Today's Golfer Issue 309 Sample by Today's Golfer

FIRST TEE

NEW THIS MONTH...

14 World’s longest driver? 15 Masters champ speaks 16 Top 50 course records 19 John Jacobs interview 20 Around the clubs 22 The US Open preview

1988

THE SANDS OF TIME THE EMIRATES BY NUMBERS 5

➔

JUST AS THE FIRST ISSUE OF TG

was hitting the newsstands, a golf course opened next to a two-lane highway frequented by camels. Surrounded by desert, it was a long way from houses or office blocks, and a world away from pro tournament golf. Twenty-five years on, Dubai’s Emirates Golf

Wire-to-wireClassic wins;Darcy(’90),Seve (’92),Els(’94),Coceres (’00),McIlroy (’09).

IS SU E 3 0 9 ❘ TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K

Club is one of the most recognised layouts in the world. Today, the home of the Dubai Desert Classic is flanked by a seven-lane highway, surrounded by a marina and high-rise apartments. It even has its own station. As the region has grown, so has the club; now there’s the floodlit Faldo course, a Pete Cowen

4,000

Koi carp in the lakes. Plus 3,000 silver and grass carp.

Player who’s been in every Omega Dubai Desert Classic; England’s Barry Lane.

2013

ARS YE

2013

TI B R A N G 25 LE

golf academy and a par-3 layout. But none of it would have been possible without the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. He approved the site after turning down two other options because he was unwilling to displace Bedouin and their livestock. Designer Karl Litten immediately saw potential

Strains of grass imported – in sealed packets, to prevent contamination.

in a huge dune towering over the otherwise flat desert; that dune now houses the eighth green. Litten told us: “I could not have asked for a better topography. There was never any great discussion about the course design, other than how much land and water would be required for an 18-hole championship layout. Everyone was, however,

2,000

Casurina trees planted to mark the course’s boundary.

adamant that the course should be designed to be capable of holding a professional tournament. Other than that I really had a free hand.” Chris May, Dubai Golf CEO, added: “Is there any club in the world that has seen this much change, and this much history during the last quarter of a century?” Probably not.

Months it took to complete building the course.

The Majlis course record, shot by Ernie Els in 1994.

TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K ❘ IS SU E 3 0 9

1988

ARS YE

TI B R A N G 25 LE

SAVE 6 SHOTS A ROUND

How Justin Rose has transformed his game in the last 12 months – and how it can help you improve your scores

W O R D S G R A E M E H A M L E T T P I C T U R E S H O WA R D B O Y L A N , G E T T Y I M A G E S

ive years ago I couldn’t have done what I did in the Ryder Cup at Medinah, says Justin Rose. It’s a frank admission from the Englishman, but also an indicator of how he has taken his game to the next level and truly become one of the world’s best players. Only he’s not resting on his laurels. Not by a long shot. When we meet to shoot TG’s 25th Anniversary 3D cover, he’s busily immersed in a three-hour practice session. “I’ve got to get better,” he explains as he moves from the putting green to range. How has he done it? How has he fixed his flaws and ripped up the evaluation threatening to engulf him: a quiet, nice guy capable of winning here and there, leading the odd Major, but lacking the final ruthless edge to close out the big events? “It’s been a gradual process over time, not overnight. I’ve had to be patient and work hard. It’s only taken 14 years,” he joked. “But I always knew I had the talent and ability. “Looking back, it’s been a rollercoaster. I got criticised for turning pro straight after the Open at Birkdale, but that was always my intention and my dad was right; the IS SU E 3 0 08 9 ❘ TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K

professional tour is the best place for learning about being a professional. Of course it was tough, missing all those 21 cuts, but it made me stronger and more resilient. It feels like such a long time ago now and it is, but it was all part of what’s made me the player I am.” Yes, at 32, Rose is ready. To achieve. To confirm his credentials. To make critics eat their words. What’s more, he knows he is ready, too, more than ever before – after a superb 2012 where an inaugural WGC win in Florida, FedEx Cup runner-up, Ryder Cup heroics and World Golf Final win in Turkey completed a sensational season. He’s added to that progress this year by reaching a career best world No.3. Now, there is genuine world-class stature to Rose’s presence, to the conviction in his eyes when he says he believes the best years and titles of his career are firmly within his grasp. The seminal moments in Medinah have given him the final pieces of armour and weapons of his arsenal, as he told TG’s Graeme Hamlett... GH: I’ve watched a lot of your career live and when it’s tough, you are gutsy, but even so, your performance at Medinah in the singles was something else. Especially that last hole

and the way you played it, so accurately and superbly. How did you handle that pressure? JR: “I believe that’s where you rely upon hours and hours of practice. You need to get into an automated state and a lot of positive self-talk. There’s no doubt I couldn’t have done that four or five years ago. I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs in this game and learnt the hard way most of the time. But I’ve had enough success over the past couple of years to begin to really believe in myself and my golf under pressure. That was the culmination of a lot of hard work. And also being in the right place at the right time; there’s an element of fortune the cosmos sometimes bestows. “Take Abu Dhabi at the start of the year. Both putts were identical putts, both were 12-foot putts, just outside the right edge as the way I read them; for all the will in the world, identical. On 18 at Medinah I hit it and it goes exactly in the middle, at Abu Dhabi it misses on the high edge. “No, I wouldn’t change them! But that’s the vagary of the game. That’s what you have to try and mentally accept. But also to realise that fortune was with me that day, on other days it isn’t. That’s why you cannot beat ➔

COVER FEATURE

Jack 25th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE 1988-2013

To mark our 25th Anniversary, we sat down with the greatest golfer in history to get his thoughts on how the game, and life, has changed W O R D S PA U L M A H O N E Y A N D G R A E M E H A M L E T T P I C T U R E S N I C K L A U S D E S I G N , G E T T Y I M A G E S

ack Nicklaus is holding court. And when Jack speaks, everyone listens. It’s Tuesday at the Masters and Nicklaus is the last and headline act to appear in a festival of press conferences that has seen Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald, among others, quizzed on the tournament and the here and now. But Nicklaus is golf’s Bruce Springsteen – the Boss – with an unrivalled back catalogue of material to call upon to compile an

IS SU IS SU E 3E0 93 0❘ TODAYSG 9 ❘ TODAYSG OLF OLFER ER .CO.U .CO.U K K

impressive and diverse set-list of opinions. He has his golden oldie greatest hits, of course, but he is also still relevant on the topics of the day, and his thoughts on the future of the game are required listening. There is no one more vocal or determined to help grow the game. He stole the show at the Honda Classic in Florida in March and then chose Augusta in April for an encore. His opening track? The troubled Rory McIlroy. “The (new Nike) clubs will not make that much difference. He could play with anything,” Nicklaus says. “Maybe it’s easy for me to say. When I played, here in the

States, I used MacGregors. When I went to England for the Open, I played Slazenger England and when I went to Australia I played Slazenger Australia. I also played the small ball in England, was able to go back and forth and it wasn’t that big a deal. Maybe the guys today are so used to having one thing. But his talent is so much greater and a much bigger influence on his golf game than his clubs. He’ll be fine.” Track two: Mentoring future stars: “I don’t have many 14‑year‑olds (China’s Tianlang Guan) that come to me for golf advice,” Nicklaus laughs. “He emailed me, did the ➔

JACK NICKLAUS

TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K ❘ IS SU E 3 0 9

25th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE 1988-2013

FAIRWAY WOODS

SWEEP THE BALL AWAY Try to hit an imaginary second ball The secret to sweeping the ball away is to imagine you’re hitting another ball which is positioned at least two inches ahead of the actual ball. You can even put a second ball down when practising as a visual aid if it helps. Your fairway wood should swish across the grass in the same motion as a match striking a matchbox. You should feel as though you’re hitting the ball forward, not up. Extend your arms through, keeping the club low to the ground so you follow your target line towards the second ball. This will keep the clubhead square to the target and improve your accuracy.

Extend through The club should extend through towards the target as you strike the shot. Keep your left arm straight through impact.

Ball position check Make sure the ball is on a line just inside your left heel. Any further back in your stance and you’ll hit down too steeply, catching the grass behind the ball and duffing the shot.

VIDEO TIPSLESS

E TIME TO SEE THES N, VISIT TIPS IN ACTIO FER.CO.UK/ YSGOL WWW.TODA 10TIPS TOP IS SU E 3 0 9 ❘ TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K

NICK CLEMENS I JUNE 2007

TOP 10 TIPS

DRIVER-LIKE SET-UP Tilt your spine so your chest is centred over a point four inches behind the ball and widen your stance for a solid foundation. Position the ball inside your left heel, so you to catch the ball on the upswing.

LOW, SLOW TAKEAWAY Keep the clubhead low to the turf in the takeaway in a slow move so the sole brushes the top of the grass. In practice, place a second ball four inches behind your ball on the target line and push it away.

DRIVING

GET INSIDE FOR MORE POWER

SET-UP: SPINE ANGLE FOCUS Play the ball opposite your left instep. Now drop your right (or back) shoulder until your front hip is slightly ahead of your front shoulder. Your spine leans slightly away from the target. This helps you keep your weight level on both feet or even slightly on the back one – and promotes a wide backswing turn and a sweeping motion into impact.

AT THE TOP: LEAN AWAY As you swing back, look for what I call this ‘leanaway’ position, your shoulders rotating behind the ball and your hips. Do this and you’ll create this V-shape between your spine and the vertical. This position gives your swing width, which is vital for a power club like the driver. Get too steep and the resulting chopping action means you cannot get any real distance.

COMING DOWN: HIPS LEAD In all powerful propelling actions – throwing a ball is the obvious one – your hips drag your arms forward into the hitting zone. Golf is the same. Make this aggressive driving motion with the hips on the way down – look how your hips are forward of your head. It brings your right elbow into your belt buckle, so you can attack from an inside path to hit a draw.

ADRIAN FRYER I AUGUST 2005

SWING FLATTER The club must attack the ball on a shallow angle so you brush the ball away with no divot. Flatten your swing plane by holding the club in front of you and swinging it around your body, like a baseball bat.

➔

TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K ❘ IS SU E 3 0 9

25th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE 1988-2013

Titanium v persimmon

Of all the gear we use, drivers have seen the greatest leaps forward in the last 25 years. We found out exactly how far they’ve come

WO R D S D U N C A N L EN N A R D P I C T U R E S H OWA R D B OY L A N

f you are over 40, chances are you recall teeing off with those minuscule splinters of tree that used to masquerade as drivers. Chances also are that at some stage you’ve informed those complacent under-40s exactly how lucky they are to be golfing in the era of the modern titanium 460cc driver. You pretty much have to nod off midswing to miscue the things, right? We are living in a golden age for drivers, are we not? Of course since TG’s genesis in 1988, drivers have changed dramatically and fundamentally. But just how much have those changes affected their performance? We decided to find out by pitching a typical 2013 driver up against a classic 1988 model. The test would take place at Mizuno’s National Fitting Centre at Burhill GC, Surrey. Alex Thorne, technical specialist for Mizuno, would oversee the bout between today’s JPX 825 and yesterday’s persimmon TP5. Both clubs would be hit by Scottish tour pro Gary Orr (right) – at 45, a man familiar with both designs – and launch monitor TrackMan would record the results. Here, we reveal how the two compared in five key areas. Surely the JPX 825 would win by a knockout... wouldn’t it?

CONSTRUCTION AND DIMENSIONS Hollow and practically three times the size of the TP5, the JPX 825 is fused from five pieces of titanium, just 0.5mm thick in places. Its titanium face is harder than rock, yet flexible enough to spring the ball powerfully forward – within the rules, of course.

➔

IS SU E 3 0 9 ❘ TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K

The TP5 is essentially a lump of persimmon with a plastic insert bonded into its face. It does though have its share of metal. “Some of the head would have been hollowed out and filled with lead to get the weight up,” says Thorne. “It also has a circular metal disc within the plastic, a firing-pin insert. You can also see a series of screws in the plastic, positioned to firm up the hitting area.” The wooden-headed club actually has a lighter swing weight – C8 to the JPX’s D1-D3. It also has grooves across the face, the JPX only around the mishit peripheral areas. “The TP5 needs grooves to stop the ball sliding off its small face,” Thorne adds. “The modern driver is bigger and more stable; its high MOI permits no grooves, which promotes a hotter launch.” However, according to Thorne the key difference between the driver heads is something you can’t see: their centre of gravity position, decreed by weight placement. “The persimmon TP5’s is closer to the face and higher; it got the weight above the ball, which sent it out lower,” he explains. “This was because the balata performance balls of the day were more spinny and wanted to climb. So these older drivers worked better with a more squeezing impact. “In modern drivers like the JPX 825 the weight is well back from the face, thanks to

TITANIUM v PERSIMMON

2013: Mizuno’s JPX 825 has a hollow 460cc head fashioned from five carefully crafted pieces of titanium.

1988: Mizuno’s TP5 is a third of the size and shaped from a solid piece of persimmon, with lead inserted to adjust swing weight.

TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K ❘ IS SU E 3 07

25th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE 1988-2013

THE BIG TG SURVEY

The rules should be simplified, anchoring must be banned and most of you wouldn’t pay more than £200 to play Augusta More than 2,000 golfers took our survey – here are the results IS SU E 3 0 9 ❘ TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K

READER SURVEY

What’s your handicap? 0-5 3% 6-10 17%

Over 20 24%

11-15 28%

HOW OFTEN DO YOU PLAY TO YOUR HANDICAP?

Every few games 53% A handful of times a year 33% Every game 6% I can’t remember the last time I did 6% Other 2%

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE FORMAT? Stableford 40% Matchplay 25% Medal 17% Fourball betterball 7% Texas Scramble 6% Foursomes 3% Other 2%

16-20 28%

YOUR COMMENTS

›› ‘I’ve dropped 12 shots in two years thanks to TG’s tips’ ›› ‘The harder I try, the less my handicap comes down’ ›› ‘Stuck on seven for a decade’ ›› ‘It’s gone the same way as my age’

WHAT’S THE GAME’S BIGGEST ATTRACTION TO YOU? The challenge 62% Friendship 17% Exercise 9% Being the member of a club 6% Other 6%

YOUR COMMENTS

›› ‘All of the above’ ›› ‘Being a thalidomide survivor and seeing the look on people’s faces when I hit the ball’ ›› ‘Playing with my young sons and watching them develop’ ›› ‘That feeling of hitting a good shot’

HOW OFTEN DO YOU PLAY?

A few times a week 50% Once a week 29% Once every two weeks 9% Once a month 5% Less than once a month 3% Once every three weeks 3% Every day 1%

HAVE YOU EVER FELT UNWELCOME VISITING A NEW CLUB?

YOUR COMMENTS

›› ‘Medal format punishes those who can be erratic, unlike Stableford’ ›› ‘You can’t beat Texas scramble for fun’

HOW LONG DOES A FOURBALL ROUND AT YOUR COURSE TAKE ON AVERAGE? Three-and-a-half to four hours 46% Four to four-and-a-half hours 38% Three to threeand-a-half hours 11% Four-and-a-half to five hours 4% Less than three hours 0% Over five hours 0%

YOUR COMMENTS

›› ‘That’s because I go out early; after 10am it takes over five hours’ ›› ‘When I started out playing 35 years ago, a round took just over three hours’ ›› ‘Depends who’s in front of us’

HOW MUCH IS YOUR MEMBERSHIP?

£501-£750 36% £751-£1000 25% Under £500 23% £1001-£1500 11% £1501£2000 2% Over £2000 1% Other 2%

YOUR COMMENTS

›› ‘Started at £995 when I joined, but it

Are you a member of a golf club?

77% 23% YES

No 66% Yes 34%

YOUR COMMENTS

›› ‘More could be done by the clubs to encourage return business’ ›› ‘Playing with a society, the members made it obvious they didn’t want us’ ›› ‘A man walked two fairways to tell me to tuck my top in. I work in a resuscitation team... get some perspective!’ ›› ‘Not in the last 12 months – clubs have become significantly more welcoming’

YOUR COMMENTS

›› ‘In the present climate it’s hard to justify membership when other bills need paying’ ›› ‘Was a member for 10 years before arrival of children’ ›› ‘Used to have memberships at three clubs, but fees are all way too high nowadays’

Are you playing more or less golf than in the recent past? MORE

LESS

PER CENT

68 32 was £1,400 when I recently left’ ›› ‘£125 pay & play membership, £5 off the green fee every round’ ›› ‘Rising every year with no real change’

WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT THE GAME?

Too expensive 31% Takes too long 25% Too snobby 14% Too hard 6% Other 24%

YOUR COMMENTS

›› ‘The frustration of inconsistency’ ›› ‘Fighting to get a tee time’ ›› ‘Too many clubs think they are better than they really are, and thus charge an excessive visitors’ fee’ ›› ‘The unpredictable UK weather’ ›› ‘Slow play’ ›› ‘Grumpy old men’ ›› ‘I’m not as good as I used to be’ ›› ‘I love it... no dislikes at all’

SHOULD GOLF CLUBS RELAX THEIR DRESS CODES? Yes 32% No 68%

YOUR COMMENTS

›› ‘It’s all part of the tradition; change this and other things will follow’ ›› ‘Yes, but not to a level where you can wear jeans and T-shirts’ ›› ‘Only for younger player/members, to encourage them to enjoy the sport more’ ›› ‘What era are you from when insisting you wear a jacket and tie for lunch?’ ›› ‘I don’t think wearing golf shoes or a shirt with a collar are draconian’ ›› ‘My friend was forced to buy a collared shirt so he could enter the bar.’ ›› ‘It is not asking too much to wear collared shirts and trousers with shoes’ ›› ‘With dwindling numbers we can’t be over stuffy, but smart, neat and clean casual must be adhered to’ ➔ TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K ❘ IS SU E 3 0 9

25th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE 1988-2013

Unmistakably Monty Colin Montogomerie photographed exclusively for TG at Mottram hall with an image of himself playing in 1988.

CHANGES ON TOUR

‘I was lucky; 1988 was the first year we didn’t have to pick up our own balls on the range’ Three European stalwarts discuss a tumultuous quarter-century for the Tour... starting with 1988 Rookie of the Year Colin Montgomerie

ll I was trying to do in 1988 was consolidate and earn enough to keep my Tour card, having got mine in the ’87 Qualifying School. I’ll never forget the Italian Open in May. I finished 12th equal. I picked up just short of £2,000 – “nothing” according to experienced Australian Rodger Davis. “No Roger, it’s like a million dollars to me,” I hit back. “It’s got me above the £10,000 mark which guarantees my position and playing rights for 1989.” Back then, Europe’s ‘Big Five’ were all competing at the top level and Jose Maria Olazabal was joining them, too. Then there was Gordon Brand Jnr, Sam Torrance, Des Smyth and Christy O’Connor Jnr. To be honest I thought the best I could do anywhere was 20th. So it got quite tricky; I wasn’t going to beat Faldo, Woosie, Langer, Lyle or Seve in my first year, mainly owing to my lack of experience and not having played on the courses they’d played before. My first year on Tour yielded just over £47,000 in prize money. Obviously there was less sponsorship, but believe it or not, the cost of travel was probably even more expensive because it was before the days of budget airlines. About £7,000 covered travel expenses. But by the time I’d paid my tax and £25,000 living from week to week, there was nothing left! At least I had got my card, but it was certainly tough.

WO R D S K E V I N B R OW N P I C T U R E S H OWA R D B OY L A N

I was lucky. In 1988 Volvo began to sponsor the European Tour and it became the Volvo Order of Merit. It was also the first year we didn’t have to pick up our own balls on the range! Volvo’s involvement changed the way our tour was thought of worldwide. It was a fantastic relationship for 15-20 years and put us onto an equal footing with the US Tour. For me, 1988-1991, when we won the Masters four times in a row through Sandy, Faldo, Faldo and Woosie, was the time golf in Europe hit a whole new level; and when golf in Britain especially was on a push. The clubs were tiny and the balls didn’t go anywhere in 1988. The game has become easier thanks to modern technological advances. It was harder for me, but it was hard for the others, too. I wasn’t using inferior equipment; for the time; but when you see it now you can cut butter with it! The two people I felt sorry for when the new technology kicked in were Greg Norman – who lost his ability as the best driver in the world with a wooden club – and Seve Ballesteros, whose advantage was taken away when the lob wedge was invented. Mere mortals could suddenly do what they were doing with great natural talent. In those days the physio truck wasn’t around and players weren’t thinking about nutrition – they were still going down to the bar at night, meeting up for the odd one or three! There were plenty of smokers among them too.

1988: THE EUROPEAN TOUR’S 17TH OFFICIAL SEASON

The first year where it had an official sponsor – Volvo – the Tour’s schedule was made up of 31 events, including the national opens around Europe and five new additions: Open de Beleares, the Barcelona Open, the Biarritz Open, the English Open and the Volvo Masters. It lost the Moroccan Open and Lawrence Batley. Eight events were in England, five in Spain, four in France. Order of Merit 1. Seve Ballesteros £451,560 2. Nick Faldo £347,971 3. Jose-Maria Olazabal £285,964 4. Ian Woosnam £234,991 5. Sandy Lyle £186,018 6. Mark McNulty £180,992 7. Des Smyth £171,951 8. Mark James £152,900 9. Ronan Rafferty £132,395 10. Jose Rivero £131,079

Less fear to win is shown by today’s players. When I started winning, there were about 25 players who could win from a field of 150; now there are 5075 who can win on any given week. Competition has increased though the scores haven’t really come down. I think courses have become more difficult: to counteract the technological advances, the rough is more severe, the contours of the greens have changed and they put pins in corners of the greens they never used before. I’m glad I’m not starting now. I wouldn’t like to be going back to Qualifying School or playing the Challenge Tour; it’s tough. I’m not saying I wouldn’t be up for it – I’m always up for a challenge – but it’s good to be in a position now where I can look back and say “I did that.” We don’t have to worry about golf’s future over the next 25 years and beyond. Not as long as the R&A and USGA keep making the rules and those rules are accepted universally. We don’t want a breakaway situation where we have two separate Tours, one with long putters and one without long putters. Monty is a De Vere Golf ambassador and attended the recent re-launch of De Vere’s popular Mottram Hall venue in Cheshire, giving a golf clinic and starring in the ‘Beat Monty’ competition at the signature par-3 3rd hole. Mottram Hall hosts the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship on June 6-9. ➔

THE BALLS TEST

Boxing clever Our test put 40 balls from three price categories through their paces.

Science appliance The GC2 launch monitor added objectivity in a feelbased category.

Check mate? Short game performance played a key part in our test process.

METHODOLOGY

Just like the drivers test, we’ve made considerable improvements to the way we test balls. While we accept there’s no perfect way to judge a ball’s performance, we believe that biggest differences lie in the short game, which is why this has been prioritised by the testers in their feedback. We’ve also added an element of on-course testing. For the long game assessment, testers would hit full shots with a wedge, 6-iron and driver. Each tester was asked to hit enough shots (minimum of five) with each model of ball so they could accurately assess performance. All shots would be hit on our GC2 launch monitor so they would have access to the spin rate, ball speed and carry distance numbers when forming their assessment. For the short game assessment, the IS SU E 3 0 9 ❘ TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K

three testers played a variety of shots in and around the short game area – including a 50-yard pitch, other pitches and chips from tight lies, the rough, bunker shots and putting. They then gave us their feedback, slightly prioritising each ball’s short game performance over the full shots. Testers then chose their favourite three balls from each price range and played two holes with each to complete their on-course evaluation and select their favourites. They then gave their findings from this and a final summary, taking into account the entire testing process.

RESULTS CRITERIA

When giving their feedback, testers considered the launch monitor data, control, feel, predictability around the greens (did the ball perform as expected

WHERE WE TESTED

We chose Brocket Hall Golf Club as the venue for our balls test. It has two championship golf courses, a par-3 course and practice facilities at the Palmerston Academy that are second to none, with covered bays and four practice greens. For more info visit www.brocket-hall. co.uk/golf

considering the technology, price etc) when providing their comments for each ball. Because ball choice is so subjective, no ratings or awards were given out for this test. Instead, we hope you can use our testers’ comments to give you enough insight into what each ball offers, and whether it would suit your game.

BALLS ON TEST

We invited all major ball manufacturers to be part of the test. They sent in two dozen of each of their 2013 models. The latest ball technology has blurred traditional performance categories, with distance balls often promising feel and vice versa – so we elected to split the balls up by price to discover which ones offered the best value in three price ranges: £39 or above (premium balls), £25-38.99 and £24.99 and below (see right).

BALL BASHERS

£39 AND ABOVE

We wanted our testing panel to strike the ball consistently enough to provide accurate feedback on each ball’s performance but also cover a range of swing speeds that suit the technology involved. Meet the three testers below:

James Ridyard Handicap: Pro Current balls: Titleist Pro V1x, Nike 20XI-X. Swing traits: High clubhead speed and optimal launch conditions throughout.

On a roll Modern premium balls promise feel as well as distance; but did they deliver?

Reality bites Brocket Hall’s short game facilities were the perfect place to put balls on trial.

OUR LAUNCH MONITOR

The GC2 is the launch monitor used in the R&D labs of manufacturers such as Ping, Titleist and TaylorMade and the fitting centres of Cleveland and Cobra/Puma. It is also used by Sky Sports in their Shot Centre and by dozens of the world’s top 100 players. It uses a camera system that precisely captures and analyses ball characteristics at impact. The additional Head Measurement Technology (HMT) completes the picture of the moment of truth by showing what the clubhead is doing as it strikes the ball. Together, information such as clubhead speed, face angle, attack angle, spin rate, ball speed and other parameters are captured. For details, visit www.foresightsports.com

Joel Tadman Handicap: 3 Current balls: TaylorMade Lethal, Titleist Pro V1. Swing traits: Gets high spin on wedges and steep on chip shots. Kit Alexander Handicap: 8 Current balls: Bridgestone Tour 330-S, Bridgestone RX-S. Swing traits: Generally low launcher and spinner of a golf ball.

Titleist Pro V1 £51

Titleist Pro V1x £51

www.titleist.co.uk

Tech: Improved urethane elastomer cover for more distance, a softer feel and increased durability. JR: Surprisingly low flight around the greens, but loaded with backspin; great fun attacking tight pins. JT: Grabbed just about the right amount on chips, easy to predict. Impressive control from the rough. KA: Lovely feel off the face, nice high flight. My softest ball around the greens, could be aggressive.

Tech: Revamped four-piece design maintains lower driver spin while increasing control into the green. JR: Very high ball speed and carry with the driver. Mid trajectory greenside, good amount of spin. JT: Full wedge shots spun loads. Control greenside was similar, perhaps a foot more roll from sand. KA: Noticeably firmer than the Pro V1, especially around the greens. Got similar numbers to it on full shots.

£39 AND ABOVE

PRICES (PER DOZ) £39 AND ABOVE This marks the premium ball category, many of which are put in play on the world Tours and range from two-piece to five-piece. £25 TO £38.99 There’s plenty of variety in this category, ranging from two-piece to four-piece models that claim to offer distance, high spin or both. £24.99 AND UNDER Some models come in at under £1.50 a ball, so you don’t mind losing a few in a bush and get similar distance to a premium ball.

Mizuno MP-S £50

Srixon Z-STAR £48

golf.mizunoeurope.co.uk

www.srixon.co.uk

Tech: Multi-piece tour-level ball with a new ultra-soft, tacky urethane cover for exceptional traction. JR: Low driver spin, stable flight. Felt fantastic around the greens, loaded with controllable spin. JT: Got a piercing flight on full shots. Wind had little effect. Wellstruck pitches rewarded with grip. KA: Felt firm off the wedge but still checked on the second bounce. Impressive towering flight for me.

Tech: High performance multilayered ball with soft feel providing high levels of spin around the greens. JR: High spin with a wedge, higher ball flight with a softer feel. Very good levels of control, even in rough. JT: Softest-feeling ball on test for me. Loads of spin, felt like I had to carry chips further to get them there. KA: Got some really good numbers on full shots. Lovely soft feel, longer grass didn’t seem to affect control. ➔ TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K ❘ IS SU E 3 0 9

INSTRUCTION SWING SEQUENCE

LEARN FROM THE SWING THAT

Adam Scott has one of the best swings in modern golf. Rob Watts highlights his key moves 1

2 The quality of angles and alignment set out the swing's neutral path.

3 The takeaway starts with his left arm moving along the toe line, parallel to target.

10 Hips have begun to clear, chest is over the ball and shaft is parallel to target. Perfect!

11 Hips fully clear and shoulders begin to clear, giving space for a powerful impact.

GOLF HAS EVOLVED AND THESE DAYS THE TOP

Rob Watts European Tour and Regional England coach based at Castle Royal, Berks.

players are far more aware of themselves – their strengths and limitations – both mentally and physically. Adam Scott is the perfect example of this modern professional and he has shown improvements in both aspects in recent times. The Australian has shown incredible mental strength and resilience to recover from the disappointment of losing the 2012 Open after taking a four-shot lead into the final four holes. He used the experience to improve and was able to

IS SU E 3 0 9 ❘ TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K

4 His waist height position is ideal, face square to swing arc, club and body connected.

Club is naturally set on plane with a turn of his torso. The club's butt points at the ball.

12 He free-wheels the club through target line. Spine angle is constant and arms extend.

complement his magnificent tee-to-green performance with holing the big putts when they mattered as he birdied the 72nd hole and second play-off hole at Augusta. He is one of the fittest, strongest and most flexible guys on Tour and he’s combined his physical prowess with fantastic technique to achieve picture-perfect body positions throughout his swing. This enables him to control the power he creates so he can maintain accuracy while also being one of the longest hitters. He possesses arguably the best swing in the world right now.

CLAIMED THE 2013 MASTERS

– and what you can learn from the technique which saw off the field at Augusta National 5

When fully wound, the upper torso has turned twice as much as his lower half.

Pelvis moves diagonally to the target as unwind begins. The right elbow falls in.

His head starts to come up as the shaft of the club is parallel to his shoulder plane.

The club finishes in a powerful and balanced finish position. Arms have freely swung down the line due to the body's effective coil and unwind.

THINGS TO TAKE FROM ADAM’S SWING

SET-UP PROPERLY

Adam has arguably the best set-up in golf (1). Everyone can do this properly, and it allows the body to move without restrictions and remove the need for compensations during the swing.

THINK ABOUT SYMMETRY

Many of the positions that Adam achieves in the backswing are repeated as he swings down into impact. Look how he is in virtually the same position at impact (10) as it was at address (1).

COMMIT AND LET IT FLOW

Adam’s fantastic set-up and top of swing position (6) allow him to commit to the downswing and swing freely through. This enables him to create controlled power and a balanced finish (16).

TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K ❘ IS SU E 3 0 9

Wanna change your game? Better change your balls! Custom fit your ball today at www.srixon.co.uk

TOUR TIP

MY TIPS TO BEAT SAND Graeme McDowell shares the tips that help him save shots from sand ➔

Spin Skin helps me stop it

The unique “Spin Skin” coating on Srixon’s new Z-STAR balls increases friction between the ball and the clubface by 20%. It generates more spin and feel by letting the grooves on your wedge penetrate deeper into the ball’s surface (top left). McDowell told us: “This technology makes the ball easier to control with the middle and short irons.”

Common faults

I see too many amateurs digging the club into the sand with no follow through. Try to splash the sand from under the ball on the green and your results will improve.

MY FIRST RULE FOR

bunkers would be to stay out of them! It sounds obvious, but good course management is important for every level of golfer. Avoiding trouble and missing fairways and greens in the right place is something I focus on and you should, too. But if you do find yourself in a bunker, using the bounce on your wedge is key. Opening the clubface gives you more bounce. You need to tinker with your set-up and learn to adjust the golf club to activate the bounce. I choke down a little bit to compensate for my feet digging down into the sand and because I really want to make sure I stay a little lower and get into the sand. Remember you don’t actually make contact with the ball, it is lifted out on a cushion of sand. You want sand between ball and clubface. You should hit the sand an inch behind the ball in soft sand and half to quarter-of-an-inch in firm sand. When sand is soft it’s great to have a lot of bounce. If you don’t understand bounce, I’d recommend you go to your PGA pro. If you have a lot of shaft drive you probably need a little more bounce and if you have a bit too much flip you probably need a bit less bounce. Like chipping and pitching, you want to return the club to exactly where it is at address. For the set-up, the shaft should be pointing to the right, matched by the body, aiming a little left of target. You swing along your body line and trust the bounce of the club, especially when the sand is soft. If the sand is firmer, you should open up less, activate less bounce and get a little steeper. IS SU E 3 0 9 ❘ TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K

Play G-Mac’s wedges

Graeme McDowell leads the PGA Tour in scrambling so far this year, getting up and down a staggering 72.46% of the time. These are the clubs he relies on to do it: 48° Cleveland 588 Forged (Project X 6.5 shaft); 8° bounce 52° Cleveland 588 Forged (Project X 6.5 shaft); 8° bounce 58° Cleveland 588 RTX (Project X 6.5 shaft); 12° bounce

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

1. ACTIVATE BOUNCE To create the loft and activate the bounce, lean the shaft a little more away from the target than you would with an iron, so it’s vertical. Then match your body to that shaft. This enables you to get into the sand a bit better without digging. Opening the clubface introduces more bounce, which is key.

2. SWING CENTRED You want the club to come back out of the sand so you shouldn’t swing any steeper than you would with a normal swing. Just think about making a normal swing, but staying centred as you do so. This will help you make contact with the sand in the same place. Swaying off the ball will limit your ability to do this.

3. TRY MY DRILL A good drill I use in sand to improve my consistency is to draw a box around the ball about 3-4 inches long. My goal is then to remove the sand from that box. The key to controlling the distance the ball goes is to control the amount of sand you take, this drill does that perfectly. This also helps contact the sand in the same place.

4. PLUGGED LIE TIP My analogy for a plugged lie is to imagine you’re in the swimming pool and you want to splash water. It’s a chopping motion with no followthrough. I like to get my hands a little lower because the heel of the club has a bit less bounce and it’s really good for chopping the sand. A squarer face will help get under the ball.

TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K ❘ IS SU E 3 0 9

PLAYING Woodhall Spa Bring your bunker game, as the Hotchkin has some of Britain’s deepest traps.

OUR EXPERTS THIS MONTH GEOFF SMITH Age: 72 HCP: Nine Job: Retired Golfing claim to fame: Won the Lincs Seniors Championship in 1997. BILL HEATH Age: 56 HCP: Five Job: Retired Golfing claim to fame: Won the Central England Men’s Foursomes last year. CINDY IRELAND Age: A secret! HCP: Six Job: Accountant. Golfing claim to fame: The present Lincs County Ladies captain. JAMES LAMMIN Age: 60 HCP: 13 Job: Works for the Lincs County Golf Partnership. Golfing claim to fame: Partnered-up ex-Ryder Cup star Brian Waites in a Pro-Am in 1996.

IS SU E 3 0 9 ❘ TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K

REGIONAL GUIDE

THE GOLFER’S GUIDE TO... LINCOLNSHIRE There are over 50 courses in this eastern corner of England – including one in the world’s top 25 WORDS KEVIN BROWN

t’s more famous for its sausages than it is for its golf, yet Lincolnshire is home to a remarkable selection of courses, including a world Top 100 venue and one of a handful of links on England’s East Coast. To find out more about this forgotten corner of the country, we convened a panel of four local golfers with a wealth of experience between them... What are the county’s best value courses? Geoff: It’s not the best course in the county, but £20 a round at Boston West represents excellent value though most courses are reasonably priced compared to other regions – I’d never pay the fees being asked down south and at some courses in the Midlands. Cindy: Waltham Windmill in the north of the county is similarly top value though it’s by no means the best course around. Bill: Seacroft is a quality links and offers good value, while at Woodhall Spa you can play the world-famous Hotchkin course for £25 (with a member) and you can’t get much better than that. TG says: Geoff’s bang on: virtually all of the county’s courses are good value, including the Big Three of Woodhall Spa, Seacroft and Forest Pines. Plus, Lincolnshire is also a 2-FORE!-1 stronghold - over 20 courses belong to the money-saving green fee scheme. How about if you’re looking for a serious test of golf? Geoff: It’s got to be the Hotchkin at Woodhall Spa. Bill, Cindy & James: No doubt about it. James: It’s got everything you’re looking for in a challenging golf course. Cindy: And if you’re not playing well you

Seacroft: A fantastic links experience on the outskirts of Skegness, by The Wash.

can rack up a huge score! TG says: The Hotchkin is truly world class – you have to carefully plot your way and avoid the deep, punishing bunkers at all costs. Densely treepopulated Forest Pines is pretty challenging, too, specially off the tee. Which do you rate best in terms of overall conditioning? James: Elsham, near Brigg, is always well kept and has fine fairways and an excellent set of greens. Bill: I agree and it’s always a very good value, which is an added bonus. Geoff: My choice would be Seacroft where the normal course is always in play – they’re never on temporary tees or greens. Bill: And the same definitely applies to Woodhall Spa. Cindy: Also, Blankney near Lincoln is always very dry and playable. TG says: You can’t look beyond sandbased Woodhall Spa and Seacroft which are always in great shape all year. How about great tees and greens? Geoff: The tees and greens at Holme Hall are always very good. Cindy: I’ll second that and would also place Lincoln Golf Club (Torksey) in this TODAYSG OLFER .CO.U K ❘ IS SU E 3 0 9

➔