2006 September | Golf Instruction & Help

Archive for September, 2006

Golf Tips and Instruction-September 20, 2006

Monday, September 25th, 2006

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How To Break 80 Newsletter

September 20, 2006

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

1) Avoiding the Pop-Up
2) One-Hand Control in Putting
3) Question of the Week -Curing the Shanks
4) Article – Round Savers-5 Things To Do When Things Go Bad
5) Article – The USGA Slope/Handicap Index System Explained

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1) Avoiding the Pop-Up
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The pop-up is one of the most embarrassing tee shots in the game, along with the little dribbler out in front. The pop-up goes straight up in the air, barely clearing the tee box and then comes straight down. Often, it doesn’t even clear the ladies tee. It’s even more embarrassing when you pop-up on the first tee.

Two things cause a pop-up: (1) shifting excessive weight forward, and (2) approaching the ball from a very steep angle. Most players who hit pop-ups never shift their weight correctly during the swing. Meanwhile, the steep descent de-lofts the clubface, causing the club’s topline to become its leading edge. Together, these swing faults cause the ball to go straight up in the air.
Here are 5 tips on eliminating pop-ups:

·         Take a wider stance
·         Maintain a higher position at the top
·         Maintain a lower position at the finish
·         Take a full shoulder turn
·         Shift weight to your back foot

Some simple changes in your set-up help eliminate pop-ups. The key is making sure your set-up encourages a higher and longer backswing arc, which in turn shallows out your swing plane and reduces the steepness of your downswing.
First, widen your stance, creating room for a big backswing arc. If you’re not comfortable using a wider stance hit balls with it in practice until you are, then take it to the course. Also concentrate on maintaining a higher position at the top of your backswing and a lower position at the finish.

These changes will train your body to take a full shoulder turn and shift your weight to your back foot on your backswing, and your forward foot on your downswing, instead of vice versa.
Eliminating pop-ups may not turn you into the club champion, but it will improve your game and help save you face at the same time.

=================================================== 2) One-Hand Control in Putting
=================================================== How many times have you hit what you thought was a good putt only to have it slide right or left? Putting is all about control. You need to control both the putterhead and the path on which it travels to be a good putter. Making a putting stroke using just your “control” hand may increase your ability to sink putts.
How do you determine which hand is your control hand? Here’s a test I use with players who take my golf lessons and have trouble keeping their putts on line.

Place a ball at a distance between three and six feet from the hole. Try sinking the putt using just your right hand on the handle of the putter. After attempting 10 putts with the right hand, try your left. Take note of which hand feels more comfortable when putting. Often, it’s the one you sink the most putts with, which should be no surprise.

Few golfers feel the non-dominant hand controlling the ball. That’s usually the left hand for right-handers. Whatever the case, work on getting two hands controlling the putterhead in unison. That means you may have to let your non-dominant hand have a little more control of the club. If one hand is too dominant, however, it may not make sense to work on the other hand at all.
In addition, try gripping the club with your control hand first, followed by the non-dominant hand with a lighter grip. By using one hand as a control hand and the other as a support, you may find putting less challenging.

Phone Book Drill
Below is a drill designed to help you learn to control the path of the putterhead. It’s one you can do in the comfort of your home.
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 lengths ensures a smooth stroke with perfect tempo. You’ll find it difficult guiding your putter between the books unless your stroke follows the intended putting line. If your putter strikes either book, your stroke strayed off-line.

================================================== 3) Question of the Week
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From Michael Day

Curing the Shanks

Q. How do I cure the shanks?

A. Thanks for the question, Michael. A shank occurs when a ball is caught between the clubface and the hosel, spinning the ball sideways almost at right angles. A shank results from either a severe in-to-out swing path, with a closed clubface, or an equally exaggerated out-to-in swing path.

The main problem with the shanks is that at impact the player’s hands—and therefore the clubhead— are farther away from his or her body than at address. The cause: either standing too close to the ball, preventing the hands from swinging freely past the body, or shifting one’s weight forward on one’s toes, forcing the hands and clubface too far from the body. Maintaining too tight a grip can also contribute to the shanks.

If weight shift is the problem, curling your toes inside your golf shoes and maintaining them throughout the swing should cure it. If it doesn’t, place a golf ball under the front of each foot, pushing your weight back on your heels. Then hit some balls. If gripping the club too tightly is a problem, lighten up on the grip before swinging the club, allowing the club to swing freely past your body. You can also try waggling the club. The whole point of these remedies is that fundamentally you need to make sure that you are delivering the clubface to the ball just slightly closer to your body than you normally would. Imagine on your downswing that you are barely brushing your right hand against your right thigh instead of “reaching for or casting at the ball wit your hands. Let them fall naturally.

If you’ve got a golf question you’d like answered, send an email to us at mailto:questions@howtobreak80.comand we’ll review it. I can’t guarantee that we’ll use it but if we do, we’ll make sure to include your name and where you’re from.

================================================
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 www.HowToBreak80.com/blog

To view this newsletter online, please visit:
http://www.howtobreak80.com/newsletter09202006.html

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article- Round Savers- 5 Things To Do When Things Go Bad

5) Article- The USGA Slope/Handicap System Explained

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 mailto: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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Create Consistency By Getting Your Shaft Frequency Right

Monday, September 11th, 2006

Here’s a question I recently fielded from a student taking a golf lesson: “How do I duplicate a favorite club? I hit my 7-iron great almost every time. If I could duplicate the feel of my 7-iron, I know I could lower my handicap a few strokes. But I don’t know how to do it.”

Shaft frequency, as I’ve explained to the student taking the golf lesson, is one way of duplicating the feel of a favorite club, a demo club, or a friend’s club. It measures shaft flex, a key factor in feel. Previously, a shaft was rated either stiff, regular, or ladies flex. These ratings, however, were not consistent from manufacturer to manufacturer. One company’s regular was another company’s stiff. Matching clubs, therefore, was extremely difficult, if not impossible.

Measuring Shaft Flex
Measured by a machine, frequency is the number of times a shaft oscillates either vertically or horizontally. The units of frequency measurement are known as cycles per minute, or CPM. A shaft with a higher frequency (more CPMs) is stiffer than one with a lower frequency (fewer CPMs). By using frequency to compare shafts, you can tell which shaft is stiffer and by how much.

Typically, there are 10 cycles between shaft flexes. Thus, if one shaft registers 250 on a frequency machine and another 270, there’s a two-flex shaft difference between the two clubs, regardless of what the manufacturer says. By assigning a specific frequency number to a shaft, you can closely match one club to another, depending on what’s wanted.

Duplicating a Favorite Club
Obviously, frequency is a more precise method of measuring shaft flex than the old method. So how do you duplicate another club? It’s simple. A club building specialist determines the shaft frequency of one club, then matches it to the frequency of a new club. By attaching the right clubhead to the shaft, you can create an almost perfect match to the club you like or want to duplicate.

The frequency approach works for both woods and irons. Keep in mind, however, that a shaft performs and feels differently depending how it’s inserted into the clubhead. A good club builder measures the shaft in various places, then identifies the CPM that matches the desired flex of a particular club. He or she then inserts the clubhead to match the desired shaft frequency. To attain best results, the builder positions the shaft so that the desired CPM is parallel to the target line.

Matching a Set of Irons
Matching the shaft frequency of a set of irons is harder than matching the frequency of a set of woods. Normally, a shaft becomes stiffer as the clubs get shorter. Your pitching wedge has a stiffer shaft than your 3-iron, so the frequencies can’t be identical. To compensate, a good club builder will create a “sloped” gradient of frequency running throughout the set. As a result, a set of irons will have a similar frequency number between each club in the set

Using frequency, the club builder creates a set of irons that have the same feel and playability throughout the set. The exact number of CPMs will depend on what the player wants, but the difference in CPMs between each club will be uniform. This ensures that each club will feel and perform like the others in a set. The CPM of a favorite club can then be taken and matched throughout the set.

Only One Step
Having a matching set of irons, however, isn’t a panacea for your game. As I’ve said in my golf instruction sessions, your equipment helps only so much. In fact, it’s just one small step in helping you lower your golf handicap. You’ll still need to do other things, like practicing drills before you improve your game dramatically. Studying or reading about how others play a course is also of benefit, since it helps you improve course management capabilities.

Still, having the right equipment is important. Have your club’s frequency checked and matched, if you never done it before. If you’re buying a new set of clubs, make sure to check out the frequency of the iron set. Having the right shaft frequency will put you well on your way to lowering your golf handicap.

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 handicap immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction.

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Golf Tips and Instruction-August 30, 2006

Wednesday, September 6th, 2006

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How To Break 80 Newsletter

September 6, 2006

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

1) Hitting a Ball Below Your Feet
2) What’s In Your Bag?
3) Question of the Week-Generating More Clubhead Speed

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1) Hitting a Ball Below Your Feet
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Some players have a hard time learning to hit a ball below their feet. They frequently slice it off the club’s toe. That’s because when they have this shot they set-up to hit the ball as if nothing were different from their normal shot, which is why they often find themselves in trouble after hitting the shot.

But this fault is easily correctable, if you just remember to make a few adjustments:

• Aim left (for right-handers)
• Take a wider stance
• Settle weight back on your heels
• Hold the club at the top of the grip
• Flex your knees

With this lie, the ball tends to move in the direction of the slope. With a ball below foot level, your swing will be more upright than normal and the ball will fly from left to right through the air (for right-handed players), so aim further left than normally.

Next, take a wider stance than normal. Then settle your weight back on your heels, since the slope tends to pull you forward onto your toes, which you must avoid if you’re going to hit this shot correctly.

Finally, hold the clubhead as close to the top of the grip as possible and flex your knees until the clubhead rests behind the ball. Remember the key to hitting a ball below your feet is getting “down” to the ball without toppling over.

Playing a ball below your feet doesn’t have to lead to trouble. Just remember to make certain adjustments in your set-up to compensate for the slope. The adjustments put you in complete control of your swing. Hitting a ball below your feet is also a little easier if you remember to stay within yourself when swinging the club.

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2) What’s In Your Bag?
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Most golfers give little thought to the number of clubs they have in their bag, other than to remind themselves that the most they can carry at any one time is 14, the limit according to the rules of golf. While carrying 14 clubs covers a wide variety of shots, taking fewer clubs may improve your game.

Most golfers carry anywhere from 13 to 14 clubs in their bags—3 woods, 8 irons, a sand wedge, a putter, and another wedge or specialty club. Many players replace the longer irons with a hybrid club. Try carrying 10 to 11 clubs instead, and see if it doesn’t make a difference in your scores.

Why cut down on the clubs? Most recreational golfers don’t hit the ball well enough to take advantage of the small difference in performance designed into consecutive numbered clubs. Why take the extra weight, if you’re not going to use them or you don’t hit them well?

More importantly, decreasing the number of clubs you carry decreases the number of potentially irrelevant decisions you may make during a round. With fewer clubs, you’ll make fewer bad decisions and more good ones. Taking fewer clubs also forces you to hit only those clubs you have the most confidence in and hit the best, producing a lower score.

Your bag could include the following clubs:

3 woods (1, 3, 5,)
3 irons (5, 7, 9)
1 putter
3 Wedges (pitching, sand, lob)
1 hybrid club

The hybrid club replaces the lower number irons and is optional. So is the lob wedge. Depending on what kind of a short game you have, you could replace the hybrid with an 8-iron instead or just leave the hybrid out altogether. Ultimately, the choice of clubs is yours.

Which clubs you carry during a round depends ultimately on which you hit the best. Your goal is to find a set of clubs that instills confidence in your game. Experiment a little until you find a set that does. When you do, stick with the set and see how you play. You might be surprised at just how well you do.
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Question of the Week
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Polly Kistner

Generating More Clubhead Speed

Q. I purchased your materials last year and am constantly working on my game. I pleased with the way I’m hitting the ball, except for my driving. I hit my drives about 150 yards. A golf store where I was tested said my swing speed is somewhat slow. How do I improve swing speed?

A. The secret to more distance off the tee is generating more clubhead speed, which you can do one of three ways:

• widen your swing arc
• lengthen your swing arc
• add speed in the hitting area

Widening your swing arc increases the distance the clubhead travels, giving it more time and room in which to build up speed. Lengthening your swing arc does basically the same thing. Adding speed in the hitting area increases the clubhead’s momentum through the impact area, generating more power. There are lots of drills for accomplishing anyone of those three things. Below is one on widening your swing arc.

Right Hand Drill
If your left-arm (for right-handers) bends too much during your backswing or is scrunched against your body, your swing radius diminishes, narrowing your swing arc. To generate more distance of the tee, you need to keep your arms extended. Ideally, you should feel the sensation of swinging the club’s butt away from your body.
To achieve this, practice hitting balls with your left hand holding the club and your right hand gripping your left wrist. Stretch the left arm out as you swing back. Use the right hand and arm to move the club farther from your body. The muscles at the top of your left arm should feel stretched as you complete your backswing. Swing slowly to keep club-ball contact solid.

If you’ve got a golf question you’d like answered, send an email to us at questions@howtobreak80.com and we’ll review it. I can’t guarantee that we’ll use it but if we do, we’ll make sure to include your name and where you’re from.
================================================
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 www.HowToBreak80.com/blog

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
================================================
About the Author
================================================
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.

Share and Enjoy:

Posted in Golf Newsletters | No Comments »

The Buzz about “The Quiet Eye” For Putting

Tuesday, September 5th, 2006

What’s the difference between a good putter and a bad putter? Usually, we attribute the difference to mechanics. Good mechanics produces good putting. Bad mechanics produces bad putting. At least, that’s what I’ve always stressed and taught in my golf lessons and golf tips.

However, research shows that mechanics may not be the only difference between good putters and bad putters. According to Dr. Joan Vickers, University of Calgary, the difference may lie in how you use your eyes. The secret to good putting, she says, may be using your eyes to detect the right information about distance and direction; then using your mind to relay the information to the rest of your body, so you can consistently sink the putt. The Quiet Eye, as it is called, may someday help explain what being “in the Zone” means, she says.

So what exactly is the Quiet Eye? It’s when your gaze remains absolutely still on the ball just before and as the stroke is performed. There are two important aspects to this basic yet essential skill: location and duration. Which is better? Both are effective in improving accuracy, but evidence is beginning to favor the back of the ball. In putting as well as other hand-eye-target skills, the Quiet Eye is emerging as an indicator of optimal focus and concentration. And it’s something that can be taught in golf instruction sessions.

Good Putter versus Bad Putter
Having watched many players putt during golf lessons, I can see how the eyes play a part in good putting. The good putter focuses his gaze on a precise spot, his or her scans from the hole are more precise, and he or she fixates his or her gaze on a specific spot inside the cup. A good putter picks out a specific location at the hole, like a blade of grass on the lip. The target isn’t the hole and certainly not around it. Instead, the putter’s gaze focuses on a target only a few millimeters wide.

The poor putter does not fixate on a specific target, but instead directs his gaze to a number of locations in and around the hole. There’s no clear definition of his target or his line of gaze from the ball to the target. His gaze is all over the place. He has a shorter Quiet Eye duration because he is unable to keep his gaze quiet as he strokes the ball. The end result, of course, is missed putts.

Under stress, the Quiet Eye is often the first thing to go. It moves with the stroke, and golfers lose their ability to stabilize their gaze as they putt. When you choke, the billion cells in your brain lose their effective complexity in solving the slope, curvature distance and location problems. So even dozens of golf instruction sessions focused on mechanics may not always be able to save you when the pressure is on, but proper mechanics builds confidence and that helps.

Developing a Quiet Eye
Research shows that the average player can develop a Quiet Eye. A Quiet Eye routine on straight, flat putts has the following characteristics, which can be learned through golf lessons like any other skill.

• Focus on the hole
As soon as your putterhead is set behind the ball, pick a specific location on
the hole where you want the ball to go, such as a blade of grass or a small feature on the front of the cup.

• “See” the ball go in
Look at this location for about two second, and visualize the ball going into the hole. Visualization is a keep technique in this procedure.

• Scan from the hole to the ball
Smoothly shift your gaze without interruption from the target to the back of the ball. Your gaze should move efficiently and calmly.

• Eye on the ball
Fixate on the back of the ball and imagine just the right contact of the putterhead on the ball. Picture a line through this contact point to your spot on the hole.

• Stay steady
Maintain a Quiet Eye on the one spot on the back of the ball during the backstroke and forwardstroke, and through contact. Don’t peek! Take a look at your ball going in the hole only after putting.

The idea of being in the Zone, or the “flow,” has been around for a long time. It’s when you absolutely can’t miss. But until now there has been little scientific evidence that the Zone exists, let alone can be measured. Perhaps the Quiet Eye will emerge as one of the objective measures of being in the Zone. Learning the Quite Eye technique can only help you lower your golf handicap.

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