I’ll begin today’s time together with a seldom-used golf ruling, provide a tip to improve your short game, and unite my favorite all-time sport with my favorite all-time television program. Shall we tee it up?

Two not always better than one

Ah, the dreaded double-hit. Seldom, if ever, does it happen to most players. Probably the most well-known double-hit occurred when T.C. Chen was in contention on the final round of a 1980’s U.S.Open and effectively took himself off the leader board with one swing.

A double-hit usually occurs around the green or in a sand trap when a player strikes his/her ball and, as it floats from its location, the player’s follow-through hits it a second time. Typically, this results when the player’s follow-though is delayed by long grass or heavy sand. And often the second contact is barely discernible.

So my question is, how is a double-hit scored and why? Think carefully, come up with your response, and see if you are precise later in the column.

Pitch or chip

There has always been controversy over these two golf terms and their true meaning. Here’s my take. A chip shot takes place around the green and is in the air for only one-third the distance to the hole, then runs out the remaining distance. A chip shot utilizes mostly the one-lever action of the arms and shoulders.

On the other hand, a pitch shot travels about two-thirds of its total distance in the air and the last one-third rolling along on the ground. A pitch shot employs two levers during its execution, the pendulum-like movement of the arms and shoulders and, independently, the hinging of both wrists.

While we are on the topic of chipping, I’ll offer a quick tip which should improve your short game play around the greens with just a bit of practice. Before even placing a club into your hands, select a spot several yards off the green to practice. Take a simulated address and toss a ball using your right hand only towards the hole. Do this several times with five balls, each time sensing the thrust necessary to propel the golf ball to the hole.

Now grip your sand wedge and place a ball on the ground. Use the same strength it took to toss a ball to the hole to hit the ball towards the cup. It takes relatively the same force to throw a ball or hit it with a wedge. In no time, you should begin to develop the “feel” necessary to be deft around the greens. Remember also to place your ball slightly back of center in your stance to guarantee that you strike the ball before the ground, especially when the grass is heavy.

Double-hit solution

Rule 14-4 in the Rules of Golf clearly addresses this unique event. It states, “If a player’s club strikes the ball more than once in the course of a stroke, the player shall count the stroke and add a penalty stroke, making two strokes in all.” You should also know that you continue play from where the ball comes to rest.

Considering the intricacy of hitting your ball twice in one stroke, you would think that instead of a penalty, the U.S.G.A. might reward you. No such luck.

The opposite

One of my favorite Seinfeld episodes was called “The Opposite.” In it, George lamented that every decision he had ever made in his life was wrong. Jerry observed that, “if every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right.” George decided, “Yes, I will do the opposite. I used to sit and do nothing, and regret it for the rest of the day, so now I will do the opposite.”

Did you know that golf is a game of opposites? If you want to hit your ball great distances, you must swing easy. If you want your ball to go up, you must swing down on it. If you swing left, the ball goes right. The lowest score wins, not the highest. And, the most classic contradiction: if you have a hallowed hole-in-one, it’s you who gets to buy the beverages for everyone! You might think that you should get to drink for free.

And, speaking of alcohol, a recent cardio study showed that the average American golfer walks about 900 miles a year. An unrelated beverage study revealed that American golfers drink, on average, 22 gallons of beer each season. That means, on average, American golfers get about 41 miles to the gallon. Impressive.

Until next week, keep it in the fairway.

(Ken Ruggiero is a local golf instructor and has been writing this column for the past 23 seasons.)