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How To Break 80 Newsletter

January 30, 2006
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This issue includes…

1) Driving for Distance
2) The Art of Lag Putting

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1) Driving for Distance
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We all want to hit longer drives. Hitting driver/8-iron into the green
beats hitting driver/4-iron to the green every time. Unfortunately,
length from the tee is confused with muscle power. Developing a
sounder swing improves driving distance, so concentrate on
technique. And try the following:

-Widen stance at address for greater stability
-Shift more weight on right side at address
-Keep your chin up to allow for shoulder turn
-Take a full 90-degree turn
-Hover club head above ground
-Hit hard with right hand through impact
-Sense right forearm crossing over left
-Finish high with your swing

Two proven drills for increasing driving distance are the lead hand
drill and the weighted-club drill.

1. The lead hand drill strengthens the “pulling” muscles of your
left arm. (Right fore arm for left handers.) With this drill, practice
hitting a golf ball with just your left hand. Start with a pitching wedge.
Try it without a ball first. Swing easily. When you’re ready, tee the
ball up and swing away. Take about 25 swings. When you can hit
the ball off the tee consistently, drop down to an 8 iron. Repeat the
process.

2. The weighted-club drill stretches the back muscles, leading to
a fuller turn. Use a heavyweight practice club, a practice “donut,” or
a weighted cover for your club. Take about 50 practice swings a
day. Swing easily and smoothly. After a month or two, you will find
the arc of your swing is larger than before, without losing control of
the swing.

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2) The Art of the Lag Putt
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Long putts intimidate some golfers. They leave them well short of
the hole. Instead of having an easy second putt, they’re left with a
ten- or twelve- footer, boosting their chances of three-putting.

When faced with a 20- to 40-foot putt, a good lag putt will reduce
the chances of three-putting. When lag putting:

-Step off the distance to the hole
-Take practice strokes behind the ball
-Stand taller in your stance
-Imagine a 2-foot ring around the hole
-Take a long smooth stroke

Stepping off the distance to the hole provides a good feel for distance.
When you take your practice strokes, face the target. It gives you a
feel for the stroke you’ll need. Standing taller encourage a long,
smooth stroke. Aim for the ring. It’s easier to putt to than the hole,
taking the pressure off to sink the putt. Make sure your follow through
equals your take away.

These tips reduce the intimation, but speed and distance control are
the real keys to long putting. To improve speed, practice with a
metronome. The tempo of your putting stroke is often the culprit when
speed is off. The stroke’s pace controls the ball’s speed. Practicing
with metronome evens out the takeaway and follow-through in beat
and length, improving pace.

To improve distance control, practice putting from the fringe on one
side of a green to the other. Try putting the ball as close to the
opposite fringe as possible.

Also, try putting with your eyes closed. Blind putting forces you to
visualize the stroke needed to sink the putt. It also helps feel and
speed.

And putt with confidence. It’s the single biggest factor in putting.

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If you want to truly discover the secrets of shooting like the Pros
and creating a more reliable and consistent swing,
check out: http://www.HowToBreak80.com

Also, for past issues of this newsletter and some of my most
recent articles, visit our blog at http://www.HowToBreak80.com/blog

Until next time, Go Low!

Jack

P.S. Feel free to share this newsletter with family and friends.
If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter, send a
blank email to htb80newsletter@aweber.com
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Master the three scoring clubs—the driver, the wedge, and the putter—and you’ll improve your game dramatically. With 14 clubs to hit, golfers often have trouble deciding which part of their game to work on. If you’re serious about working on your game, focus on the three scoring clubs. They have the greatest impact on your score.

Unfortunately, not all of us live in a climate where we can always practice outdoors. Even if we do, we don’t always have the time to go to a driving range and hit balls. That doesn’t mean we can’t work on the fundamentals needed to master the three clubs. We just need to do it indoors.

Below are several indoor drills that will help you master these three clubs. They can are done in almost any location, even your office.

Putter

There are three “musts” in becoming a good putter: (1) your stroke must follow target line; (2) your putter must remain square to the target line; (3) and your forward stroke must equal (or slightly exceed) your backstroke. The following drill emphasizes these putting musts. The next drill focuses on distance control, also a key aspect of putting.

• Drop two phone books on the floor. Position them far enough apart so that your putterhead barely squeezes through them. Place a golf ball between the books, assume your putting posture, and make your stroke.

Use the books as a visual guide to match the lengths of your backstroke and forwardstroke. Matching the lengths ensures a smooth stroke with perfect tempo. You’ll find it difficult to guide your putter between the phone books unless your stroke follows the intended putting line. If your putter strikes the side of either book, your stroke strayed off-line.

Also, mark your ball with a straight line. Set that line parallel to your target line. Marking the ball makes it easier to align the putter perpendicular to the target line at address. See if the line falls to the right or left of center as your ball rolls after impact. If it does, then your stroke may have deviated off-line or made contact with a slightly open or closed putter face.

• This drill improves distance control. Set or balance a ball (or a tee turned upside down) on a penny and putt a second ball to this ball so that it touches the first, but DOESN’T knock it off the penny! This one is SUPER TOUGH! Try various distances. You should soon forget about the line and “making” the putt—distance control is everything. Rolling the ball to the target with an acceptable “sink” speed becomes second nature as you try to just touch the target ball.

Pitching Wedge

These drills can be done just about anywhere. It improves one of the most important parts of your game—wedge play.

• Find about 10 feet of open floor space. Put a small towel on the floor and stand about 10 feet away. Use a short, smooth stroke, keeping your hands ahead of the clubface. Try chipping 50 balls onto the towel. Practice so the balls land on the towel, not come to rest on the towel. Start with an 8 iron, then move to a 9 iron, and then to a wedge. The more you practice the better control you’ll have over those short chips.

Next time you’re on the practice range, try the same drill. Watch how far each club makes the ball roll on the putting surface. Now you’ll have more control over your chips under different conditions. After awhile, you should be able to nestle every shot close to the pin, or sink it!

Driver

Many golfers turn their hips and shoulders simultaneously when swing a club. Too much lower body rotation eliminates torque between the upper and lower body. Adding more backswing torque to your swing generates distance.

• Sit down in a chair. Spread your feet out wide and keep them flat on the ground. Hold a 7 or 8 iron out in front of you. Hold the clubhead with one hand and the end of the grip in the other hand. Raise the club over your head and rest the shaft across your neck and shoulders. Turn your shoulders to the right. Hold this position for a few seconds. You should feel a lot of torque along your left side. The turn your shoulders back and face forward. Relax and repeat.

Many golfers use their hands and arms only when swinging the driver. They don’t rotate their shoulders, sapping power from their swing. This drill helps keep your hands, arms, and shoulders in sync as you swing back and through.

• Lower yourself down to the floor onto your knees. Hold a ball between your hands and out in front of your. Start by making some small moves swinging the ball back and forth. The idea is to keep the ball in front of your chest as your arms swing and your shoulders rotate. Increase the length of your swing going back and through. As you reach the end of your backswing and forward swing, allow your arms to fold. Swing back and fold your arms. Swing down and unfold them. Swing through and fold them again.

These drills improve control of the three most important clubs in your bag—the driver, the putter, and the wedge. You can do them in your house or your garage. Each focuses on fundamentals you must master to take your game to the next level.

Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book “How To Break 80…And Shoot Like The Pros!” and is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that was able to figure out the secrets of shooting in the 70’s on a consistent basis without quitting your day job. Jack has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately.

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How To Break 80 Newsletter

January 23, 2006
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This issue includes…

1) Hitting It Correctly In The Wind
2) Playing In The Rain

(For those of us in the Northern hemisphere, it is certainly either
raining, snowing or really windy right now. That said, I thought
a lot of you would like to know how to deal with these elements.)

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1) Hitting It Correctly In The Wind
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Playing in the wind challenges your game. The wind plays tricks
with the ball and sends scores skyrocketing. Playing well depends
on your ability to shelter the ball from the effects of the wind.
Knowing what works and what doesn’t is a decided advantage.

Five tips for playing in the wind are:

1. Choose the right club
2. Complete the shoulder turn
3. Widen your stance for stability
4. Stay low in the hitting zone
5. Finish with the weight forward

Throw the yardage book out the window. Club selection is based
on personal experience. In general, use more when hitting into the
wind. Use less when with playing with the wind.

Focus on completing your shoulder turn. Maintain a smooth rhythm
to your swing and transfer your weight in harmony with the motion
of the club. Swing a little more softly, even with a head win.

Stay low to the ground in the hitting zone. Keep the hands ahead
of the club, driving the ball forward on a low, penetrating trajectory.

Finish with your weight well forward. Make sure your right shoulder
should face the target. And maintain your balance through out the
swing.

In a crosswind, curve the ball into the wind, if you want it to land
softly. If you want it to land and roll, “ride” the wind.

In a headwind, play the ball back in the stance Swing about 80
percent of your normal swing. Swing softly reduces the ball’s spin.
It also prevents it from flying high, where it is susceptible to the wind.

In a tailwind, do the opposite. Play the ball forward in your stance
and hit it higher for more distance. Count on the ball flying straighter
and longer, even on mis-hits.

Spend time on the range in the fall and winter when the wind is the
strongest. Work on hitting low trajectory shots with all your clubs.
It prepares you for playing in windy conditions.

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2) Playing In The Rain
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Similar to the wind, few golfers enjoy playing in the rain. It forces
you to make adjustments, just like the wind does. Failing to make
these adjustments causes mistakes, like hitting the ball fat or
losing control of your club, boosting scores dramatically.

Staying dry is the key to playing in the rain. Keep your self and
your equipment protected at all times. Put a cover over your clubs
to keep shafts and grips dry. Carry rain equipment such as:

*an umbrella
*extra gloves
*a rain suit
*extra towels
*an additional hat

Also, don’t forget to:

Keep your grips dry.
Once your grips get wet, your performance decreases substantially.
Take off your gloves and put them in your pockets. Dry gloves
improve your grip. If all else fails, wrap your handkerchief around
the grip (it’s legal).

Take more club.
The ball won’t travel as far in the rain as it normally would. And the
ground will decrease roll, so take an extra club. Many golfers don’t
use enough club in the rain.

Sweep the ball.
Don’t hit the ground before you hit the ball. Wet turf is heavy turf.
Hitting the ground results in a fat shot that goes nowhere. Instead,
focus on sweeping the ball off the ground with a minimal of contact.
Pick the shot cleanly from the turf.

A great dril to practice sweeping the ball is “Clip the Tee.” Stick a
tee in the ground (no ball) and use a 6 iron or a 7 to “clip” it out. A
clipped tee will pop straight up. If you can consistently clip a tee,
you’ll greatly improve your ability to sweep a ball off the ground.

Clipping the tee means the club head is square, the swing path
straight, and the ground untouched.

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If you want to truly discover the secrets of shooting like the Pros
and creating a more reliable and consistent swing,
check out: http://www.HowToBreak80.com

Until next time, Go Low!

Jack

P.S. Feel free to share this newsletter with family and friends.
If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter, send a
blank email to htb80newsletter@aweber.com

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How To Break 80 Newsletter

January 16, 2006
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This issue includes…

1) How To Chip From the Rough
2) Putting From the Fringe With a Fairway Wood

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1) How To Chip From the Rough
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Chipping from the rough is one of golf’s most challenging shots.
If you’re serious about lowering your golf handicap, then you need
to master this shot.

The problem is not the golfer, it’s the high grass. The longer the
grass, the more it wraps itself around the club’s hosel, delofting
the club on impact. What’s more, the grass trapped between the
clubface and the ball reduces spin, causing the ball to roll more
upon landing. Making the shot positions you for a makeable one-
putt.

Here’s how to pull this tough golf shot off successfully:

1. Set up as you normally would for a chip shot, but move your
hands down the club and grip it firmer than usual.

2. Play the ball forward in your stance and hinge your wrists to
produce a steeper angle of approach than normally.

3. Shift the hands and the body slightly left (forward press of the
hands) as you would with any chip shot and hit the ball with a
slightly downward movement, brushing the grass after the moment
of impact.

Remember to allow the clubhead to come through the ball because
the rough will most certainly try and prevent it from doing so.

Now, if it’s a long chip from the rough, remember to factor in more
roll when it lands on the green. If the grass is really thick, you can
play the shot like a greenside bunker shot. Open your stance and
your clubface, creating loft. Then hit the ball. You’ll come out soft,
and stop much quicker than usual.

To practice this chip from the rough shot, place a ball just outside
the first cut of rough on the fringe of the green. The grass should be
about one to one and one-half inches in length. Instead of hitting the
ball, practice just sweeping the tips of the grass. Use a low
sweeping motion employing just your arms and shoulders. After
ten sweeps, move immediately to the ball and chip it using the
same motion. Then move the ball back to higher grass and repeat
the sequence.

Chipping from the rough is one of golf’s hardest shots. Doing it
properly eliminates trouble, creates easy putts, and cuts
unnecessary strokes from your score–all of which builds
confidence in your game.

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2) Putting From the Fringe With a Fairway Wood
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The short game is a critical part of your game. Perfecting the short
game cuts strokes from your score and dramatically lowers your
golf handicap. While practicing the standard short game shots
works best, learning a “creative” shot–like putting from the fringe
of the green with a fairway wood–also pays dividends.

Putting with a fairway wood combines parts of 3 different shot types
–chipping stance, putting stroke, and a 3 wood. Golfers use the
3-wood when putting from the fringe and there’s no impediment or
the ball is up against the collar around the green.

To execute this shot, simply choke up on your 3 wood, take your
normal chipping stance, and make a putting stroke. Run the ball
right up to the hole. Some golfers use a 5 wood or a 7 wood if the
ball is in the fairway is cut close to the green with a gnarly lie. The
additional loft on these clubs tends to “pop up” the ball, clearing the
impediments. If you take this route, remember to pick out a spot on
the green to hit to that allows the ball to run to the hole.
Since distance and direction control are the keys to this shot, work
on it for a while before attempting to use it on the course.

Practicing this shot is fairly straight-forward. Drop several balls from
various spots just on the fringe of the green or place them up against
the collar of fringe of the green. Then hit away. Once you’ve practiced
these shots, move the balls further back to an area with slightly
higher grass.

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If you want to truly discover the secrets of shooting like the
Pros and creating a more reliable and consistent swing, check
out: http://www.HowToBreak80.com

Until next time, Go Low!

Jack

P.S. Feel free to share this newsletter with family and friends.
If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter, send a
blank email to htb80newsletter@aweber.com
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