Editors Note: Each week, we receive hundreds of questions for our PGA Experts. Though we can't answer every one of them, we will take some of the most illuminating and beneficial questions and have one of the top authorities from the PGA of America to answer them for you. We are in the process of finding ways for more experts to answer more of your questions! Thank you for your support and keep the questions coming!

Instruction: Jim Hardy - PGA National Teacher of the Year

Q: During the swing, my right hand (right handed) tends to open off of the grip during the back swing (my palm tends to open up on the back swing uncovering the thumb of my left hand). Is that correct or is that a flaw? How do I fix?
thanks, Marshal

A: It is a flaw and will lead to pushes and or hooks. Keep pressure with the heel of the right hand against the left thumb. Try in practice, placing a small twig or stiff blade of grass in the space between your right palm and left thumb, right at the intersection on the left thumb and your bottom of your life line near the heel of your right palm. Keep pressure there through out the swing and see if you can keep the twig/straw in that spot and not have it drop out.

Q: Hi Jim - I am a 13hcp and would like some drills to increase my swng speed. My driver speed is about 95mph. Would longer shafts help? I am 5ft9in tall.
Rob

A: Thanks Yes, you might try either a 46 or a 47 inch driver. You may lose accuracy but you certainly should gain distance.

Brad Gregory - vice chairman, PGA National Rules Committee

Q: A player's ball lies a few feet short of a yardage pole (a pole used to signify the distance to the green). The pole interferes with the player's follow-through when using a wood (the club that the player would like to use). The player could use a shorter club and vary the direction of the shot, so that the pole would not interfere with his follow-through. The question is: Can the player remove the yardage pole or take relief from it?
Oscar Andreu

A: Most yardage poles are installed so that they can be removed. In these cases the yardage poles are movable obstructions and may be removed even if the pole does not interfere directly with the player's stance or swing.

If the yardage poles are fixed they are immovable obstructions and in your case, since the pole interferes with the player's swing he would use if the pole was not there, free relief is available. Rule 24-2b (Immovable Obstruction; Relief). The player would determine his "nearest point of relief", lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief.

Q: I recently watched Woody Austin hit his approach shot to the 18 green during a tournament. The ball hit the green and then spun backwards off the green. Woody immediately repaired his ball mark and then played from off the green. Is a player entitled to repair ball marks on the putting green when his ball lies off the green?
Charles Rogers

A: Yes. The first sentence of Rule 16-1c (The Putting Green; Repair of Hole Plugs, Ball Marks and Other Damage) says: "The player may repair an old hole plug or damage to the putting green caused by the impact of a ball, whether or not the player's ball lies on the putting green."

Equipment: Tom Henderson, PGA Professional & Master Club Fitter

Q: I have gone to two different golf shops, one tells me I need longer clubs than standard and the other tells me I need standard length clubs. I am 6'5". By the way, I did get the standard length clubs. Would this have anything to do with my digging into the ground before I hit the ball. I hit a lot of fat shots like that.
I look forward to your help.
Thank you,
Derald from Lafayette, La

A: Derald: Thanks for your question on PGA.com.

Has anyone at these golf shops taken any measurements? The starting point would be to have a static measurement taken from the wrist to floor. This is your starting point. THIS IS NOT THE FINAL MEASUREMENT! Once this has been determined, have your fitting professional observe you hitting shots with some different length clubs, making note of the actual ball flight with each one. Only then can your PGA Professional make an accurate recommendation.

As far as hitting behind the ball goes, it doesn't sound like this is an equipment issue. It's tough to say without me watching your actual ball flight but, if I had to guess, I would say that you are probably sliding your hips forward and/or tilting your spine angle back away from the target as you swing the club forward.

Seek out a qualified PGA Professional for all of your equipment and swing needs.

Q: I need to regrip my clubs and was wondering what the pro's use. I sweat profusely and have large hands. I need to know if their are benefits to the different materials as far as characteristics like feel. Thanks, Robin

A: Robin: There are many varieties of grip materials and sizes to select from.

Regarding material, I have found that the best type of grip for "sweaty hands" (and in the rain) is made up of a combination of rubber and cord. The one downfall of this type of grip is that it may be a little rough on your hands.

When it comes to grips, "size" does matter. Grips that are too big tend to limit your wrist action while grips that are too small may cause a lack of stability during the swing. Check size by gripping the golf club as you normally do. Swing the club up to waist high in your backswing. Release your bottom hand off of the grip. Check the fingers on the remaining hand. If the finger tips are digging into the fatty thumb pad of your hand, that grip size may be too small. If the finger tips are not touching the fatty pad, that grip size may be too big.

Check with your PGA Professional before making any gripping decisions.