=================================================== How To Break 80 Newsletter

February 7, 2007

“The Web’s Most Popular Golf Improvement Newsletter”
===================================================

In this issue we’ll discuss…

1) Swing Left for Softer Pitches
2) Quick Warm Up for Late Players
3) Question of the Week- Hitting out of Wet Sand
4) Article- Triggering Your Swing
5) Article- Five Things To Remember In Team Play

===================================================
1) Swing Left for Softer Pitches
===================================================
Getting the ball to stop on the green after a pitch shot is a challenge for most weekend golfers. Many have no problem generating sufficient loft to clear a greenside bunker or stream, but getting the ball to stop when it lands is a different matter. Usually, the ball hits and runs right off the green. If you’re lucky, it lands in a patch of rough behind the hole. If you’re not, it ends up in a greenside bunker.

Ideally, a pitch shot is played from 40-50 yards and in, with either a sand or a pitching wedge. The object is to hit the ball with enough loft to clear a bunker or other obstacle between you and the flag, and drop the ball softly on the green. A good pitch shot lands on the green, rolls a little, and stops close to the pin. Needless to say, a good pitch shot saves strokes.

Here are five tips for getting a pitch shot to stop softly on the green:

• Open stance/clubface
• Make upright swing
• Hold the club firmly with left hand (right-handers)
• Don’t let the club’s toe pass its heel
• Check your divots

To get the ball to land softly, you almost have to swing the club as if you were trying to slice the ball. This means in your follow through your hands will remain low and left (for right handers). Start by opening your stance and your clubface. Then take an upright swing on the downswing. At impact, hold firmly onto the club with your left hand right on through the follow-through. Don’t let the club’s toe pass its heel the way it would normally. This technique imparts sidespin on the ball at impact, causing the ball to land the way you want it to.

If you study several good pitchers, you’ll probably see them use this technique to stop the ball faster on the green. Since this is somewhat of an advanced technique, you should try it only if you’re pitching is acceptable and you’ve had a chance to practice the shot before hand. If you’re pitching is needs work, you need to improve that before trying this technique.

Check your divots to make sure you’re executing the shot correctly. They should be big and should point just to the left of the target. If they do, then chances are you’re hitting the ball correctly. With time and practice, you’ll gain better control of the shot and learn to stop the ball where you want it.

=================================================== 2) Quick Warm Up for Late Players
===================================================
People are busier than ever. If they’re not working in the office or doing repairs on their homes, they’re dropping the kids off at somebody’s house. It’s not uncommon to find ourselves juggling several balls in the air while running from place to place. It’s inevitable that sooner or later you’ll be late for a golf match. So what do you do when you get to the course late?

Regardless of what time it is, you should warm up. You can’t just step into the tee box and expect to play well without doing so before hand. Hitting balls is best, as we’ve mentioned in other golf tips, but if you’re really late you obviously won’t have time.

Here’s a warm-up routine you can use instead.

• Take a middle iron, like a 5-iron or 6-iron, and grip it down to the steel so you can strike the ground when you swing. Stand way from your group and make slow non-stop mini swings. Do not allow your arms to go past hip height on the back swing or follow through all the way.

• When your arms and hands feel loose, graduate to longer, faster swings. Allow your arms to reach full height, back and through.

• Finally, make a series of full swings. Don’t pause between them. Swing the club as fast as you can without losing your balance. You should feel everything moving smoothly. Keep swinging non-stop until you’re out of breadth or break into a light sweat.

This warm-up routine is fast and easy. It takes about two minutes to complete, but it’s worth it. It’s not as good as hitting balls, but it’s better than chipping balls to the nearest ball washer. Try it next time you find yourself running late for a match.

=================================================== 3) Question of the Week- Hitting out of Wet Sand
=================================================== From Willy Serrrano

Hitting out of Wet Sand

Q. I do pretty well hitting to the green from greenside bunkers if the sand is dry, but I have never been able to get a decent shot from wet sand. It also seems that some traps have more mud than sand after a rain. HELP!

A. Thanks for the question, Van. There’s one key difference in playing a bunker shot from wet sand than from dry. The clubface must be square at address, not open, even with a good lie. Once this change is made, the standard bunker shot procedure applies. Keep in mind that a bunker shot from wet sand is likely to come out on a slightly lower trajectory than normally. So allow for the change in trajectory.

And after a heavy rain when the sand has become hard-packed, try using a pitching wedge instead of a sand wedge. The pitching wedge’s sharper leading edge cuts into the sand more effectively, creating as much of a splash affect as can be hoped for in wet sand. Also, you might consider taking a shorter, less aggressive swing with wet sand.

If your ball comes to rest in casual water within a bunker, you may take a drop without penalty at the nearest point of relief within the bunker, no nearer the hole. The rule applies no matter what the condition is of the rest of the bunker. On the other hand, a player may take a one-stroke penalty and drop outside the bunker. Whatever the conditions of the sand, if you hit from a bunker, make sure you rake it. It’s common courtesy for other golfers.

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

To view this newsletter online, please visit:
http://www.howtobreak80.com/newsletter02072007.html
Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article- Triggering Your Swing

5) Article- Five Things To Remember In Team Play

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
=================================================== 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 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.

In Part I we talked about the legs’ purpose, function, and movement during the swing. In Part II we review how the legs work when swinging and provide two drills to help improve legwork. See Part I by going here http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/usingthelegs.html

Next to your hands and feet your legs are the most influential contributors to a correct swing. Using your legs properly contributes to consistency and power, and enhances ballstriking. Yet when it comes to golf instruction sessions, the legs don’t get much respect. Teachers seldom talk about them when giving golf lessons. And not much is written about them in golf tips. But understanding leg movement helps cut a golf handicap down to size.

Legwork Mechanics
Good legwork is a key to hitting longer, straighter shots. But like everything else in golf, good legwork depends doing things right. Let’s look at how the legs work during the golf swing.

The legs at address presage the turn and the slide. Both depend on the legs’ readiness to move. Dividing balance equally between the legs helps create mobility. Flexing the knees slightly also helps mobility.

From address to the point where your club is parallel to the ground, leg movement is not significant. The left knee (right-handers) moves away from the target slightly to a point opposite the ball. As your weight shifts right, your right knee loses some, but not all, of its flexibility. From this point to the top of the slot, leg movement is more pronounced. At the top of the swing the left knee is several inches behind the ball. But your weight never shifts outside of the right knee. If it does, the swing breaks down.

Downswing to Follow-through
During the downswing the left knee leads in creating lower body support for the arms and hands. As the arms and hands reach hip high, the left knee is about where it was at address. Together, the knees shift the “platform” on which the body rests forward. The right knee moves back to where it was at address and begins to follow the left knew towards the target. The hips and feet press downward and forward. The hips, almost square, start to slide.

At impact, the legs point toward the target. The left knee straightens only after the ball is struck. The legs’ slide becomes a turn, pulling the left hip off line. The slide, however, takes place beneath a steady swing center. This is known as “swinging beneath yourself.” The finish is in balance again, with the club pointing to the target as your body turns to face the target.

That’s a quick look at how legs work during your golf swing. Most recreational golfers I see in my golf lessons need to work on their legwork. Here are some drills to help you improve yours.

The Motion Exercise
This is considered the best drill in golf for developing good legwork and turn. If you recall we said that many weekend golfers fail to emphasize the slide portion of their swings enough. The Motion Exercise restores the balance between the turn and slide.

First, stand without a club at address. Now, instead of turning as you normally might, swing your left leg (right-handers) back past your right and then step forward with your left foot into the spot you vacated. Do the exercise without a club until it’s second nature. When it is, swing a club while doing it. Then go to the range and hit balls while doing it.

Return-to-square Drill
This drill teaches the proper combination of lateral and rotary movement. Stand at address in a doorway with your clubshaft flat against the wall in front of you. Make a slow-motion swing back and down, returning the club to the same position against the wall as when you started.

If it’s easy bringing the clubshaft back to its original position, you probably have the proper combination of lateral and rotary movement. If your hands and the top of the shaft get to the wall first, you’re probably pulling your left hip away from the target line too quickly. If the clubhead reaches the wall first, you probably lack the proper lateral leg movement.

Don’t let a lack of discussion about your legs in golf tips and golf lessons fool you. They are among the most influential contributors to a correct swing. They must work properly during the swing to generate power, achieve consistency, and help lower a 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.

How To Break 80 Newsletter

January 31, 2007

“The Web’s Most Popular Golf Improvement Newsletter”
===================================================

In this issue we’ll discuss…

1) Increasing Wrist Cock
2) Reduce the “Triangle” on Short Shots
3) Question of the Week- Dealing With A Downhill Bunker Lie
4) Article- Three Situations Where Your Instincts Are Not Correct
5) Article- How To Use Your Legs: Part II

===================================================
1) Increasing Wrist Cock
===================================================
Next time you’re on the tee watch your playing partners closely. See which of them cocks his or her wrist correctly. Don’t be surprised if none of them do.

Most weekend golfers don’t cock their wrists the right way. It’s one of the most common swing faults among recreational golfers. They merely lift the club in the air with their arms, and then start their downswing by spinning their right shoulders toward the ball.

Cocking your wrists incorrectly throws your swing off. It forces you to take the club outside the line of play and to cut across the ball from outside to in, generating a slice. That’s not good. The lack of wrist cock also encourages very little hand action. That in turn results in a loss of power and distance.

When you increase your wrist cock, you’re able to pull down on the club with your left arm and hand (for right-handers) from inside the line of play. This in turn enables you to generate more club speed and swing along the inside path the way you are supposed to. With your hands making a larger contribution to your swing, you are now able to hit the ball longer and straighter.

Wrist Cock Drill After watching your partners hit from the tee, have one of them watch you to see if you are cocking your wrists correctly. If you’re not cocking your wrist correctly, try this:

Next time you go to the range, trying hitting some balls using a cross-handed grip. By holding the club cross-handed you can’t help but increase the angle between the clubshaft and your left forearm at the top of the swing, which is how it should be. That will give you the feel of cocking your wrists correctly

After hitting cross-handed for a while, return to hitting the ball with your normal grip. You should notice a difference in the way you hit the ball. Try it and see.

=================================================== 2) Reduce the “Triangle” on Short Shots
===================================================
Short approach shots can be tricky. They can also be costly. Mis-hit one even slightly and you can find yourself facing a three-putt opportunity or entirely off the green. But a simple pre-swing adjustment in your stance helps improve your ability to hit short approach shots almost immediately.

Many recreational golfers address the shot as if they were going to take a full swing. They maintain the same stance as if they were taking a full shot. They also hold the club at the end of the grip. This stance and grip make it harder to control the shot, increasing the player’s chances of mis-hitting the ball.

The key to hitting better approach shots is getting more “intimate” with the ball. Doing so produces solid, more consistent contact. Over time, the solid more consistent contact will increase your ability to land the ball closer to the hole on short approach shots, eliminating unnecessary strokes.

Visualization Technique
If short approach shots are a challenge for you, here’s a technique that can help you overcome it.

Visualize a triangle on the ground formed by the toe of each shoe and the ball. The triangle should have sides of equal length. If the sides are more than 12 inches long, you’re probably giving up too much control. Adjust your stance until the sides of the triangle are 12 inches long and choke down on the club for a shorter swing.

Some people believe that you can do well by shortening the triangle’s side by less than 12 inches. But that’s a question of personal preference and practice.

Reducing the triangle is a simple adjustment that you can make easily. At first, you may feel cramped and uncomfortable. But as you practice with it, you’ll begin feeling more and more comfortable each time you use it. In the end, you should see your ability to control short approach shots improve.

=================================================== 3) Question of the Week- Dealing With A Downhill Bunker Lie
=================================================== From Willy Serrrano

Dealing With A Downhill Bunker Lie

Q. Hi, Jack. Could you describe the set up and ball position for a downhill bunker lie? Usually, I don’t have any trouble with a regular bunker shot. But I usually end up on the other side of the green with a downhill lie. Thanks for the tips!

A. Thanks for the question, Willie. As you’ve probably realized already, you need to be really careful with a downhill bunker shot. There’s a real danger of mis-hitting the ball and sending the ball over the green. But you can’t let that intimidate you.

Your set-up is the key to hitting this shot properly. Use an open stance, bend from the waist more than usual, and position your weight on your heels just a bit. Also, keep your head at the same level, your knees flexed, and your spine angle constant throughout the swing. Focus on a spot in the sand just behind the ball. Shorten up on the club.

As you start your backswing, take the club back on the outside, and then hinge your wrists, setting the shaft on an upright plane and enabling you to come down on the ball on a steep angle. Swing the clubhead through the sand and under the ball along a line parallel with your feet, just as you would with a normal bunker shot. The out-to-in swing path sets the ball on a low but direct trajectory toward the flag.

The ball comes out of the bunker a little right of your aim, with just a trace of slice spin, so make allowances. And don’t try to do too much with this lie. Getting the ball out of the bunker and on the green is the priority.

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

To view this newsletter online, please visit:
http://www.howtobreak80.com/newsletter01312007.html
Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article- Three Situations Where Your Instincts Are Not Correct

5) Article- How To Use Your Legs: Part II

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
=================================================== 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 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.