If there's one thing every golfer can use, it's a good piece of golfing advice. When The Wall Street Journal wanted scientific advice on swings, slices, and putts, it found the answers at UNCG. The front page of the Journal's special golf section on Monday, April 18th 2005, prominently featured Bob Christina, dean emeritus of the School of Health and Human Performance, discussing his research on such topics as curing a slice and the most effective practice methods.
The following are excerpts from the article:
"Professor Christina had heard all the stories and knew all the lore about the best way to cure a slice, the most frequent of all golfers curses. He also knew that many teaching pros thought that science and golf went together about as well as a putter and a tee shot"
"Professor Christina asked 100 teaching pros for their favorite cures, and right away realized he was in the realm of folklore. "There were like 18 different drills being used," he says." His research showed the best cure is the toe-in-drill, "in which you rotate your forearms during the downswing to close the club face and halt your swing just before impact, making sure the toe of the club head is leading the heel."
"Satisfying as it is to feel that you're really tagging it and getting into a groove by driving dozens of balls or sinking scores of putts without a break, new research by Professor Christina shows that it's unlikely to help you much on an actual course." Practicing with periodic rests produces better results."
UNCG has a rich golf heritage. Ellen Griffin, one of the sport's most renowned instructors, was a long-time faculty member and a graduate of the Woman's College. LPGA Hall of Fame member Carol Mann is an alumna and member of the UNCG Athletics Hall of Fame. The school's Hall of Fame also includes Marge Burns, an alumna who won the North Carolina state amateur title an unprecedented 10 times. UNCG's first national championship was won by the women's golf team in 1973.
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