Today's Golfer Issue 295 Preview

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JUNE 2012 ISSUE 295 APR 19-MAY 16

TODAY’S GOLFER JUNE 2012 (APRIL 19-MAY 16)

Golfer LEE WESTWOOD ‘MY POWER POSITIONS’

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DISTANCE 84 TIPS AND DRILLS TO HELP ADD YARDS

SUMMER

AWESOME COURSES FOR UNDER £50 WWW.TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK

WIN 10 CUSTOM-FIT PING DRIVERS

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31 DRIVERS TESTED GET THE BEST CLUB FOR YOUR GAME AND BUDGET

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GUIDE

WEST WOOD'S POWER POINTS

ADOpT A ‘READY’ pOsITION Building the correct foundations is crucial when you think about what the golf swing actually is – a two-second explosive movement where the club moves at very high speed and the body needs to move in time

with it. Being ready to hit starts with good balance and firm connection to the ground. This tip below really helps me engage with the ground, providing a stable base from which to start the swing.

B a l a N c e D s ta r t At address you want to feel a nice flex in the legs, much like a goalkeeper ready to save a penalty. This is because you’ve got to be in good balance to be ready to move. The swing is a quick movement so being balanced at the start helps maintain it throughout.

coWe N G R O U N says D FORC "If you d E on’t get con sta

rt with trol of the swin you’ll lose con your set-up to trol thro g. It’s yo u you get u comfort r control arm, ghout the pow where able on er in the b ground the swing com locks. All es from so you n pressure th ee against d to feel that e th e floor be you sta fore rt the sw ing."

HEAD BEHIND Poor body position in relation to the ball will result in compensations during the swing. The most efficient position for your head with a driver at impact is behind the ball. If you assume this position at address there will be no need to compensate during the swing.

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CREATE THE CORRECT WIDTH Creating width early in the swing is important for power but doing it correctly is even more vital.

Amateurs I see often set the club too early in the backswing with too much wrist hinge. This robs them of width and

promotes a very upright swing, far from ideal when using the driver. I load the club in the first part of the swing by keeping my legs quiet and using the bigger muscles to control the movement.

s ta r t t h e c o i l I always like to feel like my lower body remains very still as I take the club away and it reaches parallel to the ground. This allows the upper body to coil above it and get the right hip loading properly. I like the feeling of having the shoulders loaded on a very solid base.

first move ke ys Setting the club in the right position in the first part of the swing helps achieve good positions for the rest of the swing. Feel that initial move comes from the shoulders and chest turning away from the target with the club parallel to the target line.

kEEp spEED THROugH ImpACT “Power is sequencing the movement of the feet, hips, torso, shoulders, arms and wrists," says Cowen. "They all need to move at the right time and at the right speed to deliver maximum power to the ball. Speed alone is no good. You must maintain that speed through the impact area.

"Lee knows his swing almost as well as I do. His physical ability to do things now is so much better. His body is able to control the swing. He can hold the key positions in his swing so much better than seven or eight years ago.

"When Steve McGregor, a sports scientist and Lee’s personal trainer, started working with Lee to get his body shape right he found out that Lee’s maximum clubhead speed during the swing was 115mph but at impact it was only 99mph. So he lost that speed he created when he needed it most at impact and that equated to a loss of almost 20 yards. By sorting his body out he was able to maintain 115mph through impact, so in theory he gained an extra 16mph without changing his swing much at all.”

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LUXURY FOR LESS Play the excellent Luffenham Heath for just £35.

LU FFEN HAM H EATH P A r 71 , 6 , 41 8 y A r d s It’s heathland golf at its sparkling best.

Indeed if this track was located in the Home Counties you would almost certainly be paying double.

It’s just over a century old and is the pride of Rutland, England’s smallest county. Luffenham is also steeped in history and pedigree, the graceful layout being initially crafted by Harry Colt before James Braid made his mark with significant alterations a few years after the course’s 1911 opening.

The course has also benefited from a major renovation and modernisation project carried out by Martin Hawtree about eight years ago.

You’ll particularly enjoy the challenge provided by the 11th, 12th and 13th holes, Luffenham’s own Amen Corner, though undoubtedly the signature hole is the sensational par-3 penultimate hole – downhill over a tangle of mounds and protected by devilish bunkers.

Playing tips: “If you’re good and straight off the tee you’ll have a lot of fun but if you’re wild you’re in for a long, hard round because you’ll be lucky to have a follow-up shot. It’s best to be short and safe off the tee as opposed to trying to be long, only to find the semi-rough... or worse.

Beware of the greens too and I would say take 50 per cent more borrow of the break than you think.”

Ian Burnett, club professional. ◗ Factfile Location: Five miles west of Stamford, Lincolnshire.

Green fees: All week (except Tuesday) is sue 2 9 5 ❘ Todaysg olfe r .co.uk

Rolls of Monmouth is a hidden gem.

OTHER OPTIONS More treats for £50 and less…

◗ Boat of Garten, Scotland Claims to be the hidden gem of the Highlands and with some justification as it provides some of the finest views in Britain.

Green fees: Mon-Fri £39; Sat-Sun £44.

Tel: 01479 831282. ◗ Thetford, Norfolk Classy, underrated heathland layout carved out of the Breckland Forest.

Green fees: Mon-Fri £40; Sat-Sun £45.

Tel: 01842 752169. ◗ Thurlestone, Devon Delightful Devonian seaside track with views to match.

Green fees: £42.

Tel: 01548 560405. ◗ Machyns Peninsula, South Wales Pulsating Nicklaus >>

£55 (£35 after 4pm).

Contact: 01780 720205.

AsTBUry HALL P A r 71 , 5 , 9 8 7 y A r d s It’s one of the best new courses to emerge in England in recent years.

Astbury Hall only opened last year but already looks a picture and is playing an absolute treat as TG discovered first hand at the end of last summer when we took on owner and Judas Priest co-founder and guitarist Ken Downing, in a TG20.

In many ways, including the topography of the layout and its general condition, it reminded us of The Grove in Hertfordshire – high praise indeed. Like The Grove, Astbury features a combination of open and tightly tree-lined holes – there are no stand-outs as such, but plenty of good ones, specially around the turn. The 9th is an intriguing left dog-leg par 5 to a raised green while the reverse nine starts with a short par 4 to a green virtually surrounded by sand.

A memorable round is unusually but spectacularly climaxed with a

200-yard par 3 over a lake and afterwards your joy, or otherwise, can be discussed in Ken Downing’s majestic mansion home which is currently doubling up as Astbury’s impressive clubhouse!

Playing tips: “The old saying ‘drive for show, putt for dough’ certainly rings true here at Astbury Hall. You need to bring a well oiled putter because the greens can be pretty quick. In fact they’re very pacey even in the depths of winter. Taking out a course planner with you will also save you some shots – don’t go into the round blind or you’ll suffer.

“A lot of golfers play the opening par-4 hole as a par 5 – it helps you get into the round and getting a par feels like a birdie.”

Ken Downing, owner. ◗ Factfile Location: Just outside Bridgnorth, Shropshire.

Green fees: Mon-Thurs £30; Fri-Sun £40.

Contact: 01746 767394. >> Boat of Garten, Scotland

‘drIVE FOr sHOW ANd PUTT F O r d O U G H C E r T A I N Ly rING s TrUE AT AsTBUry ’

Astbury Hall is owned by Judas Priest’s Ken Downing.

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INSTRUCTION

CHIPPING CHECKS Chris Ryan shows you how a consistent set-up will lead to better chipping results

HOW IT WORKS… Too many amateur golfers waste shots by having a scrappy game from just off the green. A combination of poor strike or control of distance leads to a length of par putt they can’t hole frequently.

Many problems among amateurs start with a faulty set-up and often lead to inconsistency of strike and distance control. There are so many variables in a chipping address position and it only takes one to be wrong for things to go awry. Ticking off all these chipping checkpoints in your set-up should lead to shorter putts for par.

F U L L S H O T F A U LT Too often, a club golfer’s chipping action is a scaleddown version of a full shot with the stance too wide and the weight even. This creates too much momentum in the club leading to deceleration.

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BALL POSITION To ensure you strike the ball first, position it toward the back of the stance just inside the right heel. Having the ball here increases the consistency of the contact with a downward strike.

W E I G H T F O R WA R D Amateur golfers often follow the ball with their upper body, which moves the weight back and adds loft to the club. Setting the sternum behind the ball moves the low point here incorrectly.

TI P ON E: NARROW YOU R STANCE TWO-CLUB RULE When you chip, your stance should be much narrower than for a full shot.

Be consistent – a good checkpoint is to set the feet two clubhead-widths apart. This provides a stable enough base while also quietening the lower body during the motion.

CHECK POINT As well as narrowing your stance with the rule above, withdraw the left foot slightly so your stance is open to the target. This creates room for the hands to swing through that the hip action would create on a full shot.

TIP THREE: LEG ALIGNMENT

TIP TWO: STERNUM AHEAD HANG A CANE The sternum needs to be fractionally ahead of the ball at address to ensure the bottom of the swing occurs after the ball and the club is descending into impact. Hang a cane down from your shirt buttons and check it points in front of the ball. This will help to check if the spine angle is fairly close to vertical.

CHECK POINT Setting the sternum in the right place should also see the shoulders close to horizontal at address.

Having the right shoulder too low will shallow out the angle of approach too much, causing both thin and heavy contacts.

DRILL: QUIET WRISTS

POINT THEM IN FRONT OF BALL

KEEP THE BALL IN PLACE

Aim to position both your feet and knees so they point at an angle diagonally in front of the ball, demonstrated by the two canes on the ground here. This restricts the leg action in the backswing and encourages the shot to be played more with the bigger muscles of the upper body, creating more control over the strike.

Once you have a sound set-up you can then work on the motion. A great drill to encourage a lack of wrist action is to position a ball between the back of the forearm and the top of the grip. Make some practice swings aiming to keep the ball in place. If there is any excess wrist action or quick changes of direction it will cause the ball to drop out.

CHECK POINT Opening your stance to the target will encourage the feet and knees to point more to the left in front of the ball at set-up.

Remember to swing the club down the target line, not following the line of your toes through impact.

CHECK POINT You should be able to keep the ball in place right throughout the shot.

Another great drill to limit your wrist action, which is the most important thing to achieve when chipping, is to place a pen down the back of your glove.

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hit and miss To gain height, the club must attack the ball on a shallow angle. This station is set up to promote it. Your mission is for the club to strike the first tee, take sand from under the ball, yet rise sharply enough to miss the second peg. Simple!

t h e h i g h f lo at e r Pile some sand up and put the ball on top. Stick your first tee into the sand an inch behind, pointing back at your wedge.

Stick the second tee six inches in front, on the ball-target line.

Set up as usual, ensuring the ball is inside your left heel.

OUT OF THE TRAPS

sand saviours

Adrian Fryer on how to adapt your sand technique to suit the shot in front of you One minute you are under the lip of a deep bunker, the next, you have 30 yards of sand and green to cover.

Naturally, one technique won’t cut it in both those situations. On one you are trying to create height and spin while on the other you want a more powerful, forward trajectory –

with minimal spin on the ball to help it run out to the cup.

Over these two pages, I will show you a simple drill to help you develop the shot for each. All you need is a practice bunker and a handful of tee pegs. Here, we start with the right approach for the high, floating shot.

S hallow at tack

open th e fac e

the flip Side

You can only generate the correct contact for this shot through a shallow angle of attack. A shallow strike preserves the loft on the face for a quick launch; it also maximises the spin you create, helping the ball settle quickly on landing. This drill will help you achieve it.

Add loft to the face by opening it, the leading edge pointing right of your target. Place your lower hand more over the top of the grip into this weak position, an anti-rotation hold which helps preserve face loft. A tee between thumb and forefinger should point holeside of the ball.

Assist this lofted strike by allowing your wrists to flip forwards through impact. This is not a rotation; you should feel your glove badge face the sky and create some angle in the back of your right wrist. You will feel how important this forward hinge is in missing the second peg.

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LoW CHasEr Use this shot when you have a low lip and plenty of sand or green to cover. You can go down as far as your 9-iron – which could have as little as 43˚of loft – for this shot, depending on the lip height and distance needed.

reaction Position two tees either side of the ball, on the ball-target line, as shown. Make sure both pegs are opposite your toe caps. Play the ball just forward of centre in your stance, so the ball is closer to the forward tee than the backward one.

doWn and delofted The station is set up to promote a downward strike with a delofted clubface. This time, your goal is for the club to miss the first tee, but collect the second. Achieve that and you will ingrain the technique needed for ‘running’ sand shots.

puSh and drive

c loS e th e fac e

rotate for run

On this shot, backspin is your enemy; you need the ball to come out low and running. A delofted face that ploughs forward through the bunker generates neither height nor spin. By missing the first tee but taking out the second, you get this driving, downward strike.

As with the high shot, grip and face aim are key.

This time close the face a touch; it removes loft and bounce, helping that ‘ploughing’ action.

Place your lower hand more under the club to promote face rotation. A third peg should this time point behind the ball, as shown above.

This time, the feeling you want to generate is of the right arm driving down and forwards, through the sand. Assisted by your strong grip, the forearms will want to rotate. That’s fine; with the toe of the clubface turning over, the ball will come out low and running.

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EQUIPMENT

ADAMS SPREAD WINGS

Forgiving new hybrids and irons from the brand lower-handicappers rate Idea a12 hybrids

£199.99 I www.adamsgolf.com Building on their Tour success, Adams have aimed the new a12 hybrid at the mid-handicapper who seeks forgiveness and a higher ball flight – but without the overly large and off-putting clubhead.

It features Adams’ patent-pending velocity slot in the sole and the crown, which is designed to increase ball speeds across more of the face, bringing them closer to the legal limit of a driver.

Adams say compared to their previous Idea a7, the a12 offers a much higher launch angle and increased ball speed without increasing spin – and that is a recipe for more distance.

The hybrids in the set boast Adams’ special velocity slot to produce fast ball speeds.

a12 OS hybrid irons

From £599 I www.adamsgolf.com Adams have created the new a12 OS hybrid irons to be big, long and offer higher handicappers loads of assistance.

The OS stands for oversize and the set sees hybrids, transitional hybrids and irons all combined within the one set for the most playability.

Throughout the set, ultra-thin faces offer fast ball speeds while low CG and maximum perimeter weighting offer extreme forgiveness on off-centre strikes.

The hybrids in the set (4-6) feature Adams’ velocity slot technology for fast ball speeds while the mid irons (7-8) are a transitional hybrid somewhere between a hybrid and an iron. The short irons (9-SW) feature a deep undercut cavity to enhance perimeter weighting and pull the CG lower.

The a12 comes in 17°, 19°, 22° and 25° lofts and boasts UST’s ProForce VTS Silver hybrid shaft.

TG SAYS: We’ve been big fans of Adams for the better player for a good few years but last year’s Idea V3 Tech irons and now the a12 OS hybrid irons really offer something to higher handicappers as well. TaylorMade-adidas Golf's recent $70m agreement to buy Adams can only be good news for the brand and UK golfers alike.

WHO ARE ADAMS GOLF? Just because some golfers in the United Kingdom haven’t heard about the brand, doesn’t mean they don’t have a reputation for quality. Here are seven things you might not know about Adams Golf...

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1

Their staff players include the great Tom Watson, Robert Karlsson, Aaron Baddeley and Kenny Perry, not to mention the world No.1 in the ladies’ game, the highly-impressive Yani Tseng.

2

Adams are the No.1 used hybrid on the PGA, Champions and Nationwide Tours and recognised as a utility specialist.

3

The brand was founded in 1987 by Barney Adams.

4

Six-time Major winner Sir Nick Faldo signed with Adams in 1997 and the TV pundit is named as the inventor of a TriLevel sole wedge on a patent awarded in 1999 and still held by the company.

5

In the late 1990s Adams stunned the golfing world by introducing an 'upside down' fairway wood with a curved sole and flat crown. The Tight Lies fairway wood is still in use today.

6

Last year Adams Golf bought Yes!, the renowned putter brand popular on the world Tours.

7

March sees TaylorMadeadidas golf agree to buy Adams Golf for $70m.

CLEVELAND EXTEND 588 RANGE Popularity of the forged wedge has seen two new irons launched

EQUIPME NT E X TRA

Cleveland 588 Forged £599 I www.clevelandgolf.com

The CB version have a marginally longer blade to encourage extra confidence at address.

Both the MB and CB versions come with a True Temper Tour Concept shaft for a more penetrating flight.

Late last year we were the first to bring you news of Cleveland bringing back the legendary 588 wedge in a Forged version. Well, now they have decided to add two sets of irons to the famous model range.

The new 588 Forged irons will incorporate both a Muscle Back (MB) and a Cavity Back (CB) design – but both models are aimed firmly at the better player.

They have been forged from 1025 carbon steel, a softer metal to enhance feel, and feature the same Tour Zip grooves and lasermilled faces as the 588 Forged wedges.

The laser-milled faces see four intricate score lines etched between each groove to maximise surface roughness for more spin.

The MBs feature minimal offset and a short blade length for maximum workability while the CBs have a touch more offset and a slightly longer blade length for added confidence over the ball.

The CBs also feature a progressive cavity design with more of a pocket-cavity in the longer irons which evolves into a shallow cavity in the shorter scoring clubs.

The sets can be combined to create a combo set and they both feature a new True Temper Tour Concept Steel shaft, which has been developed exclusively for Cleveland to offer a lower, more penetrating flight preferred by many better players.

FOOTJOY DO A SOFT-SHOE SHUFFLE

The spike-less Contour Casual range looks great and remain waterproof

In addition to the new a12 clubs (left) Adams also have two new sets of irons for better players. The Idea Black CB3 irons (£699) follow up the CB2 model and have a shallow cavity and slightly wider sole to offer a bit of forgiveness while the MB2 irons (£899) are a classic muscle back design with brass weights.

A British company is offering golfers the chance to spruce up their wood shafts if they're a bit on the dull side. Batskinz stick onto the outside of the shaft, without affecting performance, and come in a range of designs.

A new device has arrived in the UK that turns your putter into a belly instantly.

The Belly Putt (£29.95) is attached or removed easily to switch between a standard length and belly length. Available from www.perfectmygolf.co.uk A new golf ball brand has reached the UK promising premium performance at lower prices. Flake Golf is big in Germany and has now launched its two and three pieces here. They are only available online – hence their cheaper prices. www.flakegolf.com/uk

FJ Contour Casual £100 : www.footjoy.co.uk

FootJoy have entered the growing spikeless shoe market with the launch of the new Contour Casual Series, designed for summer golf.

The shoes are designed to be worn both on and off the course and FootJoy say they expect them to be a big hit in the drier summer months

and for players who'd relish not having to change shoes before and after a round.

In terms of technology, they feature soft full-grain leather uppers and a plastic urethane Fit-Bed for great cushioning. They are fully waterproof and also feature similar

technology to the best-selling Contour Series shoes to aid flexibility and boost support.

The shoes are available from April 1 and come in a range of size and width options. Three colour options are also available: White/Navy, Brown/Orange, Black/Taupe.

John Letters have a new TP-S wedge (£69.99) for 2012 that has been developed following feedback from their Tour pros such as Sam Torrance. Forged from 304 stainless steel the wedges feature a classic shape and a new satin finish.

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EQUIPMENT

P O L O S H I RT S

COOL UNDER THE COLLAR There's a colour and style to suit every mood and taste this summer

STUBURT SPORT STRIPE £34.99

STUBURT ESSENTIALS U R B A N P O LO £ 2 4 . 9 9

PING COLLECTION B E C K P O LO £ 5 0

www.stuburt.com

www.stuburt.com

www.pingcollection.co.uk

IJP DESIGN G O LO £ 5 0

G O L F I N O E X T R A D RY P I Q U E P O LO £79

AQ UA S C U T U M T WO T O N E B I R D S E Y E £12 5

www.ijpdesign.com

www.golfino.com

www.trendygolf.com

AQ UA S C U T U M T I G H T STRIPE £89

SUBSEVENT Y ZANE P O LO £ 37. 9 9

C A L L AWAY B E N T G R A S S S T R I P E £ 47. 9 9

www.trendygolf.com

www.subseventy.co.uk

www.callawaygolf.com

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P O L O S H I RT T E C H N O L O GY

SUNBLOCK IN A SHIRT

No need to refrain from wearing black when the sun shines...

Genuinely new technology in polo shirts is hard to come across. They all promise breathability, comfort and moisture-wicking properties but Under Armour's new Coldblack range is a little different.

Many golfers will refrain from wearing black on a hot summer's day because it holds the heat – but UA's new Coldblack treatment means that even dark

COOLER CLIMES Studies have shown that ColdBlack technology will keep the body 5°c cooler than a standard black shirt. This is the same as the temperatures in a light beige shirt.

SAFE SUN The ColdBlack technology offers a minimum of UPF 30 protection from the sun's UV rays meaning it is not only keeping you cooler but safer on the golf course as well.

LAB RATS The UA R&D team measured the effect of ColdBlack technology using a specially-built metal cylinder with 20 different sensors to represent a torso.

fabrics will reflect the sun's heat, keeping you cooler on even the hottest of days on the golf course.

The technology works by blocking 60 per cent of the sun's UV rays to prevent heat build up, keep the body cooler and reduce perspiration. ◗ UA ColdBlack polo available in black and concrete grey. From £45 www.underarmour.co.uk

A dark fabric that has been treated with the ColdBlack finishing technology will reflect the heat.

Dark textiles without the ColdBlack treatment will absorb heat and transfer this to the body.

NO SWEAT The reduced body temperature in hot weather as a result of ColdBlack technology means a 58 per cent reduction in perspiration levels.

TOUR TESTED The UA ColdBlack polo shirts have been extensively tested on Tour. Scotsman Richie Ramsay debuted the shirt during the Desert Swing in Abu Dhabi.

SPORTY CUT The ColdBlack polo is manufactured from 100 per cent lightweight polyester and features the sporty and athletic styling with which UA are accustomed.

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