With your irons in hand the contact you are looking for is ball first, turf second. Many amateurs think the divot is created beneath the ball but this is a misconception, the divot should only start once you have struck the ball.

Here is a great drill designed to help you find the ideal angle of attack that leads to a ball first, turf second contact. Place a tee peg in the ground just in front of your ball as shown here. Take your normal address position but instead of focusing on striking the ball, concentrate on clipping the tee. If you have been struggling with your ball striking, this drill should help you find the right angle of attack with your irons.

If your ball striking is causing you problems, don't try to play through it. Book a lesson with your local Foremost Golf professional to get back on track as soon as possible.

You might think the ability to hit fades and draws is something that only the best amateurs and professionals need to worry about. Whether or not you chose to use these shots out on the course, developing a feel for how to play them will give you a fantastic insight into how your swing path and clubface angle affect ball flight. Inevitably, there will also be one or two instances when trees or other objects get in the way and the ability to hit a fade or a draw will prove invaluable. So whatever your handicap, it is definitely worth dedicating some time to in practice.

The simple principle you need to understand is that the clubface angle determines where the ball flight starts and the swing path influences the curve of the shot. It is the difference between these two angles that will create the draw or the fade that you are looking for.

For a fade, aim the clubface just left of the target but set your body up aiming well to the left of the target. As you make a normal swing along the line of your body, the shots should start to the left and gently shape right through the air.

The opposite applies for a draw. Aim your clubface just right of your final target but set your body up aiming well to the right. From here, just make a normal swing and you should notice the ball shape right-to-left through the air.

For more advice on the technique and drills to develop this part of your game, please visit your local Foremost Golf professional. 

Good mid-iron play will unlock your birdie potential. However, if your striking is slightly off, a small loss of distance will leave you struggling to save par. Striking your irons as consistently as possible is important for every golfer - here's a good way of checking whether slight mis-hits are costing you shots.

Get some tape and stick it to the face of a your 8-iron. Now hit a handful of shots. The tape will highlight your strike pattern offering some important clues about your game. If you are hitting the ball slightly from the toe or heel (as shown here), you'll be giving up on a little distance.

New Irons Fitting

If you feel that your iron striking is off, please come go and see your local Foremost Golf professional. A lesson might be the best way to resolve some issues in your game and get you back on track. Alternatively, they will have a range of different iron models for you to try with the latest technology including some designed to forgive these mis-hits. It may also be that your set is not the right fit for you. Custom fitting will help you find irons that are the right length and that have the correct lie angle and shaft for your game. These are all very important so please ask for advice if you are unsure.

Why is it the best players in the world make bunker play look so easy? Well, the simple answer is that from a good lie in a greenside bunker you have more margin for error with the strike than with any other shot in the game. However, to become a consistently good bunker player you'll need to groove some important fundamentals.

With a driver in hand and the ball teed up, we tell players to set the ball forward in their stance. This ensures you strike the ball fractionally on the upswing to optimise the flight and maximise distance. From sand, you need to do the same, setting the ball forward in your stance. This will enable you to create a shallow angle of clubhead attack that strikes the sand before the ball. By doing this you can make a full, aggressive swing producing a high-flying, soft-landing shot.

Hit The Sand First 

One problem players have, even if they set the ball forward in the stance, is to let their attention become drawn towards the ball. You strike the ball before the sand and either thin it into the face or send it flying miles over the back of the green. A simple drill to help is to draw a line in the bunker behind the ball as shown here. All you need to do is concentrate on striking that line and you'll see just how softly the ball emerges. Give this drill a go, it's a great way of developing the right feel for greenside bunker play.

You only have space for 14 clubs in your bag so choosing the right ones to carry with you is essential. The really tricky area to get right is the bottom end of the bag. Do you carry two, three or four wedges? What are the ideal lofts? What exactly is bounce angle and how will it help? These are the questions you should all be asking and as club professional, I am here to help you make smarter decisions about which wedges to carry.

The obvious piece of advice is to carry a range of lofts that leave as few awkward pitching distances as possible. A popular option is to carry a set pitching wedge, a 52° gap wedge, a 56° sand wedge and a 60° lob wedge. However, this line-up may not be exactly right for your game and there are more than just these lofts available to make sure you can hit all the key distances when you pitch.

What is Bounce? (Picture 3)

The other main consideration is bounce. Before we get into the bounce angles you should be thinking about, first I need to explain what exactly it is. If you hold the wedge perpendicular to the ground and look at the head you'll notice how the sole angles down, below the leading edge of the face. The amount of the sole below the leading edge represents the bounce angle.

The bounce angle will help the club to glide through thick grass and sand without the wedge digging, losing energy and causing a duff strike. The simple rule relating to bounce is that the harder the surface, the less you need. From tight lies on the fairway, you need the leading edge to sit as close as possible so that you can nip in behind the ball. From fluffy lies in the sand or rough, more bounce will help the club retain speed through impact for those high-flying, soft landing shots. Having a squad of wedges with different lofts and bounce angles is the key to having a solution to every on-course scenario.

Of course, in order to use the bounce correctly, you'll need the right technique. For more advice please don't hesitate to visit your local Foremost Golf professional. 

FootJoy Hyperflex Golf Shoe

Soothing foam and extreme performance…

The entire concept of golfing footwear has been revolutionised in recent years and Footjoy have played a significant role in the vast improvements. We take a look at their latest offering for 2015…

The Hyperflex Golf Shoe is designed to bring unrivalled comfort to the wearer and carries an edgy contemporary style. It ticks all the specification boxes and then some…

On first inspection the shoe is clearly designed on two definite formats; a material breathable top and soft foam base.

The base is the second generation of Footjoy shoe to include Fine Tune Foam (FTF) technology that soothes the foot and relocated pressure points. It is more than simply a soft durable cushion layer allowing seamless traction between the turf and foot. The designers claim it adds a spring to the wearer’s step that encourages better posture and reduction on foot sores.

The base also extends beyond the width and length of the top section for added balance control and a larger walking pattern.

The top section of the shoe is ultralight with complete water tightness. It is a sturdy design which aids balance in the golf swing and supports the foot throughout the round. The mesh covering adds appeal and also allows for breathability.

The heel of the shoe is also larger, with the aim of further comfort to the back of the foot and extra support on each step. The entire shoe is raised meaning the player is elevated from the turf but it is not particularly noticeable during wear.

The shoe does come with the usual Footjoy waterproof guarantee.

The main concern with the design is keeping it clean in muddy conditions. It is packed with little crevices just asking to be cluttered with British mud.

The shoe has already been worn on tour by Hunter Mahan with excellent feedback. Footjoy make no pretence this eye catching styling will suit everyone. It is aimed at the modern player that enjoys exploring their golfing wardrobe and adding colour to their look.

Here at Foremost Golf we stock all leading shoe brands and the Hyperflex is no different. Read our reviews for more information or ask a member of the golf team.

We say embrace the slick new formula and your feet will agree…

What’s in the Bag?

Event – Hero Indian Open 

This week’s tour champion is Anirban Lahiri claiming the prize at the recent Indian Open. The 27 year old Indian fought off fellow native competition to win by one at seven under par.

What is most remarkable about this success is that Lahiri claimed the win without a driver in his golf bag. He follows the example of Phil Mickelson at the Open in 2013 claiming victory with a conservative approach in difficult conditions.

The win has moved the Indian up to 34 in the current world rankings.

Stats Don’t Lie…

The key to his victory was his short game, leading the event in putts in regulation. He averaged a remarkable 1.649 putts that proved decisive as the pressure built on the final day.

Despite the absence of the driver, he averaged 274 yards from the tee and found 60% of fairways. Although this appears lower than an average event winner, the course is notoriously narrow which is why he left the driver at home in the first place!

The Winners Bag…

Lahiri relied on his Callaway Diablo Edge Tour 3 Wood. It ensured he remained in play and provided the confident platform for success.

He successfully used his 5 wood, an X2 Hot from Callaway to compensate from playing further back and utilised a low punch shot frequently to great effect.

His Srixon Irons (Z Forged 725) allowed the champion to break par each day with quality approach play.

His most successful club was the Titleist SC GoLo M3 putter. Despite recovering well from hazards it was his blade that proved the difference.  

(Available 16th March)

The shoe that personifies golfing footwear class is coming to the UK and Foremost Golf.

The FootJoy Icon is currently worn by 50% of FootJoy Tour Pros and widely regarded as the most luxurious brand on the market. The shoe is not only defined by its legendary comfort but packed with footwear technology to generate leading sporting performance.

The marketing team at FootJoy stated: “We have no doubt that they [Icon Black] will strike a chord with the aspirational player seeking premium quality in their next purchase.”

It is without question the Ferrari of golfing footwear…

The Technology

The shoe sole is formed using Opti-Flex properties that allow seamless and flexible movement throughout the swing and general walking on the course.

The Golf Pulsar cleats from SoftSpikes are designed to be easily interchanged and offer numerous extreme points of contact with the ground which aid balance and movement through the golf swing. Each cleat has 8 spikes which grip the turf softly to protect the course but provide supreme performance.

The quality stitching between the base and leather segments ensures complete waterproofing with the FootJoy guarantee in place. This differs from many shoes where glue alone is used to seal the base to prevent ingress but reduces comfort and durability.

Everything about the manufacture is high end which is reflected in the detail and wear-ability of the shoes. Careful research was carried out on how to improve footwear performance and the result was this brand new format.

Performance – Why is it top of the range?

The upper leather section of the shoe is made from premium calf skin, adding comfort to the foot.

A stacked leather trim at the rear of the shoe completes the style, refining the shoe for a contemporary elegant look.

The interior contains a variety of additional padding to protect key areas, this includes the heel and arch to prevent sores building up.

The shoe also has the ability to allow internal moisture to escape, maintaining dryness at all times through various pours on the top of the leather. Breathability is key to shoe success.

Joining FootJoy Class

The shoe is available in two styles with a T-Toe Dress design in Black Patent and Tan Patent, the Split Toe Saddle will be available in White and Black.

As you would expect from premium footwear they are priced at the top end of the market, retailing at £300. What price do you place on comfort? Leading pros demand the best and so should you.

Foremost golf stock a variety of FootJoy golf shoes and offer great prices on the Icon Black model. Visit us today for details.

Become a trend setter and experience unrivalled comfort and performance with FootJoy. Happy feet equals better golf…

Event – True Thailand Classic presented by Black Mountain

Winner – Andrew Dodt

This week’s tour champion is Australian Andrew Dodt claiming his second career title in Thailand.  The victory came as a shock to bookmakers and the golfing public alike. Having only recently reclaimed his tour card via the qualifying school, he became the second graduate to win on tour this year (Indian Anirban Lahiri in Malaysia).

The 29 year old from Queensland held his nerve to win by one from compatriot Scott Hend and the home favourite Thongchai Jaidee. 

The foundation to his success was an immense tee to green performance over the four days and was a model consistency with the driver.

Stats Don’t Lie…

Hitting a remarkable 73.2% of fairways and an average distance of 301 yards, Dodt found salvation in the short stuff. He also found 79% of greens in regulation, tied 9^th in the field and 100% save success from sand traps.  

He averaged 28.3 puts per round, highlighting consistency with the blade throughout.

All round a solid performance making him a worthy, if unexpected champion.

The Winners Bag…

The coveted driver of the week is the Titlist 915 D3 producing a tournament of long, straight hitting in the heat.

Dodt is Titleist loyal, utilising the successful 714 CB Irons and Vokey SM4 Wedge Series. This was his ultimate strength of the week finding the heart of numerous greens providing extreme control.

His Newport 2 Putter helped the Aussie hold his nerve and sink the winning put after a solid week of holing out. 

When you are putting, pace is all-important. If you can't hit your putts at the right pace it doesn't matter how well you read the green or control the face through impact, you will never hole your share.

Before you head out in a competition, hit some long putts to no specific target. The idea is to get your balls to finish in a very tight dispersion. Once you've hit five balls into one area, choose another spot on the practice green to aim at and do the same. Then do it again. As you hit more putts your natural feel for the pace of the greens will improve. Then when you head out onto the course, you'll have a much better chance of hitting every putt at the perfect pace.

Selecting the right putter for your individual stroke is essential. If you are using the wrong type, you'll be giving away important shots. For some impartial advice on what to do, please go and see your local Foremost Golf professional.