Ask the Pro
Over 500 Golf Questions and Answers

Here are questions submitted by golfers from all over the world and my responses to them. There are over golf 500 questions and answers here! 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.

Most recently posted Questions & Answers
(most recent to least recent, top to bottom)

Question:

April 20, 2010

I have a friend [who] is a good golfer, 1 or 2 handicap. He is in a huge slump. I noticed at the top of his swing the club is pointed way left of the target. [I'm] not sure what this is called but he can't seem to fix it. The practice swing looks fine. I have played with him for years so I know this is new to his swing. Any tips to cure this? With this move his shots go right and left. Please help. Thanks.

George Sakadales
Port Charlotte, Florida

Answer:

Hi George,

If he is right-handed what you are describing is called "laid off" (see laid off in my Golf Glossary). From that position the chances increase of active use of the hands with associated (and possibly wide) variation in club face position at impact. The general solution is to achieve a better position at the top of the backswing so the club can be allowed to release more freely. But there might be endless details involved in what he is doing.

Technique is covered in detail in my books "The Full Swing" and "Hitting it Longer." Thanks for visiting PGAProfessional.com and best of luck with your game. MB

Question:

April 14, 2010

What's meant by "working man's four?" What does a working man have to do with it?

Yasu Komuta
Kurose-Gakuendai, Hiroshima, Japan

Answer:

Hi Yasu,

A "working man's four" implies a hard-earned four, suggesting some kind of trouble along the way (almost always including a sizeable par putt). Other similar expressions might be a "grinding four", "making four the hard way", etc.

A working man's anything (a cliché and therefore a generalization) typically implies something associated with someone from the working class (a laborer rather than a scholar or executive), relative roughness rather than elegance or sophistication, etc. Webster's definition of working class is "the class of people who work for wages usually at manual labor."

By way of comparison, on the other side of the coin you might hear the phrase a "text book four", or a "routine four", which would suggest a tee shot into the fairway, an approach shot onto the green, and two putts to hole out to make a par 4. Thanks for visiting PGAProfessional.com and best of luck with your game. MB

Question:

March 25, 2010

When two players are playing from different tee[s] what is the handicap rule?

Robert Pike
Holly Springs, NC

Answer:

Hi Robert,

Sounds like you each need to know your index and course handicap from the specific tees you are playing from. Aside from that it is a negotiation between you. See handicaps. Thanks for visiting PGAProfessional.com and best of luck with your game. MB

Question:

I play in a weekly women's tournament. We have a shotgun start. I proceeded to my hole and while waiting for the others to arrive, I went to the putting green next to my tee box and was practicing putting. The tournament had not yet started as no one had teed off and we were still waiting for people to arrive. One lady passed me by and said I could be disqualified from the tournament for practicing putting on the green. Is this correct?

Amy Correale
Sacramento, CA

Answer:

Hi Amy,

Yes, that is correct. It is not allowed within the rules to practice on the course before playing in a stroke play competition. Also see the Golf Rules FAQ. Thanks for visiting PGAProfessional.com 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).

Question Form