TG Issue 340

TODAY’S GOLFER NOVEMBER 2015 (OCTOBER 1-OCTOBER 28) 340
JASON DAY EXCLUSIVE
TESTED
Electric trolleys,
new waterproofs
WWW.TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK
Is that legal?
The banned gear
that could save you
10 shots a round! NOVEMBER 2015 ISSUE 340 OCTOBER 1-OCTOBER 28 £4.50
EVERY FAULT
FIX ED
Banish bad shots...
hit more great ones
■ Slices ■ Hooks ■ Tops
Duffed chips ■ Poor putts
RATED
Britain's best
'second' courses
NEW
GEAR
GALORE
HIT IT LONG...
AND STRAIGHT!
How the latest drivers and irons are
designed to help you do exactly that

The fix: The golfer
is told to hit the ball
under the shaft, 2ft
off the ground. That
makes him get his
weight ahead of the
ball to drive it low.
TOUR TIP
MICHAEL BANNON
RORY MCILROY’S COACH
The only
teacher the
world no.1 has
ever had and
a Nike Golf
ambassador.
34 ISSUE 340 TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK

Fault
Fixer
IRONS
Deliver a low blow
Hit better irons with this clever tip from Rory’s right-hand man
Fault: You fail to find a consistent
flight with your iron shots and
catch some thin.
Fix: It’s likely you are trying to
scoop the ball into the air. Here is
a great little drill – though it is
counter intuitive – to solve your
problem. We are going to ‘trick’
the mind into hitting down on the
ball. It’s the easiest way I know to
get you to start swinging the club
on the correct downward path that
in fact helps the ball rise... and,
more importantly, to get you to
trust that it will work.
The fault: The body leans back to
help the ball up. You need to trust the
loft on your club to do that for you.
Downward pressure: This better
impact sees weight forward and hands
ahead of the ball, ready to compress it.
The drawbridge:
As he swings I take
the club up like a
drawbridge. Left with
the intention to hit
under the shaft, he
compresses the ball.
MORE TIPS ONLINE
www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/tips
TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK ISSUE 340 35

10 RULES
Hank Haney on...
Saving shots
If you are serious about improving your game then there’s no-one better
to advise you than the man who coached Tiger Woods to Major success
WORDS SIMON DADDOW PICTURES HOWARD BOYLAN, GETTY IMAGES
ou’ve really got to know your stuff
Y
for the world’s best golfers to trust
you with improving their games.
Hank Haney experienced that trust while
guiding both Tiger Woods and Mark O’Meara
to Major Championships. His philosophy is
to teach his students to become their own
teacher, by getting them to understand the
flight of the golf ball and how it relates to
their golf swing. We got him to spill the beans
on how you can best go about improving
your game this winter.
Make sure you’ve got properly fitted
1 equipment. Before I start any lesson
I make sure the student has clubs that fit
them. Shaft length and lie angles are really
important if I’m to make sure students can
set up in a posture that allows them to swing
the golf club properly. Getting fitted for your
irons should be top priority especially if you
have a tendency to fat or thin them.
2Make sure you’ve got the right driver. It’s
the most ill-fitted club for golfers.
With all the opportunities today,
especially with clubs like the
new TaylorMade M1, you can
adjust your ball flight in
so many different ways.
Trajectory through the
loft and spin can be
adjusted in terms of
whether you are slicing or
hooking it, and how much
the ball is spinning can
be tuned to you. These
are all things that are
adjustable. You have an
opportunity to get a piece
of equipment that will help
your game.
3With the driver, fix your big miss. Your
big miss is what leads to penalty shots.
Adjust your way out of that big miss using
the technology in the golf club or lessons but
make sure you set up in a position that
allows you to fix your slice or hook.
4Eliminate penalty shots. Sounds really
simple, but lots of golfers fall into the
trap of making the same mistake time and
time again… and those penalty shots are so
costly on your card.
5Fix your short game. Eliminate two chips
and pitches around the green by learning
a shot that allows you to get onto the green.
Take a strategy to play more conservatively,
where you’re not always aiming at the pin. If
the pin’s on the side of the green give yourself
enough room to put it on the green. Putt
whenever you can, play a lower trajectory
shot whenever you can and get the ball on
the green in one shot.
6Eliminate two bunker shots. How
many times do you see an
amateur take two to get out of a
bunker? A lot of shots can be saved if
you consistently get shots out of sand
the first time and hit the green. Any
time you are in close proximity to
the green you have to get the
ball on the green in one shot.
7Get rid of three-putts. You
don’t have to make a lot of
long distance putts. Outside of 30
feet the best players in the world
are making less than five per cent.
But you have to eliminate three
putts. Your goal should be to get
the ball close to the hole. People
look at putts all the time and fall in love with
the line but they should be thinking about the
speed of the putt. Keep thinking about the
speed and remember 85 per cent of all putts
are missed on the low side of the hole. So
play more break than you think. Think more
about speed than you think about the line.
8Divide your practice time up into three
categories. A third full swing, a third
short game and a third putting. Divide each
category into thirds, too. With the full swing
spend a third of your time on the tee shot
(driver or 3-wood). A third on approach shots
(irons/hybrids) and a third of your time on
your wedges. Pay close attention to the 50-
125 yard range, it’s the range that can change
your scoring potential. On the short game
spend a third of your time chipping, a third
pitching and a third on sand play. On the
putting green dedicate a third to long putts, a
third to short putts (practise from where your
missable range starts three-feet, four-feet or
five-feet) and finally spend a third of that
time on makeable putts (10–15 feet range).
9Plan for your practice time. Most people
don’t have a plan, they are simply
exercising. When you go to the range you
have to make sure you have a good plan.
In order to make the plan you have to
10 have a good diagnosis of your game.
You have to understand your game. Where
your big miss is. Where do you lose your
shots, how many times you three-putt, how
many penalty shots you take etc. People
analyse their swing but they don’t really
analyse their game. You have to analyse your
game to identify the weaknesses and improve
them. Put out the biggest fire first and then
go from there.
56 ISSUE 340 TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK

‘It sounds so simple,
but lots of amateur
golfers fall into the
trap of making the
same mistake time
and time again’
TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK ISSUE 340 57

JASON DAY
In his sights
With one
major under
his belt, Day
wants more.
46 ISSUE 340 TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK

Gunning
for glory
Jason Day has gone from juvenile
delinquent to Major winner – but
could this be just the beginning?
W O R D S J A M E S H E N D E R S O N & G A R R E T T J O H N S T O N P I C T U R E S G E T T Y I M A G E S
TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK ISSUE 340 47

Step into
the vault
Behind this door, TaylorMade has conceived
some of the most successful golf clubs ever
made. How do they do it? We found out
WORDS JOSEPH DOWNES PICTURES ANGUS MURRAY
TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK ISSUE 340 75

NON-CONFORMING GEAR
It’s illegal.
Would you
still use it?
TG delves into the world of
non-conforming equipment to see
whether rules or fun matter more
WORDS ROB Mc GARR
hy do you play golf? If it’s to play as
W
many competitions as possible,
abiding by the rules while
maintaining an active handicap, the thought
of using illegal, performance-enhancing clubs
probably brings you out in a cold sweat.
However, if you are one of the 3.3 million
recreational golfers who play the game with
friends, purely for fun, the prospect of a ball
that cures your slice, a driver that helps you
bomb it like Bubba, or a wedge that enables
you to achieve Phil Mickelson levels of spin
may be an appealing one.
With participation declining and
manufacturers finding it increasingly difficult
to offer significant performance gains within
the limits set by golf’s governing bodies, the
debate about non-conforming gear has never
been more feverish or pertinent.
“There is a sense of urgency in the industry
to be less intimidating and more fun,” says
Bob Philion, president of Cobra-Puma Golf.

Price is right
A legend of
the game, Nick
shares his
insight here.
’If you want to
expand the game,
you must give it to
underprivileged
people’

NICK PRICE EXCLUSIVE
‘Rory and
Jordan will
get double
figure Majors’
Three-time Major winner Nick Price peers into his crystal
ball to predict what golf will look like 10 years from now...
WORDS JAMES HENDERSON PICTURES BRIDGESTONE GOLF, GETTY IMAGES
lot has changed since Nick Price
A started playing golf. The 58-yearold
has watched Jack Nicklaus win
18 Majors, charted the rise and fall of Tiger
Woods, experienced the introduction of
metal woods, witnessed the creation of the
PGA and European Tours and seen the
modern generation of pros tear up courses
that were bordering on untameable in his
heyday. Oh, and he found time to win 50
professional events of his own, including
three Majors, along the way.
Who better, then, to predict what will
happen to the game of golf in the future,
than someone who has watched it evolve
for over 50 years? Taking time out from his
busy schedule as Presidents Cup captain,
we asked Price to predict what the game he
loves will look like a decade from now. The
resulting predictions are equal parts exciting
and frightening, but one thing’s for sure: we
certainly wouldn’t bet against any of them.
The top players will keep getting
younger. There’s definitely been a huge
shift in the game. Players in my era were
competitive well into our 40s, but I’m not
sure this will be the case going forward.
Look at the top four players in the world
right now – Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth,
Jason Day and Rickie Fowler – they are all
under 27 years old, much younger than the
top players of the past. Over the past five
years the top players dominating the game
have been getting younger and younger.
Players are coming onto the scene earlier,
playing earlier, and understanding the game
earlier. Youngsters understand their golf
swings, course management and the
characteristics of the game a lot better than
we did at that age in the past. Players are
hitting their strides and reaching maturity
as golfers in their late 20s, rather than early
30s, and I expect this trend towards youth
to continue.
But I’m not convinced they’ll be from
Asia. Everyone is predicting that Asia will
be golf’s new superpower, but they’re basing
that purely on population. The number of
golf courses in any given country is a much
truer indicator of how many golfers they will
produce. China and India both have a
population of over one billion, compared to
America which is around 350 million, but
right now the US is so far ahead in every
respect. They possess so many more
publicly accessible courses, which allows
the next generation to take up the game and
prosper. If China and India are going to be
the huge force within the game that people
are suggesting, they are going to have to
build a lot of golf courses. I don’t care how
many country clubs or First Tee programs
you have, until you have access to regular
courses to encourage participation and
uptake, you won’t grow the game.
India produces fantastic cricketers on a
regular basis because you don’t need a
pitch to play cricket. Indian kids can go and
play cricket in the streets, but they can’t
play golf. If you want to expand the game,
you must give it to underprivileged people.
Jordan and Rory will both win 10
Majors. Rory has been playing well for the
past five years or so, so in that respect he
has the edge over Jordan, who has been on
the top of his game for the last two years,
but Jordan is four years younger. There’s so
much that can side-track players, so it will
be a very difficult task, but I think they’re
both good enough to reach double figures
in terms of Major wins.
You won’t see one player dominating
again. I don’t think you will some one
player dominate entirely the way Tiger
Woods did. The competition at the top end
is just too fierce. Much like tennis, players
are dominating the game in shorter bursts.
They come onto the scene, dominate for
three or four months, and then fall off the ➔

TROLLEY
Looking to buy a new electric trolley? Don’t – until you’ve seen our verdict
WORDS SIMON DADDOW PICTURES TOM CRITCHELL, HOWARD BOYLAN
90

WARS
on 11 of the latest models
THE TEST
t wasn’t long ago that electric
I
trolleys were considered a
purchase for the over 60s
or those who needed extra help
completing a full 18 holes. Today
that’s all changed.
Over half of UK golfers use one to
take the strain out of carrying a heavy
bag, and help them stay fresh and
competitive over the latter holes of a
round. More serious golfers who play
36-hole competitions also use a trolley
to maintain a competitive edge for
their second round.
But with prices ranging from a few
hundred pounds to well over £1,000,
which should you consider? Should
you go for lead acid or lithium battery?
18 or 36 holes? Standard or remote
option?
To help you make a more informed
decision, we put 11 of the leading
models to the test, to give you a
shortlist worth consideration.
How we did the test
We asked the leading manufacturers of
electric trolleys to send us their most
popular models. We divided them up
among TG’s playing staff to make sure
each was put through its paces over a
number of rounds.
Each battery was charged a number
of times, each had to be lifted in and
out of a car boot and each got to strut
its stuff on the course in different
conditions, so that we could bring you
the most valuable buying advice.
Equipment Editor Simon Daddow
also evaluated each model during
assembly, photography and playing to
ensure fairness between testers.
➔
TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK ISSUE 340
91

Keep dry
NEW
15 SUITS FOR
2016 AND HOW
TO CHOOSE
YOURS
With cold and wet
weather around
the corner, it’s the
perfect time to
splash out on a suit
that will keep you
dry, on the course
and playing your
best this winter

New
Gear
Sunice
Bishop Paclite Pullover £199.99
Edisson Paclite Pants £199.99
● Jacket: ¼ zip, Gore-Tex
Paclite fabric, lifetime
guarantee, unlined, two
front pockets.
● Trousers: Zipped fly,
elasticated waist band,
belt loops, contained front
and back pockets.
● TG view: With a ski wear
background Sunice have
pedigree for performance
outdoor garments. The
jacket uses Gore-Tex
Paclite fabric to keep
weight to a minimum,
while we particularly
like the trouser detailing
where a ’Taper Tab’ allows
you to decide the width
of the leg which could be
particularly helpful in
windy conditions. Also
available in blue.
www.sunice.com
Sunderland
Whisperdry Stealth Jacket £175.95
Whisperdry Hush Trouser £87.95
● Jacket: Full-length zip,
mesh liner, inside pocket,
three front pockets,
three-year waterproof
guarantee.
● Trousers: Zipped fly,
elasticated waist band,
belt loops, contained front
and back pockets.
● TG view: It’s easy to see
why these are the most
expensive waterproof
jacket and trousers in
Sunderland’s range. The
four-way stretch fabric
is extremely lightweight
and malleable and as
the product names
suggest, the fabric is also
extremely quiet. The
trousers come with their
own belt.
www.sunderlandgolf.
com
Mizuno
Hyper Rain Jacket £129.00
Hyper Rain Pant £99.00
● Jacket: Full-length
zip, mesh liner, three
front pockets, five-year
waterproof guarantee to
10 metres.
● Trousers: Zipped fly,
elasticated waist band,
belt loops, contained front
and back pockets.
● TG view: Made
from Mizuno’s own
ImpermaLite fabric
the Hyper ingeniously
responds to the colder
temperatures helping
maintain body heat to
keep you warm and
focused on your game.
Ventilation flaps in the
back help release excess
moisture keeping you dry
and comfortable.
Golf.mizunoeurope.
com
Nike
Storm-Fit Hyperadapt Jacket £210
Storm-Fit Trouser £170
● Jacket: Full-length
zip, unlined, lifetime
guarantee, two front
pockets, headphone slot.
● Trousers: Zipped fly,
tabbed elastic waist
adjustment, belt loops,
contained and straightthrough
pockets.
● TG view: Nike’s jacket
guarantee demonstrates
confidence in the
performance of their
product. Stretch fabric
is used on the shoulder
areas to reduce restriction
while a vented back
increases breathability.
The lack of a liner reduces
weight and we really like
the feel of the inner which
feels warmer than some
non-lined alternatives.
www.nikegolf.com
Ping Collection
Tour Eye Jacket £200
Tour Eye Trouser £150
● Jacket: Full-length
zip, unlined, three-year
waterproof guarantee,
up to 20 metres, two front
and one rear pocket.
● Trouser: Zipped fly,
tabbed waist adjustment,
contained front and back
pockets, long leg zips.
● Ping have just taken
the design of their Ping
Apparel Collection back
in house to allow them to
align the garments with
their equipment. The
jacket and trousers are
the first waterproofs to
benefit and because both
are constructed from a
4-way stretch fabric you
shouldn’t experience any
swing restriction either.
www.pingcollection.
co.uk
BUYING TIPS: GUARANTEE AND GOOD FIT
PETER EVANS,
PRO AT ROYAL
PORTHCAWL,
GIVES HIS ADVICE
● Get guarantees.
Waterproofs come with
hugely different waterproof
guarantees but in my book
you get what you pay for.
Always check how long the
waterproof guarantee is for
and weigh it up against the
cost of the garment. From my
experience if you have to buy
twice because a garment fails
after it’s out of its guaranteed
period it can be just as
expensive as buying a more
expensive suit initially.
● Consider the fit carefully.
We always say it’s really
important to consider the fit
of the jacket. You don’t want
a gathering of fabric in front
of you when addressing
shots. You can snag a grip in
this fabric bulge on a full
swing or when putting out.
I think most golfers feel
much more confident and
comfortable when they get a
fit to suit their body shape.
TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK ISSUE 340 99