Golfing News & Blog Articles

Just six months ago, I was swinging my driver at around 93 mph. Now I’m around 108, sometimes 110. 

What did I do to make such a big jump? What made the biggest difference? 

(Spoiler: The answer isn’t speed training.)

Really. I did absolutely no speed training. No special speed sticks, no special training aids. Here’s how I gained 15 mph clubhead speed in a matter of months. 

My Speed Journey

Let’s start with this. I’m 6’2” and have a pretty large frame. I’ve always been pretty strong. While I’m still fairly new to golf, it’s easy to take one look at me and ask, “Why does that guy swing so slowly?”

I’ve seen Wyndham Clark’s putting routine one too many times. 

Apologies for singling out a player who has emerged as one of the top golfers in the world over the past year—he isn’t alone in this—but the way he operates on the greens goes too far for me. 

If you haven’t seen it, the gist is pretty simple: Clark relies heavily on his caddie, John Ellis, who spends ample time lining up his player. Ellis also regularly takes a wedge out to address the ball and “simulate” hitting the putt himself. 

In my eyes, the whole process goes beyond being tedious—it’s against the spirit of what the rules should be. 

It has me thinking that there should be an amendment to the current rule that limits the role of caddies when it comes to the alignment of golfers, particularly in the professional game. 

Maude-Aimee Leblanc shot a 7-under 64 and had the lone bogey-free round Thursday to take the first-round lead in the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship.

Kevin Streelman has a new ball marker to help with alignment that required USGA approval before he teed off Thursday in the Valspar Championship. He had 10 consecutive one-putt greens on his way to a 7-under 64 and a one-shot lead.

There's a Kevin in first place. There's a Kevin in last place. And there are Kevins everywhere in between on the PGA Tour this week.

The post This week’s PGA Tour event? It has a record number of Kevins appeared first on Golf.

Feeling pinched for time? So is our instruction editor. Here are 6 ways he's working to improve his game with a busier schedule.

The post Strapped for golf time? Here are 6 ways to improve on a packed schedule appeared first on Golf.

After 13 seasons on the LPGA Tour, including a pair of major victories, South Korea's So Yeon Ryu announced Thursday she will retire from professional golf next month.

Wouldn’t you like to know why you are topping shots and hitting worm burners? It really is frustrating when you know that you need to clear a pond in preparation for a perfect third shot to the green. That’s when we rush our swing and dump our ball into the pond. Thankfully, Danny Maude described the cause and fix in a recent blog.

YOUR MISTAKE: To make a mishit and top your ball, you must be swinging up and through the top side of your ball. The only way to do this is by shifting your weight to your trailing foot in your backswing and rush your downswing before you shift your weight back to your leading foot. Most recreational players make this mistake.

HOW THE PROS DO IT: Pros don’t rush their down swing so that they can easily shift their weight forward during their transition at the top and make a perfect swing down to their ball. Recreational players should eliminate swaying back during their back swing to keep the bottom of your swing arc at your point of impact and inline with your ball.

Know that your club will (a) bottom out at the bottom of your swing arc and (b) – for right handers- spray your shots right when you connect early in the radius of your swing and spray left when you connect late.

Solution
(a) Bottom Arc Correction: For iron shots (off the ground) setup so that your nose is directly over your ball and DON’T SWAY BACK in your backswing. For your driver (off a tee) setup so that your nose and club head are on a line 4 inches behind your ball and allow your club to swing up to launch your ball.
(b) Swing Radius Correction: To control the direction of your shot, the further you place your ball back in your stance, the more you need to open your stance (by moving your leading foot back an inch or two). Since your ball is forward in your stance for drives, you should close your stance (by moving your trailing foot away from your target line).

Golf has some odd traditions. Near the top of that list is how players who make a hole-in-one have to foot the bill for the impending celebration in the clubhouse after the round. 

This concept, which dates back at least 100 years, is taken to the extreme in Japan. About 40 percent of the country’s golfers—some four million people—pay around $65 USD per year for hole-in-one insurance to receive around $3,500 worth of coverage for celebration expenses. 

The expectation is that golfers making an ace should pay not just for drinks but lavish gifts like push carts, rangefinders and more for their playing partners, likely exceeding the insurance coverage. 

That level of hole-in-one insurance for individual golfers is not as prevalent in other parts of the world, but it definitely exists. Join a private club in the U.S. and it’s possible, if not likely, that the option exists to pay a small monthly fee that goes into a hole-in-one pool so there are no additional out-of-pocket expenses for the lucky golfer. A lot of clubs make the cost a part of a member’s monthly dues. 

Look, I don’t want to be a curmudgeon—making an ace is really cool and it’s a blast to celebrate them. It’s so unlikely (12,500-to-1 odds for mere mortals) that it’s worth making a big deal of every one. 

When I was a teaching pro, I loved having a go-to training aid that could serve multiple purposes for multiple players. 

I still look for tools like that for my own game. The Connector caught my attention as a unique and versatile aid. I really wanted to see how this works in the short game (chipping and pitching) but I was impressed with the all-around game benefits. This one may be worth looking into if you’re trying to become a better ball striker. 

What We Tried: The Connector 

A soft memory-foam wedge-shaped training aid designed to improve putting, chipping, pitching and full swings. The Connector is designed to promote better body-arm synchronization and improve consistency and power in the swing. 

Why Use This Type of Training Aid?

A training aid that improves how the arms and body work together can help generate more power. In addition, consistency in your movements will make your impact position cleaner. You’ll also compress the ball which maximizes precision, ball flight and distance. . 

Who Tried It?

Britt Olizarowicz, MyGolfSpy writer and scratch golfer. I love training aids that can help with more than one area of the game; The Connector advertises itself as being “The Most Versatile Training Aid in Golf” so I had to see if that’s true. 

Testers Wanted!

Yes, we have more golf balls for you to test! This Testers Wanted opportunity from Bridgestone has a bit of a twist with the inclusion of the official MyGolfSpy data partner, Shot Scope. Before we dive into that, let’s learn a little more about the new Mindset golf ball from Bridgestone.

About Bridgestone Mindset

Visual aids on golf balls are nothing new. Lines, hexagons, shapes and more have all been included on golf balls in one form or another. The Bridgestone Mindset takes it to a new level and works to help all golfers with a routine to put them in a better mindset (hence the name) to make their next shot.

The Mindset design consists of three colors and shapes that represent different stages in a simple three-stage process.

The outermost red circle and arrow are meant alignment and identifying your target.

The yellow middle circle is for visualizing the shot path, encouraging a clear idea of what and where you want the golf ball to go.

“Comfort. Connection. Power.”

These are the three words Lamkin Golf features when you check out the Sonar+ Black grips. Lamkin’s Genesis material using Fingerprint Technology produces a surprisingly simple and classic-looking black grip, with minimal silver highlights.  This refined texture and unique Genesis material create a long-lasting grip with “enhanced feel and strong connection that truly feels like no other.”

Does the Lamkin Sonar+ Black grip take comfort, connection and power to the next level? Read on to see what our testers discovered. 

Selection Process

Our Forum staff handpicked four testers for the Sonar+ Black grips. Testers selected the size they preferred and received a full set of Sonar+ Black Grips from Lamkin.  

Would these grips stand up to their current gamers?

It's time for the 2024 Valspar Championship! Will Taylor Moore defend his title? Check out how to watch the action on ESPN+ now.

The Olympics is reportedly set to add a team event in 2028. We approve, but here's a way to make Olympic golf better still.

The post Mixed-team Olympic golf sounds great. Now take it 1 step further appeared first on Golf.

Jon Rahm spoke with the media to dish on his Masters Champions Dinner menu, the difficulties he's faced since leaving the PGA Tour and more.

The post Jon Rahm reveals ‘difficult’ part of leaving PGA Tour for LIV Golf appeared first on Golf.

Want to dial in your putting stroke without breaking the bank? The Perfect Putting Gates are a great option.

The post Use this inexpensive training aid to improve your putting stroke appeared first on Golf.

Instructor Nick Kumpis shows a clever trick that uses two tees to help find the low point of the swing and improve contact.

The post Using 2 tees is a clever way to find the low point. Here’s how appeared first on Golf.

On Wednesday, a Korean news outlet reported that Topgolf Callaway's major shareholders want to sell Callaway. Here's what Callaway said.

The post Callaway Golf on the selling block? Manufacturer responds to report appeared first on Golf.

In today's edition of Play Smart, Top 100 Teacher Jon Tattersall explains why committing to your process is the key to shooting lower scores.

The post This pre-shot trick is the key to shooting lower scores, says Top 100 Teacher appeared first on Golf.