Golf vs Basketball – Is There a Comparison?

January 7, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

I have played golf and basketball most of my life. In my early years, basketball dominated most of my time, but as I slowly aged; golf started to take over as my number one sport. At 51, I ache way more after a basketball practice than I do after a game of golf. But can the two sports really be comparable? I say absolutely and here is how:

Both are played with round balls.
The goal is to put the ball in a hole.
Both take coordination to play. (unlike football and hockey – just kidding)
Both require practice to achieve success.
Both require intellect to play.
They are played before crowds (the pros anyway).
You can give advice on how to play (well maybe this is not a good idea).
You have to leave the couch to play them.
They are great ways to meet people.
They both are lots and lots of fun to play.

Okay, all joking aside, golf is really about having fun. We always talk about how to improve our game, what we could have done better during our round, but ultimately, if we were not having fun playing, than why would we play!

Golf and basketball have been my favorite sports through my life and I am grateful to have been able to enjoy them both.

How about you? See you on the links.

Choosing a New Wedge

January 5, 2013April 1, 2016 / The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

Today I received an email from a friend asking about wedges. He is a good golfer and getting better all the time. He was talking about which wedge he needed from 110 yards. As we had played quite often, I was familiar with his game and was able to explain that he required a 52 degree wedge. As our discussion continued I realized that selecting the correct club is very important to all aspects of your game. So I did some research and this is what I came up with:

Pitching Wedge

A pitching wedge has a loft of about 48 degrees. This club comes with most sets and is used for long approach shots. The distance varies, but I suggest that it is used by most amateurs from 130 yards or closer.

Gap Wedge

Gap wedges range from 50 and 54 degrees. The distance the ball travels varies from about 110 to about 75 yards. It allows for a bit of action on the ball and probably used most of the time.

Sand Wedge

Sand wedges range from 54 to 58 degrees. Many players use a sand wedge for some approach shots as well as sand shots.

Lob Wedge

Lob wedges range from 58 and 62 degrees. The lob wedge allows for a greater amount of spin and is used to fly over hazards or when you are pin hunting.

One of the things to be aware of when purchasing a wedge is the bounce. The conditions of the course, especially the traps, will determine the bounce required when using a wedge. See Golfsmith.com for an explanation on bounce.

I use a 48 degree pitching wedge, 52 degree gap wedge, a 56 degree sand wedge and a 60 degree lob wedge. I have experimented with different lofts, but I have found that these wedges work best for my game.

Now back to my friend. Ultimately he made the best decision. He decided to try out a few wedges before making his purchase. He was going to try wedges with different loft, brand and bounce. I suggested that it was a great idea and thus has sparked the reason for this blog.

When picking a club, I recommend that you go the to range, golf store, putting green and practice with your intended choice. Most courses have demo wedges/clubs and will allow you to take them on the course for a test run. By doing a bit of research before you buy, you will be happy with your choice and likely lower your score.

How you do you pick your clubs?

The Shoveling Snow and Golf Connection!?

January 4, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Clearing my driveway of snow this morning gave me time to think about a great many things. One aspect of shoveling I notice is the importance of my legs. Each time I moved, lifted, turned or tossed the snow I bent my legs. After 30 minutes of moving the white stuff, the connection between shoveling snow and my golf swing hit me; proper use of my legs generates power required to throw snow or hit a ball a long way.

The proper use of legs is critical to generating power in your golf swing. Fancy Footwork By Jim Suttie, Ph.D. suggests that legs are the heart and soul of the golf swing. In fact, it was Byron Nelson who brought us the idea of “flexing the shaft with the lower body.” Jack Nicklaus also has repeatedly said that the swing begins from the ground up. This article explains the mechanics of the legs in a golf swing and provides some drills. Personally, I like the heel drill because I lock my right leg now and again.

At golftoday.co.uk they discuss the use of the left arm, keeping your right leg bent and that your left heel should rise during your golf swing. Each person is different and their swings are grooved to their capabilities, but the guidelines of this article may be something you may want to work on. More importantly it highlights the importance of legs during a golf swing.

Legs are critical to developing power in your golf swing (or shoveling snow). So how can you make your legs stronger without having to run 5 miles a day or develop an intense weight lifting program. I have three simple suggestions that will help strengthen your legs in preparation for next year.

First, sit in a chair so your knees are bent at a 90 degree angle. Now stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down. Do this for the commercials during your favorite TV show. Second, if you have stairs in your house, walk up and down your stairs during the commercials of your favorite TV show. Third, go for a walk. This distance and speed is up to you. You will find that if you keep walking in the off-season, you will be better prepared for walking the course.

Only 14 weeks until golf season. I have started my training program because it is never to early to prepare for golfing. See you on the links!

Happy New Year!

January 2, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

As I watched the new year’s celebrations progress across the world, I was struck by a strange thought of how playing golf is similar to these fantastic events. I know it sounds strange, but the huge celebrations unfolded in Australia, UK, US, Norway, etc, I was impressed by how much better the celebrations were this year compared to last. Given the magnitude of the celebrations, planning for next year must have started the moment the celebrations ended in 2012.

Well golf is very much like new years celebrations. Regardless of how well someone played, they immediately start to analyze the game, determine where they can improve and make a conscious effort to play better the next time. Does that not sound like a new year’s celebrations or what?

2013 is going to an awesome year! It is a year full of hope and endless possibilities. I believe that our destiny is in our own hands. We all have the ability to create the future we want. The only thing that stops us for achieving our goals is ourselves. Each golf game provides an opportunity for greatness and that is one of the main reasons I love this game!

See you on the links. I am a grateful golfer!

Putting Guides – Part 5 of 5

December 26, 2012 / The Grateful Golfer / 1 Comment

Reading the greens! This is the most difficult part of putting and why I left it until last. Reading the greens sets up your entire stroke. If someone cannot read the greens it is like playing darts with your eyes closed – you generally know which direction to through the dart, but that is about it. So here are my tips on how to read a green.

First, I pace off the distance of my putt. I know how to putt the ball from 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 feet with relative accuracy. This skill is honed by going to the putting green and placing a tee at each distance and practicing. Once I have determined the distance of the ball from the hole, I look at the slope of the green.

The slope of the green will determine if it the putt will break left or right. Additionally, it will determine home much. My general rule is 1 inch to one foot. For every inch the ball is below or above hole, I adjust my putting distance accordingly. So if the hole is two inches above my ball on a 12 foot putt, I will adjust my distance to 14 feet. It is something that I have used over the years with good success. This rule is affected by the cut and grain of the green.

If the green is playing fast (cut low), I increase my ration from 1:1 to 1:1.5 or 1:2 (inches of elevation to distance). Additionally, the grain is important, especially in the evening. The grass follows the sun, so this will determine if you are putting into the grain or with the grain of the green. Again, I adjust my putting distance accordingly. This leaves determining your line.

Determining your line is not as difficult as one may think. Once you have applied the above, it comes down to speed. Picking a line has much to do about confidence. Once you have decided that the ball breaks a specific amount, be confident and go for it. Something to keep in mind, the softer you hit the ball, the more break you must play! If you play the ball 2 inches outside the right edge, but you are putting down hill with the grain and you barely have to hit the ball to get it to the hole. You will need to play about 3-4 inches of break. The softer you hit the ball, the more break you must play.

Lastly, except in rare instances, if the ball is within 3 feet of the hole, forget the break and hit the ball into the hole. Most amateurs, myself included, over-think short putts. I have found that if I just hit the ball into the hole, I will make 9 out of 10. So on short putts, think less and bang the ball into the hole.

Well that is it for me on reading the greens. I will say that I am going to try and plumb-bob this year because it might come in handy on the difficult greens. Ian Hardie at golfhabits.com explains this skill very well.

I hope you are having a fantastic holiday season! I wish you all the best. I am a grateful golfer!