1. Don't Let Poor Chipping Cost You
2. How To Drain More Putts
3. Question of the Week - Determining When To Hit Driver
4. Article - Five Keys To Making Your Swing Great
5. Article - The Lost Ball Rule: Not As Simple As It Seems

1) Don't Let Poor Chipping Cost You

Short chips are critical to going low. Run one by the hole and it can cost you big time. That's why pro golfers practice incessantly. They can't afford to run one by the hole. Neither can you. If your chipping leaves something to be desire, you may want to change your technique. The simple technique described below improves your chances of chipping it close.

Below are six keys to this chipping technique:

• Choose your club
• Adopt a putting grip
• Play the ball forward
• Set the shaft on its toe
• Keep the body still
• Use a pendulum swing

Credit the late Paul Runyan, who beat Sam Snead for the PGA Championship in 1938, for inventing the chip-like-a-putt technique.

The technique's mechanics are straightforward. Use your normal putting grip, play the ball inside your front heel, and set the club on its toe. Then use a pendulum like swing to chip the ball onto the green. If the ball is sitting down, place more weight on your front foot. This move encourages a slight angle of descent through impact.

The key to this shot is setting the club on its toe. Simplifying your motion, it helps replicate your putting stance. It encourages the club to slide through the grass. And it promotes hitting the ball near the club's toe, which softens the shot and increases feel.

In addition, make sure you keep your body is still when swinging. Swing the club up with your arms going back, then let it swing down.

If poor chipping is costing you strokes, try Paul Runyan's chip-as-you-putt technique. It will take the fear out of chipping and put the feel back in. You'll be shocked at how many strokes it saves.

2) How To Drain More Putts

Putting is all about control. If you can control the putterhead, you'll sink more putts. If you can't, you'll sink a lot fewer—and the ones you sink will be because of luck. It's that simple. To boost putterhead control, determine which hand is your controlling hand. Then practice one-handed putts with this hand.

Use this five-step drill to find your dominant putting hand.

1. Drop a ball 3-6 feet from the hole
2. Hit 10 putts with one hand
3. Hit 10 putts with the other hand
4. Determine which did best
5. Practice putting with that hand

To improve your putting, find out first which hand is the controlling hand. Here's how:

Drop a ball from 3 to 6 feet from the hole. Take your stance. Put the putter in one hand. Then putt one-handed. Hit 10 putts with this hand. Keep track of your success. Now switch hands. Hit 10 putts with this hand. Keep track of your success. Whichever hand sunk more putts is your controlling hand.

Often the controlling hand is your naturally dominant hand. If you're right handed, your dominant hand is your right hand. If you left-handed, it’s the left hand. Few golfers think their non-dominant hand controls the putterhead.

After learning which hand is your controlling hand, practice putting with just this hand. It will improve putterhead control. When putting for real, grip the club with the dominant hand first before sliding your other hand on the club. Use a lighter grip pressure with the other hand for support.

By using one hand to for control and the other for support, you'll improve your ability to control the putterhead. This, in turn, will start the ball online more frequently. Do that and you'll drain more putts.
3) Question of the Week - Determining When To Hit Driver

Q.Hello Jack,Over the past few months I've been working on a "draw" using the techniques you described in your newsletter. Now I have two drives in my armory. The problem is, that when I'm on the tee, I can't always decide which drive is right for the hole. Usually, it's no contest. I usually find myself going for the "big one," that is, hitting the draw because of the extra distance I get. This often gets me into trouble, but I don't want to come off the course feeling cheated because I used the safe option every time.

So, my question to you is: How do I talk myself into "curbing my enthusiasm" and making the right selection for the job.

Peter Morris
Spain

A. That's a great question, Peter. Deciding what to hit off the tee is nerve wracking sometimes. A lot depends on how much control you have over the shot, the hole's layout, how your playing that day, and so on. So there are no set rules on this, only guidelines to help you choose.

The traditional approach holds that good driving isn’t just about hitting it long and straight. It’s also about accuracy. It's about setting yourself up for your next shot. In essence, its about risk and reward. You have to weigh the risk versus the reward, then decide. If the reward isn't worth it, don't risk it. Be conservative. Go with the shot you have the most control over. Use the same criteria when deciding which club to use: 3-wood or driver.

For example, if you’re playing a short par-4, say 350 yards, the average shot with the driver might be around 250 yards, leaving about 100 yards to the hole. With a 3-wood the average shot might be about 230 yards, leaving about 120 yards to the hole. Is gaining that extra 20 yards worth the risk of hitting the driver? You also might favor a 3-wood over a driver on long par-5s. If you know you won’t be able to reach the green in two, even with your best drive and best 3-wood, why risk it?

Use the same type of logic to decide on whether to hit a fade or draw. The draw may give you some added distance because it will run when it hits. But you'll have less control of where the shot finally ends up. The fade may give you less distance, but it will stick pretty much where it hits. That increases your control over the shot. If you deem the risk of hitting one shot over the other is great, go with the conservative approach. More often than not, it will save you strokes.

Golf is about finishing with the fewest strokes possible, not the most yardage off the tees. My advice: use whichever shot you hit the best plus hot it sets you up for the next shot, especially if it's into the green. That's the shot that really determines how well you do on the hole. The more greens you hit in regulation, the lower your score.

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/newsletter11252009.php

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article - Five Keys To Making Your Swing Great
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/five-keys-to-make-your-swing-great.php

5) Article - The Lost Ball Rule: Not As Simple As It Seems
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/the-lost-ball-rule-not-as-simple-as-it-seems.php

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.

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