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How To Break 80 Newsletter

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

1) Mastering The 56-Degree Wedge
2) Frame Your Putting Stroke
3) Question of the Week - Playin’ In The Rain
4) Article - When Playing It Safe is Smart
5) Article - The Natural Swing: The Starting Form

Jack’s Note: You guys are funny….made me laugh re: my email gaffe. Some of you called it an “email shank” or “3-putt”..so thanks for that…I needed the chuckle. Update on the Driver DVD…I hate to say it but we are almost sold out I believe it’s because we have a lot of special offers that go along with it (you’ll see them when you click the “order” button). Daniel just informed me we have 97 left so if you want to get your hands on one, visit The Driver DVD Page or call us immediately at 888-896-6844.

Problems viewing this newsletter/ezine? Email us your comments at
ezine@howtobreak80.com

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1) Mastering The 56-Degree Wedge
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Here’s a tip on what clubs to carry in your bag: Many teachers recommend carrying three wedges, a pitching wedge plus two utility wedges. That might be difficult under some circumstances. But if you substitute a hybrid club for two of your longer clubs, you gain a one-club advantage, allowing you to carry the extra wedge. There’s a range of lofts between 52 degrees and 60 degrees that provide versatility around the green.

The 56-degree wedge is among those clubs. You can hit all kinds of shots with it when you’re close to the green. You can open the face and hit a high lofting shot, or play the ball back in your stance and hit a bump and run. Mastering the 56-degree wedge also prepares you for hitting the 60-degree wedge, the ideal club for making flop shots.

Here are five tips to hitting a 56-degree wedge:

* Determine the type of shot required
* Open your stance slightly at address
* Position the ball based on the shot
* Keep your hands ahead of the ball
* Use a descending blow

If you continually stub short wedge shots, it could be because you’re not using a descending blow. A good drill for players who stub short chip and pitch shots requires a friend’s help. Have him or her hold his hand just above and beyond the ball at address and catch it in the air after you’ve hit it. (I’ve done it hundreds of time and it doesn’t hurt.)

In addition to teaching you to make a crisp descending blow, the drill forces golfers to keep the club low after impact, so as not to hit the other player’s hands. That keeps the golfer from scooping the shot or lifting up and skulling it.

Gary Player once said that 70 percent of all golf shot are played around the green–a startling but accurate statistic. Work on your wedge shots, especially with the 56-degree wedge, and you’ll turn three shots into two when around the green.

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2) Frame Your Putting Stroke
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Nothing’s more frustrating than putting a ball offline. Instead of sinking the putt, you leave yourself with a tap in, even though you had the right distance. If the green is sloped away from you, you drift several feet away from the hole, with a difficult putt coming back. Either way, you’re adding strokes to your score.

Lining up your ball properly is a key to putt well. No matter how close or far you are from the cup, if the put isn’t lined up properly, it has no chance of going in, even if you have the right speed. And compensating in mid-stroke for misaligning the putt seldom works, if ever.

Many weekend golfers try to push or pull the ball to get it on target instead of starting square and trusting their stroke. They sideswipe the ball, send it off line, and have problems with distance control. Instead, line up your putts by using this visual device. Try framing the ball.

Next time you’re putting, picture a framing square as it relates to your putter and your line. The vertical part of the tool should be parallel to the face of your putter, and the horizontal part should be parallel to the target line. Keep the putter on line and the face square, and the ball will go where you aim it.

Here are 5 other keys to keeping your putts on line:

* Position your eyes over the ball
* Remain still during your putt
* Square up your shoulders
* Keep you hands over (or just ahead) of the ball
* Form a neutral union of your hands

If your putting is offline, it can be frustrating. Use the framing square to line up the putt and commit to the five keys mentioned above. If everything is in order, trust your stroke and make a good putt, accelerating through impact. Almost half of all your strokes during a round of golf are putts. Keep them to a minimum and your will reduce your scores.

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3) Question of the Week - Playin’ In The Rain
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From Chris Brooke

Q. Hi, Jack, I’ve read your weekly newsletter now for a couple of years. And while I’m not breaking 80, I am playing more consistently. What do you recommend when playing in wet, soft ground conditions, when irons have a tendency to stop short in the ground or on approach shots over hazards when the SW can cut into the ground? I end up advancing the ball a lot shorter than the intended distance or hit it straight into the hazard

A. Thanks, Chris. Many golfers don’t use enough club in the rain. You need to take more club when playing in wet conditions or when the ground is soft. The ball doesn’t travel as far in the rain or in wet conditions as it normally does, and the ground decreases roll when the ball hits. So take an extra club to compensate.

Also, sweep the ball off the ground. Wet turf is heavy turf. Hitting the ground results in a fat shot that goes nowhere. Instead, focus on sweeping the ball off the ground with minimal contact. Try picking the shot cleanly from the turf.

A great drill to practice sweeping the ball is “Clip the Tee.” Stick a tee in the ground (no ball) and use a 6 iron or a 7 to “clip” it out. A clipped tee will pop straight up. If you can consistently do that, you’ll greatly improve your ability to sweep a ball off the ground. Clipping the tee means the club head is square, the swing path straight, and the ground untouched.

In addition, stay dry when playing in rain or in wet conditions. Above all, keep you grips dry. Once your grips get wet, the length of your shots tends to decrease substantially. Also, take off your gloves and put them in your pockets. Dry gloves improve your grip. If all else fails, wrap your handkerchief around the grip (it’s legal).

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.

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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: How To Break 80 Website.
Also, for past issues of this newsletter and some of my most recent articles, visit our blog at How To Break 80 Blog.

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article - When Playing it Safe is Smart.

5) Article - The Natural Swing: The Starting Form.

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.

He’s killing me…absolutely killing me. Every time I see Phil in the hunt on Sunday I just wait for the gambler in Phil to come out, make a poor decision, hit a big slice (ala US Open last summer) and crumble. As a fan I love that this possibility exists…but I fear he has exorcised theses demons.

At the PLAYERS last weekend he was textbook…especially off the tee. He hit nearly every fairway and hit a ridiculous amount of greens in regulation. The guy was like a machine…300 down the middle every time with his little cut for good measure.

Driving can be complicated but honestly, we make golf a lot more complicated than it has to be. Wouldn’t you agree?

Example #1: If the object of the game is to get the ball on the green and in the hole in the fewest amount of shots, wouldn’t it make sense to try and get that ball closest to the green in the first place?

Example #2: Draining a long putt won’t make your buddies “OOH” and “AAH”. They might give you a high-five or clap but what’s going to get the most revered adoration is that bomb you hit off the tee with a baby draw.
Love it or hate it, ego plays a big part in golf psychology.

The good news? I’m going to show you how to hit drives like that right now.

The bad news? You probably won’t hit it 300 yards like Phil and Tiger but CAN make driving the biggest weapon in your arsenal.

If you’re looking to:

**Realize your true maximum distance with your driver
**Fix your slice or hook forever
**Create a reliable “machine-like” driver swing
**Find more fairways
**Determine the right type of driver for your own game
**Be able to reach those elusive par 5’s in two

Then do yourself a favor and read more:

Driver DVD

NOTE: We have limited stock. We sold out of the previous two titles (Short Game and Putting DVD just days after we launched it (we did get more but only months later) and the same will happen with this Driver DVD.

Best,

Jack

P.S. This is for How To Break 80 subscribers only. If you’re not a
subscriber, sorry!

Driver DVD

P.P.S. As a subscriber you are entitled to a discount which is explained on the page above.

P.P.P.S. We don’t advertise or promote this DVD anywhere else or to anyone else. It is intended for my readers and our collective quest to go low!

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How To Break 80 Newsletter

May 9, 2007

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

1) Mastering The Greenside Bunker Shot
2) Don’t Cross Your Heart to Add Distance
3) Question of the Week- Chipping It Close
4) Article- Tale of Two Putters
5) Article- Perfecting Your Chip Shots
6) Article- Crush Your Drives…And Keep It In Play

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1) Mastering The Greenside Bunker Shot
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Ever hit one of those “home run” bunker shots? You know. The shot not only clears the lip of the bunker but also the far side of the green. If you have, you know it’s far from the ideal way of getting out of a bunker. But you can eliminate home run bunker shots by remembering to use the reverse release. Slicing the ball out of the sand is the accepted technique with a greenside bunker shot. But since you usually rotate the clubface closed on standard shots, you can have problems with this approach because you need to hold the clubface open through impact. If you fail to rotate the clubface open sufficiently, you’ll hit one of those home run bunker shots or something worse, costing you strokes. You can avoid this by starting with the standard bunker set up, in which the body is slightly open to the target, then

*Open your clubface
*Position the ball slightly forward
*Keep your body open to the target
*Swing the club along your bodyline
*Rotate your palm open (reverse release)

Ideally, you want the ball to fly out of the sand and land softly on the green. To achieve this, you need to use a slice swing, one that travels on an outside-to-in swing path, with the clubhead held open in relation to the path. Most players can make a slice swing fairly easily. The problem occurs with palm rotation. Coming down you should feel your right palm (left palm for left-handers) start rotating toward the sky. It should continue rotating open as the club slides through the sand and under the ball. This full rotation of the palm is what’s referred to as the reverse release. It enables you to slide the clubface through the sand at impact and under the ball.

To avoid hitting a home run bunker shot, rotate your right palm open when hitting out of a greenside bunker. Rotating your palm through impact throws the ball out of the sand and settles it softly on the green.

Television Note:
PGA Tour Science of Golf will present two one-hour programs focusing on how modern technology has impacted the game of golf. The programs will put the full swing under scrutiny. Presented by BM, in High Definition, the first segment–Power Game–airs May19th (2:00PM to 3:00PM). The second segment–Short Game–airs May 27th (2:00PM to 3:00 PM) CBS Sports. PGA Tour Productions produced the programs. Give them a watch…I know I will.

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2) Don’t Cross Your Heart to Add Distance
================================================== Increasing clubhead speed adds distance to your shots. The faster your clubhead moves through impact zone, farther you’ll hit the ball. Increase your club head speed, and you’ll increase the distance of your shots. If you’re wondering how to do that, look no further than the first two feet of your backswing. That’s the key better ballstriking. Unfortunately, many weekend golfers don’t strike the ball well because they don’t take a full shoulder turn, as I’ve mentioned before. Instead, they drag the clubhead back while they keep the shoulders in place, resulting in an abbreviated turn. Dragging the clubhead also pulls the arms away from the body on the downswing, producing a weak, powerless over-the-top swing. Combined, these two moves inhibit ball striking, short-circuiting power. But you can remember to make a full shoulder turn by keeping a simple thought in mind: Don’t let your arms cross you heart during the takeaway. If they do, the arms are moving independently of the torso. The left arm (right arm for left-handers) should be below the center of your chest until the club moves higher than your hips. By that point, much of the shoulder turn has occurred. The arms can then swing the club upward to complete the backswing.

Mirror Drill
Here’s drill to help you learn the feel of a good shoulder turn without leaving your home. Take a normal address position, with your back to a mirror. Place your hands on top of your hips. Now turn to the right (left for left-hander), as if you were looking at someone directly behind you. At this point, you should feel both the torsion and the rotation of your spine that this simple move creates. Now, take a look in the mirror behind you. See how your back faces the target? Your shoulders will have turned at least 90 degrees and your hips about 45 degrees. Your left knee will be pointing inward and your weight will be mostly on your right side. This position is a crucial. You don’t want to move outside of your footwork. Work on this drill frequently. Once you’ve engrained the feeling of a full shoulder turn, try hitting shots. You’ll be amazed at how much better your ballstriking is and how much farther the ball goes–all the result of increasing your clubhead speed and preventing your arms from crossing your heart.

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3) Question of the Week- Chipping It Close
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From Mario Begin

Chipping It Close

Q. Hi. I would like some tips on how to chip from between 10 to 40 yards to the pin. What’s the easiest way to do it? What drills will help me improve my chipping. It’s the worst part of my game. Help!

A. Thanks for the question, Mario. It’s a good one because chipping from between 10 to 40 yards is critical to playing well. When faced with a short chip shot, club choice is key. Ideally, you want to use a club based on how far the ball rolls on the green, and then let the club’s loft do the work. The idea is to let the ball run to the hole like a putt. The clubs of choice for this shot are the 7, 8, 9, PW, and SW.

Five tips on chipping it close to the pin are:

1. Aim for a flat landing spot
2. Consider the green’s condition
3. Decide on the required loft
4. Use less lofted clubs for uphill shots
5. Match the swing to the club

Your address position depends on the club. Before choosing it, consider the lie, condition of the putting surface, and the green’s speed. Also consider the wind, slope, and grain of the green. Once you selected the club, aim for a flat spot on either the green or the fringe, and let the ball run to the hole. In general, the higher the club’s loft, the shorter the roll. The farther you’re away from the pin, the more roll you need. Some players like to use a less lofted club with an uphill lie. Others like to use a more lofted club with a downhill lie. Swing a little harder with a more lofted club.

A good drill for chipping it close is hitting chip shots with different clubs from various distances around the green. Just drop some balls and hit away. This drill isn’t complicated, but it helps develop a feel for the roll you can expect with each club.

Keep practicing this drill until you have a good feel for the club’s roll. Once you do, you’ll find yourself chipping the ball closer and closer to the pin, and cutting strokes from your scores.

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/newsletter05092007.html

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article- Tale of Two Putters
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/taleoftwoputters.html

5) Article- Perfecting Your Chip Shots
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/perfectchips.html

6) Article- Crush Your Drives…And Keep It In Play
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/crushyourdrives.html

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.

Two quick updates…

1. This week is PLAYERS Championship, highly regarded by players and fans alike as the tour’s fifth major. Here’s whay I like it so much and why you want to tune in…

-IT’S TOUGHER. TPC Sawgrass had a major renovation since the event last year…making it even more diffifult than before.

-BRAGGING RIGHTS and PEER PRESSURE. In the locker room, this is the one that most palyers want…even more than majors.

-BEST FIELD ALL YEAR. Because of the strict entrance requirements this tourney only allows the cream of the crop.

-THAT @#%! 17TH ISLAND HOLE! This one makes even the pros look like 25 handicaps with all the splashes and kerplunks. I love it because you can watch this hole live every day for free on your computer at http://www.pgatour.com/livegolf/

Are you as excited as I am? I hope so. WHO DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO WIN? Let me know by posting your comments below!

2. I’ll be releasing the long-awaited and heavily anticipated DRIVER DVD next TUESDAY, MAY 15th, 8AM PT. It’s been in production a long while and honestly this one took the most time to make because of all the extra footage we shot. It’s outstanding and I know you’ll love it. As always, will have limited stock so mark your calendars for next Tuesday.

I hope you enjoy the PLAYERS Champoinship as much as I will and talk to you soon.

Best,

Jack