Players taking golf lessons sometimes ask me about shafts. They wonder if using different shafts really matters. It's a good question. My answer: it probably matters more for professional golfers, like Phil Mickelson or Ernie Els, than it does for recreational golfers, like you and me. Matters, but it does matter for recreational golfers, which is why I cover them in my golf tips.

Most major manufacturers think so, too. That's why they work with top companies to produce shafts designed specifically for their clubs, especially when it comes to metal drivers. Manufacturers want to make sure golfers get the most out of their clubs, so they invest the time, effort, and money to find a good shaft. Rest assured, you're getting something decent with the club, something that can help lower your golf handicap.

Unfortunately, stock shafts are designed to accommodate groups of players, not the individual. The question is whether the shaft's flex profile sufficiently matches your swing. Two players with identical swing speeds might need different shafts that still measure at the same overall stiffness. A golfer with a short swing requires a stiffer tip, while a player with a long swing needs a softer tip with a stiffer butt section. The first thing you need to do, then, is determine if the shaft you're using is right for you.

Five Telltale Signs
How can you tell if the shafts on you clubs are right for you? Here are five telltale signs that you're using the wrong shaft:

1. Center hits don't feel solid
2. Ball starts out low; takes off midway in flight
3. You swing easier or harder to make the club feel right
4. Bad shots curve differently compared to other shots
5. Trajectory is either too low or too high

If you're experiencing these signs, chances are you have the wrong shafts. However, don't go running to your local sports store to buy new clubs just yet. First, make sure your problems are shaft-related, not swing-related, which you can do by working with a professional teacher. If the shafts are not right for your swing and your serious about golf, then you'll need new shafts. What are the key considerations when choosing new shafts?

Considerations
Material of construction is one. Shafts come in either steel or graphite. Steel is a more durable and reliable than graphite. It's also less expensive and heavier, and has a lower torque rating than graphite. Graphite offers improved club head speed, better shock absorption, and increased flex. Since it has a better torque rating than steel, graphite increases the range of choices for golfers.

Flex is another key consideration with shafts. Flex is a shaft's ability to bend during the golf swing, as I've explained in my golf tips. It may be the most important consideration of all. Of course, you can't actually see the bend in the shaft with the naked eye. Its bend is subtle and brought about by the force and weight of the club head as it swings. But it's there. Flex ratings are generally categorized as follows: Ladies (L), Regular (R), Senior (S), and Extra Stiff (XS).

Shaft Frequency
Unfortunately, flex ratings aren't always consistent. One company’s regular is another company’s stiff. So many people use shaft frequency to measure flex. Shaft frequency is a more precise measurement of flex. Taken by a machine, shaft frequency is the number of times a shaft oscillates, either vertically or horizontally, 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, 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 get a better gauge on the flexibility between different shafts.

Usually a player with a fast swing requires a shaft with less flex. Those with a slower swing needs a shaft with greater flex. Its important to determine the correct flex for your swing. Shaft flex can affect the accuracy and distance of your shots. So if you have a flex that doesn't match your swing characteristic, your shots may not hit their desired target.

Cost and Consistencies
Cost is a third consideration when it comes to shafts. By experimenting with expensive composites, layering, and fiber direction shaft makers can tailor things like flex while minimizing deformation. The slightest undesirable can magnify inconsistencies in a swing. However, the cost of chasing these consistencies, which often exceed the players swing consistencies, is often extremely expensive. Other key considerations with shafts are torsional resistance and weight.

Ultimately, the choice of a new shaft will come down to feel. One way to find the right feel is to take your favorite club, one that you hit well and feels right, and copy that shaft for your other clubs. Remember, having the right equipment in golf is important. It can go a long way toward cutting your golf handicap down to a respectable level.

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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How To Break 80 Newsletter

July 11, 2007

"The Web's Most Popular Golf Improvement Newsletter"
===================================================

In this issue we'll discuss...

1) Aligning The Putter
2) Determining Your Ideal Putting Speed
3) Question of the Week - Dealing with Downhill Lies
4) Article - Are You Getting Shafted?
5) Article - How Good Can Your Putting Get?

Jack’s Note: Still struggling with a slice? Learn to draw the ball and add distance and control your game. We only have 14 of these brand new DVD’s left so if you’re interested, visit the page now, or call us at 888-896-6844. Be sure to click on the "Order Now" button because we are offering specials on our other DVD's we don't make available to the public. As I said before, once we sell the last one the page is coming down and we can’t make any exceptions.

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1) Aligning The Putter
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Aligning the putter is putting skill you must master to become a great putter. To learn how to align your putter correctly, you need reliable feedback. But that's not easy to get. A putt's direction doesn't tell you if you have correctly aligned the putter because the direction is a combination of alignment and several impact factors. So how do you master alignment? Here are three ways to do it:

1. Use your body
2. Use a hole on the green
3. Use a laser device

Using your body as a guide is simple. First, check the alignment of your body. Make sure it is aligned parallel to the intended target line. This includes —feet, hips, and shoulders. After doing this, place the putter in front of your feet so the shaft touches both feet. Then go to the hole and see if the shaft points as far left of the hole (or right, if you're left-handed) as the distance between where you were standing and the ball.

Another way is to pick out a hole on the putting green. If possible, choose one without breaks. Now align yourself as you normally would. Then, holding the putter tightly, kneel down behind the putter and look over the putterhead to see if you had the putter aligned correctly.

A third way is with a small mirror and a speech-controlled laser device. Glue the mirror to the front of your putter. Place the laser against the wall. Try to align putter with the laser beam. It hits the mirror and the reflection indicates the point on the wall where you're aiming your putter

In addition, you can use a trick popular with the pros. While kneeling behind the ball, align the letters on the ball directly toward the hole. Then, when putting, make sure the clubface is at right angles to the lettering on the ball. If it is, then you've aligned the putter correctly.

If you're serious about becoming a great putter, aligning the club correctly before hitting the ball is a must. If your putter isn't aligned properly, you have little if any chance of sinking a putt. Use one of the three methods described above to practice this key skill. You hit your putter more times than any other club in the bag. Don't waste a shot.

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2) Determining Your Ideal Putting Speed
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When a putt doesn't reach the hole, most golfers think the ball didn't have enough speed. That isn't always the case. The ball may not have reached the hole because the golfers didn't hit the ball on the putter's sweet spot, preventing the putter from moving the ball with full force. However, the golfers think they must add speed to the ball, so they hit it harder the next time they putt.

But hitting the ball harder isn't answer. When your putting stroke corresponds to a single lever pendulum motion, the swing's duration (the time from the start of the swing to the moment of impact) is almost independent of the desired speed—as long as this motion is relatively small. At an angle of 30 degrees, the variation is less than 2 percent. This means that the putt's duration is virtually independent of the ball's desired starting speed.

Thus, the ideal swing for a short putt takes just as long as the swing for a long one. The difference is that for a long putt you swing the club farther back, resulting in higher clubhead (and ball) speed while the time remains the same. If you watch professional golfers, you'll see that while each player has his or her own individual putting speed, it is independent of the putt's length and always the same. That’s their ideal putting speed—and the speed at which they are most likely to sink a putt.

So how do you determine your ideal putting speed? Try this simple four-step test:

1. Place two pillows on the floor a good 20 inches (50cm) apart. Now set a metronome to the basic rhythm of your putting stroke and swing the putter back and forth between the two pillows, so that putter strikes the left or right pillow with every strike of the metronome. Do this for about 15 seconds.

2. Now increase the rhythm of the metronome by five strikes per minute and swing the putter back and forth for 15 seconds. Then set the metronome five strokes below your basic rhythm. Decide which was the easiest to follow.

3. Repeat the test, but this time increase and reduce the metronome by two strikes per minute. Again, choose the most comfortable rhythm.

4. Finally, repeat the test but this time change the last pendulum frequency by only one strike per minute.

That gives you your ideal putting speed. Try to achieve this when putting, whether on the course or on the practice green.

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3) Dealing with Downhill Lies
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Q. Hi, Jack. Thanks for the tip on hitting from an uphill lie. However, I find the downhill lie much more difficult. What's the key to keep it from going right, (right handed-player)?

Thanks,

John W. Ruark
A. Hi, John.Several readers asked a similar question this week. Playing from a downhill lie is tricky but not difficult. You need to consider three things with a downhill lie: (1) your stance, (2) the launch angle, and (3) the club’s loft. If you factor these things into your shot correctly, you won't hit the ball to the right.

1. Club selection is key. The slope effectively changes the loft of your club, making a 7-iron into a 6-iron or a 9-iron into an 8-iron. With some lies, a 7-iron becomes a 5-iron. This change, in turn, alters the trajectory of the shot, so you need to use a less lofted club with downhill lies than you normally would from the same distance. Experience tells you which club to use.

2. Stance is also key. Your spine should be perpendicular to the hill’s slope and your weight should be slightly forward, with the ball back in your stance. Tailoring your stance to the slope sets up the shot.

3. A third key is the backswing. Keep your weight on your front foot and concentrate on making a wide takeaway. Also, keep your wrists quiet in the backswing’s early stages and stay down. Staying down on the ball at impact ensures solid contact.

To stay balanced, put more emphasis on swinging with your arms and hands, and less on turning your body. Since your lower body is less active than usual, you’ll have a tendency to mis-hit the ball. Chasing the clubhead down the slope eliminates this tendency.

The best drill for hitting from a downhill lie is simply dropping a ball on a downslope and hitting away. Work on the shot until it becomes second nature and you’ll build confidence in the shot.
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/newsletter07112007.html

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article - Are You Getting Shafted?
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/shafts.html

5) Article - How Good Can Your Putting Get?
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/puttgood.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.

David Feherty was recently interviewed and when asked about his position related to Tiger, here was his response...

"People have accused me of being so far up Tiger's arse that he can barely make a full swing, but I maintain that he is a special person.

There's no one else on the planet who can do what he does or even think of doing what he does. I've often thought, instead of showing Tiger's reaction to a shot he's hit, we really should show the reaction of those around him."

But here is the next best thing. "I'm walking down the 18th fairway at Firestone Country Club with Ernie Els and Tiger, who has popped up a three-wood about 40 yards behind Ernie into some wet, nasty, horrible, six-inch rough," Feherty says.

"Tiger's cursing and taking clumps out of Ohio with his three-wood. And, of course, we're not showing this on TV because we want to be able to interview him later. Ernie and I walk past Tiger's ball, and it is truly buried.

"Ernie is tied with Tiger and he's in the middle of the fairway. I'm standing with Ernie and my microphone is open. Ken Venturi [in the CBS booth] sends it to me and I say, 'Tiger's got 184 yards with two big red oaks overhanging the green. He's got absolutely nothing. With a stick of dynamite and a sand wedge I might be able to move this ball 50 yards. Steve Williams [Woods' caddie] tells me [with a hand signal] that he's using a pitching wedge.'

"Tiger takes his swing. Every muscle in his body is flung at the ball. It looks like he's torn his nutsack. The divot went as far as I could hit the ball. I've got my microphone at my mouth thinking, what the hell was that! The ball sails over the trees, lands behind the hole and backs up to a bout six feet from the flag. I open my microphone and Ernie turns and says, 'F*** me!'

"My producer comes on in my earpiece and says, 'Was that Ernie?' I say yes. He says, 'Fair enough.'

"I could have described that shot for 15 minutes and not done as good a job as Ernie did with two words. This is one of the best players in the world talking, and you wanna know how good Tiger is? Ask Ernie Els."

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How To Break 80 Newsletter

July 4, 2007

"The Web's Most Popular Golf Improvement Newsletter"
===================================================

In this issue we'll discuss...

1) Five Keys To Short Sand Shots
2) Taming a Crosswind
3) Question of the Week - Conquering Uphill Lies
4) Article - Cut Scores By Playing Smart
5) Article - Choosing The Right Golf Grips

Jack’s Note: Happy Independence Day to all our American readers! In case you didn’t get my previous email announcing the new Draw DVD, it’s set to go on sale Tuesday July 10th at 12pm ET. It’s one of my best yet and will be affordably priced. We’ve only got 250 of them this time so if you want to sign up for a priority list please go here. If you sign up, you’ll be able to get access to the DVD 30 minutes before anyone else at 8:30am ET on the 10th. There is no obligation to sign up... just a chance to get a head start on everyone else.

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1) Five Keys To Short Sand Shots
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Short sand shots out of a deep bunker can ruin a good score. They're among the hardest shorts to hit for weekend golfers, especially if the ball is close to the front lip. You not only have to hit out of the sand, you have to get the ball to pop almost straight up to avoid hitting the bunker's lip. That's why it often takes recreational golfers multiple shots to get out. But don't let the shot scare you. By making the right adjustments, you can get out in one and set yourself up for a short putt.

Here are six keys to making short sand shots:

1. Open the clubface wide
2. Take a wide stance for stability
3. Squat down a little at address
4. Make a three-quarter backswing
5. Take a full turn against a stable body
6. Face the target at the finish

This shot isn't as hard as it looks. To get the ball in the air quickly, open the clubface about 30 degrees and keep it open throughout the shot, enabling you to get under the ball. Take a wide stance for stability, since you'll be making a firm swing, and play the ball just inside the heel of your front foot. Squat down a little, too, which helps you get the swing arc below the level of the ball.

Now take a three-quarter swing, keeping your legs quiet and your feet planted. It's on this shot to important to keep the lower body stable because you'll be making a full shoulder turn. Swing the club into the sand about an inch behind the ball. Keep your wrists firm as they go through the sand, with the clubface pointing straight up. Turn your shoulders through so they face the target at the finish.

Don't hurry the shot. Take your time with it. Make sure your setup is perfect and your feet are firmly planted. Then, take a short swing. Practice the shot when you can. You'll find it easier to make than you thought.
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2) Taming a Crosswind
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The British Open is back at Carnoustie this year. In 1975 Tom Watson won his first major at Carnoustie in extremely windy conditions. He was two under par when he came to the 166 yard 13th. Deep bunkers in front of the green guarded the pin and a crosswind buffeted shots. But Watson played the crosswind perfectly, making par when he needed to and winning the championship.

Here are the basics to playing in the wind.

1. Choose the right club
2. Complete the shoulder turn
3. Widen your stance for stability
4. Stay low in the hitting zone
5. Finish with your weight forward

While the basics are the same, playing in a crosswind is slightly different strategy-wise than playing in a head or a tailwind. In a headwind, you play the ball back in your stance and swing about 80 percent of your normal swing. Swinging softly reduces the ball’s spin, which prevents it from flying high, where it is susceptible to the wind.

In a tailwind, you do the complete opposite. You play the ball forward in your stance and hit it higher for more distance. The wind does the rest, so you can also count on the ball flying straighter and longer, even on mis-hits in a tailwind.

But in a crosswind you curve the ball into the wind, if you want it to land softly. If you want it to land and roll, you “ride” the wind. The wind acts like the slope of a green and makes the ball curve, just as the slope of the putting surface does. So you need to determine which way the crosswind is blowing—right to left or left to right—and then hit your shot accordingly.

For example, with the wind moving right to left when Watson played the 13th hole and the pin tucked in behind a couple of bunkers on the right side of the green, Watson played into the crosswind. He aimed at the right edge of the green and let the wind blow the ball back on target. He also played a slight fade, so the ball would land on the far right side of the green, where it would bounce and go left with the crosswind.

Playing in a crosswind, like playing in a head or tail wind, is tricky. But you can do it with right mindset. Practice in a crosswind to get a better feel for the shot. Then, carry it over the next time you play. Knowing how to playing a crosswind cuts strokes from your scores without swinging a club.

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3) Question of the Week - Conquering Uphill Lies
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Q. Hi, Jack:

I have difficulty controlling the draw/hook from an uphill lie. I usually take an extra club, choke down, and weaken my grip. But I still hit a big draw or miss-hit and push the ball way right.

Any suggestions?

Sincerely,

Dennis Matzkin, M.D.

A. Three factors come in to play when hitting from an uphill lie: your setup, the hill's slope, and the shot's trajectory. Here are some tips on dealing with these three factors:

* Club selection is key. The slope's angle changes the club's effective loft, altering the shot's trajectory. In severe cases, a 7-iron becomes a 9-iron. Experience tells you just how much of a change to expect. It sounds like you've accounted for this, but you might try going down another club on occasion.

* Stance is another consideration. Tailor your stance to the slope. Your spine should be perpendicular to it, meaning your shoulders will tilt back and your back knee will support most of your weight. Correct weight distribution at address largely determines this shot's success.

* Backswing is a third consideration. Keep your weight pretty much where it was at address in the backswing. The less drift forward, which recreational players tend to do, the cleaner the shot. Concentrate on making a wide takeaway and keeping your wrists quiet in the backswing's early stages.

With an uphill lie, you must go with the slope. Since your weight's farther back and your lower body less active than usual, you'll have a tendency of pulling, caused by your hands getting over active at impact. To avoid this, keep the clubface looking at the ball as long as possible by swinging with the slope. Finish in balance, your back leg supporting most of your weight.

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/newsletter07042007.html

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article - Cut Scores By Playing Smart
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/mental.html

5) Article - Choosing The Right Golf Grips
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/grips.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.