Golf Tips and Instruction 7/23/08
In this issue we’ll discuss…
1) Increasing Clubhead Speed
2) How To Hit A Backhander
3) Question of the Week – Getting Out Of Wet Sand
4) Article – Swinging Inside Boosts Yardage
5) Article – Some Rules of Golf Etiquette
Jack’s Note: Did you see my message on hitting more greens in reg earlier this week? One of our readers showed me this old manuscript that shows a unique and effective way to hitting crisp iron shots that the Pros used back in the 60’s. A ton of you have emailed me looking for that information again. You can see it here.
Also, we almost had a nostalgic winner at The Open last weekend. But alas, Paddy Harrington came along and gave Norman yet another major runner-up finish. Good stuff to watch, even sans Tiger. What did you think?
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1) Increasing Clubhead Speed
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There’s nothing wrong with sacrificing distance for accuracy off the tee. A 225-yard drive down the middle beats a 260-yard drive to the rough every time. If the rough is really deep, you’ll face a tough a second shot. But adding an extra 10 or 15 yards to your drive without losing accuracy isn’t bad either. So how do you do it? Increasing clubhead speed is the answer.
Below are four tips on increasing clubhead speed.
1. Make a complete turn
2. Lift your chin
3. Soften your wrists
4. Turn your hips strongly
Making a complete shoulder turn maximizes clubhead speed. Many weekend golfers fail to do this. That slows clubhead speed and costs them yardage. Your shoulder turn is complete when your left shoulder (right for left-handers) turns underneath your chin and your back is pointed directly at the target. So lift your chin away from your chest to enable your shoulder to turn underneath.
Also, soften your wrist during the downswing. Many weekend golfers stiffen their wrists instead. Keeping your wrists soft allows the clubhead to lag behind your hands. The longer the lag lasts, the more clubhead speed you’ll generate when you finally release the club at impact.
In addition, turn your hips strongly through the swing. This move, along with soft wrists, encourages your left arm to lead the clubhead into the ball at impact—a key power move. Turning your hips strongly whips the clubhead through the ball at top speed.
These four tips increase clubhead speed in the downswing. That in turn generates at least 10 to 15 yards more on drives without sacrificing accuracy off the tee. Distance and accuracy is what you want.
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2) How To Hit A Backhander
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What do you do when your ball comes to rest too close to a shrub or a wall to take your normal stance? You can turn around and hit opposite hand, which means you have to swing with the club flipped upside down. Or, you can hit a backhander. It gives you more punch than using your opposite hand and is easier to hit because you’re using your dominant hand.
Below are six keys to hitting a backhander
* Use one of your wedges
* Stand about six inches to the side
* Rest the clubhead on its toe
* Bend your elbow as far as possible
* Slap the clubhead at the ball
* Accelerate through the ball
Club selection is key with this shot. Use one of your wedges. Wedges have larger faces, so you’ll have a broader hitting area. The wider the hitting area the better since you won’t be looking at the ball when you hit it.
Stand about six inches to the side of the ball, with your back to your target. Grip the wedge in the middle of the handle with your dominant hand. If you’re right-handed, grip it with your right hand. If you’re left-handed, grip it with your left hand. Flip the club around so that it faces the target and the clubface rests on its toe.
Cock the club by bending your hand and forearm using your elbow. Hinge your wrists a little. Now, straighten your arm and slap the clubhead into the back of the ball. Keep your upper arm as quiet as possible. Accelerate through the ball. Make sure the club doesn’t go past your hands.
You can expect to get about 10-15 yards with this shot. The key is accelerating through the ball. And don’t try to do too much with a backhander. Your goal is getting the ball in good position for your next shot.
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3) Question of the Week – Getting Out Of Wet Sand
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Q. Hi Jack, I have every DVD that you’ve put out including the sand trap DVD. But there’s one question that I have and it is not answered on the DVDs. I would like to know how to get out of a sand trap that’s wet and almost hardpan without hitting the ball thin.
Thanks,
Lou Kasitz
A. Thanks for the question, Lou. The key to getting out of a bunker containing wet sand is figuring out the sand’s hardness before hitting the shot. You can do that by walking in the bunker. It’s called the shoe test. Here’s what to do next:
* If the sand is firm, set up a little wider than usual, make a low sweeping take away, and hit down briskly about 1 inch behind the ball.
* If the sand is hard-packed, play the ball as you would from hard dirt. Square the blade at address, play the ball back in your stance, set the hands ahead of the ball, and pick the ball cleanly off the surface
* If the sand has a thin crust and soft sand underneath, play the shot as a typical bunker shot. Use a sand wedge, especially if the sand is deep and powdery.
If the sand is hard packed, try replacing your sand wedge with a pitching wedge. It digs in and under the ball better than a sand wedge, preventing skulling.
Be weary of bunker that has loose sand over a harder surface—the trickiest of all bunker shots. Attack these with a heavy-flanged wedge, like a lob wedge. Use a sand wedge, if you don’t have one. Also, be weary of digging a little too deeply into the hard underbelly. When that happens, the club head slows down, causing you to leave the ball in the sand.
Most bunker shots have a slight margin for error. Attack them confidently, regardless of the type of sand they contain.
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/newsletter07232008.html
Here are some of my recent articles:
4) Article – Swinging Inside Boosts Yardage
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/swinging-inside-boosts-yardage.html
5) Article – Some Rules of Golf Etiquette
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/some-rules-of-golf-etiquette.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, go to http://www.howtobreak80.com/newsetter.htm
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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.
