Today's Golfer Issue 274

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OCTOBER 2010 SEPT 9-OCT 6

TODAY’S GOLFER OCTOBER 2010 (SEPTEMBER 9-OCTOBER 6)

Golfer BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING GOLF MAGAZINE

AND IMPROVED

ALL FAULTS FIXED

BANISH BAD SHOTS: SLICES, HOOKS, FATS,THINS,TOPS, PULLS, PUSHES AND MISSED PUTTS

119

EXCLUSIVES

REVEALED: THE CLASS OF 2011 DAZZLING NEW IRONS

TOP CLUBS

TESTED

FROM TAYLORMADE, WILSON & MIZUNO

REAL GOLFERS SMASH BEST SETS OF 2010

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TIPS SPECIAL

‘MR ACCURATE’ SHARES SECRETS LEARN FROM THE BEST UK AMATEUR EVER

ALL-NEW SECTIONS

P L AY B E T T E R

274

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BUY BETTER

IRONS LISTINGS SPECIAL W I N £2 k O F W I N T E R K I T

CHOOSE BETTER WA L E S A N D F R A N C E C OU R S E S S P E C I A L

NEWS

INSTRUCTION

EQUIPMENT

COURSES

FIRST TEE

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T R AV E L

NEWS & INSIGHT

{ RY D E R C U P }

READY TO RUMBLE...

3D TV in the team rooms as Celtic Manor awaits the world’s best

M

onty’s subtle changes to the layout have been made, and the emerald fairways are in pristine condition. After nine years of preparation the purpose-built Twenty Ten course at the Celtic Manor Resort is finally ready to host the biggest showdown in golf.

But not all the work has gone on between the ropes. It’s taken 5,000 man hours over seven weeks – 20 people working seven days a week – and 9,274 fixings to convert 580 tonnes of metal into 17 stands that will allow 15,000 fans to enjoy the Cup in seated comfort. The cost of putting them up and making them safe with netting is more than £300,000.

Also, 75,000 square metres of canvas have been used for the tented village, media centre and TV compound.

Edward Kitson, of the European Tour’s staging department, explains the preparations in the clubhouse: “Like the course, the clubhouse was purpose built for the Ryder Cup so there isn’t a huge amount of work that needs to be done on the inside to get it ready. We’re putting a temporary sound-proof division wall up in the changing rooms to make the American and European locker rooms the same size.

“We’re putting additional TVs in the team rooms and each team will have a Sky Sports 3D TV. The layout of the rooms will be up to the captains; we’re in discussion with them about what pictures they want on the walls.” ◗ Check out the free matchplay supplement with this issue of TG for a comprehensive Ryder Cup preview.

The stand behind 18 is one of 17 on the course, while the hospitality pavilions (right) ensure a dry seat.

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5 Pulling the ball left of target TAKE THE LEF T SIDE OUT OF PL AY WITH THE CORREC T SHOULDER ALIGNMENT It’s not rocket science. If the ball is travelling straight left, then the clubface or the path of the club will be travelling excessively in that direction at the point of impact. But

THE FAULT

X

it’s not as simple as opening the face; you need to get to the root cause of the fault. This root cause can be found in the set-up. Poor shoulder alignment is the most common flaw

promoting this defective attack into the ball. So work on your address position to rid your game of this harmful fault and send your iron shots at the pin every time.

HIT THROUGH CHANNEL The goal is to feel a swing path that travels from in-to-out. Try forming a channel with two canes on the ground, in front of the ball and pointing to the right of the target. This will help achieve the desired path.

ALL IN A POOR SET-UP The fault in this shot is two-fold. A ball position that is too far forward produces a poor position at address where the top half of the body is leaning to the left and the shoulders are open. This promotes a swing path that cuts across the target line.

THE FIX

√

THE DRILL

SQUARE PATH NEEDED The correction in the address position is to ensure that the ball is positioned just in front of centre, from the player’s perspective. Notice how the upper body is central, the shoulders are square and the spine tilted away from the target slightly.

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6 Catching the top of the ball GE T TO THE BOT TOM OF THE TOPPED SHOT AND SEE SCORE S TUMBLE ...

A topped shot can be a particularly detrimental fault to have in your armoury if your golf course has bunkers and water hazards in abundance. Topped shots have a tendency to lose height and carry

distance, meaning hazards short of the green are in play more than ever.

Topped wedges can often do the opposite and send your ball bounding through the green and into whatever trouble lurks beyond. The topping of

fairway woods is probably the common error as golfers become intimidated by the lack of loft and attempt to help the ball in the air.

Follow these tips to make this fault disappear for good.

HITTING ON THE RISE The most common cause of the topped shot is separation between the elbows and the weight staying in the right side slightly at impact. This causes the clubhead to rise and hit the ball excessively on the up.

X

THE FAULT

PRESENT THE SHAFT You want the weight shifting into the left hip with the elbows relatively close together. The goal should also be to present the shaft to the target while forming a line with the left arm and club at impact.

√

THE FIX

THE DRILL

SWEEP THE SAND Position the ball a couple of inches inside the left heel. Sprinkle some sand in front of the ball as shown. Feel that the sole glides the sand away with a very slight downward blow. You'll then stop helping the ball up in the air and trust the loft.

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{G A R Y

W O L S T E N H O L M E

}

Take dead aim

Wolstenholme is one of golf’s straightest drivers. Here’s how he does it...

Put a driver in someone’s hands and they automatically think power, but you will score much better if you’re hitting 240yard drives into the fairway rather than 270 yards in the rough.

Who better to tell you how to hit more fairways than a man who at the peak of his powers averaged 89% of fairways hit?

An astonishing record when you compare it to the driving accuracy leaders on the PGA and European Tours. They are only managing to hit about 75% of fairways.

“I’ve always sacrificed distance for accuracy throughout my career,” says Wolstenholme. “It’s about getting the balance right. I’d much rather be hitting a 4-iron or hybrid from the fairway than a 7-iron from rough. Playing the second shot first, and putting it close, also enables you to put massive pressure on your opponent in matchplay.”

RIGHT CLUB Assess the hole before deciding what club to take off the tee. Take hazards out of play with your club selection and use the weather to your advantage.

{F A C T F I L E } ● Name: Gary Wolstenholme ● Age: 50 ● England caps: 218 (record) ● Walker Cup appearances: 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005 ● Walker Cup points: 10 (record) ● Amateur Championship wins: 1991, 2003 ● Individual amateur wins: 87 ● Turned pro: Sept 2008 ● Professional wins: Three ● Major appearances: Two Masters, Two Opens, One US Open

AIM POINT Pick a very specific point in the fairway where you want your ball to finish.

Then, even if you miss this slightly, you should still be safely on the short stuff for your second.

Get ready for action It’s important to develop your own pre-shot routine but you can learn from mine to find a better set-up

1

◗ Stand behind the ball to assess the shot and conditions and pick a target. It’s easier from down the line.

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2

◗ Address the ball with your feet together and heels aligned correctly, left toe opposite the ball.

3

◗ Move your feet shoulder-width apart, taking care to keep the ball just inside the left or front heel.

4

◗ Adopt a dynamic body position, with plenty of hand-arm clearance.

Bring your right hand on to the club.

BODY AIM FOCUS...

ALIGNMENT Use heels , not toes as some golfers like to flair their front foot slightly open to help follow through.

Your heel aim should be just left so the clubface aims at the target.

AIMING THE FACE...

TA R G E T S P O T Pick a point a couple of feet in front of the ball that is directly on line with your target. This gives you an aim point you can see even while looking down at the ball.

ON-LINE IMPACT...

BE SQUARE Keeping the face square as long as you can reduces the need for timing. Limit wrist break and keep the clubface square through the impact area - shown here by two extra balls.

CLUB LENGTH/TEE HEIGHT...

GOOD CHOKE Choking down on the grip helps you control the club and encourages a lower flight, ideal in a hurting wind. Teeing the ball lower will also help. If the wind is helping, tee it up.

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INSTRUCTION

PLAY WITH BALANCE DRILLS

Good balance forms the basis for consistent ball striking, according to Steven Orr Balance is a key fundamental in the golf swing that’s often overlooked.

Without it, there is no way of returning the club back to the ball consistently.

Either through excessive tension or previously trained bad habits, many golfers are out of balance at some point during their swing, costing them shots.

This is because the more out of balance you are, the more compensations are needed to time the shot well – which will happen more rarely as a result.

Balance is one of the strongest and most frequent signals your brain receives. Being out of balance is a threat we detect innately. After all, tripping over could be life-threatening in certain situations, which is why our body is so good at correcting poor balance. While poor balance is not so severe in the golf swing, it still has the ability to produce errant shots. Balance problems include the reverse pivot, where the left knee bends excessively on the way back causing the right knee to lock and the weight to pitch forward – or a flat arm plane, where the body weight shifts onto the toes and the arms go behind body.

These balance drills will improve your timing, sending your iron shots longer and straighter. ◗ Check out more balance tips for free at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/balance

S E E T G’ S WEBSITE FOR MORE BALANCE TIPS

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ONE LEG DRILL This exercise takes away our stable base. This means that for us not to fall over, we must come up with a movement that is simple and where our body does not sway. Swing at half-length to let the clubhead do the work and sense where your balance is.

I R O N P L AY

BALANCE

STABILITY TRY A FULL SWING

This slightly easier drill sees us place both feet on the ground but very close together. We can gradually increase the size and pace of swing from this stance compared to the previous drill, but still focus on remaining in balance from start to finish.

Shot on location at Son Gual, Majorca. www.son-gual.com

FEET TOGETHER

With the feet normal width, the timing of the swing should be improved with the clubhead moving considerably faster than the body, which is staying far more stable in the middle. Repeat these three steps to keep the balance and timing consistent.

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INSTRUCTION

LENGTH CONTROL For the longer hitters, a utility club into a par 3 may mean taking some distance off the shot. Do this by gripping down the club and swinging smoothly.

C HOK E D OW N

Shot on location at Wentworth Golf Club. www.wentworthclub.com

WI N D & TE E H E I G HT Take into account other factors that will affect where your ball will finish, such as the wind and its strength. For both hybrids and long irons, tee up a finger’s depth.

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C HOK E D OW N

P L AY T H I S H O L E

{ R E A L -WO R L D T I P S }

HOW TO PLAY

THE LONG

PAR 3 Gain confidence on the tee of long par 3s with these shot-saving tips from Kristian Baker P I C T U R E S H O WA R D B O Y L A N

RESCUE ME For higher handicappers, long irons are far more difficult to hit consistently.

Investing in a rescue or hybrid will see your scores on long par 3s reduce over time.

C LU B C HOIC E

L O N G PA R 3

A

long par 3 is one that measures over 190 yards and requires a 3 or 4-iron off the tee. The first thing you should always consider is taking a rescue club and swinging it smoothly. This club is going to hit the ball higher and will make it land softer. It’s also more likely to make the carry as rescue clubs are more forgiving than long irons because they have perimeter weighting – which keeps the head more stable on off-centre strikes. They also go further through the air because of the higher launch angle. With all this technology on your side, it makes sense to consider using it!

Remember there’s no shame in laying up just short of the green if you can’t carry the ball on to the centre.

You’ll have a better chance of making par from there than in any surrounding hazards.

ON THE TEE FIND THE GREEN ● AIM FOR THE GREEN’S CENTRE Remember that the greens on long par 3s are generally a lot larger but there’s still no need to fire at the flag. On the tee, aim at the middle of the green. If you manage to hit that point, you’re never going to be too far away from the hole.

3 BEST ANGLE Hitting into a long par 3 means using a longer club which will roll more on landing. So position yourself on the tee so you’re hitting into the throat of the green.

3 AIM POINT The centre of the green is the best play from the tee, it gives you the best chance of making par.

2

F L IGH T PL A N

P L AY S M A RT E R W I T H T G’ S WEBSITE VIDEO TIPS

1 1 TEEING UP Tee up on the side of the tee that gives you the best angle into the green depending on its shape and hazards.

2 BAIL OUT Always be aware of your bail-out zone, the safer side of the green to miss... and favour this with your aim.

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EQUIPMENT 119 GOLF CLUB S HIT

MULTIPLE CHOICE Eight readers are custom-fitted for the latest ranges of nine leading P I C T U R E S H O WA R D B O Y L A N A N D T O M C R I T C H E L L

THE IDEA We invited nine top manufacturers up to The Belfry to take part directly in a three-day challenge. Our eight-strong test panel would be custom-fitted by each of the manufacturers for driver, fairway woods, hybrids, irons and wedges. Some companies also provided putters for our team to test. By the end of the three days each golfer was asked to pick a bag of clubs from everything they had tested.

THE MANUFACTURERS Callaway, Ping, Mizuno, Wilson, Yonex, Nike, TaylorMade and Cobra supplied fitters and experts to help get the test team fitted into their best equipment for them. Cleveland opted to only fit the guys for wedges, a speciality to them, while the other companies fitted for the full range of clubs. What they believed would work best for the tester was recommended.

THE TESTERS Last year we included our equipment team of Jon Greathead and Dave Connor in the test, as well as three professionals from The Belfry, where we did the test. But this year we decided to concentrate fully on the TG reader.

These eight golfers, of differing handicaps, have been on our prospective test team books for a while now, so all were chomping at the bit to get involved.

THE TE STE R S (LEF T TO R IGH T): ◗ JONNY HERD HCP 18 ◗ MATT JOHNSTONE HCP 0 ◗ RICHARD HOOPER HCP 20 ◗ ROB WEBB HCP 15 102 IS SUE 273 ❘ TODAYSG OLFE R .CO.UK

READER MEGA TEST

MEGA TEST

THROUGH THE BAG

{TESTED}

8 TG READERS

brands. Which clubs will make it into their bags?

THE FINAL RECKONING After three exhaustive days of testing, the eight golfers sat down and looked through their extensive notes compiled during the test process. After much deliberation they worked out which clubs they wanted for their bag.

Though most manufacturers opted to use balltracking products such as TrackMan or Flightscope, these stats are not presented in the final analysis.

The clubs that made it into the bags are based on gut feeling rather than pure statistics – subjective feeling is a big part of a buying decision and we felt this should be reflected in the overall decision.

THE VENUE The Belfry near Sutton Coldfield was, as always, delighted to help out and offer their facilities. Apart from the putting side of the

◗ IAN WHITTLE HCP 12 ◗ RICHARD PINEO HCP 10 ◗ JAMES POOLEY HCP 14 ◗ GEORGE SADOWSKI HCP 7

9 LEADING BRANDS

test, everything was done in the fabulous PGA National Golf Academy. With a sensational 34-bay driving range and a short-game area that is as fun as it is rewarding – it’s the ideal place to improve your game. Want to know why we love the place so much? Please visit www.thebelfry.com for more details on the Academy, and the three stunning courses, including the Brabazon which has hosted four Ryder Cups.

The Belfry Wishaw, Sutton Coldfield, B76 9PR Tel: 01675 470301 Email: enquiries@thebelfry.com Web: www.thebelfry.com

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EQUIPMENT THE TOP

{ M R C O N S I ST E N C Y }

3

JAMES POOLEY, HCP 14

s

Improvement through old-for-new exchange

One of the models of consistency throughout the test days, James was effective with lots of different styles of club. And one of the fitters noted something that could help him instantly.

Nike fitted James for a VR STR8-Fit driver with a slightly shorter shaft – the 44.75in one gave him a little more control, and by shutting the clubface by 2˚ James’ spin rate came right down which translated to more distance too.

James was also surprised by just how far technology had come in recent years – his own bag featured some older clubs and with the developments in MOI and weight-placing in recent years, he saw a vast improvement.

James also saw a large yardage leap in the fairways department too, with Ping’s K15 giving him an additional 26 yards of carry on his current model.

◗ DRIVER 1. Nike VR STR8-Fit Tour 2. Ping G15 3. Cobra ZL ◗ FAIRWAY WOOD 1. Ping K15 2. TaylorMade R9 Ti 3. Callaway FTiZ ◗ HYBRID 1. Yonex Nanospeed 3i 2. TaylorMade Burner SuperFast 3. Ping i15 ◗ IRONS 1. Ping Tour-S 2. Cleveland CG15 3. Nike VR ◗ WEDGES 1. Ping Tour-S 2. Cleveland CG15 3. Nike VR ◗ PUTTER 1. TaylorMade Rossa Corza Ghost 2. Ping Scottsdale Y-Worry 3. Odyssey Black Series 2-Ball

THE FINAL RECKONING DISTANCE AND ACCURACY GAINS THROUGH SPEC UPGRADES

118

Driver £369 NIKE VR STR8-FIT TOUR 10.5˚ VOODOO STIFF SHAFT

Fairway £175 PING K15 16˚ AND 19˚ TFC 149 STIFF SHAFT

Hybrid £119 YONEX NANOSPEED 3I 22˚ 100H, STIFF SHAFT

Irons £85 (pc) PING i15 3-PW AWT STIFF SHAFT, YELLOW CODE

Wedge £100 PING TOUR-S 52˚ AND 58˚ 10˚ BOUNCE AWT STIFF SHAFT

Putter £129 TAYLORMADE ROSSA CORZA GHOST, 34-INCH SHAFT

The fitter’s decision to close the face by 2º helped enormously, and I loved the feel of the club. The ball flight was powerful and consistent. The aesthetics were fantastic, a really clean, solid look at address.

The Ping boys suggested I use a 3 and 5-wood and the results were impressive. I was astonished at how much height I was getting, while managing to achieve really good distance. The clubs sounded amazing too.

The TaylorMade Burner SuperFast pushed the 3i all the way, but I was more impressed with the latter because of the soaring ball flight. It wasn’t the best-looking club on test, but it goes to show that it’s not all about looks.

These were comfortably the best clubs I’ve ever hit! I gained 15 yards with the 6-iron, and I couldn’t ignore this when it came to the final selection. As well as feeling and looking great. The grips gave me confidence too.

These Ping wedges were just superb. The Tour-S looked fantastic and I just felt they had slightly better feel and were a little more responsive than the Cleveland CG15s, which were a very close second.

As soon as I saw the unique head colour, I knew I’d love it! Not only does it look amazing, it performed superbly too! I found it easier to judge distance and I was holing a lot more putts from eight feet with this.

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READER MEGA TEST

THROUGH THE BAG

{ T H E P OW E R S LU G G E R}

ROB WEBB, HCP 15

Seeking a better ball-flight through custom-fitting

Like many TG readers, Rob Webb is desperate to improve and get down into the sacred ground that is singlefigure territory.

Powerfully-built, Rob has no problem getting the ball out there but he does tend to keep the ball low which inevitably costs him distance.

From his comments, Rob seemed to enjoy the three days of fitting and paid special attention to the brilliance of the Cleveland wedge session.

Dean Cracknell, who represented the brand, didn’t try to change his swing but did notice he de-lofted the club at impact – happily, a few tweaks and bends and Rob had a sensational set of wedges that would get the best out of his swing,

THE TOP

3

s

◗ DRIVER 1. Mizuno MP-630 2. Ping K15 3. Callaway Diablo Edge ◗ FAIRWAY WOOD 1. Mizuno MP 2. Ping K15 3 Callaway Diablo Edge ◗ HYBRID 1. Ping K15 2. Callaway Diablo Edge 3. Nike MachSpeed ◗ IRONS 1. Callaway X-22 2. Ping K15 3. Cobra S2 ◗ WEDGES 1. Cleveland CG15 2. Ping Tour-S 3. TaylorMade xFT ◗ PUTTER 1. TaylorMade Rossa Kia Ma Fontana 2. TaylorMade Rossa Corza Ghost 3. Nike Method 003

THE FINAL RECKONING ECLECTIC MIX, WITH EACH CLUB BUILT FOR A SPECIFIC JOB

Driver £229 MIZUNO MP-630 12˚ LIGHT FLEX 50G SHAFT

Fairway £169 MIZUNO MP 18˚ EXSOR FS4 REG SHAFT

Hybrids £120 PING K15 23˚ (4IRON LOFT) TFC 149 REG SHAFT

Irons £749 CALLAWAY X-22 4-PW UNIFLEX STEEL SHAFT

Wedges £99 CLEVELAND CG15 50˚ (BENT TO 51˚), 54˚ (55˚) 58˚ (59˚)

Putter £229 TAYLORMADE KIA MA ROSSA FONTANA 34-INCH SHAFT

The light flex and higher loft saw me get through the ball faster, pushing my overall distance up to around 240 yards. I loved Mizuno’s Swing DNA function which helped give the fitter a superb picture of my swing characteristics.

This was such an easy club to get airborne and so gave great distance.

I loved the compact look and by getting a lighter shaft in I could get more out of my swing. This was fantastic off the tee as well as the deck.

I’m very keen to get the ball into the air for longer with my woods, and the hybrids are no exception. Ping’s K15 option allowed me to do this and it was very forgiving too. It also managed to eliminate my horrible slice!

These instantly impressed me. Not only were they forgiving and seemingly long, they felt really soft too. It was close between this and the K15 but I found these a little easier on the eye, but both inspired confidence.

I was told by the brilliant fitter that my steep attack meant I de-lofted the club at impact. He suggested the three lofts I was fitted for should be bent up a degree to give more impact loft. The wedges felt very smooth.

I like mallets and the TaylorMade Corza Ghost looked fantastic, but I preferred the slightly smaller-headed Fontana. The midmallet style suited my eye and stroke, and the feel off the clubface was excellent.

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TRAVEL { G E T AWAY F O R L E S S }

LORENZO’S ROYAL! You don’t have to pay through the nose to play Europe’s finest and the Algarve’s classy San Lorenzo is a shining example WOR D S K EV I N BROW N

BARGAIN BREAKS

San Lorenzo oozes class through every pore and since opening in 1988 has firmly established itself as a must-play on an Algarve coast chockfull of quality golf courses.

The course’s dramatic layout was designed by American architect Joseph Lee who certainly took full advantage of the exquisite undulating pine woodland topography of the sumptuous Quinta do Lago estate... and the fact it borders the wonderful Ria Formosa Nature Reserve and Estuary. The breathtaking 6th and 7th holes, which sit next to the Nature Reserve, are particularly memorable, with the elevated 6th tee offering a stunning view across the water, while the 8th is a thrilling par 5 with a lake all the way down the right side.

The circular front nine runs anti-clockwise before returning to the clubhouse at the turn.

But still to come is a pulsating climax in the form of a card-wrecking par 4 fraught with

danger (again of the clear liquid variety) every inch of the way!

This five-star course is matched by the nearby Dona Filipa Hotel which offers 154 rooms plus world-class facilities, including a heated outdoor pool, tennis courts and three quality restaurants.

All this within a short walk from golden beaches regarded among the best in the world.

All of this quality, of course, comes at a price – for a round at San Lorenzo you can expect to cough up at least £145 – which makes the special deal below unbeatable value. ◗ THE DEAL

Three nights’ B&B at the Dona Filipa & San Lorenzo Golf Resort and two rounds of golf on San Lorenzo. Cost: from £239 per person. Valid until Oct 31. To book: Contact Leisure Link Holidays, telephone: 01708 339300 or visit www.leisurelinkgolf.com

SAN LORENZO

FIVE MORE VALUE BREAKS Great stay-and-play deals across Europe from £99 per person

SPAIN

Three nights’ B&B at Barcelo Montecastillo (from Nov 1) & three rounds from £99pp.

The Golf Travel Company.

Contact: 01480 450907.

FRANCE

Three nights’ B&B in Sept/Oct at Seignosse Golf Hotel, three rounds at Seignosse for £289pp. Destination Golf.

Contact: 0208 658 1815.

P ORTUGAL

Three nights’ B&B at five-star Sao Rafael Suites Hotel and three rounds from £185pp. (£60 saving). Golfbreaks.com Contact: 0845 543 6675.

FRANCE

Four nights at Domaine de la Brie, unlimited golf & return via Eurotunnel for £279pp.

Golf Planet Holidays.

Contact: 01277 824100.

‘THE LAYOUT TAKES FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE QUINTA DO LAGO ESTATE’S EXQUISITE PINE WOODLAND’

SPAIN

Four nights’ Monasterio Hotel B&B, car hire & golf at Sherry, Costa Ballena, Arcos Gardens in Oct, £285pp with Grey Owl Golf. Contact: 01206 841994.