In this issue we’ll discuss…

1) Downhill Chip From The Rough
2) The ABCs of Golf
3) Question of the Week – Choosing The Right Ball
4) Article – Sinking More Pressure Putts
5) Article – Choosing The Right Hybrid

Jack’s Note: I always had good lower body movement in my swing but I had no idea that my right knee would add 12 yards! Seriously, that guy Eric Jones I was talking about earlier this week (Long Drive Champ) gave me a little tip about how to position the right knee at impact and sure enough…it worked. He’s got many more of these little gems so be sure and watch his video.
This guy is the real deal folks. I asked some guys I know who used to compete in the Long Drive contests and they said he’s one of the best. What’s cool is he is one of the rare few PGA Pros who can “walk his talk” and also has a pretty loyal following of students at his academy.

1) Downhill Chip From The Rough

Chipping from the rough is harder than it looks. The problem is the grass. Even if you swing hard, the grass can still catch your clubface and twist it. Add a downhill lie to this shot and it gets even harder—much harder. If you’re not careful, it can cost you two or three extra strokes. Those strokes add up and can turn a good round into a not so good round.

Here are six keys to this shot:

1. Set up with your front shoulder low
2. Widen your stance for stability
3. Open your stance and clubface
4. Keep your hands ahead of the ball
5. Hit down on the ball firmly
6. Lead your hands down the slope

Your goal is to get the ball out of the rough. Since you need as much loft as you can get to do this, a sand wedge is a good choice here. Having chosen your club, you want the contact point to be where it would be from a level lie. So you need to adjust your body position and your center of gravity to account for the slope.

To do that, set up with your front shoulder low and your stance wide for stability. Brace yourself solidly on your front knee and set your weight on the inside of your front foot. These adjustments set your shoulders parallel to the slope, letting you swing more vertically.

With the slope accounted for, open your stance and your clubface more than normal. Position the ball back in your stance. And keep your hands ahead of the ball at address. Now hit down firmly. Work the club under the ball. And lead the hands down the slope.

How much you open your stance and clubface, you’ll learn from practice. The same for how far back you position the ball. Above all, don’t baby the shot. If you do, it can cost you.

2) The ABCs of Golf

Consistency is the goal of every golfer. It’s the “holy grail” of golf, the hallmark of a great player. But achieving consistency isn’t easy. It takes dedication and a lot of hard work—especially when it comes to the fundamentals of the full swing. You need to work hard to master them and gain consistency with your full swing. Remembering the acronym—GASPS—helps you tame the full swing and boosts consistency. Apply it whenever you play and practice.

Here is what the acronym means:

G is for grip
A is for aim
S is for stance
P is for posture
S is for swing thoughts

(G) Some golfers can decide which grip to use—weak grip, strong grip, neutral grip, and so on. All of them work. Use a grip that feels comfortable.

(A) Many golfers use the clubface as an alignment tool. That’s doesn’t always work, especially for beginners. Instead, use the clubfaces’ bottom edge to align the shot.

(S) Once aligned, take your stance. Beginners and high handicappers often need help here. They tend to align their shoulders left of target (right, if their left-handed). Then swing across their bodies, producing a slice.

(P) High handicappers often slump over the ball. To achieve solid contact consistently, stand taller to the ball. Maintain that angle during the swing. Good posture equals good shotmaking.

(S) Too many swing thoughts can confuse you. Replace them with one. Keep this thought simple and non-mechanical. Something that addresses your rhythm or tempo, like “low and slow,” is good.

Use GASPS next time you’re at the range. Run thru it every time you take a full swing. Eventually, it becomes a habit and you’ll use it without even thinking about it. Used correctly, it will help you achieve greater consistency.

3) Question of the Week – Choosing The Right Ball

Q. Hello, Jack – I’ve just returned to the game after a nine-year absence. The club handicapper has been generous in giving me a 22 handicap, which I’m determined to get down to around 15-16 within the next nine months. One thing that puzzles me somewhat is the variety of balls now on the market. There seems to be a greater emphasis on affordable “soft” balls now, which some years ago were recommended for low handicap golfers only, probably because they were easy to cut. What should a golfer of my limited ability be looking for in a ball?

Regards
Allan Moore

A. That’s a great question, Allan. The right golf ball can help shave strokes off your game. Generally, you want a ball that fits your game and your swing. Male golfers have several options. Woman should consider low-compression balls. So should male senior golfers. These balls have high rates of spin, which compensates for the players’ low-ball speed and launch conditions. Below is a five-step approach to choosing the right ball:

1. Create Categories
Divide golf balls into three categories: High Spin/High Performance, Medium Spin/Recreational, and Low Spin/Low Compression. Some balls overlap in two or more categories. Golfers with really low handicaps can add a fourth category: Very High Spin/High Performance.

2. Categorize Balls
Choose a few balls. Note their characteristics. Then place them in their respective categories. For example, the Titleist Pro V 1 falls into the Very High Spin/High Performance category. The Nike One Platinum falls into the High Spin/High Performance category.

3. Assess Your Swing
This is critical. Be honest. Ask yourself questions like: Do you put a lot of sidespin on your drives (slicing or hooking)? Do you need to put more spin on the ball? Some golfers need to reduce spin. Others need to add spin.

4. Make Your Selections
Review the characteristics of the balls you’re considering. Match them to your swing. Choose two or three balls.

5. Test The Balls
Test the balls at the range using four clubs: a driver, fairway wood, mid-iron, and wedge (53-57 degrees). Select one. Play a few rounds with it. If it doesn’t feel right, try another. Continue until you find the right ball.

The right ball satisfies every part of your game. Keep in mind that the characteristics that work for one club may not work for another. That’s why you test them with four different clubs.

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/newsletter04152009.html

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article – Sinking More Pressure Putts
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/sinking-more-pressure-putts.html

5) Article – Choosing The Right Hybrid
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/choosing-the-right-hybrid.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.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 at 3:04 pm and is filed under Golf Newsletters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.