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The simple golf swing
How to break 80
Chipping fundementals
Choosing Golf Equipment
Buying golf equipment can be like dumping money into a money pit, but armed with some knowledge you can save time and money in selecting the right clubs for yourself. As with most things in life, you can spend a
lot or you can spend a little several times before you get what you really need.
If you are first starting out and not completely sure you want to commit to this addictive game, you should
either rent clubs at the golf course, or buy a starter set of clubs.
Buying a set of started clubs enables you to become accustomed to them; enabling you to concentrate on
your swing instead of wondering how this set of miss-matched clubs you just rented are going to work out.
As you become better at the game, you should invest in a better set of clubs, fitted to you.
Generally, a set includes a driver, one or two fairway woods, 4-9 irons, a wedge or two and perhaps a putter.
As you become more experienced and start thinking about new clubs, you may want to consider buying your
driver separately. Some players want a driver to give them more accuracy; some need the distance.
There are numerous balls available and the box will usually have a chart on the back and direct you to theright ball for your needs. As you learn the game and get better at it, you should experiment with different
balls which could improve your accuracy or distance.
Having the right equipment is an important aspect of the game; buy wisely!
Getting the Most from Golf Lessons
It’s never easy asking for help, but in golf, it is almost a necessity. Unfortunately, we often ask our buddies and partners, when in reality we should take a lesson or two.
We think that a Pro would critique harshly, but they are honest, positive and very helpful.
Lessons at the local course aren’t as expensive as you might think and they are worth it because your game
will improve rapidly and cause you less frustration, making the game much more enjoyable for you.
Of utmost importance, is being honest about your game. The Pro will ask you what you want to start with;
driving, chipping, putting or whatever you feel you need help with.
Listen carefully and follow the instructions. You may have doubts if the Pro changes your stance, your grip
or your swing; the Pro knows best. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Don’t worry about if the question or concern in stupid-they’ve heard it all before and will not make you feel like an idiot for asking. If you don’t "get it", tell him/her that you’re not getting it. You should never walk away from a lesson with unanswered questions.
You can concentrate on one thing during a lesson, or several. You might start with a lesson in driving; get the right grip, the right stance, the right swing, the right follow-through in one lesson, and then practice it. Next time, you might work on your short game, or putting.
You’ve invested in the equipment, doesn’t it make sense to learn how to use them to their advantage and
improve your abilities?
Golf-Beginner Basics I
The popularity of golf has increased tremendously over the past forty five years, giving us champions like
Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, and Tiger Woods, and world-renowned courses like Pinehurst, Augusta
National and the Blue Monster at Doral.
Why has golf become so popular? It’s the opportunity to be outside, to get a good whole body workout,
network with friends or business colleagues at a leisurely pace, and to play a game that you can never perfect.
Your scorecard, over time, shows your improvement, which keeps you playing again and again. Here is a very basic lesson in golf for the person who has no clue about the game.
Golf is played on an eighteen-hole course; each hole has its "par", which is the number of tee shots (drives), fairway shots, chips (short hits as you approach the green), and putts.
The par number is based on the length and difficulty of the hole. Pars range from 3 to 6. If you get the ball in the hole in five shots on a par five hole, you "made par." If it took you six shots, it’s called a bogie, if you made it in four, it’s a birdie.
There are usually "hazards" of some sort on all the holes. Bodies of water, sand traps, and trees are strategically placed to make the hole more challenging. Beginner golfers should seek to find courses to play that are easier to play, with fewer hazards.
Each player keeps their own score, marking the number of total number of shots for each hole. At the end, each person adds their scores-the lowest number is the winner.
It is important for beginner golfers to not take themselves too seriously. It takes a long time to get good at this game; even though the professionals make it look so easy.
Take a lesson or two at the onset; it will help you develop a proper swing and help you get off to a good start. Remember that it’s just a game. Have fun and look at the big picture-you’re outside and you’re not at work!
Golf - Beginner Basics II What to keep in your golf bag.
There are many golf bags available, some designed for fashion, some for utility and some that combine both
features. There are big bags, bigger bags and bags so big that they would keep everything I need for a long
weekend vacation in one of the side pockets!
Generally speaking, you need a bag just large enough to hold your clubs, extra balls, your glove, tees, car
keys, extra pencils, ball markers, a ball retriever, sunscreen, a windbreaker and a large umbrella. It is also a good idea to have a packet of tissues, a band-aid or two, and if you play courses where insects
are a problem, a can of bug repellent comes in very handy.A small pack of baby wipes come in very handy; in your bag they get warmed by the heat, so when you get sweaty or a sand trap covered you with sand, a nice warm wipe can be very refreshing.
I happen to be allergic to bees, hornets and wasps, so my Epipen is an important addition to my bag. I am
also hypoglycemic so I carry Lifesavers, which has to be replaced several times throughout the year because
they tend to melt.
One item that doesn’t need to be in your golf bag is your cell phone. If you must carry it, turn off the
ringer as a courtesy to other players. If you must use it, be aware of others who might be taking a swing or
putting their ball. Be considerate!
Having these items in your golf bag should provide everything you will need, even in a minor emergency
(like a blister) or a major inconvenience, like a sudden rainstorm. Being prepared makes the game a
great deal more fun.
Golf - Beginner Basics III The Long Game
The long game refers to your drives (shots off the tee) and fairway shots; everything short of the shots
you make to get onto the green. Each hole has a different difficulty level, different par and distinctive hazards, so instructing you to use your Driver on every tee would be blatantly wrong.
This is something you will learn over time as you learn the various shots you make according to the club, the placement of the ball and your personal swing.
Generally speaking, the lower the club number, the longer and lower your ball will go. A 4-iron shot will
travel long and low and will most likely roll, whereas a 9-iron shot will have much more loft and go less distance both in the air and on the ground.
The professionals on television make it look so easy; they consistently hit the ball long and straight and
never miss-hit the ball making it dribble ten feet, or completely miss the ball.
Driving is very important to the game, and many hours spent at the driving range will help improve your distance. Experiment with the same club to see what works for you if you move the ball forward or backward in your stance. Take a lesson, if possible, and learn the proper swing from the beginning.
Mastering the long game helps you get to the green in fewer strokes, keeping your score and frustration level down. Remember that it takes a long time to learn consistency and remember to have fun!
Golf - Beginner Basics IV The Short Game
We’ve all the seen the long accurate drives of Tiger Woods. The ball flies through the air and lands in the
middle of the fairway, 300 yards away. The green-eyed monster of envy consumes us as we wonder if we could ever hope to drive like that. Fortunately, long drives are not the be-all-end-all game of golf.
Enter the short game. Without good short game skills, all the long drives are for naught. The short game is those shots that get us onto the green from about one hundred feet out, be it from the fairway, a bunker, the rough or a drop zone and includes chips, sand shots and pitches. This is where your higher numbered clubs would be used, as well as your pitching iron, sand wedge or lob wedge.
Most golf courses have practice areas as well as a driving range. Spend some time working on hitting your
ball onto the green from different distances. Aim for a ten-foot circle in the center of the green at first, Experiment using your wedges; what works for someone else, might not work for you and your particular
swing.
After you get accustomed to doing this drill consistently, it’s time to spend some time in a sand trap. Knowing how to get the ball out of a trap will cut your score. Plant your feet firmly into the sand, with your left foot turned toward the hole. Imagine a 4-inch circle around the ball and try to hit the edge of the circle
that is away from the ball. Take lots of sand with your ball and swing completely. Don’t decelerate at all when or after you hit the ball. It should pop up onto the green and stop. This doesn’t work unless the sand is very soft and powdery. On hard surfaces, you might need to avoid actually hitting the sand.
As in all aspects of the game, only practice will help you to improve.
Golf - Beginner Basics V Putting
"Drive for show, putt for dough" is the lesson we’ve all seen and learned from watching professional
golfers in every tournament and championship. The masters of golf can drive a ball from here to
eternity, but it all boils down to how many strikes of the ball it takes to put the ball in the hole. The long accurate drives don’t amount to anything if you’re unable to putt accurately.
Choosing a putter is important, but using whatever putter you have consistently is more so. I’ve had the
same putter for fifteen years; I know what it feels like in my hand, I know its weight and how that plays into my putts.
Putting takes lots of practice. Typically, we drive the ball eighteen times in a game, but putt at least double that number. Doesn’t it stand that we should practice our putting at least twice as much as driving? If you can’t get to the practice green regularly, practice on your carpet at home.
Keep in mind that no ball can make it into the hole if it doesn’t have enough power behind the ball to get
there. Take the time to get down and look at the path from your ball to the hole; does it slant one way or
the other? Is it uphill or downhill?
Stand with your feet spread for balance and line up the putt. Keep you hands, arms and shoulders completely still; imagine that you are a "bobble head" but you move from just below your chest. Keep your
head directly over the ball. Pull your club back; keep your hands, wrists, arms and shoulders steady-the
movement comes from your chest. Hit the ball, following it with your club.
Learn from each putt and remember the lesson.
Practice, practice, practice!
Although the video above is not a true reflection of how one would behave on the golf course, so there are rules and after all it is a game that should be treated with respect.
Golf Etiquette
Golf is a dignified game of rules and manners, and it’s important to know the basics before you play for the first time. Whether you are playing alone, in a twosome or a foursome, you must wait your turn. You must keep aware of the group on the next hole and wait until they are well ahead of you before hitting your ball.
It’s never cool to "push" the group in front of you. If you are playing with others, wait for your turn to
hit the ball; never hit at the same time as another player.
While you wait for your turn, go to your ball and determine what club you’ll need and how you are going
to hit it. This is called "ready golf" and keeps the game moving. Don’t rush, just be ready.
If your team is holding up the players behind you, let them play through. You would simply wave them through, or if they are close enough, ask them if they’d like to play through. You will never make an enemy in doing this!
When someone is making a shot, you should be behind them and you shouldn’t make a sound! It is so
distracting to be ready to tee off and just as you pull back, someone decides to jingle in coins in their
pocket or noisily unwrap a piece of candy.
Replace your divots. When, in the fairway, you hit the ball and a clod of dirt and grass goes flying, replace it. On some courses you just put the clod back and step on it to press it on; on most courses, there is a sand/seed mixture on your card to put into the divot. If your ball makes a deep impression when it lands on
the green, use your divot tool to repair it.
As soon as you have completed a hole, replace the flag and leave the green so that the next players can play.
Count your score and write it on the scorecard when you’re back at your cart.
Of course, there are many more rules of golf, but these simple ones will enable you to get through the
course without coming to blows with anyone.
We must all keep the game dignified, right?
How To Care For Your Golf Clubs Like A Baby
Perhaps the most expensive accessory you’ll ever buy are your golf clubs. But even after shelling out a pocket for them, most golfers don’t look after their clubs properly or don’t know how to do so.
Since you have invested time, money, and a lot of thought in purchasing your golf clubs, you should consider spending a little more effort in maintaining, storing, and using them properly.
First, consider the golf bag itself. Before you buy one, ensure that that the sides are toughened with some metal, like maybe steel. This helps protect your clubs in case the golf bag falls out of the cart or if it hits other objects.
To prevent theft of your clubs, see if you can buy a golf bag with a flap or a door on the top. The flap should come with a lock mechanism, for example, a number protected lock or even a simple lock-and-key will suffice.
Consider painting, embroidering, or embossing your name on the sides of your golf bag. Some people even take it a step further and imprint their contact details with their names.
In case the bag happens to get lost there is a fighting chance of recovering it again. See if you can get a professional to emboss your name and contact details on the handles of your clubs.
This won’t prevent theft, but at least you know you have a better chance at finding lost clubs again.
How to Choose Golf Shoes
Your swing will change, your accuracy and distance will improve with practice, and you’ll become deadly
with a putter, but you will always do these things while standing on your feet.
Your feet need to be comfortable! Have you ever developed a blister while walking or running? It’s all
you can think about and it ruins the experience. Don’t let uncomfortable shoes ruin your golf game.
This is one area where you shouldn’t let your frugality make the decision for you. You will be wearing these shoes many times and they should be considered an investment.
Comfort should be your biggest concern when buying shoes. Your foot should not move at all on your heel
when you walk, yet your toes shouldn’t feel cramped. Have you shoes professional fit to your feet and walk
around in them before you buy them.
Proper golf shoes should be waterproof so that your feet remain dry in damp conditions. Good socks are
important too; they will wick perspiration away from you feet, keeping your feet dry and comfortable.
All golf courses prohibit metal spiked shoes in the effort to protect their delicate greens. Purchase shoes that allow you to change the rubber spikes easily, and while you’re there, purchase some extras. You never know when you might lose one. Replace the spikes when they become worn.
With all the things you have to worry about while playing golf, your feet shouldn’t be one of them. When
it comes to golf footwear, quality counts.
How Golf Accessories Can Improve Your Game
Other than hiring expensive tutors, golf pros use many other tricks in order to improve their game. Rigorous and regular practice is, of course, an obvious tactic.
However, most pros will also exploit their golf accessories in many which ways. If you do the same, it will help improve your game and reduce your handicap as well.
Many pros will attach golf weights to the ends of their clubs. Then they practice their slow swings with the additional weights. This offers 3 distinct benefits –
One, they can quickly develop the correct set of muscles due to the additional resistance.
Second, the extra weights add some zing to their regular training and helps in boosting motivation levels. This in turn, allows the pros to come to the greens and practice regularly, without fail.
And third, it allows them to use the lighter clubs with greater power and accuracy so that their long shots cover a respectable distance with unerring precision.
Pros will also invest a bit of money in another critical accessory – a putting green. This allows them to practice everyday, often, twice a day.
They also prefer using the same putter and same balls that they might use on the golfing green for better control. Pros also watch other pros putting and swinging.
So feel free to rent, buy, download, or borrow instructional DVDs or VHSs. If you watch other pros then it might help you develop better swings which might help shave a few critical points off your total score.
Must-Have Golf Accessories That Leave You Drooling
Here is a quick check-list of the “It” golf accessories that are must-haves. See if you have them in your golf cart, and if you don’t, put them right on top of your shopping list for golf accessories.
For rookies who keep losing their balls or golfers who cannot keep track of the balls they have hit, this is a god-send. People buy different types and brands of glasses that can keep the golf ball outlined against the grass.
These glasses remove light emitting from non-ball objects so that the only visible object in your line of vision is the errant ball.
Putting greens that throw balls your way and provide inputs on your strokes are must-haves with serious golfers. You may have thought that tees have become as sophisticated as possible but a new version is out these days.
This tee comes with a top surface that is made from a brush-like material. This prevents the tee from being ripped out or damaged because your club merely brushes past it instead of impacting it hard.
And the hi-tech golfers all use the scorekeeper which looks a bit like the GameBoy but it keeps score and does all the mathematical calculations for them.
And how about a golf wristwatch which displays your handicap And ever thought about re-using your golf balls by cleaning them professionally with a golf ball cleanser
Is your head already spinning and your mouth drooling Well, keep drooling because there are probably more sophisticated golf accessories hitting the market even as you read this article…
Ladies Golf Attire and Fashion
I was perusing Golf for Women the other day anwondered where are the women who wear the golf attire
modeled in women’s golf magazines? I’ve never seewomen, professionals included, who would dress in such expensive and outrageous clothes!
It’s easy to spend money outfitting yourself for golf. Hats, sunglasses, gloves, shirts, shorts, socks,
windbreakers and shoes all add up quickly, even if you shop the sales. Add in equipment, bag and cart and youhave to play quite often to keep down the "CPU" - cost per use.
One glossy advertisement showed a model in short shorts (like that’s allowed on courses!) that cost $275, the Tse golf shirt ($595), jacket by Ralph Lauren ($185) and two-toned Utuser shoes ($425).
That comes up to $1480; I could never hope to get the CPU on that outfit anywhere near a normal level in my lifetime! Don’t get me wrong; I love clothes. I really love shoes, but could never afford, or want, golf
shoes that cost more than the national budget of some small countries.
Granted, you want comfortable shoes that don’t look like something your grandmother would wear, but you
can easily find less expensive and fashionable shoes.
I have several really stylish golf outfits, none of them brand name. If I totaled the cost of all of them
up it would not come up to the price of the Tse golf shirt. Personally, I’d rather have several stylish
outfits and one outrageously priced one.
If I were to wear a $1480 outfit to play golf, I would simply be too worried about getting dirty or
perspiring to play a decent round.
Make A Style Statement With Your Golf Cart
A golf cart is as precious to a serious golfer as a car or a cell phone or any other gadget is to other men. Initially, when people buy a golf cart, it’s usually pretty basic, without too many frills and features.
However, they keep upgrading it and adding customizations and individualizing it so that it becomes more a personal style statement than a mere golf accessory.
People fortunate enough to own their personal golf cart usually begin by upgrading the seats. Not only can you make the seats plush and comfortable by embellishing them with high density foam, you can top it off with faux or genuine leather upholstery.
Style the wheel rims, the bumper, and even the steering wheel. Flashy golf carts sport a ‘theme’ or a ‘look’. You might see dark varnished wood all over the cart or even a shiny chrome finish that sparkles when it catches the sun rays.
Work out a theme according to your budget and your personal preferences. But beware of going overboard, you don’t want screech your style statement, do you
Don’t know where to begin Inquire at your local car repair shops if they might be willing to work on your golf cart body. A low-cost quickie to get you started can consist of a ready-made body kit or a simple paint job.
Check out online sites and research on Google for more ideas. If you feel like splurging, hire a pro who can add a professional touch to your style statement.
Shop Online For Your Golf Accessories
Remember the time, not very long ago, when your local golf club store was the shopping mecca for all your golf accessories Now ask any teenage caddy or a twenty-something golf aficionado and they might turn up their collective noses at the thought of shopping at a clicks and mortar building.
The hip-set now prefer a clicks and non-bricks type of online shopping for all their golf accessories. Not only is it fashionable to do so, but you might be surprised at the several different types of advantages and benefits you get from shopping online for your golf accessories.
The inventory is much more aggressive online than it could possible be at your friendly neighborhood golf store. Not only will you find several thousands of sites peddling their stuff, you will also be spoiled for choice.
Whereas the humble golf cap was almost a matter of necessity once, now it has become the ultimate fashion statement. You get designer caps, autographed caps, limited edition caps – and this list keeps getting longer and more mouth-watering with every passing fashion fad.
Not only do you get more variety, you might also find great discounts, promotional offers, and genuine 50% off sales. Websites try to outdo each other in all sorts of manner and only the customer stands to gain from this one-upmanship.
So what are you waiting for The next time you wish to add to your collection of golf accessories, don’t zip down to your store. Instead log onto the Web and click away!
Online Shopping Tips For Your Golf Accessories
Agreed, online shopping is the in-thing. Almost everyone and their caddy are clicking away online. Websites offer lucrative deals and all sorts of unimaginable variety of golf accessories.
Let’s face it, shopping for golf accessories cannot be made more fun or more simple than clicking a button.
But watch out, sitting at home and shopping with such ease can also be dangerous. Your credit card details can fall in the wrong hands and unknown strangers can use those details to run up humungous bills.
Spurious websites also sell your personal details to other companies who then badger you with unwanted phone calls, unsolicited emails, flyers, brochures, and what-have-yous.
Some sites even insert malicious code on your computer, known as a virus, which then secretly captures and sends information like your bank passwords to hackers, etc.
In order to avoid these dangers, just take simple precautionary steps when you shop online for your golf accessories - only shop at websites which are well-known and popular like eBay - regardless of the ‘great deal’ or the ‘fabulous offer’ avoid visiting unknown websites - Look for the padlock on the bottom right of your browser. This indicates that the site is relatively safe - Always use the best anti-virus and anti-spy ware like Norton which gets rid of malicious code installed on your PC - Close your browser immediately if you see any suspicious activity at a website
Such simple measures will help you shop online for your golf accessories in relative peace and security.
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