Welcome to the September edition of my newsletter! 
 

The U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club is finally here! This year, I am especially grateful for the game of golf. It has been a great fortune to be able to enjoy the game through all the challenges this year has thrown our way, and this week, we get to watch the second major championship of 2020. I would like to commend the USGA for overcoming various challenges to put this great event together, and the PGA Tour for completing a season and beginning a new season in a very safe and healthy environment.

Below, you can see my interview with the Winged Foot Director of Golf Courses, Steve Rabideau, and Head Golf Professional, Mike Gilmore, from Course Record on CBS Sports Network. We discuss Winged Foot conditions, challenges, and keys to success. You can also find some great tips from my coaches to help you improve your own game. Enjoy the read!

All the Best,
 
Michael Breed

Michael,

Love the word of the day as always! 
 
Just an FYI that I’m playing some of the best golf of my life and having the most fun while playing.  I attribute much of that to listening to your show and implemented the techniques you and Greg discuss.
 
- Michael K

Hi Michael, 

I tend to hit it off the toe fairly regularly. It doesn't seem to matter if I stand closer to the ball or not. If I move the ball back in my stance, I get a lower ball flight, but I still hit it out towards to the toe. How can I fix this? 

-Mark

Mark, thank you for your question. This is a problem many players deal with on a regular basis. Toe hits tend to happen when you have excessive club face rotation through the strike. This is a result of either an open club face in the back swing, or a club path that is too much from the inside. Both of these issues invite club face rotation through the strike, leading to those toe hits.

To solve the club face issue, check your grip first. Rotate both of your hands toward your trail shoulder. You should be able to see knuckles on your lead hand, and no knuckles on the trail hand. 

To solve the path issue, do the "ball forward drill". Place the ball on a tee well forward in your stance so it is outside of your lead foot, but also closer to your lead foot so it is in line with the hosel of your club. Sole the club in your normal starting position. Hit some balls from this position, and don't let them hook. They can start to the pull side, but they can't hook. As you figure out how to do this, you will get your club approaching the ball from the target line, with a square club face. A square club face, approaching the ball from a square path is going to eliminate those toe hits! 

Michael Breed
 

Keep sending in your questions and videos to our A New Breed of Golf with Michael Breed Group on Facebook! 

This week at Winged Foot, you will see many short shots out of thick rough. Shots out of rough are often unpredictable, but there is a way to stop the guessing! 

When you evaluate your lie in the rough, you are looking for a few key factors. Is it sitting up or down? Is the grass laying toward the target, or away from the target? Is the blade of grass thick, or wispy? These factors greatly affect how your club moves through the rough, and thus, how the ball comes out. After you have answered these questions and evaluated your lie, find an area of grass with similar conditions, and make some practice swings. Feel how much the rough grabs, or doesn't grab your club and imagine how the ball will come out. Ask yourself how much energy you need to get your ball out of the rough, and to the landing area you want your ball to land in. Then, step up to the ball, and repeat that practice swing. As you learn to evaluate lies, and make purposeful practice swings, you will develop feel, and those lies in the rough will become more predicable!