Archive for March, 2010

 Have you ever seen a pitcher come to the mound, fresh from the dugout without taking a single second to stretch and warm-up? No, you have not. And hopefully you do not see a golfer coming straight out of the clubhouse and teeing up in the same way. More importantly, let’s hope that is not your usual practice. Golf is a sport, just like baseball, tennis or football and the same concepts apply: you have to be fit, and you have to warm up before you get started. Unless you want your first round of golf to be your last round as well, make sure that you stretch your muscles and do an adequate warm-up before blasting that first ball. It is also in your best interest to understand a little bit about what golf can do to your body, and what body parts are most important to your golf game.

 Most golfers know that they will be using their upper bodies during their swing, and their lower bodies between each shot, but they may forget that their abdominal region is one of the most important factors of their game. A strong core will give you balance and power for your swing, but will also protect your lower back during the actual swinging action. The weaker your core is allowed to become, the more potential risk there is for back injuries, sometimes serious enough to keep you not only off the links, but off of your feet for days.

Consider yoga as part of your golf game. Keeping your back and shoulders loose and limber will help your swing not only to be strong, but safe as well. Some yoga programs can be modified and adapted for specific sports and are well worth looking into. Also do some strength training, especially those moves that target your shoulders, upper back, biceps, triceps and forearm muscles. Along with working with weights, make sure that you are doing some flexibility moves as well. Follow your new routine at least three times per week, adding more as you increase your strength and flexibility. As always, make sure you consult your doctor before beginning any fitness routine.

There are many programs available, either on video, in books or on the Web, so make sure to find the right one for you and stick to it. Learn each of the stretches and do them in a mirror to make sure that you are keeping to proper alignment and form. Do each of the stretches for the recommended amount of time, but keep in mind that stretches should not be painful. If there is any pain, back off of the stretch and consider whether you were doing the move correctly, or trying to go too far with the stretch before your muscles are warmed properly Remember golf is supposed to be a fun way to maintain your fitness, but nothing is enjoyable if it leaves you injured. Take the extra time to stretch and warm-up properly, so that you can enjoy your game and play to the best of your own ability.

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The first step to improving play, no matter what your game is, is practice. Working at a driving range is one of the best ways to improve your golf game, with or without the guidance and advice of a golf pro. Spend time on the driving range to improve your stance, posture, grip and swing without having to worry about holding other golfers up from their own games. The driving range can also be a more relaxed atmosphere, taking away some of the competitive edge that you might find on the course.

The better the basic mechanics of your game, the better your game will be. There is not a single pro golfer that has a weak swing, poor posture or an iffy grip. The est titanium clubs will not improve your posture, the cutest golf shoes will not help you hit the long drives. All of those things come with practice and hard work, and the driving range is the best place to pursue perfection in those areas.

Start with a warm-up to prevent injuries. If there is a line at the driving range, use that time to walk around, circling your arms to get them warmed up. Once it is your turn, start with small, smooth chip shots. Hit a dozen or so balls this way, making sure to make good contact with the ball and keeping your swing smooth and fluid. Once you have finished with this activity, then move up to midrange shots, still keeping the swing controlled and smooth. Again, aim for a dozen or so balls and then move up to the long balls. Work hard, but do not over do.

The harder you work at the driving range, the faster that it will show in your golf game. A good grip, and a strong posture will mean a nice, straight tee shot. The loser you get to the hole on your initial drive, the less additional strokes that you will need to take. The less strokes that you have to take, the better your score, it is simple. Working at the driving range will also help build your confidence, which is also remarkably important to a solid golf score. Tension anywhere in your body will translate to tension in your arms, which will affect your golf swing. Build your confidence, build your swing and improve your game.

Anonymous Author
http://www.puttergolfclubguide.com

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If price is not an issue, you can specify each individual part of your club, ending up with a custom built set. Of course, there is a cheaper option to this concept as well, buying each part yourself and putting the club together yourself, one of the cheapest ways for the average golfer to end up with custom made clubs.  If building your own does not sound like something you are interested in, and you cannot afford the custom built option, you can buy readymade clubs which will suit you well, that is, if you make sure that you have them properly fit.

The first step to getting properly fitted golf clubs should be to consult a professional. Check with the golf pro at the course you play most often if there is one. If not, check online for where the nearest Professional Golfer’s Association is located and check with them for advice. (Be aware that in most cases, club fitting is not free nor is it usually cheap, so check to see if it is in your price range.) The shaft length of your club will not be determined simply by your height. Tall players might have shorter arms, or shorter players might have longer arms, or the actual golf stance that you take before your swing might change your needs dramatically. In these cases, a fitting might actually be the only way to properly fit your clubs, despite the expense.

Your grip size is determined by your hand size, as well as the faults that you would like to correct with your swing. If you are a slicer, smaller clubs will make you work your hands faster. If you hook the ball, instead, bigger grips will slow down your hand action, reducing the amount of the hook. Grips come in different types of  materials as well as the various sizes, which material you use should be determined by how often you play, the weather conditions that you play in most frequently and what kind of work you want to put into maintaining these grips. Leather for instance, is expensive and requires a lot of effort to maintain. All-rubber is better for the beginner through intermediate players, is easy on the hands and can be changed whenever necessary. (It is recommended that your rubber grips be changed at least once a year if you play once per week or more.) Fitting your clubs should be a fairly lengthy process. You do not want to just walk in and grab the first golf clubs that you find. This is an investment, even if you plan to upgrade within the next year or so, so make sure that they fit you well.

Anonymous
http://puttergolfclubguide.com

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The number of rules in the game of golf can be intimidating, especially to a beginner. For the casual or amateur golfer, no one expects them to know each and every single rule. The basics of not only the rules, but of golf etiquette as well should be reviewed. If you have any doubts about behavior, try to observe the senior players around you for some hints.

Read through not only the rules, but the rules of the particular course that you will be playing most often. Although the golf rules are the same, there are some subtle differences in certain areas of play amongst the different courses.  For instance, some golf courses will only allow certain types of shoes, while others are a little lenient with such things.

After you familiarize yourself with the basic rules, you should then take the time to learn the scoring process. If you will be playing against someone, especially if you are in a tournament type of play, you will be required to keep your opponent’s score. How embarrassed would you be if you have to admit that you do not know how to do it?

Along with the rules of the game, are the rules of behavior while playing the game. Golf etiquette is as important to learn as the rules are, so that you do not make a blunder during your round of play. While golf etiquette is basically common sense, the basics do bear repeating.  These include: not talking while another golfer is teeing up a shot, being ready to play when it is your own turn, knowing who gets the first shot on each hole, knowing where all of your group is before you take your initial swing, and do not tear up the golf course without making some effort to repair and restore it.

 
Try to keep a sense of sportsmanship about your game, no matter how badly that you are playing for that afternoon. Keep mindful of the people that are all around you, and try to avoid using foul or unpleasant language. (Some clubs and resorts do have regulation about this.) Do not lose your temper and throw your clubs or other gear. Be adult, be gracious, be a good sport.

     And finally, several rules that every golfer should know, no matter what level of play they are at:

1) The ball that you tee up is the ball you must play all the way to that hole, unless another stated rule allows for a substitution.
2) Make sure that the ball that you are playing is in fact, your ball. Each player should id his or her balls with a unique marking.
3) Play the ball where it lies. (No kicking, bumping, tossing or otherwise improving position.)
4) An unplayable ball will present you with three options. Those are: playing from where you hit your last shot, drop a ball within 2 club lengths of where the ball is now, or keep the point where the ball is between you and the ball and drop a ball on that line.  All three options will incur a one stroke penalty.

Anonymous
http://www.puttergolfclubguide.com

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Funny how whenever you start talking golf, eventually someone will start quoting actor Chevy Chase’s best lines from Caddyshack.  After encouraging his young costar to “be the ball” Chase then goes into a series of putt shots, sinking all but one. Okay, technically, he kicks on, but the point is made: the putt is one of the more individual shots of the game of golf. The long drive swing is basically the same the world around, but putts are something different altogether.  Putts can be a testament to your nerves and determination- you have to feel your way through a putt.  On a long drive, you can swing forth, aiming for a basically long flying, fairly straight shot and then correct from there, but the putt is in the danger zone so to speak. Once you have got down to the putt, you are done with the adjusting and tweaking portion of the hole. Now is the time to sink the ball into the hole, however you feel that you can do that.

Of course, you know that the swing is different from the long drive to the putt, but did you know that the grip is different as well?  Basically, without getting too technical about it: your putt grip is in the palms of your hands, reducing hand movement. With the long drive, the grip is in your fingers, allowing more wrist freedom.  Of course, if you have no idea of what your grip looks like, it might be worth it to grab a club, a broom stick or something similar, grip as usual and then stand in the mirror to observe yourself. Look at your hand position. Take a mock swing and note the sensation of movement. Now, roll the club more toward the palm of your hand and swing again. Can you feel the difference in the feeling and movements that you get with this adjustment? Practice both grips as much as possible- both the long drive swing and the putt are integral parts of the golf game.

If you are working with a golf pro, follow any advice they might have for you. Do they want you to focus on learning the initial swing first, or the putt? (Some pros feel that switching back and forth will not allow for full focus on either.) Remember though, that once you learn the mechanics of the putt itself, there is some wiggle room with grip- find the grip that is most comfortable and most effective for you.  And remember, whenever you are approaching a putt: take a deep breath, use the best grip for your own style and try to always be…Chevy Chase.

Anonymous
http://puttergolfclubguide.com

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