By Frank Thomas August 8, 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."]

HOW IMPORTANT IS PAR?

Frank, you advised that we should determine which set of tees to use by whether or not we could reach the greens in regulation with our best shot. On one course we play there are two long par 4's that I have never reached in regulation, but I'm OK with the other 16 if I'm playing well. This is from the middle, or white tees, so are you saying if I can't reach all of them I should move up to the next set of tees?

--LaHugh

LaHugh,

You are probably not the only golfer at your course that has this problem. If this is the case then maybe you should talk to the golf committee and see if they can change the tee location on these two holes so you and others who play these tees can enjoy the entire course, not just 16 holes.

If you can't get the tees changed then you have two choices:

a) just think about these two Par fours as Par fives and play them accordingly as it should not affect your score unless the Par designation has a psychological affect on your game

OR

b) move up to the next forward set of tees

Your actual score, which is used for the handicap computation is compared to the course rating -- which is different from Par and different for each set of tees. The rating will be lower from the forward set of tees to compensate for your potentially lower scores.

What we need to remember is that we are challenging ourselves against a standard and this challenge should be appropriate for our skill level if we are to enjoy the experience. So play from the set of tees which, when you are walking up the eighteenth fairway, you will be saying to yourself, "Wow, I would like to play another nine." and NOT "Thank goodness this round is over."

Now I would like to discuss PAR, which has had a good and bad effect on many golfers, spectators and even the pros.

Think about this: at the PGA Championship this week (or at any other major or PGA Tour event) the officials may, in the set up of a course, decide that a specific hole which is approximately 500 yards long from the back tees -- which normally plays as a par five for the members -- will be considered a Par Four for the event. So with only an arbitrary decision a Par 72 course becomes a Par 71. This will not affect the overall scores or who wins the Championship. One may ask, "Why then would they do this?"

I think the reason for the change is that it doesn't look very good if there are too many scores 'under par' so "lets just deviate from the guidelines and make the course seem harder by lowering Par." However, based on this arbitrary decision to change the par of this 500-yard hole to a Par Four, players consider, and announcers report, that this is a difficult hole because the average number of strokes taken is 4.53 which is 0.53 over par.

If, on the other hand, the 'deciders' choose to call this 500 yard hole a Par Five then immediately it becomes an easy, maybe the easiest, hole because the average number of strokes of 4.53 is 0.47 below Par. Maybe this will change but it is hard to break old habits even if they don't make too much sense.

Par is the expected score of an expert (scratch) golfer on a given hole. See scratch yardage guidelines given by the USGA below:

Par 3, up to 250 for men and up to 210 for women

Par 4, 251-470 for men, 211-400 for women

par 5, 471-690 for men, 401 to 590 for women

par 6, 691+ for men, 591+ for women

What is of utmost importance, however, is that you enjoy your game. So play from the set of tees which allows you to have fun while evaluating yourself.

Hope this gives you some comfort.

Frank

CHANGING IRON TECHNOLOGY

Frank, I play an average of 40 to 50 rounds of golf a year. I have a set of Ping I3 irons that I have been playing with for the last 4 years. When should I think about replacing these irons, and has the iron technology improved enough to warrant a change? Also, are these the right irons for me? (do I need game improvement irons?)

I play to an index of 18.5 and my set consists of a driver, 3w, 5w, 3hyb, 4hyb, 5-pw irons, and 54 & 58 deg. wedges. I'm 58 yrs old. Distance of my clubs are driver - 210 to 220; 3w - 200 to 210; 5w - 190 to 200; 3hyb - 170 to 180; 4hyb - 160 to 170; 5iron - 150 to 160; and so on down the line.

Thank you,

--DY

DY,

You missed out on telling me the ball you play with and the glove you wear (only kidding). It does seem, however, that you have a very good handle on your game and know exactly how well your clubs work for you.

First, you should know that iron technology has not changed much in ten years. So the set you have is not only a good set, but a good selection of woods, hybrids, irons and wedges, so there is no need to change if they are singing the right song for you.

I do suggest that you think about a newer set of woods every five years or so but, the irons don't need to be replaced that often.

Have confidence in your current clubs and enjoy your game.

Frank