Welcome back - here's today's featured article:
by: Mike Pedersen
Improve golf swing seems like a thought that is on our minds as golfers dozens of times per day. Do you agree? But what are you currently doing to improve your golf swing?
Let me take a guess. Spending money on lessons, that may-or-may-not be working? How about the latest-greatest driver? Did it lower your score? Golf balls? They say the Titleist ProV1 makes a ton of difference. Has it for you?
I could go on-and-on but I won’t. I think you get the idea.
So I’ve mentioned some very common, ‘traditional ways’ to try to improve your golf swing. But I haven’t mentioned the MOST important one.
Do you want to take a guess?
Have you read any of my other 200 hundred or so articles floating around the web and in newspapers? If you haven’t then you may not know what I’m going to say.
But if you have…you know exactly what I’m going to say!
Look in the mirror…that’s your answer!
No this isn’t a joke. No I’m not trying to yank your chain. I’m trying to get you to realize what is holding you back. It’s not taking lessons. It’s not buying more equipment or $40 golf balls.
It’s getting right at the heart of the matter! Your ‘physical limitations’ are keeping you from making a mechanically sound and repeatable golf swing.
Think just for a minute!
If your body can’t make a 90 degree shoulder turn…it’s a fact you will lose a TON of yardage off the tee and with your irons.
If you can’t maintain your golf posture throughout your entire golf swing…you have no chance to swing consistently for 18 holes.
If your core is weak…you will not be able to generate any power going into impact, therefore you will see a weak shot that most likely goes ‘offline’ quickly.
Can you see the picture more clearly now?
So what do you do?
You go see a local golf fitness professional who will take you through a golf fitness evaluation to determine your weaknesses and limitations and draw up a plan to improve them.
If you don’t have someone in your area…or the cost is a bit too steep; do a search online for golf fitness, golf training or even golf exercises and see what you come up with.
FYI – make sure to pick the first few ‘non-colored’ results on the search pages. These are the ‘real’ results…not paid advertisements. You want to find a product or program that covers every facet of golf improvement…that you can afford.
This is the next best thing to having your own golf fitness trainer.
Once you embark on a golf training routine…you won’t have to be thinking improve golf swing anymore!
About The Author
Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness manual and dvds at http://www.performbettergolf.com.
**Get a money-making mall FREE! Click here:
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
One Out Of Two Golfers Will Have A Golf Swing Related Injury. Can You Prevent Yours?
Welcome back - here's today's featured article:
by: Sean Cochran
I have a friend who blew out his ACL in his left knee while playing old man basketball. Old man being relative. A bunch of guys playing rec ball in their 30’s. We all get out there and play hard, sometimes harder than we should. The mind says yes, the body says no way! Mike’s ACL zigged when it should have zagged. Shortly after the surgery, he was visiting with his doctor on a routine check up when he asked the doctor if he’d be able to dunk the basketball after he completes his rehab.
After a pause, the doctor said, “Sure, you should be able to after you get released from recovery and rehab.”
Mike said, “Great! I’ve never been able to dunk before, so I’ll look forward to rehab.”
Injuries are a part of every sport, and golf is no different. Injuries occur in golf and can result in many things.
What are the common parts of the body that become injured for golfers?
What are the common reasons why injuries occur?
And finally, what can you do to prevent injuries in the sport of golf?
Let’s discuss what happens when you have an injury in relation to your golf swing. An injury to your body like a pulled muscle, strained tendon, or something as minimal as a hangnail can affect your swing. “How?” you ask. Your body is a finely tuned machine. This fined tune piece of equipment is also a great mechanism of compensation. What do I mean?
If you have a little “pull” of a muscle, a compensation pattern occurs in the body. This small compensation by your body has an affect on your golf swing. It might be so minimal that you don’t even feel it, but your shots and scores show it. So what are you to do? Well, the obvious answer is to do everything to prevent an injury from occurring. We will discuss this point at the end of the article. At this time let us move on to answering the questions above.
Injuries: The Why’s, What’s, and How’s
First off, realize that the majority of research I have read indicates that over 50% of recreational golfers will incur a golf-related injury during their playing career. Think about it. In your foursome you played with over the weekend, at least two of you will come up lame. Keep that idea in mind as we move to other statistics.
The common injuries in golfers are low back, wrist, and shoulder. A list I imagine most of you could probably have predicted.
How do these injuries to your low back, wrist, or shoulder occur?
The answer is twofold. There are two different types of injuries when it comes to golf or any other sport. Injuries are classified as either acute or chronic.
An acute injury is an injury that is the direct result of an external force at a specific point in time.
Let me explain. If you were walking down the street and fell, breaking your ankle, that type of injury is an acute injury. The injury occurred as a result of an external force (falling on concrete) at a specific point in time (walking down the street). The majority of golf injuries do not fall into the acute injury category. An occasional wrist injury can be an acute injury if you hit, say, a tree root in the downswing. Or maybe you trip while walking on the course and sprain your ankle. These are acute-type golf injuries. They are few and far between when discussing golf injuries in general.
The second type of injury category is what we call chronic injuries. Chronic injuries occur over time and are the most common type of injury in golf. How do chronic injuries occur? Probably the easiest way to explain it is the following: after time the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the body become tired. Once they become tired, fatigue sets in, and when your brain tells the body to swing that club and it’s tired, what do you think is going to happen? Over time those muscles will get to a point of such fatigue that on one swing or in one round, the body gives up and something gets pulled, strained, or inflamed. At that point you now have a chronic golf injury. It’s pretty simple when you think of the whole process of a golf swing.
A golf swing is a repetitive movement that places stresses on the same muscles over and over again. As a result, those muscles get tired. And you now know what eventually happens to those muscles when they get tired; they break down and become injured!
So the next question is: how can you prevent chronic injuries in golf? A couple viable answers exist. Probably the easiest way to combat chronic golf injuries is not to play. What do you mean not play! Simple, if you do not play a lot of golf, then the stresses you place on your body will be less than playing 36 each weekend. So your body will not get as tired, and your chances of a chronic golf injury are less.
The other option (which I imagine is the route most of you reading this article would like to take) is to develop what I term “golf strength.” “Golf strength” is developing the body in a manner that creates a foundation to support your swing. And when we talk about foundation, we are talking about the areas of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power in a manner that assists you in maintaining the correct swing mechanics swing to swing.
The development of “golf strength” will limit (not eliminate) the possibility of injury and enhance your golf swing. Again, if your body can’t support the movement you are asking it to do, the brain will still make your body do it, but eventually the body will “put on the brakes” and come up injured.
So there you have it! How injuries occur in the sport of golf. What are the common injuries associated with the sport. And what are the specific types of injuries associated with golfers. In addition, you have been provided the key to limiting injuries in golf, and that key is what we call “golf strength.” To learn more about “golf strength” click on our web site at www.bioforcegolf.com.
About The Author
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website www.bioforcegolf.com. Check out his manual and DVD, Your Body & Your Swing, (www.bioforcegolf.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=93) on BioForceGolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.
**Get a money-making mall FREE! Click here:
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
by: Sean Cochran
I have a friend who blew out his ACL in his left knee while playing old man basketball. Old man being relative. A bunch of guys playing rec ball in their 30’s. We all get out there and play hard, sometimes harder than we should. The mind says yes, the body says no way! Mike’s ACL zigged when it should have zagged. Shortly after the surgery, he was visiting with his doctor on a routine check up when he asked the doctor if he’d be able to dunk the basketball after he completes his rehab.
After a pause, the doctor said, “Sure, you should be able to after you get released from recovery and rehab.”
Mike said, “Great! I’ve never been able to dunk before, so I’ll look forward to rehab.”
Injuries are a part of every sport, and golf is no different. Injuries occur in golf and can result in many things.
What are the common parts of the body that become injured for golfers?
What are the common reasons why injuries occur?
And finally, what can you do to prevent injuries in the sport of golf?
Let’s discuss what happens when you have an injury in relation to your golf swing. An injury to your body like a pulled muscle, strained tendon, or something as minimal as a hangnail can affect your swing. “How?” you ask. Your body is a finely tuned machine. This fined tune piece of equipment is also a great mechanism of compensation. What do I mean?
If you have a little “pull” of a muscle, a compensation pattern occurs in the body. This small compensation by your body has an affect on your golf swing. It might be so minimal that you don’t even feel it, but your shots and scores show it. So what are you to do? Well, the obvious answer is to do everything to prevent an injury from occurring. We will discuss this point at the end of the article. At this time let us move on to answering the questions above.
Injuries: The Why’s, What’s, and How’s
First off, realize that the majority of research I have read indicates that over 50% of recreational golfers will incur a golf-related injury during their playing career. Think about it. In your foursome you played with over the weekend, at least two of you will come up lame. Keep that idea in mind as we move to other statistics.
The common injuries in golfers are low back, wrist, and shoulder. A list I imagine most of you could probably have predicted.
How do these injuries to your low back, wrist, or shoulder occur?
The answer is twofold. There are two different types of injuries when it comes to golf or any other sport. Injuries are classified as either acute or chronic.
An acute injury is an injury that is the direct result of an external force at a specific point in time.
Let me explain. If you were walking down the street and fell, breaking your ankle, that type of injury is an acute injury. The injury occurred as a result of an external force (falling on concrete) at a specific point in time (walking down the street). The majority of golf injuries do not fall into the acute injury category. An occasional wrist injury can be an acute injury if you hit, say, a tree root in the downswing. Or maybe you trip while walking on the course and sprain your ankle. These are acute-type golf injuries. They are few and far between when discussing golf injuries in general.
The second type of injury category is what we call chronic injuries. Chronic injuries occur over time and are the most common type of injury in golf. How do chronic injuries occur? Probably the easiest way to explain it is the following: after time the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the body become tired. Once they become tired, fatigue sets in, and when your brain tells the body to swing that club and it’s tired, what do you think is going to happen? Over time those muscles will get to a point of such fatigue that on one swing or in one round, the body gives up and something gets pulled, strained, or inflamed. At that point you now have a chronic golf injury. It’s pretty simple when you think of the whole process of a golf swing.
A golf swing is a repetitive movement that places stresses on the same muscles over and over again. As a result, those muscles get tired. And you now know what eventually happens to those muscles when they get tired; they break down and become injured!
So the next question is: how can you prevent chronic injuries in golf? A couple viable answers exist. Probably the easiest way to combat chronic golf injuries is not to play. What do you mean not play! Simple, if you do not play a lot of golf, then the stresses you place on your body will be less than playing 36 each weekend. So your body will not get as tired, and your chances of a chronic golf injury are less.
The other option (which I imagine is the route most of you reading this article would like to take) is to develop what I term “golf strength.” “Golf strength” is developing the body in a manner that creates a foundation to support your swing. And when we talk about foundation, we are talking about the areas of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power in a manner that assists you in maintaining the correct swing mechanics swing to swing.
The development of “golf strength” will limit (not eliminate) the possibility of injury and enhance your golf swing. Again, if your body can’t support the movement you are asking it to do, the brain will still make your body do it, but eventually the body will “put on the brakes” and come up injured.
So there you have it! How injuries occur in the sport of golf. What are the common injuries associated with the sport. And what are the specific types of injuries associated with golfers. In addition, you have been provided the key to limiting injuries in golf, and that key is what we call “golf strength.” To learn more about “golf strength” click on our web site at www.bioforcegolf.com.
About The Author
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website www.bioforcegolf.com. Check out his manual and DVD, Your Body & Your Swing, (www.bioforcegolf.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=93) on BioForceGolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.
**Get a money-making mall FREE! Click here:
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
Thursday, October 18, 2007
An Easy And Simple Golf Conditioning Program
Here's some good advice in today's featured article:
by: Jack Moorehouse
Your body dictates your golfing ability. There’s no way around it. If you’re fit, chances are you’ll play better golf. If you’re not fit, chances are you’ll play poorly. While you should stay in shape all year round, the winter is great for starting a golf-specific fitness program. Regardless of age, gender, or playing level, participating consistently in a golf-specific exercise program pays dividends in your game and in your life.
A golf-specific conditioning program consists of resistance training, cardiovascular conditioning, and functional flexibility. Resistance training strengthens the “core” body— the abs, low back, and hamstrings. Cardiovascular conditioning generates energy to play longer at peak performance. Functional flexibility enhances swing mechanics and shot execution. Together, these three components build strength, suppleness, and stamina. The also build confidence in yourself and your game.
Functional Flexibility
Flexibly is a key to a consistent golf swing. Recreational golfers often lack the flexibility to perform swing mechanics correctly. Instead, they compensate for it by making adjustments in their swing. They risk hitting a bad shot and injuring themselves. Adding flexibility exercises to your winter workout improves your swing mechanics and your shot execution.
The Lunge with a Twist Exercise combines the power in your lower body with the core rotational movement needed for maximum golf swing speed and distance. Use a medicine ball or a single dumbbell for this exercise.
• Assume a standing position with your arms straight and hanging down in front of you, holding the dumbbell or the medicine ball.
• As you step forward with one leg, rotate your upper body to the same side holding the medicine ball or the dumbbell chest high the whole time.
• Return to the starting position and do the opposite leg.
• Repeat each side 10 times for 3 sets.
This exercise improves rotational range of motion and strength. It also strengthens the core area of your body. The Seated Twist is an offshoot of this exercise. Instead of standing and lunging forward, you simply twist from side to side while sitting on a chair and holding a dumbbell chest high. This exercise can be done in your office.
The Straight Leg Rotational Hamstring Stretch stretches the hamstrings, hips, lower back, and mid-section. It trains the hamstrings, glutes, hips, lower back, obliques, and upper back muscles.
1. Begin by placing feet shoulder-width apart, extend arms overhead, and clasp hands together. Turn so that you are facing to one side.
2. Slowly extend arms toward the top of your shoes, keeping your legs straight.
3. Extend downward to your level of tolerance, pause slightly, and return to the starting position.
4. Rotate torso, shoulders, head, and arms to the other side.
5. Slowly extend arms toward your shoes, keeping your legs straight.
6. Reach downward to your own level of tolerance, pause slightly, and return to the starting position.
7. Return to the other side and repeat the same sequence, then return to the center position.
8. Perform 15 to 25 repetitions.
Yoga is also a good exercise for enhancing flexibility. PGA pro Jamie Mulligan includes Bikram Yoga in his conditioning program. Bikram Yoga involves making precise movements for 90 minutes in a superheated room. It keeps the body loose and supple, and strengthens concentration and focus.
Resistance Training
Resistance training should be part of your winter conditioning program. When you improve strength, you improve control and balance. Also, strength training involves body awareness, muscular control, and coordination—all key elements for improved golf. When you do resistance training, you increase blood flow through a functional range of motion, and strengthen the tendons and ligaments in you body’s joints. In conjunction with a stretching program, strength training improves flexibility, not hinders it.
The strength-for-golf component of your program addresses your body’s “core” area—the abs, low back, and hamstrings. Contrary to popular belief, weight training does not cause you to lose “feel.”
A golf-specific conditioning program incorporates moderate weight, with medium (12-15) repetitions, and in a time frame of 30-45 minutes. This type of program is designed to improve your golf-specific strength and endurance, not build muscle. A typical strength training exercise includes:
• Leg Extensions
• Leg Press
• Leg Curl
• Low Back
• Abdominal
• Rotary Torso
• Double Chest
• Super Pullover
• Triceps
• Biceps
• Forearm
• Four-way Neck
The Tire Exercise is a different type of resistance exercise. Invented by golfing great Henry Cotton, this simple exercise strengthens the arm and wrist muscles and helps you judge swing speed.
Take your normal stance with the tire positioned as the ball. Employing a normal grip use a quarter swing to hit the back of the tire, moving the club head as fast as possible. The pitch of the swishing noise and the sound of the club’s impact are your speed indicators. The loudest crack at impact is heard when the clubhead is released properly. Do 3 sets of 15 to 20 swings. Then turnaround and do it from the left side.
Aerobic Conditioning
Improving your cardiovascular system boosts energy. It also increases stamina and focus. Waking, biking, stair stepping, running, and swimming are all good cardiovascular exercises. Since golfers walk a lot, many focus on it as their main cardiovascular workout. A cardiovascular program incorporating 20-30-minutes of walking at an intensity 10- to 15-percent higher than when you walk a course works well for most golfers.
Using the winter to get in shape pays dividends. It improves your golf game, enhances your quality of life, and builds self-confidence. Instead of being depressed this winter because the season is over, start a golf-specific conditioning program to get yourself ready for the spring.
About The Author
Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book “How To Break 80…And Shoot Like The Pros!”. http://www.howtobreak80.com He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands across the globe to lower their golf handicaps instantly.
**Get a money-making mall FREE! Click here:
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
by: Jack Moorehouse
Your body dictates your golfing ability. There’s no way around it. If you’re fit, chances are you’ll play better golf. If you’re not fit, chances are you’ll play poorly. While you should stay in shape all year round, the winter is great for starting a golf-specific fitness program. Regardless of age, gender, or playing level, participating consistently in a golf-specific exercise program pays dividends in your game and in your life.
A golf-specific conditioning program consists of resistance training, cardiovascular conditioning, and functional flexibility. Resistance training strengthens the “core” body— the abs, low back, and hamstrings. Cardiovascular conditioning generates energy to play longer at peak performance. Functional flexibility enhances swing mechanics and shot execution. Together, these three components build strength, suppleness, and stamina. The also build confidence in yourself and your game.
Functional Flexibility
Flexibly is a key to a consistent golf swing. Recreational golfers often lack the flexibility to perform swing mechanics correctly. Instead, they compensate for it by making adjustments in their swing. They risk hitting a bad shot and injuring themselves. Adding flexibility exercises to your winter workout improves your swing mechanics and your shot execution.
The Lunge with a Twist Exercise combines the power in your lower body with the core rotational movement needed for maximum golf swing speed and distance. Use a medicine ball or a single dumbbell for this exercise.
• Assume a standing position with your arms straight and hanging down in front of you, holding the dumbbell or the medicine ball.
• As you step forward with one leg, rotate your upper body to the same side holding the medicine ball or the dumbbell chest high the whole time.
• Return to the starting position and do the opposite leg.
• Repeat each side 10 times for 3 sets.
This exercise improves rotational range of motion and strength. It also strengthens the core area of your body. The Seated Twist is an offshoot of this exercise. Instead of standing and lunging forward, you simply twist from side to side while sitting on a chair and holding a dumbbell chest high. This exercise can be done in your office.
The Straight Leg Rotational Hamstring Stretch stretches the hamstrings, hips, lower back, and mid-section. It trains the hamstrings, glutes, hips, lower back, obliques, and upper back muscles.
1. Begin by placing feet shoulder-width apart, extend arms overhead, and clasp hands together. Turn so that you are facing to one side.
2. Slowly extend arms toward the top of your shoes, keeping your legs straight.
3. Extend downward to your level of tolerance, pause slightly, and return to the starting position.
4. Rotate torso, shoulders, head, and arms to the other side.
5. Slowly extend arms toward your shoes, keeping your legs straight.
6. Reach downward to your own level of tolerance, pause slightly, and return to the starting position.
7. Return to the other side and repeat the same sequence, then return to the center position.
8. Perform 15 to 25 repetitions.
Yoga is also a good exercise for enhancing flexibility. PGA pro Jamie Mulligan includes Bikram Yoga in his conditioning program. Bikram Yoga involves making precise movements for 90 minutes in a superheated room. It keeps the body loose and supple, and strengthens concentration and focus.
Resistance Training
Resistance training should be part of your winter conditioning program. When you improve strength, you improve control and balance. Also, strength training involves body awareness, muscular control, and coordination—all key elements for improved golf. When you do resistance training, you increase blood flow through a functional range of motion, and strengthen the tendons and ligaments in you body’s joints. In conjunction with a stretching program, strength training improves flexibility, not hinders it.
The strength-for-golf component of your program addresses your body’s “core” area—the abs, low back, and hamstrings. Contrary to popular belief, weight training does not cause you to lose “feel.”
A golf-specific conditioning program incorporates moderate weight, with medium (12-15) repetitions, and in a time frame of 30-45 minutes. This type of program is designed to improve your golf-specific strength and endurance, not build muscle. A typical strength training exercise includes:
• Leg Extensions
• Leg Press
• Leg Curl
• Low Back
• Abdominal
• Rotary Torso
• Double Chest
• Super Pullover
• Triceps
• Biceps
• Forearm
• Four-way Neck
The Tire Exercise is a different type of resistance exercise. Invented by golfing great Henry Cotton, this simple exercise strengthens the arm and wrist muscles and helps you judge swing speed.
Take your normal stance with the tire positioned as the ball. Employing a normal grip use a quarter swing to hit the back of the tire, moving the club head as fast as possible. The pitch of the swishing noise and the sound of the club’s impact are your speed indicators. The loudest crack at impact is heard when the clubhead is released properly. Do 3 sets of 15 to 20 swings. Then turnaround and do it from the left side.
Aerobic Conditioning
Improving your cardiovascular system boosts energy. It also increases stamina and focus. Waking, biking, stair stepping, running, and swimming are all good cardiovascular exercises. Since golfers walk a lot, many focus on it as their main cardiovascular workout. A cardiovascular program incorporating 20-30-minutes of walking at an intensity 10- to 15-percent higher than when you walk a course works well for most golfers.
Using the winter to get in shape pays dividends. It improves your golf game, enhances your quality of life, and builds self-confidence. Instead of being depressed this winter because the season is over, start a golf-specific conditioning program to get yourself ready for the spring.
About The Author
Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book “How To Break 80…And Shoot Like The Pros!”. http://www.howtobreak80.com He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands across the globe to lower their golf handicaps instantly.
**Get a money-making mall FREE! Click here:
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
Monday, October 8, 2007
Golf Travel Cases - Avoid Vacation Mishaps By Protecting Your Clubs In Advance
Welcome back - here's today's featured article:
by: John Bolt
Avoid all the grief! Golf clubs are awkward and heavy to lug around – especially when you’ve already got other luggage to carry. Golf travel cases can make your life easier if you get the proper kind. They’re a must have for any golfer who wants to take their clubs with them. Let’s face it, rental clubs are truly out of the question because they’re just not the same as your own. Here are few simple but critical things to look for in a car or airline golf travel case.
The Construction
This aspect can vary considerably depending if you are looking for a hard or soft travel case. The harder exterior ones are better for airline travel because they can take a lot of abuse while you are on the plane. They tend to cost a little more money but are well worth it to protect your investment since you can’t see what they go through during on and off boarding.
The softer ones are perfect for car travel because they are a little more flexible. They are usually a lot better for storage once you are at your destination because they fold down into a nice compact form. You have to make sure that both these types of golf travel cases have a fully padded interior form top to bottom to avoid potential damage to your clubs. Also make sure that is easily accessible with double zippers or latches that open from top to bottom. Check for rugged double stitching on the softer ones. Try also to get ones that have an I.D. window at the top along with a small padlock.
Pockets and Storage
If you can find one with lots of additional storage you don’t have to put everything in your other luggage pieces. They should have recessed shoe pockets that can also be locked to help keep the clubs snug during travel. Out side clothing pockets are also available on most models. Just try to make sure that they are expandable for maximum storage. All zippers should have padlock tabs for secure closing. The case should have some sort of an inside security strap that helps prevent the bag from moving too much during transport.
Wheels and Carry Systems
Make sure that that your golf travel cases have some sort of wheels on the bottom. These should be made of a durable polymer or even inline skate wheels that are basically indestructible. This is very important because the last thing you want is to have a wheel break forcing you to carry your bag. Also make sure that the bottom of the bag is either a hard vinyl or plastic that won’t leak and can take some abuse. This should allow the bag to stand upright.
The carry system should have handles on the top and bottom along with the side of the bag to aid in getting it in and out of the car. These handles need to be a minimum of double stitched or bolted to the case itself to insure they don’t break. You should also have a durable shoulder strap or pulling handle that is adjustable for easy transportation.
One other thing to remember, make sure that when you are shopping, no matter what you buy it has to be water resistant. That along with all these other important tips should help make your experience more enjoyable. Whether you need a hard airline golf travel case or a number of soft golf travel cases for the family in the car all these tips will help you avoid any unnecessary mishaps on your next vacation.
About The Author
John Bolt
Why are people enjoying their golf vacations so much? Take the worry out of travel with John Bolt’s ULTIMATE FREE equipment guide. Protect your clubs…and have tons more fun! => http://www.golfequipmentsource.com/golf-travel-cases.html.
**Get a money-making mall FREE! Click here:
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
by: John Bolt
Avoid all the grief! Golf clubs are awkward and heavy to lug around – especially when you’ve already got other luggage to carry. Golf travel cases can make your life easier if you get the proper kind. They’re a must have for any golfer who wants to take their clubs with them. Let’s face it, rental clubs are truly out of the question because they’re just not the same as your own. Here are few simple but critical things to look for in a car or airline golf travel case.
The Construction
This aspect can vary considerably depending if you are looking for a hard or soft travel case. The harder exterior ones are better for airline travel because they can take a lot of abuse while you are on the plane. They tend to cost a little more money but are well worth it to protect your investment since you can’t see what they go through during on and off boarding.
The softer ones are perfect for car travel because they are a little more flexible. They are usually a lot better for storage once you are at your destination because they fold down into a nice compact form. You have to make sure that both these types of golf travel cases have a fully padded interior form top to bottom to avoid potential damage to your clubs. Also make sure that is easily accessible with double zippers or latches that open from top to bottom. Check for rugged double stitching on the softer ones. Try also to get ones that have an I.D. window at the top along with a small padlock.
Pockets and Storage
If you can find one with lots of additional storage you don’t have to put everything in your other luggage pieces. They should have recessed shoe pockets that can also be locked to help keep the clubs snug during travel. Out side clothing pockets are also available on most models. Just try to make sure that they are expandable for maximum storage. All zippers should have padlock tabs for secure closing. The case should have some sort of an inside security strap that helps prevent the bag from moving too much during transport.
Wheels and Carry Systems
Make sure that that your golf travel cases have some sort of wheels on the bottom. These should be made of a durable polymer or even inline skate wheels that are basically indestructible. This is very important because the last thing you want is to have a wheel break forcing you to carry your bag. Also make sure that the bottom of the bag is either a hard vinyl or plastic that won’t leak and can take some abuse. This should allow the bag to stand upright.
The carry system should have handles on the top and bottom along with the side of the bag to aid in getting it in and out of the car. These handles need to be a minimum of double stitched or bolted to the case itself to insure they don’t break. You should also have a durable shoulder strap or pulling handle that is adjustable for easy transportation.
One other thing to remember, make sure that when you are shopping, no matter what you buy it has to be water resistant. That along with all these other important tips should help make your experience more enjoyable. Whether you need a hard airline golf travel case or a number of soft golf travel cases for the family in the car all these tips will help you avoid any unnecessary mishaps on your next vacation.
About The Author
John Bolt
Why are people enjoying their golf vacations so much? Take the worry out of travel with John Bolt’s ULTIMATE FREE equipment guide. Protect your clubs…and have tons more fun! => http://www.golfequipmentsource.com/golf-travel-cases.html.
**Get a money-making mall FREE! Click here:
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Saturday, September 22, 2007
Keep Your Golf Game In Shape All Year With A Golf Fitness Program
Welcome back. It's getting to be that time of year when the dreaded layoff comes along - hope this will help:
by: Sean Cochran
Some PGA Tour players have been playing for a couple of weeks in Hawaii and California. Others like Vijay and Ernie have been playing on the European Tour. Regardless of how many tournaments the pros have played this year, they have been working on their games for more time than most of us realize. Make no mistake about it: in golf – or baseball, football, basketball or any other pro sport – there is no longer an off-season.
So while this may be the first official shot of the season for some, the training process to get ready to make that shot has been quietly going on for months.
The amateur can learn a great deal from the professional golfer. Many parts of the world it is not possible to play golf year around, but there are ways to keep your golf game in shape all year long. Professionals know how to do it and so can you.
Realistically, there is very little time to take a break and do absolutely nothing for professional golfers. While every pro is different, there is a generic blueprint most will follow. After the pro finishes his last golf tournament, they take a little break. A few weeks off to give the body and mind a little rest. Every pro athlete needs that time to just recharge and give the body – both physically as well as mentally – time to recover. The PGA Tour season is one of the longest in sports and even though they may not play every week, it’s very taxing on the body and the time off is essential to ensure positive results when we begin training for the next season.
I would recommend the same recipe for the amateur. Regardless if you are able to play year around or not, take a period of at least 2 weeks to put the golf clubs in the closet. The break away from the game will do wonders. You may even find after you return you are playing better golf and shooting lower scores.
Following the rest time – and like I said, it’s longer for some, shorter for others – its time for the tour player to begin ramping up for the next season by physically improving the parameters of the body for the upcoming year. Just like any other golfer – from the Sunday hacker to the scratch golfer to the club pro – the professional golfer will work on trying to increase flexibility, balance, strength, endurance and power.
The amateur during this time of the year (usually the winter when snow is on the ground) can implement a golf fitness program. A golf fitness program will entail developing the physical capacities of the body around the golf swing. The program will look to develop flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power in relation to the golf swing. This is the first step for the amateur to keeping their golf swing in shape all year long.
The amateur during this time of year can also implement swing drills into their training program. The professional may or may not incorporate swing drills into their program at this time year. But for the amateur I recommend it, why? This is the time of year in addition to developing the body for the golf swing. The amateur can work on swing faults that hindered their scores the previous season.
The swing drills can be simply performing “mirror drills” to work on posture and the phases of the golf swing.
You should start putting drills this time of the year. If you are lucky enough to live in a region you can play golf year around, a couple short sessions at the range every week is a good idea. I would recommend the range sessions be kept short and focused on fixing the “problem” areas in your golf swing. The important point is the off-season is a time the amateur can take advantage of working on both their bodies and their golf swing.
Professionally when the PGA Tour season approaches, we begin what is essentially the preseason. This is when the player starts to practice the fundamental mechanics of the sport. If it’s a golfer, he’s on the range working on his swing, if it’s a pitcher, he’s throwing getting ready for spring training. Physically, we’re still training the body, but we tone it down while the player fine tunes his game. But make no mistake about it, even though working on the golf game is 75 percent of the focus of this pre-season training program, we’re still working on the basics of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance and power training.
The pre-season for the amateur marks the time of year when the snow is beginning to melt and the “itch” to play golf comes around. I would suggest the amateur follow a similar program as the professional during this time of year. Start spending more time at the range. Working on all aspects of your golf game. Continue with your golf fitness program, but you may want to back off it a little as a result of the increased practice time. Again, keep in mind the body swings the golf club and we must keep the body in shape to do so.
The pre-season program of increased golf practice and a little less golf fitness continues with the professional golfer until their first tournament. This marks the point when we shift to an in-season golf fitness program. The golf fitness exercises don’t stop, but we back off on the intensity. The program doesn’t change much. We’re still focused on flexibility, balance, strength, endurance and power, but the amount or volume of work is much less to accommodate the physical and mental strain of competition.
Four days of tournament play can take a toll on the body. As a result, we must back off on the amount of golf fitness training. The amateur during the golf season is probably in a little different of a situation. They are probably not playing 4 competitive rounds of golf per week plus practice. At most, they may be playing 2-3 rounds per week with a couple practice sessions. As a result of the lower volumes of golf they can spend a little more amount of time with their golf fitness program.
Essentially, the amateur can pretty much stick to pre-season volume of golf fitness training unless they are playing quite a bit. Just make sure the right balance of golf fitness training is in place in relation to your golf practice and playing. This is necessary so that you do not physically over-tax the body. Bottom line if you are looking to keep your golf game in shape and improving year around, I recommend following what the pros do; take a break at the end of the season, implement a golf fitness program, work on your swing faults during the winter, increase your practice time at the range before the season, and during the season keep a good balance of playing, practicing, and working out.
Sean Cochran
About The Author
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website http://www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.
**Get a money-making shopping mall FREE! Click here:
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
by: Sean Cochran
Some PGA Tour players have been playing for a couple of weeks in Hawaii and California. Others like Vijay and Ernie have been playing on the European Tour. Regardless of how many tournaments the pros have played this year, they have been working on their games for more time than most of us realize. Make no mistake about it: in golf – or baseball, football, basketball or any other pro sport – there is no longer an off-season.
So while this may be the first official shot of the season for some, the training process to get ready to make that shot has been quietly going on for months.
The amateur can learn a great deal from the professional golfer. Many parts of the world it is not possible to play golf year around, but there are ways to keep your golf game in shape all year long. Professionals know how to do it and so can you.
Realistically, there is very little time to take a break and do absolutely nothing for professional golfers. While every pro is different, there is a generic blueprint most will follow. After the pro finishes his last golf tournament, they take a little break. A few weeks off to give the body and mind a little rest. Every pro athlete needs that time to just recharge and give the body – both physically as well as mentally – time to recover. The PGA Tour season is one of the longest in sports and even though they may not play every week, it’s very taxing on the body and the time off is essential to ensure positive results when we begin training for the next season.
I would recommend the same recipe for the amateur. Regardless if you are able to play year around or not, take a period of at least 2 weeks to put the golf clubs in the closet. The break away from the game will do wonders. You may even find after you return you are playing better golf and shooting lower scores.
Following the rest time – and like I said, it’s longer for some, shorter for others – its time for the tour player to begin ramping up for the next season by physically improving the parameters of the body for the upcoming year. Just like any other golfer – from the Sunday hacker to the scratch golfer to the club pro – the professional golfer will work on trying to increase flexibility, balance, strength, endurance and power.
The amateur during this time of the year (usually the winter when snow is on the ground) can implement a golf fitness program. A golf fitness program will entail developing the physical capacities of the body around the golf swing. The program will look to develop flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power in relation to the golf swing. This is the first step for the amateur to keeping their golf swing in shape all year long.
The amateur during this time of year can also implement swing drills into their training program. The professional may or may not incorporate swing drills into their program at this time year. But for the amateur I recommend it, why? This is the time of year in addition to developing the body for the golf swing. The amateur can work on swing faults that hindered their scores the previous season.
The swing drills can be simply performing “mirror drills” to work on posture and the phases of the golf swing.
You should start putting drills this time of the year. If you are lucky enough to live in a region you can play golf year around, a couple short sessions at the range every week is a good idea. I would recommend the range sessions be kept short and focused on fixing the “problem” areas in your golf swing. The important point is the off-season is a time the amateur can take advantage of working on both their bodies and their golf swing.
Professionally when the PGA Tour season approaches, we begin what is essentially the preseason. This is when the player starts to practice the fundamental mechanics of the sport. If it’s a golfer, he’s on the range working on his swing, if it’s a pitcher, he’s throwing getting ready for spring training. Physically, we’re still training the body, but we tone it down while the player fine tunes his game. But make no mistake about it, even though working on the golf game is 75 percent of the focus of this pre-season training program, we’re still working on the basics of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance and power training.
The pre-season for the amateur marks the time of year when the snow is beginning to melt and the “itch” to play golf comes around. I would suggest the amateur follow a similar program as the professional during this time of year. Start spending more time at the range. Working on all aspects of your golf game. Continue with your golf fitness program, but you may want to back off it a little as a result of the increased practice time. Again, keep in mind the body swings the golf club and we must keep the body in shape to do so.
The pre-season program of increased golf practice and a little less golf fitness continues with the professional golfer until their first tournament. This marks the point when we shift to an in-season golf fitness program. The golf fitness exercises don’t stop, but we back off on the intensity. The program doesn’t change much. We’re still focused on flexibility, balance, strength, endurance and power, but the amount or volume of work is much less to accommodate the physical and mental strain of competition.
Four days of tournament play can take a toll on the body. As a result, we must back off on the amount of golf fitness training. The amateur during the golf season is probably in a little different of a situation. They are probably not playing 4 competitive rounds of golf per week plus practice. At most, they may be playing 2-3 rounds per week with a couple practice sessions. As a result of the lower volumes of golf they can spend a little more amount of time with their golf fitness program.
Essentially, the amateur can pretty much stick to pre-season volume of golf fitness training unless they are playing quite a bit. Just make sure the right balance of golf fitness training is in place in relation to your golf practice and playing. This is necessary so that you do not physically over-tax the body. Bottom line if you are looking to keep your golf game in shape and improving year around, I recommend following what the pros do; take a break at the end of the season, implement a golf fitness program, work on your swing faults during the winter, increase your practice time at the range before the season, and during the season keep a good balance of playing, practicing, and working out.
Sean Cochran
About The Author
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website http://www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.
**Get a money-making shopping mall FREE! Click here:
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
Friday, September 14, 2007
Tips For Good Golfing: It's All In The Swing
Welcome back - here's today's featured article:
by: Edwin Shackleford
Believe it or not, when one performs a golf back swing, it is not just your arms. It is also more about the golfer’s back as it turns away from the target. The club is more so as being put behind the golfer’s back than it is swung up towards the air.
The move backswing
If you look at it closely, the golf back swing actually works from up to down. The takeaway back swing begins from the top as you make the movement on your arms and follows as you do that turn on your shoulders. The movement then goes straight down towards the legs and the hips.
The golf back swing is primarily about how the body is being coiled upwards thus creating the needed tension in the muscles as well as torque to be able to let out that all powerful downswing. Particularly, that swing is created anywhere in between the golfer’s turning his or her upper body as well as shoulders and the turning – to a lesser degree – the lower body and the hips.
Relax
It is highly advisable that one should not do the swing in a hurried manner. If a back swing is in any way done in a hurry, the downswing does not become fast, actually it could do the opposite.
The backswing speed should be in a tempo that is steady and should neither be fast nor slow. Although some golfers have that tendency to go way faster than the regular. Anytime you catch or are aware of yourself doing this, try to slow it down a bit.
The move downswing
When you reach the downswing, all you really need to do is to just let it go. Let the downswing happen. However, this only applies if ever you were able to start with a golf stance, backswing and grip that is correct.
The downswing must be the organic result of all that went before it. If you were able to do your backswing in the correct manner, your body will unwind in itself thus releasing the club and striking the ball that will therefore result in a follow through that is balanced.
The follow-through move
A follow-through should be best seen as the feather in your cap move. The legs must be adequately straight and the hips have to form a straight line together with the legs.
This move will serve as the gauge of the whole swing you have just done. You know that you were able to pull a swing that is smooth and balanced if in the end you have a position that looks like the letter C only in reverse.
About The Author
Edwin Shackleford has been helping individuals improve thier golf game for years. Try his Free Online Training Today! http://www.improve-your-golf-game.com.
**Get a money-making shopping mall FREE! Click here:
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
by: Edwin Shackleford
Believe it or not, when one performs a golf back swing, it is not just your arms. It is also more about the golfer’s back as it turns away from the target. The club is more so as being put behind the golfer’s back than it is swung up towards the air.
The move backswing
If you look at it closely, the golf back swing actually works from up to down. The takeaway back swing begins from the top as you make the movement on your arms and follows as you do that turn on your shoulders. The movement then goes straight down towards the legs and the hips.
The golf back swing is primarily about how the body is being coiled upwards thus creating the needed tension in the muscles as well as torque to be able to let out that all powerful downswing. Particularly, that swing is created anywhere in between the golfer’s turning his or her upper body as well as shoulders and the turning – to a lesser degree – the lower body and the hips.
Relax
It is highly advisable that one should not do the swing in a hurried manner. If a back swing is in any way done in a hurry, the downswing does not become fast, actually it could do the opposite.
The backswing speed should be in a tempo that is steady and should neither be fast nor slow. Although some golfers have that tendency to go way faster than the regular. Anytime you catch or are aware of yourself doing this, try to slow it down a bit.
The move downswing
When you reach the downswing, all you really need to do is to just let it go. Let the downswing happen. However, this only applies if ever you were able to start with a golf stance, backswing and grip that is correct.
The downswing must be the organic result of all that went before it. If you were able to do your backswing in the correct manner, your body will unwind in itself thus releasing the club and striking the ball that will therefore result in a follow through that is balanced.
The follow-through move
A follow-through should be best seen as the feather in your cap move. The legs must be adequately straight and the hips have to form a straight line together with the legs.
This move will serve as the gauge of the whole swing you have just done. You know that you were able to pull a swing that is smooth and balanced if in the end you have a position that looks like the letter C only in reverse.
About The Author
Edwin Shackleford has been helping individuals improve thier golf game for years. Try his Free Online Training Today! http://www.improve-your-golf-game.com.
**Get a money-making shopping mall FREE! Click here:
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
Friday, September 7, 2007
Golf Course Management
Welcome back - here's today's featured article:
by: George Gabriel
Playing a good round of golf comes with a lot of good golf course management. Sure it is great to know how to have a great golf swing, but if you haven’t got course management, then you haven’t got a game plan.
Have you ever noticed a professional golfer standing beside their caddie in a discussion about the next golf shot at hand? You can rest assured that they were not talking about Larry King live, unless he was in the pro-am the day before and he was leading the tournament. They are discussing the previous results and golf placement on where they hit their golf shot the prior hole before in the practice round or regulation round. Course management is what they are talking about. Every golf shot is tagged to the nearest yard. If you want to play a good golf shot, you have to know your distance and what type of situation you’re up against. This is where good golfers with a good course management excel over their competition.
^^^^^^^
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed!
Http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
^^^^^^
Taking all the great golfers and great golf swings into consideration, without the proper knowledge about distance, wind, uphill, downhill and all the great earthly weather that is always a surprise at times can be quite demanding to the best golfer at times. If you think that all you need is a great golf swing and a great set of golf clubs, you should rethink your game again. A lot of great golfers fall prey to a golfer with better course management. These same golfers with good course management do not need to out distance their competitor. They just need to place their ball where the next golf shot is a walk in the park.
If you haven’t got a clue about course management, your handicap is going to soar into the high double-digit figures. When you are talking about the shot at hand, you must take in consideration the prior distance and weather condition on your previous shot with the club selection at hand. Was the golf shot uphill with a wind behind you or against you? When choosing a golf club, one must ask a series of questions before making a formal decision. Do I want to play my next shot over a sand trap? Do I want to play my next golf shot with a pitching wedge or a 7 iron? In other words, do I want to fly the golf shot into the green, or place it where I can bump and run the next golf shot into the green?
Course management requires the golfer in paying attention to golf holes that are next to the hole that they are playing. They are constantly looking for good golf position for the next hole before they even tee up the golf ball. They are also checking out greens as far as slope and surrounding sand traps. Knowing where pin placement is, way before you’re sitting out in the middle of the fairway will definitely help on club selection. You may decide to play less club, because of the simple fact of a two-tier green and the pin is sitting on the bottom level. You would never have that knowledge at hand if you did not eye the situation on the prior hole unless you played it once before. It is called course management.
^^^^^^
Discover High Power Golf!
http://tinyurl.com/2gpoap
^^^^^^
Take a good look at the golf terrain and conditions that you are playing in and pay attention to golf holes that you walk by. Knowing the golf terrain well in advance will make it a lot easier on golf club selection and help drive confidence going forward.
About The Author
George Gabriel learned to play golf as a caddie in the mid sixties and continue to enjoy the game today. Now running a discount tee time site at http://www.golfanchor.net and a sister site at http://www.golfanchor.com.
**Get a money-making mall FREE! Click here:
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
Editor's note: Next time, Edwin Shackleford gives us some great tips for good golfing. Until then, stay well and keep swingin'.
Jim Nettleton
by: George Gabriel
Playing a good round of golf comes with a lot of good golf course management. Sure it is great to know how to have a great golf swing, but if you haven’t got course management, then you haven’t got a game plan.
Have you ever noticed a professional golfer standing beside their caddie in a discussion about the next golf shot at hand? You can rest assured that they were not talking about Larry King live, unless he was in the pro-am the day before and he was leading the tournament. They are discussing the previous results and golf placement on where they hit their golf shot the prior hole before in the practice round or regulation round. Course management is what they are talking about. Every golf shot is tagged to the nearest yard. If you want to play a good golf shot, you have to know your distance and what type of situation you’re up against. This is where good golfers with a good course management excel over their competition.
^^^^^^^
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed!
Http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
^^^^^^
Taking all the great golfers and great golf swings into consideration, without the proper knowledge about distance, wind, uphill, downhill and all the great earthly weather that is always a surprise at times can be quite demanding to the best golfer at times. If you think that all you need is a great golf swing and a great set of golf clubs, you should rethink your game again. A lot of great golfers fall prey to a golfer with better course management. These same golfers with good course management do not need to out distance their competitor. They just need to place their ball where the next golf shot is a walk in the park.
If you haven’t got a clue about course management, your handicap is going to soar into the high double-digit figures. When you are talking about the shot at hand, you must take in consideration the prior distance and weather condition on your previous shot with the club selection at hand. Was the golf shot uphill with a wind behind you or against you? When choosing a golf club, one must ask a series of questions before making a formal decision. Do I want to play my next shot over a sand trap? Do I want to play my next golf shot with a pitching wedge or a 7 iron? In other words, do I want to fly the golf shot into the green, or place it where I can bump and run the next golf shot into the green?
Course management requires the golfer in paying attention to golf holes that are next to the hole that they are playing. They are constantly looking for good golf position for the next hole before they even tee up the golf ball. They are also checking out greens as far as slope and surrounding sand traps. Knowing where pin placement is, way before you’re sitting out in the middle of the fairway will definitely help on club selection. You may decide to play less club, because of the simple fact of a two-tier green and the pin is sitting on the bottom level. You would never have that knowledge at hand if you did not eye the situation on the prior hole unless you played it once before. It is called course management.
^^^^^^
Discover High Power Golf!
http://tinyurl.com/2gpoap
^^^^^^
Take a good look at the golf terrain and conditions that you are playing in and pay attention to golf holes that you walk by. Knowing the golf terrain well in advance will make it a lot easier on golf club selection and help drive confidence going forward.
About The Author
George Gabriel learned to play golf as a caddie in the mid sixties and continue to enjoy the game today. Now running a discount tee time site at http://www.golfanchor.net and a sister site at http://www.golfanchor.com.
**Get a money-making mall FREE! Click here:
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
Editor's note: Next time, Edwin Shackleford gives us some great tips for good golfing. Until then, stay well and keep swingin'.
Jim Nettleton
Friday, August 31, 2007
My Golfing Life As A Hooker!
Welcome back - here's today's featured article:
by: David Barnard
Here's my warning to all wannabe golfer's, if you start on this sorry path, and do nothing to stop it, you will lead a life of pain and anguish.
All my golfing life I've been a hooker! How or why it started I don't know. I never wanted it to happen, it just did.
When I first started hooking, it was not every shot. It just sort of creeps up on you, over days, weeks, even months, and gets gradually worse, until nearly every shot is hanging left. And I don't mean just a little bit left, these 90 degree plus benders would make a circle look tame.
Finally, it got so bad, I was spending so much time in the trees, searching for lost balls, that my friends stopped coming round, and asking me out to play.
Then came that dreaded day. I can remember this so clearly, its almost as if it happened yesterday. I ran out of golf balls during a round. It was SOooo embarrassing. Thats what made me finally seek professional help.
After walking off the course that afternoon, I went straight to the clubhouse and spoke to The Pro. When I spoke to The Pro, he admitted that he had already heard about my little problem. It seems that a few of my so-called friends had already spoken to him, to find out if it was contagious. What he told me, certainly made me feel better.
There is a cure. And its really quite easy. Just keep reading:
THE PROBLEM:
Hitting the ball with a closed clubface, causing shots to curve (sometimes dramatically) to the left.
^^^^^^^
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed!
Http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
^^^^^^
THE CURE:
The first thing you should do is check your grip. When you grip the club the Vs in each hand should point over your right shoulder. If they point farther to the right, then your grip is too “strong” and could produce a closed face and a hook at impact – when the hands return to their normal position.
If your grip is good and you are still hooking, try weakening your grip by gradually moving both hands to the left. Check your stance to make sure that your feet, knees, hips and shoulders are all parallel to your target line.
Another cause could be the ball position. If it is too far back, it could produce an excessive in-to-out swingpath. Try gripping the club more in the palm of your hands, rather than the fingers, to reduce wrist action and premature closing of the clubface.
Make sure that your left wrist is not too relaxed at impact. If it is, your right wrist will take control and close the clubface too early. On your downswing, make sure that the action begins with your legs and body. This will stop your wrists unhinging and closing the clubface too soon.
There, you see. I told you it was curable. Although, maybe not TOTALLY curable. To this day, many years later, occasionally it happens.
But the major difference is that, now as I'm walking towards the trees to look for that wayward shot, I'M SMILING - because I know how to fix the problem.
The Happy (occasional) Hooker
About The Author
David Barnard has been playing golf for more years than he would care to remember. But he can also be found hanging around, and passing on tips at http://golf--swing.blogspot.com.
Get a FREE money-making 1200+ store shopping mall – absolutely NO cost!http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
Editor's note: Next time, George Gabriel talks about course management. Until then, stay well and keep swingin' - and enjoy your Labor Day Holiday.
Jim Nettleton
by: David Barnard
Here's my warning to all wannabe golfer's, if you start on this sorry path, and do nothing to stop it, you will lead a life of pain and anguish.
All my golfing life I've been a hooker! How or why it started I don't know. I never wanted it to happen, it just did.
When I first started hooking, it was not every shot. It just sort of creeps up on you, over days, weeks, even months, and gets gradually worse, until nearly every shot is hanging left. And I don't mean just a little bit left, these 90 degree plus benders would make a circle look tame.
Finally, it got so bad, I was spending so much time in the trees, searching for lost balls, that my friends stopped coming round, and asking me out to play.
Then came that dreaded day. I can remember this so clearly, its almost as if it happened yesterday. I ran out of golf balls during a round. It was SOooo embarrassing. Thats what made me finally seek professional help.
After walking off the course that afternoon, I went straight to the clubhouse and spoke to The Pro. When I spoke to The Pro, he admitted that he had already heard about my little problem. It seems that a few of my so-called friends had already spoken to him, to find out if it was contagious. What he told me, certainly made me feel better.
There is a cure. And its really quite easy. Just keep reading:
THE PROBLEM:
Hitting the ball with a closed clubface, causing shots to curve (sometimes dramatically) to the left.
^^^^^^^
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed!
Http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
^^^^^^
THE CURE:
The first thing you should do is check your grip. When you grip the club the Vs in each hand should point over your right shoulder. If they point farther to the right, then your grip is too “strong” and could produce a closed face and a hook at impact – when the hands return to their normal position.
If your grip is good and you are still hooking, try weakening your grip by gradually moving both hands to the left. Check your stance to make sure that your feet, knees, hips and shoulders are all parallel to your target line.
Another cause could be the ball position. If it is too far back, it could produce an excessive in-to-out swingpath. Try gripping the club more in the palm of your hands, rather than the fingers, to reduce wrist action and premature closing of the clubface.
Make sure that your left wrist is not too relaxed at impact. If it is, your right wrist will take control and close the clubface too early. On your downswing, make sure that the action begins with your legs and body. This will stop your wrists unhinging and closing the clubface too soon.
There, you see. I told you it was curable. Although, maybe not TOTALLY curable. To this day, many years later, occasionally it happens.
But the major difference is that, now as I'm walking towards the trees to look for that wayward shot, I'M SMILING - because I know how to fix the problem.
The Happy (occasional) Hooker
About The Author
David Barnard has been playing golf for more years than he would care to remember. But he can also be found hanging around, and passing on tips at http://golf--swing.blogspot.com.
Get a FREE money-making 1200+ store shopping mall – absolutely NO cost!http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/30831
Editor's note: Next time, George Gabriel talks about course management. Until then, stay well and keep swingin' - and enjoy your Labor Day Holiday.
Jim Nettleton
Sunday, August 26, 2007
The Anatomy Of Slicing The Golf Ball
Welcome back - here's today's featured article:
by: Jeff O'Brien
In order to slice a golf ball (impart a left to right ball flight for a right handed golfer) you have to strike the golf ball in a manner that will cause a clockwise rotation of the ball. The more dramatic the rotation the more dramatic or worse the golf slice.
For the context of this article, I will speak from a right handed golfer’s swing and perspective.
When defining the golf slice there are a couple of basics characteristics to the ball flight. First, there is the slice that initially may start down the target line then move off line in a left to right movement. This type of slice tells us that the swing path was traveling down the intended target line, but at impact the club face was left open and did not get back to a square position at impact. Usually this type of golf slice doesn’t produce as sever of left to right movement of the golf ball since the swing path itself was not cutting across the ball in an outside to inside manner. This type of slicing of the golf ball is more easily cured. And can usually be done so with a bit of work on the golfer’s setup, alignment, and or grip.
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed!Http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
The second type of golf slice is the one that plagues the vast majority of beginning and high handicap golfer’s. This is the type of slice that produces the ‘banana ball’ type of flight and is very uncontrollable and frustrating.
The attributes of this type of slice for the golfer are the ball will initially start left of the target line indicating that the swing path is incorrect right from the get go. When the ball immediately begins left of the target line that tells you that your swing path has come from the outside to the inside.
Now, having done that with your swing, doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you are going to slice the golf ball but you sure have made much easier for a slice to occur. Now combine the outside to inside swing path with an open clubface at impact and you now have a golf shot that starts left and has the double whammy of a slicing swing path across the golf ball, and an open club face. With these two laws of physics going for you; you have just produced one beautiful slice. One that only a proud parent could love! You know the one I’m talking about. The ball that travels 300 yards total distance, but only about 220 yards further down the course (if you can find it all).
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed!Http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
A golfer who is plagued with this type of golf slice is going to require quite a bit more work in order to correct this because their basic swing is flawed and must be corrected. But, it’s important to understand what it is in your golf swing and your golf swing mechanics that makes the ball do what it does. Once you understand the 9 rules of ball flight you’ll be more able to understand what it is in your swing that is producing the flight of the ball you are seeing, and as such you can more quickly address and adjust to ensure success.
About The Author
Jeff O'Brien is a youth and beginning golfer instructor with a real insight on getting your golf swing and game off to a start by establishing a good foundation onto which you build your golf swing and game. Please visit (www.golf-ology.com) for more of Jeff's golf tips and online golf lessons. publish@golf-ology.com
Editor's note: Next time around, Jeff Barnard talks about the opposite problem - hooking the ball. Until then, stay well and keep swingin'.
Jim Nettleton
by: Jeff O'Brien
In order to slice a golf ball (impart a left to right ball flight for a right handed golfer) you have to strike the golf ball in a manner that will cause a clockwise rotation of the ball. The more dramatic the rotation the more dramatic or worse the golf slice.
For the context of this article, I will speak from a right handed golfer’s swing and perspective.
When defining the golf slice there are a couple of basics characteristics to the ball flight. First, there is the slice that initially may start down the target line then move off line in a left to right movement. This type of slice tells us that the swing path was traveling down the intended target line, but at impact the club face was left open and did not get back to a square position at impact. Usually this type of golf slice doesn’t produce as sever of left to right movement of the golf ball since the swing path itself was not cutting across the ball in an outside to inside manner. This type of slicing of the golf ball is more easily cured. And can usually be done so with a bit of work on the golfer’s setup, alignment, and or grip.
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed!Http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
The second type of golf slice is the one that plagues the vast majority of beginning and high handicap golfer’s. This is the type of slice that produces the ‘banana ball’ type of flight and is very uncontrollable and frustrating.
The attributes of this type of slice for the golfer are the ball will initially start left of the target line indicating that the swing path is incorrect right from the get go. When the ball immediately begins left of the target line that tells you that your swing path has come from the outside to the inside.
Now, having done that with your swing, doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you are going to slice the golf ball but you sure have made much easier for a slice to occur. Now combine the outside to inside swing path with an open clubface at impact and you now have a golf shot that starts left and has the double whammy of a slicing swing path across the golf ball, and an open club face. With these two laws of physics going for you; you have just produced one beautiful slice. One that only a proud parent could love! You know the one I’m talking about. The ball that travels 300 yards total distance, but only about 220 yards further down the course (if you can find it all).
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed!Http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
A golfer who is plagued with this type of golf slice is going to require quite a bit more work in order to correct this because their basic swing is flawed and must be corrected. But, it’s important to understand what it is in your golf swing and your golf swing mechanics that makes the ball do what it does. Once you understand the 9 rules of ball flight you’ll be more able to understand what it is in your swing that is producing the flight of the ball you are seeing, and as such you can more quickly address and adjust to ensure success.
About The Author
Jeff O'Brien is a youth and beginning golfer instructor with a real insight on getting your golf swing and game off to a start by establishing a good foundation onto which you build your golf swing and game. Please visit (www.golf-ology.com) for more of Jeff's golf tips and online golf lessons. publish@golf-ology.com
Editor's note: Next time around, Jeff Barnard talks about the opposite problem - hooking the ball. Until then, stay well and keep swingin'.
Jim Nettleton
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
It May Not Be Your Golf Swing That's Rubbish
Welcom back - here's today's featured article:
by: David Barnard
You could be making a big mistake blaming your mishits and mishaps on your golf swing.
No matter how much time and effort you have been spending, grooving your golf swing to perfection, you still will not achieve your goal if you are using unsuitable or defective golf clubs, will you?
Now is the time for you to consider the following Golf Tip - this covers an examination of your golf clubs quality.
If you plan on buying used golf clubs as beginner's tools, scrutinizing before purchasing is a must. The clubheads, the shafts, and the grips are golf club parts that should pass inspection first, before landing a decent spot in your golf equipment locker.
Another excellent golf tip that will help you when buying a used set of golf clubs, try and ensure you have set consistency. If all the clubs have the same grip, shaft and heads then this will add consistency to your golf swing. It will also help a lot if you check the price of new clubs versus used clubs.
^^^^^^^
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed!
Http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
^^^^^^
A golf tip for a golfer that plans to regrip his clubs - Be cautious. This is because the grips are the only point of contact you have on the club during your swing. If the grips are too thin or too fat, this will make a big difference to your swing. Before carrying out the regripping, you need to know the core grip of the club and your hands grip size. To determine your core size grip, measure the diameter of the butt of the shaft you're going to re-grip. The shaft's diameter should match the grip's core diameter. In determining your hands grip, the available size grips are regular, mid-size, oversize and jumbo. Use only the best re-gripping materials that will provide optimum performance for your golf clubs.
Another golf tip is that using ill-fitted clubs will be an obstacle to your golf playing success. A golfer must consider his or her body type in choosing the best-fitting equipment to support and carry out the golf swing effectively. Too heavy or too light clubs will result in changes to your swing angles when carrying out your golf swing. With the resulting poor results. This will be avoided if you select the best fitting equipment available.
Custom golf club fitting makes a better option than just buying a new set of golf clubs. Getting custom fitting golf clubs is a golf tip that translates to a very worthy investment. The uniqueness of each person is attributed to the need of this way of buying new golf clubs. A custom fitting produces golf clubs that specifically suit the height, strength, swing characteristics and clubhead speed of the golfer.
The type of club shaft also helps in predicting whether you'll do well in a game or you won't. There's a choice between a steel club shaft and a graphite-made club shaft. This golf tip aims to make you realize which type of golf club shaft will benefit your game.
^^^^^^^
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed!
Http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
^^^^^^
Observations show that the steel club shafts are more preferred by professional golfers while graphite shafts have become more popular with women, senior players and beginners. Steel shafts are less expensive than graphite shafts though.
One more golf tip that could help you is that the golf clubs in your bag must suit your skill level. Since various skill levels need various golf clubs, it won't be wise to just use or bring a golf club that is just lying around. And, don't ever forget about the maximum golf club load your bag is allowed to hold during a round. You can only carry a maximum of 14 golf clubs in your bag. No more.
Aside from your skill level contemplation, your mastery of a certain golf club and being comfortable with using it must also be put into consideration in deciding which golf club to hit.
The correct combination of the right swing and a good choice of equipment will better arm you to become the best golfer you could ever be.
About The Author
David Barnard has been playing golf for more years than he would care to remember. But he can also be found hanging around, and passing on tips at http://golf--tip.blogspot.com.
Editor's note: next time, Jeff O'Brien talks about the slice - and what you can do to get rid of it. Until then, stay well and keep swingin'.
Jim Nettleton
by: David Barnard
You could be making a big mistake blaming your mishits and mishaps on your golf swing.
No matter how much time and effort you have been spending, grooving your golf swing to perfection, you still will not achieve your goal if you are using unsuitable or defective golf clubs, will you?
Now is the time for you to consider the following Golf Tip - this covers an examination of your golf clubs quality.
If you plan on buying used golf clubs as beginner's tools, scrutinizing before purchasing is a must. The clubheads, the shafts, and the grips are golf club parts that should pass inspection first, before landing a decent spot in your golf equipment locker.
Another excellent golf tip that will help you when buying a used set of golf clubs, try and ensure you have set consistency. If all the clubs have the same grip, shaft and heads then this will add consistency to your golf swing. It will also help a lot if you check the price of new clubs versus used clubs.
^^^^^^^
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed!
Http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
^^^^^^
A golf tip for a golfer that plans to regrip his clubs - Be cautious. This is because the grips are the only point of contact you have on the club during your swing. If the grips are too thin or too fat, this will make a big difference to your swing. Before carrying out the regripping, you need to know the core grip of the club and your hands grip size. To determine your core size grip, measure the diameter of the butt of the shaft you're going to re-grip. The shaft's diameter should match the grip's core diameter. In determining your hands grip, the available size grips are regular, mid-size, oversize and jumbo. Use only the best re-gripping materials that will provide optimum performance for your golf clubs.
Another golf tip is that using ill-fitted clubs will be an obstacle to your golf playing success. A golfer must consider his or her body type in choosing the best-fitting equipment to support and carry out the golf swing effectively. Too heavy or too light clubs will result in changes to your swing angles when carrying out your golf swing. With the resulting poor results. This will be avoided if you select the best fitting equipment available.
Custom golf club fitting makes a better option than just buying a new set of golf clubs. Getting custom fitting golf clubs is a golf tip that translates to a very worthy investment. The uniqueness of each person is attributed to the need of this way of buying new golf clubs. A custom fitting produces golf clubs that specifically suit the height, strength, swing characteristics and clubhead speed of the golfer.
The type of club shaft also helps in predicting whether you'll do well in a game or you won't. There's a choice between a steel club shaft and a graphite-made club shaft. This golf tip aims to make you realize which type of golf club shaft will benefit your game.
^^^^^^^
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed!
Http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
^^^^^^
Observations show that the steel club shafts are more preferred by professional golfers while graphite shafts have become more popular with women, senior players and beginners. Steel shafts are less expensive than graphite shafts though.
One more golf tip that could help you is that the golf clubs in your bag must suit your skill level. Since various skill levels need various golf clubs, it won't be wise to just use or bring a golf club that is just lying around. And, don't ever forget about the maximum golf club load your bag is allowed to hold during a round. You can only carry a maximum of 14 golf clubs in your bag. No more.
Aside from your skill level contemplation, your mastery of a certain golf club and being comfortable with using it must also be put into consideration in deciding which golf club to hit.
The correct combination of the right swing and a good choice of equipment will better arm you to become the best golfer you could ever be.
About The Author
David Barnard has been playing golf for more years than he would care to remember. But he can also be found hanging around, and passing on tips at http://golf--tip.blogspot.com.
Editor's note: next time, Jeff O'Brien talks about the slice - and what you can do to get rid of it. Until then, stay well and keep swingin'.
Jim Nettleton
Thursday, August 16, 2007
So Your Teenager Wants To Be A Champion Golfer
Welcome back - here's today's featured article:
by: Lawrie Montague
Do you harbour secret desires that your teenager will one day play the PGA or LPGA tour? Millions of dollars in prize money attracts so many talented golfers willing to sacrifice everything to have a crack at making money playing golf.
So how can you help your teenager become a more successful golfer? Give every opportunity to develop their skills, experience and knowledge in golf. Becoming successful at golf is not easy, so you need a solid team to give you help and guidance to make it happen. At the Australian High Performance Golf Academy we design programs to the specific needs of our students.
Your Golf Support Team
To progress to professional golf, your teenager must understand what is required to nurture their talent continually. Golf is as much a mental game. Ideally they need one hour golf lessons every week (forty to forty five lessons per year) from the age of twelve and they should be focused on a number of critical factors;
1. Good good grip produce good golf swings.
2. Start right and practice right; a golf swing that is in plane and a strong rotation of the body and arms to generate sufficient club-head speed.
3. Junior golfers grow continually; they can suffer from postural problems like slouching shoulders and bending from the waist not from the hips. Shoulder stretching every day particularly in the back of the legs, (hamstrings) and upper body (shoulders/chest) is vital.
4. Begin working with your teenager’s attitude towards adversity. Develop effective coping strategies to deal with setbacks and accelerate their progress through the tough spots.
5. Get them into competition right from the beginning and teach them to enjoy the idea of competing against others and also the added bonus of developing lifelong friendships.
6. Encourage your teenager to study the rules and etiquette of golf and become familiar with the most important and most common rules infractions so they feel confident about any situation that may arise on the golf course.
7. Your teenager should spend sixty to seventy percent of their time working on their short game and the rest of the time on their long game.
Find a good golf instructor early in your child’s development and build a committed relationship with them. Ask around and find a coach who is getting success with junior golfers and interview them about their approach to teaching junior golfers. I’ve seen many parents chop and change golf teachers to the detriment of their son or daughters golf progress. It is critical to start laying down a good golf technique as early as possible and going to different teachers looking for the ultimate golf lesson doesn’t work and will lead to confusion and dissatisfaction.
About The Author
Lawrence Montague one of Australia's leading golf instructors and Director of the Australian High Performance Golf Academy which runs courses throughout the year. For more information about their unique training techniques and training aids visit their website at http://www.golf-school-australia.com/.
This article is freely available for publication ONLY if the content is retained IN FULL, UNEDITED including the resource box and all links. Furthermore we would appreciate you sending us an email with a link to the page where the article has been published.©2006 Australian High Performance Golf Academy http://www.golf-school-australia.com/.
articles@golf-school-australia.com
by: Lawrie Montague
Do you harbour secret desires that your teenager will one day play the PGA or LPGA tour? Millions of dollars in prize money attracts so many talented golfers willing to sacrifice everything to have a crack at making money playing golf.
So how can you help your teenager become a more successful golfer? Give every opportunity to develop their skills, experience and knowledge in golf. Becoming successful at golf is not easy, so you need a solid team to give you help and guidance to make it happen. At the Australian High Performance Golf Academy we design programs to the specific needs of our students.
Your Golf Support Team
To progress to professional golf, your teenager must understand what is required to nurture their talent continually. Golf is as much a mental game. Ideally they need one hour golf lessons every week (forty to forty five lessons per year) from the age of twelve and they should be focused on a number of critical factors;
1. Good good grip produce good golf swings.
2. Start right and practice right; a golf swing that is in plane and a strong rotation of the body and arms to generate sufficient club-head speed.
3. Junior golfers grow continually; they can suffer from postural problems like slouching shoulders and bending from the waist not from the hips. Shoulder stretching every day particularly in the back of the legs, (hamstrings) and upper body (shoulders/chest) is vital.
4. Begin working with your teenager’s attitude towards adversity. Develop effective coping strategies to deal with setbacks and accelerate their progress through the tough spots.
5. Get them into competition right from the beginning and teach them to enjoy the idea of competing against others and also the added bonus of developing lifelong friendships.
6. Encourage your teenager to study the rules and etiquette of golf and become familiar with the most important and most common rules infractions so they feel confident about any situation that may arise on the golf course.
7. Your teenager should spend sixty to seventy percent of their time working on their short game and the rest of the time on their long game.
Find a good golf instructor early in your child’s development and build a committed relationship with them. Ask around and find a coach who is getting success with junior golfers and interview them about their approach to teaching junior golfers. I’ve seen many parents chop and change golf teachers to the detriment of their son or daughters golf progress. It is critical to start laying down a good golf technique as early as possible and going to different teachers looking for the ultimate golf lesson doesn’t work and will lead to confusion and dissatisfaction.
About The Author
Lawrence Montague one of Australia's leading golf instructors and Director of the Australian High Performance Golf Academy which runs courses throughout the year. For more information about their unique training techniques and training aids visit their website at http://www.golf-school-australia.com/.
This article is freely available for publication ONLY if the content is retained IN FULL, UNEDITED including the resource box and all links. Furthermore we would appreciate you sending us an email with a link to the page where the article has been published.©2006 Australian High Performance Golf Academy http://www.golf-school-australia.com/.
articles@golf-school-australia.com
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Golf Flexibility Exercises Can Improve Your Shoulder Turn
by: Sean Cochran
I had a very interesting conversation during my workout this morning at the gym. I was performing a series of golf flexibility drills (Tops, Windmills, & Spiders to be exact) and a friend and very good golfer approached me.
My friend, local club champion and a scratch golfer, was asking me about the series of flexibility exercises I was working on. He said; “Sean, I have watched your workouts and they seem to be very athletically oriented. I know you work on the PGA Tour and with Phil. Those exercises you were just doing, what are they exactly for, and how can they help my golf swing?”
I get quite a few of these questions like this and my reply to him was as follows:
“First off the golf swing is an athletic movement (if you disagree with me on that point, go play 4 rounds of golf in four 4 days and get back to me). It requires a high level of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power to execute the swing correctly.
*******
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed! Click here:http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
*******
Knowing this you need to develop these physical characteristics (Flexibility, Balance, Strength, Endurance, and Power) within your body.
This will create the foundation upon which you can build an efficient and powerful golf swing. Lets take a quick a look at these concepts before moving onto some specifics.
Flexibility, in relation to the golf swing, is the ability to draw the club through the proper range of motion. A full golf swing requires you to draw the club through a long range of motion. In order to perform this action correctly the muscles within your body must be flexible.
If your muscles are inflexible the ability to draw the club through the correct range of motion will be compromised, resulting in compensations in your golf swing.
Secondly, the golf swing requires a high level of balance. Balance is often thought of as a responsibility of golf swing mechanics only. The reality of the situation is balance is a component of both efficient golf swing mechanics and the body.
The interaction of the muscular and nervous systems is responsible for your balancing capacities. These two systems regulate center of gravity, proprioception, and limb movement. If you have poor balancing capacities a directly negative effect will be seen in your golf swing.
Introducing balance exercises can improve the ability of your body to regulate its’ center of gravity, know where it is in “space” (proprioception), and regulate limb movement. This will have a direct benefit upon your golf swing.
Thirdly, the golf swing requires you to maintain a fixed spine angle, and rotate around this spine angle during the swing. In order to perform the swing correctly and maintain a fixed spine angle it is necessary to have high levels of muscular strength.
Muscular strength in relation to the golf swing is the ability of your muscles to maintain a fixed spine angle during each swing. If you are lacking muscular strength, the ability to maintain a fixed spine angle will be compromised.
*******
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed! Click here:http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
*******
Fourth in our order of merit is endurance. The golf swing is a repetitive athletic movement, meaning you are performing the same athletic action (i.e. the golf swing) over and over again. Repetitive athletic movements over time cause fatigue within the muscular system. Once the muscular system is fatigued (i.e. tired) the ability to perform the intricate biomechanical movements of the golf swing will be compromised.
In order to combat such a situation it is necessary for the golfer to develop high levels of muscular endurance. Muscular endurance can be defined as the ability to perform a repetitive movement over and over again without becoming fatigued.
Finally, the golf swing encompasses power. Power is the ability to generate clubhead speed. Clubhead speed equates to greater distance on all your shots. Developing clubhead speed is a combination of both your swing mechanics and body.
In relation to the body it is the ability to generate the greatest amount of force within the golf swing. To increase the force outputs within the body it is necessary to develop high levels of muscular power. Developing muscular power relative to the golf swing increases the possibility of greater clubhead speed.
Quite often the amateur golfer does not have the flexibility, strength, balance, or power in the body to swing the golf club correctly. The result is that sloppy, ineffective swing with a lot of body compensations.
Any serious amateur must spend some time on developing the body for the swing. It does not need to be a substantial amount of time, but a little each day. This will over time develop the body for the golf swing.”
My friend shook his head in definitive agreement and said he has lost some distance over the years and directly relates it to losing some of his flexibility.
I said “exactly! That is what happens, the body becomes deficient in one area or another and the golf swing is affected. In addition, to developing the body for the golf swing a certain order must be followed.”
He asked; “What do you mean exactly?”
I replied; “The physical parameters of the body must be developed in a specific order to get the greatest benefit. For example, if you try to develop more power but are not flexible enough to execute a full shoulder turn. The power in your body you develop will be worthless.
Start with flexibility graduate to balance and then look at getting stronger and more powerful.
The exercises I was just performing are golf specific flexibility exercises to help the shoulder turn.
Remember, follow the logic; flexibility first, balance second, and then develop strength and power.”
About The Author
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website http://www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.
I had a very interesting conversation during my workout this morning at the gym. I was performing a series of golf flexibility drills (Tops, Windmills, & Spiders to be exact) and a friend and very good golfer approached me.
My friend, local club champion and a scratch golfer, was asking me about the series of flexibility exercises I was working on. He said; “Sean, I have watched your workouts and they seem to be very athletically oriented. I know you work on the PGA Tour and with Phil. Those exercises you were just doing, what are they exactly for, and how can they help my golf swing?”
I get quite a few of these questions like this and my reply to him was as follows:
“First off the golf swing is an athletic movement (if you disagree with me on that point, go play 4 rounds of golf in four 4 days and get back to me). It requires a high level of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power to execute the swing correctly.
*******
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed! Click here:http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
*******
Knowing this you need to develop these physical characteristics (Flexibility, Balance, Strength, Endurance, and Power) within your body.
This will create the foundation upon which you can build an efficient and powerful golf swing. Lets take a quick a look at these concepts before moving onto some specifics.
Flexibility, in relation to the golf swing, is the ability to draw the club through the proper range of motion. A full golf swing requires you to draw the club through a long range of motion. In order to perform this action correctly the muscles within your body must be flexible.
If your muscles are inflexible the ability to draw the club through the correct range of motion will be compromised, resulting in compensations in your golf swing.
Secondly, the golf swing requires a high level of balance. Balance is often thought of as a responsibility of golf swing mechanics only. The reality of the situation is balance is a component of both efficient golf swing mechanics and the body.
The interaction of the muscular and nervous systems is responsible for your balancing capacities. These two systems regulate center of gravity, proprioception, and limb movement. If you have poor balancing capacities a directly negative effect will be seen in your golf swing.
Introducing balance exercises can improve the ability of your body to regulate its’ center of gravity, know where it is in “space” (proprioception), and regulate limb movement. This will have a direct benefit upon your golf swing.
Thirdly, the golf swing requires you to maintain a fixed spine angle, and rotate around this spine angle during the swing. In order to perform the swing correctly and maintain a fixed spine angle it is necessary to have high levels of muscular strength.
Muscular strength in relation to the golf swing is the ability of your muscles to maintain a fixed spine angle during each swing. If you are lacking muscular strength, the ability to maintain a fixed spine angle will be compromised.
*******
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed! Click here:http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
*******
Fourth in our order of merit is endurance. The golf swing is a repetitive athletic movement, meaning you are performing the same athletic action (i.e. the golf swing) over and over again. Repetitive athletic movements over time cause fatigue within the muscular system. Once the muscular system is fatigued (i.e. tired) the ability to perform the intricate biomechanical movements of the golf swing will be compromised.
In order to combat such a situation it is necessary for the golfer to develop high levels of muscular endurance. Muscular endurance can be defined as the ability to perform a repetitive movement over and over again without becoming fatigued.
Finally, the golf swing encompasses power. Power is the ability to generate clubhead speed. Clubhead speed equates to greater distance on all your shots. Developing clubhead speed is a combination of both your swing mechanics and body.
In relation to the body it is the ability to generate the greatest amount of force within the golf swing. To increase the force outputs within the body it is necessary to develop high levels of muscular power. Developing muscular power relative to the golf swing increases the possibility of greater clubhead speed.
Quite often the amateur golfer does not have the flexibility, strength, balance, or power in the body to swing the golf club correctly. The result is that sloppy, ineffective swing with a lot of body compensations.
Any serious amateur must spend some time on developing the body for the swing. It does not need to be a substantial amount of time, but a little each day. This will over time develop the body for the golf swing.”
My friend shook his head in definitive agreement and said he has lost some distance over the years and directly relates it to losing some of his flexibility.
I said “exactly! That is what happens, the body becomes deficient in one area or another and the golf swing is affected. In addition, to developing the body for the golf swing a certain order must be followed.”
He asked; “What do you mean exactly?”
I replied; “The physical parameters of the body must be developed in a specific order to get the greatest benefit. For example, if you try to develop more power but are not flexible enough to execute a full shoulder turn. The power in your body you develop will be worthless.
Start with flexibility graduate to balance and then look at getting stronger and more powerful.
The exercises I was just performing are golf specific flexibility exercises to help the shoulder turn.
Remember, follow the logic; flexibility first, balance second, and then develop strength and power.”
About The Author
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website http://www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Understanding Match Play In Golf
Welcome back - here's today's featured article:
by: John Retzer
For the casual golfer or fan, Match Play can be confusing. With terms like All Square, Halve, and Dormie, 1-UP, 5 and 4, Match Play is a whole new ball game.
Most golf tournaments are "Stroke Play." In these events, all of the golfers play a certain number of holes, and the player who has the lowest combined total score is the winner.
In Match Play, golfers are pitted directly against each other. A player is not concerned with the entire field -- only with beating the opposing golfer (or side, in team play).
Scoring in Match Play is quite different from stroke play. Each hole in Match Play is scored as a separate event. The player (or team) who finishes a hole in the fewest strokes is the winner of that hole. At the end of the match (however many holes they are playing), the player who has won the most holes is the winner.
*******
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed! Click here:
http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
*******
The scoring system leads to some unusual terminology. The results of match events are not reported by strokes, or by the total number of holes won, but by how many MORE (or fewer) holes a player has won, along with the numbr of holes left in the match. So, if after 10 holes, Tiger Woods has won six holes and Phil Mickelson has won four, the announcers would report that Woods is 2-Up through 10. At the same time, Mickelson is 2-down. If both players have won the same number of holes, the match is "All Square Through 10."
Because each hole is played as a separate event, it is possible for one player to get so far ahead in a match that the other has no chance to win. For example, if Woods and Mickelson finish the 16th hole, and Woods is 3-Up, there is no need to continue. The best Mickelson could do is to win the 17th and 18th, and he still would lose by one hole. So the match ends right there.
The score would be reported as Woods wins, 3 and 2. That means that Woods won because he was up by three holes, with only two holes to play.
If a player wins 1-up, that means that the match has gone to 18 holes. The last hole was played either because the match was all square after 17, or because a player was only 1 up, and the other player could have made the match All Square on the final hole.
If the match is All Square in individual stroke play, the two players generally play until the tie is broken. In many team events -- such as the Ryder Cup -- a tie would result in both sides getting a half a point. This is known as a "Halve".
Confusingly, the term Halve also is used when players tie on an individual hole. Tied holes, however, are not counted in scoring an individual match. You will never see a score like Woods 3 1/2 Mickelson 1 1/2.
*********
Discover High Power Golf! New and Hot. Click Here!
http://tinyurl.com/2gpoap
*********
This also explains why there will often be a result where the holes just don't add up. Woods could win four holes, Mickelson win three and they could tie the other 11. If you just added up the number of holes won, it would look like they didn't play a full match.
The term "Dormie" is used to describe a situation where one player is up by the exact number of holes left in the match. The best the opponent can do is to tie. So, if Woods and Mickelson were on the 16th tee, and Woods was 3-Up, the match is Dormie. The best Mickelson can do is to win the final three holes (16, 17 and 18)and make things All Square.
One seemingly strange score is when a player wins 5 and 3. On the surface, it looks as though the match should have ended with four holes to play, because one player was up by five. But what actually happened was that the match was Dormie with four to go. That is, Woods was 4-Up on the 15th tee (four holes to go). At this point, Mickelson can Halve the match by winning the final four holes. But Tiger wins the 15th, and the match is over. Woods wins by five, with three to go, or 5 and 3.
Another interesting aspect of Match Play is that the players do not have finish every hole. Consider the following situation: Mickelson hits a hole-in-one on a par three. Woods hits the green within inches of the cup, but the ball does not go in. At this point, there is no need for Woods to finish the hole, and he will concede to Mickelson. Even if Woods finishes with a birdie, he still has lost the hole. And there is no need to see if Woods can make the putt because unlike Stroke Play, the score does not carry over to the next hole.
Similarly, players often will "concede" a stroke. This usually happens on a short putt. Mickelson knows that Woods is going to make the tap-in, so he grants the "gimmie." The real question for that hole is whether Mickelson can make 12 footer to win the hole, or if he two putts for a halve.
Players need to be sure that a ball is conceded before picking it up, though. In the last President's Cup competition, Davis Love picked up a ball, thinking that Mike Weir had conceded. Weir had not, so normally a one stoke penalty would be assessed. However, because Love honestly thought he had heard Weir concede (Weir did say something that could have been reasonably misheard), there was no penalty.
There are also a couple of other major rules differences in Match Play. For example, in Stoke Play, if you play out of order, it's just a breach of etiquette. But in Match Play, your opponent can force you to replay the shot.
The other major changes generally have to do with the penalty for breach of rules. In Stroke play, most of the penalties involve the addition of strokes. In Match Play, the rules violations generally involve the automatic loss of the hole.
Match play is very exciting golf. But one of the reasons that you don't see it a lot on television is that it is unpredictable. Individual matches can end quite suddenly, because you don't have to play all the holes to determine a winner. For that matter, you don't even have to finish every hole. A network could schedule three hours for a match, only to have one player win the first ten holes. The match would be over, and the network still would have an hour of programming to fill.
Match play events also are usually played in brackets, like the NCAA basketball tournament. The winner continues on, and the loser goes home. This means that it is entirely possible for the matches on the weekend -- when television viewership is highest -- to be devoid of the stars. In match play, one bad round means that you are done. In Stroke play, you can have a bad round and still come back the next day, have a good round and make the cut.
Match play events are most famously played in international competitions, like the Ryder Cup, the President's Cup, the Walker Cup and the Solheim Cup. It also is the featured format in the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship.
For more on the best of golf, visit GolfBlogger at http://www.golfblogger.com/.
**********
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed! Click here:
http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
**********
About The Author
John Retzer has worked as a professional journalist, photographer, editor, public relations professional and golf coach. He currently teaches economics, political science and history. In his "spare time" he runs several websites and blogs, including Golf Blogger at http://www.golfblogger.com/.
Editor’s Note: On our next post, noted golf fitness instructor Sean Cochran gives us tips on taking care of our bodies and preparing ourselves for the best golf we can play.
Until then, stay well and keep swingin’.
Jim Nettleton
by: John Retzer
For the casual golfer or fan, Match Play can be confusing. With terms like All Square, Halve, and Dormie, 1-UP, 5 and 4, Match Play is a whole new ball game.
Most golf tournaments are "Stroke Play." In these events, all of the golfers play a certain number of holes, and the player who has the lowest combined total score is the winner.
In Match Play, golfers are pitted directly against each other. A player is not concerned with the entire field -- only with beating the opposing golfer (or side, in team play).
Scoring in Match Play is quite different from stroke play. Each hole in Match Play is scored as a separate event. The player (or team) who finishes a hole in the fewest strokes is the winner of that hole. At the end of the match (however many holes they are playing), the player who has won the most holes is the winner.
*******
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed! Click here:
http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
*******
The scoring system leads to some unusual terminology. The results of match events are not reported by strokes, or by the total number of holes won, but by how many MORE (or fewer) holes a player has won, along with the numbr of holes left in the match. So, if after 10 holes, Tiger Woods has won six holes and Phil Mickelson has won four, the announcers would report that Woods is 2-Up through 10. At the same time, Mickelson is 2-down. If both players have won the same number of holes, the match is "All Square Through 10."
Because each hole is played as a separate event, it is possible for one player to get so far ahead in a match that the other has no chance to win. For example, if Woods and Mickelson finish the 16th hole, and Woods is 3-Up, there is no need to continue. The best Mickelson could do is to win the 17th and 18th, and he still would lose by one hole. So the match ends right there.
The score would be reported as Woods wins, 3 and 2. That means that Woods won because he was up by three holes, with only two holes to play.
If a player wins 1-up, that means that the match has gone to 18 holes. The last hole was played either because the match was all square after 17, or because a player was only 1 up, and the other player could have made the match All Square on the final hole.
If the match is All Square in individual stroke play, the two players generally play until the tie is broken. In many team events -- such as the Ryder Cup -- a tie would result in both sides getting a half a point. This is known as a "Halve".
Confusingly, the term Halve also is used when players tie on an individual hole. Tied holes, however, are not counted in scoring an individual match. You will never see a score like Woods 3 1/2 Mickelson 1 1/2.
*********
Discover High Power Golf! New and Hot. Click Here!
http://tinyurl.com/2gpoap
*********
This also explains why there will often be a result where the holes just don't add up. Woods could win four holes, Mickelson win three and they could tie the other 11. If you just added up the number of holes won, it would look like they didn't play a full match.
The term "Dormie" is used to describe a situation where one player is up by the exact number of holes left in the match. The best the opponent can do is to tie. So, if Woods and Mickelson were on the 16th tee, and Woods was 3-Up, the match is Dormie. The best Mickelson can do is to win the final three holes (16, 17 and 18)and make things All Square.
One seemingly strange score is when a player wins 5 and 3. On the surface, it looks as though the match should have ended with four holes to play, because one player was up by five. But what actually happened was that the match was Dormie with four to go. That is, Woods was 4-Up on the 15th tee (four holes to go). At this point, Mickelson can Halve the match by winning the final four holes. But Tiger wins the 15th, and the match is over. Woods wins by five, with three to go, or 5 and 3.
Another interesting aspect of Match Play is that the players do not have finish every hole. Consider the following situation: Mickelson hits a hole-in-one on a par three. Woods hits the green within inches of the cup, but the ball does not go in. At this point, there is no need for Woods to finish the hole, and he will concede to Mickelson. Even if Woods finishes with a birdie, he still has lost the hole. And there is no need to see if Woods can make the putt because unlike Stroke Play, the score does not carry over to the next hole.
Similarly, players often will "concede" a stroke. This usually happens on a short putt. Mickelson knows that Woods is going to make the tap-in, so he grants the "gimmie." The real question for that hole is whether Mickelson can make 12 footer to win the hole, or if he two putts for a halve.
Players need to be sure that a ball is conceded before picking it up, though. In the last President's Cup competition, Davis Love picked up a ball, thinking that Mike Weir had conceded. Weir had not, so normally a one stoke penalty would be assessed. However, because Love honestly thought he had heard Weir concede (Weir did say something that could have been reasonably misheard), there was no penalty.
There are also a couple of other major rules differences in Match Play. For example, in Stoke Play, if you play out of order, it's just a breach of etiquette. But in Match Play, your opponent can force you to replay the shot.
The other major changes generally have to do with the penalty for breach of rules. In Stroke play, most of the penalties involve the addition of strokes. In Match Play, the rules violations generally involve the automatic loss of the hole.
Match play is very exciting golf. But one of the reasons that you don't see it a lot on television is that it is unpredictable. Individual matches can end quite suddenly, because you don't have to play all the holes to determine a winner. For that matter, you don't even have to finish every hole. A network could schedule three hours for a match, only to have one player win the first ten holes. The match would be over, and the network still would have an hour of programming to fill.
Match play events also are usually played in brackets, like the NCAA basketball tournament. The winner continues on, and the loser goes home. This means that it is entirely possible for the matches on the weekend -- when television viewership is highest -- to be devoid of the stars. In match play, one bad round means that you are done. In Stroke play, you can have a bad round and still come back the next day, have a good round and make the cut.
Match play events are most famously played in international competitions, like the Ryder Cup, the President's Cup, the Walker Cup and the Solheim Cup. It also is the featured format in the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship.
For more on the best of golf, visit GolfBlogger at http://www.golfblogger.com/.
**********
Slash 7 strokes off your game – guaranteed! Click here:
http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
**********
About The Author
John Retzer has worked as a professional journalist, photographer, editor, public relations professional and golf coach. He currently teaches economics, political science and history. In his "spare time" he runs several websites and blogs, including Golf Blogger at http://www.golfblogger.com/.
Editor’s Note: On our next post, noted golf fitness instructor Sean Cochran gives us tips on taking care of our bodies and preparing ourselves for the best golf we can play.
Until then, stay well and keep swingin’.
Jim Nettleton
Bargain Golf Equipment - How To Find The Best Deals On All Your Favorite Golf Equipment
Here's today's featured article:
by: John Bolt
Everyone in this world loves a good bargain, and for golf equipment the song remains the same. The one thing to remember is that bargain doesn’t always have to mean cheap, used, or damaged. You can find some really good buys if you just spend a little time and research to find what you’re after. Let’s look closer at the different avenues to finding some great bargain golf equipment.
Previously Owned Gear
This is a perfect place to start for any golfer just beginning the game or for someone who doesn’t want to spend a small fortune on brand new equipment. There are a number of great places that you can find top notch used equipment. If you think of it like buying a car, the minute that brand new car is driven off the lot its value starts to decrease. But that doesn’t mean it won’t work as good as it did the day before when it was still on the car lot.
The same theory applies to golf equipment. You can usually get last years equipment that has hardly used for almost half the price. The technology is still just as good as it was last year but you won’t have to pay the price for this year’s model. There are number of great websites that deal strictly in this type of business. One of them being the ever popular EBAY, another is Callaway Golf Pre-owned and finally GolfClubExchange.com are the three biggest and most popular. You’ll be able to find all degrees of used equipment that is priced accordingly.
**********
Cut 7 strokes from your score, guaranteed! Click here:
http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
**********
End of Season
Another place a golfer looking for bargain golf equipment might look is any major golf store. It can be online or a department store. The key to this type of strategy is timing. If you go searching for new equipment near the end of the season a lot of company’s will have year end sales where they’re looking to give the consumer one last chance at this years equipment at better prices.
But the best time to buy is just after Christmas right before the beginning of the new season. The golf stores will offer huge savings on all the equipment they’re trying to clear out to make room for the new stuff coming in for the up coming season. This is where I feel you’ll find the best bargains on all types of brand new golf equipment that has never had an owner. This especially holds true for such items as golf shoes and clothing. If you want to save a little money then look for last years models and you’ll get some great deals.
**********
Cut 7 strokes from your score, guaranteed! Click here:
http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
**********
Where to Shop
If you’re wondering where to go to get these great bargains there’s only one place. The internet is the best place to find what ever you’re looking for. There’s one main reason for shopping online, and that’s competition. There are so many online retailers competing for your business you can find some ridiculously low prices. You just have to take your time and look. The best thing about this is you don’t have leave the comfort of your own home to find your new gear for this year. The bottom line about bargain golf equipment is to take your time and look in all the right places. You’ll find an awesome deal!
About The Author
John Bolt - You don’t have to spend a fortune on new equipment? Take the worry out of buying golf gear with John Bolt’s ULTIMATE FREE equipment guide from http://www.golfequipmentsource.com./ Enjoy your game…and have tons more fun! => http://www.golfequipmentsource.com/golfclubs.html
Editor's Note: For those of you who are confused by the match play format in golf, help is on the way. In our next post, golf coach John Retzer takes you step by step through the fundamentals and the details of match play. Until then, stay well and keep swingin'.
Jim Nettleton
Saturday July 28, 2007 - 08:13am (PST) Edit Delete Comments
by: John Bolt
Everyone in this world loves a good bargain, and for golf equipment the song remains the same. The one thing to remember is that bargain doesn’t always have to mean cheap, used, or damaged. You can find some really good buys if you just spend a little time and research to find what you’re after. Let’s look closer at the different avenues to finding some great bargain golf equipment.
Previously Owned Gear
This is a perfect place to start for any golfer just beginning the game or for someone who doesn’t want to spend a small fortune on brand new equipment. There are a number of great places that you can find top notch used equipment. If you think of it like buying a car, the minute that brand new car is driven off the lot its value starts to decrease. But that doesn’t mean it won’t work as good as it did the day before when it was still on the car lot.
The same theory applies to golf equipment. You can usually get last years equipment that has hardly used for almost half the price. The technology is still just as good as it was last year but you won’t have to pay the price for this year’s model. There are number of great websites that deal strictly in this type of business. One of them being the ever popular EBAY, another is Callaway Golf Pre-owned and finally GolfClubExchange.com are the three biggest and most popular. You’ll be able to find all degrees of used equipment that is priced accordingly.
**********
Cut 7 strokes from your score, guaranteed! Click here:
http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
**********
End of Season
Another place a golfer looking for bargain golf equipment might look is any major golf store. It can be online or a department store. The key to this type of strategy is timing. If you go searching for new equipment near the end of the season a lot of company’s will have year end sales where they’re looking to give the consumer one last chance at this years equipment at better prices.
But the best time to buy is just after Christmas right before the beginning of the new season. The golf stores will offer huge savings on all the equipment they’re trying to clear out to make room for the new stuff coming in for the up coming season. This is where I feel you’ll find the best bargains on all types of brand new golf equipment that has never had an owner. This especially holds true for such items as golf shoes and clothing. If you want to save a little money then look for last years models and you’ll get some great deals.
**********
Cut 7 strokes from your score, guaranteed! Click here:
http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
**********
Where to Shop
If you’re wondering where to go to get these great bargains there’s only one place. The internet is the best place to find what ever you’re looking for. There’s one main reason for shopping online, and that’s competition. There are so many online retailers competing for your business you can find some ridiculously low prices. You just have to take your time and look. The best thing about this is you don’t have leave the comfort of your own home to find your new gear for this year. The bottom line about bargain golf equipment is to take your time and look in all the right places. You’ll find an awesome deal!
About The Author
John Bolt - You don’t have to spend a fortune on new equipment? Take the worry out of buying golf gear with John Bolt’s ULTIMATE FREE equipment guide from http://www.golfequipmentsource.com./ Enjoy your game…and have tons more fun! => http://www.golfequipmentsource.com/golfclubs.html
Editor's Note: For those of you who are confused by the match play format in golf, help is on the way. In our next post, golf coach John Retzer takes you step by step through the fundamentals and the details of match play. Until then, stay well and keep swingin'.
Jim Nettleton
Saturday July 28, 2007 - 08:13am (PST) Edit Delete Comments
Tension In Your Swing?
Welcome back - here is today's featured article:
by: Paul Wilson
It's often said that you shouldn't have any tension in your swing. This isn't true. You need tension, the thing you don’t need is strength. There's a big difference between the two, and if you can't distinguish between them, it may be stopping you from reaching your potential.
To get the feeling of both tension and strength, simply stand up and hang your arms at your side. To feel tension, extend your arms downward to the ground as far as they go. As you do this, you will feel tension in your arms because they are stretched to their longest point. Now to feel strength, make two fists and squeeze as hard as you can. These are two totally different feelings that have two totally different affects on your swing.
This feeling of strength is what most inexperienced players feel when they hit the ball and they mistake it for tension. They get this feeling because they're trying to hit the ball so hard that their arm muscles lock up. This feeling of strength is deceiving though because it also gives the person the feeling of power. If this feeling of strength is removed, the inexperienced player then thinks that they are not going hit the ball as far so, they immediately they tighten up again.
This feeling of strength in your arms will do two things to destroy your swing:
1. It will narrow your swing arc because the feeling of strength makes your arm muscles contract or buckle through and past impact. The narrower your swing arc, the slower the club will swing.
2. It will inhibit the hinging and re-hinging of your wrists also resulting in a slower clubhead speed. The harder you hit, the tighter your wrists will which will also slow the club down.
So how is the clubhead speed increased if you feel tension?
*************
Cut 7 strokes guaranteed! Click here:
http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
*************
1. To achieve the tension I am talking about, you must allow the arms to be stretched out to their fullest through and past impact. To stretch them out means your muscles cannot be turned on. You have to keep them loose. To understand the increase in arc width, imagine that your golf swing is like picking up a weight and swinging it in a circle on a piece of string. The weight represents your club, the string is your arms, and your body is your hand that is twirling it.
As the weight swings, the piece of string will get tense. This is because the weight is stretching it to its longest point. This maximizes its arc. It's this wide arc that allows the weight to swing its fastest. Remember, feeling strength in your arms pulls the clubhead closer to you because it contracts your arm muscles. If your arm muscles contract, it would be like the piece of string getting shorter as you spin the weight not longer. The shorter the piece of string, the slower it will swing.
2. Loosening up the arms, and keeping the muscles turn off, will also loosen up your wrists. To understand how the wrist hinge will help to create clubhead speed, imagine opening a door with rusty hinges and one with well oiled hinges. Obviously, the well oiled hinges will allow the door swing open and closed faster. If your wrists were "well oiled" it would result in more clubhead speed as well. To get the feeling of wrists that are too tight (rusty hinges), try clenching your fists again. This time pay attention to your wrists and how locked up they become when you feel strength in your arms. So allowing the arms to stretch out through and past impact not only maximizes the arc width, but it also loosens your wrists.
Now that you know how detrimental strength is to your swing as opposed to tension, take a look at a few areas where you are likely to feel it:
1. The first area is your grip. Your grip pressure at set up should be 2 out of 10 where 10 is the tightest.
2. In your set up you should feel like your arms are just hanging and there is no strength in them. If you don't start with them stretched out how are they going to stretch out through and past impact?
3. The takeaway is the next area to check. If you take the club away fast, you are turning on your arm muscles. You should take the club away slow and smooth to avoid this arm strength. To feel this, just flip the club upside down so you are gripping the club where the clubhead is (flipping the club this way makes it really light). Now as you take a few practice swings, you can immediately tell if your arms are tightening. Make sure you take the club back slow enough that you don't feel your arms turn on then apply this same feeling to your actual takeaway (once you flip the club around to the correct position).
4. The next area is just as you are going to start your downswing. Remember, human nature is telling you to hit the ball hard. If you follow you instincts, you are guaranteed to feel strength in your arms. So from now on, don't think about hitting anything. A great way to achieve this is to imagine you have a magic marker taped to your clubhead and there's a huge piece of paper you are swinging against. Your objective is to draw the widest circle you can on the piece of paper as you swing down and through past impact. If you can think of this image you will definitely increase the width of your arc and feel the tension in your arms from the club pulling them out.
5. The final area is just before contact. People feel they have to give the shot just that little extra help to get it in the air. In doing so, they also turn on their arms. Remember to keep the image of the weight swinging on a piece of string in your mind as you swing your club. The weight swings freely around an axis pulling the string to its longest point. Your club should be allowed to swing freely around your body so it too, is allowed to swing to its widest point. You don't have to help the ball get in the air.
***********
Slash 7 stokes from your score, guaranteed! Click here:
http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
***********
The next time you go to the practice range, try to get this new feeling of tension that I have described. If you're doing it properly, you can tell because you will probably hit the ground behind the ball a few times. Don't avoid these fat shots. If you try to avoid them, you will do so by tightening your arms again. Just keep hitting shots (even if the club hits the ground behind the ball). Within 20 balls, you'll get used to your new, wider swing arc and start to hit some of the most solid shots of your life!
Until next time,
Paul Wilson
About The Author
Paul Wilson teaches how to copy the perfect golf swing of the Iron Byron swing machine. For more information, please visit: http://www.paulwilsongolf.com/ or http://www.swingmachinegolf.com/.
Editor's Note: In our next post, John Bolt takes us bargain hunting to save us money buying discounted golf equipment. Until then, stay well and keep swingin'.
Jim Nettleton
by: Paul Wilson
It's often said that you shouldn't have any tension in your swing. This isn't true. You need tension, the thing you don’t need is strength. There's a big difference between the two, and if you can't distinguish between them, it may be stopping you from reaching your potential.
To get the feeling of both tension and strength, simply stand up and hang your arms at your side. To feel tension, extend your arms downward to the ground as far as they go. As you do this, you will feel tension in your arms because they are stretched to their longest point. Now to feel strength, make two fists and squeeze as hard as you can. These are two totally different feelings that have two totally different affects on your swing.
This feeling of strength is what most inexperienced players feel when they hit the ball and they mistake it for tension. They get this feeling because they're trying to hit the ball so hard that their arm muscles lock up. This feeling of strength is deceiving though because it also gives the person the feeling of power. If this feeling of strength is removed, the inexperienced player then thinks that they are not going hit the ball as far so, they immediately they tighten up again.
This feeling of strength in your arms will do two things to destroy your swing:
1. It will narrow your swing arc because the feeling of strength makes your arm muscles contract or buckle through and past impact. The narrower your swing arc, the slower the club will swing.
2. It will inhibit the hinging and re-hinging of your wrists also resulting in a slower clubhead speed. The harder you hit, the tighter your wrists will which will also slow the club down.
So how is the clubhead speed increased if you feel tension?
*************
Cut 7 strokes guaranteed! Click here:
http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
*************
1. To achieve the tension I am talking about, you must allow the arms to be stretched out to their fullest through and past impact. To stretch them out means your muscles cannot be turned on. You have to keep them loose. To understand the increase in arc width, imagine that your golf swing is like picking up a weight and swinging it in a circle on a piece of string. The weight represents your club, the string is your arms, and your body is your hand that is twirling it.
As the weight swings, the piece of string will get tense. This is because the weight is stretching it to its longest point. This maximizes its arc. It's this wide arc that allows the weight to swing its fastest. Remember, feeling strength in your arms pulls the clubhead closer to you because it contracts your arm muscles. If your arm muscles contract, it would be like the piece of string getting shorter as you spin the weight not longer. The shorter the piece of string, the slower it will swing.
2. Loosening up the arms, and keeping the muscles turn off, will also loosen up your wrists. To understand how the wrist hinge will help to create clubhead speed, imagine opening a door with rusty hinges and one with well oiled hinges. Obviously, the well oiled hinges will allow the door swing open and closed faster. If your wrists were "well oiled" it would result in more clubhead speed as well. To get the feeling of wrists that are too tight (rusty hinges), try clenching your fists again. This time pay attention to your wrists and how locked up they become when you feel strength in your arms. So allowing the arms to stretch out through and past impact not only maximizes the arc width, but it also loosens your wrists.
Now that you know how detrimental strength is to your swing as opposed to tension, take a look at a few areas where you are likely to feel it:
1. The first area is your grip. Your grip pressure at set up should be 2 out of 10 where 10 is the tightest.
2. In your set up you should feel like your arms are just hanging and there is no strength in them. If you don't start with them stretched out how are they going to stretch out through and past impact?
3. The takeaway is the next area to check. If you take the club away fast, you are turning on your arm muscles. You should take the club away slow and smooth to avoid this arm strength. To feel this, just flip the club upside down so you are gripping the club where the clubhead is (flipping the club this way makes it really light). Now as you take a few practice swings, you can immediately tell if your arms are tightening. Make sure you take the club back slow enough that you don't feel your arms turn on then apply this same feeling to your actual takeaway (once you flip the club around to the correct position).
4. The next area is just as you are going to start your downswing. Remember, human nature is telling you to hit the ball hard. If you follow you instincts, you are guaranteed to feel strength in your arms. So from now on, don't think about hitting anything. A great way to achieve this is to imagine you have a magic marker taped to your clubhead and there's a huge piece of paper you are swinging against. Your objective is to draw the widest circle you can on the piece of paper as you swing down and through past impact. If you can think of this image you will definitely increase the width of your arc and feel the tension in your arms from the club pulling them out.
5. The final area is just before contact. People feel they have to give the shot just that little extra help to get it in the air. In doing so, they also turn on their arms. Remember to keep the image of the weight swinging on a piece of string in your mind as you swing your club. The weight swings freely around an axis pulling the string to its longest point. Your club should be allowed to swing freely around your body so it too, is allowed to swing to its widest point. You don't have to help the ball get in the air.
***********
Slash 7 stokes from your score, guaranteed! Click here:
http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
***********
The next time you go to the practice range, try to get this new feeling of tension that I have described. If you're doing it properly, you can tell because you will probably hit the ground behind the ball a few times. Don't avoid these fat shots. If you try to avoid them, you will do so by tightening your arms again. Just keep hitting shots (even if the club hits the ground behind the ball). Within 20 balls, you'll get used to your new, wider swing arc and start to hit some of the most solid shots of your life!
Until next time,
Paul Wilson
About The Author
Paul Wilson teaches how to copy the perfect golf swing of the Iron Byron swing machine. For more information, please visit: http://www.paulwilsongolf.com/ or http://www.swingmachinegolf.com/.
Editor's Note: In our next post, John Bolt takes us bargain hunting to save us money buying discounted golf equipment. Until then, stay well and keep swingin'.
Jim Nettleton
A Feel For Your Golf Game
Here's today's featured article:
by: Craig Sigl
Let's get down and dirty about the word "feel" and how I apply it to golf the "Without Practice" way so you can shave some strokes effortlessly this weekend. You know deep down if not at the top of your head, that when you feel good, you will perform or act your best in anything right? Most of us struggle with our feelings because we just let them occur based on whatever is happening in our lives at the time.
For instance, if you just get news that you got a raise at work, you are going to have a great feeling for some time after correct? This is a great time to get out on the course as your bio-computer (brain) is now in the optimum conditon for performance. Nobody denies this and yet we go out on the course and choose to say and do things that destroy our optimum performance potential.
I am becoming more and more convinced the longer I play this game that how we "feel" during our round determines the variation from our average score more than anything else. What I mean by feel is our STATE.
STATE is physiology plus internal representation. It's short for "state of being." So what if we can do things to affect our state just the same as receiving the news that we got a raise at work? We can!
**************
Cut 7 shots off your score - guaranteed! Click here:
http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
**************
Recently, I shot my best round of my life at 1 under par. As I teach people to really dig into how they "felt" when they played a great round, I took notes and after the round really went over the things I was thinking, how my body was responding, what did I eat, what were my eyes seeing, etc.
You need this information to help build your optimal state in the future! Once built, you can rebuild it any time since you now have the blueprint or instructions. WE NEED to pay far more attention to when we play well than when we don't!
Many golfers completely dissect their rounds afterward replaying their bad shots over and over in their minds trying to figure out what went wrong. This only serves to implant suggestions in our subconscious mind that that is how we play.
Not good for future rounds.
Remember: "as a man thinketh, so shall he become" and other quotes like that? It all stems from the concept of the duality of our mind; the subconscious and the conscious functions. Once we get this, we can do a lot toward the mental side of our game to reach our scoring potential.
I used to take advice from the magazines that say you have to keep track of your Greens in regulation, how many putts you had, how many sand saves etc. and then "identify" my weaknesses.
Forgettaboutit!
Again, this is not good since putting the focus on the negatives only gives them power and the repetition of thinking about them starts to solidify in your subconscious. Your subconscious mind doesn't know the difference between a positive or negative thought, it just accepts that which it is most convinced of by repetitive thought or action.
**************
7 shots off your score - guaranteed! Click here:
http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
**************
And besides, I don't need a scorecard to remind me of my weaknesses on a given round. I know what they are after every round and I can usually pin it down to something I did or didn't do prior to hitting the ball.
What you need to start doing right now, next round, is really zero in on the things that go well. Make little celebrations in your mind (be humble with your partners) when you hit a great shot. Turn on the positive emotions and show a big smile when you sink that long putt! Take mental, if not paper and pen, notes on anything worth remembering when you do anything that puts you into that "feel good" state.
Create an anchor that you do every time you hit a shot exactly the way you planned it just like the ringing buzzer that Pavlov's dogs were trained to salivate to.
When you have bad shots, immediately analyze it afterward, see what you can learn from it and then FORGET IT! It will do you no good whatsoever to hold onto it. You know that your swing is different from day to day as all the pros also complain about. So what benefit can be gained from going over bad shots that could be gone the next day without even trying?
Save the analyzing for the range if you do have time to practice. If not, then just keep pounding your subconscious with images of you accomplishing the little things you had trouble with until your next round. If you don't have time to practice your swing, then "practice" getting yourself into that state or feeling of power and confidence instead of daydreaming during boring or mundance tasks you work on through your day.
That is the "Without Practice" way.
Greens and fairways!
About The Author
Craig Sigl teaches how you can score lower Without Practice and The Legends of Golf teach fundamentals. For details and to claim a free digitized paperback book: "How You Can Play Better Golf Using Self-hypnosis" visit: http://www.break80golf.com/
craig@break80golf.com
Editor's note: Craig will be featured in future articles as well. Come back often for more informative, interesting and helpful articles on the great game of golf. In our next post, the well-known Paul Wilson will offer some eye-opening thoughts on tension in your swing. Until then, stay well and keep swingin'.
Jim Nettleton
by: Craig Sigl
Let's get down and dirty about the word "feel" and how I apply it to golf the "Without Practice" way so you can shave some strokes effortlessly this weekend. You know deep down if not at the top of your head, that when you feel good, you will perform or act your best in anything right? Most of us struggle with our feelings because we just let them occur based on whatever is happening in our lives at the time.
For instance, if you just get news that you got a raise at work, you are going to have a great feeling for some time after correct? This is a great time to get out on the course as your bio-computer (brain) is now in the optimum conditon for performance. Nobody denies this and yet we go out on the course and choose to say and do things that destroy our optimum performance potential.
I am becoming more and more convinced the longer I play this game that how we "feel" during our round determines the variation from our average score more than anything else. What I mean by feel is our STATE.
STATE is physiology plus internal representation. It's short for "state of being." So what if we can do things to affect our state just the same as receiving the news that we got a raise at work? We can!
**************
Cut 7 shots off your score - guaranteed! Click here:
http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
**************
Recently, I shot my best round of my life at 1 under par. As I teach people to really dig into how they "felt" when they played a great round, I took notes and after the round really went over the things I was thinking, how my body was responding, what did I eat, what were my eyes seeing, etc.
You need this information to help build your optimal state in the future! Once built, you can rebuild it any time since you now have the blueprint or instructions. WE NEED to pay far more attention to when we play well than when we don't!
Many golfers completely dissect their rounds afterward replaying their bad shots over and over in their minds trying to figure out what went wrong. This only serves to implant suggestions in our subconscious mind that that is how we play.
Not good for future rounds.
Remember: "as a man thinketh, so shall he become" and other quotes like that? It all stems from the concept of the duality of our mind; the subconscious and the conscious functions. Once we get this, we can do a lot toward the mental side of our game to reach our scoring potential.
I used to take advice from the magazines that say you have to keep track of your Greens in regulation, how many putts you had, how many sand saves etc. and then "identify" my weaknesses.
Forgettaboutit!
Again, this is not good since putting the focus on the negatives only gives them power and the repetition of thinking about them starts to solidify in your subconscious. Your subconscious mind doesn't know the difference between a positive or negative thought, it just accepts that which it is most convinced of by repetitive thought or action.
**************
7 shots off your score - guaranteed! Click here:
http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux
**************
And besides, I don't need a scorecard to remind me of my weaknesses on a given round. I know what they are after every round and I can usually pin it down to something I did or didn't do prior to hitting the ball.
What you need to start doing right now, next round, is really zero in on the things that go well. Make little celebrations in your mind (be humble with your partners) when you hit a great shot. Turn on the positive emotions and show a big smile when you sink that long putt! Take mental, if not paper and pen, notes on anything worth remembering when you do anything that puts you into that "feel good" state.
Create an anchor that you do every time you hit a shot exactly the way you planned it just like the ringing buzzer that Pavlov's dogs were trained to salivate to.
When you have bad shots, immediately analyze it afterward, see what you can learn from it and then FORGET IT! It will do you no good whatsoever to hold onto it. You know that your swing is different from day to day as all the pros also complain about. So what benefit can be gained from going over bad shots that could be gone the next day without even trying?
Save the analyzing for the range if you do have time to practice. If not, then just keep pounding your subconscious with images of you accomplishing the little things you had trouble with until your next round. If you don't have time to practice your swing, then "practice" getting yourself into that state or feeling of power and confidence instead of daydreaming during boring or mundance tasks you work on through your day.
That is the "Without Practice" way.
Greens and fairways!
About The Author
Craig Sigl teaches how you can score lower Without Practice and The Legends of Golf teach fundamentals. For details and to claim a free digitized paperback book: "How You Can Play Better Golf Using Self-hypnosis" visit: http://www.break80golf.com/
craig@break80golf.com
Editor's note: Craig will be featured in future articles as well. Come back often for more informative, interesting and helpful articles on the great game of golf. In our next post, the well-known Paul Wilson will offer some eye-opening thoughts on tension in your swing. Until then, stay well and keep swingin'.
Jim Nettleton
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