Midwest

     Golf

Putter Assembly

The putter is probably the easiest golf club to assemble but can lead to the most trouble for the clubmaker. Rarely is the shaft in need of tip trimming and usually no ferrule is required. Assembling the components is a simple process of abrading the tip of the shaft and making sure the hosel is clean. Once the butt of the shaft is cut and gripped with some well-placed epoxy, the club is ready.

It sounds easy, and it is. However, if the clubmaker does not take the same steps and use the precision that is used with the rest of the clubs, bad things can and will happen. The reason for this is that many clubmakers think of the putter as a non-swinging club. The head will never fly off because people don’t swing it fast or dig it through the turf like an iron. It is barely swung at all.

But the putter can be your worst nightmare. Have you ever seen someone miss a putt and toss the ball in the air and try to hit it fungo fashion with the putter head, or swing the putter very hard out of anger? In both cases the head may become a projectile if the assembly process is not followed properly. Others use the putter from way off the green and swing it almost as hard as an iron. It better be able to withstand the toss or throw to the bag from the bad-tempered, ill-skilled stroker. The head should stay on the shaft in all instances, regardless of the owner’s bad habits or temper tantrums.

The putter is another mark on your resume. It may be a blemish, or it may be a gold star. A clubmaker should build clubs to last forever and treat them all equally. No one club should be given more attention than the rest because they can all potentially come back to haunt you or bring you more business.

Midwest

     Golf

Go Topless

Go Topless If you tend to skull your fairway woods, it’s because you’re catching the ball on the upswing, often caused by trying to scoop or lift the ball up. To fix this problem, you have to understand that solid ballstriking is sometimes a game of opposites. To hit the ball higher with a fairway wood, you actually have to hit down - as opposed to up - on the ball.

To eliminate skulled shots with your fairway woods and hybrids, start by making sure that your ball position is no farther forward than the inside of your left heel. The ball should be positioned at the base of your swing arc so the club makes contact with the ball at the lowest point of your swing. If you’re going to error, you’re better off hitting the ball with a downward blow than an upward blow, so make sure the ball is never too far forward. Despite what you may have heard, moving the ball back in your stance can help you hit it higher by imparting more backspin to the ball. More backspin equals a higher trajectory and also works to negate damaging sidespin.

To practice, begin by putting a tee in the ground where you normally would hit your fairway wood. Instead of hitting from that tee, place another tee - this time with a ball - two inches behind the empty tee in front. As you hit a few shots, focus on grazing the empty tee after you make contact with the ball. This drill will help you train yourself to hit the ball on a descending or level plane, as opposed to an upward, ascending arc.

In addition, give this drill a try with your hybrid clubs, irons and wedges - all clubs that require a downward-to-level blow for consistent contact. With your hybrid clubs, separate the tees one to two inches apart, and with your irons and wedges, an inch apart will do just fine. After a few practice sessions, the topped shot will make its way out of your repertoire.