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How To Break 80 Newsletter

July 26, 2006

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

1) Sinking Those Short Putts
2) Eliminating Slices and Pulls

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1) Sinking Those Short Putts
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Ever miss an easy two-footer? Who hasn’t? If you’re missing more than your share of short putts, it may be because you’re decelerating the putterhead before impact, causing you to hit the ball offline.

Acceleration is the increasing speed at which the clubhead moves through the ball. It’s important for all shots—even putts. The key to accelerating when putting is keeping your hands ahead of the ball, which prevents excessive wrist motion on the forwardswing and sends the ball rolling off line.

One technique for encouraging acceleration is the left-hand low grip (for right-handers). It forces you to accelerate through the stroke. The grip prevents the hands from releasing too much and helps keep the putterhead square to the target line, even after contact. But for those who like a traditional grip, here’s a drill that teaches acceleration.

Sand Wedge Drill
Find a hole on the practice green that let’s you to set up for a flat and straight putt. Place a sand wedge perpendicular to the line of the intended putt so that the face is down and the thinner part of the shaft is across the line of the putt. The shaft should lie just at the edge of the cup.

From a distance of three feet, putt the ball so that it hits the shaft, pops into the air and falls in the hole. If you decelerate the putterhead through the stroke, you’ll generate insufficient speed for overcoming the shaft in front of the hole. If you accelerate through the stroke, you create enough speed for the ball to hole the putt over the shaft.

Try this drill on breaking putts, if you feel adventuresome. Just make sure you set the shaft perpendicular to the break to ensure the ball pops into the cup.

After practicing the drill a few times, take it to the course. Visualize the wedge’s shaft in front of the hole. Visualizing fosters acceleration and focuses you on the process of making the putt, not on the outcome.

Make this drill part of your regular practice sessions. It encourages you to accelerate through the putting stroke and provides the confidence to make those short putts critical to good scoring.

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2) Eliminating Slices and Pulls
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Slices and pulls are two of the most common faults in golf. While different, they actually stem from the same flaw—swinging out-to-in. You can verify this flaw by checking your divots. If they point left of target, you’re swinging out-to-in, instead of in-to-out.

The deciding factor is the position of the clubface at impact. If it’s closed (or square), you’ll pull. If it’s open, you’ll slice. Either way, you’re asking for trouble.

To eliminate these faults
(1) swing the club on an in-to-out swing path and
(2) change the position of the clubface through impact.

Here’s what I recommend you do to rid yourself of slice and pull shots:

• Strengthen your grip
• Close your body alignment
• Close the clubface slightly
• Straighten your right arm early
• Encourage your right arm to cross over

To strengthen your grip, move both hands to the right on the club, until you can see three knuckles on the back of your left hand. The thumbs and “V”s between both thumbs and forefingers should be parallel.

You can also close the overall alignment of your body a little by aiming your feet, hips, and shoulders to the right of the target and by moving the ball back a little in your stance.
Close the clubface a little as you move the ball back, keeping it “looking” at the ball for a little longer than usual. In addition, try straightening your right arm early in the downswing.

The following visualization technique helps also. Imagine yourself standing on a clock face, with the ball in the center and 12 o’clock representing the target. If you’re a right hander, you would be facing 3 o’clock. It should feel as if the club was swinging down from 7 o’clock to 1 o’clock.

To generate the right feeling, try practicing from a side hill lie. Make sure the ball is positioned several inches above your feet. This promotes a more rounded swing plane and an in-to-out swing, which, in turn, eliminates your slice or pull.
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Question of the Week
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From Eliezer Ocampo, U.S. Navy, Naval Station, San Diego, CA

Clubhead Speed vs. Swing Tempo

Q. I finally broke 80 when I discovered your book, which has helped me a lot. How do I increase clubhead speed without compromising tempo? Thanks for your help and mentoring.

A. Thanks, Eliezer, that’s a great question. I get it all the time in my golf lessons. First, everyone has his or her own swing speed. Freddie Couples has a slower swing speed and a more languid approach to the game. Lanny Wadkins has a quicker swing speed and a faster approach to the game. The key to being a great golfer is finding a tempo that allows a player to control the club. So keep working on your tempo.

Length off the tee is another matter. Players often confuse length with muscle power. They’re not the same. Power in golf is generated by sound technique, not physical strength. Perfect your technique and you’ll drive the ball farther. Hard to believe sometimes but quite true.

In the meantime, here are two tips that will help generate extra distance. Point your left toe slightly toward the hole at address to encourage your left side to clear out of the way more easily through impact. Also, “hover” the club above the ground before starting your swing. Hovering encourages a smooth one-piece takeaway, relaxes the hands, and builds rhythm. Greg Norman, one of the finest drivers ever, used both techniques. So did Jack Nicklaus.
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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 award-winning 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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