In this issue we’ll discuss…

1) Don’t Hang Back On Uphill Par 3s
2) Downhill Lie To An Uphill Green
3) Question of the Week – Choosing The Correct Ball Position
4) Article – Is Your Course Overtreed?
5) Article – Chipping It Close

Jack’s Note: Did you guys see my free video on getting and keeping your swing on plane? It’s part of 90 minute DVD I just released called Swing Plane and in it we reveal one of the simplest yet most misunderstood parts of swinging the golf club. Next week I’ll send out another video for you too see more about swing plane and how you can improve your game with.

1) Don’t Hang Back On Uphill Par 3s

Uphill par 3s can be tricky. If you don’t play them right, they can cost you strokes. A good example of what I’m talking about is an uphill par 3 at a local course near where I live. It really throws some weekend golfers, costing them dearly. In struggling to hit the ball high, they often slice it to the side. Then they must make a recovery shot to save par.

Here are five keys to hitting this shot

* Choose the right club
* Take a normal stance
* Take some practice swings
* Visualize the shot
* Transfer weight properly

The key to making this shot is transferring your weight correctly. Weekend golfers often hang back on their back foot to give the shot loft—the opposite of what they should be doing. By hanging back, they swing up on the ball too much. The front shoulder thrusts up and the clubface stays open, producing a push.

Instead, shift your weight onto the back foot during the backswing. Then shift it forward to your front heel at impact. This move levels out your shoulders during the swing, squares up the clubface at impact, and generates the loft you need to hit the ball high and drop it on the green.

Also, choose your club carefully. Too much club sends you beyond the green. Too little club lands you short of the green. Try different clubs to see which one works best. Visualize the shot before hitting it. And take a few practice swings to rehearse your weight transfer.

Uphill par 3s can be tricky. They can also cost you strokes and a chance to make par. But if you shift your weight properly, you’ll hit the green and stick.

2) Downhill Lie To An Uphill Green

Is there a harder shot in golf than a downhill lie to an elevated green? If there is, it’s a well-kept secret. Even PGA pros dread this shot. The problem is the lie. It works against getting the ball in the air. But you can make this shot. Just resign yourself to taking what the shot gives you and don’t try to do too much.

Below are five tips on making this shot:

* Use enough club to make up for the slope
* Take a normal pitching stance
* Align your shoulders with the slope
* Let your weight fall on your front foot
* Keep the clubface open at impact

You must accept the lower trajectory the slope gives you. Start by choosing the right club. Make sure it’s enough to make up for the slope—even if it means coming up short on the shot.

Next, take a normal pitching stance. Align your shoulders with the slope, just as you would with any downhill lie. And let your weight fall naturally on your front foot. The tendency is to place your weight on your back foot. But that leads to hitting it fat.

The slope accelerates your body turn and holds the clubface open at impact, producing a fade. Go with it. It’s much easier to hit and control than a draw in this situation. It’s more likely to hold the green. And it’s easier to get in the air.

Sometimes in golf you have to take what the lie gives you. This is one of those times. Fighting what this lie gives you can lead to disaster. If you’re not careful, you could end up with a double or triple bogey. That’s the last thing you want.

3) Question of the Week – Choosing The Correct Ball Position

Q. Hi Jack, A relatively new golfer (3 years averaging 36 holes weekly), I have improved from the upper 140s to the mid 80s thanks in large part to your newsletter.

I do have a question, though. There seems to be a consensus that you should center the ball in the middle of your stance on the short irons and move it forward fore the longer clubs. Impact should be just before the lowest part of your swing. Why? What does your body do to compensate for the different ball positions?

Thanks for your time and the many, many good articles

Your e-friend
Gary

A. Thanks for the compliments, Gary. You’re right about the consensus. Most golfers change ball position based on the club. For example, they place the ball just inside the heel of their front foot when hitting a driver. But they place the ball towards the middle when hitting a 7-iron.

Ball positioning encourages meeting the ball at the correct attack angle. Moving the ball forward when hitting a driver ensures that the clubhead meets the ball on an upward angle—the perfect position for this club. Moving it back when hitting the 7-iron ensures that the clubhead meets the ball on a downward angle—the perfect position for this club.

Ball positioning also impacts swing path. If the ball is too far back for a right-handed golfer, the clubhead moves on an in-to-out swing path, sending it to the target’s right. If the ball is too far forward, the clubhead moves on an out-to-in swing path, sending the ball to the target’s left. (Vice versa for a lefty).

But hold that thought. Jack Nicklaus, perhaps the greatest golfer ever, says there is only one correct ball position—just inside the heel of your front foot. He used the same ball position regardless of the club. If you’re not sure which approach to use, try both. Use whichever way works best for you.

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/newsletter02112009.html

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article – Is Your Course Overtreed?
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/is-your-course-overtreed.html

5) Article – Chipping It Close
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/chipping-it-close.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/newsletter.htm

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.

If you’re taking golf lessons to perfect you’re putting stroke, be careful. Trying to develop the perfect putting stroke may hurt your efforts. At least, that’s the conclusion of two researchers—a German neuroscientist and an American golf instructor. Helped by an advanced motion analyzer, they studied the putting strokes of 150 PGA professionals and numerous top amateurs. They concluded that while putting fundamentals are important consistency is more critical to putting well and lowering your golf handicap.

The motion analyzer they used is the most advanced in sports. Originally, Professor Christian Marquardt developed it for pharmaceutical research. It involved studying the effects of gingko biloba on the human brain as a potential cure for the “yips.” The analyzer employs high-tech hardware previously used only in medical applications—ultrasonic sensors for measuring and monitoring motor behavior. Clipping them to a putter shaft enables researchers to measure a putting stroke precisely.

Recording Exact Putting Positions
As the golfer makes a stroke, the sensors record the putter’s exact position every 15 milliseconds. They then wirelessly transmit this data to a laptop, which Marquardt places at the gofer’s feet. The data tells everything there is to know about the putting stroke: aim face angle, putter path, impact spot, rise angle, and timing. The system’s accuracy margin is .1 millimeter.

After conducting the research, Marquardt turned the device into the SAM Putt Lab. He then began selling it to teaching academies, fitting centers, and individual golfers, like Padraig Harrington. Steve Elkington and Hank Haney, Tiger’s teacher, each bought one as well. With help from Chicago-based instructor Jim Suttie, Marquardt turned his device into an effective teaching tool. Marquardt met Suttie, PGA Teacher of the Year in 2000, at the 2005 PGA Merchandise Show.

Interesting Tests, Startling Discoveries
Recently, Suttie and Marquardt recorded the strokes of 150 PGA Tour players and countless top amateurs. The data from this test has led them to conclude that there isn’t a perfect putting stroke. In general, better putters make shorter strokes with less face rotation and hit the ball on the upstroke. But this finding is not absolute. In other words, there’s plenty of room for individual style in putting. The data revealed some other surprising findings.

For example, it revealed that PGA pro Brad Faxon aims 2 degrees to the right at address. Faxon led the tour in putting average three times from 1996 to 2000. It also revealed that Loren Roberts rotates his putterface open against its path. Roberts is also a former Tour putting leader. In all, the data shows that 55 percent of PGA pros aimed outside the hole on a straight 12-foot put.

The obvious conclusion from all this is simple. While the putting fundamentals you learn in golf lessons are important, they’re not more critical than consistency. Executing your stroke in the same way over and over again is far more significant. Faxon, for example, has probably been aiming 2 degrees right for 20 or 30 years. But his consistency enables him to sink more putts than a golfer more technically sound, yet not as consistent.

Working On Consistency
Marquardt and Suttie’s findings don’t mean that you should forego golf instruction sessions altogether. Taking golf lessons can help your putting. But your main goal when taking them should be to develop consistency, not perfection. Trying to achieve perfection can only lead to frustration. In fact, there may not even be a perfect putting stroke. Instead, focus on developing consistency. It’ll build more confidence in yourself and your putting. More confidence will, in turn, cut strokes from scores and your golf handicap.

To help, here’s a good exercise to achieve consistency. Called the Five in a Row Drill, you can make it the six, seven, or even eight in a row drill. Use your pre-shot routine for every putt.

* Take five golf balls from your bag.
* Find a fairly flat hole on a practice green.
* Drop the balls about four feet from the hole
* Set your self up and try to make all five shots
* When you do, back up a foot and repeat.
* Then back up another foot and repeat again.

After mastering the flat putt, try side-hill, downhill, and uphill putts. Keep practicing this way and you’ll improve your consistency.

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.

Nothing matters more than impact—especially when hitting an iron. It’s the moment of truth. If the clubface isn’t square at impact, you’ll not only mis-hit the ball, you’ll short-circuit power. It’s one of the most damaging of power leaks. If the clubface is square at impact, you’ll hit it long and straight. That’s what separates players with low golf handicaps from those with high golf handicaps.

While every player is different, specific levels of players tend to have common problems. For example, players trying to break 100 often have one common swing flaw when it comes to impact. While players trying to break 80 have a different common flaw. Golf lessons and practice can eliminate these flaws. But not everyone has the time or wherewithal to attend golf instruction sessions. So we’ve done it for you.

Below we address the most common impact flaws among the different levels. We also provide golf tips on correcting them. Determine what level you’re in and if you have the flaw. Then use the exercise described below to correct it.

Golfers With High Golf Handicaps
New players and those struggling to break 100 have one glaring flaw: They tend to focus too much on making contact with the ball instead of taking a good swing. They’re “ball bound.” These players put all their energy into hitting the ball. But all too often they don’t hit it well. Frequently, the swing stops at impact. Good players swing “through the ball.” If you’re in this category, below is an exercise that should help.

If you’re a right-handed golfer, your left hand plays an important role in making good contact—and vice versa. To mimic the correct movement during the backswing, place a ball in your left hand. Then go into your backswing. The thumb should point straight up half way into the backswing. Now bring the hand back down in front of your belt and present the ball by opening your hand. If done right, the ball will balance in your hand—the position the left-hand should be in at impact.

Golfers With Middle Golf Handicaps
Experienced players and those trying to break 90, tend to have a different problem. They’ve conquered the fear of missing the ball on a tee. But their mechanics for hitting a ball on the ground need work. Tight lies are the worst. When these golfers swing at balls, they tend to tense up and brace for impact, short-circuiting power. This problem is part physical and part psychological. Here’s an exercise to correct it.

When these players are on the fairway, they often try to scoop the ball off the turf. In some cases, they’re also afraid of hitting the ground and taking a divot. One way to eliminate these fears is to practice your fairway swing in a bunker. Draw a line in the sand to represent your normal ball position. Then make swings with a 5-iron—first with the left hand, then with the right, and then both. Aim to make contact on the front side of the line.

Golfers With Low Golf Handicaps
Veteran golfers and those trying to break 80 tend to have their own common flaw. They’ve overcome the fear of missing the ball. They’ve conquered the difficulties of hitting from the ground. But they need to work on compressing the ball between the clubface and the ground with a powerful, efficient downward strike. When a player does this, the sound of the clubface hitting the ball is different. It pierces the air and gets you’re attention.

To eliminate this flaw, try this visualization drill. To be in the right impact position, the shaft needs to be leaning forward. To get this feeling when practicing on the range, imagine hitting shots that have to fly under a park bench right in front of you.To do this, your hands have to continue moving forward past impact to keep the clubhead from hitting the bench. This drills gives you the feeling of really compressing the ball between the clubface and the ground.

All three drills will help you master impact with your irons. They’re like mini-golf lessons. Just determine your level, review the golf tip involved, and then practice the appropriate drill. Keep practicing until you think you’ve mastered the movement. Then practice it some more. This practice will pay off on the course by helping you shooting lower scores and cutting your golf handicap. You have nothing to lose but a little time.

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.

In this issue we’ll discuss…

1) Finding Those Tough Pins
2) Bump and Run From The Sand
3) Question of the Week – Squaring Up The Clubface Adds Power
4) Article – Mastering Impact With Your Clubs
5) Article – Searching For The Perfect Stroke

Jack’s Note: You guys ever wonder what causes so many mishits in your round? I’m talking about fat and thin shots. I struggle with these myself sometimes. If you guessed “swing plane” then you’re right. See, if your swing is off plane, making consistent contact is very difficult, which means scoring will be a challenge as well. Now, for those of you who have been reading this ezine for sometime, you will know how passionate I am about swing plane. So much so that we’ve spent the last couple of months putting together an entire video on it. To give you an idea of it’s importance, Hank Haney, Tiger’s coach, in a recent interview stated that the swing plane is the #1 determiner of consistency. I’ll be launching this great new Swing Plane DVD next week so keep an eye out for it.

1) Finding Those Tough Pins

Golfers who can hit high approach shots have an advantage. Since they can get their shots to drop and stop on the green, they can go directly at tough pin placements. If you can’t high approach shots, you have to play it safe, which could cost you strokes. Learning to hit high approach shot takes time and practice. But it pays off.

Below are six keys to hitting a high approach shot:

* Choose the right club
* Open the clubface
* Distribute weight equally
* Use a neutral grip
* Take a full shoulder turn
* Visualize the shot

Start by choosing the right club. Tiger Woods uses a 60-degree wedge. Ernie Els favors a 54-degree wedge. The wedge itself doesn’t matter. Finding one that works for you does.

Take a slightly open stance and play the ball forward. Also, open the clubface. It gives you more options. You can leave the face open for a high shot or turn it down through impact for a low shot. Distribute your weight equally and use a neutral grip. If you want to play the shot slightly lower, lean a little forward.

Finally, take a full shoulder turn for power and consistency. Look directly at the ball over your shoulder as you complete the turn. Keep your eyes level. When the club gets to the top, the angle of the clubface should match the angle of your wrists. That means the face is square. Make a smooth transition and come down at a steep angle.

Resist the urge to scoop the ball in the air. Let the club’s loft do the work. And don’t let the clubhead get ahead of your hands. Also, keep your lower body relaxed so it can respond to your turn. Visualize the shot before hitting it.

If you learn to hit high approach shots, you can go after hard pin placements when it makes sense. Playing aggressively will save you strokes.

2) Bump and Run From The Sand

The reason you hit a bump and run is simple: You want to get the ball on the ground as quickly as possible. Why? Because it provides more control than hitting it in the air. The bump and run works well when you’re just off the green. But it’s also an option when you’re in a low-lipped bunker. You can use it to get close as long as you have room to run the ball.

Here are 6 tips on hitting this shot:

* Use a 6-iron for this shot
* Lean your weight forward
* Lean the shaft forward
* Move your hands away
* Pick out a landing spot
* Hit down on the ball

Distance control is key here. Use a 6-iron for this shot. It provides just enough loft to clear the bunker’s lip. But not so much that it will pop it up. Remember you want the ball to roll. Now take a slightly open stance and lean your weight forward. Also, lean the club’s shaft toward the ball. That encourages a downward stroke.

Position the ball away from your body. That tilts the shaft so that it’s slightly more vertical than normal. Pick a spot on the green where you want to the ball to hit. Then take the club back and hit down on the back of the ball. It will come out low and run.

If you’re going to hit a bump and run from the sand, remember two things: First, you can’t ground the club in the sand. Second, you must have room to run the ball. If you don’t, opt for another shot. Remember these two things and you’ll find this shot a powerful weapon for saving par.

3) Question of the Week – Squaring Up The Clubface Adds Power

Q. Hi Jack, I’m having a problem with my short irons and pitching wedge. Most of the time I hit the ball with an open clubface. I don’t know if my swing speed is wrong or my set up is off. Most of the time my clubface at impact is not square. I know that I have the right grip because I always check this.

Please let me know how to correct this and give me a drill to help cure this fault.

Thanks for your assistance.

Regards,
Boni Malimban

A. Thanks for the question, Boni. Hitting the ball with less than square clubface short-circuits power. Here’s a drill that helps correct this fault. It’s one that U.S. Open Champion Ken Venturi showed Jim McClean, the noted golf teacher.

Take your address position, with the clubface square to the ball. Swing the club halfway back, consciously thinking about working the club into a toe-up position. If you turn your body to face the club, and then drop the clubhead straight down, it will be dead square. Just knowing when the clubface is square helps you employ the right physical movements to make this happen later on.

If you practice this drill thinking “hand back of the clubhead” and then “turn to the top,” you’ll quickly learn what your hands arms and shoulders must do to swing the club back to a square position.

Also, when you address the ball, address it with an open clubface. At least that’s what Jack Nicklaus suggests. He says that since you generally set the clubface a quarter of an inch or so behind the ball, it needs to be slightly open to the target at that point. If you don’t, it will be slightly closed at impact, causing a hook.
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/newsletter02042009.html

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article – Mastering Impact With Your Clubs
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/mastering-impact-with-your-clubs.html

5) Article – Searching For The Perfect Stroke
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/searching-for-the-perfect-stroke.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/newsletter.htm

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.