The Researchers
• Dr. Bob Christina, far left, 68, and Eric Alpenfels, 46, challenge conventional beliefs and uncover some unexpected results

Dr. Bob Christina: "Our mission isn't to stir the pot,
but if you ask the right questions,
that's often what happens. At first
glance, you wouldn't necessarily
think that you could improve
distance control by looking at
the hole [rather than your ball] while you putt, or that teeing the
ball higher could consistently
gain you 10 yards or more, but
our research found both to be
true. When you test what is
considered an obvious question,
you don't always get an obvious
answer — that's the philosophy of
our research program. Often the
'tried and true' method wavers
and something else turns out to be
more successful. That's when you
know you're getting somewhere."

Christina is dean and professor
emeritus of the School of Health
and Human Performance in
Greensboro, N.C.

Eric Alpenfels: "There are more than 60 million golfers in the world, and I've never met one who doesn't want to get better. We use our resources, time and energy to help us improve not only what we are teaching
golf students, but how we are
teaching it. Golf is a hard game,
and the better people play, the
more they enjoy it. That's why
we use amateurs in our testing,
since those are the people we are
actually trying to help. A lot of
companies test their products
mechanically, which will definitely
give you some answers. But when
you put a driver in the hands of
an 18-handicap and point him to
a tee, the last thing you're going to
get is Iron Byron."

Alpenfels is director of instruction
at Pinehurst Golf Academy in
Pinehurst Village, N.C., and a
Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher.