Monday, January 14, 2013

Louis Oosthuizen: Almost Perfect

Analysis by Pete Cowen, who also coaches Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington



DOWN-THE-LINE




His stance is open, which helps the hips turn through









His shoulders are stable, and his right arm is supporting the club.




He's planted on his left leg. This provides leverage




He used to swing straight down the line. Now the club releases back to the inside




FACE-ON




Louis' hands are hanging right under his balance point, the sternum. 








He does a wonderful job of keeping his head still. 





He used to swing straight down the line. Now the club releases back to the inside.



His left heel stays down; he's swinging under control. 

Friday, January 11, 2013

Funny: When Tiger Met The Qatar Sheikh to Discuss Terms!

GCD Funny: When Tiger Met The Qatar Sheikh to Discuss Terms!:

You have to love this.  Qatar want Tiger to come play in their event where the winner gets about $460,000.  Tiger asks for a $3 million appearance fee. The Qatar sheikh (lets call him that) who has cottoned on to the fact that players think they just throw money everywhere to get what they want  gets angry and tells everyone 
“Tiger Woods demands $3 million just for an appearance, if he were to compete in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters - which is not worth paying for a tournament of $2.5 million prize money.”
But only I know what really happened in the negotiations between Woods and the Qatar Sheikh.  Enjoy!

(Via GolfCentral Daily)

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Exclusive Pics: What’s In Rory McIlroy’s New Nike Bag. Scotty Cameron Putter Is Staying. For The Moment.

Exclusive Pics: What’s In Rory McIlroy’s New Nike Bag. Scotty Cameron Putter Is Staying. For The Moment.:

These pics were taken at the Els Club in Dubai where Rory McIlroy is practicing this morning.  A passer by snapped a pic of Rory’s new Nike clubs and there, pride of place was his trusty Scotty Cameron headcover. It seems incomprehensible that a Nike Method putter would be sheathed in a Scotty headcover. However eagle eyed spotters will also notice the Swoosh headcover of the Nike Method putter snuggled in behind the irons. My read is that Rory has his choice of both (like Tiger Woods), otherwise Nike would not even allow the Scotty to be seen in the bag under their strict marketing rules.

There are 15 clubs in the bag shown.  Along with the Nike VR II Pro blades, it looks like Rors is also going to choose between a Pro Combo cavity back long iron, a 3 and 5 fairway wood. Also there are 46, 50 and 54 “Rors” stamped wedges.  The Nike Covert driver is also in the bag.

I’ve been doing Rory’s what’s in the bag since he turned pro so am really delighted to have got the first look at this.

Also check out my updated Rory McIlroy What’s In The Bag 2013 post here.

What’s In The Nike Bag 2013 Rory McIlroy

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(Via GolfCentral Daily)

What’s In The Bag 2013 Dustin Johnson – WITB Photos and Graphic

What’s In The Bag 2013 Dustin Johnson – WITB Photos and Graphic:

Here’s what’s in the bag of TaylorMade staffer Dustin Johnson for the 2013 season.

Driver: TaylorMade R1 (10 degrees, Fujikura Motore Fuel 2.0 X shaft)
3-Wood: TaylorMade R11S (15.5 degrees, Aldila RIP Series X shaft)
5-Wood: TaylorMade R9 (19 degrees, Aldila RIP Series X shafts)
3-9 Irons: RocketBladez Tour (True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts)
48-Degree Wedge: RocketBladez Tour (True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shaft)
54-Degree Wedge: TaylorMade TP xFT (KBS Black Nickel shaft)
60-Degree Wedge: TaylorMade TP xFT (KBS Black Nickel shaft)
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron Newport prototype
Ball: TaylorMade Penta TP5

(Via GolfCentral Daily)

Gorilla Golf’s Top Golfing Predictions for 2013!

Gorilla Golf’s Top Golfing Predictions for 2013!:

So as a memorable 2012 disappears into the haze and we head back to work and our normal lives after the Christmas and New Year break, what does 2013 hold for the world of golf?

In this article, we take a peek into our crystal ball and have a tongue-in-cheek look at some of the major golfing issues that look set to dominate the back pages over the coming year. Will Rory McIlroy hold on to his number one spot and if not, who are the players most likely to challenge him? Which golfers will make the breakthrough in 2013 and force themselves into the upper eschelons of the game? Will Tiger win another Major in his attempt to overtake Jack Nicklaus record?

We’ll also take a look at who Europe could name as their new Ryder Cup captain to face off against Tom Watson at Gleneagles in 2014 and lastly, we’ll predict the winners of Golf’s top events for 2013, including all four major championships, the US and European Money rankings.

1. Who will be ranked as World Number One on Dec 31st 2013?

World number one golfer Rory-McIlroy

A. Rory McIlroy – Just.

We think that the likeable Northern Irishman will just about hold on to his top spot in the World Rankings in 2013, but it may well be a close run thing.  We already know that Englishman Luke Donald has pushed McIlroy hard over the past two years and Donald’s consistency will ensure he remains a real threat to the Irishman’s grip at the top of the world rankings.

However we feel that Rory may face a sterner test in the form of a resurgent Tiger Woods. In 2012, Woods seemed to shake off the cobwebs of a dismal three year spell and began to find some of his best form. If he can regain the consistency he once showed then he could well improve on his 3rd place in the world rankings at present and be a real threat to McIlroy this year.

Finally, another golfer to watch is Englishman Justin Rose. Not as spectacular as McIlroy, Rose has enjoyed a very strong 2012 and risen sharply in the world rankings into the top ten and his rise could continue if he manages to turn more of his top ten finishes into victories.

So we think Rory will hang on just, with  Tiger pushing him hard in second with Rose and Donald making a very interesting quartet at the top of the rankings chart.

2. Which golfer will be the next “big thing” in 2013?

A. Branden Grace – again!

It’s fair to say that South African Branden Grace was one of the biggest surprises of the 2012 golf season. Until the start of the year, most people thought of Gary Player, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel when they thought of South African golf.  In 2012, Grace won more events on the European tour (4) than all of the others put together (3 – two wins for Oosthuizen, one for Els).

Grace has moved into 37th in the World Rankings after a fabulous 2012 and we think that he can continue this meteoric climb in 2013. Given South African golfers ability to win major titles, we think Grace has the game to vastly improve on his tied 43rd best finish in a Major championship in 2013 and also challenge hard for the European money list, especially with the 2013 season kicking off in South Africa in a few days time.

Grace meteoric rise up the rankings in 2012 was impressive, but we feel he has the game to make an even more impressive move in 2013 and perhaps push on into the World’s top ten, which would certainly be some achievement for a player who in 2011, was struggling to earn his tour card.

3. Will Tiger break his Major drought in 2013?

Tiger-Woods-Rolex

A- No, but he will in 2014.

There’s one reason why we feel Tiger won’t end his Major drought in 2013 and that is simply his driver. On lesser courses, Woods can rescue even the most errant of tee shots given his genius with the golf club, creating shots that other players cannot even imagine. In the Major’s however, errant tee shots are usually far more heavily punished. The rough will be less forgiving and the penalties for not hitting fairways and greens are so much stiffer.

As such, Tiger’s wait to add another Major to his burgeoning list of victories may have to wait another year. However, we do think that he will win more majors, he just needs to iron out those last few kinks in his game in order to make him a player truly capable of being not just a major winner, but the world’s best.

4. Who will Europe appoint as Ryder Cup captain for the 2014 event in Gleneagles?

Darren-Clarke-2011 British Open champion

A. Darren Clarke

The former Open Champion is one of the most likeable characters in Golf and has already been put forth as an ideal choice for the European captaincy. He commands the respect of many of Europe’s top players and is close friends with the likes of Graeme McDowall, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy.  He may just edge the job ahead of other deserving candidates, such as his great friend Miguel Angel Jiminez, Irishman Paul McGinley or even a mooted return as skipper of 2010 winning captain Colin Montgomerie.

Also, Team Europe’s proclivity for mixing the nationalities of captains based on where the event is played also will help him. In 2006 Ian Woosnam (Wales) captained Europe in Ireland at the K-Club, in 2010 Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) captained Europe in Wales at Celtic Manor so it seems fitting that an Irishman should captain Europe in Scotland!

5. Who will win the Majors and finish top of the US and European Money charts in 2013?

Phil Mickelson

Without further ado – here’s our predictions for the Major Championships and Money List winners in 2013:

US Masters: Rory McIlroy

US Open: Jason Dufner

British Open: Branden Grace

USPGA: Phil Mickelson

PGA Money List: Tiger Woods

European Money List:  Rory McIlroy

What are your predictions for Golf in 2013?

All Pictures courtesy of players Facebook, Twitter or official Web Pages.

(Via Gorilla Golf Blog)

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Swing Sequence: Ernie Els (Face-on)

The swing is a matter of tempo and rhythm. I don't feel like I'm trying to do anything or force anything. It's just happening--a chain-reaction sequence.

Read More

Friday, January 4, 2013

Nike VR Pro Combo irons

Xphoto

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How the Nike VR Pro Combo irons play

For low double-digit handicappers, the looks of forged blades can be intimidating: They look so small, so simple. How could they possibly propel the ball as far as hubcaps-on-a-stick that you normally play with?

When the VR Pro Combos arrived, I resolved to get over my low self-esteem and put the entire set into my bag -- even the 3-iron and 4-iron. I hadn't played real long irons in a couple of years, having been finally seduced by easy-hitting hybrids. But the VR Pro Combos deserved a full and proper test.

On the course, the first thing I noticed was the incredible feel -- I could tell within millimeters precisely where I had struck the ball -- not just with the short-iron blades, but all the way through the set. Now, I'm not one of those golfers who wear a dime-sized circle in the sweet spot -- I'm all over the clubface. But on the one out of six shots where I find the sweet spot, the ultra-soft sensation is akin to the feeling of cutting through a boiled carrot with a razor-sharp knife. It's soft, with just the slightest hint of give.

What of the off-center hits? Well, even with the long irons, there was no stinging pain as in the old days of forged blades. Instead, there is clear, immediate feedback and, as expected, some penalty on distance. There's not nearly as much penalty as I had feared, though. Even shots on the toe get out there and generally don't wander too far off line.

As for the long irons, all I can say is that I suddenly remembered why my 3-iron used to be my favorite club. It turns out that you don't need a hybrid to launch a long iron high into the air. (Those hybrids might not even make it back into my bag.)

Because the VR Pro Combos are still a bit better than I am, despite my best efforts and overinflated self-image, I asked Seth Trolia, a state-champion golfer, to have a swing with them. After plopping a ball down 150 yards out from the pin on the 15th hole of Lake of the Woods Golf Course, Trolia took a picture-perfect swing and delivered a 9-iron to 3 feet directly behind the pin.

"I like them," Trolia said with a smile. "They're really soft." He added that they were not only softer than his Titleist 755 blades, but also somewhat heavier.

Nike VR Pro Combo irons: The verdict

Golfers like Trolia probably feel the silky sweet spot of the VR Pro Combos on every swing. Golfer like me, on the other hand, only get to feel it every half-dozen swings or so. But who cares? On those shots, these irons feel soft as butter and as powerful as the pros who play them.

What was truly a revelation was the ease with which these clubs allow me to work the ball. I hit a lot of hooks and fades around trees trying to recover from bad drives, and with these irons, I find myself back in the fairways (and even on greens) out of the woods better than any set I have ever tested.

The VR Pro Combos aren't perfect, though. The stock grips are extremely firm, hard even, and lack an easy way to check to make sure your grip is in the right position and the club head is square. As a result, I do find that when I'm not paying careful attention, I set up with the clubface a bit open or closed.

Aside from this complaint, the Nike Pro Combos have to be ranked at or near the top of the list of forged player's irons that incorporate features to make them playable all the way up the set.

For more information, visit nikegolf.com.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Review and Specs: Ping G25 Adjustable Driver, Irons, Hybrid and Scottsdale TR Putters

Review and Specs: Ping G25 Adjustable Driver, Irons, Hybrid and Scottsdale TR Putters:

Golfbidder_logo_RGB_whiteout_V01 Ping have just released details of their new G25 and Scottsdale putter series for 2013.  We’ll have the Golfbidder video cameras in Orlando in a couple of weeks to meet Marty Jertson and the design team at Ping to discuss and review all the new releases but in the meantime all the blurb, specs and pics are below. Knock yourself out! 

PING introduces G25 series, Scottsdale TR putters with variable-depth grooves and adjustable-length shafts

PING pros Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan have switched to the new adjustable G25 driver and will make their PGA Tour 2013 season debuts this week at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions with the new driver and fairway woods in their bags. Mahan will also rely on a Scottsdale TR ZB S model at the annual gathering of PGA Tour winners from last year.
In the new G25 iron, PING engineers have created a long, forgiving design with exceptional feel and distance control while maintaining a sleeker profile. The high-performance model features progressive sole widths, thinner top lines and moderate offset which will appeal to golfers of all abilities. Among the advancements that delivers both forgiveness and feel is the repositioned Custom Tuning Port (CTP). By lowering the CTP and aligning it directly with the impact area, weight was saved and redistributed to position the center of gravity for easy launch and expand the perimeter weighting to ensure forgiveness. The G25s feature a dark, non-glare matte finish.
The Scottsdale TR putters feature two industry-first innovations – an insert with variable-depth grooves, and the option of an adjustable-length shaft in all traditional-length models.
The variable-depth grooves in the insert greatly improve ball-speed consistency whether the ball is struck on the center, heel or toe. The grooves are deepest in the center and get shallower toward the perimeter. “We’ve engineered a putter insert with forgiveness,” Solheim said. “Regardless of where the ball impacts the insert, the variable-depth grooves produce nearly identical ball speeds. The distance control is the best we’ve ever seen when compared to inserts of all types.”
Traditional-length models can be ordered with a USGA/R&A-conforming shaft that adjusts from 31” to 38” to give golfers the option of varying the length of their putter prior to a round of golf. “PING has always been a leader in custom fitting, and enabling golfers to personalize the fit and comfort for optimizing performance before a round of golf makes perfect sense,” Solheim added. “Our studies show that golfers are much more accurate and consistent with putters fit to the correct length. With the adjustable-length shaft in the Scottsdale TR, golfers can now properly adjust their putter themselves to the ideal length.”

New product descriptions and technical specifications:
G25™ Adjustable Driver
G25_driver_beauty PING’s largest-profile, most forgiving head design. Golfers can optimise launch conditions for maximum distance through a lightweight, aerodynamic adjustable-hosel design using Trajectory Tuning™ Technology. With a PING wrench, golfers can add or subtract one-half degree of loft to the 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5° and 12° heads. The adjustable-hosel design maintains the same outer diameter and mass of PING’s fixed hosels. Ultra-thin-crown technology in the deeper profile, 460cc Ti 8-1-1 head distributes weight to the perimeter, positions the CG lower and farther back than any PING driver to date, and increases MOI. Structural reinforcements in the crown, sole and skirt provide a solid feel and sound. The variable-thickness face delivers a powerful energy transfer for faster ball speeds and greater distances. The G25 is powered by the innovative TFC 189D, a lightweight, high-balance-point shaft developed specifically for the G25 driver. This shaft creates increased clubhead momentum at impact, which leads to greater ball velocity and forgiveness. A charcoal non-glare finish helps with alignment, eliminates reflections, and inspires confidence.
- Drivers available in 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5° and 12° lofts
- Proprietary graphite shafts: TFC 189D (Soft R, R, S, Tour Stiff, and Tour X-Stiff flexes)
- RRP: €385
G25™ Irons
G25_iron_beauty The Custom Tuning Port (CTP) is integrated into the sole to lower the mass and position the CG for high-launching, forgiving results. The CTP aligns directly with the impact area, allowing for a lower CG and a high MOI. Support bars in the cavity stabilize the 17-4 stainless steel face to ensure a solid feel and exceptional distance control throughout the set. A multi-material cavity badge further enhances sound and feel. The progressive sole widths provide higher-launching, more-forgiving long irons, and short irons with added playability and control. A sleeker design featuring thinner top lines and moderate offset offers a look that will appeal to a wide variety of golfers looking for a high-launching, extremely forgiving game-improvement model. The attractive new dark, non-glare matte finish eliminates reflections and helps the golfer focus.
-Available 3-9, PW, UW, SW, LW
- Proprietary steel shaft: PING® CFS® (Soft R, R, S and X flexes)
- Proprietary graphite shaft: TFC 189i (Soft R, R, S)
-RRP: €103 per club w/steel shaft; €129 per club w/graphite shaft.

G25™ Fairway Woods
G25_fairway_beauty An extreme variable-thickness face creates an efficient energy transfer, producing faster ball speeds for greater distance. The face is the thinnest of any PING fairway wood. The low-profile, forgiving design features mass low in the 17-4 stainless steel clubhead, positioning the CG low and back for higher launch and increased forgiveness, especially on shots hit low on the face, the most common “miss-hit”. It features a large head design with a traditional shape that aligns easily with the target. A charcoal non-glare finish helps with alignment, eliminates reflections, and inspires confidence.
- Fairway woods available: 3 (15º), 4 (16.5º), 5 (18º), and 7-woods (21º)
- Proprietary graphite shaft: TFC 189F (Soft R, R, S, Tour-Stiff, and Tour X-Stiff flexes)
- RRP €257
PING Introduces G25, Scottsdale TR
January 2, 2013
Page 3

G25™ Hybrids
G25_hybrid_beauty Progressive CG positions help to achieve proper trajectories and ensure functional distance gaps between clubs. The CG position is lower and farther back in the lower-lofted hybrids and
progresses slightly forward in the higher lofts to help minimize spin and prevent ballooning (common in higher-lofted hybrids). External sole weighting positions weight low and back and elevates the MOI for greater distance and forgiveness in the 17-4 stainless steel heads. Generous camber heel-to-toe and sole relief ensure playability and solid contact from all types of lies. A large hitting surface and thin face perimeter provide forgiveness and high ball speeds. A squared-up toe and heel improves consistency and makes alignment easy. The dark, non-glare finish eliminates distractions.
- Hybrids available: 17º, 20º, 23º, 27º, 31º
- Proprietary graphite shaft: TFC 189H (Soft R, R, S, Tour-Stiff, and Tour X-Stiff flexes)
- RRP €219

Scottsdale® TR™ (True Roll) Adjustable-Length Putters
Scottsdale TR_putter_beauty Variable-depth grooves in the insert are deepest in the centre and get gradually shallower to the perimeter to provide nearly identical ball speeds across the putter face for more consistent distance control. PING studies show an increase in ball-speed consistency, measured at nine points on the face, of nearly 50%. The insert is made from a lightweight 6061 aerospace-grade aluminum that provides a solid feel and sound. The finish is a non-glare black PVD, and all models feature white sight lines that aid in alignment. A mid-size full-cord PING Black PP58 grip is standard on all traditional-length models.
- Adjustable-length, USGA/R&A-conforming shaft adjusts 31” to 38” in standard models (optional); belly models 37.5” to 46.5”; long models 44.5” to 55.5”.
- 12 Fit For Stroke™ models. Slight arc models = Anser® 2, B60, Shea®, Tomcat S®, Anser® 2 B (adjustable belly). Strong arc models = ZB S®, Shea® H. Straight models = Piper® C, Tatum™, Carefree® L (adjustable long). All stroke types available = Grayhawk™, Senita®
- RRP €195 Adjustable Shaft (Anser 2, B60,Tomcat S, ZB S, Shea, Shea H, Piper C, Tatum)
- RRP €169 Non-Adjustable Shaft (Anser 2, B60,Tomcat S, ZB S, Shea, Shea H, Piper C, Tatum)
- RRP €219 Adjustable Shaft (Grayhawk, Senita).
- RRP €195 Non-Adjustable Shaft (Grayhawk, Senita).
- RRP €269 Adjustable Shaft (Anser B, Carefree L)

(Via GolfCentral Daily)