No Longer A Fan Of The Three Degrees

This week, I couldn’t resist writing about a sudden moment of inspiration, based around a comment slipped into my subconscious a couple of months ago by Jamie Wood, one of my Golf professional team.

That’s right – not a couple of days ago but a couple of months ago.

I wrote recently that I had made a concerted effort to resurrect my golf game and get serious about swing improvements and regular practice – everything I used to tell my pupils!

Going back a few months (around February) I was on the range, taking out my frustration on a pile of quivering balls and I was discussing (among other things) the lie angle of my clubs with Jamie. 

I wasn’t convinced that my clubs were right, I felt awkward over the ball, I felt my hand and arm position was wrong but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

I knew the club wasn’t lying correctly and I couldn’t help but feel that maybe this was more of a posture problem than a club problem. How wrong I was! Jamie, quite rightly, suggested that I should not just look at the lie angle but look at the length of the club.

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m vertically challenged (I like to say built for speed!). At 5ft 6in I have always had my clubs flattened three degrees and had standard length clubs. I took the comment on board from Jamie.

However, after a couple of days back at the grindstone, it soon drifted to the back of my mind. That is until just last week. 

I knew in my mind that my irons weren’t right, and in a flash of inspiration the words that Jamie uttered to me earlier in the year came flashing back.

Off went my clubs to the Creek for an MoT and that afternoon (damn quick service!) back they came, half an inch shorter and two degrees flatter than standard, as opposed to my usual three.

Well, I can honestly say that after 14 years of being a golf professional and drumming home the importance of getting your equipment right at the start – here I was finally “just playing at the game” as my dad used to say.

Jules’ Gem -Tip Of The Week

Bad workmen are often criticised for blaming their tools, however in this instance – I had grounds. I shot my lowest and most impressive round (68) for two years on Friday, with five birdies and an eagle, and three putts missed from under eight feet.

If you want to make a real difference to your game – visit your local PGA professional and get your clubs fitted. It took me way too long to get around to listening to my own advice, but only three days for it to make a real difference.