Published On: Thu, Aug 28th, 2014

A Few Fun Golf Facts

To Slide or Not

At the start of the downswing, most average golfers get the rotary part right by unwinding their shoulders, but they don’t have enough lateral motion toward the target. When the rotary takes over, it not only pushes the club outside the correct arc, leading to shots that curve to the right, it also positions the swing’s low point behind the ball, producing fat or thin contact. The goal is to keep the club on the same swing arc it traced on the backswing as the hip center shifts in front of the ball, setting up a downward and outward strike. Sliding the hips toward the target causes the spine to tilt to the golfer’s right. This move must be combined with a gradual extension of the spine out of its forward tilt toward the ball-just like on the backswing. The combination of these spine actions keeps the golfer at the same level to the ground, setting up a precise return of the club to the ball.

Duck and Cover

Q: If someone yells “Fore!” and I have no idea where the ball my be coming from, what do I do?

A: According to Kevin Dukes, an orthopedic surgeon with the Tulsa Bone & Joint Association, “Forty-two percent of all golf injuries are to the head and face, and 28 percent are caused by getting struck with a ball. So protect your head first. Take shelter or cover up with your forearms. Crouching down also make you a smaller target.”

Golf = Intelligence

Q: What’s the average golf score for all golfers -good, bad, and abysmal?

A: It’s about the same as the average IQ for all humans: 100. For men, the average golf score is 97; for women, 114. Golfers must visit this website for the best golf photography.

Like A Rock

Q: Is it true that warm balls will go farther than cold balls?

A: Yes, it’s true. The colder the ball gets, the less resilient the plastics inside, and the harder the ball becomes. Your driving distance could go down by as much as 30 percent. It’s akin to the difference between hitting a superball and a rock. When you hit a solid object, you lose a lot of energy on impact. Springy rubber, on the other hand, temporarily absorbs the impact and keeps the ball in contact with the club longer. The ball flattens a bit and then springs back to a round, shape launching itself like a shot from the clubhead.

Your Partner in Golf Success!

Stan Moore, PGA

Teaching Professional @ Don Law Golf Academy

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