Proposed rule changes that would limit how far players can drive the ball at elite golf tournaments are "bad for the game of golf," Justin Thomas says.
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Masters champion Scottie Scheffler finally decided on his menu when he hosts the Masters Club dinner, and it wasn't a big surprise -- meat, fish and chocolate chip cookies.
A fade is a shot in golf where the ball curves slightly from left to right for a right-handed golfer, or from right to left for a left-handed golfer. Here are some general steps to hit a fade:
Aim slightly left (for right-handed golfers) or slightly right (for left-handed golfers) of your target. This will help account for the curve of the shot.
Set up with an open stance. This means that your front foot is slightly farther away from the target line than your back foot, and your front shoulder is pointed left (for right-handed golfers) or right (for left-handed golfers) of the target.
Take a slightly weaker grip on the club. This means that your hands are rotated slightly counterclockwise (for right-handed golfers) or clockwise (for left-handed golfers) on the grip.
Swing with an outside-in path. This means that your clubhead should approach the ball from outside the target line and then cut across it, imparting the left-to-right spin that creates the fade.
Whether you know it or not, every golfer has his own personal swing problems. You may have been given advise like “Keep your head down or Slow your swing down” but these tips are not helping. You need professional help to sort out the root cause which is preventing you from landing every drive in the fairway.
Your golfing buddies can only advise you on what they see but they most likely can’t give you the proper approach to solve your swing problems.
Key for Golf Success: Longer Drives
Hank Haney recently reminded us in a blog that longer drives are the key to success on every par 4 or par 5 hole. Longer, accurate drives help you shorten every hole. The only way to achieve longer drives is with faster head speeds at the point of impact with your ball. You don’t want to swing harder, but you do want to swing faster by releasing your wrists with whipping action through the ball.
Your success depends on your ability to generate club head speed in the direct line with your target. Swinging with a slicing or hooking action is minimizing your resulting power. They are just as bad as hitting a shot fat or thin. You need a professional PGA trainer using a LAUNCH MONITOR (or golf ball flight analyzer) to measure the rotation of your golf ball and then present the ideal swing changes for your ideal hits.
My personal driver swing defect was identified as a downward slicing swing path. My correction was made by flattening or bowing my leading wrist at the top of my backswing to shallow my swing path as I swing from the inside and up my target line. I’m an aging golfer and I now drive consistently over 200 yards (up to 250). I have virtually eliminated my 100-yard mishits.
Rickie Fowler is set to become the latest golfer to join TGL, the tech-infused golf league being fronted by Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, sources told ESPN.
What’s your golf vice?
If making golf apparel fashionable is a sin, then VICE Golf has some things to answer for. This week, the German golf brand introduced their new golf apparel line for 2023. The line consists of three flamboyant sub-collections, each with a different theme and color palette.
VICE has earned a reputation as a DTC golf ball company that just happens to make apparel. But of late, the brand is leaning more heavily into the apparel and accessory space. The hope is that the 2023 line will be a “breath of fresh air” for golf fashion. In short, the VICE Golf apparel collection for 2023 is different—and perhaps that’s just what the game of golf needs.
The Details
Three sub-collections: Liberty Club, Florida Scramble, Carry on TraditionLifestyle and performance piecesAvailable now at VICEFlorida Scramble
The Florida Scramble sub-collection of VICE Golf apparel is highlighted by hues reminiscent of the neon glow of Miami at night and features a signature orange-themed VICE logo that pays homage to Florida citrus. The pièce de résistance of the Florida Scramble sub-collection is the reversible mesh shorts that are sure to turn heads at the club or on the course.
Liberty Club
As opposed to the rural feel of the Florida Scramble sub-collection, the Liberty Club apparel and accessories play into the urban streetwear vibes of New York City. Golf is often thought of as a suburban game, yet this sub-collection from VICE Golf challenges that notion with a line of trendy golf wear that doubles as a lifestyle line. The classic pinstriped shorts and college-style sweatshirts are the cream of the crop from this sub-collection.
MyGolfSpy Ball Lab is where we quantify the quality and consistency of golf balls. Today, we’re reviewing the 2022 OnCore ELIXR. To learn more about our test process, click here.
About the OnCore ELIXR
The 2022 OnCore ELXIR is OnCore’s value-priced urethane offering. At $30 per dozen, it’s among the more intriguing options at its price point. It’s classified as a mid-launch, low-spin ball.
OnCore ELIXR Construction
The OnCore ELIXR is a three-piece ball with a TPU (injection-molded) urethane cover with a 350-dimple aerodynamic package.
The pattern, along with the fact that it’s produced in Taiwan, suggest it’s manufactured by Launch Technologies. That’s notable because OnCore’s other urethane models, including the Vero series and the prior-generation ELIXR, are produced by Foremost (also Taiwan) and feature cast-urethane covers. Launch Tech produces balls for a number of direct-to-consumer brands, which helps to explain some of the findings we report below.
The USGA and the R&A are proposing rule changes that would allow tours and tournaments the option to require elite men's players to use a golf ball that will be tested under modified launch conditions to reduce distance.
The USGA and R&A have taken the first definitive steps towards a rollback of the golf ball. The comment period will be open until mid-August after which time, presumably, the final decision will be made.
To be clear, absolutely nothing is happening right now—and even if the proposed change is adopted, it won’t take effect until January 2026.
That said, it feels like a certainty that a rollback is coming.
What is the golf ball rollback plan?
In a nutshell, the proposal is a model Local Rule (MLR) based on a change in the Overall Distance Standard (ODS).
It’s the same approach the governing bodies took in limiting (more accurately, providing the choice to limit) driver length to 46 inches.
Reading a putt in golf is an essential skill that involves analyzing the slope, speed, and grain of the green to determine the ideal line and speed for the ball. Here are the steps to read a putt:
Walk around the green to get a good sense of the slope and any breaks in the terrain. Look for any obvious uphill or downhill slopes, as well as any bumps or ridges that could affect the ball's path.
Stand behind the ball and imagine a line from the ball to the hole. Visualize how the ball will roll along this line and any breaks it may encounter.
Look at the slope of the green to determine the direction of the break. The ball will tend to break towards the low side of the slope, so aim slightly above the hole for a downhill putt and slightly below the hole for an uphill putt.
Consider the speed of the green. A faster green will require a softer putt to prevent the ball from rolling too far past the hole, while a slower green will require a firmer putt to ensure that the ball reaches the hole.
Tuesday's rollback rollout and reactions say a lot about the people involved in the game.
This is my 4th version of a wind formula and for this one I recruited Chris Broadie, engineer with PING, for his insights and ability to model shots in windy conditions. Please note that we did not merely come up with an idea and throw it out there. We both put a fair amount of our expertise and understanding into this. I hope you take the time to watch this video and learn from the formula…
Wind Data:
Gauge the wind by deciding if it’s 5, 10, 15 or 20mph. There is no need to be overly specific. Practice with an anemometer/wind meter will help calibrate the accuracy of how you gauge the wind. I use this model from Kestrel which I purchased on Amazon. Most golfers typically overestimate wind mph, but a quick weather app check will often serve as a good guide.
Headwinds: the mph of wind will be the yards to add to distance. For example, 10mph of wind adds 10 yards to the distance the shot will play.
Tailwinds: take half the mph of wind and make it the yards of distance to subtract. For example, 10mph of wind will subtract 5 yards from the distance the shot will play.
Hitting a successful flop shot in golf requires skill and practice. Here are some general steps to follow:
Choose the right club: Generally, golfers use a wedge for a flop shot. A sand wedge or a lob wedge with a high degree of loft can work well.
Open your stance: Position your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and open your front foot towards the target.
Open your clubface: Open the clubface so that it faces the sky.
Move the ball forward in your stance: Place the ball near your front foot.
There’s never enough time in the day to play golf. Luckily, with the arrival of Daylight Savings Time, an extra hour of on-course time is not just something to look forward to but maybe more importantly, something to capitalize on.
How will you spend your extra hour?
Want to gain some club head speed? Want to try and squeeze in nine holes after work? Whatever it is, here are some products (and deals!) to consider before heading into those highly anticipated long days on the golf course.
Rypstick Training Package & RypRadar (Best For Golfers Who Want More Distance)
Ever feel like your swing is getting faster but you aren’t sure how much faster?
Scottie Scheffler ran away with it, but there was plenty else to marvel at in Florida this weekend.
Italy’s BRD Golf Grips represent one of the more fun aspects of being a chronicler for MyGolfSpy. And that’s stumbling across, quite by accident, a small company with an interesting story.
BRD Grips, headquartered in Florence, Italy, is all about la famiglia. It’s a family business but the mover, shaker and chief spokesman is Alessandro Guazzini, the 23-year-old figlio numero uno (number one son) of the Guazzini family.
“It’s a start-up, family business,” Guazzini tells MyGolfSpy. “The idea was mine and we created this all together and everybody is doing a different activity.”
And while the actual grips made by BRD are interesting, the story of how those grips came to be is just as fascinating. So, crack open some vino or pour yourself a shot or two of grappa and let’s dive in. It’s a story dall’Italia, con amore. (That’s “from Italy, with love.”)
Under The Tuscan Sun
Florence is the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region and is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance. Since being established by the Romans, it’s been ruled by the like of Charlemagne, the Medici family and Napoleon. Florence is famous for its art and its chianti. Da Vinci began his career there and Michelangelo’s statue of David resides there.
Just over a year ago, some golf fans might have wondered whether Scottie Scheffler would ever win on tour. These days, no one can catch him.
