Golf Tips and Golf Instruction

Driving the golf ball well can be a great challenge and requires mastery of basic swing mechanics as even the slightest deviation from a good swing can send the ball significantly off target. Also the fact that the driver is the longest club in the bag as far as length is concerned also makes the club more difficult to hit than the others in your bag. Here are some tips to help you hit straighter and longer drives:

Tip 1: Swing freely

Tension can ruin a great golf swing so make sure for every swing you are relaxed and simply grip it and rip it. This is mostly a mental challenge so you need to not get concerned about hitting a bad drive and tense up but instead just look at the targets and let the shot go without caring too much about immediate results. If you consistently are hitting bad shots then try to figure out quickly what you might be doing wrong but be sure to swing just as freely on the next drive off the tee.

Tip 2: Keep the right hand passive

If you are a right handed player it is very important to not get the right hand overly involved in the golf swing otherwise this can result in casting the club which can cause all kinds of problems including major loss of distance and accuracy. Use a light grip with the fingers of your left hand applying most of the pressure.

Tip 3: Use a light grip

There is no need to choke the club as that can add more tension to the swing and cause many swing flaws. Instead grip the club lightly and allow it to swing back and through fully. Using a light grip pressure also promotes greater use or leverage or lag which will help to increase club head speed and overall distance.

Tip 4: Get proper equipment for your swing type

If you swing the club at high club head speeds over 120mph then you need to get a stiff shaft or even super stiff and a loft of 8.5 degrees or 9 degrees. However if you have a club head speed under 100 mph then you need a regular flex shaft and a loft greater than 10 degrees to maximize the distance from your driver.

Tip 5: Stand the proper distance from the ball

Many new players like to use a baseball grip and extend their arms out too much which results in them standing farther from the ball than they should for optimal contact. The best grip for most players is the interlocking grip and the club should be gripped at a point where the arms would naturally hang to. This usually means the club is gripped fairly close to the body which promotes a steeper swing path however this is the ideal way to make the best contact. Consider implementing some of these simple golf driving tips to help you become a better ball striker more quickly.

3 Sure Fire Ways to Generate More Power off the Tee

2008-12-02T09:12:00.001-05:00

Power can be elusive to golfers. Is true power generated through technique, strength or something more? Every golfer wants more power, more distance, more consistency. Here are 3 ways to generate the kind of power you have only dreamed of…until now.

1. Spinal Rotation. Every time you swing the golf club, you rotate around your spine. So, what does this have to do with power? Power is generated every time you stabilize your hips to make a full backswing with spinal rotation. Most golfers have heard of the X factor. This, of course, refers to the differential between the movement in your hips and your spine. Increase your spinal rotation and a new sense of power will be released.

2. Core Based Exercises. Your body's "core", the area around your trunk and pelvis, is where your center of gravity is located. When you have good core stability, the muscles in your pelvis, lower back, hips and abdomen work in harmony. They provide support to your spine. The core is the power zone. It is where all movement begins. A well-developed core allows for improved force output, increased neuromuscular efficiency, and decreased incidence of overuse injuries. A weak core can make you susceptible to poor posture and injury.

3. Plyometrics. Plyometrics are any exercise where the muscle is contracted eccentricly then immediately, concentricly. Put simply, the muscle is stretched (i.e. loaded) before it is contracted. A good example is medicine ball horizontal twists and standing golf swings. According to a recent study published in the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s (NSCA) journal, amateur golfers significantly increased their driving distances after just eight weeks of strength training while incorporating plyometrics. Mean driving distance increased 4.3% for the combined training group, with mean club head speed increasing 1.5%.

Once you incorporate these 3 techniques into your exercise program, you’ll never be disgruntled about driving distance or power generation again.

3 Golf Tips To Lower Golf Handicap And Improve Your Golf Game

2008-11-13T12:52:00.001-05:00

If you are looking for means to lower your golf scores, then here are some valuable tips that are sure to help golfers of all ages and abilities to lower their golf handicaps.

(1) Practice…Slowly

Good form during a swing is very important in improving one’s performance. However, too many people make the mistake of simply going for many repetitions instead of honing their form per swing.

If you do not force every practice swing to form perfection, simply doing repetitive exercise can actually be detrimental since you could be repeating a wrong form over and over again. This could burn the wrong form into your muscle memory and could seriously hinder your bid for better performance – and a lower handicap.

Practicing a golf swing in slow motion can be a great way to fine tune your swing and get the right form while you are at it. Your mind will connect better to the proper muscle movement and form.

You can start speeding up a little a time while you do this. Eventually, you can get yourself doing the right form over and over again. This is when repetitive exercise can help.

(2) Get a Grip

Good golf grip is important for any serious golfer. And the best way to develop your grip is by practicing it every time you can. Most golfers have golf clubs by their sofa – for easy access whenever they lounge by the television – so that they can practice their grip as often as possible.

With enough practice, holding a club properly will become second nature to you. So keep those clubs within constant range for a better golf grip.

(3) Get a Mirror

A mirror is a great way to monitor and evaluate how your swing is going. You could use a video recorder as well to get better angles of your swing – and they are great for keeping you focused on swinging instead of looking at the mirror. Choose whatever option is convenient for you.

Mirrors and videos can help you get immediate feedback on whether what you are doing is correct. You may also want to send this video to instructors who can then tell you what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong.

Conclusion

As with most things, only practice makes perfect. However, you can avoid wasting your time during practice by learning to practice smarter instead of just more. The tips mentioned above will help you get started on this road.

Four Golf Tips On Beating Blocked Shots

2008-10-15T13:34:00.004-04:00

Swinging aggressively isn't a bad thing, but it can be if taken too far. Golfers who swing too aggressively often jerk the club back on their backswing, thrust forward violently from the top of the swing, or execute a host of other actions that throw off the rhythm and timing of their swings. The result: bad shots and added strokes to their scores and golf handicaps.

Block shots rank high on the list of bad shots by golfers who swing the club too aggressively. When driving, being too aggressive often forces golfers to fire their bodies too quickly on the downswing, causing the club to drop behind the players too far to the inside. From there, golfers either block their shots or hook them, depending on their release at impact.

If you tend to block shots, you may be swinging too aggressively. If you are, you must learn to curb your aggressiveness to improve your game. Once you learn to control your aggressiveness, you can use it to lower your scores and golf handicap. Below are four golf tips I recommend in my golf lessons to help eliminate blocked shots.

Tip #1: Better Posture, Better Impact

When your lower body races ahead of your upper body—the result of being too aggressive—your upper body tends to tilt away from the target. Being too fast with your upper body produces blocked shots. Since you want to "feel tall over the ball," make sure you set your spine straight at address. Also, make sure you're not squatting too much. If you are, flex your knees slightly. And make sure the ball isn't too far back in your stance. Setting the ball forward helps keep the back straight during the swing.

Tip #2: Less Tilt, More Coverage

When you're too aggressive, your upper body often tilts away from the target. If that happens, your back shoulder will drop, causing the club to drop too far under the backswing plane. Your path becomes too inside out through the swing plane. Now if your legs get too aggressive and your front hip clears too soon, your upper body falls away from the target. That's not good. If you want to eliminate blocked shots, keep your upper body straight during the swing and your back shoulder "covering" the ball through impact. In other words, stay stacked over the ball throughout the swing.

Tip #3: Release The Head Early

Keeping your head down and straight contributes to blocked shots. Lack of head movement causes you to lose your forward tilt toward the ball. If your head stays down and straight, your hips lunge toward the ball, pulling you out of your posture and leading to poor contact. But if you turn your head slightly with the shot you'll have better results. You'll keep your spine straighter and get the club back in front of your body sooner. When your arms get out in front of your body, they can swing down the line better. Watch Annika Sorenstam and David Duval. They're great examples of releasing the head early.

Tip #4: Brace Your Left Side and Release

Getting the club too far inside also results in hooks. To compensate for hooks, some golfers "hold" on through impact, so they don't flip the clubface closed during impact. But this can cause you to pull your arms away from your body. Since you can't release the club from that position, you end up blocking the shot. To overcome this problem, brace your front side. With a firm front side, you can swing the club down the line and release it, resulting in a straighter, truer drive.

Numerous drills exist that ingrain the four tips suggested above. For example, to learn to maintain posture, take a narrow stance and then drop your back foot away from the target line about 12 inches. Using a middle iron, hit shots from this position, which discourages your upper body from tilting back on the swing and teaches you to hit against a firm left side. Use drills like this to improve your swing.

If you block shots off the tee, it may be because you're swinging too aggressively. Being aggressive has its advantages as long as you keep it under control. Then, you can use this aggressiveness to your advantage, as I teach in my golf instruction sessions. If you're serious about chipping away at your golf handicap, learn to control your aggressiveness and put it to better use.

Author: Jack Moorehouse
Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book "How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros." He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction. http://www.howtobreak80.com/ .

Golf Tips to Measure your Results on the Practice Range

2008-09-03T11:00:00.001-04:00

Author: Joel L Nelson

Practice is important in any sport and golf is no exception. To really improve your game you must spend time fine tuning your swing. But many golfers simply "hit balls" on the practice range without checking to see if they are improving. Here are some tips to help measure the effectiveness of your practice sessions on the driving range.

First, you must identify your objective on the range. Some people are trying to fix a slice or a hook while others are trying to add distance to their shots. If you do not know what your objective is you will not know if you have achieved it. You may not have a noticeable flaw to correct but you need to train your muscles so you can make good shots consistently. So hitting consistently is your objective in that case. Just make sure you have a clear idea of your purpose.

Second, it does not matter too much if you quit slicing or hooking the ball, or if you add 30 yards to your drive if your shots are spraying to the left or right. You may have eliminated the slice in your ball flight, but did the ball actually go towards your target? I have heard people "oooh" and "ahhh" over their practice shots even though one went well to the left of what appeared to be their target line and the next went just as far to the right. Make sure you identify a target and gauge if you are hitting the ball within a few yards on either side of that target until the balls rolls to a stop.

Third, always hit a variety of clubs in a random order on the range. This will better reflect how a real round of golf is played. You never hit your seven iron fifteen times in a row on a normal round of golf so do not get locked into hitting only your seven iron on the practice range even if it is your seven iron that needs the work. For example, to work on your seven iron try hitting your seven a few times, then hit a 3-wood a couple of times, then hit a four-iron, then a wedge, then back to the seven for a few shots. This will help you practice your set-up routine for various shots since usually you address the ball and take your stance slightly differently for woods, low irons and high irons respectively.

Fourth, do not be in a hurry. Take a break for a minute or two after hitting a dozen balls or so. If you exhaust yourself you may begin making poor swings due to your tiring out that would almost never happen in a round of golf because on the course there is almost always a few minutes between shots that require a full swing.

Finally, take time at home some evening to write down on an index card the swing keys that help you prepare for taking a golf shot. Most people will have a list of five to eight things. Go through your set-up routine in your mind and jot down, in order, what you do to check your alignment, grip, stance, weight distribution, etc... and take that card with you to the practice range. Then read it over before EVERY practice shot for the first ten or fifteen shots. Train your mind to go through that list so it becomes a habit when you are playing a round of golf.

Hopefully you will develop your own list of golf tips from your time spent on the practice range and you will graduate from just "hitting balls" to actually tuning your swing by having a yard stick by which to measure your results on the practice range.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/golf-tips-to-measure-your-results-on-the-practice-range-300380.html

About the Author: If you are tired of slicing, hooking, topping, and muffing your ball all over the rough but nowhere near the fairway, and would like a guide that helps you learn a fundamentally sound yet easily repeatable golf swing that is guaranteed to improve your score, visit Joel's golf swing instruction page and hear the testimonials of others who have improved their game using a simple swing system.

Use These Five Quick Golf Tips To Improve Your Game Today

2008-07-30T14:50:00.001-04:00

Author: Max Johnson

We get asked all of the time for quick golf tips. The question usually comes from someone who has to play in a corporate golf tournament or they are someone who does not play often and they are going on vacation and will have a chance to play a round at a prestigious golf course and are looking for quick golf tips. Here is a list of five free quick golf tips to enjoy your corporate event or vacation.

1. If you have any time before your event to practice, you do need to take advantage of this. Current golf instruction will say that you should spend twice as much time on your short game as you do your full swing. I know, I know, I know. How are you going to get the ball to the green? Without much time before the event, you will improve faster by spending time on getting the ball in the hole as opposed getting the ball just close to the green. If you do not get to play often, chances are that you hit many of your irons close to the same distance. Unless you have time for some golf instruction, this will not be fixed in a short period of time. Get the feel for and mechanics of chipping, pitching and putting.

2. When it comes time to play your round, make sure you loosen up before the round. By loosening up your muscles, you are allowing yourself to relax and prepare your body for the athletic movements you will be making during your round. Your time should also include some time on the practice putting green. You will want to become familiar with the speed of the greens.

3. Grip pressure and arm tension is something that all golfers should monitor during every single swing. Your shoulders and your forearms should not feel like they have any tension in them at all. To give you an example, if you take your grip and hold the club out in front of you with the shaft parallel to the ground. If your shoulders and forearms are relaxed enough then the golf club should drop to the ground. This is the feeling of how relaxed your shoulders and forearms should be during your golf swing.

4. Balance is an underestimated part of the golf swing by most amateurs. In your setup, you will need to check your balance from side to side (left to right) as well as from front to back. You can do this by simply swaying side to side until you feel balanced and do the same from front to back. This will allow you to find your perfect balance. Now the key is once this is found you may need to move closer to the ball or farther away from the ball to stay in balance.

5. Once you start playing your round of golf, leave your ego at home and make and aggressive swing at a conservative target. What does this mean? Do not always go flag hunting on every hole. With not playing very often you are not going to hit every shot where you are looking. Increase your chances of playing better by aiming at the largest part of the green or the part of the green you are most comfortable with trying to hit a golf shot.

Assuming you do not have much time until your event, use these five quick golf tips to have a successful day. To conclude the five quick golf tips, let me give you the best of all of the quick golf tips of them all. Make sure that you HAVE FUN! It is just a game.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/use-these-five-quick-golf-tips-to-improve-your-game-today-459469.html

About the Author:Max Johnson writes golf articles for VGS Golf. Click to find a full golf swing lessons and tips or putting tips that will work for you.

Choosing Golf Clubs

2008-06-30T09:34:00.005-04:00

Author: Lind Golf

Ok. Here are the basics. A golf club has three parts - the head, the shaft and the grip. A standard set of golf clubs consists of three woods (the Driver, #3, and #5 fairway woods), eight irons (#3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, and PW), and a putter - that's twelve clubs in all. According to the rules of golf, and we should all play by the rules, you can carry fourteen clubs in your bag, so many golfers add a specialty wood or another iron.

Now, let's have a look at the different types of clubs.

Drivers & Fairway woods

These clubs are used to hit longer shots. That's a basic yet apt way to look at it. If a golf hole is a par four or five from tee to green, most golfers would choose to use a wood.

The driver, or the 1 Wood, has the lowest loft of any golf club. Loft is the angle of the club face that controls trajectory and affects distance. A driver has a loft between 7 and 12 degrees. Better golfers have traditionally favored drivers with less than 10 degrees of loft, which require a lot more skill to hit.

Most golfers also carry a #3 and #5 fairway wood as part of their arsenal. A #3 wood has a loft of 15 degrees, and a #5 wood has a loft of 18 degrees. The higher the golf club number, the higher the loft. The #3 and #5 wood are commonly referred to as fairway woods, because they are most often used during the second shot of play, when you are supposed to be on the fairway.

Hybrids

Hybrids are a recent innovation to golf. A hybrid is a combination of an iron and a wood and is an easier to hit alternative to a long iron. Hybrids are versatile enough to be used in any situation. Hybrids come in a range of four lofts - 16 (#2), 19 (#3), 22 (#4) and 25 (#5) Degrees. Hybrids replace their equivalent number long iron, e.g. a #3 hybrid will replace a #3 iron and a #2 hybrid can be used to replace a #5 fairway wood.

Irons

Irons are generally used for shorter distances and more control than drivers and fairway woods. The closer you are to the green, the higher the iron you will use. A standard set of irons consists of #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8 and #9 and the PITCHING WEDGE (PW). A sandwedge is generally a good option to purchase for shots out of sand traps. The #3 and #4 irons are harder to hit than the higher numbered irons. Many golfers choose to replace the #3 and #4 iron with higher lofted woods or hybrids which are easier to hit than traditional long irons, resulting in comparable distances.

Wedges

Wedges are really just specialty irons. The first wedge is the Pitching Wedge (PW), which is usually between 52 and 56 degrees in loft. The PW is the highest lofted iron in a standard set and lowest loft of the wedges. Lob wedges range from 58 to 64 degrees and are used for close range short and high shots to overcome obstacles close to the green. Wedges are extremely useful for your short game and it is beneficial to keep a selection of them in your bag.

Sand Wedges are another type of wedge and are designed to get you out of the dreaded sand traps. They have a shorter shaft and a more angled face to get under the ball in order to exit a bunker.

Putters

As the adage goes "Drive for show, Putt for dough". The putter usually gets you in the hole, so it can be assumed, that choosing the right putter is critical to your game. Putters come in various styles and types.: short, belly, long, bent, center-hosel, heel-toe, mallet, and so on. When choosing a putter the main things to consider are the: weighting, balance and feel. Better putters provide alignment aids to help you visualize the line from your ball to the target.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/choosing-golf-clubs-403737.html

About the Author:Golf Clubs, Golf Equipment - Lind Golf

330 Page Golf Mental Game EBook(R) And 8 Audio Coaching/Mental Imagery Sessions. - Mental Game Training Material Used By Pros On The Pga And European Tours!!

10 Tips To Collecting Free Golf Autographs By Mail

2008-06-19T11:15:00.002-04:00

Collecting autographs is fun, rewarding and can even be free if you know the right technique. Every day, people are going to their mailbox and pulling out autographs from their favorite athletes, movie stars and other notables. If you are a golf fan and/or a collector of autographs, then you are in luck. This article will provide you with 10 important tips to making your autograph hunt a successful one.

Tip # 1 of 10
When requesting golf autographs through the mail, the first and most important thing to have is an accurate mailing address. You can reach male golfers in care of the PGA Tour and women golfers in care of the LPGA. Both addresses are listed below:

PGA TOUR
112 PGA TOUR Blvd.
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

LPGA
100 International Golf Dr.
Daytona Beach, FL 32124

Tip # 2 of 10
When preparing your letter of request, always be polite and complimentary. It’s best to keep your letter short as most golf professionals are very busy and may be more likely to read your request if it’s brief.

Tip # 3 of 10
Always handwrite your letter and avoid typing it unless your handwriting is unreadable. The reason is because a typed letter may seem form-like and impersonal, which may lessen your chances of receiving a free golf autograph.

Tip # 4 of 10
Always include a SASE (Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope) with your request. More often than not, no SASE equals no response.

Tip # 5 of 10
When preparing your SASE, make sure that you include ample postage for the item to be returned to you. In most cases, if you are requesting a signed photo, two First Class U.S. postage stamps will be sufficient.

Tip # 6 of 10
Write the following caption in the bottom left hand corner of your SASE: “Photo Enclosed - Please Do Not Bend.” If possible, use a permanent marker and choose black or blue ink so that the writing is bold and will not be overlooked.

Tip # 7 of 10
As you address your envelopes, including your SASE, pay close attention to handwriting. Print legibly so that your items will be delivered properly and without delay.

Tip # 8 of 10
If possible, mention some aspect of golf or highlight of the golfer’s career in your fan letter. This will let him/her know that you are a genuine fan who would truly enjoy an autograph.

Tip # 9 of 10
Have patience. Depending on the time of year that you write, the golf schedule and/or a golfer’s popularity, a response may take awhile. If you do not receive a reply within six months, try sending your request again. In some cases, it may be simply impossible to receive a free autograph from certain notables. However, many are willing signers and are happy to accommodate the requests of their fans.

Tip # 10 of 10
Limit your request to two items if you are sending your own golf collectibles (i.e., trading cards, index cards, photos, etc.) and one item if you are requesting that the golfer send you their own photo. If your request exceeds either of these two scenarios, it may be construed as greedy and this will not increase your chances of success.

Have you checked out the The Bogey Killer System - learn how to shed strokes off your score and increase your distance!

A Few Tips on Putting

2008-06-11T13:58:00.001-04:00

Here are a few drills that you can try to help with both your technique and your concentration under pressure.

1. If you are someone who putts the ball past the hole a considerable distance each time, try this "lag" drill. Begin with a distance of 4 feet and with three golf balls try to putt each ball just short of the hole. Gradually working your way further from the hole, you should start to "feel" the distance.

2. The ladder drill is a favorite of mine. You will need four golf tees and four golf balls for this exercise. Place the first tee approximately 2 feet from the hole and spread out the second through the fourth tees another 1 foot each. Place the four golf balls about 3 inches from each tee in the line. Make sure the tees don't interfere with the line of your putt. The purpose of the tees is for the distance. Begin with the first tee and progress to the next tee with each ball you make. If you miss one along the ladder, you must begin back with No. 1. Your goal will be to make eight putts on the ladder (1-4 and 4-1).

3. The next drill will work on your distance control as well as those putts from 12 feet and in. Take three golf balls and choose a putt of at least 25 feet. Putting all three golf balls to your target hole, your goal is to not leave yourself a very long putt. You will choose which of the three golf balls is farthest from the hole and bring the other three golf balls back to that point. Now the hard part: You must make two out of the three putts from that distance.

All of these are great drills to do with a friend, or your husband or wife.

The Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide - Can It Really Cut 10 Strokes Off My Score?

2008-06-05T10:14:00.003-04:00

By Roy Bennett

With all the golf gimmicks out in the market today, it can be difficult to find a surefire way to improve your golf game without spending lots of time and money. So when I came across Mike Pedersen's Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, I wasn't expecting a miracle, as I have tried many different training tools in the past only to be disappointed.

But the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide's website was suprizingly easy to navigate and didn't make huge claims of cutting your score by 20 strokes over night. So I grabbed copy and figured that if nothing else, it would be a decent read and I would pick up a pointer or two and help shave a few strokes off of my score.

But from the first few pages of the Ultimate Golf Fitness guide, I was pleasantly surprised by the overall quality and content of the book. The information was presented in a way that was easy to understand and implement and Mike's writing style is very down to earth and to the point without alot of the fluff and filler you find with other ebooks.

The content of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide is where this book really shines through. It starts by going over why most golfers never reach their full potential (it's not what you think!) and what you can do to quickly and easily condition your body to consistently hit the ball where you want, time after time. This is followed by a series of simple exercises and techniques that can be used both on and off the course to improve your overall game.

Before I bought the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide I had tried lots of different clubs, training tools and hit an endless number of balls at the range and figured the more I played the better I would get but I just couldn't bring my score down. But Mike shows how a hacker like myself can make a golf swing more efficient and less taxing on the body all while helping hit the ball farther and straighter.

There is also very detailed information with pictures on how to quickly perform the exercises to easily develop both flexibility and strength without having to work out like a gym rat. Never before have I seen a fitness course specifically designed to improve your golf swing that is as easy to understand and implement like the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide does.

Click Here To Learn More

Everything is clearly demonstrated with color pictures and Mike's down to earth explanation of golf fitness is easy to understand for golfers of all skill levels. Mike has a unique perspective as both a golf instructor and fitness expert and uses this same fitness program to maintain a single digit handicap!

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. The Ultimate Golf Fitness guide also full of tips on how this program can help you lose weight and help relieve your back pain all while having fun and improving your game. Mike's solution for just these 2 challenges is something that anyone can do.

One thing that I didn't find anywhere in the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide was an extensive chapter on putting, but from my own experience most golfers have more trouble actually getting to the green. The techniques in the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide will help you avoid the duffs and mis-hits that you make off the tee and with your irons which can add up to 10 - 15 strokes over the course of a round.

Another big problem with most golf instructional courses is that after reading the material you will generally find yourself left on your own to figure things out. This is certainly not the case with the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide. Mike offers a FREE 30 minute phone consultation where you can ask him any questions you have about any aspect of implementing your golf fitness program.

Overall, the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide is an exceptional product has taught me the skills that have allowed me easily improve my game and have fun along the way.

Get Started With The Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide Right Now

Golf Tips On When To Chip Versus Putting

2008-05-14T14:04:00.003-04:00

Author: George Gabriel

Playing a chip shot from the fringe of a green versus putting through the fringe can be a little confusing for the average golfer. A lot of golfers choose to putt for the fear of not being able to control the distance of a chip shot around a green, and lets not talk about choking a chip shot. More often than not the confidence lies in the ability to putt the ball. When do you decide to chip instead of putt?

A quick review of some your options will help in the decision process. The circumstances have to be right to putt the ball. Here are some golf tips to consider and several situations to help your decision on choosing to chip the golf ball rather than electing to putt.

You may want to chip in these circumstances.

(1)Wet grass or thick grass.

The moisture or thickness of the grass is going to slow up the ball considerably, therefore weight of putt has to be determined to get it through the grass, and once you get it rolling on the green, the weight of putt it took you to get it through the fringe may not be enough or too much distance for the golf hole. In this circumstance there is too much weight control to consider.

(2)A very wet or slow green.

Chipping the golf ball will take a lot of moisture out of play, and a slow green forces you to swing harder with a putter to get the golf ball up to the hole, when the art of putting should call for a soft touch.

(3)Long grass and uphill to the hole.

You have to hit it harder to get it through the grass with a putter and up to the hole. Eliminate the chance of getting the golf ball caught up in the grass by chipping out and over.

(4)Over 7 feet of grass between golf ball and start of green, and hole is beyond center of green.

Chipping over the grass will eliminate slowing the golf ball up if you have a lot of green to work with.

(5)Hole is beyond center of green and more than 20 feet.

The odds are higher on getting the golf ball beyond 20 feet with a chipper versus a putter.

(6)Sprinkler system directly in front of line to golf hole or other obstacle that will affect the roll of golf ball.

Eliminate possible deflection of golf ball by chipping over the obstacle.

(7)Too much rolling terrain in the first 1/3 distance to the hole.

Taking most of the rolling green out of play by chipping over will give you a lot less rolling green to read unless you are very good at reading greens.

You have the ultimate decision on your ability to play any one of these golf club selections in these circumstances, but there is a good reason to think about these circumstances before you choose the club. I hope some of these golf tips will help in your decision process, and your goal to save strokes.

Check out The Simple Golf Swing. EBook For A Repeatable And Simple Golf Swing That Provides Power, Accuracy And Consistency

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/golf-tips-on-when-to-chip-versus-putting-43221.html

About the Author: Tee Times - Started playing golf and learned the game as a caddie back in the mid-sixties.

Golf Tip Practice For A Better Scorecard

2008-04-24T09:48:00.003-04:00

Author: George Gabriel

Every golfer is looking for a way to better their game, and trying to improve their swing through trial and error make it a frustrating game. The majority of new golfers are self-taught, and until they take the game up seriously, it is an uphill battle trying to even learn the basics of the golf swing. So how does the new golfer find a short cut for a better game, without taking the fairways apart in frustration?

In learning a new challenge, you have to take one small step at a time. Start off with the smaller steps, or goals, and slowly working towards the bigger goals. The game of golf has a short, medium and big swing. Once you learn the short swing and game, work your way up to the big swing and game. Golf is all in finding the feel of your golf swing. This golf tip will surely improve anyone's game, once they find the balance and feel of a pendulum golf swing in motion. The following golf practice tip will help you understand the golf swing and what it takes to make it work effectively.

Place yourself around a green or a target with a 7 iron, pitching wedge and approximately 10 to 15 golf balls. If you are on a practice range, try and find an obstacle to go over during the practice. It will boost your confidence on the golf course. Step away from the golf balls and practice short swings with your feet together glancing at your attended target. Do not attempt to hit a golf ball until you feel comfortable with your short swing. If you must, hit one golf ball with your desired club to find and feel the distance for your attended target. Use very little wrist action on the take-away and follow through creating a v shape with the arms. Try to find and feel the pendulum motion of the golf club by grazing the grass, as you swing away glancing at the attended target.

Your goal is to find and feel the pendulum motion of the golf club making contact with the ball with your feet together. You will notice how your upper portion of the body will automatically coil on it's own, and you lower body will move in unison with your upper body. Once you find the pendulum feeling of the golf club and swing, take a bigger swing. Gradually learn to sweep the grass with a quarter, half, three quarter and a full swing. You will notice yourself losing balance as you take fuller swings, and have to gradually move your feet apart until you find a balanced comfort zone.

With enough practice and effort, your golf score will improve dramatically with the knowledge of what it takes to make a ball bounce off the face of a golf club with a pendulum motion of the golf swing, once you find the balance and feel of a short swing and game. Practicing this golf tip frequently will also help in choosing the right club and swing, for distance in your short game.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/golf-tip-practice-for-a-better-scorecard-303750.html

About the Author:
George Gabriel is the owner of the site http://golfanchor.net/ & http://golfanchor.com./ He has written numerous article tips on golfing, which he started playing in his earlier years as a caddie. Discount Tee Times & Golf Courses & Golf Stuff

Is Your Practice Golf Swing Better Than Your Real Golf Swing?

2008-04-15T13:29:00.003-04:00

An excerpt from the book Golf Swing Eureka by Jon Barrett

'Why is my practice swing often better than my real swing?'

When I understood the answer to this question it made a big difference to my golf swing. How many golfers do you see on the tee making a nice free practice swing and then duff or slice the ball with their real swing? It happens doesn't it, it happens a lot. Well, I came to realise that when I understood the journey that the golf club needs to take around your body then I also realised where so many amateur golfers were going wrong with the difference between their practice swing and their real swing.

You see when you understand that the golf swing is about technique not aggression then your body starts to work differently.

When you make your practice swing you remain relaxed and free moving. When you make your real swing you immediately start to tense the big muscles in your body particularly your back and shoulders. Your brain starts telling you body 'look guys if we want to hit this ball a mile then we need to put loads of effort it' - WRONG!

Next time you swing - remember to keep your back and shoulder muscles relaxed so that your real swing is as good and as free as your practice swing.

Remember the proper and most efficient golf swing is all about technique not aggression.

The answer to this question lies in the way we think the golf swing works - we need to convince ourselves that the Pro Golfers swing works - Power without effort - and we too will follow their lead.

A good exercise to demonstrate that loose muscles work better than tense muscles is to try running down your garden with loose muscles then tense your muscles and try again - the difference is dramatic isn't it and the golf swing is no different, we need to keep our muscles relaxed for them to work effectively.

Tensing prior to moving doesn't help - you need to relax to let your muscles work properly at the right point in your swing.

One of the main problems that generates this tensing motion is caused by the way many amateur golfers practice. How many golfers have you seen at the golf range who go straight for their driver and start trying to knock the ball out of the range? Many I would guess. These golfers are simply trying too hard. Golfers should concentrate on accuracy on the range not distance i.e. how close can I hit it to a line from me to the target?

One way of practising that takes out the need to try and knock the skin off the ball is to use plastic balls, you know the ones you can by from the golf shop. Once you start hitting these balls you quickly realise you can't hit these balls 300 yards so don't try to. It results in you concentrating far better on technique. They also have the added benefit that you only need about 30 yards of space to practice in.

Happy Golfing!

Sssh... Only 1% of Golfers Know... Golf Swing Eureka

How To Be The Best Golf Player With Good Golf Fitness

2008-04-09T11:47:00.001-04:00

Golf, like all other games, requires a well-rounded approach to achieving success at the level you desire. Being a good golf player goes far beyond having an ideal score of below 80. Although skill plays a major part, good golf fitness is the key to winning golf games with ease.

To be a good golf player, you have to get down past the three areas of:

- Golf Fitness,
- Golf Practice,
- Etiquette.

1. Golf Fitness
Keeping your body and mind in excellent shape is a key element to becoming a good, if not great, golf player. Looking after your body and making sure it is in shape not only gets you to perform better on the course, it also ensures you that you can enjoy golf even well into your years.

Achieve the desired golf fitness body by eating right and exercising regularly. Maintain cardiovascular fitness and muscle tone that suits the game of golf. Some indicators of physical fitness are your blood pressure and your BMI (body mass index). Consult with your doctor on what levels are right for your age and body type.

On the other hand, mental fitness is also just as important. Find ways to relieve yourself of stress. Develop a regular meditation time alone or with family/friends. Keep your mind sharp by exercising it with reading or with puzzles like crosswords.

2. Golf Practice
All professional golfers have a regular and consistent practice routine. Many amateur golf players find themselves wanting to play more and practice less when it is the opposite that gets better results as far as scores go. By practicing more, you develop techniques and muscle memory that will carry you well into your game.

An ideal play to practice ratio is 1:2, that is, for every hour of golf you play, you should do 2 hours of practice. This may not be done all in the same day. It is advised to alternate practice and play days so as not to work out too much.

Never stop learning more about the game. Knowing how to play does not mean you cannot learn more and be better. Remember that there is always something new you can learn so either enroll in a class or take up a lesson or two with a more advanced player. This can be done on an annual basis. Constantly wanting to improve your golf skills shows your dedication to becoming a better player than you were the year before.

3. Etiquette
Being a great player on the course and on the practice field is nothing if you are not a good person to play with. Rudeness is never condoned in sports and certainly not in golf. Golf is a gentleman’s game and rules pertaining to respecting others are of utmost importance.

Check out more golf fitness here.

Golf Tips: Use Longer Iron For 'tweener

2008-04-02T10:54:00.001-04:00

Question: What's the best way to hit a shot that's in between clubs?

Answer: When faced with a shot that has a yardage that's in between two of your irons, the easiest solution is to take the longer of the two (your 6-iron instead of your 7-iron), and choke down about an inch.

Making your 6-iron an inch shorter will do two things.

First, it will reduce the arc in your swing a little so the club won't travel quite as far, and second, it will make the shaft a bit stiffer.

A stiffer shaft won't hit the ball quite as far as it would usually go.

With these two changes to your club, you can now take the same swing.

Your 6-iron will hit like a 6 1/2-iron.

Choking down this inch is much better than either taking the 7-iron and swinging harder than normal, or taking the 6-iron and swinging easier.

Take the same swing and just shorten the club.

- Steve Anderson, director of instruction for Mirror Lakes Golf Club. Call him at 369-1997 or visit steveandersongolf.com.

How To Break 80 - A Personal Guide to Better Your Game

2008-03-24T14:44:00.003-04:00

Want to lower your handicap efficiently and quickly? Go for “How to Break 80″ now and you’d surely go a long way in your golfing career.

In general, this training book, is not just a simple collection of golf tips, golf lessons or golf instruction, most likely, it is your personal guide to better game. With How to Break 80, you’ll have the opportunity to know the simple steps on how to have more stability with your swing and game as a whole. Normally, the steps only takes approximately 30 minutes, along with the fun drills to ensure you can combine these new stuff into your game.

How to Break 80 as a whole, is one of a kind. If you want to learn how to shoot your best scores ever, it’s a one great choice. Likely, it is a comprehensive manual covering all the aspects of golf that allows you to develop a solid all-around game.

How To Break 80 Main Features:

Effective illustrations and explanations.

A golfing manual that covers all aspects of golf.

Productive and significant techniques on the golf course that certainly provide more consistency in a golfer’s game.

Great system for intermediate golfers.

Tips on how to properly read the greensTips and secrets on how to make good shots and how to be one of the pros.

Detailed steps on how to develop a rock-solid short game or play.

Great techniques and routines.

Comprehensive formula for short game shots and chip shot mastering.

Mental game plan.

Information on how to handle bad shots and sand play success.

100% 60-day full money back guarantee.

Great Bonuses and Some Other Free Stuff That Come With “How To Break 80″:

How to Break 80″ Pro Version (Newsletter).

Helpful Golf Performance Tracking Software.

Ebook about “Fit to a Tee” by Mike Pedersen.

Ebook about “25 Lessons to Improve Your Game Immediately”.

Articles on the “Secret Low Handicapper”.

Lifetime Upgrades to “How to Break 80″ ebook.

Please check out “How to Break 80″ today!

Golf Instruction for Pitching the Golf Ball

2008-03-18T10:37:00.001-04:00

My name is Bobby Eldridge with the PurePoint Golf Academy. Today, I wanted to talk about pitch shots and more specifically, pitching the golf ball with loft. The most common golf instruction problem I’ve seen is when a golfer tops the ball over the green when pitching.

Well, I have a great golf instruction tip for you today. Are you ready? The reason that you struggle when you pitch is because the golf club swings down in the downswing, and just before it gets to the golf ball, it starts to swing back up and you wind up hitting the middle of the golf ball.

When you pitch the golf ball, the goal is to hit down on the ball and to have the ball crawl up the face of the golf club and go onto the green. The only way to make this happen is for the leading edge of the club to hit the bottom of the golf ball. The reason that many golfers skull the ball over the green is because they focus on the follow through being high and as a result, hit the ball on the upswing. In short, they don’t hit down on the ball, but rather hit up on the ball.

Imagine the golfer with the high follow through. As they come down, they start to swing back up again. Can you imagine how high the club face is at follow through? This is the incorrect way to hit a pitch shot. I’ve been in golf instruction for a long time and this is one of the most common problems I see.

The correct way is to put a little extra weight on your left leg, or the front leg, lean over on top of it, and with your arms, swing the club head down and let the golf ball go up. It will crawl right on up the club face. The key is to follow through low to the ground, not high.

In the downswing make sure, with your weight on your left side, that you swing your arms down and get the leading edge to swing into the ground. And then, the golf ball will crawl all the way up the face and take off for the target.

So remember, ball in the middle of your stance, weight on your left leg, swing your arms up and down. We like to keep golf instruction simple.

For better impact and for a little more loft when you're pitching, get the feeling that you're swinging the club face down into the ground.

Destroy Your Golf Slice In A Matter Of Minutes Using This Revolutionary New System!

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

Golf Tips - Cut 7-12 Strokes Off Your Handicap

2008-03-11T15:36:00.004-04:00

Golf Tips - Discover The Four Secret Magic Moves PGA Pros Don't Want You to Know and How to Use Them To Half Your Handicap!

Inside this special report you'll learn...

- How to dramatically cut 7-12 strokes off your handicap using 4 simple moves - starting today Tuesday 11th March 2008

- How to spot mistakes in your swing before you reach the first tee - having this skill will save you more than 5 strokes per round.

-How to naturally hit the perfect inside-out swing - as if you were born with it - imagine seeing your ball still rising whilst your opponent's is dropping!

- How to prevent any disastrous "power leaks" - And unload on the ball like an atomic explosion!

- How to use the natural torque in your pivot to blow right through the ball with accelerating power, just like Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia!

Obtain a Free illustrated 60 page PDF Report, 14 mins Video and 19 mins Audio explaining the first of the four magic moves that the pros keep to themselves. You also get free audio tips!

Find out more Here