Ask the PGA Pro
Ask the PGA Professional
This is your opportunity to have questions about golf in general or your golf game in particular answered by a PGA Professional.
Having swing trouble? Still fighting that slice?
Missing short putts? Ask the PGA Pro!
Approximately once a week, your questions will be answered here by one of the participating
PGA Professionals from Golf in the SouthWest.
This week, Kim Brown, PGA Master Professional at Keeton Park in Dallas, Texas will be
answering your questions. Brown is also President of the
Northern Texas PGA.
Simply go to this form, to ask the PGA Pro your question.
Thanks for your participation!
Q & A
Last Updated: Dec 15th
I live in: Tallahassee Florida USA
My_name_is: Craig Roser
comments: Recently I got into a horrible argument over the "press" of
a "friendly" bet. We play for low sums--$2 for front, $2 for back, $2
for round. When one of two players gets two holes behind r heard of
an "automatic press" that comes alive without the loser initiating the
"press?"
Kim Brown:
Automatic press is a format of betting that you either agree with in advance
or not. But yes, that is the way automatics work. One would usually agree
before the start of the match that the bets are automatic press at 2 down and
at one down on hole #9 or #18. This keeps your opponent from sandbagging you
. If you get your opponent 4 down without automatic presses, they could wait
until #18 and then press and get even for the whole day, even though you were
kicking their tail.
I live in: Canoga Park, CA, USA
My_name_is: Don Morse
comments: 1) Where does one find out about alternative tours,
(Hooters, Nike, Golden West, etc). It seems the only current way is
word of mouth and accidently finding out about one in a magazine.
Kim Brown:
Call James McAfee at (972)596-8389. He does a lot of the promotional work for
the Hooters tour. Call the PGA of America for the Nike tour, and I don't know
anything about Golden West, etc.
I live in: Oslo, Norway
My_name_is: Jan-Robert Hansen
comments: Hallo my name is Jan-Robert Hansen from Norway.
My hcp is 13 and i`m have trubbel vith backspinn.
Can you help to make backspin (pitch-9iron-8iron)
Thanks for a good page.
Jan-R Hansen (There is snow in Norway this time in year
so we play inndoors for praktis now.)
Kim Brown:
Thanks for your compliment, Jan-R. I have been curious to make contact with
an old friend in Svenninger, a Ms. Wilma Anderson. Her husband's name is
Karsten and she is a teacher over there. Anyway, backspin is imparted to the
ball by making a good shoulder turn on the backswing, then striking the ball
first on the downswing on a more steep angle of attack. If you tend to
"sweep" the ball, you will not get much backspin. If you try to use mostly
your hands to create this "hitting down" action, you will tend to mis hit
shots. Good shoulder turn, hit down, always swing to a full finish position.
Good luck and thanks for your note. Kim J. Brown
I live in: San Antonio, TX
My_name_is: Jerry Carrell
comments: Having recently moved to Texas, my question is this:
Is there an "inactive season" for Texas when scores cannot
be recorded for handicap?
Kim Brown:
No, but there probably should be. Kim
I live in: Carlisle, PA
My_name_is: Paul P. Dagan
comments: Kim - I recently retired from the Navy. For the last 12
years or so, I have wanted to obtain my PGA card. I have the
opportunity to become an assistant about 10yrs ago, but did't want to
risk/chance it. Now that I am retired, I can chase my dream. My
question is - how do I get started, or where can I call to get the
information I need? Thanks for your time.
Paul P. Dagan
Chief Petty Officer
U. S. NAVY Retired.
Kim Brown:
Call (972)881-golf and they will steer you in the right direction. The bottom
line is, you need to play some mini tours, etc. to get your game sharp enough
to play your way on to the playing tours through qualifying. Good luck.
I live in: Melbourne,Fl.,US.
My_name_is: Tim Miller
comments: I have just been fitted for clubs locally by my swing
instructor for a set or Square Two steel irons and graphite woods,2-sw
and 1-3-5 woods in the PCX II module.Price $625 for the set. Trouble
is that I can't seem to get feedback on the set mainly because nobody
has heard of them. Their out of Fairfield, NJ.and do have a lifetime
warranty against damage and use what's called a totally matched system
in wieghting of each iron the same and each wood the same. I was
fitted for upright lie in stiff shafts if that makes any difference in
club shopping. ARE THESE A WORTHWHILE SET OF CLUBS and if so is this a
fair price $625-2-sw and 1-3-5 woods. I'm in my early 30's, athletic,
and have grooved and sound swing with training of my instructor. I'm
6' 185lbs.if that helps. I would strongly appreciate your advice on
the purchase, in closing let me say that I hit about a dozen shots
with various clubs from the set and hit fine with them, but really off
a lie board who's to say?
Thank you, Tim Miller
Kim Brown:
Tim,
I try to avoid "proprietary" type advice. I have no idea about that set of
clubs other than Square Two was a company that a member of Columbian Club in
Dallas started a long time ago and they are primarily sold in retail "off
course" outlets. I would assume their wholesale price is around $450 or so,
but that is just a guess. Compared to buying a set of Cobra clubs for
example, $600 is an affordable price. My guess in general is that you will
get what you pay for. Sorry I cannot be more specific, but the nature of this
site is instructional and I don't dare get into proprietary issues. Kim
I live in: Washington D.C.
My_name_is: Brennan Caldwell
comments: I am interested in becoming a PGA professional and am
curious as to your opinion on the best way to go about recievig
education in this area and what if any schools you could recommend
..also the requirements there are other than the passing of the
ability test.
Kim Brown:
Brennan,
Please E mail to: ckntpga@msn.com (PGA office) for the overview or call
(972)881-golf.
Kim J. Brown
I live in: Cape Girardeau, MO, USA
My_name_is: Luke Mueller
comments: I have had 7 golf lessons with a PGA professional,
and just today, for some, reason, I take a divot between the
ball and me (completely missing it). What path should my
club be on during the swing, and how can I effectively roll
my wrists at impact?
Kim Brown:
Your hands are too active and you are too focused on the use of the hands.
Your hands should hold the club and you should think about turning the
shoulders quite a bit, the hips just a little, and allow the arms to swing
freely with forearm gradual rotation. The "hands" just hold the club.
I live in: Flushing, OH
My_name_is: Brian Norris
comments: I have a hook problem that I think I have found to be caused
by my club head rotating during my swing. If I shorten up my backswing
to the point I am about to bend my elbow to the full back swing
position and then swing, the club head stays at the proper angle and
the ball will go straight. But if I go to a full backswing, the club
head rotates and the ball hooks. What do you suggest?
Kim Brown:
Your clubface obviously turns to a closed position "at impact' regardless of
what the position at the top is. However, a bigger shoulder turn and quieter
hands will help. The toe of the club should point down at the top of the
swing and at the sky at the halfway back position.
I live in: Princeton NJ
My_name_is: Chris Carmolingo
comments: I have just purchased a new set of Tit.DCI black irons. I
was fitted by two different pros who both told me to go with a 2
degree upright lie, so I did that. Now that I have the clubs I feel
slightly uncomfortable with this lie angle. Should I have them bent
back to standard or give myself time to adjust to the new set. ( I
have played at an 8 Hcp. with a standard lie angle for 10 years)
Kim Brown:
Most people tend to play with clubs that are too flat. Give them a little
more time!
I live in: Syracuse, NY USA
My_name_is: Jim Garland
comments: Now that winter is here in the North, will using an indoor
driving range weekly be beneficial to our golf swing or could we
develop bad habits there that won't show up until we get on the course
again in the spring?
Kim Brown:
It is better than the alternative of not swinging.
I live in: St. Peters, MO USA
My_name_is: Mark
comments: What are your feelings on the left wrist at the top. I've
had success just letting it fold and also keeping it dead
straight(i.e. comb in the watchband).
Kim Brown:
I like it straight, but the muscles should not be real tense.
I live in: Lakewood, Colorado, USA
My_name_is: Margaret Foster
comments: Have you ever heard of the UltraSonic Golf Club and Grip
Cleaning machine? It is a new product out of Michigan and they are
looking for distributors in Colorado, and I'm interested in pursuing
it. The intent of the distributorship would be to sell the machine to
golf courses, or identify entrepreneurs that might want to purchase
the machine and then help get them set up at a course. The machine
cleans the clubs and grips using ultrasound and a biodegradable
detergent and can clean them in less than 3 minutes. The grips are
restored to their original "tackiness" and the clubs are really clean
- all the junk is removed from the grooves. Do you think there is a
decent market for this product? As a Pro, would you be inclined to
let a distributor on your course to do a demonstration? I'd like your
very candid opinion on this, before I sink too much money and time
into it as a new business. I would appreciate a response, either here
or at my E-Mail address. Thanks so much for taking the time to
respond to my request. Looking forward to your response.
Kim Brown:
Yes , I have heard and seen it in action. Not sure who the representatives of
that fine product are, however. Sorry
I live in: DEKALB ILLINIOS
My_name_is: NICK SCOTT
comments: I have a taylor mad driver that is 8.5 degree loft.there are
so many ime when I tee off yhat my ball will start off straight then
about 125 yards out it will fade to the right (being a slice). what
are a few things I could work on to help prevent this.I have made a
slight adjustment on my grip(more over the top of the club and have
closed my stance a little.
Kim Brown:
Bigger shoulder turn on the backswing, don't overwork the hands. Keep the
elbows close together as you make contact with the ball and swing to a full
finish.
I live in: russellville, ky, us
My_name_is: tony dorris
comments: i continue to push the ball out to the right. i just can't
seem to close the club head. i've done everything from rotating my
wrist, opening my stance. i am a beginner and would like to be able
to correct this soon.
Kim Brown:
Bigger shoulder turn on the backswing, don't overwork the hands. Keep the
elbows close together as you make contact with the ball and swing to a full
finish.
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Thanks to Kim Brown, PGA Master Professional for answering these questions.
Simply go to this form, to ask Kim your question.
Northern Texas PGA
Golf in the SouthWest