==================================================== Newsletter - Issue 117 Date 11/04/09 ==================================================== ==================================================== TCT Quick Tips - Lengthening Your Swing ==================================================== If you have a traditional type (two plane) swing, it relies more on length than coil for power. You can practice lengthening your swing by tucking towel under your rear armpit and continue turning and lifting in the backswing until the towel drops. ==================================================== Golf Tip: Shaping Shots ==================================================== Here’s a simple tip on how to curve the ball out of trouble after you've curved it into the trouble. You're faced with a shot where there’s a tree in front of you. You've got to go either to the left or to the right, there are a few things to consider. Your lie is the first and most important thing to consider. If you've got a poor lie, you’re better off slicing the golf ball. But if you got a good lie, where the ball is sitting up pretty good, you can go ahead and try to hook it around the tree - and remember a hook is a more powerful shot so it will probably go further. You need a better lie because when you come into the ball with a hook the club is going to come in very shallow, and if the ball isn't sitting up this will be a difficult shot to execute. Now your club selection. Remember, it’s easier to slice straighter faced clubs and it’s easier to hook a little more lofted club. The reason being, when you hook a shot you’re going to close the clubface, and when you close the clubface coming through the ball, that delofts the club. So you take out a 6-iron to try and hook the ball around the tree. You're going to adjust the ball back in your stance just a little. You're going to aim to the right of the tree. You're going to turn your grip a little stronger so your hands are turned more to the right. You're going to close the clubface just a little bit and you're making more of an inside out swing where your hands roll over, and you'll hook it right around that tree. The more you need it to hook, the more you’re going to have to close that clubface down. But as you close the clubface down more, make sure you've got loft and enough club so that you'll still get the ball into the air. Keep in mind that the distance you hit the club will be a little longer because of the adjustments, and let it rip! Enjoy, Tom