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How To Break 80 Newsletter

September 3, 2008

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

1) Adding Spin To Long Irons
2) Making Short Putts Automatic
3) Question of the Week - Hitting Low Penetrating Drives
4) Article - Playing By Feel
5) Article - How To Win At Match Play

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1) Adding Spin To Long Irons
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Many golfers prefer hitting hybrid clubs to long irons. But some still like hitting long irons. The biggest danger with hitting long irons is catching the ball thin. The longer the iron, the greater the chance of catching it thin. The problem: lack of ball compression. Instead of compressing the ball into the ground, you're hanging back too long, causing the club to hit up on the ball.

Here are 5 keys to hitting long irons solidly:

* Take your normal address position
* Shift your weight to your back heel
* Stretch your backswing out
* Keep your back heel planted
* Hit down on the ball to compress it

You must be on your front side to hit long irons solidly, which 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.

Having made these adjustments, 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 back side. 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 long irons thin, focus on compressing the ball. It adds the distance and spin you need for drilling solid approach shots consistently.

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2) Making Short Putts Automatic
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Admit it. Nothing's more deflating than missing a two-foot putt. But if you release your putter properly, you'll make sinking short putts automatic. Releasing the putter allows it to swing on plane while the putterface rotates naturally during the swing. It's an important fundamental that good putters master. And it saves you strokes

Here are five keys to releasing the putter:

* Take your normal putting stance
* Position the ball forward
* Point the grip at a fixed point
* Maintain bent arms and wrists
* Keep your head down throughout

The key to releasing the putter is keeping the butt end of the putter pointing at a fixed spot throughout the stroke. With a traditional putter, that spot is your naval. Other keys to making short putts are keeping your elbows and wrists bent and your head down, from address to finish. Don't watch the ball. Listen for it to fall in the hole. Also, position the ball forward in your stance, but not too far forward.

With a belly putter, keeping the grip pointing to a fixed spot is easy. It's already attached to your naval, making it easy to release the putterhead. The long putter is a different story. It's also fixed at its end, but against the sternum instead of the naval. The putterhead releases freely with this method as well.

The Circle Drill teaches accurate putting. Place tees around the hole about a step or two apart, all at a distance of about four feet from the hole. Make eight stations in total. Begin anywhere. Try sinking four consecutive putts at each station. Each time you sink four putts, start over. After sinking two sets of four, move to the next station. Keep going until you can go around the circle twice without missing. Once your confident from four feet, move to five feet out.

Focus on releasing the putter while doing this drill. Once you ingrain this fundamental, draining short putts will be automatic.

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3) Question of the Week - Hitting Low Penetrating Drives
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Q. Hi Jack, I have a problem that I've lived with it for a long time. I drive the ball straight with a slight draw. The problem is that all of my drives are sky high. They stop exactly where they drop, without any further roll. Hence, my drive is only 200-220 yards long. How can I make my drive lower and roll further?

Thanks
Santhi Kanoktanaporn
Bangkok, Thailand

A. Thanks for the question, Santhi. Stopping your drive exactly where it lands isn't always a bad thing. It's great if you want to hit a precise spot on the fairway. However, you don't need to make radical changes to your swing to drive the ball more on a line. You just need to make some minor adjustments.

1. Tee the ball slightly lower. If you're using a driver with an oversized clubhead, be careful how low you go. Dropping the tee too low with a big clubhead spells disaster.

2. Finish with your weight going forward. If you finish with your weight on your back foot, you'll hit the ball in the air instead of on a line.

3. Turn your left hand (right hand for lefties) downward slightly on your grip. It delofts the clubface a bit.

4. Play the ball back slightly from its normal position. Don't move it too far back, just a little.

Test these adjustments out at the range. Find which ones work. Then, ingrain them in your swing. You'll hit the ball with a low penetrating trajectory that rolls when it hits.

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/newsletter09032008.html

Here are some of my recent articles:

4) Article - Playing By Feel
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/playing-by-feel.html

5) Article - How To Win At Match Play
http://www.howtobreak80.com/articles/how-to-win-at-match-play.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, go to http://www.howtobreak80.com/newsetter.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.