pgawest

I used to be a topper. You know that old saying "keep your head down?" Well, it doesn't work. But if you concentrate on keeping your head down AFTER the shot, you might stop topping. Your club might be coming up too soon after the shot. I think about the space an inch in front of the ball and try to stay down on it for that extra split second. Try it, what have you got to lose.

Thanks Mr. Desmond. Your comments point out why I'm scared to cut the club. I don't know exactly how but I do know it will change the dynamics of the club. I was interested in what you said about other people having issues with these clubs--makes me feel not so bad that I'm having problems. Thanks.

Thanks Lucius, I very much appreciate your responses, and I'm paying attention. I agree 2" might be drastic...I have been researching this...I think I'll go over to the range tomorrow and choke down on the club, see how that changes things. I'm very much afraid to tweak the length too much and ruin my new clubs. I'm willing to take a lesson to check out/fix my mechanics on this aspect of my game. I am only 5'3" after all, low to the ground, but I don't have problems with long irons or hybrids or my driver, which I can hit the snot out of. Thanks again.

Thank you; I really appreciate this. I think I'll have two inches off each one and take a lesson also.

I recently got a 3 and a 5 RBZ fairway metals (last year's model on sale). I am 5'3 and having trouble hitting them. I tend to strike the ground behind the ball by several inches when I'm taking a practice swing. I'm thinking they are too long for me. They are 43" and 42" respectively. Maybe I could get them shortened. I have no trouble hitting my big 45" driver off the tee. But I struggle with the two fairway clubs to the point where I'm thinking of parking them in the garage. Thanks very much for your insight.

(OP here). The responses have been interesting, thank you for taking the consideration. I was putting from OFF the green and I asked that the flagstick be left in. The removal of the pin in no way interfered with the ball's motion, the ball was rolling toward the hole and had a few inches to go but it was obvious it was going to go in, and LIKELY would have dropped even with the flagstick in place. I know about the penalty for hitting the flagstick while putting on the green, but this is not the case. Thank you again.

My friend and I were playing a casual round yesterday. I was off the green and my friend was standing close to the flagstick. "Do you want it in or out?" she asked. "Leave it in," I said. I putted from the fringe and it was obvious my ball was going in the hole. As the ball neared the hole, she lifted the pin. Any penalty? Thanks.

I exhale as the last piece of my setup routine just before I pull the clubhead back. I inhale on the takeaway, but I'm not sure if I exhale on the downswing. I think I do. I'm not trying to hold my breath, I think that would make one's muscles tense. People who do yoga focus on their breath, so doing it in golf is probably a good thing.

Hole #1 at the Weiskopf Course, PGA West, La Quinta, California

Thank you. I also tried doing 3/4 swing and that helped too.

Hi, I am having trouble with my short irons on my approach shots. I hit them okay, but they go left. All of them, and they tend to roll left as well. I want to get closer to the pin, not end up in a bunker or have long putts. I can aim right of the pin and get closer, but I don't feel that is the right way to go about it, I'd prefer to have deadly aim. I'm definitely pulling them. Any help? Thanks.