If you are just starting out to play golf, you should never buy a new golf club set immediately as you may discover that this game is not for you later on. Furthermore, you are yet to find the type of golf clubs that fits you during the learning stage. The good choice is to start with cheap used golf clubs. And here are some guidelines to help you to hunt down your first used golf club set:
Golf Rental Clubs
First, you may want to play with the rental clubs at a driving range. During this time, don’t be afraid to ask your friends or other golfers to try their clubs on the range. This is a good opportunity for you to judge which type of clubs is right for you. After hitting for a period of time at the driving range and you think it is time to buy your own clubs, then ....
Rely on golf expert
When you go out to buy used golf clubs, you should always rely on people who know golf equipment well. You can look for your local pro at your local municipal course as a source of information and advice. Or you can consult the experts at the golf shop or even your friend who plays well or who knows anything about golf clubs. Alternatively, you can search the Internet for used golf club reviews. You can always ask people for advice but keep in mind that what suits them may not necessary prove good in your hands. Therefore, it is more important to identify the golf club set that suitable to your ability yourself.
Golf beginner’s half set
As a novice golfer, you are advised to learn with a half set of clubs with all matching iron of the same model. The half-set could be made up from a few combinations of clubs. In general, the half set combination consists of five iron clubs, including 4, 6, 8, pitching wedge and sand iron, in addition to 3 and 5 woods plus a putter. The driver is not recommended in the beginner’s half set because it is the hardest club to control. Majority of beginners would achieve better results using a 3 wood on the tee box. Likewise, 1, 2 or 3 irons should be avoided at the early stages of the game, as each of these long irons requires an accurate strike from the middle of the clubface with plenty of club heads speed in order to achieve good results. In contrast, a 5 wood with distance almost equivalent of the 2 iron - the ball can still travel a fair distance despite being hit off-center. Besides, a lofted wood is more forgiving than the thin blade of an iron club heads.
The half set combination not only sufficient for most novice golfers on the golf course for every situation but also makes club selection much easier. It is a good combination of clubs to help the novice to improve their swing technique until they are good enough before they advance to the full set golf clubs. Therefore, you have to make sure to select a golf model for your half set from a reputable manufacturer that can be added to at a later stage.
Golf Feels
The best way to purchase a used golf clubs is to actually hold them in your hand and swing them to get a feel for what you want. The feel of a golf club clearly seems to be all-important. But, what is ‘feel’? There is no scientific formula that defines it. In general, feel can be described as the way a golfer feels a club when he or she swings it depends on its swing weight and the flexibility of its shaft.
Iron Club head
Look for club head that made of stainless steel and avoid inexpensive alloy heads. For beginner, you should select the ‘heel-and-toe’ (or, perimeter-weighted) club head design, cavity backed (hollowed out in the back) and over-sized golf club. You should get bigger club heads because they are more forgiving with enlarges ‘sweet spot’ that can produce maximum distance even with off-center contacts.
Golf Shafts
Graphite shafts is ideal for beginner even though it is more expensive that steel shafts. Its lighter overall weight allows beginner to swing the club faster even with enlarged clubhead.
Golf Grips
If you have purchased used golf clubs where the condition of the grips could be less than perfect or the grips don’t fit properly for you, then make sure you replace them. Grips are fairly easy and inexpensive to change by a pro or club repairman. Ensure all the grips are replaced with same size and design.
Finally, if you are just starting out with golf, chances are your swing is more likely to let you down rather than the golf clubs itself. Having said that, it is still important to try out the golf clubs before buying them in order to find a golf club set that suits your swing, body and game. Most importantly, makes you feel confident when you use it.
Andrew is the owner of Used Golf Clubs Guide, a website that provides complete guide to used golf clubs - where to buy/sell/trade in used golf clubs, what to check before buying a used golf clubs, how to choose a used golf clubs set… and more. You can visit his website at:http://www.used-golf-clubs-guide.com/
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Challenging and beautiful golf courses are open to everyone in Northern California. Here are three you can play next week, including Harding Park home of the 2005 World Golf Championships and Berkeley’s Tilden Park with its notorious 420-yard par 4 straight uphill to an elevated green, first hole.
Part of the fun of city golf is having a San Francisco limo or car service pick you up at your hotel and deliver your party to the course. Then when your game is over, your driver awaits, just as he does of Tiger.
It’s always smart to call several weeks ahead for tee times, deposit requirements and to reserve a Quicksilver Towncar or Suburban to pick you up at the airport. (800) 486-9622 The Suburban easily holds four golf bags and all your luggage.
Harding Park San Francisco was designed by architect Willie Watson in 1925. Among its kudos are a Top 50 US Courses ranking by Golf Digest and a place among “Top 100 You Can Play” by Golf Magazine.
Harding Park played host to the 2005 World Golf Championships-American Express Championship. The American Express event in October of 2005, which saw Tiger Woods defeating John Daly on the second playoff hole.
Harding Park Golf Course is located next to the private Olympic Club course which has been host to many U. S. Open tournaments and is less than one mile from the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Zoo. Harding Park’s layout follows the original 1925 plan, using the property’s existing topography, contours and vegetation. Features include the towering Monterey Cypress trees and a view of Lake Merced where high school crews practice on a dogleg 2k course.
Tee-times for Harding Park Golf Course are available 8 - 30 days in advance. A non-refundable deposit is required for advance booking at the time of the reservation. To make an advance reservation, call the Harding Park Pro Shop at 415-664-4690. http://www.harding-park.com/view.asp?id=129&page=1727
If You Are Staying In SF Consider Playing TheseOne-Of-A-Kind Bay Area Golf Courses.
Lincoln Park Golf Course, 300 34th Ave, San Francisco, (415)221-9911, is easily one of the two or three most beautiful courses in northern California. Lincoln is the oldest course in this list; its 18 holes were built in 1908, designed by Tom Bendelow.
Located west of the famous bridge, several fairways provide postcard views of the Pacific and Golden Gate. If you play this course carry a camera in your bag. City of San Francisco golf info: http://www.sfgov.org/site/recpark
Tilden Park Golf Course is located across the bay in Berkeley at the intersection of Grizzly Peak and Shasta Road, above the University of California campus. (510)848-7373. This is a challenging hillside course. Tilden Park’s signature first hole is a 420-yard par 4, straight uphill to an elevated green. My father-in-law compared it to playing the Royal Course in Nepal. The 18 hole course was built in 1937 and designed by William P. Bell.
Tilden is notorious for its hills and natural setting. According to one report, the front nine is fairly forgiving, but things change on the back nine, which starts with a vertigo-inducing tee that recalls Olympic ski jumps, followed by narrower fairways. http://tildenparkgc.americangolf.com/
There are many golf courses in the Bay Area, but we suggest trying these courses which are open to the public, inexpensive and well know to your Quicksilver Towncar driver.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/three-public-golf-challenges-in-san-francisco-and-berkeley-315606.html
About the Author:
SF Bay Area Transportation Expert As President of Quicksilver TownCar Service (http://www.qstc.net/), Phil Macafee knows all of the freeways and most of the byways from Carmel to Sacramento to the wine country.
While golf is not played everywhere (yet), there are many wonderful golf courses around the world to visit – many offering truly unique golfing experiences for the adventurous golfer as well as some breathtaking views for travelers. From America to Japan, there are thousands of great courses to please golf enthusiasts, but where better to start than the birthplace of golf – Scotland.
Seated in the Birthplace of Golf - Scotland Courses
Let us start with the what many would argue is the best golf course in the world - the game was invented and evolved at the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland. To get an idea of how amazing it is, listen to the experts – Jack Nicklaus said about St. Andrews, “I fell in love with it the first day I played it. There’s just no other golf course that is even remotely close.” And Tiger Woods lauded, “Without a doubt I like it the best of all the Open venues. It’s my favorite course in the world.” With opinions like these from two of the top golfers in history, you can see why this one is not to be missed.
It is no surprise that Scotland hosts some of the finest golf courses in the world. One of the finest of the finest is Cruden Bay. Some say that golf was played on Cruden Bay as early as 1791. Today the course offers many unique challenges to golfers and is set against a gorgeous panoramic view, it was even voted as number 52 in the world by “Golf Magazine.” The course is actually set over the North Sea pipeline – so while you play over their contoured greens, muck of the U.K.’s crude oil supply is running beneath you!
Another great course, especially for tourists, is the Stromness Golf Club located in Orkney. It is not as challenging as many other top golf courses, and it is not even as attractive as most, but is it located just minutes away from the 5,000 year old burial mound Maes Howe. You could make a day of historical sightseeing and a golfing all in the same area.
Longest (and Highest) Links
Golf courses seem to be popping up all the time these days, so the site that holds the honor of longest course is disputed and ever changing. But there are some very notable ones around the globe…
One such contender for the longest course is the International Golf Club in Bolton Massachusetts. While the regular tees already have an impressive length of 6,547 yards, the “tiger” tees boast a full 8,325 yards.
A course in Chine that sits near the Himalayas claims to have a longer course that runs the length of 8,548 yards, but it is hard to measure a course that is situated at an elevation of 10,000 feet in mountainous terrain. So it is still hard.to determine to which course really is the longest.
By the way, of you thought 10,000 feet was a high enough elevation for golfing, take a deep breath and try out the Tactu Golf Club in Morochocha, Peru. This course sits 14,335 feet about sea level – and that is at its lowest point!
The Satsuki Golf Club in Japan is said to have the longest single, stretching the length of 909 yards.
Gorgeous Greens
If you’re looking for a course with some great scenery, you don’t have to look outside of the U.S. Located in Idaho, Hidden Lakes Golf Resort has some of the loveliest scenery you could ask for in a course. Not only does it have bent grass greens and carefully manicured bluegrass fairways, but you can often spot some local wildlife on the course. It is not uncommon to spot a deer or moose grazing just yards away from the links. Hidden Lakes has a log cabin lodge for you to enjoy, and has a new clubhouse, lounge, restaurant, and golf shop. If you want to get away and experience the beauty of nature while enjoying some golf, this highly rated resort is the place for you.
Historical Holes
If you want a golf vacation that’s rich in history, you have a few great options. How about golfing with a view of the Great Wall of China? That’s just what you’ll get when you play at the Beijing Golf Club, located just 30 minutes away from the Beijing International Airport. While Scotland has the oldest courses, India has the second oldest. The Bombay Presidency Club was built in 1827, and the Bangalore Golf Club was founded in 1876.
And this is just the beginning! There are many other winning courses in America, including “Golf Magazine’s” top ten rated courses of 2004: Pebble Beach in California, Pacific Dunes in Oregon, Bethpage in New York, Pinehurst in North Carolina, and Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. Scotland also houses many other historical and lush courses. And while I would definitely recommend making a trip to St. Andrews in Scotland, since it is one of the best courses around as well as the oldest, there are also many other fine courses worldwide just waiting for some traveling golf enthusiasts!
Katya Coen is a regular contributor to Golfing Eighteen, where you will find a wealth of information on golf, golf equipment, courses, and news. Find more on great courses along with beautiful photos on our site!
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Have you ever considered a golf school vacation as a way of combining your vacation with a means of improving your game? Has your game been letting you down lately, or have you finished the season on a bit of a low, feeling a bit down with your rising scores and reducing length? How about a winter vacation down south while your own club is closed for the winter?
Some courses are open all year round, especially the desert courses in Nevada and Arizona. A vacation in Scottsdale or Phoenix might be an ideal way for you to get some of these bad habits sorted out, or have your swing properly analyzed and corrected, before the spring comes around again. Just imaging the look on your foursome’s faces as you hammer that ball 300 yards down the fairway, as straight as a die!
There are many golf schools around that can give you a week’s coaching, and most are equipped with the latest video imaging techniques with biometric swing analysis that can diagnose exactly where you are going wrong. The right coaching can resolve your swing problem and add yards to your length. You can spend all winter hacking balls down a driving range without improving your game one iota if you don’t know exactly what your problem is. What you need is a professional golf coach to give your game a check over and find out what parts of your game need improved.
That takes professional equipment, and slow motion video replay of your swing can detect what is wrong with your swing mechanics. You might also need some specialized fitness training. Sometimes all this is needed to get your game back to where it should be is some proper golf-specific strength and stretching training. It’s no good just pumping iron in gym because that won’t help your golf game. You need to exercise all the muscles you use when swinging a golf club, and that involves specialized exercises.
You have several options in golf school vacations. You and your golf buddies can take a week in Vegas, getting your golf problems sorted out in the day, and enjoying some time on the tables at night. Or even take in a show or two. There are some excellent golf schools in and around Las Vegas that also offer accommodation in of the Vegas hotels. You have Bird schools and Butch Harmon among lots of others, each offering great five star accommodation.
How about fitting in some winter sports and heading off to the David Leadbetter Academy in Vail, Colorado - more popular than Aspen, but there are also golf schools in Aspen if you prefer. Mix your golf coaching with some skiing or snowboarding. However, if you like it hot, try one of the desert courses in Arizona. That might be a unique experience for you, especially if you get your swing sorted out as part of the deal.
If you have the family with you, Florida or the Carolina Grand Strand will keep the kids happy, while you and your partner get some coaching, or perhaps he or she wants to take advantage of the beach or fit in some shopping. Myrtle Beach is fabulous for both.
Whatever you choose, whether it is a full two week vacation with continuous coaching, or just a weekend away for some professional swing analysis, make sure you know what you want, and set your self a budget. The best golf schools have one on one coaching, or last two pupils per teacher. Some run to four or more, but you get what you pay for. Check out the golf course, and try to negotiate some free rounds after the coaching.
If you can arrange to get your coaching off-season, it might be a lot less expensive, and the resorts are usually a lot cheaper then too. Never accept the price offered, but ask what discounts are available. You can often get something knocked off the price. Make sure that the vacation suits everybody and you know exactly what you are getting. There is nothing worse than your partner and children hanging around all day with nothing to do, stuck in a poor golf resort with nothing around for miles.
Whatever you choose, it is going to be worth it as you step up to that first tee after the winter break, pull out your driver and know that you are going to amaze your buddies with your new form. They will be green with envy at that 30 yards you have improved by - and all without a hint of that slice that was plaguing you all last season.
How About a Golf School Vacation? Was originally published at http://www.golfplayernow.com
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Italy, owing to its great landscapes, has several golf courses all over the country. While traveling within Italy, one can play golf in the mountains, by the sea, in and around historical cities and in many of the tourist resorts.
Golfing near the lakes of Grada, Maggiore and Como is an unforgettable experience, with the gentle slopes, flat grounds and small clearings amidst trees. Miles and miles of green area dot the picturesque surroundings. One can walk for hours while playing round after round of golf without feeling tired. The golf courses around these lakes provide an experience which is different from playing golf in traditional golf courses.
There are a number of historic seaside villages which provide the opportunity of enjoying seaside golf. These villages offer a blend of traditional natural surroundings, great scenic beauty and ultramodern arrangements for great hospitality.
Mountains are an important part of every travel circuit of Italy. From the Alps to the Apennines, there are a number of golf courses dotting the slopes of these mountains. They have a wide variety of flora and fauna, making them more even more exquisite. Walking in golf courses situated in mountains can be an arduous task, but it is great fun, too. In fact, one has to treat walking as part of the game in golf courses in mountains. You can’t skip it if you are playing a real game here. So golfing in mountains gives a person the pleasure of an open-air sport as well as an excursion.
You can also play golf in any of the golf courses around the cities of Rome, Venice, Naples or Florence. There are several other ‘art’ cities also where one can easily find a golf course in or around the city. In most of the cities, golf resorts have come up in large numbers over the last few years, as a substantial number of people traveling to Italy often prefer to get rid of the travel blues by playing a round or two of golf.
Italy Travel provides detailed information on Italy Travel, Golf Travel Italy, Italy Travel Guide, Train Travel In Italy and more. Italy Travel is affiliated with Map of Italy.
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Do you have a spring in your step while playing a round of golf or do you feel completely exhausted by the 15th hole? Sometimes you may feel out of breath just walking to your next shot.
Hours of sitting at computers, driving to work and then watching TV at home, all lead to being less physically fit, posture-related aches and pains and a general feeling of sluggishness. Then you get to the golf course and wonder why you simply just don’t have the energy to complete a nice round of golf.
Golf is no different than any other sport. You need to be physcially fit to perform at your best. This is even more important if your a recreational golfer since you really don’t have time to practice.
One of the most natural forms of exercise is walking. Walking is an aerobic exercise that will not only increase your cardiovascular strength, but is good for the bones and improves your posture as well. I would like to introduce you to power walking and list some of the benefits it has on your golf game.
Power Walking
This is a form of aerobic exercise consisting of rapid walking accompanied by vigorous, controlled swinging of the arms. Simply put, it is an exaggerated walking style that has more health benefits than just a casual stroll.
You want to get your power walking speed up to 4.0 to 4.5 mph for optimal calorie burning. However, if you are just starting out you may want to go at a slower pace and gradually pick up the pace over a few weeks time.
Power Walking Benefits
1. Cardiovascular fitness is improved thus giving you more endurance to complete a full round of golf, not to mention reducing the risk of coronary disease and strokes.
2. Mental well-being is improved resulting in a reduction in anxiety, stress and tension allowing you to relax and focus on the golf course.
3. Muscles are toned and strengthened allowing you to better handle the physical demands of the golf swing.
4. Helps to reduce body fat and manage your body weight therefore improving your golf physic.
5. Boosts energy so you don’t tire as easily going form shot to shot.
The above are just a few of the physical and mental benefits to be gained from power walking for golf. It is a low cost form of exercise. No special clothes or equipment are necessary except a good pair of walking shoes.
Although any form of walking is beneficial, power walking is extremely helpful with golf performance, both mentally and physically. So grab your walking shoes and power walk yourself to a better golf game!
As always consult your doctor before starting your power walking program.
About The Author
Richard Syner is a physical therapist who enjoys helping people reach their health and fitness goals. Find out how you can have access to his FREE Fitness Mini-courses by visiting http://www.YoungPhysique.com today!
For people who take golf holidays, golf breaks in Scotland represent the quintessential golfing retreat. There are three main reasons for this. Firstly, Scotland has all the best courses – including the world-class Turnberry, St Andrews and Gleneagles, all offering the most fantastic golf holidays available.
Secondly, the scenery is unparalleled and provides the perfect backdrop to a round of golf. Scotland’s rugged mountains, lush green valleys, thundering waterfalls and ethereal mists all help to create an experience you can really savour. Thirdly, Scotland always is easy to get to, either by road, train or air travel.
Anyone who plans a golf break in Scotland is also probably influenced by knowledge of the country’s long-standing affiliation with the game. It is widely accepted that golf originated in Scotland in the 1100s, with the first recorded game played at Bruntsfield Links in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1456.
Even the word ‘golf’ comes from Scotland - it is thought to have come from the Scots word ‘goulf’, meaning ‘to strike or cuff’. When the game was in its early days and, in fact, right up until the mid-20th century, it was usually played with clubs made from hickory wood, which is why golf played with old-fashioned wooden clubs is now called ‘hickory golf’.
Traditional hickory golf is catching on in a big way. You see, there’s a big secret haunting the manufacturers of modern golf clubs - despite all the ‘improvements’ in golf club technology, you can hit nearly as far with clubs made the original way – with hickory - as you can with the latest club being promoted on the US PGA Tour. What’s more, with hickory golf clubs you can play the game the way it was designed to be played - playing around the bunkers, through the gaps and really thinking about the challenge of the hole.
There are tournaments all over the world for modern-day hickory golf players, and for the last three years one particular tournament has been held in Scotland - golf’s birthplace. The 2007 World Hickory Open took place last month at Craigielaw golf course in East Lothian. As a golf course, Craigielaw is scenically located on the shores of the Firth of Forth with the hills of Fife framing its magnificent backdrop.
Craigielaw golf course presents a challenge for both short and long handicap players. As a result, the course is a popular for golf breaks in Scotland for players at every level. The layout at Craigielaw is such that the wind is nearly always part of the course’s natural defence. The consensus among both pro and amateur golf players is that the organisers picked a course almost perfectly suited to hickory golf.
There is a special physical sensation that hickory golf clubs give you. You know if you’ve hit a good one just by the lovely feeling coming through your hands and you also know if you’ve hit a bad one (especially in a cold Scottish wind) as it feels like a cricket ball has landed on your knuckles!
I managed to come third in the Amateur section, no disgrace but I’m coming back for more. And at last I know what I want from Father Christmas – All the best hickory golf clubs: Persimmon woods with True Temper shafts, a set of matching hickory irons pre-1935, a Cleveland wedge and sand wedge and a Scotty Cameron putter.
About The Author
Morgan Clarke is the Chairman of Your Golf Holidays (http://www.yourgolfholidays.com/scotland-golf-breaks-holidays.html), a company which has been providing golf breaks in Scotland for over 25 years. The award-winning specialist tour operator is privately-owned and determined to ensure that both experienced golfers and novices will enjoy an unforgettable experience in whichever of the 20+ countries they wish to play.
When it comes to hiring a golf instructor for lessons or when researching golf schools you should spend some time looking for the right one. Below are 5 steps you should go through to help you qualify your next golf instructor or golf school.
1. Just like selecting a golf school you need to determine what your budget is for a golf instructor. You want to eliminate those golf instructors that are not within your budget. Why waste your time?
2. You should next determine if you’re looking to revamp your golf swing or just looking for a quick fix or tune-up. Some golf teachers may be better at one or the other so make sure you ask them what they’re best at.
3. The guys you play golf with could be a great source of information on a good golf instructor. Ask them if they could recommend one to you. Even if they can’t recommend one they may know someone who can.
4. After you’ve narrowed down the list to 3 or 5 golf instructors then look at their credentials. You want to find out where they’ve taught in the past and call their past employer. See what the employer says about them and their teaching style. Ask if they were liked by the students and the staff.
5. The last thing to do is set up a phone or face-to-face interview with the golf instructor. This is where you want to have a list of questions prepared so you don’t forget to ask the important questions. Also this is the time to see if their style and personality will work for you.
After reading this you probably think these were things you’d go through to hire someone for a job. Well actually that’s exactly what you’re doing. A golf instructor is an independent consultant and you’re hiring him to do a job… work on your golf swing. So you should perform the due diligence to make sure you get the golf instructor that’s right for you.
I would also suggest doing the steps above that are appropriate for selecting a golf school. You want to see if the golf instructors at the golf school are going to be right for you because you don’t want to spend all that money and not be satisfied with the instructor and experience. Golf vacation schools are also a nice option to include the entire family for a week long vacation and golf.
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About the Author
Don Smith is a single dad and avid amateur golfer of over 30+ years. He manages a very informative golf school web site called U.S. Golf Schools http://www.us-golf-schools.com. His blog “To Golf Or Not To Golf” http://tgontg.blogspot.com has interesting real-life golf stories, golf tips, etc…
Do you ever try changing your golf grip to improve your score? Do you find yourself trying to do it every week, trying to find just the right golf grip that let you hit the ball straight? Do you hunt through bookstores and the library for more ideas on how to grip your golf clubs? If you say that yes to all that then you may have solved your problem right there.
Some people may find that hard to understand but you have to realize that there are only three basic golf grips in the golf universe. We have the Vardon grip, the 10 finger or baseball grip and the overlap grip. Any other golf grips are usually very difficult to master and best left to golf gurus or two the golf gods themselves.
You see the golf grip has just one fundamental reason to exist-to grip the golf club. All it really does is allow you to swing the club up over your head and bring it back square to the golf ball and to the target you are aiming for. That’s it. That’s all she wrote! Some people may tell you it also has to do with the amount of power you put into the shot and so on but forget all that for now. All you really want for now is a grip that puts your golf club face square to the ball and to the target.
So if your grip is right, why are you still driving the ball all over the golf course? Well, because something else is wrong. If your swing arc is inside to outside, where do you think the ball is going to go? You grip can be the best it can be but it won’t compensate for a bad swing. Instead of always looking at your golf grip why don’t you look somewhere else?
Here is a good tip that you can try. Go on the Internet or go to your local sporting goods store and look for a good golf swing training aid that has a built in molded grip on the handle. This will ensure we were that you always have your hands gripping the club properly. If you get one of the golf swing training aids that breaks at a hinge when you swing it, then you are going to begin to see exactly where you were going wrong in your swing and not in your grip. These induced training aids break anywhere in the swing plane where you are swinging incorrectly. You don’t have to guess. It will help you to understand exactly what you’re doing wrong.
Don’t be one of those golfers who is constantly looking for the perfect golf grip. You may already have one now. You may actually be losing it if you’re not careful. Once you get yourself a few golf lessons and understand how to grip the golf club perfectly, use a good training aid with a built-in grip to help you reinforce the perfect golf grip for you and concentrate on the other areas of your setup and golf swing. And watch your golf scores begin to drop.
Buy a Refiner golf club with a molded golf grip to get a better golf swing.
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]]>Do you love to play golf but are tired of having to visit the golf club repair shop on a regular basis? If this is the case then you are like many other golfers out there who have to deal with golf club repair on a regular basis just to enjoy the game you love so much. But, what if there was an option for you to avoid frequent trips to the golf club repair shop? What if you could finally play a round of golf with a set of golf clubs that really fit your size and swing without worrying about golf club repair? Well, you can and the way you can is with a set of custom golf clubs. Custom golf clubs may seem like a major expense up front, but if you sit down and consider the price of your current set of clubs in addition to all the golf club repair bills then you will see that when you do the math a custom golf club set really is not that expensive. And, the benefits of having custom golf clubs is that you will play better golf than ever and will enjoy the game even more. But, what are the benefits of custom golf clubs and why should you choose custom golf clubs over others? The following information will guide you to all the benefits and information you need to know about custom golf clubs.
All About Custom Golf Clubs
Just to make a point about custom golf clubs take a look around you the next time you are out on the golf course. Is everyone the same height, weight, sex, and age or are there major differences in appearance? Now, check out everyone’s golf clubs. Are all of the clubs practically the same with standard grips, lengths, and the like? So, what does this observation mean? It means that standard golf clubs don’t fit the majority of golfers. So if you truly want to improve your game you will customize a set of custom golf clubs, just for you. Now, you are probably thinking that custom golf clubs are even more expensive than name brand golf clubs. However, that is not necessarily the case. Not to mention that the fitted custom golf clubs you hear about aren’t anything at all like custom golf clubs, they are made from scratch just for you. Don’t get confused between fitted custom clubs and custom golf clubs. The fitted custom golf clubs simply start out with the standard set of clubs from any golf manufacturer and then they proceed to make the clubs more suitable to your personal and playing traits. Although the custom fitting doesn’t do too much other than cost you money because they are starting with a product that doesn’t fit you to begin with!
Why would anyone anticipate that mass produced clubs would help them play golf at their best? The reason is because golfers want to be better and they believe the hype from the golf manufacturers that the “newest” technology will improve their game. Well, the real answer is not in buying mass produced clubs but rather customizing your own golf clubs. Anyone who has ever had a set of custom golf clubs can tell you that finally having a set of clubs that are the right length, with the right grip, will greatly impact what you shoot the next time you are out on the golf course.
It is simply logical to buy custom golf clubs that are made to fit you or customize your own set of golf clubs. That means your golf swing is analyzed as well as your personal characteristics to create a custom golf club set that works with your golf style and not against it. A custom golf club set will allow you to have grips that are the right size for your hands, heads that reflect your skillFree Web Content, and shafts that are the right length and flex.
When you have your first custom golf club set made you may see some big differences from your last set of clubs. Your custom golf clubs may be a different length or the grip may be smaller or bigger. The flex may be different and the head might be different as well. For some people who set out to play with their custom golf clubs the first day they see amazing results. Others will need to make some changes and practice because although the custom golf clubs really fit their personal characteristics it’s difficult to change after playing with clubs that don’t fit for so long. Just a little practice and patience is all that is needed to see the difference custom golf clubs provide. Not to mention that when you have a custom golf club set made you will have new clubs that won’t be in need of golf club repair any time soon! If you really love golf then a custom golf club set is really worth the investment.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ant Onaf is a content producer in association with EZGolfClubRepair.com (http://www.ezgolfclubrepair.com), the official site of the popular e-book “Golf Club Repair Made Easy” and “The Ultimate Golf Package”. Golf club repair is essential for any golfer. EZGolfClubRepair.com teaches you how to create and repair your own custom golf clubs.
]]>The need for balance for golf just sounds so simple and easy. As a golfer, you know that maintaining proper golf balance is a key to a good golf game. And it’s more than just having the correct stance.
Optimum golf balance depends on three aspects: your visual perception, the signals from the inner ear, and signals from your muscles and joints. Sometimes these aspects get out of sync, causing a balance disorder. Most of which can be easily fixed with some simple ideas.
A lack of balance usually occurs when your head position changes, which is a good reason to keep your head still during your swing! How many times have you been told or noticed yourself that you looked up during your swing? Everybody wants to see where their ball is going and when you move your head and throw off your balance, the ball doesn’t usually go anywhere. At least not where you wanted it to go. So, keep your head down and still and let your playing partners watch for your ball.
Migraines can attribute to a balance disorder. So if you have frequent migraines, seek medical attention. These headaches can affect your golf game in ways you may never have thought of. Not to mention being just plain painful and debilitating.
Also, don’t go spending a fortune on new golf equipment hoping for better play before you check your medicine cabinet to see if any drugs you’re taking affect your balance. The condition “ear poisoning” seriously affects your balance. Ear poisoning is usually caused by side effects of some medications. Always be aware of the possible side effects of any prescription drugs you may be taking. This is just good advice all the way around, let alone it having an effect on your golf game.
Diuretics can pose a problem as well. So if you’re taking any of these and you start feeling dizzy, get medical help! Sometimes the dizziness can literally become a lifelong problem, so don’t delay in seeking help.
If your golf balance is a little off in your game, you may want to do some simple exercises to improve it. Just kicking a ball around your backyard can help. You can also set up a little obstacle course and weave in and out of it to improve your balance. If you have kids, they will have fun with the course, too! Actually, they may even set up one for you!
You can also buy a balance board to help you with your center of gravity. You can easily make one yourself out of some scrap wood or you could find a nice one online or at a local fitness equipment store. These boards are challenging and fun to use. Once you can balance for an extended period on one, pick up a golf club. Then practice your backswing while balancing yourself. This will dramatically improve you golf balance.
In addition, working with flexibility exercises helps increase your golf balance by releasing muscle tension. Try some simple yoga stretches to help with loosening up tight muscles. Yoga or pilates can be a real benefit for the golfer. These types of exercises tend to create long lean muscles and promote flexibility. Just what the golfer needs for the right golf balance and a fluid swing.
Another useful item is a yoga ball or exercise ball. Even just sitting on one of these balls requires balance - so try using one for part of the day. Work up gradually until you can sit on the ball for 30 minutes at a time. These ball exercises can help you develop proper posture, increase the mobility of your lower back, and develop overall control of your body core. Improving your core strength and flexibility will help you develop the correct golf balance.
Since balance is fundamental to every aspect of your golf game, spend some time each day working on developing it. Who knows? You could find your swing and your score improving significantly, and who couldn’t use that!
About the Author: About the Author: Jason Griffin is a regular golfer who loves playing golf and trying to help other typical golfers, hackers and weekend players get more enjoyment out of the game. He is the guide behind the Guide to Golf Equipment - Your Information Source for Equipment Used for Golf. Get a little help finding the right golf equipment at http://www.guidetogolfequipment.com
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A power golf swing is the dream of every golfer. How many times have you hit one just perfect and tried desperately to remember what you did that caused this to happen?
A power golf swing is not about swinging hard.
So many times a golfer will try to “put a little more into it” to get a few extra yards. If you’ve tried this…what happened? Did you get those extra yards or did it go shorter and even offline?
That’s the point I’m trying to make!
To hit a LONG drive or add yards to every club in your bag…you need to be able to generate more clubhead speed, but under control. That’s where most golfers lose it.
If your body can’t physically make an optimum swing, from a mechanical standpoint, you have no business trying to swing any harder. The result will be a blown up score and drives that go significantly shorter…not longer.
The beauty of getting your body in better ‘golf shape’ is that you can hit the ball with more force…but with much less effort.
Let me explain.
If you’ve improved your core strength and flexibility for example, you will be able to make a FULL shoulder turn (backswing) with minimal tension. This backswing has now a ton of torque built up. With your newfound strength and flexibility…you will be able to ‘unleash’ that torque, powerfully into the golf ball.
Doesn’t that make sense?
Now imagine if you improved your overall body specific to golf. Now you’ve got a power golf swing that is under control and killing it off the tee! Your playing partners won’t know what hit them.
So the key to remember in an effortless power golf swing is improving your bodies ability to rotate and store energy… then ‘unleash it’ into the ball at impact.
If you are lacking distance and feel like you’re trying to swing harder, this is the reason why. A fit golfer has a HUGE advantage over an out-of-shape one.
Follow this advice and you’re on your way to an effortless power golf swing!
About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf performance experts in the country, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf performance membership sites. For more information on his just released golf performance dvds and manual, visit his http://www.performbettergolf.com
Related Articles - golf, golf swing tips, proper golf swing, golf swing trainer, golf training, golf exercises, golf workouts, golf fitness, perfect golf swing,
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Only when you have fallen under the spell of the game of Golf can you appreciate how good players like Jack Nicklaus were, and how much hard work and dedication it must’ve taken him to achieve what he did in the sport.
I started playing golf about 6 years ago when my Girlfriend’s Father asked me to accompany him for nine holes at the local municipal. Having never even held a golf club previously, and having had no interest in the game whatsoever I wasn’t overly keen but I was determined to make a good impression so I duly accepted his offer. Thankfully for both of us he doesn’t offend easily as my language that day can best be described as ‘blue’. So much for the good impression!
That first nine holes was the most frustrating experience of my sporting life, and as is the norm after a first round of Golf I vowed never to play again. Well, six years on I’m well and truly hooked and enjoy a turbulent love-hate relationship with the game. I can honestly say with hand on heart that I can count the number of times I’ve left the golf course satisfied on one hand.
So why bother playing? Because quite simply Golf is an addiction. Whatever level you play at, whether you’re a 28 handicapper or the world’s top professional, we as golfers, are all addicted to the pursuit of the perfect 18 holes. And unfortunately most of us will die before we achieve it.
Jack Nicklaus famously said “I never went into a tournament or round of golf thinking I had to beat a certain player. I had to beat the golf course. If I prepared myself for a major, went in focused, and then beat the golf course, the rest took care of itself.”
That is what makes Golf so unique. The aim of the game is to beat the course laid out in front of you not your opponent, and the only person you can blame for a poor shot is yourself. Of course we all complain of uneven tees, inconsistent greens and dodgy clubs but deep down we all know why the score card says Bogey not Par.
One thing I realised quite early on in my golfing education is that no sport teaches you more about yourself than the game of golf. It’s a test of mental strength, character, composure and ability to perform under pressure, and it’s this more than any physical challenge on offer that brings people back to the golf course or driving range time after time after time.
I’m the first to admit that I let my emotions get the better of me on the Golf course. I find it very difficult to leave disappointments behind me and I’m prone to fits of golf-rage which of course lead to errors and further self-perpetuating fits of golf-rage. Each new round brings about fresh promises of calmness and self-control but inevitably a topped iron or sliced drive will prompt the usual downward spiral.
It is with my own short comings in mind that I find professional Golfers so impressive. The mental strength and composure they exhibit under the most intense pressure is staggering.
Jack Nicklaus was the master of both mental strength and course management and remains an inspiration for both professionals and amateurs alike. His ability to read the conditions and play them perfectly was the envy of his rivals. Nicklaus was also known as a conservative player at times, going for broke only when he needed to. (If only the rest of us could exhibit this sort of restraint).
Nicklaus hung up his clubs professionally in 2005 after The Masters, and now concentrates his efforts and vast experience creating new challenging courses for future generations of golfers to enjoy. Current developments include the impressive Nicklaus Golf Trail collection of courses designed exclusively for Spanish Golf Property Developers Polaris World.
Julian MacGregor is a keen Golfer and owner of a Polaris World Golf property
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julian_Macgregor
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Many casual golfers tend not to put a lot of thought into choosing the right golf ball for them. However, if you want to play at your best (and who doesn’t ?), this is certainly a mistake: the right golf ball can help you gain distance in your drives, as well as making it easier for you to pull off tricky finesse shots.
Each of the various golf balls that are on the market has been designed and constructed with a difference balance of priorities between desirable qualities of distance, spin or control. Thus choosing an appropriate golf ball for you, is a matter of identifying which qualities are important to you, and which particular ball has the right balance of those priorities.
The first thing to understand is that there are three main types of golf balls: balata, two-piece, or a combination of both.
- Balata golf balls are softer balls with softer covers, designed to achieve greater spin and control. This type of ball is usually the best choice for low handicap players, and is in fact the type used by most professionals. Balata balls do however tend to be the most expensive type of golf balls.
- Two-piece golf balls have a harder cover, which creates less backspin when the ball is hit, allowing it to travel farther. Generally, this type of ball is more suitable for higher handicap players looking for distance as well as durability.
- There are also golf balls designed for players with lower swing speeds. These balls, which are often marketed towards women or seniors (but used by many men too), have a lightweight construction designed to help players achieve extra distance.
As well as the big factor - the choice of the type of ball, even relatively small unobtrustive features of the ball can also affect your game. For example, the dimples on the ball - smaller dimples tend to lessen trajectory of the ball in flight, whereas larger dimples tend to increase it. For this reason, you’ll almost certainly benefit by trying out a few different balls until you identify the type that suits you best.
When new to game of golf, as soon as you find a ball that you’re comfortable with, you’ll be tempted just to stick with it. However, as you become experienced in the game, you will discover that you can improve your play by varying your choice of ball depending on the weather and course conditions. For example, in wet conditions you might select a ball which spins less and travels farther, whereas in arid conditions when the course surface has been made rock hard by the sun, a softer ball which lands softly and spins, is more suitable. Likewise, golf balls come in two compressions - 90 and 100 - the former being more suitable for cold days, and the latter for hot weather.
Choosing the right golf ball really is important to playing a good game. There are many, many choices on the market. Explore which golf ball you may want to use and then try it out. Experiment and in time, you’ll find exactly the right golf ball for you.
By S. Tanna. First published at http://www.guide4golf.com/eq_balls.php
Visit http://www.guide4golf.com/ for Golf articles, tips, shopping & more
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sunil_Tanna
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If you want a proven formula to fix your golf slice you’ve come the right place. Because I’m THE expert in that area. And here is the exact formula I’ve used to cure literally thousands of golfer’s slice problems from all around the world. So without wasting any more time—here are the 4 things you must do to fix your golf slice for good…
1. Setup for a draw
2. Swing from the inside so the ball starts to the right (for a right handed golfer) of your final target
3. Contact the ball with a slightly closed clubface
4. Have equipment that encourages you to draw the ball
Now that list of 4 things is generally the opposite of what every golfer does to hit a slice. As an example, when a golfer who is right handed and has a slice problem attempts to fix it....they do it by aiming to the left to allow for it. And as we all know, that just makes a slice worse, doesn’t it?
Now the absolute quickest possible way to fix your slice is to do the exact opposite of what you’re currently doing. So that means you have to setup for a hook. Then you need to try and swing a lot from the inside and release your hands a lot through impact so you contact the ball with a slightly closed clubface. And finally, you need equipment that helps you to hit a draw/hook.
If you did all of these things you could fix your slice tomorrow.
Seriously! It would happen that fast.
But here’s the problem—because it would feel so strange for you to do all of these things at the same time you would barely hit the golf ball….at least for a few days.
But golfers don’t like change. The slicing habit you have now took you a long time to create. And if you slowly try to fix it then equally it will take you a long time to fix it—if you fix it at all.
Now I assume you want to fix your slice sooner rather than later. So please believe me when I say that the quickest way to fix your slice problem is to not worry about your ball striking results for a few days or even a couple of weeks. Instead simply exaggerate the reverse of what you do to hit a slice. And if you’re like most of my students who do this, after a few days you’ll be hitting the ball straight!
Yes….straight!
If you exaggerate the opposite of what you do to hit a slice you’ll eventually hit the ball straight—not hook it. I know that sounds weird but that’s just how the golf swing works. Because when you swing a golf club, what you think you’re doing and what is actually happening are often two totally different things.
Now when you’re making changes to your golf swing to fix your slice you’ve got to work on one thing at a time. The best and most logical place to start is the setup. You need to setup the opposite of what you’re currently doing. So have a strong grip, align yourself to the right of the target, position the ball back in your stance etc., etc.
This will be tough to do but if you REALLY want to fix your slice you’ll do it.
Once you’ve done that you then want to exaggerate swinging from the inside. Then you’ve got to work on releasing your hands through impact so you contact the ball with a slightly closed clubface. Lastly, if the equipment you’re using is encouraging a slice rather than a draw then you must change your equipment so that it encourages you to hit a draw/hook.
So that’s the proven formula you need to follow to fix your slice. And remember, to get the fastest results you must exaggerate the opposite of what you’re currently doing to hit your slice. To make a start I recommend you change your grip to make it stronger, because I know of golfers that have just done that and fixed their golf slice. So start with making changes to your setup and then progress through the rest of this proven formula after that.
Article Source: http://freearticalepro.com
Professional golfer Nick Bayley has found just one golf swing fault that could be stopping you from ball striking consistency and success. But now you can take a simple 2 minute golf swing test to see if you have this swing fault or not. Go here to take The Golf Swing Test now: http://www.yourgolfswingtest.com
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