Tips from the Door County Pro

In my 15 years of instruction, the technology in woods and the new hybrids have allowed today’s golfers to be more efficient and accurate. The old persimmon woods were very difficult to hit and unless you hit the ball on the center of the face you would only maximize about 60 percent of the shot.

When picking a fairway wood you must first consider the shaft of the club. With today’s standards, you normally have several choices: steel (regular or stiff), and graphite (regular, stiff or senior flex). The way the club flexes will help determine your ability to get the ball up into the air. Most manufacturers make several loft choices as well. The most common are 3-wood and 5-wood, but you may also choose a 7-wood or 9-wood today.

The hybrid technology is probably the best new technology available today. Hitting the old 2, 3 or 4-iron is extremely difficult for the average golfer. The new hybrid allows golfers to launch the ball higher while getting the needed distance to carry the ball. A person who does not have at least one hybrid in their bag is at a disadvantage to golfers who do. My recommendation is to carry at least two hybrids – a three and four-hybrid is sufficient to maximize specific yardages. Several of the best players in the world carry a hybrid in their bag today. It really does make the game a little easier.

In golf, we are all always looking to be more consistent, and these clubs really do help. In teaching, the number one question asked by older golfers is “How can I hit the ball further?” My response is – learn to hit your longer clubs better if you don’t want to spend endless hours working out in the gym. As we age, we lose flexibility. Without flexibility, we cannot create the power we did in our younger years. Make the game fun again and go find a fairway wood and hybrid to fit your game.