GOOD GOLF

2006-12-27T04:55:00.000-08:00

Golf - Getting To Grips With Bunker Shots by Donald Saunders

A bunker, also known as a trap, is an area of ground, often a small natural depression, from which the turf has been removed and replaced with sand, water or tall grass. Where a bunker crosses the line of play it is often referred to as a cross bunker. Digital Life Shop

The secret to tackling a bunker shot is to establish a solid base with a firm footing that will support your swing without slipping. In establishing this firm base however you must be careful not to dig your feet in too well or you will make your legs rigid and encourage too strong a shot. The essence lies in keeping your lower body still with very little movement in your legs.

You should stand with your weight favoring your left side (unless you're a left-hander in which case you should favor your right side) and your stance should be opened and a little wider than normal to restrict your backswing and also to steepen your swing. You should also turn your knees in slightly, so that you have more weight on the inside of your feet.

As with all golf shots you should have a firm, but light grip. If your grip is too tight your wrists will become rigid and you'll find it hard to slide the club under the ball and into the sand. You should also move your grip slightly farther down the club shaft than normal, about half an inch will be enough, as this will not only make it easier to hit the ball, but will also discourage you from burying your feet in the sand. Finally, hinge your wrists slightly earlier than you would normally to encourage a steeper angle of attack on your downswing.

When it comes to your swing, shorten your backswing by about one quarter and mirror this three-quarter swing on your follow-through. In a bunker shot your aim is not to hit the ball with the club head but, instead, to aim for a point about two to three inches behind the ball so that you scoop up some sand which, in turn, makes contact with the ball and shoots it up and out of the bunker.

If you're taking your shot on an uphill slope of the bunker be careful to keep your shoulders level and avoid the tendency to tilt them with the slope. If you are taking a shot on a downhill slope of the bunker, open your stance a little, steepen your backswing and swing slightly more aggressively. Be careful not to close the face of the club and accelerate through the ball.

If you're having trouble with bunker shots then he are a couple of exercises to try.

Put a tee in the sand so that just the top is visible. Then put a ball on the tee and try hitting the tee about halfway down its length. This will help you to focus on getting under the ball.

Next, draw a straight line in the sand with the handle of the bunker rake and stand so that you are straddling the line with it slightly left of center. Then practice making swings to splash the sand forward with your club head hitting the sand on the line. Once you are consistently hitting the line, put a ball down a couple of inches to the left of the line and continue your practice.

As with everything else, the secret to a good bunker shot lies in a sound technique and plenty of practice. If you spend a bit of time practicing bunker shots not only will you find that your score goes down, but your level of frustration will also go down. read more...

Golf Workouts Can Quicky Add Yards To Your Drives

2006-12-24T05:03:00.000-08:00

Golf Workouts Can Quickly Add Yards To Your Drives

I'm sure by now you've heard most of the professional players; both men and women actively participate in golf workouts. It's no secret. But why then do most amateur golfers ignore this? Is it because it seems like work? Or, does the thought of actually breaking a sweat get you tired already?

Either way?the proof is in the bag. The number one player in the world, Vijay Singh, does his golf workouts all the way through Sunday of each tournament. Does it look like it's hurting his game? I don't think so. Back in 1997, a young, very athletic golfer came on the professional scene and blew everyone away. I think you know who I'm talking about.

Tiger took golf to another level. A real eye-opener for the veteran players who were hitting the 19th hole after every round?and the last thought on their mind was "exercise". What a wake-up call to be totally dominated by a player who was only 20 years old at the time.

How about the year Annika Sorenstam shot a 59 and totally dominated the LPGA? Do you know what she attributes it to? Golf workouts! She hired a trainer and got serious about her fitness. And look what happened? She hasn't looked back since. She just recently came out with an instruction book and devoted a chapter to golf workouts.

To my recollection, that's the first women's instruction book to include golf workouts. Working out to playing better golf isn't just for the guys; Annika has proved that. Now more LPGA players are working out to try and catch her, just like the guys did with Tiger.

How about the senior tour? Now players are realizing they can still make good money, even after they've turned 50 and can't really compete with the young guys anymore. With the money at stake, they too are all working out. This group of players both amateur and pro is the biggest demographic that needs it the most.

With age comes a decline in both flexibility and strength. When the body declines, the swing goes right along with it. The result is a big loss in yardage, more mishits, and ballooning scores. The end result?frustration! I can't tell you how many times I've played with and received phone calls from older golfers who are just about ready to quit the game.

They are SO frustrated at this rapid decline, that golf's not fun anymore. But there is hope. The answer? Get your body moving just a little better. How? By participating in golf workouts that focus on golf-specific strength AND flexibility. It's amazing to see golfers in this age bracket dramatically improve their driving distance, accuracy and scores.

You don't have to accept that with age, your body declines. No way! You've got to fight it all the way! I'm dead serious. The ones who do, are the ones who are enjoying the game again and taking all the money in their foursome.

What is a golf workout anyways? Is there such a thing? You bet there is. The golf swing is an awkward movement that puts a tremendous amount of stress on the body. To prevent injury and improve swing speed and distance requires your body to be both strong and flexible specific to the swing.

I could spend dozens of pages describing what this entails, but for the sake of this concise article, let's keep it simple.

The golf swing is a rotational movement, with your body in golf posture. Slight flex of the knees and a bending forward at the hips. Since the golf swing is primarily rotational, wouldn't it make sense to focus on rotational strength and flexibility? That is improving your turning ability related to range of motion and speed.

So anything involving twisting with resistance such as a medicine ball, a dumbbell, or even a weighted club would work. You need to have a resistance to take your body beyond where it normally goes.

For instance, if you took a club and placed it behind your neck, got in your golf posture and rotated back and forth; do you think that by itself would improve your range of motion or power?

No, you need to add resistance to accomplish this. Take a weighted club and make golf swings. Now you'll be making a bigger turn AND improving your power. Same thing with a medicine ball. Make turns back and through holding a 4 to 6 pound ball and you'll see a BIG improvement.

In fact, most of your abdominal work should be rotational. Doing straight crunches won't improve your driving distance. Doing rotational movements with added weight will. This is where I could go on and on, but I won't overload you.

I hope I've convinced you to take a real serious look at what all the other successful professional players are doing to stay at the top of their game. Doing golf workouts can and will dramatically change your game forever. Now get out there and get it started. No procrastinating. Do it right now! read more...

Guide To Buy Used Golf Clubs For Beginner Golfer

2006-12-23T03:56:00.000-08:00

Guide To Buy Used Golf Clubs For Beginner Golfer

If you are just starting out to play golf, you should never buy a new golf club set immediately as you may discover that this game is not for you later on. Furthermore, you are yet to find the type of golf clubs that fits you during the learning stage. The good choice is to start with cheap used golf clubs>. And here are some guidelines to help you to hunt down your first used golf club set:

Golf Rental Clubs
First, you may want to play with the rental clubs at a driving range. During this time, don't be afraid to ask your friends or other golfers to try their clubs on the range. This is a good opportunity for you to judge which type of clubs is right for you. After hitting for a period of time at the driving range and you think it is time to buy your own clubs, then ....

Rely on golf expert
When you go out to buy used golf clubs, you should always rely on people who know golf equipment well. You can look for your local pro at your local municipal course as a source of information and advice. Or you can consult the experts at the golf shop or even your friend who plays well or who knows anything about golf clubs. Alternatively, you can search the Internet for used golf club reviews. You can always ask people for advice but keep in mind that what suits them may not necessary prove good in your hands. Therefore, it is more important to identify the golf club set that suitable to your ability yourself.

Golf beginner's half set
As a novice golfer, you are advised to learn with a half set of clubs with all matching iron of the same model. The half-set could be made up from a few combinations of clubs. In general, the half set combination consists of five iron clubs, including 4, 6, 8, pitching wedge and sand iron, in addition to 3 and 5 woods plus a putter. The driver is not recommended in the beginner's half set because it is the hardest club to control. Majority of beginners would achieve better results using a 3 wood on the tee box. Likewise, 1, 2 or 3 irons should be avoided at the early stages of the game, as each of these long irons requires an accurate strike from the middle of the clubface with plenty of club heads speed in order to achieve good results. In contrast, a 5 wood with distance almost equivalent of the 2 iron - the ball can still travel a fair distance despite being hit off-center. Besides, a lofted wood is more forgiving than the thin blade of an iron club heads.

The half set combination not only sufficient for most novice golfers on the golf course for every situation but also makes club selection much easier. It is a good combination of clubs to help the novice to improve their swing technique until they are good enough before they advance to the full set golf clubs. Therefore, you have to make sure to select a golf model for your half set from a reputable manufacturer that can be added to at a later stage.

Golf Feels
The best way to purchase a used golf clubs is to actually hold them in your hand and swing them to get a feel for what you want. The feel of a golf club clearly seems to be all-important. But, what is 'feel'? There is no scientific formula that defines it. In general, feel can be described as the way a golfer feels a club when he or she swings it depends on its swing weight and the flexibility of its shaft.

Iron Club head
Look for club head that made of stainless steel and avoid inexpensive alloy heads. For beginner, you should select the 'heel-and-toe' (or, perimeter-weighted) club head design, cavity backed (hollowed out in the back) and over-sized golf club. You should get bigger club heads because they are more forgiving with enlarges 'sweet spot' that can produce maximum distance even with off-center contacts.

Golf Shafts
Graphite shafts is ideal for beginner even though it is more expensive that steel shafts. Its lighter overall weight allows beginner to swing the club faster even with enlarged clubhead.

Golf Grips
If you have purchased used golf clubs where the condition of the grips could be less than perfect or the grips don't fit properly for you, then make sure you replace them. Grips are fairly easy and inexpensive to change by a pro or club repairman. Ensure all the grips are replaced with same size and design.

Finally, if you are just starting out with golf, chances are your swing is more likely to let you down rather than the golf clubs itself. Having said that, it is still important to try out the golf clubs before buying them in order to find a golf club set that suits your swing, body and game. Most importantly, makes you feel confident when you use it. read more...

The Top 10 Life Lessons from Golf

2006-12-07T06:58:00.000-08:00

The Top 10 Life Lessons from Golf

Golf is an amazing mirror of life. Yes, other sports provide life lessons as well, but golf happens to be my favorite sport and the one I understand the best. It is an addiction, a mystical experience, a test of character, an escape, a source of rare joy and excruciating pain. No psychological test will tell you as much about a person's character as a round of golf. With the arrival of spring, here are some of my observations about golf and the game of life:

1. Expectations & Flexibility. Golf, like life, is not mastered in a season, and it is particularly frustrating if we approach it with stiff and inflexible expectations. Great golf begins with stretching, bending, loosening up, and matching my desired outcomes with the realities of a body grown lazy over the winter. A sense of humor, and a sprinkling of humility go a long way!

2. Clarity of Purpose. Many golfers never stop to think about why they play the game. To win? To have fun? For social reasons, or for the challenge? For the exercise? Just as striving to become rich and famous often creates frustration and disappointment, few will ever play professionally, and striving for perfection is a setup for "failure". Know why you play the game and where you find your satisfaction and joy in it.

3. Equipment. Most golfers play with clubs that don't fit them, or that no longer suit their games. Graphite shafts and new club designs have revolutionized golf. Active golfers should have their clubs checked for loft, lie, and length, and have them re-gripped every season. Almost any job is easier with the right tools.

4. Solid Foundations. Golfers go to extremes. Some take lesson after lesson, trying to fix the tiniest flaw in their quest for the perfect swing. Others, ignore the classic foundations of grip, stance and swing in their eagerness to "do it my way." Success is usually found in a healthy balance of learning from the wisdom and experience of others, while celebrating your unique style and approach to the game.

5. Profitable Practice. On the day of a big tournament, I often go to the practice green and watch skilled, dedicated golfers practice missing putts. With a small crowd milling about, they quickly hit putt after putt, destroying their rhythm, timing and confidence. Then, in frustration, they wonder what ever happened to their carefully honed putting stroke! In golf, and in life, practice smart. Practice for success!

6. Smart Preparation. Tour players always play practice rounds. Ben Hogan used to walk the course at twilight before a tournament to learn all it's hidden tricks and traps. Top players rehearse every shot in their imagination before going to the course. They prepare in advance so they are ready when the moment of truth arrives. It pays off.

7. Show up. The biggest challenge for many Nike Tour and other young players is to play their best golf without a nickel in their pocket, often lonely and far from home. They have reasons to be distracted. What are your excuses? Ram Das said, "Be here now." In golf, and in life, it's hard to win if you don't show up, or only show up for every-other swing!

8. Warm up. Every great athlete, the ones in the best physical and mental shape, respect their bodies enough to loosen up, stretch and rehearse before competition. Unfortunately, most amateurs don't go to all that trouble. We jump out of the car, grab the clubs, and head for the first tee. Before any important event, arrive early, walk around, relax, and warm up to the task at hand.

9. Focus on Results. Every golf stroke creates a result. Sometimes the ball goes in the hole; sometimes it goes out of bounds. Golfers tend to focus (1) on the result they would have preferred, which is merely wishful thinking, or (2) on beating themselves up for being so "stupid", which is painful. Learn from every swing. Observe the results you actually get. Life never lies!

10. Review and Adjust. If you aren't getting the results you want, find the reason. You can trust the ball; it goes where you hit it. If you want a different outcome, change your setup, routine, or other actions until you get the result you prefer. Someone said, "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is a mark of insanity." Successful people learn quickly; others learn eventually. read more...

3 Easy Changes to Shave Strokes from Your Golf Game

2006-12-07T06:52:00.000-08:00

3 Easy Changes to Shave Strokes from Your Golf Game

Here are 3 easy golf tips that will immediately give you a better swing and improve your hitting! It did for me almost instantly once I got the feel of it.

I went from hitting maybe one fairway per round and not being able to hit my driver to hitting the vast majority of fairways off the tee while still enjoying the extra distance of using my driver. This is exciting stuff for a mid to high handicapper...so read on.

Golf Tip #1 - Be certain that you are taking the club back by turning your shoulders NOT picking up your hands.
By taking the club back in a "one piece" takeaway, which only means that your shoulders start the turn back and your arms, hands and thus club follow in one piece - by doing this you will automatically put the golf club on the proper swing plane. So long as you do not try to help the club do its job, you will be well down the path to a more solid swing and consistent hits with this tip alone.
Practice this in front of a mirror with or without a club, making sure that your head stays solidly in place and that your three body parts mentioned above go to at least parallel as one unit.

Golf Tip #2 - Don't overswing and swing easy. They engineer the clubs to do the hitting - getting the ball off the ground and a certain distance no matter how hard you swing. As a matter of fact, the harder you swing the less the club can do what it is supposed to do and you will sacrifice both distance and accuracy.
Just make a full shoulder turn and a good wrist cock then return the club from where it came from! When I say swing easy I do not mean decelerate on the downswing. What I do mean is find a good tempo and naturally accelerate through the ball on your downswing with a complete follow through.

Golf Tip #3 - Relax and enjoy the game. Tension in your golf swing is your biggest enemy. One of the tips that I have recently read is that once you get over your shot and are ready to swing....SMILE!! Believe it or not it works...it is extremely hard to be tensed up and smile at the same time.

These 3 simple tips have taken 5 to 10 of those "dumb" giveaway strokes off my game and it will yours too! Just get the swing thought in your mind of takeaway with the shoulders for a full turn, easy swing back through the ball to let the club do the work and relax! You will be excited to start see those shots going longer and straighter very soon!
Happy golfing! read more...

Secret 7 Necessities for Great Golf

2006-12-07T06:45:00.000-08:00

Secret 7 Necessities for Great Golf

The game of golf can be difficult when you consider all of the individual elements. Most golfers are overwhelmed with information regarding which tips will benefit their game and which ones won't.
The most important aspects of the golf swing and the game, in general, all revolve around the building of a strong and solid foundation for the body, the mind and the basics of an athletic swing. Each of the following concepts plays a critical role in your understanding of what creates a great round of golf as well as contributes to a lifetime enjoyment of the game.

Stamina
Golfers tend to ignore the cardiovascular component of golf. However, walkers cover an approximate walking distance of 4-5 miles each round. Even cart riders put in their fair share of walking depending on local cart rules, weather conditions and following errant shots. Poor cardiovascular conditioning can certainly have a negative impact on your game.

Stability
The most important rule in a golf conditioning program is to work and develop strength from the core region of the body outward. A strong trunk allows forces to be transferred effectively from the legs to the upper body. It also enables the body to withstand those forces without breakdown. Stabilization comes in many forms for the golfer including postural stabilization, trunk stabilization and joint stabilization.

Strength
Strength comes in many forms with regard to the golf swing. Strong back muscles allow the golfer to endure the explosive movements in the swing. Strength in the trunk region or "core" area of the body produces stability and helps to generate power. Combined muscle strength produces balance and coordination. Strong ligaments and tendons also prevent the joints from going beyond their range of motion.

Supple
Flexibility is the single most important physical characteristic likely to influence your golf swing. A tight body creates restricted motion in the swing and produces injuries as a form of compensation. Keep your body "supple" so it doesn't become a limiting factor in your performance.

Spirit
Attitude is everything! Many experts believe it is careful and premeditated preparation that allows a golfer to experience a mental edge in recreational or tournament play. What you say, what you think and how you act all contribute to your state of mind, and therefore contribute to the outcome of your game. Keep a positive and hopeful spirit when you play.

Sequence
The golf swing can be separated into five biomechanical phases that work in sequence.
? Set-up
? Backswing
? Transition
? Downswing
? Follow-through
A true understanding of proper body motion at each sequence will ensure consistency in your swing. Consistency is created through proper sequencing and solid mechanics.

Skill
Good swing mechanics is an absolute necessity in any sport and certainly, golf. The idea behind the golf swing is to create a simple and flowing athletic swing free of wasted motion and unnecessary compensations. To accomplish this, one must have the basis of some degree of skill. Work with a golf pro or read a book on swing mechanics.
Use these "secret 7" to make your next round, your best ever. Build a strong foundation for golf and for life when you follow these simple steps to improvement.
Susan Hill is a CHEK Golf Biomechanic and president of FitnessforGolf.com, a private, member's only, online golf fitness website dedicated to the improvement of golfers worldwide. read more...

WHAT A LOAD OF GOLF BALLS

2006-12-07T06:43:00.000-08:00

What a Load of Golf Balls

Through out the history of golf the golf ball has evolved more than any other piece of equipment used in the game. From the very first wooden balls followed by the feathery to the latest 4 piece, high energy core, tungsten weighted, titanium, super thin covered, go further go straighter last forever golf ball, advances in science and the materials used in manufacturing has taken that little white thing to a new level of performance.

At the moment in my shop I have 36 different balls to choose from and there are plenty more types I could stock. This being the case it is difficult for a golfer to choose which is the right ball for them especially when they all claim to be the best thing since the couch potato was given the remote control.
The Number one
Titleist golf balls have been known for many years as 'The Number 1 Ball in Golf' and it is true that more tour players across the world use a Titleist ball. Some golfers think that if Ernie Els is playing with a Titleist then they should play with a Titleist as well, however, that is not necessarily the case. Believe it or not in amongst this huge selection there is the right ball for you and the ball you choose to play with needs to suit your requirements and level of skill.
In my opinion the huge range of golf balls on the market can be broken down into 5 categories.
1) Budget
2) Hard
3) Medium
4) Soft
5) Swing speed
If you are a beginner, or lose a lot of golf balls, then buying budget balls is the best thing to do. These are often packaged in 15 ball boxes and are a hard durable ball that will generally go further when you hit them. The draw back of this ball is that it is very lively off of the club face and when it comes to chipping and putting can lack some of the soft feel that some golfers prefer.
The harder golf balls such as Topflite XL 3000, or Callaway CB1 are perfect for the golfer who doesn't lose too many balls but could do with more distance off the tee. These balls are not as hard as the budget type, but are durable and offer some feel around the green although they still won't stop very quickly on landing.
If you want the combination of distance, feel and durability then balls such as the Titleist NXT Tour, the Callaway Hex 2 or the Strata Tour Straight are ideal. These are all what I call a medium ball giving the golfer consistent performance in all areas.
The top players in the world all use soft golf balls. Up until about 4 years ago the cover of the ball was actually soft enough to mark with your finger nail and marked very easily when miss hit. This meant that only the best ball strikers, or golfers with more money than sense, would use them. These days the covers on these balls are very durable and the ball will spin and stop very quickly on and around the greens. The leading balls in this category are Titleist Pro V1, Callaway Hex, Strata Tour Ace, Hogen Apex Tour and the Maxfli M3. These balls are manufactured to the highest specification and quality and every golfer could play and enjoy them. They are however very expensive at about ฃ10 for 3 balls if you are a bit wayward with your shots then it could cost a fortune in golf balls.
When it comes to swing speed some players just cannot swing the golf club very quickly. If this is the case some manufacturers are now making balls specifically for those of you who struggle to get any distance because you just can't hit it hard enough! The Maxfli Noodle ball is perfect for anyone who has a slow swing and they are durable and affordable.
Whichever ball you choose, try to stick with that ball every time you play. You will get used to the feel and performances of the ball, which in turn will help, play more consistent golf.
read more...

BASICS GOLF SWING

2006-12-07T06:26:00.000-08:00

The Four Basics of Any Golf Swing
by: Jack Moorehouse

When we think about the basics of the golf swing, we usually think about ball position, stance, grip, and so on. In other words, we think about the swing's physical mechanics. That's only natural, because its what most golf pros focus on in their golf lessons and what golf magazines highlight in their articles on the golf swing. It's what I write about the most in my golf tips as well.

But not everyone agrees that these are the true basics of the golf swing. For many, the true basics of the swing are something quite different, something that has nothing to do with the physical mechanics of the swing. For these people, a swing's true basics are four components-plane, centering, radius, and face. Golf instruction sessions focusing on these concepts are as helpful as golf lessons on the swing's mechanics, maybe even more helpful
Plane
Most golfers have heard of the concept of plane, but are confused as to how it applies to the golf swing. Plane is defined by the angle your club creates when it is ground at address. To master accuracy, the club must remain on this plane, especially while it approaches the ball on the downswing. (Actually, two planes-one formed by the takeaway and the other by the downswing-are involved in swinging a club, but the second plane is key.) This plane is the most powerful and direct route to the swing, as I discuss in my golf tips. Coming back to the ball above or below this plane results in pulls and slices.
Centering
Every swing has a center to it, a foundation defined by your head and your spine. If you want to hit accurate golf shots, this foundation must remain steady. Watch Tiger or any of the pros on TV and you'll see how steady their heads and spines remain throughout their swings. This foundation has two angles to it. One is the angle your spine creates with your hips at address. The other involves the lateral movement of your head. Focus on preventing both your head from moving unnaturally one way or the other and your spine from moving up or down, and you will produce better results.
Radius
Radius is the distance between the lead shoulder and the clubhead. You must keep radius intact, if you want to hit good quality shots. The key is releasing your wrists at the right time. Most amateurs release their wrists early, forcing the shaft ahead of the lead arm before impact. An early release causes you to hit the ball thin, or even worse, mis-hit it altogether. If you execute the proper sequence of movements in the downswing, you'll maintain radius.
Face
The ball travels in the direction in which your clubface is pointing at the moment of impact, minus the effect of sidespin. You must attain the same clubface position at impact that you establish at address, which is why you need to align your club properly. The key to doing this is matching the position of your hands at impact with the position of your hands at address. If you grip the club on the right side of the shaft, your hands must be on the right side of the club when you hit the ball; otherwise, you'll mis-hit.
Conclusion
Is one basic more important than another? Not really, as I tell players who take my golf lessons. They all must be executed properly, if you want to achieve a powerful, repeatable swing. Now that you are aware of them and how they contribute to your swing, try filming yourself some day and see how well you maintain them during your swing. Also note how well you hit the ball.
Plane, centering, radius, and face-these aren't the usual basics you talk about when discussing the golf swing, but they are critical. While the physical mechanics of the swing, like ball position, stance, and grip, are key, so are these four components. Master both sets and you'll achieve accuracy and consistency every time, lowering your golf handicap in the process read more..

GOLF FITNESS

2006-12-07T06:20:00.000-08:00

Golf Fitness Helps Generate More Speed in Your Swing!
by: Sean Cochran

The golfing industry speaks about clubhead speed constantly. We see advertised in the golf magazines all the time. We hear about it on the Golf Channel endlessly
Clubhead speed is more a result of what you do with the golf club than an entity of its own. A driver is not going to generate clubhead speed on its’ own! Someone has to swing it!
Clubhead speed is contingent upon swing speed. Swing speed is directly related to the person swinging the golf club. So the question to really ask is:

How Do I Develop Huge Gains in My Swing Speed?
Another term directly related to swing speed and clubhead speed is power.
More Power = More Swing Speed = More Clubhead Speed
Bottom line is we are looking to increasing the power outputs of your golf swing. This will allow for an increase in swing speed. An increase in swing speed translates to more clubhead speed.
So how do we increase the power in our golf swing?

Two aspects require tuning and development of you wish to improve the power in your golf swing.
§ Number One: Improve Your Swing Mechanics
§ Number Two: Improve Your Body
Developing optimal swing mechanics is the first part of the equation to great power.

The golf swing is one of the most difficult, finite, and complex athletic movements performed. As a result, it requires time spent on the refinement of the movements involved.
Any athletic movement, the golf swing included, can be performed efficiently or inefficiently.
An efficient golf swing allows for the highest percentage of power generated by the golfer to be translated into the club, and delivered into the golf ball. An inefficient golf swing decreases the amount of power delivered to golf swing.

Efficient Golf Swing Mechanics = High Power Outputs
Inefficient Golf Swing Mechanics = Low Power Outputs
A pretty simple equation if you think about it.

Now how do you develop efficient golf swing mechanics?
Through a process of proper instruction, proper practice, and time. The body can learn either the correct or incorrect way to swing a golf club. In order to learn the correct way to swing a golf club, proper instruction is required.
Secondly, the body learns through repetition. In order to learn efficient golf swing mechanics it is necessary to practice the correct way to swing. Finally, this process takes time.

The body will not learn how swing a golf club correctly in a day. It takes consistent time spent on the swing.
Putting it in math terms, the equation for efficient golf swing mechanics is:
Proper Instruction + Proper Practice + Time = Efficient Golf Swing Mechanics
Unfortunately, efficient golf swing mechanics is only one-half of the equation to increasing clubhead speed, swing speed, and power.

The second half is your body.
The golf club cannot develop power on its own. It is a combination of developing efficient golf swing mechanics and a body that can generate power.
A Body that can Generate Power = Increased Clubhead Speed

Your body swings the club through the mechanics of the golf swing. In order to perform this efficiently and powerfully requires the development of certain disciplines within your body.
Generating power in the golf swing requires your body to be:
§ Flexible
§ Strong
§ Powerful

The development of these three disciplines within your body allows the foundation to swing the golf club with more power.
If your body is inflexible, weak, and powerless, generating clubhead speed will be very difficult, let alone performing the mechanics of the golf swing correctly.

How do you develop such a body for the golf swing?
Quite simply by implementing a golf fitness program. A golf fitness program will develop the required flexibility, strength, and power required of the golf swing.
It comes down to this equation:
Efficient Golf Swing Mechanics + A Flexible, Strong, & Powerful Body = Increased Clubhead Speed

Put in place a plan to develop efficient golf swing mechanics and a powerful body. The swing speed and clubhead speed you desire can be a reality. Remember; proper instruction, practice, time, and golf fitness training are the keys to more power, more swing speed, and more clubhead speed. read more...

RULES OF GOLF

2006-12-07T06:13:00.000-08:00

Rules and Regulations of Golf
by: Acario Daire

We all know that without rules and regulations there is no game. Every game has its own rules and regulations. The rules of golf {2} {3} are internationally standardized and are jointly governed by the royal and ancient golf club of st.andrews, which was founded in 1754 and the united states of golf association. After the agreement with R&A, USGA jurisdiction on the enforcement and interpretation of the rules is limited to the United States and Mexico. Canada has the separate royal Canadian golf association, but generally follows the lead of the two larger bodies.

The rules of golf continue to evolve, and every four years, the amended versions of the rule book are published. Any brand of Golf Equipments can be used. But it is better to go in for Good brands of Golf Equipments

The rules are made keeping in mind “fairness”. There are few statements stated “play the ball as it lies”, “play the course as you find it”, and “if you can’t do either, do what is fair”. Some rules that are stated:

• Every player is entitled and obliged to play the ball from position where it has come to rest after the stroke, unless a rule allows or demands otherwise
• A player must not accept assistance in making a stroke.
• The condition of the ground or other parts of the country may not be altered to gain an advantage except some cases defined in the rules.
• A Golf ball may only be replaced by another during play of a hole if it is destroyed (rule 5-3), lost (rule 27-1), or unplayable (rule 28), or at some other time permitted by the rules.

The player may always substitute balls between the play of two books.
The decisions on the rules of golf are based on formal case decisions by the R&A and USGA and are revised updated every other year.

Amateur golfers:
There are strict regulations regarding the amateur status of golfers. Anybody who played golf for money or who has ever received payment or compensation for giving instruction in golf game will not be considered an amateur. He may not be allowed to participate in competitions limited only to amateur only non-cash prizes won in competition may be accepted within the limits established by the rules of amateur status.

Golf course architecture and design:
There are many kinds of golf courses. Each country has one kind of golf course. It varies according to the climate, etc.

The different kind of golf courses:
• Link courses
• Parkland courses
• Heath land
• Desert courses
• Browns courses
• Sand courses
• Snow courses
• Par 3 courses
• Executive courses.

1. Links courses: this is the most traditional type of golf course. It is located in the coastal areas, on sandy soil, often amid dunes, with few artificial hazards and few trees if any.
2. Parkland courses: this happens to be in typical inland courses, they often resemble British parks.
3. Heath land: this means less manicured and more open area. They often feature gorse and heather and typically less trees.
4. Desert courses: this course has been recently started in Australia and parts of USA and Middle East. It’s a new invention.
5. Browns courses: akin to sand courses, but not much involved in terms of using layers of tar and gavel below the sandy surface layer, to give firmness and support and ensure a consistent bounce/roll.
6. Sand courses: instead of heavily irrigated green, the players play on sand unlike most golf players. Holes are less involved than browns courses. And are only for the casual golfer.
7. Snow courses: can be played in arctic or sub arctic regions during winter. This is a recent invention. Golf is played on snow, typically with an orange colored or any brightly colored ball.
8. Par 3 courses: this course consists entirely of holes with par 3. These are considered a good test of iron shot precision and short game, as the driver is rarely used.
9. Executive courses: the course is generally smaller than the typical 18 hole course.
About The Author

Acario Daire Author profile: Author is a Golf player he has been playing Golf since 15 Years. He is experienced in choosing the right Golf Equipment. He has been Experimenting with all brands of Golf Equipment. read more...

GETING STARTED

2006-12-05T03:46:00.000-08:00

Golf Tips - Getting Started
By: ArtL
History has it that the game of "golf" was born in 15th century Scotland. Then around 1744, the first rules of play were codified and established in Edinburgh by The Company of Gentlemen Golfers. Golf has become one of the most popular sports in the world; played in countries as far reaching as Mexico and Ireland, South Africa and China. And, of course, Scotland. And the world has not been the same since. It's come as no surprise that there are universities offering degrees in Golf.
The best way a beginner can begin is by learning what NOT to do. So, for the novice getting started, the game entails entering a world with a rich and varied history, a major investment of time and money, a demanding physical and mental learning curve and last but not least - days with huge amounts of "FUN"!
Now, don't go running out and spending a small fortune on things you don't know anything about. Such as course fees, golf lessons, and golf attire. Some courses are not worth the fee nor are the costs for equipment claiming to be of high quality. The clothes and lessons can also wait for a time.
The newness and the joy of finding a sport that you can play alone, with friends and spouses, or even with the whole family is part of the excitement. Learning to play golf well can be an emotionally exhausting experience not to mention expensive. Take some time and do a bit of research. You'll not want to enter into this without being armed with what you need to know.
Learn to take baby steps first and remember to have fun and not take yourself and everything else too serious. The pros will generally advise against spending too many weeks on the driving range at first, claiming you may develop some bad habits that are difficult to break once you start playing on the course. However, spending a bit of time on the driving range can be beneficial, helping to get the muscles moving, discovering if you've got any inclination or interest in the game and an idea of what and where to use what clubs.
Find a cheap course and wear comfortable, baggy clothing that doesn't restrict your arms and shoulders. Save that $1,000 you'd spend on pants, shoes, and shirts for later. To start use a simple three club set you can borrow from a friend or use a clubhouse rental. A Nine iron, a wedge, and a Number 5 wood is plenty. Actually the wedge won't get much use on a driving range, but you can add a putter and move to the putting practice area later. Some have miniature versions of sand traps to practice escaping.
Take it easy, watch those who hit well and imitate their grip, stance, and posture. Tee up, keep your eye on the ball as you swing, and give it a firm whack. If you miss a few, so be it. Have Fun. You're teaching your body what the swing feels like, what angle and impact produces what kind of flight..
On the putting green, start very close to the hole — no more than a couple of feet. When you can make 25 putts in a row more or less consistently, move back to six feet, 10 feet, 20 feet — no farther. 'More or less' consistently — even the pros sometimes miss a two-footer!
Whether driving or putting, stand so that a casual push wouldn't knock you over. Golf is about balance, concentration, and some simple physics. Now, go have a cool drink in the clubhouse and enjoy the day. read more...

HOW GOLF IS PLAYED

2006-12-05T03:40:00.000-08:00

How golf is played
By: Acario Daire

The game of golf was first played in Scotland some 400 yrs ago. Players are required to hit a ball, using a wooden or iron club, from a smooth level point or “teeing ground”, down the “fairway”, and on to a putting green where the target hole is located. The fairway is a strip of clear land along which there are Natural hazards- Such as ponds and streams, Man-made hazards– such as bunkers (sandpits), and rough (areas of uncut rass). Championship golf courses have 18 holes. The object of the game is to hit the ball into each hole in turn, and to complete the “round” using as few trokes as possible. Playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke of successive strokes in accordance with the rules. To play this game efficiently good Golf equipments are a must.

How golf is played:
The land on which the game is played on is called course. This course consists of series of holes. Mostly it is 18. There are 2 meanings for the word hole.
• The hole in the ground into which the Golf ball has to be put in.
• The total distance from the tee (the pre-determined from when the ball is first hit) to green.
Tee:
• The first stroke is always done from the tee, while doing so a tee is used. It’s a wooden or a plastic peg. It makes it easier for the shot. Mostly the courses offer a range of tee boxes which have names associated with degree of competence (e.g.: professional and amateur) or by the sex, age. Many hazards can be escaped if the tee is used.

The player next hits the ball towards the green again from the place where the ball comes to rest from the previous shot; this is done ignorant of where the ball is, i.e. on the rough or the fairway. There are advantages if the ball is on the fairway as it is smooth and the ball can just slide, but if it is on the rough then it Is a disadvantage as it is very rough and it will take a great effort to get
the ball on the green. Once the ball is on the green, the ball is struck with a flat faced club which in turn makes the ball roll along the ground towards the hole until the ball comes to rest in the cup.
There special rules which apply to playing balls that come to rest in a hazard. For example, a player must not touch the ground with his club before playing a ball, not even for a practice swing. A ball can be played even when it is in a hazard. If suppose it can not be played due to any reason then the ball is picked by hand and dropped outside the hazard. within two club lengths of its original position. doing so calls for a penalty of one stroke. If the ball cannot be taken out from the hazard, then another ball may be dropped into the same hazard along the same plane from wher it went in earlier, but no closer to the hole, again at the cost of a one stroke penalty. A golf school is often associated with a course or club.

The green part of the course is cut very short. Because the Golf ball has to roll easily over distances of several yards. The direction of growth of individual blades of grass often affects the roll of a golf ball and is called the grain. The slope of the gree is called break. The flag and pole combination is often called the pin. the finest quality greens are well kept so that a ball will roll smoothly over the closely mowed grass. The borders of a course are marked, and beyond them is out of bounds, that is, ground from which a ball must not be played. ground under repair: a ball coming to rest in them may be lifted and then played from outside such ground without penalty. read more...