Ask the Pro
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Here are questions submitted by golfers from all over the world and my responses to them. They are arranged from most recent to least recent (top to bottom) and the archive contains all the questions and answers that have appeared here in the "Ask the Pro" section (which is the tiniest fraction of the total number of questions that have been submitted). The archive index has the questions and answers organized by topic and somewhat alphabetized. You may find it interesting reading to see what others are asking and you can also ask a question yourself. But, be sure to check the Q's & A's here on this page, the FAQ's and the archive first, as your question may already have been answered.
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Question:
April 29, 2008
What is the purpose of a back swing in golf?
Omar Nour
New York, NY
Answer:
Hi Omar,
The main purpose of the backswing is to stretch the muscles that are going to accelerate the club in the downswing. There are other important things that may be associated with the backswing -- like initiating the rhythm of the swing, establishing the swing's plane and path, getting the body and club in good positions, etc. But the backswing's purpose is the stretching of the muscles used in the downswing -- much like the purpose of drawing an arrow back against a bow's string is to create potential energy with which to accelerate the arrow.
The details of the backswing, and the rest of the swing, are covered thoroughly in my book "The Full Swing."
And to learn to hit the ball farther, come to work with me in person in a Private Long Drive School or get the book "Hitting it Longer: Getting More Distance in Your Golf Game, with the Driver and Throughout Your Bag."
Thanks for visiting PGAProfessional.com. MB
Question:
April 21, 2008
What is the meaning of grooves on the club face and why [is it that] it varies from club to club ... for 3 woods it's different than 5 woods ...
Pritam H
Dubai, United arab emirates
Answer:
Hi Pritam,
Grooves are mainly for channeling moisture off the club face (like the treads on a tire). With clean contact in dry conditions you don't even need grooves. But since grass usually has moisture in it, they come in handy. Irons usually have more grooves than woods/metals and I'm assuming (but could be mistaken) that that has something to do with the fact that iron faces are flat and wood faces generally have some kind of bulge and roll (the face is not flat). But different manufacturers experiment with different groove configurations, and they each probably have their own research information and marketing rap on their different styles. Thanks for visiting and best of luck with your game. MB
Question:
March 30, 2008
What does moment of inertia mean?
Matt Gibson
Cape Coral, FL
Answer:
Hi Matt,
Moment of inertia is a physics phrase, not a golf-specific phrase. It has been adopted in reference to golf clubs (I suspect) for marketing reasons: "high-tech" golf clubs go hand-in-hand with sophisticated-sounding terminology, eh? Anyway, for practical purposes moment of inertia means the same thing as swing weight. It's a measure of how heavy a club swings, or its resistance to a change in angular momentum. For a simple example, if you take your driver and have it lengthened by an inch (everything else staying the same) it now has a heavier swing weight, more resistance to a change in angular momentum and a higher moment of inertia than it did before the lengthening.
If you're interested in a complete explanation of moment of inertia, angular momentum and the other forces involved in rotational movement there are plenty of them on the web. Thanks for visiting and best of luck with your game. MB
Question:
March 12, 2008
When a golf player is approaching a golf hole, what determines if the flag pole stays in the hole or is taken out of the hole?
Sheridan Mowrer
Dublin, CA
Answer:
Hi Sheridan,
To remove the flagstick or leave it in the hole is always at the discretion of the player when the ball is not on the putting green. But once the stroke will be played from on the putting green the flagstick must not be touched by the ball, so it can either be removed prior to the stroke or attended and removed after the stroke is played but before the ball reaches the cup.
The most common reason for having the flagstick attended rather than removed prior to a putt is to more easily see the location of the hole -- mainly on longer putts. In terms of leaving the flag in or removing it when hitting shots from off the green, I have heard aphorisms like "take the flagstick out when you're trying to make the shot and leave it in when you're just trying to get the ball close." That may be a valid general rule, but it's more of a personal preference and feel thing, to me.
Also see the rules FAQ. Thanks for visiting and best of luck with your game. MB
Ask Your Question
Feel free to ask any golf-related questions. I'll do my best to respond but I can't guarantee that I'll get to everybody, especially if I've already answered the question here on the site. Be sure to check the Frequently Asked Questions and the Ask the Pro Archive, which contains all the questions and answers that have been posted since I started this feature. Not only might you find that your question has already been answered; you may find it informative and entertaining to read what others are asking and my responses to them. Note: It is assumed that if you submit a question I have permission to post it here on the site (pesky disclaimers).
To ask your question just fill-in and submit the form below. Please include your name, city and state (and of course your e-mail address if you would like a personal response - I won't post your email address, I promise).
