Jon Rahm began the week sounding off about the Official World Golf Rankings. He ended it by collecting all the points available at the DP World Tour Championship and taking his third title of the season and third DP World Tour Championship in the last six editions of the event.

Rahm was adamant early in the week about how beating a handful of the best players in the world at the DP World Tour Championship was more difficult than beating a whole host of average players at the RSM Classic. Rahm received 22 points for beating Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Viktor Hovland, while whoever wins the RSM later in the day on the PGA Tour side will receive 38 points.

Rahm went against his own logic and made beating the top players — there were seven others in the field who rank in the top 30 in the OWGR — look rather easy. After a 70-66-65 start, Rahm shot 67 on Sunday while playing alongside U.S. Open champion Fitzpatrick. Combined, those two have now won five of the last seven DP World Tour Championships.

After going out in 33, Rahm came home in 34 for the trophy. At 20 under, he beat Hatton and Alex Noren by two and McIlroy by four.

“Because of COVID I never got a chance to defend my 2019 title, and even though I decided not to come last year, I came with the mentality that, well, nobody beat me in the last two years, so they are going to have to beat me again,” Rahm said.

Rahm has won this tournament now in three of the last four times he’s teed it up. He is 72 under and has defeated 212 of 217 competitors in those four starts. As referenced, he did not play it in 2020 as the defending champion nor did he make it over last year for the 2021 edition.

Rahm’s point about how OWGR points at the top of small-field events (there were only 50 golfers playing this week in Dubai) is legitimate. And while this is not the space to get into a deep dissection of the Official World Golf Rankings, I don’t believe there should be as much disparity between points allotted to the winner of an event where you have to beat seven other top 30 players and points allotted to the winner of an event where (no matter how many golfers were in the field) Brian Harman was the favorite.

Regardless, Rahm is not short on OWGR points. After taking the Mexico Open, Spanish Open and this event, he remains firmly in the top five in the world going into 2023 and has plenty of hype around him going into next year given how he finished this one. In each of the last six years, Rahm has won either two or three OWGR events. He is also the first player to win this particular event three times, and that touches off a run of seven events in 2022 in which his worst finish was T15 and the other six were in the top eight.

Rahm has primarily been buoyed by his putter during that stretch, a club that let him down earlier in 2022. This week in Dubai was no different as he finished second in the field in strokes gained putting en route to the victory.

“Honestly I cannot believe I shot 12 under with how badly I hit it off the tee on the weekend,” Rahm said. “I was just able to manage really well. I think a lot of those times when I pitched out, my wedge game saved me. On the greens on the weekend, I don’t know what my stats were. But inside 10 feet I was really, really, really solid, and that’s always going to carry forward. Any time I was on the fairway, my iron game felt great.

“I stayed aggressive and picked my battles, and again, I think I shot as low as I could have shot on the weekend to get this one.”

Despite the victory, Rahm fell short in the season-long DP World Tour points race where McIlroy, who came into this week ranked No. 1 on that list, went on to win. For McIlroy, it’s his fourth season-long title on the European side to match three FedEx Cups on the PGA Tour. However, this year marks the first time McIlroy has won both season-long races in the same year.

“It’s been seven years since I’ve last done it [on the DP World Tour],” McIlroy said. “Obviously this is my fourth one but it’s been a while. I’ve won three FedEx Cups since the last time I won, which was the Race to Dubai back then.

“It means a lot. … I was a model of consistency the whole way through the year. A lot of top finishes. I think my worst finish of the European Tour events I played this year was 12th at the start of the year in Abu Dhabi. A really consistent season putting in good performances. Would have been nice to get one win in there at the end of the year here. But Jon obviously played an incredible tournament and fully deserved it.

“[I’m] really proud of my year, and excited for 2023.”

“I’m as complete a golfer as I feel like I’ve ever been, and hopefully I can continue on that path,” he added.

Since 2011, there have been 22 total season-long points titles available on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, and McIlroy has remarkably won seven of them. He finished the year with 13 top-eight finishes in his last 16 starts worldwide.

Fleetwood and Fitzpatrick rounded out the top five in Dubai as the DP World Tour season came to a close.

Source link

Golf Workout Program is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 

Learning how to break 80 in golf can be a painful process.

For some it takes a year, others a lifetime.

Whether you want to learn how to break 80 more consistently, or for the first time, there are a few things that will give you a better chance to every time you step on the golf course.

Here are the most popular tips for how to break 80.

These tips can be used whether you’re trying to break 100, 90, 80 or even 70.

Will they guarantee that you shoot the greatest round of your life tomorrow?

No.

But they will give you your best chance to.

Let’s dive into them.

1. Warm-up (Answer the 3-Warm-up Questions)

It should be obvious but if you want to play your best golf you need to warm up.  I don’t care about “that one time”, that you played without warming up and shot the best round of your life.  I promise you that wasn’t the reason.

A good warm up not only gets your body ready for the course but also your mind.

The #1 reason you need to warm up is to figure out what your golf game is doing that day.

Are you hitting a fade or a draw?  Hook or a slice?  How’s your distance control? How far are you hitting your wedges?

These are all questions that can change from day-to-day.  While you may know that you play a fade or draw, getting a feel for how much it is moving that day will give you the confidence to hit your best shots on the course.  Save working on developing a proper golf grip for after the round.

Three things to note during your warm up before the round:

1. What shape is your ball flight? When you don’t think about anything and make a natural, smooth swing, what is your ball flight?

2. How far are you hitting your wedges? What are your 120 and-in swings in 10 yard intervals? Golf is a game played from 150 yards and in. Use these chipping drills to dial in your short game distances.

3. From 30 and in what’s going to be your go to shot? What club? Low runner? High-pitch? etc.

The simple fact is that most of us can only hit a certain amount of shots (if any) with absolutely confidence and minimal errors.  While I understand having multiple “high-skill” shots can save you when you end up in that bad situation.  For the typical golfer who is trying to break 80, they are not necessary.

Having your go-to, high percentage shots will keep you out of trouble, and making a lot of pars.  Which in turn, leads to a lot of rounds in the 70’s.

Think the about the classic saying KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid).

2. Practice Your Lag Putting

One of the quickest way to improving your golf game and learning how to break 80… phenomenal lag putting.

It sounds funny but it’s true.  You know what fun golf is? Hitting the green regulation, rolling your 30-foot putt to within 2-feet and tapping in for par.

Can you say “Stress free golf”?

Get to the practice green and starting practicing your lag putting.  It’ll take pressure off your irons, and make the game a whole lot easier.

These putting drills & hacks below are a great place to start.

3. Manage Your Round

“Golf is a game of misses.”

You may have heard this before and it’s true.  You’ll never go through a round and hit all perfect shots.  The pros don’t, Arnold didn’t, you definitely will not.

Being able to manage your game and avoid the big mistakes will make sure you have a chance to break 80.

What am I referring to when I say big mistakes?  Maybe a story will help.  Tell me if this sounds familiar:

You’re on a Par 4 and you hit a bad drive into the trees on the right.  You punch out to the middle of the fairway and are left with 130 yards into the green that is surrounded by water on the left side.  The greenskeeper (knowing the sucker that you are) placed the pin just 8 yards from the water.  You take aim at the pin, and hit what you think is a good shot.  It feels great coming off the club, you just pulled it “a little”.  This “a little” that would normally still end up on the green and be a decent shot, splashes in the water and you take a double.

Avoid the big mistakes.  See the sucker pin, aim for the middle of the green and try to make the long putt.  If you miss it, take your bogey and make it up on the next hole.

4. Trust Your Game

Who plays better?  The hack who is thinking about his swing the entire round, or the hack who plays his 30 yard fade with confidence?

No matter your skill level, trusting yourself the entire round is guaranteed to lead to a better result.  Keep this in mind when you go out to play your round.

If you’re hitting big fade with your driver during warm-ups, don’t try to fix it.

You won’t be able to figure out how to fix a slice in 10 minutes and it won’t do anything but lead to worse results on the course.

Instead, shoot the best score you can with the golf game you brought to the course that day.

If you have a 20-yard fade with your driver during warmups, great, play your drives up the left side the whole round with confidence.  Take your shorter drives for the day then head to the range after the round to fix it.

Key takeaways to trusting your golf game:

1. Never try to fix your swing during warm-ups or your round.  Practice is meant for the practice range.

2. If you need to fix something do it after your round or on an off day.

3. Warm-up and know what shots you’re hitting that day. If you’re hitting a fade, play your fade all round.

4. Keep it simple.

Have only 1 swing thought maximum.  I like to use “smooth”.

Stop complicating things.  Trust your game and put smooth, natural swings on the ball.

Practice at the range, play on the course.

Recommended read: 

The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance

5. Practice Distance Control (with Measurement)

“I would rather hit my 7-iron 130 yards EVERY TIME, than 200 yards every once in a while.”

One of the most important aspects of playing good golf is distance control.

I don’t care what club you hit, what shape your ball flight is, how ugly your swing is…

CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY.

It took me a while to realize this.

That was until I started to get my ass kicked by the 60-year olds who drove the ball 220 down the middle, every single time.

How to improve your distance control:

“If you can not measure it, you can not improve it.” – Lord Kelvin

1. Start practicing with a trackman (or any distance tracking device).  Getting instant feedback on every swing will start teaching you which swings produce what distances.

2. Stop swinging so hard.  Finding a consistent, smooth, tempo will result in more consistent distances with every club in your bag.

3. Focus on distances from 130 and in.  They are the most important scoring shots in golf.

Improve your distance control and you’ll be sticking it close in no time.

Use these tips and learn how to break 80 (or any score) the next time you step on the course.

Playing good golf consistently isn’t easy.  If it was, everybody would be a scratch golfer.

If you’re serious about breaking 80, you need to put the work in.

Good things don’t come easy.

Prepare for the golf that you want to play, then go play it with confidence.

And remember…

you play better golf when you’re having fun.

August Noble

August Noble was first introduced to golf at 7 years old. In 2013 he started seriously working on his game and was able to reduce his handicap from 19 to 3.4 in less than two years. He’s been helping other golfers do the same ever since.

Source link

While most weekend warrior golfers only carry two wedges in their bags (pitching wedge and sand wedge), the majority of PGA Tour golfers carry four different wedges.
Have you ever wondered what a 56-degree wedge is?

Even if you know what a 56-degree wedge is, do you know the proper times to use it on the golf course?

If you answered no to either of these questions, this article will help you give you a clearer picture of the 56-degree wedge.

A lot of golfers don’t fully understand what a 56-degree wedge is and what it’s used for.

Find out what a 56-degree wedge is and what brands are the best. Our goal is to help you decide which brand of 56-degree wedge is right for you and your game.

For golfers that just need a quick recommendation, here are our top choices:

What is a 56 Degree Wedge?

A 56-degree wedge is often referred to by most golfers as the sand wedge. It provides a high amount of bounce and allows golfers to get out of many sticky situations on the golf course. Every golfer should have a sand wedge in their golf bag for this very purpose.

The sand wedge was invented in the 1930s by a legendary golfer named Gene Sarazen, who won seven major championships. Sarazen is one of five golfers in the game’s history to win the “Grand Slam” (winning each of the four major tournaments).

The sand wedge is usually the heaviest club in the golfer’s arsenal, as it typically weighs around two and a half pounds. The extra weight helps prevent the clubhead from digging into the sand. This leads to fewer of those painful chunk shots out of the bunker.

How Far Do People Typically Hit This Wedge?

As with any other golf club, the yardage distance it will travel depends on a variety of factors like a golfer’s size, skill level, and clubhead speed. Keep in mind that these distances are based on taking full golf swings and not bunker shots.

Beginner-level golfers hit their 56-degree sand wedge around 60 yards. This is because newer golfers usually have slower swing speeds and often don’t hit the ball flush.

Most experienced amateur golfers hit their sand wedge about 80-90 yards. Finally, pro golfers on the PGA Tour typically hit their sand wedges anywhere from 110-115 yards.

Best Situations to Use a 56 Degree Wedge

Out of the Sand

As its name suggests, the 56-degree sand wedge is primarily used for getting out of bunkers and sand traps. The 56-degree wedge has plenty of loft and this allows golfers to dig the golf ball out of those dreaded sandy lies. The club is uniquely designed to cut right through the sand and lift the golf ball out.

The 56-degree wedge can help you still save par even after an unintentional trip to the beach. You no longer have to worry about the sand ruining your great round.

When Chipping Out of Thick Rough

You know that annoyingly thick rough that sits near some greens? The 56-degree sand wedge is the perfect golf club to use when chipping out of that tall stuff.

The high bounce angle will allow you to cut through the thick grass and still get the ball high enough in the air for a soft landing on the green. This means you don’t have to panic when you see a difficult lie in the rough.

Out of the Fairway

This may sound a bit confusing, but the sand wedge can be a great club to hit full shots out of the fairway with. Many folks wrongly assume that you can only hit the 56-degree wedge out of the sand. This could not be further from the truth.

The 56-degree wedge is perfect for those full shots that are in between a pitching wedge and a lob wedge. This makes it a valuable club during those in-between types of distances. Remember that the key to hitting good wedge shots is to never overswing, so keep it smooth and easy!

When Trying to Get Over a Tree

There are several other instances where a 56 wedge can be used on the golf course. Let’s say you’re in the fairway or light rough but are having to hit a high shot over a tree that is in your way. You need a club that can provide the maximum level of trajectory.

This is a great time to hit a 56-degree wedge so that you can safely hit your golf ball over that tree. Most golfers know that sometimes even a pitching wedge doesn’t have enough loft to get over some of the tallest trees on the course.

On the Fringe

This is another perfect time to chip with your 56-degree sand wedge. When your ball is on the fringe on the green, the 56-degree wedge will allow you to pop the ball high enough in the air.

This should allow you to land the golf ball close to the pin with not a lot of rollout. Now, knock in that close par putt!

So… Do You Really Need a 56 Degree Wedge in Your Bag?

Absolutely, every golfer should have a 56-degree sand wedge in their golf bag. Though you can, in theory, chip out of bunkers with a pitching wedge, it is much more difficult because of the lesser amount of loft and bounce. This is especially true in those pesky deep sand traps with a huge lip.

The sand wedge is quite possibly the second most important club for your short game, outside of the putter. A golfer simply will not shoot their best score without a sand wedge in their bag. The 56-degree wedge is the perfect club of choice when a golfer is stuck in one of those elongated greenside bunkers.

Another big reason that golfers must have a 56-degree wedge is the high level of versatility that it brings. Golfers can hit full shots, chip shots, pitch shots, or those low, bump and run shots with the 56-degree wedge.

Just like any other golf club, though, you have to put in enough practice time to feel comfortable hitting the 56-degree wedge. Once you put in the necessary work, you’ll be able to fully utilize this club. Once that happens, you’ll be well on your way to shooting lower scores.

The Biggest Keys to Hitting The 56 Degree Wedge

1. Never Overswing

Any time you are about to hit a wedge shot, remind yourself that you are aiming for precision and not distance. Remember what the great Nick Faldo said about hitting the perfect iron shot. “Never swing with more than 80% effort.” You can apply Faldo’s wisdom to wedge shots as well.

2. Play the Ball Closer to Your Back Foot

Since the 56-degree wedge is a shorter club, you need to make sure to play the golf ball closer to your back foot. This allows for the ideal attack angle on wedge shots. A good rule of thumb is to make sure the buttons of your shirt are in front of the golf ball on all wedge shots.

3. Put a Little More Weight on Your Front Foot

When hitting a 56-degree wedge, you want a short, compact swing. Remember, you are hitting a wedge, not a driver or fairway wood. Aim to keep about 60-70% of your weight on your front foot. This will keep you from having a swing that is too long for wedge shots.

4. Stay Smooth and Controlled After Contact

After making contact with the golf ball with your 56-degree wedge, work on achieving a smooth follow-through. This will keep you from putting too much spin on the ball and losing control.

Best 56 Degree Wedges Currently on The Market

When it comes time for you to buy a 56-degree wedge, there are plenty of trustworthy brands on the market. Here is a shortlist of 56-degree sand wedges that we highly recommend. We hope this list helps aid you in your decision.

1. Cleveland Golf CBX 2 Wedge

Cleveland Golf has been making phenomenal wedges since the late 1970s. Here are the reasons this golf club has a 4.8 rating on Amazon with almost 1,000 reviewers.

• Tour satin color makes this club really stand out
• Highly durable because of the alloy steel material
• Provides plenty of forgiveness thanks to the hollow cavity blade design
• High level of versatility: three different sole grinds allow you to more easily hit full shots, chips, or pitches
• Perfect Feel at Impact- no more uncomfortable vibration
• Maximum spin and control thanks to the Tour zip grooves

2. Callaway Mack Daddy CB Wedge

Callaway also offers an excellent option for a 56-degree sand wedge. Though Callaway is a bit pricier than other brands, you get to choose whether you want your wedge made out of graphite or alloy steel. Here are a few reasons to consider buying the Callaway Mack Daddy 56 degree wedge.

• Groove in Groove Technology leads to plenty of spin around the greens
• Highly versatile thanks to the four different sole grinds
• Available in a wide variety of bounce combinations
• Crisp turf interaction makes for a great feel
• Large face means a higher level of forgiveness

3. TaylorMade Golf MG2 Wedge

TaylorMade has a stellar reputation amongst golfers of all skill levels. Golfers rave about the nice feel of this 56-degree wedge and how it helps them easily get out of trouble on the course. Here are the best features of the MG2 sand wedge.

• Increased feel and pinpoint precision because of Raw Face Technology
• Maximum spin around the greens thanks to ZTP Raw Groove Design
• Consistent performance regardless of the type of shot or weather conditions
• TPU Insert in the back cavity leads to no vibration and a solid feel at impact
• Weighted perfectly due to the Thick Thin Head Design

4. Wilson Staff Model Men’s Golf Wedge

The Wilson brand has been one of the best in golf for more than 100 years! Wilson Staff irons are responsible for 62 major titles over the last 107 years. It’s hard to argue with that high-level performance and winning tradition. Here are a few reasons to look into buying the Wilson 56 degree sand wedge.

• Soft touch and amazing feel
• High level of control around the greens
• High-density Pattern leads to more consistent contact
• High toe design is perfect for when you want to hit shots with an open face
• Wilson’s PGA Tour players helped with the design
• Available in 3 different styles: Standard, Hi-Toe, or Tour Grind

5. Mizuno T20 Golf Wedge

Though they’re well known in the baseball world, Mizuno has been an underrated golf club manufacturer since 1933. These folks know how to make quality wedges. Here are the top features of the Mizuno T20 56 degree sand wedge.

• Performs well even in wet conditions due to the hydro flow micro-grooves which help keep water off the face of the club
• Great spin and stability because of the tapered blade design
• Forged perfectly to increase softness and consistency
• Made with some of the best CNC milling machines in the world
• Comes in a satin chrome or blue ion finish
• Available in 10 degrees or 14 degrees of bounce

6. Titleist Vokey SM6 Jet Black Wedge

The Titleist Vokey is an excellent choice if you need a new 56-degree sand wedge. Here are a few reasons why you can’t go wrong with this club.

• Jet black color has a sleek look to it
• Generate More Spin than ever thanks to the parallel face texture and consistent groove edge
• High level of Versatility for any skill level or weather condition
• Specifically engineered for a consistent feel
• More custom options than any other brand of wedges
• Easy to control your distance and trajectory because of its precise Center of Gravity

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

Source link

Have you ever heard the cliche “cheaper isn’t always better”? It applies to all facets of life, even the game of golf. Saving a few bucks is nice, but not if it comes at the expense of your performance on the course.

Some golf balls perform so terribly that they should be avoided at all costs. Here are the 10 worst golf balls of all time. Steer clear of these if you want to shoot a decent score during your next round of golf!

The 10 Worst Golf Balls You Can Buy

1. Top Flite XL Distance

Top Flite makes some decent golf clubs but their golf ball manufacturing skills are highly questionable, to put it mildly. Top Flite uses the cheapest materials they can find to make an outer cover that gives off an annoying sound at impact. The price of the Top Flite XL Distance golf balls is super low but it’s simply because they are offering a low-quality ball.

Why You Should Avoid:

• Hard as a rock and has an awful sound
• Doesn’t roll very well at all on the greens
• Easily manipulated by even moderate winds
• Can’t generate any spin with wedges
• Doesn’t provide the extra distance that it claims

2. Callaway Warbird

Callaway is one of the most respected brands in the golf ball manufacturing industry but the Warbird was a giant swing and a miss. A lot of folks are drawn to the Warbird because of their low cost of only $1.33 each. However, these balls perform so terribly that it’s hard to believe that they were made by Callaway.

Why You Should Avoid:

• No softness whatsoever; some folks say hitting these golf balls caused their hands to vibrate
• Ball flight has no consistency
• Hard to control on short game shots like chips, pitches, and bunker shots
• Too much spin for most players
• Low level of durability

3. Vice Pro

Vice Golf is one of our favorite up-and-coming manufacturers in the industry, but their Pro line of premium golf balls just isn’t worth the money. The urethane cover gives this ball a decent feel when you make contact but we expect more from a three-piece ball that costs nearly three bucks apiece.

Why You Should Avoid:

• Spins too much on tee shots and leads to more hooks and slices
• Not much ball speed for a premium ball
• Ball flight is decent but not enough to be considered a high-launch ball that most golfers desire
• Not a great choice for beginners or even average golfers

4. Pinnacle Gold

Pinnacle has a few playable lines out there but their Gold model is one of the worst golf balls on the market. Your wallet may be able to afford Pinnacle Golds but your scorecard sure can’t. Think twice before buying this one.

Why You Should Avoid:

• Too hard, which makes it impossible to create any type of spin
• Ionomer covers usually hold up okay but these get scuffed and nicked rather easily on the course
• Annoyingly heavy sound off the tee
• Doesn’t perform well at all on chips and pitches
• Too high of compression rating for beginners, ladies, and seniors

5.Wilson Staff Duo

Wilson is one of our favorite companies in the golf manufacturing industry, but the Duo was a terrible invention. Though the Duo rolls pretty well on the green and the cost is somewhat low, it has a ton of flaws that simply cannot be ignored.

Why You Should Avoid:

• The low compression is nice but it’s way too low for even average golfers
• Too easily influenced by the wind
• The dimple design makes it nearly impossible to hit shaped shots like draws or cuts
• Doesn’t supply plenty of distance like other golf balls that Wilson makes
• Some reviewers have said that the Duo is 10-20 yards shorter than the TaylorMade TP5X

6. Precept Laddie Extreme

These are made by Bridgestone so it’s a little surprising that these are on our list. Nevertheless, we recommend avoiding these golf balls if at all possible. If you are dead set on buying Bridgestone, you are much better off with the e6 or e12 models.

Why You Should Avoid:

• Claims to have a dimple pattern that takes aerodynamics into play but the poor ball flight suggests otherwise
• Much less spin on wedge shots than all other golf balls that Bridgestone makes
• Travels about 20 yards shorter than the Titleist Pro V1 off the tee
• Too hard for golfers with a slower swing speed and allows too much side spin on each shot

7. Kirkland Signature Golf Balls

Kirkland golf balls were quite popular for a while because you could get a ton of them at Costco for a cheap price. While many folks assume that Costco makes the Kirkland brand, they are made by a company in China called Qingdao SM Parker. These golf balls perform okay on the course but the problem is that they don’t hold up well at all.

Why You Should Avoid:

• The outer cover gets cuts, nicks, and scuffs in it way too easily
• Doesn’t spin as much as a three-piece urethane ball should
• A lot of the Kirkland balls you see on the market have been recycled, which causes a huge decrease in distance and overall performance

8. Slazenger Raw Distance Golf Balls

We have to admit that the Slazenger Raw Distance ball does indeed carry pretty well. However, the titanium-enhanced cover gives off almost a gunshot sound at impact. Stay away from these bad boys, unless you’re just wanting to scare your buddies off the tee box.

Why You Should Avoid:

• Hard as a rock, which makes putting even more challenging
• Gives off a loud sound and even causes some vibration for some golfers
• Decent for distance but won’t perform well for chips and pitches

9. Nike Mojo Golf Balls

Sure, Nike makes some cool-looking golf gear and the Mojo name has a nice swagger to it. However, the overall quality of this golf ball leaves much to be desired. While we are big fans of Nike golf hats, we recommend staying away from the Mojo golf balls.

Why You Should Avoid:

• The hard feel makes most wedge shots difficult 
• A low spin ball that is okay for tee shots but awful for approach shots
• Hard to keep any type of accuracy with this ball

10. Strata Eagle Golf Balls

Strata is a popular brand for women golfers and they do offer a pretty good set of ladies’ golf clubs. However, proceed with caution when buying any type of Strata golf balls. While the high ball flight of these balls is impressive, the distance and feel are both below average.

Why You Should Avoid:

• Good launch but not much roll out
• Doesn’t roll very well on the greens
• Nowhere near as good as the Strata Boom
• Not soft enough for most golfers

Here’s a List of Better Golf Balls to Check Out

Now that you know which golf balls to avoid, you may be wondering which golf balls are worth buying. In the following articles, we discuss the ins and outs of some of the best golf balls in the industry. Feel free to check these out before making your next golf ball purchase.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

Source link

I’ll never forget the first time I heard about a tee time in golf.

I was just learning the game and My Dad told me, “Hurry up, we don’t want to miss our tee time.” I thought ole Pops had surely lost his mind but he was simply using normal golf lingo.

If you are new to the game of golf, you may not know what a tee time is. We cover all things related to tee times in this post.

What is a Tee Time?

A tee time is another way of saying that you have a reservation made for a particular time slot to begin your round of golf on the course.

To not be considered late, someone in your group of players must hit their first shot at your designated tee time. So it’s a good idea to make sure that your group is on the tee box a few minutes before the tee time.

Pro shops usually have a tee time policy where they space out their time slots with anywhere from 7 to 15 minutes between playing groups. This helps prevent excessive waiting on each hole during a round of golf. It also helps the golf course accommodate as many players as possible per day, which maximizes their revenue.

How to Setup a Tee Time

Setting up a tee time is quick, easy, and relatively headache-free. Find the golf course that you want to play at and call up their pro shop. Ask about their available tee times for the day you want to play.

Most golf courses also allow players to make online reservations via their course’s website or a booking app like GolfNow. After selecting which day you want to play, you’ll often be presented with several tee times to choose from. After finding the time you want, you’ll then be asked to enter the number of players in your group and provide payment information.

Though booking a tee time online is easy, some courses charge a convenience fee for doing this so look into that before completing the process. I’ve seen extra fees of $5 to $10 just for booking online, which doesn’t make much sense when it costs nothing to call the pro shop and book your tee time directly.

What Happens If You Don’t Show Up to Your Tee Time?

In official tournament play, if you are anywhere from one to five minutes late for your designated tee time, you’ll receive a two-stroke penalty. Any golfer who is more than five minutes late for their tee time is disqualified according to the USGA rule book.

Though the rules of professional golf are pretty strict when it comes to tee times, recreational players usually aren’t penalized if they are a little late for their tee times.

If you are running a bit behind, call the pro shop and ask if you can have their next available tee time. As long as the course isn’t too packed, they should be able to let you tee off without too long of a wait.

That being said, different courses have different rules regarding tee times. You should make it a point to never be late for a tee time. Being late is considered improper golf etiquette and some courses may not even give you a refund if you prepaid for your round but show up late.

Do You Need a Tee Time to Play Golf?

It all depends on the golf course.

At most private courses, tee times are required. However, some courses don’t even take tee times and operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. Other courses may encourage tee times but will take walk-up customers if they have any time slots available for the day.

When in doubt, simply call the pro shop to find out whether tee times are required. It’s better to find out on the front end what the course policy is regarding tee times.

Most Popular Tee Times

Wondering when your favorite golf course will be at its busiest? If it’s golf season, your favorite course may stay packed even in the middle of the day. In the off-season winter months, you may be able to get a tee time at any time of the day.

On weekdays in the summer months, the most popular tee times are early in the morning before 9 AM to avoid the brutal heat and humidity. Some folks also like to sneak in a round of golf after work in the summer, so tee times after 3 PM are becoming more popular.

Due to most people’s work schedules, golf courses are busier on the weekends and will have fewer tee times available. If you are wanting to play when there are fewer golfers on the course, try to book a tee time on a weekday. The course will be quieter and you probably won’t have to wait to tee off on any of the holes.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

Source link

There’s a new No. 1 golfer in the world who doubles as an old No. 1 golfer in the world. With his victory at the 2022 CJ Cup on Sunday afternoon, Rory McIlroy returned to the top spot in the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time since July 2020 and ninth time in his career.

In taking down Kurt Kitayama and K.H. Lee, it was McIlroy who overtook Scottie Scheffler, ending the 2022 Masters champion’s 30-week run at No. 1.

Even more remarkable than McIlroy regaining the No. 1 ranking is that he has sustained a level of greatness over the last decade. This marks McIlroy’s ninth different stint at No. 1 just over 10 years after his debut in March 2012 shortly after he became a professional.

A lot has happened over the last decade, but McIlroy has not fallen out of the top 15 in the world in that time. He’s one of just three golfers who have a 10-year gap between their first appearance as world No. 1 and their most recent. The other two are Tiger Woods (17 years) and Greg Norman (11.5). Nobody else more than a 3.5-year gap between appearances.

“I guess that’s where I say like the cool thing about it is you get to No. 1, and it feels great in the moment,” said McIlroy earlier this week. “The bad thing is you almost [have] to … maybe work harder to stay there. I think, when you’re striving toward something, not that it’s easier to get there, but like once you get there, it’s great. But I think the hard work is actually staying there.

“I think if I get back to No. 1 this week, it’s like my ninth time getting back. It sort of illustrates you can have your runs and you can stay there, but I think the cool part is the journey and the journey getting back there. It’s sort of like a heavyweight boxer losing a world title and it’s a journey to get that title back. I feel like that’s the cool part of it and that’s the journey that I’ve sort of been through over the past 12 months.”

McIlroy has indeed been playing some of the best golf of his career over the last year. In his last 15 starts worldwide, he has 12 top 10s, 10 top fives, three wins and just one missed cut. Since the start of 2022, he’s been far and away the best statistical player in the world at over 2.7 strokes gained per round. The next closest coming into this week at the CJ Cup was Scheffler (2.5).

In a year in which McIlroy disappointingly did not win a major championship — though he finished in the top 10 in all four — it’s a bit of a reprieve that he essentially accomplished everything else: a FedEx Cup victory, three wins on the PGA Tour, close to $30 million in on-course earnings (including FedEx Cup bonus money) and a return trip to the top of the OWGR table. It’s been a remarkable showing.

Here’s a look at all nine times McIlroy has been the No. 1 player in the world.

Source link

For Cameron Smith, it lacked the historic nature of his final round at this year’s Open Championship or the lights-out golf of his last 18 holes at the Tournament of Champions or the dramatic finale at TPC Sawgrass when he took the Players Championship in March.  But the result Sunday at LIV Golf Chicago as he shot 69 in the final round of his second LIV event to finish at 13 under was exactly the same: he lifted a trophy.

Nobody would compare this trophy — which he won over Dustin Johnson, who finished at 10 under and Peter Uihlein, who also came in at 10 under — with any of his other three this year, but the field Smith conquered was solid and he took home more money ($4 million) than he did at any of the other three events where he was the champion.

Smith, who shot 64, 65 and 66 in the final three rounds of his other wins in 2022, posted was just 1 under through 16 holes after firing 66 and 68 over the first two days at Rich Harvest Farms but shut things down before they could get too dramatic with a birdie-birdie finish to put first place completely out of reach. Johnson, who shot 63 in Round 1 and curiously followed it with a 73-70 finish, could not chase him down on Sunday after ceding an early tournament lead to him in the second round on Saturday (they swapped 1-2 spots on the top of the leaderboard). It was actually Uihlein who gave the best effort, firing 66-69 over the last two days and securing his best finish yet (T2) in the LIV Golf League.

Smith has proven himself an elite closer in big time events, but he can also be a menace to try and catch because of how few big numbers he makes on account of his elite short game. He made just four bogeys on a tough golf course over the final two days at Rich Harvest Farms and cruised to a victory in which he was far and away the top player in the field.

“I think I have to prove to probably myself and some other people that I’m still a great player,” Smith said after his victory. “I’m still out here to win golf tournaments. I’m proud of how I hung in there today. I didn’t really have my best stuff the first eight or nine holes, but stuck it tough and made a few putts coming in. It was nice.”

It’s true that Smith, who started on the first hole in the shotgun start format, did not have his best stuff early. Two of his four bogeys on the weekend came on the first six holes on Sunday, but he righted the ship over the last 12 holes and played them in a combined 4 under to pull away from Uihlein and D.J., who Smith noted provided a nice benchmark for great play in LIV.

“He’s probably the one on the group of players here that you look at and you think he’s going to be pretty close to the top of the leaderboard every week,” Smith said. “I hope he thinks the same about me, and hopefully we can keep this going.”

The duo finished in the top five at the LIV Boston event as well with D.J. taking the trophy in a playoff, and Smith missing that playoff by a single stroke.

It was actually D.J.’s team — the 4 Aces — that pulled through for the team win with D.J. making a birdie at the last to seal the victory. His squad of Talor Gooch, Pat Perez and Patrick Reed squeaked out its fourth consecutive LIV Golf win (all but one of the five team finishes have gone to the 4 Aces) by a single stroke over Smash GC, made up of the Koepka brothers (Chase and Brooks), Jason Kokrak and Uihlein, who anchored them this week against the Aces.

Smith’s word choice after the win was interesting. He said he felt like he needed to prove himself to himself “and some other people” after moving over to LIV, even after winning the final major of the year in The Open at St. Andrews. Certainly Smith has heard from chirpy fans that he sold out to go to LIV and that his game will fall off as he moves away from the most competitive tour in the world, and it was clear in this week that he wants to prove that wrong.

Only time will tell how that plays out. However, his three round at Rich Harvest Farms this week were a reminder of what has been very clear over the last nine months, which is that Smith is unequivocally one of the top three players in the world, just as he’s been for all of 2022.

Source link

Nearly as important as your swing, your mental headspace walking up to the tee is one of the most influential elements of your game. Developing a pre-round routine not only warms up your body but gets your head ready for the challenges and fun that each hole may present. So, after scheduling your shipment for your clubs with Ship Sticks, try practicing these easy, mindfulness techniques.

Top Techniques to Clear your Mind Before a Round of Golf

Stretch Your Body

You don’t want to get out on the course, only to recognize a pang of discomfort in your back, knees, or torso. Getting to know your body before your tee time can help ease your mind. Do light stretches and see where you may be feeling tight. You will then be able to address these issues during your pre-round practice, adjust your swing, and head out feeling more confident than before.

Envision the Course

Golf is 100% a mental game. You should take the course into consideration before even picking up your clubs. Get a course map and see how you may be able to play each hole. This will mentally prepare you for any challenges that may lie ahead.

Embrace the Challenge

No one goes into a round wanting to play poorly. We play to be great. And, in order to be great, we need to accept that challenge is inevitable – that’s what makes it fun! So, take deep breaths, set a positive intention, lace up, and address the ball with confidence.

Are You Interested in Shipping Golf Clubs?

Kick-off your next trip with one less thing to worry about! Shipping golf clubs with Ship Sticks can make golf travel a breeze, so schedule a shipment today!

Source link

After winning his first European Tour event, breaking a world record, and making a big impression at last year’s US Open, Yorkshire’s Marcus Armitage is ready to take on all challenges that the game has to throw at him

During the spring of last year, as the UK emerged from the final of its three national lockdowns, there can’t have been many golf fans with an internet connection that didn’t tune in to YouTube at some point to see a professional golfer trying to hit a golf ball into an open-top sports car travelling at 80mph down the runway at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire.

Filmed as part of the European Tour’s on-going series of stunts and wind-ups designed to drive up digital clicks and hits, the world record for ‘the longest drive ever hit into a moving car’ was eventually achieved when Marcus Armitage’s 303-yard effort with a Callaway Epic driver rattled into the back of a BMW M8 Convertible driven by touring car champion Paul O’Neill.

It beat the previous record by 30 yards, which was some achievement in itself, but the star of the show was definitely Armitage, whose child-like enthusiasm for the task, and the sheer joie de vivre that he showed once he had chalked up the record – which initially involved him taking off his shirt and running bare-chested down the runway – made him an instant internet sensation, with over 115,000 views in just a few days after it aired in mid-April.

The European Tour’s media team definitely found the right man for the job in Armitage, as the 34-year-old from Huddersfield is a natural born entertainer, as well as being a pretty handy golfer.

Just two months after entering the Guinness Book of World Records, Armitage, who goes by the nickname of ‘Bullet’ on tour – it’s a long story – added another important addition to his CV when he recorded the first European Tour win of his career at the 2021 Porsche European Open in Germany. It was a well-deserved and very welcome reward for a man who has progressed through golf’s ranks the hard way after a very tough start to his life.

While most 13-year-olds are breezing through life without much of a care in the world, Armitage was dealing with the death of his mother, Jean, from cancer. For any child to lose a parent at such a young age is devastating, but it hit young Marcus hard, and he lost all interest in school and learning.

Already a decent golfer, with a handicap of 10, Marcus turned his attentions to the driving range and the golf course, where he passed the hours that he should have been spent studying textbooks, mastering the arts of driving, chipping and putting at Oldham Golf Club instead. Golf proved an all-consuming distraction from the sadness he felt from the loss of his mother. It became his sanctuary and a safe space where he, and he alone, was in control of his destiny.

Looking back on those days, Marcus says: “After mum died, I left school because I couldn’t focus in the classroom. The only place I could focus was on the golf course, hitting shots and trying to get better. It took my mind off what had happened with my mum. Golf just became my answer. I mean, I know there are no answers in life, but it was my answer at the time. Everything was golf.’’

As his game progressed and his handicap came down, Armitage joined Howley Hall Golf Club and soon started winning on the local circuit. For Armitage there was no smooth transition from the amateur ranks to Europe’s top tour with a few months of sponsors’ invitation, as is often the case for the game’s elite amateurs. He had to carve out a different path and after turning professional in 2012, he joined the EuroPro Tour, the third tier of professional golf in Europe. He proved an instant success on the UK-based circuit, winning three times during the 2013 season en route to being named rookie of the year and earning promotion to the Challenge Tour.

After three relatively successful seasons on the second-tier tour, a victory in the Foshan Open in China in 2016 helped to earn his European Tour card through the end-of-year rankings for the 2017 season. The big time beckoned. But, like many before him, Armitage found the step up to the top tier a tough one, and he dropped straight back down to the Challenge Tour after finishing 152^nd in the 2017 Race to Dubai ranking.

Playing the tour when you’re not making cuts is an expensive business and Armitage soon found himself £100,000 in debt and running out of funds to pay for flights and entry fees. After winning his European Tour card back through qualifying school at the end of 2019, Armitage was facing the prospect of preparing for the 2020 season without the funds to pay for flights or hotels and the future looked bleak. Help, thankfully, came in the shape of fellow European Tour player Robert Rock, who leant him £5,000 to cover his expenses for the first few tournaments of the year and enable him to continue to follow his dream.

Rock’s faith was soon repaid – along with the debt – when Armitage finished third in the South African Open in early January, enabling him to get back on his feet both financially and professionally. The rest of the season yielded five top-10s and a further €260,000 in prize money after he made 18 cuts from 23 tournaments, and his career was back on something resembling the right track.

With his financial worries well and truly behind him, Armitage gently moved up a gear in 2021, making 19 of 25 cuts, bagging six top-20 finishes and securing his long-dreamed of first win at the aforementioned European Open in June, where a closing 65 in the rain-shortened 54-hole tournament was good enough for a two-shot win and a €180,000 winner’s cheque.

The emotion of it all came to a head at the trophy presentation in Germany when a tearful Armitage opened up about the thoughts that were going through his mind as he lifted the trophy, including the debt he owed to his mother. Speaking through the tears, he said: “Twenty years ago I lost my mum and I’ve dreamt about this [winning on the European Tour] since that day. You have days where you think it might not ever happen, but I just stuck at it. Today is a great day, and I’m sure she would be proud, and everybody in my team that’s helped me – but this one’s for me. For all of those lonely days I spent working on my dream. While I’m grateful to my team, I think I’ve got to take a lot of credit for it myself.”

Those humbling words touched a chord with many who were there on the day and those that watched on television. The European Open win led to a significant rise up the rankings for the Yorkshireman and qualification for his first major championship on US soil, the US Open at Torrey Pines, and then later that summer a second stab at the 149^th Open Championship at Royal St George’s, having made his debut at the 2018 renewal at Carnoustie, where a dislocated shoulder caused by an indoor sky-diving accident put paid to his chances of doing himself justice.

Armitage’s doctor had advised him not to play at Carnoustie, but having waited all of his life to be given a chance to play, he was damned if playing with one working arm was going to stop him from taking part. He duly bunted his way around to an opening 80. The next day he managed 11 strokes better, a respectable 69, courtesy of a red hot of a putter. He missed the cut, of course, but he had had his first taste of the Open and was eager for more.

He had to wait four more years for that opportunity to come around again. Opening rounds of 69 and 72 at St George’s saw him advance to his first Open weekend, while a pair of even-par 70s on Saturday and Sunday kept him at one over for the championship, well back from winner Collin Morikawa, but with an experience he won’t soon forget in a hurry.

“It was magic,” he says, recalling his week on the famous Kent links. “Major golf is everything that I’d imagined as a kid, and even more so at the weekend. I’m a fast learner, but it has taken me a bit of time to feel comfortable in these bigger events. Some people take to it straightaway, like your Rorys, but it’s taken me a bit longer. I’m slowly getting the gist of it, and hopefully I can break through next year with something bigger.”

For now, Armitage is happy being one of the underdogs, and flying under the radar, but it might not be for much longer.

FACTFILE
Age: 34
Lives: Huddersfield, Yorkshire
Turned Pro: 2008
World Ranking: 163
European Tour Appearances: 96
Cuts Made: 62
Wins: 1 (2021 Porsche European Open)
Top 10s: 13
Prize Money: €1.45m
Race to Dubai Ranking: 37 (42nd in 2021)
Driving Distance: 312 yards
Driving Accuracy: 48%
Greens in Regulation: 71%
Putts per GIR: 1.71
Stroke Average: 70.31

What is in Marcus Armitage’s bag?
Driver: Callaway Epic Speed (9°)
Fairway wood: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero (15°, 20°)
Irons: Srixon ZX7 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (50°, 54°, 58°)
Putter: Odyssey Works 1W
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Source link

What are the best golf movies of all time? Well,
it’s not easy choosing a definitive list, but we’ve had a go. There have been
some belters over the years…and a few stinkers. 

It’s all subjective, of course, so there’s no need
to write a letter of complaint. Rather, discuss it amongst yourselves.  

We’re not brave enough to rank them, so we’ll leave
that to you. Please note that there’s no place for Goldfinger versus Bond here,
obviously. ‘Best Golf Scenes In Non-Golf Movies’ is a work in progress. 

Anyway, here are the 13 best golf movies of all time… 

1. From the Rough