Golf Secrets Exposed

Few things are more important to a golfer than a good golf bag. First off, golf bags come in many styles and a wide variety of colors. You can choose a bag for style, features or pick a color to match your mood.

Some have legs that fold out when they are placed on the ground and stand upright so the golfer doesn’t have to bend down and pick it up. That’s a nice feature in golf bags, especially if the golfer tends to walk the course, as many do. There is plenty of bending to be done when a golfer is trying to remove an obstacle from around his or her ball, or to get the ball out of the cup, so any way to avoid bending over is more than appreciated.

All golf bags have compartments where the golf clubs are to be placed. Each golfer has his or her own way of doing this and putting clubs where he or she wants them. Some golfers, though, are lazy and just stick their clubs in the compartments, grabbing whichever one they want when a particular club is needed. But, some golf bags have tubes to protect the club grips. These are nice to have. With the tubes, a golfer can get his or her clubs out easier. The clubs are never tangled up, and the grips last a lot longer.

Another important factor in choosing a golf bag is the number of pockets it has. Frankly, there’s no such thing as too many pockets in a golf bag. First, one of the pockets will be used to hold the golf bag’s hood. The hood is used to keep the clubs and bag from getting drenched when it rains. Another pocket will be used to keep extra towels (believe it or not, extra towels are important in the summer to keep the sweat off the brow and out of the eyes, along with keeping the hands relatively dry. Then, there is the pocket used for keeping the extra golf tees and possibly the divot tool. Finally, a pocket is needed for the golf balls themselves, and it doesn’t hurt to have a pocket to carry another dozen balls in, just in case.

Some courses are so difficult it is easy to lose a lot of balls during 18-holes of play. This makes having an extra box of balls around a good thing, but there has to be somewhere in the golf bag to keep them, which means another pocket.

Imagine trying to play golf without a bag. The golfer would be constantly stooping over picking up clubs, tees, balls, towels and the divot tool. Then he or she would have to walk to the ball, drop all of the clubs and stuff, select a club, hit the ball, and start the process all over again. It would be a major pain in the neck, and would make it nearly impossible to finish playing a round of golf. So, golf bags are an essential part of the game of golf.

A better golf game is achievable by any golfer. It doesn’t
matter what your age is, how good a player you are or how long
you’ve been playing. But the key to a better golf game may not
be what you think.

The â??standard’ approach to a better golf game is taking lessons;
buying more equipment; and hitting hundreds of golf balls at the
range.

Although, the above approach is not altogether incorrect…there
is one crucial missing element. That element is your BODY! You
swing those fancy clubs; you hit all those balls at the range;
and you physically participate in the aspect of taking lessons.

The common denominator is your body. Do you agree? If you don’t,
I’d like to hear you’re explanation of why not.

If you are following me, and think I’m remotely correct, then
why wouldn’t you work on your body to play a better golf game?

I’m constantly hearing golfers say they’ve taken lessons, bought
new equipment and pounded hundreds of balls but still have not
seen improvement.

That’s the telltale!

That leaves just one thing…YOU.

Don’t get me wrong…I firmly believe you need an understanding of
golf swing technique, and golf equipment can help. But pounding
balls just for the sake of doing it won’t help you play a better
golf game.

Now picture this.

You do a few simple stretches and golf exercises daily and go
out to play. You now realize you can make a bigger backswing
with less tension; you have more clubhead speed enabling you to
hit longer drives; and you are not worn out on the back nine.

Isn’t that worth the minimal investment in your time?

To play a better golf game…you’ve got to take a different
approach than what you are currently doing. One that gets to the
root of the problem. The one that’s causing those mishits and
inconsistencies.

You will be amazed at your outcome if you take this approach.
You will finally play a better golf game.

For the regular golfer the news on the modern golf ball is all good. The ball doesn’t slice or hook anywhere near as much as it did 15 years ago and it goes a lot further. But why hasn’t the average club member’s handicap dropped. The answer is almost certainly in the golf ball you are teeing up.

Today a solidly hit golf ball doesn’t move. The manufacturer’s designers have worked the long night hours to make it so. But for most of us the percentage of solidly hit shots hasn’t improved that much and the ball, when hit poorly, will deviate from the straight and narrow.

And some balls will deviate more than others. Would you believe that the golf ball a Pro plays with will deviate more than many of the alternatives on the market!

The argument, then, is that most amateur golfers could be playing with a golf ball that will make them straighter but choose not to.

Of course the modern golf ball goes further, by quite some distance, leaving you much closer to the green playing from the rough.

The bad news, for those who pick the ball used by their hero on TV, is that the same golf ball, when hit with a swing speed of only 85mph, isn’t going to perform anywhere near its optimum level, leaving you not only further from the Fairway than you’d like, but further from the Green than you could be.

Not the combination that any of us were looking for when we teed up our brand new golf ball and envisioned, in our pre-shot routine, a long, slight draw that leaves us a simple approach from the center of the Fairway.

So, why do less than 20% of regular golfers take the time and trouble to find the golf ball that will marry their swing speed and their requirement for control and feel? Why, when each new golf ball offers a toolbox of technologies all offering different benefits, do we play the golf ball we do?

Spend a little time working out what characteristics your golf ball needs to have to help you enjoy your golf game that little bit more. Be prepared to experiment and remember that you can get qualified advice with your nearest PGA Golf Professional

Golf putting training aids helps a golfer to putt better. The whole point of the game is to get the ball in the hole and, unless you learn to putt well, your game may struggle. Putting can be challenging, even for pro golfer’s some days. If you’ve ever watched golf tournaments on television you’ll know what I’m talking about. However, there’s nothing more beautiful than watching a golfer sink a long, difficult putt for eagle. There are several different types of training aids on the market that will help you a lot, as a beginner or a pro.

Software

There is now specially designed software available to help with putting accuracy. Many of these different types of software are modern, state of the art applications. There are several that are either currently being used or have been used by PGA pro’s. These guys have coaches, trainers, equipment and everything else imaginable under the sun to give them as much of a competitive edge as possible. Getting on the tour these days is NOT easy and neither is STAYING on it, with a new wave of talented young men and women coming on board (or trying too) every year.

Visit your local golf shop or do a search online for “golf putting software” or “golf training software”, with or without the quotes, and you should be able to find several to choose from.

Golf sticks

Golf sticks are becoming the new center of attraction. The style of making the sticks is becoming sophisticated. Variety in color, design and application is seen in the sticks and maintains the crucial triangular relation between arms and grip. This takes the wrists out of the stroke, and promotes the coveted pendulum swing.

The main feature of these putters may include the alignment system. As the golfer stands over the putter, he or she must link the lines to create a perfect circle, which when lined up gives proper lob, lie, hand position and face angles. Each putter comes with a free Bickler. The two together promises to be a potent aid for those who grapple with putting strokes.

Nike recently entered the market with a new line designed for the “better player”. These were to be used and endorsed by Tiger Woods, although there’s no word on how they’re working out yet.

Swing aids

Golf Swing aids training tools encourage a specific wrist action, which works in an up and down manner, not from side to side. Swing aids help to maintain a square club face during the swing and to maximize power that is developed from the hand and wrist action. By using a swing aid it will help you to get a feel for the correct swing path and swing plane. Many of these can be used both in hitting balls and practice swings.

Many Golf putting training aids come with a lot of equipment, such as a putting cup wedge, putting cup, putting arc, putting mat, variety of putting greens and more. Each instrument has a different function. A good golf putting training aid is truly a golfers best friend.

How do I improve my golf driving distance? I hear this question
daily. This is the dream of almost every amateur golfer. To hit
it longer. But to improve golf driving distance isn’t what you
think. No it’s not your equipment. It’s not pounding more balls
at the range. And it’s not even taking more lessons.

It’s about working on the machine that swings the club. Are you
following me? Do you know what I’m getting at? You’re an athlete
if you play golf. Don’t laugh. I’m serious! To swing a golf club
effectively takes a tremendous amount of golf specific strength,
flexibility, coordination, balance and stability.

None of the above can be accomplished without an optimum level
of golf specific fitness. When was the last time you made a
swing and felt like it was an effortless, full and produced
maximum power? I’m sure it’s happened on occasion, but not as
often as you want right?

The reason why is your body can’t produce a repetitively
powerful swing. It’s not capable of it. Why? Because you need to
work on it â??off the course’ with simple golf strength and
stretches to build up the golf specific muscles that can make
this happen.

To improve golf driving distance you must take this attitude. If
not, be ready to accept the same swing, game and results you’ve
been getting for a long time. I don’t mean to mix words, but the
truth is needed. No sugar-coating! This is “throwing all the
cards on the table” and deciding how bad you want to improve
your golf driving distance.

Golfers have been bombarded with ads about the latest-greatest
driver, guaranteed to add 30 yards to your driving distance. I
say bs on that. It’s you that swings that club. Doesn’t matter
what club you have if your body is in poor condition.

The critical area to work on for the quickest results is your
core (mid-section). Your core is the engine that drives the
swing and produces all the power. You’ve got to strengthen this
area from a rotational standpoint to improve golf driving
distance.

Not only will this approach improve your golf driving distance,
but it will eliminate low back pain and injury. Low back pain is
the most common complaint among golfers. It’s no wonder since
the golf swing is such a torquing movement that directly affects
the lower back if you have weak and restricted muscles.

The benefits far outweigh the effort involved. Longer drives, no
more injuries and years of golf enjoyment. There’s no better
return than that. So take a different approach to improve golf
driving distance.

A golf cart was initially designed in order to carry players around the course. Nowadays, carts are becoming a very popular transport. With the help of a golf cart accessory, it can turn it into a stylish and quite a comfortable vehicle. As well as golf courses, they are widely used in university campuses, neighborhoods and during different kinds of events. Installing such accessories as lift kits, alloy wheels or racing-style steering wheel can transform an ordinary golf cart into a very interesting and useful thing.

The Golf Cart Concept

Basically it’s a small vehicle with three or four wheels. The first ones were designed to hold two passengers, but modern models may contain up to 8 men. Usually it’s powered by electric engines. Alternatively it can have internal combustion motor.

The important thing about using them is legality. Without a set of additional golf cart accessory, they are not street-legal. In order to use one in the street, the owner has to outfit the vehicle with brake lights, seatbelts, windshield and so on. In this case, the golf cart will be allowed to use on the street with a speed limit of 25-35 mph (depends on the area).

They are also very economic. It’s about ten times cheaper to drive and maintain a golf cart than a car. It’s very important since the gas price has recently risen immensely.

Now you see the real benfit of owning one for yourself. How to make it even better? Lots of manufacturers produce lines of these type of accessories. Continue reading, and you will learn about the most popular and useful ones.

Golf Cart Accessory

Among others, the most popular accessory is a lift kit. Lift kits increase the cart clearance and therefore enhances its cross-country ability. However, lift kit installation may break original alignments of the headlights.

Another useful thing is a golf cart cover, which protects the vehicle in harsh weather conditions. As a rule, you should cover the golf cart in rainy and snowy weather.

Ramps and towing, designed for golf carts, will help you to puck up the vehicle into a truck. This may help to transfer a cart between courses.

Windshields protect driver and passengers from wind, rain and balls that may accidentally rush by. It is recommended to buy polycarbonate windshield, as it’s stronger than a standard acrylic one.

Many accessories are designed just to make a cart look more impressive. This may be a wheel covers, racing-style pedals and steering wheel or even a hi-end stereo system.
Manufacturers’ imagination is infinite and thus may help you to upgrade your cart.

Golf improvement exercises are a must if you expect to stay healthy and stay on top of your game.

It seems as if many golfer’s don’t care to take the time to get the proper exercise that they need How

do I know this. By doing a study of amatuer golfer’s over the past several months.

Golf has become an increasingly popular sport over the past few years You now see men and women

of all ages at the golf course practicing their swing “Relaxation” for many people is to simply go hit a

bucket of balls if they don’t have time to play the course.

Golf, like any sport, requires that you take care of your body by stretching head to toe before teeing up.

It’s important that you try to stay fit by maintaining a good workout regimine. However, unlike it’s easy

to get off track and let yourself go, but there are things that you can still do about it. Read this.

First Steps

Make sure to stretch thoroughly before you perform any exercise. This is important in order to prevent

injury and shorten your recovery time.

When stretching you should pretend that you’re actually taking a shot and slowly stretch your body in

one swinging motion. Go all the way through the swing until you’re slightly uncomfortable and then hold

it for a few seconds and relax and do the other side, but no bouncing. Bouncing can cause injury.

Once you do two reps of stretching on one side then turn and do it the same way on the opposite side.

You must stretch at least ten minutes before and after your workout This will help to prevent soreness

and muscle cramping. Don’t overdo it! Nothing’s worse than hurting yourself on your first workout. Take

your time and pace yourself Only you know what you can handle so keep your limitations in mind.

Remember that the competition is at the golf course, not in the gym.

You might consider hiring a golf fitness trainer, at least temporarily, in order to get you started on a regular

workout schedule. Your trainer will be able to give you specific exercises to do and will also help you to

map out different workout routines. Mixing up the types of exercises you’re doing is important to prevent

boredom. A fitness coach can get you off on the right foot.

How would you feel about a free consultation with one of the top golf fitness trainers in the country if he

was willing to skip his $150.00 an hour fee? Read on.

Contrary to what many people think, all golf balls are not made alike. In fact, they are so diverse that there have been over 5,000 design patents for golf balls given in the last ten years. It may seem like they haven’t changed in decades, but golf balls are some of the most researched and advanced pieces of equipment in any sport today.

Selecting a ball that is right for the way you swing is critical to your golf game. As important as picking the right set of clubs, you need to find the type of golf ball that matches your style of play and your golf swing. Different golf balls have a different spin and a different feel. They are made with different cover materials and of varying density. Picking the one that works for you depends on your skill level and how you hit the ball.

The first thing you might look at is the compression of the ball. This relates to how tightly the ball is wound. The lower the compression the softer the ball. Softer balls are better if you have a slow swing, they will fly farther but are harder to control. High compression balls, on the other hand are easier to control but are best used by those with a fast swing.

To decide which golf ball is best for you, you can divide them into 3 general categories. The solid two piece ball is the most common and, of course, the cheapest. It is comprised of a hard cover over an inner core. This is a good ball for beginners which can often hit the ball thin or fat.

The three piece ball is multilayered. Softer than the two piece ball, it gives you more control but won’t fly as far. This ball is recommended for intermediate players as it will let you get more spin and control over your shots. The three piece ball is more expensive than the two piece but can add an edge to your play if you are past the beginner stage and looking for something to give you an edge.

The high performance balls can be rather costly and won’t last as long as the other types of balls. These balls are for the expert player who wants more control and spin than the three piece ball can offer. Although it is costly, this type of golf ball has what it takes to go the distance.

The game of golf offers many lessons that apply to our lives. For every mistake or poor choice there is usually a second chance waiting for us. Second chances are what golf is all about. In a round of golf there are 18 second chances which is a big reason why so many people are drawn to the game.

There is a freshness and renewed confidence waiting at every tee box. Each hole offers a new opportunity to get it right. When viewing the fairway ahead, visions of a long tee balls fill our mind. “This time I’m really gonna rip it”, we say as the others in our group tee off. It’s rather easy to get lost on the golf course. The mind can drift to the last missed birdie, a great approach shot, or simply the beauty of the course itself. Once the tee is sunk into the ground, the moment of truth arrives.

Regardless of how we hit our tee shot, yet another chance waits for us down the fairway. A great tee shot makes everything seem just a little sweeter. Standing beside the ball just 135 yards away from the green you think, “If I can only knock this on, I’ll have a chance for a birdie.” Sometimes we even assume a great result based on our position in the fairway. Just as in life, the future is unknown. We know that each day is a blessing that we are fortunate to have. Standing over the ball requires poise and nerves of steel. Flashes of E.S.P.N. highlights from Pebble Beach rip through our mind as we take the club head back.

The well intentioned shot is stuck well but runs out of gas at its peak. Drifting to the right, the ball ends up in a familiar place; short and to the right. The mumbler in all of us rattles off phrases of disgust and disbelief. “You’d think I would make an adjustment just once….I end up in the same stupid spot every time! Unbelievable.”

Our emotions often get the best of us as our thoughts go from club breaking to more rational feelings. Picking up the bag seems like a heavy task after blowing yet another opportunity to “do it like the guys on TV.”

The spherical form with Titleist emblazened on the side represents hope once again. Reforming our thoughts takes a clear mind. “Wipe out everything and concentrate on this chip shot,” as if Butch Harmon instructs from the shadows. You select the wedge that has hit this exact shot thousands of times. The well earned sweet spot is grooved into the club. With confidence you approach the ball. Without thinking you strike the shot you could hit in your sleep. Perfect! The ball feels solid coming off the face of your club. In the air, the ball takes a path that is sure to produce a tap in for par. Just as it hits the ground, a small spray of sand and a pebble jumps left as if to come out of the ground. The ball magically squirts right on an ill fated path. “What!”, you scream. “You’ve got to be kidding me, what was that.”

How many times in life do well intended actions become altered by forces out of our control? It’s said that life is not what happens to us, but how we respond. The reality is that most of life is out of our control due to external circumstances. Unfortunately we struggle with a life that does not flow in an orderly pattern. The river of life has a mind of its own and flows according to the forces of God, not us. Instead of fighting this fact, we all need to relax, slow down, and deal appropriately with the daily “bogies” of life. Every day is exactly that. God gives us each day to use as he would have used it. Our faith is in him, not circumstances that we cannot control. Let God carry your golf bag down the fairway and listen to him and his wisdom. Face it, he already knows the outcome of your next shot no matter how hard you try.

Standing over a 12 foot downhill putt is forever a daunting task. It requires the guts of a champion and the brains of a surgeon. Knowing how to hit the putt and hitting it that way is not easy task. This time you strike the ball with your putter with confidence. You remember little about its path to the hole but the sweet sound of the ball in the cup lasts forever. A surge rips through your body screaming, “That’s a par boys, did you see that. Yes!”

Walking to the next tee you feel hope again.

With all the talk about the players on tour getting stronger and
more flexible, we hear a lot about exercising for golf from
television commentators and read about it in the golf
publications. But what exactly are the best exercises for the
amateur golfer?

A great question that has a good answer, but before we give you
the answer let us provide some background so the answer makes a
little more sense to you. First of all, discussing the golf
swing for the time being will get us rolling.

What exactly is the golf swing? The golf swing is an athletic
movement that requires using of the entire body from “feet to
fingertips” in order to complete the swing. Realize that the
golf swing is not about the club, not just about your grip, or
where your head is during the swing. The golf swing is a
movement that requires your entire body to move through a
sequence of movements with the correct timing. To perform the
“athletic movement” of the golf swing requires the body to begin
at address, move through the actual phases of the golf swing and
complete it with the follow through. In order to perform this
activity with efficiency and repetitively, the body must have
certain physical parameters.

These parameters, as I call them, are actual physical categories
of the body that need to be developed to a certain level. These
categories of the body are the platform from which the body is
able to perform the athletic movement of a golf swing
efficiently. The categories are probably familiar to many of
you, but for the purpose of this article let us briefly run
through them.

The body is required to have certain levels of flexibility,
balance, endurance, strength, and power to complete a golf
swing. If the body lacks in any of the above categories, then
the results will be seen in the golf swing. The results are
usually in the form of poor mechanics, bad shots, or poor scores
on the course. So, now that we know what the connection is
between the “body” and the “swing” let us address the question
about the best exercises for golf.

The Best Exercises for Golf

Let’s say you walk into your local health club and see all the
fancy machines and aerobic machines at the facility to get you
shape. What ones would choose? Would you choose running on the
treadmill for 30 minutes, or would it be better to push out a
couple sets of bench presses? Well, the answer to our question
really lies within the connection between your swing and your
body.

I will tell you that exercises meant to “pump you up!” or give
you that “six pack” are not necessarily the correct exercises
for your golf game. Neither is that weight training program you
used back in high school. So, with those thoughts in mind what
do you think the best exercises for golf are?

Right now we know, in general terms about the golf swing, what
is required of the body for the golf swing and what exercises
are not good for the swing. Armed with that knowledge we can
decipher what the best exercises for golf are for you.

Beginning with flexibility, we know that the entire body must
move through certain ranges of motion to perform an effective
golf swing. And what happens if your body is not able to move
through the required ranges of motion of the golf swing? The
answer: the golf swing will mechanically suffer resulting in
shots that are less than optimal. So part of the exercises that
are good for golfers are flexibility exercises and, even more
so, flexibility exercises that work the muscles used in the golf
swing through the movements involved in the golf swing. So first
and foremost flexibility exercises should be on the top of your
list.

The second category of exercises that would be conducive to the
golf swing would have to do with balance. We hear about balance
in reference to the golf swing all the time. “Stay balanced
through the swing; transfer your weight to maintain balance
during the swing…” But what does balance exactly mean? Balance
is the ability to control your body through a specific movement
pattern. The movement pattern we are discussing just happens to
be the golf swing. We know the importance of balance in relation
to the golf swing, so how do we train our body for better
balance in the golf swing? Before we answer that question we
need to know a little more about balance. Balance in relation to
the body has to do with the connection between your nerves and
muscles. Essentially your nervous system, as a result of
messages sent from your brain, tells your muscles how to move to
maintain the body’s balance. The more efficient your nerves and
muscles are to these messages the greater balance abilities the
body develops. So balance exercises train both the nervous
system and muscular system to become more efficient at this
function. Summing it all up, balance is the second category of
exercises that will assist your golf game.

The third category of exercises that are beneficial to golf have
to do with your muscles. The golf swing requires the muscles of
your body to move through a specific range of motion
(flexibility) and help with your balance capacities. In order to
perform these actions and others, your body needs certain levels
of strength and endurance. The definition of strength is the
ability of the muscles to exert force for the given “athletic
action” (simplified definition but a good working definition for
us). Endurance is the ability of your muscles to do the same
activity over and over again for a specific amount of time.

First off, let us discuss strength. The golf swing has one
intention of developing club head speed while maintaining
balance through the swing. The muscles in your body must have
enough strength in them to do both. Now, when we discuss
building strength for the golf swing it is NOT the type of
strength needed to bench press 250 lbs. Or squat 500! It is
strength geared towards the improvement of your swing. I refer
to this type of strength as “golf strength.” So when you get to
the gym, performing strength exercises like bench press will not
help your swing. Exercises that train the body in the positions
and through the movements of the golf swing will help your swing.

In addition to strength, we need to develop endurance in your
muscles. Think of how many swings you may take over the course
of 18 holes. In order for you to be able to swing the club the
same way on the 18th hole as you did on the 1st hole. Your body
has to have high levels of endurance. This will allow your body
to perform the golf swing without getting tired. You develop
endurance similar to how you develop “golf strength.” Utilize
exercises that train the body in the positions and through the
movements of the golf swing. Lighter loads with higher
repetitions will be used for these exercises. The end result
will be the development of “golf endurance.”

The final segment of exercises beneficial to your golf swing is
power training. Power training is geared towards the ability of
your body to generate high levels of club head speed. Power
development by the body is what allows for greater distance on
your shots. Clubs help, golf balls help, but it really comes
down to the piece of machinery, your body, swinging those club
and hitting those golf balls. Development of power for the golf
swing is very similar to the development of “golf strength and
endurance.” It is the utilization of exercises that place your
body in the positions and move you through movements similar to
the golf swing.

Summary

So there you have it, the answer to the types of exercises best
for the improvement of your golf swing. I think you now realize
it is not one exercise, but a group of exercises that
incorporate flexibility, balance, endurance, strength, and
power. A combination of these exercises is what will enhance
your golf swing. Looking for specific exercises? Take a look at
our website (See below