Choosing The Right Golf Clubs

By John Sanderson

Generally, a set of golf clubs off the shelf isn’t likely to be
a perfect fit for you. Manufacturers create golf clubs for folks
of average build – whatever that is! Not only is everyone
different in their physical make-up, but no two players swing
exactly the same. So one golf club size definitely does not fit
all.

If your clubs are too long or too short, you're likely to have
problems. To find the right size clubs for you, try swinging
with a few different lengths. Basically, you choose clubs that
are about as long as the distance from your navel to the floor.
You don't need to decide right away—lots of courses and driving
ranges have sample clubs that you can practice with until you
find the perfect fit!

You can rent different kinds of equipment, too. Before you
invest in a set of expensive clubs, try a variety of types at
your local golf course. Test the waters for a few months. See
what feels best for your game.

Now, if after you’ve tried out several brands of clubs, and
you’re getting serious about the game, it’s a good idea to get
custom fitted by a PGA professional at a golf range. Don’t do
this until you’re able to consistently repeat a swing. Bottom
line – if you can’t hit worth a nickel, you don’t need to be
fitted for clubs yet!

A golf pro can help you find which clubs are best for you. As
previously stated, everyone has a different physique. Some
clubs just aren’t going to feel right to you. This is no
reflection on your game and certainly no reason to quit
playing. By getting custom fitted for your clubs, you will
likely hit the ball more consistently and accurately.

First, the fitter will have you hit a few balls. This is no
time to try to impress. Just hit normally, and try to loosen
up. Your swing speed will be recorded to determine the right
flex of shaft.

Fitters will take into account the length of the club so that
it’s comfortable for you. They’ll look at your hands to
determine if you need special grip fitting. You may need longer
or shorter clubs.

The angle of the club may be adjusted for you as well. When
you’re done with the “fitting”, specific recommendations will
be made regarding

• Length of club
• Size and design of clubhead
• Lie angle
• Shaft type
• Grip type
• Set make-up

Then you can make a wise decision on exactly what clubs to
purchase. You will likely see an improvement in your game
overall when you have the right equipment, tailor-fitted for
you.

About The Author: This article courtesy of
http://golf-guide-usa.com

Guidelines For Better Golf Games

By: Robert Thatcher -

You would normally hear novice golf players complain that golf is quite frustrating. This is because the game is rather difficult to play. Not because of the nature of the golf game itself but mainly because players need to achieve a certain level of mastery over the game.

Golf is such that one needs to work for it. One really has to toil for it and most of the time, get frustrated along the course. This is almost natural and majority of golf players runs through such circumstances.

However, once the difficult part of training is done, the comforts of playing the game are incomparable.Golf gives the satisfaction that may not be found in other sports. This often comes from personal accomplishments.

The combination of intellectual and physical talent is necessary to achieve the certain degree of success. Remember that the ball is just there to wait for your hits. And you should know how to hit it accordingly. And next to knowing the how is your ability to actually execute the knowledge. And this combination of physical and intellectual capabilities are two things that make the golf game unique.

What most golf players miss out is the principle that golf games are actually a competition within themselves and not competition with other players. Given that this position is taken improvements may be gained through combining proper attitude towards the games and the ability to put on the best play.Listed and discussed in the following paragraphs are some guidelines that may help you improve your golf games.

Consider taking golf lessons with a professional golf instructor. This probably is the best investment you may have in playing golf. Having better foundations from a professional would help you raise to upgraded level without discovering everything by yourself. This may be quite expensive. If you would want to cut back on your expenses, you may try group sessions and other forms of golf instructions at your local facilities.

Assure yourself of having completed the entire golf course instructions before going out into the field. It certainly would not be fun for you and the golfers who are watching you repeatedly missing and dribbling the golf ball in the same spot.

At all rate, you must know the rules and the fundamentals of the game before attempting your first hits. Also try to catch the slang of the sports so you may have better connections with other players. Or else, you might find everything to be Greek in your ears. Like for instance, the term "you're away" means you're next.

Drive yourself to learning. Hogan once quoted that he did not teach because nobody was willing to learn. What he meant by this is that golfers want to improve their golf games yet they are never willing to go through the pains and frustrations. Yes, the majority of players would say that they want great swings and lower scores but some way or another, none are willing to lift themselves from the level they are presently in. Most only borrow the temporary cure of the band-aid approach, which only hides the symptoms of the conditions away, instead of walking down the path of self-improvement.

You need to develop decisive decision-making. This is often the pitfall for most golfers. This is comprised of the ability to decide on what golf club to use, what type of hit, and what form of set up is needed to make the shot. In the end, you need not be a genius to play excellent golf. You only have to avoid doing the unnecessary and impractical things.

Article Source: http://articles-4-free.com

Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides golf game resources on www.about-golf-games.info.

Golf Fitness Exercises For The Woman Golfer

By: Sean Cochran -

It is well known in professional golf how integral golf fitness exercises are for success at the highest level of golf. Men on the PGA Tour and women on the LPGA Tour understand the benefits of golf fitness exercises in achieving success.

Outside the circles of professional golf many questions exist about golf fitness exercises. Questions such as; what are the best exercises to improve golf fitness levels, are flexibility exercises and stretches better than other forms of golf fitness exercises, and what are the benefits of golf fitness exercises for the woman golfer?

These and many questions surround the topic of golf fitness.

This article is to provide some answers for you on the topic of golf fitness exercises for woman. It has been well documented in magazines and television how LPGA women such as Annika Sorenstam utilize golf fitness programs to benefit their play on the golf course.

Is there a difference between the LPGA player and the amateur woman golfer in relation to golf fitness training? The answer is no.

Yes, the women on the LPGA Tour are the best women golfers in the world, but the physiology of the LPGA player and amateur are the same. The skeletal, muscular, and neural systems are the same. The professional golfer has the same number of muscles in their bodies as the amateur.

The woman’s professional golfer has the same skeletal structure as the female amateur, and nervous system as well. Granted the LPGA player has more refined and efficient swing mechanics, but the body is the same.As a result of the body being the same, the principles and structure of a golf fitness program for any woman is similar.

Before discussing the specifics of a golf fitness program for women it is necessary to understand a few important principles. The first principle to understand about a golf fitness program is sports specific.

Sports specific is a term describing the type of training utilized in a golf fitness program. Sport specific training simply states the program utilized by the woman athlete is geared towards improving them in their chosen sport.

A second principle closely related to sports specific training is cross specificity training. Cross specificity training is the utilization of exercises to develop the woman golfer in the positions, movements, and actions incorporated in the golf swing. The goal of cross specificity training is a transfer of training effect to the field of competition.

Simply stated, a transfer of training effect is the ability of exercises utilized to train the female golfer having a direct benefit on their performance during a round of golf. For example, golf fitness flexibility exercises will attempt to improve the flexibility within the woman golfer. As the woman golfer improves her flexibility parameters in relation to the golf swing. She may be able to create a bigger shoulder turn, which may increase the distance of her drives. This benefit is an example of a transfer of training effect onto the golf course.

In summary, the three principles that assist in the development of a golf fitness program for women are; sports specific, cross specificity training, and transfer of training effect. Many additional principles exist that are used as guidelines in the development of a golf fitness program, but these are three essential ones.

Outside of the guidelines governing the development of a golf fitness program for woman. Specific physical components within the body are needed within the body to execute the golf swing correctly.

Remember, it is the body performing the biomechanics of the golf swing. In order for the golf swing to be executed correctly and efficiently certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power are required. These are the actual physical components within the woman golfer a golf specific fitness program looks to develop and enhance in relation to the golf swing.

The golf swing requires the body to move through a long range of motion for an efficient movement to occur. Much of this is contingent upon the ability of the core to coil and uncoil during the swing. In order for these two biomechanical actions to occur efficiently, the development of proper flexibility in the core is necessary.

We utilize flexibility exercises that are cross-specific to the movements in the golf swing to develop flexibility. The majority of these flexibility exercises are rotational and dynamic. The golf swing is a dynamic movement, indicating that the body is in constant motion. It is crucial to develop a range of motion for the swing in a dynamic rather than a static (not moving) method.

The goal of these exercises is to create a range of motion in the core for the golf swing. Flexibility is the first physical component requiring development within the woman golfer. One needs to maintain, dynamically, a stable body throughout the entire swing.

We have all hit balls at the range and know what happens when we do not stay balanced during the swing. Improving the balance and stabilization capabilities of the core translates into a better golf swing. Better Balance equals a Better Swing. Even subtle movements are consistency killers; thus we need to develop and maintain balance for a consistent swing.

Balance is connected to the efficiency of the nervous system and strength of the muscular system working together. The development of greater balance in the core and swing is the result of two types of specific exercise.

The first challenges the nervous system creating greater efficiency. The second are exercises that create increased strength in the core. The combination of these two types of exercises permit for the body to maintain posture, promote efficient weight transfer, and create power in the swing.

The result is a more consistent, accurate, and powerful swing. This is the second component included with a golf fitness program for women. Remember that the golf swing is a repetitive movement. The mechanics of the swing repeat with each stroke. This process can be repeated hundreds of times in a round of golf.

Ever go to the range and hit two buckets of balls? At some point the body starts to tire, and shots scatter. Proper endurance training enables us to repeat a sound swing. We produce this through a series of exercises developing endurance in the entire body.

This nets us a consistent swing through eighteen holes. Increasing endurance leads to lower scores. This is the third physical component of the golf fitness program for women.

Club head speed is a function of power. The more power generated by the body, the greater speed at which a club head impacts the ball. More power to the ball equals longer drives.

Developing higher levels of power within the muscular system of the body is achieved through the implementation of power exercises. These types of exercise assist in creating higher power outputs of the muscles involved in the golf swing. Power training is the final component found in a golf fitness program for women.In summary a golf fitness program for the LPGA or amateur woman golfer is relatively the same.

Golf fitness exercises for the woman golfer are sports specific. The exercises contained within the golf fitness program are cross-specific to the movements, positions, and requirements of the golf swing. The exercises within a woman’s golf fitness program induce a transfer of training effect onto the golf course. The golf swing requires certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power to execute correctly.

A golf fitness program for women will look to enhance these physical components of the body. The end result is an improved golf swing equating to lower scores and more enjoyment on the golf course.

Article Source: http://articles-4-free.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 www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.

Beginning Golfer Shoots Lower Score

Manogolf

Golf is a great way to enjoy time with your family and friends. Whether you play a leisure round of nine holes or are able to enjoy a full round of eighteen holes, the game of golf is rewarding on many levels.

The best news is every beginning golfer can shoot a resonable score.A beginner only needs a handful of items to get started. A few lofted golf clubs, say a nine and seven iron, and a putter. If you want, grab a metal wood, but no more than a five wood. Gather some golf balls, tees, a towel, and throw your stuff in a golf bag. You are ready to play some golf!

You are probably wondering about all the other clubs and why they were left out. They are for the golfer who is ready to mix playing golf with practicing golf. If it makes you feel less awkward, take the full set of clubs with you, just use the ones mentioned until you are comfortable with your golfing abilities.

Let me explain myself.

Golf is a sport. Like all other sports a score determines the winner. In golf the lowest score or fewest strokes win. Most people who play sports enjoy competition. Why not learn how to play golf to win from the very beginning.

After all an early success will bring you back to the golf course sooner. And I don’t know of a better place to be than on a golf course.If you are playing with others of your same ability you need to learn how to score the lowest. This is why you are only using a few clubs for now.

If you can keep the ball moving forward towards the target (the flag) instead of sideways (the direction most beginners hit towards) you will always score lower than you opponent. The clubs that are easiest to hit are the ones with the most loft, your seven and nine iron. These will never travel as far as your opponent’s big dog, (their driver or 1 metal) but they have a greater chance of moving the ball in the direction of your target.

So it may take you six or seven shots down the fairway to reach the green, chances are your score will be less than your playing opponent when totaled. Making solid contact with the golf ball will always win the game. Using the higher lofted clubs will have you hitting the ball with precise contact faster than any other club in the bag, except your putter.

When you can stand at address over a golf ball with a seven or nine iron and hit a good shot seven out of nine times you can expand your club selection to any other club. I use this technique when teaching beginners to play and they are my proof that it works. The confidence you gain from hitting good shots by making solid contact will show up with every other club once you master the higher lofted irons.

Article Source: http://articles-4-free.com

Jerry and Janet Strain have been golfing for over 20 years. Both play with single digit handicaps and are fiercely opposed in couple’s tournaments. Recently Janet opened an off course golf apparel store focused on the needs of women golfers everywhere. Visit Lady O’ Golf for fashionable golf apparel, news, and informative articles. ladyogolf.com This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Lady O’ Golf.

The Art Of Putting

By Tim Henry

The majority of the game of golf is putting – pure and simple. It looks so easy – rolling that little ball into a nearby hole.

But mastering the skill has threatened many a golfer’s sanity. Here are a few tips to help improve your putting skills.

• Use just one ball when you practice your putting. This is closer to what a real game is like. You tend to concentrate better this way than if you have a bucket of balls to keep digging into. And be sure to practice your putting daily.

• Putting isn’t all in the wrists. When you’re putting, the palms of your hands face each other. This prevents one hand from dominating and ensures that both work together for you.

• Make sure you’re totally relaxed before you strike the ball. Loosen up your muscles so they feel flabby and jelly-like. Never tense up your muscles when putting!

• Make your back and follow through strokes the same length.

• Keep your putter face square by weakening your left hand and strengthening your right.

• Rely less on your wrists and more on your shoulders when putting.

• Keep that left wrist firm.

• Relax your knees a little. Don’t lock up.

• Your heels should be shoulder-width apart.

• Gary McCord advises that on curved putts, keep your feel parallel to the line you’ve chosen, not parallel to the hole.

• As you make contact with the ball, you want to accelerate the putter. Keep the putter grip moving toward your target.

• It’s better to miss a putt by sending it beyond the hole than by having it come up short. Finishing off the shot will be easier.

• Practice your putt at home on your carpet when the weather is bad or you can’t get to the golf course.

• Find a putter that works well for you and stay with it.

• Have something at stake at every hole so you become accustomed to putting under pressure.

About The Author: This article provide courtesy ofhttp://www.golfers-world-usa.net

Improving Your Balance And Your Golf Game

By Simon Harris

Balance - it sounds so simple! As a golfer, you know that maintaining a proper balance is key to your game. And it's more than just having the correct stance.

Optimal balance depends on three aspects - your visual perception, the signals from the inner ear, and signals from your muscles and joints.

Sometimes these aspects get out of sync, causing a balance disorder. A lack of balance usually occurs when your head position changes - which is a good reason to keep your head still during your swing!

Migraines can attribute to a balance disorder. So if you have frequent migraines, seek medical attention. These headaches can affect your golf game in ways you may never have thought of.

Don’t spend a fortune on new golf equipment hoping for better play before you check your medicine cabinet to see if any drugs you’re taking affect your balance.

The condition “ear poisoning”seriously affects your balance. Ear poisoning is usually causedby side effects of some medications - notably the antibioticgentamicin. Up to 50 % of people who take this drug experience some sort of ear poisoning.

Diuretics can pose a problem as well. So if you're on any medicine and you start feeling dizzy, get medical help!Sometimes the dizziness can literally become a lifelong problem, so don’t delay in seeking help.

If your balance is a little off in your game, you may want to do some simple exercises to improve it. Just kicking a ball around your backyard can help. You can also set up a little obstacle course and weave in and out of it to improve your balance. Your kids will have fun with the course, too! In fact,they may even set up one for you!

You can also buy a balance board to help you with your center of gravity. We found a hand made, well-crafted balance board on eBay. These boards are challenging and fun to use!

In addition, working with flexibility exercises helps increase your balance by releasing muscle tension. Try some simple yoga stretches to help with loosening up tight muscles.

Another useful item is a yoga ball or exercise ball. Even just sitting on one of these balls requires balance - so try using one for part of the day. Work up gradually until you can sit on the ball for 30 minutes at a time. These ball exercises can helpyou develop proper posture, increase the mobility of your lower back, and develop overall control of your body core.

Since balance is fundamental to every aspect of your golf game, spend some time each day working on developing it. Who knows? You could find your swing and your score improving dramatically!

About The Author: Ths article provided courtesy ofhttp://www.golfers-swing-guide.com

Tips For Improving Your Golf Swing

By Hana Lee

The second I get a golf club in my hand I want to knock the fire right out of the ball. It just plain feels good to send that sucker as far as the eye can see. Unfortunately, being able to hit the ball hard doesn’t equal good golf.

If you’re just needing a little stress relief, go for it! If you want to play a good game of golf, however, you’re going to have to erase the “homerun” mentality. See, one of the roots of golfing mistakes is that tendency toswing hard. A violent swing shows power, but power isn’t whatwins the game. It’s accuracy and control.

You want to swing easily and freely at the ball. If you bring your feet together you will reduce your ability to swing hard.If you brace yourself, you’re probably going to use too much effort. Just relax and swing easily.You also want to keep your center of gravity the same. Do this by keeping both of your feet on the ground in approximately the same position as when you start. Keep your head still and yourcenter of gravity won’t change.

A sudden effort made with one of your legs or both will cause your head to move. Then you can’t see the ball clearly and youc hange the position of the pivotal center with relation to the ball. Keep both feet planted on the ground so your weight is supported on the flat of your feet when you connect with ball.

When you hit the ball properly everything is so smooth. You’re conscious of very little effort. Now, don’t brace yourself for the effort of hitting the ball. Don’t be stiff. The slightest tendency to stiffen your muscleswill destroy your balance. You want to make your club head go along a straight line while in contact with the ball.

Try to see how low you can send the ball and how clear on the center of the club you can connect with it. This will help to correct slicing. A ball that goes too high is at the mercy ofthe wind and can kick off to the right or left on rough ground.

When you hit the ball, remember - you only want to use the power you’re able to control. You’re not going to be bothered by a lack of power but by a lack of accuracy. You want perfect control at every instant during your swing.

So there shouldn’tbe a violent effort keep your head still and make sure yourclub head is going straight when you meet the ball. Your longest drives aren’t usually going to come when you’re trying for distance but if you’re just trying to put the balldown the line you’re aiming at, the distance will come naturally.

What you want to try to do is get a gradually increasing speed until you connect with the ball and then press steadily. If you’re jerky anywhere in the swing it’s because you’re pulling in your hands somewhere.

In regard to keeping your head still, imagine that you have a glass of water balanced on your head and when you swing you don’t want to spill one drop of water out of the glass. You want to swing at a fairly decent speed throughout so you don’t stiffen up. Don’t swing back too slowly then.

Basically don’t swing so hard that you’re conscious of the effort. How much energy can you apply to a ball? It doesn’t matter. It’s the power you can control that counts.

About The Author: This article courtesy ofhttp://golf-monster.net

How Your Grip Effects Ball Flight

by Bobby Eldridge

There are many different opinions on how to grip a golf club, but very few instructors tell you WHY you should grip the club a certain way. The reason that the grip is SO important is because it is the only part of your body that controls the clubface, your hands.

If you have a tendency to slice the golf ball, try this:

Move both hands to the right so you can see one or two knuckles (top knuckles) of the left hand. The most important part of placing your grip is to make sure both palms are facing each other. So adjust the left hand, and then adjust the right hand so that your right palm is facing the left palm. - Strong Grip

If you have a tendency to hook the golf ball, move both hands towards the left (palms facing), and you should see no knuckles on your left hand. - Weak Grip

When I mention the knuckles that I have been referring to, here's what I mean.

1. After you have addressed the golf ball and you look down at your hands from the address position.

2. You should look at your left hand to see if you can see any knuckles.

Now let's talk about grip pressure.

Tip: The tighter you grip the golf club; the more the golf ball has a tendency to go off to the right. The looser you grip the golf club; the tendency will be for the golf ball to go off to the left.

Most of the time when I am giving a golf lesson, I can see the whites of my student's knuckles because they are gripping the golf club so tight. This is incorrect! Hall of Fame golfer Sam Snead once said "Hold the club as if you are holding a bird in your hands." Another quote that I once heard is that you should grip the club like you were holding a tube of toothpaste.

Now... I want to share a little bit about my experience at the Phoenix open, and give you some predictions.

Every year, I take some of my clients to the Phoenix Open, and this past weekend I was really impressed with J.B.Holmes. However, I am making a 2006 prediction - that I made during the Hawaiian Open...Camilo Villegas is my pick for Rookie Of The Year...He is the 2006 REAL DEAL...Let's follow him in 06.

Bobby Eldridge is the Head Instructor for the PurePont Golf Academy where he teaches "The Simple Golf Swing" theory. You can check out PurePoint Golf instructional DVDs at http://www.golfswinguru.com/dvd.php

Copyright Bobby Eldridge - http://www.golfswinguru.com/dvd.php

How to Get More Consistency with your Driver

by Bobby Eldridge

Read this sentence then stop for 10 seconds and ask yourself what you think the three most important elements to the game of golf are. Four, three, two, one...

Ok, now I will list mine in the order of importance.

Driving the golf ball in play. Putting the golf ball with consistent speed control (distance). Pitching the golf ball with loft. Today we are going to concentrate on what I consider the MOST important aspect to the game of golf, DRIVING THE GOLF BALL IN PLAY. This aspect of the game is the number one confidence builder in our sport. As you probably know and have experienced, your score adds up quickly if hit your tee shots out of play.

Buckle up - Because if you read this special report every time before you play a round of golf this summer, your friends will think they are playing with Fred Funk come September. Fred Funk has led the P.G.A. Tour in driving accuracies for the past four years. He averages hitting 76% of the fairways every time he plays 18 holes of golf. If you are going to change the way you drive the golf ball you will need to implement the following four fundamentals.

THE PICTURE:

Approach every tee shot with a clear picture in your mind of what you want the golf ball to look like in flight

PROPER DRIVER:

Choose the proper driver for your swing.

CORRECT TEE HEIGHT:

For your golf swing.

CORRECT SWING PLANE:

Swing the driver on the correct swing plane for your swing.

THE PICTURE:

If you can see it, you can have it. Before you take your driver, or any club for that matter, out of your golf bag, you better start seeing what you want the golf ball to look like during its journey down the fairway. Of the millions of words my mother (the first woman to teach at a golf school in the United States) passed on to me, the one phrase that has stayed with me all of these years is THE PICTURE. You must have a mental picture of how you want the ball to fly through the air and where you want it to wind up. When you have a driver in your hands, you have to pick out an exact area you want the ball to land on. IF YOU DON'T SEE THE PICTURE, YOU ARE HEADED FOR TROUBLE.

Important Tip:

During the course of a round of golf, you can find yourself driving the ball well, but all of the sudden you are faced with a difficult driving hole. Shortly after I turned professional, I played a practice round with Tommy Bolt the 1958 U.S. Open Champion. We came to great par four, 435 yards long, water down the right side of the fairway from the tee to the green, out of bounds markers down the entire left side of the fairway from the tee to the green. After I teed my golf ball up I turned to Tommy and said, "What do you do here with O.B. left and water right?" Tommy looked me straight in the eye and said "Son, if you see the water and the O.B. markers, you better go find another line of work.

"That stick with me to this day, and I wanted to pass it on to you. Don't worry about the challenges, just think about what you want the ball to do. I have benefited immensely during my career, and I want you to benefit from this as well.

PROPER EQUIPMENT:

Now that you can see the picture, let's see if you brought the correct brush to paint with. If you are still trying to buy 20 more yards every time you walk into a golf shop. It is time to stop-NOW! If you own a driver that is metal, has a graphite shaft, and the grip is new then you own what it takes to send the golf ball straight down the fairway.

Let's back up a foot or two. The loft on the golf club will play a major role in how accurate you are. If you are struggling with your driver you might consider buying a driver with at least 10-12 degrees of loft. The less loft a driver has the more you are apt to slice and hook the ball. If you are driving the ball well you can buy a driver with less loft.

An important side note:

If you are driving the golf ball short, low and to the right the shaft might be too stiff. If you are driving the golf ball too high and to the left the shaft might be too weak.

Another item to consider if you have small hands, have the club repair shop regrip all of your grips with either a junior grip or a small grip. If your hands are large, have the shop regrip you clubs with oversize grips.

Bottom Line – worry about getting the ball in the fairway first, and then focus on distance generation. Chances are, you own the equipment right now, that will give you the fairway shots you're looking for. Remember – It's the swing, not the equipment. The equipment helps once you have a good swing, but you'll never FIX your swing with an equipment upgrade.

CORRECT TEE HEIGHT:

The tee height does not seem like such a big deal, but it plays a huge roll in whether or not you drive the golf ball consistently down the fairway. Something so simple can often be the biggest challenge.

The two major mistakes are teeing the golf ball too low or teeing the golf ball too high. You may have heard that golf is a game of opposites. This is a perfect example. Let me explain why. If you are constantly swinging your driver too vertical into the ground in the downswing, you probably tee the golf ball to low. Most golfers with a vertical driver swing fear swinging underneath the golf ball so they tee the ball low in hopes of catching it square. For those of you with this challenge, the next time you are on the golf course, tee the golf ball up a little higher and sit back a little bit more on your heels and keep your weight there in the downswing. After your shot has landed, look down to see if your tee is still in the ground. If you are always conscience of leaving the tee in the ground, you will not pop your tee shots up anymore.

If you are topping your tee shots to the right you might have the ball teed too high because you are trying to hit the ball on the upswing. The next time you go out to play, tee the ball down a little. After the golf ball has landed, make sure your weight is on your left foot and meaning you have transferred your weight correctly.

CORRECT SWING PLANE:

With this final tip I feel confident you will be on your way to driving the golf ball straighter and with more consistency. The golf club in your bag that swings the most vertical, (up and down) is your sand wedge. The golf club that swings the most horizontal (around you-baseball swing) is your driver. The mistake I have seen most amateur golfers make is that they swing their driver like their sand wedge and they swing their sand wedge like their driver.

A couple of things to remember when you are addressing the driver:

Chin up

Turn your right shoulder in the back swing level

Swing the golf club around you/not up and down

Leave the tee in the ground after you hit the ball

When you are ready to begin your backswing, keep your swing thoughts to a minimum. Just think about swinging more horizontal.

At the beginning of this special report I promised you would drive the ball more with more confidence, accuracy and more consistent if you read this article every time before you tee it up this summer. This stuff seems simple, but give it a try and send me an email letting me know the results. You'll get some really good results.

This is only a starting point that will provide a great basis for more consistent driving. At the end of this month, we're going to get back to you with some in depth information on how to get more accuracy and consistency with your driver. Stay tuned…you'll love the results you get this season.

Click Here to See The Simple Golf Swing DVD

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Bobby Eldridge is the Head Instructor for the PurePont Golf Academy where he teaches "The Simple Golf Swing" theory. You can check out PurePoint Golf instructional DVDs at http://www.golfswingguru.com/dvd.php

Copyright Bobby Eldridge - http://www.golfswingguru.com/dvd.php

How Focus Can Improve Your Golf Game

By Hana Lee

Ninety percent of golf is mental. Oh heck, make that 95%!Arnold Palmer stated, “The toughest 6 inches in the game ofgolf is between a player’s ears”.The fastest way to lower your score is to master the ability tofocus.

Most golfers tend to think they must practice more, find a newinstructor, buy more videos, get the swing right, change thoseclubs. But one of the often overlooked and most importantmental aspects of the game is focus.

Now you want to make sure you focus on the result you want. Ingolf the shot is determined by your level of concentration.You’ve likely just rushed right in and played shots withoutconcentrating.

No wonder the ball ended up going haywire!It’s better to make ten focused swings than 100 quick,thoughtless ones. Your swing will naturally break down whenyou’re fatigued. So be sure to take a break when you’repracticing.

Brain breaks give your mind and body a chance toimplement what you’re learning.One way to practice the art of focusing is to light a candleand stare into the flame, only thinking of the flame. Everytime your mind starts to move to any other thought, bring itback to the flame. Think of the dancing orange colors, how theymelt inside of each other.

The first time you do this, you might be hard –pressed to lastfor 3 minutes. Work up to 20 minutes, and your ability to focuson anything will have improved immensely. You’ll be able to takethis enhanced skill to the golf course.When you’re playing, just think about the next shot.

Duringdown time, allow your mind to relax and wander for a fewminutes. Don’t try to concentrate the entire game, or you’llget very fatigued, very quickly. Save the mental workout forthoughtful shot decisions and center on what shot you’re goingto play next.

Also, keep your cool and behave in an emotionally controlledmanner. You will perform more effectively. In the great game ofgolf, emotions soar and fall quickly. You can go from totallyhappy to totally ticked off in no time at all.

In fact, thefeeling of anger is actually a series of reactions that happenin just 1/30th of a second.Stop it at the first spark. The important thing is to figureout what is really making you angry. Think of the grand schemeof life and how today is just a speck.

Your golf game is aspeck on a speck. It helps to minimize the situation and lookat the big picture of what’s really important in life.Master the mental art of focus, and you’ve got 95% of the gameof golf all figured out!

About The Author:

This article courtesy ofhttp://golf-world.org

Golf On A Budget

By Tim Henry

I know what you’re thinking – golf on a budget! Can there besuch a thing? Well, it is possible, if you take a balanced,objective look at the strategies used in marketing golfproducts.Case in point – I just interviewed a local golf shop ownertoday.

We were talking about the new golf balls, and he wastelling me that representatives from different companies sendhim golf balls to use, hoping that he’ll recommend them to hiscustomers.

Well, he said he’s tried just about everything, and in hisopinion, they all play about the same now. Picking up a box of12 Titleist balls, he said, “This one is probably the best.”They cost $24.99 for the dozen. Then he laughed and picked upanother box. “But this one is our best seller.”The box was priced $44.99 for the dozen. I looked surprised. Heshook his head and said, “It’s all hype.

People think that ifthe balls cost double, they’re bound to play better.”Now we have the new hybrid ironwoods. Are they really going tochange your game that much? Or is it all a part of themarketing pitch?I heard one marketer say that since the golf market was sosaturated, he priced his clubs at three times the price ofanyone else’s. And he sold hundreds of thousands of dollarsworth.

The clubs weren’t any more expensive to make than otherclubs. It was just a “market test”. And folks bought likecrazy.Since no two people play golf the same - and everyone has anindividual physique and swing – a product that adds distancefor one player may not help another player at all.

Think about something you do very well that requires a piece ofequipment. You’re the expert in this area. Should everyone whoattempts your job then buy the exact same equipment as youhave? Will that mean they’ll be able to do the job better or aswell as you?Food for thought, isn’t it?

I enjoy gardening, and have alovely flower garden. But I only have one or two garden toolsthat are considered the best. The other things I use becausethat’s what I’ve always used.

So just because one golf pro buys one kind of ball or clubdoesn’t mean that it’s the best for you.The sales pitches that swear you’re going to add 30 yards andnever hit another slice entice us to shell out the big bucks.

But if you’re careful and have a healthy dose of skepticism,you’ll save both time and money in the long run.Remember, in the golf world, just because a product is moreexpensive, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily any better.

About The Author:

This article provide courtesy ofhttp://www.golf-gift-guide.com

Golf Basics For Kids

By Hana Lee

When teaching golf to kids, FUN is the name of the game. Throwin all the technical jargon at the beginning and you willeffectively kill a child's desire to learn. Allow a child to“play” golf for enjoyment, and he’ll become a life-long convertof the game!

Hours of practice will only overwhelm a child, so just allowhim or her to practice a little bit at first, say 30 minutes.This will keep motivation for practice high.And it's okay to let them start by hitting the ball hard.That's part of the fun!

Don't worry about their grip right offthe bat. Just have them keep the right hand under the left andthen swing away!I’d also make sure the child keeps his or her feet on theground while following through.

Now, if you want to buy a child's set of clubs, that's fine,but you're likely to do just as well with a used set of women'sclubs. They're lighter and nice for kids. All you need is awomen's 9 iron, a 6 iron, 3-wood and a putter.

Let your child start out with little chipping and puttinggames. This play will help him or her get the feel for the cluband the ball. Kids can bounce the ball off the face of a wedgeand try hitting leaves or twigs.Little contests and games keep motivation high.

Avoid pressureor competition early on. You want your child to enjoy the gameand want to play it every chance they get, not end up soconfused and unfocused that they can't figure out what to doand just quit in frustration.If you’re encouraging, your child will love for you to playalongside of them. Just don't start demanding wins andemphasizing competition, or you'll pop the enthusiasm reallyfast.Children will move along as they're ready.

Letting themprogress at their own pace prevents future burnout. Never makea child play the game, unless he wants to. The game should befun, and a simple joy. Laugh and have a blast yourself!If your child's interest increases, you might consider golfcamp or some private lessons with someone experienced inteaching children.

If you do seek a personal instructor foryour child, watch how the person teaches first. You really wantan encouraging person with a knack for teaching kids.Also, please remember to teach your child the etiquette ofgolf. Little things are very important, like… Don’t talk whilesomeone else is swinging. Don’t step in front of someone whilethey’re swinging. Stand still. Don’t walk in front of someoneelse’s line or through line.

Finally, never criticize. Praise their shots and swings.Encourage them to correct certain moves, but don't dwell onwhat was done incorrectly.If you concentrate on the most important aspects of golf – theenjoyment and the basics – you may end up with a child whorivals you on the range and who enjoys a lifelong love for thegame.

About The Author:

This article provided courtesy ofhttp://www.golf-swing-guide.com

The Process Of Golf

By Ryan Larson

Golf is learned little by little one step at a time.

Not exactly a modern American game, is it?Well, if your heart is set on “convenience” sports, you mightwant to consider kickball or four-square. Golf isn’t learned ina day. Or even a year.

According to some players – even a decadeis too short! There’s no such thing as a perfect golf game.That’s all part of the “beauty and beast” nature that makes upthis simple, complicated game.

There are some fundamental tips, though, that can shave a fewyears of frustration off your career! Some golfers disagree oneven the basics. So I guarantee you’ll find somewhere someonewho will disagree with me. But here’s what I’ve found to helpgolfers tremendously in improving their game.

The three most important steps that you want to keep in mindall the time are• keep your head still• keep your club head traveling in a straight line while incontact with the ball• relax your muscles.

I really can’t say enough about the importance of keeping yourhead perfectly still throughout your shot. I’ve seen frustratedgolfers of all sizes improve immediately upon concentrating onthis one step.

When your head is still, you can see the ball clearly. And howcan you hit something that you can’t see?

Keeping your club head traveling in a straight line while incontact with the ball will help you avoid slicing and a host ofother ills.

Relaxation of your muscles aids tremendously in keeping yourbalance. Balance is paramount to a good golf game and you don’twant to have to brace your muscles all over your body. Stand comfortably so you can reach the ball easily.

As far as propelling the ball is concerned. the muscles which add to theforce are the muscles which twist the body around. They’re themost powerful. So relax those arms!

If your game is off, go back to these three important steps.Don’t change your stance or swing. Just go back to the threebasics and you’ll get back on track.

About The Author:

This article provide courtesy ofhttp://www.golf-monster.org

How "The Simple Golf Swing" Will Lower Your Score

By David Nevogt

The best thing about "The Simple Golf Swing" is that it is a system. Most golfers swing at the ball, but never really THINK about what they did wrong, or more importantly, what they did right.

Thinking about the possible corrections usually will not work because there's always a little wrist cock, or a certain turning angle that could have influenced the good or bad result.
What a system does for your game is it allows you to proactively analyze each shot after you hit it and realize the result, good or bad.

For example, I hit the ball and it slices. Now most golfers are going to hit the ball again and slice it again. Maybe they hit a good ball every once in a while, but they'll never know what MADE them hit the good shot.

With this system you'll get 5 simple steps to go through for every swing you put on the ball. Now you'll start to see trends developing, and you can always tie those trends back to one of the 5 steps you are most likely forgetting about which is causing the negative trend.

So in my example, I hit a slice. Now because I have this system in place, I automatically know what I have to concentrate on for the next shot. I know that I did one of 2 things. I let my body get ahead of my hands, or I failed to start the downswing with my arms. If I top the ball, I automatically know that I failed to keep my leading shoulder down on the ball.

So the point is that having simple but effective controls in place will really help your game. You'll be really surprised how much you'll learn about your own game, and how easy it is to develop and maintain good habits once you understand how to recognize them.

David Nevogt writes golf instruction material that helps golfers of all levels reach their full potential and lower their scores. David is the author of "The Simple Golf Swing" which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from today. You can find more of his golf instruction by going to http://www.golfswingguru.com.
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How To Warm-up for Your Golf Game in 5 Minutes with Golf Fitness Stretches

By Sean Cochran

It is well known that in every professional sport athletes perform a series of flexibility exercises and drills to prepare them to play a game. The game of golf is no different. Unseen to the general public, many PGA Tour players perform a series of golf flexibility exercises to prepare them to play golf. It is done prior to hitting the driving range or putting green. It is a process of getting the muscles and joints of body ready to swing a golf club. Most every golfer on the planet understands the benefit of a warm-up program to get the body ready to play golf or any sport for that matter. Unfortunately for us the time required to perform a comprehensive golf warm-up program with golf flexibility exercises is not reasonable. Not reasonable because of time restrictions on our busy lives.

For example, we set our tee time for Friday at 1:30. Our plan when we leave the house in the morning is “I will get to course at 1:00, hit a few putts, chip for 10 minutes, head to the range, and be at the first tee with a few minutes to spare”. Unfortunately, our plans sometimes do not play out as we intended.

We get stuck with a client on the phone, a conference call runs long, we get stuck in traffic. Whatever the case may be we are caught rushing to the golf course, getting to the course with 10 minutes to spare, jump out of the car, tying our golf shoes, get to the first tee with 5 minutes to spare, haven’t hit a shot or putted….Do I need to go on? Probably not.

It is a situation that happens to us all, and I as am guilty of it as you. However as strong as I suggest performing a good warm-up, and putting yourself in the correct frame of mind for the round, life at times just does not allow us to do it.

What are we to do in such situations?

I first off would suggest not utilizing the John Daly “grip and rip it” motto if you get to the first tee without warming-up. I have seen this (myself included) lead to a myriad of problems from the get go. I can remember a few years ago I took this approach and I think made a triple bogey on the first hole. My drive went left into the rough, second shot to the right, approach shot over the green into the bunker, bunker shot rolled 20 feet past the hole. Need I go on?

Let’s just say I learned my lesson. First and foremost if you are caught in this type of situation lets not panic. Let’s put a plan together to start the round out on the right foot and keep you in a positive frame of mind. My first suggestion is not to rush and attempt to hit 3 putts, pull out driver take a few hacks, and then tee it up.

Lets take the 5 minutes we have and get the body warmed-up and ready to swing a golf club. How can we do this? Simply by putting together a series of golf stretches to “loosen” you up. Golf flexibility exercises will loosen the muscles and joints of your body. Preparing them to swing a golf club. They are simple to perform and can get your body and mind more ready to play than just a few practice swings with the driver. This will take a couple of minutes to perform, but it will help you get the body ready to swing the golf club.

Once we have got the body “loosened up” lets get the mind in the correct space. I have seen all too often the tempo of a swing is way out of whack when a golfer lacks the time to properly warm-up. Attempt to relax, take a few deep breaths, and get the body to slow down a little. This should definitely help create some better tempo in your swing from the start. Also, take your time. Once it is your turn to hit, take a little extra time. Take a few extra practice swings, relax, find your tempo, and match your first swing to the tempo of your practice swing. This is a tip I learned from Dean Reinmuth (top 50 Golf Digest teaching pros).

If you are not comfortable over the ball, step away, take a series of practice swings until you find the “right” swing and then perform that same swing over the golf ball. It has done wonders for my game. I would also suggest continuing to take extra time on every shot until you feel comfortable and have found your swing. This might not occur until the second or third hole, but it is okay. It allows you to relax, make a good swing, and make a good shot.

Finally, when you are rushed I think course management can really help. Think about it for a moment. Why not on the first tee pull out 3-wood instead of driver, even if it is a par five. Hit a nice shot into the fairway, lay-up, and play for par? Again, starting off with par or even bogey is a lot better than a double or triple, both for your scorecard and mental frame of mind.

So if you are rushing to the first tee to get your golf game going let’s review the protocol. First and foremost lets be smart and utilize the time we have at hand. Lets take the 5 minutes we have to warm-up the body for the golf swing. We will do this through the implementation of a series of golf flexibility exercises. These golf exercises will get your muscles and joints ready to swing a golf club. Once the body is ready the next step is taking your time. Take a few extra practice swings with the golf club. This will allow you to find the tempo of your golf swing. Finally lets be smart with our course management skills. Think about what is the best golf shot to make and play within ourselves until our body and mind is ready to go.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters, 2005 PGA, and 2006 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.
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Selecting The Right Putter For Your Game

By Jack Moorehouse

Buying a putter that’s right for you isn’t easy. You need to do your homework to find one that fits both your budget and your game, which means learning the different types of putters and clubheads available and their advantages. But doing your homework is worth it because having a good putter, as I often say in my golf lessons, shaves strokes off your golf handicap.

The key considerations when looking for a putter are price, quality, type, clubhead, and alignment system. Face insert, loft, and hosel are additional considerations. I’ve talked about these considerations in my golf tips, but here’s some additional information about them.

Price/Quality
Prices for putters range from $30 to $250 or more. Usually, the higher the price, the better the quality. While buying quality is nice, you don’t have to overspend to find the right putter. Consider putters from all price ranges before investing, but look for one that feels right to you and fits your budget. That can take time, but if you look hard enough, you just might find a good but inexpensive putter that will work as well as an expensive one.

Type
Putter types include traditional, belly, and long. Most players use a traditional putter, which allows for the best blend of feel and mechanical precision. Traditional putters demand “quiet” wrists, a big hurdle for some. They also affect golfers with bad backs. Hence, the increased use of the belly and the long putters. Nevertheless, they’re easier to master than the belly or long putters, which is why I cover them in my golf lessons.

The belly putter provides a third point of contact - the abdomen— between the putter and the player, the other two being your hands. This putter adds stability and balance to your stroke. The belly putter enables a golfer to control his wrist action and assume a near perfect position for putting, but the club’s longer shaft and generally thicker grip inhibits feel and feed back. Distance control is also a problem.

Long putters provide a stroke with a true pendulum arc, are great for players with bad backs, and completely eliminate wrist action, but they inhibit feel, feed back, and distance control even more than belly putters. Many players consider them the “last refuge” for players with highly active wrists, but you’ll often see them used by pros on the tour who are having trouble with their putting.

Clubhead
Putters come with blade, cavity back, and mallet clubheads. A blade has the clubhead’s weight distributed to the heel or bottom of the putter, leaving a thin top line to view when addressing the ball. It is harder to control than a cavity back or a mallet. A cavity back features a hollow area in the middle of the club- head’s back, creating a larger sweet spot. A mallet is bigger than traditional putter’s clubhead but its shape varies widely. Also check out the face-balanced and the heel-toe-weighted mallets, which promote a straight stroke and minimize mishits.

Alignment System
Aligning the putter to the hole is critical to sinking the putt, as I emphasize in my golf lessons. If the putter isn’t lined up properly, the ball won’t go in regardless of how well it’s hit. Try finding a putter with a visual aid to help you line up the club with the hole, one that you feel comfortable and confident with. There’s no research showing that one alignment system is better than another, so choose one that feels right to you. But make sure you buy a putter that has one.

Additional Considerations
Face inserts are available in a variety of materials including metal, rubber, ceramic, plastic, glass, and wood. They provide more feel and feedback, better define a club’s sweet spot, and increase heel-toe weighting. They are nice but not necessary, which I’ve often mentioned in my golf tips.

Believe it or not, putters come with about 4 degrees of loft, which keeps the ball from bouncing when struck. Most golfers use a putter with standard loft because their hands are vertical to the ball at impact. Loft can be added or taken away depending on where your hands are when you hit the ball.

A putter with an offset shaft or hosel appeals to many recreational golfers. The offset helps them address the ball with their forward eye over the ball and a good line of sight to the hole. More importantly, the offset helps them keep their hands ahead of the ball when putting, increasing accuracy.

Golf instruction aside, a good putter is critical to improving your golf handicap. But choosing a putter is mostly a matter of feel, so look for one that feels comfortable. If you find a putter you think fits your game, try it before purchasing it. Some retailers have small putting greens that allow you to test a putter. Others will let you take the putter home to test. By all means, do so. It’s the only way to really know.

Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book “How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros.” He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction.

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How To Improve Your Golf Game

By Tim Lee

When it comes to your skills at golf, it is important to have both strength and flexibility. Both of these attributes can be honed through outside exercise beyond putting the greens.
One method of gaining strength applicable to your game is to take up light weight lifting. Anyone can do light weight lifting, and it can be done either at home or at your local gym. Golfers need strength mainly in their legs and arms, so this should be the focus of your workout.
Starting out with arm exercises, use weight machines that work the bicep muscles, tricep muscles and forearm muscles. You can use free weights (beginners should not go beyond twenty pounds for each arm) as well as standard machines that strengthen the various arm muscles.
In addition, doing a couple sets of push ups each day is a great way to build arm strength as well as shoulder strength. Both of these muscle groups are important in improving your golf swing.
At a glance, leg muscles may not seem important to your golf game, but in reality leg strength is essential to your game. Your legs provide balance and stability, both qualities which are important in the game of golf. To strengthen leg muscles, focus on your main muscle groups while weight lifting.
Again, similar to the arm weights, there are standard machines pertaining to the legs at almost all gyms. One does not have to strain themselves to strengthen and tone muscle. Golfers should pick weights that focus on calves, the front of the legs, hamstrings and quadriceps.
Besides strength building, flexibility is vital to improving yours skills at golf. Taking up a stretching routine can improve your flexibility and can be extremely relaxing as well. Light yoga is easy and fun, and tapes can be found at almost any department store.
Also, there are a large variety of classes available for virtually every type of person. I highly recommend integrating yoga into your life. After a relatively short amount of time, your flexibility and your golf game will greatly improve.
Tim Lee is the owner of supergolf.info. Please visit us for more tips to improve your golf game.
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