed and forgiveness.…

“ANYONE COULD PLAY THE G IRON, FROM HIGH-HANDICAPPERS TO SINGLE-FIGURE GOLFERS” Joel Tadman 1 TECHNOLOGY Cor-Eye technology, which debuted on Ping's GMax iron, allows for a thinner face that springs four times more at impact than G30, producing faster ball speeds, a higher launch angle and a steeper descent. The Custom Tuning Port (CTP) connects to the sole for the first time to position the CG lower and deeper, raising forgiveness. A new heat treatment also contributes to a thinner face. 2 LOOKS The G iron appears to have a slimmer topline than the outgoing G30, because it is more rounded in shape. The new chrome finish is more in line with the i model and Glide wedges, and will therefore be well received. There's a medium offset and sole…

KEY TECHNOLOGY The M2 family features Speed Pockets in the 3- to 7-irons to increase ball speed on shots struck low on the face. A fluted hosel saves 3g of weight that is redistributed to the sole to lower the CG and increase launch. A 360° undercut expands the unsupported face area for more distance; inverted Cone technology aids forgiveness. GM REVIEW Looks The M2 iron is reminiscent of the Burner 2.0 model from a few years ago, with the darker finish combined with a chrome section on the sole. It looks packed with technology from every angle and the large address profile makes it seem easy to hit. Performance The M2 iron range is certainly very user-friendly. The clubs feel hot from a large area on the face, and…

A lot more goes into making the modern golf polo shirt than you might think. It is a very different offering compared to what golfers would have bought five years ago, when cotton was popular despite its relative lack of performance attributes and durability. Nowadays, synthetic materials offer much better performance characteristics, such as removing moisture to keep you dry on hot days and even managing your body odour. They also require minimal ironing. The ultimate goal of these fabric innovations is to help you feel as comfortable as possible out on the course to allow you to focus on your game. Not only has the technology improved considerably in recent times, but the styling and fit options have also taken a giant leap forward. Polo shirts now come in…

Photography Kevin Murray The Golf Lee Westwood Colt: par 71, 6,308 yards Lee Westwood Filly: par 70, 6,034 yards If Lee Westwood gets his way, the revived British Masters could visit his Colt course when he gets to play host, and a worthy test this splendid course would pose, too. The expansive layout cleverly traverses the side of a hill overlooking the Tyne Valley, yet steep climbs are surprisingly few and far between. Some of the best holes fall on the back nine, among them the dogleg-right 13th – which descends dramatically via a sea of sand – and the gorgeous short par-3 14th that has just a hint of Augusta about it. The Filly course plays to a more modest length, although undulating greens and a pressing need for…