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How To Break 80 Newsletter

April 09, 2008

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

1) Conquering The Chipping Yips
2) Tackling a Tiered Green
3) Question of the Week - Harnessing the Hybrid
4) Article - Amen Corner Celebrates Its 50th Year
5) Article - Mastering The Masters

Jack's Note: Ever wondered how Amen Corner got it's name? Be sure to read today's article on the great 3 hole stretch at Augusta with a rich history and funny story.

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1) Conquering The Chipping Yips
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Players with the chipping yips have problems making short, easy chips. Instead of leaving themselves an easy putt after their chip, they run the ball well past the hole, adding strokes to their scores and boosting their golf handicaps. If you're one of those players, don't despair. There's a remedy.

Here are 5 keys to curing the chipping yips:

* Control your swing thoughts
* Focus on solid ballstriking
* Keep your weight shifted forward
* Use a chop-like stroke
* Make solid ball-first contact

Golfers develop the chipping yips when they think about decelerating or accelerating the club through the ball. Unfortunately, trying to control acceleration and deceleration during your swing almost never works. To make those easy short chips, banish these thoughts from your head. Instead, focus on making solid, ball-first contact and on the speed of your chips.

Golf Bag Drill
Here's a drill that helps eliminate the chipping yips: Lay your bag down about 18 inches in front of a ball. Address the ball with your sand wedge and take your chipping stance. Now take your normal chipping stroke. The idea is to clear the bag with the ball without letting the clubhead touch the bag.

The bag forces you to make a chop-like stroke and hit the ball with a sharp descending blow. That type of stroke puts spin on the ball, giving you more control of the ball on the green. The further you want the ball to go, the further you need to take the club back. So practice this drill using different stroke lengths.

Work on this drill until you've ingrained it. In time you'll find that you've not only cured your chipping yips, you've also learned to control the speed of your chips and chopped two or three strokes from your score in the process.

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2) Tackling a Tiered Green
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Getting up and down often saves par. But for many weekend golfers it's hard to do, especially when playing uphill to a tiered green, where there's little room for error. If you struggle to leave pitch shots close when playing to a tiered green, there's a better way of approaching this shot. Ditch the pitch for an easier to control chip shot.

Below are five tips on playing a long chip:

* Use either a 7-iron or an 8-iron
* Position the ball slightly back of center
* Use a pendulum motion during your swing
* Keep the wrists quiet during the shot
* Accelerate through the ball

A high pitch shot is ideal for tiered greens. But it requires almost perfect execution. If you come up short, the ball might just roll back to you. If you skull the shot, the ball could go sailing past the green.

But you don't need to score a bull's eye on a tiered green. You just need to hit the target. In other words, you just need to get it on the green. So instead of playing a high pitch shot, play the long chip.

First, replace your wedge with a 7-iron or an 8-iron, which helps keep the ball low, and set-up with the ball slightly back of center. Think of the club as an extension of your left hand (right hand for lefties). Then, using a pendulum motion with minimal wrist action, hit the ball hard enough to get it past the pin to the back of the green. The hill will slow the ball down and leave it close to the pin.

The long chip often comes in handy. In addition to employing it on a tiered green, you can use it if you tend to skull pitch shots or if you find yourself struggling with touch shots during a given round. Just remember, with these types of shots, all you need to do is get the ball on the green. From there, you can sink a putt to execute your up and down.

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3) Question of the Week - Harnessing the Hybrid
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Q. Hi, Jack, Fantastic ezine! Loaded with helpful tips and strategies that are really helping my game! My question concerns the use of hybrids. With their growing popularity, I've purchased one, but I'm struggling to be consistent both from the tee and off the floor, any tips to conquer this?
 
Thanks,
Peter Caudren

A. Thanks for the question, Pete. The hybrid club takes a little getting used to, so you have to practice hitting them to harness its power. But once you're mastered it, it's a godsend, especially in situations where a long iron is needed. Below are some tips on hitting a hybrid:

* In the tee box, tee the ball very low, position it near the center of your stance but more towards the target than the back, and use a smooth tempo and a full swing. You won't hit it as far as your driver, but it's easier to control.

* In the fairway, position the ball closer to the center of your stance. Swing down and through, and try hitting the ball first. Look to take a small divot.

* In a fairway bunker, you need a good lie to hit a hybrid. Position the ball in the center of your stance and dig your feet into the sand. Use a shorter swing. And keep it nice and smooth.

* In the rough, position the ball in the center of your stance. Use a three-quarter back swing with a full follow through and a smooth tempo. Accelerate your downswing but don't try to kill the ball.

* If you're in front of the green, pitch and run shots as you would with your wedges.

Keeps these tips in mind next time you play. And don't be afraid to hit your hybrid. You can't learn to hit it by keeping it in the bag. Once you get used it, you'll see why it's so popular.

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/newsletter04092008.html

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article - Amen Corner Celebrates Its 50th Year
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/amen-corner-celebrates-its-50th-year.html

5) Article - Mastering The Masters
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/mastering-the-masters.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.