Posts Tagged ‘golf’
How to Unleash Your True Golf Potential – Part 2
In (Part 1) of this article I discussed how muscle imbalance can often keep a golfer from achieving his or her true playing potential. Even though these imbalances are quite common they often go untreated due to the fact that the golfer is focusing on the symptom and not the cause. The symptom in this case is the inaccuracy and loss of power in their swing. The cause is the muscle imbalance.
Postural deficiencies (imbalances) consist of tight (shortened) muscles and weak (lengthened) muscles. Common golf posture consists of a forward head and rounded shoulders. Proper program design will call for the tight muscles to be stretched and the weak muscles to be strengthened.
In addition, the average person also has a weak core and lack of neuromuscular joint stabilization making it even more difficult to control their body during a functional movement such as golf.
Common muscle imbalances of a golfer:
Forward Head Position
Anterior (front) neck muscles (tight/shortened) – Stretch
Posterior (rear) neck muscles (weak/lengthened) – Strengthen
Rounded Forward Shoulders
Pectoral (chest) muscles (tight/shortened) – Stretch
Rhomboid (upper middle back) muscles (weak/lengthened) – Strengthen
Lack of Core Stability
Transverse abdominals / Internal Oblique (weakness) – Strengthen
Pelvic floor muscles (weakness) – Strengthen
The “Core” is where all movement begins. It is also the controlling force behind an individual’s center of gravity. The core muscles support the spine and pelvis and are an essential part of driving the ball with power and accuracy.
Stabilization training increases communication between the nervous system and the muscular system which will result in increased joint stabilization during functional movements such as golf. Performing exercises that require balance such as single leg exercises, stability ball exercises or using unstable surface’s will increase neuromuscular efficiency (communication between the nervous system and muscular system).
The combination of corrective exercise, core training and stabilization training will greatly improve your ability to unleash the true potential of your golf game. A balanced posture, strong core and efficient joint stabilization will decrease any pain or discomfort in your swing and significantly improve the power and accuracy of your game.
Craig LePage, CSCS, NASM-CPT, is a well-known Fitness Professional in the Charlotte, North Carolina area and is the Director of Precision Fitness Mooresville. He has been helping people reach their fitness and wellness goals for more than 10 years. His credentials include a Bachelors of Science Degree from the University of Bridgeport Connecticut, CSCS credentials from the NSCA and a Personal Training Certification from the NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine). Craig has written for Charlotte, NC area Newspapers, authored his own fitness & nutrition program and is a frequent guest on a Charlotte area radio show that focus’ on health and wellness. He is currently co-authoring a golf specific exercise book (Play Better, Longer ? Golf) and is also working on a book of his own that should be available sometime next year.
For additional information please contact (Craig LePage); craig@ncprecisionfitness.com, or log on to http://www.lakenormanfitness.com
52 Ways To Stop Your Slice
If there’s one thing that haunts most golfers more than missing a 3-foot putt, it has to be slicing the ball off the tee. So this week I have written 2-different articles – the first being 52 Ways to Stop Your Slice and the second being If You Understand What Causes A Slice You Wouldn’t Need 52 Ways To Stop A Slice! So consider this a bonus section to Golf Improvement Weekly.
Part 1 – Fixing your slice can be a complicated task or it can be a Simple solution – the choice is up to you. Now the average person reading this will say – “Well Marc, I want the Simple Solution.” Yet, when we go to work on getting rid of your slice using these Simple Solutions, the average Golfer says – “Yeah but, what about working on an inside to out swing path, what about turning my wrist over at impact, isn’t my swing too flat, shouldn’t I work on getting my elbow down to my side to get the club in the correct position on the downswing?” Because of the Golf Instruction Experts or Guru’s that we hear from each week on Television or Magazines or Internet Chat Rooms – we assume that the solutions to simple things such as Slicing the Ball Off The Tee have to have complicated corrections and that there always has to be swing changes made to your swings.
And I actually enjoy hearing how complicated you think it is to fix your golf swing because to see your faces when you’re able to Stop Slicing the Ball by just using some of our drills is fascinating.
Fascinating? Why Fascintating?
Because for most Golfers we see, there is so much going on in your heads during each swing you make – I’m surprised your still playing golf. Too many Golfers make this game hard work. It’s like the Monkey said – “A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at work!” I’ll believe that one when I see it. I guess I haven’t worked in an office enviroment enough, but I can’t imagine people banging their mouse’s on the ground and yelling the expletives they do on the golf course in the middle of the office. Or telling everybody in earshot how bad they messed up on getting an important assignment done – you’d get fired right on the spot if you acted that way in the office.
Yet on the golf course we see clubs banged against the ground – I learn more “salty” language than I did during High School – and I constantly hear how badly everyone’s playing, even after they’ve just played 2-holes. “Oh man, this is the worst golf I’ve ever played!” Hey don’t get down on yourself, you’ve only played 2-holes. “Yeah but I’ve never played this bad in my entire life.” I don’t understand, you’ve never double bogied 2-holes in a row in all the years you’ve played golf? “Well yes, I have. But, I just don’t feel comfortable right now with my swing. I just feel off and I’m not having fun!” Didn’t you just tell me that A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at work?
If that’s the case, your job must really stink!
So the first way to Stop a Slice is to not get so upset at yourself that you start to hold the club as if it were a $1,000,000 bill. You must realize that when you hold the club so tightly the tightness doesn’t stop at your hands – it works its way up your arms through your shoulders, right up your neck and into your brain. And when all this tension is pulsating through your body – your swing gets “Stuck” and when you’re “Stuck”, you need to find a way to become “Unstuck” and that usually means you’re going to have to Compensate some where in your swing to make up for being “Stuck” and that Compensation will lead to some act of Inconsistency which includes Slicing the Ball off the Tee. (How’s that for a run-on sentence Robert Z?)
The Monkey says “I read that if I Slice Off The Tee that I should tee my ball up on the right-side of the tee box (for a righty Golfer – left side for a lefty Golfer) and aim to the left to allow my ball to have more room to Slice.” I don’t know about that one – Why is that going to help you to not Slice Off The Tee? “Well, it won’t stop me from Slicing Off The Tee, but it’ll allow me more room to allow the ball to Slice.” I guess you’re correct, it would give you more room to play the Slice Off The Tee and if you know you’re going to Slice – that would be a good PLAN to have. Yet I believe that the reason that most Golfers Slice Off The Tee is caused by bad Aim and having your Aim so far to the left, can’t be helping.
If your Aim is off, you’ll have to Compensate somewhere in your swing to make up for that fact.
The reason that you’ll need to Compensate is that if your Aim is bad and you do make a good swing, the ball won’t go where you think it should be go. Yet the majority of Monkeys will start trying to figure out what went wrong with their golf swing as opposed to fixing their Aim. So then on your next swing, instead of fixing the Aim, you feel as though you need to fix your swing instead – so in the middle of your swing you Compensate for the bad Aim and that Compensation will lead to some act of Inconsistency which includes Slicing the Ball off the Tee.
Oh my goodness, I have 50-more Ways To Stop Your Slice to go.
Ok, the next 50 Ways To Stop Your Slice – if you’re looking for Golf Tips that you think will improve your Score, this isn’t the place to be looking for them. We don’t work with Golf Tips, Golf Made Simple works with Reality! Please don’t think of us like you think of other Golf Instructors you’ve worked with or heard talking or read about. Our approach is totally different than what is already out there. Yes, we help you to hit the golf ball better and to eliminate your Slice Off The Tee (we have 100’s of Testimonials, Returning Golfers and Referrals to prove it) – but we don’t use the ineffective approach that is employed by 9.9 out of 10 Instructors out there. While they’re teaching you what Positions you need to be in along with overwhelming you with their “Theories and Assumptions” about swing path, swing plane, grip, etc, etc, etc -
We’re allowing you to Feel the motion of your golf swing in a way you’ve never felt it before.
As Graham Nicholson recently said at one of our classes – “Usually when you go to a Golf School you’re worried about pounding 1000’s of golf balls and tearing up your hands. On our 2nd day at Golf Made Simple we hit maybe 80 to 90 golf balls and I got more out of that session than I could’ve dreamed of. And that translated into hitting the golf ball better than I ever have before. It was truly more about quality than quantity!”
To Stop A Slice Off The Tee – everything in your swing has to be moving together to produce a straight club face at impact. That’s it! That’s the answer! Yet, to get your body to do that, you need to learn to get everything moving together using drills like – The Symetrical Drill, Parallel Hands, Riding Hands, The Stepping Drill, The Swoosh Drill, The Belly Swing, The Modified Belly Swing (MBS), The Toliet Paper Drill, Eyes Closed, The Grass Cutter and Tire Drill, The Ace Bandage Drill, The Baseball Drill, etc, etc, etc.
Which Drill is best for you?
We won’t know till we work with you to see which fits your Golf Swing. But you can be assured that these Drills will give you a feel for your Golf Swing – and that is critical because 7 out of 10 Golfers can’t feel their golf swing and 9 out of 10 Golfers don’t know what they should be feeling. Yet, although most Golfers are having trouble feeling their swing, all the Golf Instruction you hear about is trying to get the club in this Position or that Position. Getting the club in certain Positions is not about Feel – it’s more about giving you more to think about on every golf swing and turning you into a Robot over the golf ball. Who wants more to think about when you’re hitting off the 1st Tee with 16-other Golfers watching you?
The Golf Tips that you’re hearing from the Monkeys (other Golfers and Golf Professionals) are all Compensations to try to fix other Compensations you’ve developed because you were told to use those Compensations to fix other Compensations. So pretty soon there is no way you can have Confidence in your Golf Swing when you have 52-Compensations To Stop Your Slice on your mind everytime you walk-up to the Tee to hit your Driver. Why is it that Kids have the smoothest, best looking swings in the world? What do you think they’re thinking about on every golf swing? Probably – “I hope that Adult doesn’t come over here and try to teach me what they’re struggling to do!”
The Kids are Feeling their golf swings and are truly having Fun and hitting the ball more Consistent than you are because they’re just swinging the club. The average Golfer isn’t happy with their Golf swing and they get less happy everytime they go to the Driving Range to practice because they’re practicing Positions as opposed to Feeling their swing!
I’d believe the Kid that says “A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at School!”
9 out of 10 Golfers aren’t happy with their Golf Game – yet you say “A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at work!” Man, your job must really stink! Yet, those 9 out of 10 Golfers that aren’t happy with their Golf Game continue to use Golf Tips (or I should say “Theories and Assumptions” that are really nothing more than Compensations) to improve your game. Please realize that all those Golf Tips that you’ve tried in the past and might try in the future aren’t going to just suddenly leave your swing when you realize they didn’t work. Like it or not, those Swing Tips are etched in your golf swing forever – even after you say you’re not going to think about that Tip anymore – that swing thought will be there forever. Your swing is made up of everything you’ve thought of in the past – even the things you tried during just one practice session in the past.
So basically your swing is made up of one Compensating Manuever piled on top of another and another and another.
And the good news is that when all those Compensations work together – you hit a good golf shot. Yet, when they’re not working – you hit Inconsistent shots. So my question to you is – “Are your Compensations usually working together to produce Consistent shots?
Part 2 – What causes a Slice? For a Righty – Side Spin to the right. For a Lefty – Side Spin to the left.
What causes a Golfer to say I need to read an article that’s going to give me 52-Reasons How To Stop A Slice? Listening to the Monkeys and so called Guru’s handing Tip after Tip after Tip to you. Or should I say Compensation after Compensation after Compensation to you. And you know what Compensation equates to? Inconsistency! If you built your home like you built your golf swing – The Big Bad Wolf would be able to “Huff and Puff and blow your house down!” Though if you start with a solid foundation and continue to use that foundation to build your golf swing based on Feeling your swing, you won’t have to rely on Golf Tips or should I say Compensations to stop your Slice.
It’s not too late to get away from a swing that is built on Compensations! What Do You Think?
Regards,
Marc – Your Instructor for Life
The nationally recognized PGA professional, Marc Solomon and his staff, lead four person classes for a customized experience. Students can take 3, 5 and 7-day classes in St. Augustine, FL, Amelia Island, FL and Santa Barbara, CA. Their Instructor For Life program guarantees that each student can always contact their instructor for free customized advice, tips, drills and exercises – for life. It’s Golf Made Simple.
For more information, or to read Golf Improvement Weekly (the world’s most read golf improvement newsletter), please visit http://www.GolfMadeSimple.com
Getting to the Core of the Problem with Your Golf Game
How do you fix it? Well, there’s no magic core strength pill or patch. It takes some good, old-fashioned flexibility training and exercise. Now, I’m not talking about hitting the gym every day of the week and pumping iron like some of those puffed up body builders. This is simple stuff you can do right in your home or office; just minutes a day, maybe 15 to 20 minutes, that’s it.
I already do my sit-ups every day!
Different types of core exercises exist. Many of you are probably familiar with exercises such as the sit-up, which is an exercise that can be used to train the core. If you have read any of our other articles, read our manual Your Body and Your Swing or watched the DVD, you are well aware of what the word core means and its relation to the golf swing.
Let us do a quick review for your benefit and introduce the types of core exercises to perform for a better golf swing.
The core is an anatomical region of the body. It can generally be defined as the region of your body between the hips and chest. It encompasses numerous muscle groups on the front, side, and backside of the body. In general the core consists of the muscles that make up your abdominals, lower back, obliques, and hips.
The core region is important to the golf swing for many reasons. The core is essentially called the “engine” of the body. It is the area that “drives” the body for most any human movement including your golf swing. It is primarily responsible for the capacities of: balance, stability, and power development within the body. For these capacities to occur efficiently it is necessary to train the core for improved performance.
Core Training for the Golfer
Many of us correlate core training to only the abdominal section of the body. In order to develop the core correctly, we must train all areas of the core equally. This means to address the obliques, hips, and lower back with the same number of exercises and repetitions as you do for the commonly trained abdominal region.
A quick note from experience: More times than not, most golfers have “imbalances” in the core region. This means that certain muscles or muscle groups are weaker than others. To improve your performance on the golf course, you need to have a balanced core for optimal strength, endurance and power. Keeping this thought in mind, many times the lower back region is “weaker” than the abdominals (an imbalanced core). Picture the golfer picking up his ball from the cup. We’ve all seen them, creaking as they go down, maybe a quiet groan as if no one hears it. If this is the case, additional attention/exercises are needed for the lower back to bring it “up to speed,” so to speak, in level with the abdominals.
Moving forward, knowing that we must train the entire core and create balance between all the muscles, it is time to discuss what type of exercises to utilize in training the core region. To develop the core region for golf you will want to perform exercises in the following categories: stability (balance), strength, endurance, and power. All four of these categories are necessary for an optimal swing. Leaving one of the categories listed above out of your training program is like building a boat with a hole in it. It won’t work!
Let us define the differing training categories of a “golf specific core program” to help you better understand the purpose behind each category. The categories of core training that are incorporated in golf training are: 1) stability (balance) training, 2) strength training, 3) endurance training, and 4) power training.
Balance and Stability
Stabilization exercises are exercises that give the body the ability to have better balance. A large portion of your balance capability is directly related to the core region of the body. If you are unable to maintain your balance throughout the golf swing, the efficiency of the swing, contact with the ball, and club head speed will suffer. For example, when you swing your driver and are not able to maintain that perfect “finished position” of swing, the problem may be related to your balance capacities throughout the entire swing.
Balance training develops the integration of your neural and muscular systems, your brain and your body. Improvement in the functioning of these two systems of the body and integration of these two systems will result in a better swing. Follow the logic and it will all make sense. If you improve the ability of your body to balance, then the ability to maintain balance within your golf swing will become easier.
Strength
The golf swing requires that certain body parts remain in a stable position while other body parts are moving. To perform a powerful golf swing, the body must have the strength and flexibility to perform these actions simultaneously.
In order to perform the above activity it is required to develop the strength parameters of the core. If you have a weak core then the ability to maintain a posture, keep a posture, and perform this over a period of time will be compromised. To repeat, the core region of the body is involved in the stabilization process of the body. To improve this capacity, we must train the body to be more efficient at stabilizing itself during the golf swing. Strength exercises develop and improve this capacity within your body for the purpose of improving your golf swing.
Endurance
The golf swing is a repetitive movement performed by the body. You are doing the same activity over and over. An efficient golf swing and good scores require that you perform the same swing on the 18th hole as you do on the 1st hole. If you are unable to do this then the mechanics of your swing will suffer, as will your scores. To eliminate this situation it is necessary to develop the endurance capacities of the core region. Endurance exercises allow the body to perform the same activity over and over without getting fatigued. As a result of the golf swing being a repetitive athletic movement, endurance training will enhance the ability to maintain your optimal swing mechanics over an extended period of time.
Power
Power Exercises are geared towards improving the power outputs of the body. Training for power gives you the opportunity to hit the ball farther. The core region of the body is directly related to torque development in the golf swing. Power can also be defined as torque (rotational power) when discussing the golf swing. In order to create high amounts of club head speed, your body has to create large amounts of torque. If you want to create greater power in your golf swing you must include power exercises in your core training program.
If you are really serious about improving your game, start at the core of the problem!
In this article we have described the core and how to train the core specifically for the improvement of your golf game. A few points to keep in mind from this article: 1) the core is a region of the body that includes all muscles from your hips to your chest, 2) you must develop the capacities of stability, strength, endurance, and power within the core for a benefit in your game, and 3) the development of the core must be balanced in terms of all muscles involved and in all the training components (equal amounts of stability, strength, endurance, and power) within the core. For more information of golf specific training please look at our website www.BioForceGolf.com
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website http://www.bioforcegolf.com. Check out his manual and DVD, Your Body & Your Swing, (http://www.bioforcegolf.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=93 ) on BioForceGolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.
The Worlds Elite Golf Courses
We all here different opinions of great challenging golf courses around the world, full of history and storytelling of great games and tournaments between the legends of the professional world. Every year we hear of new championship courses opening but in my opinion they have a lot to live up to if they want to stand alongside the old greats.
My favourite world courses with their own individual characters over the years
Augusta – USA Augusta is a stunningly beautiful course located in the American Deep South. Augusta is the home of the world-renowned Masters tournament. Beautifully designed with lightning fast greens, without a doubt one of the world’s best.
Ballybunion – IRELAND Ballybunion is fantastic links course situated in County Kerry southern Ireland. Well known for it’s towering sand dunes and cliff side holes running along the Atlantic. Stunning scenery surrounds this course but it is an unbelievably challenging links course. A fantastic welcome awaits all who visits.
Cypress Point – USA Just a stone’s thrown away from Mayor Clint Eastwood’s Carmel and John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row. A fearsome course for hard men. The Monterey Peninsula on the American west coast is a pictures location but certainly one of the most difficult golf courses to date.
Kiawah Island – USA Kiawah Island was only opened in 1991. Located off the south coast of Carolina. Kiawah was awarded the 1991 Ryder Cup between Europe and the USA. Fabulous Atlantic setting rich in marsh land and sand dunes. A truly terrific links course.
Kingston Heath – AUSTRALIA One of Australia’s greatest golf courses. Located only 25km from the heart of Melbourne and is perfect test for championship golf. If you like bunkers then you will love Kingston Heath. Your sand wedge will be the best club in the bag (even bring a spare). Scoring well here needs you at your best concentration level.
Muirfield – SCOTLAND Muirfield is located of the East Lothian coast in Scotland. A very flat links golf course that allows you play to your handicap. Most championship links courses are designed with only the professional in mind, muirfield is a very popular links course in Britain.
Pebble Beach – USA Simply one of the greatest golf courses in the world. Pebble Beach is located just south of San Francisco. A VERY, VERY challenging golf course. High winds play and important factor on your scorecard. Pebble Beach is adjacent to the rocky Californian coastline. Deceptive on every hole, beautifully designed.
Pinehurst No. 2 – USA A traditional style golf course located in North Carolina. This course has not got the man made features that other golf courses and is not stunningly located. Some people may think what all the fuss is about with this course. A very true saying, ” A good course doesn’t need glitter and glitz, Pinehurst has its unique unspoiled holes and will always be a favourite.
St Andrews Old Course ? Scotland St Andrews is the oldest golf course in the world. The home of golf itself. The date for which it was first laid is still up for question but we think somewhere in the early 1300’s. The course was designed around the natural hazards and still remains one of the worlds most challenging links courses today. Home of the Open Championship. St Andrews has four 18 hole courses but the old is still the best.
Valderrama ? Spain Opened in 1985 but has become one of the favourites with the golfing world. Set with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean and surrounding mountains. It has become one of the world’s elite in championship courses. As stunning as it may look any wayward shot will be badly punished.
The above list of golf courses is from my own playing experience. Of course there are many more out there such as Royal Birkdale, Turnberry, Druids Glen (Druids Glen is based in County Wicklow Ireland and will be host to the Ryder Cup 2006) and so on that should have a mention, however I only speak from experience.
What makes a great Course?
The key factors:
· Good Architectural work to start
· Designed with the input of a professional golfer who knows the game
· To work with nature and include natures hazards as apposed to removing them
· Good accessible location
· Excellent drainage on the land
No matter what your standard of golf is like from high to low handicaps we will share in the same excitement when we enter onto the first tee.
About the Author
Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of Golf Equipment which includes Golf Apparel, Golf Bags, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your Golf interests and needs.
The Power of A Golf Training Club
Some golfer’s idea of a golf training club is using their usual set of clubs to hit balls on the course the whole day.
This sort of thinking is borrowed from other sports where the most effective way of improving a person’s game and level of fitness in it is to play the said game as much as possible.
Sadly this golf exercise technique of training using an ordinary golf club will just not work in golf. One of the reasons is the fact the golf swing hardly lasts a second and for this reason the muscles involved hardly get any exercise or conditioning when you play the game. They mostly get strained and injured if you do not exercise.
This where a special golf training club comes in. I have found the weighted club to be very effective as a golf training club. This special club allows a golfer to go through the motions of the golf swing, only with a heaver weight than usual and is very effective in strengthening and conditioning golf specific muscles involved.
Many golfers tend to be sceptical about golf training equipment or gadgets aimed at improving a persons’ game. This is hardly surprising because many golfers will point you to their garages full of golf equipment that the salesperson at the shop promised would do miracles to their game.
Instead, in some cases they find that the golf aid actually made their game worse.
This is really why it helps to seek expert advice when purchasing any sort of golf aid equipment or gadget.
It also helps to know what particular weakness you have in your game.
Still the weighted golf club works wonders as a golf training club and I would usually have no hesitation in recommending it as one of the most effective golf training clubs.
About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds at his golf fitness site – Perform Better Golf.
More Muscles Than You Think Are Used In the Golf Swing
While most golfers are aware of the fact that the muscles in the lower part of the body are used in the golf swing, many are not aware of just how important these muscles are to the consistent execution of the perfect golf swing. Many do not even realize how imperative it is that muscles used in the golf swing are exercised and kept in tip top condition. Actually, if this is not done, it becomes extremely difficult to for anybody to enjoy the game as too many factors stand in the way of a golfer who does not exercise.
For example a common complaint amongst many golfers on the course is that of pain in the lower back which is usually aggravated by golf. This pain is especially evident after longer sessions on the course.
How can any golfer improve golf swing, let alone have any hope of enjoying the game with such a nagging, persistent pain? Yet this problem is easily solved by simply strengthening lower back muscles used by doing certain exercises.
The result is that there is a higher level of endurance which will also have a tremendous impact on the golf swing of any golfer.
There is actually a very simple exercise to achieve this which can be done from the comfort of your home and without having to go into a gym or special exercise area.
Muscles used in the golf swing include some in the lower leg as well as those higher up like the hamstring which is crucial in accomplishing the perfect golf swing.
It is a proven fact that muscles used in the golf swing that are not exercised and conditioned on a regular basis with the correct exercise, will usually not respond to the correct golfing techniques.
Without being conditioned to obtain the necessary stamina and staying power it is unlikely that muscles used in the golf swing will be able to deliver the required performance
About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds at his golf fitness site – Perform Better Golf.
Improve Golf Swing The Non-Traditional Way
Improve golf swing seems like a thought that is on our minds as golfers dozens of times per day. Do you agree? But what are you currently doing to improve your golf swing?
Let me take a guess. Spending money on lessons, that may-or-may-not be working? How about the latest-greatest driver? Did it lower your score? Golf balls? They say the Titleist ProV1 makes a ton of difference. Has it for you?
I could go on-and-on but I won’t. I think you get the idea.
So I’ve mentioned some very common, ‘traditional ways’ to try to improve your golf swing. But I haven’t mentioned the MOST important one.
Do you want to take a guess?
Have you read any of my other 200 hundred or so articles floating around the web and in newspapers? If you haven’t then you may not know what I’m going to say.
But if you have?you know exactly what I’m going to say!
Look in the mirror?that’s your answer!
No this isn’t a joke. No I’m not trying to yank your chain. I’m trying to get you to realize what is holding you back. It’s not taking lessons. It’s not buying more equipment or $40 golf balls.
It’s getting right at the heart of the matter! Your ‘physical limitations’ are keeping you from making a mechanically sound and repeatable golf swing.
Think just for a minute!
If your body can’t make a 90 degree shoulder turn?it’s a fact you will lose a TON of yardage off the tee and with your irons.
If you can’t maintain your golf posture throughout your entire golf swing?you have no chance to swing consistently for 18 holes.
If your core is weak?you will not be able to generate any power going into impact, therefore you will see a weak shot that most likely goes ‘offline’ quickly.
Can you see the picture more clearly now?
So what do you do?
You go see a local golf fitness professional who will take you through a golf fitness evaluation to determine your weaknesses and limitations and draw up a plan to improve them.
If you don’t have someone in your area?or the cost is a bit too steep; do a search online for golf fitness, golf training or even golf exercises and see what you come up with.
FYI ? make sure to pick the first few ‘non-colored’ results on the search pages. These are the ‘real’ results?not paid advertisements. You want to find a product or program that covers every facet of golf improvement?that you can afford.
This is the next best thing to having your own golf fitness trainer.
Once you embark on a golf training routine?you won’t have to be thinking improve golf swing anymore!
About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds at his golf swing tips site – Perform Better Golf.
Golf Driving Tips To Correct A Common Mistake
One of the most common mental errors golfers make when driving the ball is to try and hit it as hard as possible.
This article will deal with golf driving tips to help you correct this problem that is hampering many golfers and greatly hindering them from making any progress.
Our minds already have certain set beliefs. One of them is that the more force we use on an object the further it will travel. What makes this particular even more difficult to get rid of in our golf is that it is also true from a scientific point of view. Only that there are a number of special variables that make it untrue in golf.
The first of this golf driving tips variables is the design of the golf club. Each club is cleverly designed to send the golf ball over a certain distance. A valuable golf driving tip here is to trust the club to do the job it was designed to do.
Secondly and even more important there is the variable of your body. Trying to hit the ball as hard as possible will usually result in a tense and inefficient physical swing. And in most cases the results are the direct opposite of what you desire.
One of the chief reasons for this is that many golfers are not physically prepared and their muscles are flabby, tense and weak. The poor results are therefore inevitable.
A really valuable golf driving tip is to condition your muscles by getting involved in a golf conditioning program.
Fitter and stronger muscles will prepare you better for your golf drive and will enable you to be more relaxed as you hit the ball and you will therefore gain much more distance as a result.
These are the golf driving tips that have proved so effective in correcting this common mistake in golfers and showing remarkable results in improvements.
About The Author:
Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Visit his new golf fitness ? golf training site at Perform Better Golf.
5 Important Things to Consider When Choosing Golf Clubs
Every golfer knows that having proper equipment is essential. Choosing golf clubs has become some what of a daunting task because of the enormous market out there. We have come up with 5 simple things to consider when choosing golf clubs.
1. First of all you have to be honest with yourself in deciding what skill level you’re at. Are you a beginner just starting out, an intermediate weekend golfer, or an expert golfer who plays all the time? This is critical because there are different types of equipment designed to help every level of player. Playing with expert equipment if you are just starting out will only hurt your game.
2. Stay within your spending limits. You have to know what type of budget you are working with. Golf can become very expensive if you don’t stay within your means. There is equipment and accessories designed for every budget, you just have to know where to look.
3. Figure out your strengths and weaknesses. Do you know hook or slice the ball? Are you a long or short hitter? Do you sink many puts when you have to, etc.? You must know these qualities of your game. When you go to your local shop or golf pro it will be easy for them to get you fitted correctly if you know this information.
4. How often do you play? Are you a weekend golfer or an addict who plays all the time? This will determine what golf clubs and accessories you should purchase. Don’t go out and spend a fortune on complex equipment and other things if you only play the game on the weekend with your buddies. On the other hand if you travel all over competing and playing, you are going to need the quality equipment that allows that.
5. Finally make sure you do your own research. Read golf magazines, articles, newspapers, and anything else you can get your hands on. Go to demo days at your local club or driving range and any local golf shows. Check online at manufacturer’s websites and other informative golf club websites. You can find anything online. Doing research is the key to getting what you want.
If you use these 5 simple tips to choosing golf clubs it will be simple for you to get fitted with exactly what you need. So go out and get those brand new clubs you have been thinking about for while.
More great tips on choosing your golf clubs can be found at: www.golfequipmentsource.com/golfclubs.html
John Bolt is the full time owner of http://www.golfequipmentsource.com/golfclubs.html
With years of competitive golf experience under his belt, he understands the importance of having properly fitted golf equipment. You can visit him online at his website.
