Innholdsfortegnelse for July/August 2020 i Golf Magazine

I NEVER HAD ANY FORMAL GOLF INSTRUCTION growing up. In total honesty, I learned how to drive, chip and putt from the pages of GOLF, which I’ve read since my freshman year in high school—decades before ever setting foot in its offices as an employee. Times were different back in the mid-1980s—no social media, no World Wide Web. For a student of the game starving for whatever he could get his hands on, GOLF was a legit teaching outlet. It was during this time in the title’s history when former editor in chief George Peper supercharged GOLF’s instruction content. The brand launched its Top 100 Teachers franchise in 1985, Greg Norman was playing editor and coaches often graced its covers. Major headlines touted revolutionary swing methods: X-Factor, Single-Plane, anything from…

CONSIDER THE GOLF BAG. For many it is merely a utilitarian object, inexpensive and adorned with logos, designed to be stuffed with detritus. For others, it is a statement of personal style to be accessorized with great care. For Todd Rohrer, the golf bag is a holy object. “It’s the most personal relationship we have with any piece of golf gear,” he says. “You spend four hours with this bag slung over your shoulder. Your hands rest on the bag while you walk, engaging that sense of the tactile. When you’re not on the course, the bag sits in the corner of your office or maybe your bedroom and the eyes always go to it, right? It’s calling to you.” Rohrer, 59, has always had a deep connection to his…

AS YOU CERTAINLY KNOW BY NOW, clubfitting isn’t just for touring pros and single-digit players. This not-so-dark art is aimed specifically at helping higher handicappers improve. For all its amazing tech, clubfitting aims to help you do something theoretically simple: hit the ball the same way, over and over again. A crucial tool in a clubfitter’s arsenal? The angle machine, often referred to as a loft/lie machine. After analyzing your swing, the clubfitter uses this instrument to adjust your clubs to the natural tendencies of your game. Those diagnosed as toe hitters and heel hitters will see adjustments to their club’s lie angle, while loft tweaks are aimed at sharpening distance gaps between clubs. The most important aspect of any loft/lie machine is its ability to lock every club into…

IT WAS 1:30 A.M. and Cameron Champ paused outside the door of his grandfather’s bedroom, holding a wine barrel in his arms. Eight hours earlier he’d pulled off the improbable, winning last September’s Safeway Open in Napa, Calif., just 65 miles from where his grandfather Mack was in hospice care, nearing the final stages of his battle with stomach cancer. Knowing “Pops” was likely in his last days, it was a tournament Cam had no plans of competing in. It wasn’t until Wednesday of tournament week, after some convincing from his wheelchair-bound grandfather, that he decided to tee it up. “Leading up to the tournament, I’d hit one ball in four days,” says Cam, who put together rounds of 67 and 69 on the weekend to win by one stroke.…

DAVID’S CLUB AT OMNI ORLANDO at ChampionsGate dares to be different. This high-end sports bar, named for development partner David Mitzner, has made one of America’s most delectable morning meats—bacon—the centerpiece of a dish. And we couldn’t be more grateful. At a spot known for its smooth bourbons and spectacular steaks, we’re here to talk about the Bacon Trio—the headliner of a drool-worthy appetizer menu. The club offers several different varieties of toppings to appease each and every one of your taste buds, including sriracha molasses, candied bacon and garlic parmesan. You can even re-create the snack in your own kitchen. All it takes is quality thick-cut bacon, a few ingredients and plenty of love. In short, the bacon is cooked, brushed with the coating of choice and re-roasted (see…

The numbers don’t lie. At just 25 years old, Cameron Champ has quickly morphed into the most dominant driver of the ball on the PGA Tour. In 2019, Champ averaged 317.9 yards off the tee, ranking No. 1 in driving distance. At a slender 6 feet tall and 180 pounds, and with a waist his instructor Sean Foley says is probably on the short side of 29 inches, Champ generates that distance with ridiculous swing speed: 128.01 miles per hour (also No. 1 on Tour) on trusted Trackman reports. That velocity produces an average in-tournament ball speed of 190.7 mph off the tee—seven miles per hour faster than any one of his peers on the pro circuit. So how does he do it? In his own words, Cameron shares his…

Get into your setup to the side of a full-length mirror. Is your lower back arched and your tailbone sticking out? If so, you’re standing in S-posture and placing undue stress on your lower back while letting your core relax—not good. The problem is often caused by “Lower Crossed Syndrome,” or combining a group of weak muscles with a group of tight muscles. The culprit can be something as innocuous as sitting in an office chair for eight hours a day, especially if you’re not engaged in a regular stretching program. Correct your S-posture with exercises that teach you how to get into a neutral pelvic posture and brace your core muscles to stabilize that position. Cat-cows, for example, are a great first step. Get down on all fours and…

FOR MOST SHORT SHOTS AROUND THE GREEN, you don’t want the club’s leading edge to dig into the turf. The bounce angles on your wedges are designed to help you avoid digging, but if you’re hitting chips and pitches with the handle shoved forward (like many have been taught to do), you lose most—if not all—the bounce. This makes it hard to catch the ball crisply, and much easier to hit a flub or a skull. Instead, consider a more neutral setup with the shaft either vertical (or barely forward) at address. You may fear blading the ball with a straighter shaft orientation at first, but in reality, the leading edge is still well under the equator of the ball. If you still prefer to play chips with the handle…

Thanks to Top 100 Teacher Boyd Summerhays and his take on Tony Finau’s recent swing adjustments (“Four Ways Tony Fixed His Slice,” May). I not only struggle with slicing, but I also tend to hit hosel rockets. The changes Finau made to his grip, as explained by Mr. Summerhays, has worked wonders for me. After moving my right hand more to the right on the handle à la Finau, I went through two practice buckets. In the four rounds that followed, I beat my index by at least four strokes. Bye-bye hosel rockets and thank you GOLF Magazine! —Jim Griesser, via email Let Me Set the Record Straight I read your May issue and thoroughly enjoyed your interview with Bob May (“May Day”). In it you spent time discussing the…

IT WAS A FRIGID and rainy February day in 1997. Our team—Wilson Golf sales and marketing for Europe—was mired in product meetings at the company’s dreary assembly plant in Irvine, Scotland, on the Ayrshire Coast. In addition to myself—president among our group—the team included Bondy, managing director and Irvine local, and other product-management vets: a vitriolic Frenchman, a highly rational Finn and an elegant, low-handicap Spaniard. The prototypes for a new set of Wilson irons, called Fat Shafts, had just arrived. Having seen them months before but never having hit them, we knew of only their theoretical benefits. The Frenchman kept talking about the R&D. We’d heard his BS before. Bondy’s steely eyes swept the room. “Somebody should hit ’em before we send in the forecast,” he said in his…

They debuted during Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. Lamb launched his website with a weighty, handcrafted novelty: a brass, half-dollar-sized “donut” ball marker. He sold the lot of ’em—$24,000 worth—in 10 minutes. Since then, the custom-putter maestro has cooked up about 18 varieties (including a pizza donut), but he withholds the $65 discs as if he were Homer Simpson’s mortal enemy. Keep an eye on Lamb’s Insta (@tyson_ lamb) for flash sales.…

Q: I was playing in an early-morning match and there was a lot of dew on the green. After chipping up, I leaned my wedge against the flagstick to keep the grip dry and putted out with the flag in the hole. My nerd opponent told me this was a violation. Was it? —Ryan Cox, Panama City Beach, Fla. A: My slang dictionary—Rules Guy is the keeper of many, many dictionaries—defines nerd as “one whose IQ exceeds his weight.” Now, Ryan, a desire to play by the Rules should be lauded, not roundly mocked. That said, your opponent is a nincompoop! Kidding… but he or she is incorrect. While your move might seem dodgy and not exactly a recommended procedure, it’s not a Rules violation. Rules Guy might add that…

27 Iron models that deliver on their promise, whether it’s ultimate control or max improvement 16 Drivers and woods that bring the heat—and correct swing flaws to boot 5 Wedge lines that are as attractive as they are effective 17 Putters in all shapes and sizes, but with a common goal: to help you make more birdies 1 New way to buy a better game with the help of your friends at GOLF.com SHARP-LOOKING IRONS THAT DON’T DISAPPOINT Srixon Z585/Z785 $1,000 ($1,200 graphite) Why We Love It Z585 You’re that guy who wants the sports-car look but a reliable engine and roominess, too. Here’s your iron. The Z585 adds extra yardage thanks to its Speed Groove, but it’s compact enough to pass as a player’s iron. It’s precision forged, so it feels and acts like…

36 THE SECRET TO A POWER SHOULDER TURN If you’re like a lot of amateurs, you tend to slap at your drive with your hands and arms, instead of using the big muscles of your upper body. The result is a power-sapping slice. More shoulder turn is what you’re after, and that’s something you can get with a few small tweaks. At address, draw your right foot (if you’re a righty) two to three inches back, perpendicular to your target line, while flaring the toes of that same foot slightly outward. This will allow your hips to turn more freely, which will help your shoulders turn more freely, too. In your backswing, let your left knee move laterally toward your right knee. You can even let your left heel come…

EVEN IF YOU HAVEN’T heard of Dr. Sasho MacKenzie, you’ve tangentially benefited from his work. Dr. MacKenzie is one of golf’s leading biomechanists, whose research influences teachers and players at all levels. On this page, he’s here to help you understand swing power, where it comes from and how it can help your scores. Dr. MacKenzie has recently published a study in Golf Science Journal: “How Amateur Golfers Deliver Energy to the Driver.” It’s an academic look at the key factors that contribute to clubhead speed. Here are two ways to put his findings to good use. 1. Pull Down With Force The force with which you “pull” down your hands from the top of your backswing is a huge determinant of power. Basically, greater force correlates with higher clubhead…

Colt Knost: Charles, here are nine fun questions we call the Emergency 9. The first one we ask every Subpar guest: If there’s a movie being made about your life, who plays you? Charles Barkley: Good question. James Earl Jones. Knost: Gary Woodland said Denzel [Washington]. I don’t think he understands how this works. Drew Stoltz: John Daly said Matt Damon. Barkley: There’s a better chance of me playing John Daly than Matt Damon. Stoltz: Number 2: If you ran for president, who do you want as your VP? Barkley: Michelle Obama. Knost: Question 3: Who’s a worse tipper, Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan? Barkley: Oh, they’re both cheap. [Laughs.] Stoltz: Number 4: Who’s more likely to win the Oscar for best actor, Charles Barkley in Space Jam or in…

A watch that suggests targets? This is a do-everything golf and lifestyle companion. Typically, I’ve had a tough time playing golf while wearing a watch. Too clunky, distracting, pretty impractical. The sleek new TAG Heuer Connected Golf Edition has changed my ways. Put aside for a moment TAG’s legendary styling and superb craftsmanship—this baby is a versatile, do-everything golf and lifestyle companion. On course, the watch and the second-generation Connected app provide everything you’d expect, including GPS-accurate distances, precise shot measurements and post-round stats. One standout app feature is the 3D course mapping. And new for this year, a “Driving Zone” option that suggests targets based on previous tee shots. Off course, the Connected monitors performance data for tons of activities. So actually, there’s not much reason to ever take…

THERE’S NEW, EXCITING research on torque and forces applied to the grip. In the 1930s, Paul Runyan (PGA Tour Hall of Fame) applied torque to the grip when putting in a unique and highly effective way. And it all started with his grip. Use the two keys above to establish a decent copy of his hold. Then, as you swing back, push your right heel pad into the grip to torque the putter to the right, and in the forward stroke use your left heel pad to torque the putter back to the left. By balancing the torque you apply in each direction, you will stabilize the movement of the putter-head and the face and drain more putts. Dom DiJulia is the director of instruction at Jericho National GC in…

Watch them all at GOLF.com. IN OUR GOLF FANTASY WORLD, we have a late-Sunday afternoon tee time at Augusta National, with all day to warm up in our quest to win the green jacket. In reality, we’re running late again—traffic jam, kid’s soccer game went into overtime, Zoom meeting ran long. We’re changing into our cleats while sitting on the back fender and racing across the parking lot to get to the first tee with five minutes to spare. And that’s okay—that’s life. Five minutes and a single golf club is just enough time and all the equipment needed to loosen up for an injury-free round. 1 RAISED SIDE BEND Hold a club with your hands extended directly overhead. With your feet set just inside shoulder width, bend your body…

Beginner Mid-Handicap Ace All Players Our advice: Check all the lessons. Not enough time? Focus on the ones that pertain to your game using the key above. 1→6 1. Swing With an Anti-Slice Grip If you slice, it’s probably because you’re not closing the clubface fast enough through the hitting zone. To improve your ability to deliver a square clubface (relative to your path), make practice swings with your hands split apart on the grip. Hold the club in its normal position with your gloved hand, then slide your lower hand down to where the grip meets the shaft (photo, left). Separating your hands like this makes it easier to square the face through impact and keep the handle pointing at your belly button as the clubhead slings out toward…

On a sunny, late-April afternoon in Houston, Texas, Jack Burke Jr. is transcendent in his element. Almost totally alone in the spacious clubhouse of his aptly named Champions Golf Club, the World Golf Hall of Famer eyes a foursome on the first tee. Even at age 97 and in the throes of a pandemic, Burke is a watchful presence here. He makes regular appearances at the practice range and is happy to work on a player’s grip or look at their swing. But he’s not compelled to offer up last-minute fixes. “I don’t give tips,” he says in a gravelly but still firm voice. “That’s for horse racing, not golf. You have to have a feeling for the game. You can’t sing like Crosby if you’ve never carried a note.”…

THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE SPEED CONTROL on the greens while also replicating real-time pressure is the Ladder Drill. For you practice-haters, this drill is as fun as it is effective. Start by placing an alignment stick one pace (about three feet) behind the hole. From the cup, walk in the opposite direction of the stick and drop a ball with every step, leaving one ball at roughly 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 feet from the hole. Next, roll each putt, starting with the three-footer. The objective is to hole the putt—which counts as a birdie—or stop it between the cup and the stick in the event of a miss, which counts as a par. If you leave the putt short or if the ball makes contact with the…

GOLF IS A COMPLICATED game as it is, so my goal as a teacher is to make the swing as simple as possible to execute. That’s what led me to study and design my teaching methods around what legendary ball striker Moe Norman did. Moe, I believe, intuitively figured out a simply better way to swing. One of Norman’s hallmark traits was adding more side bend at address than what you see in most golfers, who set up with their torso directly over their hips. It doesn’t hurt you at address, but unless you aggressively tilt your torso to the right (side tilt) on the downswing, you’ll end up in a very weak impact position. Obviously, doing so is tough to time and can put undue stress on your lower…