Author: Erik J. Barzeski

One-Handed Chipping

Amateur players tend to flub chips a lot, but it’s impossible to scoop reliably with only one hand.

Amateur players tend to flub chips a lot. When they should be getting up and down, instead they’re taking three or even more shots to get down from just off the green. Many amateurs flub their chips because they break down their wrists and attempt to scoop the ball.

Hinging your wrist going back is fine, but through the ball you want firm, solid wrists that don’t have a lot of break in them. To ingrain the feeling, practice hitting your chips with only your left hand on the club. Just stick your right hand in your pocket.

This drill is tough at first, but as you go on you’ll be forced to develop a solid wrist at impact or you’ll see all manner of bad shots. It’s impossible to scoop reliably with only one hand: only a firm wrist through impact will lead to good shots.

“You Have a Decision to Make”

On the second take, they told Tiger to hit the camera…

Nike AdNike filmed a few new commercials recently, and Tiger Woods is the star of one we’ve titled “You Have a Decision to Make.” This is no ordinary commercial, though: Tiger pulls off something a little special in the final seconds.

Click here to play the commercial (18 MB, QuickTime MPEG-4 video).

Rumor has it that on the first take, they told Tiger to hit the ball a foot or so over the camera. He hit it about four inches above. From sixty yards away. That shot wasn’t quite good enough, so on the second take, they told Tiger to hit the camera.

So he did.

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World #1 Wins #1 at the Sony Open

The world number one has one his first in ’05. How many more to come?

Vijay SinghErnie Els came from way back and tied the course record with a 62, but it was not enough to hold off the world’s highest ranked player. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Singh himself fired a 65.

Following a tournament in which Singh had the lead after three days of play and didn’t win, Vijay wins the 2005 Sony Open never having held the lead until the final thirty minutes. He finished at -11 while second- and third-round leader Shigeki Maruyama fell backwards, finishing at -9.

Els charged hard, finishing birdie-birdie-eagle to get to -10, tying the course record 62 in a round that included two bogeys. Els, winner of the last two Sony Opens, said of his round that he “always felt like it was going to be just a little shy. He [Singh] did what he had to do.”

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80% Swing Speed

In Tiger Woods’ DVDs, he mentions that his normal 8I travels 158 yards. The key? Tiger’s normal swing is at 80%.

In Tiger Woods’ DVDs, he mentions that his normal 8I travels 158 yards. That may surprise some people who have seen Tiger hit 203-yard 8Is from the rough to 15 feet. The key? Tiger’s normal swing is at 80%.

Many amateurs falsely believe that trying to swing faster results in higher swing speed. This tends not to be true: timing, rhythm, and balance are all thrown off when you crank up the speed. Your wrists unhinge at the wrong time, your hips slide. Havoc ensues.

Play an entire round of golf at 80% effort. Make comfortable, easy passes at the ball. Don’t try to kill it. My guess? You won’t lose any yardage (you may even gain a few yards) and your balls will find their targets a helluva lot more frequently.

Black Balls Follow-Up

Nike wanted players to use all-black golf balls at the Sony Open. How’d it turn out?

nike_one_blakLast month we mentioned that Nike would be asking its staff players to use an all-black golf ball at the Sony Open to promote the Nike ONE Black.

Turns out the whole thing was a miserable failure.

John Cook played an all-black golf ball. He used it on one hole: the par-3 17th. “We weren’t quite sure how it would look in the rough,” Cook said. “It looked like a bird going up in the air.”

The ball was approved by the USGA prior to tournament and no other Nike staff players report having needed the money as badly as Cook. Errr, ummm, we mean no other Nike staff players report having used a black ball during the tournament.

Hole in One Keeps Maruyama in Front

Maruyama double bogeys the first but aces the par-3 fourth. He holds the lead going into the final round of the 2005 Sony Open.

Ball In HoleShigeki Maruyama, the second-round leader, started Saturday’s round with a double bogey. He got it all back three holes later with a hole-in-one. Maruyama shot a 68 to retain his one-stroke lead going into the final round of the 2005 Sony Open.

In hot pursuit, one stroke back, is Brett Quigley, nephew of Champions Tour player Dana Quigley. Brett remains winless in 220 starts on the PGA Tour, but has fired three consecutive sub-par rounds of 66, 67, 68. Will a 69 on Sunday be good enough to win if the trend continues? My numerology advisor says no. (No, I don’t have a numerology advisor!)

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Sony Open: Day 2

Michelle Wie is not the only story in Hawaii this week. Shigeki Maruyama fired a 5-under 65 to take the lead.

Shigeki MaruyamaWe’ll get it quickly out of the way: Michelle Wie missed the cut by seven, six shots worse than last year, finishing at +9. She played well in spots but couldn’t make a putt. She beat 16 men, though, and out of respect for those men’s dwindling self-respect, we won’t be publishing their names. Just kidding – losing to Michelle Wie is not something about which to be ashamed. Shooting +10 or worse? Well, maybe…

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The Next Tiger Woods: Michelle Wie?!?!

Wie may have missed the cut at the Sony Open, but in terms of marketability, she’s a cut above the rest.

WieMichelle Wie has missed the cut. She finished at +9 – seven strokes back – six worse than her effort last year relative to the cut. Yet many believe she’s going to be the next Tiger Woods. Not necessarily in the game of golf, but in the business of marketing.

This PGA.com article hints at it, with quotes like this: “Michelle’s creating excitement because she’s breaking down barriers,” said Greg Nichols, general manager at Ko Olina Golf Club and a junior golf coach. “She has created a huge wave for golf.”

Greg Nared, a business affairs manager for Nike, has been scouting Wie for several years. He noted that “she’s good for the game because she could attract younger people and females.” He was also quick to point out that Wie’s South Korean heritage could broaden appeal in the Asian market.

What mega-deal awaits her when she graduates to the ranks of “professional golfer”? “Wie” can only wait and see.

Driver Fitting

Instant improvement doesn’t come often, so take advantage of it when you can. Get your driver fitted.

Have you had your driver fitted? If you can reasonably repeat your swing, get thee to a pro shop. You deserve a fitted driver.

The mantra these days is “high launch, low spin.” A little bit of that will depend on your ball, cut the clubhead and the shaft (particularly the shaft) matter quite a bit. Use this guide to achieve your optimal distance.

Driver Fitting Guide
According to Titleist Science Van representatives, the spin numbers are a bit high.

Now, get thee to the pro shop. Get equipment that suits your game. Instant improvement doesn’t come often, so take advantage of it when you can.