By Frank Thomas August 1, 2008
Our equipment guru, Golf Digest Technical Advisor Frank Thomas, has the answers to your questions. Click here to submit a question for possible use in this column and you could receive a signed copy of Frank's latest book, "Just Hit It: Our Equipment and Our Game." For more from Frank you can visit his site franklygolf.com. [Note: Each week submitted questions will be reviewed and the best one will receive a signed copy of Frank's book, "Just Hit It."]
TOUCHING THE LINE OF PUTT
Frank, if a player is unable to touch the line on which the ball will be traveling while putting, why is it permissible to place the putter head in front of the ball at address?
Thanks and keep up the good work,
--Dan
Dan,
I am not going to give you an explanation of the exception to the rule, but rather let you know that it is an exception to touch the line in front of the ball with your putter when addressing the ball before making a putting stroke. I refer you to Rule 16-1 General, in the Rules of Golf which states in part:
"A. Touching Line of Putt
The line of putt must not be touched except:
(i) the player may remove loose impediments provided he does not press anything down;
(ii) the player may place the club in front of the ball when addressing it, provided he does not press anything down;
( iii)..."
Dan, there are all sorts of rules we have to contend with on the green, but the most important challenge we have is to sink the putt with the fewest number of strokes.
Frank
WHAT SET OF TEES?
Mr. Thomas, I am 64 and have an index of 14.1. How do you determine the correct set of tees to play? I hit my driver (average carry & roll) about 227.
Thank you,
--Kirk
Kirk,
One of the problems with most of us is that our ego gets in the way of having an enjoyable round of golf, but at 64 you should be wiser and enjoying your game more than ever.
In our recent research study (see www.GrowingTheGame.org) we found that the average male golfer drives the ball, on average, a little less than 200 yards but thinks he drives it a little less than 240 yards.
This optimistic over-estimate of the average distance we hit the ball extends to most of the clubs in the set and is based on a memory problem. Yes, we may have hit the ball the distance we think is our average once or twice, but certainly nowhere close to our average.
As a result of this ambitious estimate we generally pull a club out of our bag which leaves us at least ten to fifteen yards short of our target. We also play from the wrong set of tees.
Our research also shows that the average male golfer would enjoy his game more from a 6,200 yard set of tees than a 6,800 yard set. Yet, we seem to gravitate to the longer set.
The best way to establish the set of tees which best suits your game, is to determine if you can make the green in regulation with your best shots. If this is not possible, then move to the next forward tees and don't worry about what your buddies are doing or the fantasy force of your ego. Your buddies should probably also move up if they want to have more fun.
This more realistic set of tees will not only allow you to enjoy your round more, but also speed up play which is one of the biggest problems the game faces today.
Kirk, I want to thank you for this question; the answer to which I hope will ring some bells and thus help speed up play, make our rounds more enjoyable and will help to grow the game rather than it remaining in a stagnant state.
Tee it up from the right set of tees and then "Just Hit It."
Frank
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