TMO

Honestly, instructional DVDs are so generic that I wouldn't recommend any of them. If I were going to recommend anything for the short game it would be Pelz Short Game bible. Gives the depth you would be missing in a DVD.

My teacher was completely science based. I completely disagree with the science of stack and tilt. Two plane swing is a little misleading. I have a lot more details on my site but I just do whatever is the most efficient motion I can make. Hope that answers your question.

When I want to spin the ball with a chip shot I am a big fan of just opening the face a little bit, taking a shorter back swing and a longer follow through. Oh, have to have lag also but I have that on all shots.

I knew a few 20 handicappers that could hit the ball 300. The problem was that they would hit the ball everywhere. Don't sweat it ... just give them a five a side, talk about how amazing it is that they hit it 300, and then collect at the end of the round. You'll see, they are the kind of golfers that will come back for more again and again and fund your golf career.

I know it doesn't actually happen but at 20 feet I think I should make the putt. At that length I feel I should be able to read the putt and I should be able to figure out the speed. It's all on me to make the right stroke.

To be honest, I learned pretty fast. However, the reason I got good fast is that I sacrificed my ego and worked on the range for hours at a time on my swing. It was frustrating but I got it. Focus on your swing not on your score. It'll come.

VIDEO tape your swing. That is absolutely your next step. There are only so many things that lead to a shank but if you video tape your swing you will probably see it almost instantly. If you don't, video tape your swing and send it to me.

I would take a look at your swing on video. If your swing is off on the range you can still get away with a little bit. On the course there's really no forgiveness.

If you have the right amount of lag you will still hit the ball in the center of the face you will just have a different feeling after impact. Fix your lag and you'll hit it better.

I saw you are a 3 handicap but that doesn't really tell much about scoring average. If your rounds are sporadic then even as a 3 I would start trying to tighten up your swing. I don't know what your swing looks like so it would be pretty hard to say what drill I would recommend. If you really want a quick fix though, I would read Bob Rotella's books. Breaking par consistently is all about mindset.

When I started playing golf I was a really short hitter but I still played from the tips. You are not going to make any huge strides with your long irons in the next two weeks but I would work on your short game. If you hit the green in regulation 50% of the time and get up and down the other 50%, then you are still par or better.

I don't like playing in the middle of a big swing change. It gets me focused on things that I know won't help me in the long run. With that said, if you are going out there just for fun then go have fun... just don't expect to play well.

If you find a good golf workout routine let me know. The routine I am on right now is similar to the one I used in college and all it did was bulk me up and hurt my back.

I have always used Mizuno irons. I went from MP14 to MP33 to MP30. I loved them but I am thinking about moving to the AP2's because they hit beautifully. Titleist has come a long way.

Public courses is tough. I've played Pebble and got my tail kicked on the front side so I would love to go back there again. To be honest, and I know this is sad, my favorite public courses are the Robert Trent Jones courses in Alabama. They are super cheap but you definitely get your money's worth. My favorites on the trail go: 1. Highland Oaks in Dothan 2. Magnolia Grove in Mobile 3. Grand National in Opelika 4. Capital Hill in Prattsville 5. Lakewood in Point Clear

I don't know how many eagles on Par 5's I've had but I've had 26 eagles on Par 4's. If it makes you feel any better I have never had a hole in one - EVER. My dad has had 3 and never eagled a par 4.

I am not quite sure if you are talking about locking your leading elbow through impact in order to maintain your lag and extension, however, if you are I recently wrote a blog entry on that very concept. Honestly, I think it is a short cut that will help you get used to maintaining lag but ultimately, you are still going to have to make some additional changes. If you want to take a look at the entry, just click here . Hope that helps.

I don't really have a home course here in Maryland but growing up my home course was a group of courses called Cannongate .

I am a law student who used to play professional golf before I hurt my back.

It's hard to say who really would win when either of them are at their prime. Both are such incredible competitors that I think it would come down to who was having a better day and what type of course they were playing. Long course with flat greens, Tiger wins. Lots of wind / British Open style course, Tiger wins. If it is a shorter course with lots of rough, I think it's Nicklaus. At Augusta National, I think it's Tiger based on the fact that the rough isn't horrible, the trees aren't a real threat, and wedge into those undulating greens can make it so you end up on the right level a lot easier. TMO