Driving the ball well is critical to playing well. That’s because good drives leave you in the fairway, which usually offers the best lie from which to hit. Thus, one valuable statistic for serious weekend golfers is number of fairways hit. The higher the number, the better off you are. But now comes word that there’s a new way of measuring driving accuracy—one that some say serves as a better tool for slicing strokes off your golf handicap.

The traditional method of calculating driving accuracy, say critics, is not precise enough. For example, with the traditional calculation method a drive that goes into a clump of trees is rated the same as one that lands in a light rough. Even a new player just starting to take golf lessons knows that’s incorrect. Hitting from light rough is better by far. But since the traditional way of measuring driving accuracy works fairly well, it’s never been updated.

Focus On Costs
The new method of measuring accuracy focuses on what a bad drive costs you in terms of shots. Think of this number as a gauge for how much you spray the ball. With the new method, the cost of inaccurate drives also varies depending on the resulting situation. In other words, the cost changes depending on how much it affects your efforts to hit the next target. That’s the key difference in methods.

Obviously, the obstacles resulting from the errant drive decrease the odds of hitting your target. Common obstacles are a low hanging branch, three-inch thick rough, or a side hill lie. In addition, the cost of bad driving varies fractionally depending on your golf handicap. Simply put, the higher your handicap, the more a bad lie affects your ability to hit a target. A good driving round is one that beats the average of players in your golf handicap.

Five Tips On Accuracy
Peter Sanders, president and a founding partner of Shotbyshot.com, a golf Web site, has devised a formula for figuring out the costs of a bad shot. (Shotbyshot.com helps you analyze your golf game.) You track your driving over a few rounds, use the formula to figure out driving accuracy, and then compare it to a chart on Shotbyshot.com. Doing this gives you a good idea of the number of shots lost because of inaccurate driving.

Sanders’ new formula certainly encourages weekend golfers to hit more fairways. Golfers who hit poor drives should do everything they can to improve, including take golf lessons or view videos of golf instruction sessions. Why? Because driving accuracy is one of the cornerstones of a great golf game. Below are some golf tips on driving we offer in our golf instructions sessions.

Focus on balance: Balance is among the most overlooked of all swing fundamentals. A balanced starting form sets the tone for a good swing. It also promotes feelings of simplicity, freedom, and confidence.

Determine direction: Too often golfers don’t determine a shot’s direction. Determine direction first. Determine other key factors like distance, trajectory, and curvature. All these factors must be considered to hit a target.

Visualize flight path: Develop a mental picture of how the ball will reach its target. Then, let your subconscious take over. Visualizing ball flight includes drawing a target line mentally. Focus on starting the ball on the target line and getting the ball to do what you want.

Focus on striking the ball: Too often a golfer tenses up in an effort to blast a 300-yard drive only to lose focus on hitting the ball. That usually results in a flubbed or an off-target shot. Instead, focus on striking the ball soundly.

Maintain target awareness: Pick out a very specific target. Then go for it. Some argue that this is the most important factor in driving accuracy. That’s debatable. What’s not debatable is that’s it’s one of the keys to accuracy.

You can’t improve something if you can’t measure it. Determine your driving accuracy using whatever formula works for you—modern or traditional. Then work on improving your accuracy. Take golf lessons. Watch videos. Hit shots at the range. Do whatever it takes and your scores will improve. Good driving helps slice strokes from your golf handicap.

Lots of buzz lately about this training aid called the Tour Striker.

In fact, not only do I see it on TV and read about it online, but two guys in my foursome actually got them for Christmas so I think we can safely say that the the marketing side of the Tour Striker is in full effect.

So, I've had the opportunity to see how it works on my friends' swings but they also let me try it out and practice with it so I can see for myself.

>>What Is It?

The Tour Striker is a golf training aid that helps you improve your ballstriking.  In other words, it promotes solid ball contact, ensuring that the hands remain positioned in front of the clubhead at impact.

>>How Does It Work?

The Tour Striker has a special design that makes it impossible to actually hit the ball properly unless you have the hands positioned ahead of the ball at impact.  The grooves are much smaller and there is essentially no hosel on the club.  There is a video here so you can see it.

>>My 2 Cents

I personally don't really have an issue with ballstriking because I have a pretty good impact position to begin with but I can see how this can really help a lot of different levels of players.  For me, I do have a tendency every once in a while to "flip" my hands at impact.  As a seasoned player I can get away with it because of good timing but trust me...it takes a lot of practice to get that timing down correctly.  When I used the Tour Striker I tried to flip my hands on purpose and I couldn't get the ball off the ground.  So, yes, it did help remind me of that ever important ball-first contact.  And there's no cheating it, which I like.  If you don't make the proper move, you get instant feedback because the ball won't go anywhere.  Better yet, there isn't really a "move" to make...just swing the club.  If you hit it properly, the ball gets compressed and flights on the correct trajectory.

But aside from my personal experience with it, I really saw the biggest impact with my playing partners' games.  One of my buddies is notorious for hitting "slap shots" (like hockey).  In other words, he is consistently hitting the ground before the ball and loses a great deal of distance and accuracy as a result.  He's also a chronic "flipper" of the hands.  I can conservatively say that this guy has dropped about 5 shots from his index since he got the Tour Striker for Christmas.  Even had his best round in God-knows-how-long.  Incidentally, he is a 13 handicap.  (And we all know that your average 13 handicap does not break 80 that often--but this guy did twice in February.)

They offer the club in a variety of lofts (7 iron, wedge, etc.) and also have clubs designed for both low, mid and high handicappers.  And the club is designed to fit your swing, not teach you a new swing or anything like that.  They also have right and left-handed clubs.

===>>Pros

*I know a LOT of golfers who use this device (my subscribers and my own foursome have had great experiences with it)

*There is ample great feedback on the device on the major golf forums and message boards on the web (and forums will give you both good and bad feedback)

*Doesn't change your swing-just your position at impact

*I've seen it work first hand.  Better ball compression=better scores.

===>>Cons

*Can be difficult to hit at first because the sweet spot is smaller and the position may not be familiar

* Takes about 2-4 business days for shipping (my buddies received theirs in 2 days though)

*The first few days with it take some getting used to but once you hit that first pure one you are all set

Bottom line?

As a very low handicapper I will definitely use one in the future based on what I've seen.  I honestly think the best benefit will be for the mid to high level handicapper as they will realize a position in the swing that they never felt before.  Overall, I give it a 9/10.

BTW, I don't own a single training aid because most of them are junk.  But this one has some pretty good merit to it and I think it's a very simple but ingenious tool to help you play better golf.

If you have any experience yourself with the Tour Striker, please leave a comment.

How To Break 80 Newsletter

March 4th, 2011

"The Web's Most Popular Golf Improvement Newsletter"
===================================================

In this issue we'll discuss...

1) Take It Back Low and Slow
2) Bump It, Chip It, or Fly It To The Hole
3) Drill of the Week: Shedding The Shanks
4) Article: Five Golf Tips For Consistency
5) Article: Graphite Shafts Can Boost Accuracy And Power

Jacks Note: How's your ballstrking? If you're not compressing the ball properly when you hit it, your direction and distance will vary widely. One surefire way to ensure you're compressing it is to prevent the hands from flipping in the downswing. I made a short video of it here.

Trouble viewing links? Your browser may be the issue. We recommend using the Firefox browser. Click Here To Download. Some email clients also distort links: try to copy and paste web urls directly in your browser, or turn on images for emails.

===================================================
1) Take It Back Low and Slow
===================================================
The first foot of your shot might is the most critical. It establishes your tempo, rhythm, and swing path. Take the club back straight and your chances of hitting one long and straight increase dramatically.

What's the key to taking it back correctly? Many professionals say it's taking it back low and slow. In fact, many pros like Ernie Els actually say the words "low and slow" as they take the club back--matching the speed of the clubhead to what they're saying.

Then, there's Bob Murphy, who won five tournaments on the PGA Tour and 11 on the Champions Tour. He uses a visualization technique that incorporates the image of a traffic light to gauge the speed of his takeaway and his transition from the top--another critical point in your swing.

Going back, Bob envisions the light as being yellow, so he moves the club back slowly. At the top he sees the light as red, so he stops and pauses. Then, the light changes to yellow again as he starts down. As Bob moves toward impact, the light changes to green, where he accelerates the club and lets it swing freely through impact to a balanced finish.

The Triangle takeaway drill grooves a one-piece takeaway.

Grip your driver's club shaft a few inches below the club's handle. Place the butt end of the club against your stomach, at a point just above your belt. Now practice making small swings, concentrating on keeping your arms close to your sides with the club touching your navel.

This drill teaches you to maintain the all-important "triangle" between your arms and your club when swinging and to stay connected. It also teaches you to take the club back low and slow.

===================================================
2) Bump It, Chip It, or Fly It To The Hole
===================================================
A lofted wedge is the club of choice for many when chipping. It's also the riskiest. You have to fly the ball to the green's edge and stop it fast. There is no margin for error. Other golfers use an 8-iron for chips. It's safer than a wedge, but still has some risk to it. A third option is a hybrid. It may be the safest option of all, but it requires a little practice to hit the shot well.

Below are five keys to chipping with a hybrid:

* Use a putting grip
* Keep your head steady
* Make an arching stroke
* Accelerate through impact
* Practice it to master it

You have options when selecting clubs for chipping. Using a lofted wedge is risky but popular. Play the ball forward in your stance. Let your wrists hinge back and though during the shot. And keep your spine angle constant for solid contact.

Chipping with an 8-iron is safer. Choose a landing spot. Make a downward blow to carry the ball about halfway to the hole. Finish low, which encourages a descending blow. Many players use an 8-iron to hit a bump and run.

Chipping with a hybrid may be the safest option. Take a putting grip, keep your head steady, make a nice smooth stroke, and accelerate through impact. Aim for a spot that lets you bounce the ball once or twice and then roll. It's not difficult shot. It just takes a little practice.

Todd Hamilton popularized the hybrid chip at the 2000 British Open. It's a relatively safe shot that can leave you close to the pin. But it doesn't guarantee success. So work on it when you can. The work will pay off.

=====================================================
3) Drill of the Week: Shedding The Shanks
=====================================================
No swing flaw is more feared than the shanks. You shank when you hit the ball off the club's hosel. Shanks are often the result of having an excessively closed clubface--not an open clubface as some golfers think. But the simple drill described below helps you shed the shanks.

Place a head cover or another object just outside but parallel to a ball. Now hit some wedges. If you're making a shank swing (out to in, face closed), you'll hit the head cover. To miss it, you must swing from the inside with the face open. Keep hitting wedges until you've grooved a good swing.

Don't let the shanks ruin your scores. Practice the simple drill above and you'll shed the shanks.

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

Click here to view this newsletter on the web

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article: Five Golf Tips For Consistency
... Good execution is a cornerstone of consistency. The best way to assure good execution is to use swing keys. They help you execute the fundamentals that produce good shots....

5) Article: Graphite Shafts Can Boost Accuracy And Power
... Ultimately, the choice of a shaft boils down to feel, just as it did for Tiger. A simple way to find the right feel--as I've said in my golf tips newsletter--is to take your favorite club and determine its shaft's characteristics. Then, find shafts with similar characteristics and use them for your other clubs. Having the right shafts boosts accuracy and power. More power and accuracy can dramatically reduce golf handicaps.

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.

We put together a new video recently about how one really unique engineer here in Los Angeles has helped me with my ballstriking, accuracy and distance.

See it here.

How did we do it? Here's a hint....think Steve Stricker

First let me just give you the backstory...I went to the LA Open about a week ago and as I always do, I spend most of my time on the practice range watching the Pros warm up.

I do this every year but this year something struck me as odd. I saw this weird-looking device that several players were using on the range and I won't name names because I don't believe I'm allowed to, but these guys were all in the Top 50 on the money list.

I watched as they used it for short pitches and chip to mid irons all the way up to driver. Heck, they even used it for putting. And they were striping it. Dead center.

So, long story short, I got the name of the guy (who turns out to be a really unique engineer) who was helping these Pros with this weird device and contacted him.

Once contacted, he mailed me this STRANGE-LOOKING device to use to illustrate his point.

And told me to expect the following:

-Simplified swing
-More accuracy
-More distance
-More consistency

And, yes, I have tried this myself and had some pretty remarkable results.

Anyway, check out the video about this device and watch as we explain how all this will translate to helping your game.

Talk soon-

Jack

P.S. By the way, you can hit the ball very far (I hit a few of my drives over 300 yards) after watching the video. It's all about THE TRIANGLES. And this engineer-guy tells me he actually does it himself using NO ARMS.

I told you he was kinda weird. But see for yourself, he proves it in his videos.