Okay…you’re going to think I’ve lost my mind, but I’m so excited about this, I wanted to let you know. And yes…it has to do with dark chocolate; it’s health benefits; reducing the inflammation in my body; and what I am now doing because of it. I know this may sound crazy, but I’ve become a believer in the past couple of weeks

All you have to do is “google dark chocolate” and you’ll see thousands of results of the health benefits. You will not find any negatives in regards to this type of chocolate. It’s been on Oprah, Dr. Oz, and many, many news channels.

My family and I go up to Oregon twice a year to see family (we live in Arizona now). EVERYTIME I go up there, I run into a very good friend I competed against in Track and Field in high school. He went on to play 9 years in the NFL and now is a successful entrepreneur.

The past few years he would tell me about this chocolate he’s been eating and how good he feels. And imagine, the pain his body has endured from 9 years getting beat up in the NFL? He’s a prime gineau pig. Anyways, I kept blowing him off, until THIS CHRISTMAS! I gave in and told him to give me some.

I was very skeptical, but I took it home with me and start eating the prescribed 3 pieces a day. What happened next I can’t even believe I’m telling you. You see…I’ve had 9 surgeries from my athletic days in track and field (long jump, javelin, then decathlon). A blown out knee that is now bone-on-bone (it’s been killing me for the past 4 years).

I’m not a big believer in pill popping, although, I’ve had to these past few years to avoid a knee replacement at the age of 46 It was upsetting my stomach, so now I was getting digestion problems. Well, this friend told me to stop taking the pills, and just take the dark chocolate. I did!

Results?

It’s only been a couple of weeks, but I truly cannot believe how much better I feel My body from all my injuries, and I still train hard 6 days a week, is always aching somewhere. It could be my knee one day. My elbow the next. My shoulder. You get the picture.

So I called my buddy up and told him I NEED MORE

I found out this chocolate is not just some chocolate you go to the store and get. It’s not available in stores! It’s a proprietary blend of raw chocolate (unprocessed cacao), acai berries, blueberries and concord grapes, and several other all natural, healthy fruits. It is loaded with the highest amount of antioxidants in the world. Cacao and Acai are at the very top.

I had a couple of options in regards to getting it, but I like this so much, and wanted to share the opportunity with my family, friends and acquaintences that I became a distributor to get it at wholesale. The really cool thing about this is I can actually make some additional money sharing this awesome, healthy chocolate and so can you

I did not originally write this post to talk about making money from your home, but because I have fully researched this company, and the big factor was my NFL buddy who has been in it for 2 years (and doing very well), I feel comfortable talking about it here on my “golf blog”.

If you want to find out more about getting this chocolate to reduce inflammation, aches and pains, and many other health benefits, you can go to Healthy Chocolate and find out more. Or, just contact me personally by using the contact form at the top of this page, and I can share even more with you. I can even get my buddy on the phone personally to tell you about it

By the way, the one I’m eating right now is called XoBiotic Squares, because it not only has all the above mentioned healthy ingredients, but it is probiotics, for healthy digestion, and I can say, unequivocally, my stomach is feeling much better

The are many issues that might be causing your lack of distance, including off-center contact on the clubface. You can lose up to 30 yards on your drives with a toe or heel hit. I can assure you that many of us mere mortals do not find the center too often

If you know me at all I will surely encourage you to improve your golf specific strength and flexibility, which will no doubt massively increase your distance off the tee…but…if you’re like many golfers, embarking on a golf training program seems daunting, and you want a simpler way to add yards.

Well…like any other sport, if you can mimmic your movement with resistance, and build up your speed with this resistance you will quickly improve your distance through a higher swing speed, and stronger golf muscles impart a more powerful blog into the golf ball at impact

With that being said, I came across the coolest training aid to instantly add resistance to your golf club, and you can insert it on your club in 5 seconds. Swing it as many times as you want, then remove it and stick it in your bag. I truly believe, this is one of the neatest power golf training aids I’ve ever come across…and it’s ONLY 30 bucks!

I swing my Power Golf Swing Weight Trainer EVERY day to…

Warm up for either practice or play.
For my golf-specific swing training.
To increase my swing speed for longer drives.

Not only is TMZ.com going crazy, but many sites and blogs like Huffington Post, Golf.com, and a ton of golf blogs. It also seems like more women, not only Rachel Uchitel and Jaimee Grubbs are coming out of the wood work saying they had intimate affairs with Tiger also.

I don’t know what to say or think, but I am inviting you to join in on the conversation by commenting below. I want to know what the rest of the golfing community is thinking right now.

I know I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. As they say, “innocent until proven guilty” right? I have admired Tiger Woods since he came on tour over 10 years ago. I even watched his 3rd straight US Amateur he won by comeback up in Oregon at Pumpkin Ridge. I remember coming home and telling my wife, “I just watched this KID Tiger Woods, and man he’s going to be something”. I really did say that… just ask my wife

It’s a shame he isn’t playing in his own tournament, but I can’t blame him. I would stay inside too! I hope this blows over soon, and the tabloids and media drop it.

Here’s a golf blog friend of mine with a Tiger post: Grouchy Golf

Update: Sources are now saying Elin would get $300 million if she leaves Tiger

Please chime in below and let me know your thoughts.

What’s that phrase? “If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’re going to keep getting what you get”. Is that right I think it is.

What’s needed (IMHO) is going to back to the basics to see if something is out of whack. What I mean by basics is your fundamentals. You should always go back to fundamentals when your game goes south.

Recently I was shocked to find out my grip was incorrect. My address position with my clubface was wrong (it was open). And I had no spine tilt. I can tell you… before I found that out, I was practicing 2-3 hours a day (I am NOT kidding ) … and not seeing a dang bit of improvement… so learn from me if you have to. It was all about getting my grip right. My address and tilt corrected, and presto… I was hitting great golf shots without spending my life on the range in utter frustrationg.

So here are my simple Steps To A Better Golf Swing

Proper Grip

Make sure for most of you, you have a slightly stronger grip, which makes it easier to square your clubface at impact. Also, place your right hand more on top and not to the side. This is a more natural position for your hand to lay on the club.

Golf Address Position

Make sure your clubface is perfectly square, facing the target. Here’s what it should look like, from an overhead view (see below).

Spine Tilt

Make sure you have a slight tilt “away” from the target with your upper body spine. I had no tilt, and therefore never really got behind the ball on my backswing. The added spine tilt made it instantly happen. With the longer clubs and driver, your tilt will be a little more.

Ball Position

This is a controversial topic, but the placement of your golf ball at address should be directly in line with your left logo on your golf shirt; or even your left or lead armpit. This is a must! My ball position was too far back creating a steep blow on top of the ball; or for me, I would come up at impact and flip it through

So… work on these fundamentals, and steps to a better golf swing, and I’m sure you’ll see improvement quickly.

What do you think? What’s worked for you? Comment below

I have a good friend on the net that has put together some excellent golf lessons and additional resources for FREE! All you’ve got to do is head on over to FREE Golf Lessons, insert just your first name and email address, and you’ll get 25 of the very best golf lessons to help you with every facet of the game. Bunkers, putting, full swing and even getting out of trouble. I have always said, FREE is a good price, so you’ve got nothing to lose.

Golf Swing Training

Did you have some flaws in your golf swing that resulted in consistent mishits? If so, diagnose the root cause and apply golf swing training drills to correct it. You can do many of these drills right in your home, garage or even your office with a golf club and a mirror

Repetitive drill training for your golf swing will encourage your muscles to produce the correct technique, so when you get out on the range, you can actually feel the right way to swing a golf club.

Off Season Strength Training Program

Like in any other sport, athletes will spend their off season strengthening the specific muscles used in the mechanics of their sport…why wouldn’t you, if you want to improve your golf swing? I’m not talking about grueling gym workouts that break your body and take 2 hours to complete. I’m talking about simple golf strength exercises specfic to your swing you can do in your home in just a few minutes each day…and their fun to do

Off Season Golf Stretching Program

This is a BIGGY! As golfers get older, they lose a tremendous amount of golf specific flexibility, which results in a massive reduction in driving distance and even golf swing consistency. The ONLY way to stop this decline and regain the distance you’ve lost is a golf swing specfic stretching program. You will be absolutely amazed at the freedom you’ll get in your golf swing if you just do a few simple stretches each day. By this time next spring, you’ll be crushing the ball long and straight.

Your Off Season Golf Swing Training Program Is A Must

I hope you’ve read this little blog post, and realize the importance of off season golf training if you want to improve your golf swing power and consistency.

Here’s a shameless plug

My Power Golf Training Ebook is filled with simple golf swing exercises, stretches and program that are perfect for an off season program. Click on the big image below to read more about it.

I had a wake up call about 3 months ago. I had hit a wall with my golf swing improvement. I had gotten my handicap down to a 7, but my swing had some major flaws. I sought out a very good instructor and flew all the way to Texarkana to work with him for 3 solid days. Geoff Jones is his name, and he is one of the best in my opinion.

He took at just 2 swings of mine and videotaped it. He instantly took me into his computer room and analyzed my golf grip for 45 minutes! I am not kidding

I always wondered if my golf grip was correct or not, and boy did I find out it wasn’t. Now I realize everyone has a different preference, and what works for one, might not work for another, but when Geoff showed me close-ups of the greats, Hogan, Tiger, Annika, and others, I quickly became a believer in what he wanted me to do.

I wish I would have taken a before and after pic to show you, but I definitely have an after (see below). What I found it was my grip was too much into my palm, I also had a LONG left thumb, and my right hand was too underneath and not on top of my golf club.

So I can tell you for sure, your grip should be in the fingers of both hands, with a moderate to short left thumb, and your right hand right on top of your left. Take a look at my new, correct golf grip below.

Notice the strongish left hand showing 3 nuckles, and also notice the right hand “on top” of the left. The club is also in my fingers, and I’m finally use to it, after hitting about 500 balls

So learning how to grip a golf club should be your top priority, if you want to have a consistent and powerful golf swing!

I have had back pain since my sophomore year in high school. My low back has never, ever felt 100% pain-free since that day. Back pain relief, especially for my golf has always been a dream of mine, until now.

Let me tell you my back injury story.

Going into high school I was an all-state track and field athlete in several events. Track was my life! I excelled at it, and worked very hard to take it as far as I could. Initially I was a jumper (long jump and triple jump). At the time, I broke the state freshman long jump AND triple jump record, which was pretty cool at the time

Going into my sophomore year, I was picked to place in the top 3 in both jumps, so it was pretty exciting. Well, that all changed in our first Invitational of the season. I was triple jumping, and in the first round pop a pretty good one that was leading the meet. I wanted to amp it up a bit, as there was a decent crowd in the bleachers, and then my world changed…forever!

I came down the runway, and on my skip phase came down on a STIFF leg that locked and jammed into my hip running nearly full speed. It took me straight to the ground before I even got to the pit (sand).

I was stunned

I got up kind of embarrassed, but I did something very, very stupid after that. With an injured back, I tried ONE MORE JUMP.

STUPID, STUPID, STUPID !!

They took me first to a chiropractor who took an x-ray and came in to my room to “rock my world”. He told me I had severely compressed my L5-S1 vertebrae, and that it was so bad, I would never ever not feel pain.

Unbelievable!

Without writing a novel here, I rehabbed it, finished the season in pain, and just dealt with it through the rest of my competitive athletic career. I can remember throwing the javelin in the state championship both my junior and senior years wearing a big, old-school weight lifting belt to keep me lower back intact when I planted right before each throw .

Fast forward to now. Fanatic golfer, always having pain, but still taking a big swipe at the ball to hit it as long as I could

Because I have been a fitness professional and in excellent physical condition, my low back pain has been manageable but still an annoyance (til now). So it goes to show you, if you do not have a specific back pain program, even if you’re currently exercising, it may not help.

Lucky for me, I came across a website for Back Pain Relief.

It looked really comprehensive with lots of great information and tons of people telling their stories. I took the plunge! The really cool thing is they have a 21 day trial, so there is no risk to give it a try, but I was so determined to make it work I just bought it up front without the trial.

That was 38 days ago.

Results?

I am 98% pain-free in my back For me that’s huge! What it’s done to my golf swing is unbelievable! I don’t have to hold back in fear my back will hurt! And…I added a quick 8 yards to my already long drives, which was an added bonus.

Would I recommend this back pain relief product to golfers? Are you kidding me? Absolutely! If you are a golfer with back pain, you have to give this a try! I mean…21 day trial with no risk to you? Come on…that’s an awesome offer, and tells you the confidence they have in their product.

You can find out more about this awesome back pain relief program by clicking on the image below. You won’t regret it!

There are several causes of pulling putts. And a couple of fixes. I came across a very cool new site that allows you to download your golf fix right to your computer. And even better, you have a choice of ebook (which you download and print to reference over and over again), or video tips. But either way, they are yours to refer to forever.

I highly recommend you check them out