Are Changes to the Rules of Golf Hurting Your Game?

For amateurs during a friendly golf game forgetting, or even neglecting, to follow some of the rules changes may not add up to a big difference in score but, in professional tournaments, the results could lead to unfavorable decisions.

Recently, several PGA Tour players have complained about the new rules of golf.

Rickie Fowler at the WGC-Mexico tournament, for example, dropped a ball from shoulder height (instead of at the knee) and incurred a one-stroke penalty. Fowler said, "I think, with the new rules that have been put in place, it's not doing any favors for our sport. I get to drop from my knee and look stupid.' So, no, like I said, it was on me, but I think it's a terrible change."

Related: How Flubs from PGA Tour Golfers Teach the Rest of Us

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers' take? "As professionals, we all have to know the rules...the rules are an important part of our game."

How are the changes to the rules of golf affecting your game? (For a detailed list, follow the link.)

First, let's briefly go over a few of the positive rules changes:

1. No penalties for accidentally moving your golf ball during search and on the putting green.
2. Relief is given for an embedded golf ball (except in sand).
3. Eased rules on touching impediments in the bunker.

Related Read: Sportsmanship and the Rules of Golf

Perhaps these would be considered negative rules changes:
1. Drop golf ball from knee instead of from shoulder height.
2. Leave flag in when putting.

As an amateur, I struggle with the new rules change of leaving in the flag when putting - my playing partners have asked me, "do you want the flag in or out" when, in previous events, there was no choice to be made.

Dave Pelz has mentioned that the flag left in the hole can actually help the odds of your ball finding the bottom of the cup.

"Perhaps most surprising, when the flagstick leans either slightly toward the golfer or away, the odds of it helping to keep the ball in the hole increase: With the flagstick leaning away from the golfer, the hole becomes effectively larger; when the flagstick leans toward the golfer, the ball rebounds downward, again helping shots find the hole."

It is important, however, to check the severity of the flagstick lean as it can also prevent your ball from going in the cup.

Do you find that the adjusted rules of golf have had unfortunate consequences on your round (you have been penalized, for example)? Feel free to write your comments below and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

3 Golf Tips to Start Putting Better Now

Putting is often overlooked when you are practicing your golf game; it's usually placed on the back burner after you've hit everything from driver to wedge. This practice probably has you missing more putts during a round which may lead you to grumble about an inflated score.

Instead of pulling out the driver or irons first during your range session, make it a practice to head over to the chipping and putting area first, and then again during practice, to work on the short game.

According to short game guru Dave Pelz, chipping and putting are the two most important aspects in your golf game, although he believes that, in order to save more strokes, concentrate on your wedge game.

Even so, Pelz states that "putting accounts for approximately 43 percent of your total strokes."

That's almost half of your golf game!

For the time that you are at the range, consider these 3 golf putting tips:

1. Putts that are short, never go in - although this statement is pretty self-explanatory, practice the speed of your putts so that your golf ball makes into the "circle of trust" which is within about three feet.

2. Make sure your golf ball drops into the cup. It's great to hear (and oh so satisfying) the sound a golf ball when it hits the bottom, isn't it?

3. Take the time to read the lie and line of each putt and ask yourself a few questions before taking the putt such as, are you looking at an uphill, downhill or sideways lie? Make adjustments to speed and lie and "feel it" to the hole.


In the game of golf, visualization is key - your mind can help you "see" the putts rolling in if you relax and study each line.

Remember, putting is all about the speed, your line...and feel!

Add your golf putting tips in the comments area of this golf blog and tag us with your tips on Twitter @Golf4beginners.


Photo by tyler hendy from Pexels

The Golf Shots You Need To Practice to Score Low

To score well, there are some golf shots that are just more essential to learn than others - ones you need to practice to lower your handicap and make you want to come back to the course time and again.

Legendary golfer Ben Hogan believed that your shot off of the tee was the most important shot in golf,

"You've got to hit the fairway before you have a good chance of putting the ball close to the pin. You can be the greatest iron player in the world, but if you're in the boondocks it won't do you any good."

Players like Dustin Johnson rely on their long drives to move them down the fairway and into position for an easier approach shot. At the 2018 WGC-Dell Match Play event, DJ smashed a drive a quarter of a mile (although it included hitting a cart path, this was still a "wow" moment).

Some golfers would argue that the most important golf shot in your bag is the approach shot because, if executed properly, you can get on the green in regulation and make possible birdie or par.

Other golf gurus, such as Dave Pelz, state that it isn't your putting which should consume your focus but, rather, you should work on your wedges, "Putting is not the most important part of the game – it’s your wedge game. Putting is the second most important because you do it half the time."

PGAprofessional.com states, on the flip side, that the "importance of putting cannot be overemphasized",

"If there are 18 holes on a golf course and each green is worth two putts that means that par for putting is 36. The majority of 18-hole golf courses are par 72. That means that half of par is putting."

Read: Three Smart Ways to Lower Your Golf Score

One question to consider is..."What is more important for your game... to start each hole well or to finish strong?"

As for my own personal game, I add strokes to my round on my approach shots and through lack of feel on the greens - hybrid clubs, mid-irons and putting are where I need to strengthen my game.

Titleist believes that hitting greens in regulation is a basic statistic which players should track, "golfers play more shots to the green than from the tee. The higher the score, the more shots that have been hit to the green."

Everyone's golf game is different and we all have our "pain points", so, it is necessary to practice all shots in your bag, identify weaknesses in your game, decide where you need work and focus on those shots.

What are the shots you need to practice? Comment at the bottom of our Golf for Beginners golf blog and tag us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Tips for Getting Rid of the Shanks on the Golf Course

The Shanks are probably the most horrifying words in golf! The hozel hits the ball instead of the face and POW, off your ball bolts to the right (if you are a righty) - it's a frustrating feeling and you probably are fearing even bringing up the subject lest it creep into your game!

Once you "catch" the Shanks, it's hard to get rid of them (snowball effect) as it shakes your confidence down to the core.

Briefly, what are the shanks? According to top professional golf instructor Butch Harmon, "shanks usually come from an excessively closed face. The player swings out to in with the face closing hard -- both actions push the hosel closer to the ball (top). If the hosel catches the ball, it's shank city." 

Wait a minute! According to Michael Breed it is an open club face which causes the shanks! Which one is it? Two different thoughts with one probable outcome?

Believe it or not, getting the shanks is not as bad as it seems. Short game guru Dave Pelz says the shanks are, "very close to a solid golf shot. If you are shanking your shots, your impact point is the hozel of the club instead of the club face (only about a 1/2 inch difference)."

Whether the clubface is closed or open at impact, it seems that all pros agree that the hitting the hozel instead of the face at point of impact causes the shanks. Let's now figure out how to end the shanks.

Tips for Getting Rid of the Shanks on the Golf Course:

- Change Golf Clubs: Taking a golf club out of your bag that you always have success using, even if it doesn't accomplish you goal, may help stop the downward spiral.

- Try using a different shot in your bag even if its not appropriate for what you want to accomplish. Switching up your physical game might change your mental game. Anything you do is better than a shank switch up until your confidence returns.

- Core Fundamentals - GASP: Make sure you didn't change any of your swing basics: check your balance, (standing tall to the ball), make sure weight is evenly distributed, and that you are not gripping the club too tightly.

A Few Drills to Get Rid of the Shanks:

-While waiting your turn to hit, take a club out and stand at address (in a practice swing). Put a tee an inch in front of the toe of the club face and another tee an inch behind the hozel. Take several practice swings without hitting either tee. - keep the distance from the ball and your line straight at point of impact.

The Shanks don't have to ruin your round of golf. Take a step back, take a deep breath, change your thoughts and think about all of the great shots you have taken up to this point. A positive mental attitude is still your best friend on the course.

How do you get rid of the Shanks? Add your golf tips in the comments section of this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

photo credit: BreakParBlueprint.com

Keeping Snowmen Out of Your #Golf Game

Another winter, another test of our mettle on the golf course... ...donning winter gloves, hats, ear muffs and layering with long johns definitely detracts from our game during the chilly season, ergo northerners have a tendency to get a bit rusty and snowmen tend to make an appearance.

How can Northerners keep their golf games as fresh as the driven snow?

GolfOnline.co.uk recently forwarded Golf for Beginners an infographic designed to help golfers keep the game crisp through the winter. We have chosen several interesting tips for you to be aware of in cold weather.

1. The golf ball doesn't necessarily go as far in the cold as it does during the summer months (unless the ground is as hard as a rock). Learn the course before you play - make allowances by taking an extra (or one less) club, or playing with a golf ball designed for cold weather. Also remember to stay alert as the cold weather has a tendency to dull your focus.

2. Can't get to the golf course? Exercise at the Gym! Schedule one workout per week on golf-fitness. LPGA golfers build strength and endurance with weights, kettle and bosu balls. Also include using rowing machines and adding good old fashioned sit-ups, planks and push-ups to your routine.

3. Practice Your Putting! You've probably heard this saying repeatedly and, as short game guru Dave Pelz confirms, "More than forty percent of all golf shots are putts, and over half of those are short ones." 

The Grumpy Old Golfer mentions in his book of putting tips, "Touch is one thing very good putters have in common. Touch is the core ingredient for long term success.".

Is the final putt of each hole as important as the first drive? Probably more so as you can recuperate after a wayward drive but each putt is meant to finish out the hole so its importance becomes magnified. Practice your speed and touch around the greens and you'll be ready to roll at the start of spring.

What golf tips do you have to keep Old Man Winter at bay? Let us know on our Golf for Beginners blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

What are the Benefits of Starting #Golf at a Young Age?

Ever think to yourself after a fun-filled day of golf, "I wish I would have started learning when I was a kid!"

Fresh air and sunshine, a walk in the park and a healthy dose of exercise are all great reasons for kids to start along the path of golf at an early age and the long term effects go far beyond the physical aspects.

Many sports teach kids to be competitive, to work together as a team and to succeed under pressure which all translate well into the daily routine, into their school life and in their relations with other children.

Youth golf also has its advantages.

Golf has many more benefits than the above standards, as taught by groups such as the First Tee program. The sport that can last a lifetime instructs kids on the core values of honesty, courtesy towards others, on strategy and smart decisions both on and off the golf course - all positive attributes that will help in leadership roles and throughout their careers.

On a more educational level, as mentioned by a local Houston-based developer, "Golf is math, golf is English. You must calculate the break of the ball in degrees. It's just another avenue of learning."

Sounds like former NASA Physicist and short game instructor Dave Pelz who also believes that, if we can learn more about the scientific aspects of golf, we will perform better on the putting green and on the course.

Pelz also mentioned that, where adults in his class have to unlearn something before they can grasp a concept, "kids are the most voracious learners in the game. You tell them something they say, 'Oh, okay' and they start doing it that way."

Adults make the learning process more complicated and confusing but kids tend to look at golf in a more simplistic fashion -  they can break the sport down and learn to shrug off the disappointments at an early stage.



Once kids have something interesting that they have learned, they want to practice, even show-off a bit of their new found knowledge! Encourage family activities both on and off the golf course. 

Sponsors of The First Tee such as SYNLawn, fully endorse the concept of starting golf young by offering means to practice daily at home while making the sport enjoyable and accessible.

Elements of practice can be made into golf games for the whole family, and some activities such as distance control and putting can be as simple as backyard practice, on practice mats or on DIY greens right in your own home.

Although many players cite that golf is mainly a mental game and is played between your ears, let's not forget the physical benefits of the sport - that's right, golf remains a sport and will soon be a part of the Olympics!

Swinging a golf club, walking the course, proper bending and stretching before and after the round all translate into great health benefits without hurting kids physically as may be the case with other sports.


Have questions about the benefits of starting kids along the fairway of golf? Discuss with us on our Golf for Beginners blog, on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on @SYNLawn_Golf.

photo: Synlawn.com


Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Can Phil Mickelson Mentor a Young Ryder Cup Team to Victory? #golf

After Phil Mickelson's recent withdrawal from the BMW Championship, golf fans may be wondering whether or not Lefty still has the stuff of Champions needed to help lead Team USA on to victory against Europe.

Although Mickelson removed himself from the final FedEx Cup events and the remainder of the PGA Tour season (knowing he could not contend), he showed mental weakness as well. Was it a lack of passion, his age, physical issues, or a combination of maladies that forced Mickelson to withdraw? Will he be able to stand strong and carry his team in the face of adversity?

Because of his poor showing in the first two days of the BMW, The World Golf Hall of Famer chose not to buckle down, disappointing fans who came to see him play, a worldwide television audience and the tournament itself which relies on big names like Phil to help sell tickets.

At forty-four years of age and with twenty-plus years on tour, the jury is still out on Phil.

"My primary goal is to rest and prepare for the Ryder Cup," Mickelson said in a statement released after his W/D from the BMW Championship. "Without a chance to contend at the Tour Championship, the most important thing for me now is to prepare for the Ryder Cup."

Team USA Captain Tom Watson wanted to add value to his team picks by adding “players who can putt and close and have heart.” Phil can still crush his drives but short game and passion is what Watson said is needed to carry Team USA to victory.

"You Gotta Believe", the slogan  of New York Mets baseball relief pitcher Tug McGraw in 1973, has been adapted as the term "Redemption" by Team USA with Mickelson leading the charge.

As for Watson's other requirement, the short game, Mickelson has that going for him too, so says his long term instructor and golf guru, Dave Pelz, "He's one of brightest players I have ever known and probably the best I've ever worked with and he certainly has the best short game I've ever seen."

With the use of learning aids such as the Putting Tutor developed by Pelz for use on indoor putting greens along with games designed specifically for the short game, Dave and Phil work together using both scientific and golf evaluation to try to "measure where he's losing most of his strokes and where he could improve."

"The games were developed to help my students," Dave Pelz said, so even if you're not a top tour pro like Mickelson, you can still take advantage of the same expert guidance right inside your home.

Does Team USA believe in Phil and does Lefty think that he should have been a Ryder Cup pick?

"I don't know if I played well enough this year to deserve a spot," Mickelson said. "You want players that are hot, that are playing well. And I need to step up and start doing that."

Keegan Bradley, who also withdrew from the BMW Championship on Saturday due to doubt over the legality over a drop, was in 28th place with a chance at winning the Tour Championship and made a great pairing with Mickelson at the 2012 Ryder Cup but would the same pairing be a good fit this year?

After their win at the 2012 Ryder Cup, Keegan Bradley said, "...being able to walk down the fairway with Phil and do this is a dream come true. It's another moment in my life that I can't believe I'm a part of. It could be the best day of my life."

"I just love playing with Keegan." Mickelson said. "He's just played so good all day and it's just kept me up the whole time. It's been awesome."

Watching Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson play golf during the PGA Championship, fans could also feel the camaraderie between these two players, so it seems likely that Mickelson is a good candidate for team cheerleader.

Will Team USA gain redemption with Mickelson at the helm? Should be an interesting Ryder Cup for both captains and mates!

Voice your Ryder Cup Opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners. In the market for backyard putting green kits? Ask SYNLawn for their opinion on Twitter @SYNLawn_golf.


Photo credit: SYNLawngolf.com, TaipeiTimes.com, Crunchtimenews.com



Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

To Chip or To Putt? A Golf Dilemma Answered!

Your golf ball lies on the fringe of the green with the pin forty feet in the distance - you're scratching your head... are you going to pull out the putter, a pitching wedge or a 7-iron?

You want to keep the ball low for the best results. Arnold Palmer mentioned that a low ball means a lower risk - your worst putt may probably be much better than your worst chip.

Although you can strike the ball with any club in your bag, Golf Tip Reviews writes that amateurs "should putt whenever they can. It will save you strokes on the golf course."

Dave Pelz suggests a unique idea - the "Chiputt" for very long putts.

"The longer the putt, the more likely you are to leave it short, because your stroke (and everyone else's) naturally evolves to favor accuracy over power. You can overcome this tendency by adding a chipping motion to your putting stroke-think of it as 'chipping with your putter.'"

Dave goes on to say, "On super-long putts, stand upright for a better perspective on distance, and then putt with the same body motion you use to chip with a 5-iron. On 75- to 110-foot putts, every golfer I've tested, including Tour professionals, lags closer to the hole with the 'chiputt' method."

A few more creative ideas for using a putter during a game?

Golflink suggests that you can use your putter for getting a ball out of the rough and back into the fairway, from behind a tree or even out of a greenside bunker (if there is no lip and it is reasonably flat!)

When should you opt for a golf club other than your putter and still keep the ball low?

When you have to go over bouncy, rough ground.
When there is an obstruction like a sprinkler head on your putting line.
You may not want to putt when the green is very elevated above your ball position.

The iron, wedge or wood you choose depends on how far the cup is from your position. The further the distance, the lower number club you use. For example, if the pin is close, you might use a pitching wedge - if the pin is very far, you would perhaps choose a 5- or 6-iron (as Dave Pelz explains above).

You should definitely practice these techniques on an outdoor putting green before you play your round of golf. You'll please yourself and amaze your golf buddies!

Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on our Golf for Beginners blog.

Photo credit: SYNLawngolf.com

How to Get Your Spouse and Kids On Par With #Golf

The answer to our title query is simple - get your spouse and family to have fun practicing golf with you without ever leaving your property.

If the scenario at home is one where, when you mention the word golf everyone groans, let me explain how you can turn those frowns upside down.

The first obstacle to overcome is that those who don't identify with the sport can't understand what makes you enjoy it so much!

Conquer a lack of exposure with education. We all know that elements of the game can be taught more easily when they're fun to learn.

With golf being so time consuming away from the home, it's much more difficult to create this learning experience. One great way to initiate a love of golf is with a home putting green. Think about it...no more having to take the family out to play mini-golf; you could have your very own green right at home!

In association with short game instructor extraordinaire Dave Pelz, SYNLawn Golf has masterfully created everything from portable greens to backyard putting greens with short game areas that rival the finest golf course practice areas so the enjoyment factor begins the minute you pull out your putter. Next, it's time to bring the family into the equation (after you have tested the greens of course!)

It's time to create backyard family fun with your spouse and kids!

Here are a few Putting Tips for Beginners of any Age from Dave Pelz:
1. Before you actually take your first putt, together, learn a proper putting grip - Use Your Lifeline to hold the grip, not your wrists!

2. Learn "touch". Pelz says that, "As soon as you start to putt, you see results and begin filing them away. Whether you realize it or not, you have recorded the results of every putt you have ever made."

3. Good putts start with tempo - think "pendulum". Vary the length of your backswing to control the speed of your putts. Watch this Youtube.com video to see how the Master does it:

Now, Let the Games Begin!
No putting green experience is complete without games for all skill levels. Mr. Pelz designed Elements of Practice to maximize the use of SYNLawn greens so golfers can create the ultimate experience right at home, from short putts on the GreenMaker™ Putting Green System, a DIY putting green kit designed and engineered by Dave Pelz, to wedge and bunker shots on custom landscapes.

One of my favorite games taught to me by members of the EWGA (actually a putting drill) is called the Circle of Trust, a circle of three feet which surrounds the hole. You should make every putt from within three feet. Vary the distances you stand to make each putt from 20-foot, 10-foot and in and see who can get the most balls within the circle.

3-foot circle game

Here are a few additional putting games to try, from modified match-play and stroke to horseshoes and Bango/Bongo.



PS...You can even let the family dog roll a few - SYNLawn was created with dogs in mind.  Safe for pets, but watch for chewy golf balls!


Get Competitive!
There is competition on the golf course so why not a family "wager" with your spouse and the kids? Here are a few interesting Prize Ideas:
Who cooks dinner for the husband-wife competition
Spa day for the wife (when she wins)
For Dad, that new putter he's been eyeing...
For the kids - what they'll have for dinner (take-out, Mc D's)
These contests can be short or even last for an entire month to decide the big winner - like who gets to pick the vacation spot that year!

It's probably easier to get kids involved than your wife but...once your spouse beats you the first time in a putting contest (and she will), she might urge you to take her out to twilight golf (date night) ...you can get even more practice and she might even join a league of her own! So, everybody wins!

Finally, one last golf tip. I once asked Mr. Pelz about distance control on wedges. Read his response on Golf for Beginners blog.

Are you trying to get your spouse into golf? Let us know on Twitter @Golf4Beginners. Ask about DIY and Custom Greens @SYNLawn_golf.

Photo credits: SYNLawngolf.com, calligraphybyjeanne.com
Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

What Dads Do to Satisfy Their Love of #Golf and Family

You have probably chuckled as Ray Romano (aka Ray Barone) was caught leaving wife and kids sadly behind as he grabbed his clubs for a round of golf. 

Or, perhaps you heard stories about golf orphaned kids crying out "daddy, please don't go" as father puts his phone on vibrate so he won't be bothered for the next five hours (or talks about the weak signal at the golf course...ahem). These stories are becoming more commonplace as leisure time shrinks.

Even Phil Mickelson caved in wearing a pager at the 1999 U.S. Open while awaiting news of the birth of his child. Okay, so Lefty wanted to be reached that day but the consensus shows that, when they're on the course, don't bother the dads!

With Father's Day being just around the corner, Golf for Beginners wanted to pay a loving homage to dear old dad (for those lucky enough to still have your pop) especially with U.S. Open Sunday falling squarely on the Big Day. 

We also wanted to prove that, even though there are many jokes made about dads and golf, the reality is that fathers love both golf and family and that the choices made are more difficult than you might think!

Fathers who work a 9-5 job rarely have the time to get out and play a round of golf except possibly on weekends which could be the reason why they feel the need to tip-toe out - family time is lost with wife and kids who already get limited moments to spend with dad.

Some dads are lucky enough to have a boy or girl whom he has introduced to the sport. 

Does this ring true with your family?

Scenario: Dad sees a possible sports lover in his son and takes Junior under his wing to teach him the game with the idea that quality time would be gained during twilight golf or on Sundays. Dad is proud as a peacock watching son out-drive him thinking he might be watching the next Bubba Watson - final score, dad, son, love.

This PGA Tour video confirms that dads who introduce their kids to golf gain lasting memories for both. From Keegan Bradley to Graeme McDowell, Tour players remember exactly when, where and how their dads acquainted them to the sport which has become both a sentimental journey and their livelihood. 

McDowell related that all his dad wanted was the U.S. Open trophy. Graeme responded, “I’m not sure I can do that for you dad but I’ll give it a shot.” McDowell went on to win the 110th U.S. Open.

Just listening to these golfers boast about memories with their dads and how and where they were introduced to the game and I believe that this tear-jerker will get you sentimental too ...heck, you're probably picking up the phone right now to say hi to your dad.

Inside the PGA Tour: Father's Day:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6y4w7PFLNg

Unfortunately, golf also comes at a high sentimental cost most of the time to the family as wife and kids lose dad to a Saturday afternoon practice session at the range and then most likely a Sunday round with his regular foursome.

Wouldn't it be nice if dads could combine their love of the game and also be accessible to the family? Although he can’t play a par-72 at home, dads can integrate practice at home and have their cake and eat it too.

Short Game Expert Golf Instructor Dave Pelz is a proponent of such a philosophy. Pelz has mentioned that “Learning the game in a comfortable, convenient setting – like your backyard – can be an incredible gift, your gift, to your kids.”

Not only does backyard golf bring brings the family together to have fun and learn together, it brings dad closer to home to practice so, when he's ready to get out there and play with his mates, his short game is accurate which makes him a hero.

So Dad can be a hero both on and off the course!

Dave Pelz practicing his short game at home on SYNLawn

“There is no better way to learn golf, than by playing games in your own backyard. Every time we see kids playing golf games in their backyard, we see golfers improving their games on the course.”

Dave Pelz, who through extensive research and testing has developed state-of-the-art SYNLawn Products which rival real turf. SYNLawn Golf and Dave Pelz are essentially helping to bring dads back to their own backyards!

Want to have it all…family close by, putting green in your own backyard? From practice putting mats to custom fairway, fringe and bunkers, dad will never want to leave home. There is a double-edge to this coin… Dad’s playing partners will probably come over to your house more often!

Send a Shout-Out to SynLawn_Golf on Twitter and Let's Hear it for Dad on @Golf4Beginners!

photo credits: tbs.com, pcquickutzclub.blogspot.com

How Science and Golf Converge on the Green

From the flight of a golf ball to the friction and path of that same ball rolling along a green towards its destination, science and golf are naturally connected. If we pay more attention to the physics of the sport, we may just improve our game!

Short game instructor, Dave Pelz may very well agree with the above analysis. A former senior NASA physicist, Pelz has applied his own technical logic to his Putting Bible after leaving the Goddard Space Flight Center, from aim line to actual path of the golf ball. 

Mr. Pelz has also helped research and test a SYNLawn golf green which he says reacts and performs as if it were real grass. The SYNLawn Precision Putting Green, for example, comes complete with heat-block and UV stabilization and offers the same level of performance expected from a professional golf course.

It is one thing to look like a golf green…It’s quite another to actually perform like one. 

Mr. Pelz’ teaching philosophy? “If we can't test it or prove it or show it, we don't teach it.” So science and golf do converge on the green!

A few of Dave Pelz’ scientific putting tips include:

1. “Years of experiments have shown us that the optimum speed for making putts is one that would, if the hole were covered or missed, roll the ball seventeen inches past the back edge.” - minimizes the chance of the dreaded three-putt coming back. from Dave Pelz Putting Bible

2. Let Face Angle Be Your Guide - Research data shows that where the face angle of your putter is aimed at impact determines where the ball travels. 

Study the two factors of a solidly struck putt and you'll discover that face angle determines eighty-three percent of the starting line while putter path direction determines seventeen percent. In other words, a square face angle is five times more important to starting putts on line than putter path. – taken from Golf.com Article – “All My Secrets”

3. “Almost every golfer I know could improve simply by remembering this one rule: All putts are speed putts.”

Why not try Pelz' 20-Foot Putting Game for practicing a reference 20-foot putt.

Dave Pelz on SYNLawn Golf Green showing 20-foot putting game.

What about those golfers who seem to take a more haphazard approach to putting?

If trusting your instinct is all you feel that you need when standing over a long or short putt, think again. 

“Putting is pretty much what your eye sees and then the signals the eyes give your body, nerves…and then it finally translates out to the club,” Suzann Pettersen says in The Science of Golf Video presented by NBC Learn and the United States Golf Association. 



If you cannot see above video, here is the link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB36sW-iYBY

Although LPGA Tour golfer Pettersen may not be thinking of the science behind the putts that she takes during a golf tournament, know that the physics principles of “work, energy and power” are always operating behind the scenes.

That being said, no need to have to drive to a green; you can now hone these scientific principles with the accuracy of a professional golf green in your own backyard!

Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on our Golf for Beginners blog.
Follow @SYNLawn_Grass on Twitter and LIKE on Facebook!

Photo credits: SYNLawnGolf.com, DailyMail.UK

Conveniently Putt Your Way to Better Golf

Practice makes perfect - this is true for any sport but in golf, a single putt can make the difference between winning that all-important hole in match play. 

According to GolfStateofMind.com, "fifty percent of shots are hit within forty yards of the hole." Short game and putting expert Dave Pelz noted that PGA Tour players average just over twenty-nine putts per round compared with twenty to thirty handicappers who average thirty-five and more putts per round!

Since this is fact, why wouldn't you spend most of your golf practice time on short game and on improving your ability to putt?

When amateurs do take the time to practice, several occurrences are the norm; a golf bag might be thrown into the trunk and carted off to the driving range where banging balls has become an obsession and putting is left as an afterthought.

 
Or, in many cases, time is at a premium and golfers may haphazardly pull out their electronic putting cup and roll putts along a wood floor or carpet hoping that this substitutes as practice, instead of travelling to the nearest course with a putting green. The problem with this form of "practice" is it will not teach true roll or speed of a green, not to mention that you'll never figure out how to putt on hilly lies.

Wouldn't it be great to have direct access to a green right in your own back yard? 

Leading short game golf guru, Dave Pelz, preaches regularly that direct access is the key to putting greatness. Okay, so Pelz has designed a wonderland of sorts in his own backyard - a masterfully created two acre SYNLawn Synthetic Golf haven, complete with reproductions of Augusta and Sawgrass greens that roll true ...and never need water!

Not everyone can be Dave Pelz but many folks can easily create a short game area complete with putting green near a terrace or patio for daily enjoyment and will probably practice a whole lot more...and with much more accuracy, thus helping to lower your handicap.

Dave Pelz-SYNLawn 8'x14' GreenMaker

Why go with a synthetic lawn and not create a grassy haven? 

As mentioned before, synthetic lawns don't need to be watered, so you'll save up to seventy percent on your water bill. Artificial turf is also always green, never needs fertilizer or mowing and even feels like real grass. Finally Dave Pelz, a former NASA physicist (nope, I did not know that either), has helped develop this particular synthetic lawn for over five years to simulate a real golf green.  Have I gotten your attention?

If so, and you are considering creating a short game area in your back yard, Mr. Pelz has a few tips to help build a unique and complex putting green so that you can't wait to get out and practice.

• “Amateurs trail the Pros in Lag putting performance because it is one of the least practiced areas of their games. Creating a realistic 'Tier' in your backyard green complex will teach you how putts break as they traverse a Tier, and improve your touch for distance."

• "Humps are an interesting addition to a putting surface: they increase the green-reading challenge."

• "Valleys in rough areas can get as large as a grass bunker, or just run through an area and add to the natural contours. Valleys in rough areas add to the short game challenge and allow practice on sidehill lies."

SYNLawnGolf can build custom putting greens to specifically work on areas of focus, large or small, or you can make this a fun DIY project. Want to practice indoors? SYNLawn's portable putting greens and mats can either substitute as fairway turf or a realistic putting surface right in the comfort of your home.

Ever wanted your own backyard putting green? Voice your opinion @Golf4Beginners and on @SYNLawn_Golf, the Turf Experts on Twitter...and LIKE SYNLawn Golf on Facebook!

Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Easy Golf Tips to Inspire Confidence on the Putting Green

Whether you wish to lose weight, get a new job or correct a golf swing, almost everyone starts the New Year with at least one "improvement" resolution.

Golfers usually pull out training aids searching for swing improvement but, in this players opinion, it is equally as important to work on putting skills.

As short game guru Dave Pelz says, "More than 40 percent of all golf shots are putts, and over half of those are short ones."

In his new book, The Grumpy Old Golfer's Putting Tips, E.P. Murphy dispenses "subtleties of the game within the game" that he has learned in his forty-plus years on the golf course.

At Golf for Beginners we are always learning...and sharing...so we would like to begin the New Year with game improvement tips for all players.

Here are a few golf putting tips, sent in by E.P. Murphy, aka the Grumpy Old Golfer, to help inspire all players before the start of the new season:

Tip #4 –  The only golf club in the bag specifically made to hit the ball into the cup is the putter – master it first, master it best!

Tip #22 – Touch is one thing very good putters have in common. Touch is the core ingredient for long term success.

Tip #30 – Putt to stroke it, not to sink it.

Tip #34 – Aim makes you a contender – pace makes you a finalist.

Tip #58 – Another drill on the practice green is to aim for no hole, but just putt to the fringe of the green so that you concentrate intently and completely on pace and not on a hole.

Tip #70 – On elevated greens it is better to observe the putt path below the level of the green than from above.

Tip #94 – Make cleaning off your putter face part of your setup routine.

Tip #128 – Speed is more important than break on long putts.  The distance, short or long, is more often greater than the distance right or left of the hole.

Tip #201 – The three mind-set qualities of the putting stroke:  No Doubt – No Effort – No Thought

Tip #264 – One way to weaken the firmness of a downhill putt is to strike the ball closer to the toe of the putter.



Thanks to the Grumpy Old Golfer for his usable putting tips.

The Grumpy Old Golfer and his plain talking tips will help you take your putting skills to another level.  These golf tips come from notebooks he carried on the course and from conversations and other experiences over the past 40 years. There are 300 practical tips to help guide you in your quest to grasp the game within the game - the art of putting. 

Do you have tips to add to this list? Feel free to leave them here on our blog, on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and LIKE our Facebook page.

Golf.com Q&A with Dave Pelz and Golf4Beginners

Dave Pelz hosted a special question and answer session today on the Golf.com website and I just had to ask the short game expert for a few tips and drills!

Golf4beginners said... 

 

Hi Dave,

I have a 56 and 60 degree wedge in my bag. When I practice at the range, I try to use both clubs (not at the same time) to hit a 60-yard target.

Is it good practice to vary ball position or backswing in order to gain proper distance? Is it important to practice with a few different clubs like 8-iron to get better feel?

Any good drills for distance control?

Thank you!

Reply April 16, 2010 at 01:24 PM

 

Dave Pelz said in reply to Golf4beginners... 

 

Greetings Golf4beginners!

For wedges, distance control is best accomplished by varying the length of your backswing. Don't change your ball position in your stance. The ball should be centered between your ankles (not toes) and your backswing should always be shorter than your follow-through.

And yes, it is important to practice with all different clubs in your bag - for example, on today's practice range session, practice your even-numbered clubs (4, 6, 8, PW), and for your next session, practice your odd-numbered clubs (5, 7, 9, SW).

Have fun! dp

Reply April 16, 2010 at 02:17 PM

Read more: http://blogs.golf.com/top100/2010/04/live-chat-with-dave-pelz-submit-your-questions-now.html#tpe-action-resize-278#ixzz0lI1NahUW


It's important to know proper practice techniques!