Golf Tips and Instruction 7/30/08
In this issue we’ll discuss…
1) Draining Fast Downhill Putts
2) Trashing Hooks and Slices
3) Question of the Week – Hitting Into The Wind
4) Article – Are New Irons In Your Future?
5) Article – Scoring With The Sand Wedge
Jack’s Note: Hopefully you all enjoyed that video I sent earlier this week on adding distance and the single biggest mistake that leaks power. We’ve gotten a TON of positive feedback so I’m glad you like it. You can see the video here. I’ll be sending out another one in the next couple of days that goes into more drills on distance so look out for that one. In the meanwhile, hope you’re playing your best!
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1) Draining Fast Downhill Putts
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Fast downhill putts are dangerous. Hit them too hard and they’ll sail well past the hole, leaving you with a long uphill putt. If the slope is severe enough, they’ll roll right off the green and into the rough, forcing you to chip back to the hole. Either way, they can cost you strokes. But you can drain more of these putts, or at least leave them close, if you know what you’re doing.
Below are five keys to sinking fast downhillers:
* Make it a straight putt
* View the putt from the side
* Find the “breakpoint”
* Use your imagination
* Commit to the shot
The key to sinking a fast downhiller is making it a straight putt. To do that, you must find the putt’s “breakpoint” or “speed spot”—the point at which the ball starts traveling down to the hole. Once you’ve determined that, focus on putting straight to that point with the right speed. Let gravity do the rest.
To find the breakpoint, walk halfway between the hole and the ball. View the putt from there and try to get a sense of the slope’s severity. Find the breakpoint. Use your imagination to view how the ball will behave from this point on. Once you’ve developed this mental picture, return to the ball and take some practice swings.
The breakpoint is now your hole. Forget about the real hole. Instead, focus on hitting the breakpoint with the right speed.
Also, make sure you commit to the putt. If you don’t, you’ll leave it short, forcing you to make another tricky downhill putt. Putt with confidence and you’ll drain more downhillers or leave the ball close enough for a tap-in.
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2) Trashing Hooks and Slices
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You have to be very precise to hit a golf ball perfectly straight. As most golfers know, it’s easier hitting a draw or a fade than a straight shot. But nobody wants to hook it or slice it. These shots only get you in trouble.
If you’re an inside-out swinger and you hit more hooks than straight shots or you’re an outside-in swinger and hit more slices straight shots, below is a simple drill that helps straighten out your iron shots:
Take a small trash bucket with you next time you go to the range. Use your 7-iron or your 6-iron and hit some shots with the trash bucket placed just inside the big toe of your back foot, with the longer sides parallel to the target line.
If you hit the bucket with your right knee, you’re committing a fundamental error that’s contributing to your hook or slice. Your back knee is moving out to the right of the target. It should be moving straight ahead or even slightly left of the target if you’re right-handed (right of the target, if your left-handed).
Moving the knee properly is key to hitting an iron straight. It allows you to roll the inside of your back foot. More importantly, it lets you shift your weight and spin your hips correctly, providing leverage. When your back knee moves out instead of straight ahead or slightly left, you lose leverage for the shot. Being stuck on the back leg also contributes to hooks and slices.
Next time you’re at the range, try the bucket drill. It will help you hit iron shots straight. Think about moving the back knee forward. Moving your knee forward instead of out will trash those hooks and slices.
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3) Question of the Week – Hitting Into The Wind
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Q. Dear Jack, Thanks for the very informative newsletters. They’ve vastly improved my game. I’m stretching my irons 20 yards further than before. I never thought I could hit my 7-iron 167-170 yards. My question is how do I control ballflight? My balls go really high (still with distance) and flop to the greens. I’m hitting down on the ball and divots are after the ball spot. My friends get distance with the same clubs, but the flight is completely different. The disadvantage with my ball flight comes when it’ s windy.
Thanks,
Vernon Harris
Philippines
A. Thanks for the question, Vernon. The key to playing well on windy days is controlling ball flight. Here are some tips: When it comes to club selection, personal experience is generally a better barometer than the yardage book on windy days. In general, use more club in a headwind and less in a tailwind.
Also, you don’t need to make radical changes to your swing. You just need to make some minor adjustments. Here are six keys to hitting when it’s windy:
1. Maintain a smooth rhythm to your swing
2. Focus on transferring your weight correctly
3. Swing more softly—even with a head win
4. Concentrate on making a complete turn
5. Stay low to the ground in the hitting zone.
6. Keep the hands ahead of the club
Since you want to drive the ball forward on a low, penetrating trajectory, you must finish with your weight going forward. That’s key. And turn your left hand (right hand for lefties) downward slightly. It delofts the club. Make sure your back shoulder faces the target at the finish and maintain balance throughout the swing.
Here are additional suggestions:
* In a crosswind, play the ball into the wind, if you want it to land softly. If you want it to land and roll, ride the wind.
* In a headwind, play the ball back in your stance. Swing about 80 percent of your normal swing.
* In a tailwind, do the opposite. Play the ball forward in your stance and hit it higher for more distance.
Practice on the range on windy days. Work on hitting low trajectory shots with your there. It will prepare you for when it’s windy.
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/newsletter07302008.html
Here are some of my recent articles:
4) Article – Are New Irons In Your Future?
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/are-new-irons-in-your-future.html
5) Article – Scoring With The Sand Wedge
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/scoring-with-the-sand-wedge.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.
