Protip with Louis Melanson

Goals and gear: a mid-season re-evaluation

Already one quarter of the season is over and our score is like driving a roller coaster. At this stage of the year we should be re-evaluating our goals to see if they will be attained at the end of the season.

I would also check my equipment to see if everything is up to par. Your swing might have changed a little bit, so that could affect the lie of your irons. Missing the green a few yards to the left or right could be the difference between a bogey and a par.

Also, on your driver, your optimum ball flight might have changed a bit. If you’re hitting the ball higher ( balloon effect) you might need to tee your ball lower, stiffen your shaft or decrease the loft of your driver. For the low ball hitter, you need to add more height by teeing the ball higher, adding loft to your driver or using a softer shaft( more flexible).

For the highball hitter with a fade or slice, you are producing too much sidespin. You could work on your swing by squaring up the club face a little sooner or by playing a shaft that is softer( more flexible). We tend to think that if we lose the ball to the right its because the shaft is too flexible, but 95% of golfers who slice, use shafts that are too stiff for them. For the hookers, you might need to try a firmer flex to match your swing and tempo. Get your clubs properly fitted. It might save you some unwanted strokes.

Also, your golf ball can be a big factor in your performance. For the higher ball hitters that are looking to lower their ball flight and eliminate some of the spin, you should be looking for a golf ball that has a thicker cover. You can find these balls under the name of “ xxx distance” or “yyy distance.” Usually when the name “distance” is on a ball the cover is a lot thicker than the spin ball, feel ball or professional ball.

For more information please check with your local professional.