JGH Golf Balls Photo Pillow

Ridiculous Golf Item of The Week

Plane Truth For Golfers DVD Set

Jim Hardy’s The Plane Truth For Golfers is perhaps the best golf instruction book I’ve ever read. And the new DVD is the perfect companion piece.

Hardy’s basic thesis is that there are there are two separate and distinct types of golf swings: the one plane, and the two plane swing. Both are equally valid and equally effective. The trouble comes, Hardy says, when elements of the one swing are mixed with the elements of the other.

It’s a terrific theory—and everyone that I know who has read the book says that they have benefited from it. Hardy himself says that he expects that if you are able to isolate the elements of just one swing, you will see an immediate improvement. You can read my entire review of the book here.

If I had one criticism of the book when it was first released, it was that some of the concepts were difficult for me to visualize. What it really needed, I wrote in my review, was a DVD. Apparently, someone was listening, because Hardy has now released a three disk set.

On Tuesday Nov. 7, following the announcement of the new Ryder Cup selection process, your friendly neighborhood Golfblogger wrote:

I like the idea—especially in doubling the number of Captain’s picks. In fact, I think that ALL of the picks should be Captain’s picks.

Two days later, having apparently read the post, Tiger Woods offered a resounding second to the motion. In a Nov. 9 interview in China, Woods said:

“In an ideal world, if you want your best team you have 12 picks ... The more picks you can get, the better it is.”

The GolfBlogger is happy to have Woods endorse his concept and welcomes the World’s Greatest Player as a reader to the blog.

Xeon Centre Putter

The Pinemeadow Xeon Center Putter offers many of the features of the popular Yes! Golf C-Groove series at a fraction of the price. Like the Yes!, it’s got the circular grooved face that’s supposed to make the ball start rolling more quickly.

The club has an offset hosel to preposition the hands at address and a nice, rounded look at address. The position of the hosel over the blade is supplsed to force the weight of the club behind the ball at impact.

As with all clubs by Pinemeadow, this one comes with a 30 day guarantee.

It’s been a rough year for John Daly, as he has battled through physical injuries and has recently filed for divorce from his fourth wife four months after she finished serving time on federal charges involving an illegal gambling operation and a drug ring.

2007 is not shaping up to be any better. Finishing 193 on the money list, he will be without full playing privileges for the first time since 1991. That means he’ll have to rely on sponsors exemptions to have any chance of making it back on tour. I can’t imagine him going through Q school.

I have a lot of sympathy for Daly—probably because I know a guy who is a lot like him who has had similar run of bad judgment and bad luck. My friend is a large, friendly, somewhat naive, salt-of-the-earth kind of guy. He’s got a heart of gold that has led him to become the victim of several rather evil women. And he has suffered through a list of medical problems that you wouldn’t wish on your enemies. He doesn’t have Daly’s gambling addiction, or self destrictive tendencies, but my buddy makes me realize that there are some really good people for whom things just don’t ever seem to work out.

I imagine that Daly is a lot like that. He probably had the best of intentions when marrying his first wife—and his second—and his third—and his fourth. I’m sure he was completely unprepared for the fame and riches that were thrown at him following his bolt-out-of-the-blue victory at the 1991 PGA. His various addictions probably took him somewhat by surprise. And no one can plan for injuries which pop up at exactly the wrong time.

I hope that—for both my friend and for Daly—things finally settle down and the next year is better than the last few.

HANDRI Hand Dri Pouch

Wet conditions can lead to slippery grips. You don’t want to mess up your swing by hilding the club tighter, so you’ve got to do somethign about the slipperyness.

The Handri pouch contains a substance that soaks up moisture, making it easier to grip the club. The manufacturer says that its is equally effective at removing sunscreen from your nands and at restoring tackiness to grips. I’m putting this one on my Christmas gift wish list.

At the behest of Captain Paul Azinger, the US Ryder Cup team selection process has apparently undergone a much-need revision.

The major change is that eight players win automatic berths on the 2008 team via a points-list based on money earned at PGA Tour events held earlier that season.
Double points will be on offer at the four majors, with single points available at the 2007 majors.

In addition, the number of Captain’s picks has been increased from two to four.

The presumed advantage of this system is that it will stock the US team with the players that are playing their best just prior to the Cup. Under the previous system it was possible for a player to play very well two years before the Cup and then cool off in the Cup year, but still have enough points to get on the team.

Kenny Perry is the poster child for the flaws in the old system. He won three times in 2003 and played poorly in 2004, yet had enough points to get on the team. He lost both of the matches in which he played at Oakland Hills.

“I think this is the best way,” Azinger said. “Money has always been the barometer. We are always rewarded based on our earnings. I really wanted a one-year system because I just felt like something a little more current was going to be the best way to ensure that we had the hottest and best American players on the team”

I like the idea—especially in doubling the number of Captain’s picks. In fact, I think that ALL of the picks should be Captain’s picks. No more of this automatic berth nonsense. And if I were Captain, Tiger would not be one of my picks. Nor would Mickelson. All of my picks would be young, hungry guys who play with passion and joy and exuberance. Who won’t scare their teammates. And who can jump more than six inches off the ground when they sink the winning putt at a major.

And I’d try to get Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Stuart Appleby to become naturalized American citizens.

But all silliness aside, it’s about time something was done. I still have my doubts that it will make much of a difference, but it’s about the only thing that could be done.

Now we’ll see if Azinger can get the American players to focus.