Finish Your Round of Golf with Birdies
Sean Cochran
All the major tournaments, especially the U.S. Open and the PGA, are a true test of endurance. They are usually located in a part of the country where it is hot, humid and muggy. A real physical and mental drain on any golfer.
Look who has been winning the Majors in the last couple of years: Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh. They have incredible endurance. It doesn’t come by accident. They work at it.
Endurance is a word that is commonly associated with athletes such as marathon runners, tri-athletes, swimmers, and cyclists.
Granted, the majority of amateurs use a cart to play. This takes the walking part of the game out of the equation. Bit when most golfers break down, it has more to do with the endurance of the swing muscles than the walking part.
Think of endurance as the ability to perform the same activity over and over for an extended amount of time at max effort and peak performance. Relating this definition to, say, a marathon runner becomes pretty easy. A marathon runner, for example, has to have the cardiovascular (blood and oxygen) endurance to run 26 miles at a steady pace. In addition to having the cardiovascular endurance to run 26 miles, a marathoner needs to also have the endurance in their muscular system to again run 26 miles. If they do not, the body begins to “give up” and this is seen in the form of cramping, muscles not responding, and the body “hitting the wall” as many marathoners call it.
Endurance as it applies to the golf swing and the ability to perform the swing correctly is different than the intensity of running a marathon. But the underlying theme when it comes to endurance is the same. Swinging a golf club is a repetitive, explosive movement performed by the body. The muscles are active from address, back swing, transition, contact, and follow through in the same motor pattern every time you swing a club (or at least they should be; for some of us amateurs the swing path changes from time to time, but that is a subject for another article). Anyways, to perform the golf swing efficiently and effectively for an extended period of time (like 4 rounds of tournament golf) the muscles involved in the golf swing are required to have a certain level of endurance developed within them to sustain the swing.
Do you have enough gas in the tank?
It is essentially having enough “gas in your tank” to swing a club a given number of times. Now I referred to a four-day tournament, which is the average number of days a PGA tour event lasts, but when it comes to endurance and golf swing the number of swings in a tournament is only the beginning. Remember the definition of endurance is the ability of the body to perform a certain movement over and over for a given period of time. In relation to the golf swing and endurance we must also include a time frame. Let us first begin with looking at a typical four-day tournament. At the very least, we need enough endurance in the muscles that swing a club to hit all the shots from tee to green in 72 holes of golf. On top of just the tournament play you must add the additional practice time before or after the round. This could comprise anywhere from 2-3 hours of additional time swinging a club. Now, at this point we are just talking about a single tournament for a tour player.
Let us expand this time period to 7 days. A 7-day time frame for a tour player would consist of a 4-day tournament (Thursday through Sunday) in addition to 3 additional days in the week. Realize that those three other days during week are not “rest” days, but rather filled with work. First off, you have Wednesday, which, at most tournaments, is when the Pro-am is scheduled. If you are unaware of what a Pro-am is on tour, it is a round of golf usually held on Wednesday where each pro in the upcoming tournament is paired with three amateurs for a round of golf. So we can chalk this up to another round of golf. This again would comprise all the golf swing made during the round and any practice before and after.
We are up to Wednesday through Sunday of a tour week. Now what about Monday and Tuesday of a tour week? I would guess that it would be safe to say that probably most players take Monday off, not always, but most of the time. Tuesday is a whole different story. Tuesday is a practice day where a pro could spend 4 to 6 hours at the range, putting and chipping. The number of swings taken on Tuesday can be huge!
So there you have it, a full week on tour with an idea of the number of swings taken by a tour player over a 7-day time frame. Now take this number of swings and multiply it out over an entire season where an average player will participate in 25 tournaments. The numbers get really big looking at it from this perspective. I imagine at this point the connection between endurance and the golf swing has been made. It essentially comes down to this: to swing the club effectively on the correct path over an extended period of time, you need to develop endurance in your muscular system specific to golf. The next question to present is how do you do that?
Developing Endurance Specific to the Golf Swing
So how do you develop endurance in the muscles that are used in the golf swing? You can not really do it by running or doing the Stair Master at your local health club. The reason why? These types of exercises are great for developing cardiovascular endurance and developing some musculature endurance in the legs, but they do not “work” all the muscles involved in the golf swing. And they certainly do not create endurance in these muscles in relation to how they are used to swing a club.
The methodology that is required to develop endurance in the golf swing requires you to perform what I call “cross specificity” exercises specific to the movements and positions in which the body placed during the swing. The result of this type of training is what we term a “transfer-of-training effect.” A transfer-of-training effect is where the exercises performed in your training program improve the performances on the field of competition. Field of competition, when it comes to golf, pertains to the golf course and your swing. So invariably we need to develop what I term “golf endurance” through exercises that are cross specific to the golf swing with the outcome of a transfer-of-training effect to golf swing.
To learn more about “golf endurance training” and what it entails take a look at our website www.bioforcegolf.com.
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website http://www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Selecting Golf Equipment that Compliments You and Your Swing - 4 Tips for Making the Best Choice
Selecting Golf Equipment that Compliments You and Your Swing - 4 Tips for Making the Best Choice
Arthur Thompson
Tip #1 - Ignore The Hype - Pay Attention To Your Needs!
As a recreational golfer, you probably don't pay that much attention to the golf equipment that you buy. Industry has a way to hype its sales pitch by its marketing gurus and most recreational buyers pay attention to the hype instead of their own needs.
Today's equipment has certainly come a long way and shafts, club heads and balls certainly do perform the way that the makers claim. However, the secret is finding a club maker and/or a club fitter that knows you and your swing and can recommend the right equipment for you.
Tip #2 - Let Your Clubs Fit YOU!
Whether you are 5-foot-6 or 6-foot-6, the average golf club will not be right for you. The lie and loft will change dramatically due to arm and leg length. Finding a good club maker or club fitter that understands these requirements can DRASTICALLY shave strokes off your scorecard.
In relation to this, statistics show that the average family has 2.4 children. Well I have never seen two-fifths of a child! With that said, just what is the average person? Again, now you can see why it is imperative that you fit the clubs and the clubs fit you!
Tip #3 - Decide On Your Price And Find A Pro!
Price is most definitely a factor when purchasing new or used clubs. It is of NO use buying expensive clubs and the shaft is the wrong length or stiffness/flex or conversely buying 'cheap' clubs when your game is of good quality.
The idea is to have the clubs compliment your specific swing and swing speed. There are subtleties in the making and matching of your golf clubs - swing weight, loft and lie, graphite or even steel. Also, there are different textured grips which can be matched to fit the size of your hand or fingers producing a better bio-mechanical action.
We all have different swing speeds, different swing paths and planes. We are all of different muscle strengths and of course body types. Decide what price range you can realistically afford and find a pro/coach/instructor that can set you up with a set of clubs that will produce the BEST for you. I cannot stress enough that it is ultra important to get the matching equipment for you. Some people are short and some people are tall...choose the right equipment and begin to watch your game improve and lower your scores.
Tip #4 - Use A Lower Spin-Rate Ball!
Today's golf ball has advanced with technology. Different spin rates and cover materials have allowed the golfer to actually choose a ball that suits both his/her game and the conditions he/she plays in.
The slicer and hooker can get more distance and straighter shots by using a lower spin rate ball. Cover materials allow for more feel when chipping and putting. There are even tools that will use centrifugal force and a marker pen to produce an 'equator-type' line on the ball that aids in alignment and 'trueness' of the roll of the ball.
Advancement in equipment is good...make it GOOD for you by selecting the right equipment to enhance your game!
Arthur J. Thompson is a recreational golfing expert and author of "The Secrets To Low Scoring Recreational Golf" eBook Guide. His website is an important, crucial and vital resource for recreational golfers - full of helpful tips, advice and information on the game of golf at the recreational level.
He has won the Royal Canadian Legion Zone Golf twice and the Royal Canadian Legion District Golf once. He has helped hundreds of people take their recreational golfing experiences to the next level - improving their enjoyment of the game while helping them to significantly reduce bogeys, double-bogeys and snowmen.
Check out the various testimonials on his site --> http://www.bogeycrusher.com
This article is also available in HTML format on the BogeyCrusher Golf site --> http://www.bogeycrusher.com/Articles/1_SelectingGolfEquip.htm
Arthur Thompson
Tip #1 - Ignore The Hype - Pay Attention To Your Needs!
As a recreational golfer, you probably don't pay that much attention to the golf equipment that you buy. Industry has a way to hype its sales pitch by its marketing gurus and most recreational buyers pay attention to the hype instead of their own needs.
Today's equipment has certainly come a long way and shafts, club heads and balls certainly do perform the way that the makers claim. However, the secret is finding a club maker and/or a club fitter that knows you and your swing and can recommend the right equipment for you.
Tip #2 - Let Your Clubs Fit YOU!
Whether you are 5-foot-6 or 6-foot-6, the average golf club will not be right for you. The lie and loft will change dramatically due to arm and leg length. Finding a good club maker or club fitter that understands these requirements can DRASTICALLY shave strokes off your scorecard.
In relation to this, statistics show that the average family has 2.4 children. Well I have never seen two-fifths of a child! With that said, just what is the average person? Again, now you can see why it is imperative that you fit the clubs and the clubs fit you!
Tip #3 - Decide On Your Price And Find A Pro!
Price is most definitely a factor when purchasing new or used clubs. It is of NO use buying expensive clubs and the shaft is the wrong length or stiffness/flex or conversely buying 'cheap' clubs when your game is of good quality.
The idea is to have the clubs compliment your specific swing and swing speed. There are subtleties in the making and matching of your golf clubs - swing weight, loft and lie, graphite or even steel. Also, there are different textured grips which can be matched to fit the size of your hand or fingers producing a better bio-mechanical action.
We all have different swing speeds, different swing paths and planes. We are all of different muscle strengths and of course body types. Decide what price range you can realistically afford and find a pro/coach/instructor that can set you up with a set of clubs that will produce the BEST for you. I cannot stress enough that it is ultra important to get the matching equipment for you. Some people are short and some people are tall...choose the right equipment and begin to watch your game improve and lower your scores.
Tip #4 - Use A Lower Spin-Rate Ball!
Today's golf ball has advanced with technology. Different spin rates and cover materials have allowed the golfer to actually choose a ball that suits both his/her game and the conditions he/she plays in.
The slicer and hooker can get more distance and straighter shots by using a lower spin rate ball. Cover materials allow for more feel when chipping and putting. There are even tools that will use centrifugal force and a marker pen to produce an 'equator-type' line on the ball that aids in alignment and 'trueness' of the roll of the ball.
Advancement in equipment is good...make it GOOD for you by selecting the right equipment to enhance your game!
Arthur J. Thompson is a recreational golfing expert and author of "The Secrets To Low Scoring Recreational Golf" eBook Guide. His website is an important, crucial and vital resource for recreational golfers - full of helpful tips, advice and information on the game of golf at the recreational level.
He has won the Royal Canadian Legion Zone Golf twice and the Royal Canadian Legion District Golf once. He has helped hundreds of people take their recreational golfing experiences to the next level - improving their enjoyment of the game while helping them to significantly reduce bogeys, double-bogeys and snowmen.
Check out the various testimonials on his site --> http://www.bogeycrusher.com
This article is also available in HTML format on the BogeyCrusher Golf site --> http://www.bogeycrusher.com/Articles/1_SelectingGolfEquip.htm
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Which Golf Tips Should You Listen To?
David Ferrers
There are good golf tips and bad golf tips. The question is, “how do you decide which golf tips to listen to?”
This question has been brought home to me recently because a good friend took up golf about two years ago. He has really caught the bug and plays several times a week. He also has lessons and practices frequently. Whenever we play together he is constantly asking for tips and advice about his swing.
It is my belief that you should only give a player a golf tip if you are sure that it will fit in with the rest of his swing. I have seen far too many players lose their swings when trying to adopt a golf tip which simply does not fit in with everything else that goes on when they swing the club.
OK, I know, there are certain golf tips which are universally sound, like, “keep your head still.” But equally there are plenty of other golf tips that can be ruinous even when given with the best of intentions.
In particular I recall a good player with whom I'd played many rounds who always drew the ball right to left, usually with good control. One day when his draw was a bit exaggerated, his partner suggested this perfectly sound golf tip: “You know, if you were to keep your right elbow well tucked in on the downswing you would lose that nasty hook.”
The suggestion was well meant. However, for a player who had a well grooved habit of swinging slightly over the top of the ball, as Arnold Palmer was wont to do, it proved to be one golf tip too much. He became so conscious of his right elbow that it threw the whole of the rest of his swing out of shape and it took him months to get it back again.
http://1golfsource.com
The point is that the golf tip didn't fit in with the rest of his swing.
This is a mistake that many golfers make. They listen to all the golf tips out there and try to adopt them all in their desperate search for a good swing. It is my belief that your aim should be to groove a golf swing that will give you streams of straight and long golf shots by modelling your swing on one set of advice. Then you should develop a mind movie of that swing so that you can reproduce it whenever you play a shot.
Think how long some of the most famous partnerships between players and their swing coaches have lasted. Think of Jack Nicklaus and Jack Grout, Tiger Woods and Butch Harmon, Nick Faldo and David Leadbetter to name but a few. All these great players relied on one coach's vision of their swing to keep their mind movie in shape. They did not go asking for golf tips from other players.
David Ferrers is the author of The Golf Swing Mind-Movies Power Pack. This is the first quality work on the internet which shows how to use the Power of golf Mind-Movies to quickly become a better golfer. You can read more about golf Mind-Movies here: http://www.The-Golf-Bandit.com/golf-tip-Golf-Mind-Movies.htm
There are good golf tips and bad golf tips. The question is, “how do you decide which golf tips to listen to?”
This question has been brought home to me recently because a good friend took up golf about two years ago. He has really caught the bug and plays several times a week. He also has lessons and practices frequently. Whenever we play together he is constantly asking for tips and advice about his swing.
It is my belief that you should only give a player a golf tip if you are sure that it will fit in with the rest of his swing. I have seen far too many players lose their swings when trying to adopt a golf tip which simply does not fit in with everything else that goes on when they swing the club.
OK, I know, there are certain golf tips which are universally sound, like, “keep your head still.” But equally there are plenty of other golf tips that can be ruinous even when given with the best of intentions.
In particular I recall a good player with whom I'd played many rounds who always drew the ball right to left, usually with good control. One day when his draw was a bit exaggerated, his partner suggested this perfectly sound golf tip: “You know, if you were to keep your right elbow well tucked in on the downswing you would lose that nasty hook.”
The suggestion was well meant. However, for a player who had a well grooved habit of swinging slightly over the top of the ball, as Arnold Palmer was wont to do, it proved to be one golf tip too much. He became so conscious of his right elbow that it threw the whole of the rest of his swing out of shape and it took him months to get it back again.
http://1golfsource.com
The point is that the golf tip didn't fit in with the rest of his swing.
This is a mistake that many golfers make. They listen to all the golf tips out there and try to adopt them all in their desperate search for a good swing. It is my belief that your aim should be to groove a golf swing that will give you streams of straight and long golf shots by modelling your swing on one set of advice. Then you should develop a mind movie of that swing so that you can reproduce it whenever you play a shot.
Think how long some of the most famous partnerships between players and their swing coaches have lasted. Think of Jack Nicklaus and Jack Grout, Tiger Woods and Butch Harmon, Nick Faldo and David Leadbetter to name but a few. All these great players relied on one coach's vision of their swing to keep their mind movie in shape. They did not go asking for golf tips from other players.
David Ferrers is the author of The Golf Swing Mind-Movies Power Pack. This is the first quality work on the internet which shows how to use the Power of golf Mind-Movies to quickly become a better golfer. You can read more about golf Mind-Movies here: http://www.The-Golf-Bandit.com/golf-tip-Golf-Mind-Movies.htm
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Golf Tools, Gearing up nicely for GolfingKhaled
Golf Tools, Gearing up nicely for Golfing
Khaled Naser
Like all other sports, golf needs that you are geared up with the best equipments to properly play the game. This paper gives you an idea of the standard golf tools one requires to be able to learn and play golf properly.
For novice, the main golf tool is a golf ball. Golf balls are dimpled tiny balls, use in to play golf. They are dimpled to go far when driven by golf clubs.
Also another important golf tool is a golf club or golf driver. Golf drivers come in too many varieties. This is because a golf course has too many kinds of landscapes and different golf clubs are required to make the best drive. Depending on the landscape, if sand, grass or cement, a golf club is important to make the perfect drive. Expert golfers usually have a case or two of golf clubs to cater to their golf requirements. Most golf stores and sports tool store sell golf clubs. Some golf clubs are sold in sets while other are sold alone.
To take care of your golf equipment, such as your golf club, a golf bag golf club cover is important. A golf bag will, for sure, hold your golf club in one place and will make it more easy for your caddy to bring your many golf clubs. Golf bags can also hold golf balls and also other golf equipment such as water bottle to quench your thirst while under the beautiful sun or extra shirt or your regular shoes. On the other hand, a golf club cover covers the edge of your golf club. This is done so to protect your golf club from unwanted scratches and dents. Dents can cause your drive to go from good to bad. Dents in golf clubs can affect the drive of your golf ball. With these golf tools, you can take care of the state of your club and your rich sport.
One golf tool that you also need to invest on is a nice pair of golf shoes. Golf shoes are different from standard rubber shoes or jogging shoes. Golf shoes are made to walk on greens - the type where the sport is played. Golf shoes usually have pointed rubber under the soles to grip the earth and sand under your feet. This way, unnecessary shaking or moving is prevented. This is useful because shaking can cause you to not hit the golf ball or to hit the golf ball in the wrong way. If you plan to play good golf a nice pair of golf shoes is a important golf tool to add up to your list. Choose one that is sturdy yet comfortable enough for you to walk into. Golf is a sport that requires walking from one hole to the other or to where your ball goes (you can not use golf carts on the greens) and thus, if your golf shoes are no good, you would have a hard time playing your game.
A golf tool usually provided by most golf courses (aside from the golf ball) is the tee. The tee is the tiny pin like thing that you punch to the ground to stand your ball into. The tee is use in teeing off (the start of your first drive) thus the name.
The most great golf tool ever created (for me, that is) is the golf cart. Golf carts can take you from one hole to the other, though as I said earlier they are not allowed on the greens, they still lessen the burden of having to walk under the hot sun. This golf equipment can be acquired from golf courses. Golf players are normally made to use golf tool such as this to give them a good and easier time playing the game.
Many specialty shops and sport shops offer golf tools. The internet is also a great source of golf equipment. Used golf tools are even auctioned off the internet, if you are on a tight budget. Check out your golf shop, sports shop, specialty shops, E-bay or Yahoo! for your golf equipment requirements.
About the author: Khaled Naser is working in Engineering for several years and has been writing for quite some time. His article directory at Team77.com carries a lot of useful articles and reviews.
Khaled Naser
Like all other sports, golf needs that you are geared up with the best equipments to properly play the game. This paper gives you an idea of the standard golf tools one requires to be able to learn and play golf properly.
For novice, the main golf tool is a golf ball. Golf balls are dimpled tiny balls, use in to play golf. They are dimpled to go far when driven by golf clubs.
Also another important golf tool is a golf club or golf driver. Golf drivers come in too many varieties. This is because a golf course has too many kinds of landscapes and different golf clubs are required to make the best drive. Depending on the landscape, if sand, grass or cement, a golf club is important to make the perfect drive. Expert golfers usually have a case or two of golf clubs to cater to their golf requirements. Most golf stores and sports tool store sell golf clubs. Some golf clubs are sold in sets while other are sold alone.
To take care of your golf equipment, such as your golf club, a golf bag golf club cover is important. A golf bag will, for sure, hold your golf club in one place and will make it more easy for your caddy to bring your many golf clubs. Golf bags can also hold golf balls and also other golf equipment such as water bottle to quench your thirst while under the beautiful sun or extra shirt or your regular shoes. On the other hand, a golf club cover covers the edge of your golf club. This is done so to protect your golf club from unwanted scratches and dents. Dents can cause your drive to go from good to bad. Dents in golf clubs can affect the drive of your golf ball. With these golf tools, you can take care of the state of your club and your rich sport.
One golf tool that you also need to invest on is a nice pair of golf shoes. Golf shoes are different from standard rubber shoes or jogging shoes. Golf shoes are made to walk on greens - the type where the sport is played. Golf shoes usually have pointed rubber under the soles to grip the earth and sand under your feet. This way, unnecessary shaking or moving is prevented. This is useful because shaking can cause you to not hit the golf ball or to hit the golf ball in the wrong way. If you plan to play good golf a nice pair of golf shoes is a important golf tool to add up to your list. Choose one that is sturdy yet comfortable enough for you to walk into. Golf is a sport that requires walking from one hole to the other or to where your ball goes (you can not use golf carts on the greens) and thus, if your golf shoes are no good, you would have a hard time playing your game.
A golf tool usually provided by most golf courses (aside from the golf ball) is the tee. The tee is the tiny pin like thing that you punch to the ground to stand your ball into. The tee is use in teeing off (the start of your first drive) thus the name.
The most great golf tool ever created (for me, that is) is the golf cart. Golf carts can take you from one hole to the other, though as I said earlier they are not allowed on the greens, they still lessen the burden of having to walk under the hot sun. This golf equipment can be acquired from golf courses. Golf players are normally made to use golf tool such as this to give them a good and easier time playing the game.
Many specialty shops and sport shops offer golf tools. The internet is also a great source of golf equipment. Used golf tools are even auctioned off the internet, if you are on a tight budget. Check out your golf shop, sports shop, specialty shops, E-bay or Yahoo! for your golf equipment requirements.
About the author: Khaled Naser is working in Engineering for several years and has been writing for quite some time. His article directory at Team77.com carries a lot of useful articles and reviews.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Golf Basics for Newbies
Kevin Fairbanks
You may or may not be new to golf, but you do want to get better. Knowledge is power, so make sure you arm yourself with as much information as you can. Information about the rules, how to swing the golf club, how to select clubs, etc. Also, make sure you practice. You cannot expect to be very good at anything without practice. Armed with the knowledge and the experience, your golfing experiences will be very positive.
If you have decided to take up golf as a hobby you will be rewarded with the benefits of fresh air, exercise, and the addition of many new friends and acquaintances. Normally, players on the course like to strike up conversations and find our who their playing partners are. Like any project you approach in life your attitude and expectations will determine your enjoyment of the game.
Take stock of your personal traits. Are you overly competitive? If you are, remember the road to a low handicap is littered with bad shots, bunkers, water hazards and triple digit scores on your round. You will invest a lot of time in practice. Welcome every hook, slice and 3 putt as a learning opportunity. Even Tiger Woods needs a coach to help him with his game.
If you like to meet new people golf provides you with opportunities for social interaction. You will get to meet new people in a setting in which you both have an avid interest. This makes for easy conversation and more opportunities to improve your game. Most clubs offer single players the opportunity to play the round together. If you would prefer to play alone just mention this to the club pro when arranging your tee time.
How much golf equipment do you actually need. Golf can be a very expensive game but there are affordable options. A high-end brand name set of clubs can set you back several thousand dollars but a good used set will cost you a few hundred dollars. Before you buy clubs it is a good idea to visit golf stores and club pro shops. You can test out different types of clubs, determine which club length is best for you, get to know the different types of grips available and learn the difference between graphite and steel shafts. You can learn about the type of golf ball that will best suit you as a beginner. Having a golf ball with the correct compression will help you make the most of your game.
If you want to increase the exercise benefits of golf, you can choose to walk the 18 holes. When you are choosing a golf bag you will first need to decide if you are going to walk or ride. Your choice here will be a carry or cart bag. Golf bags are available in a range of materials so choose one that is suited to the climate in which you will play most of your golf. Golf shoes are important. Make sure they are comfortable and waterproof. A rain suit is also a good addition to your golf bag.
Should you take lessons from a golf professional? Your budget is the deciding factor here. Golf lessons are expensive but if it is within your budget it may be worthwhile. You will find that lessons will raise the standard of your game quickly. A more affordable way to take lessons is to purchase one of the many training programs available on video and dvd. Many seasoned golfers use these programs to raise the standard of their game and new golfers can learn at their own pace.
The above are just the basics of getting started in the game. Before you lift a club, develop the right mental attitude. Remain positive, quiet your mind and envision you shot before you hit the ball. A good mental game is half the battle on the road to a low handicap. Above all enjoy!
As with any sport, golf is no exception in regard to relaxing. You will have more fun and you will ultimately play better if you are relaxed. When you tense up, your muscles do not work as well as when you are relaxed. You start hitting bad shots. You become more and more tense. RELAX! You will also have more fun that way too.
http://1structured-settlement.com
Kevin is the husband of Becky and the father of 2, Nicholas and Kirsten. He is an avid sports fan and over-all good guy. He has taken his love of sports and developed web sites that offer that love of sports to others.
http://www.GolfClubsHome.com
http://CollectibleSport.com
http://www.Collectible-Sports-Memorabilia.com
You may or may not be new to golf, but you do want to get better. Knowledge is power, so make sure you arm yourself with as much information as you can. Information about the rules, how to swing the golf club, how to select clubs, etc. Also, make sure you practice. You cannot expect to be very good at anything without practice. Armed with the knowledge and the experience, your golfing experiences will be very positive.
If you have decided to take up golf as a hobby you will be rewarded with the benefits of fresh air, exercise, and the addition of many new friends and acquaintances. Normally, players on the course like to strike up conversations and find our who their playing partners are. Like any project you approach in life your attitude and expectations will determine your enjoyment of the game.
Take stock of your personal traits. Are you overly competitive? If you are, remember the road to a low handicap is littered with bad shots, bunkers, water hazards and triple digit scores on your round. You will invest a lot of time in practice. Welcome every hook, slice and 3 putt as a learning opportunity. Even Tiger Woods needs a coach to help him with his game.
If you like to meet new people golf provides you with opportunities for social interaction. You will get to meet new people in a setting in which you both have an avid interest. This makes for easy conversation and more opportunities to improve your game. Most clubs offer single players the opportunity to play the round together. If you would prefer to play alone just mention this to the club pro when arranging your tee time.
How much golf equipment do you actually need. Golf can be a very expensive game but there are affordable options. A high-end brand name set of clubs can set you back several thousand dollars but a good used set will cost you a few hundred dollars. Before you buy clubs it is a good idea to visit golf stores and club pro shops. You can test out different types of clubs, determine which club length is best for you, get to know the different types of grips available and learn the difference between graphite and steel shafts. You can learn about the type of golf ball that will best suit you as a beginner. Having a golf ball with the correct compression will help you make the most of your game.
If you want to increase the exercise benefits of golf, you can choose to walk the 18 holes. When you are choosing a golf bag you will first need to decide if you are going to walk or ride. Your choice here will be a carry or cart bag. Golf bags are available in a range of materials so choose one that is suited to the climate in which you will play most of your golf. Golf shoes are important. Make sure they are comfortable and waterproof. A rain suit is also a good addition to your golf bag.
Should you take lessons from a golf professional? Your budget is the deciding factor here. Golf lessons are expensive but if it is within your budget it may be worthwhile. You will find that lessons will raise the standard of your game quickly. A more affordable way to take lessons is to purchase one of the many training programs available on video and dvd. Many seasoned golfers use these programs to raise the standard of their game and new golfers can learn at their own pace.
The above are just the basics of getting started in the game. Before you lift a club, develop the right mental attitude. Remain positive, quiet your mind and envision you shot before you hit the ball. A good mental game is half the battle on the road to a low handicap. Above all enjoy!
As with any sport, golf is no exception in regard to relaxing. You will have more fun and you will ultimately play better if you are relaxed. When you tense up, your muscles do not work as well as when you are relaxed. You start hitting bad shots. You become more and more tense. RELAX! You will also have more fun that way too.
http://1structured-settlement.com
Kevin is the husband of Becky and the father of 2, Nicholas and Kirsten. He is an avid sports fan and over-all good guy. He has taken his love of sports and developed web sites that offer that love of sports to others.
http://www.GolfClubsHome.com
http://CollectibleSport.com
http://www.Collectible-Sports-Memorabilia.com
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Your Golf Swing Is Good Enough
Craig Sigl
If you watch the Golf Channel or read any of the magazines and books on golf, it will be very hard for you to miss the basic theme that "There is a perfect swing and you will do the most for your game by trying to get it". Even when you watch a tournament on TV, you see the commentators participate in this conspiracy by showing us frame-by-frame analysis of the pro and critiquing his/her every move. Now, maybe we can give the TV guys a break because they are just trying for some entertainment value and let's face it, most of us are interested in the details of the swing because we've been brainwashed by years of this theme.
For many years, I too was a "swing zombie" in my quest to improve my golf game. I even participated with a group of golfers that all had our swings videotaped and then we critiqued each other in a classroom setting. The feedback I received from all of us watching my swing ran from "very smooth" to "way off-kilter". Everybody had a differing opinion of many of the swings that we watched and at least for me, it only confused me more.
In my younger years, I had a typical amateur slice swing that obviously came out of my years of playing baseball and softball. In those days, I would just aim for the left edge of any fairway and I could count on the ball moving left to right, at worst ending up in the right rough but usually hitting the fairway. I enjoyed playing golf those days but I always felt that something was missing. So when I could finally afford it,I decided to take a set of lessons from a pro. Of course I told him that I wanted to get rid of my slice swing and he asked me back "are you sure?". This answer kind of shocked me but he was a very good instructor and by the end of the lessons, I was able to hit the ball out of bounds both ways, left and right. I figured that it would just be a matter of time until I "dialed" in to hitting it straight. To make the story short, 5 years later and I was still "dialing" and getting wrong numbers (ob, jail, water,no score improvement, etc.).
Looking back, I honestly believe now that if I had stuck with my old left to right swing and just used the rest of what I learned from the pro, that I would have improved significantly. Why? Because I was a typical golfer and not a 12 handicapper trying to become a single-digiter (a good golfer trying to become a great one). Studies have shown that the overwhelming majority of amateur golfers shoot in the 90's or above for men and it's over 100 for women. If you are in that group, then you really should be working on parts of your game that will give you far more efficient score improvement for the time and effort spent. This would primarily be in the area of the short game and the mental game.
This is absolutely true for the average golfer but it may be true for all golfers as well. There is loads of evidence on the pro tours that the ones making the money are those best at chipping and putting. The golf research guru himself, Dave Pelz, actually followed tour players around for years taking detailed statistics and he proved it (see his book, My Short Game Bible). In addition to that, there are too many pros to list that admit that their swing is not "technically correct" or maybe not even very good...BUT THEY WIN TOURNAMENTS! Look at Jim Furyk, 2003 U.S. Open winner. He actually has a big loop in his backswing. Lee Trevino always told people that they should not copy his swing. Even Jack Nicklaus says in his books that he wasn't a very good ball striker. Bruce Lietzke has won tournaments on the PGA and Senior tours playing his left-to-right shot his whole career - And he says he rarely practices! On top of that, the tours are littered with past champions that totally lost their game AFTER they tried to change it for the better. And now they are begging their sports psychologist to help them "find" their old swing.
I have talked to PGA golf instructors that say it's their clients that want the swing advice (just like I did) even when they recommend working some other part of their game first. So maybe it's our own fault in creating the current situation where average scores of amateurs have not dropped one stroke in the last 50 years despite the advances in equipment technology. Now don't get me wrong, if you are a total beginner, maybe you should start out with learning the basics of the golf swing with a lesson. But if you're hitting it solid most of the time, you are good to go for a real scoring quest as more swing advice is not the quickest way for you to drop your score. There is just so much more that you can do, on and off the course, that will pay you back in saved strokes for far less time spent than "fixing" your swing. Most of us have precious little free time that we can work to improve our games so why not work on that which will give us the greatest bang for our (time) buck?
And so, let me be the first to make a pledge to the golf spirit inside me (I always thought that golf is like religion): "I for one, do solemnly swear that I will not pay attention to any swing advice of any sort until I can score in the 70's consistently with the swing I have (and maybe not even then)".
Visit Craig Sigl's website at: http://www.break80golf.com It is dedicated to score improvement for golfers with little time to practice. Download free ebook "How you can play better golf using self-hypnosis". Sign up for ezine "The Very Busy Golfer." Ecourse with golf instruction tips from a major pro, articles on golf equipment and free golf games.
If you watch the Golf Channel or read any of the magazines and books on golf, it will be very hard for you to miss the basic theme that "There is a perfect swing and you will do the most for your game by trying to get it". Even when you watch a tournament on TV, you see the commentators participate in this conspiracy by showing us frame-by-frame analysis of the pro and critiquing his/her every move. Now, maybe we can give the TV guys a break because they are just trying for some entertainment value and let's face it, most of us are interested in the details of the swing because we've been brainwashed by years of this theme.
For many years, I too was a "swing zombie" in my quest to improve my golf game. I even participated with a group of golfers that all had our swings videotaped and then we critiqued each other in a classroom setting. The feedback I received from all of us watching my swing ran from "very smooth" to "way off-kilter". Everybody had a differing opinion of many of the swings that we watched and at least for me, it only confused me more.
In my younger years, I had a typical amateur slice swing that obviously came out of my years of playing baseball and softball. In those days, I would just aim for the left edge of any fairway and I could count on the ball moving left to right, at worst ending up in the right rough but usually hitting the fairway. I enjoyed playing golf those days but I always felt that something was missing. So when I could finally afford it,I decided to take a set of lessons from a pro. Of course I told him that I wanted to get rid of my slice swing and he asked me back "are you sure?". This answer kind of shocked me but he was a very good instructor and by the end of the lessons, I was able to hit the ball out of bounds both ways, left and right. I figured that it would just be a matter of time until I "dialed" in to hitting it straight. To make the story short, 5 years later and I was still "dialing" and getting wrong numbers (ob, jail, water,no score improvement, etc.).
Looking back, I honestly believe now that if I had stuck with my old left to right swing and just used the rest of what I learned from the pro, that I would have improved significantly. Why? Because I was a typical golfer and not a 12 handicapper trying to become a single-digiter (a good golfer trying to become a great one). Studies have shown that the overwhelming majority of amateur golfers shoot in the 90's or above for men and it's over 100 for women. If you are in that group, then you really should be working on parts of your game that will give you far more efficient score improvement for the time and effort spent. This would primarily be in the area of the short game and the mental game.
This is absolutely true for the average golfer but it may be true for all golfers as well. There is loads of evidence on the pro tours that the ones making the money are those best at chipping and putting. The golf research guru himself, Dave Pelz, actually followed tour players around for years taking detailed statistics and he proved it (see his book, My Short Game Bible). In addition to that, there are too many pros to list that admit that their swing is not "technically correct" or maybe not even very good...BUT THEY WIN TOURNAMENTS! Look at Jim Furyk, 2003 U.S. Open winner. He actually has a big loop in his backswing. Lee Trevino always told people that they should not copy his swing. Even Jack Nicklaus says in his books that he wasn't a very good ball striker. Bruce Lietzke has won tournaments on the PGA and Senior tours playing his left-to-right shot his whole career - And he says he rarely practices! On top of that, the tours are littered with past champions that totally lost their game AFTER they tried to change it for the better. And now they are begging their sports psychologist to help them "find" their old swing.
I have talked to PGA golf instructors that say it's their clients that want the swing advice (just like I did) even when they recommend working some other part of their game first. So maybe it's our own fault in creating the current situation where average scores of amateurs have not dropped one stroke in the last 50 years despite the advances in equipment technology. Now don't get me wrong, if you are a total beginner, maybe you should start out with learning the basics of the golf swing with a lesson. But if you're hitting it solid most of the time, you are good to go for a real scoring quest as more swing advice is not the quickest way for you to drop your score. There is just so much more that you can do, on and off the course, that will pay you back in saved strokes for far less time spent than "fixing" your swing. Most of us have precious little free time that we can work to improve our games so why not work on that which will give us the greatest bang for our (time) buck?
And so, let me be the first to make a pledge to the golf spirit inside me (I always thought that golf is like religion): "I for one, do solemnly swear that I will not pay attention to any swing advice of any sort until I can score in the 70's consistently with the swing I have (and maybe not even then)".
Visit Craig Sigl's website at: http://www.break80golf.com It is dedicated to score improvement for golfers with little time to practice. Download free ebook "How you can play better golf using self-hypnosis". Sign up for ezine "The Very Busy Golfer." Ecourse with golf instruction tips from a major pro, articles on golf equipment and free golf games.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Effective Golf Fitness Equipment
Effective Golf Fitness Equipment
Mike Pedersen
Golf fitness equipment is designed to help a golfer build strength in certain muscles so as to improve their golf game and lower their scores.
The problem is that there are so many different golf fitness equipment in the market these days that it is difficult to identify the really effective ones and the duds or inappropriate ones.
Golf Swing Improvement
The situation is hardly helped by the fact that clever marketing is usually put to use in promoting a vast majority of golf fitness equipment. The result is that many disappointed golfers have ended up with loads of the stuff in their garages that has hardly improved their game.
In fact you would find some who would confidently tell you that their game has gotten worse rather than better. You want to improve your golf swing and game, not ruin it!
Weighted Golf Club
Golf fitness equipment that I have found to be very effective is the weighted club. This is a very golf-specific piece of equipment because one ends up going through the exact same motions you do with an ordinary club but with more weight. This greatly helps in strengthening and conditioning all the relevant muscles used in the golf swing.
The inside approach is another great golf fitness equipment to help improve any golf swing. This particular device is extremely useful for slicers and helps deal with this problem fairly quickly.
Golf Exercise Tubing
As golf fitness equipment, golf exercise tubing is very affordable and yet very effective. The strength of this device is in its’ ability to break down the golf swing into as many different phases as you would like to focus on for the sake of improvements. It offers specific resistance training for each phase.
Golf Stability Balls
Stability balls are the sort of golf fitness equipment that any golfer with a bad back should have. There are almost countless different stretch exercises that you can with it. And what makes this golf training aid even more attractive is the fact that you can do your exercises in the office or at home when you have a moment.
Portable Dumbbells
Simple dumbbells can also be very useful golf fitness equipment to have around. You can do so many things with them. You can literally isolate phases of your golf swing and create golf fitness exercises on your own!
You do not need a gym to do a very effective golf fitness routine. The above equipment is more than enough!
About The Author: Mike Pedersen is an Internationally recognized golf fitness trainer and author. He is Golf Magazines golf performance expert, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf performance membership sites. Take a look at his best selling Golf Fitness System at his golf fitness site - PerformBetterGolf.com.
Mike Pedersen
Golf fitness equipment is designed to help a golfer build strength in certain muscles so as to improve their golf game and lower their scores.
The problem is that there are so many different golf fitness equipment in the market these days that it is difficult to identify the really effective ones and the duds or inappropriate ones.
Golf Swing Improvement
The situation is hardly helped by the fact that clever marketing is usually put to use in promoting a vast majority of golf fitness equipment. The result is that many disappointed golfers have ended up with loads of the stuff in their garages that has hardly improved their game.
In fact you would find some who would confidently tell you that their game has gotten worse rather than better. You want to improve your golf swing and game, not ruin it!
Weighted Golf Club
Golf fitness equipment that I have found to be very effective is the weighted club. This is a very golf-specific piece of equipment because one ends up going through the exact same motions you do with an ordinary club but with more weight. This greatly helps in strengthening and conditioning all the relevant muscles used in the golf swing.
The inside approach is another great golf fitness equipment to help improve any golf swing. This particular device is extremely useful for slicers and helps deal with this problem fairly quickly.
Golf Exercise Tubing
As golf fitness equipment, golf exercise tubing is very affordable and yet very effective. The strength of this device is in its’ ability to break down the golf swing into as many different phases as you would like to focus on for the sake of improvements. It offers specific resistance training for each phase.
Golf Stability Balls
Stability balls are the sort of golf fitness equipment that any golfer with a bad back should have. There are almost countless different stretch exercises that you can with it. And what makes this golf training aid even more attractive is the fact that you can do your exercises in the office or at home when you have a moment.
Portable Dumbbells
Simple dumbbells can also be very useful golf fitness equipment to have around. You can do so many things with them. You can literally isolate phases of your golf swing and create golf fitness exercises on your own!
You do not need a gym to do a very effective golf fitness routine. The above equipment is more than enough!
About The Author: Mike Pedersen is an Internationally recognized golf fitness trainer and author. He is Golf Magazines golf performance expert, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf performance membership sites. Take a look at his best selling Golf Fitness System at his golf fitness site - PerformBetterGolf.com.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Guide to Playing Golf for Free and Getting Huge Discounts on Golf Balls, Golf Gloves, and Golf Stuff
Guide to Playing Golf for Free and Getting Huge Discounts on Golf Balls, Golf Gloves, and Golf Stuff
Mark Barnes
If you love to play golf as much as most golf enthusiasts, you would probably play more if the great game of golf and most golf equipment wasn't so grossly expensive. An 18-hole round of golf at even a moderately expensive golf course averages about $36.00. A decent box of 12 golf balls costs roughly $19.00, and golf clubs are hundreds. Although it's impossible to get it all for free, there are ways to get free rounds of golf and huge discounts on golf equipment. Here are some guidelines to help you play more rounds of golf for free, get some free golf equipment and get huge discounts on other golf stuff:
Free or reduced rounds of golf:
Play golf writer for a day. Since anyone can contribute articles on the Internet, call the golf resort or club where you'd like to play and ask for the club pro. Tell him that you write reviews of golf courses for an Internet site (you can create the site yourself, or put them her for ezines). Tell the golf pro that you would like to play his course, write an article on it, and you were hoping he could set you up with a complimentary time. Perhaps he could even play along with you. Once you've done this, you'll most likely be able to play there time and time again for free or for a reduced rate.
Get a free club, even a $400 driver:
This is no great secret, but few people know about it. Best of all, it's very easy to do. Go to a search engine like Google. Type in review or test golf clubs. Many golf equipment review pages will come up. Research a few of them and learn what it takes to be one of their consultants. Many just require a complete written review of the golf club in a particular amount of time, and you get to keep the club. Some people do this and never purchase a golf club or a golf ball.
Get free or discounted golf balls, golf gloves and other golf stuff.
This is another one that has been around for awhile, but not every golfer knows about. Many major retailers have golf membership clubs with small yearly fees that offer amazing freebies and discounts on golf balls, golf gloves and other golf equipment. Sometimes, the membership comes with a free sleeve of very nice golf balls. So, the membership might cost you $15.00, and you’ll get a sleeve of balls worth $9.00. Most future purchases include a 10 to 25 percent discount, and usually once each month, you’ll receive correspondence about a special, buy-one-get-one-free deal on balls or gloves.
Get a beautiful free golf hat and golf bag tag today.
Another great place to go for discounts and freebies is the USGA. Their one-year membership fee is $15.00. With it comes a free golf hat, with the name of one of golf’s majors stenciled on it and a name tag for your bag that says USGA. Throughout the year, your membership will afford you many discounts on golf rounds and equipment, along with neat golf publications from the USGA. No true golf enthusiast should be without this membership.
These are just a few of the numerous ways golfers can save literally thousands of dollars each year on golf and golf equipment. Give them a try today.
Check out more great information now at Expert Commentary
Mark Barnes
If you love to play golf as much as most golf enthusiasts, you would probably play more if the great game of golf and most golf equipment wasn't so grossly expensive. An 18-hole round of golf at even a moderately expensive golf course averages about $36.00. A decent box of 12 golf balls costs roughly $19.00, and golf clubs are hundreds. Although it's impossible to get it all for free, there are ways to get free rounds of golf and huge discounts on golf equipment. Here are some guidelines to help you play more rounds of golf for free, get some free golf equipment and get huge discounts on other golf stuff:
Free or reduced rounds of golf:
Play golf writer for a day. Since anyone can contribute articles on the Internet, call the golf resort or club where you'd like to play and ask for the club pro. Tell him that you write reviews of golf courses for an Internet site (you can create the site yourself, or put them her for ezines). Tell the golf pro that you would like to play his course, write an article on it, and you were hoping he could set you up with a complimentary time. Perhaps he could even play along with you. Once you've done this, you'll most likely be able to play there time and time again for free or for a reduced rate.
Get a free club, even a $400 driver:
This is no great secret, but few people know about it. Best of all, it's very easy to do. Go to a search engine like Google. Type in review or test golf clubs. Many golf equipment review pages will come up. Research a few of them and learn what it takes to be one of their consultants. Many just require a complete written review of the golf club in a particular amount of time, and you get to keep the club. Some people do this and never purchase a golf club or a golf ball.
Get free or discounted golf balls, golf gloves and other golf stuff.
This is another one that has been around for awhile, but not every golfer knows about. Many major retailers have golf membership clubs with small yearly fees that offer amazing freebies and discounts on golf balls, golf gloves and other golf equipment. Sometimes, the membership comes with a free sleeve of very nice golf balls. So, the membership might cost you $15.00, and you’ll get a sleeve of balls worth $9.00. Most future purchases include a 10 to 25 percent discount, and usually once each month, you’ll receive correspondence about a special, buy-one-get-one-free deal on balls or gloves.
Get a beautiful free golf hat and golf bag tag today.
Another great place to go for discounts and freebies is the USGA. Their one-year membership fee is $15.00. With it comes a free golf hat, with the name of one of golf’s majors stenciled on it and a name tag for your bag that says USGA. Throughout the year, your membership will afford you many discounts on golf rounds and equipment, along with neat golf publications from the USGA. No true golf enthusiast should be without this membership.
These are just a few of the numerous ways golfers can save literally thousands of dollars each year on golf and golf equipment. Give them a try today.
Check out more great information now at Expert Commentary
Monday, May 08, 2006
The Golfing Greats - Arnold Palmer
Donald Saunders
Arnold Palmer, General of Arnie's Army, was speaking of golf, but he could have been describing his own life when he said, "Success in golf depends less on strength of body than upon strength of mind and character." His sense of fairness, kindness toward everyone, and dry sense of humor have made him one of the most popular golfers to ever play the game. And he was pretty darned good at the game, too!
As a world-famous golfer, Arnold Palmer won a majority of his 92 championships on the U.S. PGA tour. The only "major" he never won was the PGA Championship, although he finished second in three of them. Probably most noted for being the first pro to win four Masters Tournaments, it's not surprising to find that he started playing golf at the ripe old age of four. He worked hard at developing his golf game throughout most of his life, and it shows with some of the prestigious awards he's won including: the 1960 Hickok Professional Athlete of the Year, the 1960 Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year, and even Athlete of the Decade for the 1960s in a national Associated Press poll. The awards culminated in 2004 when President Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a ceremony at the White House.
His professional career began in 1954, just a few months after he won the U.S. Amateur Championship. The leading money winner in three of the four years spanning his biggest period from 1960 to 1963, Palmer twice represented the U.S. in the international Ryder Cup Match. But Palmer never let all that prestige and status go to his head. He unfailingly maintained a dry and subtle sense of humor. After succumbing to bad luck on the 18th hole at the Rancho Park L.A. Open in 1961, a newsman asked how he had managed to make 12 on the par 5 hole. His reply: "I missed my putt for an 11."
Rancho Park became his home golf course for many years. The 20th Century Fox Studios were right across the street, and many times you'd find Hollywood stars mixing with the regular golfing crowd. It's said that after Palmer once played a round with Frank Sinatra – the famed singer rumored to have been involved with the Italian Mafia – Sinatra asked him, "How do you like my game?" Palmer responded with a straight face, "I prefer golf."
Palmer even got along with members of the media, laughing at the statement made by one television commentator who noted during a live broadcast that Palmer "seems to be having trouble with his long putt. However he has no trouble dropping his shorts." That same kindness, understanding and sense of fairness have carried through his life and led to the unofficial creation of Arnie's Army, a dedicated group of fans that has numbered in the thousands.
The honor and unceasing dedication those fans offer Palmer is well-warranted. His philanthropic efforts, while never highly publicized, have earned him recognition with those who count – the people who know him. For two decades, Palmer served as honorary national chairman of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation and has played major roles in fund-raising drives for hospitals in both Orlando, Florida, and Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the town in which he was born.
Now in semi-permanent retirement, Palmer splits his time between Latrobe and La Quinta, California. He has numerous business interests around the world and still keeps his hand in his first passion, golf, serving as a consultant to The Golf Channel, designing golf courses around the country, and owning several golf courses, including being part owner of the renowned Pebble Beach course in California.
Famed golf pro, down-to-earth father and family man, quiet philanthropist – all can be used to describe Arnold Palmer. His life in golf has mirrored his life in general. Speaking of golf, he once noted, "I've always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn't have a chance to win." It seems, however, that it has been those who know him that have been the real winners in this game.
Copyright 2005 Donald Saunders
Golf is a great sport that will not only get and keep you fit, but give you endless hours of pleasure amongst some of the world's most beautiful scenery. Amongst some of the most interesting golf courses are those at Myrtle Beach golf and Charleston golf
Arnold Palmer, General of Arnie's Army, was speaking of golf, but he could have been describing his own life when he said, "Success in golf depends less on strength of body than upon strength of mind and character." His sense of fairness, kindness toward everyone, and dry sense of humor have made him one of the most popular golfers to ever play the game. And he was pretty darned good at the game, too!
As a world-famous golfer, Arnold Palmer won a majority of his 92 championships on the U.S. PGA tour. The only "major" he never won was the PGA Championship, although he finished second in three of them. Probably most noted for being the first pro to win four Masters Tournaments, it's not surprising to find that he started playing golf at the ripe old age of four. He worked hard at developing his golf game throughout most of his life, and it shows with some of the prestigious awards he's won including: the 1960 Hickok Professional Athlete of the Year, the 1960 Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year, and even Athlete of the Decade for the 1960s in a national Associated Press poll. The awards culminated in 2004 when President Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a ceremony at the White House.
His professional career began in 1954, just a few months after he won the U.S. Amateur Championship. The leading money winner in three of the four years spanning his biggest period from 1960 to 1963, Palmer twice represented the U.S. in the international Ryder Cup Match. But Palmer never let all that prestige and status go to his head. He unfailingly maintained a dry and subtle sense of humor. After succumbing to bad luck on the 18th hole at the Rancho Park L.A. Open in 1961, a newsman asked how he had managed to make 12 on the par 5 hole. His reply: "I missed my putt for an 11."
Rancho Park became his home golf course for many years. The 20th Century Fox Studios were right across the street, and many times you'd find Hollywood stars mixing with the regular golfing crowd. It's said that after Palmer once played a round with Frank Sinatra – the famed singer rumored to have been involved with the Italian Mafia – Sinatra asked him, "How do you like my game?" Palmer responded with a straight face, "I prefer golf."
Palmer even got along with members of the media, laughing at the statement made by one television commentator who noted during a live broadcast that Palmer "seems to be having trouble with his long putt. However he has no trouble dropping his shorts." That same kindness, understanding and sense of fairness have carried through his life and led to the unofficial creation of Arnie's Army, a dedicated group of fans that has numbered in the thousands.
The honor and unceasing dedication those fans offer Palmer is well-warranted. His philanthropic efforts, while never highly publicized, have earned him recognition with those who count – the people who know him. For two decades, Palmer served as honorary national chairman of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation and has played major roles in fund-raising drives for hospitals in both Orlando, Florida, and Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the town in which he was born.
Now in semi-permanent retirement, Palmer splits his time between Latrobe and La Quinta, California. He has numerous business interests around the world and still keeps his hand in his first passion, golf, serving as a consultant to The Golf Channel, designing golf courses around the country, and owning several golf courses, including being part owner of the renowned Pebble Beach course in California.
Famed golf pro, down-to-earth father and family man, quiet philanthropist – all can be used to describe Arnold Palmer. His life in golf has mirrored his life in general. Speaking of golf, he once noted, "I've always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn't have a chance to win." It seems, however, that it has been those who know him that have been the real winners in this game.
Copyright 2005 Donald Saunders
Golf is a great sport that will not only get and keep you fit, but give you endless hours of pleasure amongst some of the world's most beautiful scenery. Amongst some of the most interesting golf courses are those at Myrtle Beach golf and Charleston golf
Friday, May 05, 2006
How Different Courses Can Help You Become a Good Golf Player
Peter Dewerth
Golf is an fulfilling and absorbing sport but, even so, there is a risk that you may become stale or bored if you do not change the place where you play. This makes golf different from other games, but the reason for this is the very nature of golf. To become a really good golf player, one needs to play according to the unique nature of every course, which in turn means that more than one course is ideal for the maximum development of your game.
Therefore, changing courses requires more than one golf course. While you are still a beginner, or are short of money, your choices are usually limited to golf courses near the place you live, work, or study. Usually there is more than one course there and most likely they are not too expensive.
However, once you have mastered these courses, you'll probably be looking for more.
The most logical place to look into, while searching for a new course, is the PGA Tour stops. The disadvantage of PGA Tour stops is that usually they are not cheap, getting inside is difficult and often they are members-only country clubs. So, before heading to a PGA Tour stop, it is wise to check its rules and make reservations a couple of months in advance.
If changing the golf course is not the sole purpose of your journey, consider one of the several travel destinations, which are suitable for the whole family. In the daytime you will play golf, while your family members are having fun, and you will spend the evening together.
One of the best locations for golf and family vacations all in one is Hawaii. There are many famous golf courses in the Hawaii Islands. Depending on which island you're staying on, there are several different golf courses for you to visit.
If your destination is Oahu (if you are staying in Honolulu, it is on this island), consider the Waikele Golf Club or the Coral Creek Golf Course. They will help you to improve your golf skills, because both courses are designed in a way which includes parts of the terrain.
If you are on the Hawaii Island, why not visit Sandalwood on the Maui Island? This is a relatively new and at the same time well-known golf course. Or why not try the Kona Country Club or the Mauna Key golf course on the Big Island?
Another popular golf destination is Japan. In Japan, there are literally thousands of different golf courses to improve your skills. But it is very, very important that you book your trip in advance, or you might miss the tee time on a Japanese golf club.
However, no matter where you end up going to golf, you'll always be improving your game by exposing yourself to new hazards and obstacles. Just make sure that you plan ahead completely if you're going to be golfing at courses while on vacation - you don't want to get there and be unable to golf because you forgot to make the right reservations!
Peter Dewerth is the owner and operator of FYPR Golf which is a popular resource with extensive information about golf.
For more information, go to: http://www.fyprgolf.com
Golf is an fulfilling and absorbing sport but, even so, there is a risk that you may become stale or bored if you do not change the place where you play. This makes golf different from other games, but the reason for this is the very nature of golf. To become a really good golf player, one needs to play according to the unique nature of every course, which in turn means that more than one course is ideal for the maximum development of your game.
Therefore, changing courses requires more than one golf course. While you are still a beginner, or are short of money, your choices are usually limited to golf courses near the place you live, work, or study. Usually there is more than one course there and most likely they are not too expensive.
However, once you have mastered these courses, you'll probably be looking for more.
The most logical place to look into, while searching for a new course, is the PGA Tour stops. The disadvantage of PGA Tour stops is that usually they are not cheap, getting inside is difficult and often they are members-only country clubs. So, before heading to a PGA Tour stop, it is wise to check its rules and make reservations a couple of months in advance.
If changing the golf course is not the sole purpose of your journey, consider one of the several travel destinations, which are suitable for the whole family. In the daytime you will play golf, while your family members are having fun, and you will spend the evening together.
One of the best locations for golf and family vacations all in one is Hawaii. There are many famous golf courses in the Hawaii Islands. Depending on which island you're staying on, there are several different golf courses for you to visit.
If your destination is Oahu (if you are staying in Honolulu, it is on this island), consider the Waikele Golf Club or the Coral Creek Golf Course. They will help you to improve your golf skills, because both courses are designed in a way which includes parts of the terrain.
If you are on the Hawaii Island, why not visit Sandalwood on the Maui Island? This is a relatively new and at the same time well-known golf course. Or why not try the Kona Country Club or the Mauna Key golf course on the Big Island?
Another popular golf destination is Japan. In Japan, there are literally thousands of different golf courses to improve your skills. But it is very, very important that you book your trip in advance, or you might miss the tee time on a Japanese golf club.
However, no matter where you end up going to golf, you'll always be improving your game by exposing yourself to new hazards and obstacles. Just make sure that you plan ahead completely if you're going to be golfing at courses while on vacation - you don't want to get there and be unable to golf because you forgot to make the right reservations!
Peter Dewerth is the owner and operator of FYPR Golf which is a popular resource with extensive information about golf.
For more information, go to: http://www.fyprgolf.com
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Reading A Green
John Toepel
Reading a green or more accurately reading your putt.
Putting is the smallest and the biggest part of golf. How can that be? A one inch putt counts the same as a 300 yard drive. On the other hand, if you hit all the greens in regulation and two putt every green, what percentage of your shots will be taken on a green? You're right, 50%.
Thus it is both the biggest and the smallest part of golf.
Our egos yell that we must hit the drive long, really long. And without doubt, there is some satisfaction in hitting a long drive and some advantage. And how many drives do you hit during a round of golf? Right, only about 14.
I don't want to dwell on the mechanics of putting but on something rather completely unmechanical; how to read a green or actually how to read a putt.
At one point in the history of golf, golfers actually walked when they played the game. Golf is a walking game. It gives one much-needed time between shots, a little light exercise, an opportunity to see the golf course and the game from a walker's perspective.
One of the advantages of walking is to see the green from the front. All its undulations and subtleties are visible as you walk to the green from the fairway. Try it sometime! You'll find the view of the front of the green as you're walking to it, is quite different than the view from the cart and the cart path.
Knowing the ups and downs of the green from a distance is valuable information. It gives you a general sense of the green and what you are dealing with.
There are two important parts to putting: line and speed. Most golfers, especially ones on TV, seem to spend all of their time on the line. That is trying to get a the line just exactly right.
That's a big mistake!
The reality is, the line of a putt is dictated 100% by the speed of the putt. You can make any putt straight, if you will hit it hard enough. That's not necessarily the way to make lots of putts, but it is a very true statement.
The point I'm trying to make is that the speed is the most important part of putting and dictates the line. You can get a pretty good line on a putt in about a second. Getting the right speed, takes a bit longer. And with the correct speed you will make many putts.
The question really is, how hard do you hit a putt? We don't get a practice putt to figure out how hard to hit our real putt. That means we must properly calculate the speed before we putt the first time.
You must know the speed, feel the speed and experience the speed before you putt. Is the putt uphill or downhill? That's usually quite easy to determine. But how fast is the grass?
You spent some time on the practice putting green before you went to play. You should have some idea of the speed of the greens. The putting green will be faster than most of the greens on the golf course because it gets such high traffic. Consequently, you should hit uphill putts on the practice green before you play.
But all greens and all putts are a little bit different. It's your job to study the grass and know if it is fast or slow. If it's long, wet and fuzzy, it will be slow. If it's short, dry and sparse it will be fast. When I say wet and dry, I don't mean water outside of the grass blades. I'm talking about the moisture inside the grass blades.
Only experience will tell you the speed of the grass. Practice putting extra putts on the golf course if time permits. That will help you gain the awareness you need. What I'm telling you is that you need to be aware of the speed of the grass. With awareness comes learning and expertise.
I was playing with Dave Hill and Ray Floyd in a tournament in Houston, Texas. That area had had too much rain, and then too much very hot and very humid weather. Short grass does not like that combination. The greens were not totally dead but there was a crunching sound, as we stepped on whatever was on the greens.
All three of us had hit our shots on a par 3 to the left and slightly above of the hole. I was the farthest away by about a foot. It was a 15 foot putt with a left to right break and all downhill. I studied that putt and studied that putt, trying to figure a way to keep the ball within about 10 feet of the hole. I saw Dave and Ray watching me intently.
I very carefully putted my ball. It ended up about 8 feet below the hole. Nice putt! After David and Ray putted, my ball was the closest one to the hole! We all did tell the putt was extremely fast, but there was nothing we could do to keep the ball from going considerably past the hole.
Now the rest of the story - we all made threes. The moral of the story: try to always have your second putt be uphill, and then make it.
John Toepel is a Veteran PGA Tour Player, instructor, author, and professional speaker. He is also the discoverer of Concept Golf, the quickest way to immediate, life-long lasting improvements to anyone's golf game. To learn more about Concept Golf, including the most comprehensive golf instruction system ever, "The Concept Golf Perfect Shot Making System", please visit http://www.conceptgolf.com/PSMS.htm and Discover the Par Golfer in You!
Reading a green or more accurately reading your putt.
Putting is the smallest and the biggest part of golf. How can that be? A one inch putt counts the same as a 300 yard drive. On the other hand, if you hit all the greens in regulation and two putt every green, what percentage of your shots will be taken on a green? You're right, 50%.
Thus it is both the biggest and the smallest part of golf.
Our egos yell that we must hit the drive long, really long. And without doubt, there is some satisfaction in hitting a long drive and some advantage. And how many drives do you hit during a round of golf? Right, only about 14.
I don't want to dwell on the mechanics of putting but on something rather completely unmechanical; how to read a green or actually how to read a putt.
At one point in the history of golf, golfers actually walked when they played the game. Golf is a walking game. It gives one much-needed time between shots, a little light exercise, an opportunity to see the golf course and the game from a walker's perspective.
One of the advantages of walking is to see the green from the front. All its undulations and subtleties are visible as you walk to the green from the fairway. Try it sometime! You'll find the view of the front of the green as you're walking to it, is quite different than the view from the cart and the cart path.
Knowing the ups and downs of the green from a distance is valuable information. It gives you a general sense of the green and what you are dealing with.
There are two important parts to putting: line and speed. Most golfers, especially ones on TV, seem to spend all of their time on the line. That is trying to get a the line just exactly right.
That's a big mistake!
The reality is, the line of a putt is dictated 100% by the speed of the putt. You can make any putt straight, if you will hit it hard enough. That's not necessarily the way to make lots of putts, but it is a very true statement.
The point I'm trying to make is that the speed is the most important part of putting and dictates the line. You can get a pretty good line on a putt in about a second. Getting the right speed, takes a bit longer. And with the correct speed you will make many putts.
The question really is, how hard do you hit a putt? We don't get a practice putt to figure out how hard to hit our real putt. That means we must properly calculate the speed before we putt the first time.
You must know the speed, feel the speed and experience the speed before you putt. Is the putt uphill or downhill? That's usually quite easy to determine. But how fast is the grass?
You spent some time on the practice putting green before you went to play. You should have some idea of the speed of the greens. The putting green will be faster than most of the greens on the golf course because it gets such high traffic. Consequently, you should hit uphill putts on the practice green before you play.
But all greens and all putts are a little bit different. It's your job to study the grass and know if it is fast or slow. If it's long, wet and fuzzy, it will be slow. If it's short, dry and sparse it will be fast. When I say wet and dry, I don't mean water outside of the grass blades. I'm talking about the moisture inside the grass blades.
Only experience will tell you the speed of the grass. Practice putting extra putts on the golf course if time permits. That will help you gain the awareness you need. What I'm telling you is that you need to be aware of the speed of the grass. With awareness comes learning and expertise.
I was playing with Dave Hill and Ray Floyd in a tournament in Houston, Texas. That area had had too much rain, and then too much very hot and very humid weather. Short grass does not like that combination. The greens were not totally dead but there was a crunching sound, as we stepped on whatever was on the greens.
All three of us had hit our shots on a par 3 to the left and slightly above of the hole. I was the farthest away by about a foot. It was a 15 foot putt with a left to right break and all downhill. I studied that putt and studied that putt, trying to figure a way to keep the ball within about 10 feet of the hole. I saw Dave and Ray watching me intently.
I very carefully putted my ball. It ended up about 8 feet below the hole. Nice putt! After David and Ray putted, my ball was the closest one to the hole! We all did tell the putt was extremely fast, but there was nothing we could do to keep the ball from going considerably past the hole.
Now the rest of the story - we all made threes. The moral of the story: try to always have your second putt be uphill, and then make it.
John Toepel is a Veteran PGA Tour Player, instructor, author, and professional speaker. He is also the discoverer of Concept Golf, the quickest way to immediate, life-long lasting improvements to anyone's golf game. To learn more about Concept Golf, including the most comprehensive golf instruction system ever, "The Concept Golf Perfect Shot Making System", please visit http://www.conceptgolf.com/PSMS.htm and Discover the Par Golfer in You!
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Clone Golf Clubs May Be The Best Way To Go
Dean Cecere
If you are searching for the best clone golf clubs, there are a number of things you should be aware of. This is where the real value comes in to play when talking about golf equipment deals. Do not be mistaken by thinking these are low-grade clubs for the beginner golfer just because they are offered at a third of the price of top selling gear from companies like Callaway, Ping and comparable gear. The best clone golf clubs are made using the same top quality materials.
Whether you are in the market for irons, wedges, putter or woods, buying the best clone golf clubs may very well be the best option for you. If you are the type of person who doesn’t give in to popular brand names, but stands by quality and performance, then the low price you will pay for clones will be a big bonus. These clubs are designed to look, feel and perform like the top brand named clubs, but will come to you at up to a third of the price.
Many times, the best clone golf clubs can be custom fitted to your body style and swing. Having them tailored to your specifications will ultimately give you optimal performance on the golf course where you demand it the most. Please take the time to research what clones can do for you before you go out and purchase a set of expensive clubs that may not be right for you, you'll be glad you did. It can save you a lot of money and a lot of unnecessary strokes.
Dean Cecere is author, avid golfer and provider of resourceful golf articles.
Please take the time to visit http://www.golf-equipment-accessories.com for all your golf equipment needs.
Thank you and please use this article providing the above link is left alive.
If you are searching for the best clone golf clubs, there are a number of things you should be aware of. This is where the real value comes in to play when talking about golf equipment deals. Do not be mistaken by thinking these are low-grade clubs for the beginner golfer just because they are offered at a third of the price of top selling gear from companies like Callaway, Ping and comparable gear. The best clone golf clubs are made using the same top quality materials.
Whether you are in the market for irons, wedges, putter or woods, buying the best clone golf clubs may very well be the best option for you. If you are the type of person who doesn’t give in to popular brand names, but stands by quality and performance, then the low price you will pay for clones will be a big bonus. These clubs are designed to look, feel and perform like the top brand named clubs, but will come to you at up to a third of the price.
Many times, the best clone golf clubs can be custom fitted to your body style and swing. Having them tailored to your specifications will ultimately give you optimal performance on the golf course where you demand it the most. Please take the time to research what clones can do for you before you go out and purchase a set of expensive clubs that may not be right for you, you'll be glad you did. It can save you a lot of money and a lot of unnecessary strokes.
Dean Cecere is author, avid golfer and provider of resourceful golf articles.
Please take the time to visit http://www.golf-equipment-accessories.com for all your golf equipment needs.
Thank you and please use this article providing the above link is left alive.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Improving Your Golf Game, the Optimal Recipe
Sean Cochran
There are hundreds, probably thousands, of articles about how to improve your golf. Just pick up any weekly or monthly issue of any golf magazine. You will read page after page on how to get better at your driving distance, how to improve your putting, how to improve your short game. The list goes on and on and on. (I could probably fill this whole article with the titles of the articles that are “supposed” to fix your game). This tells me a few things about golfers: 1) we all want to get better, 2) we are anxious to absorb all the information possible to get better, and 3) golf is a game of continual improvement.
The question that may be running through your mind at this point is: “Why is this article any better the ones I read last week?” The answer is that it is not. It is different, not necessarily better or worse. The difference is the perspective from which this article is written. Let me explain.
I currently work on the PGA Tour as a personal trainer/strength and conditioning coach. Previous to my position on the tour I worked in professional baseball with the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers training elite athletes. This article will look at improving your golf swing through the “my” eyes, which is a perspective different from players, swing coaches, and sports psychologists. This article will not speak directly about specific drills or mental thoughts that should be incorporated into your swing. We will look at golf from a broader perspective and provide some insight on how to approach improvement in your golf game on a day-to-day basis.
I see improvement in the sport of golf contingent upon three ideas. These ideas are categories that any golfer or any other athlete can apply to their daily lives for improvement in their sport of choice. The three keys to improvement in any athletic endeavor, golf included, are:
1) physical, 2) biomechanical, and 3) mental/emotional
Realize that entire books are written on these three subjects, and the point of this article is to present these keys to pique your interest for more information to help you improve your game.
Biomechanical (Golf Swing Mechanics)
Biomechanics is essentially physics applied to the body. The study of biomechanics concerns itself with how the body moves and what allows it to perform certain human movements. For example, biomechanics studies how the body moves to throw a baseball 95 miles per hour or how to swing a golf club to create club head speed of 120 miles per hour. Biomechanics looks at how the body moves to perform these actions efficiently. Biomechanics in relation to the golf swing concerns itself with how the body swings a golf club to get the most efficient and effective swing possible from the human body. I would estimate that probably 95% of the books, articles in golf magazines and television programs deal with the topic of biomechanics. When it comes to the biomechanics of the golf swing, the research is pretty solid, and “they” (swing coaches, instructors, etc…) know mechanically what the golf swing should do, and how the body is suppose to work to perform it correctly.
Biomechanically, the human body is not perfect. The perfect golf swing or the perfect pitching motion has yet to be achieved by any human. The professionals in such sports get very close. Their efficiency ratings when it comes to these athletic actions are in the 90’s in terms of percentages, but there is yet to be a human who has achieved 100% biomechanical efficiency in any movement. Don’t expect to be near 100% efficiency. To get better swing mechanics the bottom line is that you must find quality information, instruction and practice, practice, practice. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Physical “Golf Fitness” Recipe
The physical side of golf has to do with preparing the actual physical body to perform the athletic movement you are asking it to do. Every movement that your body performs, be it walking down the street, playing catch, or swinging a golf club, requires effort from your body. Your body has to perform “work” to complete these physical actions. To swing a golf club with the correct biomechanics in an effective and efficient manner, your body needs to be flexible, balanced, strong, have endurance, and power.
It becomes obvious that to swing a club on the correct path you body has to have the “platform or base” to do it correctly. Your platform consists of the flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power we discussed in the previous paragraph. These 5 pieces to the golf fitness puzzle are developed through training which create what is called a “transfer of training effect” into the golf swing.
Quite often I see amateur golfers lacking the necessary amounts of flexibility, balance, etc. and it hinders any possibility of developing the correct biomechanics of the golf swing.
So simply put, you have to develop a better swing; you need to develop more flexibility into your body, improve your balance, become stronger in your overall body, improve your muscular endurance and what we are all after, and improve your power.
Think of your golf fitness as a cookie recipe. If you leave out any one ingredient, your cookie will taste terrible.
Don’t leave out any ingredients in your golf fitness plan.
Mental/Emotional
You have probably read articles of “the mental side of golf,” which I think are great reads and have a significant benefit to your game. I know personally when I am confident in my swing, hitting the fairway off the tee is much easier. That has to do with confidence in my game in addition to success on the course. I would like to interject a point that I have seen from working with numerous professional athletes.
Let me begin by asking you a question: “which occurs first, success or confidence?” The answers I hear half the time are success and the other half of the time confidence. Let me first tell you that it is a trick question. The answer is as follows: “Proper preparation precedes success and confidence.” So with that said, I found through experience that both success on the course and confidence in your game are a direct result of being properly prepared physically, mentally, and biomechanically for competition.
So just thinking about making a putt usually does not work. Making that putt or putting that drive into the fairway is more a result of days upon days of physical and biomechanical preparation of your swing. This will then foster what is required to make those shots on the course. One additional observation: I have found that creating the mental focus required for golf is much easier when you have developed the physical foundation for your swing. If you trust that your body will do what you ask it do, when you want it to do it, mentally the game becomes much easier.
Where can I learn more?
Again, remember my perspective is from a different corner. I also believe that if you put these three philosophies to work on a daily basis your golf game will improve by leaps and bounds. For more information and help with your total golf game, please go our web site at www.bioforcegolf.com
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website http://www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.
There are hundreds, probably thousands, of articles about how to improve your golf. Just pick up any weekly or monthly issue of any golf magazine. You will read page after page on how to get better at your driving distance, how to improve your putting, how to improve your short game. The list goes on and on and on. (I could probably fill this whole article with the titles of the articles that are “supposed” to fix your game). This tells me a few things about golfers: 1) we all want to get better, 2) we are anxious to absorb all the information possible to get better, and 3) golf is a game of continual improvement.
The question that may be running through your mind at this point is: “Why is this article any better the ones I read last week?” The answer is that it is not. It is different, not necessarily better or worse. The difference is the perspective from which this article is written. Let me explain.
I currently work on the PGA Tour as a personal trainer/strength and conditioning coach. Previous to my position on the tour I worked in professional baseball with the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers training elite athletes. This article will look at improving your golf swing through the “my” eyes, which is a perspective different from players, swing coaches, and sports psychologists. This article will not speak directly about specific drills or mental thoughts that should be incorporated into your swing. We will look at golf from a broader perspective and provide some insight on how to approach improvement in your golf game on a day-to-day basis.
I see improvement in the sport of golf contingent upon three ideas. These ideas are categories that any golfer or any other athlete can apply to their daily lives for improvement in their sport of choice. The three keys to improvement in any athletic endeavor, golf included, are:
1) physical, 2) biomechanical, and 3) mental/emotional
Realize that entire books are written on these three subjects, and the point of this article is to present these keys to pique your interest for more information to help you improve your game.
Biomechanical (Golf Swing Mechanics)
Biomechanics is essentially physics applied to the body. The study of biomechanics concerns itself with how the body moves and what allows it to perform certain human movements. For example, biomechanics studies how the body moves to throw a baseball 95 miles per hour or how to swing a golf club to create club head speed of 120 miles per hour. Biomechanics looks at how the body moves to perform these actions efficiently. Biomechanics in relation to the golf swing concerns itself with how the body swings a golf club to get the most efficient and effective swing possible from the human body. I would estimate that probably 95% of the books, articles in golf magazines and television programs deal with the topic of biomechanics. When it comes to the biomechanics of the golf swing, the research is pretty solid, and “they” (swing coaches, instructors, etc…) know mechanically what the golf swing should do, and how the body is suppose to work to perform it correctly.
Biomechanically, the human body is not perfect. The perfect golf swing or the perfect pitching motion has yet to be achieved by any human. The professionals in such sports get very close. Their efficiency ratings when it comes to these athletic actions are in the 90’s in terms of percentages, but there is yet to be a human who has achieved 100% biomechanical efficiency in any movement. Don’t expect to be near 100% efficiency. To get better swing mechanics the bottom line is that you must find quality information, instruction and practice, practice, practice. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Physical “Golf Fitness” Recipe
The physical side of golf has to do with preparing the actual physical body to perform the athletic movement you are asking it to do. Every movement that your body performs, be it walking down the street, playing catch, or swinging a golf club, requires effort from your body. Your body has to perform “work” to complete these physical actions. To swing a golf club with the correct biomechanics in an effective and efficient manner, your body needs to be flexible, balanced, strong, have endurance, and power.
It becomes obvious that to swing a club on the correct path you body has to have the “platform or base” to do it correctly. Your platform consists of the flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power we discussed in the previous paragraph. These 5 pieces to the golf fitness puzzle are developed through training which create what is called a “transfer of training effect” into the golf swing.
Quite often I see amateur golfers lacking the necessary amounts of flexibility, balance, etc. and it hinders any possibility of developing the correct biomechanics of the golf swing.
So simply put, you have to develop a better swing; you need to develop more flexibility into your body, improve your balance, become stronger in your overall body, improve your muscular endurance and what we are all after, and improve your power.
Think of your golf fitness as a cookie recipe. If you leave out any one ingredient, your cookie will taste terrible.
Don’t leave out any ingredients in your golf fitness plan.
Mental/Emotional
You have probably read articles of “the mental side of golf,” which I think are great reads and have a significant benefit to your game. I know personally when I am confident in my swing, hitting the fairway off the tee is much easier. That has to do with confidence in my game in addition to success on the course. I would like to interject a point that I have seen from working with numerous professional athletes.
Let me begin by asking you a question: “which occurs first, success or confidence?” The answers I hear half the time are success and the other half of the time confidence. Let me first tell you that it is a trick question. The answer is as follows: “Proper preparation precedes success and confidence.” So with that said, I found through experience that both success on the course and confidence in your game are a direct result of being properly prepared physically, mentally, and biomechanically for competition.
So just thinking about making a putt usually does not work. Making that putt or putting that drive into the fairway is more a result of days upon days of physical and biomechanical preparation of your swing. This will then foster what is required to make those shots on the course. One additional observation: I have found that creating the mental focus required for golf is much easier when you have developed the physical foundation for your swing. If you trust that your body will do what you ask it do, when you want it to do it, mentally the game becomes much easier.
Where can I learn more?
Again, remember my perspective is from a different corner. I also believe that if you put these three philosophies to work on a daily basis your golf game will improve by leaps and bounds. For more information and help with your total golf game, please go our web site at www.bioforcegolf.com
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website http://www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)