| 16th
Nov 2007
Greetings from Duncan,
Last week I went to Harrogate
for a sneak preview of all the latest products
for next year. All I can say is: the world
is changing shape – everything
is going square. Callaway, Nike, Ram and MD Golf
have new square drivers. Callaway have brought
out Squareway woods (fairway). Nike have also
got square fairway woods and square rescue clubs.
And, if you believe the gossip, TIGER is already
trying one. Tiger needs rescuing? It doesn’t
stop there. You will be able to get square tees,
square markers, square umbrellas, but not square
balls (yet!).
Talking of balls, the most competitive market
at the moment is the ball suppliers. Each one
has a ball that will go further, straighter and
land softer. Titleist, Wilson, Srixon, Callaway,
Nike and now TaylorMade all have ranges of balls
claiming to meet your golfing needs. So, if you
are confused about which ball is good for you
and your game, please pop in the shop and we
will willingly help. Things to take into account
are club head speed, distance, whether you like
the feel of soft or hard (many women prefer a
harder feel), and if you would like to shape
shots or just keep it straight. Read on later
to find out how good the two piece ball has become.
One of the most innovative
ideas at the Harrogate show has to be the Nike
IC putters. The clue is in the name-IC. The
putter head is coloured green so it blends
into the grass and the alignment marks are
white so you concentrate and focus solely on
this, and don’t get distracted
by the shape of the head. (Note from Wendy: I
thought IC meant Icy and couldn’t see how
icy cold would help my putting. Duncan has explained
that IC really means I See as in that’s
all I See, the straight line to guide my putt – I
needed telling!). Well, Darren and I had a go
and, guess what, it worked! And you don’t
just have to take my word for it, they’ll
be in the shop very soon and I challenge you
to try them.
What is Insanity?
Now the nights are drawing
in playing time is curtailed. For many, the
driving range will be the only place to get
your golfing fix. A quote I heard the other
day as a definition of insanity – “Repeating
the same action and expecting a different result”.
Bear that in mind when you’re out there
and remember – Golfers who know, visit
their pro!
This week I continue my discussion
on golf balls with a look at 2-piece golf balls.
I then take a look at how you can increase
your energy levels – not
only while playing golf, but in your day-to-day
routine as well. Come and chat to me if you need
advice on golf products or on how to play YOUR
best game.
Regards,
Duncan
Two Piece Balls With A Soft Touch
Last week I talked about
finding you a golf ball that ‘compressed’ to
match your swing speed. This will ensure maximum
energy transfer and therefore create the maximum
distance your swing speed allows.
Most members, when chatting
to us in the shop, want to know that they are
getting a golf ball that feels good off the
club face, around the green and off the putter.
So before I talk about ‘premium
golf balls’ can I say that some 2-pce golf
balls have come a long way in the last couple
of years.
Some manufacturers have continued to innovate
with developments in the materials used in the
covers, the thickness of the covers and the manufacture
of the core.
These advances have all allowed me to select
some 2-pce golf balls for the shop that offer
both good distance AND a great feel around the
green.
There is no need anymore,
if you don’t
want to pay for a 3-pce or multi-layer ball,
to play with a golf ball that won’t respond
to your Wedge or Putter or offer extra bite on
approach shots.
In fact if you are playing with the proverbial
brick then come into the shop and let us talk
you through the options at a very similar price
point.
For those of you who want a golf ball that
has maximum distance, great spin on your approach
shots, bite off your Wedge around the green AND
the softest feel with the Putter on the green
AND are prepared to pay for a 3-pce or multi-layer
golf ball, your choices have also become more
complicated. So next week I’ll identify
the subtleties that the manufacturers have introduced
into these golf balls and the impact for you.
I don’t believe that you are really influenced
by what golf ball Tiger Woods, Adam Scott or
Ernie Els play. All three have very fast swing
speeds generating incredible ball speed at club
head impact.
The Srixon ‘Energetic Gradient Core’ has
been designed and manufactured to offer both
maximum energy transfer at impact and a softer
feel.
This core has a softer feel at the center and
then becomes firmer as it gets closer to the
surface.
The firm outer area will create
maximum velocity and encourage reduced spin off
the club face, both features that will deliver
length off the Tee. The soft inner area is designed
to give you extra playability and improved feel.
Super Stu's Top Tips
Coping with the cold
With autumn now truly set in and the onset of
the British Winter, coping with the cold can
help to improve your golf. Just how do you,
firstly, dress for freedom of movement and
also for warmth? Secondly, how does this affect
your range of movement, and also the shots
that may occur? Well, Super Stu has the answer.
Super Stu is a renowned bad weather player,
especially when it is cold.
Light layers are the key to success on the course.
These layers help to trap the air and keep you
warm without affecting the ability to move. If
you have thick layers on, they inhibit your mobility.
Lots of golfers hate playing in a waterproof
suit, however, I just love it! The key is wearing
only light clothing underneath, and the Goretex
fabric that is in my Sunderland suit does its
job of keeping out the wind and the layers underneath
keep me warm.
Warm hands are a key ingredient
to good golf in the winter. I carry my winter
mitts whenever I play and am often seen with
them on, even if it’s not that cold.
The reason being is that warm hands are able
to feel the club better during the swing. It
is crucial when playing chip shots and pitch
shots that you are able to have feel in your
hands – and cold hands
just don’t have the same feel. I also find
it useful to keep my golf ball warm whenever
I can, as a warm golf ball travels better.
Children In Need
Last Weekend To Win A Titleist Tour Bag
Just buy 10 balls for £1
in the shop and see how many you can hit into
the Children in Need Chipping Basket. In the
event of a tie, we will have a play off over
the Children in Need weekend, 17 and 18 November.
Don’t forget Fancy
Dress for the junior coaching classes on Saturday
17 November. Anyone junior arriving in fancy
dress will have 50% of their class fee donated
to the Children in Need appeal.
Stress, Focus And Health = A Better Game
For most of you golf is a game of leisure. However
even club competitions take their toll on your
energy levels, strength and concentration. From
the minute you step onto the first tee until
you sink your putt on the 18th, your body goes
into mental and physical overdrive.
You often catch yourself
playing a bad shot due to mental or physical
fatigue. So how do you avoid those bad shots?
The answer is simple: Have a healthy diet,
keep up your fitness levels, do strength exercises
specifically designed for golf and learn to
focus your mind. Easier said than done, isn’t
it?
Nowadays, almost all professional golfers follow
a high-energy releasing diet that gives them
the necessary energy they need to complete a
round of golf at their peak. The idea is to have
a diet of energy foods and foods that will help
you in building up strength and endurance for
a better golf game.
What to eat before a Round of Golf:
You should try to have a light meal that is based
on complex carbohydrates like brown rice, wholegrain
bread and baked vegetables, some protein like
tuna fish, low fat cheese or lamb for example
and a few nuts or seeds.
For a morning round, have a healthy breakfast
which includes porridge with yoghurt and dried
fruits with crushed almonds or scrambled eggs.
You may have some toast with grilled tomatoes
as well.
Remember to keep yourself hydrated with water
and sports drinks.
Fitness, both mentally and physically is equally
important. Strength exercises are most important
to keep your body fit for golf. Mental focus
is crucial, so you need to practice your mind
to focus solely on your game while playing a
round of golf.
The new QLink bracelets are an extension of
the product range of the original QLink technology.
It has dual SRT3 wafers for maximum power that
strengthens and balances the body’s energetic
system, also known as a biofield. This improves
communication between your body’s trillions
of cells enabling your body to work more efficiently
and leaving you feeling more energised and focussed,
less stressed and better equipped to play more
consistent golf. There are four bracelets in
the range: men’s and women’s stainless
steel, titanium polished and titanium black ceramic.
These new bracelets are available now and retailing
from £67.
"You can walk up and down this range looking
for drivers, putters, wedges, but there's not
that many products that have been as successful
as the Q-Link in terms of victories on the PGA
Tour". Justin Rose winner of the European
Tour Order of Merit 2007.
Go Long, Go Straight With Mizuno
MX-56oTM Driver
This is one of the hottest
selling Drivers, since its release, in the
US. The Mizuno MX-560 Driver has been designed
to give you a low spin rate and high launch
angle (a combination that is going to enable
the ball to ‘sail’ for
longer before dropping) and to deliver the maximum
allowable ball speed from any part of the face.
That all adds up to Distance even when you hit
it off-center.
This Driver also comes in
a full range of lofts that allow the youngest
most aggressive swinger or the more controlled
and ‘experienced’ amongst
you to match your swing speed to the correct
Driver.
Mizuno are steeped in tradition,
so they were never going to be ‘odd’ in
their shape but nevertheless their designers
have managed to deliver the maximum MOI as
measured heel to toe and up and down WITHOUT
losing any distance. This Driver is then long
AND straight.
GOLF SCHEDULE
Friday 16 November
Lady Vets’ 9 Hole Stableford – 10am
Saturday 17 November
Juniors’ November Medal
and Div 2 and Div A Stablefords - Noon
Sunday 18 November
Mixed Section 9 hole Stableford –
Book your own times
Monday 19 November
Monday Group - Noon
Tuesday 20 November
Seniors’ 9 hole Stableford
10am
Wednesday 21 November
Ladies’ Morning 9 Hole Stableford – 10am
Thursday 22 November
Mixed Section 9 hole Stableford –
Book your own times
Saturday 24 November
Mixed Section 9 hole Stableford –
Book your own times
Competition
Sunday 18 November
Junior fun 4 hole competition
with sausage and chips afterwards. This is
for juniors, with or without handicaps, members
or non-members. Entry fee is £5 (we may
need helpers to help scoring on the day if
any parents or volunteers are available). For
more information please contact me in the Pro
Shop. Arrive at 2.30pm for a 3pm start. Please
dress warmly!
What's On At The Tours?
EURO Tour
UBS Hong Kong Open
(Hong Kong GC)
Defending Champ: José Manuel
Lara
Results From The tours
EURO Tour
HSBC Champions
(Sheshan Int’l GC,
Shanghai, China)
2007 Champ: Phil Mickelson
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