Category Archives: commentary

The Golf Ball Rollback

I’ve been waiting for the dust to settle somewhat on the golf ball rollback, but the news keeps changing every day as more and more opinion and speculation keeps coming out, so I if I don’t comment now, I never will.

What I can say is that the USGA is up to its usual stupidity, the kind it exercised for years in screwing up the U.S. Open with the way it prepared and conditioned the course.

Then there was the anchored putting fiasco.

Now this.

We really have to take a wait-and-see approach because the rollback doesn’t take effect for us until 2030. The deal might not yet be done.

(New golf ball testing rules come into effect in 2028, and the shorter ball comes into effect for everyone in 2030.)

The speculation is that the carry distance of the average male golfer will shorten by 5 yards, the average female golfer by 1 to 3 yards.



(This image is a screen print. Links are not active.)

The second shot would hardly be affected. They say.

What bothers me is that nothing I read about the comment period refers to comments they got from millions of recreational golfers, who are really what supports golf in this country.

Because they didn’t ask us.

Oh, they asked us about anchored putting, and they apparently didn’t like the comments they got, so we got left out of this discussion.

We like things the way they are. We are not the reason that courses are becoming obsolete because we hit the ball that far. We just don’t.

Back in the day when I was playing my best, my total driving distance was at 235 yards. Once a month I might pop one out there 250 and say to myself, “How did that happen?”

With that distance off the tee, a course of 5,900 yards fit perfectly.

So what am I going to do now that I’m much shorter than that?

When Bridgestone discontinued the ball I use, the e5, I bought as many as I could find. I have twenty boxes of them in my basement.

I would suggest that in 2029 you buy as many of the ball you use then and play them to your heart’s content from 2030 forward.

And then tell the USGA that even though they are in charge of “the game”, you are not a part of “the game” they are in charge of any more.

Because all you want to do is go out and have fun.

Which is what golf is for the millions of us.

P.S. You want my solution to the distance problem at the elite level (Because that’s the only level where distance is a problem)?

Make the pros play a balata ball.

Instead of their wild drives ending in the deep rough, they will end up two fairways over.

That will put more of a premium on straight rather than far, which should cut down distance from the insane to the mere ridiculous.

Golf Is Easy

Golf is easy.

Playing golf the wrong way is easy. Anybody can do it.

Playing golf the right way is easy, too. Anybody can do it.

Which one do you like?

The right things in golf are no harder to do than the wrong things. They aren’t special skills which only the gifted can do. They’re just different things. Anybody can do them.

So learn what the right things are, practice to get be able to repeat them, and there you are.

This sounds so obvious, but the reason I’m saying it is that you won’t get good at golf until you realize in a deep way that getting good doesn’t require bucketloads of talent or ask you to perform skills you can’t possibly do.

Golf is easy. Anybody can do it.

The Golf Ball Rollback

Golf Digest just published an article saying that the proposed golf ball rollback for professional tours might backfire. In time, a small number of elite golfers might figure out how to get their swing speed high enough to negate the changes in the ball.

By getting their swing speed up to 140+ mph, a few professional golfers could hit the shorter ball up to 350 yards. Everyone else would be left in the dust.

One solution would be to use course design and setup to penalize wayward drives more than is done now. That’s kind of expensive, though.

David Feherty once suggested making the ball bigger, which is known to cut down on how far it flies.

All this is guesswork. Leave it to The Recreational Golfer to come up with a foolproof solution: the exploding golf ball.

We would require a golf ball design that makes the ball disintegrate when struck at a swing speed of greater than, say, 135 mph.

BOOM! Cloud of dust! Tee up another, podner, you’re hitting two.

Not only would it solve the distance problem, it would be widely entertaining. Can you imagine the cheering? And the little cloud of white dust rising up over the tree tops from the number seven tee that you can see from way over at number 14?

And Jim Nantz saying, “Oops! Got another one!”

And think of the pressure on the guys with the big guns! Not, am I going to hit the fairway, but, is my golf ball going to blow up?

And Tour golf on TV, which has become about as boring as competitive cornhole, would become as popular a TV sport as any. Even more than World’s Strongest Man competitions.

Problems solved. You’re welcome.

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I hope this mildly amusing post has entertained you and taken your mind off, for a while, the impending debt limit crisis. (I just had to say that.)

The Debt Limit

I turn from golf for a moment.

The Republican House refusing to increase the debt limit is not holding a gun to President Biden’s head. It’s holding a gun to the nation’s head. Your head.

If you live a congressional district with a Republican representative, write and urge your congressman/woman to vote in favor of increasing the debt limit and thereby avoid an economic nightmare. Thank you.

I Asked ChatGPT How to Stop Hitting Duck Hooks

About month ago I went to ChatGPt to try it out. I thought I would ask a golf question. This is full transcript (long) of my bout with ChatGPT (and that’s what it was) about how to stop hitting duck hooks.

One thing I learned–ChatGPT is pretty wiggly. It speaks with authority, but remember it is just repeating what someone has fed in to it and has little awareness of starting to make no sense, and its answers are generally bland, obvious, and non-committal. But then, what do you expect?

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golf question. i hit duck hooks with my driver. how can i correct this

To correct a hook with a driver, try the following steps:
Grip: Ensure that you have a neutral grip on the club to reduce the amount of wrist action in your swing.

Alignment: Make sure you are aligned to the target line, as an incorrect alignment can cause a hook.

Ball position: Move the ball slightly forward in your stance to reduce the spin on the ball and limit the hook.

Swing path: Focus on swinging along the target line and avoid swinging across the line, which can cause the ball to hook.

Clubface: Make sure the clubface is square to the target at impact. An open clubface can cause the ball to hook.

Practice: Dedicate time to practicing and repeating the steps until they become natural in your swing.

Remember that correcting a hook is a process that may require patience and repetition. Consider seeking advice from a golf instructor if needed.

thank you. i am confused by one point you made, though. doesn’t a open clubface cause the ball to slice?

Yes, you’re correct! An open clubface at impact can cause the ball to slice (move from right to left for a right-handed golfer). My apologies for the mistake in my previous response. To correct a hook, it’s important to have a square or slightly closed clubface at impact, which will help the ball travel straight or with a slight draw (move from left to right). Thank you for pointing out the error.

i should be more clear with my request. a hook starts out to the right and curves significantly to the left, with decent distance. a duck hook starts out left, stays low, continues to the left, and doesn’t go very far.

Ah, I understand your confusion now. A “duck hook” is a more severe form of a hook, which starts out left and stays low, curving even further left with limited distance.
To correct a duck hook, the following tips may help:
Swing path: Focus on swinging along the target line, rather than across it. A swing path that is too inside or over-the-top can cause a duck hook.

Release: Ensure that you are releasing the club properly through impact, as an early release can cause a duck hook.

Weight distribution: Make sure you are transferring your weight correctly during the swing. Improper weight distribution can cause a duck hook.

Clubface: Practice maintaining a slightly closed clubface position at impact. An open clubface can cause the ball to hook.

Practice: Dedicate time to practicing these adjustments on the range, hitting shots with a focus on the tips mentioned above.

Remember that correcting a duck hook requires patience and repetition. Consider seeking advice from a golf instructor if needed.

i want to ask you what you mean by releasing the club properly through impact and how to do that, but let me remind you that you said once more that an open clubface will cause the ball to hook, when it actually causes the ball to slice.

I apologize for the mistake. An open clubface at impact will indeed cause the ball to slice (move from right to left for a right-handed golfer).
Regarding “releasing the club properly through impact,” it refers to the point in the swing when the hands and wrists uncock, allowing the club to release and complete the swing. A proper release helps generate more speed and power, and can also impact the direction of the ball.
To release the club properly:
Timing: The release should occur naturally in the downswing, just before impact.

Hands: Keep your hands relaxed and let them release through impact, allowing the club to complete the swing.

Wrist action: Let your wrists uncock and rotate through impact, releasing the clubhead for maximum speed and power.

Practice: Focus on feeling the release in your swing and repeat it consistently in your practice sessions.

Remember that a proper release is a key factor in generating distance and accuracy with your shots, and it can be affected by several factors including grip, posture, and swing mechanics. Consider seeking advice from a golf instructor if needed.

if my wrists rotate through impact, doesn’t that create a serious timing problem? the clubhead is traveling through impact at a high rate of speed and it has to be square at just the right instant if my wrists are rotating at the same time

Yes, you’re correct! Maintaining a square clubface at impact is critical for accuracy and distance. If the clubface is not square at impact, the ball will go off course and will not travel as far.
In regards to rotating the wrists through impact, this is a natural part of a golf swing and can help generate speed and power. However, it’s important to time the wrist rotation correctly to avoid any negative impact on the clubface squareness. The wrists should start to uncock (rotate) just before impact, allowing the clubhead to release and complete the swing.
To achieve a square clubface and proper wrist rotation through impact, consider the following tips:
Clubface control: Practice keeping the clubface square to the target line throughout the swing, especially through impact.

Timing: Focus on timing the wrist rotation correctly, starting the rotation just before impact.

Drill: Try hitting shots with a focus on maintaining a square clubface and proper wrist rotation through impact.

Feedback: Use a launch monitor or video analysis to get feedback on your clubface position and wrist rotation through impact.

Remember that achieving a square clubface and proper wrist rotation through impact is a process that takes practice and repetition. Consider seeking advice from a golf instructor if needed.

how about we just not rotate the wrists at all through impact, ensuring the clubface will stay square

While it is possible to not rotate the wrists at all through impact, it is generally not recommended, as it can lead to a loss of power and distance. The wrist rotation through impact is a natural part of a golf swing and can help generate speed and power.
However, it is important to maintain control over the clubface to ensure it remains square to the target line through impact. Maintaining a square clubface at impact will result in straighter, more accurate shots.
To achieve a square clubface while also maximizing wrist rotation:
Focus on a slow, smooth transition from backswing to downswing, to allow the wrists to start uncocking just before impact.

Practice hitting shots while focusing on maintaining a square clubface through impact.

Get feedback on your clubface position and wrist rotation through impact using a launch monitor or video analysis.

Remember that each golfer is different and finding the right balance between wrist rotation and clubface control will depend on your individual swing mechanics. Consider seeking advice from a golf instructor if needed.

i agree that wrist rotation can generate speed and power,because I have tried that. when it worked, it worked very well, but when it didn’t the results disastrous. as to your points: 1. you can have a smooth transition at the top and still mess up impact; 2. i would do that by NOT rotating the wrists instead of hoping i could get the timing just right

I understand your concerns. Not rotating the wrists through impact can result in a lack of power and distance, but it can also help ensure a square clubface at impact. It’s a matter of finding the right balance between wrist rotation and clubface control that works best for your swing.
Here are a few tips that might help:
Experiment: Try hitting shots with and without wrist rotation through impact and compare the results to see what works best for you.

Short game: Focus on hitting short shots with a square clubface and minimal wrist rotation to help develop a feel for the clubface control.

Practice: Repeat the shots that result in a square clubface and minimal wrist rotation to ingrain the correct muscle memory.

Swing thought: Visualize a square clubface at impact and try to feel the clubface control through impact.

Professional help: Consider seeking advice from a golf instructor if needed. They can analyze your swing and provide recommendations on wrist rotation and clubface control.

Remember that golf is a game of repetition and consistency. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at controlling the clubface and wrist rotation through impact.

mike malaska, a respected teacher, tells you wrist rotation ruined his game as a touring professional. it was only when he stopped doing that did he get the power and accuracy he needed. he also said you have to practice constantly to get your timing right with wrist rotation, and even then there are days when is just won’t work. that is my experience, too.

I understand your perspective, and it’s important to note that what works best for one golfer may not work for another. Mike Malaska is a respected teacher, and his experience with wrist rotation is just one example.
Each golfer is unique and has their own swing mechanics, so it’s important to experiment and find what works best for you. If wrist rotation has been causing problems for you, then not rotating the wrists through impact could be a good solution.
It’s also important to remember that golf is a game of repetition and consistency. If you decide to reduce or eliminate wrist rotation, it will take time and practice to develop the correct muscle memory and feel for the clubface control.
Consider seeking advice from a golf instructor if needed. They can analyze your swing and provide recommendations on wrist rotation and clubface control that are tailored to your individual swing mechanics.

just asking. did you know that mike malaska was respected teacher before i said he was, or are you only repeating what you just learned

As an AI language model, I do not have personal experiences or emotions. I have been trained on a diverse range of texts and have knowledge about various topics, including golf and golf instructors. Yes, I was aware of Mike Malaska being a respected teacher in the golf community before you mentioned it.

getting back to duck hooks, have you considered that they might be caused by the softening of grip pressure between the right and left hand at the top of the backswing

Yes, grip pressure and the position of the hands can definitely affect the ball flight and cause hooks or slices. A change in grip pressure between the right and left hand at the top of the backswing could cause the clubface to rotate and result in a duck hook.
Here are a few tips to help maintain grip pressure and prevent a change in the clubface position:
Grip pressure: Focus on keeping consistent grip pressure throughout the swing, especially at the top of the backswing.

Hand position: Keep the hands in the same position at the top of the backswing as they were at address.

Swing thought: Visualize keeping the hands and grip pressure in the same position throughout the swing.

Practice: Repeat shots with consistent grip pressure to help ingrain the correct muscle memory.

Professional help: Consider seeking advice from a golf instructor if needed. They can analyze your swing and provide recommendations on grip pressure and hand position.

Remember that golf is a game of repetition and consistency. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at maintaining consistent grip pressure and hand position throughout the swing.

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At this point I had found out all I wanted to know about ChatGPT. A week later I went on and asked how to hit a driver straight. More vanilla advice, including that a neutral grip, instead of a weak or strong grip, maximizes distance. This in spite of my bringing up Ben Hogan and Fred Couples. I won’t bore you with that one.

One more thing. Academia is all in a tizzy about ChatGPT being able to write essays for students. I swear, if you can’t tell the difference between what ChatGPT comes up with and how a human writes, you shouldn’t be in teaching.

Twelve-Year-Old Shoots 2 Under at Genesis Open

This item is from today’s GolfWRX:

“Tiger Woods shot an impressive 2-under 69 on Thursday’s opening round at the Genesis Invitational. However, that’s not the only thing being talked about in regard to Woods as he prepares for round two.

“On the ninth hole yesterday, after outdriving his good friend Justin Thomas, Woods handed something to Thomas.

” Tiger Woods had a gift for Justin Thomas after driving it past him on number nine.
“(via @GettyImages) pic.twitter.com/HXZEQSAhEU
” — Rick Gehman (@RickRunGood) February 17, 2023

“The ‘gift’ was a tampon.

“What can you say? Tiger is back.”

What can I say? Well!

I can say that Thomas should have invited Woods to go have sexual intercourse with himself, though not in those words. But then you shouldn’t talk like that to a twelve-year-old.

Tiger brings a tampon to the course with him, and carries it with him all day just in case there is a “moment”, which there was. Really?

What he did was sexist and juvenile. No surprise there.

And people still carry water for this guy? Good absolute grief.

Tiger is back, all right. Still the same man-child he always has been.

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February 21 update: This from GolfWRX.

How to Use This Blog

There are over 1,000 posts on this blog. But then, it’s going on 14 years old, so I guess that’s about right. With that many posts, it might be hard to find what you want.

There are two ways, of course. Use the Search window to type in some keywords, or run down the list of categories on the left and pick the one you want.

Pay special attention to the category of Gold Post. There are only sixteen posts in there. They are the essentials of playing good golf.

And of course, there’s my comprehensive instruction book, Bob’s Living Golf Book.

One more thing. If you are playing well, hitting the ball well, scoring well, read posts for their entertainment value only. DO NOT try anything that is suggested.

You’re doing well, don’t touch it. Leave well enough alone.

Play well and have fun.

Adios, LIV Tour

In the recent past I have made my opinions known about the LIV tour and the people behind it. Now, it seems that the first question at a press conference for the guy who just won the week’s tournament is, “Are you going to join the LIV Tour?”

All this hoo-hah is about people who can earn (on the PGA Tour) almost as much in a couple of weekends as most of their fans will earn in a lifetime.

Besides the pros, who the f**k CARES about all this?

Both of these Tours could dry up and blow away and it would have no effect on my being able to go out to have fun playing golf with my friends.

I’ve had enough. This is my final statement about the whole affair. Promise.

Three Questions for Phil Mickelson

Here are three question reporters at the U.S. Open should have asked Phil Mickelson yesterday.

1. You accused the PGA Tour of “obnoxious greed.” How would you characterize the $200 million that you accepted from the Saudi government?

2. You have said several times that playing on the LIV Tour is an opportunity to help to grow the game of golf. In what ways is the LIV Tour growing golf that the PGA Tour is not?

3. You once referred to the Saudis as “scary mother****ers.” What caused you to say that?