Who became the youngest and oldest player to win the Masters, in 1963 and 1986?

Jack Nicklaus

Who became the youngest and oldest player to win the Masters, in 1963 and 1986?

” In walking, the will and the muscles are so accustomed to working together and performing their task with so little expenditure of force that the intellect is left comparatively free

 Once the weather begins to warm and the tiny green blades of grass peak through the old dead, brown ones, the birds begin to sing and the golf bag comes out of the closet.  But, before you hit the greens after a long winter’s nap, Jeff  Wilkens, a physical therapist with the Sports Medicine Center at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, in an article published out of Milwaukee has some tips that will keep you out of your doctor’s office. Even if you have lived in an area of the country where golf is a year round sport, it is good advice anytime you have been away from the game awhile.

First – Do stretches for your lower back and your hamstrings. Most golfers don’t realize how much of a load the hamstrings carry on a swing, walking, and bending down to eye the ball. Professional athletes of all sports stretch before they palsy. Golfers should be no different.

Second – Start with half swings. There is a tendency to over-swing your first time out after a hiatus. You are excited to get back on the greens and become overzealous. Human nature. So hit short irons on the range as a warm up before you hit the first tee.

Third – Replace the won-out grips. If you haven’t used your “golfing” muscles in a while, your hands may become sore after a few holes. If your grips are worn out, that exacerbated the problem. Be kind to your hands.

Fourth – Break in a new pair of shoes. When you get a new pair of golf shoes, as many do in the spring, make sure you wear them around the house for a couple of days first. Try them out for an hour or two, then increase it to four.

Fifth- If you don’t get new shoes, at least get new spikes. Spikes wear down in a season. So avoid straining your leg muscles or risking a fall by checking the spikes to make sure they are still the right height.

Sixth – Remember the Sun Screen. Just because it isn’t scorching hot outside doesn’t mean the sun isn’t beating down on you. Remember, a cloudy spring day can still let harmful UV rays through.

Seventh – Bring your own water. Many clubs provide beverages in the heat of the summer, but not when the temperatures are cooler. Water, experts say is best. Keep in mind, if you feel parched, you are already dehydrated.

Eighth – Ease into the number of holes you play. If it’s been a while, don’t go gung-ho for all eighteen.  Play a few nine hole days first. Build your stamina back up. It might be best to use a cart the first time out.

Jack Nicklaus

Check back tomorrow!!

Hold the club with the right grip pressure

By Randy Chang, PGA, Photos By Ryan Noll

One of the most overlooked components of the golf swing is how firm or soft you should hold the club in your hands. Most instructors agree that golfers ought to hold the club firm enough so it doesn’t slip out of your hands during your swing, but not so firm that you restrict the release and roll of the hands through impact. As for me, I don’t disagree with that. A good grip is neither too loose nor too firm.

What you may not know is, as you make a golf swing, your grip pressure actually changes. Many amateurs start with moderate grip pressure. But by the time they get to the top of their swing, their grip pressure becomes too firm. This causes a series of negative reactions, such as releasing the clubhead too soon, coming over the top and/or not releasing the clubhead at all—all things that, let’s just say, are not desirable.

Better players on the other hand, tend to follow different grip pressure patterns than do high-handicappers and slicers. They know that the hands and wrists need to remain as supple as possible for as long as possible. To see what I mean, let’s use a tube of toothpaste with no cap on. As you can see, I’ve made a full backswing already, with no toothpaste leaking out. As I make a downswing, notice the point where the toothpaste starts coming out. This is the moment when my grip pressure increases, which coincidentally is the point in my swing when centrifugal force is trying to pull the tube (or club) from my hands. In the photos, you can see that as my grip pressure increases, out goes the toothpaste!

Many amateurs clench their grip too firmly at the top of their swing, instead of midway through the downswing as I’m demonstrating here. Why? In some cases, it’s because their initial grip pressure is too loose. Or perhaps they swing too quickly from the top of the swing instead of swinging quickly at the bottom of the downswing. Either way, I recommend you pay attention to your own grip pressure. See how long you can go into your downswing without clenching the handle in your hands. You may find that the longer you keep your hands supple (but not too supple that the club slips), the better you’ll release the club for more power and accuracy.

And by the way, if you have an extra tube of toothpaste, give this quick drill a try. See how long you can go through the downswing without squeezing out the toothpaste. With some practice, you’ll quickly get a sense of good grip pressure from the start of the swing and into the finish. Just be sure to clean up the mess when you’re done!

Randy Chang, PGA, teaches at Talega Golf Club in San Clemente, Calif. He’s also the recipient of the 2010 Section Teacher of the Year Award presented by the Southern California Professional Golf Association. Visit randychangpga.com.

Trivia Answer

Where did the term “birdie” come from? 

Ab Smith

Trivia Question

Where did the term “birdie” come from?