THE AGE OF DRUG TESTING IN PROFESSIONAL GOLF -

THE AGE OF DRUG TESTING IN PROFESSIONAL GOLF -

Some tour players were: upset, nervous, and maybe a bit scared. Either way, many of them were deeply concerned about the drug testing and the future of golf. Is it possible that performance enhancing drugs could change the face of the golf the way it has with Major League Baseball. The LPGA tour testing Annika Sorenstam twice this this season upon her final her final tournament before retirement. Can we trust the players of this honorable game.  Or is this the magnitude of what lies ahead.  

We want to know your opinion and thougts on this issue.  Please take a moment and voice your opinion.

In the Hayes of Q-School

JP HAYES

PGA TOUR NEWS – J.P. Hayes: Self disqualification from Q-school

20 Plus Year PGA Tour veteran, J.P. Hayes may have gave himself more 2009 exemptions by his recent voluntary disqualification. Hayes, the Wisconsin native has struggled the last several years on tour. In fact, Hayes hasn’t won a tour event in six years. In 2008 he finished 176Th on the PGA Tour money list. His luck is most recently portrayed while playing in the second stage of Q-school. Here, he found himself playing a USGA non-conforming, prototype ball made by Titleist.

After completing the 12th hold at Deer Wood Country Club, Hayes dedcided to replace his ball. At which point, his caddie tossed him a replacment. When Hayes went to mark the ball on the green, he acknowledged it was not the same model which he started the round with. Immediately, he know this was a violation of the one-ball rule. Hayes called over the rules official who then assessed him a two-stroke penalty. With the penalty, Hayes shot a modest 71 in the second round. Overall, Hayes was T-44 at 1-over 145. The top 20 and ties after 72 holes (4 under or better) all advanced to the final stage of Q-school. If only a penalty, Hayes still had a legitimate chance to advance to the final round.

Hayes may not be the prototypical role model. However, his act was an example for golfers around the world, more importantly young golfers. His words say it best. Hayes was quoted as saying “I hesitate to say it was a good thing” he went on to say “It was either cheat or don’t cheat and I don’t cheat.” His honesty and his quotes made himself tremendous publicity and his actions remind us at to why we call this a gentleman’s game.

Hayes made a mistake, as did his caddie by keeping the ball in the bag and in play. However, on the side of Hayes and his caddie, the mistake was easy. Many might find it hard to believe. However, tour professionals are constantly testing products provided to them by manufactures. Balls, shafts, grips, tees, shoes, clothing and other accessories are items that are provided to these players for free. Endorsements or not, manufacturers want credible players to use their products which also provide valuable feedback. They have an abundence of products and equipment options available at their disposal. Although it may be rare, these mistakes can happen. It makes you wonder how frequently these blunders occur. In the case of J.P. Hayes, his selfless act of self-disqualification, easily sacrificed his 2009 season thousands if not millions of dollars. A true example of what makes golf a terrific and honorable game.

CHRIS BURNS

JP HAYES - Self Disqualification

Get A Grip – PART 2

MYTHS – Smaller Grips Will Prevent Slicing & Larger Grips will promote a fade

 

Question: Will a smaller grip enable me to hook or draw the ball.

Answer: For many, this is incorrect. Although, a small percentage of golfers with appropriate hand size and grip pressure may find this to work. Let’s talk more about why and how.

 

For whatever reason, many golfers have been told that by switching to a small grip, they will reduce their slicing. The opposite has been said about a large grip promoting a fade. Almost always, these myths or fallacies are a last resort for someone seeking a cure for their golfing ailments. Fact is, the size of the grips on a golfer’s clubs should be determined by the size and type of a golfer’s hands. Grip-pressure can also be related to grip-size; and 9 times out of 10, a player who exerts excessive grip-pressure is one whose grip is incorrectly sized in addition to improper hand placement.

 

Fact is, a grip that is too small will make it exceedingly difficult for any golfer to hold a club properly.  With such a grip, a player is likely to manipulate the clubface, which may also cause the clubface to be closed at the top of the swing. The trajectory may also be low, and will tend to go most anywhere but toward the target.

 

Even a seasoned player and or a good ball-striker who uses a grip that is too small (for his or her palms or fingers), will find herself or himself creating excessive grip pressure. Excessive grip-pressure locks up the limbs from the fingertips up through the biceps and throughout the rest of the body. Excessive grip-pressure leads to TENSION, and tension is bad for any golf shot. Even with steady grip-pressure at address and at takeaway, a player may easily re-grip at the top of the backswing, thus engaging the small muscles (hands) creating tension in the downswing. This can lead to a multitude of problems including: an outside-in swing path, casting, slice, inconsistent divot pattern and other problems. If you’re like most that fall into this category, you’ll likely wear a hole in the left-thumb and heel-pad of your golf-glove.  

 

As mentioned, such wear in the glove comes from losing the club at the top of the backswing. At this point, the club separates from the glove-hand heel-pad, at which point the player re-grips to start the forward swing; and the friction of re-gripping gradually wears a hole in both the thumb and heel-pad of the glove.

 

If you feel as though the grips on your clubs may be improperly fitted, or that the positioning of your hands needs some improvement, don’t feel embarrassed. You and well over half the golfing population have the same problems. In fact, tour players are constantly working on their grip. Simply contact you local PGA golf professional for more details, or feel free to drop me a line.  

 

CHRIS BURNS

 

Grip pressure should stay constant

Get A Grip – PART 1

Does the Size or Thickness of a Grip Really Matter ?

Yes, the size or thickness of the grip on your clubs really matters. It can be difficult or nearly impossible to hit decent shots if the grips on your clubs are too large or small for your hands. In this series, we are going to cover almost everything related to the grip-handle on your clubs—from size, to size related to ball-flight-pattern, to type of grip—from grip pressure to hand-types, physical disabilities, and hand-placement—and more.

 

One of the most overlooked aspects of a golfer’s equipment is the grip. Most players are unaware of the various grip sizes available today—from undersized to standard, to midsize, to jumbo—and just about everything in between. The in-between could be that a standard size may vary from company to company.  Over the last 30 plus years we at the Bob Burns Golf Center have fit well over 100,000 golfers. Our statistics show that only 50% of the golfing population is fit for a standard-size grip.

The remaining 50% are, you might say, “abnormal.” Their palms are wider or thinner, or shorter or longer, than “normal.” Their fingers are longer or shorter than normal and even those with physical disabilities.

 

Other things being equal, golfers with short fingers will benefit from an undersized grip, or possibly a Men’s standard grip (one that has taper in the right hand area of the grip); but even a small grip may feel (and be) to large if the type of shaft on the club doesn’t match—no matter your choice of  grips.  Conversely (and again, other things being equal, which they often aren’t), golfers with long fingers will benefit from oversized grips.

 

various grip sizesholding a golf club

Getting fit for a grip -

A large majority of our customers are tradesmen—carpenters, construction workers, mill workers, painters, electricians, etc. After years of fitting clubs and grips, we have found that these golfers, even with standard size paws have a tendency to hold the club with a death grip. Because they work with their hands all day, their hands and forearms are much stronger than the average Joe’s. We know that even with lessons from Butch Harmon or David Leadbetter, they’ll still find themselves giving the golf club the choke hold. The best way to combat excessive grip-pressure is to use a grip one size larger than standard, or even a jumbo grip.  Larger grips tend to reduce grip-pressure, which is the key to a good golf swing in many ways. Lighter grip-pressure encourages more wrist-hinge, which creates a stronger release and increased swing- speed during the downswing.

 

Our philosophy is all about fitting golfers properly and individually, and taking into consideration all the variables. This may also mean making exceptions.  So when you are selecting a new set of grips or clubs, or even a particular club, see a golf professional, and tell him or her all about your game—including your sense of the pressure you apply to your grip, skin type (dry or sensitive), your physical limitations, and generally what your looking for.