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How To Break 80 Newsletter

March 26, 2008

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

1) Pitching On My Mind
2) Driving Into A Headwind
3) Question of the Week - Parts Of The Swing Explained
4) Article - Four Touch Shots You Must Learn
5) Article - Golf Travel Sites Make Booking Trips Easy

Jack's Note: Hey folks. Well, Tiger’s streak had to end sometime I guess.  But still, it was exciting to watch Doral last weekend with so many good players in the hunt. I was particularly paying attention to how these guys pitch the ball on those tough greens. I wanted to see if they were following the same instruction we just put out in the Pitching DVD and to be honest, some did, some didn’t. If you’re still interested, we still have 126 of these early-release DVD's. We’ll be taking the offer down when they are gone, which we expect will be today or tomorrow.

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1) Pitching On My Mind
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Among the most common mistakes golfers make when hitting a pitch shot is trying to mentally control their muscles. It can't be done. The harder you try to mentally control your muscles when swinging a golf club, the more prone you are to scuttling the shot. After awhile, you'll have so many mechanical swing thoughts running through your mind you'll become confused.

Here are 7 keys to hitting the standard pitch shot:

One of the biggest keys to making a pitch shot that's not mentioned above is using the right amount and kind of body action. During the underhanded motion of the shot, your arms and body must work together in response to the target in a nice rhythmical fashion. You don't need to consciously control your body parts. Instead, they should react naturally to the idea of hitting a pitch shot.

To achieve this, imagine yourself pitching horseshoes in your backyard. When pitching the ball to the green, imagine the landing area as a stake in a game of horseshoes. To execute the shot, think of using an underhanded pitching motion like that you use to throw a ringer around the stake. Then allow your body to respond naturally to the target.

Keeping the horseshoe image firmly in mind when pitching improves accuracy and distance control. It also banishes mechanical swing thoughts. With practice, your body will respond naturally to the command to pitch the ball and you'll cut strokes from your scores.

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2) Driving Into A Headwind
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If play on windy courses a lot, you must learn how to drive into a strong headwind. Driving into a headwind can cost you distance, which in turn, can cost you strokes, especially on long par 5s. On those holes, even if you strike the ball well, you'll probably end up short of your target, unless you learn to control your ballflight.

Here are 6 keys to hitting into a strong headwind:

* Take more club than usual
* Use a slightly wider stance
* Get lower in your set-up
* Position the ball toward the middle
* Control the pace of your swing
* Shallow out your swing

Club selection is key whenever there's wind. Take at least one more club than usual and maybe two. If you're in a situation where you'd normally hit a 7-iron, think about hitting a 6-iron or possibly a 5-iron. For every 10 mph of wind, drop down a club. On the tee, hit driver as often as you can.

Once you've selected your club, make some adjustments to your set-up. Widen your stance slightly and bend lower than normal. These two adjustments provide a better foundation for your swing and help you maintain your balance. They also lead to a situation where the ball will be placed more toward the back of the stance.

In addition to these adjustments, slow the pace of your swing. Keeping it more compact on your backswing and follow-through puts less spin on the ball and gives you a more penetrating trajectory. Keep your pace nice and smooth. Also, try shallowing out your swing—like a sidearm throw. The steeper your swing, the more airborne your shot. The more airborne your shot, the more chances the wind will rob you of distance.

If you play a lot on windy courses, learn to control ballflight. That way the wind won't rob you of distance or cost you strokes on a bad day. And try to maintain your balance throughout the swing. It's hard, but it's the key to success when driving into a head wind.

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3) Question of the Week - Parts Of The Swing Explained
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Q. Hello Jack, Can you explain what you mean by the term "release" and tell me when does it occur? Also, what are the parts of a swing?

Thanks,
Ken Stephen

A. Thanks for the question, Ken. I breakdown the swing into five parts: (1) backswing, (2) downswing, (3) impact, (4) release, and (5) follow-through. Some people don't consider the top of the swing as part of the swing proper, but the top is when the transition to the downswing occurs. The transition must be smooth or it ruins the rest of the swing.

The release occurs right after impact and just prior to the follow-through. If you look at old photos of Jack Nicklaus at the end of his swing, you’ll see him in the traditional reverse-C release position. It dictates that players keep their heads well behind the ball at impact while the hips slide laterally. The reverse-C release places significant stress on the body.

The modern release places less stress on the body. It does away with the backward bend of the spine. Instead, it has golfers finishing in a relaxed upright position, with the head moving slightly. The front side of the body is stacked over the lower body, the back shoulder is closer to the target than the front—made possible by rotating the hips in a counterclockwise motion—and the release includes a natural, full extension of the arms.

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/newsletter03262008.html

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article - Four Touch Shots You Must Learn
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/four-touch-shots-you-must-learn.html

5) Article - Golf Travel Sites Make Booking Trips Easy
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/golf-travel-sites-make-booking-trips-easy.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.