Srixon’s New Yellow-Greenish Golf Ball
SRIXON’S NEW YELLOW-GREENISH GOLF BALL
If you’ve read recent articles in GolfWeek, Golf World, or on PGATour.com you may have seen Srixon’s new yellow-greenish golf ball. You also may have seen Tim Clark play this ball this week in Match Play. And don’t be surprised to see Vijay Singh, Boo Weekley, or Jim Furyk switch to this ball in the near future as well. Why in the world would these guys possibly switch to this new color? Wasn’t that a thing of the 80′s? It was, but it could be making a comeback. I’ll explain why.
First of all, the yellow-greenish golf ball is easier to see. This is a fact as many studies have shown. But why do you need to see the ball better when it’s not moving? Well, studies have shown that being easier to see gives you more confidence and it’s also much easier to see from a distance. This will make your ball easier to find when searching for it as well. This color-switch really isn’t anything new. Football goal posts went from white to yellow, the tennis ball went from white to yellow, and many softballs have gone from white to yellow. This color is easier for the eyes to pick up.
Second, this yellowish color has a calming effect. Other studies have shown that the color yellow has a calming effect on our minds. Being calmer on the course is something that can probably help all of us.
Now, am I going to switch to this ball? I will know shortly. I’m meeting with the Cleveland/Srixon rep this week and he’s going to give me a few to try. If I see a difference, I may switch, but it would have to be noticeable. Either way, it’ll certainly be interesting. I’m looking forward to it and I’ll let you know my thoughts after I try this new ball.
Set 10 Goals For 2010 To Improve Your Game
2010 GOALS
Would you like to be a more consistent and better golfer this year? Would you like to shoot your best round ever? How about lowering your scoring average by a shot or two? I know I’d love to accomplish all of those. And guess what, I’m going to make 10 goals for myself this year to help me achieve these goals.
Each year I write down 10 goals that I’d like to achieve for the year. Some of the goals I make aren’t very difficult while others are. Some are more achievable than others, but they’re all possible. I wouldn’t make a goal for this year to win the Masters, per say, because there’s zero chance I’ll be playing in it. However, one of my goals may be to play in the U.S. Open. While very difficult to achieve, there is a possibility that I could qualify for it.
Here’s what I would recommend for some of your goals. Make them specific, measurable, and attainable. Writing down that’d you like to be more consistent won’t accomplish anything. Practicing every Thursday evening for an hour after work would help become more consistent. Becoming a better bunker player is not a good goal. Getting up and down 40% of the time out of the bunkers could be a nice goal for you. Specific. Measurable. Attainable.
Personally, I make a few of my goals average in difficulty, a few more slightly above that, and the last few very difficult. I try to push myself to different levels by making some of my goals more challenging. This exercise should be fun, but also a nice test of your inner strength. At the end of the year, check your list to see how you did. Hopefully, you can look back at 2010 as a success. Good luck!
Pinch Pennies For A Better Grip
PINCH PENNIES FOR A BETTER GRIP
Here’s a quick tip to grip the golf club better. Grab a couple of pennies. Place the pennies between your thumb and index finger on both hands. You don’t have to squeeze the pennies real hard, just enough to keep them in place. Next, grip a golf club keeping the pennies there. After gripping the club, check to see where pennies are aligned.
Where should they be aligned? I like to see the pennies parallel to each other pointing towards the right shoulder area. Some people prefer a slightly stronger or weaker grip than this, and that’s ok. You’re grip is generally a function of your golf swing. The key, in my opinion, is that the pennies are parallel to each other. This means your hands are working together. Golf is hard enough as it is, you don’t really want your hands fighting each other during your swing.
Why will this help you? One, this will get your grip more in the fingers of your hands. Two, having the area snug between your thumb and index finger allows your wrists to hinge better. And three, it’s easy to see if the pennies are aligned together (You may have heard about the “V’s” in your hands pointing to the same area. This is same thing. The “V” is your thumb and the area half way up your index finger that forms the letter V).
To summarize, grab a couple of pennies and work on your grip prior to the season. This tip is both simple and cost-effective, and can certainly go a long way towards making you a better golfer. Give it a shot!
About
KYLE VOSKA, PGA PROFESSIONAL
I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from St. Michael’s, St. Xavier, and Miami University. After graduating from Miami with a Finance degree, I moved to Florida to pursue my professional golf dreams. After a few successful years and a couple of difficult years, I stopped playing full-time. After a year of caddying on the LPGA Tour for Young Jo, Kim Williams, and Angela Stanford, I moved back home to Cincinnati. Currently, I live near Sharonville with my lovely wife, Lindsay, our kids, Maclin and Ellie, and our dog, Nora.
Teaching golf for over a year in Florida and having taken and watched many lessons from PGA Certified Master Teaching Professional Carl Rabito, becoming a golf instructor was something I really wanted to do. Fortunately, I was able to find a home at Sharon Woods Golf Course in Cincinnati, my old home from the 90′s, to further this new career path. As I enter my 6th season as a golf professional, I’m excited how my role is taking shape. I assist in managing and supervising a staff of nearly 40 while teaching golf lessons to over a 100 students. Hopefully, someday I’ll have the opportunity to mentor some future golf professionals like myself.
Email: kvoska@hotmail.com
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- PGA Member – June, 2009
- 2008 PGA National Assistants Champion
- 43 Professional Tournament Victories
- 2010 Southern Ohio PGA Section Player-of-the-Year
- 2010 Southern Ohio PGA Southwest Chapter Player-of-the-Year
- 2009 Cincinnati Chapter Match Play Champion
- 2009 Southern Ohio PGA Assistant’s Champion
- 2001 and 2010 Southern Ohio PGA Open Champion
- 2000 PGA Buick Open Contestant
- 1998 Miami Athlete-of-the-Year
- 2-Time NCAA Division I All-American
- Mid-American Conference Sportsman and Player-of-the Year (1998)
- 2-Time Cincinnati Met Amateur Champion (1997, 1998)
- Cincinnati Met Amateur Medalist and Runner-Up (1996)
- NCAA low scoring average on Par 3′s (2.91) in 1998
- Low competitive round – 62 (3 times): Four Bridges CC (’01), Oasis CC (’09), and Juniper Hills GC (’02)
- Low non-competitive round – 61: Browns Run CC – White tees
- Won a 54-hole Developmental Players Tour event by 9 shots shooting 19 under par with no bogies (64,64,69)
- 4 career Holes-in-One and 3 career double eagles
MY PGA MENTORS:
Tom Bach – Head Professional at Sharon Woods Golf Course
George Long – Kenwood CC PGA Professional/Head Pro at The Mill Course (17 Years)
Carl Rabito – PGA Certified Master Teaching Professional (Top 100 Instructor)
Mike Bender – 2009 PGA National Teacher-of-the-Year (Top 100)
Craig Shankland – 2001 PGA National Teacher-of-the-Year (Top 100)
Jim Suttie, Ph.D - 2000 PGA National Teacher-of-the-Year (Top 100)
Bill Madonna – Bill Madonna Golf Academy (Top 100)
Andrew Park – The David Leadbetter Golf Academy
Chris Toulson – Jim McLean Golf School at Doral
As you can see, I’ve been very fortunate to have learned from some of the best PGA Professionals in the country. I feel privileged to pass on the wealth of knowledge I’ve gained from spending time with these great gentlemen.
