Showing posts with label golf for beginners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label golf for beginners. Show all posts

Friday, 28 May 2010

Improve Your Golf Swing, Improve Your Golf Game!

Improve Your Golf Swing, Improve Your Golf Game!

The rapid advancement in technology today is reaching out to all corners of the sports world. The performance of athletes in every sports venue can be vastly improved by this rapidly going technology. One of the world's oldest and still most popular games of all time is being drastically changed for the better with each year. That game is golf and the greatest way to improve your game is by improving your swing through video analysis.

Lessons to improve your golf swing with a professional golf instructor can greatly improve your game and swiftly drain your wallet! Swing analysis by your trained golf pro can only better your technique in proportion to his human ability to "catch" your every error and flaw in stance, swing, etc. It is impossible for him to see every second of the complex nuances involved in your individual stroke. Even with a video camera to record your every move, hundreds of hours would be required to slow down and re-watch all foot, hip, hand, head, etc. positions that need the smallest adjustments to bring your game from average to outstanding. Bring the world of technology to your game through golf swing analysis beyond your wildest imagination.

Video analysis software is now being produced by many different companies. A digital video camera and computer are the only required equipment. Have someone video your actual movement and run it through the analysis software to receive a detailed, technologically advanced evaluation of your golf swing. This examination will offer specific pointers to improve the areas of your swing that are not "perfect". The software will cover such swing mechanics as:

Alignment
Ball Angle
Ball Speed
Club Head Speed
Proper Head Position
Proper Positioning of Hips
Proper Positioning of Knees
Proper Shaft Angle
Proper Spine Angle
Swing
Timing

A human golf pro can never keep track of all these areas at the same time for any given swing, that's impossible; but it's completely possible for swing analysis software! Every area of the core of your game will be analyzed and improved right before your very eyes on your computer screen. No guessing, no trial and error. Everything you do right and everything you do wrong will be explicitly evaluated and all appropriate recommendations given to you. It's a personalized swing perfection tool for you and your game. Just having the mirror image of what you do shown back to you may just do the trick.

For less than the cost of only three hours of "human" pro golf help you can have your own personal golf swing analyzer for every swing you have. Right in the privacy of your own home and back yard, your small investment in golf swing analysis software will permanently move your game from average to outstanding in no time. Remember, improve your golf swing, and drastically improve your game!

Wednesday, 26 May 2010

How To Set Up a Golf Fitness Program to Improve Your Golf Game

How To Set Up a Golf Fitness Program to Improve Your Golf Game

Professional golfers on the PGA Tour understand the connection between golf swing mechanics and the body. The most notable players in the world have regimented golf fitness programs they adhere religiously too. The benefits of such programs have been well documented in the media. Press clippings from Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and Phil Mickelson all refer to golf fitness exercises being a component of their regular practice schedule.

The amateur can learn a lot from the pros. They can learn the importance the body has in relation to the golf swing, how golf swing mechanics and the body are intertwined, and improvement in the golf game requires the implementation of a golf fitness program.

Where most amateurs get "off-track" with their golf fitness training is the components and exercises incorporated in such a program. Golf fitness programs are quite different then "general" fitness or "weight training" programs. A golf fitness program is designed to develop the golfer's body around the golf swing. In order for this to occur certain parameters and exercises are required in such a program.

First and foremost the amateur golfer must understand the connection between the golf swing and body. The golf swing is a complex series of biomechanical movements execute by the golfer. In order for the golfer to execute the biomechanics of the golf swing correctly. It is necessary for the golfer to have certain physical parameters well developed.

These physical parameters are flexibility, balance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and muscular power. High levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power are required to execute the golf swing correctly. Often times the amateur golfer is not flexible enough, strong enough, or powerful enough to execute the golf swing correctly.

This results in the golfer developing compensation patterns in their golf swing. The result being poor shots and high scores on the golf course. Bottom line is a physical foundation of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power is required to develop an efficient golf swing. If the amateur golfer is lacking in anyone of these categories the foundation upon which the golf swing is being built will be insufficient.

Once the amateur golfer understands the connection between the golf swing and the body it is necessary to implement a golf fitness program, A golf fitness program is different than "traditional" training programs in such this type of program develops the body around the golf swing.

A golf fitness program trains the body to the positions, movements, and requirements of the golf swing. A golf fitness program is not concern about "beach muscles" or how one looks in the mirror. Rather a golf fitness program has the primary goal of improving the scores on the golf course and play of the golfer.

This type of improvement is a result of using exercise to develop the physical parameters of the body relative to the golf swing. A golf fitness program will include flexibility exercises, balance drills, muscular strength exercise, endurance training modalities, and power drills. Exercises from all of these categories are included in a comprehensive golf fitness program.

Understand the exercises and drills within each of these categories are not necessarily traditional type of exercises. For example, flexibility exercises for golf are less concerned about touching your toes, and more concerned about completing a full shoulder turn. Flexibility exercises for golf are geared towards developing the flexibility within your body to execute the components of the golf swing correctly.

The same can be said about every other category of exercise and drill incorporated in a golf fitness program. The balance drills in a golf fitness program are designed to improve the golfer's balance capacities relative to the golf swing. Power exercises in a golf fitness program are designed to improve clubhead speed. Where as power drills in other programs may be geared towards improving how fast you run.

Once the amateur golfer understands the connection between the golf swing and body, the elements of the body needing development relative to the golf swing, and the components of a golf fitness program. The final component of understanding is golf fitness training order.

Often times the amateur golfer desires more power (i.e. clubhead speed) in their golf swing. As a result they perform only exercises to enhance the power components within their body. What the amateur golfer fails to realize is developing golf strength, endurance, or power is useless if they do not have the flexibility or balance capacities to execute the golf swing. Developing the body for the golf swing requires the amateur golfer to follow a specific order relative to their training programs.

It is necessary for the amateur golfer to first develop their flexibility for the golf swing. Secondly proceed to increasing their balance capacities in relation to the golf swing. Continue the process with developing strength and endurance for the golf swing. Completing the process with power drills to enhance clubhead speed. This guarantees the effort placed within a golf fitness program will enhance the golfer's swing. It becomes a simple process once the golfer is educated on the relationship between the golf swing and the body. The benefits a golf fitness program has upon the golfer's swing, and how to implement golf fitness exercises correctly.

Monday, 24 May 2010

Improve Your Golf Game

Improve Your Golf Game

Why should you work on improving your golf game? For one,
the next time that you head out onto the green with your
boss you won't feel like a complete fool when he starts
talking about his skills. And, you'll be able to brag to
your buddies about how you came out under par. It can also
help you to enjoy the game more so. Maybe you just need a
little more practice (time to get away Saturday morning from
the wife and kids) or maybe you just need someone to show
you a few techniques to help you get the most out of your
game. Either way, improving your golf game can happen in
just these steps.

* One of the most prolific mistakes that people make in
their golf game is their stance. Because of how important
the way that you stand is, you'll need to make sure that you
have it down perfectly. If this sounds hard, it doesn't
have to be.

* After improving your stance, you need to take the time to
improve your swing and your follow through. When working to
improve your golf game, the follow through of your swing
will ultimately provide you with an accurate shot.

* Another mistake the individuals make yet need to realize
when working to improve their golf game is their use of
clubs. Which is the right one to use when you tee off?
Which should you use to get out of the sand dune? While you
may think you know the answer, you probably don't.

Okay, so these are the things that you should work on to
improve your golf game, but how do you actually do it? What
should you look for? While you can definitely learn from
the web, it often makes more sense to see the difference in
what you are doing and what you should be doing, not just
reading it. For that, you should consider one of several
options.

* First, you can enroll in a few golf courses at your local
golf club. This is the best option because it allows hands
on, personal training. It is also the most expensive.

* Second, you could also take some courses through your
local community center. A good choice and it is less
expensive.

* You can also work on your golf game by using videos
designed to help you each step of the way. The videos can
be purchased throughout the web and allow you to actually
see the right way to stand and swing your club.

Improving your golf game just got a whole lot easier!


Friday, 21 May 2010

Improve your golf swing

Improve your golf swing

Are you looking for drills to improve your golf swing? If so then you have come to the right place. Here I am going to share with you 2 drills that have helped me reduce my handicap and have more fun playing golf. While it is often hard to tell someone how to swing a golf club, showing them drills can really help speed up the game improvement process.

1. The first drill I am going to teach you is the headcover drill which is used to prevent the flying right elbow in the backswing, and keeps your arms close to your body throughout the golf swing which is a key to accuracy and consistency. First of all you need to get a headcover and tuck it in under your right armpit. You want to keep your right arm close enough to your side in the backswing that the headcover does not come out. This will help your ball striking drastically. This is one of the top drills to improve your golf swing.

2. The second drill that I want you to do is called the shake hands drill. This drill helps you release the golf club and in turn hit the ball further and straighter. What you are going to do is swing back to the top with just your right hand not using a club. When you swing through your hand should be releasing with your body and the right hand should be in a position to shake someone's hand in front of you.

These drills to improve your golf swing should help you to start playing better golf, because it is much easier to learn by feel than to try and listen mechanically how to do something. Drills give you the ability to learn by feel and you will improve much faster.

I know using a combination of drills and a special system I was able to take 5 strokes off of my scores in just a few days!

Wednesday, 19 May 2010

improve your golf swing

improve your golf swing

Golf slice affects the game of golf negatively, and is a major obstruction in getting consistent good scores in golf games. Golf fanatics are more often than not, troubled with this curse of slicing the golf ball to unintended places - hitting banana shots without much accuracy.

Not surprisingly, many golfers, no matter new or professionals, are constantly looking for tips to correcting golf slice. No matter how much we try to control, the ball just curves away instead of going straight, and looks like a raging boomerang. If you are one of them, then this is the article for you.

Thanks for opening this article and making time to read. By the end of this article, you will not only have armed yourself with complete knowledge of correcting golf slice, but also how to do it in the most effective and economical way. It will save you a lot of time, which a lot of people waste normally on trying flop ideas and products. But like anything, it will also require some dedication from you. Rest assured you will destroy your slice completely. You will be able to participate in a few local golf tournaments soon, without the demoralizing effect of your slicing problem. So let us not waste time and get some basic and very useful information quickly.

Understanding causes that cause slice

The main reason for slicing the ball is that the club is not flat in touch with the ball at time of impact. There are some basic errors that are responsible for this: Improper grip on the club, improper stance position, and also improper swing. Getting rid of these problems is essential in nice slice free shots.

A few tips to get you started getting better shots

A proper grip will help you eliminate a big percentage of slicing problems. The pressure on the golf club should be neither too much nor too less. Both of which will lead to curved shots.

A proper and relaxed stance, feet shoulder distance apart, both feet are facing directly in front with toes. The elbows and arms are as relaxed as they can be. An unnatural position will cause slicing.

When swinging, follow it correctly, without turning the hands too fast. The speed of body turning and hands motion should match perfectly. It is one of the most crucial factors to correcting golf slice and getting good shots consistently.

Monday, 17 May 2010

Golf fitness exercises

Golf fitness exercises

Golf fitness exercises can be very beneficial in getting you ready for the upcoming golf season. Golf exercises with swing drills can prepare you for a successful year on the links right from the start.

The PGA Golf Tour is in full swing and for many parts of the country and world the golf season is upon us. Many of you are anxious to dust off the golf clubs and get out to the golf course for your first round of golf. A question that may be on your mind is how do I get ready? How do I knock off 6 months of rust on my golf swing, feel comfortable with my driver on the first tee, and post a good golf score at the end of the round?

All questions that are asked often in the world of professional golf and this article will provide you with the answers. Answers to these questions and many more fall under the category of how do I prepare myself for the golf season?

Interesting enough if the guidelines from this article are followed the golf score you post for your first round of the year may be lower than you ever expected, the distance of your drives may well be farther than you imagined, and the number of accurate golf shots you hit may be even more surprising!

The answer to all the questions on how to get ready for the upcoming golf season centers on preparation. Preparation is the key to a successful first round of golf and every round you play in the upcoming golf season.

We all probably understand the definition of preparation but lets take a quick look in order for us to all be on the same page. Preparation can be defined as the work or planning involved in making something or somebody ready or putting something together in advance (Encarta Dictionary, MSN.com).

A definition that sheds light on getting ready for the upcoming golf season. Using the above definition we can see the process of preparing for the upcoming golf season does not begin 10 minutes before your first tee time, but rather in advance of when you get ready to hit driver off the first tee. Bottom line the process of getting ready for the upcoming golf season begins weeks or even months before your' first round of golf of the year.

To have a successful first round of golf and a good season of golf you must begin the process of preparation well in advance of your first time on the golf course. If you look at professional golfers they begin the process of preparing for the upcoming golf season months in advanced. I would suggest doing the same. Develop a plan that will get your golf swing ready once the snow thaws, the birds are chirping, and the greens are ready for putting.

What does such a plan contain? This type of "golf preparation plan" would contain drills, exercises, and programs to improve and prepare every aspect of your golf game. If we break down the game of golf into categories the "golf program" becomes much easier to understand. Obviously, we have the different shots made on the course. A brief breakdown would indicate the need to implement swing drills to work on the full swing, short game, and putting. We could obviously get a little more detailed than a breakdown of the golf game into three different categories, but lets' keep it simple.

Now that we have this breakdown of the game of golf into full swing, short game, and putting the next step is to implement a series of drills to work on each of these aspects. Simply put I would suggest devising a series of drills to work on each part of the golf game/swing. This can easily be accomplished by purchasing a few books or videos from one of the top-teaching professionals in the world of golf.

Each one of these qualified golf instructors have numerous materials available to help you with your golf swing. And if you are one of those individuals that lives in a cold climate and is unable to get to a driving range or practice facility, no need to worry. Most all of the instructional videos/books available have drills that can be performed in the comfort of your own home.

At this point we have a couple of bases covered in the "preparation plan" for the upcoming golf season. We understand preparation is key to a successful year on the golf course, the "preparation plan" begins well in advance of the first tee time of the year, and a portion of the plan consists of swing drills. This brings us to final part of your "preparation plan" for the upcoming golf season.

This part of the plan centers on the implementation of golf fitness exercises to go along with your swing drills. We must understand the concept of your body and the golf swing. The golf swing is executed in its' entirety by your body. In order for your body to execute the golf swing correctly. It requires you to have certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power within it. If you are lacking in any one of these physical areas compensations will occur in your golf swing.

It comes down to this: In order to be prepared for the upcoming golf season and to improve your golf swing. The implementation of golf fitness exercises geared towards developing your body around the golf swing is necessary. This type of program will prepare the body for the golf swing and the upcoming golf season.

To summarize, the process of preparing yourself for the upcoming golf season begins with a "preparation plan". This plan begins weeks to months in advance of your first time out on the golf course. Additionally, this "preparation plan" for the upcoming golf season contains a series of golf training drills to prepare your golf swing. The golf training drills break down the golf game into three sections; full swing, short game, and putting. A series of swing drills are implemented to work on each one of these parts of your golf game. In addition golf fitness exercises are implemented into the golf-training program to develop your body around your golf swing. Put all these pieces together and your first time out on the golf course this year should be an enjoyable one.

Wednesday, 12 May 2010

Improve your golf swing

Improve your golf swing

I've been playing golf for the past 6 years and have decided to look for products that I feel will improve your golf swing. I know exactly what it is like to play this sport and how much effort we put in to improve your golf swing. So I will be reviewing product offers for different golf products and let you know whether it is worth at least checking it out.

Today I have picked golf swing secrets revealed (The new 4 magic moves) which is a site designed to improve your golf swing. When you go onto the website the first thing you will read is a claim to reduce your handicap by half which I feel is a bold claim. However I know from personal experience that this is possible. I reduced my handicap from 20 to 9 in the space of a year with a lot of hard practice (hours spent down the driving range), and hard earned cash spent on lessons with PGA pro's. However I realise most people haven't got the time or money to, improve your golf swing the same way I did. To improve your golf swing you need something that is affordable and easy to understand so that when you get time to try to improve your golf swing down the range you know exactly what you are aiming to achieve.

I believe you can't go wrong by checking out golf swing secrets revealed. If you decide to visit the site you will find a list explaining how you will go about learning to improve your golf swing. This includes how to how to spot mistakes in your swing before you reach the first tee and how to prevent power leaks which will certainly improve your golf swing. In my opinion though the most tempting part of the offer is entering your name and email (All information kept 100% confidential) and they will send a Free illustrated 60 page PDF Report, 14 min's Video and 19 min's Audio explaining the first of the four magic moves that the pros keep to themselves. You also get free audio tips! Also you get to read an extended version of the offer on how to improve your golf swing which gives you more information on the product itself and people who have tried the product. It also explains that you get 2 months full money back guarantee if you do not improve your golf swing.

The last word: If you want to improve your golf swing but have found it hard going why not try, something fresh and at least give golf secrets revealed a look. What have you got to lose! At worst you will get a free tip on how to improve your golf swing but if you do decide to buy then you will have the 2 months money guarantee to fall back onto. It's a win win situation. Good luck and happy golfing.

Monday, 15 February 2010

Improve Your Golf Game - Harvey Pennick Says Build Your Game Around Your Best Golf Iron

Improve Your Golf Game - Harvey Pennick Says Build Your Game Around Your Best Golf Iron

Are you looking for some silver bullet to improve your golf game? There's no such thing, but I've been (re)reading Harvey Pennick's books on golf, and something struck me. Something he said really stuck in my mind: If you are an amateur golfer, you can get very good results by building your game around your #5 or #7 iron.

Now, who is Harvey Pennick and why should you listen to him? In his heyday, Mr. Pennick was golf coach to several US Open Winners - Tom Kite among the most prominent of his students. He also successfully coached university golf teams, and more than a few weekend golfers. He ended his career as the much-beloved club pro of the Austin Country Club, having successfully seen to the golfing needs of hundreds of club members.

So why does he say stick to one iron, especially the #5 or #7? First of all, the #5 and #7 irons are the most used golf irons among amateurs, being medium range clubs for many golfers. Once you are off the tee and on the fairway, you no longer need the range of the driver. Looking back, my best shots on the fairway were always aimed at some particular point I could see clearly. And any point I could see clearly was within range of my #5 iron.

The point is: when you stick with one main iron, you get better faster (with it). It becomes your best buddy, the one you go to most often. You quickly learn what it can do, and what it can't. You learn how to bend its performance to meet your needs. A lot of uncertainty disappears.

Let's say you make the #5 your favorite. You are faced with a tricky shot. You estimate the distance at 70 yards with a 15 yard margin of error to the bunker ... you hope. You know your #5 iron can give you that distance with a 3/4 backswing. You know because you have done it many, many times in the past, because this is the club you build your game around. You swing your club, and lo and behold, the ball rolls to a stop with 5 yards to spare.

In theory, you could have done the same thing with a full swing from your #7 iron. But you can't be sure, because you don't play enough golf to practice equally with both clubs. So you have to choose, jack of all trades, master of none, by playing all your irons from #3 to #9, or just master one iron, which can get you most places you need to go.

Remember that you are a weekend golfer. You don't play the US Open, and don't need to master every iron in your bag. You don't need the level of precision and control which every iron can give you.

Unless you can spend everyday on the golf course, the fastest way to improve your golf game is to simplify your game as much as possible. Minimize the number of clubs you actually play with in order to develop the skill and consistency with those clubs quickly. Stick with the driver, #5 iron, putter and one wedge, and you'll see real improvement quickly. These four clubs will serve you most of your time.

Thursday, 11 February 2010

Improve Your Golf Score With The One Plane Golf Swing

Improve Your Golf Score With The One Plane Golf Swing

Every golfer is looking to lower their golf score and improve their golf swing. And let's face it, a proper golf swing is pretty complicated when you start putting together all the things you need - set up, golf grip, stance, addressing the ball, wrist cock, backswing, hip swivel, downswing, etc.

One great way to improve your golf score is to simplify your golf swing. So how do you do that?

Focusing on the one plane golf swing can go a long way toward simplifying your golf game and improving the consistency of your golf shots. What exactly is a one plan golf swing? A one plane golf swing keeps your club on one plane during the entire golf swing, which can minimize mistakes that you might make.

The one plane golf swing allows you to strike the ball with the club face square, improving the quality of your golf shot. This will help to minimize those bad slices and hooks that get you in so much trouble. A great way to develop a good one plane golf swing is to find a golf instructor that teaches this type of swing.

One good lesson with the right instructor can greatly improve your one plan golf swing, practically lowering your score overnight.

There are also golf swing training aids, such as the golf swing trainer, that are designed to keep your golf swing on one plane. This is an easy way to practice the one plane golf swing at home with minimal expense. You just need to put in the training time.

Finally, another training aid is one I've mentioned before, and that is making sure you are properly balanced throughout your swing. You do this by placing a quarter on your front shoe. If you are properly balanced with a one plane golf swing, the quarter should remain on your shoe throughout the swing.

If it falls off, you weren't properly balanced throughout your golf swing. By being able to swing consistently without the quarter falling off your shoe, you'll be better balanced for more of your golf shots, resulting in better, more consistent shots.

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Golf Tips For Beginners - 3 Great Ways to Make Your Putting Better

Golf Tips For Beginners - 3 Great Ways to Make Your Putting Better

Golf is a popular but challenging game that very few people can excel at. It is frustrating to most beginners that their game often breaks down at the final hurdle. The short game is what can decide your final score and often all that is needed is a guided hand. Below are listed 3 great golf tips for beginners.
1. Keep your eye on the ball. This has to be one of the most widely used phrases but it is so true. Your eyes should be on the ball and glancing towards the target hole. This will ensure that you are concentrating on the subject at hand and aiming the shot correctly. Follow the club head with your eyes.

2. Swing straight through the ball. A mistake many amateurs and beginners make is that they try and strike the ball. This is a mistake; you should be swinging straight through the ball towards the hole not at the ball. Don't be scared to use too much power, if you are hesitating you will likely fall short of the hole.

3. Strike the ball with the club face vertical. By adjusting your standing position you will be able to adjust the angle that the club face strikes the ball. When putting you need try and hit the ball when your stroke is exactly half way through, when the club face is vertical and as close to the floor as possible.

Putting is a big challenge but it can be done, people do it successfully every day. Improving your short game will shave points off your score and developing an accurate put is an essential process.


Best Golf Swing - How to Swing Like a Pro

Best Golf Swing - How to Swing Like a Pro

In golf, the scores you get are directly proportional to how good your best golf swing is. Unfortunately, most people take a long while to get a good golf swing going. Many give up the game early. To keep this from happening to you, remember that getting your best golf swing going means practice -- and lots of it.

The Best Golf Swing Tips Can Be Painfully Obvious

First of all, remember that you can only learn so much from your golfing idols. Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh -- they all have their own distinct styles when it comes to swinging their golf clubs. You can learn the fundamentals of a good grip, a good stance, and a good state of mind from them. But that's as far as you can go -- your swing will totally be up to you.

Why? Simply because no two people in the world have the exact same body structures. People can be tall, short, stocky, lanky, flexible or stiff, and everything in between. You'll need to find the best golf swing for your body type on your own. It's hard, but it gets much easier once you get used to the fundamentals.

Once you settle into a good grip, stance, and state of mind, you can start working on your swing. Start with working on your back swing. Many people make the mistake of pulling the golf club back too quickly, accelerating on the way up. This takes a lot of energy away from the downswing.

The proper way to bring your club back is slowly and steadily, at a speed that feels natural for you. Your aim is to begin your downswing the moment the upward energy gives way to gravity -- that way you'll have gravity and all the potential energy on your side when you bring the club head down.

The downswing should be fast and powerful, but not so hastily done that it hurts your accuracy. Swinging too hard can cause you to slice the ball, sending it deep into the woods -- or, worse, the spectators. Find the right amount of strength and speed to send the ball exactly where you want it to go.

For best results, find a trainer -- trainers can school you in the best golf swing drills you can use.

Exercise -- One Of The Best Golf Swing Aids Out There

Finally, it helps to exercise -- both physically and mentally. Exercise will improve your balance, strength, and flexibility, while mental exercises will help you make better decisions and enjoy the game more. And when you're having fun, coming up with the best golf swing will come much more naturally.

Monday, 8 February 2010

Improve Your Golf Swing - Relax, Just Do It

Improve Your Golf Swing - Relax, Just Do It

If you want to improve your golf swing then your are going to have to learn to relax, study and practice . These are three fundamentals about golf that we sometimes forget and with this article, you should find it easy to get back into the swing of things.

What does it mean to relax when you are playing golf? Let's begin with a very, very important fact about the golf ball. It's already dead. So don't try to kill it. It just won't do you any good.

That is an important fact that we all over look. Why? Because we put too much pressure on ourselves while we are playing. The truth is trying to get extra yardage out of smacking the ball as hard as we can destroys our chances of having a good solid hit.

What exactly should you study in golf? Well, everything but here the most important thing to study is yourself. You need to videotape yourself hitting the ball. But you need to tape your hit in two different ways.

The first videotaping should be of you doing practice swings and practice shots. Did you every notice that practice swings are actually pretty good. Without the pressure of the score, you probably have a good swing.

Now tape yourself on the actual golf course. There is probably a big difference between the two shots. But if you can tell the difference you can improve your shot.

There is also another reason to know your own swing. If you like the swing of another player, on the course or on tv, you know what the difference is and you can change. The change will probably be really small. Make the little changes and you will improve your golf swing.

Okay, we talked about the need to relax and the need to study your own swing. Now it is time to practice your new swing.

There is a story about the great golfer Gary Player. A fan came up to Mr. Player after he watched him play a round of golf. The fan said, "Gee, I wish I could play golf like you." Mr. Player replied, "If you hit buckets of balls until your hands are bloody and then hit some more, you can."

Now you don't need to play until your hands are bloody but without practicing you really never will improve your game to where you are happy.

You now know three important steps to a better golf swing. You must be relaxed, enjoy it for what it is, a great game. You must know your swing to be able to improve your swing. Finally, you must practice. If you are missing any of these three points in your game then you are not going to really improve your swing.


How Can Technology Improve Your Golf Game?

How Can Technology Improve Your Golf Game?With the golden age of caddies long since given way to technology, except for the esteemed private golf clubs.

Golfers today have resorted to a wide variety of measures to get yardages, directions and keeping scores.

When playing do you have troubles gauging how far a certain obstacle is, or how far away from the green you need to get to on your next shot?

Are you that type of person with an uncanny ability to estimate how far you need to hit your next shot?

For most people it's a guessing game but, it so much more important when it comes to scoring. It can make a difference between shooting a great score or being left to frustration and wanting to break every club in your bag.

When I was caddying professionally my job 30+ years ago was to make sure I walked the golf course before my partner even showed up.

Professional caddies would chart a course for their player before every tournament with all of the measurements.

You knew the distances of every club your pro swung at. It was your job to walk the fairways marking down every rock, sand traps, trees, water or any other permanent obstacle that you could gauge from the tees or any other shots from the fairways to the greens.

You mark all of this down in a little black book. Then everyday early in the morning before each round you graph out each hole's pin placements. Measure out by using the old traditional way of one foot in front of the other how far from the front, sides, and back of the greens.

You also observe where the pin placement is for that day by writing it all down. Observing everything, if the green is on a hill, swale or what kind of breaks to the hole when putting.

Where is the flat part of the green or safest place to hit the ball to. There was a combination of both guess work and knowing your player's skill level.

Today, that has all changed with technology. Yardage markers can now be defined by sprinkler heads, poles in the fairways, painted numbers on cart paths.

Yardage books and laser range finders all have become part of the golf landscape and have varying degrees of usage by today's golfers.

For the high-tech among us,gadgets have been finding their way into more and more golf bags. Compact rangefinders with hand held GPS systems and computer geekery included have found an ever increasing audience.

With convenience however, comes cost, and none of these are cheap.The items range in price from $199 to $499.

ONE OF the great pleasures of playing golf in the past 40+ years has been the extraordinary development in technology which makes the game so much easier now than in the early 1980s.

As we enjoy huge titanium drivers, graphite shafts, two-piece balls and soft-faced putters, we wonder how we could ever play with drivers that have heads the size of small boulders and balls which wore a huge smile every time they were hit off center.

Advances aren't restricted to clubs and balls. When I started playing, club selection was based on the perceived distance of the golf shot.

Then it became standard for golf courses to put laser read distance markers on each hole. Technology has started doing that work too and now the R&A and the USGA said they would permit the use of GPS range finders if a club or tournament committee brought in a local rule allowing its use.

Not many such local rules have been made. For my club it decided against range finders in official club tournaments. Although they do allow them in regular play and it's legal, and common in practice rounds.

The biggest problems most golf courses have is involved in slow play.The endorsement from the P.G.A. made it a big issue of how these gadgets would speed up play.

The thinking is that if players have the distance information available instantly, it will speed up club selection, pre-shot routine and actual hitting.

From what I hear, the evidence points out that this is not the case. The time a player spends contemplating distances is not regarded as a contributor to the slow pace of play. It's the decisions on which club to use, plus general preparation for a shot which are the time wasters.

Despite the advanced technology, nothing about golf's basic premise has changed. It's great knowing how far away the hole is but, you still have to hit the shot.

MY limited experience using these gadgets are that they can be useful on the golf course. They quickly provide available and accurate information, so for that reason their usage should be encouraged.

When I used it on my home course, it was really of limited value. I guess that's because I've played there so often, and I know the exact yardages.

Another new technological gadget that has proven its weight in gold for the hard core avid golfer, is called the ProLooper Golf Game Analyzer. This groundbreaking system allows golfers to record the location of every shot using a standard GPS range finder, and use that data to get the most in-depth statistical analysis of their game available today.

This feature rich system can improve shot accuracy and help golfers save strokes on the golf course. You can run the system on several GPS range-finder devices and has over 10,000 course maps available.

In order to use the ProLooper system the golfer simply stands over the ball and marks the location while checking the distance to their next target.

The data collection process does not slow down the golfers game. Once the round is completed the golfer uploads his or her data over the Internet to the ProLooper server.

The golfer is able to add additional details such as weather conditions, lies, slopes and other variables. The more details that are added, the more powerful the instant reporting capabilities of the system becomes.

Golfers can now have the same type of shot and game analysis that professional golfers get from their caddies.

It will help improve your golf swing, and shot accuracy. This is what separates great golfers from the average golfers, and that is knowing your statistics.

Being able to use those numbers to better yourself in every facet of your game. You do get instant insight to your golf round performance after every 18 holes. It all leads to improved play and lower scores.



Friday, 5 February 2010

How Outside Exercises Beyond Golf Can Improve Your Golf Swing

How Outside Exercises Beyond Golf Can Improve Your Golf Swing

In regards to improving your golf swing, the most important part of your body to focus on are your wrists. Your wrists are involved with starting the swing, finishing it and they determine how far the golf ball goes. If you do not have strong wrists, your puts will not be very accurate or go very far. So how exactly do you strengthen your wrists?

Outside exercise beyond golf can strengthen your wrists and help with your golf swing. One exercise that comes to mind is doing sets with a stress ball. Stress balls are easy to find at any toy or sports store. Doing a few sets with a stress ball every day is guaranteed to strengthen your wrists, forearms and hands. Another exercise that can be done almost anywhere are push ups. Sets of push ups strengthen your whole arm, and this includes your wrists.

Cross-training with other sports can also help improve your golf swing. Tennis, swimming and softball are all sports that use a lot of arm strength. Tennis, in particular, uses a lot of wrist strength and might be your best bet in improving your swing. You do not have to be a tennis pro to go out there a couple times a week and hit some balls. And I guarantee your wrist strength will increase within a few weeks.

In addition to unrelated exercises, drills are always helpful in improving your golf swing. There are many many drills available online and elsewhere. All you have to do is hop online and search. One example is to focus on following through with your swing, without actually hitting the ball. Stand on the golf course with your club, lean back on your back toe, take your club behind you with both hands and swing out in front of you, with the weight shifting to the front foot.

Do fifteen sets of this drill and see how you feel. There should be a mild burning sensation in your wrists. That means you are doing it correctly. This particular drill should eventually help you improve your swing.



Thursday, 4 February 2010

Golf Tips - Bunker Shots

Golf Tips - Bunker Shots

One of the most difficult shots in all of golf is a shot from a sand bunker just off the green. These green side bunker shots cause the golfer to ask him a lot of questions, and more often than not, the answers are usually wrong. We all seem to know that we need to hit slightly behind the ball and take some sand; but that is only a fraction of the complexity that goes into making a successful sand save. Follow these golf tips and you should find yourself getting out in one shot, and placing the ball where you want, every time.

First, open your stance and dig your feet into the sand a little. The ball should also be placed forward in your golf stance to cause a higher trajectory once the ball is struck. Ensuring that your setup is correct in the sand is critical.

Next, open the clubface to flatten it out a little - this will make sure the clubface slices through the sand. At this point, you should focus on your hands. The grip should be a little looser than the normal golf swing, but still firm enough that the club does not turn upon impact with the sand. A weaker grip should ensure that you do not turn the clubface inward on your swing and close it when you make contact.

When making the golf swing, you should primarily try to keep the body still, and focus on just using your arms, and especially your wrists. A powerful shot is not needed to get the ball out of the sand, but a full wrist cock at the top of the back swing should be employed to make sure you bring the club fully through on the downswing.

For the right-handed golfer, your left hand should just be used to steady the club in your hand and the right hand is really going to be the hand used to apply force to the swing. This should naturally occur by using the full wrist cock discussed earlier. After making contact with the sand, the right hand should continue to push through, and a nice, high follow-through should be focused upon.

At this point, the ball should be coming out with a fair amount of sand. One of the mistakes the average golfer makes on the sand shot is chopping down on the ball. When you chop onto the ball, the angle of the club strikes the sand as such to where enough sand is not lifted from the bunker to help propel the ball forward.

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

Improve Your Golf Swing, Improve Your Golf Game!

Improve Your Golf Swing, Improve Your Golf Game!

The rapid advancement in technology today is reaching out to all corners of the sports world. The performance of athletes in every sports venue can be vastly improved by this rapidly going technology. One of the world's oldest and still most popular games of all time is being drastically changed for the better with each year. That game is golf and the greatest way to improve your game is by improving your swing through video analysis.

Lessons to improve your golf swing with a professional golf instructor can greatly improve your game and swiftly drain your wallet! Swing analysis by your trained golf pro can only better your technique in proportion to his human ability to "catch" your every error and flaw in stance, swing, etc. It is impossible for him to see every second of the complex nuances involved in your individual stroke. Even with a video camera to record your every move, hundreds of hours would be required to slow down and re-watch all foot, hip, hand, head, etc. positions that need the smallest adjustments to bring your game from average to outstanding. Bring the world of technology to your game through golf swing analysis beyond your wildest imagination.

Video analysis software is now being produced by many different companies. A digital video camera and computer are the only required equipment. Have someone video your actual movement and run it through the analysis software to receive a detailed, technologically advanced evaluation of your golf swing. This examination will offer specific pointers to improve the areas of your swing that are not "perfect". The software will cover such swing mechanics as:

Alignment
Ball Angle
Ball Speed
Club Head Speed
Proper Head Position
Proper Positioning of Hips
Proper Positioning of Knees
Proper Shaft Angle
Proper Spine Angle
Swing
Timing

A human golf pro can never keep track of all these areas at the same time for any given swing, that's impossible; but it's completely possible for swing analysis software! Every area of the core of your game will be analyzed and improved right before your very eyes on your computer screen. No guessing, no trial and error. Everything you do right and everything you do wrong will be explicitly evaluated and all appropriate recommendations given to you. It's a personalized swing perfection tool for you and your game. Just having the mirror image of what you do shown back to you may just do the trick.

For less than the cost of only three hours of "human" pro golf help you can have your own personal golf swing analyzer for every swing you have. Right in the privacy of your own home and back yard, your small investment in golf swing analysis software will permanently move your game from average to outstanding in no time. Remember, improve your golf swing, and drastically improve your game!



Tuesday, 2 February 2010

3 Tips to Simply Improve Your Golf Swing

3 Tips to Simply Improve Your Golf Swing

Is it possible to simply improve your golf swing? Well with three easy tips, I'll show you some ways that you can simply improve your golf swing. These tips are on addressing the ball, grip, and staying focused.

1. Addressing the Ball

The first way to simply improve your golf swing is to address the ball correctly. Many golfers just step up to the ball and start swinging, then they wonder why the ball doesn't go the right way. Let's take about a shoulder-width stance and stand with the half-way between your front and back foot. There are many ways to approach the ball, but this way is about average and will help get your swing going again. Also, make sure you can comfortably reach the ball, with your club, by bending your knees a little and some bend at the waist.

2. Grip

Grip isn't usually a huge problem for most golfers, but if you are doing it wrong it can have a major impact on your game. Fixing it will very simply improve your golf swing. Start by placing your left hand near the end of the grip, sorry this is written for right-handed golfers just reverse it if you golf backwards, and extend your thumb straight down the grip. Then, take your right-hand and put it over your left, interlocking your right pinky and left index finger. Both of your thumbs should be pointing down the shaft.

3. Staying Focused

Staying focused can't be physically taught, but if you are able to stay focused you will really see your golf swing improve. Make sure you know what you want to do with every shot and that's all you should be thinking about. Staying focused will simply improve your golf swing by making you more in-tune with your game.

So there you have it. Three easy ways to improve your golf swing almost instantly. Keep these in mind and keep the scores low. Good Luck!



Monday, 1 February 2010

Golf Swing Simulator - Can it Improve Your Golf Swing?

Golf Swing Simulator - Can it Improve Your Golf Swing?

Can a golf swing simulator improve your golf swing? You may have seen these devices in your golf club, or your local golf shop. It is a sensor and camera equipped booth, with a screen which simulates a golf course. You hit the golf ball in the golf swing simulator, and it captures details of your golf swing technique. The device then simulates the path your golf ball travels, right down to any slices or hooks. More sophisticated simulators will even replicate many famous golf courses, even allowing you to play 18 holes on the Old Course at St Andrews.

The manufacturers of these golf swing simulators claim that their devices can help to analyze your swing, detecting mistakes in your golf swing technique and helping to improve your golf swing. In theory, that is...

In practice, the technology has a long way to go. For example, most golf simulators cannot properly capture the spin your swing imparts to the golf ball. The spin has a great impact on the games of good players - Tiger Woods uses Nike's One Platinum golf balls which give less distance but more spin control. The simulators also cannot fully simulate wind and weather conditions, and the effect of terrain on the behavior of the golf ball.

Many simulators tend to over-estimate the distance of your drive. While this may be good for golf club salesmen to persuade you to buy their golf clubs, it does not help your game. Sadly, there is still no substitute for actually hitting the ball on the golf course. For the moment, they are just very expensive toys, setting you back $10,000 to $30,000.

With this kind of cash, you are better off hiring a human golf swing trainer, or taking additional lessons from a golf school. An accredited golf pro can quickly pinpoint mistakes in your golf swing technique, suggesting exercises to help you fix your worst problems.

One argument for using an indoor golf swing simulator is for practice during bad weather. On the surface, this is a compelling argument. However, golfers who have actually used these devices find that it damages their game. When they play in the simulator too much, they adapt to the imperfect model of the golf course in the simulation. They tend to hit the balls harder than they should, losing control of the balls on the real golf course. They find that the swing which works in the simulator causes them to slice or hook on the real fairways. Their golf swing technique suffers.

Instead of wasting time in the golf simulator, you should spend the time practicing your swing. Get a golf mat and net and swing your clubs at the ball. A good quality mat and net costs $200 on Amazon. Three dozen of the longest distance golf balls only cost $37 secondhand. If you do not have enough room to practice your driver indoors, practice your putting and short game instead. Even 5 or 10 minutes spent on stretching exercises or doing some weight training with a simple barbell will do more to improve your golf swing. Any of these methods is cheap, yet more effective than a simulator.

Whether or not you use a golf swing simulator, you need more practise on the real golf course to improve your golf.