lady golfer trying to get out of the bunker
Peter Boyce and Ronnie Decker
Q. My driver has developed a slight rattle that comes and goes. Does this affect its performance?
A. No. Usually this is a small piece of golf club shafting epoxy that has broken loose and fallen into the head cavity. It sounds a lot bigger than it really is and is more a source of annoyance than anything else. Any qualified golf club repairman can remove the shaft and then extract the culprit.
Q. Bunkers frustrate me. What are the basics for good sand trap play?
A. Here are the techniques of bunker play so everyone will be ready for the shot that scares most golfers. There are a few basic rules to follow that even the best forget from time to time.
1. Pick the spot on the green where you want your ball to land.
2. Select the target with your goal to be sure that the ball flies out of the bunker. In other words, pick a longer spot if you are at all unsure as a 15 foot putt from past the pin is better than having to regroup in the bunker.
3. No matter how far you are from the target, the ball should be played just left of the center of your body (right-handed players).
4. The shot is determined by where you aim your club, the amount you dig your feet into the sand and the speed of your swing.
5. The club always is aimed at the target spot.
6. The shorter the shot, the more you aim your body line left of the target and the more you dig your feet into the sand.
For every inch you dig your feet into the sand, you should position your feet one inch farther from the ball. Therefore for a long bunker shot you would dig your feet in one inch, position yourself one inch farther away and hit the sand one inch
Q. I have a tough time judging how far I will hit the ball from the dormant Bermuda rough. Is there anything I should be looking for?
A. The best thing to remember is if the grass is leaning toward the target, the ball will fly farther than normal. That is why it is called a flyer. If the grass is leaning toward the ball, the shot will fly higher and shorter.
Q. What do the tour professionals do with their equipment that is different from the average player?
A. They wash their grips all the time. Dirty, slippery grips create bad shots. They also change their grips frequently.
Q. I see some players with a line on their golf ball. Does this help?
A. For years golfers lined the manufacturer’s name up with their intended line and now many are using a marker to put a line on the ball. It is perfectly legal and it is used by many players on both men’s and women’s tours. There is a plastic sleeve available that fits over the ball and allows you to mark a perfectly straight line on the ball. Does it work? Sure—sometimes!