Untitled Document By Ed Ibarguen
Special to the Observer
Posted: Sunday, Apr. 25, 2010
Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/04/25/1399005/5-tips-on-watching-the-pros-at.html#ixzz0mDL5pplX
Ed Ibarguen is the director of golf at Duke University golf course and a PGA Master Professional, the highest ranking in the industry. A winner of numerous national and regional honors, Ibarguen is one of Golf Magazine's top 100 instructors in the country.
He is also the man who taught Michael Jordan how to play golf. Ibarguen will be contributing tips to the Observer's golf Web site during the year.
Ibarguen starts with five suggestions on how to help your own game while watching the pros at the Wells Fargo Championship:
Spend time at the range
At the range, you can see as many as 20 players hitting balls. Take time to notice their routines and you'll see that each one has a different routine.
Even if you're not that familiar with golf, you'll notice that you never see a touring pro walk straight to the first tee. Watch how the pros get loose and get ready to play.
They'll try to play as many of the shots they think they'll encounter on the first few holes.
In the afternoon, the guys will be more relaxed on the range because they will be finished playing. There's a little more tension when they're preparing to play.
Listen
Listen to the sound of impact when the pros hit the ball. It's crisp.
While they might swing at different speeds, you'll notice their tempos are consistent.
You'll also notice when they're practicing, they'll often use an alignment aid. They might place a club or rod on the ground to help them line up properly. I've seen Vijay Singh use an umbrella and several shafts stuck in the ground to help him.
Watch closely
If you can watch from different angles, you'll get a full appreciation of what they're doing. Try to see them hit a shot where you're almost face to face across from them. Stand behind them and look down the line where they're playing.
Notice how much the players hit down on the ball. With amateurs, we often don't see a good angle of attack. Most people try to help the ball up in the air. Tour pros really hit down on the ball with the low point of their arc 2 to 4 inches in front of the ball.
They're not making big changes
You'll occasionally see a teaching pro on the range with a player. But rarely are they making big changes. They're usually just looking at a player's set-up and helping them get mentally ready to play.
Unless they had an awful round, they won't be making major swing changes. That's different from amateurs who will read something in Golf Digest and then go out and spend all day trying it on the course.
Watch them practice putting.
You're going to notice the consistency they have from putt to putt to putt. The set up the same way, grip it the same way, have the same ball position. They try to have the same routine every time.
Generally you'll see them keep their heads very still. That's different from amateurs. If you go out to a course on Saturdays and watch amateurs play, you'll generally see them moving their heads in anticipation of seeing a missed putt.
You'll also notice the pros spend a disproportionate amount of time on the short game because you have a disproportionate amount of shots there.