June 22 /09

Click here to add this page to your favorites 

Click on any of the following Newsletter topics or just scroll down the page:

Tom Watson's Advice -- Yardage on Downhill Shots
Golf Ball Choice -- Simple?
Balance is the KEY
Longest Day = Maximum Rounds of Golf

Watson -- Yardage on Downhill Shots

I was pleased to read Tom Watson's advice on yardage for downhill shots in the latest Golf Digest. He was referring to his 2nd Senior British Open victory in 2005 at Royal Aberdeen in Scotland. Recall that Tom has also won 5 British Open Championships.

Tom finds it more difficult to judge distance going downhill becaue the ball is in the air longer. His rule of thumb with an 8-iron is that the ball will carry another 10 yards further for every 10 yards of drop. By the time he gets to the 4-iron, he doubles that distance.

Recall that I've worked out the math and physics of downhill and uphill shots with my golf ball trajectory computer model. I've quantified what Tom has learned through trial and error through almost 40 years of professional golf. And, I've done the same for uphill shots.

If you play courses with any elevation changes at all, you'll find my tips will help you immensely with your club selection. And remember, the more certain you are with the club in your hands, the more confident you'll be, and thus be able to execute a better shot.

Take a look at my tips on uphill/downhill yardages. CLICK HERE.

I have used my computer golf ball projectile model to predict the effect of many variables on golf shots. The purpose has been to provide golfers with the tools to make better club selection choices on the golf course. More confidence in club choice equates to improved commitment, improved confidence and better golf shots; all resulting in lower scores.

Go ahead, choose your weapon against uncertainty and poor golf shots. All golfers can benefit from these golf tips, regardless of handicap.

You can look at all of my products here: Order Golf Tips & Accessories

Reading Greens for Fewer Putts -- How much break?

Reading greens is quite science. Some say it's an art. I believe all golfers can learn to read greens well. It does require an astute ability to judge slope of the terrain. Many find this very difficult especially when the terrain is ever changing. There's two basic ways that you can improve your judgement.

1. Measure the slope of the greens using an slope measuring device. I'd recommend using the BreakMaster.

A few weeks ago, for the second year in a row, the European Caddies Association ordered a large quantity of BreakMasters for use by all of their members who are working at the upcoming US Open at Bethpage. 

The European Caddies Association joins hundreds of other caddies on all the major and minor tours who regularly use the BreakMaster to assist their pro golfers in reading greens.

Why do professional caddies trust the BreakMaster?  Because over the years, the BreakMaster has proven itself to be the single best way to read greens -- ever.

Caddies use the BreakMaster to scout greens before tournaments and make greens maps that then are LEGAL to use in competitions (an example is on the right).  The BreakMaster provides break information that is essential to making a greens map that predicts the break.

When every stroke counts, you don’t want your caddie to GUESS the break.  You want them to KNOW the break.  And there’s no better way to do that than with the BreakMaster. 

Take a look at how the BreakMaster is used to read greens. CLICK HERE.

2. The second way to read the slope is by Plumbing. I use the plumb very successfully in reading the breaks of putts. All you need is a putter that will hang vertically and be able to line the ball, the hole and the putter shaft up. Then, all you need to know is how much break corresponds to how much read. That's where I come in. I've worked it all out using a computer model of sloping greens. I've taken into account the effects of gravity and friction to determine how the green affects the ball.

Learn how to read greens by plumbing. CLICK HERE.

Balance is an Important KEY to the Swing

    What's the key to performing well in all sports? If you guessed, balance, you're right. And it's very important to golf, whether making a putt or a swing with the Driver. One needs good balance to generate clubhead speed and accuracy. Just look at all the great golfers past and present. They all have great balance.

    Dynamic Balance states that the brain’s first priority when your body is in motion is to keep your body in balance so that you don’t fall and hurt yourself.

So why is this so important? Good question!

If you start your golf swing from an out-of-balance stance, your brain’s first priority will be to try to get your body into balance. By doing so, it will REDIRECT THE GOLF MUSCLES IF NEEDED - whether you like it or not.

But the fight to keep your body balanced gets into physics and Newton’s laws of motion, so the body has a tendency to over-correct for the original imbalance, and then re-correct for the over-corrections.

It can’t just fix the situation and be done with it, so the out-of-balance pendulum is swinging back and forth in smaller increments while you’re trying to swing a golf club.

Even if the body gets balance, the club will not be in the position it started, so who knows what will happen when the club gets back to the ball.

If you want to learn more about how to achieve great balance in your golf swing, read more from the expert, Tracey Reed. CLICK HERE.

Longest Day = Maximum Rounds of Golf

Did you know we just passed the longest day of the year, June 21, in the Northern Hemisphere? That's the day when we have the greatest number of hours of daylight. Which means we can play the most number of rounds of golf on that day!!

Fortunately, the days aren't that much shorter for another month or so, so, you can continue to get lots of golf in.

Check out how many hours of daylight there is at your location using my special "Hours of Golf Daylight" calculator. CLICK HERE.

Trying to find answers on my website? Here's how.

1. Go to my Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. There's a link to it on my pages from the left hand menu near the top of the page, just below the Search icon. It's called "FAQs." You then click on the graphic icon and you'll be taken to my database page. For your convenience, here it is:
FAQ

I've answered hundreds of questions over the past 6 years and have created a fairly large database. You can search it out. If you can't find the answer you're looking for, submit a question and I'll answer it.

2. On all of my web pages, there is a search feature in the top left section, right underneath my LOGO. Just place your search keywords in the search box, select "This Site" below it, and then press "Search." What will come up is a Google search of the pages on my site with relevance. You can also search the entire internet by selecting "Web" instead.
Go to my main page now: Home or just check the top left menu of this page.

3. Also, directly under the Google Search area, you'll find a pop down menu called "Your Topic." Select the topic of interest and press "Go."

I would suggest you bookmark my main page and/or your specific areas of interest so that you can find them easily in the future. On each page at the very top, there is a link you can click on:
"Click here to add this page to your favourites"

Hope you find all you're looking for.

You can learn more from NEW Titleist Pro-V1 by clicking HERE.

Ken Tannar