Keys to Golfing Better

How To Hit A Stock Golf Shot

2009-12-15T06:51:00.002-05:00

Do you know what a stock shot in golf is?

To put it simply, a stock shot is a shape of shot that you can rely on whether that be a fade or a draw.

The best golfers in the world have had a stock shot. For example…

* Jack Nicklaus – fade
* Ben Hogan – fade
* Lee Trevino – fade
* Nick Price – draw
* Berhard Langer – draw
* Tom Lehman – draw
* Bobby Jones – draw

So why would such great players not just hit the ball straight?

Simply because it’s virtually impossible to hit straight shots. Jack Nicklaus has been quoted as saying he’s only ever hit 3 straight golf shots in all his life.

And he’s one of the best golfers who has ever lived!

So what chance do you and me have of hitting straight golf shots consistently?

Obviously very little to none.

The reason it’s virtually impossible to hit perfectly straight golf shots is because the clubhead is traveling very fast and at impact the clubhead has to be moving exactly along your target line. And I mean exactly, it can’t be a fraction of an inch off. Equally the clubface has to be perfectly square when it contacts the ball. Also, you need to hit the ball directly out of the center of the clubface.

But then, even if you achieved all of this you would probably have wind to deal with which would put some sidespin on your ball.

Now the theory with choosing a stock shot is that it will help you to have greater consistency from one shot to the next. So to hit either a draw or a fade you need to put sidespin on the ball. And to do this you need to contact the ball with a glancing or crosscutting blow.

Here is a practical example of why you need to pick a shape of shot that you can hit consistently.

Let’s say you’re faced with a 5-iron to a green. The pin is on the left side of the green just 10 feet from the fringe. So if your stock shot was a fade you could aim at the pin and if you fluked a dead straight golf shot your ball would be right on the pin. If on the other hand you hit your standard fade shot you would probably end up about 10 feet to the right of the hole with a good chance at holing the putt. But if you had a bit more of a fade than you liked then you might end up 20-30 feet to the right of the hole.

That’s smart golf.

So you have to make a decision which way your normal golf shot (your stock shot) is going to fly. And you only have two options:

1. A fade.
2. A draw.

Now there are pro’s and con’s to both shape of shots, and let’s look at some.

The Fade

A fade is a shot that curves slightly from left to right.
* This shot is easier to control than a draw in my opinion.
* It flies higher and lands softer.
* If a lack of distance is a problem for you then this is probably not the best shape of shot.

The Draw

A draw is a shot that curves slightly from right to left.
# This shot is not as easy to control as a fade as it can easily turn into a hook.
# A draw shot generally flies further, lower and rolls more than a fade shot.
# If you lack distance this is a good shot to master so you can gain some yards.

So you have to make a choice as to which shape of shot you want to hit.

The major factors in making this choice are height and length. If you play on a course that often requires high shots to stop the ball then the fade will be better at doing this. If on the other hand you need to play a lot of lower shots then a draw is better. Then if you play a golf course that is very, very long and you struggle with distance then a draw will give you more distance. For a shorter tighter course, then a fade will do better.

The bottom line is you have to weigh up what will work better for you.

Now by doing this it doesn’t mean that you can’t hit the other shape of shot. It just means that most of your shots will curve one way, and you’ll know that is going to happen before you play the shot.

OK, let’s say you’ve chosen to play a draw shot as your stock shot.

How are you going to make sure you hit a draw shot consistently?

Well, you’re not going to change anything with your swing. Hopefully you’ve grooved a good solid swing by now. o you’re going to achieve a draw shape of shot by adjusting your setup. Here’s what you need to do.

When you’re standing behind your ball I want you to visualize a straight line from your ball to your ultimate target. Then pick out an initial, intermediate target from your ball to your target. This initial, intermediate target should be about 2-3 feet in front of your ball.
Now, you’re going to pick another intermediate target to the right of your first one. Once you have this second, intermediate target you then use that to setup to your shot.So you setup your body parallel to the second intermediate target. And by doing this all parts of your body will be aligned to the right of your ultimate target. Now the only other adjustment you need to make is to square the clubface up to where you want your ball to finish. So for this example, you would have to close the clubface a fraction so that is pointing at the initial intermediate target.
So there you go, that’s the two main things you have to change in your setup to hit a draw (or fade for that matter).

* Body Alignment
* Clubface alignment

Once you have changed these factors you then simply need to swing along the line you’ve setup. And in the example I’ve just given you that would mean that your swing path will be swinging out to the right of your target. The ball should then curve from right to left because at impact the clubface should be slightly closed and your swing path is in to out.

To hit a fade you simply need to reverse those instructions that I just gave you for a draw. Remember, you simply have to change your body alignment to your final target and then align your clubface to your final target. After doing this you then simply have to swing along your alignment line.

Now there are some other things that will help you to hit one shape of shot or the other. Here they are:<
# Grip: A weaker grip (1 knuckle) promotes a fade whereas a stronger grip (3 knuckles) promotes a draw.
# Ball Position: The further forward you have the ball in your stance the more it will help you to produce a fade/slice. The further back the more it will help produce a draw/hook.
# Posture: The more bent over you are at setup the more it will promote a draw. The more upright you are at setup the more it will promote a fade.
# Distance From The Ball: The further away from the ball you stand the more it will promote a draw/hook. The closer you stand to the ball the more it will promote a fade/slice.

So the main things you need to adjust are your alignment and cluface positioning at setup to help you hit a stock shot consistently. And the other things I’ve mentioned above are things you can try to help you hit a better and more consistent stock shot.

The bottom line of this lesson is that you need to pick one shape of shot that you can almost certainly always hit. Then make the necessary setup changes and learn to hit that shape of shot consistently. When you do that you’ll have much greater ball striking consistency and consequently much more fun playing golf.

Golf Simulators Make the Season Longer

2009-12-12T09:11:00.002-05:00

By Michelle Parks

Golf simulators are tools that should be employed by golfers who love the game, and by those who want to learn the game.

Simulators can be used for perfecting a swing or a course. These tools can also be used for practicing to prepare for tournaments and the like.

Golf simulators also serve a bigger purpose, which is embraced by lovers of the game.

What could be so wonderful?

Simply the ability to play more golf. Whether the weather is a balmy 85 degrees or a frigid and wet 40 degrees, you can use a simulator to play the game.

Is there a course you wish you could master, but the season is just too short? G

Golf simulators can help.

How? Because you can use a simulator year round, you have the whole off-season to practice. And that isn't all--simulators project a number of exciting courses, including your favorite, and allow you the opportunity to play the course over and over.

If there is a specific hole you need to work on at your favorite course, no problem. You can practice it until you have perfected it.

Is it just too hard to make it to your dream course?

Maybe it is in Florida, Arizona, or even in Scotland.

You can play the course on a golf simulator! Imagine--you can play on the finest courses around the world, at any time of the season, or off-season.

Of course, you also can play your favorite courses over and over.

Golf Simulators Are Helpful Tools for Golfers If you need to practice your swing, use a golf simulator.

Why? The computerized tool allows you to see how far off your swing is, and what you can do to improve.

Because practice makes perfect, or better stated, practice makes permanent, corrective practice is needed to improve.

Golf simulators enable you to practice the area of the course you need help with.

Does the back nine give you trouble?

Practice in the off season, so when April rolls around, you can really play the course well.

If you can't seem to master number four, with a golf simulator, you can practice until you get it right.

If you are looking to extend your season and improve your game, do it with golf simulators.

The computerized technology of this tool allows you to play day and night all year if you want. There will be no need to spend the first several weeks of the season dusting off the clubs and working out all of the kinks from the off season.

You can enjoy the game in the winter, and be ready to play hard on opening day.

Also, with golf simulators, you can play any course you want.

It is a virtual world, but the benefits--enjoyment and skills--you attain from playing with golf simulators make you incredibly impeccable on the course.

Golf Bags for Beginner Golfers

2009-07-14T07:17:00.001-04:00

You might be a golf beginner looking for your first set of golf clubs and equipment or a pro shopping for upgrades, but all will agree that golf bags are essential in the game. Next to golf clubs, a golf bag is one of the most important golfing equipment there is.

It is considered a necessity. A good golf bag will lessen your worries on the golf course, (i.e. all your clubs are in their proper place) and you can focus on your teeing.

If you're a beginner golfer, then golf bags are definitely a must. However, there are things that you should know before going to the nearest golf store and buying a golf bag on impulse. First, there are two types of golf bags? carry bags and cart bags.

Carry bags are golf bags that are used when you are planning to have a lot of walking on the golf course. Cart golf bags are those that you use when walking is not possible (as some golf courses prohibit walking), and riding a golf cart is your option. A beginner golfer will most definitely buy a walking bag at first, although if you are a serious beginner of the game, then you will eventually buy both types of golf bags.

If you are a newbie in the game, you might ask "What is a golf bag for? I only have four golf clubs." A golf bag is a functional equipment rather than a fashion statement. It is not just for your golf clubs, but it can also hold your other golf equipment and accessories. Some advanced golf bags even have pocket coolers that can keep your drink ice-cold even for hours! You might want to consider that, especially when you will buy a carry golf bag.

When buying a golf bag, especially a carry golf bag, find a comfortable one. One should check the straps to see if it fits comfortably and whether it can be carried easily. Remember that your golf bag will be one of your trusted companions on the greens, and that you will spend hours with it. So choose wisely. Don't buy low quality bags, because you will end up purchasing another bag in the next few months if your old golf bag tears up. You should also buy your golf bag depending on the number of golf clubs that you have. Most golf bags can carry up to 15 golf clubs. A tournament however limits the number of golf clubs in your golf bag.

Another important thing to consider when purchasing a golf bag is its weight. This is one of the most important things to know. Golf bags should be light enough to be carried or carted easily, but sturdy enough to hold your clubs and protect them. Some golf bags are even water resistant, and are rain proofed for the protection of your clubs. Most of these golf bags have 8 or 9 dividers or pockets. Again, the number of dividers that you will need depend on the amount of clubs and accessories you will carry. If you have many golf clubs then choose a golf bag with many dividers. However, these types of golf bags have the tendency to be heavier. Some bags can weigh less than 5 pounds! These types of bags are made up of space-age materials such as graphite, however, they more expensive.

Remember that when buying golf bags, the lighter it is, the better and more comfortable it will be.

Pre-Golf Warm Ups

2009-07-08T09:39:00.002-04:00

Why You Should Never Swing a Cold Arm

Have you ever seen a pitcher come to the mound, fresh from the dugout without taking a single second to stretch and warm-up? No, you have not. And hopefully you do not see a golfer coming straight out of the clubhouse and teeing up in the same way. More importantly, let's hope that is not your usual practice. Golf is a sport, just like baseball, tennis or football and the same concepts apply: you have to be fit, and you have to warm up before you get started. Unless you want your first round of golf to be your last round as well, make sure that you stretch your muscles and do an adequate warm-up before blasting that first ball. It is also in your best interest to understand a little bit about what golf can do to your body, and what body parts are most important to your golf game.

Most golfers know that they will be using their upper bodies during their swing, and their lower bodies between each shot, but they may forget that their abdominal region is one of the most important factors of their game. A strong core will give you balance and power for your swing, but will also protect your lower back during the actual swinging action. The weaker your core is allowed to become, the more potential risk there is for back injuries, sometimes serious enough to keep you not only off the links, but off of your feet for days.

Consider yoga as part of your golf game. Keeping your back and shoulders loose and limber will help your swing not only to be strong, but safe as well. Some yoga programs can be modified and adapted for specific sports and are well worth looking into. Also do some strength training, especially those moves that target your shoulders, upper back, biceps, triceps and forearm muscles. Along with working with weights, make sure that you are doing some flexibility moves as well. Follow your new routine at least three times per week, adding more as you increase your strength and flexibility. As always, make sure you consult your doctor before beginning any fitness routine.

There are many programs available, either on video, in books or on the Web, so make sure to find the right one for you and stick to it. Learn each of the stretches and do them in a mirror to make sure that you are keeping to proper alignment and form. Do each of the stretches for the recommended amount of time, but keep in mind that stretches should not be painful. If there is any pain, back off of the stretch and consider whether you were doing the move correctly, or trying to go too far with the stretch before your muscles are warmed properly. Remember golf is supposed to be a fun way to maintain your fitness, but nothing is enjoyable if it leaves you injured. Take the extra time to stretch and warm-up properly, so that you can enjoy your game and play to the best of your own ability.

Changing that Awkward Golf Shots Into Opportunities

2009-07-07T06:49:00.001-04:00

For some of us golfers, this is something that happens to us more often that we would like. You know what I am talking about. Shots that throw you off balance or aren't as simple as instruction videos or professionals make them look. Here are some great ways to overcome the awkward shots.

When you have an awkward shot to make, think about how you can swing, keep your balance, and keep from moving your head. Then imagine the line your club travels along.

Prior to setting up your shot, consider where the club head needs to travel for the greatest distance in a straight line. Keep in mind that the ball makes contact with the club head for several inches. After you make a few practice swings, you will be able to see what relationship your feet will have with the line and then you can determine your stance.

It is important to keep from swaying when you are about the hit the ball. Just before you swing, see if there is any problem keeping your balance. If there is, you need to keep shifting until you find a comfortable position where there is no tension in your swing. Freedom in your muscles and mind is what you are looking for so that you will be able to swing smoothly. If you are fidgety when you address the ball, you are not going to be able to focus on the ball. Be sure you keep your feet still.

Ensure that you can see the ball from the beginning to end of your swing. Even if it is a difficult shot, do not lose focus on the ball. This will help you hit the ball cleanly and solidly.

If you keep your eye on the ball, then your swing will be free from faults and the ball will be hit correctly. If you can keep your head still for the entire swing until the club head meets the ball, your swing will definitely improve. Then if you have an awkward shot, you will be able to hit it with confidence and assurance.

Bad or difficult weather can make any shot more difficult. When the wind is blowing, it is important to keep your feet closer together. It is natural to think that you just need to hit the ball harder, but the wind makes it even more important to hit the ball correctly.

The more awkward the shot, the more you need your muscles to be relaxed enough to make the shot. Here is a tip. The shorter the shot that you need to make, the closer your feet should be brought together. Hit the ball true, instead of with all of your strength to keep it from bouncing away and reducing the distance that it travels.

Awkward and difficult shots are something that every golfer needs to learn to deal with. Once you learn how to handle them, then you will be much more confident and be enjoying a lower golf score!
Learn More Click Here!

How to Putt

2009-06-24T09:54:00.001-04:00

How to Putt: Being the Ball and Other Caddyshack References
Funny how whenever you start talking golf, eventually someone will start quoting actor Chevy Chase's best lines from Caddyshack. After encouraging his young costar to "be the ball" Chase then goes into a series of putt shots, sinking all but one. Okay, technically, he kicks on, but the point is made: the putt is one of the more individual shots of the game of golf. The long drive swing is basically the same the world around, but putts are something different altogether. Putts can be a testament to your nerves and determination- you have to feel your way through a putt. On a long drive, you can swing forth, aiming for a basically long flying, fairly straight shot and then correct from there, but the putt is in the danger zone so to speak. Once you have got down to the putt, you are done with the adjusting and tweaking portion of the hole. Now is the time to sink the ball into the hole, however you feel that you can do that.
Of course, you know that the swing is different from the long drive to the putt, but did you know that the grip is different as well? Basically, without getting too technical about it: your putt grip is in the palms of your hands, reducing hand movement. With the long drive, the grip is in your fingers, allowing more wrist freedom. Of course, if you have no idea of what your grip looks like, it might be worth it to grab a club, a broom stick or something similar, grip as usual and then stand in the mirror to observe yourself. Look at your hand position. Take a mock swing and note the sensation of movement. Now, roll the club more toward the palm of your hand and swing again. Can you feel the difference in the feeling and movements that you get with this adjustment? Practice both grips as much as possible- both the long drive swing and the putt are integral parts of the golf game.
If you are working with a golf pro, follow any advice they might have for you. Do they want you to focus on learning the initial swing first, or the putt? (Some pros feel that switching back and forth will not allow for full focus on either.) Remember though, that once you learn the mechanics of the putt itself, there is some wiggle room with grip- find the grip that is most comfortable and most effective for you. And remember, whenever you are approaching a putt: take a deep breath, use the best grip for your own style and try to always be...Chevy Chase.

Golf Stretches: Tight Muscles Will Not Play Well With Others

2009-06-16T15:47:00.001-04:00

The best equipment you have for your golf game is free, unique and irreplaceable. It is your body, and if you do not take good care of it, will break down and fail you. You would not consider misusing your expensive titanium golf clubs, so why would you not take the absolute best care of your body that you can? After all, what good are those clubs if you are laid up in bed?

Learn a good stretching routine before you ever consider playing your first round of golf. Most professionals will agree that stretching is the very minimum you should do to keep yourself healthy, whether you golf or not. Yoga or other types of stretching regimes can be adapted specifically for golf as well, so there is no excuse for being improperly trained or stretched out while out there on the course.

Basic Stretches For Your Upper Body

1) Upper Chest Stretch (Stretches: anterior shoulder, rotator muscles)
Standing with your feet slightly apart, grasp your hands behind your back and rise
your arms as far as you comfortably can. Hold this position for a full count of ten
seconds and then repeat. Aim for completion of five reps.

2) Back Stretch (Stretches: lower back, gluteus, and hamstrings)
Lie on your back and grasp your legs behind the knee, pulling up toward your chest,
gently. Hold position for ten seconds, repeating ten times.

3) Shoulder and Arm Stretch (Stretches: shoulder girdle)
Find a ledge or stationary bar, placing both hands palms down, shoulders width
apart on it. Bend your knees slightly, allowing upper body to drop down. Come
into the stretch at your own comfort level: either drop down further to increase or
remain where you are if it is enough. Hold for ten seconds, repeating five times.

4) Forward and Back Arm Stretch (Stretches: Obliques, Back)
Start with your feet shoulder's width apart. Bending forward slightly from the
waist, extend left arm to front, right arm to rear. Hold both arms at shoulder height
for the count of ten and repeat five times. Switch arm positions, repeating another
five times.

5) Shoulder Stretch (Stretches: Shoulder girdle, triceps)
Lift your arm to shoulder height and then bring it across the front of the body. Bend
elbow ninety degrees, grabbing the elbow with your opposite hand. Apply gentle
tension for ten seconds and then release. Repeat this five times with each arm.

Ladies Golf Equipment

2009-06-12T10:28:00.002-04:00

Don't Get Caught Up on the Gender Labels
The best advice a beginning golfer can get on the topic of equipment is this: consult your instructor or the resident pro at the course you play most often. Do not get drawn into the generic consensus that just because you are a woman you must use "women's clubs". Just as there are no single shoe size and style that will work for all women, there is no one set of clubs that will be better or worse for them. A man does not just walk into the pro shop and ask for the first gender labeled bag of clubs; a woman should not expect to do that either.

First of all, most of the clubs that are labeled as "ladies" or "women's" are too short for the average female golfer to use with any success. The average height woman can accurately handle a man's length clubs for instance. If you are much taller or much shorter than average, it would be in your best interest to look for custom clubs anyway to best fit your frame and swing. Regardless of height, do not get caught up in the theory that you need ladies clubs because of weaker swing. Unless there are underlying health problems, most women can more than adequately handle the weight and swing of the so-called "man's" clubs- especially considering the innovations in materials. Clubs for either sex are lighter, more flexible and infinitely more responsive these days. And, most women are stronger, and more fit these days as well.

Regardless of the label on the club, make sure that you buy the equipment that will allow you to play to the best of your ability, making the best of your swing. Do not spend a fortune on beginning clubs as your swing will improve and your needs will change with time and practice. Make sure that you understand the ratings and labels on your clubs and if you are unsure, ask questions. Do not expect to just walk into a pro shop unaided and walk out with the perfect set of clubs for yourself. Engage the assistance and advice of the pro and make sure that time is taken to gauge your height and swing strength. Also, make sure that you are encouraged to test swing several similar clubs, testing the different materials that are available. Even within the same club types, different materials will feel and react differently, so swing more than one or two to get a sense of how they will handle out on the course.

The Rules of Golf

2009-06-10T14:32:00.000-04:00

To Do, Not to Do, and Fibbing is Not Technically Covered
The number of rules in the game of golf can be intimidating, especially to a beginner. For the casual or amateur golfer, no one expects them to know each and every single rule. The basics of not only the rules, but of golf etiquette as well should be reviewed. If you have any doubts about behavior, try to observe the senior players around you for some hints.
Read through not only the rules, but the rules of the particular course that you will be playing most often. Although the golf rules are the same, there are some subtle differences in certain areas of play amongst the different courses. For instance, some golf courses will only allow certain types of shoes, while others are a little lenient with such things.
After you familiarize yourself with the basic rules, you should then take the time to learn the scoring process. If you will be playing against someone, especially if you are in a tournament type of play, you will be required to keep your opponent's score. How embarrassed would you be if you have to admit that you do not know how to do it?
Along with the rules of the game, are the rules of behavior while playing the game. Golf etiquette is as important to learn as the rules are, so that you do not make a blunder during your round of play. While golf etiquette is basically common sense, the basics do bear repeating. These include: not talking while another golfer is teeing up a shot, being ready to play when it is your own turn, knowing who gets the first shot on each hole, knowing where all of your group is before you take your initial swing, and do not tear up the golf course without making some effort to repair and restore it.
Try to keep a sense of sportsmanship about your game, no matter how badly that you are playing for that afternoon. Keep mindful of the people that are all around you, and try to avoid using foul or unpleasant language. (Some clubs and resorts do have regulation about this.) Do not lose your temper and throw your clubs or other gear. Be adult, be gracious, be a good sport.
And finally, several rules that every golfer should know, no matter what level of play they are at:
1) The ball that you tee up is the ball you must play all the way to that hole, unless another stated rule allows for a substitution.
2) Make sure that the ball that you are playing is in fact, your ball. Each player should id his or her balls with a unique marking.
3) Play the ball where it lies. (No kicking, bumping, tossing or otherwise improving position.)
4) An unplayable ball will present you with three options. Those are: playing from where you hit your last shot, drop a ball within 2 club lengths of where the ball is now, or keep the point where the ball is between you and the ball and drop a ball on that line. All three options will incur a one stroke penalty.

Golf Etiquette

2009-06-09T13:03:00.000-04:00

Good Manners Equals Good Golf
When you think about it, golf is one of the most well -mannered sports in the world. Nobody is ever going to see Tiger Woods hipcheck one of his opponents on the fifth hole. Greg Norman probably never ran after anyone with his club held over his head. Nobody gets called any variety of body part or farm animal just as they bend their head to tee up. The game is quiet, almost tranquil, without the finger pointing, name calling or chair swinging of other sports. Even for the beginning golfer, learning golf etiquette is just as important as learning the other rules and scoring is.
One of the most basic etiquette rules begins before you even tee up that very first shot. Find out about the dress code of the course that you are playing at, and try to adhere to it as closely as possible. Make sure that you know what kind of shoes you should be wearing cleated or not. If you are using a golf cart, make sure that you park far enough away that you will not impede other golfers, or better yet, walk the course. Next, you should know that during each player's tee shot, there is no talking to allow for supreme concentration. Don't stand in someone's line of vision, and leave your cell phone at the clubhouse or set it to vibrate.
Pay attention to the game, even when it is not your turn, and be ready to play when it is your turn. Nobody wants to have to keep reminding an adult that it is their turn, nor do they want to stand around and wait while you get yourself situated and ready to go. You should be lining up your next shot, going over what you would like to do before you ever walk up to the tee.
Know who will play first, and the subsequent order thereafter for each hole. In most cases, the first player on a new hole is the one who had the lowest score on the last one. Of course, if there is a tie, then whoever had the lowest on the previous hole to that one is first.
Make sure that you know where everybody is, including all others who might be on the course around you. Not only do you have to see where your own group is, take a look around before rearing back and taking your swing. Also, be aware of the speed with which your group is playing. Are the folks behind you ready to declare war on you? If you are playing at a slightly slower speed than the group behind you, invite them to go ahead and play through to avoid holding them up unduly. In the same respect, if you find that you are behind a slower group, and they have not invited you to play through, then you should remain calm and polite without any semblance of trying to rush or hurry them.
And finally, do not tear up the course without making an effort at repairing the divots. Do not leave trash behind, nor allow any member of your group to do so. Be a responsible

Getting Your Hands Through the Ball at Impact

2009-06-06T07:54:00.000-04:00

Have you ever thought about what your hands and forearms are actually doing at the moment of impact? If not, please give this a try because it's one of the most important parts of the swing.Try to get into the impact position, like you are about to make solid contact with the ball. Now flip your trailing wrist like you were casting a fishing pole. This is referred to as a wrist break, and it's not a move that you want to make in golf. So if you are trying to "flip" your hands through the ball at impact, this tip may help you understand the correct way to make this happen. If you put a wrist watch on you'll be able to visualize the correct moves to make. As your leading arm approaches impact the watch face should be getting close to pointing exactly down the target line, or to the flag. Now simply ROTATE the watch face so it's pointed at the ground. With a club in your hands, you'll see that this move makes your trailing wrist and forearm "flip" on top of your leading wrist and forearm. You also see that this will help to "close" the face of your club nicely, that will both reduce your slice, and add distance. This is the correct move to be completing through impact. It's important to note that your forearms should be working together as well. Try to keep your forearms as close to each other as possible through the impact zone. If you can master this move, you'll find increased distance and it will also do wonders for your slice.

SLICE SHOTS

2009-06-05T08:23:00.000-04:00

The Ball curves to the right - Slice
The most dreaded shot in golf is the slice. If you slice the golf ball you are not alone.
Some of you may be able to hit with power, but it doesn't do you any good if you slice the golf ball off the fairway or green into the trees or bunker on the right.

The problem is not getting the clubface square to the golf ball at impact, leaving the face open which results in the ball curving to the right. A golf ball that has a left to right spin on it is a Slice!!
At impact you want the clubface to be closing in order to hit the ball straight or with a draw. With a slice however, the clubface is open at impact. Because of the open clubface at impact, this will cause the golf ball to spin from left to right.Anytime the golf ball curves from left to right you are losing distance and accuracy.

I am going to give you a great tip that will stop your slice immediately.

After you address the golf ball take a peak down at your left hand grip. If you see less than two or three knuckles you will have to turn your left hand over to the right. Do not forget to move the right hand to the right also so the palms are facing each other. The second tip is to make sure you hold the club as gentle as you can. Two or three knuckles of the left hand and hold on gently so the ball will curve left and not right. That will Possible Fix the problem.
Slicing a golf ball is just one problem. There is a very good chance that you may have a problem with your backswing or downswing that could be causing the problem.

A fade(right to left) is an acceptable ball flight. If you can control a fade and you are pleased with the results, stay with it.

Inconsistent Ball Contact - Thin Shots

2009-06-04T07:14:00.000-04:00

THIN SHOTS
I think we can figure out your problem. Topping the golf ball can be the result of many problems in your golf swing. We need to try a few things to analyze fully where the problem is originating, and then we can correct it.

Topping the golf ball is when the bottom of the golf club hits the top of the ball. The result is the ball rolling along the ground. Depending on how far on top of the ball you hit and what club you are using, the ball will move a few feet to 150 yards.
Possible Fix:
First off, I need you to try bending over more at setup. You need to bend more at the hips. Not at the waist, but at your hip bones.

This bending over should also force your chin 1-2 inches lower. So make sure you are addressing the ball with your chin a bit lower to the ground. However, you still need to make sure that your chin is level to the ground.

Topping is just one problem. There is a very good chance that you may have a problem with your backswing or downswing that could be causing the problem. Not only that, but incorporating the correct mechanics will result in added distance and consistency on every swing you take.

How to Properly Fit Golf Clubs

2009-05-29T14:59:00.000-04:00

If price is not an issue, you can specify each individual part of your club, ending up with a custom built set. Of course, there is a cheaper option to this concept as well, buying each part yourself and putting the club together yourself, one of the cheapest ways for the average golfer to end up with custom made clubs. If building your own does not sound like something you are interested in, and you cannot afford the custom built option, you can buy readymade clubs which will suit you well, that is, if you make sure that you have them properly fit.
The first step to getting properly fitted golf clubs should be to consult a professional. Check with the golf pro at the course you play most often if there is one. If not, check online for where the nearest Professional Golfer's Association is located and check with them for advice. (Be aware that in most cases, club fitting is not free nor is it usually cheap, so check to see if it is in your price range.)
The shaft length of your club will not be determined simply by your height. Tall players might have shorter arms, or shorter players might have longer arms, or the actual golf stance that you take before your swing might change your needs dramatically. In these cases, a fitting might actually be the only way to properly fit your clubs, despite the expense.
Your grip size is determined by your hand size, as well as the faults that you would like to correct with your swing. If you are a slicer, smaller clubs will make you work your hands faster. If you hook the ball, instead, bigger grips will slow down your hand action, reducing the amount of the hook. Grips come in different types of materials as well as the various sizes, which material you use should be determined by how often you play, the weather conditions that you play in most frequently and what kind of work you want to put into maintaining these grips. Leather for instance, is expensive and requires a lot of effort to maintain. All-rubber is better for the beginner through intermediate players, is easy on the hands and can be changed whenever necessary. (It is recommended that your rubber grips be changed at least once a year if you play once per week or more.)
Fitting your clubs should be a fairly lengthy process. You do not want to just walk in and grab the first golf clubs that you find. This is an investment, even if you plan to upgrade within the next year or so, so make sure that they fit you well.

Callaway uPro Golf GPS

2009-05-29T07:25:00.000-04:00

The uPro uses state-of-the-art technology to make it the most innovative and effective product of its kinds. With features that are unparalleled for a golf GPS device, the uPro provides the avid golfer with aerial and satellite photography of the golf course coupled with GPS technology to clearly show golf course hazards, distance and the overall layout of each hole.

Graphics and text are crystal clear with a large 2.2" high resolution color screen that is easily viewable outdoors, even in direct sunlight. Patent pending SmartView technology automatically generates the proper views of the course based on your current location and updates those views appropriately as you move on the golf course. The sleek and unobtrusive design of the uPro can easily fit in a pocket or belt holder without interfering with the natural golf swing.
Features:

* Super-fast GPS locking allows for the quickest startup time - high GPS sensetivity ensures that the uPro remains locked under the most extreme conditions
* No need to install drivers or software - uPro does not require additional software to connect to our servers to download golf courses - users can easily download courses at nearly any computer with an internet connection
* The high resolution color screen combines up-to-date aerial and satellite imagery with GPS for the most accurate views and measurements on the golf course
* Easy to understand graphics that display golf hazards such as sand traps and bunkers, as well as your current location on the golf course
* Large 2.2 inch, high-resolution 320 x 240 color screen that is easy to view outdoors in bright sunlight
* Through the use of SmartView technology, the uPro automatically presents dynamically generated "viewports," which show you information based on your next potential shot - as your position on the course changes, so does the view of the course
* The uPro is thinner, sleeker, and lighter than any other product on the market - it fits easily in the pocket or on a belt without obstructing your swing
* As an add-on software download, the device can accept voice commands to make menu navigation virtually hands free
* Provides the user with a list of all golf courses in the U.S. - the GPS technology programmed in the uPro provides an automatically sorted list of golf courses closest to the current location of the user

uPro Golf GPS

Inconsistent Ball Contact - Erratic Shots

2009-05-28T13:19:00.000-04:00

Definition:
You are unsure where the ball will land when you hit it.
Background:
I think we can figure out your problem. Erratic shots are most likely the result of many problems in your golf swing. We need to try a few things to analyze fully where the problem is originating, and then we can get on with correcting the problems.
Possible Fix:
To avoid these mishits you need to focus on perfecting your swing. That means using the same swing every time, following the same path (from inside to slightly closed at impact to inside). What you are trying to do in the full swing is hit shots that fly straight or have a slight draw. We're also trying to perfect our distance. This means that every 7 iron should go roughly the same distance as every other 7 iron. In order to do that you must get the clubface square on the ball at impact. You will use your arms and your body together in order to accomplish this goal.

Your grip is very important for many reasons. It is the only part of your body that ever touches the club. Your swing could be perfect, but if your grip is off, it will ruin your whole swing.

The Fat Shot

2009-05-15T13:01:00.000-04:00

This problem may be easier to fix than you think. You may not realize it, but your back shoulder may be dipping towards the ground. This move forces the club to hit the ground too early. Most of the time it happens when you are really trying to get into the ball. Imagine...You're 200 yards out and you've chosen to hit the 4 iron. When you've got it in your head that you have to hit the ball hard to get it there, it's the natural tendency to start your downswing with the hips in an effort to "really get into the ball". That may work in baseball, but not in golf.

I'd like to take you through what happens if you make that move in golf. First, get into your setup position, now take your backswing and hold it at the top. Now move only your hips horizontally towards the target, and notice the way it forces your back shoulder to "dip". If you've made that "dip" with your back shoulder, it's over. You are going to hit behind the ball 90% of the time, and if you do make good contact, you'll probably end up with a killer slice. Lateral movement is no good for the golf swing.
Bobby Eldridge - Head Golf Professional, PurePoint Golf
& Scottsdale Country Club

To avoid this problem, and to simplify your golf swing, keep the lower body out of the equation. If you really want to get into the ball, start your downswing with your arms. It's tough to do if you have a habit formed, but once you get used to it, you won't be hitting the ball fat anymore. Most golfers over-emphasize the weight shift. If you keep your hips still, the weight shift will still occur, but it will happen naturally.

Get to the top, keeping your leading arm as straight as possible. Now start down at the ball with your leading arm fully extended. Your head hasn't moved laterally, and your hips haven't moved laterally. Now imagine the entire golf swing, through impact, occurring underneath the upper body.

Concentrate on keeping your front shoulder "down" on the ball. This will enable you to keep your swing on the correct plane, and it will help your hands to keep up with your body. Don't let that shoulder come up and away from the target before impact as that will cause your body to get ahead of your hands leading to fat shots and slices.
Bobby Eldridge - Head Golf Professional, PurePoint Golf
& Scottsdale Country Club

Myths About Increasing Swing Speed

2009-05-10T09:13:00.000-04:00

I'd like to talk again a little bit about swing speed.

These days golfers are fascinated with hitting the ball farther and farther, and many of them are willing to do anything under the sun to eek out a few extra yards. People search for answers by getting things like more golf lessons with top instructors, or by buying the latest equipment that manufacturers promise is their longest yet.

What many people fail to consider is that they can hit the ball much farther simply by increasing their usable swing speed. Remember that in theory, for every 1 mph that you increase your swing speed you will carry the ball 2.5 yards farther. Increase your speed by 10 mph and you will hit 25 yards farther. It's actually much easier than you think to do this, however, the problem is that there are a number of myths floating around out there about swing speed.

1) You Can't Train Speed

For whatever reason, it seems to be a popular belief that people that are fast are just born that way, and that you've got what you've got. Recently on pgatour.com, I saw a quote from Tiger when he was playing with the PGA Tour leader in driving distance, Bubba Watson. He said, "Either you have speed or you don't." Yes, some people may be naturally faster than others, but that doesn't mean that if you're fast, slow, or losing yards with age that you can't either significantly improve on what you've got or get the yards back that you've lost.

2) Training Slow Makes You Fast

Saying this in and of itself doesn't really sound logical, but the exercises that I see some golf fitness trainers giving their students implies otherwise. For example, take this exercise quoted from a golf trainer's column I read:

"Hold a single dumbbell straight out from chest with arms fully extended. Rotate your arms to the right, then to the left as far as you can go both ways. Go slowly and do 20 repetitions."

Will this improve your strength? Yes, possibly, but doing it this manner may even make your swing slower. In regards to speed training, it's important to build fast-twitch muscle fibers, not slow ones.

3) Speed Kills Your Golf Swing

A better way of saying this would be that TENSION kills your golf swing.

If the average distance an amateur who swings 90 mph is 220 yards and the average distance a professional who swings 115 mph is 290 yards, speed is obviously an important factor when it comes to distance.

A mistake many golfers make in an effort to hit the ball farther is to swing harder. There's a difference between swinging hard and swinging fast. Swinging hard with tension and rigidity makes it more difficult to make good contact because measurements to the ball are changed and one's balance is more easily thrown off. Missing the sweet spot on your driver by as little as an inch can cost you 20 yards on your drive. Swinging fast is supple and fluid and it's easier to be consistent with this type of bodily motion. You don't get in your own way and speed is allowed to happen freely.

The next time someone tells you to slow your swing down to hit it farther, try freeing up the tension in your swing first before you decide to slow it down.

Golf Score Improvement

2009-05-08T08:10:00.000-04:00

Picture yourself up on the teebox at your favorite course.
You've got a pretty decent round going so far. As you wait
your turn, all sorts of thoughts start coming into your
mind.

Thoughts of choking, of how many holes you need to
par, of the distraction of the group behind you pressing
you to play faster, etc.

You walk up to your ball with your eyes scanning the
fairway and your mind racing. Your breath speeds up and
becomes shallow. You can feel your hands tense up a little
and you try to "shake them out."

You keep telling yourself to calm down and then you
remember reading somewhere to take long deep breaths. For
some reason, the breaths don't cut it, and there's a reason
why.

You take a few extra practice swings to try to get
centered. The fairway seems to get smaller and smaller. You
grip the club and swing with 3/4 of your normal speed
hoping to get accuracy instead of distance.

All of this overcomes you and you score a triple bogey. At
the 19th hole as you look at your scorecard, you comment to
your partner that you played pretty good except for "THAT
TRIPLE BOGEY"
How many times have we heard that before? Geez, it's like a
bad joke now it's so common.

If I'd just bogeyed that one hole, I'd have broken 100 or
90 or 80.
Do you do anything about it? Do you tell yourself that the
next time you have that kind of situation again; that it
just won't happen?

Dream on... It's out of your control.

I hate to say it but You are doomed to repeat this scene
over and over until you understand how to use today's big
lesson. So here it is.

You must play golf with your unconscious mind!

What! Now what is this guy trying to tell me?
That not using my mind is the way to go?

First off, it is absolutely necessary to understand that
our mind operates in 2 different main ways. We will call
these ways the unconscious and the conscious mind.

The unconscious mind is the stored instructions for how to
do things without trying to think about them. Like breathing,
the correct heartrate, healing, dreaming, growing etc.

Our conscious mind is what we use to make decisions with,
think with, take in information with. It's power is
basically the difference between us and the animals. Most
of us play golf with our conscious mind. We attack golf
just like we operate at our job or vocation.

Unfortunately, this doesn't work for golf at all.
Tim Gallwey called these 2 minds
inside us: self 1 and Self 2.

You know what I'm talking about. It's those 2 forces you
have. The first one is what creates all that mind chatter.
It creates doubt about your next shot. It questions everything
you want to do. It wants to "control" your swing. In
short, it wreaks havoc on your game.

The Self 2, or unconscious, is that part of you that is the
definition of CONSISTENCY!

How many times have you complained that you lack
consistency? It's everything in this game!!!

And it's located in your unconscious mind.

What's the most consistent thing you do since the moment
you are created until you die? Yep, it's your heartbeat.

Guess what runs your heart (and every other automatic body
function)? Yep, your unconscious mind. So where is this
"Unconscious Mind?" Refer back to our little science discussion
yesterday. It's in your entire body...and it's you at your
essence!

Once you learn how to communicate directly with it, in it's
language, then your golf problems are over. A repeating
golf swing will be yours whether you practice or not.

When Sam Snead was asked what he thinks about when he
swings, he always said: "Nothing"

The Easiest Way to Draw the Ball

2009-05-02T10:25:00.000-04:00

The Easiest Way to Draw the Ball" this is sure to make a lot of people very happy.

I'll tell you right now... this is going to be painless, contrary to what you may think. I'll start with a single definition.

Level Shoulder turn - a turn that stays level with the ground (parallel to the ground) through the backswing.

So, now that we have that out of the way, let's continue on with this quick and easy tip to draw the ball. And if you've battled a slice for years upon years, just wait until you try this. The next time out to the range, your slice is going to be dramatically reduced.

Here it is. Instead of taking your normal shoulder turn (whatever that may be), focus on keeping your shoulder turn as level as possible (parallel to the ground). So as you are setting up to the ball, feel your feet on the ground to determine if there is an uphill or downhill lie. Then in your backswing, just focus on keeping your shoulders level to the ground.

Now, this may actually produce a HOOK of all things, so remember to adjust accordingly. And remember that you are attempting to wrap that club around your body. You want a horizontal swing plane, not vertical. That's what this level shoulder turn is really accomplishing. You'll find it so much easier to release through the ball correctly, and to square up the face of your club at impact.

Give that a try on your next trip to the range and you'll be amazed to see that dreaded slice going away! I know this probably seems incredibly simple to anyone who has been battling a slice forever, but just remember that simple solutions are usually the most effective.

A New Golf Season

2009-04-30T11:02:00.000-04:00

Whenever a new golf season is about to start, these tips will be
useful. Please take a few minutes to check and see if you are
prepared for opening day atyour golf course.

First and foremost, if you did not get your grips re-gripped last
fall, this would be a perfect time. Make sure you ask the club
repair person to measure the size of you grips and to replace them
with the exact same size. If they replace them with a grip too big
or too small, it can throw off your feel. While you are at it, if
you have a shaft that is broken, now is the time to have it
re-shafted. Most of the repair shops are not to busy this time of
the year.

This is the time of the year when all of the new equipment is
hitting the stores. If you wait to buy a new club in the middle of the
season, it might take you some time to get use to it. Start looking
now if you want to replace a wedge, or a fairway wood. Here are a
couple of tips for buying fairway woods- if the shaft is too stiff, the
ball flight will be lower and it might go right. If you buy a
shaft that is too weak, the ball flight will be too high and the
ball will have a tendency to go left. So, it's important to get
your swing speed measured, so that you have the correct shaft flex.
Many people think they know, but really they end up purchasing a
flex that is a bit off.

There is nothing wrong with heading out to an indoor facility and
start taking some swings. Before you do that, make sure you have
taken some swings for a couple of weeks in the garage or outside.
A pulled muscle is a tough way to start the season. As age
progresses, muscles get tighter. Make sure to take the time to
stretch properly in the beginning of the season, and it will
benefit you down the road. Many of your "golf muscles" aren't the
muscles that you generally use in everyday life. So make sure to
warm them up properly before you start the season.

Golf Tips Involving Golf Equipment

2009-04-28T07:06:00.000-04:00

Blaming your moves, shots and swings for your golf mishits and mishaps? Well, no matter how much time and effort you have been spending over practicing your moves to perfect your game, you still won't achieve your goal if you use unsuitable or defective types of golf equipment, will you?

Now is high time for you to consider the following golf tips that involve checking on your equipment's quality.

If you plan to choose used golfclubs as beginner's tools, scrutinizing before purchasing is a must. The clubheads, the shafts, and the grips are golfclub parts that should pass inspection first before landing a decent spot in your golf equipment cabinet. Another excellent golf tip that will get you through the game is making sure that the set of used golfclubs you're eyeing have set consistency. It will also help a lot if you check first the price of new clubs vs. used.

A golf tip for a golfer that plans to regrip his clubs: Be cautious. This is because the grips are the only contact points one can access to affect the shot. Before carrying out the regripping, 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 or advice 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 deliver his backswings efficiently. Too steep angles in carrying out backswings may be avoided if one selects the perfect fitting equipment available.

Custom golfclub fitting makes a better option than just buying new golf clubs. Getting custom fitting golfclubs 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 golfclubs 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 good 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 golfclub shaft will benefit your game. Observations tell that the steel club shafts are more preferred by professional golfers while graphite shafts 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 that must be the main content of 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 golfclub load your bag is allowed to hold. You can only bring 14 golf clubs in your bag. No more. No less. Aside from your skill level contemplation, your mastery of a certain golfclub and your being comfortable with using it must also be put into consideration in deciding which golfclub to hit.

A good combination of the right moves and good choice of equipment will better arm you to become the best golfer you could ever be.

Warm Up Hitting Some Golf Balls On The Range

2009-04-19T10:12:00.000-04:00

Always always warm up by hitting some balls on the range
before you start. Don't go through the usually-taught
routine of starting with your wedges and working your way
up to the driver. That's practicing.

Just do some stretches
and get a swing weight or use 2 clubs together to get your
muscles going. Then, hit shots on the range like you will
be playing on the course. Pretend you just got to the
course with no time for warmup and have to go straight to
the first tee. Get rid of those first few bad holes before
you get to the first tee.

Start right off with the club you will use off the first
tee, probably driver. Hit your next shot based on how well
you hit your first shot and what the hole demands. SIMULATE
ACTUAL PLAYING CONDITIONS on the range.

This is what you
would do if you showed up late right? And it takes a few
holes before you get to scoring well right? Doing the old
standard warmup routine of hitting 5 shots of each club is
nothing like you will be doing on the course. But this will
mentally prepare you to play!

Golf Fitness Guide.
Easy Tips And Techniques To Quickly Transform Your Game And Add 20 Yards To Your Drives!
www.ultimategolffitnessguide.com

Golf Exercises

2009-04-09T09:28:00.001-04:00

Keeping Yourself Fit So That You can Play Golf

You buy the finest clubs, custom sized to fit your frame and swing style. You have an Italian leather golf bag, and always wear the latest golf fashions. Every holiday, birthday and other gift giving occasion is a time for your family to buy you some golf related accessory or doodad, but what about the most important part of your golf game? Of course, that is your own body. The best clubs, tees and clothes will do you no good at all if you are not healthy enough to pick your golf bag up and get out the door.

No matter what kind of golfer you are, from beginner to advance, you must be physically fit to play. Of course, that is true no matter what sport you play. Golf can be a major danger to your shoulders, hips and lower back if you are improperly conditioned. Make sure that you are physically ready to head out for the course, and consider sticking to nine holes of golf until you are stronger and in better shape.

So, what exercises should you perform to not only keep you healthy and strong, but to help with your golf game as well? Keep in mind the main muscle groups worked during a round of golf and that will give you a basic idea. Also plan to do exercises to build your stamina/endurance, as well as to strengthen your cardiovascular system as well. You are already well aware that there is a lot of walking involved in a golf game- so start there. Make sure that you are logging time either on the treadmill or better yet, in the fresh air of nature. Aim to work yourself up to at least five miles per walking session, but build slowly. If you can handle a five-mile walk with relative ease, then either add distance, hills or speed to the walk. Keeping your heart strong is very important.

Strength training is important as well, not only to keep your weight down, (muscle has a higher metabolism than fat) but also to protect the body parts that you use during your golf game. You know that you use your shoulder and other upper body muscles during your swing, but your core and leg muscles come into play as well. Do not focus just on your upper body; you need to work every muscle group in your body to keep yourself in good golfing condition. Do not automatically assume that you need to need to heft super heavy weights to properly work your muscle groups, some of the smaller working muscles can become nicely conditioned with lower weights, lifted at higher reps.

Along with cardio and strength work, you must make sure to work your abdominal muscles as well. Your core gives you balance and stabilization during your stance, your swing and your follow through. A strong, well-toned core will also protect your lower back from injury.

Finally, consider adding stretching and flexibility exercises to your golf fitness routine. Stretching will warm your muscles up before golfing, and can be used to release any tension and built up lactic acid in your muscles after your round is complete. Flexible muscles are less prone to overstretching and injury and will also help with stability and movement.

Golf Fitness Guide.
Easy Tips And Techniques To Quickly Transform Your Game And Add 20 Yards To Your Drives!
www.ultimategolffitnessguide.com

Post-Golf Exercises

2009-04-02T10:38:00.000-04:00

You just had your best round of golf ever. You high five everyone on the way to the locker-room, you quickly shower and change clothing, toss your gear into your trunk and head out. You make a quick stop at the store and pick up a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk and then return home. You come in, put the groceries away and then fall into your recliner chair and take what you think is a well-earned nap. An hour later, you wake and begin to stand up, only to realize that you are so sore you can barely move. Thinking back, you try to figure out what could have caused this amount of pain, and wonder- could this be from golf?

If you did not stretch after golf, the likelihood is very likely. For your next golf game, make sure that you stretch before hand to prevent injuries during, and then keep in mind some exercises for afterward for the same reason. These should not be full on, heavy-duty exercises, you did just play golf after all, but should stretch and release the lactic acid that builds in your muscles when they work hard. Don't let anyone tell you differently, golf is hard work and you will feel it if you do not take the necessary precautions.

If you have a regular yoga practice, you can use that as your post-golf exercise routine, but it you do not, then you can use some very simple stretches and moderate yoga poses to relax and release your most worked muscles.

To release tension and muscle strain in your shoulders and upper back:
Downward facing dog: Long considered one of the very best shoulder stretches in yoga, down dog is easy to learn and feels amazing once you master it. Start with your feet about shoulder's width apart, and place the palms of your hand on the floor, under your shoulders. If you have tight hamstrings, you will have to modify by either using a pillow beneath your hand, or by bending your knees slightly. Your aim will be to be in the pose with straight legs. Keep your breath even and natural, and imagine your tailbone pointing toward the ceiling. To come back out of the pose, walk your hands back toward your legs and then straighten up.

To release your hamstrings and upper thighs:
Lie on your back and bend your left knee. Cross your right leg over the left knee and then slide your hands around the bent knee- your legs should resemble a figure four. Pull your bent knee toward your chest until you feel the stretch, stopping before there is any sensation of pain. Hold for several seconds, and then release and switch legs.

To release your calf muscles:
Step up on a ledge or the edge of a rolled towel, or small pillow. Come way up onto your toes and hold, feeling the calf muscles contract fully. Hold the position for several seconds and then release, feeling those muscles relax. Repeat several times.

To release your ankles:
Sit on a chair, sliding forward until your feet can plant firmly and flatly on the ground. Using a tennis ball, roll the ball under your right foot, drawing each letter of the alphabet on the floor. Repeat with left foot. (This will also work your feet and feels terrific.)

One final lower body stretch:

Sit on your bottom, placing the soles of your feet together in front of you. Holding onto the outer edge of your feet with the palms of your hands, imagine that your legs are the wings of a graceful butterfly, and flap up and down several times. Do not concern yourself with how big the movement is, nor with how close to the ground you can get your legs at first. Eventually, you will be able to get your legs flat to the floor without strain or pain. Do not force it, just let your body work itself into it slowly.
Golf Fitness Guide.
Easy Tips And Techniques To Quickly Transform Your Game And Add 20 Yards To Your Drives!
www.ultimategolffitnessguide.com

Learn the Basics of Golf

2009-04-02T10:37:00.000-04:00

For some people a round of golf is nothing more than taking a handful of balls out, and whacking them aimlessly toward the holes with whatever club does not get out of your way fast enough. To them, golf is the mindless bit of exercise they have to endure before they get to the drinking and fibbing portion of the afternoon. For others, golf is more than just a game; for them golf is a means of not only relaxation, but an opportunity for fitness as well. Golf can be all of these things as well as a chance for social and business networking, and for those people who view it that way, they would like to have some semblance of skill out there. These people will want to live and breathe golf, but first, they will have to learn the very basics.
The first step to approaching the game, after gathering all of the gear, of course, is to learn the fine art of patience. If you have ever watched a golf game on television, you know that there is a stillness about the game found in no other sport- a quiet grace that takes just as much hard work and dedication as the wrist shot in hockey, the leaping slam-dunk in basketball or the dramatic Hail Mary play in football. The golfer, especially the beginning golfer, must learn to be patient, to take their time and line up the shot; and to always be looking ahead to the next hole- what will you do when you get there? Will you know which club is the best bet?
Next, you should learn the general rules of the game itself, as well as the basic terminology. You do not want to get invited out to a round of golf with your boss and then look lost and over your head for the rest of the day. Take some time and learn these things, but do not feel that you have to go overboard and talk like a parody of "golfers". Sprinkle in a term or two, but do not overdo.
The golf swing is not a natural action and you should realize that you will not grab a club and know exactly how to hold it, let alone to use it well. Consider how serious you are about golf and then decide if that warrants reading a book, watching a video or taking some lessons. If you are only going to go once or twice a year with friends with drinking the main goal, then flip through a book or two and be done with it. If you are more serious about golf however, you should at the very least rent a video to study a swing, but lessons are better for a number of reasons. For one, there is no way that a video can assess your own swing and help you to correct and adjust any problems that you might have with it. Lessons with a live instructor will give you the hands on, honest appraisal that may help you build a good, solid golf swing.

How to Practice at a Driving Range

2009-03-18T16:20:00.000-04:00

How to Practice at a Driving Range: Swinging 'Til You're a Star
Driving ranges are meant for practice, and the more you use them, the better your game will become. Hitting a bucket of balls before or after games, or even occasionally instead of a game will make your swing stronger, more controlled and more effective. Remember, in the early days of learning how to play golf, you are working on the sheer mechanics rather than the subtle nuances, those will come in time. Head out to the driving range and swing away.
For the best and safest practice, make sure that you start with some warm-ups before blasting the long shots. Tearing up your shoulders is not going to help your game, after all. Proper warm up will also assure better control so that you can hit the balls that you desire. Start with the wedge, concentrating on making that initial contact with the ball. Continue with the wedge, working on making contact and the smoothness of your swing, but do not worry about where exactly the ball is going. This is the warm-up portion, not the "look how far I can hit this ball" part.
Move to the midirons next, again making sure to keep your swing smooth and concentrating on good, solid contact with the ball. Continue with this club, trying to select spots and areas and focusing on getting the ball to those general areas. Do not worry if you are not exact, you are just aiming for the general area.
Now you should be fairly warmed up and ready to really blast away. Do not hit too many balls this way, but do go ahead and try for a bit of distance with these swings. Aim for the 50 yard mark. If you hit that with relative ease, go up to the next marker. The long drives should be no more than ten balls, twelve if you are really feeling loose. Keep track of what distance you left off at, and aim to start there the next time.
Finally, before you leave the driving range, take a good ten minutes on the practice putting green so that you can get the feeling of it before playing a real round of golf. Make sure that you putt at different angles on the green so that you get a sense of how the balls roll and behave, as well as for the speed and rhythm that you will need in a real game situation. Do not worry about sinking balls, just work on getting the right feeling for your shots.

Use A Wall To Cure This Common Swing Fault

2009-03-07T07:38:00.000-05:00

Taking the club too far inside the target line on the backswing spells disaster. It can lead to all sorts of bad shots—pushes, slices, duck hooks, and topped shots. A common swing fault, this move is usually caused by a backswing controlled by the hips and the dipping of the shoulders away from the ball. With practice, you can cure this fault.

Here's a six-step drill to cure this fault:

1. Situate yourself with a wall behind you
2. Take your address position with a driver
3. Make sure your backside is barely touching the wall
4. Simulate your backswing in slow motion
5. Keep moving your arms until they're waist high
6. Make sure the toe of club points straight up

If your backswing is correct, you'll eventually hit the wall. But that won't happen until after reaching waist high. Since you're not going beyond waist high, you shouldn't hit the wall. Just in case, use a head cover to protect the clubhead and the wall.

At the start of a correct backswing, your clubhead should run along the target line for as long as possible. Once the clubhead reaches waist high, the toe should point straight up and away from the wall. If your club touches the wall as you take it back, you know you're moving too far inside.

In that case, practice your takeaway by first leading the backswing with the upper body along the target line. Once the upper body can't turn any more, the lower body takes over. That's the correct way of making your backswing.

This drill also helps golfers who struggle with "laying off"—dropping the clubhead behind the body because of a weak pair of wrists. Women and senior golfers sometimes have this problem.

If your hitting slices, pushes, duck hooks, and all sorts of other bad shots, you could be taking the club too far inside on the backswing. If you think you are, use this drill to cure this common fault. It will cut strokes from your scores.
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Golf Tips and Golf Videos

2008-12-29T20:14:00.000-05:00

Golf Tips and Golf Videos

Golfing 101

2008-12-29T19:32:00.000-05:00

Keys to Golfing Better

Golf professionals do have something that they all agree on. If you do not keep your balance during the entire swing, it is not possible to have a good stroke. It sounds simple to keep your balance, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, it is impossible to have good balance when you are so tense that you are “white knuckling” the club, your entire body is stiff, and you are trying to hit the ball too hard.

When you are just starting to play golf, you are frequently warned to not hit the ball too hard. Energy that is focused will make the ball go much further than a hard swing that does not make contact with the ball at the club’s center. When you are well balanced, you are more free to hit the ball correctly.

Keep your head still, with your eyes focused on the ball. The more still your head is, the better you will be able to see the ball. This helps to create the foundation for you to keep your balance. Any movement or distraction that hinders your balance will make it impossible to focus on the ball. It is imperative that you keep your head perfectly still and do not move it during your swing.

If you want to keep your balance, you need to relax your body and muscles. If you don’t relax, then your head is going to move.

If you will watch yourself in front of your mirror, you will soon realize that you need to relax your muscles for your head to stay still while you swing. No two golfers have the same build, so you will have to figure out some things for yourself. It is a necessity to begin by keeping your head in the same position from the beginning to end of your swing. If you keep your head still, you will be able to focus on the ball, and you will turn your hands at the right time.

You will be able to cure many of your problems just by keeping your head completely still. It will be impossible to incorrectly grip your club without losing your balance and moving your head.

If you don’t follow through correctly, you will not be able to keep your balance.

If you concentrate on your balance and keeping your head still, then you will not swing too hard or pull your club away. It will be impossible to put too much strength into your swing. You will be relaxed and will have a smooth swing and a successful finish.

Keeping your balance is necessary for you to enjoy a great game of golf. It will take time for you to see definite improvement, so be patient. Concentrate on keeping your balance and your head in one place and in no time you will be enjoying an excellent golf game that your friends will be envious of!