Golf Tips and Instruction- September 12, 2007
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How To Break 80 Newsletter
September 12, 2007
“The Web’s Most Popular Golf Improvement Newsletter”
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In this issue we’ll discuss…
1) Conquering Golf’s Toughest Bunker Shot
2) Hitting It Flush
3) Question of the Week - Hitting Irons Correctly
4) Article - Using Sound to Improve Your Swing
5) Article - Advances In Iron Design Cut Strokes
Jack’s Note:
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1) Conquering Golf’s Toughest Bunker Shot
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What’s golf toughest bunker shot? Hitting the ball from a lie with loose sand over a hard surface. If you dig down too deeply with the clubface, hitting the hard underbelly, the clubhead slows down, causing you to leave the ball in the bunker.
The shot is tricky, no doubt. But don’t be intimidated. Attack it with a heavy-flanged wedge, like the sand wedge. The wedge’s bounce lets the club glide smoothly through the sand, without cutting into the hard underbelly, and throws the ball up and out of the bunker.
Here how to approach bunker shots systematically:
* Determine the sand’s hardness by testing it with your shoes. The shoe test tells you if the sand is hard-packed, just firm, soft with a thin crust, or soft with a hard underbelly.
* If the sand is firm, replace your sand wedge with a pitching wedge. It digs in and under the ball better than a sand wedge, preventing skulling. If the sand is firm, set up a little wider than normally. Make a low sweeping take away. And hit down briskly 1 inch behind the ball
* If the sand is hard-packed, play the ball as you would from hard dirt. Square the blade, position the ball back in your stance, and set the hands ahead of the ball. Pick it cleanly off the surface when swinging.
* If the sand has a thin crust, play the shot as a typical bunker shot. Use a sand wedge, especially if the sand is deep and powdery.
Most bunker shots have a slight margin for error. So don’t let them get to you. Attack them confidently, regardless of the type of lie you have. Work on getting out of the bunker in one shot. It will strokes cut strokes from your scores and your golf handicap.
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2) Hitting It Flush
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Driving the ball for distance depends on creating torque in your swing. Torque can be defined as the force that causes rotation, twisting, or turning. The force generated by an internal-combustion engine to turn a vehicle’s drive is torque. It’s really stored energy. The more torque you generate during your backswing, the more energy—and power—you deliver to the ball at impact. We call it “hitting it flush.”
Three keys to hitting it flush are:
1. Full shoulder turn
2. Flare your front foot
3. Kick in your back knee slightly
Taking a full shoulder turn creates torque. In fact, it’s probably the most important contributor to torque of all. Creating maximum torque involves using the whole body, including your hips and shoulders. If they aren’t included, then your arms are forced to take the club to the top of the backswing alone. This produces a weak, arms-oriented backswing position, with almost no coil and little stored energy. In short, you create a position with little or no torque.
Toeing out the front foot about 25-30 degrees also helps generate torque. It allows you to turn your hips through the ball quickly. Many weekend players keep the front foot straight, preventing them from turning their hips through the swing and limiting the amount of energy delivered to the ball. Keeping the back knee flexed and kicked in slightly toward the ball maintains your posture during the swing and encourages the build up of torque.
Some players push the front knee slightly towards the target. This move acts as a forward press, triggering their swings both mechanically and psychologically. It also helps build up rhythm, another contributor to power. Gary Player uses this technique. Other players, like Jack Nicklaus, turn their heads slightly to the right before committing to the swing as a trigger.
Generating power depends on how much torque you create, not on how hard you swing the club. Concentrate on creating torque when at the driving range. Ingrain the keys we’ve mentioned above in your swing and you’ll hit the ball flush time after time after time. You’ll also hit it longer and straighter.
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3) Question of the Week - Hitting Irons Correctly
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Q. Hi, Jack, I have a problem hitting the ball with my Irons. Every time I hit a shot I pop the ball high in the air or I hit the ground first. How do I fix this problem?
Ossie Parker
Ab Bahamas
A. Many weekend golfers have problems hitting their irons correctly. Often, it’s because of a single swing flaw. But in your case, it sounds like you need to focus on grooving the fundamentals of your swing. The key is doing things systematically. That gives you the best chance of hitting the ball consistently.
Here’s an example:
* Take a comfortable, relaxed, setup. Let your arms hang down naturally from your shoulders. Hold your head up away from your chest.
* Start the club back slowly using a one-piece takeaway. Cock your wrists when you’re about hip high. Set the club on the right plane as you complete the backswing. Make sure you make a full shoulder turn.
* Pause briefly at the top of the backswing before starting the downswing. Don’t hurry the transition. It needs to be nice and smooth. Hurrying the downswing is one of the biggest mistakes weekend golfers make.
* As you go into your downswing, drop the club slightly inside as it comes down to meet the ball. Stay connected with your arms.
* Maintain your head behind the ball at impact, with the club freewheeling into the follow-through. Carry this motion through to a perfectly balanced finish.
Make sure you swing down and through the ball when hitting your irons, creating a divot in front of the ball, not behind it.
This 5-step approach trains you to be systematic when hitting your irons. Practice it until you don’t have to think consciously about doing it. It will improve your ballstriking. One other tip: Replace the longer irons (3-, 4-, 5-) with hybrid clubs. They’re easier to hit.
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: 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/newsletter09122007.html
Here are some of my recent articles:
4) Article - Using Sound to Improve Your Swing
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/sound.html
5) Article - Advances In Iron Design Cut Strokes
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/irondesign.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
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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.
