Editors Note: Each week, we receive hundreds of questions for our PGA Experts. Though we can't answer every one of them, we will take some of the most illuminating and beneficial questions and have one of the top authorities from the PGA of America to answer them for you. We are in the process of finding ways for more experts to answer more of your questions! Thank you for your support and keep the questions coming!

Instruction: Jim Hardy, PGA National Teacher of the Year

Q: I am hitting my shots off the back foot. Whar are some drills to helpe transfer to the left side?
dave

A: Golfers who hit off their back foot do so because their angle of attack into the ball is too steep and by hitting off their back foot they have a chance to level the clubhead out and hit the back of the ball instead of chopping into the ground. To cure this you must first shallow out (level out) your angle of attack into the ball and then start standing more on the forward leg. The two best ways of swallowing your swing are to either flatten out your backswing and downswing plane or by swinging more from the inside-out in the downswing. Either approach will get you less steep and will allow you to transfer your weight onto your lead foot.

Q: Im not a beginner i consistently shoot in the mid 80's but am trying to take my mental game to the next level. I feel i am physically capable of shooting in the 70's but cannot overcome the mental aspect of the game. I become really frustrated when i hit a bad shot and thats the beginning of my high score. I try to block it out obviously, but it stays with me. I like to play competitively, just not with myself. So is there any help i can get for this problem or is it just something i have to take care of myself? I would really like to get past this problem, i feel i have the potential to be a better player. Any help would be appreciated.
troy

A: The book I would suggest you read to help you overcome mental obstacles is "Golf's Sacred Journey" written by Dr. David Cook. You can find it on-line at the linksofutopia.com.

Equipment: Tom Henderson, PGA Professional & Master Club Fitter

I'm short in stature,only 5'3" how do I figure the best club size, do I need custom clubs made?
john

A: John: Sounds like you would be a perfect candidate for custom fit clubs.

Schedule a dynamic fit with a PGA Professional (preferably your instructor) who is well-versed in club fitting principles and who uses actual ball flight (outdoors) in the fitting process.

If your serious about improving your game, this would be money well spent.

Q: I am a high handicapper, age 58 and 4 seasons at the game (still lots to learn). I'm looking for a driver and I've heard a lot about shaft selection for a slower club speed like mine. My question is about loft. How do I know which loft to buy. I currently use a 10.5 loft on a HiBORE driver, and I hit it high but only about 150-175 yards. Would a 9 or 9.5 loft keep the ball lower and give me more distance? How do I know what loft to choose?
Lee Smith

A: Lee: Most golfers play with a driver that has too little loft. Unfortunately, those same golfers believe that less loft equates to more distance. Now this may be the case if you play your golf in Florida and Texas where the terrain is pretty dry and flat. However, in most conditions, more loft is optimal.

When selecting loft for your driver, have your PGA Professional watch you hit balls outdoors, observing actual ball flight. If a launch monitor is used along with ball flight, that's even better. You are looking for high launch and low spin. The ideal launch angle would be the equivalent of shot that has the look of a football being thrown 50 yards. A shot that "balloons" would have too much spin and a shot that "falls out of the sky" could use more spin to optimize launch angle.

In general, lower clubhead speeds require more loft to optimize distance while faster clubhead speeds would be a better match with a lower lofted club.

Rules: Brad Gregory, Vice Chairman of PGA Rules Committee

Stuck flagsticks are the responsibility of the putter, not the player tending the flagstick. (Getty Images)

Q: During a tournament a player was attending the flagstick for me. He was unable to remove the flagstick (he said it was stuck) before my ball dropped in the hole. No one was more surprised than me. That was the longest putt I have ever made, but I was so disappointed. I knew there would be a penalty. No one knew the Rule. This was a tournament and I was playing against this player. Who should receive the penalty and what is the penalty?
Russ Osborne

A: Unfortunately, you would receive the penalty. Under Rule 17-3a (The Flagstick; Ball Striking Flagstick or Attendant) If your ball strikes the attended flagstick, in match play you would lose the hole. In stroke play the ball is holed and you would add a two stroke penalty to the score for that hole.

Q: Is there a Rule concerning how many golf balls a player is allowed during a round?
roland morin

A: There are Rules that limit the player, during a hole, as to when he can substitute a ball. However, at the start of each hole and when permitted during play of a hole the player may put a new ball into play on each occasion.

Fitness: Dave Phillips, Titleist Performance Institute

Q: Where would I find a professional golf instructor/trainer who could teach me how to teach my clients exercises to improve their ability to play golf? I am willing to travel to Western States, ie: California, Arizona to take this instruction/lessons. Thanks Meena

A: Meena, If you are looking to learn golf specific evaluations and exercises then I would suggest you become a certified golf fitness trainer by going through the three level certification course offered by the Titleist Performance Institute. You can find more information at www.mytpi.com. If your just looking for a certified golf professional or trainier you can find one by going to www.mytpi.com and selecting the find a fitness professional tab on the main page. Dave