Tale of Two Swings - the Driver versus the Iron

Whenever a player walks into the golf shop after a round of golf one things will come out of their mouth.  First, they will talk about their score.  After numerous years of being in the golf shop I have had to perfect the knowing and caring nod of my head as a person takes extreme care to describe their round.  Second, is a player will say, "I was hitting my driver SO well..." which will be, without question, followed by, "but I hit my irons terrible."  Or it will be the opposite.  

Sometimes we can teach standing in the golf shop...

One of the common errors a player can make is to try to have the same swing throughout his game.  In fact he tries to make his driver swing and iron swing the same.  When, in reality, the two are almost as dissimilar as tennis is to ping pong.

USING THE TEE

The driver is the only club in which the player uses a tee.  Using a tee is a substantial change!  It allows for the driver to be used like no other club.  That is with an ascending or upward strike.  The idea driver launch conditions is somewhere between a 12-15% launch angle depending on swing speed, spin, shaft and playing conditions.  

From a technical stand point think of it this way.  The typical tour driver is roughly 9 degrees of loft.  That means in order to achieve the desired launch angle the tour player adds somewhere between 3 and 6 degrees of dynamic loft.

In order to achieve this for the average player the driver should be teed high, forward and promote a upward strike of the ball.  And, generally, players do not hit their driver high enough.  

DOWNWARD STRIKE

Conversely, iron play is a prototypical "dig" or downward strike.  As Ben Hogan would say, "the secret is in the dirt."  He wasn't talking about a driver swing.  The ability to hit downward with ball contact first is a direct measure for a persons ability to score consistently.

Again , the PGA Tour player, on average, de-lofts a standard iron shot by 4 degrees in dynamic loft at the moment of impact.  That is the equivalent of taking an 8 iron and making it into a 7 iron dynamically through the swing.  No wonder they hit it so far!!

THE TALE OF TWO SWINGS

Back to our player as they are talking about their swing and game.   Obviously the player who hits the driver well but didn't hit his irons too well has, generally, a upward stroke and needs to work the other motion of a downward strike.  If the player is hitting their irons wells but not their driver then the player could stand to attempt to help the ball in the air.

Can you think of a PGA Tour player who is a great ball striker and has trouble with his driver?  How about Tiger the past 3 years? His driver path is actually downward a couple of degrees and he de-lofts his driver...  Personally, I think this is an area he could learn from us in the golf shop.

If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me via email: john.grothe@gmail.com

Your friend in golf...

John D. Grothe, PGA

The Day I Bought Lunch at Pebble Beach

One a glorious morning at the first tee at Pebble Beach I found myself staring at a man who had just put a $100 bill into my hand... I was left with a delemna.

As one of the Starters at Pebble Beach for 2+ years I was able to see a fair number of interestings things happen.  The year was 2001 (before 9/11) and business was jumping.  We had just hosted the 2000 U.S. Open, the 2001 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the golf course was just named the #1 Golf Course in the US.  The rate was $325 to play golf, tee times where sold out 18 months in advance and the waitlist to get on the golf course was 20+ deep every day.

As the First Assistant I was responsible for many number of things; customer service, pace of play, management of the caddie program etc.  The one duty I truly enjoyed was the Podium Position.  Every day a Golf Professional would be responsible for collecting the groups together, introducing the caddies, getting the players carts and the such.  The Podium position also maintained the waitlist for players hoping to play Pebble Beach. 

Controling this list was a bit like acting like God.  You were able to make a person's year by getting them on the golf course.

While on the Podium there were any number of temptations with desparate players attempting to play.  Company policy, that I adhered to strickly, was that nothing could be accepted prior to performing a service (that was looked upon as  bribe) but could be accepted afterward (looked at as a tip).

Back to that man at the 1st tee.  I hadn't done anything for him.  He hadn't asked me to do anything.  But we both knew what he was expecting...  I felt like I was involved in a far dirtier proposition!

As luck had it there were no other players waiting to play golf.  He would be the first on my waitlist.  Yet, there was no open tee times for me to fullfil my part of the contract.  I turned down the $100 offer and told him, "Sir, I have nothing open at the moment. If you'd like to proceed to the Gallery Restaurant(over looking the first tee) and have a bite to eat if something should open I will come and get you."

He retired to the balcony and ate lunch.

As my luck had it the 12:10 tee time was only a 3 some.  I found my player as he was finished his meal and gave him the good news.

Later, after he paid for his green fees and warmed up and as he headed to the first tee he turned to me and handed me a stack of bills.  A stack of bills?  What is this I asked myself as I shoved them into my pocket?!

I found a quiet place in the back to investigate the stack of bills.  When I pulled them out I had $78.  $22 short of the $100 I had in my hand just a few hours before.

It seems that I, the starter at Pebble Beach, had  found him a spot to play that day AND bought him lunch....

Fitting the Gap

Wedge Gap Fitting

Cover all the gaps

A lot of players should concentrate on their loft of their wedges to be able to over all distances in the short game area.  Normally we'd like to cover as much ground with as few clubs as possible.  Ideally I'd like to see at least 3 wedges in play if not 4.  I like to see at least 4 degrees separation between your wedges with a maximum of 6 degrees. 

Begin with your Pitching Wedge

Do you know the loft of your Pitching Wedge?

I like to see a good gap system that is established off the most lofted iron in the players set - usually the Pitching Wedge.  For instance if the pitching wedge is a strong loft such as a 47 or even a 46 then I recommend starting with a gap wedge in the 52 degree range.  This allows for a 56 degree (sand wedge) and a 60 degree (lob wedge).  But if the pitching wedge is a bit weaker such as a 49 degree then you can then start with a 54 degree gap wedge and move to either a 58 or a 60 degree lob wedge.  If you don't know the loft of your pitching wedge that is the best place to start.  Jump on line and google your iron set specs.  Every manufacture will have them listed.

If there are any questions you may have please do not hesitate to contact me via email at: john.grothe@gmail.com

Your friend in golf.

John Grothe, PGA

Video - Increase your distance through these drills

This is the best drill (and the simplest) I can imagine for players to improve your distance.

Your Friend in Golf...
John Grothe, PGA
john.grothe@gmail.com
http://www.highfivesforcolton.org/

Video - Control the low point - Divot Drill

This drill is the best way to attempt to improve your ball striking.  The ability to control the low point of your swing has a direct relationship to your handicap.

Your Friend in Golf...
John Grothe, PGA
john.grothe@gmail.com
http://www.highfivesforcolton.org/

Taking Effective Practice Swings

Your Friend in Golf...
John Grothe, PGA
john.grothe@gmail.com
http://www.highfivesforcolton.org/

Let your athletic ability help free up your putting

Gate Drill Video

This is the greatest putting drill I have ever seen.  The first time I saw it was in 2000 during the 100th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.  I was helping search for golf carts on Saturday night.  During those events the cart fleet is handed out to rules officials, volunteers etc.  We had to return them to the barn to ensure they were charged.

For 2-3 hours we would run back and forth to the cart barn.  On the putting green was the leader of the tournament, Tiger Woods.  He had a 12 shot lead.  He did this drill for at least 3 hours that I saw.  Now, if you or I had a 12 shot lead at the U.S. Open on Saturday night (if we were ever that good) I am sure we would be having dinner, watching a movie or at least relaxing.

Not Tiger!  The next day all he did was extend his lead to an eventual 15 shot victory in the greatest individual accomplisment in Major Tournament history.

If you have any questions on this or any other topic please do not hesitate to email me at: john.grothe@gmail.com
Your friend in golf.
John Grothe, PGA

The Myth of Handicaps

HEADLINE READS: "PLAYER SHOOTS NET 62 TO WIN NET CHAMPIONSHIP"

The odds are ASTRONOMICAL for a player to shoot a net number of under 68 much less shooting a 62. The worse case I have personally seen was a 22 handicap player shooting 78 from the blue tees at Spyglass Hill in Pebble Beach.  That is a net 56!  The following day the same person shot a 78 from the blue tees at Pebble.  Again another 56.  The tournament cordinator and I called the players home club to verify his handicap.  I asked the Head Professional, "we have a player up here shooting the lights out at Pebble."  The Head Pro asked if his player "ABC" was playing.  HE ACTUALLY CALLED THE RIGHT GUY'S NAME!  Unbelievable. 

These types of scores makes a golf professional like myself shake his head in disgust...  But I guess garbage in and garbage out.

The handicap system is a much used but little understood process to establish a level playing field for golf.  In no other sport can you establish a game in which you, as an average player, can play against anyone who established a handicap, including the best PGA Tour players, and have an enjoyable competitive game.

Establishing a USGA Handicap takes into account your top 10 of 20 scores as they relate to the course rating and slope.  Because the handicap takes into account the top 10 scores it is a measure of the POTENTIAL of the player.  Not the average. 

Odds are that a player will shoot somewhere around their handicap but generally slightly higher.  In my opinion a good net number will roughly be 73 or 74.  As a professional I see that as a number in which the player has a accurate handicap and shot about their average.

If you are establishing your handicap or using one for tournaments:
 a) Play by the rules
 b) Putt everything out
 c) Play the ball down
 d) POST THE CORRECT SCORE!

If you have any questions or comments do not hesitate to contact me via email: john.grothe@gmail.com
Your friend in golf.
John Grothe, PGA

What is your personal par?

The Rules of Golf defines par on a hole as the score a typical professional player could expect to score on a hole.  Par is generally thought of as the number of strokes it will take to reach a green in regulation and then adding 2 putts for par...

But the average player put WAY too much pressure and focus on par! The goal of golf is to complete a round in as few strokes as possible - not how many pars a player can have.

How would you play this hole?

Imagine as a player you are on the 461 yard hole.   It is a tremendous hole. There is out of bounds down the left side with a creek all down the right side.  The creek crosses the fairway roughly 150 yards from the green and drains into a pond that fronts the green and protects the entire left hand side.  There are bunkers to the right of the green.

As a player playing this hole as a par 4 it is formative.  The drive must be long and straight in order to reach the green.  This brings into play both the creek and the lake when taking on Par as your goal.  I would say that the stroke average on this hole is well above 5 for every day play.

Now, how would a players perspective change it this hole was a par 5?  A player could comfortably hit a hybrid off the tee to a generous landing area.  Assuming the player hit it 200 yards that would leave a very managable 261 yards in 4 shots. 

Another hybrid of 180 yards would easily land in the landing area avoiding the creek and lake with another generous landind area with a 81 yard shot for the third.  A good wedge into the green leaves chance at 4 but a 5 would be almost assured.

The hole in my mind is the 9th at Ghost Creek at Pumpkin Ridge.  One of the great holes in the Pacific Northwest.

Break the hole down

As a player you should be thinking about breaking a hole (each hole) down into manageble shots.  Shots outside your comfort level can cause wasted shots and higher scores.  On our 9th hole the second shot is the one that scares me. Water and the bunkers loop large for a low running shot from 200 yards.  Even a good shot from that distance has little chance of holding the green.  Even a good shot can leave a short sided flop shot with water awating the sculled shot.

The Bogey Player

If someone is a 20 handicap or higher I recommend that player never attempt a shot over 200 yards without a wide landing area.  A 20 handicap player is commonly refered to a bogey player.  These players roughly hit the ball 180-220 yards off the tee.  But I wonder how many players who are in that handicap range would be below their average if they stopped trying to play above their ability.  I would be willing to bet that a bogey player trying to make bogey their personal par would be able to break bogey.

Imagine...

Playing golf is hard enough.  Play within yourself and within your natural tendancies.  Allow for the normal tension and anexity in your swing the relax by hitting shots you are most comfortable hitting.  Play every hole over 200 yards as a par 4, over 400 yards as a par 5, over 475 yards a par 6.  For players with a 250 yard shot look at them as a chance to hit 2x 125 yard shots.  Imagine getting to practice the exact shot and yardage BEFORE you hit it. 

Your personal par

Your personal par is your handicap (which is a measure of your POTENTIAL not your average) added to the par of the golf course.  For instance, if you are a 10 handicap on a par 72 your personal par is 82.  On the top 10 handicap holes change the par to be one more than the score card.  When it comes time to play that hole take the strategy that is perscribed to score your personal par.  I bet you'll have an easier time beating your handicap.

If you have any questions or comments please do not hesistate to contact me via email: john.grothe@gmail.com

Your friend in golf.

John Grothe, PGA

Short Game Test - 11 balls

Here is a great way to evaluate your short game.  I call it the 11 ball short game evalualtion.

Take 11 golf balls from each 10 positions.  After you have hit all 11 balls remove the 5 closest and the 5 farthest from the hole. You will be left with the 6th ball or the median of the 11 shots. Measure that distance from the hole in feet.  You will notice that there is one (or several) that does not meet your expectations and where you are losing your shots in the short game and, hence, where you should do most of your practice.

Over 10 areas with 11 shots is 110 shots total.  Simply taking this test will allow you to hit all the shots in the short game area and is a great routine to practice.

Short Game Practice

11th Ball Short Game Evaluation

PUTTING                                               6th Ball Distance

1) 5 Foot ring (around the hole)                                                

2) Mid Range Putting (12-15 feet)                                            

3) 20 Foot Putts                                                                       

4) Lag Putting (40 feet or further)                                              

CHIPPING

5) Short Chips (with 6 iron or 8 iron)                                         

6) Medium Chips (with PW or SW)                                          

PITCHING

7) Pitching (40 yards)                                                                

8) Pitching (60 yards)                                                                

BUNKER
9) Bunker (explosion)                                                                
      
10) Bunker (Long - 20 yards+)                                                 

If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me via email at: john.grothe@gmail.com

Your friend in golf.
John Grothe, PGA

                                                             

How do I take my range game to the golf course?!

"Why can't I take my range game to the golf course?!"  Or, "I was really hitting them well on the range and then..."  If I had a dime for every time I have heard that one!!!

If you ever have a chance to watch a PGA tour event make sure to spend at least 20% of your day at the range.  That is where you will see the difference in what the PGA Tour players are doing versus the average player. And I guarantee you won't hear a Tour player complain about leaving their game on the range.

What is the PGA tour player doing so differently? They are rotating between BLOCK and RANDOM practice. If you are a caddie on the Tour you are quite busy.  The Tour player is constantly rotating clubs and shots.  The caddie is always moving and cleaning clubs and rotating them into the players hands.

So why does the average player have a hard time taking what is seemingly is so easy and good at the range and then so hard to replicate on the golf course?  It is actually quite simple as long as we look and each environment separately.

The driving range is a MULTI-Ball environment.  The lies are flat and PERFECT.  There is absolutely ZERO penalties for a poor shot.  You are able to hit multiple shots over and over in a fairly rapid succession with the SAME club.

The golf course is a SINGLE-Ball environment.  The lies are varied and are never perfect.  There is all sorts of penalties for a poor shot.  You are only able to hit one shot with one club in a slow progression to the hole with DIFFERENT clubs with different lie angles, shaft lengths etc, etc.

Think about it!  When are you able to hit the same shot a second time while on the golf course?  Generally only when REALLY bad things have happened on the first shot!  At the range you are able to groove and groove a certain feeling.  It is next to impossible to replicate that feeling on the golf course.

So what does this mean for the average player. First, and most importantly, the average player is not as good as they believe they are on the range. The multi-ball environment at the range OVER-INFLATES the average players perception of their own ability.  Second, we must drastically change how players practice.

Random versus Block Practice

Roughly 75% of golfers incorrectly practice through block practice.  That is multiple shots with the same club.  This type of practice is only effective when attempting to make a swing change or concentrate on a certain aspect of the motion.

Random practice is, by far, more effective in preparing to play the game and effectively prepare the player for the ideal scoring conditions.  Random practice is where the player rotates between clubs for each shot and is much slower and more deliberate.  For instance a player will hit a driver, then a 6 iron, then a wedge and maybe even a chip shot.  All in a pace that is at least twice as slow as normal on the range.

Play golf... At the Range

I even recommend that the player should play their favorite golf course in their mind.  For instance take your favorite course, for me it is Pebble Beach. I know that I should hit a 3 wood off the first tee with a slight cut.  So that is the shot I try to hit.  Judging how well I hit that shot I adjust for my second.  Now, if I hit it well I might have a 9 iron into the green.  After I hit the shot at a specific target I judge if I have hit the green or not.  I may even try to hit a chip shot.  Then I move to the second which is where I try to bust a drive down the left side of the fairway.... And so on.

Take it the the Course

To take this to the golf course I attempt to make players take their one chance at a shot and make it as much about BLOCK practice as I can.  WHAT?  Yes, on the golf course I have players take as many practice swings as they can in order to feel the correct swing.  Think again about the Tour player.  They are constantly taking practice swings to ingrain a certain feel...  And those guys are GOOD! Golf is after all the only sport in which the player can practice the exact feeling and motion over and over until they are ready for action.  Could you see a baseball player doing that?  The pitcher and defense certainly wouldn't cooperate!

As a player you will notice a lot will change.  First, you will hit less range balls (an immediate money saver!!).  Second, your quality of shots on the range will DECREASE!  That is because you are now playing golf on the range.  Third, your quality of shots on the golf course will INCREASE!

And finally, the best place to practice is.. THE GOLF COURSE HERSELF!

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me via email at: john.grothe@gmail.com

Your friend in golf...

John Grothe, PGA

Swing Heroically and a Conservative target

Imagine yourself with 160 yards to a slightly elevated green (maybe a 7 iron for a stronger players but maybe a hybrid for many...).  The lie is good but the ball is slightly below your feet and there is a bunker short right.  The flag stick is fluttering quietly in the breeze just over the bunker and looks... very tantalizing.  Why not get a little greedy and throw a dart in there and impress your playing partners with a short putt for birdie?

Over the ball a bit of doubt, not much but enough, creeps into your mind.  "How strong is that wind?" or "How far below my feet is the ball?" or, my favorite, "I wonder if I was supposed to pick up dinner...?"

Sure enough you scull the ball, or you lay the sod over it, or the ball squirts too just enough right to end up in the bunker. What happened to that dart?  That short birdie putt!?

Golfers have heard Harvey Pennick's sage advice "take dead aim" from his wonderful book, "The Little Red Book."  And I think that is a fantastic concept but... take dead aim... at what?  The water? The bunker?  The Flagstick?  For me this sage advice leaves too much for interpretation  So I have a slight variation on his otherwise masterful concept in my version.  For a positive swing thought while playing in a tournament or, for that matter, any golf shot that is meaningful is to "SWING HEROICALLY AT A CONSERVATIVE TARGET."

Many, if not all, of golfer's poor shots are a result of one of these two concepts being broken.  The player who swings too conservatively (or tentatively) at an aggressive target leads to the biggest risk and generally, the BIGGEST number!

SWING HEROICALLY

Swing heroically is a positive re-enforcement of the ability to swing with confidence.  Confidence is the golfers 15th club and, in my eyes, the most valuable skill to possess for good golf.  Swing with absolute confidence and without any doubt is a skill that must be mastered.  Trust within oneself that your swing, no matter what the swing, is the an ABSOLUTE for quality golf.

I know what most players will say to this point... My swing isn't that good.  I have some bad habits.  All I can say is THANK YOU FOR PROVING MY POINT!  These players have zero trust in their swing and can not see the ability to swing like a HERO.  This skill must be developed.

Think of a hero.  Who is your hero? One of your parents? A head of state? A sports star?  Are they perfect?  Of course not.  They are human and have human flaws just like the rest of us.  But they are still your hero.  Just like your golf swing.  No one has ever had the perfect golf swing.  Even Hogan made bogeys!

Just like your heros your golf swing has flaws.  But the biggest flaw is not the mechanics of the swing.  It is your trust and ability to swing like a HERO!  Now a hero is not overly aggressive - it is not the biggest, strongest or fastest swing.  It is the one you can repeat.

ON A CONSERVATIVE TARGET

At a conservative target leads the player to play within themselves and move through shots avoiding trouble.  Golf is hard enough to attempt to hit the green much less hit at a specific target.  Good golf is as much about avoiding trouble and avoiding big numbers (I consider a bogey a big number) and allowing the birdies and pars to just happen.

Think of the shot(s) in your own game.  How many times did you aim at exactly at the flag and then hit it in?  (I am willing to bet never) How about hitting it fairly close?  (Again willing to bet almost never)  How about somewhat close? (Ok I will let you say sometimes)  Now, how many times have you hit it next to the flag without trying?  The ball just one and a while ended up next to it.  Again, I am willing to bet that most of the time your ball ended up next to a flag with any shot outside of 100 yards it was by ACCIDENT.

Let's go back to our shot.  Most likely, unless you practice this type of shot and even when you do practice this shot, the best practice is to take a heroic swing on a conservative target.  Make the best swing possible (the ball below your feet is tough enough to take clean, crisp contact) toward the center of the green.  The lie in and of it self will let the ball drift towards the right and allow the ball to work closer to the hole.

Obviously this topic is much larger than any one post so look for much more on this topic.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me via email.  john.grothe@gmail.com

Your friend in golf...

John Grothe, PGA

Why Pitch at all?

In 1999 I was fortunate enough to be present at a clinic given by then #1 player in the world David Duval for the Pebble Beach Golf Academy.  David had just won the Bob Hope 5 weeks earlier with a sizzling 59 in the final round.  During that clinic David said many clever and insightful comments that has shaped me as a player and a teacher.  Of course my involvement in that clinic was a grand total of carrying his clubs from the car to the range.

One of the things David told the crowd was that he, "never hit a flop shot" and in fact the most lofted club in his bag as "a 57 degree wedge."  Now, here is the #1 player in the world who had just shot the best final round score to win a tournament.  And he never hits a flop shot?  Then why on the earth would I try to hit one?  Or why should I recommend one to my students?

Pitching can be a very misunderstood science for most players.  Additionally pitching is, by far, the most over used shot in golf.  Far too many times a player should utilize a chip (or low running shot) well before attempting a pitch or a lob shot.  Worst still is that most players will actually abandon the chip shot all together!

Granted, Duval is good enough to not leave himself in a position to be forced to hit a pitch shot.  When he might have to hit a higher shot he simply takes his medicine and hits the shot lower and past the hole.  He actually tries to hit the shot about 10 feet beyond the hole.  He makes sure to watch the ball as it rolls past the hole to get a free read on the putt coming back.  He may not get up and down as often but he won't make anything worse than bogey from a tough position.

When faced with a shot in the short game area I recommend; PUTT IF YOU CAN.  IF YOU CAN'T PUTT THEN CHIP.  PITCH ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE TO. Therefore if you can putt, PUTT.  If you can't putt your next shot is a CHIP.  Once the chip is no longer an option you are then forced to hit a PITCH.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email me at john.grothe@gmail.com
Your friend in golf...
John Grothe, PGA
Head Professional
OGA Golf Course

MATT System Full Swing Evaluation (Complimentary)

I hope this email finds you well and you are able to enjoy these last few days of golf in 2011.

I wanted to personally invite you to a tremendous learning opportunity for your game.  The Motion Analysis Technology by Taylor Made (MATT) system offers the highest in video and 3D swing analysis for players of all abilities. 

Each Student will receive a 30 minute personal fitting and full swing evaluation.

This service will be complimentary to all my students.

Columbia Country Club

Portland, OR

Saturday, December 10th, 2011

By appointment from 2-7 pm

Refreshments will be provided.

Please see the attached flyer for more information.

To sign up please RSVP via email at john.grothe@gmail.com

--

Your friend in golf... 

John Grothe, PGA

Head Professional

OGA Golf Course

www.getyourgolffix.blogspot.com

High Fives for Colton

www.highfivesforcolton.org

"not another thought, moment or memory lost to a seizure..."