Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2019 i Golf Monthly

1 Ball position is crucial With fairway woods, the big mistake I see in amateurs is that when they’re under pressure, the ball always seems to go back in the stance because they want to guarantee the strike. The problem then is that you are de-lofting some of your least-lofted clubs, and you’re going to struggle to get it up in the air because you simply won’t have enough loft at impact. I guess it’s Catch 22 – they want to guarantee the strike but also get it up in the air, but with the ball too far back, that’s just not possible. For me, ball position should be very similar to a driver – just inside your left heel. If you’re struggling to flight your fairway woods, the first…

1 Round not down A big key is trying to clip your pitches by making the swing a little bit more rounded, rather than hitting down on the ball too much. The easier you clip a wedge off the turf, the easier it is to control distance. The steeper you get, the more squeeze you get between ball and club at impact and the more likely it is to jump. The guys who wedge it well are just nice and shallow and clip it away. So, avoid getting too steep on your pitch shots. Make a more rounded swing, stay committed through the ball and just clip it off the top. 2 Keep the spin off it People think spinning pitches are great, but I try to put less spin…

Hello and welcome to our Build A Better Game supplement in association with Ping. As the summer arrives, the time has come to focus on your golf game. Whether it be a handicap cut or tournament success, you will have your own personal goals for the golfing season and we think we can help you achieve them! We have teamed up with Ryder Cup star Andy Sullivan to produce tee-to-green tips that can help improve whichever part of your game needs help. His simple, effective advice can be easily implemented and could make a big difference as you bid to shoot lower scores this year. In addition, we also recruited Golf Monthly Top 25 Coach Barney Puttick to add an extra element to the instruction pages. Barney’s wealth of experience…

Photography: Getty Images Anyone who has played golf will know its benefits are many and varied. There’s the physical exercise, the competitive challenge of pitting your skills against the course and fellow players and the social and mental wellbeing the game offers by helping to forge new friendships and cement old ones. To that list you can now add mental toughness and resilience, according to recent research from the Golf Foundation – the organisation that works tirelessly to give children and young people the chance to experience golf. The research project was conducted around a special ten-week coaching programme for ten- to 16-year-olds that taught techniques such as breathing and visualisation alongside traditional golf skills. At the end of the programme, those youngsters who took part showed a statistically significant…

With the USPGA moving to May this year, the European Tour saw a chance for a rejig of its own schedule. The thinking was there was no point in competing with the run of high-stakes events across the pond, and the tour should concentrate its big hitters from July onwards. Photography: Getty Images While the jury is still out on whether this late-season flourish will be a success, one effect has been a run of low-key events in Europe during Major season in the States. The six-month gap between the first two Rolex Series events – the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January and the Irish Open in July – has seen some poor fields and opened the tour up to a certain amount of criticism. But is that fair?…

No Says Fergus Bisset The modern members’ golf club should be a democracy in which all ordinary members feel they have equal chance to receive value for money from the subscription they contribute. It won’t happen that way as some are more time-rich than others and can dedicate more of it to pastimes, but the opportunity should be there for all on an equal footing. Discounted five-day memberships undermine this democracy. They will largely appeal to, and be taken up by, a particular group of people – the retired. They are the time-rich mentioned above, but also, generally, in a position where they have financial security and accrued wealth. Golf in this country needs these people to step up and contribute fully. A discount for the wealthy retired isn’t the…

Which spikeless FJ shoe are you most proud of and why? Pro/SL. If FootJoy only sold Pro/SL, we would still be the number one shoe brand in golf! It also leads in innovation, most noticeably the full-length performance outsole with 223 traction points and the perimeter-weighted dual-density midsole that combines comfort and stability. Why do you think Pro/SL has been so immensely popular? I think the comfort, feel, fit and performance of the product is exceptional. Plus, it is also available in the widest choice of colours, widths and half-sizes thanks to it being added to the MyJoys customisation programme. Golfers can now design their own pair like the tour pros. How do golfers pick the best FJ spikeless model for them? We recommend visiting your local FJ professional retailer…

“The belief that a strong mental game can turn good players into great players is nothing new” The headline to this article is the question I ask myself while waiting outside a lecture theatre at Hertfordshire University among an excited huddle of 150 conference delegates. Those present include coaches, psychologists and athletes from a wide range of sports. There’s a buzz in the room and a sense that many questions are about to be answered by the man everyone is here to listen to – Tim Gallwey, considered by many to be the father of modern coaching. I know the mental game is important, but over the next few hours I’ll find out just how big a role it plays in performance. For golfers, the idea that the mind can…

last spoke to Miguel Angel Jimenez four years ago not long after his 50th birthday. Although he had played a handful of events on the Champions Tour in America – and naturally won a couple of them – he was still then very much a European Tour player, despite passing the age at which anyone with the kind of record he has enjoyed would perhaps be looking to clean up among the senior ranks. The problem for Miguel was that he was still just too darned competitive among the youngsters! In May 2014 he had become the oldest ever player to win a European Tour event when he claimed his national Open at the age of 50 years and 133 days – still the only player to triumph on the…

Is there a club in your bag that you’re reluctant to hit? Maybe over time you’ve lost confidence in your woods, so much so that their headcovers rarely get removed. Technique differs through the bag, so it’s perfectly understandable that golfers will feel comfortable with some clubs and less so with others, especially after a series of bad shots. Over the following pages, I’ll help you set good, solid foundations and offer some top tips to get you striking every club with renewed confidence. 1 Driver Set up with a slightly wider stance than with an iron and the ball just inside your left heel. Your weight should feel like it’s slightly on the rear foot to work that upward attack angle. Your arms should hang ‘free’ from the body.…

1 Having already selected the club and the type of shot, stand behind your ball and pick your target. Be as specific as possible and draw an imaginary line from a spot in the distance back through your ball. Pick a mark just in front of you on the line to make your alignment as precise as possible. 2 Now step into the ball and take care to align the clubface with that imaginary line. The clubface will become your reference point for your body alignment. Check your clubface alignment one last time before you set your stance. 3 Now build a stance that’s square to your clubface. Your feet, hips and shoulders should all be parallel to your ball-to-target line. This is the only truly static position in the…

1 Chipping First of all, analyse the lie – is it in the short grass or the long grass? In the long grass, the most important thing is to open up the clubface to allow yourself to make an aggressive swing through the ball. From the short grass, it depends what sort of shot you want to play, but try to balance the weight of your body and make a solid impact through the ball with an arm action instead of a hand action. 2 Reading greens It’s a very tricky thing. I think there are people who have the ability to read greens better, but clearly the only way to improve is to practise. We play all kinds of different greens on the European Tour, so sometimes the grain…

So, you’ve measured out the correct relief area for whatever Rule you are proceeding under. How do you now ensure that you drop “in the right way”, as the Rules now refer to it? One thing you can now do is use any ball when dropping under relief, even if you have the original. So if you want to switch for any reason, you are entitled to do so. Beyond that, to drop in the right way you must comply with these three requirements: 1) It must be you or your partner that makes the drop, not your caddie or anyone else; 2) You must let go of your ball from knee height so it falls straight down (no throwing, spinning, rolling or any other action that might influence where…

Dustin Johnson switched from the TaylorMade M5 driver to the M6 for the final two rounds of The Masters. Corey Conners won the Valero Texas Open with Ping G400 woods and Ping iBlade irons. Tiger Woods triumphed at The Masters with a TaylorMade M5 driver and TaylorMade P7TW irons. Jon Rahm changed from the TaylorMade TP5x ball to the TP5 and was victorious at the Zurich Classic. Jorge Campillo won the Trophee Hassan II with a Mizuno CLK hybrid and a split iron set of JPX900 Tours and MP-18s.…

Ping G410 Plus driver ANDY CLIFFORD Mansfield, Nottinghamshire Handicap: 19 Why did you decide to buy the product? I had a quick hit with a Ping G410 Plus at a nearby course and was instantly hooked, so I had a fitting for it at my club. Although I didn’t then hit it as well as I had done initially, I knew what it was capable of and it still outperformed my G30. How has it been performing? A couple of drives were over 200 yards and the forgiveness is very good for a player whose natural fade borders on a slice. I can now rein that in via the adjustable weight. I plan to swap my 3-wood for Ping’s G410 SF model too. My only complaint would be that the…

● Stay The Lodge, Bigbury GC This cosy and well-appointed apartment sleeps four and makes for a perfect and peaceful base for golfing trips and holidays in the area. There are two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room and a spacious bathroom, and catering is available in the friendly clubhouse right next door. ● Eat/drink The Fisherman’s Rest, Aveton Gifford A short drive away, this informal and spacious pub is open for food every lunchtime and evening and has a well-priced menu. ● Also play One of the finest courses on the county’s southern coast is East Devon, a clifftop Colt design that is a heathland/links hybrid. Teignmouth is even more elevated and has spectacular views, while Torquay runs over attractive parkland.…

1 Stay down on it Good iron play is all about staying down over the ball through impact, rather than leaning back in a mistaken attempt to help the ball up. You don’t want to be doing that as it will just lead to all kinds of mishits. To hit the ball up in the air, you need a downward angle of attack so you can compress the ball properly at impact. With a mid-iron, for example, make sure the ball isn’t too far forward and ensure your sternum is over the ball at impact and you have some forward, rather than reverse, club lean. 2 Check your left wrist If you’re struggling to get the feel for this, make some practice swings with or without a club and concentrate…

1 The basics For the simple greenside chip, you should narrow your stance and have your weight favouring your left, with just a little forward shaft lean. The tendency can be to get the ball too far back and the shaft leaning too much. That prevents you from using the club’s bounce properly and increases the risk of you sticking the leading edge into the ground at impact. Crucially, keep the weight favouring your left side throughout rather than shifting to the right, which many players do in their attempts to get the ball up. Your wedges have plenty of loft and trying to help it up will invariably lead to all kinds of mishits. 2 The toe-down chip One of my best tips for tougher chips, or indeed any…

1 Visualise the flight On every shot, but particularly under pressure, pick a shot shape and visualise it. Once you are over the ball, commit to producing that shot shape – it helps to get you in a positive frame of mind. 2 Pre-shot preparation Everyone will have their own swing thoughts. I use mine at the start of my pre-shot routine – you could rehearse the move you want to make. Then step into the ball and commit to your shot. 3 Don’t be fooled by the wind Picking the wind can be hard on a tree-lined course. See where the wind direction is before you start and trust that. It will funnel down the fairways but above the trees it will remain constant. 4 Read as you walk…

The stars are out I was looking forward to tuning in to the British Masters at Hillside as it’s a course I know well and we don’t often get to see the big names play in England these days. Unfortunately only a few bothered to make the trip and support the European Tour, with host Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton the only two 2018 Ryder Cuppers in the field. It sounds like Fleetwood pulled out all the stops to get this tournament on the schedule this year, so to see so many of his contemporaries shun it is disappointing. I understand it fell one week before the USPGA, but surely the modern pro is used to a bit of travelling between tournaments? What’s the betting we won’t be seeing this…

Lucas Bjerregaard The Dane (right) has accepted a special temporary membership of the PGA Tour for the remainder of the season. Andy Sullivan The Englishman became the first man to succeed in the European Tour’s Chase the Ace series, in which pros are given 500 balls to make a hole-in-one. Jordan Spieth At the RBC Heritage he was poised to make a run over the weekend but shot 74-75 to fall out of contention. Carly Booth Drew intense criticism after signing a sponsorship deal with the Saudi Arabian Golf Federation.…

Photography: Getty Images STRAIGHT WRIST Notice how Thomas’ left wrist is perfectly straight and his left arm and shaft are in a line at the top. He is beautifully on plane, with a very neutral clubface position – this helps him deliver the face squarely and produce neutral flights without excessive draw or fade. SIMPLE BACKSWING Despite making a full rotation, Thomas’ upper body is still set perfectly in his address posture. As he rotates back, his weight naturally moves onto his right side without him swaying off the ball. This makes the backswing a simple, repeatable movement that helps the consistency of his ball-striking. COILED SPRING In the backswing, Thomas allows his hips to rotate to about 45°, with his shoulders turning further – to at least 90°. The…

Anywhere golf hole £30 This silicone aid’s slight incline promotes perfect speed and lets you practise your putting anywhere. Sure-Set £89.95 An adjustable training aid that helps set the club in the right loaded position with good width, plane and alignment. Prak-tis alignment kit £39.95 Alignment rulers for long and short game that show you how to stand with every club. SG Pro Ball £19.99 for six Each ball has three coloured areas that represent where you must strike it to execute different types of shot.…

Illustration: Peter Strain “If Tiger Woods isn’t the greatest sportsman ever, I don’t know who is” Iwasn’t able to reflect on Tiger Woods’ Masters victory in my last column, and although the USPGA has now come and gone – something he could well also win, by the way – I want to journey back to that magical week at Augusta and discuss what his 15th Major means in the grand scheme of things. I think I owe the great man that. I was back home in Australia and had to set my alarm for 3am because of the fact they moved the tee times forward, which I wasn’t particularly thrilled about! But I’d soon forgotten about that as I watched one of the most memorable and significant final rounds in…

USPGA T10th, 1999 His only top-ten in the USPGA came at Medinah, where Tiger Woods and a teenage Sergio Garcia slugged it out. Tiger would go on to win by one. US Open T2nd, 2000 Runner-up sounds close, but in this instance, it was as distant a second place as there has ever been in a Major. Tiger lapped the field at Pebble Beach to finish 15 shots clear. The Open T3rd, 2001 Only one shot separated 13 players on Saturday night at Lytham, with Jimenez among a large group one back. Still only two adrift coming into the fearsome closing stretch, bogeys at 14 and 15 cost him. The Masters 4th, 2014 He was just two off the lead on Saturday night on his first visit to Augusta as…

On April 6 this year, Danielle Binder drove in as ladies’ captain at The Manor House Golf Club in Wiltshire. That in itself might sound an ordinary enough occurrence, but what made this particular drive-in unusual is that Danielle is just 20 years old. Although England Golf doesn’t keep records on the ages of captains, they have said to Golf Monthly that they’re not aware of a younger ladies’ captain in the country. We wonder if there has ever been one younger? We spoke to Danielle to find out how she came to be ladies’ captain, what it means to her and what she hopes to achieve during her year at the helm. Danielle only started playing golf four years ago but is already down to a 13 handicap with…

With a long game as prolific as Adam Scott’s, birdie opportunities come around often. There are a number of ways to earn your twos, threes and fours and the 2013 Masters winner sat down with Golf Monthly to share them. The 38-year-old Australian currently ranks a respectable 36th on the PGA Tour in 2019 for birdies per round, with an average of 4.19. On par 5s, Scott ranks 5th for birdie or better courtesy of his impressive ball-striking, with 65 birdies or eagles from 112 attempts so far this season. You may not birdie nearly 60 per cent of the par 5s like Scott, but the former World No.1 has seven tips to help your birdie percentage go up and your handicap come down... 1 Crush the driver When I’m…

1 Striking the sand consistently in the same place will improve your bunker play. To encourage this, draw a line in the sand about a clubhead’s width inside your left heel. At first, don’t use balls, but rather work gradually down the line, concentrating on making contact with the edge of the line closest to your front foot. Once you can do that repeatedly, introduce some balls about a couple of inches ahead of the line and repeat. This is a great drill for more consistent bunker play. 2 Another key to good bunker play is maintaining the loft on your club as you swing, rather than closing it. This will affect performance as the wrong part of the clubhead will then be interacting with the sand. A good way…

Reader: Simon Blakemore Handicap: 20ish Home club: none at present Coach: GM Top 25 Coach Clive Tucker (left) Clive’s assessment Simon looked a bit tight and top-heavy at address. He was overbalancing with lots of knee bend to support his balance. As a result, he couldn’t move properly through the ball – it was all arms with a bit of shoulder action. He was then taking the club back too far and too fast and moving it in the wrong direction. He had to then re-route it and slow it down coming back into the ball, making it almost impossible to strike it well as the club wasn’t interacting with the ground properly. Clive’s remedy The key was helping Simon to relax his posture and balance, and making sure the…

Verdict It’s important that a waterproof jacket isn’t bulky, so it can be easily combined with other layers and not impede the golf swing. None possess this trait better than the Galvin Green Ashton Shakedry. This one-of-a-kind jacket is incredibly thin and lightweight, to the point you barely notice you’ve got another layer on. It also takes up minimal space when it’s stored in your golf bag. Perhaps its most impressive quality is its water-repellency. With the Gore-Tex membrane on show for the first time, golfers can see it preventing water from entering the jacket. It beads straight off with the minimum of fuss, barely leaving a trace of water behind. This not only means it dries very quickly, but it also keeps the weight low and stops any chilling…

Photography: Getty Images…

Verdict The JPX919 Hot Metal is the longest, most forgiving of the three original models in the range, and now golfers can access that same distance from a smaller profile. We’re seeing a trend towards distance irons getting smaller and more aspirational for the low-to-mid handicapper, and the Hot Metal Pro is a classic example of this. It comes in the same spec as the original – 30° of loft in the 7-iron – so the real differences between the two come down to size and workability. Performance wise, the Hot Metal Pro was very similar to the original Hot Metal, which is no bad thing. It was just as fast off the face and maintained the high flight and spin that aids stopping power into greens, as well as…

I was recently given the opportunity to test a very unique piece of kit that promises to change the way we transport ourselves around the golf course. Buggies are a popular choice, especially Stateside, but they have their limitations around two people sharing and the complications that arise when their tee shots finish on opposite sides of the hole. Step forward the Sun Mountain Finn Cycle, a single-occupancy, motorbike-style alternative set to be made available at around 200 golf clubs in the US this summer. It weighs a lot less than a buggy (around 36kg) and is powered by a lithium-ion battery. It also features front and rear suspension, disk brakes and fold-out foot rests and your clubs are cleverly stored between your legs. The rear wheel is similar to…

Why are there virtually no hilltop or downland courses in Golf Monthly’s Top 100? As a big fan of golf up in the hills, it’s a question I’ve often pondered, but the closest we get is Close House in our Top 100 and perhaps Effingham, Goodwood and Southerndown in our Next 100. I know from conversations with others that golf on top of a hill isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I struggle to understand why. Yes, the walking can be tough, although many such courses actually start at the top and are a surprisingly unhilly walk. And yes, the wind may often be blowing hard. But on a fine day, what is there not to like about golf in the clouds? Nothing for me. I’ve come to really enjoy…

Are trees friend or foe to a golf course? Trees are wonderful things, but only if they are in the correct location. They can form fantastic landscape features, but should not interfere with either agronomy or the strategy of the golf course. Unfortunately, the influence of American architecture has resulted in many of our classic courses becoming penal. Strategic courses are fun; penal courses are generally boring. How has tree management changed over the years? In the good old days, I managed to secure grants of up to £80k for golf clubs to manage their woodland, which should be a planned exercise. It amazes me that some clubs seem to let timber merchants loose on their courses with no plan in place! What would you urge any club golfer? Not…

Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel Par 70, 6,311 yards This fine James Braid heathland course in Suffolk weaves through gorse, heather, pines and birch over easy-walking terrain. The opener is gentle, but from the sweeping dogleg 3rd you’ll encounter a string of tough par 4s before dropping down on the par-3 7th and crossing the road. Two par 5s over here bring hope of a birdie before you cross back for the final duo – a potentially drivable uphill par 4 and a longer one playing towards the famous House in the Clouds. There is a real sense in Braid’s Bar and Ogilvie’s Restaurant that golf lies at the very heart of this place. Rooms are comfortable and well equipped and Ogilvie’s has recently undergone a major renovation. To broaden…

Illustration: Peter Strain “Hoylake is as unpretentious an Open venue as is possible” Don’t know about you but I love Chris Rea’s older stuff; his gravelly voice and brilliant story telling making his ‘80s songbook stand out from the warbling herd. One of his very best was, of course, The Road to Hell. Remember that? “This ain’t no technological breakdown, oh no, this is the road to hell.” Of course you do. Apparently the idea for this song came to Rea as he sat in his stationary Ferrari on the accursed M25. These lyrics flickered through my mind recently as I sat silently cursing the challenge that is the M6 north of Birmingham. If there is anything worse in life at the moment than a three-putt from 15ft, it’s this…

1 Weight transfer Synchronisation is key, especially in the long game – you have to get things moving in the right sequence to time it well. People tend to get a bit ‘ball-bound’ as they swing, keeping their head down too much, which can hamper the correct weight transfer from left to right going back and then back from right to left through the ball. A good drill, without a ball, is to take your left foot off the ground as you swing back, which gives you no choice but to transfer your weight on to your right side. Then, as you swing through, take your right foot off the ground. This exaggerates things but it does give you the feeling of collecting the ball, clearing the hips and coming…

1 Same pace every time When it comes to putting, pace is the key for me. If you watch all the good putters, the ball is going in the hole at the same pace every time – not firmer sometimes, softer sometimes, dead-weight sometimes. It’s going in at a pace that would send it perhaps a foot by every time. That’s what I like to focus on, so I have a drill where I select three positions – say ten, 15 and 20 feet – and then put a coin down a foot past the hole. You now have to hit three putts from each distance, with the goal of either holing it or hitting it no further than the coin. This is a great drill for tuning in your…

What did you learn about yourself with this win? What I learned about myself, I don’t know. Reflecting on two years, I’m tough. I don’t know all about my golf all the time, but I’m tough. I was really happy with myself. I told Joe [my caddie] on one of the holes that I felt like I was going to throw up but my hands felt unbelievable on the club. With Rory, Justin and Sergio just behind, what was it like handling the pressure on Saturday night? Saturday night was all right. It took me a little while to go to sleep, but fortunately the Warriors-Rockets game went to overtime so I had something to do. Sunday was awful. I woke up at 7am or something and tried to keep…

1 Jon Rahm was born in a small town called Barrika, in the Basque region of Spain. His introduction to golf can be attributed to his parents, Edorta and Angela, who both took up the game after attending the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama. He honed his skills at Centro Nacional de Golf in Madrid. 2 His father quickly pushed him to move to the United States to develop his game further. He attended Arizona State University, where he put together a hugely successful record. He won 11 times, which is second only to Phil Mickelson in school history. Rahm listened to a lot of hip-hop to help him learn English, with two of his favourite songs being Eminem’s Love The Way You Lie and Kendrick Lamar’s Swimming Pools. 3…

1 Something amateurs often don’t take advantage of is the whole width of the teeing area. This should always be a consideration. If you hit a fade, I’d recommend teeing up on the right side. It opens up the green a bit more. The opposite applies for drawers. 2 It’s surprising, but many people don’t put enough effort into reading the wind. Throw up grass, look at surrounding flags, study the trees and see what the clouds are doing overhead. It’s also a good idea to familiarise yourself with the prevailing wind before you play a course. 3 You never want to focus on a negative, but you need to be aware of your normal miss when you’re playing a hole with trouble everywhere. It should be factored in to…

Photography: Getty Images 27 Sam Snead born in 1912 Slammin’ Sammy, who died in 2002, won 82 PGA Tour titles over his career, which is still a record today. However, with Tiger Woods now on 81, this may not last long. 10 1977: PGA Tour’s first ever 59 Al Geiberger became the first golfer to officially break 60 on the PGA Tour. He shot a 13-under-par 59 in the second round of the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic. 30 The Memorial Tournament Affectionately known as Jack’s tournament, the Golden Bear founded the event back in 1976. It is played at Muirfield Village Golf Club, a course he designed. Last year’s winner was Bryson DeChambeau. 3 1927: First Ryder Cup The inaugural Ryder Cup was held at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts.…

Illustration: Peter Strain “Rory McIlroy is so good. Even his bad golf gets him in the top ten” It’s incredible how many quality players there are in this country, from juniors up through the county ranks and into the national and professional spheres. I think sometimes it can be difficult to convey just how deep the talent pool is at all levels, and how tricky it is to forge a successful career. So many factors come into it, from pure ability to funding and luck. There are loads of people who have established themselves as top professionals who I played a lot of amateur golf with ten years or so ago. I think ten years is about the right timeframe to go from the top of the amateur game to…

1 Accuracy off the tee can be helped by starting with a few basics. Focus on making a balanced swing with good weight shift, then getting up onto the right toe in the follow-through. See how I’ve made a full turn towards the target here. Everything is balanced and in control. 2 It’s helpful to get a good idea of the initial direction of the ball’s journey and your shot shape. Use a couple of alignment sticks at the range to create a gate. I’d also recommend using face tape or spray to show how consistently you’re finding the centre of the clubface. 3 Amateurs don’t tend to give the tee box and how it can be used to their advantage enough thought. Here, I’ve placed my ball to the…

1 A classic set-up with nice angles. His weight is over the centre of his shoes and he’s poised, ready to go. The line between the colours on his shirt highlights the slight tilt away you need, even with a shortish iron, as your right hand sits below the left. 2 There’s excellent width on the takeaway, with the club outside the hands. Watch him in real time and you’ll see a great connection on into the backswing from here. It’s a nice passive movement – there’s no hint of him snatching the club away. 3 He’s coiled nicely into his right side and his shoulders are fully turned. Readers should note how his right leg remains nicely flexed. His head is angled away to the right, a bit like…

1. A There is no penalty. It is permissible to hold a club on the ground right next to the ball for marking the spot of a ball to be lifted (Rule 14.1a). 2. A There is no penalty. It is permissible to lean on the rake while waiting for another player to play, provided Fergus was not doing so for the purpose of testing the condition of the bunker (Rule 12.2b). 3. B Fergus gets one penalty stroke for cleaning the ball when not permitted to do so (Rule 14.1c). 4. C Jezz gets the general penalty for pressing down a divot and improving his conditions affecting the stroke (Rule 8.1a).…

Verdict The latest version of Ping’s Crossover has changed dramatically, both in looks and design, and we like what has been done. At address, it has a slimmed-down profile compared with the overly chunky G400 model, but it’s still one of the larger utility irons out there. It inspires confidence over the ball, but should still appeal to the lower-handicapper’s eye. The GCQuad launch monitor told us that it produced excellent ball speed, coupled with mid launch and spin, which makes it suitable for different shots around the golf course. Its main use will likely be off the tee on tight par 4s or long par 3s, but it will also come in handy when playing in windy conditions or when you want to chase the ball into par 5s…

Farewell, my friend Tommy Fleetwood has finally got rid of his last Nike club, losing his trusty Vapor Fly 5-wood in favour of a Ping G410 7-wood. Lower-spinning option A Ping G410 LST driver has been spotted out on tour. It is said to be 450cc and will likely offer high-speed players lower spin, as well as the shot-shape adjustability of the original In with the new Scott Piercy is one player to have switched into the new Titleist TS4 driver. He uses lots of lead tape on the sole to adjust the flight.…

Verdict Perhaps a brand not especially on your radar, Pearl Golf is making some impressive gear in 2019. An example of this is its Pure Pro and Pure Pro X balls. We tested them both against two of the more well-known tour performance offerings and they stood up in every department. The first area where many of these lower-price-point balls often fall down is short-game feel and control, but that wasn’t the case here. The Pearl Pro spun at just under 7,000rpm on a 50-yard pitch shot on the Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor, and out on the course it felt just as soft and controllable on the shortest of chips. The Pure Pro X definitely has a firmer feel and performs differently on iron shots, offering more ball speed…

It seems that the pro game is all about distance off the tee, so why do they use a soft ball rather than a distance ball? Michael Vine, Twitter Short-game control is also very important to tour players. Modern tour balls have special inner layers that are able to keep driver and iron spin low without affecting short-game performance, where the cover does the work. While ‘distance’ balls might go a few yards further, the ability to stop the ball quickly on chip shots is also integral to their ability to score, which is why they choose a ball with a softer urethane cover. Do longer shafts and lower lofts in game-improvement irons make them harder to hit consistently? Chris Burns, Twitter In theory, yes, and the lower spin also…

1 Water-resistant does not mean fully waterproof, so be sure to check the exact wording. Year-round golfers might be better off opting for the latter if they’re likely to be out there in all weathers. 2 A 14-way divider top can minimise club rattling and keep your clubs better organised, but it can add an extra level of faffing to club removal and return! 3 The amount of storage space is important, but so too is the design of the pockets. If they don’t suit your needs, your frustration with them will grow over time.…

What course would you like to see host The Open Championship that hasn’t already? r0wly86, GM website forum With two courses returning to the fold this century after long absences, I think any further imminent additions are very unlikely. I’d like to see The Open played at Royal Porthcawl in Wales to spread it around all the Home Nations. The course could cope with a few tweaks, but the infrastructure could be an issue. What’s your view on blind shots? Imurg, GM website forum Overall, I’m not a fan, although I think it can work on classic holes like Prestwick’s 5th and the 3rd on the King’s at Gleneagles. One where it didn’t work for me was the 13th at The Glen in North Berwick – a downhill par 3…