CHUCK EVANS GOLF-Tips&Secrets Newsletter-Nov

How To Keep Your Game In Shape This Winter by: Chuck Evans, G.S.E.D.
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Just about the time we start playing decent golf it's time
to put the clubs away for the season! It's always the same year after year. Then when spring arrives we pull out the old sticks, blow the dust off and head to the range to try and re-capture that "magic" we had last fall. It takes ALL summer to get back in the groove and just when we think we have "it", whammo…it's time to stop again!

Now if you live in a warm climate year around then this doesn't affect you nearly as much. I remember when I worked in Denver, and Denver is a sports nut town, players would stay out until midnight hitting balls. A few years back when Colorado had one of the worst economies in the country, the golf courses and practice facilities were filled! But as soon as the Broncos started playing poof…the old clubs went back in the garage.

Well here's the good news, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY!
Except for the putter you won't even need a club to stay in "playing shape" during the "off-season". Here's what you'll need to stay sharp, learn clubface, clubhead, and clubshaft control.

1. (2) 48" 3/8 around dowels
2. (2) Rackets - tennis or badminton
3. (1) Flashlight or pocket laser

Use the dowels to establish your right and left "Flying Wedge" alignments.
The rackets are for learning left wrist and clubface control.
And the lights are for learning how to trace a straight plane line.

If all of this sounds like "greek" to you then visit our forum for more details on how these work.

Remember, it's your choice. Practice these drills and stay in playing shape or continue doing the same thing. Albert Einstein once said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."

Chuck Evans, G.S.E.D.

Use Your Festive Season Wisely by: Paul Smith, G.S.E.B.
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For all those in the USA I trust the Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot did not leave too many extra pounds around the middle. From what I remember Thanksgiving is when the weather really starts getting a little chilly to play golf in the northern parts so its time to contemplate what to do with our games in the Spring of 2005. Most people do not ever consider doing much with their clubs in the off-season and rush into the next year in a big hurry. There are a few things that can be done with will help you think about your game without having the pesky ball to distract you for a while.

First give your clubs a really good "winter clean". Yes, like your car they do get dirty. Grips collect oils off our hands, suntan cream, sweat, chocolate, coke, beer, muddy water, all of which need to be dealt with to keep the handle sticky - OK so coke helps I can hear someone say!
So warm up some water, get a little dishwashing liquid and a finger nail brush and give them a good scrub. Rubber grips that are not too old will come up nice and tacky again. If they do not, then go get some new ones. Cords will also perk up and the cotton if it is still in reasonable shape may indeed make the grip more comfortable.

Next, check out steel shafts for any little bends that may have found their way into the shafts (yes slamming the bag can do that). If a little kinked then either replace the shaft or find someone to straighten it out - my preference is to replace it.

Now we get to the heads. Clean out the grooves of all that muck that has ground its way in. Also clear and polish the faces up to make like new. If you have nicks on the bottom of the heads, give then a light grind polish up.

The biggest favor you can do for your game in winter is to get the lofts and lies checked on the irons. A heavy season can knock a good couple of degrees out of whack with forged clubs and softer investment cast metals too can get bent.
Take them to a clubmaker and have them checked out. It does not cost much and you will then know that it's the swing not the tools at the beginning of next season. Also this time of year most clubmakers are doing specials to keep the tills ticking over for this sort of job.

Your set is all ready to be stored for the few weeks of the festive season. And I can guess that as you are doing this tidy up you will be thinking about the various clubs that are in the bag - Which ones you like and the ones that do not work so well. Now you have a real checklist to work on for replacements rather than an emotional one out on the course.

Storage wise, try and keep any steel shafted clubs somewhere that they will not be subjected to large changes in temperature. Sheds that get frozen are a bad place for shafts as humidity changes can cause condensation in the shafts that leads to the dreaded rust word. Wonder what Santa will bring this year? A non compensated swing, Carey's clear mind and a nice shiny new wedge……………………………Pass the wine please.