==================================================== Newsletter - Issue 103 Date 06/28/09 ==================================================== ==================================================== TCT Quick Tips - Putting Practice ==================================================== Observations from the U.S. Open Putting Green: Practice requires more concentration than repetition. The best players have a practice system. They know exactly what they are doing when they get to the putting green. If it's good or them, it's probably good for us. ==================================================== Golf Tip: Putter Lean and Flag Drop ==================================================== I saw this Q&A on Frank Thomas's website and thought it was worth passing along, enjoy - Tom Putter Lean and Flag Drop Q: Dear Frank, For years I have seen the pros lean on their putter while getting the ball out of the cup! After a full day of 150 "leaners",I would think that the green around the hole would have a "doughnut depression". Do the pros just ignore this factor or do they watch the putt of their playing partner? --Ken A: Ken, I have for some time been very concerned about the unintentional and almost invisible damage caused to the green when we drop the flag or lean on our putters. Leaning on your putter to take the ball out of the hole can apply a force of as much or more than 200 psi (pounds per square inch) and this causes quite a bit of damage -- not quite as much as walking near the hole wearing your high heel shoes, but bad enough. In the etiquette section of the Rules of Golf under ‘Preventing Unnecessary Damage’ it states that players should avoid causing damage to the green when putting down bags or the flag stick and not stand too close to the hole when tending the flag stick or removing the ball. It also specifically states that “Players should not lean on their putters when on the putting green, particularly when removing the ball from the hole.” I suggest that Nick Faldo changes his logo unless that is an iron in his hand and/or he was standing off the green to pose for it. How many times have we dropped the flag on the green, instead of gently placing it on the green surface? Depending on the moisture content and type of soil the “flag drop” will leave a slightly indented furrow on the green which may not recover for hours and a ball can be diverted from its intended path significantly, depending on how this furrow – not often even visible to us -- lines up with line of the putt. When we stand on the green – depending on the size of our feet and our weight etc. – we are exerting a force on the green of about 3 to 4 pounds per square inch (psi) under both feet, which is not enough to cause any damage. When we take a step the heel of the leading foot when making contact with the green can exert a force of about 60 psi or more. Most of us have noticed a heel print on a soft wet green especially in the evening when the sun is low, casting long shadows. This indentation will generally recover in a relatively short period of time but several of the following four ball groups could have been affected if the steps were on the putting line. When removing the ball from the hole -- depending on your “putter lean technique” -- you can put 40 to 50 pounds on the putter in trying to keep your balance. Most of the time during this ballet like pose, only the putter toe is in contact with the green and for most blade style putters this means that you are applying about 200 psi to the green surface. Even half of this force will cause damage which will definitely affect the direction of a rolling ball as it slows down around the hole. I have a short video (see above) that demonstrates the damage caused to the green around the hole by leaning on your putter to remove the ball. Show this to your friends who don't even know how they could affect someone else's score. It could mean the difference between winning or second place in the US Open or your club championship. ==================================================== TCT Quick Tips - Leftovers ==================================================== (Lefties please reverse Left to Right) For solid contact, Set up with your weight favoring the LEFT side On your takeaway and backswing, keep your LEFT arm straight On your forward swing, make sure that your weight is on your LEFT side at impact Keep turning LEFT through the shot Maintain your forward bend through impact, stay down and through One thought that may help you seat your weight into your left hip socket on the forward swing is pressuring your left heel into the ground to start your forward/downswing. ==================================================== Golf Tip: Golf Ball Shelf Life ==================================================== Those new (old) balls you found in the garage are probably in reasonable good shape for most golfers. The shelf life does depend on the construction and whether or not they have been exposed to high humidity and high temperatures. As far as the construction is concerned; if these balls are more than eight years old and of a wound construction they will have a lower shelf life than today’s balls ­ all balls today are of a two, three, or even four-piece construction which means that they have a solid core(s) and a mantle and/or a soft or hard cover. A wound ball which is approximately 10 years old, stored at room temperatures and low humidity, will have lost about 0.5 to 1.0 % of its IV (Initial Velocity) which will affect its distance by a couple of yards. This is not important to most of us because our drivers are a little less than 200 yards on average - most of us think our average drive is equivalent to our longest drives and thus overestimate our average driving distance by about 30 to 40 yards. Along with this overestimate, is the range in distance of our straight drives which is about +/- 10% or more of the intended target distance. Our drives are generally between 180 yards and 220 so a couple of yards, because of an older ball will be difficult to recognize ­ but let's not have anything, even two yards, get in the way of that perfect drive. When it comes to the solid core balls, these should be good for at least five or more years without too much degradation, as long as they have not been exposed to extraordinary conditions i.e. high humidity or high temperatures ­ a pond is not considered a low humidity environment but a garage may fit into this category. The other thing to remember is that the solid core balls will, in general have a higher IV to begin with and have less spin off the driver and as a result will go farther than the wound balls. Most of us have been using solid balls for at least ten years. Bottom line is if you intend to enter a serious tournament ­ your club championship or maybe the US Open -- then buy a new sleeve (or dozen) of the balls which best suit your game. If not, save your money and use the solid core balls you found in your garage and put the wound balls in the shag bag.