Wedge Bounce - The Bounce Angle Matters

Wedge bounce is simple and misunderstood at the same time.  But be certain, ensuring you have the proper bounce for course conditions and skill level is paramount to consistency and realibility for your short game.

First of all, what exactly is bounce? Wedge Bounce or Bounce Angle, is the measurement in degrees, of the angle from the leading edge of the club to the lowest point of the club, which rests on the turf or ground. In essence, the more bounce, the higher the leading edge is off the ground. There are two factors that affect bounce angle, sole width and sole camber or "rounding." A wider sole increases bounce. More camber or rounding of the sole on the other hand, reduces bounce. These two characteristics should be taken into consideration.

So, what bounce do you need for various course conditions? High bounce is desirable for tall grass, deep rough, and fluffy sand or any condition where you want to reduce the "digging effect." Low bounce on the other hand, is needed for tight lies, hard turf, firm bunkers, fairway shots. Wedge bounce ranges from 0, up to 14 degrees or greater. Standard bounce varies by wedge so you will want to look at each wedge manufacturer for more information.

So what does this mean to the average golfer? Well, using the right bounce will allow you to hit cleaner shots for any given situation. Using the wrong bounce can contribute to skulls, fat, and thin shots. The better player may want to use multiple bounce angles depending on the conditions of the course. The beginner or high handicap golfer on the other hand, may want to stay with more of a standard bounce for the wedge. In either case however, bounce experimentation is the best way to determine what works best for you. Don't be afraid to experiment on the range or even during rounds to determine the best bounce for your game.

There are many golf wedge manufacturers. Cleveland and Titleist, probably two of the bigger names in wedges have different ways of identifying bounce. Cleveland offers the popular 588, CG12, and CG14 series and employs the red dot method to identify bounce - one dot equals low bounce, two dots standard bounce, and three dots high bounce. Whereas Titleist, maker of the classic Vokey Design, identifies bounce in the suffix of the model name. For example Vokey 256.14 is the 200 Series, loft 56, bounce 14. Another wedge gaining in popularity is the Solus wedge. Solus incorporates something called a crescent cut sole contour which supposedly allows as little as 4 degrees of bounce with a closed club face, to as much as 18 degrees of bounce with an open club face.

Wedge bounce is vital to execution of your short game shots.  Selecting the right bounce really comes down to course conditions and experimenting with different wedges to suit your game.

Ways Of Perfect Your Golf Swing Ability

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If you don't improve your golf swing technique, it is not feasible to play a superb round of golf. Without this essential ability, it is going to be very difficult to actually have a good game of golf. This is not to say that golf cannot be played without this skill, but it certainly makes a positive difference to the overall gaming quality, same goes for your putting skills. It is essential before you begin working to improve this area to remember the aim is not so much to improve your power, but also to improve your distance as well as form.

If you begin with a good sound position as you swing, which includes correct posture, as well as wearing the right shoes and having the right alignment with the ball, you will have a much better chance improve your golf swing. Unless you have a strong and solid posture, you would finally twist untimely and have a lot of troubles with hold the club in the right manner. All these working together can effectively mar your efforts to improve your back swing. Your first line of defense is to always ensure that you have the proper stance, which will help you to instantly and naturally execute the appropriate follow through for your swing.

If in doubt regarding your posture, Snap a picture of yourself or ask somebody to do it for you. Then take your photograph and compare it with one that shows the correct posture. If this is doesn't help you, take some golf lessons, which will give you the opportunity to work with someone to truly perfect your posture. When you get your fundamental skills right, you can develop on them as you progress with time. If you can find a seasoned golf teacher, it is the smartest way to master the game, as they can give you their direct and honest analysis regarding your skill improvement - which is better than analyzing it by yourself.

Once your posture is flawless, give a closer attention to your grip. If you are over extending your grip, or even gripping the golf club the wrong manner, you are going to have a bad backhand from the very start. Unless you can grip your club properly, you can never perfect a good back swing. It is literally impossible and you will find that you are met with an infinite number frustrations from attempting it. A slight shift in the position of your hands even to the tune of a fraction of an inch can result in amazing perfection.

Before you lift the club from the ground, remember to pull it from the golf ball, and this is the final important tip, to improve your back swing. The usual mistake that golfers have is to raise the club from the ground and back from the golf ball at the same time. This not only causes the club to hit  the ball off center, but also hinders your movement. Foremost pull the club back in a straight direction and then raise it off the ground, and watch a dramatic improvement immediately. This is not something that should be unnatural or challenging to do. So much as you make a calculated effort to pull the club back beforehand, you should find that is sufficient to help improve your swing and therefore you game of golf.

Simple Golf Tips To Help Improve Your Swing

There are about as many tips for golf swings as there are golfers. Your friends, family, and even golfers that you just met on the course will offer you tips. The fact is, that there is a lot of disagreement even among pros, so then how can you improve your swing? Well there are three basics that are standard tips from pros. If you keep these in mind you will likely see improvement in your game.

Keep Your Head Stationary

It sounds simple enough, but one of the most common problems with golf is keeping the head still. With all of the other movements going on with a golf swing, it can be easy to let your head move around. Keeping your head still will keep you consentrating on the same part of the ball without changing perspective.

Relax Your Muscles!

By relaxing your muscles, you can attain one of the most important parts of a golf swing: balance. Stand so that you are comfortable and relaxed while addressing the ball, by making sure that you can reach it easily. Remember, no matter which club or what distance you are swinging, what will make your swing powerful and smooth is balance. Of all the tips for golf swings that you might learn, relaxing and maintaining good balance is one of the most important.

Keep the Head of the Club Moving Straight Through the Ball

Again, it seems simple enough. Most people, in principle, realize that the club head must travel straight through the ball, but they don’t give it any thought when they are playing. Once you have balance and your head still, the only tip for your golf swing left is to keep the head straight. By striking the ball straight, you can get rid of that nasty slice so many beginners have.

Golf is a fickle game, which is why there are tips for golf online, in books, from friends, and pretty much anywhere you look. While pros may vary on swing theory, these three tips are fairly universal and should get you going in the right direction.

Good golf aids can also be a great help on their own. However, if you already take lessons, they will enhance the experience. You can utilize the aids you choose or read to add on to the information you get form your lessons. You will be amazed at how quickly a few lessons will improve your game.

The Usual Mistakes Made by People Who Are Learning Golf

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Learning to play golf is not a simple thing that you can carry out  brainlessly. Golf in in actual fact is many times pretty challenging and will require that you focus on the precise rules and form. You need to be aware of some common mistakes that first timers are prone to make and a professional golf trainer can help you from committing those same mistakes. Everything becomes easier with the help from a good trainer.

This is one mistake that beginners usually make: beginners who are learning golf tend to lookup when striking. This is a problem as it can result in a stroke being counted even if you didn't touch the ball. It is important to always look down until after you have hit the ball. You can practice by keeping your hips rotated after the hit. Extend your arms fully - this posture really helps a beginner who is learning golf. Pace yourself by counting to up five after a hit to avoid looking up too quickly.

Another common mistake for people learning golf is that once on the green, too many putts are missed. You can avoid this by taking a putting stance and focusing at the top of the ball. This increases your probability of hitting the ball while steering it towards the direction you are aiming for. The success you achieve will steer you towards bigger accomplishments.

It is interesting to see the ball of new golf learners, going to the sides instead of the middle of the green. Some patience will make a big difference in redeeming this situation.

Proper stance is imperative to execute the perfect stroke. You have to make sure that you are taking the time to meticulously analyze your stance before each swing so you may need to back up a little to ensure that you are not hitting the ball from the side of the club. This will definitely propel the ball to the side of the green. Ensuring a solid, square swing will send your ball to fly to the envisioned location with continued practice.

Be mindful of hooking - they are very blatant flaws that are pervasive in most amateurs learning to golf. Some have a problem with their stance which causes the ball to hook, while others are grasping the club too hard, causing it to hit the ball the wrong way. Hooking the ball is also caused by the act of gripping the club too tightly. In conclusion, it goes without saying that practice is vital in order to improve your game of golf.

Things You Should Know About Golf Grips

Using Golf Grips

A great sum of money is spent each year by every golfer for their golf equipment, and items like golf clubs are always on the top of their list and they tend to buy the best ones that their money could afford. Significant amounts of money are further invested on private gold lessons and golf training aids in addition to the expenses for their basic golf gear, however they tend to forget or overlook a fundamental item - the golf grips.

It is very inexpensive to be able to outfit your entire golf club set with new grips, and it is an effective way to help improve your game, as it helps you with having more consistency due to the ability to have a better hold on your clubs. Having a firmer and improved grip allows you to improve the delivery of your swing.

When you gold clubs have been used continuously and the golf grips worn out, it makes no difference if you buy thousands of dollars of the best golf training aid products available in the market, you will still not improve your game simply because if the grips are in bad shape it will just deteriorate your game. For golfers that are really serious about improving their game to the highest potential, they know that every aspect of their golf equipment has to be kept in the best condition possible.

For a lot of the amateur golfers, they tend to forget about changing their golf grips. For novices, it is even worse as the have the tendency of playing with the same golf sets for many years and then they wonder why they are still not improving their game the way they expect, despite spending a lot of money on training courses, spending so much time in practicing, and procuring the most expensive of golf training aids.

Professional golfers know exactly how important it is to change the grips on their clubs regularly. In fact, some pros will have their clubs re-gripped at the end of every round of a golf tournament or other competitive event they are participating in. The reason they do this is so that their clubs feel exactly the same in their hands every day that they start a new round of play.

It would certainly be an overkill to change the golf grips after every round for the average golfer, but considering the extremely high level of competition in the golf tournaments today, every advantage counts and for the pros they will leave no things to chance. By the fact that the professionals are putting that much emphasis on ensuring that their grips are in the best condition, it should not be surprise for any other golfer why they are not in the same league if they are unable to make the same commitment in keeping their golf equipment in top condition.



You may not need to replace all of the grips on your golf club set at the same time. It really depends on how often you use your clubs. You can choose to only replace the grips on the clubs that are used more and are starting to feel worn. However, some golfers like to have all of the clubs re-gripped at the same time so that, for awhile at least, all the clubs have the same feel to them.

It is good to get into the habit of checking on the condition of the golf grips on your clubs at least once a month, especially if you play a round once a week. Grips that have that shiny look and slick feel should be replaced. A set of grips in good condition will feel a bit sticky and will feel great as you wrap your hands around them. When you have new grips on your clubs you will have a better sense of confidence, which in turn will lead to more success on the course.

Aldila VS By You - Is This Shaft for You?

The Aldila VS Proto By You shaft has been classified as an NV on steroids. That may be true.  Even though the NV shaft has enjoyed popularity seen by few shafts, the VS by all counts, seems to be well on its way to matching the glory that the NV has seen.  Why has this shaft literally come out of nowhere to achieve greatness at such an early age?

Well, there are probably a number of reasons that make the VS Proto popular. In addition to the obvious performance improvements which culminated from 2 years of research. Continued improvements were made to the already successful Micro-Laminate Technology. And, Aldila used the name VS Proto "By You" to add marketibility. The marketing seemed to work -- the VS made a big splash onto the scene, one that it continues to enjoy today.

The shaft features Aldila's exclusive Next-Generation Micro Laminate Technology (MLT), Carbon Nano Tubes combined with a propriety A65 performance resin system. In addition, the straight tapered tooling of the VS eliminates "dead zones" found in the majority of shafts today. The patented features allows for an unparalleled performance and power. Because of the high modulus graphite fibers found in the shaft, the responsiveness and feel is unmatched.

Introduced in 2006', the Aldila VS has gained in popularity.  Of course, having many top tour players commend the shaft doesn't hurt.  Aldila, early in its introduction, claimed the new VS was their best ever.  This comment certainly got attention since the shaft maker already had a one of the most popular lines in the the NV, NVS and DVS models.

The Aldila VS shaft is designed for the higher skilled player that can generate adequate club head speed. The VS will have a slightly higher launch angle than the NV and is designed for the larger club heads.  All around, this shaft is considered a premier shaft if you have the game for it.

A Straightforward Review Of The Golf Swing Guru Product

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Aren't you sick of your golf swing leaving you with less than a 300 yard drive every time you tee off?

Do you find yourself panting away as you drag yourself around the golf course and wish you paid for a golf cart?

Are you frequently playing golf with your friends and co-workers and coming last (then paying for drinks at your local bar)?

You are not the only one.

A great number of people – both men and women – are always searching for tips to improve their golf games. While there are numerous methods available, it’s hard to know which ones are the best.

Golf Swing Guru Review

Golf Swing Guru is an effective program that can help you reduce your golf swing between seven and twelve strokes per game. If you have an inconsistent swing, issues with your slices, or need to improve the distances of your drives, then this could be what you're looking for.

The main issue the majority of golf players face is that their swing is not consistent. The Golf Swing Guru technique corrects the slice by teaching you how to address the ball skillfully and hit the ball straight, keeping it on the fairway and out of the rough. It shows you how to swing in such a way so that you get optimal strength behind your drive and how to do it every single time.

Golf Swing Guru comes in ebook format and is downloadable onto your computer. It also includes step by step videos that teach you how to master your golf swing. Seeing the techniques in action really helps to learn the skill faster and is much more easily to grasp than by simply looking up a book on the matter.

Golf Swing Guru usually costs $94 but it can be bought at $47 if you give permission to the company behind it to include your success story on their website.

Golf Swing Guru provides a 100% ironclad money back guarantee so you have nothing to be afraid of by trying the program and seeing how effectively it improves your golf swing. If you can improve your golfing, then it is definitely worth the money.

Even Tiger Woods knows this technique and it has helped golfers all round the globe so you can be confident that it will benefit you as well!

 

What You Should Know About Golf Injuries

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Due to the nature of golfing, some getting golf injuries along the way is pretty natural. Beginners learning golf, and their accompanying bodies, can save themselves a whole lot of pain by taking the time to learn how common golf injuries occur and avoiding those mistakes. Always try to ensure that you are in proper physical shape before you play. The , the less injuries you will get.

Due to the continuos walking and swinging involved in the activities of golf, it should be of no surprise that back injuries are a major source of pain for Amateurs who learn to golf. The back muscles can be properly conditioned, as with any other muscles in our bodies. Our backs need tons of rest after a game of demanding golf action. If you play consecutive sessions of golf one after another, you may want to consider an occasional massage or even a chiropractic alignment.

In addition, one other common golf injury is the tennis elbow, which is also called the golfer's elbow. However, there are some minor differences between the tennis and golfer's elbow. The outward area of the upper arm is the region affected by tennis elbow, while the inward side of the upper arm is the part that is affected by golfer's elbow. While there is no definite way to prevent these injuries from taking place, these injuries are usually caused by golfing more frequently all a sudden. Tennis and golfer's elbow is likely to happen, for example, to the person who suddenly plays a long tournament when they are used to playing a single game once a month.

Amateurs who learn golf, unsurprisingly, suffer a good amount of shoulder pain which is another very common golf injury. As you can imagine, golfers put a great deal of pressure on their shoulders every time they swing their clubs. When the body is weary and worn, it is prone to injury. This is due to the fact that shoulders muscles are going to be in use frequently in the game, the best way to prevent injury to them is through warming them up but keeping your body in good shape is also helpful.

Carpal tunnel injury is one final common form of golf injury. For instance, you could experience this injury when you are playing continuous games of golf in a row over a few months. The injury can be rather serious, but if it discovered early, typically a brace will fix your problems. Others suffer far more serious cases of this dreadful problem, losing the ability to move their hands and these unfortunate people generally are in need of surgery. The most irritating thing about carpal tunnel is the fact that it sometimes gives no warning signals until the signs of distress reach a near ubearable level. A helpful tip is to get a wrist band whenever you begin feeling wrist discomfort.

Diamana Shaft - A Winning Breed of Golf Shafts

The Diamana shaft by Mitsubishi Rayon has been in a long standing tradition of premier golf shafts.  Mitsubishi, the manufacturer, has several models to choose from, Red Board, White Board, and Blue Board.

The choosy golfer has come to expect more from shafts and what they provide for their games.  Diamana is at the head of the class.  Mitsubishi has a highly intensive and performance-oriented prototyping and testing process.  Most notably, tour players get heavily involved in the pro-typing process.  All the major tours give input to Mitsubishi along the way allowing continually and evolving improvement for the shaft all the way to market.  This process is matched by few shaft makers, a win-win for all involved.

To add to the extensive production process, Mitsubishi has what they call Vertical Integration technology.  This technology allows them to combine any number of resins and fibers required to increase the performance of the shaft.  Mitsubishi puts a lot of stock in this technology and labels this their Material Difference.

Below, is a Mitsubishi Diamana model summary:

Diamana Red Board is a low torque, active tip, stiff mid-section and softer butt section.  The active tip helps "load" the the shaft during the swing transition and promote a higher launch, a great distance achiever.  The stiff mid section provides an element of control.  This shaft is designed for the average to above average player looking to increase distance without giving up control.

Diamana White Board is a low torque, stiff tip, stiff mid-section and softer butt section.  The White Board provides the penetrating ball flight similar to the Blue Board.  This shaft is definitely geared for the stronger player looking for good control and slightly higher ball flight than the Blue Board.  Higher launch and low spin is definitely the trend to optimize distance.  The White Board provides this balance.

Diamana Blue Board shaft is probably the most popular and scrutinized of the three.  The Blue Board is a low torque, stiff tip shaft that offers a very balanced feel for a variety of shots.  A very stable mid-section offers a less kick to enhance balance and responsiveness.  The penetrating ball flight is well suited for the advanced player with plenty of swing speed, looking for a combination of balance, feel and versatility.

Golfers that understand the importance of shaft technology also know the Mitsubishi Diamana delivers.  Are you ready for the power and control of a Diamana?  If you are looking to upgrade your shaft during the off season, you owe it to yourself to check out the Diamana Shaft.

Ways To Perfect Your Golf Putting Skills

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One of the ways you could improve your golf game is to improve your putting talents. It might seem terribly unlikely but you can actually improve your skills by doing regular practice and taking care of some particular aspects of your game. After you have grasped what you have to do, you should master the art through repeated practice. It is extremely important to remember that if you don't have well-oiled putting skills, you will not be able to achieve a good long shot.

Which skill is needed to be practiced to learn golf differs from one player to the other, but it is important to be mindful that if you don't practice, you can not make any improvement. There are three specific areas which are normally recommended which you have to zoom into, to play the best golf. How do you ensure that the ball comes in contact with the center of the club head? If you can't hit the ball with the center of the club head, you will not be good at putting. The ball will not just go straight, if it is hit by the side of the club head. What it in fact does is make you feel frustrated. It doesn't matter how many hours of practice you invest in your game, you simply can not get your desired results by doing that.

Once you have improved this skill skill to strike the ball using the center of the club head, you need to move on to ensuring you always strike the ball in a straight line towards the target. What this means is that if you want the ball to move two feet away from you, say towards the lake, you should not be aiming for the tree next to it. You may think that this is rather unusual, but not many people know how to make the ball hit the specific target. How did they miss the shot, is the next question which crops up in their minds. Even if you are off by just a fraction it can seriously affect your putting skills as the ball will not go where you want it to go.

This aspect of golf should be practiced merticulously. It also increases your handicap. Only consistent practice can help you conquer this problem. Now you can practice at home or office if you use a small home putting kit. While you are trying to work on this area, it is best to not go to the driving range.

The second skill you need to improve while trying to improve your putting skills is to learn the skill of pumping in more power to your club head as it travels closer towards the ball. Slowing down the club before it contacts the ball is a general mistake commited by numerous golf beginners. This generally causes a decrease in momentum which deters the ball from hitting the target. By putting this into action, you can improve your golf putting skills and should assure you of a more challenging golf experiences the next time.

Golf Gifts - 4 Of The Best Golf Gift Ideas

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It often amazes me that some people struggle to come up with good golf gift ideas. I mean, we are not talking about a collector of expensive gold coins. We are talking about golfers and what they would like to receive. Golf & Gifts go together easily as there are so many options.

Believe me, I have received plenty of naff golf gifts over the years. I have had to put up with embarrassing golf presents like bright coloured knitted golf club headcovers with a Christmas theme. So, to avoid anymore of these unwanted golf gifts, here are my top 4 types of golf gifts.

Practical Golf Gifts

The best golf gifts that you can buy are practical ones. All you have to do is find out which brand and type of golf balls the golfer uses. Then you would buy a box of those golf balls or perhaps even buy some higher priced ones. Just make sure that you find out what golf ball specifications the golfer prefers – distance, medium feel, high spin, etc.

Another idea for the best golf gifts is to buy replacement brand name golf club headcovers. If the golfer uses Callaway golf clubs, for example, and the headcovers are worn and scuffed or just plain or mismatched, then you could buy some Callaway replacement headcovers.

Personalized Golf Gifts

If you want a more unique golf gift, then how about buying Personalized Golf Gifts. There are many options of personalized golf equipment or accessories. The most popular are personalized golf balls, where you can usually have up to three lines of text imprinted on the golf balls of your choice.

Other items of personalized golf accessories are monogrammed golf shirts, golf caps, and golf towels. You can also get personalized golf bags with two lines of text from the likes of Nike and Callaway Golf.

Golf Memorabilia

If you are looking for an unusual golf gift then you can’t go wrong with Golf Memorabilia. You will want to make sure that the gift is authentic and certified golf memorabilia. Look for a guarantee and that every autographed product comes with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).

One company that I know and trust is Pro Sports Memorabilia. When it comes to guarantees and certificates of authenticity, this is the company to go to for peace of mind. You will surely find that unusual golf gift you were looking for and something that any golfer would be pleased to receive.

Corporate Golf Gifts

If you have your own company and are also a golfer, you have probably done some business on the golf course. Or, maybe you work for a company and you need to buy corporate golf gifts for some clients. Either way, your best option is to order some custom logo golf gifts.

Custom logo golf accessories are a great way to promote your business. There are many customizable golf products, so you will be spoiled for choice. Again, the most popular is custom logo golf balls which can even have their own custom logo packaging. Other items include custom logo tees, caps, towels, divot tools, shirts, gloves and umbrellas.

So, there you have my top 4 golf & gifts ideas. You should be able to find the perfect golf gift from these ideas – whether it is for a friend, a loved one, or a business associate. Also, you can visit my golf site for more information on Golf Accessories and Gifts.

 

Perfect Your Golf Swing

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As you may know one of the most essential parts of being a good golf player is studying exactly how to swing and hit the ball properly. If you have a poor golf swing, it can work against you dramatically and give you different problems when you are trying to play a winning game. Continual practice and unyielding tenacity are the two virtues needed for perfecting a proper swing, which for obvious reasons seem to be very tricky to do in the beginning.

In the beginning, it may appear virtually impossible to learn how to successfully swing the golf club. This is unfortunately due to the many various aspects of a proper swing that is involved. From adopting the right stance, to using the correct, to even the way you grip the club and not to mention the way you shift your weight; there are many factors that can alter your swing effectiveness. This makes the task of finding out the precise reason why you have an incorrect golf swing and what remedies can be suggested to rectify it.

Most beginners who take golf lessons tend to invest a lot of time working on ways in which they can master their swing. To play golf successfully, it is essential that you develop this skill, as if you don't have it, no matter how diligently you try to achieve perfection, you would ultimately fall flat on your face. This makes it highly necessary that you spend a lot of time determining how to improve your skills. So, your first step should always be finding an instructor who is patient with you and makes you feel comfortable. This is vital as you need to be relaxed for you to learn the proper stance.

If you have an instructor with whom you cannot be easy with, your swings would always be off the tangent and your playing would get hindered. Because of the comfort that you must have, it is imperative that you are comfortable with your trainer so that you can relax and focus suitably on your overall form. Spend more time and effort with your trainer, in case you find that learning to play golf is becoming more and more difficult, and you have to do this before you proceed with your golf lessons.

When you are supported by an expert teacher and spend adequate time and effort to take your golf swing ability to perfection, you would be surprised to find several other facets of the game taking shape. A good swing makes the game not only more satisfying but also more thrilling. While practice and perseverance will improve your golf swing, it also displays  your inherent ability in making the best decision each time you do a swing with the ball. If you take the the golf swing  lightly and do it for the sake of doing it, it becomes a self-defeating exercise leaving you with poor golf results.

No matter what it takes, it could be a single or 20 sessions before you learn the art of golf. If you are a natural at golf, you will be able to improve much faster, however if you have complications with your swing it is perfectly normal and natural that it will take some extra time to master the skill. Numerous novices would usually spend  much more time perfecting their swings than investing time learning other aspects of the golf game. You have to keep these things in mind as you strive to improve your swing as a good swing results in success and a lousy swing results in frustration and failure.

Improve Television Golf Coverage

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By Jim Nettleton

Overall, television coverage of professional golf is very good. But I feel that adjustments are necessary for that coverage to reach the level of excellence.

Typical tournament coverage involves many distractions from the game at hand. Endless interviews while there is action on the course are an annoyance, taking away from the focus on the continuity of the tournament. These diversions can be easily eliminated.

Television is, obviously, a visual medium. There is no need to concentrate entirely on an interview with a player while blocking out what’s transpiring on the course. Baseball also falls victim to this tendency, as do other sports, failing to use split screen technology that keeps sport fans in touch with the developments on the field while announcers are interviewing players.

I enjoy interviews with players that interject their perspective on the contest, but I want to also see the current action on the field. Too infrequently, television devotes one hundred percent of its attention to these sidebars and neglects the story that is unfolding on the course at the moment. There is no reason that TV cannot multitask. One set of actions does not have to be sacrificed for another.

One of my pet peeves of television’s golf coverage, for example, is the ever-present need to indulge in lofty introductions as they begin telecasting a golf tournament. Introduce the announcers, give a synopsis of previous play, mention the sponsors, etc. By the time we get to actual coverage of what’s happening now, we’re five, six or seven minutes past the opening of the telecast.

I want to see what’s happening now, not a day ago. I’ve already read about that in my morning newspaper. I don’t want to see today’s analysts bantering back and forth, I want to see what’s going on at the course, live and on time.

The analysts can banter if they wish, and much of what they say is timely, but we can and should see the game develop at the same time. These do not have to be separate and independent exercises.

Then there is the obligatory appearance by the CEO of the sponsoring company. There is no reason that we must see him/her full screen to the elimination of the course action. Put him/her on a quarter screen, while we still follow the game on the course.

If television would give us all a chance to see multiple views more viewers would be able to see more action. The other imperatives which networks need to include could all be accommodated by using split screen technology and we could all enjoy that continuity of tournament coverage that we deserve to have.

About the Author:

Jim Nettleton is a radio and television professional who is a lifelong golf addict and lived in Tampa for 10 years. He highly recommends The Simple Golf Swing - http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux for those struggling with their game. Visit his golf blog at:

http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com/

Golf In Florida Part 7

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By Jim Nettleton

Another must play in the Tampa region is the University of South Florida Golf Course, located on Fowler Avenue in the northeast area of the city. Affectionately known as “The Claw”, a name derived from one of its holes, the USF course is a stern test for golfers of all abilities.

The course was designed in an around a swamp, which comes into play on many holes. Generally, the fairways are narrow with trouble on both sides on several holes. The Claw starts you out with a relatively benign par 4 of 439 yards, which has little trouble on either side. But things begin to close in quickly as you play the second, another par 4 that is considerably narrower. The par 5 third hole also requires extreme accuracy on both the drive and the second shot.

After playing number 4, an outstanding par 4, and number 5, an excellent par 3 that is a realistic birdie chance, you are face with the tee shot on the sixth. This is a wonderful par 5 that doglegs left around a lake. Big hitters can choose to cut off as much of the corner as they dare to be left with a short second shot to the green. It’s a hole requiring courage off the tee.

Seven, eight and nine are also fine tests, with the par 3 eighth playing a robust 220 yards.

The back nine continues to force players to be accurate off the tee. Nowhere is accuracy more necessary than on the fourteenth, the infamous ‘Claw’ par 5 that winds through swamp and forest to present a severe test.

The USF course features elevated greens and natural surroundings throughout. Greens fees are reasonable and this course should be placed near the top of your list for a play.

Heading southeast, to Valrico, we find one of Florida’s finest courses, in my opinion, The Bloomingdale Golfers Club. You’ll find no tennis courts, no swimming pool here – just golf in beautiful surroundings and a course that is second to none.

Many tour pros have been members here since they find it a perfect spot to work on their games. The course stretches 7,155 yards from the tips and has a rating of 74.4, which should tell you to bring your ‘A’ game when visiting. Golf Digest, in fact, described Bloomingdale as having the best collection of par 5s on one golf course that they’ve seen.

Two of my favorite par 5 holes at Bloomingdale are the fourth and the ninth. The former measures 564 yards. It begins by bending left and then turning right. Finally, it turns left again to the hole. Accurate tee shot placement is a must as is an accurate second shot. The ninth is a 546 yard dogleg left with a lake on the right that comes into play on the tee shot. It plays to a green that is almost an island.

Along with those, you’ll find a collection of some of the best-designed golf holes in the region, if not the state. Another favorite is the eighteenth, a great par 4 at 409 yards that demands a very well placed tee shot to set up an approach over a marsh up to the green.

The Bloomingdale Golfers Club is most certainly not to be missed on your golf tour of the Tampa area.

About the Author:

Jim Nettleton is a radio and television professional who is a lifelong golf addict and lived in Tampa for 10 years. He highly recommends The Simple Golf Swing - http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux for those struggling with their game. Visit his golf blog at http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com/

Custom Fit Golf Clubs: Improve Your Game With The Right Clubs

Every golfer's physical capability and swing is distinctive. Many of today's best golf clubs can be custom fit for lie angle, shaft type and length, grip type and size. Custom fitting golf clubs involves several easy measurements and a quick self-assessment of your game. These clubs are becoming to popular than even amateurs are giving them a shot. You might think that going out and buying some new, fancy, hybrid golf clubs will fix your game, but that won't help as much as having your clubs custom fitted.

Whatever your level, with a custom golf club the aim is to ensure that if you do make a good swing, the club will be square at impact and should produce a straight shot.

To custom fit your golf club sets, you need to know: your gender (male or female); your height in your stockings or socks; the distance from your wrist (where it bends) to the floor with your shoes off; your age; your handicap or skill level; how fast you swing a golf club; what club you use at the 150 yard marker.

Gender is used to put you into the correct fitting scale for custom golf clubs. The golf industry uses different definitions of "standard length" for men and women.

Your height and the distance in inches from your wrist to the floor are used together to determine the length of a custom golf club that is appropriate for you. The starting point for club length can vary up to 3 Ω-inch ranging from ladies to men plus 1 Ω-inch. A tall person with long arms can very easily require shorter clubs than an average height person with short arms. About 80 percent of golfers are standard length.

Your age, handicap (if you happen to have one), self-assessed skill level, estimated golf swing speed and club you use at the 150 yard marker are all combined to determined the custom golf club's shaft flex that is appropriate for you.

If you want to fix a slice, custom fitting can help. If you slice the ball it means that the toe of the club is leading into the ball which opens the face of the club. That may be down to a swing problem, but another possible cause is that the club flatter than it should be. So as part of the custom fitting process you can make the custom golf club more upright to help with this. This will mean that the toe of the club will be slightly off the ground at address to compensate.

There are different methods of fitting according to custom golf club manufacturers but ultimately they are all trying to improve your game. To begin with simple measurements such as wrist-to-floor, height and hand size are taken and will point you to the right size club and at what angle it should be to the ground. Then, you will go out and start whacking some balls. One way of doing this is to put impact tape on the bottom of the club, with an impact board on the floor.

As you hit the ball the board will leave a mark on the tape showing whether the heel or the toe of the custom golf club is striking the floor first. The resulting mark will show whether the club face needs to be flatter or more upright. After this, things get trickier. Analysis equipment can measure everything from your club speed to the side spin of the ball so that you can get maximum distance from your shot. You can measure such things as the angle the ball is being launched, the amount of backspin generated, and the efficiency of the impact. The angle in which the custom golf club approaches the ball and the sidespin of it can help fix your game too.

Rather than bringing down your old clubs, it might be better to start from scratch. It is a huge mistake to think that custom fit clubs are only for those special, good golfers. Anyone can benefit. That said, if you plan to upgrade a new set of clubs with the same manufacturer they may be able to adjust your old set to become custom golf clubs.

Lastly, custom fitting is often free of charge. But it is usually on the condition that you buy some clubs once you've been fitted. So it really depends on what your budget is. If you're prepared to buy a new set of clubs it's definitely worth getting fitted.

Improve Your Golf By Attending A Golf Fitness Program

golf improvement

There is no doubt that golf is a very popular sport and one of the reasons for that is because almost everyone, regardless of their age or physical condition, can get out on the golf course and knock a few balls down the fairway. Even the elderly and those with some handicaps can participate thanks to golf cars and golf aids. However, if you want to be a winner at the game, then it might be helpful if you undertake a golf fitness program.

A fitness program for golf is considered to be a must-have for those who are serious about the game, whether they are amateurs or professionals. The demands of the game of golf are rather minimal if you are just playing for fun and for the enjoyment of being out of doors on a regular basis; yet, if you are at all interested in being competitive, then your golf improvement will depend to a large degree on your physical level of fitness.

Oftentimes, even experienced golfers find that they are left with various aches, soreness and stiffness after they play a round of golf. This happens because of the stress and strain that is placed on the body as the person goes through the motion of the swing, centralizing in the back in most cases. A good golf fitness program helps strengthen the muscles in the back and this, in turn, can help reduce the pain while also helping to improve your golf swing.

Regular exercise is important for staying in shape and for playing golf to your best abilities, especially if it is a competitive game with a group of golf buddies who like to take bets on the round. A good fitness program designed for golfers will help protect your muscles and joints simply by making them stronger and better able to handle the rigors of a vigorous round of golf.

The best thing about these golf improvement programs is that they help you to maintain the necessary physical mechanics that support the swing, which is the most important aspect of the game. By doing golf stretching movements and exercises that are part of golf training videos for fitness, you will be able to create and build the correct muscles and also increase joint resistance and flexibility. Combined, this helps to keep you strong and limber at the same time, which will help you to execute the needed moves.

As golfers age, they also need to stay in the best shape possible if they want to feel that their game is always improving rather than diminishing. However, it is easy to spot those older golfers who obviously follow a golf fitness guide because you can see them walking the fairways with a spring in their step. Age does not have to interfere with playing a great round of golf that you can brag about all week, but it does require the effort of doing golf exercises on a regular basis.

For the most part it does not require a massive time commitment in order to follow a good golf fitness program. Most people even combine a golf fitness routine with other everyday activities, such as walking. Often, people will first take a brief, brisk walk and then go through the golf stretching routine. You will discover that doing this on a regular basis will deliver amazing results that will make you feel better overall and will improve your game as well.

Fujikura Speeder Shafts - Experience the Power

The Speeder shaft has experienced success from all ends of the spectrum, most notably the PGA Tour. Although the Speeder remains one of the most popular shafts on tour, Fujikura has taken the shaft to the masses with success.But why has the Speeder shaft been so good?

To start, Fujikura holds one of the most promising shaft technologies to date - the Triax technology and it's at the heart of the Speeder Series. Triax is a carbon fiber woven in honeycomb structure giving the shaft extraordinary capabilities. The Triax technology allows the shaft to withstand the tremendous forces of twisting that occurs during the swing which provides much more consistency throughout.  Better vibration dampening and an incredible enhancement of energy transfer at impact. The Triax technology remains one of the highest touted technologies to come along in years.

The Speeder shaft also offers diversity.  The Speeder Series is available in five models, identified by desired weight, spin, launch and bend points. The Speeder series include the 569, 586, 652, 686, and 757 models.

The 569 series is the lightest model designed for the average player looking for higher spin, higher launch and a low to mid bend point.

The 757 is the heaviest model, coming in at 77 to 82 grams.The 757 is most definitely geared for the more accomplished player seeking a penetrating ball flight with a lower trajectory.

In between the 569 and 757 lies a range that most golfers will find safe haven.

The Fujikura Speeder popularity speaks volumes.  It is safe to say, the Triax technologies has made the Speeder a premier shaft - a following and popularity experienced by few shaft makers. The wide choice of models is what makes the Speeder series alluring to the all golfers.  If your plans are for a new shaft in the future, you need to put the Speeder shaft on your short list.

The LPGA And The English Flap

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By Jim Nettleton

Recently the LPGA and its Commissioner, Carolyn Bivens, has been at the center of a storm of controversy concerning the organization’s intent to suspend players who did not speak English. This proposed action was quickly deemed discriminatory by some lawmakers and a few corporate sponsors.

Let’s try to examine this issue rationally and logically. As we all know, each tournament features a Pro-Am event preceding the major competition. Amateurs fork over large amounts of entry monies to participate in these Pro-Am events, principally for a chance to play with the professionals, of course. Would any of us be happy if we turned over a considerable chunk of change only to find that we couldn’t even communicate with the pro in our group?

I’ve played in several PGA Tour Pro-Am events over the years and once in an LPGA event some years back and in all cases one of the highlights was the interaction with the professional. The players in whose groups I participated made all the amateurs feel at ease, dispensing tips and telling stories that made the events delightful.

Communication with amateur players is a necessary skill for pros both male and female. Naturally, some are better at making amateurs feel at home than others, but all need to have the skill sets to at least make a good try at creating a cordial, fun atmosphere during the Pro-Am event. If the pro simply can’t communicate, the participating amateur golfers are being cheated of a large part of the reason that they spent money to be there.

One of the time-honored traditions in Pro-Ams is that of the pro golfer imparting tips to his amateur flock. This would not be possible if the pro spoke no English. It further complicates rulings, as well. A tour official can’t explain a rules situation to someone that doesn’t understand him or her. The added expense and inconvenience of having interpreters all over the golf course becomes burdensome, as well.

A requirement that players speak English isn’t discriminatory, it’s logical. It’s not as if the golfers only play in this country occasionally. Most are regulars on the LPGA Tour. In fact, the LPGA currently has some 121 players that hail from 26 different countries, which includes 45 from South Korea. That would certainly be quite a Tower Of Babel if all 121 spoke no English.

Carolyn Bivens rightly points out that speaking English is advantageous for the players from a monetary standpoint as well. Many endorsements, speaking engagements and the like would be far easier to come by if the players spoke English.

In my opinion, requiring the players to be at least minimally proficient in English is certainly not beyond the pale. It is for everyone’s benefit as well as their own. All involved with the LPGA Tour, the amateurs who pay to play, the officials and even the spectators benefit, since players could communicate with them during the tournament.

Given the huge amounts of money they are privileged to play for on a regular basis, it seems a small price to pay. Speaking English will pay them dividends on many levels in the years to come. At the time of this writing, the LPGA has softened its stand and is rethinking its proposed policy. Hopefully, the right final decision will be made so that all involved will be winners.

About The Author

Jim Nettleton is a radio and television professional who is an avid golfer and golf historian. He highly recommends The Simple Golf Swing - http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux

for those struggling with their game. Visit his golf blog at http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com/

Bring The Real Game Of Golf Back

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By Jim Nettleton

I freely admit to being a fanatic about playing the great game of golf as well as being a lifelong fan of the professional game. I first started following the pro circuit when Arnold Palmer broke on the scene like a swashbuckling D’Artagnan. I quickly fell in love with the nearly poetic beauty of the game and became fascinated by Palmer’s bold adventures.

From today’s perspective, we look back on those days, the days of television’s early feeble attempts at covering a game played over many acres, and realize that what were then called ‘fast’ greens were, in reality, excruciatingly slow and bumpy. And that course conditions were, for the most part, ragged. Observe some of the replays of All Star Golf and the early Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf on the Golf Channel and you’ll see what I mean.

It only makes all the more remarkable the achievements of the greats of those days and the days long before them. How, for example, under those conditions, was Byron Nelson able to set an incredible scoring average that stood for decades until Tiger Woods (who else) broke it in 2000? But the record was broken on courses manicured to a degree that Nelson could only have dreamed of during his prime.

All of which brings us to the current day and what is happening to this great game. True, today’s players are bigger, stronger and better conditioned than any who have gone before. And true, their talent level as a whole is greater – after all, they’ve had amazing role models from whom to learn. They’ve also had the benefit of an unprecedented amount of research and electronic analysis that didn’t exist in their predecessors’ time.

It is normal and even beneficial that the overall talent level and general proficiency improves and that cherished records fall on a fairly regular basis as Father Time marches on. But what we’ve seen over the past ten to twenty years is too much.

Players now on the Champion’s Tour are hitting the ball farther than they ever did while in their prime on the regular tour. The average driving distance on the regular tour is increasing geometrically. Architects are being forced to stretch classic courses to inconceivable lengths: courses routinely now measure an incredible 7,500 yards – and, I believe, the overall health of the game is suffering.

It is in some ways similar to what’s happened to basketball over the years. Once an intriguing game of finesse, it has become nothing more than a group of extremely tall people dashing madly up and down the court and stuffing the ball ferociously into the basket. What were once fouls are ignored – traveling and palming the ball are now routine. Just about anything goes in today’s world of Full Contact Basketball. Gone is the intricate teamwork that once made the game a joy.

Golf is in danger of undergoing the same type of deterioration. With the incredible advances in club and ball technology that have largely gone unchecked by the USGA and R&A, great courses are becoming obsolete, records are becoming fodder for the shredder and the game’s finesse, except in the case of a few modern players such as Woods and Michelson, is disappearing at an alarming rate. It is becoming a ‘slam it hard and find it’ game.

When was the last time you saw a pro gently cut a long iron – and I’m talking a 1 or 2 iron – into the target? Today’s ball is harder to curve and fewer and fewer pros master the art of working the ball.

I liked Jack Nicklaus’ idea of some years ago – his suggestion of a ‘standard ball’, if you will. Strictly regulate the distance the ball can go under normal circumstances to retain the integrity of our great courses. Let’s make talent the determining factor, not who happens to grab the latest hot technology.

A great story is told of Sam Snead playing Pinehurst #2. When he was in his prime, he used a 1 iron on one of the longer par 3s on the course. Many years later, playing on the Senior Tour, he used a 3 iron. He was well into his 50s at the time.

That classic picture of Ben Hogan at Merion in 1950 hitting a 1 iron into the 18^th green is another example. Years later, I attended the Open there and stood at exactly the same spot watching Jack Nicklaus use a 5 iron.

We need to bring the game under control. The great players will still be the great players – Tiger Woods would have been a force of nature in days past, just as he is today – but the big winners would be the classic courses like Merion, which has no more room to expand to accommodate today’s super boomers; the environment, since less area would be needed and less maintenance required; and the history and integrity of the game.

About The Author

Jim Nettleton is a radio and television professional who is an avid golfer and golf historian. He highly recommends The Simple Golf Swing - http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux

for those struggling with their game. Visit his golf blog at http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com/

Will Annika Be Back?

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By Jim Nettleton

The golf world was stunned earlier this year when perhaps the finest female player ever to play the game announced her retirement at the end of this year. That the announcement came at a time when she was at her career peak made it doubly stunning.

Annika Sorenstam has rapidly amassed titles and honors during her career, a span of time that saw her win 72 tournaments for third place on the all time list. Among those victories are 10 majors. But it must be said that those ahead of her on the all time list, Kathy Whitworth with 88 and Mickey Wright with 82, played at a time when competition was not remotely as intense as it is now. During the careers of Whitworth and Wright, there were only a small handful of players who actually had a chance to win each week. Today, dozens of players have a realistic chance to win. Given that assessment, Annika’s accomplishments become even more impressive, as do Tiger Woods’, judged by the same criteria.

Tiger called her “the greatest female golfer of all time” and said that it was sad to see her walk away. The 37 year-old Swedish superstar has said that she wants to devote more time to her business and to start a family. It’s a good bet that it will be a golfing family. Her fiancé is Mike McGee, the son of the former PGA Tour player Jerry McGee, so the genes are definitely there.

But it’s hard to imagine an athlete with her credentials going cold turkey from the game she dominated for so many years. Anyone who has achieved a lofty status in athletics, or any other endeavor for that matter, will find it difficult not to be drawn back to those circumstances around which their lives revolved for so long. According to Sorenstam, her last tournament will be the Dubai Ladies Masters, which takes place after the end of the regular LPGA Tour schedule. But will that really be the end?

Many of us who love the game hope not. Although her performance this year hasn’t been, in general, up to Sorenstam standards, although she has won three times to date, much of that is probably due to a division of concentration as she makes her final tour and thinks ahead to starting that family. She still strikes the ball as well as ever and still possesses the length to dominate any field she’s in.

The major loss to the LPGA Tour will be not only her stellar play but the manner in which she’s comported herself over the years and the example that conduct has set for younger players coming up the professional ladder. True leaders are always rare and we can ill afford to lose any of them.

Personally, I believe Annika will be back, if not on a full time basis, then playing select tournaments and perhaps the majors. After a year or two away from the competition and, yes, the glory, I believe the urge to experience some of that again will overcome other issues. Even if she does start her family promptly, that will not be a significant roadblock. There are many young mothers who are active on tour and who bring their families along with them.

Certainly we all wish her the very best with her new directions. But let’s hope that we haven’t seen the last of Annika Sorenstam, nor the last of the class and dignity she brought to the game. Is she does decide to return occasionally, she will be a welcome sight indeed.

About The Author

Jim Nettleton is a radio and television professional who is an avid golfer and golf historian. His lowest handicap was 2. He highly recommends The Simple Golf Swing - http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux for those struggling with their game. Visit his golf blog at

http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com/

I Got Your Score Right Here!

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By Jim Nettleton

Is anyone else as troubled as I am by some of golf’s incredibly arcane rules? Having played the game all my adult life, I’m familiar with the rules and even agree with most of them. But there are others that are frustrating, if not infuriating. Now, bear in mind that I’m talking about the professional or top-level amateur game here. For what should be obvious reasons, normal amateur events are a different animal altogether.

Chief among the above-mentioned frustrations, I think, is the scoring scenario. As we all know, if a player signs an incorrect score card he or she is disqualified from the competition. It makes no difference if half the western world knows what a player’s score is. It makes no difference if a national television audience has just watched in rapt attention as Tiger drilled a thirty-footer for a three. If he inadvertently signs for a four, that’s what he gets.

With today’s technology, there is no longer any need to rely on backward conventions to score a golf tournament. I know all the arguments. The players police themselves, it’s part of the game, it’s an integral ingredient of the integrity of the game, yada, yada, yada.

Listen, how can those arguments hold any water when we’ve allowed technological advances in golf equipment to trample the game’s foundations and fundamentally change the nature of the sport?

Today, the golf swing has become a lethal weapon. Players are hitting the ball practically into orbit and golf courses have to be about six miles long to keep today’s tournament pros from shooting twelve. Yet we still cling to outmoded, primitive methods of keeping score. It’s difficult enough to swing a golf club correctly and play the game well without having to worry about signing a paper scorecard in the age of the Blackberry.

I’ll always remember the tragic incident that cost Roberto DiVicenzo the 1968 Masters Tournament. As you know, players keep each other’s scores in a tournament. Roberto’s fellow competitor that day, Tommy Aaron, had incorrectly marked down a four at the seventeenth hole, when Roberto had actually shot three. Because Roberto signed that card, he had to accept the higher score. As a result, he missed getting into a playoff with Bob Goalby the next day and Goalby walked off with the green jacket.

It never should have happened. That kind of circumstance isn’t satisfying or rewarding to any player involved. Goalby couldn’t be justly proud of his accomplishment, having backed into it through a clerical error on the part of someone else. And DeVicenzo was understandably devastated by the loss.

Surely the golfing powers can do better. Surely, the rules for important tournaments can be brought into the twenty-first century. Tournament golf audiences know instantly which player is doing what all over the golf course. For reality to be ignored because of a glitch in scoring by hand is intolerable in today’s sporting world. We need to bring things up to date and we need to do it quickly, before another DeVincenzo type of tragedy mars the sport again.

About the author:

Jim Nettleton is a radio and TV professional who is a lifelong golf addict and golf historian. He recommends The Simple Swing for those struggling with their games:

http://www.jaynetinc.com/SimpleGolfSwing. Visit his golf blog at:

http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com

Make This Weekend Time To Start Curing The Golf Slice

If you are new to golf then you will find that curing the golf slice is one of the first problems you face when you get past the basics.Weekend golfers will always quote the slice as their worst shot in the bag. 

You will even see the pros fire off the occasional slice when under pressure.

What makes this happen?As many people have come to discover in the past, hitting a slice involves a club moving across the line at impact combined with an open clubface.

One of the biggest problems golfers face today is curing that annoying slice. Imagine how much more accurate you can be if you could improve your golf swing technique and considerably decrease your slice.

In order to help you eliminate the slice we have prepared 5 tips to help out.

1. To eliminate the slice, you must develop a wide and powerful backswing. You have to keep your left arm straight as you take the club backwards, but you must not keep your left arm straight in your follow-through.

If kept straight, your left arm can lead to a heavy slice. This is due to your left arm hindering your right arm's natural rotation. How to adjust? Simple.

Let your left arm bend during your follow-through. Swing a few times only with your left hand, then immediately do a normal swing.

2. Another cause of slicing is because you are letting your club get too far behind you on the backswing, which makes you get outside your target line on your downswing. Without a club, try swinging your left arm, mimicking a full swing.

Your arm has to cross your chest and meet up with your right shoulder. On the downswing, try replicating that motion exactly, only backwards.

3. When it comes down to it, a slice is just a lack of squaring the club with the ball. So you need a great finish to square the club with the ball correctly. Grab your 8 iron and tee the ball up.

Swing it back to waist height, cock the club up, and then pull towards your left. You should be aiming to hit the ball about 50 yards. Be sure to make your chest and belt buckle face your target.

4. Let's say your problem is a bit worse. You are hitting big banana slices. You must square the club to the ball earlier. What you should do is draw a yard long straight line in the sand in a bunker.

Take a 5 iron or 6 iron and swing the club above the line. Try to get your divot to start at the line and go forward. You need to carry on this exercise until you can hit a minimum of 10 shots in a row.

5. Often one's slice can be eliminated, only to come back stronger than ever. Don't worry; there is a golf swing tip for this too. Make your way over to the driving range. Raising the ball to a level above that of your shoes.

Hit balls whilst ensuring you maintain a strong left handed grip. This naturally straightens out your swing. Check your grip to make sure it is neutral as usual. Hopefully this article will help you to send your slice into memories only.

Golf In Florida Part 2

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By Jim Nettleton

This time around we’ll look at two wonderful Tampa Bay area courses in our continuing examination of golf in the Sunshine State.

A long time favorite of mine has been a municipal course owned by the city of St. Petersburg, Mangrove Bay Golf Course, located just off Interstate 275 in the northern area of the city.

Mangrove Bay is set in a lovely natural area bordering the bay and possesses sweeping vistas of both land and sea. It plays at just a tad over 6,600 yards and is laid out, in my opinion, beautifully. Water comes into play on 12 of the 18 holes, although in some of those instances, it is only really in play for a player who is fatally wild off the tee.

Your round begins with a relatively mild first hole, which is always a good idea, in my estimation. It’s a 349 yard affair that bends very slightly to the right and is very much a birdie possibility.

The second is a 579 yard par five with water down the left side, but that shouldn’t come into play. After a dry par three and par four, we come to the fifth hole, playing at 380 with water on the right. The sixth is a short par 5 at 506 yards, presenting a good birdie opportunity.

The seventh is a short par four, at which you’d be wise to use an iron or hybrid off the tee, since water lines the left side and position for your second shot is everything here.

Skipping ahead to the back nine, you’ll see that it starts quite benevolently, with a short par four and par three. Number twelve, however, will definitely get your attention at 400 yards, bending left. Thirteen is a neat little par four with water well left and fourteen is a straightaway par five that is a good birdie opportunity. Fifteen is the longest par three on the course.

Sixteen is probably my favorite hole at Mangrove Bay. It’s a par four of 400 yards that plays uphill for the second half, with a second shot over a creek. But you need to take a moment to look to your left as you walk or ride the hill and observe a lagoon in which mullet leap almost constantly. It’s a beautiful sight, indeed..

Mangrove Bay ends on a very strong note, with two excellent holes, the par five seventeenth at 565 yards and the par four eighteenth at 438 yards with water on the left.

The course, at least in my experience, was always in very nice shape and the environment is unbeatable.

Now let’s head north to the town of Palm Harbor in Pinellas County, a few miles northwest of Tampa and check on Tarpon Woods Country Club, another of my favorites in the region. Wildlife abounds in this beautiful setting located just off Route 19. Water is present on every hole on this course that sports tricky greens and a varied layout of holes. It plays at just under 6,600 yards from the tips and requires accurate tee shots and carefully thought out approaches.

Sadly, at the time of this writing, the course may be on its way to disappearing. Because of the usual short-sighted development without regard for consequences, the Tarpon Woods community is prone to flooding in the rainy season and pressure has been brought to dispense with the golf course and turn the area into a virtual water basin to relieve the condition.

Brooker Creek runs through the golf course, and is the source of the problem, only because of thoughtless development upstream. But it is also one of the sources of the charm of the course. So get there and play it while you can, because it’s worth the effort. If you get a chance, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this layout and its abundant flora and fauna. From the par four opening hole, throughout the picturesque layout, to the visually appealing eighteenth, this course is a delight.

Let’s hope it will be around a lot longer.

About the Author:

Jim Nettleton is a radio and television professional who is a lifelong golf addict and lived in Tampa for 10 years. He highly recommends The Simple Golf Swing - http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux for those struggling with their game. Visit his golf blog at http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com

Golf In Bermuda

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By Jim Nettleton

Bermuda has been my favorite vacation retreat for decades. Its friendly people, clean environment and wonderful weather are always a joy.

Being an avid golfer, experiencing the game and the courses on that beautiful island is also a never-ending joy. Bermuda has more golf courses per square mile than any place in the world. There are 8 courses there and each offers a splendid test.

The Belmont Hills Golf Club is a short but challenging layout that measures a little over 6,000 yards from the tips. It was rebuilt not long ago to USGA standards.

If you’re looking to spruce up your short game, try the Fairmont Southampton executive par three course, located near the southwestern tip of the island. It’s a fine array of 3 pars that will test every aspect of your iron play.

Farther along the southwestern tip you’ll find the spectacular Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed Port Royal Golf Course. Several of its holes hug the cliffs overlooking the ocean. My personal favorite is the par three 16^th, which plays 176 yards over a chasm to a green perched on a cliff. At 6,561 yards, Port Royal is Bermuda’s longest course. Don’t miss it.

Heading back northeast, you’ll come upon Riddell’s Bay Golf & Country Club, a short but testing course along the water, measuring 5,800 yards.

Not far from Hamilton, the Ocean View Golf Course affords lovely views of the ocean. It’s only a 9 hole course measuring a little over 2,900 yards, but the scenery is worth a play.

Traveling farther north, Tucker’s Point Golf Club, the former Castle Harbour, presents itself. It was recently redesigned a while back, but maintains the elevation changes that made the old course so challenging.

Farther along the north route in the lovely town of St. George is the 18 hole executive course, St. George’s Golf Club. It consists of 8 par fours and 10 par threes. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., this stunning layout wraps around historic Fort St. Catherine and offers challenging play and terrific views. Sadly, this course is closing soon, so enjoy it while you can.

I’ve saved the best for last. Heading back toward Tucker’s Point you’ll find the marvelous Mid Ocean Golf Club, ranked for years among the top 50 courses in the world. Play it and you’ll see why. Although it measures just under Port Royal in length, play it from the tips and you’ll think you’ve just come up against a 7,300 yarder. Spectacular holes along the ocean are to be savored. Be sure to bring plenty of memory cards for you cameras.

Some of these courses are private – but arrangements can be made through your hotel.

I can’t wait to get back there and enjoy those lovely links again.

About the Author:

Jim Nettleton is a radio and television professional who is a lifelong golf addict. He highly recommends The Simple Golf Swing - http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux for those struggling with their game. Visit his golf blog at http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com/

Golf Instruction Video Programs Provide Key Training Rewards On Top Of Lessons

Golf is a sport that has been around for centuries and which has become one of the most popular types of hobby sports there is. There are golfers who come from virtually every part of the globe and all different backgrounds, and most all of them are interested in learning how to lower their scores and become better at the game. Golf instruction video programs are an excellent way to gain additional skills and learn how to improve your techniques.

While having golfing lessons under the tutelage of a professional golf instructor can be very beneficial, as well as discussing golf improvement tips with fellow golfers, many feel there is something especially helpful about using instruction video tapes as learning aids. Because of their effectiveness, golfing lessons on video or DVDs nowadays, have become more and more popular since they were first introduced.

Even professional golf instructors who teach golfing lessons for a living acknowledge that there are several advantages to golf instruction video programs that other types of golf instruction cannot match. There are four primary advantages to the golf training videos that stand out and are often the biggest selling points of these types of golf training aids.

Instructional video programs provide visual learning and this is very important to many people. There is a great deal of research that proves when people engage their senses of both sight and sound, they tend to learn better and faster and they retain the information much better. Also, most beginning golfers, and even those who are experienced, tend to prefer to see golf swing improvement techniques demonstrated, as opposed to simply reading about the method being taught.

The second reason why golf training videos are popular, as well as advantageous, is because they are more accessible to more people. They can save people a lot of money as compared to hiring a golf pro for a series of golf lessons, which typically will cost somewhere in the range of $50 to $150 per lesson. Instead, a DVD golf instruction program can deliver the same information but at a small fraction of the price. As a bonus, you can always go back and review any lesson at any time without having to dig into your wallet again to pay for a brush-up lesson.

The third advantage of buying instructional videos is that you can make the most of technology and stop and rewind the video at any point, which is not something that is possible in the presence of a live instructor, especially if you are taking group golfing lessons, as opposed to individual instruction. Being able to rewind and review any part of a particular lesson, or the entire lesson, helps to improve learning and retention through repetition.

The fourth major benefit to using instructional video programs is being able to take advantage of the unique technologies of video production that can be applied to instruction. Golf training videos can utilize many helpful presentation techniques to enhance explanations and present the information more effectively. It is common to see golf videos that use inserts, split screens, close up views, and 3D, computer generated graphics to teach the fundamentals of golf.

These four benefits tend to be the advantages that most people readily mention when talking about golf instruction video programs; however, if you were to talk to golfers who have used such programs, then you would undoubtedly discover that there are a number of other benefits as well. There are differences in teaching styles on the various golf training videos and one style might be more appealing than another. Therefore, it is a good idea to read reviews or talk to others who have used different programs. You can also ask at a pro shop if you can view a sample lesson before buying a full set of golf instruction videos.

Thanks to players who are professionals, the sport that is golf has benefited from a steady climb in popularity. More and more people are turning to this sport as a way to relax and spend a leisurely Saturday afternoon. It is easy on the body and practically anyone of any age can enjoy it. If you are just starting out learning the sport of golf, you need some golf training to help ensure that you learn the proper swing. You can locate numerous aids for golfing now on the world wide web. Click here to find out more information about how you can start your training: New England Golf School also Golf Lesson Packages and at Orlando Golf School

Golf In Florida Part 1

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By Jim Nettleton

If you’re a golfer, there’s no better place to indulge your passion than the golf-friendly state of Florida. With well over one thousand courses of all varieties, you could play for many years without hitting the same course twice.

In this first of a series of articles on golf in the Sunshine State, we’ll visit the west coast of the peninsula and discuss some of the courses in the Tampa Bay area. Let’s being with one of my favorites, probably influenced by the fact that I lived on the course for several years, Northdale Golf Club.

Located in northern Tampa, just above the Carrollwood section, Northdale is a great facility with 18 well-designed holes. They range from fairly easy to quite difficult. The course measures 6,840 from the tips of this Ron Garl design. It was renovated in 2002 - all greens were rebuilt to USGA specs, the clubhouse was improved and new cart parths were installed.

Northdale begins with a relatively easy par 5 that can be reached in 2. From that point on, players will experience a solid variety of holes with water coming into play frequently. Some of my favorite holes are as follows. The par 3 3^rd can play well over 200 yards from the back and it’s all over water. The par 5 9^thmeanders to the right and the small green is protected on three sides by water. The par 3 15^th hole plays through a narrow chute of trees to a tricky green that is guarded on the right by a pond and tall reeds. Finally, the par 5 16^th, which bends around a lake and requires precise shot placement.

Northdale is a solid test and an aesthetically pleasing layout, the only drawback being that there is no driving range associated with the facility.

North of Tampa just a few miles is another of my favorites located in the town of Zephyrhills, The Links At Lake Bernadette. It was designed by Dean Refram and opened in 1983. It, to my mind, falls into the classic course design category. You don’t need to be a big bomber to play here, but you will have to be accurate. The course is a shot maker’s delight. Water comes into play on many holes as the course winds through beautiful, mature trees and over gently rolling terrain.

By the way, The Links has a summer special going on, with all you can play plus lunch for $20 – a great bargain.

Here are some of my favorite holes. The par 5 4^th, which I think is one of the best risk-reward holes I’ve ever played. It’s short, well under 500 yards, but don’t let that fool you. If you have any hope of hitting the green in 2, you’ll have to thread your tee shot around the bend to the left and hope you don’t pull it in the woods left or push it in the woods right. Then, your second shot is extremely demanding to a small green with water in front and trouble behind, in the form of a mound with a bunker and pampas grass.

The par 3 6^th is a fine test that plays to a very undulating green. If you don’t get it close, a long putt on that green can be an adventure.

The par 4 10^th is strictly a position hole. It only measures about 315 yards, but don’t venture to the right and be tempted to cut across the dog leg. There’s serious trouble on that side.

The par 5 12^th is a solid hole that requires a very accurate drive of good length for a chance at getting home in two. Nonetheless, the green is very well guarded and missing it will bring a big number into play.

The par 3 13^th has been called the best par 3 in Tampa Bay by Golf Digest. It’s a tricky hole of only 163 yards with a semi-blind shot to a very difficult green.

Finally, the par 4 18^th gives you a solid challenge in finishing your round. It bends about 35 degrees to the right and requires a well placed tee shot to get a good angle to the green. The green itself is very narrow and well-bunkered, with 3 tiers.

Next time around we’ll look at more Tampa Bay area courses. Until then, stay well and keep swingin’.

About the Author:

Jim Nettleton is a radio and television professional who is a lifelong golf addict and lived in Tampa for 10 years. He highly recommends The Simple Golf Swing - http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux

For those struggling with their game. Visit his golf blog at http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com/

How To Improve Your Golf Game Using Custom Golf Club?

golf training videos

Every golfer who ever sets foot on a golf course has unique physical characteristics and a distinct swing that makes them different from everyone else. Because of these individual traits, a custom golf club set can be one of the best golf aids for any golfer who wants a chance to reach the highest level of achievement. There are many types and brands of golf clubs on the market today that can be customized.

Creating a custom set of golf clubs involves measuring the golfer and then adjusting the clubs for shaft type and length, for the lie angle, and for the size and type of grip. Many people feel that out of all the various golfing equipment they have purchased and all of the golf aids they have tried to improve their game, the best equipment has been the custom set of clubs they invested in.

The process of having a custom golf club set made is fairly simple and straightforward. The golfer chooses the brand and model of clubs that are to be customized and then they have several simple measurements made. Usually, the person ordering the custom clubs is also asked to fill out a brief self-assessment of their game, cataloging both their perceived strengths and weaknesses.

In some cases, if the golfer is taking golfing lessons from a pro, then the instructor may be asked to help with the assessment. This can often be very valuable to the process because the instructor is an impartial third party who also has the golf training and expertise to be able to identify the weaknesses that need to be addressed with the club set, and perhaps even by adding a golf training club as well.

No matter what your own level of experience with golf is, a custom set of clubs can be very beneficial. This is because the customization is done with one purpose in mind and that is to make sure that if you execute a proper swing, the club will squarely impact the golf ball in order to produce a good, clean, straight shot.

Custom clubs that has been correctly adjusted for your height, your skill level, and your golf swing speed, can improve many aspects of your game and can even help correct a chronic golf slice. When a golfer slices a ball, it is because the toe of the golf club has lead into the golf ball. This could be caused by a poorly executed swing, but it can also be caused by a club face that is too flat. The process of customizing clubs for you can help eliminate this problem, and then you simply have to maintain focus on your golf swing improvement.

Just buying a custom golf club set alone is not going to instantly "fix" your game and make you a pro. However, when you use your new clubs in combination with golf training videos or professional golf lessons, you might be able to unlock your true potential as a golfer. Many people find that this combination is very powerful and well worth the investment of time and money.

Golf Training Aid - Providing Golfers With Improved Scores

Golf Training Aid

If you are looking to improve your golf game, gain more confidence on the fairways, and lower your scores, then you can look to the various golf training aids that are on the market to give your game a boost, no matter what your experience level might be. If you have a particular weakness that is slowing down your game, then you can find a golf training aid to help correct the problem and improve your scores.

It really makes no difference if you want to improve your golf swing speed, make longer drives, improve your putting accuracy, or get better at chipping; for each area there is a training aid on the market that is designed to help turn your weakness into a strength. In most cases, you will also discover that the majority of training aids are quite reasonably priced and easy to use. In no time you can be enjoying lower scores and a higher degree of confidence.

You will discover that the largest selection of golf training aids and golfing accessories can be found online at the various golfing equipment retail websites. However, there are times when you want to be able to look at the golf training aid you are considering purchasing and you will also find that many of the golf pro shops at the larger golf clubs will have a good selection of training equipment that you can test out and get the feel for before you buy.

Some people like to go to their local golfing equipment store or pro shop to decide which training aid they want to buy, but then they go home, log onto the internet, and start surfing to find the best price. There is no doubt that there are some excellent deals and bargains that you can find online, especially at the online auctions.

Many times you can save half or more on various golf training aids, such as golf training club equipment, golf training videos, and other types of golf accessories. However, you do have to be somewhat cautious of the auctions because sometimes people try to sell used equipment as new or try to gloss over defects or damages to the equipment they are selling. If it is nothing more than a cosmetic blemish, then you can save money buying this way, but if the usefulness of the golf aids are damaged in any way, then you will probably be wasting your money altogether.

With any other purchase you make online, you need to be careful and only purchase from well-known retailers or auction sellers who have a long track record and a lot of positive feedback from others. You can also check out the reviews that have been written about the golf training aid you are considering. Many times the reviews from others who have purchased and used the item can save you from making the mistake of buying inferior equipment.

Golf is not just a sport for middle aged men in ridiculous looking pants. it is in reality an excellent hobby to have and people who are of all ages can try it out. The only thing standing in your way of learning the sport is some golf training. Once the fundamental rules of the game are known, it is now the time to find out the best ways to improve your swing. Fortunately for you there are numerous methods on how to do this. There is available unique equipment that will help you to get the perfect swing. If you want to learn more about the interesting sport of golf click here: Espn Golf School also Golf Training Aids and at Mesocycles In Golf Training