Game Improvement

What is a game improvement club? We think it's much different than the common perception. Ask for a game improvement club design from just about any retail outlet or online vendor, and you are likely to be given a mid to large size clubhead with a lot of offset, a thick topline, and a wide sole. 

There is nothing inherent in this shovel-like design that leads to improved golf. The weight, balance, length, lie angles, and other features can be just as wrong for players looking to have a better game as it is for players who already have one. 

In our experience, finding the optimum specifications for your skill level and individual swing qualities is the key to acquiring game improvement clubs. A club that fits you will promote consistency and help you get the most benefit from your lessons. It will help improve your game.

We think a game improvement club is one that helps you play better. Matching the club specifications to your ability and skill level is a major goal of custom fitting. And, we think it should look good too. There is nothing wrong with having a club that inspires you by its setup appearance at address. We don't know anyone who's inspired by a club that looks like a shovel or looks like it has hidden training wheels.

Everyone who has allowed the fitting process to lead them to the club that works best for them is happily surprised to find they get a professional-looking set that's easier to hit than the retail or online alternatives. It makes playing golf more fun, and we think that's the whole idea behind custom fitting.

Forged or Cast 1

There are two current manufacturing processes for producing golf club heads. Forging is the classic method where a bar of metal (billet) that's been heat-softened is pounded into shape by high pressure. Casting involves pouring molten metal into a mold that has the desired shape. Both processes are used for irons and metalwoods, but our focus here is on irons.

The choice of production methods usually depends on cost and design. Cast clubs are less costly to produce, and allow for a greater range of shapes to be incorporated into the head. Stainless steel alloys are typically used for casting because of its more liquid properties when heated compared to carbon steel -- molten carbon steel can be too viscous for casting clubs. Hard alloys in cast clubs are often used to allow for thinner club faces and exotic shapes in the design. 

Forging is derived from the time-honored process of working heat-softened metal into shape by hand. Of course, modern machinery has replaced the hammer and anvil, but the mystique of forging craftsmanship and tradition remains. Carbon steel has been the metal of choice for golf clubs. Hardness is determined by the amount of carbon in the steel. Higher carbon content (~1%) increases brittleness, and lower carbon content (~0.1%) softens the metal. Experience has shown that a carbon content near 0.25% (often identified as "1025" carbon steel) yields a preferred softness for irons.

The choice of forged or cast in selecting irons and the techniques used in forging is endlessly debated. Bypassing arcane details, our choices focus on performance, feel, and craftsmanship. All considerations taken into account, the results you get from your irons on a course matter most to us.

An important factor in selecting forged irons is the ease of adjusting lie and loft angles to get the specifications optimal for your swing. A lie angle variation of one degree can make a noticeable difference in the playability of an iron, especially at higher lofts. Having the right gaps in loft angles through a set promotes consistency in your game.

Iron clubs cast from brittle alloys can crack where the hosel joins the head, and some stainless steel alloys have a spring effect that can destabilize the new bend angle. In selecting cast clubs, softer stainless steel is definitely recommended. While there are many good cast designs available, adjusting irons by bending to optimize lie angles is an important factor in optimizing performance.

Irons forged from premium carbon steel can be easily adjusted to fit the exact angles needed for your swing technique. It's a custom fitting option that will make a difference in the accuracy and consistency of your shots.

Japan-forged Miura irons have raised the art of the iron to the highest level of refinement in golf. Miura irons are produced from the best carbon steel alloys and incorporate revered traditions in metal craftsmanship and design. Their combination of forging technology, performance results, and stunning design is unsurpassed. It's what we recommend when you want the very best for your game. 

USGA Jr Girls Epilog 2

The 2012 USGA Junior Girls Championship held at Lake Merced Golf Club was a revelation in the quality of golf played. Girls at the upper end of the age range, 15 - 17, played golf at the highest level. We saw the world's amateur girls number 1, 2, 4, and 8 in the semifinals playing a pro level game. These players were equally good, and it was Minjee Lee at world #4 with a hot hand who fought back against a strong opponent to win. The tournament was everything we expected and more. Here are a few thoughts on the tournament.

First is that the top amateur players have golf swings that looked as good as anything we've seen at the pro level, and that's where we expect to see them in the not too distant future. An amateur tournament that draws the best golfers in the world from more than a dozen countries is a great venue to view the game -- up close where a spectator can see the details firsthand. Near perfect swings, superb wedge play, a putting game equivalent to the best anywhere, and strong course management strategy. The complete game was here.

In the semifinals it was striking to see four quite different swing styles. The cliche about many different ways to swing a club, especially in swing tempo, was definitely in evidence here. But there were also many similarities among the players including a steady preshot routine, an efficient address position, a one-plane swing for consistency, and a late release with full extension just through impact. 

All the ingredients for a great tournament were here: a national event in San Francisco, top players from around the world, a beautiful challenging golf course manicured to perfection, many competitors destined for the pro tours, and coverage by the broadcast media. There were plenty of spectators, but we were surprised there weren't more. Here's what we would like to see for events like this one.

More media coverage, both national and local. These players are the future of the game and we will see many of them on tour. What's more important -- endless recycling of broadcast "filler" and questionable programming or actual golf being played by competitors playing a game to which most of us can relate. It's in the interest of the golf media to help grow the game, and we think the media should take more advantage of these opportunites. Programming managers should get paid to make bold choices, not play it safe. They should be allowed to pursue their creative golf programming instincts.

More support by local golf instructors and coaches who work with junior golfers. It's a great opportunity to have their junior competitors experience the game at it's highest level and see what it takes to be an elite player -- it's the best source of inspiration that we know. National tournaments with an international field show a world of golf not seen elsewhere. Here are the players that are competing for college scholarships and a spot on tour. Any junior player who is serious about competitive golf should be experiencing tournaments like this. 

Junior competitors who came to Lake Merced Golf Club found much more than they expected. First, the hospitality was world class with the host club going the extra distance to provide each player with an experience to be treasured. It started with distinctive opening ceremonies and a great party that offered unique San Francisco flavors and fun. Players with the same passion for golf were side by side sharing common goals and similar dreams. Friendships were being forged, some that will last a lifetime. And of course, there was the tournament. It showed what was possible and a path that many will follow. I had a great time watching and helping, and I can't wait for the the next one. 

USGA Jr Girls Epilog 1

After watching practice and play every day of the 2012 USGA Junior Girls Championship held at Lake Merced Golf Club, there are some observations and findings to carry forward into our own games. 

Practice styles of the best players had some features in common. First was putting practice done before, between, and after playing a round of golf. Most of the top players practiced much more than the rest of the field. We watched the top-seeded player on the practice green then later close out a match with consecutive birdies. Putting practice matters. 

The most effective putting practice randomized the type of strokes, distances, and targets. There were several different routines to practice speed control, probably reflecting the teaching styles of coaches as well as girls' personal styles. Making up little routines made it more entertaining to keep attention focused on the task at hand. Putting practice generally translated into more consistent results on the greens. 

Practice styles on the driving range were equally varied. Most of it was block practice which may be OK for finding a rhythm or refining a small swing issue, but the typical block style of practice is not particularly effective at improving play on the course. Knowing and learning how to practice effectively is a skill that's taught by the best instructors and coaches but is not widely appreciated by most players and others who help them.

Pre-shot routines were in abundance. One of our favorites was picking a few blades of turf grass and tossing it in the air to check for wind -- even when there was no wind. You could identify some of the players by their way of doing it. Another favorite was the style of checking alignment of forearm and putter shaft, or alignment of feet to the target. And of course, the practice swing was common but not always done effectively.

Most players had caddies. We think a caddie is essential in a tournament at this level. A good caddie will help read the greens, help with course strategy, make sure the player stays hydrated and has a snack to keep up the energy, and calm the nerves. And of course, carry the bag. A player needs to conserve their energy for making shots and navigating the course. When a player gets tired as the end of the round draws near, decision making will suffer when they're tired.

USGA Jr Girls Final

The 2012 USGA Junior Girls Championship match play final at Lake Merced Golf Club was won by Minjee Lee from Australia. Her opponent was Alison Lee from Valencia CA. Alison had played in the Junior GIrls event five times previously, a record for which she was honored at the Players' Dinner. Alison and Minjee were evenly matched. Both brought powerful swings to the match, and the course had been manicured to perfection for high caliber golf. And that's what we saw.

It was a hard fought but friendly match between opponents who have the pro tour on their horizons. Minjee came from three back on the back nine then pulled one shot ahead on hole sixteen and held on to win. Both girls made exceptional shots throughout the match and displayed remarkable recovery skills. They stared down the world's number one and number two players to reach the final, and they showed why they deserved to be there.

The match play final was for 36 holes, and it didn't end until the final hole. That's as close as you can expect for play at this level. If you think it's exhausting, you're right. We think fatigue along with the unrelenting pressure of playing in the best junior girls' golf field in recent memory took its toll on the players as the week wore on. From that perspective everyone who watched Alison and Minjee appreciated their greatness.  

Local juniors who came to watch any of the golf during the week were given a vision of what golf can be when a player is committed to reach for the top. Our favorite quote of the week came from Minjee Lee who has a radiant and likeable personality that can make you forget what a fierce competitor she can be. When asked about whether she will play more in the US, she responded with "I'm coming to win, oh yes, I'm coming to win". We believe her.