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When a PGA pro hits an approach shot, it usually holds the green. However, when a recreational golfer hits an approach shot, it doesn’t always hold the green. In fact, the shot often runs off the green onto a sideslope This leaves him or her with a tricky little pitch shot, especially if the lie is above the player’s feet.Keep these five keys in mind when hitting form a slide slope:

1. Choose the right club
2. Keep weight on toes
3. Don’t extend your arms
4. Grip down on club
5. Swing a little harder
The key to this shot is deciding where to aim. The ball usually falls in the direction of the slope on short shots, just like with long shots. With the ball above your feet, the more loft you use, the more the ball will go left. Experience will tell you which club to use and how far left the ball will go with that loft.

Keep your weight more on your toes to stay in balance. Don’t extend your arms, since you need the break in your wrists to play the shot. Grip down on the club and swing a little harder to compensate for the shorter swing arc. If you have some rough in front of you on the shot, try using a sand wedge and making ball first contact.

Find a green with a sideslope and practice hitting different clubs from different lies. This will give you an opportunity to find out which club you’re most comfortable with when hitting this shot. Keep a close eye on how far left each shot goes, then make adjustments accordingly. The goal is to get the ball close enough for a short makeable putt, which will cut strokes off your score.

 From How to Break 80 Newsletter

Phil Mickelson stayed steady while Jeff Quinney faded down the stretch to win at the famed Riviera club in L.A.  Keeping with his yearly tradition of winning early in the season he played solid rounds all under par to win the tournament.

What’s the difference between hitting a weak shot and a powerful one? It’s synchronization. If the key movements in your swing aren’t synchronized, they will be out of sequence and you’ll hit a weak shot. If they are synchronized, your movements will be in sequence and you’ll hit a powerful shot.

Nowhere is synchronization more critical that in your downswing. Two body parts—the right hand and the right knee—must start the downswing simultaneously and at similar pace for you to produce a power-laden swing, whether you are using a driver, a wedge, or a middle iron.

 Here are five keys to starting your downswing:

* Keep head still
* Avoid sliding forward
* Start right hand/right knee in unison
* Point hand/knee toward ball
* Stay behind the ball

The key to executing a good downswing is synchronizing the movement of your right knee and your right hand. Having completed the backswing, you should move these two body parts by first turning your right hand and right knee slightly toward the ball and then starting them downward in unison and at the same pace.

Unfortunately, some golfers start their downswing with the right knee only. Their hands and arms trail their body as it moves toward the target. To square the clubface and hit a good shot, these golfers must manipulate the club with their hands at the last second or they’ll hit the ball to the right of the target.

Other golfers are all arms. They make and out-to-in downswing with very little body movement. This is known as “casting” because it resembles an angler casting with a rod and reel. This becomes a slice or pull, neither of which is what the golfer intended when he began his shot.

If you want to get more power from your swing, start your downswing with your right and knee in synchronizations. Doing so eliminates the need to make last minute adjustments to your swing to square the clubface to the ball. You’ll find yourself hitting the ball farther and straighter.

From How to Break 80 newsletter

Anybody seeing the fact that Vijay is no longer a force in golf?  Although he won last year a couple of tournaments it seems he has lost the momentum that had him the #1 golfer just a few years ago.  His latest is a meltdown on the back nine at Pebble to lose in a playoff over the weekend.  Is it age?  Has he started on the downslide as you get in the mid forties?  He had a big lead and bogeyed three holes in a row on the back nine to lose it then needed a birdie on the last hole even to force a playoff.  I don’t think he will stay in the upper eschelon of golf much longer.  He still has game just not the type he had when he overtook Tiger.

Tiger Woods 2, field 0, this time from 4 back.  Ernie Els 3 year plan to overtake Tiger hit a snag.  Dubai belongs to Tiger once again and he is loving it.  Can you imagine what this year may look like?  I know he will take a loss this year but I can definately see him going .500 on the year and winning 10 tournaments.  Hey Ian Poulter…next time you speak before you think put a sock in your mouth.  76 on Sunday ain’t gettin er dun, Tiger shot 65 dude!