Driver Tech Talk with Dave Sadlowsky, PGA Golf Professional—Olympic Hills Golf Club
When I was in high school I purchased a “new” driver from my local PGA Golf Professional.At the time, it was one of the best—a Ben Hogan Speed Slot.It was nice and shiny, and I didn’t know that it was already four years old.Back in those days club companies didn’t introduce new products very often and there was only so much technology that could be imparted into a hunk of wood.Moreover, when your driver got a little dinged up you could have it re-finished and it would be good as new for a few more years.How times have changed in such a short time frame within the history of the game….metal heads, graphite, titanium, composite, nano tubes, movable weights, adjustable shafts, spin rates, launch angles, forged composite and grips galore.Wow, it’s enough to make your head spin!As a “golf club guy” I am always interested in new technology—some I like, and others….well, time will tell.
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce my favorite new drivers for 2011.
Titleist Golf has entered the world of adjustable drivers in a big way with the introduction of the 910 D2 and D3 drivers.The SureFit™ Tour dual-angle hosel technology allows the golfer to adjust loft and lie angles (up to 2.25⁰) to achieve optimum trajectory and directional control.I must admit that I had not been a huge fan of adjustable drivers, but with this new technology, you can make trajectory and directional adjustments independently of the other.As a club fitter, I see a big advantage to the golfer who can own one piece of equipment and adjust it to fit the desired shot pattern.Titleist fans will also be happy to know that the new driver maintains its’ classic appearance even though it is packed full of technology targeted to improve results.
Taylor Made Golf has launched the much anticipated line of R11 woods.By now you’ve probably seen them on TOUR because the white color clearly stands out.Besides the flashy cosmetics, these drivers are equipped with all the adjustability you can handle—loft (FCT-Flight Control Technology), face angle (ASP Adjustable Sole Plate) and center of gravity (MST-Movable Weight Technology).The effect of these adjustments can account for up to 100 yards of side-to-side directional variance and 1,000 RPM of backspin variance.
Callaway Golf has partnered with Italian auto maker, Lamborghini,and is using the same body material in their new line of RAZR Hawk and Diablo Octane drivers.Each driver head is composed of 23 million individual turbostatic carbon fibers.Basically, this is a forged carbon fiber material that is lighter and stronger than titanium and will act as the shell of the head.The lighter weight allows for a longer club which, in theory, contributes to faster club head speed and more distance.
These new lines of drivers have properties that can improve your game and provide you with the enjoyment of watching a good drive pierce the air above the fairway.These drivers are available NOW through the Olympic Hills Golf Shop.Please contact me or Mike as we are always happy to help you find the best driver to fit your game—952-941-6265.
Holiday Gift Ideas
If you have a golfer on your holiday list this year PLEASE don't buy them some dopey gift like a "do-it-yourself" ball monogrammer! You can have it done professionally instead. Companies like Titleist and Bridgestone offer free personalization on orders as small as one dozen. Typically, you can have up to three lines of text imprinted in a variety of colors. It is one of the most popular gifts we order at Olympic Hills Golf Club, but don't wait too long, because it usually takes 7-10 days to receive the orders. This is a great $40-$50 gift idea and will be appreciated by any golfer in your life.
If you want to spend more and really make an impression, I would suggest the new Titleist 910 driver. The loft and face angle of the head can be adjusted to 16 different configurations in order to provide any golfer the opportunity to correct errant shots. It has already been used on all the major tours and was in the bag of the Robert Karlsson who won the Dubai World Championship this past weekend.
Another hot item is the Bushnell Tour V2 laser range finder. It can be used to determine yardage to the flagstick and any other solid object on any golf course. The advantage it has over GPS units is that you never have to download anything and it can be used absolutely anywhere (hunters like it too!).
These two items are sold in our golf shop at Olympic Hills for $335 and $365 respectively--please let me know if I can help. Wishing you all a Happy Holidays!
Spring is Coming, so Get a Grip!
With temps in the 40's forecasted all week and green grass golf shops beginning to open, the golf season is right around the corner. Are you ready...? Are your golf clubs ready...?
Now is the time to take a peek at those clubs and get them tuned up for another season. Are your grips worn and a little slick? Remember, the grip is the only contact you have with the club. If your grips are worn, it will cause you to grip them too tightly during your swing. As a result, your hands and forearms will be too tense, causing a loss of distance and accuracy.
I recently attended the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando and the hottest thing going in grips right now is color. You've seen all the ads offering multi color grips--2010 is the year of all WHITE grips. You may have already seen Phil and many other tour players using all white grips. I must admit that I was a little skeptical at first, but every grip manufacturer has a white grip option and they look and feel very nice.
Having your clubs regripped is a minor investment in your golf game. It gives you a great new feel for your clubs and a great look too. So get ready and GET A GRIP! Contact a local PGA Professional for a new look and feel for your game.
Dave Sadlowsky PGA Golf Professional
Enjoy the PGA Championship With the PGA Championship coming to Hazeltine National this month, I thought I?d mention a few pointers about how to enjoy your experience while attending the tournament. The practice areas are some of the best viewing areas?
You get to see many of the players at one time
You can observe how they practice
You can see them hit many different types of shots
You can usually get closer to them as they move from the practice range, the short game area and putting green
When you decide to venture out on the golf course, a good tip is to walk the course backwards stopping at good viewing areas you find along the way and watch incoming shots.If you like to sit in the grandstands, you may have to get there early, or be patient and wait for an opening. Whatever your pleasure, I certainly hope you can get out and enjoy the PGA Championship this year.I understand that TV is probably the best place to watch a golf tournament, but nothing compares to the experiences you may encounter while attending in person.
From the Fairway,
Dave Sadlowsky
PGA Assistant Golf Professional
Olympic Hills Golf Club
Eden Prairie, MN
Golf...an Investment?
In times of economic uncertainty, we tend to look at cutting expenses out of our lives that we think may not be necessary. Now, I am certainly not a financial genius, but when I think about golf, I see an important investment instead of an expense. I suppose it could be looked at as an expense if you just go about the motions and don't take advantage of what the game has to offer. Let's take a look at differences:
Golf = Expense -Rushing to the course cursing about the slow traffic and increasing your heart rate -Verbally abusing the golf shop staff about the cost of green fees and golf car fees (Do you really think they set the rates?) -Running to the practice range with your driver to verify that you can still hit that big fat slice -Stepping on the first tee wondering how much money you will lose to your sand bagging buddies -Racing around the course grumbling about the pace of play -Wondering why the beverage cart girl doesn't laugh at your stupid comments or appreciate your $.50 tip -You throw your equipment into your trunk and race home grumbling about how bad you played
Golf = Investment -Allow ample time to get to the golf course and enjoy the anticipation of getting your mind off worldly issues -Greet the staff with enthusiasm and see how many people you can make smile -Stroke a few putts and chips to get a feel for the greens and your tempo -Walk to the first tee taking deep breaths wondering quietly which of your buddies will be the pigeon -Take your time around the golf course--enjoy the sights, sounds and camaraderie -Be respectful of the beverage cart staff and tip well (You may get a warm, genuine smile instead of the forced version which they are paid to provide) -Think about your game on the ride home and what you can do to improve and enjoy it more next time
These are just a few examples of the different outlooks on the game of golf. Here is the bottom line...In these tough times we need to have an outlet. Golf provides that outlet better than anything IF YOU ALLOW IT. The Game can provide relaxation, exercise, fresh air, socialization, camaraderie, business opportunity and much more. So the way I see it; Golf can be an important INVESTMENT into your physical and mental well being. Get out to PLAY and ENJOY!
Dave Sadlowsky, PGA Golf Professional
Putting...Who Cares!
Good putting can save a round of not so good ball striking. Are you properly prepared to putt your best? Is your putting practice fun? When you throw a baseball do you think about the mechanics of your arm movement? I'm guessing your answer to most of these questions is 'No'.
Did you know that Brad Faxon (one of the best putters on the PGA TOUR) actually practices NOT CARING when he is on the practice green. Think about that for a moment. How many times have you been playing poorly and just stepped up to a putt and knocked it right in without even trying (or caring)?
How does this make any sense? Well, it's actually very simple. When you are not all wrenched up with mechanical thoughts and are able to connect to a target, your mind remains calm and allows your body to perform with a free movement toward your target. A great example is the scene from CaddyShack when Chevy Chase (Ty Web) is making putts from all over the green saying "nanananana....nanananana....nanananana..."
September and October typically provide some of the best golf Minnesota has to offer before the season comes to an abrupt end. The weather is comfortable, the bugs are gone and the grass surfaces are usually the best they are all season. Get out and enjoy, give yourself permission to have more fun--who really cares.....!
Dave Sadlowsky, PGA
PGA Assistant Golf Professional
Olympic Hills Golf Club
Eden Prairie, MN
GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR GOLF GAME
April is here, Major League Baseball is back, The Masters is coming up and our golf season is underway?but not so fast!Mother Nature seems to be putting our golf season opener on hold this year.While I am more anxious than anyone to get out on the golf course and start smashing my new driver, I also see the positive ways to utilize the delay?it is a great time to GET IN TOUCH with your golf game.
The indoor and heated practice facilities are packed and the outdoor ranges can?t open quickly enough.So try this?grab a wedge and head out your back door and chip some golf balls around your yard.If you don?t want to tear up the soft turf, use a small piece of carpet and chip balls from your patio or driveway to different targets around your yard.You can even chip indoors if you dare.
Why?We always hear that the short game makes up a majority of the total score and yet most people spend a majority of their practice time on the full swing.A good short game requires a keen sense of touch that cannot be taught?it must be developed.Chipping to specific targets with a rhythmic movement and soft grip pressure helps develop touch.
This time of year I always think back, over twenty years ago, to my pre-season high school indoor golf practices.Our coach would have us hit lob shots into a small garbage can.At the time I thought he was just trying to keep us out of trouble, but I came to learn that he was giving us the opportunity to develop our touch.
So while you patiently wait for the golf season to begin, use the time to slowly warm up your golf muscles and develop your touch for increased enjoyment and success.
From the Fairway,
Dave Sadlowsky, PGA
PGA Assistant Golf Professional
Olympic Hills Golf Club
Eden Prairie, MN
Map Your Course, Play Smart and Score!
Many people are great managers of projects, people and finances, yet their management skills sometimes lack when they step on a golf course.Managing your golf game is very similar to managing other aspects of your personal and professional life.In golf, however, ego and fear can cause a person to make decisions that may not be in their best interest.The trick is to map out the shot ahead of time and make smart decisions that will reduce the chance for costly errors.
In a recent playing lesson, I observed my client, Bill, hit a driver off the tee of a short 333 yard par four hole.Along the right side of the hole is a bunker at 215 yards and a water hazard starting at 240 yards.Guarding the left side is a bunker at 262 yards. Bill has the ability to carry the ball 270 yards with his driver, so all the hazards are well within his range. He proceeded to tee his ball up on the left side of the tee box and hit it into the water hazard on the right.?I always do that!? was his frustrated response.I let him play out the remainder of the hole without offering any advice, which allowed me to observe how he manages his game and how emotions from an errant shot might affect future shots.The frustration Bill had from the errant tee shot continued to bother him as he chunked his short approach shot into the same water hazard and finished the hole with triple bogey.I asked him why he chose to hit driver off the tee.Without hesitation he responded, ?I don?t know, that is what I always hit on the first hole.?
What are some things Bill could have done differently?
First, is the obvious decision to hit a club that goes less than the distance to the hazards.This will accomplish two things?
Even if he hits the ball offline, it won?t go far enough to reach the hazards.
His second shot will still just be a short iron that requires a full swing, instead of leaving a half wedge shot that requires a deft touch.
Second, he could have taken advantage of teeing his ball up on the right side of the tee markers.This would visually open up the left side of the fairway and reduce the angle and the fear of hitting toward the shorter hazards.
Finally, Bill had mentally set himself up to fail based on his past performance.He stated that he ?always hits driver on the hole? and he ?always hits his ball in the water?.Why would this time be any different?His ego didn?t allow him to hit anything other than a driver and his fear of hitting into the water did not allow him to make a confident swing.The key is to be aware of these tendencies, map the hole, be smart and try something different.
Have you ever mapped out the course that you normally play to see if you should play anything differently?Do your shot selections give you the best opportunity for success?Similar to setting up a financial budget; mapping the golf course and having a game plan is a great way to live into a more successful golf future.
Dave Sadlowsky, PGA
PGA Golf Professional
Copyright 2009 ForeEver Golf, LLC. All rights reserved. 952-221-3861