Today?s Golf Schools Bring In The Elements Of Instruction And Fitness

What comes to mind when you think of golf lessons through a golf school? Do you imagine hours of instruction on the range and putting green? Maybe the school teaching professionals will review the fundamentals and even include a playing lesson. While each of these elements has an important role in improvement of your golf swing, do you have any idea what might be missing? Today's golf schools incorporate much more than a teaching lesson and round of golf. Today's schools incorporate fitness as an integral part of the golf experience. Why has fitness become a part of golf instruction? Golf professionals understand that fitness plays a critical role in word class golf. Fitness has a long list of benefits that aid beginning through advanced golfers. So it only makes sense to combine it with golf instruction for a more satisfying learning experience. As you consider your various options for a golf school, be sure to check each one out thoroughly. The more innovative golf schools will have a fitness center and golf fitness specialist you can work with. Typically, a full physical assessment is performed by a qualified fitness instructor. Through various physical tests and assessments they can determine your strength, flexibility, endurance levels and nutritional needs for golf. This information is then shared with the instructor for the benefit of the golfer. Experienced golf professionals can also link faults in your golf game to areas for improvement in your fitness level. This helps to direct their instruction and personalize it to your game. Competitive golf today has deemed fitness as a necessity. Golf schools have followed this lead and provide students with the fitness and golf instruction tools necessary to improve their game. Golf schools have become more robust and the benefits are yours for the taking. Susan Hill is a nationally recognized fitness trainer, CHEK golf biomechanic and sports nutrition specialist. For more information on golf specific nutrition, exercises or stretches, visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.fitnessforgolf.com">http://www.fitnessforgolf.com</a>

Golf Exercises - Improving Fitness for Power and Consistency

Perhaps one of the biggest changes in the golf world today is the increased emphasis on fitness for golf. Tour professionals and amateurs alike are practicing regular fitness routines specifically targeted for golf. The results are more powerful and stable golf swings. Needless to say, the scores are going lower. The golf swing is a very complex movement, requiring much from the body. Only if the body is flexible and strengthened, can one expect consistent and powerful golf swings. Mo matter what your current physical condition or your handicap, your golf game can benefit by regular exercise targeted with the golf swing in mind. Top touring pros all use functional exercises which mimic the actual demands of the golf swing. The goal of functional training will be to challenge the body's neurological system even further by steadily increasing our demands. You'll find exercises in several planes of motion and incorporate stable and unstable environments. It's important to regularly perform an assessment of your current fitness levels. By identifying weaknesses and strengths, you won't waste valuable workout time. This will allow you to place the emphasis on those movements which will provide you with the greatest opportunity for improvement. Sometimes it seems hard to concentrate on areas of weakness, as it is much easier to perform the exercises where we already have proficiency. The quality of your overall fitness and the improvement in your golf game hinge on how committed you are to working on your weak areas. Flexibility, stability and power are all improved by exercising for golf. As you begin to develop a regular golf exercise regimen, be sure to concentrate on functional exercise for golf. These exercises include a combination of movements designed to both strengthen the muscles as well as improve neuromuscular coordination. Therefore, when you take your golf swing, the body's already been conditioned to perform in a similar manner. Strength training and stretching exercises will go the distance to improve your game. Susan Hill is a nationally recognized fitness trainer, CHEK golf biomechanic and sports nutrition specialist. For more information on golf specific nutrition, exercises or stretches, visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.fitnessforgolf.com">http://www.fitnessforgolf.com.</a>

Golf Tips And Lessons On The Web Can Be Helpful

There are golf tips and lessons on the web. You can find these golf tips and lessons on the web at almost any site that has information about golf. You can look for golf tips and lessons on the web that will help you improve your swing. There are golf tips and lessons on the web that will give you instructions about how to deal with a golf slice problem. Look for golf tips and lessons on the web that deal with the newest golf aids and gadgets. Golf tips and lessons on the web can assist you if you want to find a golf course anywhere in the world. Golf tips and lessons on the web can be helpful if you are looking for a new set of clubs or a golf cart. Search golf online sites for golf tips and lessons on the web if you want to learn more about putting techniques. Golf tips and lessons on the web will provide information if you need to improve your game from a mental standpoint. Peruse golf tips and lessons on the web for the best golf magazines. If you could use a better golf stance you should look for golf tips and lessons on the web. Do you have the right kind of golfing shoes? Get brand names when you look under golf tips and lessons on the web. The right kind of golf ball is crucial. Find the right ones for you when you search for golf tips and lessons on the web. Use the golf tips and lessons on the web to improve your game and find out about the latest products available. Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Golf-Swing-Improvement.com. He provides more golfing tips, putting tips and <a target="_new" href="http://www.golf-swing-improvement.com/Golf-Swing-Instruction.html">golf swing instruction tips</a> that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

Gifts: Giving To The Beginner Golfer

It's golf season again! And you might be looking for a gift to give to someone who's just starting off in golf. So, here are some suggestions. These beginner golf gifts target those new golf souls... the ones who don't yet know what their in for, or the ones who are already hooked after just playing a few times. Golf Lessons The single best choice out of all gifts for the golf beginner is golf lessons. There's nothing that the beginning golfer can use more. It's even better than a set of clubs, because it will give him/her a chance to really decide if he/she likes the game and wants to stick with it. After all, golf can be extremely frustrating, but it's also highly addictive. Start them off right with a lesson and give them a good swing foundation. Contact your local golf course or instruction facility to find out what options you have in your area. Golf Books If you can't afford to buy golf lessons for the beginning golfer, at the very least, get him/her an instruction book or DVD. There are lot to choose from, many with the beginner in mind. Don't forget that along with frustrating and addictive, golf can also be intimidating, so help them to be better prepared for their experience. And even if you do decide on giving lessons, instruction books or DVDs are excellent complementary beginner golf gifts. First Set of Golf Clubs A lot of new golfers start out by borrowing or renting their clubs when they play, so to help them along you may want to start him/her off with their own set of golf clubs. Don't go with anything extravagant or expensive with their first set. Clubs are usually a pretty personal choice, and it's probable that their first set won't be the one they stick with in the long term. This is even more important if you're buying the first set of clubs for a child, as they will most likely outgrow them by the next summer. If you do get a set of clubs, make sure you get a bag to go with it. Driving Range Membership It's very common for a new golfer to want to just get out there and whack the ball! Actually, many experienced golfers want to do that. And while that may not be the best thing to do on the course, it's certainly fun to do at the driving range! You can give a membership to a local driving range. Other options include a gift certificate, ball tokens, or a 10 bucket pass. What the practice facility offers in the form of a membership or package deal will determine what options you have for these beginner golf gifts. Golf Shoes Depending on where he/she will be playing, the beginner golfer may need to wear golf shoesicon to get onto the course. Check into this first, as many courses have rules in this regard. Consider buying a pair of either soft spiked shoes, or ones that can be converted to soft spikes, as this, too, is a requirement for some golf courses. If they don't need golf shoes right away, avoid choosing them as your beginner golf gift selection. We say this for a couple of reasons: 1) any type of shoe is hard to pick out as a gift, and the fit of a golf shoe is important for comfort, especially if you consider the amount of walking that a golfer does. 2) It's actually better for golfer's balance to practice without golf shoes, as the golfer cannot depend on the stability of the spikes to hold them in place. An alternative to golf shoes as a beginner golf gift is the ever-present gift certificate, so they can pick out their own shoes. Golf Balls Like golf clubs, the type and brand of golf balls aren't important for the beginner. While you may want to consider compression when picking them out (the softer the hitter, the lower the compression), the type and construction of the golf ball will have very little bearing when he/she is first starting out. It would probably be a more appreciated gift if you were to personalize the balls with their name, nickname, or other custom logo, but that might make them all the more upset when the balls are lost (and they WILL be lost). Gloves and Accessories Don't forget the accessories! Gloves, tees, and ball markers are inexpensive items that will add a nice touch for beginner golf gifts. It's like giving a golf starter kit. Get him/her a glove - it will make them feel more confident or credible when holding their clubs - like a "real" golfer! Remember, the right-handed golfer needs a left-hand glove (and vice-versa). And get them some tees (perhaps personalized) and a few ball markers. You don't want them to feel left out, do you? Save the expensive and fancy golf gifts for another gift occasion. If the recipient of your gifts decides to give up golf, then the expensive or extravagant gifts would be a waste. If he/she sticks with the game, then the more elaborate golf gifts will be more appreciated down the road. For now, focus on simple beginner golf gifts to get them started. A Heath is a gift researcher for <a target="_new" href="http://www.the-gift-wizard.com">http://www.the-gift-wizard.com</a>

Do You Know These Benefits Of Golf Schools?

Benefits of Golf Schools are many particularly for the beginners who want to learn and excel in this sport. A number of Golf Schools and training institutes are available all around. The real benefit of the Golf Schools will be possible if they cover all aspects of the game right from teaching the proper swing plane to adding flexibility and building muscles. To get best from Golf school, one should choose the right training aid. It may be a good idea to consult a pro and discuss your needs and find out what aid would be suitable for you. Possible Benefits Golf schools claim high about the benefits, but one should be intelligent enough to judge what benefits are available and how much can he really benefit by joining the school. Most of the Golf Schools aim at providing the best possible facilities and make it tailored to your specific needs. There are some schools that impart specialization in certain areas but most of them cover full range of golfing skills and ailments. Some possible benefits could be if: 1. The school has excellent facilities so that one can learn with the latest aids. 2. The Golf course should be of international standard, so that one can quickly train him/herself to participate in good tournaments. 3. State-of-the-Art equipments must be available so that he can practice and improve his skills. 4. Instructor who is the key of learning must be an excellent golfer and should have abilities to train a person. Once you join a Golf school, you should leave behind your worries and focus on your game, that will not only help you learn faster but it will be enjoyable also. Some terms you need to know and learn are: "Full Swing: An aid designed for the development of sound full swing. "Strength/Power: To be a good golfer one must have good muscles, therefore, if one does not have good muscles, he needs to develop it. This will give confidence and distance. "Strategy: This skill develops with the training and practice of the game. The strategy will improve with the training. "Pitching/Chipping: This is to develop sound short-game skills. "Putting: This is to develop a sound-putting stroke. Therefore, it is up to the individual to take maximum Benefits of Golf School and come out from it as a satisfied and good golfer. Bud Bradley is a freelance writer, working long hours at a computer. His main relaxation is golf, and over many years he's visited many golf schools in an attempt to improve his game. This series of articles relates his experience.

Choosing a Golf Swing Training Aid

Golf swing training aid clubs are a great way to learn how to swing your golf club correctly and more powerfully. There are many different kinds of training aid clubs available on the market and many different professional golfers endorse them. What do you look for if you would like to try out a training aid? 1. What am I trying to learn? You want to purchase a training aid that addresses the problem that you have with your golf game or swing. 2. What is my budget? Expensive does not necessarily mean better. You can try used golf training aids at a used sports store or try a less expensive option of training aid. The Medicus Dual Hinged 5-iron swing trainer is one training aid available. It helps you learn how the correct swing feels so that you can translate it to your other regular clubs. It will help you to learn the correct tempo, timing, and club head position so that you will hit the ball straighter and further than before. Using this kind of trainer gives you instant feedback, as you will know when you hit the ball if you are doing it correctly. The hinge on the 5-iron is adjustable so you can adjust it to your specifications or even put it into your golf bag to use before a golf game to remind you what the correct swing feels like. The main thing to keep in mind is that a training aid will need to be used consistently to be effective. Using it one or two times will not give you instant results. Learning a better way to swing will take consistency and hard work from you. Glenn Boulton is webmaster and publisher of <a target="_new" href="http://golf-swing.sportz-online.com">Golf-Swing.Sportz-Online.Com</a> He presents reviews, information, and tips for improving your game on his website.

Play Exclusive Las Vegas Golf Courses ? The Not-So-Secret Secret

Experience the luxury of tour-class caddies. Play the private golf courses that celebrities and touring pros play. Get tee times on a course that once required a $100,000 gambling credit line at local casinos. What's the secret? It's coming. But first, here's a quick look at four golf courses that even us high handicappers and regular Joe's can play. Cascata Golf Club - The course is so exclusive they don't even provide an address. This Rees Jones designed course once required a $100,000 credit line at local casino properties just for the privilege of a tee time. Now it will only cost you $350 to $500. Shadow Creek Golf Course - Called one of the finest courses in the world, Shadow Creek Golf Course is another exclusive must-play course. Golfers receive a private limousine to and from the course and a private caddie for your round. Rio Secco Golf Course - Rio Secco is listed as a "Top 10 Golf Resort in the World" by USA Today. This 18-hole championship course sits among the rolling foothills of the Black Mountain Range in Las Vegas. Rio Secco is also home of the world-famous Butch Harmon School of Golf. Wynn Las Vegas Golf Course - This Tom Fazio design just opened in late April of 2005. As with everything else Steve Wynn does, golfers should expect a first-class experience from the clubhouse to the 18th green. Speaking of the 18th hole, when you play this course you'll get a nice view of the newly-created 37-foot-tall waterfall. This course is restricted to Wynn Las Vegas resort guests. Okay, did you catch that last sentence? There is your not-so-secret secret for playing these exclusive Las Vegas golf courses. Booking a Las Vegas hotel and golf package can provide you with a VIP pass to these amazing golf courses and the amenities that come with them. Now you know the secret. Your next step is to book one of these Las Vegas hotel and golf packages. Then you can hit the links in style and enjoy a golfing experience like you have never experienced before. You can find out which hotels are affiliated with each golf course by visiting our <a target="_new" href="http://www.perfectgolfvacations.com/las-vegas-golf-package.html">Las Vegas golf package</a> page. After you treat yourself to one of these exclusive Las Vegas golf courses, drop us a line. We'd love to hear all about it. Copyright 2005 Evans Putman - All Rights Reserved. Reprints allowed see below. Article courtesy of <a target="_new" href="http://www.perfectgolfvacations.com">http://www.perfectgolfvacations.com</a> your source for the best golf destination information. We deliver &quot;Truth in Golf Travel&quot;. PerfectGolfVacations.com delivers the best local market information and word-of-mouth recommendations from golf destinations like Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas, Ireland, Hilton Head, and more. Keep current with updates, news and specials at our blog <a target="_new" href="http://www.perfectgolfvacations.blogspot.com">http://www.perfectgolfvacations.blogspot.com</a>. This article may be reprinted with no changes, omissions, or additions. All links must be left live and in tact.

The Golfing Greats - Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer, General of Arnie's Army, was speaking of golf, but he could have been describing his own life when he said, "Success in golf depends less on strength of body than upon strength of mind and character." His sense of fairness, kindness toward everyone, and dry sense of humor have made him one of the most popular golfers to ever play the game. And he was pretty darned good at the game, too! As a world-famous golfer, Arnold Palmer won a majority of his 92 championships on the U.S. PGA tour. The only "major" he never won was the PGA Championship, although he finished second in three of them. Probably most noted for being the first pro to win four Masters Tournaments, it's not surprising to find that he started playing golf at the ripe old age of four. He worked hard at developing his golf game throughout most of his life, and it shows with some of the prestigious awards he's won including: the 1960 Hickok Professional Athlete of the Year, the 1960 Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year, and even Athlete of the Decade for the 1960s in a national Associated Press poll. The awards culminated in 2004 when President Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a ceremony at the White House. His professional career began in 1954, just a few months after he won the U.S. Amateur Championship. The leading money winner in three of the four years spanning his biggest period from 1960 to 1963, Palmer twice represented the U.S. in the international Ryder Cup Match. But Palmer never let all that prestige and status go to his head. He unfailingly maintained a dry and subtle sense of humor. After succumbing to bad luck on the 18th hole at the Rancho Park L.A. Open in 1961, a newsman asked how he had managed to make 12 on the par 5 hole. His reply: "I missed my putt for an 11." Rancho Park became his home golf course for many years. The 20th Century Fox Studios were right across the street, and many times you'd find Hollywood stars mixing with the regular golfing crowd. It's said that after Palmer once played a round with Frank Sinatra ? the famed singer rumored to have been involved with the Italian Mafia ? Sinatra asked him, "How do you like my game?" Palmer responded with a straight face, "I prefer golf." Palmer even got along with members of the media, laughing at the statement made by one television commentator who noted during a live broadcast that Palmer "seems to be having trouble with his long putt. However he has no trouble dropping his shorts." That same kindness, understanding and sense of fairness have carried through his life and led to the unofficial creation of Arnie's Army, a dedicated group of fans that has numbered in the thousands. The honor and unceasing dedication those fans offer Palmer is well-warranted. His philanthropic efforts, while never highly publicized, have earned him recognition with those who count ? the people who know him. For two decades, Palmer served as honorary national chairman of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation and has played major roles in fund-raising drives for hospitals in both Orlando, Florida, and Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the town in which he was born. Now in semi-permanent retirement, Palmer splits his time between Latrobe and La Quinta, California. He has numerous business interests around the world and still keeps his hand in his first passion, golf, serving as a consultant to The Golf Channel, designing golf courses around the country, and owning several golf courses, including being part owner of the renowned Pebble Beach course in California. Famed golf pro, down-to-earth father and family man, quiet philanthropist ? all can be used to describe Arnold Palmer. His life in golf has mirrored his life in general. Speaking of golf, he once noted, "I've always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn't have a chance to win." It seems, however, that it has been those who know him that have been the real winners in this game. Copyright 2005 Donald Saunders Golf is a great sport that will not only get and keep you fit, but give you endless hours of pleasure amongst some of the world's most beautiful scenery. Amongst some of the most interesting golf courses are those at <a href="http://golf-unlimited.info/myrtle-beach-golf/myrtle-beach-golf.html" target="_blank">Myrtle Beach golf</a> and <a href="http://golf-unlimited.info/carolina-golf/charleston-south-carolina-golf.html" target="_blank">Charleston golf</a>

How to Maximize Your Distance by Hitting Triples Instead of Home Runs

This lesson is entitled, "How to Maximize your Distance by Hitting Triples instead of Home Runs" and it's a great overall theory to build your entire swing around. Keep this in the back of your head at all times while you are on the course, and remind yourself of it before every shot. The result will be increased distance and straighter shots because you'll be releasing your hands through the ball better. Background Info: Many recreational golfers struggle with slices, blocks, and inconsistency because they don't know how to release their hands through the ball correctly. By "releasing your hands through the ball", I am describing the act of maximizing your club head speed at the moment of impact, and eliminating the "outside-in" movement that creates a slice. How You Will Benefit: - You'll learn an easy way of "getting your hands through the ball" - You'll be increasing the speed of the club head through the impact zone - You will ensure that the club head is square at impact (which will drastically reduce any slice that you have) What To Do: Step 1: Create the "X" This means that on the follow through, you need to focus on making your forearms cross. This will ensure that your hands have released through the ball correctly. Here's an illustration of what I am talking about. Notice the "X" that is created after impact and where the shaft of the club is pointed. Practice getting in this position. Practice creating that "X" after impact. It will be easy to understand the alterative by paying attention to where the club is pointed, which I will explain in the next step. Step 2: Finish at Third Base Focus on pointing the club down the third base line on your follow through. In relation to where my feet are pointed in the picture at left, the club is pointed down the third base line. This is what we want. Many golfers finish their swing with the club straight up in the air, or even pointed down the first base line in relation to their feet. Try that once, and you will feel the extreme "outside-in" movement that produces a slice. This is nothing more than a habit that can be easily broken. The Simple Golf Swing goes over this step in much more detail. Summary: So when you are on the tee next time, focus on just 2 things. Make the "X" and "finish at third". That's it. Swinging easy should already be grooved into your swing from the last tip I sent. Focus on these 2 tips, and you should be on your way to consistently staying out of trouble with your driver, which is the first step to scoring better. David Nevogt writes golf instruction material that helps golfers of all levels reach their full potential and lower their scores. David is the author of "The Simple Golf Swing" which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from today. You can find more of his golf instruction by going to <a target="_new" href="http://www.golfswingguru.com">http://www.golfswingguru.com</a>

Golf Fitness Evaluation Is The First Step Towards Improving Your Game

Golf fitness evaluation can be an invaluable tool in helping any golfer to assess where they currently stand and thus help them reach a decision of what they can do to improve. It is now an accepted fact amongst golf experts that an improvement in golf fitness almost always means an amazing improvement in the quality and standard of play by any golfer, whether in the junior level or a senior citizen, and irrespective of whether they are male or female. In the old days it was rare for golfers to think of anything like golf fitness evaluation. In fact the word &quot;exercise&quot; could have been classified as a dirty word in golf. In those days golf was considered a gentleman's game where most played an almost entire game while hardly breaking into a sweat. Therefore exercises and golf fitness evaluation programs were virtually unheard of. But times have changed. The modern game has changed and golf-specific exercises are the rule rather than the exception amongst professionals and so are golf fitness evaluations. Even amongst amateur golfers who are serious about improving their game, it is important to do an evaluation of ones' golf fitness. Without any evaluation of your current golf fitness level followed by some concrete action, like joining a golf exercise program, chances of enjoying your golf game are very slim and the possibility of you improving your handicap are close to nil. This is because increasingly you will find yourself playing against golfers involved in golf exercise programs. In fact recent research has clearly proved that as golfers who do not exercise, grow older, their game deteriorates making it a more and more frustrating experience rather than the enjoyable leisure activity they may have known for years. It is now becoming increasingly clear by the day that golf fitness evaluation are set to become even more commonplace and a vital tool to help golfers take the necessary action to improve on their game. About The Author: <Br> 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. Visit his new <a target="_new" href="http://www.performbettergolf.com">golf fitness</a> site at Perform Better Golf.

Backspin Advice

Lately, I have received many requests for 2 things. 1. Advice on how to hit backspin (always a common request) 2. Advice on the short game in general. Honestly, the first thing that you need to realize about creating backspin is that it's a very tough shot to accomplish, let alone control. The second thing that you should realize is that there are very few situations where this shot is actually needed. In my opinion, the best shot to master is an approach shot that bounces once, and then stops on a dime. This shot is not easy to accomplish either, but is more realistic and much more effective in the vast majority of cases. So I'll get in to the basics of this shot now, but please realize that an entire book could be written on this subject, and it would still be very hard to incorporate into a recreational game. Here are the basic conditions that must be met before the shot even occurs. If these factors are not in place, don't try to create backspin. Conditions must be completely dry - (the club face, and the ball included) You must be on the fairway ? (grass can't get in between the club and the ball) Green's have to be very nicely kept ? (very short) Now, let me clarify. Those are the conditions that must be met before the shot even occurs. So hopefully, you are beginning to see just how difficult this shot is and why it doesn't come highly recommended from someone who focuses on making golf simple. I was thinking of ways to describe the action necessary to create backspin, and I came to the conclusion that the best analogy is one of placing spin on the cue ball in billiards. Side Note: They say that good pool players are also good putters. So if you want to sharpen your putting skills, I would advise learning billiards as well. It will help you to develop steady hands, &quot;learn to see the line&quot;, and it will also teach you alot about spin. In Pool, to create backspin you have to hit downward on the cue ball with a significant amount of force. Notice that players chalk up before hitting a shot requiring a lot of spin (dry). They also go at the ball with a very steep angle. And they hit the lower portion of the ball. All of this is necessary in golf as well. The ultimate goal is to &quot;pinch&quot; the ball between your club and the fairway. You must take a downward blow at the ball, you must add a fair amount of velocity to your swing speed, and you must make clean contact with the lower portion of the ball. It is all of these factors combined that make this shot so tough to complete with any accuracy. It's also essential to have a new ball (preferably a high spin/soft-cover ball), and a newer (clean) club that has some of the grip left on the face. As the ball compresses into the grooves on the face of the club, backspin is created. On a final note; it's important to realize that if you make course management the foundation of your game, you will rarely be in a situation where you need to use backspin. Course management is one of the true keys to golf. I'm going to publish a newsletter on it in the next few weeks as well, so be on the lookout. David Nevogt writes golf instruction material that helps golfers of all levels reach their full potential and lower their scores. David is the author of "The Simple Golf Swing" which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from today. You can find more of his golf instruction by going to <a target="_new" href="http://www.golfswingguru.com">http://www.golfswingguru.com</a>

Your Putter Fitted Perfectly in 5 Easy Steps

Ever wonder why putting is so difficult for you? Want to know how to fix it? I'll bet you're using improperly fitted equipment without realizing it? If so, consider yourself lucky. We've come to save your putting game. These 5 key points will get you that perfectly fitted putter so you can shave off all those unwanted strokes on the greens. Let's learn how. The First Key: A quality fitting can't be done without you knowing your proper measurements. To calculate your best putter length you must base it on your height. You will do what's known as a wrist-to-floor measurement. Measure form the inside of your wrist at the top of your hand all the way down to the floor. Keep this measurement ready for future reference. The Second Key: Figure out what your posture is when you're putting. Do you stand more upright like a Vijay Singh? If so you will be better suited to longer putters that have more upright angles. Or do you have more of a crouched posture like the great Jack Nicklaus? If you fall into this category you will need a shorter putter that has flatter angles with it. The Third Key: Look at your hand position when you address the ball for a putt. There are a number of factors that will affect the proper loft at impact you need. These include offset putters, ball position, and hand position. Are you a player with pronounced forward press? This will create negative loft at the point of impact; therefore you will need additional loft to counteract this preference. If you have a conventional hand position then you will benefit from a standard lofted putter. The Fourth Key: What's your putting stroke like? You must consider this because depending on your wrist action, it will dictate what type of grips you need. Players with more of a pendulum action will choose wider or fatter grips to inhibit any unwanted wrist action. A golfer who has more wrist action in their stroke will prefer the smaller, thinner, more traditional sized grips. As these are believed to promote a smoother release of the ball. The Fifth Key: Look at your stroke path. Do you have an inside-square-inside (small arc) path to your stroke? If so you probably have a tendency to pull your putts and will benefit from what's known as heel shafted model putter. If you're more of straight-back-straight-through stroke you will have more of a tendency to push your putts. You would then benefit more from a face balanced putter with the weight dispersed evenly in the putter head. With that being said, go get yourself a properly fitted putter. Every golfer knows good putting is essential and you're leaving yourself at a huge disadvantage by not using the proper equipment! How Much Is Sinking More Putts Each Round Worth To Your Golf Game? John Bolt has created the ULTIMATE free guide to <A target="_new" HREF="http://www.golfequipmentsource.com">equipment used for golf</A>. Find out which putter will fit you PERFECTLY so you drain more putts! <A target="_new" hREF="http://www.golfequipmentsource.com/putters.html">Putters</A>

What Impact Does Exercise For Golfers Have

In spite of numerous assurances some golfers still dread and fear joining any exercise for golfer programs. So as a last line of defense, they pop up the question of wanting to know just how effective exercises for golfer are on improving a person's game. They want concrete evidence and figures on what the exercises have done for other golfers. I guess it is a case of the patient wanting assurances on just how effective the bitter pill is going to be so as to help them brace themselves for the bitterness to come. Like they want to use the end result as some sort of inspiration to help them through what they are sure is going to be a very nasty situation. Nothing you tell these amateur golfers will convince them that exercise for golfers can in fact be enjoyable when one gets used to them. Or the fact that senior citizen golfers are able to go through them without too many problems The reason why exercise for golfer programs have taken off with such speed and have spread like wild fire in the golf game is because they are extremely effective. It is a known fact that no professional in today's game would dare approach any tournament without first going through their regular intensive exercise for golfer program and specifically taking time to deal with the problem areas that affected them most in their last tournament. I have witnessed very young teenage golfers getting involved in strength exercise for golfer routines and within a very short time are able to increased the power in their drives so much so that they are able to hit the ball by a further 50 yards than they were able to do before the strength exercise for golfer program they have gone through. There are really numerous other cases where the effects and impact of exercises have clearly been documented. The huge benefits of exercise for golfer programs are not in any doubt. 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. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds at his <a target="_new" href="http://www.performbettergolf.com">golf training</a> site - Perform Better Golf.

Improve Your Golf Game Using the Unlimited Power of Your Imagination

Today, it seems, that many people are all too familiar with what they can't do. We need to spend more time and thought on what we CAN do. Many of us cannot afford to stop, think and imagine the possiblities that lay before us. The human mind is the most valuable resource that we have, and we can use it to fashion any outcome we desire. Take this man's story: A Vietnam War veteran, after surviving the horrors of the Vietnamese P.O.W. camps, was asked by a reporter how he managed to survive the ordeal. His response was that he played an imaginary 18 holes of golf everyday inside his head. It became a habit. You see, this man was avid golfer prior to our entrance into the conflict, and as a way of dealing with the stress, he retired to his own personal golf course in his mind. In his golf course he visualized all the details he could; from the direction of the wind to the color of the grass, and each day he would play his 18 holes. The part of this story that applies to the topic at hand, comes when he was finally released and returned to the United States after several years of captivity. He discovered When he was able to play his first game of golf, in close to a decade, that his swing and ability had remained VIRTUALLY unchanged! He played golf as though he had never missed a day on the course... He was as good as he ever was! This story is not only a testament to this soldier's determination in the face of adversity, but it is also an excellent example of the tremendous power and potential of the human mind. That said, I wish to introduce you to a concept I call the Power of Imagination. Now, I can already hear some of you out there saying that imagining things is a child's game -- not to be played by adults. I assure you that utilizing the power of your imagination is anything but childish. Many famous entertainers, athletes, and even generals have used this power to achieve virtually anything they set their minds to. You can use this power to achieve your goals as well. When using the Power of Imagination in golf, you should attempt to mimic the same process that the soldier used. You will want to find a nice quiet place, close your eyes, and relax. Next, you must vividly imagine yourself on the golf course. On your golf course you will know every minute detail. Is there a bird chirping to your left? What club are you using, and how far are you from the pin? What direction is the wind blowing and how fast? What kind of clothing are you wearing? Vividly imagine all the other details of the surrounding area. Each of these images are things you will need to know to make this technique work to your utmost advantage. Once you have your golf course completely visualized within your mind you will now commence to play. On every stroke you will imagine the game as close to the real thing as possible. Here is the key: As you play through this course you will visualize yourself playing perfectly, every shot exactly where you want it and you never miss. Science has shown that our body cannot distinguish between a real experience and one that is VIVIDLY imagined. To intensify the affect of this technique you should determine a schedule of at least 30 minutes each day at the same time. This schedule will allow your mind to operate at peak efficiency when using your Power of Imagination. By playing golf in this manner, your body and mind will train itself to perform well and expect success. The more you use this technique the more you will see reality conform with your mind's Power of Imagination. (c) 2005 BlackCash Enterprises, LLC All Rights Reserved Michael D. Black and Jarrod Cash have created Psychology of Golf: The Complete Study Course. Available at ==> <a target="_new" href="http://www.LostGolfSecrets.com">http://www.LostGolfSecrets.com</a> Are you too busy practicing your game to improve your swing? Stop playing golf the hard way!

Golf Stance And Its Physical Requirements

Golf stance is one of the most ignored terms and issues in the golf swing and yet the golf stance dictates the success of every golf swing you make. When golfers think of golf stance , they don't realize how hard it is to maintain over 18 holes (four and a half hours). Just take a look at the position your body is in during your set up. There are many physical issues taking place, even though it is a static position at the start. Let's go over the physical requirements of the golf stance right now. Bend At Hips To Address Golf Ball To achieve this initial movement takes strength and flexibility in not only the lower back, but the hamstrings and core muscle groups. If these muscle groups are limited, you will have a very difficult time achieving this simple move. Flex In The Knees A combination of bending at the hips and knees allows you to get to the ball. The shorter the club, the more the bend at both the hips and knees. If your quadriceps are weak, you will have a very difficult time maintaining the proper knee flex therefore causing you to create in improper golf stance ?resulting in mishits and lack of distance. Ankle Flexion Take a look at the ankle joint of any golfer. It is definitely bent (flexed) to accommodate the bending of the knees and hips. If your calf muscles are weak/or tight, you will find it very uncomfortable to stay down at the ball. I see so many golfers with tight calf muscles and they never even knew it. Spine Extension (Erectness) This is a BIGGY! How many times have you seen the golfer (maybe even you) in his/her golf stance with the dread 'camels back?' This is very common among older golfers and is a KILLER in the golf swing. I could (and probably will) write a complete article on this physical limitation. But the bottom line is a rounded (weak) upper spine will dramatically hinder your ability to make a full backswing. Result: very short drives and a lot of embarrassment. I just briefly covered just a couple of physical requirements of the golf stance, but I hope you know see the importance of addressing your physical limitations to achieve the end result. Longer drives, lower scores and beating the pants off your golfing buddies! Pay more attention to your golf stance ! 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. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds and manual at his <a target="_new" href="http://www.performbettergolf.com">golf swing tips</a> site - Perform Better Golf.

Need Some Help With Your Golf Swing?

What should you do if you need some golf swing aids? Where do you find golf swing aids? What golf swing aids are available? There are many golf swing aids to choose from. Golf swing aids will help improve your golf game. If you are looking for golf swing aids you might want to look at your local golf course. They will have golf swing aids for sale or will be able to recommend some of the best. You can find golf swing aids at a golf shop. The people who work there may have some favorites. Golf swing aids can be purchased at sporting goods stores. A sporting goods store usually has an area devoted to golf and should have people who can be of assistance if you are not sure which ones will be the most helpful. You can also find golf swing aids online. These golf swing aids may be a little less expensive but you will need to know what you want before you order. A good place to find the newest golf swing aids are the golfing magazines. These golf swing aids are reviewed by golfers and you will be able to choose the ones that are best for you. Golf swing aids are made that will help you with your swing alignment. You can find golf swing aids that will assist you with wrist and arm position. There are golf swing aids that act as driving range simulators. If you are looking for one of the golf swing aids that will improve your stance, you are in luck. Golf swing aids will help you and you should have no problem finding just the ones you need. Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Golf-Swing-Improvement.com. He provides more golf putting, swinging and <a target="_new" href="http://www.golf-swing-improvement.com">golf game improvement tips</a> that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

Essential Information on Choosing the Best Golf Clubs to Suit Your Game

Most golfers, whether a beginner or a pro, struggle when trying to decide which golf club to buy. The buying process becomes easier when the consumer has a good understanding of the types of golf clubs available and their specific use. Your playing (and thus your staying) power is greatly enhanced by choosing the proper golf clubs. For the novice golfer, the basic set of golf clubs consists of drivers, wedges, putters and irons. Using the proper type of golf club will help the beginner learn quickly and achieve results. Each different type of club is designed to help with swing speed and to correct faults to improve your game ? and your score. In addition to clubs, a wide variety of accessories are also available, many of which are necessities and others that are ?just for looks.? One absolute necessity is a golf bag to assist you or your caddy in moving from green to green, and of course, golf balls. Another must is a pair of golf shoes to help stabilize your body so you can achieve the perfect swing. Other accessories include golf gloves, a golf cap, clothing, and covers for your golf clubs to protect them from the elements or while stored. There are many variations in the types and styles of golf clubs and their uses. For example, if you?re trying to make a shorter shot, irons may be your best bet. Irons are usually available in sets that include several different sizes. You must also take into consideration the style, size, and type of material used to make the golf club shaft. One of the less expensive materials is steel. Clubs with a steel shaft weigh more but can be longer-lasting than other types. The steel shaft may also give you more control over those fast swings. If you choose a graphite shaft, it will be lighter than steel but will be more costly. This type of club is used for long distance shots or for slower swingers. Most golf clubs are available with both steel and graphite shafts. The flexibility of a shaft is referred to as flex, or bend. The less the bend in a shaft, the more control the powerful swinger will have. On the other hand, beginners and those with less powerful swings generally use a shaft with greater flexibility. The average swing speed is from 65 miles per hour for the beginner up to over 100 miles per hour for powerful swingers. The goal when buying golf clubs should be to own the best golf clubs you can afford, whether they are name brands, used, or a reproduction of one of the name brands. Golf clubs can be purchased at many different types of establishments such as discount stores, buying clubs, specialty shops, catalogs, or the Internet, which offers an almost limitless variety of clubs and bargains, including used golf clubs. The cost of the golf club depends on the type and where it is purchased. Retail stores and catalogs have pre-season, post-season and regular sales, but since someone, somewhere, has the perfect climate in which to play golf at any given time of the year, you may find it difficult to find a true bargain. Internet shopping offers excellent prices throughout the year, and in many cases shipping is free. Golf club replicas are very good bargains if you compare their features to the originals. Many, many types of merchandise are duplicated, or cloned, so be sure the set of clubs you buy have not been illegally duplicated. Most anytime is the perfect time for most golfers and ?wannabe? golfers to play, so take advantage of the large variety of clubs and bargains to be found, and don?t wait another day to start buying your golf clubs. Keith Kingston is a professional web publisher who offers advice and reviews on <a target="_new" href="http://www.golf-365.com/">golf club components</a> and <a target="_new" href="http://www.4-cheap-golf-clubs.com/">cheap golf clubs</a>

The Most Common Backswing Flaw

One of the most confusing terms in golf instruction is "shoulder turn". Personally, I believe that instructors that talk about shoulder turn to describe the amount of turn during the backswing are hurting their students. To explain why I feel this way, I will ask you to try a little experiment. Reach both arms in front of your body and take your right hand and grab your left wrist. Now, without turning your chest, pull your left arm across your chest with your right hand until your left arm is pointing to your right. Notice how far your left shoulder moved. If your shoulders do this during your backswing and you think you are turning, this is the root of your backswing maladies. For the club face to come back to the ball square and centered, the geometry and relationship of the arms and upper body cannot change during the swing. Doing this experiment, you see that what might look like a backswing to many golfers, but is actually a major change in the arms/body geometry which can result in a whole slew of wild shots depending on what else the golfer tries to compensate. Now try a new experiment. Cross your arms across your chest and turn your upper body until your chest faces away from the target (make a backswing). You'll notice that your arms and chest moved together. This is the same movement you should be making during your backswing. What's the difference between the two turns? During the first turn, the arms pulled parts of the upper body until the arms looked as if they were in place. The stomach and hips didn't turn. During the second turn, you had to turn your mid-section to make the turn, also turning the hips as needed. Those are the very same muscle you should always use to make your normal backswing turn. This one change in your swing will create more distance with less effort. It is not the end all of the golf swing, because there is more to controlling your movement, but it is one of the most common mistakes I see that many instructors miss during their lessons. Now you can improve your backswing and become more consistent. Instead of thinking about turning your shoulders, think about turning your chest. This may not completely correct your shot pattern, but it may get it more under control and give you more distance as well. Even accomplished golfers sometimes make this mistake but on a much smaller scale. It is one of the most common timing errors in the golf swing. Tracy Reed is a Golf Biomechanic, International Golf Coach and Author of "Golf Swng Control" now sold in 28 countries. Learn how to Gain the Unfair Advantage on the Golf Course. Go to <a target="_new" href="http://www.golfswingcontrol.com">http://www.golfswingcontrol.com</a>

The One Lever Golf Swing Involves Chipping And Putting

The one lever golf swing involves chipping and putting. To improve you one lever golf swing these are the two areas to work on. First of all we will talk about chipping as part of the one lever golf swing. You will need to figure out how to control your distance with chip shots. The one lever golf swing and chip shots go hand in hand. Work on chipping close and turn a missed green into a par save and you will have mastered a part of the one lever golf swing. Another one lever golf swing tip when it comes to chipping is to remember to keep your hands loose. Tension causes bad chips. If you play the ball back in your stance your chip shots should be more accurate. When working on chipping as part of the one lever golf swing also keep your left wrist firm. Don't let the lead hand's wrist break until the ball is moving. When you are concentrating on the one lever golf swing and chipping keep your arms in front of your body. Now on to putting as an element of the one lever golf swing. Start by keeping good posture even after the address. Your spine angle should not change even when you let your eyes follow the ball. When you are working on the putting area of the one lever golf swing you will want to select a line and stay with it. One final comment on the one lever golf swing and putting advice; use short puts for the line and longer ones for rhythm. If you work on chipping and putting your one lever golf swing may improve dramatically. Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Golf-Swing-Improvement.com. He provides more golfing tips, putting tips and <a target="_new" href="http://www.golf-swing-improvement.com/Golf-Swing-Instruction.html">golf swing instruction tips</a> that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

What You Should Know About Plyometrics And How It Will Help You Get Longer Drives

One of the main problems for golfers is power. Yep, good old power. It seems simple enough but power can be elusive to most golfers. How could this be? simply everyone is unique in an anatomical sense. Everybody has different muscle tone, muscle development and even bone structure. This could lead to multiple factors that affect power. Having power in your strokes is a desirable asset. Longer drives, lower scores and lets not forget, bragging rights. As I said, there are many factors that contribute to the development of power. And each one is unique as you are unique to the rest of the people of the world. But sit tight co'z I'll be introducing you to a breakthrough research that may be the factor your lacking to improve you're golf power thus having longer tees. One word, Plyometrics! If you haven't heart of if, then you should. And no it's not rocket science or some new name for a synthetic fiber, which by the way what I thought when I first heard about it. In a nutshell, Plyometric is any exercise that where the muscle is contracted eccentrically then immediately, concentrically. Simply put, the muscle is stretched before it is contracted. Why should you care about Plyometric? its because its one of the best way to improve you're power. Common knowledge says that you can gain power by performing resistance exercises. But recent study shows that it is equally important that you factor in the speed on how you contract you're muscle. So what you should look for is not just contraction of muscles, but also how fast you're muscle contracts. Such exercises could improve you're golf power in less time. Word of advice though, Plyometric exercises is not perfectly safe, just as most exercise are. That's why it very important that you get professional help or you'll be causing more damage than helping. I suggest that you grab the book entitled "Jumping Into Plyometrics" by Donald A. Chu. Unfortunately its not specific for golf power development, But here's the book that the closest thing for golf, it entitled "Golf Fitness Guide". Just visit http://golf-tips.useful-tips.com and I'll tell you where to grab it. I urge you to learn more about Plyometric. This is a fairly new study. But its definitely worth the look. Its even backed by National Strength and Conditioning Association's (NSCA) journal. They published a study that amateur golfers significantly increased their power incorporating Plyometrics in their training. This could be you're ticket to longer-drives land and a little bragging rights doesn't hurt too. Want To Read More Golf Articles For Free? Then visit http://Golf-Tips.useful-tips.com. A site is dedicated to bring you free golf articles and the top products that will help improve you're golf game tremendously. Jed Baguio<br> Webmaster<br> <a target="_new" href="http://Golf-Tips.useful-tips.com">http://Golf-Tips.useful-tips.com</a>

Hit Longer Drives - Heres How

To hit longer drives is the dream of every golfer on the planet! Even the professionals players want to hit longer drives. Is there a magic bullet? Do you really know what it takes to dramatically improve your driving distance? I'll bet your first answer will be a new driver at $500. Am I right? If not a driver?take more golf lessons. Am I getting warmer yet? If I still haven't guessed right?hit more balls at the range? Am I scorching hot yet? The key to hit longer drives is clubhead speed and solid ball-clubface contact. That's it! Seems easy enough right? Not! The ONLY way to improve clubhead speed is to have optimal strength and flexibility in your core region. This is the area of your body that creates the torque on the backswing that is unleashed at impact. How many times have you tried to swing hard and the ball didn't go anywhere? I've been there. How many times did you &quot;just not care&quot; and all of a sudden the ball rocketed off the clubface. That one time?you were relaxed and probably made a bigger backswing, therefore producing more torque (energy). But I'll bet you have a hard to repeating that don't you? That's because your body has physical limitations that will not allow you to repeatedly make a full backswing and store that energy. By incorporating rotational strength and flexibility exercises specific to the golf swing, you will see dramatic increases in clubhead speed and distance. I've seen increases of 50 yards! Now if you are already driving it 260 plus yards, you may not see a 50 yard increase, but you could realistically see a 30 yard increase. It's all about getting your body to move a little better within your golf swing. So next time you get the motivation to improve your driving distance?think of working on your body?not swing harder. The ultimate goal is to hit longer drives! About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness manual and dvds at his <a target="_new" href="http://www.performbettergolf.com">golf swing trainer</a> site - Perform Better Golf.

How A Simple Golf Stretch Can Add 20 Yards To Your Drives

To quickly improve your golf, stretch your golf muscles regularly! What's the difference between a &quot;golf stretch&quot; and an everyday stretch? The answer to this question may be your missling link to a great game and years of enjoyment instead of frustration and weak attempts at quitting the game. I know?you've considered it! I've been there many times. But the bottom line?we keep coming back! So to end the years of frustration and quickly transform your game, you need to do golf stretches daily. Yes, that's right?daily! It will only take you a few minutes to get them done, but the improvement in your game will be quick and dramatic. The return on this investment (of time) is well worth it. Now which stretches to do to get the quickest return? That's a personal issue. Everyone has different limitations. Some are backswing related, others are follow through or even maintaining your golf posture. Below I'm going to list a couple of golf stretches that will help you prevent back pain and increase your backswing range of motion for longer drives. The first golf stretch is the Lying Leg Crossover: ? Lie on back with legs extended. ? Raise one leg and bend at knee to 90 degrees in knee and hip. ? Cross that leg over extended leg, while opposite shoulder stays on ground. ? Go until slight pull in butt and lower back. ? Hold for 15 seconds and repeat once more. ? Switch legs and do opposite side. This simple golf stretch will not only make your back feel better, but it will improve your ability to make a bigger turn, with less hip movement, creating torque and energy. The second golf stretch is the Backswing Stretch: ? Extend left arm out in front of you (if you are a right handed golfer). ? Take right hand and put under left wrist. ? Pull with right hand against left wrist and make as big a turn on back swing as possible. ? Hold for at least 15 seconds, repeat once more and do the opposite for arm for your follow thru side. This simple golf stretch will loosen up the muscles in the back of your shoulders and your upper back (lats), for more freedom on both your backswing and follow through. Do these two stretches daily and watch your game improve quickly. Note: These are only 2 golf stretches isolating certain areas of the body. To get the full benefit for your golf game, you need to do golf stretches for each muscle group. About The Author: Mike Pedersen is a respected golf fitness expert, and the author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, numerous golf fitness tips and founder of several online golf fitness sites. For more information on his new, cutting-edge golf fitness e-book, go to <a target="_new" href="http://www.ultimategolffitnessguide.com">http://www.ultimategolffitnessguide.com.</a>

The Most Underrated Golfer in History... Buffalo Bill! Huh??

Buffalo Bill was introduced to golf by his father at age 5 and started his PGA Tour career in 1955 at the age of 24, which could be considered a late start compared to today's standards. Even with this late start he ended up with 51 wins on the PGA Tour, 6th on the all time win list. Included in those 51 victories are two U.S Opens and one Masters. He also has won nine Senior Tour Championships including two Senior Majors, one of them the USGA Senior Open in 1983. Buffalo Bill was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978 and the PGA Hall of fame in 1982. He played on eight Ryder Cup teams and captained the 1979 Ryder Cup. He won five Vardon Trophies, awarded to the player with the lowest scoring average for the year, and was a two-time Player of The Year winner. In 1968 he was the first player to surpass $200,000 in single-season earnings and won his second money title. He was also the second player in history to reach the $1 million career earnings mark, Arnold Palmer being the first. These are the highlights on Buffalo Bill's golfing career. Only five people in the history of game have accomplished more on the PGA Tour. Sam Snead leads the all time victory list with 81 wins, followed by Jack Nicklaus with 73 and Ben Hogan with 64, "The King", Arnold Palmer, has 62 and Byron Nelson has 52, to round out the top five. All five of these great champions, as well as lesser-accomplished pros, are talked about all the time, but not Buffalo Bill. For some reason his name only pops up occasionally. One would think that with credentials like these, his name would be a household word at least through-out the golfing world. Yet, for some reason that is not the case. Heck his name hasn't even popped up here yet! Who is Buffalo Bill? Well for those of you that haven't figured it out yet, it is none other then San Diego's native son, Billy Casper. Why Buffalo Bill? When Billy Casper began a strict diet of buffalo meat, he went on a winning streak - 51 PGA Tour victories in all - that assured him legendary golf status. This culinary peculiarity earned Casper the moniker "Buffalo Bill." The rest, including the above-mentioned Masters championship and two U.S. Open titles, is history. If you have a Great Golf Story you would like to share, email it to floyd@sbmag.org More interesting golf stories at http://www.sbmag.org/Golf_Stories/Great_Golf_Stories_Index. Floyd Snyder is an avid high handicap golfer and the owner of Strictly Business Magazine at <a target="_new" href="http://www.sbmag.org">http://www.sbmag.org</a> and <a target="_new" href="http://www.TraderAide.com">http://www.TraderAide.com</a>

Effective Golf Training Equipment Isn?t What You Think

If you are like most golfers, you have purchased hundreds of dollars of golf training equipment. How many gimmicky training aids do you have lying around? Now I want you to picture something. Put all the training aids together in your mind and picture using them all at the same time. What do you think would be the results? I don't think it would be pretty and that's my point. It's so easy to look for the 'magic bullet'. But the magic bullet is staring you in the face. You heard that right, it's YOU! You swing the club and play the game?so why wouldn't you spend the time and money on improving YOU? So stop buying the latest greatest training aid and focus on improving your own physical limitations. So let's get back to golf training equipment. I'd like to make a couple of suggestions. I'm all for swinging a weighted club. You couldn't get more golf-specific than that. That would be a purchase that will give you a high return. Next on the list would be exercise tubing. It only costs approximately $20-$25 and would be another very wise investment. The beauty of tubing is the ability to break down the golf swing into as many phases as you like and do resistance (tubing) training specific to that phase. The next piece of golf training equipment is the stability ball. Any golfer with a bad back should have one. You can do so many stretches on it, and you can have this in your office, home or even when you travel since it's deflatable. And lastly, hand weights. Another term is dumbbells. You can do dozens of golf-specific exercises with a simple pair of dumbbells. The cost is 50 cents a pound and they are very portable. Other than the above golf training equipment, you could get one, maybe two trainings aids specific to your swing fault. For example, if you're a slicer, the Inside Approach is a great device to use right on the range. But dump all the old, ineffective training aids you have in your garage and focus on what will give you the greatest return on investment (both time and money). And remember; if you are doing something that's not working?stop! Move onto something new and different. Don't get in a rut. Catch yourself before this happens. This article was provided by Mike Pedersen, one of the leading golf fitness experts in the country. If you're looking for a quick and easy way to transform your game, Mike has a new book out with easy tips, techniques and cutting-edge golf exercises. Go take a look at <a target="_new" href="http://www.ultimategolffitnessguide.com">http://www.ultimategolffitnessguide.com.</a>

Mental Concentration, Golf, and You

All players, when they are concentrating on a stroke, are in some respects mad; for a second they become monomaniac; you are possessed with an idea that is fixed in your mind; your singleness of purpose is absolute if you really are concentrating. And I cannot imagine how anything can disturb them unless they allow it to. If this does happen, then, in my opinion, you cannot be giving your whole mind to the stroke, you aren't concentrating. When you are out on the course there are many minor distractions that you may encounter, from coughing or sneezing, all the way up to load and obnoxious crowds or players. But once a player gets into the habit of being put off their game by these little worries, you are unlikely to make any progress in the game, and you run the risk of wandering around the course looking for things at which to be annoyed, actually seeking them. Few golfers realize that their game cannot stand still, whether their handicap is scratch, eight, or eighteen; their standard of play must progress or retrogress, improve or deteriorate, according to the amount they play or practice. In connection with this notion, a friend of mine suggests the obliteration from the mind of a bunker that is directly in the line of play. I might say (but I have not any intention of doing so) that my friend has chosen the wrong word. My argument is this: Was the player who landed in the bunker thinking of the bunker when he played his stroke, or was the golfer imagining that it was quite likely that the ball would land in the bunker? By a law to which there are no exceptions, the will yields to the imagination. As an illustration of this, any one can walk along a plank a foot in width when it is lying on solid earth; but place that plank across the two trestles of a bridge, twenty feet up in the air, and not one person in twenty will walk calmly across it, because they imagine that they are likely to fall off! Undoubtedly this player in the aforementioned match actually imagined the ball hopping into the bunker, and that was the last conscious act before making the fatal stroke. Can there be any other meaning to the word concentration, in a mental sense, than a focusing of the attention? And further, can you focus your attention on such a thing as a golf ball? I answer these questions with another question: Doesn't the golfer focus his attention, not on the ball itself, but on some action connected with the ball? I grant you that you can concentrate on a golf ball, on the size of it, on its marking, or on the dents you may have made in it, but no player wishes to do this in the middle of a close match. So that when a golfer is &quot;concentrating on the ball,&quot; he or she is in reality concentrating on the stroke they are about to make. The golfer is focusing their attention on the desire to put the ball as near the hole as possible; and can it be doubted that the average golfer starts concentrating on the second shot long before he or she reaches the ball? This appears to me to be a fatal policy. It is well enough for a golfer to plan the method of play for the whole of any particular hole when they are on the tee, and yet I do not think that even this is a good plan. You may hit your tee shot, &quot;as per schedule,&quot; only to find that your ball is reposing in an old divot mark and that it is thus quite impossible to use a the proper club for your second shot. So the whole of your concentration is wasted. The ideal method of playing golf is not to use your mind until you have to. When you reach your ball, concentrate as hard as you can, for upon your powers of concentration your next stroke depends. I have said, in common with every other writer on the game that hesitation is fatal, but it seems to me desirable that I should now amplify that statement. &quot;Those who hesitate are lost,&quot; because they aren't concentrating. If you concentrate hard enough you cannot hesitate, provided you are clear about what you are concentrating on. ? 2005 BlackCash Enterprises, LLC ? All Rights Reserved Jarrod Cash and Michael Black have created "The Lost Golf Secrets Collection" available at: <a target="_new" href="http://www.LostGolfSecrets.com">http://www.LostGolfSecrets.com</a> Are You Too Busy Practicing Your Swing to Improve Your Game? Stop Playing Golf the Hard Way!

The Most Underrated Golfer in History... Buffalo Bill! Huh??

Buffalo Bill was introduced to golf by his father at age 5 and started his PGA Tour career in 1955 at the age of 24, which could be considered a late start compared to today's standards. Even with this late start he ended up with 51 wins on the PGA Tour, 6th on the all time win list. Included in those 51 victories are two U.S Opens and one Masters. He also has won nine Senior Tour Championships including two Senior Majors, one of them the USGA Senior Open in 1983. Buffalo Bill was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978 and the PGA Hall of fame in 1982. He played on eight Ryder Cup teams and captained the 1979 Ryder Cup. He won five Vardon Trophies, awarded to the player with the lowest scoring average for the year, and was a two-time Player of The Year winner. In 1968 he was the first player to surpass $200,000 in single-season earnings and won his second money title. He was also the second player in history to reach the $1 million career earnings mark, Arnold Palmer being the first. These are the highlights on Buffalo Bill's golfing career. Only five people in the history of game have accomplished more on the PGA Tour. Sam Snead leads the all time victory list with 81 wins, followed by Jack Nicklaus with 73 and Ben Hogan with 64, "The King", Arnold Palmer, has 62 and Byron Nelson has 52, to round out the top five. All five of these great champions, as well as lesser-accomplished pros, are talked about all the time, but not Buffalo Bill. For some reason his name only pops up occasionally. One would think that with credentials like these, his name would be a household word at least through-out the golfing world. Yet, for some reason that is not the case. Heck his name hasn't even popped up here yet! Who is Buffalo Bill? Well for those of you that haven't figured it out yet, it is none other then San Diego's native son, Billy Casper. Why Buffalo Bill? When Billy Casper began a strict diet of buffalo meat, he went on a winning streak - 51 PGA Tour victories in all - that assured him legendary golf status. This culinary peculiarity earned Casper the moniker "Buffalo Bill." The rest, including the above-mentioned Masters championship and two U.S. Open titles, is history. If you have a Great Golf Story you would like to share, email it to floyd@sbmag.org More interesting golf stories at http://www.sbmag.org/Golf_Stories/Great_Golf_Stories_Index. Floyd Snyder is an avid high handicap golfer and the owner of Strictly Business Magazine at <a target="_new" href="http://www.sbmag.org">http://www.sbmag.org</a> and <a target="_new" href="http://www.TraderAide.com">http://www.TraderAide.com</a>

The Principle Golf Power Swing Tip Has Nothing To Do With Trying To Hit It With All Your Strength

Genuine golf power swing tips will have little or nothing to do with a golfer trying to hit the ball with all their strength. This is frequently attempted by some golfers with poor results and sometimes only leads to injury. Neither will a good golf power swing tip have anything to do with the many different things that most amateur golfers do in their often desperate attempts to achieve power in their golf swing. This includes twisting their wrists forward on impact in a desperate effort to increase the club speed and therefore hit the ball harder. Incidentally this action is more likely to cause injury rather than produce good results. In fact it does not at all qualify as a tip that helps a golfer increase power in their golf swing. Real and genuinely useful golf power swings will have more to do with exercises and techniques to condition the body and muscles as well as increase strength in the muscles. Anything that will increase strength in the golf muscles is a golf power swing tip that will deliver results. The really amazing thing about golf specific exercises is the fact that a good number of the exercises can be done at the office or in the comfort of the home when you have a moment to spare. Mostly the stretch exercises and some of the strength building exercises which all usually have a such a major impact on the power in your golf swing that it will definitely tip the scales in your favour in terms of playing a better game more consistently. Any golf power swing tip that you receive that point in this direction of exercise is bound to be genuine and the sort that can have a good solid and positive impact on your game. Because not all golf power swing tips are genuine. 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. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds at his <a target="_new" href="http://www.performbettergolf.com">golf training</a> site - Perform Better Golf.

Golf Humor Poetry:- Ode to the Fanatical Golfer (Part One)

He wanted golf to be experienced by all, And hoped his daughter would heed the call. "C'mon!", he said. "You'll have a ball!" "Why?", she asked. "Are we going to the mall?" He'd often take his golf cart to work, And all his co-workers there would smirk. He didn't know why, and thought, "They're jerks!" "How could they belittle such a perk?!" His swing was big and grand, yet dopey, He cried and cried when he made a bogey. Kids thought, "What's wrong with this old fogey?" He thought, "I'm not old. I sport a goatee." He loved his old and tattered bag, His caddie thought it was such a drag. But he hated more "golf cart tag", The golfer played with him, when he didn't move the flag! Forever chasing the elusive par, He'd hit the ball straight and far. In the traps, his ball seemed stuck to tar! He'd still be there, when "parking" had narrey a car! He loved the smell of the "fresh-cut green", But to him it proved such a fiend. It's favor to him, was always lean! Despite it's beauty, it could be so mean! The point of golf? To put the ball in the hole. You do that with a "curved-end' pole. But the path, always guarded by a "troll", Or maybe yet, some "ticked-off" mole! He was never any good in the traps, In fact, his "game" would always flap. But to others, it seemed to sit on their laps, While he was reduced to stomping his cap! He'd read the "mags" to take his golf game higher. He wanted the best ball--best putter---best driver. Often going to his wife to borrow a "fiver", She wouldn't budge. No matter how hard he tried to "jive" her! To the links, early morning he'd often travel, Sometimes his bathrobe and pajamas his only apparel. Unfortunately, the knot would often unravel, After jumping up and down at a lucky roll, he'd marvel! Copyright 2005 by Kevin D. Rolle. All rights reserved. My name is Kevin D. Rolle, and I have a site at <a target="_new" href="http://www.golf-humor-asylum.com">http://www.golf-humor-asylum.com</a> which is dedicated to the humorous and comedic aspects of golf, which are displayed through a fresh, exciting golf comic strip, and my commentary. Thanks.

Too Many Online Golf Tips...which one do I take?

Online golf tips are on the increase. This is hardly surprising because we are in the information age and virtually every kind of information you can think of has increased tremendously in quantity over the internet and continues to do so at a rapid rate. The information age has had the effect of putting tremendous power in the hands of the individual by making huge amounts of information available on anybody's desktop. As long as that person has a connection to the internet. This has come with its' own disadvantages. One of them is that there are too many experts dishing out online golf tips that golfers often get confused and find it extremely difficult to tell who is a genuine expert on the subject and who is not. Actually there are a number of things to look for before accepting online golf tips as being the sort that can be useful and beneficial to you and your game. The first is the number of years that the person has been involved in the particular golf discipline that they are giving online golf tips on. Have they been in it long enough to have written a book on the subject for example? Quite often a book confirms an experts depth of knowledge in their particular discipline. The second thing to look at closely is the advice being given. Does it promise everything for nothing? Or does it promise that you will revolutionize your game by simply purchasing a certain golf product? These are tell-tale signs that all is not well. Golf is an athletic sport these days and strength training plays an important role in helping golfers improve their game. Many people hate even the thought of strength exercises, but that is the reality and even the genuinely good golf products that an expert will recommend in their online golf tip should involve some exercising effort from the golfer before they can enjoy the benefits of an improved game on the golf course. You should be careful about the source of any online golf tip you receive. 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. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds at his <a target="_new" href="http://www.performbettergolf.com">golf training</a> site - Perform Better Golf.

4 Easy Ways to Take Your Golf Practice to the Course

One of the most common concerns expressed by golfers is &quot;how come I can hit the ball so well on the range but have a difficult time replicating this on the golf course&quot;? When left on their own to try to figure this question out, many people look at their on-course behavior, thinking and playing for the source of the answer. Frequently, the answer lies more in their practice behavior than it does in their playing behavior. It is necessary to hit a lot of golf balls in order to become proficient at golf. However, in addition to hitting bucket after bucket of practice balls, what is also imperative is that the type of practice that one undertakes approximates as much as possible the actual experience of playing the game. Watching people's typical practice involves seeing them hitting ball after ball on the range- frequently using the same club and hitting to the same target over and over and over again. This is not real golf. Why then would you practice in this manner? The key is to practice more like you play! Here are 4 easy ways to make your practice sessions translate to better golf while playing. 1. Change targets frequently. On the golf course, you rarely hit two balls in a row to the same exact target. Practice hitting to a different target with each shot. This has application whether with the full swing, pitching, chipping, or in the bunker. Each shot is thought through and executed as a unique entity- just like on the course. 2. Change clubs frequently. On the golf course, you rarely hit two balls in a row with the same club. If you regularly hit your 7-iron three or four times in a row on the course, your game is in big trouble! However, this is how people practice. Changing clubs regularly- say every second or third shot- is a good way to approximate what it feels like to be on the course. 3. Use your pre-shot routine more frequently. Preparation for each shot on the course and preparation for each shot on the range are generally vastly different for most players. This creates a rhythm that's different, a thinking process that's different, and a result that's different! 4. Putt using one ball. You are not given the luxury of hitting the same putt two or three times on the course. Yet many people drop two or three putts and stroke the same putt over and over to the same target. Practice using just one ball- with a full read- to create an environment that's similar to the golf course. It is true that early in the process of learning one's swing it is sometimes helpful to hit the same club to the same target without a pre-shot. However, once you are ready to go play, make sure that you're preparing yourself to deal with some of the same sensations that you have on the golf course! Jeff Troesch, MA, LMHC is an internationally recognized expert in the mental side of golf. As the former Director of Sport Psychology for the David Leadbetter Golf Academies, Jeff has worked with thousands of golfers nationwide and brings a wealth of experience to seasoned golf professionals as well as the recreational golf lover. You may contact Jeff directly through his website, <a target="_new" href="http://www.fitnessforgolf.com">http://www.fitnessforgolf.com.</a>

A Good Swing Starts with a Strong Base of Support

A good golf swing starts with a strong base of support (hips, pelvis and lumbar spine). A highly conditioned base of support will provide stability throughout the swing and allow forces to be effectively transferred from the legs through the hips to the upper body to produce optimal power and control. A strong base helps protect the joints and other supporting tissues against the strong compression, shear and torsion forces that occur during the golf swing. Unfortunately, there are a number of factors that predispose the golfer to developing poor postural patterns and muscle imbalance that result in a weak base of support. For much of our young lives we were stuck sitting in school hunched over our desk. We finish school and begin our careers. Many of us now find ourselves spending excessive time in our cars or sitting in poorly designed chairs hunched in front of a computer. Over time we are conditioned to have tight hip flexors and a lazy posture. Poor posture and muscle imbalance decrease musculoskeletal efficiency and disrupt communication within the neuromuscular system. Short tight muscles display a lower activation threshold, meaning they fire at times when they should be less active or inactive. Over activation of dominant muscles leads to decreased neural control to their opposing muscles. Simply stated, &quot;when one muscle becomes tight and overactive its opposing muscle becomes loose and lazy.&quot; Tight dominant hip flexors create weak and lazy hip extensors (gluteals)and set off a chain reaction of dysfunction. Tight hip flexors pull the pelvis into a forward tilt leading to an excess curvature of the lumbar spine. As a result the muscles of the abdominal wall lengthen and weaken while the muscles of the lumbar spine get short and tight. This pattern also causes disruption in our body's lateral stabilization system. The hip abductors (muscles that move the legs away from the center of the body) along with their opposing adductors (muscles that move the legs toward the center of the body) work to stabilize the pelvis during lateral movement. Inefficiency in this lateral stabilization system inhibits coordination and hinders proper weight shift through the golf swing. So what we are left with are weak hip extensors (gluteal muscles) that can't drive the hips through the swing, dominant hip flexors that won't allow the hips to open to allow a full turn, tight spinal flexors that are forced to do the work of the weak hip extensors, but are to tight to make a full rotation, and a lack of coordination needed to make consistently good ball contact. To make matters worse most golfers spending hours at the driving range reinforcing and strengthening this dysfunctional pattern. Is it any wonder the average golf score hasn't dropped in decades? To break this pattern of dysfunction and build a strong base of support we must first establish coordinated muscle firing among the deep stabilizing abdominal musculature, the hip flexors and extensors, hip abductors and adductors, and spinal flexors, extensors and rotators. This is accomplished through the activation and strengthening of weak and inhibited muscles, and stretching the tight and dominant muscles. Once these muscles are re-educated and coordinated muscle firing is established we can then work to build optimal strength and power. The first step in this process is the development of the deep abdominal and pelvic musculature. This is done by mastering the abdominal brace. The abdominal brace differs from the traditional abdominal training that encourages &quot;abdominal hollowing&quot; a.k.a. the &quot;draw in&quot; maneuver. With the &quot;draw in&quot; maneuver we are told to pull or draw our belly buttons towards our spines. Research has shown that drawing in actually lessens abdominal activation and decreases lumbar - pelvic- hip stability. The abdominal brace is an isometric contraction of the abdominal muscles meaning the abs are neither pulled in nor pushed out. This maneuver should be the first step of every exercise as it is the foundation of lumbar, pelvic, and hip stabilization. The following exercise will allow you to master this movement and re-educate the lower abdominal wall and allow the deep pelvic stabilizers to fire efficiently. Abdominal Brace ? Lay in a supine position (on your back) with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. ? Brace your abdominals by tightening abdominals as if you were going to take a punch in the gut. ? Return to a relaxed position and repeat. Tips ? Control Movement is the key. While performing these exercises pay strict attention to NOT allow the use of the legs (hip flexors and /or gluteals) while contracting the abdominals. The only muscles contracting are the abdominal wall; place your hands on the belly button to feel this isolated contraction ? There should be no tension in your neck or shoulders. Don't limit the abdominal brace to exercise. Practicing the brace with all activity (sitting, walking, driving, golfing, etc) will help you develop the endurance your abdominals need to maintain a strong base of support as well as a healthy back. A study presented by researchers at the American College of Sports Medicine's 51st annual meeting showed that golfers who possess strong hip muscles have lower handicaps and longer driving distances than those with weak hip muscles. This makes sense since muscles of the hip and pelvis play a major role in stabilizing the trunk and transferring forces from the lower body through the upper body and arms during the golf swing. The ability of the hip extensors (gluteals and hamstrings) and lumbar extensors to fire in concert also allows the body to react to and counteract the rapid rotational forces of the golf swing. The problem here, as we have already discussed, is many golfers have inhibited hip extensors and tight and dominant lumbar flexors. Under the best of circumstances our spines were not designed to swing a golf club. Now we compound the issue repeatedly forcing our spinal muscles to do the job of our hip extensors to power through the swing. Spinal extensor muscles don't have the size or strength to do this, hence the tremendous incidence of over use injury and lower back pain among golfers. So, what we need to do is quite down our lumbar extensors to allow the hip extensors to do their job. The Bird Dog exercise progression effectively helps develop stabilization, coordination and strength of the spine. The key to this type of exercise is learning and then maintaining &quot;neutral&quot; spine. Neutral does not mean straight, it means allowing the natural curves to be present. This is imperative to allow the spine to function properly and movement to occur in a stress free manner. The golf club placed the length of the spine is an excellent cue that allows the golfer to feel the proper spinal positions and make necessary corrections. The club shaft should be in contact with only three points; the base of the head, the center of the back and the middle of the pelvis. Concave spaces should be seen at the neck and lower back. Dog 1 ? Position yourelf on your hands and knees with a golf club placed along your spine; make sure the rod contacts 3 points only (head-middle back-pelvis). ? Brace your abdominals and slowly raise one hand and the opposite knee just off the floor ( no more than 1/4 inch). Hold for five to ten seconds. ? Return to the start position and alternate sides. Tips ? The club must remain in contact with all 3 contact points (head, mid back, pelvis). Once you have mastered the Dog 1 then you can move to the next progression. Dog 2 adds the components of hip extension and shoulder flexion. This exercise is extremely effective in re-establishing efficiency in extensor chain (hip, lumbar, and cervical extensors). Dog II ? Position yourelf on your hands and knees with a golf club placed along your spine; make sure the rod contacts 3 points only (head-middle back-pelvis). ? Brace your abdominals, slowly extend one arm (thumb up) straight out in front of you and the opposite leg behind you. ? Hold for five to ten seconds and repeat with opposite side. Tips ? The club must remain in contact with all 3 contact points (head, mid back, pelvis). ? Do not allow your hips to rotate. The key with Dog 2 is not to allow the lumbar extensors to fire during this movement. After mastering Dog 2 you can then further challenge the hip extensors by adding the bridge exercise. The bridge adds the resistance of body weight to the hip extension movement and further challenges (and strengthens) the deep stabilizers or the lumbar-pelvic-hip complex. The Bridge ? Lay on your back with your arms placed at your side. ? Brace your abdominals and squeeze your gluteals (buttocks) then raise your hips into a bridge position. Pause and return to starting position. Tips ? Your feet should remain flat. ? This movement is initiated with the hips not the spinal extensor muscle; no pressure should be felt in the lower back. ? Maintain abdominal and gluteals muscles contraction throughout the full movement. It is important to implement a good stretching program to lengthen tight muscles as you strengthen your base of support. Aside from the already mentioned hip flexors and lumbar extensors other areas commonly tight among golfers include the muscles of the hamstrings, neck, scapular elevators (upper trapezius and levator scapulae) and shoulder internal rotators. A qualified strength and conditioning or golf fitness professional can provide you with a postural and biomechanical analysis that can provide a more detailed picture of your specific areas of need. Improving your base of support will add distance and control to your game and help prevent, reduce, and possibly eliminate golf related pain and injury. Bill Scibetta, RN, NSCA-CPT Bill is the founder and President of Precision Fitness ? Personal Training Centers in the Charlotte, NC area and co-author of the book Play Better Longer! ? Peak Performance and Injury Prevention for Golf. Bill is a licensed Registered Nurse as well as a National Strength and Conditioning Association ? Certified Personal Trainer. After spending years practicing in the specialty of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Bill has dedicated his career to helping individuals identify and overcome obstacles that stand in the way of optimal wellness and peak physical performance. <a target="_new" href="http://www.LakeNormanFitness.com">http://www.LakeNormanFitness.com</a>

Core Strength For Golf

When someone talks about core strength, they're referring to the strength of the muscles that go deep within the abs and back attaching to the spine or pelvis. A few of these muscles are the tranversus abdominis(TVA), the muscles of the pelvic floor, the lats and the obliques. The core muscles are the origination point for stability and movement on the golf swing. Stronger core muscles convert to better balance and a more powerful swing. Strength in the core muscles can also prevent injuries to the hips and back. The relationship between core strength and speed and power capabilities is very important. Golfers must have the core strength to handle the power they are capable of generating peripherally. Therefore, an increase in speed or power requires an increase in core strength. Exercises to strengthen these muscles should be a continuous portion of your fitness regimen. In recent years, there has been more implementation of functional fitness exercises. The same holds true for golf fitness. Rather than focusing strictly on separate muscle groups, the training is targeted to strengthen the overall movement pattern in an integrated fashion. More of the body is involved. Many of these types of exercises mimic movements required in the golf swing. The body becomes better conditioned for the anticipated movement and strength improves as well. Core strength is important to the golfer because the core is where all movement begins. It is the body's center of gravity. Core muscles act to produce power, stabilization and transference of energy. Many people have weak core muscles. A weaker core leaves the golfer much more susceptible to injuries. As time progresses, this continued weakness goes from spinal stress to injury to more permanent damage. For more power and stability, as well as overall continued health, core strengthening exercises are among the best activities you can pursue. For stronger golf, strengthen the core! Susan Hill is a nationally recognized fitness trainer, CHEK golf biomechanic and sports nutrition specialist. For more information on golf specific nutrition, exercises or stretches, visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.fitnessforgolf.com">http://www.fitnessforgolf.com.</a>