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How To Break 80 Newsletter

October 3, 2007

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

1) Using Fat Putting Grips
2) Hitting Crisp Shots Around the Green
3) Question of the Week - Tackling Fairway Woods
4) Article - Using Driver On Every Hole
5) Article - Developing A Short Game Formula Cuts Strokes

Jack’s Note: How ‘bout that President’s Cup? US seems to have no problem with the International team but man Mike Weir sure put it to Tiger beating him in the singles match Sunday. By the way, did you catch Woody Austin falling in the pond? Hilarious, check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2qle7SnQ0g. I’m sad to say we sold out very quickly of the short Game DVD’s I sent you a message about the other day but we have a handful of the Putting left. Of course, we have plenty of the other DVD’s…Driving, Bunker and Draw (Stop Slicing). Check them all out herewww.howtobreak80.com/dvd.htm.

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1) Using Fat Putting Grips
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Does size matter? When it comes to putting grips, it just might. K.J. Choi’s victory at this year’s AT&T National using an oversized putting grip raises questions about the benefits of these grips. Granted, they are ugly. But if they help you sink more putts, lower scores, and reduce handicaps, who cares how they look.
Traditional putting grips measure .85 inches wide. Choi’s grip measures 1.67 inches in diameter. A skinnier option measures 1.4 inches in diameter. Since there’s no limit to how wide putting grips can be, golfers don’t have to worry about the grip’s legality. So you may see more of them on the course soon.

Benefits of oversized grips include:
* Levels shoulders at address
* Reduces wrist movement
* Decreases hand pressure
* Keeps forearms square during stroke
* Provides better roll.

Grip proponents say that fat grips enable golfers to position both hands at an equal height, which in turn allows the shoulders to be level at address. They also say these grips reduce wrist movement and hand pressure, and keep the forearms square to the target during the stroke. These are advantages when it comes to putting consistency.

Choi uses a fat grip because he believes it provides better roll. That alone is enough of a reason for some players to adopt the oversized grip.

Perhaps the most convincing reason for using fat putting grips, however, is that they allow the upper torso to be the main power source on the putt. And that, many golf pros will tell you, is one of the keys to good putting.
By the way, if you do opt for fat grips, you may also want to look at a new bag with wider club slots. These bigger grips tend to get stuck in your typical carry bags.

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2) Hitting Crisp Shots Around the Green
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Too many weekend golfers hit weak shots around the green, costing themselves strokes. They either hit the ball weakly, leaving it well short of the hole; or they hit it fat, dribbling it a few inches forward. Either way, they cost themselves strokes. But you can learn to hit crisp shots around the green using a simple drill designed to ingrain the shot’s fundamentals.

Five keys to hitting crisp shots are
1. Assume a slightly open stance
2. Make a fairly long swing
3. Keep your wrists quiet
4. Swing down on the ball
5. Rotate your body toward the target

Hitting a short shot around the green is counterintuitive. Some golfers think that to get the ball airborne and hit it a short distance, they need to flick their wrists or scoop the ball in the air. But that’s not necessary. Instead, take a fairly long swing, keeping the wrists quiet. Then swing the arms down as the body rotates toward the target.

Honing this technique takes time. But the drill explained below speeds the learning process. You can do it using a club, pool cue, or broom handle. So you can practice in the house as well as on the range.

Midshaft Drill
Grip an iron about midshaft, so the butt end is pointing up and is just outside your front hip. Now take a swing. As you take the club back, hinge your wrists slightly, so the butt end of the shaft doesn’t hit your side. Start your downswing by rotating your body toward the target, maintaining the hinge. The goal is to avoid having the club’s butt hit your side. If it does, you either failed to make your body turn properly or your wrists broke down.
This drill teaches the proper stroke for hitting a good short shot when you’re near the green, the kind that leaves you close to the hole and saves you strokes. Practice it as often as you can and you’ll soon be hitting crisp shots around the green.

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3) Question of the Week - Tackling Fairway Woods
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Q. Hi Jack, thanks for the articles. They’re very interesting. I am very erratic (inconsistent) with my fairway woods (in particular my 3-wood). I used to be able to hit them really well. But for the past 6 to 8 months, I’ve been really struggling with these clubs. I tend to hit well behind the ball and am getting very limited distance. Sometimes, I almost miss the ball altogether or I top it. Any suggestions?

Regards,
Ken Graham

A. Thanks for the question, Ken. Players who master these clubs have versatile tools with which to drive down their scores and golf handicaps. They are especially useful on par 5s and long par 4s. But they can be difficult to hit for some.

Sometimes, in an effort to generate distance, a golfer swings too hard or too fast with these clubs, throwing his or her rhythm and timing off. If that’s you, slow yourself down and take a nice easy swing. Also, with fairway woods, try to hit the ball at the bottom of your swing.

With the 3-wood, position the ball just behind where you’d tee it for a drive. Use a one-piece takeaway, stay low with the club, and start hinging your wrists when you’re about hip high. Make a real effort to complete your backswing. Slide your right shoulder under your chin as you rotate your body. Take a nice easy downswing. You don’t have to swing hard to get the distance you want. The club will do it for you. Follow through to a balanced finish.

When hit correctly, these clubs create a shallow divot or no divot at all. So when you swing, try clipping the tops of the grass at impact. If you still find yourself making a large divot or hitting behind the ball, try this drill:
Place a tee where you’d normally position the ball, with the top just sticking out of the ground. Using a fairway wood, try clipping the tee as you swing. If you clip it, the tee will pop almost straight up. Practice this drill until you’ve mastered it, then substitute a ball.

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/newsletter10032007.html

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article - Using Driver On Every Hole
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/usingdriver.html

5) Article - Developing A Short Game Formula Cuts Strokes
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/shortform.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.

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