In this issue we'll discuss...

1) Set Up To Crush It Off The Tee
2) Hitting A Chip With Side Spin
3) Drill of the Week #2: Running Start Drill
4) Article - Using Technology To Lower Golf Handicaps
5) Article - Consistency: The Key To Lower Golf Handicaps

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1) Set Up To Crush It Off The Tee

If you’re not hitting the sweet spot on the clubface, you’re probably not driving the ball well. One reason why you could be missing the sweet spot is that your head is over your back knee at address. This might not seem like much, but it affects everything else in your swing. The most efficient—and fastest— swing rotation occurs when your lower body is stable. You can only achieve this by being centered and balanced at address.

Below are seven keys to a power-laden setup:

1. Widen your stance at address
2. Shift more weight on your right side
3. Keep your chin up to allow for the turn
4. Make a full 90-degree shoulder turn
5. Hover the club head above the ground
6. Sense your right forearm crossing over left
7. Finish high and in balance with your swing

A balanced, centered position starts at address. A good setup allows you to make a good turn away from the target, yet still remain behind the ball at the top of your swing, with your weight over your back foot.

But it’s not uncommon for a golfer to create extra side bend at address by moving his head over his back knee. This imbalance ends in a setup that results in (1) a slice causing-reverse pivot at the top and (2) too much “hang-back” at impact.

Since your right hand (left for lefties) is below your left hand on the grip, tilt your back shoulder down the same amount. You want to feel as if you’re on top of the ball, with your head just slightly back of center. If you tilt too far back, you throw your entire swing off.

We all want to drive the ball longer off the tee. Hitting driver/8-iron into the green beats hitting driver/4-iron into the green every time. But you must be centered and balanced at address to do this. If you are, you’re in great position to hit a bomb.
2) Hitting A Chip With Side Spin

On tough courses it’s not uncommon to find a pin tucked tight to the green’s edge. Chipping on a green like this is a challenge. If you mishit the shot, you’ll probably add strokes to your score. A sidespin to the ball is another way to chip it close. But some golfers try to make dramatic swing changes to add sidespin. That’s hard to do. Here’s an easier and simpler way to make this shot.

Here are five keys to hitting a chip with sidespin:

* Stand closer to the ball
* Aim where you want it to curve
* Let the club go outside going back
* Turn your chest coming thru
* Pull your hands through to your pocket

If you want to curve the chip away from you, stand closer to the ball than normal. Aim your toe line/body line where you want the ball to start. Aim the clubface where you want the ball to curve. Let the club go outside a little going back. Then turn your chest coming through. Feel as if you’re pulling your left hand to the pocket nearest the target.

If you want to curve the ball toward you, set up farther away from the ball. Pull the club inside. And roll the toe over through impact. This shot has less backspin and rolls out.

Putting cut spin on a chip is like hitting a fade or a draw. When you want to hit a fade or a draw, you aim your feet and body where you want the ball to start. You aim your clubface in the direction you want the ball to curve. Then you make a normal swing.

Knowing how to hit a chip with cut spin helps with a pin cut tight to the edge of the green. The shot gives you another option to knock it close.
3) Drill of the Week: Running Start Drill

This putting drill promotes a smooth and level stroke by teaching you to keep the putter low to the ground going back. That way it’s delivered into the ball level. A level stroke helps you strike the ball at its equator, facilitating good roll.

The Drill:

When practicing putting, place the putterhead about four inches behind the ball, instead of directly behind it. Then putt. This promotes a low takeaway. You may also hold the putterhead slightly off the ground. This alleviates tension and promotes a big-muscle-controlled swing. When putting, you want to take your hands out of the equation as much as possible.

Try this drill next time you’re on the practice green, if your stroke isn’t as level or as smooth as you’d like.

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

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article - Using Technology to Lower Golf Handicaps
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/using-technology-to-lower-golf-handicaps.php

5) Article - Consistency: The Key To Lower Golf Handicaps
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/consistency-the-key-to-lower-golf-handicaps.php

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.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 11th, 2010 at 12:56 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.