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How To Break 80 Newsletter
October 25 , 2006
"The Web's Most Popular Golf Improvement Newsletter"
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In this issue we'll discuss...
1) Stopping the Reverse Pivot
2) Chipping with a Hybrid Club
3) Question of the Week- Achieving Consistency
4) Article- Playing Target Golf
5) Article- Six Lessons We Can Learn From Sam Snead
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1) Stopping the Reverse Pivot
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A reverse pivot saps power from your swing and curbs accuracy. It results from transferring your weight improperly during your swing. Instead of shifting your weight from your right leg during the backswing to your left leg for the follow-through, you maintain your weight on your left leg during the backswing and shift your weight to the right leg during the follow-through. Hence, the name—reverse pivot.
Allowing your head to turn to the right slightly as you swing the club back encourages your spine to rotate and gets your weight moving in the right direction. In the proper backswing movement, your left shoulder then turns comfortably beneath your chin, so that your chest is aligned more on top of your right knee. As long as you keep your left arm relaxed, you should find that you swing easily into a powerful position at the top of your swing.
However, transferring weight improperly also results from poor eye alignment at set-up. If you start with your eyes aligned right or left of the target line, your swing path follows to the right or left. The same holds true if your eyes are tilted down. They influence your balance and tilting them will cause you to shift your weight forward as you swing back.
Here are two solutions to this problem:
1. If poor eye alignment causes you to shift your weight improperly, use the brim of your hat as a level and practice making swings keeping your eyes in line with the horizon and brim of your hat.
2. If poor eye alignment is not the problem but you’re still transferring your weight improperly, try this drill. Adopt your address position, then place a club across the back of your shoulders. As you turn back allow your head and spine to rotate and sense your balance. Do this drill until you’ve ingrained the movement. Then do it some more.
Regardless of how you correct the problem, remember that properly transferring your weight is vital to generating power and accuracy.
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Chipping with a Hybrid Club
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The short chip shot (50 feet and in) befuddles many recreational golfers. They’re not sure which club to use or how to hit the shot. Ordinarily, a player has a choice: Use either a pitching wedge or a sand wedge and fly the ball into the green, or an 8-iron and take a standard chip shot.
But now there’s a third alternative. Use a hybrid club to hit the shot. Here are 5 tips on using a hybrid club to hit chip shots
-Visualize the shot
-Choke down an inch or two
-Position the ball in the middle of your stance
-Use a putting stroke
-Hit a level shot
The key is knowing where you want the ball to bounce and start running to the hole. In general you want the ball to bounce and start rolling on the green as soon as possible, since it’s easier to control.
Address the ball as if you were going to putt it, then visualize how you want to hit it. Choke down on the grip to give yourself better control. Set up with the ball in the middle of your stance, with your weight 50-50 on either side. From there, make a putting motion, accelerating through the shot, just as you would with an ordinary putt. Use a stroke that provides level contact with the ball, instead of the downward blow you normally use with a hybrid.
Think of this shot as a long lag putt with a little extra pop. You can also use a fairway wood to make the shot, but the shorter hybrid club provides better overall control. Either way works well once you’ve mastered it. Try both and see which works best for you. The closer you chip the ball to the hole, the easier the putt.
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Question of the Week- Achieving Consistency
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From Russell (New Zealand)
Achieving Consistency
Q. Hi, Jack. I’ve enjoyed reading your tips and reports. I print them out and read them over again. My scores are coming down, but slowly. I still seem to lack consistency. I have good days and bad days! I really get frustrated because I know I can do better. Any tips on how to settle down to some consistent golf.
A. Thanks for the question, Russell. Consistency is the Holy Grail of golf. Without having seen you swing, it’s hard to tell exactly what’s causing your inconsistency. However, there are some things you can do to achieve consistency without sacrificing power, especially off the tee.
My suggestions include:
-Use a pre-shot routine
-Eliminate tension at set-up
-Assume a proper grip
-Maintain your swing radius
-Release the club properly
Of course, other techniques for achieving consistency exist, but these will get you started. Once you’ve mastered them, move on to those other techniques.
Also, there’s the matter of swing thoughts. Ideally, you should be thinking about how you want to swing the club, not what you have to do mechanically. Thinking something like “slow and easy” or “tick tock” instead of “Keep your hands back” or “Rotate your hips” usually works better. Trying to consciously control how your body moves often spells disaster.
Best regards,
Jack
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
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.
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