This is a question I have answered many times on the lesson tee; the answer may surprise you.  The clues are easy to ascertain with the annoying marks on the leading top edge of the driver.  The photo below on the left illustrates the angle of attack on a skied shot and the vulnerability of the leading edge.  The photo on the right shows the correct contact point...it is important to remember the driver should be hit more on the upswing creating the launch effect.  Please note the two shaft angles at contact.   

Skying the ball is very much a function of reverse pivoting, or a player having the tendency to swing with too much weight on his front leg too early in the swing.   If you have a problem with skying, my sometimes quick fix is to get the player to take the club away more with his arms rather than hands; if done correctly you will feel your weight loading into your back leg/foot on the back swing.  (We call this a one piece takeaway)  Generally those who "sky the ball" are much "too handsy" at the start, or cocking or lifting the club too early.  I always tell my students, if the assent of the club from the ball is too steep you will have a tendency to tilt or lean forward creating the reverse pivot; this will cause the club path to be too severe on the downswing to the ball...producing skied shots.  The old saying, "take the club away low and slow" remains a steadfast positive swing thought.  

The first photo above illustrates the correct start position.  Ball is positioned off the leading heel.  (Reference...check out the marks on the cement flooring in relation to the feet and check the positioning of the clock).   Picture 2 illustrates the correct one piece takeaway.  The arms dominant, this keeps the club low on the takeaway; weight is loading correctly onto the back leg/foot.  (Check the position of the clock).   Picture 3 shows the reverse pivot in progress; too handsy in the takeaway, therefore the club assent from the ball  is to steep encouraging the player to tilt forward.  (Check the position of the clock).  

Did you know:

• There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball.
• Only 20% of golfers have a handicap less than 18.
• A Golf Hole is 4.25 Inches in Diameter.
• Approved golf balls leave the face of the driver at about 180 mph on average. 
• China has over 600 golf courses.
• Sam Snead has won the most PGA events...82 

• The oldest mini putt was built in 1867 by the Ladies' Putting Club of St. Andrews.
• About 25% of the golfers in the world are women.
• You burn just under 1,500 calories walking 18 holes.
• 125,000 golf balls a year are hit into the water at the famous 17th island hole of the Stadium Course at Sawgrass.
• The first time golf appeared on TV was in 1947.
• There are 33 golf courses in PEI. 

From the Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, B.C., Hall of Famer Stan Leonard was truly one of Canada's greatest players.  In a previous edition I ranked Stan #4 on my list of Canada's greatest players.

What makes Stan particularly interesting is he did not join the U.S PGA tour until he was 40 years old. Before he went on tour, Stan was the Head Professional at Marine Drive Golf Club; from a playing perspective Stan was very successful in Canada winning numerous events, which in turn encouraged him to take his game to the big stage.  His fantastic playing credentials were:

• Winner of the Canadian PGA 8 times
• Low Canadian in the Canadian Open 9 times
• Low medalist in the Canada Cup in 1954 & 59
• Winner of the B.C. Open five times, the Alberta Open nine times, and the Sask. Open twice
• Winner of three PGA Tour events...1957 Greensboro, the 1960 Western Open, and the 1958 Tournament of Champions...$10,000 for the win..."big cake" in those days! 
• Four top 10 finishes in the Masters
• Winner...2 B.C. Amateurs
      

My first encounter with Stan was at the 1963 Seattle Open at Inglewood Golf Club.  I was 11 years old.  My father, my brother Robert and I went to the event as spectators.  We watched Stan play a few holes.  We knew before hand that my father had been a boyhood friend of Stan.  Interestingly, Stan caught my father's eye at the side of the fairway and came over to say hello.  My brother and I were introduced...my father asked how he was playing and who Stan was playing with...he replied his playing partner was "Ray Floyd"...Stan further mentioned he believed Floyd would become one of the great ones....so right he was! 

THE ULTIMATE SLICE & PULL CURE...CHECK IT OUT! 

I have attached above an interesting instructional video by Stan Leonard and Ben Hogan.  I think it is particularly apropos for those who slice the ball.  Hogan's comments and illustration (half way thru the tape) regarding the body action on the downswing are one of the "keys fundamentals" of the game.  It's not exciting to watch but the substance is significant, especially for those who slice or pull the ball.      

In 1976 I had the opportunity to play with Stan at Point Grey Golf Club in Vancouver.  Now as an older man (in his early 60's) Stan still possessed a great swing and sharp game.  I remember clearly what huge arms he had; no surprise, his tour nickname was Popeye! 

On the lesson tee it is near impossible not to speak of the role of the head in the golf swing.  A huge majority of recreational players blame their head for most errant shots.  Students refer to it constantly!  Here are some thoughts to think about...

a.  I believe the head is the center of the golf swing.  Your swing must rotate around some axis to generate power.  I believe golf is a circular game. In my world the head is that center.

b.  Because your eyes are fixed on the ball during the swing, I believe a relatively steady head (logically) should help to return the club more efficiently to the ball.  This is why I have always been an advocate for beginner golfers to keep their leading heel down on the back swing.  In most cases when a player lifts his/her front heel on the back swing, he/she inadvertently lifts the body/head.  Too much movement in my mind can equate to "too many moving parts". 

Ernie Els                                                       Phil Mickelson  

d.   I believe if your head is moving about excessively throughout the swing, so is everything else.   Simply put, if you move out of position so does the club.  Nicklaus said...best results are usually achieved with a steady head. Minimal movement of the head is "primo" in my golf world!

e.   As for miss hits, I believe in most cases it is not the head which is the guilty party, it is what is attached to the head.  Meaning the body is moving the head out of position.  Tom Watson said "the head can move laterally a touch, but not vertical".  It's all about SPINE ANGLE.  Please watch Watson's YouTube video...TOM WATSON'S SECRET TO THE GOLF SWING...great stuff! 

f.   Yes, there are times when a player anxiously looks up, thereby lifting the club, but in most cases I have found the straightening of the spin causes the swing/head and club to lift/move out of position.

f.     My recommendation to all golfers is to allow the club to pass below you ... let it go by!

The Columbian newspaper photo above of myself (at age 18) clearly shows me keeping my head in position throughout the swing.   Please notice the positioning of my head in relation to where the club is at waist height on the follow through. I remember the shot...the 10th hole at Newlands Golf Club...a 3 iron...excellent result!

Green Gables Golf Club...

Green Gables is the name of a circa-19th century farm in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is one of the most notable literary landmarks in Canada. The Green Gables farm and its surroundings are the setting for the popular Anne of Green Gables novels by Lucy Maud Montgomery. The site is also known as Green Gables Heritage Centre. The house was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1985[1] and the complex is located within Prince Edward Island National Park.  (Wikipedia)

 Some interesting details:

a.      The course was designed by the legendary Stanley Thompson, certainly one of the most heralded golf course architects of the 20th century.  Other famous courses designed by Thompson include Highland Links,  St. Georges, Scarboro, Westmount, Banff, Jasper, Capilano just to name a few...

b.      The course was upgraded and re-worked in 1997 by noted Canadian course architect Thomas McBroom.  Many of the Stanley Thompson signature design features were restored to their original shape and character.

c.      The course measures from 5200-7000 yards in length, Par 72.     

d.       In researching Thompson's philosophy and technique in design, he is said to endorse these five key principles...

1. Course designed to use every club in the bag... 2. Short and long holes equally distributed.... 3. Difficult and easy holes equally distributed in sequence... 4. Stanley Thompson always remembered more than 85% of golfers shoot 90 and over... 5. Course designed to test both low and high handicap golfers alike, insuring enjoyment for all.

On a personal note my older brother David lives in PEI.  He is an avid golfer and the curator of the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation headquartered in Charlottetown. 

www.greengablesgolf.ca  

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Good golfing to all!