Golf Tips and Instruction- December 5, 2007
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How To Break 80 Newsletter
December 5, 2007
“The Web’s Most Popular Golf Improvement Newsletter”
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In this issue we’ll discuss…
1) Swinging The Putter Smoothly
2) Use a Fade for More Control
3) Question of the Week – Hitting from a Fairway Divot
4) Article – Choosing The Right Irons
5) Article – Think Your Way To A Lower Golf Handicap
Jack’s Note: Be sure and read this week’s article “Use a Fade for More Control”…it’s one thing to really try and master as it will give you a lot more confidence to fire at pins. And just as a small reminder, the Holiday Blowout Sale officially ends on Friday (tomorrow) the 7th so give it a look if you want to save big at www.break80today.com/blowout or call us at 888-896-6844.
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1) Swinging The Putter Smoothly
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The most efficient, effective putting stroke is one in which the putter swings like a pendulum, back and forth, smoothly and rhythmically. But the stroke doesn’t come naturally. You must train your body to produce a perfect pendulum-like motion. Once trained, you must practice regularly to maintain your stroke’s fluidity and rhythm.
Here are 6 keys to making a smooth, pendulum-like putting stroke:
1. Keep your grip pressure light
2. Maintain a steady head
3. Keep the front shoulder down
4. Strike on the upstroke
5. Keep the wrists firm
6. Accelerate through the stroke
Keeping your grip pressure light and maintaining a steady head throughout the putt are two “musts” in putting. A light grip provides more feel when putting, and feel is a big part of putting. A steady head—with your eyes directly over the ball—keeps the putter square to the target line. Moving your head throws your putt off line.
The takeaway is a one-piece action. Move the arms, shoulders, and putter away from the ball together, with the hands remaining passive. If you think “front shoulder down,” you’ll produce the correct motion. Make a smooth, rhythmic stroke and accelerate the putter through the ball. If your ball position is correct, the pendulum action enables you to strike the ball on the upswing.
In addition, keep the wrists firm through impact and follow-through—one of the most important moves in putting. Try imagining them encased in plastic casts. Accelerate the putter-head through the stroke, even on short putts, and make sure your follow-through is as long as the takeaway.
A useful putting drill that builds fluidity into your swing is to start by taking a normal practice stroke, using a smooth, rhythmic motion. Then address the ball, close your eyes, and repeat the motion—letting the ball get in the way of the stroke. This drill helps make the real stroke more like a practice stroke, and improves putting accuracy.
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2) Use a Fade for More Control
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The fade—a shot that travels left to right for right-handers—was one of Jack Nicklaus’ favorite shots when on the pro tour. Eventually, the power fade became one of his most potent weapons. He used it with great precision to hit specific targets. He especially liked using it as an approach shot because he could control the ball’s roll more than with a draw.
The ideal lie for hitting a fade is closely mown grass or a bare lie. Both make it possible to get “more of the ball” and create as much sidespin on the ball as necessary. Using a straight-faced club makes it easier to generate sidespin. Here are five other tips on hitting the fade:
* Preset the correct impact position
* Go across the line at the top
* Swing the clubhead along your foot-line
* Clear the front hip
* Swing through to left of target
Hitting the ball on an in-to-out swing path, combined with an open clubface, produces a fade. Preset the correct impact position by assuming the proper stance. Aim the clubface directly at the target and align the feet, hips, and shoulders left of target. The more open the stance, the greater the fade.
This stance produces a position at the top of your backswing where the clubshaft points left of target, as it should. Follow the clubhead along a path parallel to the foot-line of your stance on your downswing. Unwind the body as with any other shot, but make sure you clear the left hip as the club drops down on the correct swing plane.
Try holding the clubface open through impact, as the clubhead travels across the line. Swing through to where your belt buckle points left of target, and finish with almost all your weight supported on your front foot, as always.
Accomplished golfers know how to work the ball. And one of their best weapons is the fade. It’s a great shot to learn because it provides more control over ball roll, so you can use it to hit specific targets, like the green, or go around something, like a tree. Master the fade and you’ll cut strokes from your scores.
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3) Question of the Week – Hitting from a Fairway Divot
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Q. Hi Jack, last weekend, I hit a perfect drive down the middle, only to walk up to my ball and find it in a divot on the fairway.
What tips do you have for hitting a ball from a divot? I went on to double bogey the hole, as it totally threw me.
Ben
A. Thanks for the question, Ben. No one likes hitting from a divot when you’re sitting in the middle of the fairway. But it happens and you can’t let it throw you. When you’re on a course that gets a lot of play, it’s not unusual to find yourself in a fairway divot once in awhile. Stay calm, focus on the shot, and remember these tips:
* Position the ball in the middle of your stance
* Keep your front arm and shaft in a straight line
* Let your hands lead the club through impact
* Stay down longer after the shot
* Finish with your club pointing to the target
The key to hitting this shot is you address position. Placing the ball in the middle of your stance ensures that you strike the ball crisply and cleanly, and with a slightly descending blow. Keeping your front arm and the shaft in a straight line encourages ball-first contact, required in this type of shot.
Since playing from a divot resembles hitting from a downhill lie, let your hands lead the clubhead through impact. Stay down longer on the shot than usual — as long as three seconds, if you can—before looking up. Finish with your club pointing at the target, not wrapped around your body.
A good way to practice this shot is hitting from divots at the range. Another way is putting a tee in the ground and practice scraping the grass in front of the tee without hitting it. Either way, you’ll find that practicing pays off.
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/newsletter12052007.html
Here are some of my recent articles:
4) Article – Choosing The Right Irons
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/irons.html
5) Article – Think Your Way To A Lower Golf Handicap
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/think.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.
