Golf Tips & Instruction 10/01/08
In this issue we’ll discuss…
1) Scoring With Your Short Game
2) Sink More Putts With A Precise Setup
3) Question of the Week – Two Simple Putting Drills
4) Article – Salvaging A Bad Round
5) Article – Five Golf Tips On Accuracy
Jack’s Note: Perfect Impact DVD Update-We had some folks make double orders by accident this week so we actually have 27 DVD’s left if you still want one. If you haven’t seen the video I sent along with it for you to watch, you can check it (and the DVD info) here.
1) Scoring With Your Short Game
Accurate pitch shots help you score in golf. But if you push or pull your short pitch shots, it may be because of poor control with your left hand (right hand for left-handers). Your left hand controls the direction of these shots, so you can’t let your right hand take over during the swing. If it does, you’ll hit the ball right or left.
Here are six keys to hitting accurate short pitch shots and a drill to help you improve left hand control of the club:
* Open your stance a little
* Position the ball toward the middle
* Adopt a secure but light grip
* Keep the shaft and left arm in a straight line
* Aim directly at the target
* Keep your hands ahead of the ball
Hitting a short pitch shot is fairly straightforward. Just remember to aim at the target and keep your hands ahead of the ball. The key to scoring with wedges is controlling the shot’s direction with your left hand.
Your left hand is in control when it and the clubface arrive at impact lined up with each other in a square position. If the left hand turns left at impact, the clubface will close and you’ll pull the ball left. If the left hand turns right at impact, the clubface will open and you’ll push the ball right.
To enhance your feel for left hand control, practice hitting short wedge shots with your left hand only. Make sure you pick out a target where you want the ball to go. Also, grip the club a little more tightly if you have problems returning the club square to the ball at impact.
Practice this drill until you feel comfortable hitting left-handed, then add the right lightly and practice some more.
Accuracy and consistency are the keys to scoring with wedges. To be accurate and consistent, you must let your left hand control the shot’s direction.
2) Sink More Putts With A Precise Setup
Watch a PGA tournament on television and you’ll see that the pros are very precise when setting up to putt. Adopting a precise setup creates the perfect foundation for a repeating stroke. It also gives you the best chance for striking the ball solidly. A good setup is comfortable, with the player’s hands hanging down naturally and her eyes directly over the ball.
Here are six keys to a precise putting setup:
* Keep your eyes over the ball
* Point your thumbs down the shaft
* Adopt a relaxed comfortable stance
* Keep the shoulders square to the line
* Position hands over or just ahead of the ball
* Aim the putter face straight down the line
The two most critical parts of your setup are ball placement and eye position. If the ball and your eyes are not positioned properly, they’ll throw your stroke off, making it almost impossible for you to sink putts with any consistency.
Positioning the eyes directly over the ball is critical. It’s easily the most important element in your putting setup. It helps you direct the ball down the intended line.
Place the ball placed forward in your stance, with the ideal position opposite the left heal or a fraction of an inch back. Left-handers should place the ball opposite their right heel. This position allows you to strike the ball on a slightly upward stroke.
To check that the eyes and the ball are positioned properly, take your normal putting stance. Make sure you’re relaxed and comfortable. Now, drop a ball from the bridge of your nose. The landing spot marks the ideal ball position for putting.
Viewing a good setup from above, the feet and shoulders are parallel, the putterface is square to the line, and the hands are placed over, or slightly ahead of, the ball, with the eyes directly over the ball.
Practice setting up as often as you can. Ingrain it. It will help you sink more putts than ever before.
3) Question of the Week – Two Simple Putting Drills
Q. Hi Jack, I have been reading your book now for about 3 weeks. The last two weeks I have gone from shooting in the 90s to the 80s. I am beating all my friends, but I still have work to do especially on my putting. I purchased an 8-foot auto putt, and was wondering if you could give me some drills to work on. For example, I started from 5 feet, and don’t stop until I have made three in a row.
Thanks,
Eric Magoon
A. Thanks for the question. Two putting areas weekend golfers often need work on are concentration and stroke consistency. Here are two simple drills that will help you improve in both areas.
One-Putt Drill
This drill improves concentration. Instead of throwing down several balls and then hitting away, use just one ball. Putting with several balls causes you to lose focus when putting. Putting with one ball restores it. Use your on-course putting routine and concentrate on every stroke. Make your practice as much like the real thing as possible. Practice the one-ball drill enough and you’ll automatically take this intense concentration with you next time you go to the course.
This next drill improves stroke consistency. If your putting stroke is too mechanical or too rigid, you’ll leave putts short.
One-Hand Putting Drill
To ingrain a natural putting stroke that rolls balls purely and promotes good distance control, practice putting with one-hand—your dominant hand. This drill allows you to feel how this hand controls putter speed and what it feels like to propel the ball smoothly across the green. Then, practice hitting putts one-handed with your non-dominant hand. Once you get a feel for how the hands work separately, hit putts two-handed.
Practice these drills as often as you can. They’ll improve your concentration and help you develop a smooth, consistent putting stroke.
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/newsletter10012008.html
Here are some of my recent articles:
4) Article – Salvaging A Bad Round
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/salvaging-a-bad-round.html
5) Article – Five Golf Tips On Accuracy
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/five-golf-tips-on-accuracy.html
Until next time,
Go Low!
Jack
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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.
