Today's Golfer issue 322, June 2014 Preview by Today's Golfer

free short game secrets dvd

Today’s Golfer JULY 2014 (MAY 15 – JUNE 11)

Golfer Today’s

PERFECT

REVEALED!

THE NEW

BASICS

STRIKE EVERY TIME!

✓ Hit the sweetspot ✓ Boost your distance ✓ Get more consistency

WWW.TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK

JULY 2014 ISSUE 322 MAY 15-JUN 11 £4.40

HOW TO...

>Beat fairway traps >Lag putts closer >Combat a slice >Play off slopes >Chip it tighter

FIX Y0UR HEAD TO FIX YOUR GAME JUSTIN ROSE EXCLUSIVE

tips FOR closer PITCHES

score better IN THE WIND JUSTIN WHICH ROSE SHOES? We’ve tested EXCLUSIVE 23 new pairs

NEW gear

TaylorMade’s SLDR ‘S’ woods, Odyssey putters

46 BALLS TESTED

Strike it out the middle Generate more speed Increase your consistency

Find the best one for YOUR game

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PLUS: BUBBA WATSON + denis pugh + us open preview

First Tee News, views and reviews from all thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s golf

Edited by Rob McGarr

ONE GIANT LEAP FOR GOLF This man just raised the bar in trick shots Professional golf is competitive, but at least everyone knows what they’re trying to do: get the ball into the hole in the fewest number of shots possible. In trick shot golf, the goalposts are forever shifting. The challenge for trick shot specialists is not only to be the best, the most flamboyant and the most impressive – it’s to stay one step ahead of the game. Or, in high-flying Rob Brown’s case, to stay one giant leap ahead of it. “There are some puzzled faces when people see how high this ball is,” says

➔

Brown, as he prepares to launch himself via a trampoline at a ball perched 12 feet above the ground. “I came up with the idea last year. The first time I tried it was in front of 150 people on a golf day. Out of 10 attempts, I’ll probably hit eight. But just last week I toed one into the crowd.” Despite boasting an array of tricks David Copperfield would be proud of, Rob is always striving for bigger stunts. “So next year I’m planning to take off from two trampolines!” n www.trickyrob.com

Fault Fixer With ADRIAN BISHOP Swing and Coaching Tutor for the National PGA and pro based at Wells GC.

Bubba stands very tall at address with not much bend at the hips or the knees.

He moves the club away from the ball with the handle tracing the original shaft plane, but with the clubhead way above it.

At this point Bubba has very little wrist hinge and the club face is extremely closed.

He’s continuing to lower into the ground. Hips are clearing, the left foot is rising and the club shaft is on perfect plane.

This is a beautiful delivery position. The left arm has got back in front of his hip and the club shaft is bisecting the forearms ready to unleash all that stored up energy.

1 This is Bubba’s power move. The hips and knees are almost back to square while the shoulders are still fully turned and hands are still way above his head. It takes unbelievable flexibility to achieve this position.

WHAT YOU CAN REALLY LEARN FROM ‘BUBBA GOLF’ B

ubba Watson is the most naturally gifted ball-striker in the world today and he plays with more flair and imagination than anyone else on tour. The 35-year-old used all those skills to claim his second Green Jacket in three years at the Masters. A lot has been made

of the fact that he has never had a lesson, but he has certainly learned a huge amount from watching and playing with other great players. His swing may be a little unorthodox, but he understands perfectly what he needs to do with his swing path and clubface to produce any shot shape that he wishes – and that is the essence of the game.

Saving you shots every time you play The hands are nicely in front of the chest, but the shaft is close to vertical, due to the fact that Bubba has hardly any forearm rotation during the early backswing.

The top of his swing sees the right arm is now close to vertical, the right foot is off the ground and the hips have turned in excess of 70°. All of this contributes to Bubba’s massive swing.

The right knee is straightening and his arms are continuing on their incredibly upright plane.

2 A truly explosive impact position. Bubba is literally jumping out of the ground with his arms and club fully extended.

He has used the ground so much to generate power he is now going right up on his toes. The club face has rotated freely onto the plane.

Bubba has so much raw power and rotation that his right foot has been forced to spin nearly 90° from where it was at address. He has by far the most active footwork on tour.

3 Three things you can learn from Bubba’s swing

Aim is overrated

Handicap golfers often check where their feet are aiming, but it’s far more important to understand and work on the direction you are swinging the clubhead and where the clubface is pointing at impact. Learn to calibrate your aim to match your intended shot.

Maximise your turn

To gain full power from your swing you must get as big a shoulder turn as possible. Don’t be tempted to over resist with your lower body at the expense of shoulder turn and allow the hips to turn fully and freely.

Be creative

Mess around a little when you practise rather than hitting the same shot over and over again. Learn to shape the ball, control the trajectory and hit a range of shots with all clubs. This skill will enable you to attack pins and help you get out of trouble.

BUBBA’S STATS 315.4 yards driving distance (1st on PGA Tour) 69.92% greens in regulation (8th on PGA Tour) 124.11mph clubhead speed (1st on PGA Tour) 69.58 scoring average (2nd on PGA Tour) $23.84 million Career earnings

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Fault Fixer With JAMIE DONALDSON Is a multiple winner on the European Tour and in line for a 2014 Ryder Cup debut

THE SCRAMBLING SECRETS OF ONE OF THE TOUR’S MAGICIANS

These basic shots made Jamie Donaldson second in scrambling in 2013...

The low runner

Use... when you have green to work with

1 Correct address Control distance My main thought when I’m chipping is to regulate the length of my backswing and use this to control the distance the ball travels. The throughswing should be the same length to set a steady swing rhythm.

Club selection is determined by run I choose a club based on how much run I need: the more I need, the less loft I use. It’s well worth spending time on the practice green getting used to how much run you get with each club.

The ball is centred and my feet slightly open. I like my weight on my left foot and for it to be slightly flared. The clubface is square and the shaft leans slightly forwards.

2 Loosen your grip

Many amateurs get too stiff when they try to keep the wrists passive. I like to have a looser grip than for a full swing. It helps feel and allows a little bit of wrist hinge.

3 Try my one-legged drill

A great drill to improve strike is to chip on my left leg. This helps you stay balanced and keeps your body still, so you return the clubhead accurately to the ball.

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Saving you shots every time you play

The high floater

Use... if you’re short sided or need to fly a hazard

Some wrist hinge Unlike the rocking motion for the standard chip, you have to hinge your wrists on this shot to get clubhead speed. Keep your body turning through the shot, and let the clubhead overtake your hands through impact.

1 Stronger right hand Open things up

I strengthen my right hand at address by rotating it away from the target so you can see fewer knuckles. This helps create a shallow attack. Your grip should still be looser than a full swing.

You should pre-set what you want to achieve at impact in your set-up, so I use my most lofted club and open the face. I open my stance a little to help my left side clear, which is needed on this less dynamic swing.

Club slides under You want to create a more shallow angle of attack than for a standard chip, so the clubhead slides underneath the ball and pops it straight up into the air with plenty of backspin, so that it lands softly and stops.

2 Club points upwards

The shaft should be vertical and the right forearm above the left forearm when you finish – to show that the wrist hinge has released and clubhead has overtaken the hands through impact.

The takeaway…

Master these two basic chip shots and you will always have a chance to get up and down.

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THE MAN WITH THE

GOLDEN

CLUB The reigning US Open champ tells TG how everything has changed since that day at Merion – and why he’s shooting for more Major success

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 R E X F E AT U R E S , G E T T Y

ustin Rose is enjoying the spoils of victory. He begins to open a bottle of champagne, the gigantic US Open trophy gleaming behind him. With a bang, the cork flies off and champagne spurts everywhere, covering the 33-year-old 14-time winner in bubbly. Amazingly, it’s his first drop since winning at Merion last June. Unlike Graeme McDowell, whose 2010 victory answered the age-old question of how many pints of Guinness you can fit into the US Open trophy (it’s eight, plus room for a few dirty bombs), Rose is not much of a drinker. “I’ve had champagne in it, but only as an icebucket – I’ve not actually drunk out of it. My son Leo’s eaten ice cream out of it and my new-born baby nephew Billy has sat in it,” Rose laughs. “More than anything, I’ve just enjoyed sharing time with family and close friends back at home in England and seeing how much it means to them. It’s really touching and humbling.” As the first English Major winner for 18 years prepares to defend his crown at Pinehurst, TG sat IS SUE 31 9 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

down with him to find out what it feels like to win a Major, how to keep your cool under immense pressure, and why David Cameron is using him to wind up Barrack Obama... What’s it been like since that day at Merion?

It’s been an amazing time, but I really think it’s something for me to reflect on and enjoy 20 years down the line when I’m done playing. I really think it’s a dangerous mind-set to start thinking ‘I’ve done it’. I’ve often thought about my career and wondered, ‘What if I don’t win a Major? Am I going to look back in regret? Am I going to think what could have been or what I should have done differently?’, so I’m very grateful to have the Major now that answers those questions. Now I’ve got one under my belt, as an old man I’ll be able to look back on my life and say, ‘That was pretty cool. I managed to win a Major. That’s great’. Many great players have not won one. It’s amazing how the goalposts change, because now the question is, ‘What can I do to win more than one?’ I’d really love to be a multiple-Major

Justin had the Midas touch at Merion and to mark his US Open win, TaylorMade commissioned and made a special gold RocketBladez 4-iron to honour his brilliant Major triumph and his towering final approach into the 18th hole.

US Open preview

NOT SO ROUGH Pinehurstâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s No.2 course will be a unique US Open test without long grass W O R D S S T U A R T H O O D P I C T U R E S P I N E H U R S T, G E T T Y I M A G E S

n 1901, Scottish golf professional Donald Ross fell in love while walking in the sandhills of North Carolina. He gazed at the landscape, touched the dry ground and thought of his birthplace. This land was his opportunity to pay homage to the links of Dornoch. It was his chance to design an exceptional course in America. Six years later, Pinehurst No.2 was finished. “I sincerely believe this course to be the fairest test of championship golf I have ever designed,” Ross stated. The golfing world agreed and Pinehurst No.2 went on to become one of America’s finest layouts. Then something went wrong.

In a bid to stay relevant in the face of big-hitting equipment, the course’s owners slimmed down the fairways and cultivated the rough. On the plus side, it meant that the 1999 and 2005 US Opens were won with scores of 1-under and level par respectively. On the minus side, the spirit of the course had been lost. It was time to call Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The leading design duo took a look through the archives, decreed that Pinehurst’s past was its future and set out to recreate Ross’ original test. They widened the fairways, eliminated the rough, exposed some sandy ground, planted native vegetation and

re-introduced old tees. It was a project that took 12 months and cost over $2.5 million, but when it was completed in 2011, critics, players and, crucially, the USGA, deemed it to be a resounding success. “The renovation has made Pinehurst No.2 a good bit better,” said USGA Executive Director Mike Davis. All of which brings us to the 114th US Open. On June 12, the world’s best players will face off against the new ‘old’ Pinehurst No.2 for the first time. With this in mind, we asked a variety of experts what the game’s elite can expect from the celebrated layout. Their replies suggest the week’s going to be a mixture of heaven and hell... ➔

The hack-it-out rough associated with US Opens has been replaced by waste areas at Pinehurst.

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Denis Pugh

DOES GOLF DRIVE YOU MENTAL? Top coach and Sky Sports pundit Denis Pugh speaks out on the game – and shares seven ways you can stop it driving you mad...

WO R DS RO B M C G A R R P I C TU R E S H OWA R D B OY L A N , G E T T Y

enis Pugh is in a bad mood. It’s not because we’ve made him lie on his stomach on a drizzly day at his home club, The Wisley; it’s because golfers of all levels are dropping shots as a result of what’s going on inside their head. “People think they’ll only focus on the mental side once they’ve sorted their swing,” says Pugh, a leading coach with decades of experience. “They don’t realise the mental stuff can stop them getting the game they want.” The mental aspect of the game has always been a big part of Pugh’s coaching. When Colin Montgomerie topped the European Tour Order of Merit seven years in a row, he had Pugh working on both his swing and his head. “If ever there was a golfer that would give you the full A-to-Z of golfing emotions, it was Monty! Whether you’re one of the world’s top golfers or a complete beginner, understanding your emotions is absolutely key to improving your golf. Everyone knows what it’s like to struggle to learn something – it seems impossible at first. Then, as you get better, the frustration is that you can’t always perform it as well as you know you can.” When Pugh grew frustrated with the ➔ TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 322

The Test Balls £39.99 AND ABOVE

£39.99 AND ABOVE

Callaway SR1 £39.99

Callaway SR2 £39.99

Callaway SR3 £39.99

Honma Tour World TW-G1 £69

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For golfers with driver swing speeds of 90mph or less. A Hex pattern is engineered to optimise low speed lift with a stable flight. JR: High levels of spin, low flight and easy to control, but got my lowest driver ball speeds of the three SR models. JT: Found the short game shots easy to flight down and check up quickly. Flight seemed to climb with the driver, but was accurate. PT: Reasonable feel and stopping power. Got my lowest 50-yarder and driver spin and longest carry of the SRs.

Said to have the best aerodynamic performance for mid driver swing speeds between 90-105mph. JR: Very similar spin levels to the SR1 yet delivers a bit more to the faster driver swing. Launched over a degree lower with more spin on 50-yard pitches, too. JT: Saw a reduction in driver spin compared with the SR1, but difficult to tell discernible differences greenside. PT: One of the spinniest balls in the category for me, certainly on pitches. Longer than the SR3 for me.

Aimed at golfers with driver swing speeds in excess of 105mph. A new soft cover promotes Tourlevel control and a soft feel. JR: Close to optimum driver spin and launch numbers. Only OK grip levels greenside, but enough to put it in play and rely on it. JT: Really strong flight with the driver, one of the longest on test, and performed admirably around the green, too, with a soft feel and ample spin. PT: Seemed to strike the best balance of distance and greenside control for me.

Honma’s new four-piece, hightrajectory extra-soft-feel golf ball. Maximum spin and distance with a urethane cover. JR: Softer than it’s big brother (right) so more fun around the green, lower flights with more spin easily attainable. JT: Doesn’t stand out from other models in the category but didn’t under perform either. Decent feel and control from a variety of lies. PT: How much? Was actually one of my longest balls on test and had a nice soft feel with plenty of zip.

£39.99 AND ABOVE

Srixon Z-STAR £50

Srixon Z-STAR XV £50

TaylorMade Tour Preferred £44.99

TaylorMade Tour Preferred X £44.99

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Provides the most feel and spin around the green via Srixon’s ‘Spin Skin’ and an improved Energetic Gradient Growth core. JR: Driver performance was good but the real difference came on the 50-yard pitch. It launched the lowest of any ball (suggesting it’s the softest) and spun the most. JT: Super soft. I like the low flight and extra spin you get, it makes chips and pitches easy to predict and not get away from you. PT: Very soft feel and checked up well, even from the rough.

Four-piece ball with increased compression and dimple coverage for improved stability in the wind. JR: Definitely firmer than the Z-Star, which is good for higher driver speeds, but still delivered plenty of spin around the green. JT: Felt more powerful with the driver, but shots around the green tended to get away from me at times. PT: Certainly felt firmer than the Z-Star. Got more run on pitches, but a higher flight too which almost counteracted each other.

A four-piece tech and new Soft Tech cover enhances driver distance and a softer feel and more control around the greens. JR: Driver spin was high, but felt really soft around the green with more than enough check. JT: One of the best feeling balls on test. Loads of grab even from mediocre lies, balls seemed to pop up due to the spin on the first bounce. PT: Little between the standard and X version around the green. Got more driver spin and a higher flight.

Five-layer technology to promote optimum spin control on every club. The new Soft Tech cover material increases control. JR: Low launch and spin with driver was helped by added ball speed. Spun more on a 50-yard pitch than the standard model. Superb. JT: Superior driver performance with a soft feel and control greenside. Cover feels tacky off the wedge like it’s being gripped by the grooves. PT: One of my longest balls on test and still got decent grab on chips.

IS SUE 322 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

£39.99 AND ABOVE

Honma Tour World TW-G1X £69

Mizuno MP-S £49

Nike RZN Platinum £40

Nike RZN Black £40

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golf.mizunoeurope.com

www.nike.com/golf

Honma’s four-piece, mid-hightrajectory soft feel golf ball. Has fewer dimples for a more penetrating flight. JR: Required a lot of speed to get it to check around the green, at lower speeds it wanted to pop up and release out. JR: Excelled with the driver, low spin helping achieve strong carry numbers. Had to allow for a couple more feet of run, but still felt soft. PT: Fast swingers that launch the ball high are going to enjoy this. Need a crisp strike to stop chips fast.

Multi-piece tour level ball, with a new ultra-soft, tacky urethane cover for extra control greenside. JR: Despite low driver spin the ball flight was stable. Good ball speed plus loads of spin on any short game shot you’d face. No weaknesses. JT: Great feel around the greens, cover feels super-tacky and even chips you don’t quite strike check up nicely. Impressive driver numbers, too. PT: Really high spin on half wedge shots and spin was low-tomiddle with the driver – ideal.

Tour performance control and moderate spin via new Speedlock RZN core technology to increase ball speeds. JR: A little spinny with the driver, not excessively so, and the feel around the green was fantastic. Considerably low launch, high spin on assessed 50-yarders. JT: A noticeable improvement on the 20Xi, a less clicky sound with a softer feel. Feels hot off the driver face, too. PT: Not the softest-feeling ball in the category, but very spinny around the green. Great value.

Firmer, lower-spinning version of the Platinum with Speedlock RZN Core technology. JR: Very impressive around the green, hardish feel on most shots but could also play the skidding checker with it. Very good. JT: Super all-round package – distance and low spin with the driver, but stopping power around the green. PT: Couldn’t generate the driver spin needed to keep it in the air for long enough, but distance didn't suffer too much and there’s some grab greenside.

£39.99 AND ABOVE

£24.99 TO £39

Titleist Pro V1 £51

Titleist Pro V1x £51

Bridgestone e5/e6/e7 £27.99

Bridgestone xFIXx £24.99

www.titleist.co.uk

www.bridgestonegolf.com

Delivers a softer feel, more distance and longer-lasting durability via an improved urethane cover and paint system. JR: Impressive driver ball speeds and shots around the green checked up nicely. JT: Flight and stopping power felt easy to predict. Soft feel was combined with the ball digging in on its second or third bounce. Reliable performance. PT: Came out pretty low on short game shots but loaded with backspin. Driver performance just as impressive.

Delivers more distance and a more consistent ball flight via an improved Urethane Elastomer cover. Less spin than Pro V1. JR: Nice mid flight with high spin around the green, high ball speed off the driver. An impressive combination. JT: Still flew pretty low given the firmer feel with similar levels of spin. 50-yard pitches felt and performed similarly. PT: Considerably less spin with the driver with similar launch angle. Didn’t lose out on short game control one bit.

The e5 promotes a higher flight and more control. e6 will help reduce hooks and slices while the e7 offers a penetrating flight. JR: The e7 was very hard to stop greenside but hot off the driver face, the e6 boasted a pretty stable flight. e5 was the softest. JT: The e7 is noticeably the hardest, quite clicky around the green and tricky to stop. Like the grip of the e5 though. PT: The e7 is firm with good distance, the e5 by far the softest with the most spin. e6 was about in the middle.

A low-compression core provides a higher launch with less back and side spin while an ionomer cover increases spin and feel. JR: Driver numbers were good, low spin and very high launch and with a stable flight. Control was OK greenside when the lie was good. JT: A little clicky in sound and feel and tended to release a little too much even on chips struck well. PT: Decent levels of check without the driver performance for mid swing speeds. High flight on full shots. ➔

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Buyer’s guide Shoes SPIKELESS SHOES

ECCO Street Evo One £140

Skechers Go Golf Drive £89

Stuburt Urban 2 Crocs Drayden spikeless £44.99 2.0 £89.99

www.ecco.com/golf

www.skechers.co.uk

www.sturburt.com

www.crocs.co.uk

Tech: The uppers are made of Hydromax treated leather. It’s built with low profile design to increase stability and is slightly wider near the heel. RM: They look like a squash shoe from the 80s but offer a surprisingly good level of grip. The upper feels quite padded, and the fit is not too roomy or tight. I prefer the darker colours to the light ones. JT: There’s not a great deal of padding underfoot but the feel around the top and sides of the foot is one of comfort. The firm, flat and wide base offers stability and the design is modern but not too garish – will appeal to a range of ages.

Tech: Designed for summer golf, this sneaker-style shoe is available in three different styles, utilising different fabrics and colour schemes. RM: Plenty of padding which gives a very cushioned, snug fit, but could make your feet hot on warm days. They look great, and you could wear them home without looking silly. I wonder how well the suede would fare in a heavy shower, but the grip is excellent. JT: My comfiest shoe on test. The cushioning in the sole has a memory foam quality, which moulds to the shape of your foot. Nice shape, classy design, ample grip.

Tech: Grain-effect leather uppers, a rubber outsole, padded collar and tongue for extreme comfort as well as removable insoles. RM: Look like plimsoles or trainers, shape seems to dig in at the heel due to angular design, quite roomy in the midfoot – wide but comfy, relaxed fit. Plenty of obvious padding on show. JT: Doesn’t look like a golf shoe but you get the comfort you want out on the course. Plain, sporty style will appeal to a wide range of golfers and there’s enough traction to give you confidence when playing from sloping lies.

Tech: A mesh upper offers more ventilation. One of the lightest golf shoes in its class, it boasts a four-point TPU system for traction without compromising stability. RM: The holes in the side tell you this is a shoe for summer days only, and the grip wouldn’t give you much reassurance in wet conditions. That said, it offers a comfortable fit and plenty of cushioning. JT: You notice the stability in the sole when you walk but you don’t lose out on comfort or ventilation. The upper design is appealing, sophisticated but with a modern twist. Classy shoe.

Structured

Flexible

IS SUE 322 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

Structured

Flexible

Structured

Flexible

Structured

Flexible

Get properly measured The Brannock is the universal foot-measuring device and should be the first port of call for shoe fitting. It measures foot length, arch width and heel-to-toe width. It doesn’t give a definite measurement for everyone as it doesn’t provide a 3D picture or tell you what the foot does inside the shoe. But it’s the ideal starting point.

Socks Wear the same thickness and number of pairs when you try on/get fitted as you do when playing to ensure you get the same fit.

Measure both feet Most people have small differences between left and right feet. If the differences are great, opt for the larger size.

Skechers Go Callaway X Cage Crocs Preston Golf Bionic £109 Vibe £129.99 2.0 £89.99 www.skechers.co.uk

www.callawaygolf.com

www.crocs.co.uk

Tech: Based on Skechers running-shoe technology, the GoBionic features a 4mm heelto-forefoot drop for a more neutral foot position. The injection-molded outsole aids traction and flexibility. RM: If you can handle the lairy design, you’ll get a comfortable, light shoe with enough grip for dry days. The heel cup is quite low, so you’ll need to get the perfect size or risk feeling it might slip. JT: Low in the heel, and made of very soft, almost spongy material. A rather lairy design could narrow appeal. Very comfortable. Grip was okay, light but perhaps tricky to clean.

Tech: An upper stability wrap hugs the foot to enable synchronised movement with the outsole. Triangular pods aid swing traction, transitional bars help into the followthrough. RM: An interesting design that won’t be to everyone’s tastes. The fit is quite firm, which offers good stability but does mean you’ll need the perfect size or risk initial discomfort. JT: Eye-catching, arguably for the wrong reasons. The exoskeleton design and snakeskin upper is an unusual. blend. They were comfy-ish and the fit was okay. Grip was fine for summer and the rigid sole offered stability.

Tech: A Dual-comfort Croslite material footbed offers heel cushioning while an outrigger tab helps add to forefoot stability in a classic style. RM: Once you get over the looks, you’re left with a surprisingly light shoe that offers a comfortable fit. The upper doesn’t feel as high quality as some, and the grip doesn’t excel, but it’s a reasonable budget option for dry days. JT: A roomy shoe, especially in the toe area. Some would prefer a more traditional offering but the padding around the ankle helps tailor the fit and add comfort. The spongy underfoot helps cushioning.

Structured

Flexible

Structured

Flexible

Structured

Flexible

Watch the widths Most people believe they are a medium width, but the reality is over 40 per cent are not. Go up on your toes and look for excess leather. Too much breaking or bunching of the leather in the forefoot is a sign your foot is not filling the volume of the shoe and that the shoe may be too wide.

Listen for the ‘whoosh’ If your shoes fit properly, you’ll hear a noise as you slide the foot in. This is all the air escaping the shoe. If it is too big there’s excess air inside and therefore no noise.

Rule of thumb You should be able to put your thumb between the sides of the shoe over the laces. If you can pull them so tight you can’t fit your thumb in, the shoe is too big.

Do the Walk test Walk around and make some swings to feel if the foot is moving inside the shoe. If it does, there’s a chance you’ll lose traction and therefore distance and control.

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 322

SPIKELESS SHOES

BUYING ADVICE