In this issue we’ll discuss…

Hitting From A Divot
Choke Down On Short-Iron Shots
Question of the Week – Hitting Long Irons
Article – Seven Secrets To Great Golf
Article – Stack and Tilt Swing Revisited

Jack’s Note: Gearing up for the holiday weekend? Well, if you’ve got golf on your agenda then you’ll want to check out the brand new Precision Putting DVD. We’ve only got a limited amount left (be sure to watch the video on that page as well about how to read greens.)


Hitting From A Divot

All fairways have divots—even those at Augusta. So don’t be surprised if you end up in a divot or two during a round. If you do, don’t try to scoop the ball out, like some golfers do. Scooping forces the club ahead of your hands and exposes its leading edge. That in turn leads to skulls and drop-kicks. But using a steeply descending blow will get you out of the divot.

Here are 5 keys to hitting out of a divot:

* Chose the right ball position
* Open your stance slightly
* Make your hands lead the club
* Stay down after the shot
* Point the club at the target

There are two ways to ensure that you make a steeply descending blow: (1) Play the ball back in your stance and lean left, or (2) take an extra club and play the ball farther forward than you normally do.

If you play the ball back, it will come out lower. Allow for some chase when it lands. If you play the ball forward, swing across the ball from out to in. Option two is tougher to execute than option one, but it let’s you hit the ball higher and stop it faster.

In addition, open your alignment by pulling your front foot back slightly. Pulling your foot back helps your front side clear through impact. Just make sure you aim the clubface directly at the target.

Since hitting from a divot is like hitting from a downhill lie, let your hands lead the clubhead through impact. And stay down longer on the shot than normal. In fact, stay down for three full seconds before looking up. Finish with your club pointing at the target, not wrapped around your body.

Sooner or later you’ll find a divot even on well-kept fairways. If so, resist the temptation to scoop the ball out. Instead, use one of the two ball positions described above and make a steeply descending blow. And stay down longer than usual.

Choke Down On Short-Iron Shots

Golfers hitting from a sidehill lie with the ball above their feet usually choke down on the club to shorten the club. For some, it’s the only time they choke down on a club. But some instructors, including Butch Harmon, a noted expert, say that golfers should choke down on all shots from 130 yards in. Choking down on short-iron shots has its limitations and its benefits. But for many, the benefits far outweigh the limitations.

Three tips when choking down:

1. Stand closer to the ball
2. Take one more club
3. Plan for some roll

Choking down improves ballstriking, provides greater control, and increases confidence in your short game. Choking down also enables you to swing smoothly and stay balanced while attaining the distance you need.

To choke down, place your hands an inch farther down on the grip than on your longer clubs. The cap at the end of the handle should be exposed, plus an inch more of the club itself. This makes the club shorter and lighter. It also makes the swing arc narrower and the swing length shorter, generating a smoother swing.

Since you’re shortening up on the club, stand a bit closer to the ball, and take your normal swing. Also, take one more club than usual. If you normally use an 8-iron, take a 7-iron instead. Again, that’s because you’ve made the club shorter. Since the club has less velocity, the shots will come out lower. Plan for some roll.

If you’re short game isn’t the best, make a change. Try choking down on your short irons. It improves your ballstriking, increases control, and boosts confidence. From 130 yards in, choking down can help you hit it close and save yourself a ton of strokes.

Question of the Week – Hitting Long Irons

Q. Hi Jack, I manage reasonably good shots (at least on the practice range) with the short irons. But when it comes to the long irons, the incremental I get with a 7-, 6-, or 5-iron seems to be marginal. Put another way I don’t seem to get as much distance with my 5-, 4-, or 3-iron as I should. Secondly, I can’t rotate my hips and transfer weight smoothly. I would appreciate some practical advice.

Thanks.
Bhaskar

A. Thanks for the question, Bhaskar. You need good tempo and timing to hit long irons. To do that think “low and slow” at address. So don’t snatch the club away from the ball at address, push it slowly away with your left arm (right arm for left-handers). That keeps the clubhead low to the ground until you begin your backswing. In addition, going back low and slow encourages your legs, hands, arms and shoulders to work in harmony, improving tempo and timing. That in turn produces a longer, straighter shot

Also, make sure you make a full turn with your hips and shoulders at the top of your swing. Weekend golfers often rush their long iron shots. As a result, they don’t make as full a turn when hitting them and mis-hit them.

Of course, you can always switch to a hybrid. That’s what they are designed to do—replace your 3-, 4-, and 5-irons. Shorter and easier to hit, hybrids provides the same distance as your long irons with the same loft. Many golfers, including many PGA pros, use a hybrid instead of their long irons.

As for your hips, the drill below helps you achieve proper hip rotation:
Tee the ball and assume a normal address position, with two clubs in your hands—a 6-iron and a 7-iron. Place the clubface of the 6-iron on the ground, with the butt end of the club against your back leg, inside your hip line. The clubhead should rests on the ground just inside of your back foot. Now hit a ball with the 7-iron. Keep your right hip back as you start down. Since the hip is supposed to slide before it rotates, the club should stay propped up. If it falls to the ground, you’ve opened your hips prematurely.

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.

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.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 20th, 2009 at 6:12 pm and is filed under Golf Articles. 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.