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How To Break 80 Newsletter

June 14, 2006

“The Web’s Most Popular Golf Improvement Newsletter”
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In this issue we’ll discuss…

1) Hitting from a Divot
2) Putting From the Sand

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1) Hitting from a Divot 
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No one likes hitting from a divot, especially when you’re only a pitching wedge or sand wedge away. While hitting thin here is better than hitting fat, the ideal is hitting to the green.

Here are 5 keys to hitting from a divot:

• Position the ball in the middle of stance
• Open your stance slightly
• Let hands lead club through impact
• Stay down longer after shot
• Finish with club pointing to target

Plan on using the same setup for this shot as for hitting a full pitching wedge or a sand wedge, but:

• Position the ball in the middle of your stance. This ensures that you strike the ball crisply with a slightly descending blow. Also, your left arm (for right handers) and the shaft need to be in a straight line at address to encourage ball-then-turf contact.

• Open your alignment slightly. This helps the left side clear through impact, just as in a wedge shot. However, aim the clubface directly at the target.

• Let your hands lead. Since hitting from a divot is similar to hitting from a downhill lie, let your hands lead the clubhead through impact.

• Stay down longer on the shot. A good tip is to hit the shot and stay down for three full seconds before looking up.

• Finish lower. You should end up with your club pointing at the target, not wrapped around your body.

The best way to practice this shot is to hit from divots at the range, duplicating fairway conditions. An alternative drill is putting a tee in the ground and practicing scraping the grass in front of the tee. Either way, you’ll find that practicing pays off.
 
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2) Putting From the Sand
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While it may not lower your golf handicap dramatically, knowing how to putt from a bunker can come in handy. For me, it’s been the right shot at the right time on several occasions, saving me a stroke or two each time.

Putting from a bunker has one advantage: You don’t make contact with the sand before hitting the ball. In other words, it’s easier to hit the ball cleanly with a putter than a wedge. Below are five tips on putting from the sand:

• Assess the conditions carefully
• Play the ball forward in your stance
• Shift your weight forward
• Keep your head down
• Pick out a spot beyond the cup

The key to this shot is the situation. You need a greenside bunker with a slight lip, a clean lie, and at least 15 feet of green, since the ball comes out of the bunker running hot and low. If any of these conditions are missing, use a wedge.

Setup as you would for a putt, but with the ball forward in your stance and your weight on your front foot. Moving the ball forward and shifting your weight places the bottom of your swing arc forward as well. Now, if you use a level swing, you’ll hit the ball cleanly.

However, you need to keep your head down throughout the shot. You also need to hit the ball 50 percent harder than a putt of the same length, since the ball must roll though the sand and the fringe of the green. To do this, pick out a spot beyond the cup and hit to it. This encourages you to hit the ball harder than you usually would.

And whatever you do, don’t let the putter touch the sand. Remember you’re still in a bunker. If you let your club touch the sand, you’ll be penalized strokes, just as you would if you were hitting a wedge.

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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
break80ezine@aweber.com
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About the Author
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Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book “How To Break 80 and Shoot Like the Pros!“. He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicaps quickly. His free weekly newsletter goes out to thousands of golfers worldwide and provides the latest golf tips, strategies, techniques and instruction on how to improve your golf game.

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