====================================================
Newsletter - Issue 97 Date 05/17/09
====================================================



====================================================
Equipment - Books - DVD's - Instruction 
====================================================


I have been reading all the good books on Putting that I can get my hands on,
and the best by far has been The Putting Bible by Dave Pelz.

What I like about it is that Pelz was a NASA scientist who quit to try to 
become a Tour Pro, wasn't quite good enough, so then he became a
golf teacher.

He approaches golf like it's rocket science in that he use the scientific 
method  to test his hypothesis.  He tests, analyzes, then makes decisions and 
recommendations.

As a result, I think that what he recommends is very accurate.

If you don't want to "know too much" about putting, then skip the book...
but if you have a keen interest in that aspect of the game give it a read.

Two thumbs up for "The Putting Bible" by Dave Pelz.


====================================================
TCT Quick Tips - Quitting on Chips 
====================================================


Avoid quitting on a chip. Practice a short backswing and long follow 
through and always hold the finish.

In fact, hold the finish on all your shots.  It usually tells the tale if 
the shot went wrong.


====================================================
Golf Tip : Spike Replacement
====================================================


This isn't exactly a golf technique tip - but since we all know that
it's important to care for the two grips in golf - the grip our hands 
use and the grip our feet use, I think you'll find this tip to be very useful.

Earlier this week I decided to take the time to replace the spikes in two sets 
of golf shoes.  I got most of the spikes out, but there were two spikes on each 
shoe that were not coming out easily.  I tried everything - the spike wrenches at 
the BCC Pro Shop, a ratcheting spike wrench with extra long prongs that I had 
at home - and nothing was working on these particular spikes.  

They were all located in the area of the sole where the spikes were getting turned
into the spike anchor because of my body turn during my golf swing.

I was totally frustrated, but took a moment to analyze the problem.  

I figured that the spikes wouldn't come out partially because they were turned in 
extra tight because of my swing, and partly because dirt and mud had worked their 
way into the anchor and had effectively cemented the spikes to the anchor threads.

So I came up with an idea - I poured a little bit of very hot water into a 
pan, and placed each shoe into the pan for five minutes.  I had just enough water in 
the pan to submerge the spikes in question.  After letting each shoe sit for 5 minutes,
I tried my spike wrench again, and they each came out easier than the ones 
I was able to remove earlier.

The hot water turned the dirt cement back into loose mud, and it worked like a charm.

Before you give up on putting new spikes in your shoes because of a couple 
that won't come out, try this - it really works!

Enjoy,

Tom