Greetings Golfers,

We all know that golf is frustrating. But I think what is most frustrating is not knowing where the ball is going and not knowing why or how to fix it.

No matter how you swing, the shot is a combination of club face and swing-path. Sure, the movements of your body affect the face and especially the path … but no matter what, your shots are a result of face and path.

To get a handle on this concept, it’s best to test this out at the chipping green. The chipping motion is so short that not much can get in the way of face and path.

If the club face is open at contact, the ball will go high and right like a slice. If the face is closed at contact, the ball will go low and left like a hook.

So, if you want to play a low, running hook chip-shot, you need to send the ball on a path right of the hole so that it come back to the hole.

Conversely, if you want to play a high, soft cut chip-shot, you need to start the ball on a path left of the hole.

Full-shot hooks and slices are just bigger versions of these two shots.

Obviously, it gets trickier with a full swing.

On the backswing, many people take the club back to the outside and put themselves in a position to slice the ball. If you take the club back with your right-hand in control, you most likely will take it back outside and up. If you take it back with your left-hand in control, you most likely will take it back to the inside and low … leading to an inside-out swing path.

But remember, the path alone doesn’t control the shape of the shot … the club-face especially does. I believe it is easier to rotate the club-face closed with your left-hand. Try it and see. And, I believe it is easier to open up the club face with your right-hand.

So, practice chipping with your left-hand in control on the backswing … and also in control as you hit the ball while rolling over your hands to close the face and hit a low, running hook.

And, practice chipping with your right-hand in control on the backswing … and in control as you hit the ball while sliding the club-face under the ball to give you a high soft shot that will spin right like a slice.

After you get the feel of those two distinct shots while chipping … go to the range and try those same shots on your full swing.

Then you will know how to shape your shots. And you will know why your shots go left or right … and why they spin like a hook or a slice.

Will this knowledge end your frustration on the golf course? Have you ever had the putting yips?

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub

Greetings Golfers,

I love the Open. Not sure I love it as much as the Masters … but maybe. It’s old-school golf – a game of angles … not raw power. If you think you can just bomb it, find it and then wedge it on the green … you’re in for a long day.

Ironically, the best driver in the world had a very long day. He’s also the local lad and the most talented player that I’ve ever seen. I saw Sam Snead play, but he was in his 60s …so I really can’t compare. Oh yeah, I’m talking about Rory McIlroy.

When he was only 16, Rory set the course record at Royal Portrush with a mind-boggling 61. So yesterday – 14 years later on the same golf course – Rory shot an ugly 79 with an 8 on the first hole.

We all know that golf is a cruel game and no one is exempt from its fickleness and disaster holes. However, Rory is in his prime and playing the Open at his home course. How can this happen?

Don’t get me wrong … I really like Rory. He seems like a guy you’d like to play golf with, hang-out with, or have as your neighbor. Fun, friendly, kind, and trustworthy. A great guy.

But, yesterday’s 79 was a nightmare. Obviously, the pressure on him has been unimaginable. But I’ve thought all year that he’s had the wrong attitude for success. In every interview, he’s talking about how each Major is nothing special, just another golf tournament. Well, that’s not true. Trying to pretend things are not what they are is not healthy. Facing things head-on is healthy.

Of course we can make the argument that golf isn’t life or death. I get it. But, Rory does want to win those Majors – especially the Masters and the Open when it is in Northern Ireland – especially at Royal Portrush.

As usual, Brooks Koepka is hanging around the lead. I wish Rory would adopt Brook’s attitude for Majors. Koepka relishes the pressure. And he faces it head-on.

Golf is not a game of la-la-land. Especially played on those Open courses. This is as good as it gets.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub

Greetings Golfers,

A week ago today, the Tour boys were playing the second round of the 3M tournament in Blaine. The course was wet and loaded with water hazards … the young guys who could hit it high and far were taking over the leaderboard.

On Sunday, two rookies from California were in the final group – Matthew Wolff and Collin Morikawa. They both needed to eagle the 72nd hole to win tournament. Wolff eagled and Morikawa’s eagle putt just missed. Who are these guys!

Matt Wolff is only 20 years old. Playing for Oklahoma State, he won the NCAA tournament about 7 weeks ago. Not only is Wolff a ridiculously good player, he also has a very unusual swing. Even before winning the 3M … he was the subject of constant swing critique on golf internet boards.

In an era of video, golf swings had become much more robotic than in the past. Maybe the recent era of Trackman numbers allows unique swings if the numbers are better. Whatever the reason, Wolff’s swing brought back memories of “flawed” swings like Miller Barber, Eamon Darcy, Calvin Peete, Doug Sanders, and Larry Nelson. Those were all great players who made a “weird” upright move on the backswing.

Jim Furyk makes a similar move and gets the club back in the slot every time. To me, getting the club into the slot is the point of the golf swing. Also, a move that starts the swing so that it can get down into the slot is also a priority. Wolff does both. He initiates his backswing with a big turn of his hips towards the target, then rebounds with a backswing that goes almost straight up and “crosses the line” at the top. I love it. That initial hip move is athletic and gets him going. That position at the top allows him to pull the club DOWN into the slot. He can not come over the top with that move.

Those two moves are heresy to the modern swing. Old school golfers used to rock left and then rock back right to initiate their backswing. Sort of like a pitcher rocking forward to get the windup going or a tennis player rocking on the serve. At the Ryder Cup I couldn’t believe how rigid the players looked.

Hopefully Wolff’s success will free up a bunch of golf swings and instruction. I’m not saying Wolff’s swing is for everyone. Lot’s of people are more comfortable with a flatter swing with less movement … that’s great as long as they can get the club into the slot. There are many ways to swing the golf club as long as it gets back into the slot.

Well, the 3M tournament definitely got into the slot. What a debut! And its champion also got his first victory. I think we’re seeing the start of a new superstar.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub

Greetings Golfers,

The summer edition of MINNESOTA GOLFER magazine arrived the other day. The cover was “ SEIZE THE SUMMER: Golf, Gaming and More Near Moose Lake”.

My Father-in-Law had a cabin up in Moose Lake and later retired there full time. So one summer while visiting, they talked me into playing in the Moose Lake Shortstop. Years ago, golf “shortstops” were a big deal and held at small town golf courses all over Minnesota.

Back then (way back then), I was young and cocky and thought winning the Moose Lake Shortstop would be a walk-in-the-park. Wrong. The locals had a lot of very good players, and other good players came over from The Range and Duluth. I was in for a big surprise.

The format was typical – play 18 holes on Saturday which would qualify you for your matchplay flight on Sunday. What amazed me was the Calcutta – held after the steak dinner on Saturday night. Those were the years of cigarette smoking and serious drinking. I could barely see through the haze as the emcee auctioned off the Championship flight. Some misguided, not-sober woman bought me for $2,000 … that was serious money.

The locals were fun and friendly and took me on the tour from the clubhouse to the Muni and then to a bar on Sand Lake. One of the golfers owned the bar so he kept it open all night as we imbibed and shot pool and partook in assorted craziness. Remember, I was young then.

Shortly after I got back to the cabin, I had to go to the course for my 6:30am match. They were only 9 hole matches, but on no sleep they were exhausting. If you kept winning, you would play in the final matches later in the afternoon. It was usually hot (August) and yours truly could barely walk. Adrenaline can only do so much.

Though most years I played in those late afternoon matches, I never won the Moose Lake Shortstop. Some of the losses were painful … but the memories are delightful. I was just up there for the 4th of July and ran into some old friends. In fact, I still see some of the guys around town and wish that we play golf.

Those were great times. I’m glad the MINNESOTA GOLFER magazine featured The Moose on its cover. They still host the shortstop every August … though it wasn’t mentioned in the article, I highly recommend it!

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub