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How To Break 80 Newsletter

April 15th, 2011

"The Web's Most Popular Golf Improvement Newsletter"
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In this issue we'll discuss...

1) Using A Hybrid To Hit A Bump And Run
2) Attack Long Putts
3) Question of the Week: Finding The Proper Swing Path
4) Article: Tame Your Slice In Three Easy Steps
5) Article: Avoiding Disasters In The Sand

Jack's Note: Holy Cow! What a Masters, huh? Most dramatic finish I have ever seen there with so many contenders. Congrats to Mr. Schwartzel...all 140lbs of him. Seriously, that guy is rail thin. Just wondering...do you think his good physical condition had anything to do with his performance? Of course it does. And in case you hadn't noticed, there are several guys on the Senior Tour like Allen Doyle, Fred Funk and even broadcasters like Roger Maltbie who have dropped a lot of extra poundage. And it's all because of one guy named Larry Jacobs. If you're looking to improve your performance on the course or just shed a few before summer he's giving a free teleseminar that will give you some insight into his unique methods.

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1) Using A Hybrid To Hit A Bump And Run
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The bump and run is a great shot to have in your arsenal. It can save a ton of strokes over the course of a season. The bump and run is ideal when chipping to the green and you have a tight lie or you have firm ground under the ball. It's also a forgiving shot. Even if you flub it, you can still end up on the green. You can use almost any club to hit a bump and run. But more and more golfers are using the hybrid for this shot.

Here are five keys to hitting a bump and run with a hybrid:

* Set the ball back in your stance.
* Lean the shaft forward.
* Hinge your wrists.
* Pivot your chest.
* Make a descending blow.

With a standard chip, you want the ball to carry the fringe. With the bump and run, you want the ball to bounce a couple of times short of the green, then roll to the hole. For many golfers, the hybrid is the "go to" club for this shot.

Take a slightly closed stance with the ball back in your stance. Lean the shaft forward to reduce the club's loft. And shift your weight to your front foot. Also, hinge your wrists during the backswing. Keep them hinged all the way to the finish. Pivot your chest toward the target as your arms swing through. Use a shallow U-shaped swing arc and a descending blow.

If you hit the shot right, you'll take a small divot in front of the ball and the club's toe will be pointing skyward at the finish.

The bump and run works well when you're within 100 yards of the green, there's a clear path to the hole, and hitting a high shot isn't practical. Count on the ball rolling 30 percent to 50 percent of the way to the hole.

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2) Attack Long Putts
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Long putts can cost you on some holes. Mis-play them and you could card a bogey or double bogey. That's why you must get the first put close. Low handicap golfers are usually good long putters. High handicap golfers are usually poor long putters. They let long putts intimidate them. Afraid to hit them too hard, they leave them well short of the hole. Try to get the ball within the ring. That leaves an easy putt to finish the hole.

Below are five keys to long putting:

* Step off the distance to the hole.
* Take your practice strokes behind the ball.
* Stand slightly taller in your stance.
* Imagine a three-foot ring around the hole.
* Take a long smooth stroke.

You need a pre-shot game plan to attack long putts. You want a repeatable routine: Here's what we suggest:

Start by stepping off the distance to the hole. This provides a good feel for the putt's actual length. Also, face the target when taking practice strokes. This gives you a feel for the stroke you must make. Stand slightly taller in your stance to encourage a long, smooth stroke.

Before putting, imagine a three-foot ring around the hole. Aim for the ring instead of the hole when putting. Make a long smooth stroke. Also, make sure your follow through equals your takeaway.

Here's good lag putting drill.

Cut five or six pieces of string, about three-feet long. Lay them down on the practice green, progressively farther away from the hole. Space them about three feet apart. Get out a dozen balls and try to roll them so that each ball stops in-between the strings. Start about 20 feet away and then move back. You can also start from 60 feet and move in.

Don't let long putts intimidate you. Practice your lag putting until you can get the ball close from almost any distance. Good lag putting saves strokes.

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3) Question of the Week: Finding The Proper Swing Path
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Q.

Hello, Jack:

I have just read one of your tips, which says to look in front of the ball when using irons and at the back of the ball when using the driver.

I was taught to look just behind the ball with irons. So what is the correct procedure?

Regards,
Patrick

A.

Thanks for the question, Patrick. It's okay to look at the back of the ball when hitting your irons. Many players do it. You just have to remind yourself to make a descending blow when swinging. A golfer who looks at the back of the ball when hitting irons can sometimes get into the habit of swinging up--as if they were trying to lift the ball. As a result, they end up mis-hitting the shot.

We encourage students to look at the area just in front of the ball to reinforce the idea that you need must make a descending blow with your irons. We just think that looking in front of the ball when hitting an iron is a better visual technique. If you execute the shot correctly, you'll create a divot just in front of the ball, which is where you want it.

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.

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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: Tame Your Slice In Three Easy Steps
... Golfers slice when the clubhead is open at impact. An open clubhead causes the clubface to cut across the ball at impact, putting sidespin on it. Sidespin causes the ball to curve in the direction the clubface is pointing...

5) Article: Avoiding Disasters In The Sand
... These golf tips are based on the real-world principals that teaching pros impart at golf instruction sessions. In general, if you're an average player, focus on getting out and onto the fairway in one. If you're a better player, concentrate on advancing the ball forward. The key in both cases is to put yourself in good position to hit the next shot...

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

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About the Author
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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.

Hooking and slicing can get you into trouble—especially off the tee. Even players with low golf handicaps find it hard to go low if they’re constantly getting themselves into trouble. In addition to costing you strokes, slicing or hooking can ruin your position for your next shot. That makes it harder to greens hit in regulation (GIR). Fewer GIRs mean fewer birdies and pars, and higher scores.

While we see more slicers than hookers in our golf lessons, one thing is certain: Eliminate a hook or a slice takes a little time and some work. Trying the golf tips given below will make the transition easier.

Taming Your Slice
Golfers slice when the clubhead is open at impact. An open clubhead causes the clubface to cut across the ball at impact, putting sidespin on it. Sidespin causes the ball to curve in the direction the clubface is pointing.

To correct a slice:

Strengthen Your Grip
To adopt a stronger grip, turn your left hand (right hand for left-handers) so you can see three knuckles at address. This promotes a closed clubface at impact.

Close Your Stance
An open stance causes the clubface to cut across the ball. Remedying this is simple. Turn your body a little to the right to set up an in-to-out swing path. By turning your body to the right, you close your stance

Rotate Your Right Arms
With your body closed to the target line, your right arm will rotate over your left as you swing past your chest. This also promotes a closed clubface at the moment of impact.

Anti-slice Drill:
Using a 7-iron, grip the club extra lightly. Set it down with the toe of the clubhead perpendicular to the ground. From there, swing the club halfway back and halfway through. As you swing through, let the toe of the clubhead hit the ground first. Feel the head take over as your forearms rotate through impact.

Taming Your Hook
A closed clubface at impact, on the other hand, triggers a hook. A closed clubface causes the clubhead to come too far inside. The key to curing a hook is to make contact with a slightly more open clubface.

Weaken Your Grip
To tame a hook, you’ll want to “weaken” your grip. To do that, turn your left hand left (right if you’re a left hander) so you can see two knuckles at address.

Open Your Stance
Just as you needed to close your stance to beat a slice, so to do you need to open your stance to produce a fade. So turn your body to the left slightly (left-handers turn right). That sets up a slightly out-to-in swing path.

Hold Off Arm Rotation
With your body open to the target line, your chest turns open faster on the downswing. This enables you to hold off arm rotation for a bit. It also keeps the face open for a shot that starts left and curves right slightly.

Anti-Hooking Drill
Use a 7-iron, set up with your back foot turned out about forty-five degrees and the ball positioned forward. Now make relatively easy swings, using your shoulders and upper body to do all the work. As you increase speed and improve ball flight, use longer clubs for the drill.

Hooking and slicing can get you into serious trouble—especially off the tee. That can ruin a hole and add strokes to your golf handicap. Taming your hook or slice using the golf tips described above will help you hit more fairways. That will put you into position to hit more GIRs. Do that and you’ll card more birdies and pars, and lower your golf handicap a couple of strokes.

Players with low golf handicaps avoid disasters in the sand. They use experience and sound technique to escape bunkers in one. Players with high golf handicaps, on the other hand, often fall prey to disasters in the sand. Instead of birdying or paring the hole, they card a 6 or a 7. If you’re serious about taking your game to the next level, you must improve your sand game.

Below are some golf tips that will help sharpen your sand game. These golf tips are based on the real-world principals that teaching pros impart at golf instruction sessions. In general, if you’re an average player, focus on getting out and onto the fairway in one. If you’re a better player, concentrate on advancing the ball forward. The key in both cases is to put yourself in good position to hit the next shot.

Set up Is Key
Your set up is one the keys to escaping a bunker in one. A good setup provides the foundation for a good shot. Play the ball forward of center when hitting bunker shots, open your stance a little, and place your hands just behind the ball. Try imagining the ball sitting in the middle of a six-inch box. Then, try to blast all the sand from the box, so the ball rides out on a cushion of sand. Swing like you’re hitting a 7-iron from grass and accelerate through the shot.

Go With The Slopes
While an uphill sand shot is challenging, a downhill sand shot is among golf’s toughest shots. The key to hitting both is matching your shoulder tilt to the bunker’s slope. On an uphill shot, your back shoulder is lower than your front shoulder. Rest more weight on your back foot. On a downhill shot, your front shoulder is lower than your back shoulder. Rest more weight on your front foot. Expect a higher shot with more spin from an uphill lie and a lower shot with more roll from a downhill lie.

Cup Your Wrists
If you’ve short-sided yourself on a tucked pin, you’ll need to hit a high shot that lands softly. To do that, cup your left wrist (right wrist for lefties) and maintain it throughout the swing. Cupping your wrist produces a higher shot, as we tell students in our golf instruction sessions. Also, use a 60-degree wedge, if you’re carrying one, an open stance and clubface, and a ball position just forward of center. Place your hands behind the ball. Control carry by varying how much you open the clubface and how hard you swing.

Get The Ball Out
For players with high golf handicaps, landing in a fairway bunker is no fun. If you’re not a good bunker player, it can cost you several strokes. If this is you, your goal is simple: escape in one. Use your sand wedge and play the safest shot possible. Look for the lowest point in the bunker’s lip and the shortest carry distance to the fairway. Then, play an explosion shot in that direction—like you’re playing from a greenside bunker. Swing aggressively and accelerate through the shot to a full finish.

Clip The Ball First
If you’re somewhat comfortable playing from fairway bunkers, focus on advancing the ball forward instead of just getting out. This will leave comfortable yardage for your next shot. Select a club with the loft to clear the front lip. Then, set up with your weight on your front leg. The weight shift encourages you to swing down on the ball and helps ensure ball first contact. Picking the ball off the sand is the key to this shot. Also, grip down on the club as much as you dig your feet into the sand. Swing about 85 percent of normal.

If you’re serious about cutting strokes from you golf handicap, work on improving your sand play. Use the golf tips discussed above to help sharpen your sand skills. Taking some golf lessons wouldn’t hurt, either. Improving your sand game will not only chop strokes off your scores, it will also build confidence.

Here we go again down Magnolia Lane...

I think the Euros have a good shot at it this year or one of a few American players.

Because of the extreme difficulty of this event, anything can happen and anyone can win....but I'd like to hear from YOU. Who do YOU think will win this week and be crowned the new Masters Champion? Just post your answer here in the comments. Answer correctly and we'll put you into a drawing on Monday April 11th for selection my products. If your name is drawn, you get to pick any three (3) of our award-winning DVD's or instructional books (we have sixteen to choose from)...on the house. And yes, we pay for the shipping too

There's only one rule....only those posts submitted by end of day Thursday will count. Those who vote after that won't be counted toward the contest because by then you will have an unfair advantage.

And oh yeah....only ONE VOTE per person. You can't list several...just pick your favorite.

You're more than welcome to post at any time though! Good luck and I hope you choose wisely and get some instructional products for free!