Golf Tips

Training Aids

2012-01-02T11:28:00.000-08:00

Finding The Best Golf Trainer

It is an unending cycle for golfers to constantly try new training aids in a bid to improve their swing and putting skills. There are innumerable trainers available and advertised in golfing magazines and on the Internet. But, the key is to find the best golf trainer that can actually help you to improve your game and hence your scores.

One of the simplest trainers is the weighted golf club. The additional weight of the club not only provides additional exercise to the shoulders and other related muscles, but also provides increased momentum during the strike. You can also improve your swing technique, including your back-swing and your downswing. The weighted club will also enable you to hit the ball farther without straining your back. Once your muscles get accustomed to the additional weight, then you will be able to work the same wonders with your regular club.

Another trainer that could specifically help your swing is the golf swing plane trainer. This is a large contraption that is usually circular and is made of round PVC pipes. These pipes are assembled at an angle to your body and help you by guiding your club along its swing path. Many golf ranges have also installed these trainers to guide their members. The golf swing plane trainer is specifically used to improve your swing plane and path. Some golf swing plane trainers are also available with rubber bands that provide resistance, when hooked up with your arms. These bands provide the vital exercise that is needed to improve your shoulder, back and arm muscles.

A golf club with a hinge near the head or the grip is another trainer that can help in improving your swing. This club will teach you, on how to maintain a fluid motion and also on the correct angle, when you swing. You can also hit the balls with this club and the beauty of this invention is that it provides you with instant feedback every time you take a swing. These clubs are sold with an accompanying instructional video, in order for you to correctly use the club.

Along with the mechanical trainers, the market is also awash with hi-tech laser trainers that use one or two lasers to guide you on the correct plane of your club and the path that needs to be followed for that perfect swing. A training video and a training mat that can be used for putting and even for long shots too accompany these. These lasers are fitted near the grip of your club, in order to track your swing motion.

A costlier hi-tech trainer uses the combination of a high-speed camera linked with a computer. In this method, you will need to hook up the camera with your computer and load the software. The camera will follow your entire swing action, feed the photos or video to the computer, which will then analyze your action and display the errors that you have committed along with the right method that you need, in order to improve. Even though this method is quite costly, it can provide you with visual proof and also guide you visually, in order to improve.

The best way to find the best golf trainer that could suit your playing style is to first try them out. If you plan to order it through the Internet, then try the product at a friend's place or a golf range first, if that is possible. These golf trainers can thus help you to improve your swing and your putting techniques and this could translate into improved scores.

To your success on the golf course!!

Fran

Improving Your Golf Game

2011-11-15T10:23:00.000-08:00

Your Own Personal Golf Pro at Every Game

Have you ever considered what the source of your problems might have been when you just finished a poor round of golf?

Many people will be surprised to know that most of their problems stemmed from the way they were holding their clubs.

You probably already know the situation I am about to describe. You hit a bad shot and then you tell yourself that the next shot has to be better to compensate and the pressure begins to grow.

Along with the increasing pressure is a tendency to grip the clubs too tightly. Tension has a tendency to make us do that, however, along with this tight grip we have on the club goes a corresponding loss of control.

The ball starts flying in all directions, and the tension builds ever more, until you look at your knuckles and they are white from the pressure.
If your clubs had to breathe you would have choked them by now.

I had a playing partner who had a simple list of instructions that he would read when his game started to fall apart and at the top of that list was 'don't strangle the clubs'

It's simple and we all know about it, but this visual reminder was all that it would take to get his game back on course and ensure that the tension wasn't there in the rest of his game.

This technique of having written guidelines was so powerful that several other people started using it. It was like having your own personal golf pro walking with you and giving you the necessary instructions when things started to go wrong.

Those words would allow him to focus on the next shot and release all the tension that would have otherwise crept into his game.

Try carrying your own list of 'game savers' around with you next time and don't hesitate to read them at the first sign your game might be falling apart.

It is an incredibly powerful technique.

Another powerful technique is having someone videotape you as you golf. Afterwards you can sit and analyze what went wrong or right with each shot you took. You can look at your stance, the way you held the clubs, the position of your head, and more. Why not try it? It might improve your game.

To your next birdie...

Fran
P.S. Click here to learn more

2011-11-12T07:30:00.000-08:00

Get a Grip On Your Game

Perhaps the title of this should be "get the 'Right Grip' and that means get one that is specifically correct for you.

You can't expect the grip on your golf club to be the optimum size for both you and someone else with bigger or smaller hands.

How can the grip on the golf clubs of a large man be the right size for both him and that tiny lady playing alongside him?

What is right for her will probably be too small for him and a grip that is too small will make him tend to hold the club too tightly. This can create a problem with the swing. Just changing the grip to a bigger one can alter a game dramatically.

Your hands are your link to the golf clubs and everything that goes on below that point. Your contact point with the clubs needs to be correct if you expect to play well.

Manufacturers offer a standard size to suit the majority of buyers, however, you need to go one step further and find a grip that will allow you to control the club comfortably without having to hold it so hard that your game suffers.

Get grips for your clubs that are not only suited in size but also in the type of materials used as this can determine how tightly you will hold them.

In addition to this, you need to warm up your wrists before play to ensure they are relaxed and ready for action. Performing a few simple warm up exercises of rolling your wrist while holding your club lightly will help to reduce the possibility of injury.

Get a grip - and have fun on the golf course.

Fran

P.S. Click here for more info

Golf Equipment

2011-11-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

Choosing The Right Golf Equipment

Buying golf equipment can be like dumping money into a money pit, but armed with some knowledge you can save time and money in selecting the right clubs for yourself. As with most things in life, you can spend a
lot or you can spend a little several times before you get what you really need.

Golf Clubs

When you are starting out and not completely sure you want to commit to this addictive game, you should either rent clubs at the golf course, or buy a starter set of clubs.

The advantage of buying a set of starter clubs is that you can become accustomed to them, which enables you to concentrate on your swing instead of wondering how the set of miss-matched clubs you just rented are going to work out.

As you become better at the game, you should think of investing in a better set of clubs, fitted to you.

Generally, a set includes a driver, one or two fairway woods, 4-9 irons, a wedge or two and perhaps a putter.

As you become more experienced, you may want to consider buying your driver separately. Some players want a driver to give them more accuracy; some need the distance.

Find The Right Senior Golf Clubs

When you are thinking about changing golf clubs to fit you better as you age, you want to look for golf clubs that will give you distance as well. You may want to have an iron that is custom made, a hybrid club or a clone wood. These are just a few different ideas when you are thinking about golf clubs. Although the clone clubs are slightly different from the original clubs, many golfers find that these clubs are more suited for their changing needs. Whether you need new irons, woods or drivers you can find some with just enough flex in the shaft that will help you gain more distance.

There are many manufacturers of senior golf clubs such as Calloway, Wedgewood, Adams and Nike. You need to choose a golf club that has enough flex in the shaft, but not too much. It will depend on your ability to swing the club as the amount of flex you need. The flex is what allows the golf club to bend as you swing and connect with the ball. You will choose from the ladies flex, senior flex, regular, stiff and extra stiff flex. If the flex of the shaft is not matched with your swing, you could miscalculate your swing.

Many golf course pro shops do have golf clubs with different flex shaft ratings that you can use out on the driving range. This allows the senior golf player to find the right club that will give you the distance. Before you buy a club, trying different shaft flexes will enable you to find the one you need without mistakenly buying the wrong one. You can also find a shop that custom makes golf clubs for senior golfers and have a set of clubs made especially to enhance your game.

Whether you buy an expensive senior golf club or a discounted club will not matter as long as you buy the right club with the right amount of flex. You do however need to buy something durable, this is where it pays to be critical with discount clubs. Just because the club gives you the distance might not mean it will be the best. Some discount clubs may loosen up as you use them more. This could cause the flex to become softer than what you need.

Senior golf players have more advantages today then what they had in the past. The clubs are designed more for their use and flexibility whereas golfers in the past usually only had a few club flexes to choose from as they gained more experience in the game. Finding the different golf clubs and understanding the best clubs will help your game. You can look at different websites under the manufacturers of the clubs to see what they offer and what the ratings are before you seek a pro shop to try the club on the greens.

What about the balls? Do they make a difference?

There are numerous balls available and the box will usually have a chart on the back and direct you to the right ball for your needs. As you learn the game and get better at it, you should experiment with different balls which could improve your accuracy or distance.

Having the right equipment is an important aspect of the game; buy wisely!

To your golfing success

Fran

P.S. Click here for more info

Christmas Gifts for Golfers

2011-11-07T10:18:00.000-08:00

10 Golf Accessories Gift Ideas

Golf accessories make a wonderful gift for the golfer in your family or among your friends. There are so many different golf-related items that you can buy, it is never possible for somebody to have them all! This list will give you a sure way to provide something that will bring a smile to his face.

Of course, most golfers do have the basic equipment that they need, including clubs, golf shoes and a golf bag. You may have noticed that they often buy new clubs, even when you think they must have enough - but they will want to choose these themselves. So unless they tell you exactly which club to buy, it is best to think again.

Golfers are constantly needing more balls and tees so for a small gift, you might choose those. However, for something a little more imaginative, consult our list below.

1. Umbrella. Although he probably has a golf umbrella already, if you look closely at it some time you will probably find that it is torn or broken in some way, so you can get him a new one. He will probably appreciate a new umbrella that looks a lot like the one he has now.

2. Specialized golf gloves. These are a good gift if his current gloves are worn out. He may be very attached to them and take a while to get around to adopting the new ones, but worn gloves do not give such a good grip so you can be pretty sure he will switch soon.

3. Pinseeker (also called a scope or rangefinder). Point this gadget at the flag and it tells you the distance to the hole from where you are standing. This is useful for deciding which club to pick.

4. Digital scorekeeper - a special calculator for recording scores of up to 4 players as they go around the course.

5. A putting practice mat. These are for use in the house and they are very popular because they replicate the surface of the golf course much better than most floors or carpets.

6. If the golfer has a large backyard where he can practice, a chip and drive mat protects the lawn from damage and a driving net will catch the balls.

7. A ball dispenser or shagger. This speeds up practice sessions by dispensing balls.

8. Wristbands and elbow trainers. The aim of these is to develop strength in the right muscles for a cleaner, stronger swing.

9. Golf books. Many golfers love these, but it can be a mistake to give a book about improving the swing or other aspects of play unless you know that he wants it. Biographies of players that he admires can be a better choice, or the history of a famous course. Most golfers enjoy humorous golf books too.

10. DVDs of classic golf tournaments such as the Open. For older golfers, choose a DVD of a tournament from the 70s or 80s that they will remember, especially if the winner was a great player that they admired.

You can buy many golf accessories at your local golf course store but remember that nothing there will be new to him. It is often better to look for gifts online where you will find a much wider range of golf accessories.

Enter your search information in the Amazon search box and find the perfect Christmas gift for your golfer.

Merry Christmas

Fran

P.S. Click here for more info

Golf Lessons

2011-11-03T16:28:00.000-07:00

Getting the Most from Golf Lessons

It’s never easy asking for help, but in golf, it is almost a necessity. Unfortunately, we often ask our buddies and partners, when in reality we should take a lesson or two.

We think that a Pro would critique harshly, but they are honest, positive and very helpful.

Lessons at the local course aren’t as expensive as you might think and they are worth it because your game will improve rapidly and cause you less frustration,making the game much more enjoyable for you.

Of utmost importance, is being honest about your game. The Pro will ask you what you want to start with;driving, chipping, putting or whatever you feel you need help with.

Listen carefully and follow the instructions. You may have doubts if the Pro changes your stance, your grip or your swing; the Pro knows best.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Don’t worry about if the question or concern in stupid-they’ve heard it all before and will not make you feel like an idiot for asking. If you don’t "get it", tell him/her that you’re not getting it. You should never walk away from a lesson with unanswered questions.

You can concentrate on one thing during a lesson, or several. You might start with a lesson in driving; get the right grip, the right stance, the right swing, the right follow-through in one lesson, and then practice
it. Next time, you might work on your short game, or putting.

You’ve invested in the equipment, doesn’t it make sense to learn how to use them to their advantage and improve your abilities?

To improving your game

Fran Watson

P.S. For more help with your game click here.

Playing Golf is more than a mind game

2011-11-03T16:27:00.000-07:00

What Makes You Think You Can Play Well?

Many people take up golf and think they can play well from the outset.

Although golf is a highly technical game that can take years to master,most people think they should be playing a lot better than they do in a short space of time.

We expect to play consistently well with little or no practice, which is very strange because we would never expect that from most other sports.

All sports require skill, and none more than golf where a top round needs consistently good play on many holes and being in the right state of mind to allow that to occur.

Beginners luck is precisely that and unfortunately it is unlikely to return to the golfer who doesn't put the time and the effort in to play regularly, practice regularly and learn from the professionals on the golf course and from the best books, DVD's and videos.

Taking shortcuts will land you in the bunker or the water and that is a fast way to put a damper on your game.

As with any sport, the better your performance, the more fun a round of golf will be, and the only way that will happen is by improving your levels of skill.

You may not be able to afford a personal pro, however there are other ways to obtain instructions from the best golf pros in the world. Much of this information is available relatively inexpensively. There are also various golf aids available to help improve your swing even when you can't get outdoors.

Check out the major online golf stores and see what they have available, you might be surprised to see the help you can get with very little money down.

Also consider getting some good tapes to help you with mind control as all things being equal, the person who has the top few inches of their head in the right place on competition day will always win.

To a lower score!

Fran Watson

P.S. Check this out

Golf Balls

2011-10-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

Do Balls Make a Difference?

What are the benefits of changing your golf balls?

As there are continuing developments in all aspects of the sport, from the design of the golf clubs to the type of golf balls we use, it becomes all the more important that you use what's best for YOUR game, and that can even mean a change of the type of golf balls you use.

To ensure consistency with your game you will need to use the same balls in practice that you intend to use when you are playing in tournaments.

This is not quite so imperative when practicing at the driving range where you won't be expected to lose a bucketful of high dollar golf balls amongst the driving range hacks.

You will need to use your preferred balls when practicing your short game, as the type of ball you use will determine the distance you can expect from your swing.

You need to be assured that the practice swings you do in training, will equate with the same performance on the course.

Golf balls have had more development than any other sports ball and that development continues to improve the quality of our game beyond what many golfers understand.

You need to choose the ball that best suits your swing and this decision can have as big an impact on your game as choosing the correct golf clubs.

There are three main categories of golf balls. The first and cheapest balls are the solid two-piece balls that consist of a hard shell covering an inner core. These balls are the best for beginners because they allow
for less than perfect swings and they are easier on the pocket when they get lost in the rough or the water.

The intermediate style balls are three piece or multi-layered. These are for more advanced players as they allow better control and the ability to add spin to the ball. The downside is the fact that the ball is softer, and a softer ball won't have the distance of the harder and cheaper balls.

The high performance balls are for advanced players and offer the best of all options with more control and the ability to go the distance. These top-of-the-range balls are considerably more expensive and unless you can exploit their benefits the intermediate balls are probably a better option.

P.S. For more information on improving your golf game, click here.

Improve Your Golf Game

2011-10-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

Constant Small Improvements for Long-term Success

You should analyze your game after the shot. Look where the ball went and question what you did to get that result.

Information and education will assist in improving your game. Get that information from recommended books and videos. Get it from golf professionals who know what they are talking about, but always be wary of getting advice from friends and playing partners. There are always people willing to give you advice but bad advice is often worse than no advice at all.

If the ball has gone somewhere other than the right direction, check your alignment and see if your final stance is correct. You can find a lot of information as to why your shot has gone astray. You can look at the ground and observe the path of your club. You can look at the position of your feet after the shot. Maybe your shoes are letting you down by allowing too much movement in the conditions you are playing in. Look at the final position of your golf club. Consider how you were holding the club and whether you were gripping it too hard.

You shouldn't over analyze during the course of a game but making small improvements throughout play, when you notice areas that need adjustment, can pay dividends at the end of play.

By constantly chipping away at all aspects of your game you will see noticeable improvements that can take your handicap to the next level and that is why practice is so important.

And the practice that is most important are in the areas that you find you have the biggest weaknesses.

While it might be more fun to go to the driving range and hit the ball as far as possible, you will probably see better results from practicing improving your short game or getting better at getting your distance right on the putting green.

To your golfing success

Fran Watson

P.S. For more information on improving your golf game, click here.

Trouble shooting

2011-10-05T12:41:00.000-07:00

Getting Out of Trouble

It is always best to stay out of trouble in the first place and that is why learning to control the ball and place it where it should be is the fastest way to a better score rather than relying on big drives off the tee.

Unfortunately that is not always the case and as golf is constantly challenging us to perform better and better we strive to go for more distance or attempt shots that we aren't 100% comfortable with.

Obviously the inevitable will happen and we will need to decide how to get out of the rough and salvage the hole.

All too often golfers make the wrong decision by not erring on the safe side and accepting that one more shot or a different iron might be a better solution.

You might think you can clear that tree with a 7 iron but if there are any doubts whatsoever it will be wise to select a 'safer' 8 or 9 iron just to be sure.

Consider using a pitching wedge if you aren't completely sure you will make the shot with the 9.

A safe shot can set you up for a good recovery by placing the ball in an easier position whereas taking risks might mean you don't make any gains at all.

It's like a seasoned gambler where you know the odds and playing safe often leaves more money on the table at the end of the day.

Golf is all about making the right decisions more often than not and a decision not to play safe can be detrimental to your score, particularly when the distance you might have gained with another club would probably have been minimal anyway.

Always play within your skills when you find yourself in difficult situations.

Salvage bad shots and then take a few extra chances when there is less likelihood of error.

To a lower score!!

Fran Watson

P.S. You can find more tips here:

P.P.S Once you've tried a few techniques, come back and post a comment.

Golf Tips

2011-09-30T08:13:00.000-07:00

Accuracy First and Distance Will Follow.

Most beginners have one thing in mind, and that is to hit the ball as far as possible. Many golfers never quite get out of this mindset and this is one of the reasons why they will never get the distance that they are capable of.

The wise golfer will practice for accuracy first and concentrate on the distance once they have mastered the art of control.

There is not much point hitting the big yards off the tee if the ball is going to end up on another fairway or in the rough. All you will succeed in doing is making your following shots all the more difficult.

A drive down the center of the fairway, albeit a few meters shorter, will set you up for a better approach shot and a lower round score.

By playing with smaller, more controlled swings, you will gain control of your shots sooner and you will progress to the longer distances faster.
You will be learning correct techniques that will hold you in good stead for the rest of your playing career.

By developing accuracy first, you will also be lengthening the distance of your drives and will in fact hit the ball further.

By starting with smaller swings it will be easier to train your body to develop the correct actions, and these actions will always be needed when you progress to the longer drives.

As you master your swing, you can progress to a full swing knowing that you will have the control to hit the ball in the right direction.

This combination of correct action and a full swing will ensure you will hit the ball further than would be possible if you had only aimed for the big shots from the outset.

If you find that your drives are going wayward, then it would be wise to focus on control, even if that means limiting your swing until you are hitting the ball straight.

To your golfing success

Fran

P.S. To improve your score click here:

P.P.S Once you've tried a few techniques, come back and post a comment.

Great Shot...

2011-09-27T10:49:00.000-07:00

Are You Still Thinking about Your Last Shot?

Will the last shot you played determine where the golf ball goes this time?

You might be surprised to realize that for many people the shot they have just played will have a major impact on their next shot.

The golf player who can switch his mind off that last shot, and move on, will always have a decided advantage over the competition.

If you are one of the many golfers who let their previous performance affect the rest of their game, then retraining your mind will do more for your game than all the tuition that any golf pro can give you.

How many times have we seen Tiger Woods play winning shots from out of the rough? How many times have we seen him come from behind to win major tournaments?

There is one thing that other players will never do, and that is to write Tiger off if he has not been having a good game. This is because they know he has the mind power to put everything behind him. In doing so, all the subsequent strokes are focused on winning the tournament.

Even the best golfers in the world duff their shots on occasions, but the way they handle those situations is a major reason why they are at the top of their game. They don't let mistakes have any impact on the rest of their game, as they know that if they do, they will have no chance of recovery.

Your mind and the thoughts that you allow it to have, are the most powerful influences on the performance of your game. It impacts on so many areas of play that it is often the downfall of so many golfers who could be better than their handicap suggests.

Consider the additional tension in your body when you are thinking about the last shot and how the next one needs to be so much better to compensate for your error. That tension is translated into your swing and the possibility of a great shot is diminished accordingly.

Relax and improve your game!!

Fran Watson

Front or Back?

2011-09-14T17:33:00.000-07:00

Are You Better on the Front or Back Nine?

Looking at the way you perform through the course of a game can give you a lot of powerful information that can be transferred into results the next time you play.

I have talked to many golfers and there seems to be a consistency with a lot of them relating to their performance on the front nine compared to the way they play on the back nine in most tournaments.

Not that there is a consistency in their game, but a consistency in the part of the game where they consistently fare worst.

Some people struggle to get their game right for the first nine holes and then improve on the back nine, whilst others start off fine and then fade on the last nine holes.

It is like there is a switch that gets flicked half way through the game and their performance changes in one direction or another.

There is always a reason why this is happening and targeting that reason can result in some excellent improvements to your score.

More often than not the second nine holes result in a poorer performance and this can be due to a number of factors, such as fatigue or a lack of hydration. Lack of hydration in itself will result in fatigue. These are simple factors that can be easily addressed with regular intake of water and foods containing some carbohydrate content to keep the energy levels up.

Other people find they perform worse on the first nine holes and that can often be from tension where they tend to relax later in the game and start playing better. Once again, if you are aware that this is happening you can address the problem by making an effort to relax.

Learning relaxation techniques can do more for many people's game than all the advice in the world and it might be just what you need to take your game to the next level.

To improving your game

Fran Watson

P.S. Check out Mike Pederson's Power Golf Program Click Here!

Golf Tips

2011-09-12T07:57:00.000-07:00

Variety is the Spice of Life and It Helps Your Golf Game

I see many golfers practicing the same shots over and over again.
That's Ok if it is an area that needs concentrated attention, and the more you practice a shot the better you will become at it. If you practice a shot enough you will virtually do it on autopilot when you get to the course, but you must also remember that variety will make you a better all round golfer.

The more techniques that you can master the better you will be on competition day. You can do this by trying new techniques when you practice.

Observe the results you get when you use different clubs or try different techniques.

Try adding some spin to the ball and see how this affects the flight.

Use different types of golf balls to see whether your level of expertise has changed and allowed you to get more benefit from the different ball compressions.

Even consider testing new golf clubs.

As your game progresses, so will your need to change equipment accordingly.
You won't want to be using the same clubs you had when you started playing and you will probably not want to be using the same golf balls either.

Better equipment will allow you to make shots that weren't possible before, and practice will help get you to the next level where you can take advantage of this equipment.

Try adding more backspin to your shots and see if this helps position the ball better for the next shot and offer more control on faster courses.

Your practice time should also be a time where you allow yourself the opportunity to experiment and try to broaden your game.

Having the ability to add spin to the ball might be the difference between hitting a tree and landing on the green.

You can never learn too much in the game of golf.

Remember practice makes perfect, but only when you practice the right things...

Fran

P.S. Check out Mike Pederson's Power Golf Program Click Here!

New Golf Products

2011-09-09T21:52:00.000-07:00

Drive For Perfection

2011-09-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

Accuracy First and Distance Will Follow.

Most beginners have one thing in mind, and that is to hit the ball as far as possible.

Many golfers never quite get out of this mindset and this is one of the reasons why they will never get the distance that they are capable of hitting the ball.

The wise golfer will practice for accuracy first and concentrate on the distance once they have mastered the art of control.

It's not much point hitting the big yards off the tee if the ball is going to end up on another fairway or in the rough. All you will succeed in doing is make the following shots all the more difficult.

A drive down the center of the fairway, albeit a few meters shorter, will set you up for a better approach shot and a lower round score. By playing with smaller, more controlled swings, you will gain control of your shots sooner and you will progress to the longer distances faster. You will be learning correct techniques that will hold you in good stead for the rest of your playing career.

By developing accuracy first, you will also be lengthening the distance of your drives and will in fact hit the ball further.

By starting with smaller swings it will be easier to train your body to develop the correct actions, and these actions will always be needed when you progress to the longer drives. As you master your swing, you can progress to a full swing knowing that you will have the control to hit the ball in the right direction.

This combination of correct action and a full swing will ensure you will hit the ball further than would be possible if you had only aimed for the big shots from the outset.

If you find that your drives are going wayward, then it would be wise to focus on control, even if that means limiting your swing until you are hitting the ball straight.

Drive your way to success

Fran Watson

P.S. How To Break 80 Golf Instruction Program

Improve Your Golf Game by Improving Your Balance

2011-09-05T09:27:00.000-07:00

A Balanced Approach

Golf is all about balance.

You need to get the right balance on your feet, in the movement of your body, in the swing of the clubs and so on.

Balance goes further than just the body however. You need a balanced approach to the game with your mind in sync with your body.

You need to only consider the one stroke that you are playing and not let other holes impact on your balance.

When we get golf lessons we're taught about the distribution of weight on our feet and the weight distribution when we swing to strike the ball.

Many of the techniques seem foreign to the beginner but it is all about training the player to find balance in their game so the actions are effortless and natural.

Our balance should flow through with the movement of the swing in one fluid action to the striking of the ball and even after the ball has been hit with a balanced follow through.

It is a natural feeling that will become second nature with practice.

It is through finding balance in your mind and body that you will start hitting consistently good shots. Without this it will be very difficult to find any consistency in your game.

Once you get your upper body correctly positioned behind the ball, you will find that you are naturally placing more weight on the back foot.

Try it next time you have a practice swing. Stand balanced on your feet with no more pressure on the front of the foot than the back. Position yourself behind the ball and gently swing through without making any effort to concentrate on the distribution of the weight on you feet.

You will find that this will come naturally with no effort at all and that is precisely how you should feel when you are striking the ball.

Different strokes for different folks - have a great game!!

Fran

Golfing For Seniors

2011-09-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

8 Things To Becoming A Great Senior Golf Pro

Eight things will help make you a great senior golf player. There is attitude, concentration and focus, recovery of the game, practice, fitness, technique and foundation, balance and distance. Keep in mind that these are the foundation to becoming a seasoned golf player and will help you become as good as the pros and maybe even a pro. You need to play the game of golf with determination and stay with what works for you the best.

Your attitude about the game has to be focused on the win. Having a positive, "I can do it" attitude is the only way to succeed as a professional golf player. If you want to play the senior golf tournaments, you have to work up to it and dedicate your time to enhancing your game. Your concentration and focus, plan your shot before you even reach the tee. Never change your mind once you are over the ball. Second-guessing yourself does not make a pro golfer. When you address the ball, you already know where the ball is going and how you are going to get there without any hesitation.

Talent and recovery are what help you win the game. If you have a talent for thinking and hitting the ball right where you need it to be, you have a better chance of coming in with a scratch shot, however even the senior golf pros do have an eagle or a bogy here and there. If you do have a bad hit, you need to know how to recover from that shot and make your next play make up for the previous bad shot. This is all apart of golfing. If you have a two over par on the previous hole, try to go under par on the next hole. It is all in the recovery and the planning.

To become a senior golf pro, you need to be fit and practice. Just because you have been playing golf for years does not mean, as you get older you do not need a little more fitness in your day. You need to stay in shape and practice your game regularly. Keep in mind, you might need different equipment as you get older and this is going to require plenty of practice time with the new equipment to improve your game.

You need to learn techniques that lead to a solid foundation in your game. A senior golf pro does not stop learning and improving their techniques. You want to change as your age changes to get the same distance that you were getting before you started reaching the senior age. You are going to need your balance and your Zen for golfing to play with the pros. If you keep practicing and stay fit, you should be able to play golf well into your nineties if you wish. Most importantly, keep your distance or enhance your distance to stay in the game and compete on the same level as the rest of the senior golf players.

Happy Golfing

Fran

P.S. Check out more tips: http://www.tips-on-golfing.com/

Golf Videos

2011-01-19T19:42:00.000-08:00

YouTube Video

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Golf Tips - Golf Bags

2010-11-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

Golf Bags – How To Determine What Bag Is Right For You

A high quality golf bag is an invaluable investment for the regular golfer. This is especially true if you enjoying walking the course and prefer not to use a cart. Besides, it is highly recommended to walk as often as possible when playing golf. And during your game, you want a golf bag that will be comfortable, yet durable.

Tour Bags

When shopping for a quality golf bag, there are several sizes for you to choose from. If you have ever watched a professional golf game on TV or in person, you will notice that the pros typically use giant leather tour bags. They are waterproof and equipped with large pockets that are able toc arry most anything a caddie may need during the game.

Needless to say, these bags are extremely heavy, some weighing over 50 pounds. Luckily for these players, they pay someone to carry their golf bags for them. Many Caddies get paid very well, with some even earning a percentage of their player's tournament wins.

Cart Bags

The average golfer like yourself will probably never need a 50 pound tour bag just to carry your clubs around the golf course on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. So the next size down that is more ideal for normal, everyday players is called a cart bag.

Cart bags are typically made of leather and nylon. They are also made to fit on a golf cart. On the other hand, cart bags are still a bit bulky and are best suited if you plan on driving the golf cart around all day. Personally, my favorite is the carry bag, as described below.

Carry Bags

Although cart bags are ideal, an even better solution for recreational
golfers are called carry bags. These golf bags are much smaller and weigh far less than a full-size bag such as the tour bag and cart bag. You will find that cart bags are able to carry all of your clubs, a few accessories, and of course your golf balls. However, there is little room for anything else.

Carry bags are available in a wide range of sizes, designs, and price. For children you can find these bags in smaller ¾ sizes. For adults who would like a little “extra”, you can pick up a deluxe model carry bag that has more pockets and a backpack strap which enables you to hold onto your bag using both shoulders – quite comfortable.

As far as prices are concerned, with carry bags, you get what you pay for --like any product for that matter. Low-quality bags can sell for $40-$50, however, cart bags in this price range do not have the most aesthetic appeal and are not very comfortable. Cheap carry bags such as this are fine if you only plan on playing golf once or twice per year. It would be a better choice to invest at least $100 into a high-quality carry bag.

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Hit 'em straight

Ben

MORE GOLF TIPS:
http://www.trianglecustomclubs.com/freeonlinegolftips

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Christmas is coming, perhaps your favourite golfer is in need of a new golf bag?

Hope you enjoyed this tip

Fran Watson
P.S. Check out Mike Pederson's Power Golf Program Click Here!

Golf Tips - 4 Tips Every Golfer Should Abide By

2010-06-10T12:56:00.000-07:00

Golf Tips - 4 Tips Every Golfer Should Abide By

Golf is all about giving yourself the absolute best opportunities to make shots onto the green. This is done by keeping the ball on the fairway, which means that accuracy should be one of the focal points of your game. You can increase your accuracy when playing golf by keeping in mind the following points:

1. No matter where your ball is, you should always be aiming for a target. Developing accuracy and playing with a strategic mindset means choosing a target to shoot at, even if you cannot see the hole.

By choosing a small target, such as an object or a location on the fairway, visualize the ball heading in that exact direction. This technique has been proven to help thousands of golfers to hit more accurate shots in line with their target.

2. Just because you are hitting the ball from the tee, that does not mean that the driver should be used each and every time. Yes, the driver will hit the ball the farthest, but it also has the least accuracy of every club in your bag. You may be facing a shot with a narrow fairway, or perhaps risking advanced hazards on each side of the fairway.

Either way, your driver may not be the best choice. Instead, consider using your woods, preferably a 3-wood or the 5-wood. You could even use an iron when hitting the ball from the tee if it is deemed necessary.

3. Learn to take your ego out of the game when necessary. Always take the safe shot if you are unsure of what strategy to use. Trying to be the golf hero of the day may ruin your score. Have the mindset to simply keep the ball on the green and finish the job with your putter.

4. Regardless of playing skill level, all golf players who have been involved in this sport for any amount of time have one thing in common: We all have a "lucky club". Beginner golfers may not have such an experience yet, but in time you will. We like to call it our "go to" club. It is the one club in our bag that we consistently hit the ball well with.

Always use your lucky club whenever you have a very important shot to make. Remember, different clubs are designed to hit the ball in different manners, but any club will work for any shot, most of the time. For example, even if your tee off is on a par-5 hole, but the shot absolutely must go well, and your lucky club is a 5-wood, then use it! Does the 9-iron do the trick for you every time, regardless of the circumstances? Use it!

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Hit 'em straight

Fran

http://www.trianglecustomclubs.com/Funny

P.S. Check out more tips here: http://www.tips-on-golfing.com/

Golf Tips

2010-05-25T13:55:00.000-07:00

While slicing the ball is probably the most common flaw that beginner golfers have problems with, the second largest mistake made is called the hook. It is the exact opposite of the slice, but equally frustrating

A hook is the result of the ball hit with a low tee shot which goes straight for a while but all of a sudden makes a sharp left turn and gets buried in the woods, sunk in a water hole, or lands in the rough.

The Problem Is Simple

Golfers that are prone to making hook shots often have the clubface closed in relation to their swing path. This causes the ball to sidespin counterclockwise (when talking about right-handed golfers) and hooks the ball to left.

The issue is not hard to figure out, nor is it rocket science. It is just a matter of common physics. The clubface is simply closing in too soon which makes it point to the left of the target when impact occurs.

Check Your Body
If you have a problem with hooking the ball, you will soon discover that you are probably swinging with far too much hand and arm force, and not enough movement with the body.

Your problem which is causing your ball to end up hooking is because the clubhead gets warped into the closed position from all of your upper body movement and the hips never open up completely. This habit of closing your hips and having too much force from the arms and hands will almost always result in a hook. It is inevitable.

The problem may also lie within your grip. Often times, golf players who hook the ball tend to be using too strong of a grip. The clubface tends to be closed when impact occurs because there are more than three or so knuckles showing on the left hand at address. Reduce your grip and maneuver the hands so that only two knuckles are showing. This can help immensely and sometimes cures the issue immediately.

To your golfing success

Fran

http://www.trianglecustomclubs.com

Improve Your Golf Game

2010-03-17T04:36:00.000-07:00

A Powerful New Way To Improve Your Golf Game!

http://www.trianglecustomclubs.com/powermindgolf.php

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You have probably heard this advice before, but it is worth repeating:

Every shot you hit a golf should have a goal behind it.

Your scorecard can only be improved by increasing your skills and
having an understanding of just how to properly prepare and push
yourself on every shot you make. You should be asking yourself:

What do I expect from this shot? What is a reasonable result?

Reasonable Goals To Better Your Score

The key to becoming a better golf player and lowering your score
is to totally avoid taking too many putt shots on the green.

Regardless of how well you can skyrocket the ball from your tee shot
and landing it on the green within regulations, if you take an
unacceptable amount of strokes to get the ball into the hole,
the opportunity to better your score has been wasted.

There is no excuse for this.

The Initial Goal

Do not confuse goals with expectations. An expectation is an
action that is reasonable and one that should happen every time
you decide on the outcome. A goal, on the other hand, is something
in which you are reaching high for, but may take a little time
to reach. Once reached, the goal can then become an expectation
through repetition.

The initial goal you should have in golf is to send the ball
into the hole within 36 putts or fewer, on an 18 hole course.

This means that you must hit two putts or less on every green.

This goal obviously becomes easier to achieve the closer you can
hit the ball to the green, but those times where it lands 30 to
50 feet away from the hole, you've got yourself a major feat to
accomplish. It's going to take extreme focus to make long putt
shots successful.

Make Every Putt Count

By accepting the challenge of this article to play every golf
game with the goal of 36 or fewer putts, you've taken a big
step towards improving yourself and your skill. However, do not
let this challenge get in the way of your confidence.

When facing a long putt, you may have the tendency to get lazy
and lose confidence in knowing that you could make the shot.
This may cause you to swing at the ball in a halfhearted matter
and quit your goal before even trying.

Too Much Confidence Can Hurt

Even if the shot appears to be too easy, the same negative outcome
may happen as well. You may have been very successful in getting
the ball close to the hole, but feel overly confident and attack
the ball with too much aggressiveness. Instead of staying focused,
your overconfidence and lack of concentration may cause an easy 2'
foot putt to completely miss the hole.

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Hit 'em straight

Ben

MORE GOLF TIPS:
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http://www.trianglecustomclubs.com/golf-tips

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Golf Products:
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Golf Humor
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Triangle Custom Clubs
PO Box 99742
Raleigh NC 27615
info@trianglecustomclubs.com
888-278-3631

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Yours for a better golf game!!!

Fran Watson

P.S. Check out more tips here: http://www.tips-on-golfing.com

Click n Putt

2009-10-20T10:23:00.000-07:00

Click here

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Golfer's Elbow

2009-10-06T07:14:00.000-07:00

source Reader's Digest

The elbow can be a funny tendon. It's designed to have maximum flexbility but this also means it's prone to injuries. Here are some suggestions for dealing with the problem so you can get back to your game.

Elbowing you out
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) affects the tendon on the outer side of the elbow. Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) is an inflammation of the tendon on the inner side of the elbow. Both tendons are involved in wrist movements – bending the wrist back in the case of the lateral tendon and down in the case of the medial tendon.

Tennis elbow: This condition can occur when playing tennis, perhaps as a result of overuse or hitting a ball awkwardly, but it is more common during other activities that require repeated gripping and twisting movements such as plastering and painting, or as a result of a sudden strain caused by lifting. Tennis elbow tends to develop between the ages of 40 and 60 as tendons grow less flexible.

Golfer’s elbow: This condition may be caused by an acute injury or by repeated strains sustained when playing golf, but it is more commonly associated with other activities such as racquet sports. Like tennis elbow it can develop for no obvious reason.

Symptoms to Watch
The affected area will be tender and there may be some mild swelling. Wrist and elbow movements can cause the pain to worsen. In tennis elbow the pain is felt on the bony bump on the outer side of the elbow. The pain of golfer’s elbow is felt on the inside of the elbow. In both conditions pain may persist when at rest and, if severe, can cause problems sleeping.

Treatment Options
To prevent the inflammation from getting any worse it is important to avoid repetitive movements of the wrist and elbow as well as any other movements that seem to increase the pain.

•It may help to wrap it in an elastic bandage.
•If the condition is brought on by a particular sporting activity it is important to check your technique.
•A heat pack or wrapped hot-water bottle held against the elbow can provide relief; alternatively a wrapped ice pack can be applied twice a day for 5–10 minutes.
•Other options for relieving pain and inflammation include oral or gel-based non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, physiotherapy, ultrasound and TENS (transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation.

If the pain is not relieved by any of these measures, a corticosteroid injection may be given directly into
inflammatories, heat and cold treatment or steroid injections will also reduce inflammation.

Once the swelling has gone down, exercises to strengthen the muscles around the affected area will help to prevent recurrence. Repetitive movement or overuse of the tendon should be avoided.

Stay healthy

Fran

Keep Your Head Down

2009-10-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

Soft Seven

A young man is paired up with a priest on the first hole at the golf course. When they make it to a long par three the priest asks, "What are you going to use on this hole son?"

The young man says, "An eight iron, father. How about you?"

The priest says, "I'm going to hit a soft seven and pray."

The young man hits his eight iron and puts the ball on the green. The priest tops his 7 iron and dribbles the ball out a few yards.

The young man says, "I don't know about you father, but in my church when we pray, we keep our head down."

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*
cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

Fran

http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh/images/02/parshot.htm

Where do you play your best game?

2009-09-25T18:03:00.000-07:00

Are You Better on the Front or Back Nine?

Looking at the way you perform through the course of a game can give you a lot of powerful information that can be transferred into results the next time you play.

I have talked to many golfers and there seems to be a consistency with a lot of them relating to their performance on the front nine compared to the way they play on the back nine in most tournaments.

Not that there is a consistency in their game, but a consistency in the part of the game where they consistently fare the worst.

Some people struggle to get their game right for the first nine holes and then improve on the back nine, while others start off fine and then fade on the last nine holes. It is like there is a switch that gets flicked half way through the game and their performance changes in one direction or another.

There is always a reason why this is happening and targeting that reason can result in some excellent improvements to your score. More often than not the second nine holes result in a poorer performance and this can be due to a number of factors.

Those factors can be fatigue or a lack of hydration. Hydration in itself will result in fatigue. These are simple factors that can be easily addressed with regular intake of water and foods containing some carbohydrate content to keep the energy levels up.

Other people find they perform worse on the first nine holes and that can often be from tension whereas they tend to relax later in the game and start playing better.
Once again, if you are aware that this is happening you can address the problem by making an effort to relax.

Learning relaxation techniques can do more for many people's game than all the advice in the world and it might be just what you need to take your game to the next level.

To a better golf game!

Fran
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Golf Fitness Guide

Are You A Leftie?

2009-09-25T17:51:00.000-07:00

We can't blame the golf club manufacturers for targeting their most profitable market of right-handed golfers, but it is quite difficult for those golfers who play left handed to find the selection offered to the mainstream players.

A few golfers made the change early on by training to play right handed but this is unrealistic for most people.

You should be playing in the most natural manner possible and if that means left handed then so be it.

Unfortunately with everything these days it all comes down to economics and profitability and there just isn't enough money to be made for many manufacturers in the left-handed market.

The percentage of left handed players to right handed players is somewhere in the region of 8 percent so the market is quite small, although it is a niche market that some manufacturers are targeting albeit at more expense in most instances.

But there is always a silver lining to the problems that we might encounter.

At a recent after tournament function I was introduced to an elderly gentleman who was playing on a low handicap and had done so for many years. During the discussion he mentioned left-handed clubs and the fact that he had started playing left handed initially. He hadn't learned how to play from a professional and had developed some bad techniques.

Eventually, due to frustration with his game and the inability to source the clubs he wanted to, he enlisted some professional help. After much discussion it was decided that he should try playing right handed and the golf pro would give him the necessary tuition.

It was a godsend as he was effectively starting from scratch and he learned how to play golf without any of the bad techniques that he had developed on his own.

The change from left to right, along with the professional training had held him in good stead for the rest of his golf playing life.

Sure, it was a major decision that most golfers wouldn't make, but you can never beat a golfer at trying to improve his game no matter what steps they might take.

To a better golf game!

Fran

Golf Videos

2009-09-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Need help with your golf game?

Check out these golf videos.

Fran

Garage Sale Online

2009-08-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

Got some used equipment to sell??

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Golf Jokes

2009-03-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

A little bit of humour to amuse you while you wait for your turn to tee off.

Golf: A game where everyone in front is too slow, and everyone behind is too fast.

Nothing counts in a golf game like your opponent.

"Two drunks were negotiating the short 12th at Pinehurst. One hit a long ball that bounced twice on the fairway, killed a frog crossing the apron, rolled over the green and dropped past the flag into the cup.
"Got a birdie two on tha' shot," yelled the player.
"Sure did," agreed his partner. "Even knocked the feathers off it!"

A foursome on the 11th at Westward Ho's Royal North Devon Country Club gallantly suggested to tow following American ladies that they play through.
"Why, thanks!" said one, "Go ahead, Sybil, you're up."
"No, my dear. You have the honours"
"No, you're wrong. I had an 18."

An American visitor was playing Scotland's Royal Dornoch Golf Club. From the very first tee, he succeeded in sclaffing his ball into every bunker, pond and clump of gorse within range.
On the 6th, he turned to the caddy. "This is the toughest course I've every played."
"How dae ye ken?" came the reply, "Ye hae na played on it yit."

"Like my game?" a golfer queried a fellow player on the 6th at Baltimore's Five Farms Course, "Lessons have cost me $2,500 so far."
"You should get to know my brother-in-law."
"Good golfer?"
"No, Good laywer."

"Sorry, hon, but I gotta' get up, shower and meet my buddies for a round of golf."
"Darling! It's only five in the morning. And we were married just yesterday afternoon!"
"Sorry, sweets. I guess I forgot to tell you. I'm a real golf freak."
"A real golf freak! Well I forgot to tell you! I'm a real hooker."
"That's all right. Just shift your left thumb down and over a bit. You'll be o.k."

"First time on the course? How'd you do?"
"Not bad. SHot a 68"
"Pretty good! Playing tomorrow?"
"Yep. Tomorrow I'm going after the second hole."

"How come you don't play with Harry anymore?"
"Would you like to play with a cheat who's always chiseling on his scorecard and moving the ball with his foot when nobody's looking?"
"Unh, unh!"
"Well, neither did Harry."

Putt on!!

Fran
http://www.tips-on-golfing.com/

Accuracy First

2009-03-05T17:55:00.000-08:00

Accuracy First and Distance Will Follow

Most beginners have one thing in mind, and that is to hit the ball as far as possible.

Many golfers never quite get out of this mindset and this is one of the reasons why they will never get the distance that they are capable of hitting the ball.

The wise golfer will practice for accuracy first and concentrate on the distance once they have mastered the art of control.

It's not much point hitting the big yards off the tee if the ball is going to end up on another fairway or in the rough. All you will succeed in doing is make the following shots all the more difficult.

A drive down the center of the fairway, albeit a few meters shorter, will set you up for a better approach shot and a lower round score.

By playing with smaller, more controlled swings, you will gain control of your shots sooner and you will progress to the longer distances faster. You will be learning correct techniques that will hold you in good steed for the rest of your playing career.

By developing accuracy first, you will also be lengthening the distance of your drives and will in fact hit the ball further.

By starting with smaller swings it will be easier to train your body to develop the correct actions, and these actions will always be needed when you progress to the longer drives.

As you master your swing, you can progress to a full swing knowing that you will have the control to hit the ball in the right direction. This combination of correct action and a full swing will ensure you will hit the ball further than would be possible if you had only aimed for the big shots from the outset.

If you find that your drives are going wayward, then it would be wise to focus on control, even if that means limiting your swing until you are hitting the ball straight.

To accuracy and success

Fran
http://www.tips-on-golfing.com/

How To Correct A Golf Slice

2009-02-22T16:43:00.000-08:00

Most beginning and more experienced amateur golfers need to know how to correct a golf slice from time to time. It is a common mistake in the swing and even after correction, it can reappear with frustrating frequency.

Many problems like this would be avoided if everybody took professional lessons right at the beginning of their golfing career, but of course most of us didn't do that. Most golfers start out playing in a casual way and only take lessons after they find that they enjoy the game. By that time, many bad habits have already developed.

Slicing the ball creates a side spin that sends the ball away from the intended direction of the shot. It is a very common mistake because it is difficult to correct.

It is possible to buy a wrist band or elbow strap that will restrain the arm so that it follows a more correct path during the swing. This will often help and it may be worth trying these restraints, which you can easily find online.

You can also practice some drills for the swing which have been developed by researchers at the University of Southern Carolina. These exercises divide the swing into a number of different sections which are practiced separately. After the body has learned the correct movement for each part, they are put together to form a full swing. The theory is that the brain learns the individual actions more easily this way, and will co-ordinate them better.

Often a golfer will find that they have particular trouble with just one part of the swing. In that case, the drill for that section can be worked on by itself. Many golfers know from friends or a coach that they have a particular swing fault. There is the 'toe-in' drill that affects the position of the body during the swing. The 'split hand' drill allows the golfer to correct the release by becoming aware of the path of the swing.

Seeing the path of the swing can be very effective as a corrective measure, especially if you swing from outside in. Here is how to do it. Stand in front of a mirror so that you can clearly see, without being so close that you risk breaking it in the follow-through. Take a club - but not a ball - and swing very slowly as if you wanted to drive a ball through the center of the mirror. Stop at the half way point of the follow through. Without moving your head, look to see if you can see your nose. You should not be able to see it, because the head of the club should cover your view of it in the mirror.

Another drill involves looking at the mirror right through the swing. You should see the image of the club going through the line of your eyes in the mirror, on both the swing and the follow-through. Practice your swing until this happens consistently.

Maintaining good flexibility in your body can have a very beneficial effect on the swing. The back, hips and shoulders are particularly important. If you are stiff or have restricted movement in any joints, your game will suffer. Yoga exercises are very good for improving flexibility, or ask your coach to suggest some exercises to help you loosen up and correct your golf slice.

To overcoming your slice!

Fran Watson
http://www.tips-on-golfing.com/

Golf quotes

2009-02-02T18:27:00.000-08:00

Free Report Click Here!
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Nothing goes down slower than a golf handicap.

- Bobby Nicholas

Golf is a young man's vice and an old man's penance.

- Irving Cobb

Golf is a total obsession: the chess of sports, the only sport that requires total intelligence.

- James Woods, actor

The cause of stress during a golf match, or anywhere else for that matter, is largely within yourself.

- Thomas N. Dorsel

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Trivia:

Who was the first golfer to break 70 in all 4 rounds of a golf championship?

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Serenity is knowing that your worst shot is still going to be pretty good.

- Johnny Miller

The sport isn't like any other where a player can take out all that is eating him on an opponent. In golf it's strictly you against your clubs.

- Bob Rosburg

Golf is not, on the whole, a game for realists. By its exactitudes of measurement it invites the attention of perfectionists.

- Heywood Hale Brown, writer

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Trivia:

Who was the first golfer from Great Britain to win the Masters?

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Scroll down for Trivia answers

Check out my new webpage: www.tips-on-golfing.com

Trivia Answers
1. Arnold Palmer
2. Sandy Lyle, a Scot, won it in 1988

For more trivia and fun,
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Christmas Gifts for Golfers

2008-12-03T12:41:00.001-08:00

Wondering what to buy that golfer in your life? Check out the specials available here at Kkylara's Korner.

The Best Golf Cart Accessories To Customize Your Cart

Golf cart accessories are the way to go if you own a golf cart and want it to look a little different from the standard carts that can be rented at most courses. As the proud owner of a golf cart you are probably willing to spend a little money to have it look unique and be the way that you want. Golf carts that are left exactly as they were shipped from the manufacturer often seem a little lacking. There is a lot that can be done to upgrade them both for their appearance and their practical use.

A golf cart contains many components that can easily be upgraded individually, either to make it a better ride, or just to make it look cool. For example you could have leather seat covers fitted and have the wheel leather-covered to match. You can paint or replace shocks and wheel rims. You can choose an overall look to your cart that could be a certain color or a larger amount of chrome.

If you want your cart to look very different from the mass-produced vehicles that you see everywhere, you could go ahead and rebuild large parts of the body, but this is usually expensive. A quicker way is to order a body kit that can be fitted to your cart in a few hours. This will be much cheaper, too. Or you may prefer to use a decal and paint kit that was designed for automobiles. This would be easy to adapt to your golf cart.

Some people prefer to make smaller changes to their carts over a period of time so that they can see what looks best as they work on customizing their cart. Others like to do everything at the same time and have it looking perfect right away. If you do a reasonable job of making your cart individual, you will find that you receive a lot of compliments about it. It can break the ice with golfers that you do not know, as you explain what you did and how you did it.

You can also buy many accessories to add to the usefulness of your cart. For example you can find all-weather protection that covers the cart all around if you like to play in any kind of weather. For sunny days, you can have a removable windshield so that you do not have to peer through the glass or plastic shield when you could be enjoying warm fresh air on your face and an unobstructed view.

You may like to have a radio in your cart, a cooler or four-cup drinks holder, or an item more related to the golf course such as a divot repair kit. All of these and more golf cart accessories can be ordered online.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Fran Watson

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Here's an Extra Tip for you

Correcting A Slice

Most beginning and more experienced amateur golfers need to know how to correct golf slice from time to time. It is the most common mistake in the swing and even after correction, can reappear with frustrating frequency.

Many problems like this would be avoided if everybody took professional lessons right at the beginning of their golfing, but of course most of us didn't do that. Most golfers start out playing in a casual way and only take lessons after they find that they enjoy the game. At that time, many bad habits have already developed.

Slicing the ball creates a side spin that sends the ball away from the intended direction of the shot. It is a very common mistake because it is difficult to correct.

It is possible to buy a wrist band or elbow strap that will restrain the arm so that it follows a more correct path during the swing. This will often help and it is worth trying these restraints, which you can easily find online.

You can also practice some drills for the swing which have been developed by researchers at the University of Southern Carolina. These exercises divide the swing into a number of different sections which are practiced separately. After the body has learnt the correct movement for each part, they are put together to form a full swing. The theory is that the brain learns the individual actions more easily this way, and will co-ordinate them better.

Often a golfer will find that they have particular trouble with just one part of the swing. In that case, the drill for that section can be worked on by itself. Many golfers know from friends or a coach that they have a particular swing fault. There is the 'toe-in' drill that affects the position of the body during the swing. The 'split hand' drill allows the golfer to correct the release by becoming aware of the path of the swing.

Seeing the path of the swing can be very effective as a corrective measure, especially if you swing from outside in. Here is how to do it. Stand in front of a mirror so that you can clearly see, without being so close that you risk breaking it in the follow-through. Take a club - but not a ball - and swing very slowly as if you wanted to drive a ball through the center of the mirror. Stop at the half way point of the follow through. Without moving your head, look to see if you can see your nose. You should not be able to see it, because the head of the club should cover your view of it in the mirror.

Another drill involves looking at the mirror right through the swing. You should see the image of the club going through the line of your eyes in the mirror, on both the swing and the follow-through. Practice your swing until this happens consistently.

Maintaining good flexibility in your body can have a very beneficial effect on the swing. The back, hips and shoulders are particularly important. If you are stiff or have restricted movement in any joints, your game will suffer. Yoga exercises are very good for improving flexibility, or ask your coach to suggest some exercises to help you loosen up and correct golf slice.

Happy Golfing

Fran
http://www.tips-on-golfing.com/

Psst...Christmas is coming

2008-10-22T22:40:00.000-07:00

Christmas is just around the corner. Are you ready? Check Out the SPECIALS KKYLARA'S KORNER - Gifts from AMAZON Find something for your favourite golfer or football fan. From couch potato to active participant, you will be sure to find something here.
Give yourself a break - Do your shopping online.

Fran Watson
http://www.tips-on-golfing.com/

P.S.

Accuracy Is Important

2008-08-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

Free Report Click Here!
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Often beginning golfers think that the most important thing is to hit the ball as far as possible. Many golfers never quite get out of this mindset and this is one of the reasons why they will never get the distance that they are capable of hitting the ball.

The wise golfer will practice for accuracy first and concentrate on the distance once they have mastered the art of control.

There is no point hitting for distance off the tee if the ball is going to end up on another fairway or in the rough. All you will succeed in doing is make your following shots all the more difficult.

A shorter drive down the center of the fairway, can often set you up for a better approach shot and a lower round score.

As you practice smaller, more controlled swings, you will gain control of your shots sooner and you will progress to the longer distances faster. You will be learning correct techniques that will hold you in good stead for the rest of your playing career.

By developing accuracy first, and then lengthening the distance of your drives you will in fact hit the ball further.

It will be easier to train your body to develop the correct actions, if you start slowly with less distance, and these actions will always be needed when you progress to the longer drives.

After you master your swing, you can progress to a full swing knowing that you will have the control to hit the ball in the right direction. This combination of correct action and a full swing will ensure you will hit the ball further than would be possible if you had only aimed for the big shots from the outset.

If you find that your drives are going wayward, then it would be wise to focus on control, even if that means limiting your swing until you are hitting the ball straight.

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4 Steps To The Perfect Golf Swing

Before you make your swing to hit the ball, it is best to have a routine that you can quickly go through in order to bring together your focus and mental energy.

Every player has their own way of approaching the ball before they take their swing.

Below is an example of a typical pre-shot routine that you can use for your personal use:

Step 1: Take one practice swing.
Many players, especially beginners, tend to overdo this first step by taking too many practice swings. Unfortunately, taking too many practice swings can make a person more nervous and less confident about the shot.

All you need is one decent practice swing before hitting the ball.

Keep it simple and try to keep your mind off of the swing as much as possible. Your goal is to simply limber up your arms and shoulders, not over-stressing the play.

Step 2: Visualize the outcome of the shot you wish to see.
Once you have loosened up with a practice swing, take a few steps back and mentally visualize the clubhead hitting the ball in perfect harmony with your desired aim.

Picture the ball flying through the air, with a perfect arc, and then landing exactly where you want it to go. Literally pretend that you are making a real shot, then step up to the ball for the real thing.

Step 3: Get your aim dialed in.
Now it is time to get your aim set up so that you can hit the ball directly to your desired landing spot. You must align yourself with the clubhead in accordance with the turf and the distance you need to reach your goal.

Once you are ready, select a second target that is a few feet in front of you, one that is in the direct line of fire. This second target makes it easier to hit the ball towards your destination.

Step 4: Fire!
At this point, you have taken one practice swing, visualized the entire shot in your mind, and have dialed in perfectly with your aim. It is now time to swing your club. Before you make your shot, however,be sure to stay limber by wiggling the clubhead a bit.

Once you're ready, it is time to get your backswing in motion and go
for the gold!

Happy Swinging

Fran

P.S. Don't Forget Your FREE REPORT Click Here!
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More Tips

Your Personal Golf Pro

2008-08-03T23:02:00.000-07:00

Your Own Personal Golf Pro at Every Game

Have you ever considered what the source of your problems might have been when you just finished a poor round of golf?

Many people will be surprised to know that most of their problems stemmed from the way they were holding their clubs.

You probably already know the situation I am about to describe. You hit a bad shot and then you tell yourself that the next shot has to be better to compensate and the pressure begins to grow.

Along with the increasing pressure is a tendency to grip the clubs too hard.
Tension has a tendency to make us do that. And then along with this tight grip we have on the club goes a corresponding loss of control.

The ball starts flying in all directions, and the tension builds ever more, until you look at your knuckles and they are white from the pressure. If your clubs had to breathe you would have choked them by now.

I had a playing partner who had a simple list of instructions that he would read when his game started to fall apart and at the top of that list was 'don't strangle the clubs'

It's simple and we all know about it, but this visual reminder was all that it would take to get his game back on course and ensure that the tension wasn't there in the rest of his game.

This technique of having written guidelines was so powerful that several other people started using it. It was like having your own personal golf pro walking with you and giving you the necessary instructions when things started to go wrong.

Those words would allow him to focus on the next shot and release all the tension that would have otherwise crept into his game.

Try carrying your own list of 'game savers' around with you next time and don't hesitate to read them at the first sign your game might be falling apart.

It is an incredibly powerful technique.

Here's to keeping things under control!

Fran

Golf Tips For Beginners: It's All In The Mind

2008-07-27T19:41:00.000-07:00

Many books and other sources of golf tips for beginners cover the technical aspects of playing golf very thoroughly, but do not prepare the new player for the mental side of the game. Golf can be a very frustrating sport and one where your game (and your reputation) can go rapidly downhill if you do not master the skill of anger management and keeping a positive mindset.

The most important thing to learn is to accept any bad shots and move on. This sounds simple on paper or on your computer screen but when you are out there on the course it is easy to start up with the 'if onlys', going over other ways that you could have played the shot, or even wanting to take it again with another ball just to prove that you could have done better. This is not good for your game and is irritating for your playing partners. Save it for your next practice session.

Although your game will improve a great deal with practice and a good coach, some people simply have more strength or flexibility in their bodies than others. It can be frustrating to see other people practicing less and playing better but that's life. Try to concentrate on your own game without constantly comparing yourself with others.

If you suffer from arthritis or other stiffness in the back or shoulders, it may be difficult to learn a good straight swing. Certain exercises that involve slow movement are very good for increasing flexibility and awareness of the body. These include tai chi, qi gung and yoga. Tai chi, which is often taught as a martial art, is popular with men.

It can be very useful to experiment with your game when you are beginning, and later in your golfing career too. You can decide on an approach that you will take for a particular round, stick to it all through and then evaluate where it was useful and where it was not. For example you might decide to play safer shots all around the course, and you might find that this worked well on some particular holes, but not others. This is very useful information and will teach you a lot about your own game as well as how to play different holes and courses.

Visualization is another mental technique that can have a positive effect on your game. With every shot, try visualizing the ball arriving on the green and rolling straight into the hole. Accept bad shots and let them go, focusing on the positive. Think of the advancements you have made in your game, or what you can learn from that shot, or just enjoy the physical activity of playing golf.

While it is possible of course to improve your game, it will never be perfect. If you are a perfection-seeker then golf will either teach you a different mindset or frustrate you to the edge of a coronary. The perfect game of golf, after all, would be 18 holes-in-one. Did you ever hear of anybody doing that?

Most players are able to handle a bad shot or a bad round but a bad run where your play seems to have deteriorated for no clear reason can be difficult to deal with. Usually this is just chance and things will soon turn around for you. If not, you could try taking a few lessons. This is likely to help in the long term although experimenting with new playing styles could have a negative effect at first.

Understanding your mindset and the emotions that a good or bad game arouses is as important as taking in any technical golf tips for beginners.

Fran
P.S. Check this out:

How To Break 80 Golf Instruction Program

Become a Great Senior Golfer

2008-07-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

8 Things To Becoming A Great Senior Golf Pro

Eight things will help make you a great senior golf player. There is attitude, concentration and focus, recovery of the game, practice, fitness, technique and foundation, balance and distance. Keep in mind that these are the foundation to becoming a seasoned golf player and will help you become as good as the pros and maybe even a pro. You need to play the game of golf with determination and stay with what works for you the best.

Your attitude about the game has to be focused on the win. Having a positive, "I can do it" attitude is the only way to succeed as a professional golf player. If you want to play the senior golf tournaments, you have to work up to it and dedicate your time to enhancing your game. Your concentration and focus, plan your shot before you even reach the tee. Never change your mind once you are over the ball. Second-guessing yourself does not make a pro golfer. When you address the ball, you already know where the ball is going and how you are going to get there without any hesitation.

Talent and recovery are what help you win the game. If you have a talent for thinking and hitting the ball right where you need it to be, you have a better chance of coming in with a scratch shot, however even the senior golf pros do have an eagle or a bogy here and there. If you do have a bad hit, you need to know how to recover from that shot and make your next play make up for the previous bad shot. This is all apart of golfing. If you have a two over par on the previous hole, try to go under par on the next hole. It is all in the recovery and the planning.

To become a senior golf pro, you need to be fit and practice. Just because you have been playing golf for years does not mean, as you get older you do not need a little more fitness in your day. You need to stay in shape and practice your game regularly. Keep in mind, you might need different equipment as you get older and this is going to require plenty of practice time with the new equipment to improve your game.

You need to learn techniques that lead to a solid foundation in your game. A senior golf pro does not stop learning and improving their techniques. You want to change as your age changes to get the same distance that you were getting before you started reaching the senior age. You are going to need your balance and your Zen for golfing to play with the pros. If you keep practicing and stay fit, you should be able to play golf well into your nineties if you wish. Most importantly, keep your distance or enhance your distance to stay in the game and compete on the same level as the rest of the senior golf players.

Keep swinging

Fran Watson

P.S. Check this out:

How To Break 80 Golf Instruction Program

Rest and Recovery

2008-06-02T14:06:00.001-07:00

If it really made sense to "let the club do the work," you'd just say, "Driver, wedge to the green, one-putt," and walk to the next tee. Thomas Mulligan

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Rest and Recovery

Many golfers do not allow sufficient time to rest during practice. Going to the range and hitting 100 balls straight through is tiring both on the body and the mind. Fatigue diminishes our ability to learn so a lot of your practice time could just be wasted time.

Incorporating rest intervals into your practice session can give you the most out of your training time.

Before heading to the range, find a field or a large grassy area and hit 20 to 30 balls. Once you've done this, take the time to go and pick them up. This will give you a break from swinging and a period of time to recouperate mentally and physically.

If you can't leave the practice range or can't find a private grassy area, hit 20 balls at the range and rest for ten minutes.

Keeping your range balls a few steps away will give you time to process each shot in the time it takes to retrieve each ball.

Here's to resting and recovering your game!

Golf - Getting Back Into The Swing

2008-05-29T10:49:00.001-07:00

Easy Golf Swing System Click Here!

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Golf is not a funeral, though both can be very sad affairs.....
Bernard Darwin

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After a dormant period from golf, whether because of seasonal reasons or just lack of play, preparation is the name of the game when gearing up for more golf. The longer you've been on a golf hiatus, the earlier you should start getting back to form.

The most important goal to focus on is getting your swing back to the way it was. This involves not only working on a set of swing drills, but also a few exercises in order to stimulate the muscles in your body that help you execute a swing. Stretch the muscles you use when you swing such as those in your shoulders, arms and back.

Returning to your swinging rhythm is important too. This exercise will help you keep your balance without compromising clubhead speed. Set up 5 tees in a horizontal line, 4 inches apart. Stand just inside the closest tee and swing a 7 iron with a continuous swinging motion, back and through. Start walking forward and clip each tee as you go along. Repeat this drill three times.

Happy Golfing
Fran

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"If you watch a game, it's fun. If you play it, it's recreation. If you work at it, it's golf." Bob Hope

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P.S. Check this out:
The Simple Golf Swing

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Tips From The Pros

2008-05-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

Putting to Win Click Here!
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Gord Holder, Ottawa Citizen

1. Preparation: Scott Mikkelsen says people frequently see players race into the parklng lot, put on their golf shoes and head straight to the first tee. "And then they expect to perform to their potential" says Mikkelsen, the head pro at Camelot Golf and Country Club,(1-613-833-0799) "instead of maybe showing up a half an hour early and going through their routine. "For people to even have a chance of playing to their potential, they need to be more prepared when they go to the first tee, and it doesn't mean spending an hour on the range and working out like Tiger Woods."

The fix: Go to the range, loosen up your body a bit, hit a few shots, then try a couple of putts on the practice green.

2. Posture: Adam Holden, assistant pro at Kevin Haime Golf Centre, says poor posture prohibits a good upper-body turn, and a golfer who fails to pivot properly won't keep the club on the correct swing plane. Most people lean too much forward, putting too much weight on the toes. To make a turn during the swing, they must raise up their upper bodies too much.

The fix: Maintain an athletic, ready starting position with knees slightly flexed, posterior sticking out past the heels and arms hanging loosely, away from the body.

3. Back Swing: Colin Orr, director of golf at the Ottawa Athletic Club, says another common problem is locking (straightening) the rear knee on the backswing, hampering weight shift. "Locking that back knee," Orr says, "causes three possible outcomes: a) If the knee remains locked, you swing 'over the top', creating an outside-in-path; b) you bend (readjust) the knee too much during the swing and hit the ground behind the ball; c) you bend it just right and catch the ball perfectly. 'Out of those three, two are bad, and one is just lucky."

The fix: During the backswing, try to feel as if you are rotating onto the back leg while maintaining the knee's flex.

4. Alignment: An unsuccessful shot is often the byproduct of poor aim, according to Dave Kalil, Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club teaching pro (1-613-736-1134). "Most people think they have to line their body up to the target, but it's their ball to the target and their body parallel to that line. That's what I taught Wayne Gretsky," Kalil says, referring to a tip he gave the Great One when he was in town with Team Canada a few years back. "The fact is, your body is two feet or so away from the ball, and that space, multipled by the distance to the landing spot, makes for off-line shots."

The fix: Practice with one club on the ground along the intended target line and another parallel to the first club, just in front of your shoe tips. That will get you accustomed to the viewpoint from lining up properly.

5. The Triangle: Too many golfers lose the triangle formed by the shoulders, arms and hands between address and the time the clubhead returns to the ball during the downswing, says Warren Grant, a teaching pro based at Manderly on the Green (1-613-489-2066) and Greensmere Golf Club (1-613-839-7772). "Turning the upper body too early gets its various parts out of sequence. The golfer's arms swing around the core horizontally instead of vertically. that makes the swing too flat."

The fix: Instead of forcing the upper body to turn, let it follow naturally from the motion of the arms on the backswing and downswing. This, Grant says, will promote the vertical swing path required.

6. Grip: Rideau View Country Club (1-613-692-4112) head pro Paul Sherratt distinguishes between outcome and process errors. A slice is an outcome error. To fix that, take 1,000 balls to the practice range and stay there until you can hit a hook. A bad grip is a process error that can lead to a slice, and Sherratt maintains that how a golfer holds the club will influence how they're set-up over the ball.

The fix: Go to a qualified coach and have them place your hands on the club properly. "Then the player needs to make a commitment that, with that new grip and set up, they will commit to hitting the ball with that new grip and setup until such time as they find the target."

7. Overswinging: "Far too many golfers overswing, taking the club too far on the backswing," Cedarhill Golf and Country Club head pro Greg White says, "from the short game to the long game, from the driver to the wedge. In the short game, overswinging leads to deceleration, and that's never good. On full-swing shots, it can cause excess body movement, which itself produces inconsistent contact between clubhead and ball." (1-613-825-2186)

The fix: Shorten the backswing, keeping the lead arm straighter. Most excess bending of the lead arm actually results from excess bending of the rear arm. Don't lift the arms, turn the shoulders. White suggests a practice drill in which you hold a heavy book while pretending to swing. At the peak of the 'backswing,' your back arm should be at a 90-degree angle, allowing you to balance that book on your hand just as you would a tray of food.

8. Pre-Shot Routine: Roseline Menard, general manager at Larrimac Golf Club (1-819-827-1506), says "too many players become overanxious while waiting to hit the ball. Golfers who pull the trigger too quickly aren't allowing their bodies to relax enough to execute the swing with good rhythm. However, even more wait too long, past the point when their bodies are ready to react" and extending into what Menard calls the 'dormant' stage.

The fix: Establish a consistent pre-shot routine. Menard says the average time needed to get set, ready and go is about seven seconds, but she agrees it might be better for an individual golfer to use, for example, 10. If you take 10 seconds, then it has to be 10 seconds always.

9. The Short Cut To Success: Guy Beaulieu says too many golfers display far too much ignorance of the importance of the short game. Golf and spa director at Chateau Cartier Resort (1-819-777-8870), Beaulieu cites two statistics produced by short-game guru Dave Pelz: 65 percent of golf shots are played within 100 yards of the hole; and 80 percent of shots lost to par come from shots of less than 100 yards.

The fix: "If they have an hour to spend practising, at least one of it, maybe more, should be spent on the short game, and it's usually the opposite," Beaulieu says.

10. A Firm Hand: It's the wrist actually. Anne Chouinard, the director of golf at Prince Edward Island's Canadian Golf Academy and a coach who has worked with LPGA Tour player Lorie Kane, says too many recreational golfers don't understand the concept of getting the ball airborne. "Too often they try to help the ball into the air by scooping it," Chouinard says, "and it can cause problems all the way from putts and chips to full swings. Scooping comes from breakdowns of the lead wrist. The club bottoms out before reaching the ball, or it hits the ball on the upswing, causing "chunked" or topped shots."

The fix: "You have to move the hands ahead of the ball at impact so that the club hits the ball first and then hits the grass," Chouinard says. During practice, she'll put a tee in the ground just ahead of the ball and tell a student to hit the ball and clip the tee on the follow-through. If they succeed, they get the feeling of hitting the ball on a downward arc, which, combined with a loft on the clubface, is what launches a ball in the air.

Bonus tip: A divot begins at the position of your hands relative to the ball at impact, Chouinard says.

More Golf Courses in Eastern Ontario to check out
Arnprior Golf Club 1-613-623-3314
Calabogie Highlands Resort and Golf Club 1-613-752-2171
Dragonfly Golf Links 1-613-432-3838 or 1-800-275-3838
Pakenham Highlands Golf Club 1-613-624-5550
Pembroke Golf Club 1-613-732-1665
Renfrew Golf Club 1-613-432-2485
Whitetail Golf Club 1-613-628-3774 or 1-800-280-2179

Happy golfing!

Frsn
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P.S. Check this out:

How To Break 80 Golf Instruction Program
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Blanking Out Negativity

2008-04-25T15:50:00.000-07:00

"If profanity had an influence on the flight of the ball, the game of golf would be played far better than it is." - Horace G. Hutchinson

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Blanking Out Negativity

A clear head is important for accomplishing what you want to do with your shot, so keep it simple.

The time that golfrs have to prepare for their next shot can be a bonus or a burden, depending on how it is used. When you start to overanalyze the next shot, your brain gets cluttered and so do your body signals.

Don't occupy yourself with thinking about past shots or holes. These will only obstruct your thinking. Focus on the current shot, not the one you had five minutes ago.

Try repeating a mantra (a word with no meaning or a single thought) to clear your mind. Focus your attention on breathing just before you prepare for a shot. This will help you to relax. If other thoughts come to mind, let them pass and return to the mantra.

Keep thinking about how you are going to hit the shot to one mental cue such as tempo. If you're a visual player, see the target and let your body hit the shot.

Putt on!

Fran

Amazing Golf Mind Mental Audios

Putting Under Pressure

2008-04-09T14:18:00.000-07:00

Golf is a puzzle without an answer. I've played the game for forty years and I still haven't the slightest idea how to play.
**Gary Player

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Putting can be the most stressful part of the game. Depending on how close you are to the pin, it's the last opportunity you have to shave some strokes off your score. The secret to a successful putt is the ability to work under pressure.

What's the problem?

Putting trouble usually comes from unnecessary body movement during the stroke. Practice a four foot length putt and focus on keeping the entire body perfectly still except for hands, arms and shoulders.

What can I do?

Try a stress exercise. With 10 balls, line up a straight putt of about four feet. Set a goal for the number of putts that you can get in a row and gradually incrase this goal to 50. If you miss one, you have to start all over again!

This is a good way to learn to deal with the pressur of putting. As you approach your fiftieth stroke, it will start to feel more and more like a real game. With the risk of having to start all over, a lot is riding on the final few shots.

Once you're used to this kind of stress, you'll be better able to deal with that last moment on the green.

Now get out there and improve your putting game!!

Fran

Golf Training For Success

2008-03-24T18:37:00.000-07:00

Golf Training for Success

How does anyone become better at what they do?

Anyone knows that get to the top of your game you need practice and the more you want to succeed the more you will need to practice.

Vijay Singh has been known as the golfer who practices more than any other. He has stated that he might not be the most talented golfer in the world but his dedication to practice more often and longer than most others enabled him to succeed beyond the expectations of many people.

Vijay got to the top of his game by practicing from morning until night. Before tournaments here would be practicing for hours.

Michael Campbell won the US Open and in his early years when he was a youngster he would practice so much in his yard he would literally wear the clubs out and have to replace them for more practice.

The more you practice the higher the probability that you will naturally make the right moves without having to think about the actions you are taking. And the less you have to think about your stance, swing and so on, the more likely you are to hit the sweet spot more often and get the ball sailing through the air as though Tiger has just hit it.

Practice can be both cheap and convenient with driving ranges allowing you to hit a bucket full of golf balls to naturally program your mind and body to perform better once you hit the course in the weekend.

Here's the fun part - while your mates are watching television during the week you can sneak off to the driving range and sharpen your skills and then trounce them on the weekend and they will be none the wiser where your newfound skills have been honed.

Golf Technology

2008-03-24T18:34:00.000-07:00

Golf Technology

There is a lot of technology that goes in to the development of many golf products, from the clubs to the golf balls, which have more technological input than any other type of sports ball.

Sometimes you wonder where it might end but there is a lot more exciting development yet to come.

Imagine never having to worry about losing your golf ball again, unless of course it lands in a water hazard. GPS tracking might be the next step to help you find your golf ball no matter where you might hit it. The technology is already there to embed devices into golf balls so they can be tracked via GPS.

There will be the inevitable increase in price but think of all the money that you could save by never losing a ball again. If you consider the number of balls that are recovered on golf courses each week that could add up to a substantial saving across the board.

As these devices become smaller and smaller their applications become more plausible with items such as balls that can be tracked. There would be a market for such a ball, and where there is a demand someone will certainly decide to supply it sooner or later.

With advances in club designs we might all be driving as far as the Pros of today helped by the constant development of balls that are easier to hit and travel further in the process.

There is one thing that will always make golf a continuous challenge that we will never fully master and that is the human factor. We can have all the best golf clubs, balls, shoes and more and still make a mess of the simplest shot.

And that is why so many people all around the world go out week after week and try to master the game.

Consistency Is The Key

2008-03-24T18:32:00.000-07:00

Consistency is the Key

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Putt To Win Click Here!
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Consistency is the hardest part of golf. It is not possible for any human, Tiger Woods included, to hit the golf ball perfectly 100% of the time. What good golfers can do however is consistently hit the ball very well most of the time, and near perfectly quite a lot of the time.

It is this consistency that sets them apart and even those at the top of their game have days when they don't get their shots right enough of the time.

There is only one thing that can really help any golfer get that consistency and that is practice.

But there is another matter that needs to be addressed when talking about consistency and golf and that is - Consistently bad shots.

The more you do anything consistently the more it will become natural behavior and this applies to poor technique too.

The sooner you address poor golf techniques, the sooner you will be able to practice the correct methods that will replace them and make those actions second nature.

This is why it is recommended that everyone should get professional instruction before learning bad techniques that will need to be relearned at a later time.

I would even go to the extent of advising a newcomer to the sport to have lessons before ever attempting to play a round. Or alternatively, learn how to use one club well, probably the 7 iron, and play a whole round, or nine holes, using only the 7 iron and a putter.

I knew of one player who made dramatic improvements to his game by using this technique and he had been playing for years. He started playing golf with only the 7-iron and his putter, until he perfected his swing, and then introduced other clubs one at a time. After getting his swing right with the 7-iron, mastering the other clubs was relatively simple.

Here's to improving your game!

Happy swinging.

Fran

Putting Tips

2008-03-24T18:31:00.000-07:00

Putting to Win? Click Here!
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A Few Putting Tips

How often have you been frustratingly close to sinking a putt only to come up short?

Or maybe you have only just missed the hole to see your ball go sailing past adding too much distance for the return putt.

A lot of games have been lost on the putting green and in most instances it has been due to the wrong distance, rather than the direction of the ball.

Most beginners quickly get a feel for the direction the ball will travel, even on sloping greens. You've probably seen it yourself when a newcomer to the game places the ball within inches of the hole on a sloping green time and time again.

What you won't see quite so often is the ball stopping a few inches past the hole when they miss.

There are many factors that come into account when determining the distance a ball will travel on the green, from the slope, to the preparation of the green and whether it is wet and slow or dry and fast. It can make a huge difference depending on the time of the day with greens getting faster as they dry off in the afternoon sun.

So reading the distance of a putt is what you really need to concentrate on to get your ball to drop in that hole.

Once again it all comes back to practice and there is no better practice than on the day of the tournament in the conditions that you will be playing in.
Always take some time to have a few practice putts before you start play to 'dial in' your distance.

One thing you must always remember; the golf ball will never drop if it doesn't reach the hole. Sounds too obvious to even need mentioning doesn't it, but more often that not putts will come up short. Always aim for the back of the cup so that, provided you have your direction right, you are going to have a chance of making the putt.

Happy Putting
Fran

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P.S. Check out Putting To Win Click Here!

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Great Videos to check out

2008-02-18T09:38:00.000-08:00

Hi there

My friend Ben Poston has just set up a couple of great video sites. You owe it to your golf game to go and check them out as soon as possible.

Here are the links:

Golf Tips

Putting Tips

Enjoy!!

Fran Watson

Check out the Click n Putt Traffic Exchange

A Balancing Act

2008-02-03T12:29:00.000-08:00

A Balanced Approach

Golf is all about balance. You need to get the right balance on your feet, in the movement of your body, in the swing of the clubs and so on.

Balance goes further than just the body however. You need a balanced approach to the game with your mind in sync with your body. You need to only consider the one stroke that you are playing and not let other holes impact on your balance.

When we get golf lessons we're taught about the distribution of weight on our feet and the weight distribution when we swing to strike the ball.

Many of the techniques seem foreign to the beginner but it is all about training the player to find balance in their game so the actions are effortless and natural.

Our balance should flow through with the movement of the swing in one fluid action to the striking of the ball and even after the ball has been hit with a balanced follow through. It is a natural feeling that will become second nature with practice.

It is through finding balance in your mind and body that you will start hitting consistently good shots. Without this it will be very difficult to find any consistency in your game.

Once you get your upper body correctly positioned behind the ball, you will find that you are naturally placing more weight on the back foot.

Try it next time you have a practice swing. Stand balanced on your feet with no more pressure on the front of the foot than the back. Position yourself behind the ball and gently swing through without making any effort to concentrate on the distribution of the weight on you feet.

You will find that this will come naturally with no effort at all and that is precisely how you should feel when you are striking the ball.

To a more balanced life

Fran Watson
P.S. Here are some links you can check out
www.golftipsmag.com
www.golflink.com/tips/videos
www.pga.org/improve/tips/
www.pgaprofessionals.com

Hole In One

2008-02-03T12:26:00.000-08:00

How to Get a Hole in One

I've played some excellent golfers in my time but none impressed me quite like the old guy I played with on a weekend tournament.

Soon after we started he hit a hole in one and while everyone else was impressed he didn't seem overly excited.

Assuming it was his first hole in one, we all congratulated him only to find out that he had hit many holes in one in his playing career.

"How did he do it so often" was the question everyone asked. Simple - everyone else was trying to hit his or her golf ball into a small hole and he was shooting for a bucket.

Let me explain. He always visualized the hole as the size of the bucket and having that mindset made it possible for him to get so many holes in one.

After hearing that way of thinking I immediately used the same visualization for myself that day. I didn't get any holes in one but my putting was out of this world.

Every time I got on the green I knew the ball was going to land inside that huge hole, the size of a bucket, I could see in front of me.

It's a fact that good golf is more about your mind than any other factor. Sure you have to know how to hit a golf ball correctly. You need to have a good stance and swing, but those things can be taught to anyone. If you can master your mind you will master the game of golf and that's why so many people go back to the golf course week after week. They never seem to quite master it completely and there is a challenge with every stroke.

I am still shooting for my first hole in one, but in the meantime my handicap has come down.

To a Hole In One in your future!!

Fran Watson
P.S. Here are some links you can check out
www.golftipsmag.com
www.golflink.com/tips/videos
www.pga.org/improve/tips/
www.pgaprofessionals.com

Get A Grip

2008-02-03T12:23:00.000-08:00

Get a Grip On Your Game

More precisely the title of this should be to get the 'Right Grip' and that means get one that is specifically correct for you.

You can't expect the grip on your golf club to be the optimum size for both you and someone else with bigger or smaller hands.

How can the grip on the golf clubs of a large man be the right size for both him and that tiny old lady playing alongside him?

What is right for her will probably be too small for him and a grip that is too small will make him tend to hold the club too tight.

Instantly there will be a problem with his swing if he is holding too tight.
Just changing the grip to a bigger one can alter a game dramatically.

Your hands are your link to the golf clubs and everything that goes on below that point. Your contact point with the clubs needs to be correct if you are expected to play well.

Don't be satisfied with the grips that the manufacturers supply, as they will offer a standard size to suit the majority of buyers.

You need to go one step further and find a grip that will allow you to control the club comfortably without having to hold it so hard that your game suffers.

A slippery grip will force you to hold too tight and that is something you don't want to contend with while you are playing.
Get grips for your clubs that are not only suited in size but also in the type of materials used as this can determine how tight you will hold them.

In addition to this, you need to warm up your wrists before play to ensure they are relaxed and ready for action.

Performing a few simple warm up exercises of rolling your wrist while holding your club lightly will help to reduce the possibility of injury.

Yours for a better grip

Fran Watson
P.S. Here are some links you can check out
www.golftipsmag.com
www.golflink.com/tips/videos
www.pga.org/improve/tips/
www.pgaprofessionals.com

Keeping A Positive Attitude on the Golf Course

2008-02-03T12:16:00.000-08:00

Golf Tips For Beginners: It's All In The Mind

Many books and other sources of golf tips for beginners cover the technical aspects of playing golf very thoroughly, but do not prepare the new player for the mental side of the game. Golf can be a very frustrating sport and one where your game (and your reputation) can go rapidly downhill if you do not master the skill of anger management and keeping a positive mindset.

The most important thing to learn is to accept any bad shots and move on. This sounds simple but when you are out there on the course it is very easy to think about 'if onlys', going over other ways that you could have played the shot, or even wanting to take it again with another ball just to prove that you could have done better. This is not good for your game and is irritating for your playing partners. Save it for your next practice session.

Although your game will improve a great deal with practice and a good coach, some people simply have more strength or flexibility in their bodies than others. It can be frustrating to see other people practicing less and playing better but that's life. Try to concentrate on your own game without constantly comparing yourself with others.

If you suffer from arthritis or other stiffness in the back or shoulders, it may be difficult to learn a good straight swing. Certain exercises that involve slow movement are very good for increasing flexibility and awareness of the body. These include tai chi, qi gung and yoga. Tai chi, which is often taught as a martial art, is popular.

It can be very useful to experiment with your game when you are beginning, and later in your golfing career too. You can decide on an approach that you will take for a particular round, stick to it all through and then evaluate where it was useful and where it was not. For example you might decide to play safer shots all around the course, and you might find that this worked well on some particular holes, but not others. This is very useful information and will teach you a lot about your own game as well as how to play different holes and courses.

Visualization is another mental technique that can have a positive effect on your game. With every shot, try visualizing the ball arriving on the green and rolling straight into the hole. Accept bad shots and let them go, focusing on the positive. Think of the advancements you have made in your game, or what you can learn from that shot, or just enjoy the physical activity of playing golf.

While it is possible of course to improve your game, it will never be perfect. If you are a perfection-seeker then golf will either teach you a different mindset or frustrate you to the edge of a coronary. The perfect game of golf, after all, would be 18 holes-in-one. Did you ever hear of anybody doing that?

Most players are able to handle a bad shot or a bad round but a bad run where your play seems to have deteriorated for no clear reason can sometimes be difficult to deal with. Usually this is just chance and things will soon turn around for you. If not, you could try taking a few lessons. This is likely to help in the long term although experimenting with new playing styles could have a negative effect at first.

Understanding your mindset and the emotions that a good or bad game arouses is as important as taking in any technical golf tips for beginners.

Yours for a positive attitude

Fran Watson

Amazing Golf Mind Mental Audios

P.S. Here are some links you can check out
www.golftipsmag.com
www.golflink.com/tips/videos
www.pga.org/improve/tips/
www.pgaprofessionals.com

Maintain Your Clubs

2008-02-03T12:07:00.000-08:00

Golf Clubs: Your Best Friends On The Course

Golf clubs are the most important piece of equipment that the golfer has, and yet so many of us don't treat them right. Many people start out buying a used or cheap set and that's fine, but it doesn't mean that you shouldn't look after them.

Used clubs can be very good quality, but even if they are not, caring for your clubs in the right way is a great habit to get into. When you start replacing them one by one for high quality golf clubs picked to fit your individual golfing style, you will want to be sure that they will last for as long as possible.

Here are 7 important tips for maintaining your clubs to the highest standard.

1. Watch out for the condition of the grip. You need to replace it as soon as it becomes worn. If not, it will slip a little in your hand and this will affect your stroke because you will have to tense up the muscles to keep a good hold on it.

2. Carry a small towel around in your golf bag so that you can clean off any mud or sand that gets onto your clubs right away. That way you will be sure that it will be clean for the next time that you take it out. You can keep the towel damp with water from your drinking bottle.

3. Clubs should be kept in the house, not in the trunk of the car where they can become damp and rusty. Be sure to dry them after playing in rain or in dewy grass.

4. Head covers are very important to protect woods and putters from damage when they are knocked against the heads of other clubs. Covering the heads of the irons too will give extra protection.

5. When cleaning the club heads at home, use warm water with a little soap and then dry them thoroughly. Strong cleaning products and abrasive brushes should never be used. You can find suitable materials in the golf store.

6. Check the shaft of the club often. A damaged shaft should be replaced before it begins to affect your game.

7. Clubs should be stored and carried in a good quality golf bag for their protection.

Golf clubs that are not well maintained will lose their accuracy and your performance on the course will deteriorate. So in order to be sure that your clubs will serve you well and help you to keep improving your game, take good care of them. Your golfing career will be enhanced when you always own top quality, well maintained golf clubs.

To a well maintained golf game!!

Fran Watson
P.S. Here are some links you can check out
www.golftipsmag.com
www.golflink.com/tips/videos
www.pga.org/improve/tips/
www.pgaprofessionals.com

10 Golf Gift Ideas

2008-02-03T12:02:00.000-08:00

Golf accessories make a wonderful gift for the golfer in your family or among your friends. There are so many different golf-related items that you can buy, it is never possible for somebody to have them all! This list will give you a sure way to provide something that will bring a smile to a golfer's face.

Of course, most golfers do have the basic equipment that they need, including clubs, golf shoes and a golf bag. You may have noticed that they often buy new clubs, even when you think they must have enough - but they will want to choose these themselves. So unless they tell you exactly which club to buy, it is best to think again before you buy golf clubs.

You can buy golf balls or tees as these are things that golfers are constantly needing, however, for something a little more imaginative, consult our list below.

1. Umbrella. Although he probably has a golf umbrella already, if you look closely at it some time you will probably find that it is torn or broken in some way, so you can get him a new one. He will probably appreciate a new umbrella that looks a lot like the one he has now.

2. Specialized golf gloves. These are a good gift if his current gloves are worn out. He may be very attached to them and take a while to get around to adopting the new ones, but worn gloves do not give such a good grip so you can be pretty sure he will switch soon.

3. Pinseeker (also called a scope or rangefinder). Point this gadget at the flag and it tells you the distance to the hole from where you are standing. This is useful for deciding which club to pick.

4. Digital scorekeeper - a special calculator for recording scores of up to 4 players as they go around the course.

5. A putting practice mat. These are for use in the house and they are very popular because they replicate the surface of the golf course much better than most floors or carpets.

6. If the golfer has a large backyard where he can practice, a chip and drive mat protects the lawn from damage and a driving net will catch the balls.

7. A ball dispenser or shagger. This speeds up practice sessions by dispensing balls.

8. Wristbands and elbow trainers. The aim of these is to develop strength in the right muscles for a cleaner, stronger swing.

9. Golf books. Many golfers love these, but it can be a mistake to give a book about improving the swing or other aspects of play unless you know that he wants it. Biographies of players that he admires can be a better choice, or the history of a famous course. Most golfers enjoy humorous golf books too.

10. DVDs of classic golf tournaments such as the Open. For older golfers, choose a DVD of a tournament from the 70s or 80s that they will remember, especially if the winner was a great player that they admired.

Happy gift giving

Fran Watson
P.S. Here are some links you can check out
www.golftipsmag.com
www.golflink.com/tips/videos
www.pga.org/improve/tips/
www.pgaprofessionals.com

Retrain Your Mental Approach To The Game

2008-02-01T12:44:00.000-08:00

Golf is like a love affair. If you don't take it seriously, it's no fun; if you do take it seriously, it breaks your heart.- Arthur Daley

Making changes to your mental approach can see you take control of your game and slash your score faster than you might imagine.

In most professional sports, psychologists are an integral part of the coaching team and golf is quite possibly the sport that can benefit from mind power more than any other.

It is more than just self-doubt and negative thought that you need to eliminate from your game.You need to focus purely on the shot you are about to play.

There should be no thoughts about the last hole or the next hole.

You shouldn't be focusing on the water hole.How many times have you hit the ball into the water knowing that the ball would never have landed there if it were grass?

It is almost as if we will it into the water sometimes.This happens when you are so focused on the water that you can't play the shot, as you should.

This can be likened to a learner driver in a car when they are having their first lessons and find that they are veering towards cars that are driving beside them simply because they are so focused on those cars rather than where they are going.

If you believe you are going to slice the ball you are bound to do so.

If that bunker is constantly on your mind you can be sure that the next shot you play will be from the sand.

You need to train yourself to play one shot at a time and only give thought to that one shot.Nothing else matters - Not what your competition is doing or what your score is at that stage of the game.

Thinking about a bad score will only make matters worse.No matter how bad the round might be there are still opportunities to make the most of the remaining holes and that's all that matters.

Yours for a better golf game

Fran Watson
P.S. Here are some links you can check out
www.golftipsmag.com
www.golflink.com/tips/videos
www.pga.org/improve/tips/
www.pgaprofessionals.com

The Most Common Golf Problem Is

2008-02-01T12:42:00.000-08:00

The most common problem beginners have playing golf would surely be the slice shot.

This is where the ball curves through the air from left to right assuming the player is right-handed.

The flight of the golf ball is determined by the spin of the ball and a slice is caused by the ball spinning clockwise thereby causing it to travel in a clockwise arch.

The most common reason why this happens is people tend to lift their head when they strike the ball.The action of lifting the head causes the face of the club to hit across the ball and not through it.

By hitting across the ball, you are essentially hitting the ball from the outside in and this is the action that causes the ball to spin clockwise.

If you tend to slice the ball try to keep your head down until after you have hit the ball.By keeping your head down, and your eye on the ball to the point of contact you will play through the ball and your swing will remain straight, which will cause the ball to follow a straight path.

Keep your head down until after the ball has taken flight keeping your head and shoulders solid.
Another reason why you will get slice shots is by trying to hit the ball too hard.In doing so you could be using your arms to pull the club in and this will also cause it to spin.By hitting for less distance you can concentrate on getting the correct swing and playing for accuracy rather than length.

Try reducing your swing with these smaller shots to see if this starts to correct the problem.

As you begin to hit straighter you can begin to increase the length of your back swing and go for more distance.

Concentrate on accuracy first and distance follows. That is a good rule to always play by.

Yours for a better golf game!

Fran Watson
P.S. Instant Slice Cure

P.P.S. Here are some other links you can check out
www.golftipsmag.com
www.golflink.com/tips/videos
www.pga.org/improve/tips/
www.pgaprofessionals.com

Some Driving Tips

2008-02-01T12:41:00.000-08:00

We don't always want our drives to be the same.If there is a strong tail wind you should take advantage of the extra distance that can be gained with wind assistance.To do this, tee the ball higher.As a general guideline a ball placed higher on a tee will gain more height.

The inverse is the case when we want the ball to stay low.Lower the tee and the ball will travel lower.This is helpful where there is a headwind and when the fairway is fast and you can take advantage of the ball running on along the ground.

Depending on the conditions and your ability to use your driver it might be more beneficial to use your iron.

When the fairway is narrow and there is little room for error it might be better to use an iron for more control and even reduce your swing to maintain a more accurate trajectory.

The driver, being the longest club, is also the hardest to control.You might find that you get better results from a driving iron.It doesn't matter what club you use provided it delivers accuracy first and distance second.

You will also need to practice drives that aren't at 100%.Lowering your position on the grip slightly and reducing your swing can achieve these ‘smaller’ drives.The additional control that you gain will help in 'sticky' situations where you aren't confident to go for a long drive.

Everything is golf is variable even when using the same club and practice will help you to know the results that can be expected from changes in speed, swing and ball height on the tee.

There will be times when you need to decide what club to use when driving because the distance to the flag is between your club range.The obvious choice is to use an iron rather than the driver, as safe shots are more productive to a good score than recoveries from overshooting the hole.

Yours for a great golf game

Fran Watson
P.S. Here are some links you can check out
www.golftipsmag.com
www.golflink.com/tips/videos
www.pga.org/improve/tips/
www.pgaprofessionals.com

The Right Golf Clubs For You

2008-02-01T12:37:00.001-08:00

You invest a lot of money into a good set of golf clubs so it is a wise decision to get the help of professionals to determine which golf clubs are best suited to your style of play.

There are many factors that need to be taken into account including your height and the level of your game play.

Also, you will need to decide how big your pockets might be able to stretch as you can spend a small fortune on good brand name clubs.

But will they make you play any better?Well, all things being equal they certainly will assist with your playing ability.

They are the only thing between you and the ball so you had better make the right choices.
You can always try your playing partners clubs to see how they feel and whether you feel comfortable with them, but there is nothing like the knowledge you will gain by getting a golf professional to help you in your decision.

If you are getting lessons from a golf pro it will make their job all the easier as they will know where your strong and weak points are and the correct club selection might just help to counter any inherent problems that you have.

No matter how many people a golf pro might teach, they will understand that every golfer has a different swing.Everyone from amateur to professional has a different swing and their own unique way that they shift their weight during their swing.

By having a golf pro observe your swing they will understand your dynamics better than anyone else and this will help them to help you decide on your best golf club options.

Once you get a set of golf clubs that match your own unique swing you might be astounded to see how much your game can improve.

You might find that some of the 'bad' aspects of your game can be eliminated with clubs that are suited to your style.I'm sure you have already seen the vast difference you can have when you try out friends clubs. Now imagine the change you could expect if you found the optimum clubs for you.

Yours for an improved golf game

Fran Watson
P.S. Here are some links you can check out
www.golftipsmag.com
www.golflink.com/tips/videos
www.pga.org/improve/tips/
www.pgaprofessionals.com

Consistency Is The Key

2008-02-01T12:35:00.000-08:00

Consistency is the hardest part of golf.It is not possible for any human, Tiger Woods included, to hit the golf ball perfectly 100% of the time.What good golfers can do however is consistently hit the ball very well most of the time, and near perfectly quite a lot of the time.

It is this consistency that sets them apart and even those at the top of their game have days when they don't get their shots right enough of the time.

There is only one thing that can really help any golfer get that consistency and that is through practice.

But there is another matter that needs to be addressed when talking about consistency and golf and that is - Consistently bad shots.

The more you do anything consistently the more it will become natural behavior and this applies to poor technique too.

The sooner you address poor golf techniques, the sooner you will be able to practice the correct methods that will replace them and make those actions second nature.

This is why it is recommended that everyone should get professional instruction before learning bad techniques that will need to be relearned at a later time.

I would even go to the extent of advising a newcomer to the sport to have lessons before ever attempting to play a round.Or alternatively, learn how to use one club well, probably the 7 iron, and play a whole round, or nine holes, using only the 7 iron and a putter.

I knew of one player who made dramatic improvements to his game by using this technique and he had been playing for years.He started playing golf with only the 7-iron and his putter, until he perfected his swing, and then introduced other clubs one at a time.

After getting his swing right with the 7-iron, mastering the other clubs was relatively simple.

Yours for a better game of golf

Fran Watson
P.S. Here are some links you can check out
www.golftipsmag.com
www.golflink.com/tips/videos
www.pga.org/improve/tips/
www.pgaprofessionals.com

Add Variety To Your Practice

2008-02-01T12:33:00.000-08:00

I see many golfers practicing the same shots over and over again.That's Ok if it is an area that needs concentrated attention, and the more you practice a shot the better you will become at it.If you practice a shot enough you will virtually do it on autopilot when you get to the course, but you must also remember that variety will make you a better all round golfer.

The more techniques that you can master the better you will be on competition day.You can do this by trying new techniques when you practice.Observe the results you get when you use different clubs or try different techniques.Try adding some spin to the ball and see how this affects the flight.Use different types of golf balls to see whether your level of expertise has changed and allowed you to get more benefit from the different ball compressions.

Even consider testing new golf clubs.As your game progresses, so will your need to change equipment accordingly.You won't want to be using the same clubs you had when you started playing and you will probably not want to be using the same golf balls either.

Better equipment will allow you to make shots that weren't possible before, and practice will help get you to the next level where you can take advantage of this equipment.

Try adding more backspin to your shots and see if this helps position the ball better for the next shot and offer more control on faster courses.

Your practice time should also be a time where you allow yourself the opportunity to experiment and try to broaden your game.

Having the ability to add spin to the ball might be the difference between hitting a tree and landing on the green.

You can never learn too much in the game of golf.

Yours for a better golf game

Fran Watson
P.S. Here are some links you can check out
www.golftipsmag.com
www.golflink.com/tips/videos
www.pga.org/improve/tips/
www.pgaprofessionals.com

Unique Putting Tip

2008-02-01T12:31:00.000-08:00

Here's a simple technique to improve your putting.Before you can expect to putt well on greens with a slope, you need to learn to putt well on the flat.This will train you to swing your putter through a straight line and hit the ball squarely on the face of the putter.

Now you need to get a putter that has a line on it that you can see clearly, as this will be the line that you will follow through to the center of the ball.

On the practice green (preferably one that you have at home, as this technique might not be appreciated) you will mark straight lines with a builders chalk line in several directions from the center of the hole spanning out around the green.

Getting someone to hold the chalk line at the center of the cup will make the process easier.Now move around the green flicking the line to leave chalk marks along the ground.

Next - place your golf ball on the line leaving some of the line on the ground visible behind the ball.This will help you to guide your swing.You will then be able to swing your putter using the line on the ground as a guide and the line on the putter itself to connect with the center of the ball.

In a very short time you should find that you are managing to putt from a relatively good distance and get the ball in the hole most of the time.

This will help you to develop the correct posture and consistency to putt well.

After doing this for a while from different positions on the green, move the ball off the line and visualize that there is still a line on the ground by creating it in your mind, looking from the ball to the cup and back again several times.

Line up your putter as before and look at the line on your putter to hit the center of the ball with this spot on your club.

You are now retraining yourself to see an invisible line from the ball to the cup that you can use on any green you play on.

Yours for a better game of golf

Fran Watson
P.S. Here are some links you can check out
www.golftipsmag.com
www.golflink.com/tips/videos
www.pga.org/improve/tips/
www.pgaprofessionals.com

A Balanced Approach

2008-02-01T12:19:00.000-08:00

Golf is all about balance.You need to get the right balance on your feet, in the movement of your body, in the swing of the clubs and so on.

Balance goes further than just the body however.You need a balanced approach to the game with your mind in sync with your body.

You need to only consider the one stroke that you are playing and not let other holes impact on your balance.

When we get golf lessons we're taught about the distribution of weight on our feet and the weight distribution when we swing to strike the ball.

Many of the techniques seem foreign to the beginner but it is all about training the player to find balance in their game so the actions are effortless and natural.Our balance should flow through with the movement of the swing in one fluid action to the striking of the ball and even after the ball has been hit with a balanced follow through.

It is a natural feeling that will become second nature with practice.

It is through finding balance in your mind and body that you will start hitting consistently good shots.Without this it will be very difficult to find any consistency in your game.

Once you get your upper body correctly positioned behind the ball, you will find that you are naturally placing more weight on the back foot.

Try it next time you have a practice swing. Stand balanced on your feet with no more pressure on the front of the foot than the back.Position yourself behind the ball and gently swing through without making any effort to concentrate on the distribution of the weight on you feet.

You will find that this will come naturally with no effort at all and that is precisely how you should feel when you are striking the ball.

Yours for a better golf game

Fran Watson

Amazing Golf Mind Mental Audios

P.S. Here are some links you can check out
www.golftipsmag.com
www.golflink.com/tips/videos
www.pga.org/improve/tips/
www.pgaprofessionals.com

Golf Tips - Golf Basics for Kids

2008-01-30T19:55:00.000-08:00

By
Hana Lee

When teaching golf to kids, FUN is the name of the game. Throw in all the technical jargon at the beginning and you will effectively kill a child's desire to learn. Allow a child to “play” golf for enjoyment, and he’ll become a life-long convert of the game!

Hours of practice will only overwhelm a child, so just allow him or her to practice a little bit at first, say 30 minutes. This will keep motivation for practice high.

And it's okay to let them start by hitting the ball hard. That's part of the fun! Don't worry about their grip right off the bat. Just have them keep the right hand under the left and then swing away!

I’d also make sure the child keeps his or her feet on the ground while following through.

Now, if you want to buy a child's set of clubs, that's fine, but you're likely to do just as well with a used set of women's clubs. They're lighter and nice for kids. All you need is a women's 9 iron, a 6 iron, 3-wood and a putter.

Let your child start out with little chipping and putting games. This play will help him or her get the feel for the club and the ball. Kids can bounce the ball off the face of a wedge and try hitting leaves or twigs.

Little contests and games keep motivation high. Avoid pressure or competition early on. You want your child to enjoy the game and want to play it every chance they get, not end up so confused and unfocused that they can't figure out what to do and just quit in frustration.

If you’re encouraging, your child will love for you to play alongside of them. Just don't start demanding wins and emphasizing competition, or you'll pop the enthusiasm really fast.

Children will move along as they're ready. Letting them progress at their own pace prevents future burnout. Never make a child play the game, unless he wants to. The game should be fun, and a simple joy. Laugh and have a blast yourself!

If your child's interest increases, you might consider golf camp or some private lessons with someone experienced in teaching children. If you do seek a personal instructor for your child, watch how the person teaches first. You really want an encouraging person with a knack for teaching kids.

Also, please remember to teach your child the etiquette of golf. Little things are very important, like… Don’t talk while someone else is swinging. Don’t step in front of someone while they’re swinging. Stand still. Don’t walk in front of someone else’s line or through line.

Finally, never criticize. Praise their shots and swings. Encourage them to correct certain moves, but don't dwell on what was done incorrectly.

If you concentrate on the most important aspects of golf – the enjoyment and the basics – you may end up with a child who rivals you on the range and who enjoys a lifelong love for the game.

Ths article provided courtesy of http://www.golf-swing-guide.com

I hope you enjoyed this article. Check back often for more.

Fran Watson
P.S. Here are some links you can check out
www.golftipsmag.com
www.golflink.com/tips/videos
www.pga.org/improve/tips/
www.pgaprofessionals.com

Golf Tip - Golf Exercise Benefits

2008-01-30T18:40:00.000-08:00

By
Mike Pedersen

Golf Exercise benefits are many. Golfers have struggled for years with their games and have become very frustrated. I can’t tell you how many times I play with golfers who are about to quit the game.

To explain golf exercise benefits to a golfer takes a little convincing, but in a short amount of time they become believers. There are so many I can’t possible list them all in this article, but you will be motivated to take this approach.

Some of the main golf exercise benefits are; improved power for longer drives; dramatically improved stability for better consistency; a body that moves freer, removing tension from the swing; more energy for 18 holes; elimination of injuries; weight loss; improved concentration due to a reduction in fatigue; I could go on-and-on.

Improved Power For Longer Drives

If your body is weak and inflexible you will not be able to achieve optimal swing mechanics. Such things as a full shoulder turn, with minimal hip rotation; creating and retaining torque (energy) in your core for maximum clubhead spead; proper sequence of motion with muscles firing at the appropriate time; being able to swing just a little harder on long par 5’s and still be in control.

Removing Tension From The Swing

When you improve your flexibility (range of motion specific to your golf swing) you are able to make a full backswing with no tension in the supporting muscles of the swing. Like the shoulders, lower back, upper back (lats), and even the wrists. It is known in most athletics that less tension equals more power.

More Energy For 18 Holes

One of the biggest culprits of back nine blow-ups is loss of energy resulting in poor mental confidence and swing mechanics. I see this one all the time when I play…golfers who are out of shape and lack appropriate fuel intake and maintenance. Having energy for 18 holes builds tremendous confidence and a higher level of play.

Elimination Of Injuries

Golf injuries are prevalent among all amateur golfers, especially senior golfers. The golf swing is a damaging movement on the human body. Swinging a club between 80-100 mph in less than a second can be traumatic. Golfers who don’t have an adequate level of golf strength and flexibility are susceptible to injury every time they swing the club. The lower back usually takes the brunt of the stress and strain. Then hips, knees, shoulders and even wrists. A stronger, more flexible golfer will avoid injuries indefinitely.

Weight Loss

I have worked with over 10,000 golfers via my online golf performance website and they all fill out an initial golf fitness profile. Since I review every one of them personally, I see how many of them have weight loss of 10-30 pounds as a goal. There are more overweight golfers on the course than fit ones. This is because golfers have not come to the conclusion the fitness plays a critical role in golf performance. Exercising will not only improve lean muscle, but melt fat away. To not only improve their golf, but lose weight is icing on the cake for any golfer.

Improved Concentration

How many times have you had a good score going into the back nine only to have a couple of blow-up holes that ruined your score? It happens all the time. Why? Because your body fatigues and your brain doesn’t maintain a high enough level of concentration. The result is poor club selection; swing mechanics and diminishing confidence. A fitter golfer will always have the edge over an out-of-shape one. When the round progresses and tension creeps in they will prevail every time.

The above are only a few golf exercise benefits…but enough to hopefully convince you that it’s worth looking into. The golf swing is now being viewed as a very athletic movement, like baseball, tennis, etc…and should be approached from a conditioning emphasis. I hope you now realize the return on investment from these golf exercise benefits.

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country. He is the expert for Golf Magazine's GolfOnline.com site, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds and manual at http://www.performbettergolf.com

I hope you enjoyed this article. Check back soon for more Golf Tips.

Fran
P.S. Here are some links you can check out
www.golftipsmag.com
www.golflink.com/tips/videos
www.pga.org/improve/tips/
www.pgaprofessionals.com

P. P.S.
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