Golf Monthlyの Aug-2018 の目次

1 Belly wedge as a putter For this putting drill, you're actually going to use your most lofted wedge and work on keeping your levels throughout the stroke, making sure you're not coming down too steeply or up too aggressively through impact. It's about hitting the equator of the ball with the leading edge of the wedge, just as you would when playing the belly wedge shot around the green. To do this, you have to retain your posture through impact and the connection between your arms and body. If your arms are wandering about all over the place, it's likely that the leading edge won't strike the equator. If you come in too low, you'll start using the loft of the wedge and just pop the ball up in…

1 Coin drill Set yourself up with a short putt and place your ball on top of a coin or small, flat ball marker. Keep your focus and attention on it through impact and beyond. This will stop you having a cheeky peek at the hole, which causes the shoulders to open up and putts to be dragged off to the left. It helps you focus on keeping everything stationary. You can add to this drill by popping a tee-peg in your mouth and tilting your head a little to the right to make sure it's pointing just right of the ball, which will further discourage that sneaky little peek to the left. 2 Arc drill Place an alignment stick on some really long tees, so the stick is three…

BETTINARDI BB1 This stealth-finish model is milled from a single piece of soft carbon steel. Its Super-Fly Mill Face milling also creates a responsive feel with consistent speed control to help with your long lag putting. CLEVELAND TFI 2135 SATIN 8.0 CB This counterbalanced blade has a Speed Optimised Milling pattern to stop poor strikes reducing distance, while its raised alignment line makes aiming accurately easier. EVNROLL ER1.2 The 1.2 model has a thinner heel section to keep its sweetspot central. Its milled face is also engineered to curve putts back to the middle when struck from either the heel or the toe. LYNX PROWLER This heel-toe blade features adjustable sole weights – 3g, 10g and 20g – so you can customise your feel. Its Curved Face technology also helps…

EVNROLL ER1.2 TECHNOLOGY A unique mill pattern delivers uniform performance across the hitting area for enhanced accuracy and zero dispersion. A smaller, thinner heel section and a channel in front of the hosel arm position the sweetspot directly in the centre. LOOKS A classic, Anser-style design with a single sightline on the flange and two dots either side of it on the topline to help get the lie angle correct. The silver satin finish oozes class. FEEL/SOUND Soft enough while still giving good feedback on the strike. The sound is fairly muted and will almost certainly be pleasing on the ears. FORGIVENESS Unquestionably this putter's stand-out feature. The shape and spacing of the grooves delivers consistent speeds, as well as helping control dispersion to a level that far surpasses what…

GOLF PRIDE TOUR SNSR Available in Contour and Straight shapes in two sizes, these grips feature a soft-tuned rubber formulation which enhances feel and encourages lighter grip pressure. SUPERSTROKE COUNTERCORE PISTOL GT An adjustable weight in the butt of the grip allows golfers to alter feel. SuperStroke's ‘No Taper' design helps create an even grip pressure across both hands. LAMKIN FLAT CAT Each side of the Flat Cat grip is on a parallel plane to the putter face, promoting more fluid, consistent and accurate putting. Available in five sizes and in different shapes and weights. WINN DRI-TAC MIDSIZE PISTOL Winn's Dri-Tac material offers a blend of comfort, feel and slip-resistance in all conditions. Available in two different sizes, as well as Jumbo and Lite options. PROPUTT ERGO Benefiting those who…

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Photography: Getty Images “For big events, a track should be set up to be as challenging as possible without being unreasonable” YES  Turning in a good score on a golf course that's been set up for beginners is fine, but handing in a competitive total on a layout that's been fine-tuned to fully test one's golfing ability is something to be very proud of and to remember. If courses aren't set up to play hard for the big events, they never will be and neither members nor visitors will ever have the opportunity to see how they might cope when a layout is allowed to properly bare its teeth. It's fun to push oneself occasionally and it's tough to improve without doing so. A course should be friendly and playable…

ARCCOS CADDIE 2.0 Arccos Caddie 2.0 is a next-generation artificial intelligence product said to help amateur golfers shoot lower scores through more optimum club and strategy choices. It is powered by the Microsoft Azure cloud, which uses machine learning to interpret Arccos' rich shot-tracking data and provide three different strategies for every shot on any hole in the world. More than one million rounds of golf have been played using Arccos since its introduction on over 40,000 courses worldwide. It has registered 418 million GPS course-mapping data points, as well as collating 26 billion time-stamped, geotagged data points on golfer behaviours. By using this on-course data, Arccos engineers and Microsoft's AI scientists have been able to make a significant expansion of Arccos Caddie's capabilities. The Caddie 2.0 calculates these strategies…

1 What can golfers expect from i500? The i500 is unique for Ping in that it is sized similarly to the i210, has the minimal offset of iBlade at address (see below) but the distance is most comparable to G400 or G700. It's a unique combination of distance and forgiveness in a compact shape we're very proud of. 2 Tell us why i210 should feel softer than i200... Not only have we used a 50-per-cent-softer elastomer but more of it comes into contact with the face. It essentially gets squeezed at impact, leading to a soft, muted, buttery feel that good players love. 3 What are the headline performance differences between i210 and i500? Our testing has shown that the i500 iron produces more ball speed and around 700rpm less…

The top gear stories on tour, plus insight into some of the more interesting clubs that have helped players cross the finishing line Sergio Garcia put an Odyssey Exo Rossie putter in play at the US Open Tyrrell Hatton put a Ping i500 long-iron in the bag at the US Open Jason Day has switched back to the TaylorMade P750 irons from the P730s Matt Wallace won the BMW International Open with Ping i210 long-irons Dustin Johnson has gone back to his TaylorMade Spider Tour Black Bubba Watson won the Travelers with a Ping G400 LST driver…

Photography: Kevin Murray I was very sad when I found out that Australian golfing legend Peter Thomson passed away recently at the age of 88. He had a profound impact on golf in Australia and he will be dearly missed. He had his funeral service at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the members' room. It was absolutely packed. It was too big to take place at Victoria Golf Club, where he was a member. He was like a national treasure. Peter Thompson is synonymous with golf in Australia. Peter was a private guy and it was difficult to get to know him. He was also 30 years or so older than me. Not only did he play golf but he went into politics as well. He had an aura about…

Three years ago, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, launched Vision 2030, an economic programme that envisages a modernised country, one not dependent on oil revenue. In addition, there is a strong commitment to encouraging a more active, outdoor lifestyle. Key to this is the $100bn invested into King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC, pronounced ‘cake'), a new desert megacity which covers an area of similar size to Washington DC – home to the country's first championship golf course. Fahd Al Rasheed, Group CEO and MD, KAEC, says: “This is an opportunity to start a new sport in a country that has very little experience in golf. Royal Greens will be an important enabler in the community and for the leisure industry in the city. It will actively encourage more…

Anders Hansen Hansen, who ‘retired’ in 2015 but has since continued to play some events every year, won three times in his 20-plus-year career. Two of those victories came in the European Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA. Soren Hansen Soren’s two victories came in 2002 and 2007 in the Murphy’s Irish Open and Mercedes-Benz Championship respectively. He also became the second Dane to play in the Ryder Cup when he qualified for Nick Faldo’s 2008 team. Soren Kjeldsen Kjeldsen has been on tour since 1998 and has won four times during his career. His most recent success came in the 2015 Irish Open at Royal County Down, which he won in a play-off. Thorbjorn Olesen Danish golf’s hottest property right now has won five times in seven years, including…

Photography: Daniel Gould Alfie Plant, who won the Silver Medal at last year's Open, is a relatively late developer. But timing, as they say, is everything, and judging by his great win in the 2017 European Amateur and fine play at The Open, Alfie was ready to move into the professional ranks. Interestingly, Padraig Harrington was also 24 when he turned pro, and he hasn't done too badly! Alfie shows classic angles at address with the lower half primed and ready, providing ample stability. There's almost a Tommy Fleetwood look about it with the legs fractionally bowed, something that's become quite popular. That stability is maintained as he starts his backswing with a nice unhurried move. There's then a powerful coil in which the left arm is right on the…

1 Spirit level A rule to consider when it comes to reading greens is that the slower the ball is moving, the more break will come into play. This means you need to concentrate on the area around the hole as this is where the biggest movement is likely to happen. However, the hole is usually cut on a relatively flat part of the green, so picking up on subtle slopes can be tricky. Picture something flat lying across the hole, like an alignment stick. Which end of the stick will be higher? This visualisation will help you create a spirit level in your mind's eye, revealing the hidden breaks that are likely to have the biggest effect. 2 Apex drill Once you have built a picture of the break,…

Photography: Chris Catchpole Andrew’s assessment Joss was managing, more often than not, to hit the ball well from a pretty poor position, which is a credit to his hand-to-eye coordination. His ball position was the main culprit. It was opposite his left instep with his 6-iron, which meant his hands were behind the ball and his shoulders were aiming a long way left at address. Because of those faults, Joss had to come outside the line on his backswing and then work the club inwards hugely to try and get a square hit. It meant he was leaning back and swinging left, so even though his club was pointing at the target, he was hitting all his shots with a high fade. Andrew’s remedy To gain Joss some consistency, we…

For players who like a soft-feeling ball, a switch to AVX may also provide added distance off the tee through lower spin, as well as longer iron shots. Existing low-spin players need to consider if the lower driver flight or longer irons will help them. The reduction in short-game control over Pro V1 and Pro V1x is limited but noticeable, especially from tight lies. We suggest trying AVX on the course and looking at flight windows, distance and how it reacts around the green against your current ball, but it is certainly a worthy addition to the premium category.…

FEEL / SOUND A soft sound at impact without the ball jumping off the face. The ball starts rolling very early, helping short putts stay on line and long putts travel the full distance. LOOKS We really love the subtle copper accents coming through the darker finish. They add a touch of class to what are traditional shapes blended with modern performance and feel technology. This family is aimed at golfers who want quality looks and performance without the premium price tag. Key technology The four models in the range – the full–toe-hang Soto, Juno, Ardmore 3 and face-balanced Mullen 2 – have gone through a special plating and hand-polishing process to produce a darker finish with copper accents along the edges. A polymer insert for soft feel and 45°…

In terms of on-course performance, this shoe has no real weakness. It’s stable when you need it to be during the swing but flexible enough to not feel rigid, especially when you walk between shots. It’s one of the grippiest cleated shoes on the market and comes in a variety of colours to suit most tastes. The comfort underfoot is adequate and the tongue feels nice and soft, although some will have preferred more padding to have been built in around the ankle area. The fit is snug without pinching tightly and the breathable lining helps with comfort on long, hot days. The leather doesn’t take too long to wear in and certainly keeps the water at bay on wet days. The end result is a comfortable, stylish, stable and…

Buying a new stand bag probably doesn’t come high up your list of exciting golf purchases. It doesn’t have the shelf appeal of a new driver, or the scoring potential of a putter. But get it wrong and we guarantee you’ll be wishing you’d paid it more attention. There are lots of factors that demand your attention. For example, do you need lightweight comfort or extra pocket space? Are you trying to save your pennies or do you want to invest in something more durable? You’ll also need to weigh up the benefits of opting for a pricier waterproof bag and decide between the organisation of a 14-way top or the fuss-free nature of minimal dividers. If you answer these key questions, you can narrow down the wide range of…

Glenmuir has been crafting the finest Scottish golfwear since 1891 and has supplied 30 European Ryder Cup teams with shirts and sweaters. This is your chance to get your hands on an Official 2018 Ryder Cup Outfit for a male or female golfer. The prize includes an official 2018 Ryder Cup shirt, midlayer/ knitwear, cap, trousers and socks. To be in with a chance of winning this great prize, simply follow @glenmuir1891 on Instagram and enter at www.glenmuir.com/gm Follow @glenmuir1891 www.glenmuir.com/gm Golf Monthly competition terms and conditions: The closing date for entries is August 31, 2018. All prizes are non-transferable and must be accepted as offered. Employees of TI Media and its subsidiary companies, their families, agents or anyone connected with this promotion are not eligible to enter.…

CLASSIC TITLEIST 718 AP1 Despite its classic looks, this offers faster ball speeds and a forgiving face thanks to refined tungsten weighting. POWERFUL MIZUNO JPX900 HOT METAL Mizuno's thinnest ever cup face ensures your mishits fly closer to the target, while its Power Frame aids a solid feel. FORGIVING CALLAWAY ROGUE X Compared to the standard Rogue iron, the weighting is deeper to offer off-centre forgiveness and a high launch. WORKABLE TAYLORMADE P790 This hollow set of irons has a more workable profile than G700, with Speedfoam filling the hollow space for soft feel.…

Photography: David J Whyte THE GOLF Par 70, 6,010 yards The story of New Woll is a heartwarming one, with the current owners buying the estate almost on a whim in 2001 and gradually developing both course and clubhouse. The course, which grew from nine to 18 holes as part of that, enjoys a delightful valley setting which reminded me of Sedbergh in Cumbria. The opener doglegs sharply left over a free-flowing river, while the 4th – the longest hole – tees off from an elevated perch looking out towards the distant moors as you head to the furthest point. There are some splendid holes around the turn, including the testing 10th flanked by a dyke on the right, and the run for home from the 14th is strong. The…

1 Three-in-one drill This drill using tee pegs allows you to work on three things at once. Place one tee at the back to dictate the length of the backswing, and also the line to some degree – it will highlight if you're taking the putter back inside or outside the line. Then, a foot in front of the ball, create a gateway for the putter head to pass though. This will highlight if you're moving the putter head down towards the target line after impact. The second gate should be a few feet further on. Hopefully, with a square face and the putter moving on the right line, the ball will then pass through the second smaller gate and continue on into the hole. You can make this second…

The Dale Anser in the stealth finish ticked all the boxes in terms of feel, looks, alignment and performance. The iPing app, although a little basic, gave some good pointers on my stroke and backed up my thinking. Other brands will utilise different technologies, like GCQuad and the Sam PuttLab, that provide more insight into aim and performance, but the iPing app will satisfy the majority, especially when you consider how visual preference is often the most important factor when choosing a putter. Across the Sigma G and Vault 2.0 ranges, Ping has a huge variety of shapes, so be sure to consider the brand the next time you switch putters.…

BETTINARDI STUDIO STOCK 3 COUNTERBALANCE This 400g counterbalanced model is very stable, and you can expect a responsive feel from its milled face. Its simple sightline and sleek gun metal finish will also appeal to many. CLEVELAND HUNTINGTON BEACH 6 This rounded mid-mallet features a Precision Milled face, which has a deep diamond-shaped milling pattern that increases friction to help impart a more consistent roll. EVNROLL ER3 The brainchild of putting guru Guerin Rife, this CNC-milled wide blade features a unique face that delivers uniform speeds and steers off-centre strikes from the heel and toe towards the target. ODYSSEY EXO #7 This new range from Odyssey introduces a weight-saving aluminium red section that enhances perimeter weighting for greater stability. You'll also find a White Hot Microhinge insert for excellent roll.…

PUTTOUT PRESSURE PUTT TRAINER This three-in-one option has been designed to test both your pace and accuracy. The target at the bottom of the ramp is the size of a hole, so provides the most obvious feedback. The parabolic curved ramp itself, which is collapsible for easy storage, returns your ball to you the distance that it would have rolled past the hole. For a real challenge you can pop down a hole in the ramp and try to hit a micro target that will only be found with a perfect putt. MASTERS PUTTING ALIGNMENT MIRROR Using a mirror will help quickly highlight any flaws in your set-up position so you can develop a more consistent putting stroke. Ideally you want your dominant eye over the ball at address, so…

1 Ladder drill I use this classic drill a lot in my county coaching. It's very simple. Place five clubs down in five different zones, however far apart you want. You might want them three feet apart, but if you're new to the game you might have them six feet apart and start with shorter putts. Take five balls and try to hit all five into the nearest zone. You can't move up the ladder until you successfully get all five balls into that first zone. Do this until you reach the top of the ladder, and then work your way back down. With no hole to aim at, you can forget about the line – this drill is all about gauging the pace of the stroke and helping with…

Life-changing experience Up until recently I was what you could probably have described as a bit of a workaholic – long hours during the week, logging in at the weekend and a healthy dose of stress. My wife was fed up with the amount of time I was either at work or thinking about work. It was through work, however, that last July I was persuaded to take part in a charity golf match organised by one of my team. I had never played before and I came last, but I thoroughly enjoyed it – not only the match, but the whole feel of the game. Since then I have had lessons, bought equipment and joined the club where the match was held. Golf has become a new focus for…

Photography: Getty Images GF: £75-£210 W: gleneagles.com Stats: par 71, 6,781 yards As stay and play destinations go, Gleneagles is up there with the very best. This iconic hotel and sporting estate, home to three famous courses, has it all. The King's, a James Braid masterpiece, is, for many, Gleneagles' jewel in the crown. Standing on the first tee is an experience in itself, with its inviting fairway sweeping up steeply to the green. A wonderful journey follows through the pines where precision is key. The Queen's has a legion of fans, too. Rolling fairways and small greens are typical features around this super layout. Meanwhile, the PGA Centenary has become a modern classic. Designer Jack Nicklaus once described the 2014 Ryder Cup venue as “the finest parcel of land in…

PING PRODI G CARRY BAG Ping is offering juniors a one-time, free club-adjustment service on its new Prodi G range to ensure their equipment is fitted as they grow. PING PRODI G DRIVER The lightweight, 15° Prodi G driver features crown turbulators for added club speed, a dragonfly crown and a graphite shaft. PING PRODI G IRONS The Prodi G irons feature a CTP insert and graphite shafts to make them easier to swing. There are also Glide-style Prodi G wedges. PING PRODI G VOSS PUTTER To help junior golfers hole more putts, the Voss putter features the original PP58 grip for added feel and control.…

Irons Cobra King One Length Utility, 4- and 5-iron, Cobra King One Length, 6-PW, True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 shafts. Driver Cobra King Black Ltd, 8.5°, Project X Hzrdus T1100 75 gram 6.5-flex shaft. Fairway woods Cobra King Ltd Black, 14.5°, Cobra King F8+ Baffler, 17.5°, Project X Hzrdus 85 gram 6.5-flex shafts. Putter Sik Tour Prototype. Wedges Cobra King One Length, 50°, 55° and 60°, True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 shafts. Ball Bridgestone Tour B X.…

“The on-course torment of the world’s best reflects our own mind-bending struggles” There was a definite sense of deja vu about the 118th playing of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills. The post-tournament photo-call featured the same winner with the same trophy and many of the same officials. Brooks Koepka emerged to repeat his achievement of 12 months before, looking ice cool under pressure and even more self-assured than his playing partner, the World No.1, Dustin Johnson. Of course, just as familiar as the winner were the post-tournament conversations about the organiser, the USGA. Once again, this great Major was played out on a golf course artificially intensified and tricked up in what has become a trademark USGA style. Koepka may have been the eventual winner, but this Major will…

Photography: Tom Miles A few years ago I went to a social media seminar. There were the usually stock phrases like “blue-sky-thinking” and “salami-slicing” being thrown around, but one thing really stuck with me. A Canadian fella was on the stage and proclaimed: “Listen guys... Twitter is a powerful tool, which gives power to tools.” The room erupted in self-aware laughter, but the man with the maple-leaf jumper hit the nail on the head. There is much to like about social media. Our relationships are no longer bound by geography and, although it's not always interesting to see your mate Dave had a tuna melt for lunch, it lets us mix the personal and the professional. You can get an instant reaction to an idea, a thought, a product and…

Photography Kevin Murray, Getty Images “The guys who went before me broke down a lot of barriers. They gave me a platform to step on to” Denmark is a small country about a fifth of the size of the UK, with a population of around 5.7 million and around 200 golf courses. Golf can be a year-round sport in this southern part of Scandinavia, but until pretty recently, Danish players on the European Tour were few and far between. One man who changed all that and helped pave the way for others is, of course, Thomas Bjorn, who arrived on tour in 1996 after winning three times on the Challenge Tour in 1995 to top the rankings. The years since then have brought considerably more highs than lows. Bjorn wasted…

1 Rhythm and weight shift For me, rhythm and weight transfer are closely linked. A good tempo allows you to make an athletic, technically sound transfer of weight, and if you can time it correctly, you'll improve both your power and accuracy. Take your normal posture and then, without a club, swing your arms back and through, mimicking a half- to three-quarter-length swing. By taking the club and ball away, you are making a more instinctive sporting motion. Your weight will naturally move with your arms in the backswing and through swing. 2 Takeaway tips A smooth start to the swing will create a chain reaction that will have a positive overall effect. Importantly, the golf swing begins from the left shoulder, working in one line with the clubhead. As…

Photography: Tom Miles 1 Beating a slice It comes from not using the upper and lower body correctly. In a ‘correct' swing, the lower body initiates the downswing and that allows the arms to fall in to get the club on a better path into the ball. Many amateurs throw the clubhead at the ball, which creates that over-the-top move. 2 Reading greens I think it's a skill you can learn on the practice green. Amateurs usually under-read putts. I often use an elevated string line on quite a sloping putt to help me visualise it and train my eyes to see how much a putt will break. 3 Match play Never give your opponent an easy hole. Make them have to sink that putt for par or birdie to…

LOOKS The XR Speed has a cutting-edge aesthetic with the blue carbon fibre crown with red trim, Speed Step at the front and slick graphics underneath, as well as the trademark rounded Callaway profile. PERFORMANCE Against the XR 16 Pro, the XR Speed delivered faster ball speeds, 300rpm lower spin and eight-yard-longer carries on average, helped by improved off-centre performance. The XR Speed is for golfers seeking a lighter feel to increase velocity. Key technology The XR Speed is Callaway’s longest and most forgiving ‘non-jailbreak’ driver to date, thanks to a new X Face VFT, a carbon composite crown, a drag-reducing Speed Step and improved shafts. How we tested We hit the XR Speed in both the stock Project X Hzrdus and our custom-fitted Aldila Rogue shaft on the GCQuad…

The TP Black Copper Collection putters look the part and have the feel and roll performance to back it up. What’s more, there are enough shapes in the range to cater for most visual preferences and stroke types. The SuperStroke Pistol GT 1.0 is a welcome addition – it enhanced both feel and clubface control during the stroke – and the face insert provided consistent performance on centred and slightly errant strikes. It’s a shame that alternative sole weights aren’t available in Europe to fine-tune the feel of the putters to suit different tempos, but that said, the standard weighting felt stable and well balanced to us. Coming in at under £220, you get an awful lot of putter for your money.…

FEATURES The GPS distances on the side of the device are easy to read and quick to update, while the hazard info and shot-measurement function are useful additions during a round. EASE OF USE It's simple to navigate the features via the labelled buttons. The screen is crystal clear and readable in different light conditions. The Bushnell Hybrid is aimed at golfers who want GPS distances plus the accuracy of laser technology in one unit. Key technology Exact distances to the pin come from the Hybrid’s laser function, while a GPS display on the side shows the front, middle and back yardages. PinSeeker with Jolt technology provides a short, vibrating burst to isolate the flag from the background. How we tested We used the Hybrid for a round on the…

“NEARLY ALL STAND BAGS ARE LIGHTWEIGHT AND PRACTICAL THESE DAYS. YOU NEED TO CONSIDER HOW MUCH SPACE AND THE LEVEL OF PROTECTION YOU REQUIRE”Jake O’Reilly, GM technical writer Choose the divider system wisely – 14-way tops keep your clubs more organised, but it can take more time getting them in and out of your bag. When it comes to weight vs functionality, consider the conditions you will play in and how much gear you like to keep with you on the course. If you're a fan of winter golf don't overlook a waterproof bag, which will keep your spare glove and towel dry for when they're needed, as well as your valuables.…

WANT TO SEE MORE? For video reviews of both these wedges, visit golf-monthly.co.uk…

1 One-handed putting This frees the stroke up a bit and produces what I call a slightly more oily feel. When you get closer to the hole, it's sensible to tighten things up a bit so there's less to go wrong. But with longer putts you're relying on feel, and by allowing your dominant hand to swing freely and maybe just allow a little bit of play in the wrist, it just gives you that feeling of tempo. It's almost like a little lag at the top of the backswing, with the putter head lagging behind the wrist a touch – it gives you a soft, smooth transition. On long putts, people often take too short a backswing and then try to heave it away with a big follow through,…

If you’ve fallen out of I love with your putter, you’ve come to the right place. Over these four pages we’ve chosen our favourite 36 models on the market, made up of 12 blades, 12 mid-mallets and 12 mallets. On this page we’ve also shared our top tips on what types of putters you might want to try and the benefits they can offer you. We’ve also broken down some of the debates you’ll have, so the next time you go putter shopping you’ll be well prepared. Let’s start with the biggest decision first, and that’s head shape. Blade-style putters will tend to suit ‘feel’ players with more of an arc to their stroke, while larger-headed mid-mallets and mallets usually offer extra alignment assistance and traditionally suit straighter putting strokes.…

BETTINARDI BB56 Milled from a single block of 6061 aluminium, the BB56 also features a brushed stainless steel sightline that raises the head's CG above the centre of the ball to get it rolling more smoothly. BENROSS TRIBE MDJ1 This oversized mallet has a two-piece hollow-head construction that allows the CG to sit where it can encourage putts to skid less and roll sooner for better distance consistency. CLEVELAND TFI 2135 SATIN RHO This putter's unique raised alignment line sits level with the ball's centre at 21.35mm. It means that whatever your posture, it should be correctly aligned for better strikes. EVNROLL ER9 This 415g counterbalanced mallet boasts an extremely high MOI to help twitchy putters overcome nerves on the green, with cylinders in its aluminium body that house steel…

What is the idea behind them? Oversize putter grips are said to make your hands less active during the stroke. Your fingers don't wrap all the way round a thick putter grip and so naturally relax more than when using a traditional grip. This means they are far less likely to manipulate the face angle as you make your stroke, leading to better accuracy. How do I go about selecting a thick putter grip? Much of this comes down to feel, although a rough thought would be that the larger your hands, the thicker the grip needs to be. There are a host of shapes and styles out there that cater for different ways golfers hold the putter, as well as preferences in feel. Try as many as you can…

1 Find the centre of the face This is all about the quality of the strike and the path of the putter. As with the rest of the game, much of it is based around good fundamentals and good set-up, with your eyes directly over the ball when putting. The tilt of the shoulders is very important, too. If you're leaning a bit too much on your left side, you'll come into the ball too steeply and that can affect the quality of the strike. But there are some great, simple drills to help improve your striking when you putt, one of which involves putting two elastic bands around the toe and heel of the putter face. You'll soon find out how central your strikes are, because if you don't…

Photography: Getty Images There is only one ‘honours' board at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club. It hangs in the main hallway amid displays of glorious silver trophies and memorabilia that chart the storied 149-year history of Hoylake. As a member you can get your name on the board – but to do that you have to win a significant tournament, such as The Amateur or The Open when the Championship is played over the famous links. There are, however, two members who do feature on the board. John Ball, for his three Amateur Championships (1890, 1894 and 1910), and Harold Hilton for his 1897 Open Championship triumph. Their names sit side by side with some of the most illustrious in golf: JH Taylor, Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, Sir Michael Bonallack,…

Photography: Getty Images The GM View: You’d think anyone likely to play in the Ryder Cup would have prioritised the French Open, but several nailed-on players from Europe and all but one American missed what seemed like a great intelligence opportunity. Absent Europeans can be excused based on prior experience, but it’s puzzling that only Justin Thomas made the trip from America. Emily Rogers: What is surprising is that it’s not as if most of the big American players were competing elsewhere. The PGA Tour event held at the same time was the Quicken Loans National and there was no DJ, Koepka, Spieth, Reed, Watson etc. Only Rickie and Tiger played. Andrew Pilgrim: Who cares about the Americans? What was more disappointing was the lack of top Europeans, who say…

Photography: Getty Images What was the key for you on Sunday? I felt like I made those clutch eight-to-ten-footers that you need to make to keep the momentum going. And I felt like I didn't drive it that great, but you can make up so much with a hot putter, and I feel like that's what I was doing. Starting with the great bogey I made at 11, I think that was big. What was the most important shot? I've got to go with that – the putt on 11 was pretty big. The six-footer on 12 was important, and then 14. What does winning a US Open on an entirely different style of course say about you? Everyone said Erin Hills was set up for me – it was…

This is one of the toughest scenarios you'll face on the golf course. The ground conditions prevent you from setting up the way you need to to hit a good bunker shot, so there is no alternative but to make some important changes. One way to play it is to get your sternum ahead of the ball at address, but for me this just delofts the club even more, resulting in too much club speed and not enough control. Instead, keep your sternum over the ball but take the slope up with your knees – your right knee will be more flexed than your left. The heel of the club will want to enter the sand first, so address the ball from the toe of the club. When it comes…

“IN i500, PING HAS MADE A DISTANCE IRON LOOK ELEGANT, WHILE i210 EXCELS WHERE i200 FELL SHORT”Joel Tadman, GM technical editor The players’ distance iron category offers a little bit of everything, so it’s no wonder that it’s becoming increasingly popular among golfers of varying abilities. Joining the party this summer is Ping, with two new models that fit the bill of providing distance and forgiveness in a compact package. The i210 and i500 slot in between the compact iBlade and forgiving G400, offering slightly different looks and performance traits for the serious golfer. The i500 is similar to G700 in that it has the look of a muscleback from behind but is in fact hollow. It has a forged face made from the same C300 maraging steel as the…

Titleist teases Some 17 players put prototype Titleist TS2 or TS3 drivers in play at the US Open. The TS3 looks to be smaller and have something similar to the 917's SureFit CG on the sole. Srixon’s new big dog? Images of a new Srixon Z785 driver were doing the rounds at the Travelers. The brand looks set to soon replace the Z765 model, which launched two years ago. Wilson goes raw At the Travelers, Troy Merritt was seen with a raw, unplated version of the Wilson Staff FG Tour V6 iron in his bag, which features a nickel chrome finish at retail.…

Photography: Paul Severn I've been playing on the European Tour since the 1990s and I've seen a good few changes since then, but Keith Pelley's era is certainly up there when it comes to innovation and attempting to bring golf to a new audience. The most recent development in this sphere came when the European Tour announced the introduction of the Jordan Mixed Masters – an event that will feature players from the European Challenge Tour, the Ladies European Tour and the European Senior Tour in April 2019. I definitely think events like this are good for the game and its development, although I would say we need to be careful that we don't have too many of them. There's absolutely no harm in freshening the season up every now…

Does it give you a special sense of pride being involved with a Danish brand on tour? Yes, it does, but also because of the story and being part of it from the start, pretty much. When you are a small country, there are not that many things that break through to the greater part of the world, so when they do, you become very proud by nature. And then when you're a sportsman and you're involved with one of these companies, it makes you proud being part of it. What does it mean to you to see Ecco succeed on a global scale? I've been part of this story pretty much all the way from when it was just an idea that we would try and do something. To…

Connor Syme with Jeremy Ellwood Photography: Paul Severn My dad, Stuart, is also my coach, and something we've always worked on together is ‘strength from the ground up' and creating a great, stable base from which to start the swing. I think set-up is potentially overlooked quite a bit, but to strike your irons well you need to be able to set up in the right position to create the swing you want. Over the following pages, I'll highlight some of the things I focus on and look at in my set-up and swing to keep my ball-striking sweet… 1 Set-up Getting set up properly is definitely the key. I always try to set up with a good, wide stance and keep myself engaged a little from the start. From…

Hitting the ball well and grinding out a score, only to see a shot suddenly sail off right and into trouble for no obvious reason, is as frustrating as it gets. Trying to then commit to your following tee shots amid fear of another slice can be enough to ruin your round. It was those thoughts that led 13-handicapper Joss Powick to contact Golf Monthly and apply for one of our reader lessons. His GM Top 25 Coach for the session was Royal Cinque Ports head professional Andrew Reynolds, an experienced golf pro who has coached England's A squad and knows more than a thing or two about the mechanics of the golf swing. The pair met on the manicured grass driving range at London Golf Club in Kent, where…

“THE PERFORMANCE OF AVX WILL MAKE MANY PRO V1 AND PRO V1x USERS RETHINK THEIR BALL OF CHOICE”Joel Tadman, technical editor FEEL The longer the shot, the softer the AVX feels over Pro V1x. On drives and iron shots it feels noticeably more springy, while this reduces on pitch and chip shots. On putts, the difference in feel is negligible. DISTANCE AVX delivered 300rpm less spin off the tee, which will add distance for some, and flew lower with less carry but more run. On-course testing proved total distance was similar to Pro V1x. CONTROL While AVX didn't quite have the short-game spin of Pro V1 or Pro V1x, it was 3-5 yards longer with all irons and flew a touch higher, offsetting the lower spin in terms of stopping…

Compared with XR 16, the XR Speed looks more modern, feels and sounds more explosive and has the added performance to back it up. The majority of handicaps, after a shaft/loft fitting, will be surprised at the distance and forgiveness on offer for under £350. For us, it didn’t quite reach the heights of Rogue, but it was only a few yards short and felt just as solid. The lighter feel meant we struggled to control the clubface at times, but our club speed did increase and slower swingers should see the benefits of the faster design.…

STYLING By modern standards the look is quite traditional, with clean and supple leather featuring inside and out. The hollow midsection is unusual but adds flexibility, while the three stripes bring a touch of class. TRACTION Very impressive in all conditions, thanks to the ten cleats combined with the different shapes and sizes of nubs across the outsole, which also assist with green friendliness. This cleated shoe is for golfers who like traditional styling as well as excellent grip, comfort and stability. Key technology A re-engineered 360Wrap now features a gap between the arch of your foot and the sole, which aids independent flexibility between the heel and forefoot. A Climaproof treatment on the leather uppers provides waterproof protection, while Boost cushioning under the heel and forefoot increases comfort.…

Bushnell’s laser speed and accuracy is well known, but to have the extra GPS information available assists further with strategy and creating a clearer picture of what lies ahead without slowing play. The GPS and laser technologies work in tandem, both being useful in a variety of situations. Off the tee, the GPS provides hazard information while the laser picks out trees or bunker lips that need to be avoided or carried. Into greens, the front and back distances reveal how far on the green the pin is positioned, which helps with club selection and is something a traditional laser can’t tell you. Having this displayed in the viewfinder makes it quicker to decide on your approach. The flag is easy to pick out from the background and the GPS…

I've had my fair share of chipping nightmares over the years. Every club from my 6-iron to lob wedge has fallen in and out of favour, I've overcome the chipping yips on multiple occasions (one of my proudest achievements in golf) and I've changed my technique more times than Tiger Woods has won Majors. Admittedly I'm no golf pro, but I've learned a lot from my experiences and I can't help feel that I've reached a turning point with my short game. It was after a particularly adventurous practice session with my trusty 54° wedge and a conversation with short-game expert James Ridyard in preparation for this column that I came to a decision on the age-old question of which club to chip with. Let me enlighten you... Chipping is…

Photography: Chris Catchpole Hollow game-improvement irons are making a bit of a comeback, but this time around, we’re seeing a move away from large, hybrid-style designs in favour of new models with sleeker looks. The Ping G700, which launched in January at £149 per iron (steel), replaced the G-Max model with something more visually appealing. It’s chiefly been built to offer maximum distance and forgiveness for mid- to high-handicappers. Its hollow-body construction allows for deeper weighting for a higher trajectory, while a thin face is even more flexible than the one on the G-Max iron to generate impressive distance. In a unique twist, though, it offers muscleback-style looks, which are normally sacrificed in game-improvement clubs to create forgiveness. Achieving this blend was possible via subtle toe and shaft weights that…

HAYLING Hampshire Surprisingly, the central region of England's south coast has practically nothing in the way of true links. This makes Hayling an extremely welcome exception, with the club dating back to 1883. Since then, its ever-improving course has benefited from the architectural expertise of JH Taylor, Harry Colt and Tom Simpson, and the par of 71 presents a stiff challenge with some particularly tough two-shotters. There are excellent views out to sea and over the Isle of Wight, both while playing and from the stylish and welcoming art-deco clubhouse. W: haylinggolf.co.uk GF: Round: £75; Day: £90 ROSSLARE County Wexford Located on the water's edge not far from the ferry terminal in Ireland's extreme southeasterly and driest corner, this Taylor and Hawtree collaboration is a very enjoyable seaside test. Originally…

Photography: Tom Miles And so the caravan moves on to Carnoustie. Before then, however, time to pause and to savour Shinnecock Hills. There is much to savour. For the record, I'm very much in favour of the United States Golf Association. Yes, some of them can be a wee bit pompous in a blazer and tie, old school, buttoned up to the neck and beyond sort of way, but their hearts are in the right place when it comes to the old game. They do, of course, model themselves on our own Royal and Ancient gang, only these days they are more R&A than The R&A which is quite amusing. The only time they wander into the wider public consciousness is during the US Open. Often enough they do so…