In this issue we’ll discuss…

1. Use This Grip On Short Putts
2. Chipping From Thick Greenside Rough
3. Question of the Week – Use This Drill To Improve Your Chipping
4. Article – Five Equipment Myths: Fact Or Fiction
5. Article – Five Golf Tips On Buying Balls

Use This Grip On Short Putts

Bad things happen when we decelerate the clubhead on either a swing or a putt. Acceleration in golf is the increasing speed at which the clubhead moves through the ball. It’s important for both full shots and short putts. So if you’re missing a lot of short putts, you may be failing to accelerate the putter through the stroke. It’s a habit many develop from time to time. Using an alternative putting grip is an option to prevent this habit from hurting your putting.

Key these five tips in mind when using this putting grip:

• Keep your hands ahead of the ball
• Adopt a left-hand low grip
• Minimize excessive wrist movement
• Follow through on the putt
• Hold the finish for a couple of seconds

The left-hand low grip (right hand for left-handed golfers) has helped many golfers accelerate through short putts. Using this grip keeps your hands from releasing too much. It also keeps the putterface facing the hole, even after contact with the ball, and encourages acceleration through the stroke.

Acceleration Drill
Find a hole on the practice green that permits you to set up for a flat straight putt. Place a sand wedge perpendicular to the line of the putt, so the face is down and the thinner part of the shaft lies across the putt’s line. The shaft should lie just on the cup’s edge.

From the distance of three feet, putt the ball to the hole with sufficient speed so that the ball hits the shaft, pops into the air, and falls into the hole. If you decelerate the putterhead through the stroke, you’ll generate insufficient speed to overcome the shaft in front of the hole. But smooth acceleration produces enough speed to hole the putt over the shaft.

Make this drill part of your normal practice routine. It teaches you to accelerate through putts and boosts confidence on short putts critical to good scoring. If you’re really brave, try this drill on short break putts as well.
2) Chipping From Thick Greenside Rough

Some golfers like to hit a normal chip shot from thick greenside rough. That’s a hard shot to pull off, even for veteran golfers. The problem is the grass. It can twist the club’s hosel as the clubhead cuts through it, which makes controlling the shot difficult. On a delicate shot like this, you need optimum control. Otherwise, it can cost you strokes. Here’s another way to play it:

Below are five keys to hitting a shot from really thick greenside rough:

• Use a sand wedge
• Open your stance
• Play the ball back
• Pick a landing spot
• Make a steep swing

Smart golfers know the benefits of being creative around the green. Instead of relying on a single short-game shot, they learn different shots around the green and let the situation dictate the shot. A short chip from greenside rough is one situation where it pays to have mastered different shots around the green.

Start by selecting a more-lofted club than normal. The club of choice is the sand wedge, but you could also use a lob wedge. The key with these clubs is the “bounce” on the clubface’s bottom. The bounce enables the club to cut through the snarled grass without getting entangled. Clubs with less bounce lack this capability.

In addition open your stance slightly to allow your hands to clear and play the ball back in your stance. Before hitting, pick out a landing spot on the green. Now make a steep aggressive swing. The ball pops out of the grass, bounces a couple of times on the green, and rolls to the pin.

Chipping from thick greenside rough is a challenge. But if you master the shot, you can turn three or more shots into two. Just remember that a club with more loft provides more margin for error.

3) Question of the Week – Use This Drill To Improve Your Chipping

Q. Hi, Jack, I somehow developed a case of what I call “chipping yips.”. I’ll be 20 feet (or less) off the green, put my weight to the left, keep my hands ahead of the ball, and wind up scooping my right hand under it, which shank’s the ball right. Any chance I can lose this bad habit?

Tom Wells.

A. Thanks, Tom. Golfers sometimes lose the feel of a good chipping stroke. This leads to bad habits, like trying to scoop the ball instead of hitting down on the ball. Scooping forces you to collapse your left arm and wrist (right arm and wrist for left-handers) at impact. You need a stiff left wrist at impact to hit a good chip. Below is a simple drill that teaches you to make a good chipping stroke by keeping a stiff left wrist at impact:

Start by sticking a pen or pencil under a watchband on your left wrist. This automatically flattens your left wrist at impact. Now practice hitting chip shots. Make sure to brush the grass after hitting the ball with a slight downward stroke. This may be a new feel for you, so stick with the drill even if the initial results aren’t as good as you’d like. Eventually, you’ll ingrain the feel for the stroke. Now take the pencil or pen out and chip some more balls using the same stroke.

This proven drill works. Use it whenever you find yourself trying to scoop the ball on a chip. And remember, a good chip turns three or more strokes into two.

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 – Five Equipment Myths: Fact Or Fiction
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/five-equiptment-myths-fact-or-fiction.php

5) Article – Five Golf Tips On Buying Balls
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/five-golf-tips-on-buying-balls.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.

In this issue we’ll discuss…

1. Avoid Plumb Putting To Drain More Putts
2. Going With The Grain
3. Question of the Week – Stop Topping Your Ball
4. Article – Use Lead Tape To Square Clubface At Impact
5. Article – Controlling Trajectories Helps Lower Golf Handicap

Avoid Plumb Putting To Drain More Putts

Instructors don’t always agree on golf mechanics. But one thing they do agree on is not exaggerating the arc of your putting stroke. Exaggerating the arc often leads to what some call “plumb putting. It’s a flaw recreational golfers are prone to when they “overcook” or exaggerate the putting arc.

A good putting stroke moves on a slight arc—with the putterhead tracing a path slightly inside the target line on the way back and then again after impact. That’s your ideal putting arc. But sometimes golfers pull the putting stroke too far inside by exaggerating their stroke. That spells trouble.

If you pull the putterhead too far inside on the way back, you must save the stroke with your hands. They shove the putterhead out on the way back. As a result, the face gets held open and you miss putts short and to the right (left for left-handed players).

This is called plumb putting. If you hung a plumb line from your hands, you’d want the putting stroke to stay away from that line on the backstroke. Instead make a gentle arc, and don’t let your wrists arch or the putterhead “get tall.” Your stroke will be smoother and more reliable:

The following drill helps improve your putting stroke:

Place two golf balls on the green. Set them up so there’s just enough room for your putter to swing through them freely. Practice with out a ball for several minutes. Your goal is to move your putterhead through the two balls without touching either one. If you hit the inside ball, you’ve pulled the putterhead inside. If you hit the outside ball, you’re looping out. In both cases, you must adjust your stance, head position, grip pressure, and shoulder alignment to generate the proper arc. Now use a ball in the drill. Start with short putts, then move out gradually to about 20 feet.

Don’t let plumb putting cost you strokes. Develop a good putting stroke and you’ll sink more putts.
Going With The Grain

Nutrition counts in golf. So that hot dog and candy bar you grab at the turn may not be the wisest snack choices. You may need a “higher grade of fuel” to ignite your play on the back nine, so grains are a much better—and healthier— snack choice than the hot do and candy bar. They give you the energy, endurance, and concentration you need to play well.

Here are six healthy snacks to pack in your bag:

• Whole grain granola bar
• Freshly popped popcorn
• Whole grain crackers
• Baked tortilla chips
• Whole grain muffin
• Turkey sandwich (whole grain bread)

Carbohydrates fuel the body. They turn into sugar, which is converted to energy. All carbohydrates, however, are not equal. When it comes to energy and endurance as well as your health, complex carbohydrates, like whole grains, top the snack list. They’ll give you what you need to finish strong.

Whole grains include whole wheat bread, oats, popcorn, and brown rice. They are better food choices because they contain all three parts of the grain: the bran, endosperm, and germ, the combination of which provides unique health benefits.

Typically, whole grains are high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and plant nutrition. These nutrients are essential to life. Compared to whole refined grains, whole grains are digested faster and converted into blood sugar more slowly. The slower process provides a gradual and sustained release of energy to help you reach the 18th green. It’s why whole grains are recommended as the foundation of a healthy diet.

Don’t underestimate how important good nutrition is on the course. Next time you’re playing a round and you feel your stomach growl, reach for a whole grain snack. It’s healthier and more satisfying than hot dog and candy bar…and a great way to go low.

Question of the Week – Stop Topping Your Ball

Q. I have a number of problems with my swing, but the one that really hurts my game is my mid irons. I always top the ball. When using irons from the 7-iron through the SW wedge I don’t have any problem. It is only with my 4-, 5- and 6-iron. Instead of hitting a nice high shot with these clubs, I’m usually looking at the ball rolling down the fairway. Is there a drill that I can practice over the winter that will help me with this problem?

Sonny

A. Thanks for the question, Sonny. From your question, it sounds like you’re trying to “scoop” the ball, rather than compress it against the turf when using these irons. The key to hitting these irons is being on your front side at impact. That means you may have to make some slight adjustments to your swing.

Take your regular address then shift your weight to your back leg. Ideally, your back hip should be over your back heel. This move tilts your shoulders upwards slightly and away from the target. Next, take the club back slowly. Stretch out your arms in your backswing as much as possible and keep your back heel planted. Keep your weight on your backside.

Now swing down on the ball. With your back side stretched taught at the top of your backswing, you’re in position to deliver the club powerfully to the ball, compressing it and adding spin.

To get the feel of this stretching move, use a Theraband, which you can get at most sporting goods stores. Place the band around the instep of your front foot and the fingers of your left hand (right, if you’re left-handed). The Theraband adds resistance as you swing to the top, the kind of resistance you should feel when swinging.

If you hit your longer irons thin, focus on compressing the ball. It’s the key to hitting solid longer irons consistently. You might also consider getting a hybrid for your 3-, 4-, and 5-irons. Hybrids are easier to hit and provide the same yardage as these longer irons.

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:

Article – Use Lead Tape To Square Clubface At Impact
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/use-lead-tape-to-square-clubface-at-impact.php

Article – Controlling Trajectories Helps Lower Golf Handicap
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/controlling-trajectories-helps-lower-golf-handicap.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.

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.

In this issue we’ll discuss…

1. Short-sided In Tall Thick Grass
2. The Sand Chip
3. Question of the Week – Stop Hitting It Fat
4. Article – Three Principles To Get Your Swing In Sync
5. Article – Two Simple Exercises To Boost Power

1)Short-sided In Tall Thick Grass

Shots from deep rough are hard. So are downhill putts. But is there a harder shot than being on the back lip of a bunker in tall, thick grass? This shot is about as hard as it gets. You have to deal with not only the thick grass, but also an awkward stance—since you need both feet in the bunker to hit the ball. If you miss, you could plop it in the bunker, costing you a stroke or two. It’s not your everyday shot.

Below are five keys to hitting this shot:

1. Widen your stance
2. Set your weight on front side
3. Grip down on the club
4. Hold the club tighter
5. Take the club head up quickly
6. Play an explosion shot

The keys to hitting this shot are stabilizing the lower body and keeping the clubface from closing through impact. Another key is not trying to hit a miracle shot. You’re goal is to get on the green in one. So stay within yourself.

Select a club with a leading edge, like a pitching wedge, to cut through the grass. Then, widen your stance and set most of your weight on your front side, which restricts lower body movement.

Since the ball is well above your feet, choke down on the club and grip it a little harder than normal. These adjustments keep the club from twisting in your hands as it cuts through the tall grass and from flipping over when it hits the ground.

When you swing, take the clubhead up quickly and play an explosion shot, just as you would a greenside bunker shot. Also, accelerate the clubhead through the ball. Keep the face pointing skyward after impact.

You won’t face this shot many times in a season. But it’s good to know how to hit it anyway.
2) The Sand Chip

If you have two golfers of equal ability playing on the same course on the same day, chances are the player with the better short game racks up the lower score. One short-game area weekend golfers need to work on is bunker play. It takes practice to master this area of the game. Meantime, there’s an alternative to the normal bunker shot that gets you out in one: the sand chip.

Below are six keys to hitting the sand chip:

• Raise the club on its toe
• Play the ball off the back foot
• Move the shaft forward
• Place your weight on the front foot
• Keep the wrists firm on the stroke
• Make ball first contact

.

The key to hitting the sand chip is making ball first contact. Start by taking a normal stance and then raising the club on its toe. Raising the club makes the shaft more upright and lessens the chance of catching the sand during the shot. If you catch the sand, the shot will probably stay in the bunker.

Also, play the ball off your back foot and move your hands forward so the shaft points to your front shoulder, which helps produce a low running shot that tracks like a putt.

Make the stroke with as little wrist break as possible and with your weight on your front foot. These adjustments allow the club’s butt end and its clubface to move together back and then through the ball.

When swinging, guard against dropping down into the ball in an effort to lift the ball out of the bunker. This miscue—the most common made with the sand chip—destroys ball first contact.

The ball comes out of the bunker low and with lots of roll. So make sure you have a low bunker lip and plenty of green to work with.
3) Question of the Week – Stop Hitting It Fat

Q. Hello Jack, I find myself in a great position on the fairway. Then, I think I’ll take a nice easy iron, whether it’s a 7-iron, 8-iron, 9-iron, or PW, depending on the distance. Instead, I take a divot behind the ball and it flops 10-20 yards up the fairway. Can you offer any help and an explanation as to what I am doing wrong? I play left handed.

Thanks,
Alan Cardiff
South Wales

A. Thanks for the question, Alan. Your miscue is called hitting it fat. The reasons for hitting it fat apply no matter which way you hit.

One reason why you’re hitting it fat could be that you’re trying to take an easy swing. When we do that we sometimes throw off our rhythm and timing. Take a normal swing instead. Other reasons for hitting it fat are an excessively V-shaped swing, a tight lie, a rushed backswing, or a desire to scoop the ball.

To avoid hitting it fat, remember that:

* Ball position determines impact point. You want to strike the ball with a descending blow with your irons, so you should hit the ball just before the lowest point of the arc.

* Loft determines trajectory. There’s no need to scoop the ball or try to get under it. If you strike the ball properly, loft sends the ball skyward.

Also, when you hit, visualize a U-shaped swing, with a pronounced “flat spot” through impact. Use that visual as a guide. Then, focus on hitting the ball at the right impact point and taking a complete backswing.

Here’s a drill that help eliminate fat shots:

With an iron, take your normal stance and ground the club. Make a slight mark there. When you swing, try to create a shallow divot just past where you ground the club. Concentrate on executing a complete backswing and follow-through.

This drill helps improve rhythm and ballstriking. It also ensures that you hit the ball at the right impact point in your swing, curing you of an excessively V-shaped swing.

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/newsletter11182009.php

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article – Three Principles To Get Your Swing In Sync
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/three-principles-to-get-your-swing-in-sync.php

5) Article – Two Simple Exercises To Boost Power
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/two-simple-exercises-to-boost-power.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.