Understanding Sand

How the club, balls and sand should interact.

The greenside bunker shot is one of the most intimidating shots for the amateur player, while at the same time being one of the easier shots for touring pros. Why? The reason is simply because professionals understand how to manage sand properly and actually use the sand to their advantage. As for amateurs? For some reason, most amateurs make matters more confusing than they ought to be.

Watch The Face

A timely fix to the dreaded slice

Most players who slice only have a vague idea of why they do so. Some think it’s due to their swing path or their release, and some even blame their equipment. The angle of the clubface is an element they often overlook. However, the simple fact is that if a shot moves left to right, you can be sure the clubface is open at impact.

August-September 2008

The latest in golf equipment, instruction, training aids, apparel & more

Now Playing: Adams Insight XTD PRO Think square drivers were just a fad? Think again. Not only are they alive and well, but now they’re engineered for better players. Adams’ Insight XTD Pro ($349) features “Boxer Technology” that, like other square big sticks, moves weight away from the clubface for a higher MOI. But the Read more…

Focus On: The Pinehurst Area

The Home of American Golf

It’s easy to confuse the Pinehurst area with Pinehurst Resort. After all, Pinehurst Resort is home to one of the world’s most famous courses (No. 2) and hosts numerous USGA championships (including the U.S. Open).

Lean Machine

How to lean the body effectively

Simply put, when you address the golf ball–and because the ball is both on the ground and in front of you–you’ll have to lean forward to reach it. To do this effectively, adjust the upper-body lean by hinging at the hip socket, not in the back or by excessively squatting.

On The Fringe

How practicing on an arc can improve your stroke

Golfers use two kinds of putting strokes: a square-to-square stroke that swings (and stays) square to the target line and an arcing stroke that travels inside the target line on the backstroke and follow through.

Paths To Perfection

Understanding how different irons affect your golf swing.

In a perfect world, every shot in golf would be the same distance, and we’d only have to use one club the whole round. Instead, we have 14 clubs to choose from, mostly made up of irons of different lengths and lofts. Some instructors say that you should make the same swing with every iron, play the ball in the same spot and, lastly, expect the same results with each club. Well, I’m here to tell you that’s not necessarily the case.

Scotland

How to make the most of a short stay in Scotland.

If you go to Scotland, everyone will later ask if you played the Old Course at St. Andrews (standrews.org.uk, 01334-466666), and for good reason: It’s golf’s most famous course and a surreal experience to play. So if you’ve never been there, be sure to book it.

Showcase: Taylormade Burner

The company that’s credited by many as a pioneer of the hybrid revolution with the introduction of the original Rescue model is back at it again, this time with new hybrids and fairway woods. Both new series of clubs are part of the company’s Burner family, led by the highly successful Tour Burner driver.

Spin City

The quick and easy on all things spin.

To execute a wedge shot that hits, takes a hop and stops (or spins back), the first thing you need is the right kind of ball (see the sidebar) and a high-lofted wedge with sharp grooves. Next, you need a good lie from the fairway so the ball compresses against the clubface and the grooves bite into it and get it spinning fast.

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