July 21 /09

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In this mid-summer Newsletter, I've highlighted some of my website poll results. Take a read below of how you and my other visitors have answered some golf's most important questions of how to score low. Click on any of the following Newsletter topics or just scroll down the page:

Poll Result -- Clubbing Downhill Shots
Poll Result -- Plumbing Putts
Poll Result -- The Open Wind
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.

I conduct golf polls on my website, www.probablegolfinstruction.com . Here are the results to my poll question on hitting downhill shots. Just click on View Stats and a popup window will appear with the stats. Please complete the poll if you haven't done so already.

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

How many players can plumb putts? -- How much break?

Dave Pelz has documented and commented many times that most golfers underestimate the amount of break on putts. One of my poll questions asks how much a plumb read translates into break.

Just click on View Stats below and a popup window will appear with the stats. Please complete the poll if you haven't done so already.

The poll results indicate that almost no amateur golfers know how to translate a plumb read into the amount of break on a putt. No wonder so few amateurs use plumbing. Even if they plumb a putt correctly, they have no idea how much the putt breaks!

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.

I've developed a putting MATRIX that translates the amount of plumb into the amount of break. And, I've done it for different speed greens. A plumb read on a fast green translates into more break than a slow green.

Learn how to read greens by plumbing. CLICK HERE.

Another way to read greens is to use the BreakMaster, a digital slope reader. Many caddies of the professional tours use it to map green slope so that they can advise their players correctly during play.

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

The Open Winds -- how to adjust yardage

Wow. Did the wind ever blow during the final 3 rounds of The Open Champioinship at Turnberry, Scotland. On the last day, the wind blew typically between 20 and 25 mph.

Wind affects lower balls flights less than high ball flights. Many of the pros can hit knock down shots. Most amateurs cannot.

How much does a 20 mph wind affect a golf ball's flight? Well, again I have worked out the amount using my computer model. When you compare into the wind to with the wind, you need to adjust for more yardage than with no wind.

Most players underestimate the effects of the wind, especially when hitting into it. Some of this comes from a misunderstanding of the anatomy of the ball's flight in the wind. My poll question clearly identifies this misunderstanding.

Just click on View Stats below and a popup window will appear with the stats. Please complete the poll if you haven't done so already.

The last answer is the correct one.

I've worked out how much you need to adjust for all the basic wind directions: downwind, headwind, crosswind and partial crosswind/downwind/headwind. And, I've developed a very simple way for you to measure the wind's speed.

CLICK HERE to read more and acquire the tips you need to play the wind effectively.

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