Instruction: Jim Hardy, PGA National Teacher of the Year

Q: I switched to the stack and tilt swing.Works great for me. Can I use it with the driver? Can't seem to find a good ball position. My iron shots are great. Thank you.
Frank Toscano

A: The stack and tilt folks have certainly helped a lot of people. The swing they teach is a one-plane swing and would appear to be wonderfully suited for the iron game but possibly a little more difficult with the driver. I am not completely familiar with all the elements of the method and could not in all honesty give you good advice on how to proceed with the driver. I do however, think that if you are getting good results you should stick with it and work out any problems you have driving.

Dear Jim
Q: I am a 5 handicap golfer with a big problem. My shortgame is totally underdevelopped compared to my long game. In fact, Its quite terrible for someone of my caliber despite the 5-6 hours per week that i devote to practice the short game. 80% of my ractice time actually. In practice, i can hit any shot but in matches, i completely struggle often by duffing or double hitting. I'm a good student of the game and I've worked with the Dave Peltz method to a "T" but it's helped me for the over 40 yard shots and not the 20-40 yard short chip shot. The more i practice, the more pressure i put on myself and the worse it gets. So i fear taking a lesson or hiring a coach for this reason. Do i have the chipping yips? What is my problem and how can i overocme it? i know what to do but can't visualize this shot anymor because of all the negative reinforcment that i have. it's been like this for over 4 years now. What should i do?
Thanks for your help,
Eric Koeman, Dubai

A: If I had a major problem for very long with any part of my game I would change what I do. Four years of trying a certain method and still failing is about 3 years and 11 months longer than I would have gone. A valid definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a difference result. I would give a different method a try without even giving it a second thought. I might suggest to you a method that is quite different than Dave Peltz's; Stan Utley's short game ideas. He has written several articles and two books on the subject. One of the books is on putting only and the other book is on chipping and pitching.

Rules: Brad Gregory, Vice Chairman, PGA Rules Committee

Q: If 2 balls lie in a lateral hazard (red stakes or lines) and neither can be played without striking the other. What is the Rule concerning marking and placing?
Don Adams

A: The ball farther from the hole is played first. If this player, player A, considers that the other ball, player B's, might interfere with his play, player A may have it lifted (Rule 22-2 Ball Interfering with Play).

The lifting may be done by player B, B's partner or someone authorized by B. The ball must be marked before it is lifted and the ball must not be cleaned. If the ball-marker interferes with player A, it should be placed one or more clubhead-lengths to one side (Rule 20-1 Lifting and Marking).

After A has played his ball, player B must replace it on the spot from which it was lifted. If player B's lie was altered by player A, B would place the ball in the nearest lie most similar to the original lie not more than one club-length away and not nearer the hole and in the lateral water hazard (Rule 20-3b Placing and Replacing; Lie of Ball to be Placed or Replaced Altered).

Q: If you are playing with a partner, can you use each others clubs if you both have 14 clubs in your bags?
Jim Smith

A: No, to do so the player would be in breach of Rule 4-4b (Partners May Share Clubs). Don't get confused by the title. This Rule tells us that: "Partners may share clubs, provided the total number of clubs carried by the partners so sharing does not exceed 14." An example of this is if you had 8 clubs and your partner had 6 you may share each others clubs.

Equipment: Tom Henderson, PGA Professional & Master Club Fitter

Q: What is the proper way to determine what shaft length I should have for my irons. I'm 6' tall and have an arm length of 33". Is a standard length satisfactory or should I be an inch longer in club length. I get different opinions. Please enlighten me. Thank you
Ron Boccher

A: Ron:
It's pretty tough to give you sound advice without actually watching you address the ball and hit some shots.
Judging from the information that you did furnish, stand tall with your arms hanging by your side. Take the static measurement from the crease of your wrist to the floor. Plug that number into the chart below. This will provide you with a starting point.

Wrist to Floor Driver Length #5 Iron length

27" to 29" 42" 36.5"
29" to 32" 42.5" 37"
32" to 34" 43" 37.5"
34" to 36" 43.5" 38"
36" to 37" 44" 38.25"
37" to 38" 44.25" 38.5"
38" to 39" 44.5" 38.75"
39" to 40" 44.75" 39"
40" to 41" 45" 39.25"

Remember: This is only a starting point. Get your PGA Professional to watch you hit some shots so that he/she can collect dynamic measurements to help fit you properly for your equipment. Try to find the maximum length club that will allow you to consistently hit the ball on the center of the club face.

Q: Every hybrid I try has a strong tendency to hook. I don't have this problem with any other clubs. I will have a manageable hook about 10% of the time with my driver but that's it. The hybrids are nasty all the time. Is there anything inherent with the hybrids that could promote this or is it just my jacked up swing.
Michael B. Crain

A: Michael: Thanks for your question regarding hybrids on PGA.com.
If you have a tendency to hook the hybrids you have tested, here's some advice. Make sure you are trying clubs that have minimum or no offset. If you are a right-handed golfer, "offset" will make your ball launch higher and influence direction to the left. If you are fighting the "hooks", make sure the shaft you are testing is firm enough and the lie angle is not too upright. Finally, check the grip size. If the grip size is too small, it will encourage more hand action, leading to the face closing more rapidly.

Your PGA Professional will help you sort out this information and help you choose a hybrid that's "right" for you.