Ronald Bruce Romberg Profile

Do you struggle with your bunker play? This may be because you are
being given the wrong information. The technique that a (usually)
stronger man will use in a greenside bunker is often the kiss of death
for most women golfers, who generally have a lower club head speed.

Have you been told to open your clubface? Open your body? Swing
the club more up on the back swing? All of these suggestions work great
for Vijay Singh and even Annika Sorenstam because these players
generate tremendous speed. They don't work for the average female
golfer, who cannot even begin to relate to this power game and would
simply be happy to be able to get out of the bunker and onto the green
most of the time.

Players with slower club head speed often struggle with bunker
play. Because the sand acts as such a buffer between the club and the
ball, it's necessary to generate a minimum of speed to be able to
extract the ball along with some of the sand.

Bunker play tips

Set up so that you will be able to splash the sand:

* Hold your hands high on the grip of the club. By placing your
hands toward the top of the handle, you maximize the length of your
sand wedge, which will help it to be able to hit the sand firmly.

* Position your golf ball in line with the instep of your forward
foot, just like a tee shot. Playing your ball more forward in your
stance will help to position the ball later in the swing so that the
club head will enter the sand before striking your golf ball.

* Dig your feet into the sand. Digging your feet into the sand
also helps to lower the bottom of your swing and will help you to
contact the sand before the ball and helps to ensure a nice long divot
in the sand. A divot in the bunker is ideally 12 to 15 inches long.

The necessary adjustments for low club head speed players are:

* A square face at address. You will not want to open the face of
the sand wedge since this will produce more loft and less distance and
due to the fact that you do not generate a lot of speed for most bunker
shots you will need all of the distance possible.

* A square stance. In other words, your feet should be parallel
to the target line just as they are for a normal full swing. Due the
fact that you will not open the club face to maximize the distance it
won’t be necessary to open your stance.

* A little attitude with a full finish. Since the sand acts as
such a buffer between the club face and the ball, it will be necessary
for the low club head speed player to take what feels like a very full
swing with a full finish. To ensure that the swing has all the speed
that you are able to generate, you will lift your trailing foot so that
your heel comes up as your body turns forward and as the foot rotates
up to the toe.

* Change to a less lofted club for greater distance splash shots.
If you don't generate a lot of swing speed you will find that your
splash shot with your sand wedge won't travel far, maybe only eight to
10 yards. If this is the case you will need to change to a less lofted
club, like a pitching wedge or a gap wedge, for your longer splash
shots.

By having a plan that will work for your game and club head speed,
you'll have more success. When you know how to handle a greenside
bunker and you are less worried about going into one, you may be
surprised how much less often you find yourself there.

Ronald Bruce Romberg Contact

Have you ever had the yips?

No. I've worked with a number of golfers who have, and I'm a
technical advisor to the German Science and Motion Academy headed by
neuroscientist Dr Christian Marquardt, who is highly regarded on the
PGA Tour and the European Tour for his high-tech medical approaches to
the yips in golf.

You've written that you've taken more than 3.5 million putts. Are you obsessed with putting and, if so, how did it start?

Fifteen years ago, I decided to learn how to putt, as part of
learning golf. Once I started delving into the books, articles, and
tapes on putting, I discovered that the existing lore is vague,
inconsistent, and repetitive, and only rarely gets beyond the rudiments
of talking about what should happen in good putting to describing
insightfully how to do it. This irritant sparked me to survey the
entire lore of putting since the beginning to today in search of simple
answers to simple questions, and to try out the various suggestions,
tips, and drills, in a daily regimen of putting between two to five
hours every day.

I found that the books and magazines just don't come to grips with
these basic questions: How does a person read a putt? What happens in
accurate targeting and aiming? What is the relationship between setup
and targeting and between setup and stroke movement? What is an optimal
stroke and how is it best performed for accuracy and consistency? How
does a person best control the distance of his putts? The great players
and teachers of the past decades have a lot to say about different
techniques and preferences, and even about the physics of putting, but
the missing element has always been about how the brain and body
actually work for targeting and stroke movement. So in my daily putting
explorations, I have been incorporating in-depth research into how the
brain functions in putting, and what this means for techniques,
learning, and teaching.

My objective is to be the best putting instructor in the history
of the game, so I am committed to mastery of the art and science of
putting as a student, teacher, and golfer. Steve Lowry, noted
commentator on the martial arts, has written about how the regimen of
practice towards mastery becomes second-nature, and George Leonard,
well-known golf teacher and akido expert, has written similarly that
the master loves the journey itself. I love what I'm doing and I "work"
very hard at it.

How are the other parts of your game?

Not bad. I now have a pretty good driver shot, hit my irons pretty
straight, but I need a lot of work on chipping and bunker play.

What are your thoughts on "long putters?"

I have seen some golfers use long putters with great skill and
effectiveness, and that makes me want to understand what is going on in
the targeting and stroke movement processes that is different from
those involved with conventional putting style. On the one hand, I
agree with Arnold Palmer that golf needs to be fun for the amateur, and
equipment that promotes success for the amateur should be allowed with
only modest restrictions on gimmickry. On the other hand, I'm also a
traditionalist when it comes to competitive golf, so I tend to agree
with Ernie Els and others that equipment-based differences that make
the human task substantially different between competitors should be
disallowed. If at the professional level at least the consensus arises
that long putters in comparison to conventional putters involves a
significant unfair advantage, then either everyone should use them or
no one should use them.

But I don't think long putters really present a significant
advantage just from the nature of the design or the technique of use.
Sure, some golfers benefit from switching to a long putter or a belly
putter, but this doesn't mean a golfer with a conventional putter needs
to switch in order to outperform those with long putters -- clearly,
golfers using conventional putters typically outperform those using the
long or belly putter. The take-away lesson from Vijay Singh's
magnificent year in 2004 is that using the belly putter is a very good
way to learn how to get better with a conventional putter. What's the
most difficult putt you've ever made?

To me, all putts are the same basic task of effective targeting
and stroke control for line and distance, and I give the same effort on
a short straight putt as I do on a long monster snake of a putt. I
especially enjoy the challenge of staying committed to a target outside
the hole on a mid-range putt involving subtle touch. My most
astonishing successful putt to date was a 250+ foot putt to a 4.25 inch
"cup" on Daytona Beach in June 2000. Tom Olsavsky of Taylor Made Golf
had just given me a new Rossa "Daytona" putter and I was trying it out
on the fine-grained sand of Daytona Beach shortly thereafter. As it
happens, the surface there stimps above 15, faster and truer than
Augusta National on a Sunday in early April! The beach can be as wide
as 500 feet on occasion and slopes around 2.5 to 3 percent. At low
tide, I dug a small '"cup" at the top of the high-tide line and then
walked down to the water's edge, over 85 paces, and putted two balls
uphill to the cup, located at the feet of a man in a lounge chair who
was nursing a beer. The first ball I blasted uphill and it then slowed
and eventually toppled casually into the cup. The second putt missed a
foot to the right.

What do you tell yourself when you miss a short, easy putt?

It depends. If I did what I needed to do to give the putt its best
chance of sinking and it still missed, that's just "the rub of the
green"-something beyond my current ability to control. I then take
another look to see if I can find out what I might should have seen
beforehand, if anything, so I can improve. If the miss was within my
ability to control, then I made a bad putt on that occasion --
something in my effort wasn't as good as it could have been. Then I try
to assess why I didn't put forth my best effort, so I can improve and
reduce the number of times I have this less-than-best effort, but
otherwise I accept that these letdowns will occur and move on. As Tony
Lema once said, just because I missed a putt on the last green doesn't
mean I have to pull my next drive out of bounds.

What is the first thing you look for when analyzing a student's putting stroke?

A general comfort level with the task. Some veteran golfers who
lack this are very good learners of changes in technique that bring
welcomed comfort with it. Some novices who have this comfort are easily
molded towards a technique that preserves the comfort. Veteran golfers
who are comfortable with sub-optimal putting are the greatest teaching
challenge.

What is the most common putting mistake for newcomers to the game?

Misunderstanding how little effort should be used in making a good stroke.

What is the most common putting mistake advanced players make?

Believing they are good enough putters not to worry about getting
much better, and instead focusing on maintaining their present level of
skill out of fear of going backwards.

How can you help the golfer who has absolutely no athletic ability?

By showing him or her how normal adult skills, like reaching the
hand out and opening a door or turning to pick up a glass of water on a
nearby table, really underlie top athletic performance, and that the
decades of experience with these processes of the brain and body can be
used quite instinctively in sports to great effect, with appropriate
guidance and practice.

Why did you decide to become a golf instructor?

Golf is choked with swing teachers, but top putting coaches are as
rare as hen's teeth. I'm independent and driven to be the best there is
in the world at what do, and I love learning and teaching and helping
people enjoy a high degree of success in golf. I am probably some sort
of nurse.

What's your own handicap?

As a professional teacher, I don't have a USGA handicap for
amateur competition. For a while, my game was down near scratch, but
that was when I was playing 54 holes a day, four or five times a week
on the same golf course. These days, I certainly expect to break 80,
think of myself in terms of a "single-digit" handicap, but don't get
too upset if I shoot higher. But I plan on getting a lot better!

Ronald Bruce Romberg Bio

Ronald Bruce Romberg:

Here's a simple tip to control your shots more effectively around
the greens. Set up with a narrow stance keeping your weight placed on
your forward foot and remember to keep the shaft leaning toward the
target (hands slightly ahead of the ball).

Next try choking down on the grip as this will help you gain
control and increase feel. You want to be sure to keep the clubface
square and feel like you are brushing the ground during the swing.

The key to consistent chipping is a smooth motion that allows the clubface to just nip the ball off the ground.

Let the loft of the clubface get the ball in the air, don't try to
"help" the ball up! Feel as though you are throwing the ball underhand
toward the hole.

Practice throwing golf balls underhand to the hole then using the
set-up described above try the same underhand motion when you chip.

Chipping is all about getting the proper feel of the chipping
motion. If you practice this tip for five minutes before every round of
golf you will be sure to lower your scores.

Bruce Romberg Articles

Ronald Bruce Romberg

Bruce Romberg

Have you ever noticed that the most demanding shot, the fairway
wood, is generally the most commonly used in women’s golf? This means
that to score well, you will need to be relatively proficient with your
fairway woods. To make these shots even harder, many of the finer golf
courses cut the fairway grass very short, also requiring more a more
precise golf swing.

Here are some suggestions to improving your fairway woods:


Check you ball position

Your ball position for a fairway wood should be just left of the
center of your stance, or in line with the left logo on your shirt.
Notice this is not as far left as your ball position would be if you
were hitting a wood from a tee. This places the ball in the flatter
part of the golf swing and should make it easier to sweep the ball off
of the turf.

Use a more lofted fairway wood

Do you remember when Callaway came out with the Heavenwood? It was
basically a 7 wood with a longer shaft. The 7 wood is a very friendly
fairway wood that should still provide you with respectable distance,
but the club’s added loft and not overly long shaft make it easier to
experience more success. Choose a fairway wood that you can actually
have success and for the little bit of distance you might sacrifice;
you will probably gain right back in your increased consistency.


Be sure that your practice swings sweep the grass

Your practice swing should sweep the grass. If your practice swing
does not sweep the grass, you are in essence practicing topping the
ball, and you should take another until you do brush the turf. My
preference is that if you do take a practice swing, you only take one.
So if missing the turf and re-swinging becomes a constant occurrence,
actually practice your practice swings. A great goal is to be able to
take 10 practice swings in a row that sweep the grass.


Try the scrape drill

A great drill to help improve contact for fairway woods is the
scrape drill. You will do this without a golf ball. Start in your
address position and take no backswing. Practice scraping the grass
toward the target on a slight semi-circle to the left for about 12 to
18 inches. The club head should be low to the ground like on a normal
fairway wood shot, so this will help you to feel the proper motion.

About Bruce Romberg


About Bruce Romberg:

Ask professional golfers on tour what swing mechanics they work on
the most and the majority of players will say ball position and
alignment.

The proper ball position and alignment start when you address the
golf ball. If you are lined up incorrectly, your body feels this and
makes you change your swing path to correct this faulty alignment.
Also, if you have the ball positioned too far forward or too far back
in your stance, it leads to inconsistent and poor golf shots.

Most golf instructors agree if you start your swing with the
proper alignment and ball position, you have an excellent chance of
hitting good shots. So, if you are out of alignment and the ball is
positioned incorrectly, it is almost impossible to consistently hit
quality golf shots.

Here are a few tips that will effectively help adjust your body into the correct position at address:

First, face your target and take a step toward it with your left
foot (for right-handed golfers). Now, from this position, turn your
body to the right until your shoulders and chest are aligned parallel
to your target. You will now be properly aligned to the target, and
your feet will be the proper distance apart at the address position.

Next, hold you arms out in front of your chest shoulder width
apart and clap. Where your hands come together is where they should be
at address position and also where the ball should be played in your
stance.

Now, using your normal grip, take your 5 iron and hold the club
straight out in front of your waist. Next, bend over from the waist
until the bottom of the club rests squarely on the ground. From this
position, slightly bend your knees like you are about to sit on a
chair.

To get a feel of what I mean, practice leaning forward from the
waist so your arms hang straight down in front of you - remember to
keep your back straight, don't hunch over. From this position add some
knee flex. (This is where you grab your 5-iron to judge how much lean
and knee flex you need when addressing the ball.) In your golf swing,
as you swing back and through the ball, it's critical that you try to
maintain this position (spine angle) during the golf swing.

When you hear golf announcers on TV talking about how tour players
retain their spine angle through impact, they are commenting on how
these players are returning the club to the same position they started
with at address. This is why it is so important to start with a good
set-up, proper alignment and proper ball position.

Ronald Bruce Romberg Info

It's important to understand that a good golf swing starts with
good fundamentals at address; the proper grip, posture and alignment
lead to well-hit golf shots.

Good players constantly work on these fundamentals in order to
play at a high skill level. The following information will help all
golfers improve in this area:


Golf swing fundamentals: Grip

Your grip controls the angle of the clubface at impact, which
determines a shot's direction, or curvature. For example, if the ball
tends to slice (curve to the right), the clubface is open upon impact.

This is likely caused because your grip is too weak (your hands
are rotated too far to the left on the grip). If your ball tends to
hook (curve to the left), the clubface is closed upon impact, probably
because your grip is too strong (your hands are rotated too far to the
right on the grip). The proper grip allows you to square the club face
upon impact with the ball.

Generally speaking, if your ball is slicing to the right you
should turn your hands to the right on the grip. Conversely, if your
ball is hooking to the left, you should turn your hands to the left on
the grip. Golfers' should establish a grip that works best for them,
one that minimizes a shot's curvature and maximizes consistent results.


Golf swing fundamentals: Posture

Good posture encompasses the stance, spine angle and distance from the ball at address.

Stance, at the address position: For full shots with woods, long
and middle irons, your feet should be as far apart as the outside of
your shoulders. For short irons, chips and pitches, you should move
your feet closer together. The shorter the shot, the closer together
your feet should be.

Spine Angle: This relates to the forward bend of the upper body
toward the ball. Bend from the hips (as if you were about to sit down
in a chair) sticking out your butt and pushing out your chest. Slightly
flex your knees to place the club head behind the ball. Your weight
should be centered over the ball.

The key to a good golf swing is to maintain this spine angle throughout the swing.

Distance from the ball at address: Most golfers reach out too far
for the ball or are too close to the ball at address. Let the arms hang
down from the shoulders (a good rule of thumb is to have your hands
directly under your chin at the address position). This helps set up
and maintain good posture throughout the swing.


Golf swing fundamentals: Alignment

Alignment begins with setting a target line. Start by setting the
club face behind the ball so the face is square to the target. From
here, place the feet, shoulders and hips parallel to the target,
creating a target line.

An example would be the two rails of a railroad track, the outer
track is the target line and the inside track is the body line. The
lines (tracks) both need to be lined up to the target for consistent
ball striking.

Remember the proper grip, posture and alignment set-up are the foundation of a good golf swing

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