Something for the weekend

When you go for a custom-fitting session, as I did yesterday, at Titleist's state-of-the art facility at St Ives Golf Club, it's important to ideally bring your 'A game' to the bay (or as near as possible) so the clubs you're planning to use, can compliment your current swing.

 

Obviously faults can creep in but PGA-trained fitter Richard Harries gave me a tip he always used in the early part of his amateur career Callaway FT I-Bird Irons  helps to square the shoulders at address and reduces the risk of them opening up to the target as you grip the club, forcing a tendency to slice.

 

He recommends: "As a right-hander I was always encouraged to grip the club with the left hand and place the clubhead behind the ball, with my right hand behind my back.

 

"This way, the teaching pro watching from down the line, could see the correct position of the inside of my left elbow with my shoulders square to the target. Step two is to then bring in the right hand on to the grip from underneath the shaft and into position. 

 

"TaylorMade Burner Plus Irons  helps retain the shoulders in a square position, as opposed to immediately putting the right hand on top of the grip and tending to force the shoulders open." Hopefully it's a tip that will work for you, too and immediately reduce the chances of that destructive out-to-in swingpath which can cause the dreaded slice.

 

Experts said Joe's swing was ugly - too wide with toes at right angles to his target (instead of slightly splayed) - and that he got himself airborne at impact. But boy was it effective. And he used the massive power and momentum he generated in his follow through to launch the ball consistently long against allcomers, using a Krank Golf Rage drive to deliver a ball speed of 225 mph.

 

In the final he met 16-year-old American Joe Mazza, with his far more orthodox golf swing, but the youngster was no match for Miller. As the huge stadium crowd held their breath Miller blasted his tee shot down the right centre and it looked to be heading just out of bounds until TaylorMade R7 Draw Irons took a 'members' bounce' left and rolled out to the 410 yard marker.

 

Mazza could only reply with a drive of 371 yards, enabling Miller to claim the $150,000 winner's cheque. "I don't know what to say," said an almost speechless Miller. "I came together in my last round and got a great bounce to the left to stay in bounds. It is a dream come true."