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How To Break 80 Newsletter

February 6, 2006
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This issue includes…

1) The Wet Bunker
2) Stay In Shape In the Off Season

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1) The Wet Bunker
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Nothing upsets a golfer more than hitting into a bunker. Getting
out of a bunker is difficult for some. Getting out of a wet bunker
even harder. The wetness adds another dimension to the shot.

Determine the hardness of the sand first. Test it with your shoes
before hitting. The shoe test tells you if the sand is hard-packed,
just firm, or soft with a thin crust.

If the sand is firm or hard packed, replace you sand wedge with a
pitching wedge. It digs in and under the ball better than a sand
wedge, preventing skulling.

If the sand is firm:

-Set up a bit wider than usual
-Make a low sweeping take away
-Hit down briskly one inch behind the ball

If the sand is hard-packed:

-Play the ball as you would from hard dirt
-Square the blade
-Play the ball back in your stance
-Set the hands ahead of the ball
-Pick the ball cleanly off the surface

If the sand has a thin crust, play the shot as a typical bunker shot.
Use a sand wedge, especially if the sand is deep and powdery.

Also, be weary of the trap that has loose sand over a harder surface—
the trickiest of all bunkers. Attack these with a heavy-flanged wedge.
Use the sand wedge, if you don’t have one. Your club glides smoothly
out of the sand, unless you dig a little too deeply into the hard
underbelly. When that happens, the club head slows down, causing
you to leave the ball in the sand.

Most bunker shots have a slight margin for error. Attack them
confidently, regardless of the type of sand they contain.

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2) Stay In Shape In the Off Season
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Staying fit improves your golf game and your golf handicap. It’s
especially important in the winter when we we’re less active.
Participating in a golf specific exercise program helps. It improves
your game and your quality of life.

A golf specific conditioning program consists of:

1. Resistance training
2. Cardiovascular conditioning
3. Flexibility exercises

Resistance training enhances swing mechanics, increases clubhead
speed, and prevents over-use injuries. Improving your fitness level
generates more distance with less effort and a more consistent ball
flight. Conditioning helps your body and muscles withstand the
physical strain of playing golf.

Improving your cardiovascular system boosts energy levels. It also
helps you fight fatigue and stay focused for 18 holes. Waking, biking,
stair stepping, and running are all good cardiovascular exercises.
Swimming is the best. It improves your cardiovascular systems and
builds muscle mass. Being aerobically fit improves your confidence
as well.

Flexibility exercises increase the range of joint motion. Decreased
flexibility in shoulders, hips, or the lower back interferes with your
swing mechanics. Also, the aging process causes loss of elasticity
in tendons, ligaments, and muscle. Flexibility exercises combat
these tendencies.

PGA pro Jamie Mulligan includes Bikram Yoga in his conditioning
program. Bikram involves making precise movements for 90 minutes
in a superheated room. It keeps the body loose and supple and
strengthens concentration and focus. Mulligan also includes isometrics
and light lifting in his workout program. He lifts weights with his palms
open to duplicate the “softness” he feels in his golf swing. In addition,
he includes balance exercises with an exercise ball in the
cardiovascular component.

Regardless of your age, gender, or skill level, a golf specific
conditioning program improves your game and your quality of life.

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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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