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How To Break 80 Newsletter

March 19, 2008

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

1) 5 Steps to Stop Slicing
2) Sinking The Uphill Downhill Putt
3) Question of the Week – Getting The Shaft
4) Article – Are Adjustable Clubs In Your Future?
5) Article – Practice Using Lasers?

Jack’s Note: Hey folks, you see the finish by Tiger at Bay Hill on Sunday? Holy Cow! No wonder sponsors drool over him…he sure has a flare for the dramatic and getting people excited about the game.

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1) 5 Steps to Stop Slicing
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Using a weak grip is among the most common causes of a slice. Usually, it’s the right hand that’s the culprit for right-handers (the left hand for left-handers). In a weak grip, the right hand is rotated too much toward the target. This limits any chance of a proper hand rotation, making it difficult to rotate the clubface closed at impact. If you correct the grip, you’ll correct the slice.

Here are 5 steps to check your grip:

1. Assume a normal address position
2. Take the club with your left hand
3. Leave your right hand in place
4. Open your right hand
5. Put the club’s butt in your palm

First, you need to determine if you have a weak grip. Take your normal address position. Remain still and lift the club up with your left hand. But don’t alter the position of your right hand. Now open your right hand. Place the butt end of the club in the center of your palm.

If the club points down or toward you, your right hand is in a weak position. To correct this flaw, adjust your right hand until the club’s shaft points straight toward the target. That’s the position you want your hand in when you grip the club.

And don’t forget about grip pressure. While it doesn’t cause you to slice, it still affects how you hit the ball. Not enough pressure and you lose control of the club. Too much pressure and you retard clubhead speed. Hold the club as lightly as possible but just tight enough to control the club.

If you’re among the many golfers who slice, take the grip test. If it shows you have a weak grip, adjust your hands. And don’t strangle the club. Hold it just tight enough to control it. These adjustments will help you hit longer straighter shots.

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2) Sinking The Uphill Downhill Putt
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Some call it the game’s toughest putt: the long uphill downhill putt. While that’s open to debate, there’s no denying the difficulty of trying to sink one that goes first uphill about 15 feet or so, then downhill another 15 feet or so. It’s like trying to sink two putts at once. And it can keep you up at night.

Below are six keys to sinking this putt:

* Separate the putt into two parts
* Read the downhill putt first
* Walk the downhill part
* Pick a point just over the hill’s crest
* Consider grain and wind
* Focus on ball speed

The secret to sinking this putt is achieving the right speed. Gauging the speed of a putt like this is difficult because you have to hit the ball just hard enough to get it up the hill; but not so hard that the downhill side carries the ball way past the hole, leaving you with a long putt coming back. Your goal is to hit the ball with enough speed to get it to bypass the hole about 15 to 18 inches.

First, separate the putt into two parts—the downhill part and the uphill part. Study the downhill part first. Walk it to get a feel for steepness. Do this quickly so as not to hold up play. You want to get some idea of just how quickly the ball is going to roll downhill after it crests.

Next, consider the grain and the wind. How much of an impact will they have on the ball? Now, pick a point just over the hill’s crest and aim for it. You want to hit the ball with just enough speed to get the ball to the point you’ve picked, and then let the slope of the downhill part carry the ball to the hole. Once the ball gets over the crest, gravity lends a hand.

To practice this putt, find two greens—one with a long uphill putt and the other with a downhill putt. Take some practice shots at each. Try to get a feel for speed. Then, move over to a green with an uphill downhill putt and take some practice shots. The exercise gives you a feel for just how much speed to use on this type of putt.

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3) Question of the Week – Getting The Shaft
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Q. Hi, Jack, I have had more than one pro-fitter say that a stiff or a regular shaft should not make that much difference. I have an 18 handicap and am a senior with clubhead speed of about 89-90. Driver and 3-wood are stiff, the rest of the bag is regular. In your opinion, how important is the variable?

Thanks,

Darrel
Arvada, CO

A. Thanks for the question, Darrel. Shaft-flex matters more for professional golfers than recreational players, but it does make a difference however slight. (Otherwise, why would manufacturers spend so much time designing shafts specifically for their clubheads?) How much of a difference they make depends on the player. In the case of a senior or a woman, it could make a real difference, especially when it comes to their woods.

In your case, your clubhead speed is 89-90 miles per hour. The average clubhead speed for a recreational player is about 95-96 miles per hour. That means your clubhead speed is already 4-5 miles per hour slower than the average golfer. As you age, it’s likely that your clubhead speed will drop a couple of miles more.

Since clubhead speed affects how much force is transferred to the ball at impact, it also determines how far you hit a ball. The slower your clubhead speed, the shorter you’ll drive the ball. Women face a similar problem, since they tend to be weaker than men. It’s why clubmakers produce shafts specifically for seniors and woman.

Going to a shaft with more flex increases clubhead speed if you’re a senior or a woman. My advice is to try using woods with shafts having more flex and see how they work for you. If they’re comfortable and they add distance to your drives, keep using them. If not, go back to your original shafts. If you’re serious about taking a bit out of your golf handicap, you’ll want to do everything you can to reduce it. Changing shafts may help.
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/newsletter03192008.html

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article – Are Adjustable Clubs In Your Future?
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/are-adjustable-clubs-in-your-future.html

5) Article – Practice Using Lasers?
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/practice-using-lasers.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.

How To Break 80 Newsletter

March 26, 2008

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

1) Pitching On My Mind
2) Driving Into A Headwind
3) Question of the Week – Parts Of The Swing Explained
4) Article – Four Touch Shots You Must Learn
5) Article – Golf Travel Sites Make Booking Trips Easy

Jack’s Note: Hey folks. Well, Tiger’s streak had to end sometime I guess. But still, it was exciting to watch Doral last weekend with so many good players in the hunt. I was particularly paying attention to how these guys pitch the ball on those tough greens. I wanted to see if they were following the same instruction we just put out in the Pitching DVD and to be honest, some did, some didn’t. If you’re still interested, we still have 126 of these early-release DVD’s. We’ll be taking the offer down when they are gone, which we expect will be today or tomorrow.

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1) Pitching On My Mind
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Among the most common mistakes golfers make when hitting a pitch shot is trying to mentally control their muscles. It can’t be done. The harder you try to mentally control your muscles when swinging a golf club, the more prone you are to scuttling the shot. After awhile, you’ll have so many mechanical swing thoughts running through your mind you’ll become confused.

Here are 7 keys to hitting the standard pitch shot:

1. Pick out a target on the green
2. Use a slightly open stance
3. Hold your head up and steady
4. Keep your hands ahead of the ball
5. Position the ball near the center
6. Use a slightly descending blow
7. Aim for ball-then-turf contact

One of the biggest keys to making a pitch shot that’s not mentioned above is using the right amount and kind of body action. During the underhanded motion of the shot, your arms and body must work together in response to the target in a nice rhythmical fashion. You don’t need to consciously control your body parts. Instead, they should react naturally to the idea of hitting a pitch shot.

To achieve this, imagine yourself pitching horseshoes in your backyard. When pitching the ball to the green, imagine the landing area as a stake in a game of horseshoes. To execute the shot, think of using an underhanded pitching motion like that you use to throw a ringer around the stake. Then allow your body to respond naturally to the target.

Keeping the horseshoe image firmly in mind when pitching improves accuracy and distance control. It also banishes mechanical swing thoughts. With practice, your body will respond naturally to the command to pitch the ball and you’ll cut strokes from your scores.

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2) Driving Into A Headwind
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If play on windy courses a lot, you must learn how to drive into a strong headwind. Driving into a headwind can cost you distance, which in turn, can cost you strokes, especially on long par 5s. On those holes, even if you strike the ball well, you’ll probably end up short of your target, unless you learn to control your ballflight.

Here are 6 keys to hitting into a strong headwind:

* Take more club than usual
* Use a slightly wider stance
* Get lower in your set-up
* Position the ball toward the middle
* Control the pace of your swing
* Shallow out your swing

Club selection is key whenever there’s wind. Take at least one more club than usual and maybe two. If you’re in a situation where you’d normally hit a 7-iron, think about hitting a 6-iron or possibly a 5-iron. For every 10 mph of wind, drop down a club. On the tee, hit driver as often as you can.

Once you’ve selected your club, make some adjustments to your set-up. Widen your stance slightly and bend lower than normal. These two adjustments provide a better foundation for your swing and help you maintain your balance. They also lead to a situation where the ball will be placed more toward the back of the stance.

In addition to these adjustments, slow the pace of your swing. Keeping it more compact on your backswing and follow-through puts less spin on the ball and gives you a more penetrating trajectory. Keep your pace nice and smooth. Also, try shallowing out your swing—like a sidearm throw. The steeper your swing, the more airborne your shot. The more airborne your shot, the more chances the wind will rob you of distance.

If you play a lot on windy courses, learn to control ballflight. That way the wind won’t rob you of distance or cost you strokes on a bad day. And try to maintain your balance throughout the swing. It’s hard, but it’s the key to success when driving into a head wind.

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3) Question of the Week – Parts Of The Swing Explained
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Q. Hello Jack, Can you explain what you mean by the term “release” and tell me when does it occur? Also, what are the parts of a swing?

Thanks,
Ken Stephen

A. Thanks for the question, Ken. I breakdown the swing into five parts: (1) backswing, (2) downswing, (3) impact, (4) release, and (5) follow-through. Some people don’t consider the top of the swing as part of the swing proper, but the top is when the transition to the downswing occurs. The transition must be smooth or it ruins the rest of the swing.

The release occurs right after impact and just prior to the follow-through. If you look at old photos of Jack Nicklaus at the end of his swing, you’ll see him in the traditional reverse-C release position. It dictates that players keep their heads well behind the ball at impact while the hips slide laterally. The reverse-C release places significant stress on the body.

The modern release places less stress on the body. It does away with the backward bend of the spine. Instead, it has golfers finishing in a relaxed upright position, with the head moving slightly. The front side of the body is stacked over the lower body, the back shoulder is closer to the target than the front—made possible by rotating the hips in a counterclockwise motion—and the release includes a natural, full extension of the arms.

To develop the feel of the modern release, take two irons and grip them together. Assume your address position. Place the irons behind your back foot. Using the pivot of your hips and the core of your body, drag the clubs along the ground as you would a broom. As you approach impact, use your core to heave your arms and clubs though impact and into the release. Keep turning your body in a counterclockwise direction all the way through. That’s what the modern release feels like.
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/newsletter03262008.html

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article – Four Touch Shots You Must Learn
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/four-touch-shots-you-must-learn.html

5) Article – Golf Travel Sites Make Booking Trips Easy
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/golf-travel-sites-make-booking-trips-easy.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.

We all know the press following golfer John Daly this last week. He took a professional football coach from the gallery last week and had him carry his bag as caddy. Then he was reported to have been out partyign Saturday night at Hooters in a less-than-professional manner. Next, he gets dumped by swing coach Butch Harmon, citing that Daly isn’t focused enough on improving. Lastly, he misses his tee time for the Pro Am at Arnie’s tourney.

What a week! I mean seriously folks, this guy has a lot going on and love him or hate him, it’s drawing both good and bad press for the PGA Tour. Now, I personally love Daly and I’ve accepted his shortcomings as part of his character. Kind of like Bill Clinton…sharp leader, bad husband. Daly’s an exceptionally gifted athlete but has too much drama to make it amount to anything.

Anyway, the issue here is does Daly deserve a harsher punishment than just being disqualified from the Pro Am? This isn’t the first incident involving bad press for the Tour that Daly has been involved with and while yes, he does draw the crowds, he isn’t exactly making the Tour look any better. Do you think Finchem should fine him? What about suspension?

Personally I think the guy needs to take some time off and get his act together. He hasn’t won in a long time and is playing purely on exemptions this year.

What do you guys think?

Creativity is a godsend on the golf course. It can extricate you from serious trouble and save you a ton of strokes at the right time. But it’s not something you can develop by reading about it. Nor is it something you can learn at a golf lesson or a long golf instruction session. You can only learn it by putting yourself in a position where you’re forced to use your imagination to make shots.

One way to do that is to hit balls from the practice range using every other club—like hitting only your even numbered clubs or only your odd numbered clubs. Pick out a spot on the range and aim for it using the different clubs. Doing that not only enhances accuracy with your irons, it also challenges your imagination. You’ll have to come up with creative ways of making the shot.

In addition, try playing a practice round while using just your even- or odd-numbered irons. This forces you to get creative on the course, just like it does on the practice range, but on the course you’re under more pressure. You need to make the shot to save yourself strokes. For example, you may have to hit your 6-iron the same distance as your 5-iron or your 4-iron just as far as your 3-iron.

Practicing Trouble Shots
One way to make up for a lack of creativity is to determine your own most common trouble shots and then work on them before hand. Try different ways of executing them. That way you’ll know how to hit them when they crop up during a round. Maybe it’s a shot from deep rough. Or, maybe it’s a shot from under a tree. By becoming proficient at these shots, you’ll save yourself a lot of aggravation, cut strokes from your scores, and keep your golf handicap in check.

In addition, try practicing the more troublesome shots all golfers face when on the course, such as the downhill chip, the plugged sand shot, and the backhanded shot. These shots don’t come up often, but when they do, they can cost you strokes. If you’re serious about lowering your golf handicap, you’ll master as many of them as you can. Here are three:

Downhill Chip Shot
The downhill chip shot is one of the most difficult chip shots in the game. It really tests your ability to chip down on the putting surface. Your mind-set is the key with this shot. Your not going to hit this shot high because the ground has already determined that the shot must be hit low. Keep that in mind and plan accordingly.

Making solid contact is the most important aspect of this shot. Use your basic chipping technique with one adjustment—angle your shoulders with the slope. This helps you swing with the slope. Also, on a downhill chip, you’ll make a higher backswing and a lower follow through.

Plugged Bunker Shot
This is not a difficult shot to get out of the bunker. But it is a difficult shot to get near the hole. Understand that since the ball is in a hole, it will come out fairly low and with little spin. Little spin will cause the ball to roll when it lands on the green. The key to this shot is closing the face of the your sand wedge as much as you can. Then strike the sand as close to the ball as you can. Make sure you get the sand out of the bunker.

Backhanded Shot
This shot comes in handy when you can’t take your normal stance because of a tree, a bush, a severe slope, or when your only option is standing on the opposite side of the ball. Since this is a difficult shot to hit for distance, resign yourself to just getting the ball out of trouble and in position to hit. To make the shot, flip your 7-iron around and stand very close to the ball, with your back to the target and punch the ball out. Take lots of practice swings and avoid hitting your ankle.

Creativity is a great thing on the golf course. It can get you out of trouble and save strokes. But it’s not something you can be taught during a golf lesson or a long golf instruction session. It’s something you only learn by placing yourself in a position where you’re forced to use your imagination. The more times you do it, the more you’ll enhance your creativity. Sooner or later, your improved creativity will have an impact on your golf handicap.

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.