Ask the PGA ProfessionalJunior 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!
Last update: March 27th
I live in: depere wi us
My_name_is: clark dequaine
My_age_is: 18
comments: The past summer I've played in many men and junior
tournaments. However, I was wondering if colleges look
more critically at the mens tournaments than the junior
tournaments. sincerely, Clark De Quaine
Scott Robbins:
Clark,
The recruiters look at both. However they rely pretty heavy towards the higher quality Junior
Tours as in the AJGA and the PGA Junior Series because that is against the competition
you will face in college. Continue to play both and I hope you get the scholarship you want
and deserve.
Scott
I live in: St. Louis
My_name_is: leroy
My_age_is: 13
comments: Me and my freind were just wondering how they measure the
distance on a dogleg hole. Do they measure it direct, or do they
follow the fairway? Thanks
Scott Robbins:
Leroy,
The distance on any hole as measured as the fairway goes. That is why on some dogleg
holes, if you hit it long enough, you drastically reduce the distance of the hole.
Scott
I live in: New York City
My_name_is: Timmy Johnston
My_age_is: 11
comments: I want to start collecting public course scorecards. If I
wrote a letter to the local courses and asked for scorecards, do you
think they will send me them?
Scott Robbins:
Timmy,
I would think most would as long as you sent a self addressed, stamped envelop along with
your request.
Scott
I live in: red deer, alberta, canada
My_name_is: clint m.
My_age_is: 16
comments: I'm wondering what the qualifications for a PGA professional
are, and if they are the same in Canada and the U.S.? Also are the
qualifications for a club professional the same? If they are can you
please give me a listing of what they are.
Scott Robbins:
Clint,
I am unfamiliar with the requirements to become a Canadian PGA member are. The PGA of
America has recently changed the requirements and have become more detailed,
involved and stringent in their requirements. For that information, check out the PGA
of America Web site and they also might help you find the information or at least an
address for the Canadian PGA.
I do know to play TOUR you will have to qualify on your ability through stages of qualifying
tournaments.
Good Luck with your pursit into the golf business.
Scott
I live in: New York
My_name_is: Nick
My_age_is: 11
comments: I have a hard time getting the ball in the air. How can I
improve my swing to lift the ball
Scott Robbins:
Nick,
Your swing plane determines your angle of attack on the ball, your path into the ball and
where you contact the ground and how much ground you take. A hard time getting the ball
airborne usually means your club is swinging too much around like a baseball swing and not
enough up like chopping wood. The proper swing plane is somewhere in between those.
It sounds like you need to feel like you are swinging the club more up over your back
shoulder coming back and more over your front shoulder coming through.
Find the closest PGA Professional to you and take a lesson or two and have him/her show
you how to better swing to get the ball airborne.
Good Luck,
Scott
I live in: Atascadero,CA,USA
My_name_is: Sam
My_age_is: 11
comments: I don't hit my fairway woods that well all the time(I hit
them good some times and other times I cant hit them for anything.) .
So I use my 3 iron a lot is this okay? Or should I try harder with my
woods? Thanks a lot Sam
Scott Robbins:
Sam,
It sounds like something goes wrong in your swing sometimes that makes it hard to hit your
woods. The best thing is to find a PGA Professional that teaches close to where you live
and go take a lesson or two. In the mean time, if you have a day where it is hard to hit your
woods, it is certainly okay to hit your 3 iron because your trying to hit your best shot to play
that day.
Scott
I live in: Altoona, Wisconsin
My_name_is: Matt Bredesen
My_age_is: 16
comments: Where can I find some information on becoming a golf course
professional? We are studying careers in high school, and I would
like to know what the requirements are to become a golf professional
at a golf course.
Scott Robbins:
Matt,
Write the PGA of America on the web at www.pgaonline.com
Scott
I live in: Oregon
My_name_is: Nole Steketee
My_age_is: 16
comments: Hi, I've been playing golf for a few years about 2
seriously, and I have honed my game in pretty well..so that I can
shoot in the high 70's pretty consistently. Here is my problem....I
play on the high school team..and I shoot good scored in the practice
rounds and rounds for fun..but when I get under pressure like in a
tournament...I break down and shoot alot worse than what I know I can
shoot...can you tell me some things that will help me deal w/ pressure
a little better?
Scott Robbins:
Nole,
A couple of things happen. Pressure is self induced by worrying on the outcome of the
tournament instead of concentrating on the process of playing like you do when you're
"playing for fun." When you play for fun you aren't worried about the score but playing
the hole in front of you and the shot at hand. Take that same attitude to the tournament
and have fun playing tournaments
Set a game plan (set a strategy how to play the course for the day), concentrate on
execution of each shot and let the results happen. Stay focused in the here and now.
You can't change the past holes or shots and you don't know what the future holds
until you have taken care of the present.
Try this and let me know how you do at becoming more process oriented and letting go
of results.
Best of Luck,
Scott
I live in: Melbourne, Australia
My_name_is: James
My_age_is: 14
comments: I am having problems hitting my short irons. They seem to go
way too high and short. I have tried different ball positions (back,
middle and front of stance) but they make no difference. I can't get
good accuracy, distance, or contact with them. Any suggestions?
Scott Robbins:
James,
It sounds like you have too much up and down in your swing and not enough around (arc).
The wider arc you can swing the handle of the club on, the farther you will hit shots.
Work on swinging the club back more with your arms and shoulders and try and see
that your front shoulder is behind the ball at the top of your swing while your feet stay
firmly planted in the ground.
Find a good teaching professional that is a member of the Australian PGA and take a few
lessons. Your game will become better quickly with lessons.
Good Luck,
Scott
I live in: Houma, Louisiana
My_name_is: Mark
My_age_is: 39
comments: I am a coach for a high school golf team for the first time
and we play 1 or 2 nine hole matches each week. We have 6 boys that
shoot from 38-42 and I'm not sure how to determine from week to week
what order or how to place the top 5. We know there are several ways
to do this but not sure which is the best, do you have any suggestions
to help me out with this. Thanks. Mark
Scott Robbins:
Mark,
The best three ways I know of is have a set 1 & 2 and have the others qualify weekly for
the other spots. Two, rank the players according to tournaments on a weekly basis and third,
set up a ladder according to tournament scores and finishes and have the team challenge
up the ladder. A challenge up requires also an opportunity for the player below to challenge.
Try some of these. If you know the competition in your tournaments you might also
arbitrarily seed according to which of your players play well with or against others.
Let me know if I can help further.
Scott
I live in: San Antonio,TX
My_name_is: Brian Sharp
My_age_is: 15
comments: How can I fix my chipping? I can't get underneath the ball
like I want to.
Scott Robbins:
Brian,
Hitting the top of the ball with your chips usually means the club is swinging too close to the
ground and too around your body. Work on letting the club get up in the air a little by
cocking your wrists slightly as you swing the club back. Try that and also give a friend of
mine a call to help you with your game in San Antonio. His name is Jim Barker and he
works at Precision Golf off of 410 and Harry Wurzbach.
Good Luck,
Scott
I live in: USA,Mass
My_name_is: Dan Roden
My_age_is: 20
comments: What is the maxiumu weight for a golfball?
Scott Robbins:
Dan,
The maximum weight according to the USGA is 1.620 ounces.
Hope that helps,
Scott
I live in: Nashville,TN,USA
My_name_is: Blake Emerson
My_age_is: 15
comments: After winter went by and I could play golf without gloves
and a coat on, I was drawing the ball and sometimes hooking it,but the
last two times I have played I have sliced the ball and for some
reason can't fix it. Also I
have problems on focusing during a bad round or at the beginning of
the round. Could you give me some tips?
Scott Robbins:
Blake,
One reason for slicing the ball is that your arms outrun your body.
The reason you may have hit it better was that your arms were restricted and therefore
your arms, shoulders and wrists were all working together.
To fix that slice try and coordinate your arms, shoulders and wrists all together going back
in your swing. I highly recommend you to a friend of mine, Mike Lathrop, PGA Head
Professional at Hillwood Country Club in Nashville. He is an excellent teacher and I
know he will be able to fix that slice! Give him a call.
Best of Luck,
Scott Robbins
I live in: Saint John , New Brunswick ,Canada
My_name_is: Justin O'leary
My_age_is: 16
comments: Dear Scott ,
I was wondering if you would have any knowledge of
companys in the United States that would be interested is
sponsoring myself . I am beginning my journey into the
great golf industy at the San Diego Golf Academy . I
belive that upon graduation I could prove to a great asset
to a company . If a company puts their faith in me , I
would certainly put forth my full effort trying to
advertise their products . Thank you for your time .
Scott Robbins:
Justin,
The best advice I can give you is twofold. First work hard on your game, win tournaments,
and qualify for TOUR after you graduate the Academy. Secondly, get an agent and let
the agent work on the endorsements while you concentrate on your game and playing.
Cornerstone Sports in Dallas and International Management Group (IMG) out of
Cleveland (?) Ohio are two of the biggest.
Good Luck with your career. If I can ever help you any other way, let me know.
Scott
I live in: Roswell,GA,US
My_name_is: Ryan
My_age_is: 16
comments: I'm a left handed player
How much flex should I have in my left arm at address?
Scott Robbins:
Ryan,
Your left arm should be relaxed, hanging straight down from your chest and slightly bent.
Your left shoulder should be slightly lower than your right shoulder, equaling the drop that
your left hand is lower on the shaft than your right.
Scott
I live in: Carcas,Venezuela.
My_name_is: Gustavo Gomez
My_age_is: 18
comments: I usually score in the 70's,but I'm a really por striker of
the ball my scores are not bad but my ball striking is,I could score
so much better if I would improve my ball striking,since I almost
never hit greens in regulation (about 2-3 per round) I have a pretty
nice short game,if I could combine better ball striking with my short
game,I'm sure I would be a much better palyer.
PD:please excuse any grammaticall error in my message,english is not
my first language.
Scott Robbins:
Gustavo,
Your English is very acceptable. To improve your ball striking concentrate on bring
the shaft of the club back to impact at the same angle it was at address.
To do that be sure your arms stay in front of your body throughout the swing.
Be sure as you take the club back that your right elbow bends in an "L" position and does
not drift behind your rib cage. On the way down, concentrate on hitting the back of the
ball and the part of the ball closer to you. We call that the inside of the ball.
Work on these first few simple tips and let me know how it goes. Also, good luck on
finding a good Professional to help you with your swing in Venezuela.
Scott Robbins
I live in: fargo nd usa
My_name_is: cole hornstein
My_age_is: 13
comments: Do they have a junior PGA in North Dakota? If they do send
me info on it. What is the best course to golf on in nd.
Scott Robbins:
Cole,
I am not familiar with North Dakota courses or Junior Programs. However check with
PGA Pro David Kingsrud at Edgewood Muni Golf Course to get more information on the
tournaments.
Scott Robbins