Goings-on in the club

One of the best things we get to do is take some of our loyal customers to places they would never otherwise get to go. A few years ago, Tim took a wide-eyed guy (yours truly). I was overwhelmed. Now, when we go, it’s no big deal and I walk in because I know what to expect and know what we have to do for the next 48 hours.

However two lucky guys accompanied Tim to Titleist Performance Institute in Oceanside, California, where I guarantee it’s warmer than the Metroplex, not that the shorts in these pictures give it away.

Set for a few days of fun and golf, they went for the Titleist Performance Institute treatment to see how their bodies and games could be changed to improve their strength and flexibility to not only stay in golf shape, but to improve their daily life.

Practice the basics this winter

Most of us around the country are now stuck indoors. Our golf season, for the most part, is over. What we’re doing now is practicing putting. Mini-me and I are making a game of it, for bragging rights and a fun size candy bar. In our basement, we start with a 12-inch putt (which occasionally we’ve missed) and work our way back to 20 feet. Other than the quality time spent with a growing teenage boy, we’re working on the weakest part of our games. He hates to practice. Like most people, he likes to go to the range and pound drivers and the occasional 7-iron. But as many have said over the years, “Drive for show, putt for dough.” It’s the most critical part of your game. If you can’t putt well, you’re going to have an awful time playing. It’s a deflating feeling that you’ve put yourself on the green with a chance for birdie or par and then walk off with a six or worse.

My kid asked after, bouncing off a 15-foot putt off the plastic shaped hole we have, “How do I know if I’m using the right putter?” He has an Odyssey 2-Ball. The first thing I asked him was: “Do you like the way that looks?” If you don’t like the way it looks, there’s nothing more to be said. If you’re not confident in it, everything else is moot.

After that we looked at his stroke. The putter, to be fair, is a bit too long for him, so he chokes down on the grip. But he’s still growing and over the winter, he’s probably going to grow into it. If he doesn’t I’ll need to get him fitted. That’s one thing you must also consider: Making it the right length. If you’re playing a putter that is too long, short or even too light or heavy, it can affect your stroke and your posture.

Another thing to consider is grip. I use a big grip that’s a little built up. It takes my hands out of the stroke because I can get yippy at times. But much of this can be trial and error if you’re doing this on your own, which can get a little pricey.

Or, you can schedule yourself a session on the SamPutt Lab here in The Golf Station. We’ll make sure the putter you’re using is the right one for you and fits properly. If you get the right flatstick or mallet in your hands, it can save you strokes, no matter if you’re a long hitter or someone like me who is distance challenged. If you’re sinking putts, and we all know this and I’ve said it a lot, golf gets a lot more fun.

This is the perfect time to come in and get fit for a new putter. I mean, what are you going to do anyway? It’s supposed to be cold, snowy and icy this winter!

Click here or call 817 595 4653 for an appointment. We can help change your golf game for the better, not just physically, but equipment-wise too!