All About Golfer

5 Most Important Things to Consider When Choosing Golf Clubs

2008-01-30T03:19:00.000-08:00

Every golfer knows that having proper equipment is essential. Choosing golf clubs has become some what of a daunting task because of the enormous market out there. We have come up with 5 simple things to consider when choosing golf clubs.

1.First of all you have to be honest with yourself in deciding what skill level you�re at. Are you a beginner just starting out, an intermediate weekend golfer, or an expert golfer who plays all the time? This is critical because there are different types of equipment designed to help every level of player. Playing with expert equipment if you are just starting out will only hurt your game.

2.Stay within your spending limits. You have to know what type of budget you are working with. Golf can become very expensive if you don�t stay within your means. There is equipment and accessories designed for every budget, you just have to know where to look.

3.Figure out your strengths and weaknesses. Do you know hook or slice the ball? Are you a long or short hitter? Do you sink many puts when you have to, etc.? You must know these qualities of your game. When you go to your local shop or golf pro it will be easy for them to get you fitted correctly if you know this information.

4.How often do you play? Are you a weekend golfer or an addict who plays all the time? This will determine what golf clubs and accessories you should purchase. Don�t go out and spend a fortune on complex equipment and other things if you only play the game on the weekend with your buddies. On the other hand if you travel all over competing and playing, you are going to need the quality equipment that allows that.

5.Finally make sure you do your own research. Read golf magazines, articles, newspapers, and anything else you can get your hands on. Go to demo days at your local club or driving range and any local golf shows. Check online at manufacturer�s websites and other informative golf club websites. You can find anything online. Doing research is the key to getting what you want.

If you use these 5 simple tips to choosing golf clubs it will be simple for you to get fitted with exactly what you need. So go out and get those brand new clubs you have been thinking about for while.

More great tips on choosing your golf clubs can be found at:

www.golfequipmentsource.com/golfclubs.html

About the Author

John Bolt is the full time owner of GolfEquipmentSource.com With years of competitive golf experience under his belt, he understands the importance of having properly fitted golf equipment. You can visit him online at: www.golfequipmentsource.com/golfclubs.html

Golf Training Films - Improve Your Golf Game With Films

2008-01-30T03:16:00.000-08:00

By: Staffan Moritz

Do you want to improve your golf swing, grip or putting? Golf training films may be the answer for you. In today’s technologically savvy world, one of the best ways to learn golf, if you are a beginner, or a more more advanced player, is by checking out the latest golf training films. Golf training films can not only improve your swing but also teach you how to tighten your grip, learn the fundamentals of the game, learn the game rules, and overall techniques of coming in under par.

One of the best and most popular golf training films in the history of golf is Ben Hogan’s “In Pursuit of Perfection.” This film was shot by chance by an amateur photographer named Clem Darracott. Being that Hogan never allowed himself to be filmed while playing golf, Darracott received a unique opportunity to catch this champion on film. It was one day in 1967, when Darracott took his video camera and found Hogan taking practice shots. Darracott simply walked up to Hogan and asked if he could take a few shots while he was playing. To his surprise, Hogan said, “yes.” That entire day, Darracott followed Hogan closely around the golf course shooting him and talking about golf. After that day, one of the most eventful golf training films of all times was produced. Today, this golf training film provides valuable instructions to golfers and is available all around the world.

There are other popular golf training films on the market for both beginnings and advanced golfers. One, in particular, is Wally Armstrong’s Golf Training Tools DVD. This golf training film is complete with such chapters as: Feel Your Way To Better Golf, Gadgets and Gimmicks, and Short and Long Game Teaching Aids.

One very important thing to keep in mind when selecting golf training films is that they have to be as detailed as possible. Golf is a very complex game. You want golf training films that not only explain the game of golf, but also show you specific techniques and tricks to improve your game. That’s why you should select golf training films that are instructed by true champions and Masters.

Golf training films may be the key to improving your game and you won’t find any better instruction than if you trained with a Master yourself. So, get out there and watch those films—and shave strokes off your game today.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

For more golf tips, tricks and information on Golf Training Films , get your free e-course at: www.golfsecretsnews.com

How to Choose a Good Golf Training School

2008-01-30T03:05:00.000-08:00

by Robb Thomas

When choosing a golf school, take into consideration its ranking, teaching principles, the quality of its instructors, the facilities, format and how it fits into your budget. Keep reading to learn about these factors and what goes into choosing a great golf school.

Golf School Rankings

One of the most popular golf school rankings is done by GOLF magazine, a well-known golf publication that rates schools based on the categories listed below. However, if you're interested in a golf school, you should also look into online student reviews, write-ups in other golf magazines as well as a list of the school's alumni.

Teaching Principles

Ideally, you want a school with a low teacher-to-student ratio or a golf school that combines the lower-priced, but useful group classes with less frequent individual lessons and one-on-one time.

Before enrolling in a golf school, ask about their teaching principles and make sure they fit with your personal learning style.

Quality of Instructors

Request the names and qualifications of your school's instructors. Ideally, every instructor should be certified, preferably through the PGA (Professional Golf Association) or through either the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America (PGTAA) or the United States Golf Teachers' Federation (USGTF).

Becoming a PGA Professional and PGA Instructor takes years of playing and apprenticeship. Becoming a PGA member starts with a basic apprenticeship, then ends with a long series of training programs and a Player Aptitude Test. So, if your instructor or the instructors at your school are PGA-certified, you know they're properly qualified to teach.

Quality of Facilities

Do some research into the facilities available at the schools. Are they able to measure the speed of your swing? Can they record your swing and go back over it with you? Do they have a full course, driving range and putting practice area? Remember, the quality of a school's facilities is a reflection on the school itself.

School Format

Depending on the amount of time you have available, you may be interested in an intense two-week, residential training course or a drawn out, 6-month program that consists of weekly lessons. Either way, you should find a school that offers the type of format and program you're interested in.

Many recreational golfers benefit from a once-yearly bout of lessons over the course of an intense week of golfing.

Budget

Of course, your available funds are always a critical component of any endeavor. If you love golf and can afford a higher quality golf school, go for it. However, if money is tight, it will be all the more important for you to weigh and balance the previous recommendations.

About the Author

For both practical and exciting golf course and general golfing improvement aids information, please visit http://www.golf-the-course.com, a popular site providing great insights concerning all kinds of relevant interests for the golf enthusiast.

Tips to Help You Find the Perfect Golf Grip

2008-01-27T19:20:00.000-08:00

By: Leroy Calstard

Saying something is often far easier than actually doing it or making it happen. For golfers, it is easy to suggest that a good grip will result in a poorly played game. It is also easy to state that a good grip is essential to a quality golf swing. But, what exactly is a “good grip?” If you do not already have one, how can you get a good grip? These are only some of the questions a new golfer, in particular, may have.

Well, the latest a golf gadget that helped you put and end to your awful slice will not do it, nor will you find a perfect golf grip at your local golf store. In fact, if you were to ask a variety of golfers what the perfect grip was, they would very likely demonstrate an equal number of “perfect grips.”

This is because a good golf grip is really comes to several factors. The game of golf is not a science and cannot be played according to a pre-determined formula. Fortunately, though, there are some things you can do to improve your trip. Here are some tips recommended by professionals.

Be sure the grip on your golf club is right for you. If you are not playing with your personal club s, you may find that you play a fairly poorer game. A new set of clubs may be a great gift, but to the golfer, they may not be so great once out on the course since the clubs need to fit the golfer. One pair of gloves do not fit all golfers, and the same theory applies for golf grips. Since golf grips are made for the individual golfer, spend a little time finding a fit that is best for you.

Comfort is also important. Regardless of the golf grip you prefer, you must be comfortable with that grip. If you are continually thinking of “how” to grip, then you cannot focus on anything else, like the game. Most golfers do spend time practicing his or her grip, but this should not be the most time-consuming part of playing the game.

Do not hesitate to change your grip if it is simply not working. If you are not happy with it, then try something else. If the grip on your golf clubs is too large, or the grip is uncomfortable, fix the problem. Take a closer look at your methods and equipment you are using and make any necessary adjustments. The only caveat would be if you are working with a professional coach who will not permit any such adjustments. Otherwise, you will appreciate the changes you make as comfort in your golf grip is important.

Finally, if someone is suggesting another method that may work better, go ahead and try it. Any change in your golf grip will likely result in some minor discomfort, but with some practice, the grip change will gradually feel more natural. You can always go back to your former grip if it is not working. Remember, if your golf grip is not right for you, it will show through in your overall game once on the course.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Leroy Calstard publishes mostly for www.alicante-spain.com , a web page with topics around golf club and golf grip. His publications on benidorm golf are published on www.alicante-spain.com/costa_blanca_golf_courses.html . You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.

How To Feel The Golf Clubhead As You're Swinging

2008-01-27T18:56:00.000-08:00

For a lot of amateur golfers, feeling the clubhead when swinging simply doesn't happen and sadly never will. But for golf professionals they have an intimate feeling of where the golf club is at all times during the golf swing.

Could that be a golf swing secret?

Well, I don't want to say for certain but if you have trouble feeling the clubhead as you're swinging here's a simple golf drill that will help give you the feeling of the clubhead as you're swinging. This can only help you to hit the golf ball better.

To do this golf drill simply setup to a golf ball and grip the golf club as you normally would. BUT move your grip up the club so that you have the last two fingers of your top hand off the end of the golf grip. Once you have done this then I want you to swing with this "new" golf grip.

By doing this it will force you to place a lot less emphasis on your hands and arms as your big muscles will be forced to control the golf swing. You'll also get great feedback when doing this golf drill if you swing too fast because if you do you'll lose all control of the golf club through the ball.

If that happens you simply have to swing the golf club with more rhythm and better tempo.

And what you want to feel when doing this golf drill is that the golf ball simply gets in the way of your golf swing. You shouldn't force anything, especially with your golf grip. Remember to "swing the golf club" and not "hit the golf ball". The golf ball is hit as the result of you "swinging the golf club"!

So please do this golf drill and you'll get a much better feeling of the golf clubhead as you're swinging and definitely through the ball. Don't however expect to hit the golf ball great when doing this golf drill. That's not the point of this golf drill. Instead when doing this drill you should be focusing of the feelings that go along with swinging with the different grip. Then you can transfer those feelings over to your normal golf swing, which can only help to improve your ball striking.

Now I've said this before, but because it's so important I'll say it again. The golf ball should just get in the way of your golf swing. You should not "try" to hit the golf ball.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Nick Bayley is a professional golfer who has discovered just one golf swing fault that could be stopping you from ball striking consistency and success. But luckily for you, now you can take a simple 2 minute golf swing test to see if you have this swing fault or not. So don't delay! Go here to take The Golf Swing Test now.

Got Golf Information Overload?

2008-01-27T18:40:00.000-08:00

By ContentMart Editor
You�ve come home from work dead tired. You grab the mail on your way in and notice your new copy of your favorite golfing magazine is in the pile. It puts a slight smile on your face as a picture of you on a couch with an adult beverage suddenly pops into your mind. After getting into your evening uniform (sweats and slippers) you make your way to your favorite reclining device with that drink and a snack in hand to make that vision on the couch a reality. You get all settled with the TV on for background and you finally enter the �Jell Zone� to enjoy that golf magazine and your well-deserved relaxation period.

You go straight to the table of contents to see what is the most interesting article and there it is, swing advice from the winner of the last major tournament. �This is just what I need,� you say to yourself as you flip to the correct page knowing that your club tournament is 2 months away.

The article has one of those swing-sequence photo frames. It has some quotes from other pros. It has a sidebar from the �Top instructor of all time� with his ideas of the perfect swing. The second page of the article is dwarfed by an advertisement for the greatest swing gadget ever created by a human and endorsed by sixteen instruction schools in five countries. The author talks about how he �remade� his swing prior to winning that major but that his best buddy on tour is struggling using the same method and swing guru.
The captions on each of the swing-sequence photos point out the minute details of where parts of the body of the pro are at 10 different positions during the swing and which of those are �technically not correct�.

You don�t want to give up on the article, since you really do need the swing advice, so you go to your dressing room mirror and check a couple of your body parts with some of the pictures in the article while attempting to freeze your swing at the same points as the stop-action photos. �I got it!� you tell yourself when you match a couple of these positions and then practice them outside with your real club. You congratulate yourself and then sit back down in your easy chair to get back to the business of relaxing.

A little later in the evening, you flip to the Golf Channel and instead of the usual tournament from 1994 there is a lesson program from a pro instructor. Lo and behold, he teaches that the move you worked so hard on an hour ago was the prevailing instruction of the 1980�s and has since been proven to be �unreliable in competition�.

You jump out of your chair to go check your favorite golf sites about this guy on the show and it seems that he is everywhere when you do a search for him. A couple of articles you land on say he has the best golf instruction this side of the border and a couple more take pride in picking him apart. The instructor�s own website is loaded with testimonials from his students on how well his program worked for them so you keep surfing for further info.

This leads you to golf discussion boards, blogs, ezines, and untold numbers of websites that say that they have the secret to how to swing correctly. 3 hours later, you wake up from your golf web-surfing trance, realize you missed your bedtime an hour ago, and are now more confused than you were when before you opened that magazine in the mail.
You found more advice than your mind can process on a weekend day let alone a day that you had 3 meetings, your best employee quit, and your boss said something like: ��if you can�t (blah blah blah)�. we�ll find someone who will�.

Ok, that story was a bit exaggerated for most people (truth for me), but the point still stands:
There�s just too much instruction and tips on golf out there and we just don�t know what to do with it all!
And worse, you can find a lot of it that is exactly the opposite from one instructor (or pro) to the other. Many of you are well aware of this fact but still get caught up in something seemingly new that gets printed or posted that could potentially be hazardous to your game.

History of Golf- How it all Started

2008-01-26T02:56:00.000-08:00

By ContentMart Editor
Since before the time Mary Queen of Scots was disciplined for playing golf two Sundays after the murder of her husband Lord Dernley in 1567. Golf is known to have been played at St. Andrews before the founding of the university in 1411. It is a safe bet to say that golf was played in some form or another as much as a century before this.

Golf is the only game whose objective it is to hit a ball across a course of some kind that had sand traps, bunkers, and other obstacles to prevent you from accomplishing this. The ball is balanced in mid-air and hit to another spot below the ground.

It was the Scots who introduced the golf hole into the game. It was a national pastime more than four hundred years before Prince Charles fled Culloden in defeat at the hands of the English in 1513 at the Battle of Flodden Field.

At Flodden the Scots were no match for the English in the first assault and were defeated 50 years earlier. King James II banned the game of Golf because he believed it was interfering with archery practice and he did this with a Scottish Act of Parliament. The first documented record makes references to modern golf. James III also banned the game in 1471.

The origin of Golf is a mystery however there is a few theories out there.
The first theory says that fisherman on their way back from their boats would pick up a piece of driftwood and whack a pebble to see how far it would go. They would do this repeatedly until they reached the river.
Golf is thought to have been played in Kirk Session (Church Court). The only evidence of it is found in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Golf is still a very popular game today. A time line is presented below that will provide you with a general idea of the evolution of Golf into the game we know today.

16th century - Gold became established on the east coast of Scotland and began to spread. Golf was played by James the VI before he acceded the throne as James the 1st did in 1603.
1501 - James the IV had his treasurer pay 14 Shillings to a bow-maker in Perth to supply them with clubs. Golf became associated with royalty, The Church, and education (i.e. St. Andrews)
17th century Golf was pursued from the south east to as far north as the Orkney Islands.
1754 - The beginning of construction of new courses.

1880 - The arrival of the gutter perch ball was a major influence on the popularity of golf. Little has changed in the past 250 years.
1925 - In Texas the Bark Hollow Golf Club becomes the first club with a complete fairway irrigation system. The British Open is played for the last time at Prestwick Golf Club. The Royal Canadian Golf Association makes a ruling that the use of steel-shafted clubs is legal. They joined the United States Golf Association.
1973 - Johnny Mailer shoots 63 at Oakmont Country Club to win the U.S. Open. Arnold Palmer wins the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, his fifth win in the event and his 62nd win in the PGA Tour.
1985 - Europeans win the Ryder's Cup for the first time in twenty-eight years.
1995 - Ben Crenshaw won his second Master's. Tiger Woods wins second straight U.S. Amateur. The Golf Channel makes its debut in television.
1997 - Tiger Woods in his first year Championship had a 12 stroke win at the Masters. Jack Nicklaus tees off at the US Open for his 150th consecutive major championship appearance.
1999 - Aree Wongluekert (now known as Aree Song) wins the Girls Junior Amateur. At 13 she is the youngest winner of the USGA Championship.
2001 - The term �Tiger Slam� was coined after Tiger Woods wins the Master's making him the first person to hold all four of Golf's major professional titles at the same time. Annika Sorenstam shoots 59 in the LPGA Tour. The attacks of 9/11 caused the Ryder's Cup to be delayed for a year.
2003 - Mike Weir wins the Masters becomes the second left-handed person to win a major championship. Michelle Wie won women's amateur Public Links. She is the youngest winner of an adult USGA Championship.

A Revolution in Golf Clubs

2008-01-26T02:52:00.000-08:00

by Jimmie Newell

The golf club of today, is not your Daddy's golf club! In days past you had your choice of 5-6 major brand names, you did not have a lot of choice about how your clubs were made, how they were fitted, what materials were used, etc.

Wow has that changed! Today the number of major club making manufacturers has exploded, you can buy custom made clubs, you can buy brand name mass produced clubs fitted exactly to your swing, you can buy clones or knockoffs of those mass produced brands, you can buy build it yourself components that will match the specifications and quality of any thing offered by the major manufacturers.

One of the biggest changes has been in "woods", first they are almost all made of metal or composite material today, why they are still called "woods" is anybody's guess. Just 20 years ago traditional wood drivers of about 200CC's volume were still in most golf bags, today's high performance driver pushes 460CC's in volume, is made of titanium or a blend of titanium and some exotic composite material, a graphite shaft, adjustable or changeable weight plugs that are purported to influence ball flight patterns and cost upwards of $700.00 for a major brand name. And of course golfers being the ego maniacs that we are have to have the best, most high tech driver in the bag.

Fairway woods (also metal) have not grown as much in size, however there are different face heights, weight plug options, and many shaft and grip choices.

Irons are now oversized, mid-sized, cavity backed cast, forged, milled, offset, sling backed, and this is just part of the verbiage. The array of shafts available is staggering, the range of prices for shafts is amazing. A major brand name full set of irons priced at $1,100 or more is not unusual.

Let's not overlook putters, the traditional blade putter could be hard to find. Check the names of these putters, SRT 2-Ball Putter, Tri-Ball SRT Putter, Studio Style Putter, 2 Bar Putter, some of the styles available look as if they came from another planet. The site I found these putters on listed 138 brand name putters, ranging in price from $19.99 to $299.00, the vast majority of them were around $130.00.

Send in the clones...along with the explosion of major brand name manufacturers, there has also been an explosion of companies who either manufacture or import "clone" of "knockoff" clubs that have the same or very similar specifications and features of some of the more familiar brand names, some of them even copy the cosmetic features. Many of these clones or knockoff clubs have been challenged in court for patent infringement, some have lost and some have not.

What is the value of these companies? Glad you asked...most of them sell their products at a fraction of the cost of the major brand name products, even if your ego will not let you carry a clone club in your bag, you can still buy one of these clubs that has similar specs and features to the brand name you are considering, this is a relatively inexpensive way to check out what you think may work. Another way to perform the same experiment is to have a custom club maker build you a club that mimics the brand name you are after, or of course you can buy the components and tools and build-it-yourself.

When you are finished with your evaluation you can take out a second on the house, sell the clone or custom club to one of your golf partners and buy that coveted major brand name club. Then go out and take some lessons, because no matter what the advertising or the salesperson promised, that new club will not, by itself, make you hit it like Tiger!

So where are you going to buy your new clubs? As little as 20 years ago the only place to find the major brand names and the expertise to properly fit a club to your swing was a golf course pro shop. Today your choices are almost endless. There are any number of â€œbig Boxâ€ golf superstores, with complete on hand stocks of anything you could want, many of which also have websites. There are major web only retailers, most have some type of fitting chart that will get you close to the ideal club. The Internet has also made it easy for a small custom club maker to put his wares on the web, and this is where in many cases you will find the most expertise, just do a search for â€œcustom golf clubmakersâ€. Then there are the clone and knockoff companies, and some of these products are fantastic values, search for â€œclone golf clubsâ€.

Wherever, and whatever you buyâ€¦Enjoy your new clubs. And then when you are on the first tee or the driving range and the guy next to you or ahead of you is hitting 300 yard drives with an old wood headed club, you can wonder why.

About the Author

Jim is the publisher of http://www.TalkinGolf101.com - "It's about the passion we have for...The Game!" Check webite for more articles and ways to enjoy golf more.

Learning Golf The Zen Way!

2008-01-25T14:37:00.001-08:00

By Guy Morris

Hitting the ball is only one component of golf. Any golfer will tell you that there is much more to the game. Experienced golfers find that they must center themselves mentally prior to each shot. Playing golf is more than simply lining themselves properly with the ball. Although it may appear to require little effort from the golfer, there is a lot happening behind the tee.

The following statement may sound like a stretch to some, but there is truth behind it - Golf is Zen experience. This statement is particularly true for the more advanced golfers, regardless of the fun and joking around often observed during the game.

What is Zen? Zen is simply the idea of being completely in each moment all the time. It is about experiencing each moment of life to the fullest and appreciating those moments for exactly what they are.

This is what Zen is - being completely and totally in each and every moment at all times. It is about experiencing each and every moment to the fullest extent possible while also appreciating the moment for what it is.

Zen and golf correspond all throughout the game. A golfer practicing Zen will notice everything around such as the direction and force of the breeze. Yet, the golfer is not actively thinking about his or her surroundings. He or she may notice how the grass feels as they walk the fairway, but the next shot is not yet at the forefront of his or her mind. That will occur when the golfer reaches the ball to tee off.

Once this point is reached, the golfer will make note of his or her distance to the green, the weather and then select a club. By not focusing on the distractions around, the golfer can rather focus on the shot. Thinking beforehand can affect the mental process oftentimes causing the golfer to become tense and anxious behind the tee. However, the Zen golfer should trust his or her body knowing that the mind and body are aligned and, simply, make the play.

Of course, not every shot can be a perfect shot. But, the golfer practicing Zen will not allow the imperfect shots to adversely impact the next shot as opposed to the golfer who stresses about a missed shot allowing it to affect the next shots.

The golfer not practicing Zen will start to think negatively about his or her golfing skills. This is, definitely, not going to help improve your game whether you are a die-hard golfer, in the early stages of learning golf or an occasional golfer as part of a golf club or group. Once you are out on the course, you are a golfer and negative thoughts will impact you just as another. Don't be surprised, though, if you don't hear about his in your local golf club!

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Guy Morris very often pens short articles on news dealing with costa blanca golf and costa blanca golf courses in spain. You can find his writings on golf costa blanca over at www.alicante-spain.com .

Useful Golf Equipment And Gadgets

2008-01-25T14:36:00.001-08:00

By Clinton Maxwell

Thanks to the popularity of golf, there are many golf gadgets available today. As more people want to play the game, more ways are sought to improve their game. The once steady golf industry has now expanded to a much larger industry. Some companies are built around only one piece of golf equipment. Golf gadgets available range from some incredibly useful golf aids to some slightly more ridiculous items. Here are some of the options.

If you can’t seem to find the time to spend at the driving range and your backyard is too small to practice your golf swing, all hope is not lost thanks to virtual golf. Of course, this is not quite as satisfying as feeling the club strike the ball, but it may be a good solution between trips to the course. As the name suggests, you place a ball on the tee just like you would otherwise, but the ball will not travel outside a certain area. Or, you can opt for a net in which you can hit the ball except you will, obviously, have to hit the net each and every time.

Now, putting pads and various practice aids have been around for a very long time. You can choose from kits ranging from a simple pad and a cup or those offering such tools as ball return. Regardless of your selection, you can get that extra advantage of some practice time right in your living room or office.

If you like technology, you may enjoy a digital scorekeeper providing an instant way to track your score and save it for future preference. Digital scorekeepers allow you to recall scores from previous games to help you monitor your game and ongoing improvement.

Most avid golfers have probably received some of the silly golf gifts, since there is quite a selection available. Let’s turn to golf clubs and covers, for instance. You can find golf covers ranging from cute cartoon characters to handmade crochet and a wide choice of covers somewhere in between. In fact, there are probably very few covers for golf clubs that haven’t had a time on the market at some point. Golf covers tend to be a universal gift for golfers. Fortunately, they do serve a purpose as they protect the clubs from wear and tear and, considering the high cost of some clubs, this is always a good idea.

If you are struggling with lining up your ball to the spot you should aim, you may benefit from a stencil. You can use the stencil to mark the ball, after which you simply place the ball on the tee and swing with a clear target.

If you are looking to improve your golf swing, a metronome may be a good investment and a great way to improve the rhythm of your swing.

As you see, there are many golf gadgets from which a golfer can choose. The wide selection of golf equipment, golf drivers and accessories are appreciated by each golfer differently. Some may be wasted on one golfer while exactly what another golfer needs.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Clinton Maxwell writes normally for www.alicante-spain.com , an internet site covering information on golf property costa blanca and directions to golf courses in spain. His writings on golf in spain can be found on his website .

How to Plan a Great Golf Vacation

2008-01-25T14:34:00.000-08:00

By Robb Thomas

For regular golfers, you know what it's like to tire of all the courses at home. There are only so many golf courses in a city or even a state, and once you've been golfing for years, it feels like you know them all backward and forward. Planning a golf vacation is a great way to challenge yourself on a new course, improve your game and, of course, see the world. Keep reading for great ideas on how to plan a successful golf vacation.

1. Golf vacations aren't typically about last minute deals.

While most vacations like cruises and all-inclusive resorts seem to be about the last minute deals, golf vacations typically aren't so. Unfortunately for the prospect of your securing a golf vacation, golfers are typically great planners. So, if you want the best tee times at a popular resort or a guaranteed booking at the height of the season, make sure you book early.

2. Mid-week deals are the best deals.

Typically, many golf courses will charge higher fees on a weekend or a holiday. You'll find the best deals, including for hotels, if you're willing to golf during the week. This also usually means that you'll get better tee times too.

3. If you're a group, call ahead.

For a group of three or more, make sure the course knows you're coming. A busy golf course can't just slip in a large group of players, so you'll need to book a specific tee time.

4. Check the cancellation policy.

Before you put a deposit down on a course reservation, check their cancellation policy. If you're driving on your vacation or taking an early morning flight, you may want to avoid courses that require at least 24 hours cancellation notice. 5. Keep a folder.

If you're planning to hit a number of courses throughout your vacation, keep a well-organized tour folder that includes maps of all the areas you'll be visiting, contact details and directions for all the courses you'll be playing, your hotel information and recommended restaurants in the area.

6. Opt for a package.

Popular golf destinations like the southeastern United States often offer package course tour deals that let you purchase multiple green fees to a number of different courses in one particular area. This not only lets you hit several courses, but saves you money through a bulk discount.

7. Bring a travel bag.

Unless you want broken golf clubs, invest in a travel bag designed to protect your clubs through the rough and tumble of an airport luggage system. Many companies sell hybrid travel bags that convert from a hard travel bag to a basic cart bag.

About the Author

How to Putt and Read a Green

2008-01-25T14:33:00.000-08:00

By Andre Sanchez

Every golfer must learn how to putt and read a green, irrespective of whether they just play the occasional round at weekends or if they are a golf tour professional. When putting, there is nothing you can do to curve the ball. Unlike a drive, where you can spin the ball clockwise or counter-clockwise to fade or draw the shot either to avoid an obstruction or for a better position for the next shot, there is nothing you can do with the golf ball when putting except hit it straight.

The purpose of reading a green, therefore, is know in what direction and how hard to hit the ball so that the curves and slopes of the putting surface leads it to the hole. In effect, when reading a green, you are looking for the slopes and contours that will take the golf ball off the straight line that it starts on.

The green can slope in a number of ways: it can slope downhill towards the hole, or uphill. It can slope (break) to the right or to the left, and most frequently the actual break on the green can be combination of any or even all of these with the one putt. Although different golfers have their own way of reading a green, there are certain general rules that can be followed to make the putt once you have decided how the green is sloping.

If you have decided that the green is sloping uphill towards the hole, then you are able to hit the ball fairly hard, depending upon the distance of the putt. Uphill putts are easier than downhill ones because a golf ball only takes any significant break when it slows down. Because you can hit an uphill putt harder, the ball will be running faster for the first part of the putt. Only experience tells you how hard you should strike the golf ball for any specific degree of uphill slope and distance from the hole.

Downhill putts are more difficult because there is less momentum on the ball when it starts its journey. The steeper the downhill slope the slower you have to hit the ball, because gravity will quickly come into play and if you putt too hard, you will run a long way past the hole. The problem is, that if there is also a side break on the putt, the side slope will come into effect fairly quickly since the ball is travelling relatively slowly, and as it runs down the slope towards the hole, it will also run off to the right or left according to the slope on the green.

This is complicated even further if you have a pure side slope shot. Such a put will start uphill first, and then curve round into a downhill putt for the second part of its journey. The golf ball will therefore curve less on the uphill part when it travelling faster and more on the downhill section as it slows down. Keep in mind that the slower the ball is moving the more effect the slope will have on the putt.

Once you have assessed whether the putt is uphill or downhill, and in what direction any side slope will take the ball, you will have a general idea of how the ball will move for the greater part of the putt. However, if you are to be successful in sinking it you will also have to pay special attention to the area around the hole. This is where even a slight slope can affect the ball during its last few rolls when it is moving very slowly, and is generally where most putts are missed.

For this reason it is important that you have a good sense of distance of your putt. A good putt should be hit hard enough to send the ball between 15 to 18 inches past the hole. This means that if the hole gets in the way, the ball will be moving slowly enough to drop, but also fast enough not to be severely affected by any slight slopes around the hole. You therefore have a better chance of making the putt.

You get this ability by practicing your standard putt, or the distance that you can putt without putting any force into the putter other than the momentum of letting it swing into the ball from your backstroke. For an average player this can be anything from around 8 feet to 12 feet, but is particular to you. Putting in the same natural way, without actually forcing the shot, you should make the same distance with every putt on any particular green. You can tell by how much extra you have to putt to make any distance over your personal natural distance, and you also know that you will be able to make the distance at or within this standard without actually forcing the ball.

During practice you can then find out what this standard distance is for you on each hole. Eventually it will become second nature on your home course, and distance will then not be a problem. You will be able to putt more accurately because you will be able to putt fast enough to drop the ball, but negate some of the slope of the green. That is how you putt and read a green in such a way as to improve your putting averages, but first you have to establish your natural putting distance that you can make with only the weight of the club swinging freely into the ball.

About the Author

How to Putt and Read a Green was originally published at http://www.golfplayernow.com

The Reason Why Clone Golf Clubs Are Worth It!

2008-01-25T14:31:00.000-08:00

When it comes to choosing a new set up of golf clubs, you are obviously going to want the best, but more importantly you are going to want them at a low cost. This is why manufacturers have decided on the idea of clone golf clubs. They not only play the same but are almost made to look the same as well. Customers are going to see that the prices are lower and that they are just as good as the �very, very best� which is why retailers capitalize on this.

I cannot see why a player cannot go out and beat a fellow player who has the so called �big name brands�. It makes perfect sense. People may look at cloned clubs and say that you have to own the best if you want to play the best but honestly this is not the case. I know this may sound off the mark but if Tiger Woods went out with a set of cloned clubs, its not as if he is going to drop dramatically in his play. Can you see where I am coming from? I hope this makes sense to you and I really think it does.

Cloned clubs are made to give beginners or whoever wants to play a chance to buy clubs at a lower cost and to get them into the game. Did you know that you could be saving several hundreds of dollars when buying clone golf clubs, which to me is very impressive. One key thing to know is that, the reason the price is lower is through savings on marketing and overheads rather than the materials used.

I hope you now see why clone golf clubs are worth buying and the fact that they are just the same as any set of clubs. So if you are buying a set of golf clubs then you should really consider cloned clubs, they can provide you with everything that you need but at a fraction of the cost!

About The Author

John Bruton wants to be at the top and wants to write articles just for you. He has his own website and will provide you for all your golfing needs. www.golf-clubs-4-u.com

jtbsoccer@hotmail.com

Golf Vacations For The Entire Family

2008-01-25T02:26:00.000-08:00

By: Clinton Maxwell

Are you a golfer who is looking for a vacation? Why not combine your passion for the sport and your need to get away? A golf vacation may be just what you need to relax and get in your “need for green”. If it’s a family vacation you’re planning then there are plenty of destinations that have superb golf courses and are great for the kids as well. Here are some suggestions for golf vacations in the U.S.

If you’re looking for some sun and fun then there are many places to consider including Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It’s one of the best golf destinations on the East Coast and features over 100 courses. The city also has great beaches and stunning views of the beach and with over 200 days of sun per year, you’re likely to have pleasant weather. After your round of golf, there are plenty of other things to keep you busy including shows, restaurants and clubs.

Also in South Carolina is the popular island of Hilton Head. It’s a small island but it has more than 20 golf courses and it’s close to sites that are sure to entertain you and the rest of the family. These include the Palmetto Dunes Plantation and the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Preserve.

More inland warm destinations include Las Vegas, Nevada and Phoenix, Arizona. They both are in the desert so it is generally dry and warm in the winter months, especially in Phoenix. Las Vegas is sure to keep you and the entire family occupied. Aside from golfing there is gaming, shows, roller coasters, and an abundance of shopping.

If you’re looking to get away from the heat then there are many summer destinations to cool off and enjoy your favorite sport. Sheboygan, Wisconsin in the Midwest offers championship courses and there are several hotels and bed and breakfasts to cater to your needs. For a taste of the big city, Milwaukee is only a short drive away.

Another destination that enjoys cooler weather in the summer months is Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is located in the Rockies so you are surrounded by amazing vistas and mountain air. As a bonus, the high altitude give you’re ball more distance; some say as much as 10 percent.

There are also many golf courses to enjoy on the West Coast. There are many in the San Diego area which is perfect if you’re traveling with your family. San Diego is also home to the San Diego Zoo, Sea World and Legoland.

So why not combine your vacation time with your passion for golf. Take a golf vacation that the entire family will enjoy.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Clinton Maxwell writes almost entirely for www.alicante-spain.com , a web publication on the topic of la manga and mar menor property and la manga property. His publications on new properties in la manga can be found on his site .

How the risk of�Golfer Elbow Injury� Can Be Reduced?

2008-01-25T02:11:00.000-08:00

A golfer elbow injury has got to be one of the most dreaded injuries on any golf course.

And it is not too difficult to figure out why. To begin with a golfer elbow injury will usually take a long time to heal properly and quite often recurs shortly after a golfer gets back to the course. Golfer elbow injury is very similar to tennis elbow, which tennis players equally dread.

It is the sort of injury where a doctor will prescribe total rest well away from the course. For many a keen golfer, this may be even more punishment than the nagging, and often sharp pain from the golfer elbow injury.

The reason why a golfer elbow injury takes so long to heal and in some cases may never really go away, is because it is the sort of injury that involves a joint. Usually injuries on joints are troublesome. One of the reasons is that it is difficult to rest a joint completely and one ends up using the muscles whenever they make any slight movement.

Therefore any advice or tips to help reduce the risk of golfer elbow is extremely important to any golfer.

Stretch exercises designed for golf specific muscles or muscles that are used while playing golf can help a great deal in strengthening and conditioning the muscles involved. By strengthening golf specific muscles a golfer ends up putting much less pressure on the tendons that join the muscles to the bones around the elbow area. This greatly reduces the risk of this injury in golfers.

Warm up exercises before getting into a round of golf and a warm down as well, at the end of your game, also help tremendously in reducing the risk of golfer elbow injury.

Warm ups ensure that the pressures involved in playing the game are not exerted on cold muscles, which usually dramatically increases the chances of all sorts of injury and not just the golf elbow injury.

About the Author

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Check out his new golf fitness � golf training site at Perform Better Golf.

Attention Golfers - How to Reduce Back and Joint Pain

2008-01-25T02:07:00.000-08:00

by Scott Becker

When it comes to golf, the average golfer tends to see it as a relaxed, laid back type of sport. Playing a few rounds of golf sounds like a chance to have an afternoon off, living the good life and bonding with your friends. However, for those people who take their game a little more seriously, they know all too well that there is more to golf than most people think.

In order to play a good game of golf, you need to ensure that you are fit and healthy. This means you should be taking part in regular exercise and eating a healthy diet. It is impossible to be at your best if you eat a diet of junk food. Healthy nutrition is something which many people do not associate with golf and that is why there are so many amateur golfers out there who are not playing as well as they could be.

Why Healthy Nutrition Makes a Difference

The body needs a good diet and regular exercise in order to stay healthy. It is common sense and it is a fact which has been pushed onto us for the past few years. If you are an athlete it is even more important to keep the body strong and healthy as you will be pushing it a lot further than the average person would. A good diet will enable you to play a better round of golf. So what exactly is a healthy diet?

Ideally, a good healthy, nutritious diet will include:

* Water * Snacks such as nuts and dried fruit * Protein * Supplements * Carbohydrates * Foods very low in fat

Often when we think we are hungry it is actually dehydration and what we really need is water. So by drinking plenty of it you should not feel as hungry and therefore you will not overeat. Another benefit to drinking water is that it will keep your body hydrated throughout your game. If you don't drink enough water you will not be able to focus as well as you should. So drinking plenty of water is a must for a healthy diet.

Foods containing carbohydrates and protein are also really good to keep the energy levels up. Foods such as pasta, chicken and fish are all excellent for a golfer's diet. Carbohydrates will release energy slowly which is what you need when you are playing golf. However, it is also important that you do not eat a heavy meal before you go out on the course. Eat something light before you play.

A good diet is important for all golfers. It helps to keep you active and to keep your concentration level up at the same time. If you find you need a few snacks then try some fruit. Fruit will release energy slowly and is ideal for any golfer. If you eat well your game is sure to get better so just stay away from fatty foods and eat a little healthier whenever possible.

About the Author

Scott Becker is an expert in the fields of health and nutrition. He is also an avid golfer. For the past 10 years he has written on a number of topics. Along with writing, he now owns scottbeckerlive.com a sports nutrition company serving the weekend athlete. For more information go to http://health-vitamin.info

How to Play Golf with the Wind Blowing

2008-01-25T02:05:00.000-08:00

by John Bakers

The weather plays a very important part when it comes to golf. The wind, quite possibly, has the greatest impact. Yes, a wet golf course can cause golfing to be more difficult since it prevents the ball from rolling as far or even in the air at all. However, the wind can influence the end result of an entire golf round.

The wind plays such an important part of golf weather for several reasons. It can affect the direction of the ball. Where the golfer intended the ball to go may be a different direction than where the wind takes it.

Since the majority of golfers are right handed or, at least, play golf right handed, we will discuss the impact of the wind from the perspective of a right handed golfer.

First, the golfer must know which direction the wind is blowing. How strong the wind is blowing is also important. If there is a strong wind blowing on the course, how much the golfer tries to hit the ball will be irrelevant unless the wind is behind them. In this case, the golfer should try to get the ball higher off the ground and let the winds carry the ball. This is especially true on a drive.

Letâ€™s imagine. The wind is fairly strong coming in from the right, and the golfer is at the tee staring at a par 3 hole approximately 150 yards from the tee to the intended hole. What can the golfer expect when golfing under these conditions? Well, hitting the ball directly toward the hole will result in much disappointment when the golfer sees the ball blown to the left side of the hole. Depending on courseâ€™s slope, the ball could roll completely off the green, requiring a chip shot in an attempt to save par. On the contrary, a smart golfer would consider the wind and plan the shot in accordance with the golf weather at hand.

Hereâ€™s another scenario. The golfer is teeing off a 387 yard par 4 hole with a strong wind blowing straight ahead into his or her face. The best approach would be for the golfer to appropriately alter his or her stance so that the ball stays low and avoids the wind. This can help the golfer still get a decent drive despite the wind. This strategy for altering his or her stance must be taken at each shot to keep the ball at a low level. It is also smart for the golfer to choose a club that is bigger than the club he or she usually uses. If a seven iron is usually used for the last 150 yards, when there is a stiff wind blowing in his or her face, a five or six iron might be the better choice when golfing under these windy conditions.

About the Author

The free-lance writer John Bakers is very excited about issues relating to benidorm golf. Recording his experience in detailed publications like http://www.alicante-spain.com/costa_blanca_golf_courses.html ,he demonstrated his depth of understanding on areas similar to blanca costa golf in and blanca costa golf property.

The Golf Grip - How Hard Should You Hold It?

2008-01-25T01:58:00.001-08:00

By: Nick Bayley

Keeping a solid and firm golf grip while swinging is critical to your golfing consistency and success. Now there are many different "ideas" on how hard you should grip the golf club, e.g. hold the grip as though you’re holding a baby bird OR hold the grip as tight as you would a loaf of bread etc., etc. But the bottom line really is not so much how hard you hold the grip but it’s how hard you don’t hold it.

What do I mean?

Well in an ideal world you should hold the golf grip just hard enough so it doesn’t slip or move around when you swing. Now how hard that is for you or me varies greatly on the strength of our hands.

If you have very strong hands then you may not need to hold the golf grip as hard as, say, I would. So the defining line on how hard to golf grip a club is by how much it moves and here’s a great way to determine your golf grip movement.

Line up 6 balls in a row on tees and then start at the first one and hit it and don’t alter your golf grip and then hit the next ball and the next one. And if you come to a point when you can’t hit the ball because your golf grip is nothing like it should be then you know that your golf grip has slipped when you’ve swung. If you can’t hit the second shot because of your grip movement then you’ve got a grip slippage problem that needs fixing fast.

The main key to your grip slipping will most probably be due to your top hand moving. So here’s a simple exercise you can do to help fix this.

Grip the golf club as normal. But just before you swing place a golf tee between the pad of your left hand and the golf grip. Now this golf tee should be securely in place by the pressure that you're placing on the golf grip with your left hand. Once it is you simply need to swing as normal and keep the tee in place.

Naturally this can only happen if you don't move your top hand grip. And this will happen naturally just by you being aware of the golf tee and trying to keep it in place. Then after some practice with this exercise go back and do the 6 ball exercise and see if you've improved your grip security.

I'm sure you will find you have improved it. So try this and see for yourself.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Nick Bayley is a professional golfer who has discovered just one golf swing fault that could be stopping YOU from ball striking consistency and success. But luckily for you, now you can take a simple 2 minute golf swing test to see if you have this swing fault or not. So don't delay! Go here to take The Golf Swing Test now.