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 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: Dec 5th

I live in: Bellingham,Wa U.S.A
My_name_is: Ryan Stamm
My_age_is: 14
comments: Hi my name is Ryan Stamm. My question is how can I get a junior club started in my county.

Scott Robbins: Ryan, What an great and ambitious idea!
This is a great time of year to start your planning. The first thing I would do is find the closest PGA Professional in your area. That might even be at the course where you play. Just ask the Head Professional if he is a member of the PGA.
The reason I say that is that PGA Professionals, as part of our training, are well versed in building junior golf programs as well as having access to the PGA of America's vast resources on Junior Golf. This will take a lot of work to get organized and to find sites to play tournaments and any other type of events you might desire. Recruit your parents to help you. It will become almost a full time job, but it will be a very rewarding experience too you and help you greatly in your future and look great on your resume!!
Best of Luck!
Scott

I live in: Jacksonville, Florida
My_name_is: daniel
My_age_is: 12
comments: I am a junior golfer.What clubs would you recomend?

Scott Robbins: Daniel, Fitted Clubs!!
There are some of the major manufactures that make junior clubs (Cobra and Wilson are 2). Theses clubs are properly lengthed and weighted for a junior. I do want to warn you about clubs that are too long and too heavy for you. In my experience, that combination of too long and too heavy have caused some juniors serious swing problems that take a long time to correct.
See a PGA Professional that is experienced in clubfitting (make some phone calls and ask), go see him/her and get their recommendation on the specific length, shaft and weight of club you need.
Good Luck and Good Playing!
Scott

I live in: Austin, Minnesota USA
My_name_is: Greg Williamson
My_age_is: 15
comments: I am wondering on how I can find information on being a member of the AJGA (American Junior Golf Association)? Can you please help me?

Scott Robbins: Greg, I do not have any information on the AJGA.
I do have the info from one of my students that played on the AJGA Tour where you can reach the AJGA.
2415 Steeplecahse Lane
Roswell, Georgia 30076
Phone: (770)998-4653
Good Luck,
Scott Robbins

I live in: KESWICK, Va ,U.S.A.
My_name_is: HUNTER WATTS
My_age_is: 12
comments: My qustion is that it is hard for me to grip the club right now because I have small hands on the shots that are not on the green , I do not know what is the appropriate grip for small fingers. I know I have to change grips because at the moment I am using the ten finger grip that I have used since I first started playing at the age of four.

Scott Robbins: Hunter,
Grip formation (10 finger, interlock, Vardon) changes are made when your hands become big enough to accommodate them. It sounds to me like your problem though can be solved in a different manner. It sounds like the grips or handles on your clubs is too big for you. Go to a PGA Golf Professional or knowledgeable and reputable club repair shop and have them check the size of grips on your clubs. You might need to put a women's, small women's or junior grip on your clubs.
Don't worry about small hands. Jack Nicklaus and Tom Kite both have small hands. I know Tom personally and have been in his home repair shop watching him put women's grips on his clubs!
I am curious as to the clubs you are currently playing with. Write me back and tell me the brand, shaft and length you are playing. You can write me direct at "srpgapro@airmail.net" and I'll write back with some suggestions.
Scott Robbins

I live in: Indianapolis, IN, USA
My_name_is: Todd Stone
My_age_is: 14
comments: At the end of the golf season I stated to get a duck hook and I can not figure out why because before I was hitting it straight. I wanted to know if you had any suggestions???I also wanted to know how to get more distance of the tee and with my irons??

Scott Robbins: Todd,
Duck hooks come from a couple of places. The first and most important factor is that the clubface is extremely closed at impact. That is changed with an adjustment to how you apply your hands to the club.
Secondly, check the path the club is making into the ball. Try and remember if your divots at the end of the season were pointing to the left or right or at target. If they were pointing either left or right of target, the path the club is approaching the ball on is incorrect and can be worked on during the winter.
I suggest that you call one of the PGA Professionals in Indianapolis before Christmas (most should have their shops open for Christmas sales) and ask for a lesson and have them give you a grip to work on during the winter and some other swing work so when Spring comes you are ready to go play some great golf!
Best of Luck,
Scott Robbins

My_name_is: Jon McAlpin
My_age_is: 15
comments: I'm having trouble with my middle to low irons. I'm pulling them to the left but hitting them solid. Can you give me any advice or drills I can work on to help my game?

Scott Robbins: Jon, A pulled, solid hit iron shot means the path of the club is coming too much from the outside of your target line. A great drill is to take an old shaft and stick it in the ground about 10 feet in front of you, directly on your target line. Then as you are hitting balls, imagine that the shaft is a thick tree and you have to start the ball to the right (if you're right handed) of the tree and draw it back to target. The only way to hit that shot is to have the club approach the ball from an inside path, instead of the outside path.
If you have some place to swing indoors during the winter, pick a spot to the right of where you are lined up and try and swing the club towards that spot instead of to the left of where you are lined up.
Let me know how it works. Scott Robbins

I live in: 210 winding hills dr. Clinton MS 39056
My_name_is: jeff stokes
My_age_is: 35
comments: I am trying to start a golf progrm at an inner city school. Most of my students who would like to learn don't have clubs. Can you direct me to anyone within your organization who might be willing to donate some old sets (both for men and ladies)? I would appreciate any help whtsoever.

Scott Robbins: Jeff, What a great idea.
We here in the Northern Texas PGA are active in a program doing the same thing. We incorporate two PGA of America programs in doing this, the "First Swing" and "Clubs for Kids" Program. This idea is one very dear to my heart.
The First Swing Program is designed to teach non PGA Professionals (i.e. teachers, rec center leaders, parents, etc.) to introduce golf to children as well as teach children the basic fundamentals and what the game is about. The Clubs for Kids Program is designed as way the PGA Sections can collect clubs and distribute them to programs such as you are desiring.
I believe you are in the Connecticut Section of the PGA. They are located at 35 Cold Spring Road, Suite 212 in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, zip 06067. The phone number is (203)257-4653 and the fax is (203)257-8355. I think the Section Executive Director is Ted Pisk. If this is not your PGA Section, they can tell you which is yours. You might also check with the closest PGA Professional and see what he/she can help you with.
Good Luck! Let me know how I can help you later on.
Scott Robbins

I live in: Denmark, South Carolina, USA
My_name_is: Daniel Lee
My_age_is: 14
comments: I am a good player most of the time. When I am doing good I shoot in the mid 70's at my home course. Sometimes I go through a real bad streak. This will last for about a week. How can I stop this inconsistency of my game?

Scott Robbins: Daniel, Those bad streaks are normal. The difficulty of this game is consistency. The best way to try and avoid the big swings of inconsistency is to learn and develop a routine that will create confidence. Confidence in your ability and your shot making make the shot you are about to hit easier, doesn't it? How then can I create confidence when I don't seem to have it for a day or even a week?
Develop a pre-shot mental routine that you can repeat over every single shot. That routine should be three fold.
First, see the shot you want to hit. This is where you visualize and in your mind see the golf ball flying the height, distance and shpe you want it to.
Secondly, tell yourself to feel the shot. This is where you take a practice swing trying to rehearse the swing that will create the shot you visualized.
Third then is to tell yourself to trust it. This is when you conciously tell your subconcious to trust your swing mechanics to hit the shot you see and feel. This step is done the instant before you start your swing. If you wait at all, doubt and mistrust can enter your mind and influence a good shot.
Try this routine on the practice tee as well as in practice rounds or the course. This takes practice as much as practicing your swing or putting does. Work hard and let me know how you do.
In regards to your other question, it sounds like you hit a push at times. Without getting into why, try these two things and if they do not work, go see a PGA Professional for help.
The club is probably attacking the ball from too far from the inside. You could be occasionally catching the ball too early in your swing, therefore, first try moving the ball forward in your stance.
Secondly, your body could be getting a little too active and the club "stuck" behind you on the way to impact. Therefore, try keeping your back foot on the ground longer through impact.
Good Luck,
Scott Robbins

I live in: London, England
My_name_is: Emma Orriss
My_age_is: 22
comments: How do I find out information about sponsering young british golfers? I would be very grateful if you could advise me on an internet site or e-mail address or even an organisation in the UK which deals with such issues. Many thanks for your time and help - Regards Emma.

Scott Robbins: Emma, What a refreshing request. I am not sure who exactly to refer you to but I do have a name of a young man that I believe could help you find the right person and he lives close to you!
His name is Karl Hayler. Karl is a PGA Golf Professional at Walton Heath Golf Club in Walton on the Hill in Surrey. His phone # is 01737 812152.
While I was visiting my children (they live with their Mother and Step Dad in St. John's Woods), Karl took very good care of my son and I when we played golf there in the end of August. When you talk to him, please give him my regards and thanks for a wonderful, memorable day on their course.
Best of Luck. Let me know if I can be of further aid.
Scott Robbins

I live in: Grafton. nsw. australia
My_name_is: Renaye Kearns
My_age_is: 10
comments: 1. Which young golfer has "Eldrick" as his first name and how many events did he play in as a professional before winning on the US Tour please? Renaye

Scott Robbins: Renaye, The young golfer you refer to is Eldrick "Tiger" Woods. Tiger had played in, I believe, 8 events on Tour before he turned professional. Once he turned professional this summer, he won in his third (maybe fourth) tournament. He then won two weeks later in another event. Look for him and his friend and newly turned professional, Kelli Kuehne (pronounced Key-Knee) in the JC Penney Team Championship in the next couple of weeks.

Scott

I live in: Worthington,Ohio
My_name_is: Jared MacCleary
My_age_is: 15
comments: I am doing a research report for school and I am wondering how one would have to swing to hit a golf ball 400 yards or more. I am most interested in an estimate of the clubhead speed(mph)

Scott Robbins: Jared, Interesting question! I am going to first refer you the USGA in Far Hills New Jersey for a more complete technical answer on exact clubhead speed. The phone number is 1-908-234-2300.
Under the rules of golf, the golf ball has to conform to some very specific restrictions. The initial velocity cannot be greater than 250 feet per second. As an example, Tiger Woods launches the golf ball at 175 mph initial velocity and carries the ball approximately 290 yards. The overall distance the ball can fly and roll (using some very specific equipment for testing by the USGA) is suppose to be 280 yards. The big key however for ball manufacturers is the initial velocity test.
Therefore if Tiger hits it 290 on the fly at 175 mph initial velocity (approx. 135mph clubhead speed) the I would have to assume that a 400 yard drive is almost humanly impossible with the current ball restrictions. The USGA though might be able to give you more specific and scientific answers.
Good Luck in your search.
Scott Robbins

I live in: Stinnett, Texas, U.S.
My_name_is: Shawnda Coffee
My_age_is: 17
comments: How do you improve your putting, chipping, and driving game?

Scott Robbins: Shawnda, Two words: Lessons and Practice. Other than those easy words, here is what to practice.
For putting, develop a stroke that can make a straight 2-3 foot putt. After you can hit that putt straight into the hole every time, then concentrate on perfecting your feel for distance. After you have learned that then do the same routine again but with a seven iron, learning to putt with loft. That becomes difficult.
You want to learn how to keep the loft consistent throughout your stroke for a more consistent carry, roll and distance. Once you have mastered the stroke with the seven iron then take out other irons and learn how high they fly and far they roll and learn to see where you would use each chipping club.
Driving is a different story. If you are having trouble controlling the driver then hit a three or four wood. What you will give up in distance you will more than make up for in accuracy and fairways hit. If you feel you must have a driver then look for a driver with 12 degrees of loft or a Spoon with 13 degrees. Once you are hitting the ball consistently with a draw with your 3 or 4 wood then you can start to find a driver that will work for you.
Even though my first answer was a little brief, it still stands as the best answer. Lessons with a PGA Professional and practice what he/she teaches you is the best and fastest way to improve.
Good Luck,
Scott Robbins

My_name_is: Peter Staszko
My_age_is: 17
comments: Dear Scott,
I am a Keene High School Junior. I have a 6.3 hanciap and have been on the Varsity Golf team for three years. This year we won the New Hampshire State Championship. I work part-time at the Keene Country Club in the pro shop with Pro Charlie Kamal and his asst. Barry "Pudge" Pearson. I would like to make a career in golf and have been looking for the golf college/school in Florida (with the main school in San Diego) which is for prospective golf professionals.
I do not think I am good enough (Tiger Woods) to go on the tour but I would like to be a golf professional at a golf course. I understand this school teaches students to run a pro shop and you leave there with an associates degree in business.
I have been searching for this school for about 6 months with no luck. Could you please tell me the name, address or phone number so that I can get in contact with them.
Thank you and keep on swinging.

Scott Robbins: Peter, There are a few schools that offer the PGM(Professional Golf Management) Program. Included are Ferris State U.; New Mexico State U. and Mississippi State University. The San Diego Golf Academy and I believe it is called the Golf Academy of the South in Florida. A great place to check this out is with the PGA of America at their homepage, www.pgaonline.com.
You sound a lot like I did coming out of high school. I took the traditional route to education. There weren't any PGM Programs available for me. I am glad there are for you. Take advantage of them and put your hours into a great and satisfying profession.
If I find some more info, I will send it directly to you.
Best of luck,
Scott Robbins

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