Your lie reveals the truth

I recently gave a lesson to a mid-handicapper who just could not stop his irons going left. The shot had been plaguing him for 18 months. He was aware that period coincided with using his latest set of clubs, bought off the shelf; but like many, he didn't want to be a bad workman blaming his tools.

I'd never argue against the importance of sound technique; but in this case, the solution was gear-related. This golfer's lie angles - the angle between the sole of the club and its shaft - were too upright. At address the club's toe was in the air, and at impact the heel was catching the ground, twisting the face shut. Not only this - as the toe rises, clubface loft makes the face aim further left. A simple lie adjustment later, his pull instantly vanished.

It can be hard to tell whether your shot pattern is rooted in equipment or swing issues, but our expertise in both allows us to diagnose the problem straight away. If our friend had done that, he'd have saved himself 18 months of pain. We're here to make sure you don't suffer the same fate. Click here to contact us about your poor shots.

BALL TESTERS REQUIRED

This week in the shop we have a new selection of balls available. These balls are available for hire free of charge, unless you are unfortunate enough to lose them. However hopefully this will not happen and you will play well with them and decide it is your new ball of choice. We have 5 new different types of ball; 3 Nike balls and 2 Callaway.

Nike

All the new Nike balls are designed with speed lock technology for more efficient energy transfer and initial speed off the club face.

RZN Red - The first of the Nike balls is the RZN Red. This ball is designed to optimize length with a higher trajectory. It is structured in a three-piece interlocking core for true flight, durability and longer shots. The lightweight construction helps for more distance and higher trajectory.

RZN White - The second of the Nike balls is the RZN White. This ball is designed to deliver the best touch and distance with every shot. The structure is different to the RZN Red with a four-piece interlocking core for true flight, durability and longer shots. It has a lightweight construction for a higher trajectory and better feel.

RZN Platinum - The third of the Nike balls is the RZN Platinum. This ball is designed to control spin. This ball similar to the RZN White is also made with a four-piece interlocking core for true flight, durability and longer shots. It has a lightweight construction for more consistency and spin control.

Callaway

SR2 - The SR 2 has been designed to have the best aerodynamic performance for athletic swing speeds between 90mph and 105mph. So yes, if your swing speed falls in this range, we're talking directly to you. Our HEX pattern is specifically engineered to reduce drag at high speeds and increase lift at low speeds with a long, stable, penetrating ball flight that holds its line in the wind. And that means more distance.

Supersoft - The new Callaway Supersoft is their softest ball ever. Like the SR2 its HEX pattern is specifically engineered to reduce drag at high speeds and increase lift at low speeds with a long, stable, penetrating ball flight that holds its line in the wind.

Categories

C1 - As the Callaway SR2 is designed for higher swing speeds it should generally only be used by the lower handicap golfers. The Nike RZN Platinum is designed so the player can control the spin generated on the ball, therefore should also only be used by lower handicaps who use the spin to control their ball flight and bounce.

C2/3 - The Nike RZN White's are suited for mid-handicap golfers as they have a slightly soft feel which doesn't create too much spin on the driver, yet can provide control with short irons closer to the green. Therefore are suitable for players who struggle to control the ball flight on the drives yet have reasonably good feel around the greens.

C3/4 - The Nike RZN Red's are suitable to players with a lower ball flight off the tee. The lightweight construction helps for more distance and higher trajectory. This is designed to help players who struggle to make enough distance from tee to green.

Seniors/Ladies - The Callaway Supersoft does exactly what it says on the tin. They provide a very soft feel so are therefore designed for you players with slower swing speeds. They can also be an alternative to the Nike Ladies and Callaway Solaire for the ladies.

Hire before you Buy

When you are playing golf it is easier to hit a good shot if you know the distance to the green or how far it is to reach a bunker or stream and with new technology it doesn't have to take any longer. However as there are a number of distance measuring devices on the market I would like to give you the opportunity of trying either a Skycaddie SGX which gives a detailed map of the hole being played or a Nikon Coolshot which you put to your eye to get the distance. I find that it is personal preference as to which you like.

Also if you practice and have an iPhone you could have a go with the Skycaddie Skypro which is an ingenious small piece of kit which pops onto the shaft of any club and allows you see your swing along with data that will help you improve your consistency. All 3 items can be hired for £10 each and this will be taken off the price should you decide to buy one!!