Ask the PGA Professional
(Junior Golfers)

Junior Golfers, this is your chance to have questions about golf in general or your golf game in particular answered by a PGA Professional.

Need help fixing that slice? Want to learn more about playing strategies? Have a question about rules? Just taking up the game? Our PGA Professionals will be glad to help!

Approximately once a week, your questions will be answered here by one of the participating PGA Professionals from Golf in the SouthWest.

This week, Scott Robbins, PGA Member Professional at Hank Haney's New City Pointe Golf Center in Dallas, Texas will be answering your questions.

Simply go to this form, to ask the PGA Pro your question.
Thanks for your participation!

Q & A

Last update: Feb 6th

I live in: pretoria , south africa
My_name_is: greg nofal
My_age_is: 15
comments: I've been playing golf for the last 3 years and now a 8 handicap. I frequently have on and off days. one day I have a slice the next a hook, what drills would you recomend to keep my swing consistent. thanks.

Scott Robbins:
Greg,
Inconsistency is the most frequent complaint I get from students. However, what I find is that they are usually pretty consistent with the swing they have but the clubface changes a lot. Without seeing your swing, I will describe two ways you can hit both a slice and a hook from the same swing pattern. The way you check to see which yours is to look at the divots you cut from the turf.
The most common way is when your divot is pointing (for a right handed player) to the left of your target line. This is caused by the downswing path from the outside and too steep or straight at the ball.
If the divot is deeper on the outside (toe of the club) of the divot, the toe of the club is digging and opening the face, causing a slice. If the divot is flat or deeper in the inside of the divot, you will hit pulls or hooks.
If the divot is facing to the right of target your swing is too far from behind you or too around your body.
If the divot is toe deep you hit a shot that starts right and slices. If the divot is heel deep, you hit hooks. Look at your clubface. If the marks from the ball or towards the toe, your swing is too steep. If the marks are towards the heel, your swing is too around (shallow).
A great drill to cure either swing path problem is to set up a tee a 1/2 club length behind the ball and one the same distance in front of the ball, both directly on your target line. Practice getting in good posture and then make the heel of the club point at the tee behind you going back and the tee in front going through. Start with short swings to see your self hit the ball in the center of the clubface and watch the ball fly straighter. Another drill is to tee three tees up in a horizontal row (T T T) with the outside tees being at least a clubhead apart. Practice making swings where you are only hitting the middle tee.
These are hard swing changes to make. If you can find a golf professional instructor to help, that would be most beneficial. Best of luck to you.
Scott

I live in: Defiance Ohio US
My_name_is: Kyle Wareham
My_age_is: 14
comments: I live in norhtern Ohio by Toledo, and have been golfing for two years. I have had great success. I live in a small town but there is only one tournament a year. I have won this tournament every year and was wandering if you could give me some iformation or a website that I could go to for information about tournaments to see if I have potential

Scott Robbins:
Kyle,
What a great start in a great game! Congratulations on the courage to test your game in competition. I do not know of a web site but follows is the office of the Northern Ohio Section of the PGA of America. They can tell you of Junior programs and tournaments close to you.
Northern Ohio Section
PGA of America
38121 Euclid Avenue
Willoughby, Ohio 44094
(216)951-4546
Contact: Sue Davies
Good Luck for a great summer of competition.

I live in: New Jersey
My_name_is: Dave
My_age_is: 21
comments: I need to check the availibilty for PRO ( professional readiness orientation) How do I do this on the internet, I have already passed my PAT

Scott Robbins:
Dave,
I am not sure you can check this on the Internet but if you can the address for the PGA of America is: www.pgaonline.com
Scott

I live in: Hofit, Israel
My_name_is: Ido Katzenellenbogen
My_age_is: 12
comments: Dear Mr. Scott Robbins,
If I know that I can take at least 5 strokes of my game because I am making stupid mistakes. what should I do. Sometimes I 3 putt from 10 feet. Or I pick my head up and hit the ball on the end of the club.
Thank you for your time,
Ido Katzenellenbogen

Scott Robbins:
Ido,
Mazel Tov on your good playing.
Inconsistency that you describe is actually quite easy to remedy. What is needed is a pre-shot routine that you can depend on every time you hit a golf shot from a drive to a one inch putt.
Stand behind the golf ball directly on the target line. Evaluate the shot you have to hit and then go through a simple three step routine.
First you SEE IT. See the shot you want to hit in your imagination. Next take a couple of practice swings to feel the swing that will produce the shot you want to hit. Once you FEEL IT then walk into the shot, get lined up and check your target for the last time. Just before you start your backswing say TRUST IT start your swing and let your swing take over. Whether its a full swing or a putt, this routine will put your mind at ease and in full confidence to hit the shot you want.
Practice hard with this routine. It will take some hard practice to first learn to trust the routine and then trust of your swing is easy.
Write me back. I am interested to know where you play golf in Israel.
Thanks and good luck,
Scott

I live in: Delhi, New York
My_name_is: John Camp
My_age_is: 16
comments: I have alot of trouble playing under pressure. I choke alot. I a tournament where I played my best friend, I was in the lead by 4 with 4 to go and ended up losing by 3. I duff critical tee shots. I am a 9 handicap and play well.
Also I have a ruling for you. I was in a tournament and on my second shot on a hole the ball looked as if it flew out of bounds. My freinds caddie said to hit another so I stated the Type and number of ball and then procedded to hit my shot oonto the green. When we got to the green my first ball was on the cartpath next to the out of bounds and i dropped that ball and prepared to play on. My friend and his caddie stopped me and said that i would have to play my second ball due to the fact that I never stated THIS IS MY PROVISIONAL BALL. I called over the rules offical and he ruled in my favor. I played out the first ball and made par and procedded to the next hole. WAS THIS THE RIGHT RULING? My friend didn't think so. Thanks

Scott Robbins:
John,
Playing under pressure is learning to trust yourself and your game and your swing. Tiger woods may be the best example of that since Jack Nicklaus. I had a similar question to yours this week and I will give you the same answer and routine to first practice on the practice tee then in practice rounds and then perfect as you play "under pressure" in tournaments. This does not take place of continual practice to better your shot making and short game but as a compliment to it to make your overall competitive ability better.
Stand behind the golf ball directly on the target line. Evaluate the shot you have to hit and then go through a simple three step routine. First you SEE IT. See the shot you want to hit in your imagination. Next take a couple of practice swings to feel the swing that will produce the shot you want to hit. Once you FEEL IT then walk into the shot, get lined up and check your target for the last time. Just before you start your backswing say TRUST IT start your swing and let your swing take over. Whether its a full swing or a putt, this routine will put your mind at ease and in full confidence to hit the shot you want.
Practice hard with this routine. It will take some hard practice to first learn to trust the routine and then trust of your swing is easy.
As to your rules question. Rule 27-2a states that the player "...shall inform...that he intends to play a provisional ball, and he shall he shall play it before he or his partner go forward to search for the original ball. If he fails to do so and plays another ball, such ball ... becomes the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1); the original ball is deemed lost." Therefore when you found your ball on the cart path, it was lost. You got a favorable but wrong ruling from the official. At that point, if you felt it was wrong, you could have played both balls and appealed the decision. If it was a stroke play event, your friend, a fellow competitor, could have also appealed the ruling.
The Rules of Golf can be a friend or a foe. Just like anyone you first meet, you have to get to know them better before they become a true friend. Keep studying the rules, working on your swing and your mental game too. I hope to see your names among the best players in the country some day.
Good Luck.
Scott Robbins

I live in: Somerset, Ca El Dorado
My_name_is: Adam Croxton
My_age_is: 12
comments: I have been playing golf sience I was 6 years. I am looking for any info. on junior tournaments in my area,(northern Ca.). I have never in a tournaments before and would life to see how I compare with the other kids my age. Thanks a lot. Adam Croxton

Scott Robbins:
Adam, Congratulations on being courageous enough to want to test your game against your peers. Contact the Northern California PGA and ask for listings of junior golf events. The address is:
2133 Las Positas Court
Suite A
Livermore, California 94550-9774
(510)455-7800
Contact: Robert Fagan

I live in: Clarksville, AR , U.S.
My_name_is: Andrew Lewis
My_age_is: 14
comments: I am having trouble hitting my fairway woods, especially my 3 wood. I usually hit it fat or just not solid. Some other information about me is I am in UGJA. I played on junior tour for two years. Although I have not been vitorious I placed 4th in over half of these tournaments. I am a member at Clarksville Country Club and I have been the Junior Club Champion the last 4 consecutive years. I am in the 8th grade and although you cannot be on the high school golf team until 9th grade, the superintendent asked me to be on the team for experience.

Scott Robbins:
Andrew,
Sounds like you are on your way to a great high school golf career! Hitting shots fat usually means a couple of things. The body is arriving to the ball before the arms and club and/or the club is too steep (too high and straight) coming into impact. It could also mean the shaft is too weak in your 3 wood that will also cause the shaft to stay behind your body and hands at impact. First check to see if the 3 wood shaft is the same as your irons and driver.
To cure a too steep downswing, I recommend a couple of things to try. First work on feeling your right shoulder staying back as your arms swing into the ball, attempting to make a more "U" shaped attack at the back of the ball instead of the too steep "V" shape you may be having. Secondly, to feel this more round and shallower swing, place a long twig in the ground so it's top is about shin or knee high to you. Then swing the club trying to clip the top of the twig. As you get better, lower the twig a couple of inches at the time until you are just brushing the ground with whatever club (iron or wood) you are swinging. The more sweep you make, the better your swing will be and the better your shots will be.
Good Luck,
Scott

I live in: Montreal,Canada
My_name_is: Renaud Tremblay
My_age_is: 12
comments: I'm 16 handicap and i'd like to know an easy way to get a scolarship in the U.S.A ? Because in my county, golf is not very popular and almost nobody of my age are playing golf seriously.

Scott Robbins:
Renaud,
A 16 handicap at age twelve is good. To play golf in college in the U.S. you will need to get that down to a 2, 1 or probably better to play at a major college. You will also have to be seen by college recruiters. The best way for that to happen is to find a way to enter some tournaments in the United States during the summer if your parents can find ways to get you there.
Once you have entered some tournaments in American cities close to you, then call or write the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) and find out about getting into some of their nationwide tournaments. College recruiters watch those and the new PGA Junior Series for the players they ask to play at their colleges.
You have plenty of time. Use the next couple of summers working hard on your game, play some tournaments, getting some exposure and learning how to play competitive golf as your game improves and you grow.
Best of Luck. Practice hard. Study hard because no matter how good you get at golf, you still need to be a good student!
Scott

My_name_is: Brandon "ACE" Foster
My_age_is: 17
comments: I live in the northern part of the sates and during the winter golf is not even thought of. Once summer starts again I'm so rusty that it takes more than the summer to start playing good again. I play on my high school team and when try-outs come along I'm still rusty. I almost didn't make it this year. What can I do at the start of the summer so that I might be ready for when try-outs roll along.
Thanks, ACE

Scott Robbins:
Ace,
That's a tough way to try and play golf. The best thing is to get with your PGA instructor and talk about drills and exercises you can do in the off season to condition yourself for the summer. I suggest a lot of drills and swings in front of a mirror to work on your mechanics in the winter. I also suggest, if you can, to get with your Dad and set up a net and mat in your garage to hit some balls.
Finally, work on your mental preparation to play golf. Practice visualizing shot patterns and ball flights and preparing to hit a shot.
Consult your PGA Professional for specific drills to improve your golf swing in the coming months.
Good Luck,
Scott

I live in: Defiance Ohio US
My_name_is: Kyle Wareham
My_age_is: 14
comments: I have only been golfing fo two years but enjoy it. I have been to talk to people and they say that I have a good swing. They say that I have a shot at the pros. I do play many different sports. Should I limit all of the sports I play to just golf? Thanks.

Scott Robbins:
Kyle,
That's a tough question for someone other than you to answer. I suggest you ask yourself what you get from golf (the challenge, the mystery, the difficulty to master or the fun of the game) and what you want to do with it. Do you want to make it a game, a hobby or something you want to try to master? Do you want to play competitively or just recreationally?
These are all tough questions to answer. Golf requires time, patience and commitment. It is a game that can be played with other sports in off season (like soccer) and not with others (like baseball). Find a PGA Professional you can learn to trust and consult him/her. Have them evaluate your game. IF you then think this is the sport you want to play, then give it all you've got.
Best of Luck,
Scott

I live in: Charleston, WV, Kanawha
My_name_is: Doug Stinson
My_age_is: 18
comments: I've had a real problem cocking my wrists on the backswing lately. I always have had a long smooth swing but, lately I feel real tight and short on my backswing. I believe its from not cocking my wrists properly. Do you have any drills to help? Also my weight shift has been a little off. Should you or should you not keep your right leg stiff on the backswing. Explain what you believe is the proper way to shift weight.

Scott Robbins:
Doug,
The feeling of being "bound" or "locked" up usually stems from the arms falling behind the body on the backswing. Furthermore, it restricts your wrist cock your body adjusts to balance itself by falling forward towards the ball and target, further restricting rotation and weight shift.
This sounds like what is happening in your golf swing. A good drill would be one where after you apply your hands to the club you take your right (if you play right handed) hand and split it from your left till your right hand is at the bottom of the grip, almost to the shaft at the bottom of the grip. Then feel like you swing your arms and shoulders together till you have moved the club and handle of the club past your right leg. At this point, fold your right arm straight up and complete your shoulder turn. You want to feel how the club stays "out in front" of your chest throughout the swing and the freedom to turn your chest. At this point, if this drill is done right, your weight will be towards your back foot without any effort.
The swinging out of the arms and the simultaneous rotation of the chest is what creates the weight shift in the backswing. Therefore, learn to swing your arms more going back, get them in front of your chest and I believe you will get that good smooth feel you know as your golf swing.
Try this and if you are still struggling, find a local PGA Professional that will help you with your game.
Good Luck,
Scott Robbins

I live in: Regina Saskatchewan
My_name_is: Jack
My_age_is: 13
Hi: I started golfing about 2 years ago and I am about '5 6" and I have a mens set of golf clubs and I was wondering if the clubs were to long it would affect my game alot? I also have another question, is it true that you can only take one pratice swing?
Thanks: Jack

Scott Robbins:
Jack,
It is hard to say if the clubs are too long. I would have to see exactly to see if they are, but they do sound a little long. One way to measure is to stand erect with your back straight and your arms hanging to the sides. Make a fist with your left hand. Have your Dad, Mom, sibling or friend measure how far your middle knuckle is from the ground. If it is 32 1/2 - 33 1/2 inches from the ground, standard length clubs are okay. For every inch closer or farther away from the ground, add or subtract 1/2 inch. This is just a general rule of thumb. The best thing is to find a Golf Professional who knows a thing or two about golf clubs and have him/her measure you for club length.
As to practice swings, there is no set rule, however, on the course they should be used only to rehearse the shot you are about to hit and therefore when using the practice swing to rehearse a feel, one or two should be enough. On the practice tee, take as many as you want and need to fix and improve your golf swing.
Scott Robbins

I live in: Gainesville, Florida, USA
My_name_is: Kevin Strickland
My_age_is: 16
comments: I am a low 80's golfer, but when I play in tournaments I can't seem to break 90 most of the time. I have a lot of potential but I just can't seem to play in tournaments, I am always afraid that I am going to mess up and blow my round. Can you give me some tips on how to play in tournaments.

Scott Robbins:
Kevin,
The first thing you ask yourself about a tournament round or even a single shot is: "will it be a life or death situation if I do not perform well?" I know that sounds a little over dramatic but that is also saying that the golf shot you hit in competition really holds no more importance than any golf shot you ever hit.
Therefore, start to either play in tournaments like you practice and play casually or start to play casually like you would want to play competitively. You see, it is all a choice of how you perceive the shot, the hole or the round of golf you are playing. You do not play "score," you play "golf." And golf is a series of shots played from tee to green to compete a hole. And you do that 18 times a round.
So focus on making your casual and tournament play more consistently like each other. Focus on each shot. Make a decision as to the shot you want to hit, take a practice swing to feel the swing it would take to hit that shot and tell yourself to trust your swing as you start to swing the club. Let's call that See it, Feel it, Trust it. Work with those six little words on the practice tee and in your casual rounds so that they become a routine in your competitive rounds.
When you do that and make it a routine then the only thing that can enter your mind is the "here and now" because it is the only thing you have control of. And it removes the fear of the future (the result - the score). See it, Feel it, Trust it is the process, your score happens when you concentrate on the process and let the result happen. I guess an easy way to put it is that it is like a math test. You don't concentrate or worry about your grade until you have finished working the problems.
Concentrate on the process and you will see yourself choosing confidence in tournaments, letting go of the fears, enjoying the competition more and eventually witnessing better results.
Good Luck,
Scott Robbins

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