Why You Should Warm Up For Golf With Your Driver (And Save 2-3 Shots Per Round!)
November 5, 2011 by Editor
Filed under Golf Equipment, Golf Tips
It’s long been a tradition prior to playing a round of golf to warm up by hitting shorter clubs – sand wedge, pitching wedge, or 9-iron – and then work your way up through the bag to the driver.
The theory behind starting with the shorter, more lofted clubs is that because they are not designed to go far in the first place you will be starting your warm-up with shorter, more controlled swings at less than 100% speed. That way you will give your body a chance to get used to the movement of a golf swing. Then you gradually increase your swing speed as you move to progressively longer clubs.
The Problem with Starting Your Warm-up with Short Irons
Here’s the challenge with this approach.
1. You are too bent-over with the shorter clubs: It’s much more difficult to move freely when bent over than it is standing up straighter. When you first start warming up you want your body to move as freely as possible.
2. Results-focus vs. Rhythm-focus. With the shorter clubs you are probably going to start thinking about hitting a target right away. That means you will be trying to control both your direction and your distance. Your first priority when warming up should be to establish your rhythm and timing for the day. Focusing on a target too soon will take your attention away from feeling and establishing good tempo and timing.
Here’s Why I Think You Should Start With Your Driver Instead.
1. Better Posture: Starting your warm-up with a driver will allow you to have taller posture, from which it will be easier to move. When you first get to the range you need to let your body know that it is ok to turn, pivot, and shift your weight. It’s easier when you stand taller with the driver.
2. Focus on Rhythm: Your first goal when warming up should be to establish good rhythm – NOT hit good golf shots at targets. It’s just as easy to focus on rhythm with your driver as with your lofted clubs.
3. Discipline: You’ll practice slower swings with the club that gives most golfers tempo trouble. You’ll learn to feel comfortable taking a less-than-100% swing with the driver, which is great discipline when you take it to the course. Your most effective, consistent drives will generally happen when you swing at 80%.
Here’s how to Warm Up With Your Driver
First, stand tall with your driver. Focus on moving freely, feeling a good weight shift. It’s more natural with the driver than with the shorter irons.
Second, hit your first 5 to 10 balls at less than 50% of speed. We call these swings low-energy golf swings. If you hit your normal drive 200 yards, pick out a target at 100 yards (50%) and make a full swing, trying to keep the ball from flying past the 100 yard target.
Third, make a full backswing and a full finish. You’ll find you have to slow down your swing to keep it under 50% of your normal distance with a full swing.
Fourth, focus on your rhythm. Your backswing should be 3 beats to a 1-beat downswing. Count out loud 1-2-3-swing. It should take you to the count of 3 to get to the top of your backswing, and you should make impact on the “swing” count. Think of the beat as a waltz and you’ll pick up on the rhythm easily.
Be Ready When You Step on the First Tee
How many times have you heard someone say “It took me a couple of holes to settle down.” That “settling down” process is really just another way of saying “finding a good rhythm.” Why waste the first few holes trying to find a good rhythm when you can find it on the range and have it by the time you are on the first tee. This approach alone will save you 2-3 shots per round! Focus on find your rhythm as your first priority when warming up and try finding your rhythm with your driver.
ERIC M JONES is a Class “A” PGA Professional who is dedicated to helping golfers learn, play better golf, and have more fun. Winner of the 2003 Re/Max World Long Drive Championship, 2004 LDA Tour Rookie of the Year, and the 2006 Players Tour Championship, Eric is a recognized expert on distance.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2808907
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Easy Way to Lower Your Golf Score
Whether you are a newbie to golf or you are a weekend regular, I am willing to bet the house that you would like an easy way to lower your golf score. Whether you need to know how to cure a slice or add some distance to your drives, there are surely some things in your game keeping your scores higher than you like.
An easy way to lower your golf score actually begins at home. Believe it or not, your tee shot may not be the culprit behind your lousy scores. While a long, straight tee shot is a thing of beauty to watch, it is the short chip shots and missed putts that really cause a score to mount. For this reason you need to set up a few golf drills at home that can be practised in your own back yard. Here are some good ones.
Set up three or four targets at varying distances. Think about your approach shots from 100 to 150 yards from the green. Do you find yourself 10 to 15 yards short of the green, or off to the left or right? If you could get that short little 15 foot chip within a couple feet of the pin it would make a much easier putt. That is the distances your targets should be set up. Maybe one about 5 to 10 feet long. Another could be 10 to 15 feet, and yet another 15 to 20 feet away. You get the idea. Imagine the target as where you want your chip shot to land, then practise until it becomes natural. This extra work alone could erase 2 or 3 strokes a round.
You should also practise putting at home. Again, set up varying lengths for your practise putts. The main thing you are doing here is working on a stroke that is constant.
When you go to the driving range, try and resist the urge to bang 75% of the bucket of balls with your driver. If you are trying to cure a slice by hitting more and more drives there is a good chance that you are just reinforcing the bad swing that causes the slice in the first place. In other words, you may be making things worse. Spend the majority of your practise range time working with a wedge up through a 7 iron. If you can get those 100 to 150 yard shots closer to the green your score will drop tremendously.
Using these simple practise methods is an easy way to lower your golf score. The short game, along with accurate putting, is the real key to improvement. Once you master that part of your game it will be time to move on to the more difficult task of fixing that slice.
So, now that your short game is improving, how do you keep your drives in the fairway? Is that wicked slice ruining your confidence right from the very first tee? You can learn to hit it straighter and farther IF you have the proper instruction. Check out Instant Slice Cure and fix the old banana ball once and for all!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1384709
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Gearing Up Properly For Golf
September 15, 2010 by Editor
Filed under Golf Equipment, Golf Tips
Like any other sports, golf requires that you are geared up correctly to be able to properly play the game. This article will give you an idea of basic golf equipment one requires to be able to learn and play golf.
For starters, the basic golf equipment is a golf ball. Golf balls are dimpled tiny balls, use in to play golf. They are dimpled to reach farther length when driven by golf clubs.
Another important golf equipment is a golf club or golf driver. Golf drivers come in different varieties. This is because a golf course has different landscapes and different golf clubs are required to make the proper drive. Depending on the landscape, either sand, grass or cement, a golf club is essential to make the perfect drive. Professional golfers usually have a bag or two of golf clubs to cater to their golf needs. Most golf stores and sports equipment store sell golf clubs. Some golf clubs are sold in sets while other are sold individually.
To protect your golf equipment, such as your golf club, a golf bag golf club cover is essential. A golf bag will, of course, hold your golf club in one place and will make it easier for your caddy to bring your many golf clubs. Golf bags can also hold golf balls and other golf equipment like water bottle to quench your thirst while under the sun or extra shirt or your regular shoes. On the other hand, a golf club cover covers the edge of your golf club. This is done so to protect your golf club from unwanted scratches and dents. Dents can cause your drive to go from ok to bad. Dents in golf clubs can affect the drive of your golf ball. With these golf equipment, you can take care of the state of your club and your game.
One golf equipment that you need to invest on is a good pair of golf shoes. Golf shoes are different from usual rubber shoes or walking shoes. Golf shoes are created to walk on greens – the type where the sport is played. Golf shoes usually have pointed rubber under the soles to grip the earth and sand under your feet. This way, unnecessary shaking or moving is avoided. This is important because shaking can cause you to not hit the golf ball or to hit the golf ball in the wrong direction. If you plan to play professional golf a good pair of golf shoes is a necessary golf equipment to add up to your list. Choose one that is sturdy yet comfortable enough for you to walk into. Golf is a sport that requires walking from one hole to another or to where your ball landed (you can not use golf carts on the greens) and thus, if your golf shoes are uncomfortable, you would have a hard time concentrating on your game.
A golf equipment usually provided by most golf courses (aside from the golf ball) is the tee. The tee is the tiny pin like thing that you punch to the ground to stand your ball into. The tee is use in teeing off (the start of your first drive) thus the name.
The most amazing golf equipment ever created (for me, that is) is the golf cart. Golf carts can take you from one hole to the other, though as I said earlier they are not allowed on the greens, they still lessen the burden of having to walk under the hot sun. This golf equipment can be acquired from golf courses. Golf players are usually made to use golf equipment such as this to give them a better and easier time playing the sport.
Many specialty shops and sport shops offer golf equipment. The internet is also a good source of golf equipment. Second hand golf equipment are even auctioned off the internet, if you are on a tight budget. Check out your local golf shop, sports shop, specialty shops, E-bay or Yahoo! for your golf equipment needs.
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The Golf Store
September 14, 2010 by Editor
Filed under Golf Club, Golf Equipment, Golf Tips
With an increasing market of high-end retailers selling golf equipment, one could possibly miss a “real” golf store.
Typically, golf stores have the latest, if not the best, golf equipment and accessories needed by somebody who plays golf. Things could range from golf clubs to golf balls, to even posters, shirts, and wallpaper.
Most golf stores focus on ensuring the proper equipment for the interested golfer. They will provide hints on how to choose the right club and the appropriate golf ball. Golf stores do not only supply things relative to golf but some also offer services and knowledge about the sport itself.
Additional services could include club repair, club fitting, and swing analysis. Most of these golf stores use the True Temper Shaftlab and Achiever Launch Monitor swing analysis. These machines measure everything, from ball speed, club head speed to carry distance. They also provide printouts illustrating extreme deflection, shaft loading, downswing time and face angle.
Also, there are other golf stores that offer golf classes being thought by local pros.
Golf tutorials can also be offered for juniors along with women’s clinics on the sport.
Golf collectors will find many interesting items in a golf store as well. Hobbyist may find collector items like golf balls used by some of the world’s most renowned players. Signed items may be available too.
Plus, there are golf stores that offer unusual golf gifts. These things range from the most common to the most creative golf gifts one could get for just about any occasion.
Most golf store owners are actually golfers themselves. Usually, they put up a golf store after retiring from playing golf. Like most businessmen assert, it’s good to be passionate about what you are selling. This “passion” will give feelings of satisfaction and gratification to the golf shopper and this is something money cannot buy.
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How To Save On Golf Clubs
August 24, 2010 by Editor
Filed under Golf Equipment, Golf Tips
Bag a great deal on golf clubs with help from the Internet. Cyberspace is a vast world of sites to help you save on the things you need. With virtually billions of online retailers, competition is fierce and the potential for big savings is huge.
Online retailers can help you save on golf clubs because they need to undercut real world retailers. Big block stores can offer some good bargains, but surfing the net will usually get you a better deal. Rock bottom prices are available on golf clubs as well as balls, clothing, golf bags, shoes and everything else you need to golf the perfect game.
While the Internet offers endless opportunities to save on golf clubs, it is also a notorious hangout for crooked operations and shady retailers trying to filch some of your money. Simply corresponding with friends online can cause an onslaught of bogus emails call ‘Spam’ to plague your mailbox. Spam is annoying, but there are more malicious predators lurking on the web. Worms and viruses have nothing on these online conmen.
Scam artists regularly set fake ads, auctions or entire sites with the sole purpose of milking buyers of your hard-earned cash. Send a payment to one of these crooks and you can kiss it goodbye. You’ll be old and gray, still waiting by the mailbox to receive your package. If you’re shopping for golf clubs and you think the deal is too good to be true, it probably is. Beware and be sure before you buy.
There are many legitimate sellers on the web who stay in business by passing on real savings on good equipment. Don’t let a few rotten apples frighten you away from your online search to save on golf clubs. By following save Internet buying practices you will be able to protect yourself from getting scammed.
The most important thing to remember when buying online, is never to provide personal information via email. The only time that you should send banking or credit details is when you’re positive the site is secure. You can tell a website is secure by checking the Web address for a “https” rather than simply “http.” The extra “s” on the web address stands for ‘secure’. Many sites will also show a small key symbol that tells you it’s a secure site.
Legitimate retailers will also offer optional methods of contacting them. If they have phone number and real address listed, follow up to be sure the store actually exists. If you’re still not sure, try researching over a comparison site like http://MySimon.com, or check the Better Business Bureau’s site. This extra step can mean the difference between a new set of clubs and a lesson learned the hard way.
You can save on golf clubs by shopping on the Internet. Shopping smart is the key to shopping safe.
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How To Purchase Superb Golf Clubs Without Straining Your Purse
April 23, 2010 by Editor
Filed under Golf Club, Golf Equipment, Golf Tips
Golf Clubs count among the most expensive of all sports gear and accessories; the reason being that unlike in the case of similar ball striking accessories like bats, rackets and hockey sticks, high technology goes into the making of a golf club which has to be precision designed and balanced to carry the ball exactly where it is intended to by a skilled player; with regard to the horizontal direction, vertical flight and to come as close as possible to the intended target, if not hitting the jackpot at once.
However, such precision crafted golf clubs are superfluous to the needs of beginners or even average golfers who could obtain quite good standard golf clubs to satisfy their requirements at much lesser prices from sports goods stores and online.
The temptation to go for the more highly priced upper range of Callaway clubs used by top golfers is too much for the beginners to resist due to the prestige value attached and the illusion that more expensive golf clubs would boost stroke play to perform like a champion in next to no time. But the hard fact is that you can never wield the more high tech clubs effectively before acquiring the proper techniques from grass root level. Higher priced golf clubs are far more efficient for the experienced players, but definitely not for the beginners, for if not held and swung at the precise angles to get a desired shot, the slightest deviation in your stance and angle of swing could bring the most unexpected results by sending the ball flying in a trajectory far off course from the target. My advice to beginners is to stick to beginners’ golf clubs that are more tolerant to errors in angles of stroke play saving you undue embarrassment by making you the laughing stock of the golf course. With golf clubs designed for beginners, you can slowly but surely build up your technique gradually to handle more expensive precision designed clubs with more confidence derived from the superior knowledge gained as you go on.
Don’t feel ashamed to purchase a secondhand golf club for a start; for it could save you much money, time and regrets in the experimental stages. You could find some seniors willing to part with their golf clubs still in very good condition for a reasonable price in order to graduate to higher priced models. However, be very careful in choosing one without compromising quality for price since golf clubs too age with time that sometimes render them almost unusable. If you are purchasing from a senior player you meet frequently on the course, you would be at an advantage to have a few test shots with the intended golf club before purchasing outright. With luck, you may even find a player who would lend one to you for a considerable period until you decide on its suitability for purchase.
Auctions and pawnshops are two other options for finding used older models of golf clubs. This procedure however would be more time consuming and less certain in finding a proper golf club, than if you were buying from a known person. It is altogether more risky since as a beginner you would be lacking in knowledge to distinguish between a good and a bad golf club, so that you may need the help of a trusted person knowledgeable in these affairs. If you have to go shopping alone at such auctions and pawnshops, make sure you obtain some solid advice beforehand and have a good idea of the features sought by you in making your initial investment in golfing. The advantage of buying from an auction or a pawnshop is the possibility of finding one at a very cheap price.
Don’t be blinded by a bargain to the extent of ignoring or compromising on quality. It is very important that you acquire at least some basic knowledge about golf clubs; that would make all the difference between making a worthy or a wasted investment, in addition to the time likely to be wasted by going fishing in unknown waters. You should be knowledgeable enough to close on a deal with confidence when you spot a worthy golf club. Go scouting for used golf clubs equipped with a good knowledge of the features that constitute a good golf club; and that way you could save yourself a lot of money, time and heartburn.
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Odyssey Golf Putters- Black Series
March 14, 2010 by Editor
Filed under Golf Club, Golf Equipment, Golf Tips
The Odyssey company offers extensive lines of putters, and this article will describe one of their product lines, the Odyssey Black Series of putters.
The Odyssey Black Series consists of 3 putter head designs all of which take advantage of the design and technology features developed for this product line.
One feature used on all three models is a tungsten flange at the back of the putter head. This flange adds weight to the rear of the putter head and creates a low CG (center of gravity) which is deep in the club face. This feature helps to lift the ball slightly upon impact and get it rolling quicker. Since the golf ball actually is slightly nestled down into the grass of the putting green, hitting the putt initially with an upward angle helps get the ball rolling. In fact there is a short video on the Odyssey Black Series web site that shows a comparison between these clubs and another allegedly typical putter. The Black Series putter got the ball rolling about 1 ½ inches before the other putter did. Working in conjunction with the placement of the CG is the loft of the putter face. Each of the putter heads in the line, which are simply called Black Series no. 1, no. 2, and no. 3, have a different loft angle of the putter face which is optimized to get the quickest roll possible for the given CG location of each particular putter head. The theory is that the sooner the ball stops skidding after impact and begins a true roll, the more accurate the putt will be, and this certainly makes sense. It should also be noted that the weighted flange helps to create a higher MOI as well, and this provides some forgiveness for putts not hit exactly on the “sweet spot” of the putter face.
These putters are certainly top of the line and carry a retail price tag of $249 each. Black Series no. 1 putter has a rounded heel-toe weighted putter blade with a so called “crank-neck” hosel and a one shaft offset. The crank neck simply means that the offset is achieved by moving the shaft forward at 90 degree angles instead of a gradual bending of the hosel or shaft. The Black Series no. 2 putter has the same features but is more squared-off in appearance. Black Series model no. 3 is a mallet style putter with a double bend shaft that gives the same full-shaft offset.
The putter head is made of 1025 carbon steel and features a mix-milled face design which indicates the proper impact area. In other words the face has two different mill patterns on it. There is also a urethane damping layer between the flange and the milled carbon steel head that dampens vibrations.
The three traditional shaped heads of the Odyssey Back Series golf putters offer an interesting alternative for the serious golfer who prefers a traditional type of look and who can afford to spend $249 on his putter. They are certainly worth a look.
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