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How To Break 80 Newsletter
February 20, 2008
"The Web's Most Popular Golf Improvement Newsletter"
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In this issue we'll discuss...
1) Avoiding Flubbed Pitch Shots
2) Straightening Pulled Iron Shots
3) Question of the Week - How To Hit Solid Irons
4) Article - Key Reasons To Get A Golf Handicap
5) Article - All You Need Is Glove
Jack's Note: You guys tell me, is the game
and industry of golf booming or not in America?
Tiger’s at his arguable best right now, ratings are at
record highs for TV viewing but what about the economy?
Read more here
if interested. It’s a real eye-opener article.
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1) Avoiding Flubbed Pitch Shots
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Two things cause a flubbed pitch shot: 1) a ball positioned
too far forward, or 2) a decelerating downswing. If the ball
is too far forward, you'll hit it fat, producing a weak
shot. If the club decelerates during the downswing, you'll
approach the ball on too steep an angle, botching the shot.
Here are six keys to avoiding a flubbed pitch shot:
* Play the ball toward the center
* Move the front foot back slightly
* Place your weight on the forward foot
* Turn shoulders and arms away together
* Complete your forward swing
* Shift your weight through the impact zone
Hitting a good pitch shot starts at address. You need to
make some adjustments to your normal stance and ball
position to make solid contact. Shorten the distance between
your feet, adopt a slightly open stance, and move the front
foot back slightly. Also, keep your hands ahead of the ball
and place your weight on the forward foot.
On the backswing, turn the arms and shoulders away at the
same time. Don't let your arms get out ahead of your body. Atop
the backswing begin turning the body toward the target while the
arms drop downward. If you're using a sand wedge, the club of
choice for a standard pitch shot, make sure you make ball first
contact.
More importantly, make sure the backswing and the forward
swing mirror each other in length. In other words, the
length of the backswing determines the length of the forward
swing. However, the downswing should be faster than the
backswing. And don't forget to shift your weight forward
through the impact zone, even if it's a short pitch.
Don't let a flubbed pitch shot cost you strokes. Keep our six
keys in mind next time you have a pitch shot and you'll make
solid contact every time.
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2) Straightening Pulled Iron Shots
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We've all pulled an iron shot now and again. Usually, a
pulled iron spells disaster, no matter how you cut it. If
the pull is severe enough, you may land out of bounds. If
it's not too severe, you may land in the rough or in a
fairway bunker. Either way, it'll probably cost you strokes
and boost your score.
Keep these six keys in mind to eliminate pulled iron shots:
* Assume a stance parallel to the target line
* Distribute your weight evenly
* Position the ball toward the middle
* Allow your arms to lead in the backswing
* Let your body lead in the downswing
* Keep the right elbow tucked
A pulled shots usually results from a poor set-up.
Typically, the shoulders face way left, the ball is too far
forward in your stance, and the weight resides too much on
your front foot. To prevent a pull, adjust your stance.
Align yourself parallel to the target line, position the
ball more toward the middle at address, and distribute your
weight evenly on both feet. The result is an out-to-in swing
path and a deep divot.
As you swing, allow the arms to lead the backswing inside
the target line. But let the body lead in the downswing and
focus on keeping the right elbow (left for southpaws) tucked
in through impact. From here, allow the club to release and
square through impact as you turn toward the target.
Keep the six tips in mind when on the fairway and you'll
eliminate pulled irons shots. The key is remembering to
swing from inside the target line to outside the target
line. You may want to trace this inside-out swing path in
slow motion before hitting the ball. The concentrate on
following this swing path during your shot and you'll
eliminate the pulled iron shot for good.
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3) Question of the Week - How To Hit Solid Irons
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Q. Jack:
Do you have any advice on hitting the ball first and then
the grass for iron shots? I am good with irons in general,
but when it comes to hitting the required distance with a
particular iron I have problems. I have noticed that I tend
to hit an inch or two behind the ball and, in turn, take a
divot much before I make contact with the ball, losing on
distance.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Hanif Paracha, Karachi, PK
A. Thanks for the question, Hanif. Three things immediately
come to mind. All three are easy to fix. First, check ball
position. Sometimes the ball creeps up and back in your
stance without you realizing it. Play your short irons in
the center, middle irons an inch forward of that, and longer
irons another inch forward.
Second, check your set-up. Set-up errors like weak
left-hand grip, poor posture, and bad aim start a chain
reaction of compensations that prevent solid contact. Study
your set-up in a mirror between rounds. Make sure it is
solid. If not, make changes. Practice setting up correctly
in front of a mirror until it's ingrained.
Third, check weight shift. Good iron contact comes from a
descending strike. To hit down, your weight must be moving
toward the target. A lot of golfers hang back on their right
side when hitting irons. Hit some irons with your feet
together. You won't be able to hit off your right side
without losing your balance.
While these aren't the only errors that contribute to poor
iron play, they are among the most common with weekend golfers.
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
To view this newsletter online, please visit:
http://www.howtobreak80.com/newsletter02202008.html
Here are some of my recent articles:
4) Article - Key Reasons To Get A Golf Handicap
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/key-reasons-to-get-a-golf-handicap.html
5) Article - All You Need Is Glove
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/all-you-need-is-glove.html
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, send
a blank email to
break80ezine@aweber.com
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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. |
