52 Ways To Stop Your Slice

If there's one thing that haunts most golfers more than missing a 3-foot putt, it has to be slicing the ball off the tee. So this week I have written 2-different articles - the first being 52 Ways to Stop Your Slice and the second being If You Understand What Causes A Slice You Wouldn't Need 52 Ways To Stop A Slice! So consider this a bonus section to Golf Improvement Weekly.

Part 1 - Fixing your slice can be a complicated task or it can be a Simple solution - the choice is up to you. Now the average person reading this will say - "Well Marc, I want the Simple Solution." Yet, when we go to work on getting rid of your slice using these Simple Solutions, the average Golfer says - "Yeah but, what about working on an inside to out swing path, what about turning my wrist over at impact, isn't my swing too flat, shouldn't I work on getting my elbow down to my side to get the club in the correct position on the downswing?" Because of the Golf Instruction Experts or Guru's that we hear from each week on Television or Magazines or Internet Chat Rooms - we assume that the solutions to simple things such as Slicing the Ball Off The Tee have to have complicated corrections and that there always has to be swing changes made to your swings.

And I actually enjoy hearing how complicated you think it is to fix your golf swing because to see your faces when you're able to Stop Slicing the Ball by just using some of our drills is fascinating.

Fascinating? Why Fascintating?

Because for most Golfers we see, there is so much going on in your heads during each swing you make - I'm surprised your still playing golf. Too many Golfers make this game hard work. It's like the Monkey said - "A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at work!" I'll believe that one when I see it. I guess I haven't worked in an office enviroment enough, but I can't imagine people banging their mouse's on the ground and yelling the expletives they do on the golf course in the middle of the office. Or telling everybody in earshot how bad they messed up on getting an important assignment done - you'd get fired right on the spot if you acted that way in the office.

Yet on the golf course we see clubs banged against the ground - I learn more "salty" language than I did during High School - and I constantly hear how badly everyone's playing, even after they've just played 2-holes. "Oh man, this is the worst golf I've ever played!" Hey don't get down on yourself, you've only played 2-holes. "Yeah but I've never played this bad in my entire life." I don't understand, you've never double bogied 2-holes in a row in all the years you've played golf? "Well yes, I have. But, I just don't feel comfortable right now with my swing. I just feel off and I'm not having fun!" Didn't you just tell me that A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at work?

If that's the case, your job must really stink!

So the first way to Stop a Slice is to not get so upset at yourself that you start to hold the club as if it were a $1,000,000 bill. You must realize that when you hold the club so tightly the tightness doesn't stop at your hands - it works its way up your arms through your shoulders, right up your neck and into your brain. And when all this tension is pulsating through your body - your swing gets "Stuck" and when you're "Stuck", you need to find a way to become "Unstuck" and that usually means you're going to have to Compensate some where in your swing to make up for being "Stuck" and that Compensation will lead to some act of Inconsistency which includes Slicing the Ball off the Tee. (How's that for a run-on sentence Robert Z?)

The Monkey says "I read that if I Slice Off The Tee that I should tee my ball up on the right-side of the tee box (for a righty Golfer - left side for a lefty Golfer) and aim to the left to allow my ball to have more room to Slice." I don't know about that one - Why is that going to help you to not Slice Off The Tee? "Well, it won't stop me from Slicing Off The Tee, but it'll allow me more room to allow the ball to Slice." I guess you're correct, it would give you more room to play the Slice Off The Tee and if you know you're going to Slice - that would be a good PLAN to have. Yet I believe that the reason that most Golfers Slice Off The Tee is caused by bad Aim and having your Aim so far to the left, can't be helping.

If your Aim is off, you'll have to Compensate somewhere in your swing to make up for that fact.

The reason that you'll need to Compensate is that if your Aim is bad and you do make a good swing, the ball won't go where you think it should be go. Yet the majority of Monkeys will start trying to figure out what went wrong with their golf swing as opposed to fixing their Aim. So then on your next swing, instead of fixing the Aim, you feel as though you need to fix your swing instead - so in the middle of your swing you Compensate for the bad Aim and that Compensation will lead to some act of Inconsistency which includes Slicing the Ball off the Tee.

Oh my goodness, I have 50-more Ways To Stop Your Slice to go.

Ok, the next 50 Ways To Stop Your Slice - if you're looking for Golf Tips that you think will improve your Score, this isn't the place to be looking for them. We don't work with Golf Tips, Golf Made Simple works with Reality! Please don't think of us like you think of other Golf Instructors you've worked with or heard talking or read about. Our approach is totally different than what is already out there. Yes, we help you to hit the golf ball better and to eliminate your Slice Off The Tee (we have 100's of Testimonials, Returning Golfers and Referrals to prove it) - but we don't use the ineffective approach that is employed by 9.9 out of 10 Instructors out there. While they're teaching you what Positions you need to be in along with overwhelming you with their "Theories and Assumptions" about swing path, swing plane, grip, etc, etc, etc -

We're allowing you to Feel the motion of your golf swing in a way you've never felt it before.

As Graham Nicholson recently said at one of our classes - "Usually when you go to a Golf School you're worried about pounding 1000's of golf balls and tearing up your hands. On our 2nd day at Golf Made Simple we hit maybe 80 to 90 golf balls and I got more out of that session than I could've dreamed of. And that translated into hitting the golf ball better than I ever have before. It was truly more about quality than quantity!"

To Stop A Slice Off The Tee - everything in your swing has to be moving together to produce a straight club face at impact. That's it! That's the answer! Yet, to get your body to do that, you need to learn to get everything moving together using drills like - The Symetrical Drill, Parallel Hands, Riding Hands, The Stepping Drill, The Swoosh Drill, The Belly Swing, The Modified Belly Swing (MBS), The Toliet Paper Drill, Eyes Closed, The Grass Cutter and Tire Drill, The Ace Bandage Drill, The Baseball Drill, etc, etc, etc.

Which Drill is best for you?

We won't know till we work with you to see which fits your Golf Swing. But you can be assured that these Drills will give you a feel for your Golf Swing - and that is critical because 7 out of 10 Golfers can't feel their golf swing and 9 out of 10 Golfers don't know what they should be feeling. Yet, although most Golfers are having trouble feeling their swing, all the Golf Instruction you hear about is trying to get the club in this Position or that Position. Getting the club in certain Positions is not about Feel - it's more about giving you more to think about on every golf swing and turning you into a Robot over the golf ball. Who wants more to think about when you're hitting off the 1st Tee with 16-other Golfers watching you?

The Golf Tips that you're hearing from the Monkeys (other Golfers and Golf Professionals) are all Compensations to try to fix other Compensations you've developed because you were told to use those Compensations to fix other Compensations. So pretty soon there is no way you can have Confidence in your Golf Swing when you have 52-Compensations To Stop Your Slice on your mind everytime you walk-up to the Tee to hit your Driver. Why is it that Kids have the smoothest, best looking swings in the world? What do you think they're thinking about on every golf swing? Probably - "I hope that Adult doesn't come over here and try to teach me what they're struggling to do!"

The Kids are Feeling their golf swings and are truly having Fun and hitting the ball more Consistent than you are because they're just swinging the club. The average Golfer isn't happy with their Golf swing and they get less happy everytime they go to the Driving Range to practice because they're practicing Positions as opposed to Feeling their swing!

I'd believe the Kid that says "A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at School!"

9 out of 10 Golfers aren't happy with their Golf Game - yet you say "A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at work!" Man, your job must really stink! Yet, those 9 out of 10 Golfers that aren't happy with their Golf Game continue to use Golf Tips (or I should say "Theories and Assumptions" that are really nothing more than Compensations) to improve your game. Please realize that all those Golf Tips that you've tried in the past and might try in the future aren't going to just suddenly leave your swing when you realize they didn't work. Like it or not, those Swing Tips are etched in your golf swing forever - even after you say you're not going to think about that Tip anymore - that swing thought will be there forever. Your swing is made up of everything you've thought of in the past - even the things you tried during just one practice session in the past.

So basically your swing is made up of one Compensating Manuever piled on top of another and another and another.

And the good news is that when all those Compensations work together - you hit a good golf shot. Yet, when they're not working - you hit Inconsistent shots. So my question to you is - "Are your Compensations usually working together to produce Consistent shots?

Part 2 - What causes a Slice? For a Righty - Side Spin to the right. For a Lefty - Side Spin to the left.

What causes a Golfer to say I need to read an article that's going to give me 52-Reasons How To Stop A Slice? Listening to the Monkeys and so called Guru's handing Tip after Tip after Tip to you. Or should I say Compensation after Compensation after Compensation to you. And you know what Compensation equates to? Inconsistency! If you built your home like you built your golf swing - The Big Bad Wolf would be able to "Huff and Puff and blow your house down!" Though if you start with a solid foundation and continue to use that foundation to build your golf swing based on Feeling your swing, you won't have to rely on Golf Tips or should I say Compensations to stop your Slice.

It's not too late to get away from a swing that is built on Compensations! What Do You Think?

Regards,

Marc - Your Instructor for Life

The nationally recognized PGA professional, Marc Solomon and his staff, lead four person classes for a customized experience. Students can take 3, 5 and 7-day classes in St. Augustine, FL, Amelia Island, FL and Santa Barbara, CA. Their Instructor For Life program guarantees that each student can always contact their instructor for free customized advice, tips, drills and exercises - for life. It's Golf Made Simple.

For more information, or to read Golf Improvement Weekly (the world's most read golf improvement newsletter), please visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.GolfMadeSimple.com">http://www.GolfMadeSimple.com</a>

Valuable Tips For Golf

We learn a lot from just watching and observing the pros and by doing so it is easy to pick up valuable tips for golf that can help our own golf game.

And make no mistake about it, to pick the really valuable tips for golf from the professionals; you will need to be very observant and keen. Many times you will need to watch and listen keenly, if you are watching them on Television or arrive at the venue very early if you are watching the action live.

One of the things the pros never do is arrive late and find that their tee time has arrived and they hurriedly have to take their positions.

Such a situation means that the golfer starts the game with stiff muscles and also having not gotten a feel of the ball or the green before the start of the game.

Of all the tips for golf you will ever receive, this is the most critical because it helps you perform at your best. Your skills gained from hours of practice and all the other tips for golf in the world, will be of little use if you start a game without any sort of warm up.

Among the other important tips for golf you will get from professionals is that a warm up should involve first warming up your muscles and then stretching them, especially the golf-specific ones that you will strain during your golf swing.

Once the exercise part is done, you can then move on to the ball and hit 20 or 30 balls as you continue loosen up slowly. Start with a short iron and progress up the longer clubs. Try and see if you can get a feel for your swing.

Any amateur who tries out these tips for golf from the professionals will find that their game will improve dramatically and they will avoid sore muscles the next morning after a hard game the previous day.

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. Visit his new <a target="_new" href="http://www.performbettergolf.com">golf fitness ? golf training</a> site at Perform Better Golf.

Golf Swing Tips Will Not Work By Themselves

Golf swing tips are rampant! Golfers can't get enough of them. But are they working?or are they adding to the confusion and frustration of your game? Many qualified instructors will tell you to stay away from all the golf swing tips in the golf magazines.

Why?

Because it causes &quot;paralysis-by-analysis!&quot;

What I mean is you get on the course and you are thinking too much about your golf swing mechanics and not enough about getting the ball in the fairway, onto the green, and in the hole!

We also call this the &quot;62-point checklist&quot; .

I'm here to tell you that golf swing tips by themselves will NEVER work! I know?this is a very strong statement, but I feel very strong about this.

How many times have you received a tip from a golf instructor, golfing buddy or out of a magazine?only to try it and play worse?

Come on?be honest!

I can tell you right now that it's your BODY that won't allow you to apply this golf swing tip. Your brain knows what to do?and wants to do it, but your body CAN'T perform it!

Your heard it right here! Your BODY can't do it! This is the missing link to your best golf ever!

Work on the machine (you) and the golf swing tips or mechanics you so yearn to do will magically happen. I've seen it hundreds of times with the golfers I've worked with.

I have literally taken someone off the practice tee, given them a stretch and they step right up and nail the ball long and right in the middle of the range. They become instant believers!

There is no magical golf swing tip that's going to change your game!

Golf swing mechanics are critical, and the &quot;only&quot; way to achieve them is to reduce your own personal physical limitations. This is not an overnight fix, but one that will last the rest of your golfing career.

Wouldn't it be nice to step up to the tee and know without a doubt you're going to be the longest (and straightest) hitter in your foursome? How about shooting the lowest score and taking all the money?

This is a reality if?you work on your machine (body), 'off the course' to play better on the course.

Then... and only then will all those golf swing tips work!

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.

Gaining the Correct Golf Swing Plane

The golf swing plane is the direction that your golf club travels during your swing. This is a very important key to playing golf correctly and well. Imagine a sheet of glass that extends from the ball to over your shoulders. A correct swing plane will run a path parallel to the glass. To see if you are swinging correctly, you need to establish if you have a correct swing plane. Here are some swing plane golf tips.

One of the easiest ways to analyze your swing plane is have someone film you. This will enable you to analyze your swing plane to make sure it is flattened. Place a pencil across the television screen when analyzing to make sure you are parallel with the imaginary piece of glass from the ball to over your shoulders.

A swing trainer can also help you with your swing plane. It is a circular pipe device that is adjustable and custom built for each golfer. It is easy to use and it will help you to correct your swing plane with each swing.

A more high tech way to assist you in correcting your swing plane is a laser light that fits onto the end of the club handle. This light shows where the butt of the club is pointing to help you analyze your swing plane.

Don't try to force the club into the correct swing plane. It will take time and practice to develop the correct swing plane on a consistent basis. Try one of theses tips to analyze your swing plane and practice to make it a sound and correct one!

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.

Fitness For Golf Is The New Gold Standard

Golf fitness has never been considered as important to one's enjoyment and success in the sport as it is today. The erroneous concepts and opinions of old (golf is not a physical game? golfers don't need to worry about fitness or nutrition?) are dying away in favor of the realization that fitness is paramount to performing well and golfers simply play better when they're in better shape.

Today's golf experts realize that it is much more than Twain's &quot;good walk, spoiled&quot; assessment of the sport. Nearly every pro playing golf today works with a personal golf fitness trainer. Many of them are stationed in areas of the country where they can have easy and quick access. Many trainers make themselves available on a more consistent basis by traveling the tour with their players.

Go to any well known golf school and you'll find a fitness component factored into the daily regime. Long gone are lavish meals, late night snacks and over indulgence at restaurants on tour. Today's players are making healthier choices in their meals ? especially prior to playing.

Fitness for Golf is the new golf standard for tour playing professionals. Be sure to fitness and a regular golf exercise program as one of the weapons in your arsenal of competitive play.

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 ? Finding that Winning Grip and the Cures for Grip Related Problems

The correct grip is a key fundamental component of a golfer's game and is required to have a consistently good straight game, giving you the ability to shoot low scores with ease.

When the grip is faulty, poor shots often result along with an inconsistent and unreliable game. Therefore it is essential for your game that your grip is correct if you want to take your golf to the next level.

Firstly place the club in your left (opposite for lefthanders) hand, close your left hand around the grip as if you were shaking somebody's hand. Your thumb should be pointing down the grip, slightly to the right of centre.

Then bring in the right hand, firstly interlock the little finger of your right hand with the forefinger of your left hand. The underside of the grip should be placed on the joints of the second and third fingers of the right hand. Your right thumb should also be pointing down the grip, while your right palm should be facing towards the target with your left hand facing away from the target.

Two V's should be formed by the thumb and forefinger of each hand, these should both point somewhere between your right shoulder and eyes.

When holding the club, the club must be held firmly but with the minimum of effort. Having the correct grip allows your hands to work freely with the utmost control while a poor grip leads to a lack of club head control.

Key Points:

? Your arms and hands are relaxed.

? Your left forefinger is linked with the little finger of right hand, 2 or 3 knuckles should be visible.

? The V's created by the forefinger and thumb on each hand should point be to between your right shoulder and eyes. These V's should be pretty much parallel to each other.

? The grip should be comfortable yet held firmly with little effort, it is vital that the club head does not open or close on impact.

To test that you have a good grip, it should feel as though both your hands work together as if one. When you lift the club and move it, your hands should feel comfortable and secure.

Problems and cures for slightly faulty grips: You may find that you are slicing the ball; this could be due to a problem with your grip, (although it may be due to other reasons mentioned in my other article that aims to solve the slice) try rotating your grip slightly clockwise around the grip; also try holding the club more in the palm of your left hand.

If you have problems with hooking the ball, make a conscious effort to feel the ends of the fingers on your right hand pushing upwards through impact with the ball. This should help prevent you from closing the clubface on impact and so helps prevent you from hooking the ball.

Discover amazing free golf tips and secrets to help you take your game to the next level and shave a minimum of five shots off your best round. Visit: <a target="_new" href="http://golf-tipsandsecrets.blogspot.com">http://golf-tipsandsecrets.blogspot.com</a>

3 Ways To Maximize On The Effectiveness Of A Golf Instruction Video

Golf instruction videos featuring techniques and tips from leading world class players are very common these days.

Still there are very few people who can claim to have had their games improved by a golf instruction video. So here are three tips to help you ensure that you reap maximum fruits from every golf instruction video that you ever get to watch.

1) Watch the golf instruction video several times

Some people watch golf instruction videos to try and get a single Magic formula that will revolutionize their game. They do not realize that the valuable nuggets in these videos are hidden in the many small things you need to do which add up to a great improvement in your game.

This is why it is very important to watch the video several times. At least twice.

2) Get webcam shots of yourself playing and compare your posture and positioning to what you see in the golf instruction video

It may not be very easy to tell what is wrong with your golf swing for example or how to correct it without taking a very close look at your game. The best way to do this is to get somebody else to take webcam shots of you on the course as you play. When you watch these alongside the golf instruction videos, it will be very easy for you to tell where your problem areas are and what you need to do to correct them.

3) Do golf-specific exercises to condition your body and muscles

Thirdly you will need your body and the relevant muscles to co-operate with our mind as you try to implement what you have seen on the golf instruction video.

One of the most effective ways of doing this is by getting involved in a golf-specific exercise program to tone and strengthen all the 'golf muscles' in your body. This way, they'll be nothing to stop you from reaping maximum benefits from every golf instruction video you watch.

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Check out his new <a target="_new" href="http://www.performbettergolf.com">golf fitness ? golf training</a> site at Perform Better Golf.

What Hinders You From Hitting Long Drives Will Shock You

Hitting long golf drives is the desire of every golfer when they are on the course.

Sadly many fail to achieve this objective most of the time and the best game in the world which you are supposed to enjoy enormously, instead ends up being a very frustrating experience.

Yet hitting long golf drives need not be so difficult to achieve. Actually the greatest hindrance to your hitting long golf drives is you.

You are the greatest hindrance to your hitting long golf drives, because if you are like most golfers, you are always trying to hit the ball as hard as you possibly can. In a pure physics situation this would be the correct approach except that in golf there are some variables that work together to dramatically change the situation.

To start with, every golf club is cleverly designed and crafted to hit the ball over a certain distance. So the best advice to start with is to trust the club you are using for hitting long golf drives to do its' job, because it is designed to do just that. All you have to do is make sure that the club connects the ball at the correct angle to achieve the distance you desire. That is the physics of a golfer. Of course this means that your golf swing technique has to be correct and effective.

The second variable that changes things is your body. If your muscles are not conditioned and prepared for hitting long golf drives then it is unlikely that you will get the results you want no matter how hard you try to hit the ball.

In a way it is similar to lifting weights. If you have not trained to lift a certain heavy weight, then no matter how hard you try, it is unlikely that you will be able to lift it. You will need to go back to the gym and exercise and prepare by gradually lifting heavier and heavier weights until you reach the particular weight that you desire to lift. It is exactly the same when it comes to hitting long golf drives.

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. Visit his new <a target="_new" href="http://www.performbettergolf.com">golf fitness</a> site at Perform Better Golf.

3 Simple Golf Tips To Quickly Improve Your Distance

Every golfer wants to know the secret golf tip to improve their distance. The secret, is there is NO secret. It's common sense, and treating golf like a sport. The golf swing is not for the weak and feeble anymore.

Any golf tips you hear to improve distance should somehow be directly or indirectly related to the physical side of the golf swing. I mean?don't you think the swing puts a tremendous amount of pressure on your body, especially your lower back?

To alleviate this pain and quickly improve your distance takes strength and stretching, specific to your body and your golf swing.

So the quick fixes (band aides) you hear in all the magazines and on the golf channel are short-term fixes. You won't be able to consistently duplicate it until you improve your physical limitations.

So let's get to these simple, yet valuable tips.

Tip #1:

Perform a dynamic warm-up prior to the first tee. Don't ever skip it. It is more important than hitting balls before you play. How many times do you see a professional athlete go on the field and start playing? Never. That's my point.

A Simple Warm-Up could be some arm circles, toe touches, squats with your club, and standing twists holding the club out in front of you chest high.

That's it! Simple yet very effective to prepare your body for that LONG drive on the first tee.

Tip #2

Stretching on the course will keep your body nice and loose to make that FULL backswing, generating high clubhead speed and consistently LONG drives. There are just a few KEY stretches specific to your swing, that can keep your body relaxed for 18 holes.

One stretch I'll tell you is the backswing/shoulder stretch. It's a very simple stretch that will maintain a full and fluid backswing.

All you do is get in your golf posture, with your arms hanging naturally in front of you. For a right-handed golfer, you would take your right hand underneath your left, so the back of both hands are touching each other.

Now gently apply pressure from the back of your right hand against your left and pull your upper body all the way in your backswing and hold. Hold it for 15 seconds and repeat once more.

This stretch should be done on almost every hole to get the most out of it.

Tip #3

Improve your core strength and rotational speed. This one is done &quot;off the course&quot;, and can even be done in your home with minimal equipment. Now this is just one tip (exercise) of many you can do to dramatically explode your drives &quot;on the course&quot;.

Since the golf swing is a turn back and a turn through, it is rotational in nature. Then why wouldn't you do many exercises to improve your rotational strength and flexibility?

If you're serious about your game, you will now!

One simple golf exercise is the Seated Twist with a dumbbell. It's very easy and can be done with a 5 or 8 pound dumbbell.

While sitting on the ground, grab a single dumbbell with both hands and hold it out in front of you.

Now lean back putting tension on the abs. Your legs will be bent at a 90 degree angle in the knee, and together.

Start rotationg side to side, only with your upper body. Try keeping your lower body as stable as possible.

You will do 3 sets of 20 repetitions to get the full benefit of the exercise. Again, this is just ONE exercise of many that will strengthen your rotational muscles of your core.

I've just showed you 3 quick and easy golf tips to dramatically increase your distance. Now go out and make it happen!

Mike Pedersen is a respected golf fitness expert, and the author of the <a target="_new" href="http://www.ultimategolffitnessguide.com">Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide</a>, 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>

Golf Humor Poetry:- Ode To The Fanatical Golfer. (Part Two)

He's not eager to reveal his handicap; Around the truth he would often tap. They told him his game was taking a nap; That it never showed up; it needed a map!

Of his golf apparel he was Oh so proud! But people thought it was just too 'loud'. Often suggesting it needed a shroud; This caused a fight; a rolling dust cloud!

To his heart, golf was the key. It was on the green his soul felt free. He could hardly await the time for 'tee'; But club dues must be paid; this ride's got a fee.

Once in a blue moon he made a birdey; Though he knew much about golf (a little nerdy). About to tee off- his feet stood sturdy; But only took up a divot--brown and verde.

It didn't take long for his eyes to in-take; The path of the ball; the flight it must make. "Easy!", he thought. "This is gonna be cake!" But the fish all braced for it's entry into the lake.

In secret, the rules he would often bend; From his mind, a rationalization he would lend. To him, the means justified the end; Like the fiercest warrior, his handicap must he defend.

Into his 'golf life', sand traps would rain; Bogeys rolled in like some ghastly train. Cancelling out any birdeys he'd gained; "Another golf game", he sighed. "Oh, the pain!"

Shuffling into the house, his face fell. It tapered. His wife smirked, "You lost again, didn't you?" And imagined the caper. With an outstretched hand that 'said', "Pay her!"; Into her purse his $20 went. It vanished like a vapor!

"No dinner for me, thanks. I'm heading in early." "Awww, it's just a game," she said. "No need to be surley." "I'm not", he said. "I need to rise early." "Suuurrre!", she said. "You and the proverbial 'birdy'."

He took a shower to wash away the day; It didn't help much. That golf game would 'stay'. His spirits were lifted, though, when he thought, "But hey!" And danced around saying, "Tomorrow's another 'golf day'!"

Copyright 2005 by Kevin D. Rolle. All rights reserved.

My name is Kevin D. Rolle, and I have a website called <a target="_new" href="http://www.golf-humor-asylum.com">http://www.golf-humor-asylum.com</a> which is dedicated to the humorous aspects of golf through a fresh, new golf comic strip called, "Divott and the Caddie Chronicles," and my commentary. Thanks.

How Important Is A Golf Fitness Program

A golf fitness program can make the difference between you optimizing your golf potential or playing the same frustrating golf you may be used to playing.

It's no secret that the body swings the club and plays the game?so why wouldn't you consider a golf fitness program to play your best?

A golf fitness program consists of strength, flexibility, endurance and even nutrition. But the big difference is making your golf fitness program as golf-specific as you can.

How do you do that?

First off?just take a look at the position your body is in during the golf swing. It's &quot;on your feet&quot; and in golf posture (bent at the waste, knees flexed, upper back fairly straight, ankles flexed, etc?).

Can you now see how any &quot;physical limitation&quot; you have will dramatically affect your ability to make a sound, repeatable golf swing?

So the answer is definitely starting a golf fitness program. It's not as intimidating as you may think. It doesn't take going to a gym. It doesn't involve lifting heavy weights and really killing yourself. It doesn't involve 2 hours every day of the week either.

A golf fitness program can be as simple as using a pair of hand weights (dumbbells), an exercise ball and exercise tubing. All very inexpensive, portable and perfect for your home or even your office.

You can take your exercise tubing, attach it to a door and make downswings every day of the week. This is a great exercise to sneak in at your office that will have a direct impact on the power you produce through impact.

Designing a &quot;complete golf fitness program&quot; will take a little more creativity. I would strongly recommend pursuing a qualified golf fitness trainer to put together a complete golf fitness program that addresses your specific physical limitations.

You don't want to waste your time on exercises and stretches you don't need to do. You want to focus on a balanced golf fitness program that will improve your weaknesses.

You will be amazed how quickly your game will turn around. I've worked with golfers who have seen improvements in a matter of days! Literally! Their fitness had declined so much they couldn't even get the ball airborne off the tee and within days were hitting it dozens of yards further.

What a joy to hear stories like that!

You too can see some huge improvements if you start your golf fitness program right away!

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. For more information on Mike's golf fitness programs, visit his new <a target="_new" href="http://www.performbettergolf.com">golf fitness</a> site at Perform Better Golf.

The Ultimate Swing Training Program

Why isn't your golf swing improving? Have you ever had your golf swing analysed? That's not just having a golf professional look at your swing but check out your golf swing plane, posture, your spine angle, balance and general biomechanics. If you haven't you are not having a true swing analysis done.

You understand the basics... how to hold the club, where to stand, but things go wrong from there. The reason your golf swing goes astray when you take your club back is because your biomechanics are faulty. For example, if you have a functional short leg on your left side, when you take your stance your hips will rotate resulting in an open stance. You might think that you are square to the target line, but you are not.

With your poor biomechanics the club is being forced into an out-to-in swing so you will hit the ball with a clockwise spine. Correcting your hip and spine angle will square the club face at impact so you can hit the ball with an anti-clockwise spin. The hips and shoulders must return to a square position this will not only cure your slice but you allow distance from more power being generated from the correct body turn and the square club face. If your hips are rotated you will not be able to align your feet, hips and shoulders square to the target. If your posture is corrected your muscles will groove your new swing so you will naturally return to a stance with a square club face. Also if your hips are rotated your centre of gravity will not be right this will force your shoulders to turn too quickly with an open stance due to a poor hip rotation the body will be in front of the ball. If your spine angle is wrong you will not setup with your head behind the ball you will begin your downswing before you have complete your back swing with your arms.

Every golf swing fault can be analysed this way. That's why your golf swing is not improving. You are not addressing your main piece of golf equipment...YOUR BODY...and how it affects your golf swing. This is why you have difficulty repeating a good shot. Your biomechanics aren't grooved to a good swing. Muscle memory is going to return you to a poor posture unless it is retrained. Your golf professional is telling you to have good balance, keep good posture and maintain your spine angle throughout the shot. But how can you maintain your golf swing if your body won't allow it? You need your golf swing analysed from a biomechanical point of view to determine how your posture and muscle imbalances are affecting your swing.

So I broke the golf swing down from a purely biomechanical view. How does your posture affect your swing? Can it cause you to hook, slice, hit the ball fat or thin etc? The answer was yes. Because as your posture changes so does your swing plane. Then I looked at the variations in posture. Can they relate to swing faults? ...Yes, they are definitely related to every swing fault. So I came up with a basic equation. Muscle imbalance = poor posture = poor swing. I looked at every posture and muscle imbalance and came up with a simple formula to analyse these faults related to a swing fault. So this is how Get Fit to Golf and the ChiroFit Program was born. If you can maintain a constant posture and spine angle through a shot you will be able to repeat the same swing and return the club face square to the target line. I also looked at well know golf champions past and present, from Ben Hogan, Jack Nickalus, Greg Norman, Tiger Woods etc. Even though they have variations in their swings at first glance, if you break their golf swing down they all have something in common. At the impact zone they have maintained good posture, spine angle and balance, and they are able to repeat this. Tiger woods is a good example. When he first came on the golf scene he had the best posture of any golfer I had seen.

If you want to improve your golf game, your golf swing training and analysis should have a physical component. Have your golf swing analysed from a biomechanical standard and then fit it to your game. This is the basis to Get Fit to Golf. An easy to access online assessment process which will highlight and analyse your golf swing faults and then you can download a tailor-made easy to use program all done online. All it takes is 30 minutes of posture balancing three times a week to dramatically change your golf swing and improve your game for life.

Ronald Burke is the owner of <a target="_new" href="http://www.getfittogolf.com">Get Fit to Golf</a> which is a premier site for Golf information and membership programs. for more information, go to <a target="_new" href="http://www.getfittogolf.com">http://www.getfittogolf.com</a>

Why Golf Tips Work Better For The Woman Golfer

Gone are the days when a woman would feel intimidated standing on the same golf course to receive a golf tip side by side with a man. That's because golf exercise programs have proven that anybody can build enough golf strength to perform extremely well on the course.

In fact on many occasions golf tips have worked better for a woman than they have for a male golfer. One of the reasons for this is that male golfers frequently believe that hitting the ball further is a question of applying more brute force.

ON the other hand women golfers have been carefully exercising and building their golf strength (which is a very different thing from trying to apply brute force with unexercised muscles).

The results have been nothing short of amazing. Many male golfers fail to realize that trying to hit a golf ball with all your strength does not work because of several reasons.

The first is that hitting a golf ball has a lot more to do with physics than trying to use strength. You will notice that every golf club is cleverly designed to help the golfer achieve various different distances when they hit the ball.

So technique is always much more important. Then there is the fact that real power comes from properly exercised muscles that are fully conditioned to hit a golf ball as far as possible.

This is the single most important golf tip that has totally transformed the golf game for a woman. It means by getting involved in weight training, as well as stretch exercises that are golf specific, any woman golfer can perform as well as a man and even better in certain instances.

This golf tip that every woman golfer should take note of has opened lady's golf to a whole lot of new possibilities and levels of performances.

IT means that for the first time many lady golfers are getting to thoroughly enjoy the game and it is the turn of male golfers, especially those who disregard exercise, to start feeling intimidated.

This is really the golf tip for a woman of the new millennium.

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 fitness</a> site - Perform Better Golf.

Golf Clubs - Your Golf Putting - Use These Putting Practice Tips

To begin a golf game, your golf practice game or your golf putting practice; study the art of keeping your eye on the golf ball. It seems to be just natural to let your eyes follow the backswing. To correct this you might turn the golf ball until the brand is on top. Then just keep your eyes on that.

When putting, think of the golf swing as a pendulum and as you move through this area, strike the golf ball with the sweet spot only.

How do you find the sweet spot? Hold your putter using the thumb and forefinger. You are dangling it now and letting it swing.

With the other forefinger tap the putter blade until the putter head rebounds straight back in perfect alignment. That is the sweet spot for this putter. Some players mark it.

To judge the distance of the backswing try this exercise. Use your right big toe as an anchor and take the putter back to your right big toe.

Now, being consistent with your speed accelerate the club head through the ball and watch how far the ball rolls. You might try this in both wet and dry conditions. This gives you the ability to gauge from there how long the backswing should be for the putt you are facing.

If your distance is shorter, adjust then, for how far inside the right big toe your swing should be. Adjust outside the toe for the longer putt. Get a feel for this and you will know how far to take the putter back.

Again, it is a feeling. Accelerate through the ball and make sure your follow through is longer than your backswing. Concentrate on feeling the putter accelerate through the short putts.

In summary; You are trying consciously to get a feel for the art in your golf game. You will succeed. It just takes practice.

Author Tom Downward can be reached at this email address; <a href="mailto:info@golfequipmentworld.com">info@golfequipmentworld.com</a> This article courtesy of <a target="_new" href="http://www.golfequipmentworld.com">http://www.golfequipmentworld.com</a>

You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact. We would appreciate a courtesy email to let us know where you have placed this article.

What Hinders You From Hitting Long Drives Will Shock You

Hitting long golf drives is the desire of every golfer when they are on the course.

Sadly many fail to achieve this objective most of the time and the best game in the world which you are supposed to enjoy enormously, instead ends up being a very frustrating experience.

Yet hitting long golf drives need not be so difficult to achieve. Actually the greatest hindrance to your hitting long golf drives is you.

You are the greatest hindrance to your hitting long golf drives, because if you are like most golfers, you are always trying to hit the ball as hard as you possibly can. In a pure physics situation this would be the correct approach except that in golf there are some variables that work together to dramatically change the situation.

To start with, every golf club is cleverly designed and crafted to hit the ball over a certain distance. So the best advice to start with is to trust the club you are using for hitting long golf drives to do its' job, because it is designed to do just that. All you have to do is make sure that the club connects the ball at the correct angle to achieve the distance you desire. That is the physics of a golfer. Of course this means that your golf swing technique has to be correct and effective.

The second variable that changes things is your body. If your muscles are not conditioned and prepared for hitting long golf drives then it is unlikely that you will get the results you want no matter how hard you try to hit the ball.

In a way it is similar to lifting weights. If you have not trained to lift a certain heavy weight, then no matter how hard you try, it is unlikely that you will be able to lift it. You will need to go back to the gym and exercise and prepare by gradually lifting heavier and heavier weights until you reach the particular weight that you desire to lift. It is exactly the same when it comes to hitting long golf drives.

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. Visit his new <a target="_new" href="http://www.performbettergolf.com">golf fitness</a> site at Perform Better Golf.

A Golf Fitness Exercise Program Will End Your Frustration On The Course

Even as you read this article, golf fitness exercise programs continue to positively revolutionize the games of many golfers around the country and indeed around the world. A golf fitness exercise program plays a major role in helping many golfers achieve consistent and good results on the course with their swing.

Still many golfers are yet to fully appreciate the potential of a golf fitness exercise program and many are not aware of the fact that they usually have a huge impact on a golfer's game.

A golf fitness exercise program will tend to concentrate on the muscles and parts of the body used when playing golf and especially during the golf swing. A useful golf fitness exercise program will be able to help any golf attain more flexibility as well as strength on the course. It is important to remember that most of the body is used for a golf swing.

Right from the feet to the knees, hamstring and hip, the lower part of the body is critical to the golf swing. Then there are the more obvious participants in the body like the arms and upper body and neck.

A golf fitness exercise program does a significant job of ensuring that most of these muscles are ready for the strain that golf usually exerts on them.

Usually a golf fitness exercise program combines dynamic strength and flexibility exercises, as well as stabilization and core strength. Most of these exercises can be done with simple handweights (dumbbells) and exercise tubing.

No gym required!

Too many golfers go to the gym, plop down on a machine and hope their game will get better. It usually doesn't. You've always got to keep the golf swing mechanics in mind when doing a golf fitness exercise program.

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 fitness training</a> site - Perform Better Golf.

Sciatica Exercises Alleviate Discomfort For Golfers

If you are fortunate enough to have never experienced sciatica, you may be wondering what it is. The sciatic nerves run from your lower back down each of your legs. They are the largest nerves in the body, growing to more than a half inch in diameter. Irritation or compression of these nerves, which can range from a mild tingly pain to excruciating pain that is debilitating, is referred to as sciatica. Many golfers experience lower back problems, and often this is due to sciatica.

If you experience sciatica, a few days of bed rest or lying on the couch is not the answer. Inactivity actually aggravates the problem. Weak or inflexible muscles can cause or intensify sciatica, so it is important to keep your back and abdominal muscles in good shape. While you don't need to spend hours at the gym, some strengthening and stretching of these muscles can provide a lot of good and get you back out on the golf course.

Before you begin an exercise program to treat sciatic pain, it is important to understand what is causing the pain. Usually this will need to be diagnosed by a medical professional. For example, if you have a herniated disc your pain is being caused by disc material bulging out and applying pressure on your nerve, which in turn irritates or compresses your sciatic nerve(s). If this is the problem in your case, stretching your back can be helpful. You can do this while lying on the floor on your stomach and raising your torso up off the floor.

If, however, your sciatic is caused by spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the nerve's passageway, then different exercises will be more useful in alleviating your pain. These include stretching your back by kneeling and bending your head toward the floor with your arms stretched in front of you. Also try lying on your back and gently pulling your knees to your chest for relief of your pain. The right exercises can alleviate your discomfort and help you better enjoy your golf game.

As with many lower back problems, a good preventative measure is to maintain good posture, stay within a healthy weight range, and exercise regularly. An appropriate fitness routine can help keep you pain-free while playing golf. The sciatic nerves are especially prone to flare up when you have weak muscles, poor posture or are overweight. Keeping your back in good shape before you have problems goes a long way in reducing your likelihood of future back pain. Whenever you experience pain or discomfort, you should always seek out the diagnosis of a physician so appropriate precautions and a diagnosis can be made for corrective strategies.

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 Swing Technique And How To Improve It

There are two approaches to achieving a better golf swing. There is improving your physical capabilities?and improving your golf swing technique.

How many times has your teaching pro recommended a golf swing technique change and you couldn't do it no matter how many balls you hit? It's because you didn't have the &quot;physical capability&quot; to successfully make the change and repeat it.

For example, if you didn't have adequate core strength and flexibility, you would be unable to create and maintain the &quot;x-factor&quot;, or the separation between the hip rotation and shoulder rotation, therefore losing force and ultimately distance.

But by implementing simple, golf exercises?it is possible to develop the ability to execute these key actions, which result in greater clubhead speed, force and distance.

Identifying your weak points, and doing golf-specific exercises to replicate the specific action will allow you to achieve the specific golf swing technique change effectively.

I've seen some very simple, yet effective golf exercises and stretches that when implemented and done consistently can result in substantial increases in driving distance and accuracy.

Creating specific exercises related to your teaching pros golf swing technique recommendations can give you the quickest results?that are lasting.

Suffice it to say?the development of your physical abilities?especially strength and flexibility?plays a critical role in not only improving your golf swing technique?but in hitting the ball farther and much straighter.

The bottom line?your golf swing technique is dictated by your physical capabilities.

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 tips</a> site - Perform Better Golf.

Golf Course History - You Could Play On The Worlds Oldest Golf Course

The oldest golf course in the world...

If I asked you where the oldest golf course in the world was what would you say? Scotland ? yes, good guess so far. But where in Scotland?

When pressed most golfers eventually say St Andrews, but they're wrong. Golf was played at Musselburgh near Edinburgh at least ten years before any recorded games at St Andrews. Local records suggest that golf was played on the links land near the shore at Musselburgh from around the year 1567.

The &quot;old course&quot; in Musselburgh is still there today and retains much of its original layout. It has nine holes and the golf course can be played by all comers. Seven of the old course holes were laid out before 1830 (and probably much earlier) and the two &quot;new holes&quot; were added in the mid 1800's.

The British Open golf tournament was held at Musselburgh on five occasions between 1874 and 1889 and the first ever golf competition for women was played on the old course in 1811. The club members still compete for the Old Club Cup, which dates back to 1774.

Even the holes in the greens are significant at Musselburgh. In 1829 the members decided to buy a mechanical device from a local blacksmith to cut the holes on the green. By chance he made it with a diameter of exactly four and a half inches. Golf holes at the time could be any size that the members wanted ? there was no rule about it. In 1893 the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St Andrews ? who by this time wrote the rules of golf for the game worldwide ? decided that all golf holes should be the same size as the ones at Musselburgh old course and the decision has remained unchanged to this day. Just measure the cup size on your local golf course if you don't believe me.

For a golf course of such historical importance, access is remarkably easy. You can simply pay and play if you wish and there is a small shop selling special souvenirs. Memberships are available for both local and overseas members ? the latter might make a particularly unusual golf gift. Each overseas member receives a welcome pack with a history of the club, a special bag tag, special golf balls and tees and is welcome to join in any competitions if they come for a holiday in Scotland.

This truly is golf at it's most authentic and in its most historical setting. Come try it ? you will really feel the history of the place.

Gary Hill lives and works in central Scotland. His website has lots of information on <a target="_new" href="http://www.vacation2europe.com">travel in Europe</a> and about golf in Scotland or <a target="_new" href="http://www.vacation2europe.com/ireland-golf-vacation.html">Ireland golf vacations</a>

Gary also contributes to a medical website on the theme of <a target="_new" href="http://www.cameronmedical.com">whiplash injury</a>

What Should I Know About Biomechanics of the Golf Swing?

If you've read some of my articles in the past, we focused a lot on training the body to help you provide more power, consistency and accuracy to your golf swing.

Today, we are going to get a little more scientific. So hang with me.

I am going to explain the biomechanics of golf. Biomechanics is the study of human movement.

Using this definition in golf, it is essentially studying how the body moves when swinging a golf club. Biomechanics is the study what the skeleton, muscles, and nerves of the body do when hitting a golf ball. There are actually folks out there that make a living studying these movements, they are called Biomechanists'. And the great thing about golf is that there have been a ton of scientific studies on the golf swing. In addition, this research has allowed biomechanists to create a model of the &quot;optimal&quot; swing in the sport of golf.

All of this research has been beneficial to the golf industry. It has provided club manufacturers, swing coaches, trainers, and players with an abundant amount of knowledge to improve the game in many areas.

Biomechanics of the Golf Swing Stage by Stage

Most biomechanists break the golf swing down into phases.

We will talk about the swing into the following phases: 1) address, 2) back swing, 3) transition, 4) down swing, 4) contact, 5) follow through, 6) finish. I will also relate what the body does during each of these phases, which muscles are active, and any additional information applicable to biomechanical study of the golf swing.

The golf swing begins in the address stage. The address stage is the position that the golfer places their body in to begin the swing. According to Glenn Fleisig MD, the address position is a functional body position which includes the proper grip and body position. A balanced, &quot;athletic&quot; address position, which is consistent swing to swing, will provide the golfer with the correct starting position for the swing. Inconsistency in either how the body is set up or with the grip leads to inconsistency on shot to shot. The body in terms of muscle activity is fairly low at address. The muscles of the body are supporting the body in a specific anatomical position and preparing it to swing a club.

The back swing (take away) is when the body begins to move the club. The back swing is the portion of the swing that places the body in the correct position to begin the downswing. During the entire back swing the body begins the recruitment of energy that will be transitioned at the top of the back swing towards the ball. Key points from a biomechanical analysis of the back swing are: as the club moves backwards shear force is applied to anterior portion of the right foot, at the same time a posterior shear force is applied to the left foot (Fleisig, Biomechanics of Golf). This is the beginning of torque development in the body that will be transitioned into the club head at impact. Rotation of the knees, hips, spine, and shoulders continues during the back swing creating additional torque to be translated into the club head in later stages of the swing. The important point to remember in the back swing is that the entire rotation of these body parts occurs around an imaginary axis of the body. EMG activity is moderate during this stage of the swing as a result that the body during this portion of the swing is essentially creating/storing energy that will be released towards the end of the swing.

The completion of the back swing is what is termed the &quot;transition&quot; stage of the swing. The transition point of the swing is where the body finishes its backward movement and begins the forward movement of the swing. The best reference point of when the transition stage of the swing begins is when weight shift onto the inside of the right foot (right-handed golfer) is completed and movement back towards the left foot begins. The transition in terms of a time frame is very short and is completed when weight transfer begins to move forward, and the club completes its movement backwards. Research states that the transition of the swing is where additional elastic energy is stored within the body. This is a result of the lower body moving forward and the upper body still &quot;coiling&quot; backward. Studies show that at the completion of the transition (top of the back swing) the hips are closed to approximately 45 degrees and the shoulders are closed to about 100 degrees (Fleisig, Biomechanics of Golf).

After completion of the transition, the down swing into impact begins. Weight shift continues during the down swing. The generation of torque is created in the lower body and then transitioned up through the body into the club and eventually the club head. According to Fleisig, the majority of torque in the swing is generated by the lower body muscle groups of the glutes, hamstrings, quads, and core region (low back, abdominals, obliques). The torque created in the lower body creates acceleration in the upper body as energy is transferred into the club head. EMG studies indicate that there is moderate activity of the pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, and rotator cuff muscles (Geisler, Kinesiology of the Full Golf Swing) during the downswing. The downswing is complete at the point in which impact occurs with the golf ball.

Impact with the ball occurs for approximately half a milli-second (Fleisig, Biomechanics of Golf). The purpose of impact is to hit the ball in the correct direction with the chosen amount of force by the golfer. At impact the weight transfer is complete. Shear force from both feet are towards the intended target. Research indicates that at impact the left foot (right-handed golfer) is supporting 80% to 95% of the golfer's weight (Fleisig, Biomechanics of Golf). Impact again occurs for a very short amount of time (.0005 seconds). Impact is the point at which the potential energy created by the body during the back swing, transition, and down swing is transferred into the club and club head. The potential energy created by the body is then transferred into kinetic energy as club head comes into contact with the ball.

After contact, the impact stage of the swing is complete and the follow through stage begins. The follow through is essentially the deceleration of the body after contact with the ball has been made. This is completed through the body rotating to a completion point where the club head is behind the golfer. Deceleration by the body occurs as a result of the absorption of energy back up through the kinetic chain of the body. Follow through is where the body slows itself back down and dissipates all the kinetic energy create by it, which was not delivered into the ball.

Summary

As you can see, the golf swing is directly connected to the body. And it is the body that generates, directs, and delivers energy to the golf ball. Limitations in the body in terms of flexibility, muscular strength, endurance, or power can create limitations in the swing from a biomechanical perspective. In addition, mechanical inefficiencies in the swing itself limit the potential and kinetic energy outputs of the body. For more information on how to improve your golf game please visit our website www.bioforcegolf.com.

References
1. Fleisig, Glenn MS: &quot;The Biomechanics of Golf&quot;
2. Geisler, Paul MA: &quot;The Kinesiology of the Full Golf Swing&quot;

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website <a target="_new" href="http://www.bioforcegolf.com">http://www.bioforcegolf.com</a>

Confusion Feeds the Golf Industry

The policeman drops his paycheck on the kitchen table so his wife can go shopping and pay their bills. They are able to do this because somewhere down the line someone killed, raped, or robbed someone. An unnamed X (rated) President of the United States can have pizza and frollick with a starry eyed intern in the White House because you are paying the rent.

Here's a news flash for you! If you have been in a coma or have spent the last half century on Neptune, you should know that the golf industry is now a multibillion dollar a year business. What did we learn in paragraph one? Somewhere down the line someone supports, funds, feeds or makes possible the growth and maintenance of such a insatiable glutton. How did IT get so humungous? Sit here on the Anti-Pro's knee and lets toss some ideas around in our craniums.

This hungry monster needs a lot of food (money). The dope addict needs a fix. Somewhere there is a need. And, in the golf industry, that need is cleverly disguised as confusion. Confuse the golfer and he will be back for more. He doesn't want anyone to think he is stupid or no talent, so he will convince himself that maybe he just didn't get it the first time, or second, or...?

A reader sends along this interesting observation: "My experience has been that the overwhelming majority, 85-plus percent unduly complicate the golf swing. I have spent thousands of dollars to come to this conclusion. I often wonder if it is a deliberate attempt to keep one in golfing no-mans land." Thanks, Chip!

Has the beast made a puppet out of us? Send the golfer a new magazine and watch him tear into it to find the "latest tip." Try it. Doesn't work? No problem, they will send you another next month that will give you just the opposite advice. The golf pro can't tell you the golf swing is simple. He could explain it ALL in one lesson, but if he did and

IF the golf mags didn't have new "bogus"tips and the book writers didn't have a batch of golfer wanabees drooling at the thought of getting better.....They would all die an

excruciating death from starvation. They CAN"T tell the truth...It would be Suicide.

AND that $500 driver? If your swing STINKS, it will NOT make any difference. It looks pretty goofy to stand up on the first tee with a $500 club and slice it into a subdivision.

Lets build the golf swing around this premise. A 3,4,5 year old watches a good golf swing, copies it and has a beautiful swing. No hi-tech, no books, no freeze frame analysis, no series of golf lessons. Watch Daddy walk....walk. Watch Mommy walk....walk. This is an A....write an A....this is a B.

There are thousands of languages here on Earth and the part of the brain that runs motor skills (your golf swing) does not understand one of them! If you continue to swallow the grub the golf industry is dishing out, get real comfy and enjoy your stay in................

.......No Man's Land!

About The Author

Introduced to golf in 1948 at age 8, Jim McLellan quickly became known as the "Whiz Kid" with an incredible swing and a gifted ability to instruct. At age 15, students came to him at his family owned golf course from four surrounding states for lessons. Jim was consistently breaking par, owned 2 course records and was "the skinny kid" who could drive the ball 300+ yards.

Jim attended Arizona State University at Tempe on a golf scholarship and graduated from the PGA Golf School in Long Beach California in 1960.

You can learn more about Jim's simple approach to golf by going to <a href="http://www.mcgolf.com" target="_new">www.mcgolf.com</a>

<a href="mailto:ap@theantipro.com">ap@theantipro.com</a>

Do You Have the Confidence to Play Competitive Golf?

Competitive golfers are always in search of the elusive characteristic called confidence. For some, they had it and now have &quot;lost it&quot;. Others, claim never to have had it, and aren't really sure what it is. Still more know what it is because they &quot;see it in others&quot;, but don't think they have enough for themselves. Read about, watch, or listen to athletes as they talk about confidence, and how revered this trait is. The specific answer for optimal confidence is somewhat dependent on each person's own set of circumstances. Talent, opportunity, skill, luck, and many other factors can be plugged into the confidence equation. However, there are 4 steps you can use to instill the confidence of a championship golfer.

1. If you want to have the confidence of a champion, then begin training like a champion.

Confidence comes primarily from optimal preparation and a sense of having all the requisite tools in the toolbox to adequately address the competitive situations that might confront you. This means work hard on your technical, physical, and mental preparation, or be prepared to face the inevitable consequence of self-doubt and worry when faced with difficulty when performing.

2. Catch yourself doing things right.

Most of us, when asked, can recount a litany of things that we didn't do well the last time we were on the golf course. How many things can you recall that you did well? Most of us have expectations that we're supposed to do certain things when we compete, and fail to give ourselves the credit due when we do these (so-called) routine things. Every time you hit the drive into the fairway, make a four-foot putt, or hit a green in regulation is a positive accomplishment. How many deposits do you make in your confidence bank? If you're like most, you're certainly making plenty of withdrawals!

3. Strengthen your weaknesses.

Make an honest accounting of where you believe yourself to be weakest and do whatever it takes to improve. This can be a physical or mental area, and addressing the &quot;weakest link&quot; will boost your confidence. Virtually every player with whom I've worked has a particular area of his or her game that feels weak relative to the rest, and few people are willing to put in the extra time and energy to overcome this. It's usually more enjoyable and less frustrating to work on our strengths.

4. Measure yourself against your own criteria.

Many people allow their confidence to be shaken easily and quickly because of comparisons to others. How many of us have experienced the circumstance where we're feeling pretty good about our abilities, only to permit our egos to be bruised because someone else we see is faster, stronger, more consistent, or more proficient? This is toxic to our confidence, without regard to how we're performing. If, instead, we measure our performance based on our own realistic expectations and where we are developmentally, we are much less likely to be caught up in the race to be as good as someone else. Instead, we are in the race to improve ourselves and rely on our own standard to evaluate our gains and/or setbacks.

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>

Three Tips To Help You Benefit From Golf Video Instruction

Golf video instruction can be a powerful tool in helping any golfer improve their handicap. Yet many golfers do not fully benefit from them.

The reason is that their approach is wrong and they are therefore unable to benefit from the practical advice and tips received through golf video instruction.

Here I carry three tips to help you benefit and reap the full rewards from golf video instruction tapes.

A) Watch the whole golf video instruction tape to the end first and then slowly review it starting from the beginning. Quite as you enjoy watching the golf video for the very first time, most of the instructions and tips will hardly be remembered.

Exactly the same thing happens when you read a book whose contents you want to retain. This is why it is very important to go through the golf video a second time carefully taking note of the all the instruction and tips. It is not a bade idea to record it all in a note book.

B) Apply only one golf video instruction tip at a time to your game.

Usually you will end up with a huge volume of instruction and tips from the golf video. It is therefore advisable to apply one at a time, rather than try to apply several and when you do not seem to get any result, you simply abandon everything.

This is exactly what most golfers do. Be patient and apply the tips one at a time. You will find that some do not work for you. Do not get discouraged, move to the next one and patiently work your way through your entire list.

C) Combine you application of the golf video instruction with a golf-specific exercise program.

There are many things in golf which will be extremely difficult to apply to your game if you are not physically fit. Or at least golf-fit. Some techniques can even increase the risk of injury if you are not involved in any golf exercise program.

Ensuring that you are golf fit is a very important requirement for reaping maximum benefits from golf video instruction tapes.

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. Visit his new <a target="_new" href="http://www.performbettergolf.com">golf fitness training</a> site at Perform Better Golf.

Golf Ideas Clone Golf Clubs Buyers Guide

The Truth

Lets be honest you decided to click on this link for one of the following reasons:

You want to improve your golf game (score). You were intrigued by the prices we offer compared to Name Brand equipment. You want to finally have a set of irons or a driver that is custom fit to your swing. With that being said, I want to tell you that you have come to the right place, and our Buyer's Guide will help you in ALL of those areas. And lucky for you it will not be in the typical complicated jargon that most Fitting guides are arranged in. This will be in a straight forward step by step process, that will have you on your way to a better, more enjoyable game in no time.

The Problem(s) Golf is actually a simple game our brains and golf magazines just make it more complicated then it needs to be. The majority of golfers have the same problems that need to be fixed. But most of us come to the solution in the wrong manner. We tend to think that if something new comes out it must be better and that the higher the price on the equipment you buy means the better the equipment must be. Then we tend to blame ourselves when that $1200 set we purchased does not lower our score.

We want you to remember that the Pro shop salesmen that sold you your set has most likely never built a set of clubs and most likely does not know what the specifications of the Pro-line shafts are. The shaft is the motor, and who wants to buy a Lexus with a Yugo motor under the hood?

The Solution Whether the problem you are having with your game seems to be simple or complicated. It most likely can be fixed by looking at your present game and equipment from only a few different angles.

You could feel like you have the best swing in the world and the following variables could be killing your game. Club Head Style, Shaft Choice, Shaft Length, Grip Size and Flex are the major components to properly fitting a golfer and if ONLY ONE of these variables is not matched up to your swing you could be in for a nightmare of bad habits to come.

Take only a few minutes out of your day to look over the following Self-Help Guides and we promise that you will not only improve your game but you will be become the most informed golfer on your block.

Club Head Style

Did you ever say to yourself, &quot;I don't feel like my swing is that bad, why can't I still break (80,90,100).&quot; Well if you do then CLUB HEAD STYLE might be one of your problems.

Technology has come a long way, so if you are still playing irons that are 5 years old or more you most likely could benefit from the advances in new iron head construction. Here are some of the variables of a head that have an impact on making the game a little easier for the average golfer. Click on each title for how each one can help your game. Yes, we know this is a lot of information for just the first section but take it step by step and let it sink in a little.

Offset

Offest is the amount the face of the club sits back from the hosel, this aids in helping reduce a slice with your clubs. Generally the better golfer you are the less offset you want. However this is not always true. For some reason the better your score gets the less you start liking the look of the iron head sitting that far back from the hosel. It is a hand control issue more then anything else. When you feel like you are the one actually in control of the club you want there to be less and less offset on your new sticks. But for a Mid to High handicap player offset can be a MAJOR factor in making solid contact more often. And the best analogy I can give you is if you were a baseball player would you rather have the feeling of hitting a home run or a broken bat single. Solid contact plays a major role in ditance and accuracy control. So if you are constantly having that broken bat single feeling with your irons you might want to consider going to a head with more offset.

Perimeter Weighting

You might have noticed the trend in the cavity design of new irons lately. Irons in past years had more of the weight behind the impact area of the cavity. Today's irons have more of the weight towards the perimeter of the cavity. This is what is called PERIMETER WEIGHTING . If you always hit the ball dead center perfect, you would want a small sweet spot and no perimeter weighting so you could put as much physical mass directly behind the impact point of the ball. This would make a very long shot. However, if you are off - even just a millimeter - your shot will go astray. By having an iron that is perimeter weighting you are maximizing the forgiveness of your irons. So unless you play 4 to 5 times a week you most likely do not hit the center of the sweet spot 100% of the time. Therefore you might want to consider the amount of perimeter weighting you need on your irons.

Sole Width

Sole width is another factor when considering your next iron set purchase. Put simply the larger the mass on your irons the easier it is to be grabbed in a tighter lie out of the rough. A narrower sole is easier out of tight lies and wider soles are easier from plush lies. That is why we tend to recommend a mid to wide soled iron and more blade style wedges. The majority of your wedge shots are going to be from tighter lies or you might have to carry a bunker and still be able to stop it quickly on the green. So for your SW and LW you might want to consider looking in our wedge section and choose from a more traditional shaped wedge.

Heel to Toe Length

This iron attribute is more cosmetic then anything else. But it does affect forgiveness. Some players like the look of a more compact iron, although a longer heel to toe design has a larger effective hitting area. So if you are the kind of golfer that is looking for the maximum amount of forgiveness you might also want to consider a longer heel to toe design.

Face Height

Face Height is similar to Heel to Toe length. If you are looking for the most forgiving iron you should take face height in consideration.

SHAFT CHOICE Shaft Choice is the most important dynamic to improving your present game and equipment. We know that you are hearing this a lot lately, but this is one statement your buddy is right about.

Most recreational golfers think that flex is the ONLY thing they need to worry about in regards to being fit properly. You don't know how many times we get the guy saying, &quot;Give me x-stiff in my driver, and he hits the ball 175 yds off the tee. Or the guy that says, &quot;Well my buddy saw me swing and he said I need stiff.&quot; First things first, don't listen to the buddy who just read a &quot;Golf Digest&quot; and thinks he's the golf guru, but still shoots 20 strokes worse then you do. I personally think that custom club builders are the most knowledgable in the business in regards to being able to properly fit a golfer. That is our job, to properly fit and build irons and woods to a golfers swing. Pro Line shops are there to sell equipment and have most likely never built a club . So we would hope you would call someone in our field before having &quot;Harry the Hacker&quot; giving you a backyard fitting.

Ok, enough of the rambling by us lets get down to how we are going to help you become not only a more knowledgable golfer but a better golfer as well.

Kick Points

Ball flight is a problem for many golfers that are not even aware of it. Many golfers are losing 3-5 strokes a round just because they have too low of a ball flight pattern. No, we do not want you to have a high BALLONING ball flight. But, yes you do want a more penetrating higher ball flight that lands softly. Think about the shots that you have to play over a bunker with the pin tucked closely behind . With too low of a ball flight you might land on the green but not be able to stop the ball before you have run it 30 ft past the pin. You happily walk up to the green, pray for a two putt and go to the next tee box. But what if you could have played that same shot and been able to stop the ball 10-15 ft past the cup. You might have been able to sink a one putt and saved one to two strokes on that hole alone. The tables below show which shafts give you the ball flight you are looking for.

Shaft Torque

Just because a shaft says stiff flex does not mean that it is the right shaft for you, even if you fit that criteria. Torque comes into play as well when properly fitting a shaft to a golfers swing speed.

Think about a $4 graphite shaft that is a stiff flex and a $40 graphite shaft that is also a stiff flex. There has to be a reason why that shaft is more expensive . Generally it is for a couple reasons : Better materials, better tolerances, and more precise kick points and torque tolerances for the flex it should correspond with.

To get the maximum distance and control out of your shaft you need to have the right torque rating . If you hit the ball 275 on average without roll and are playing a 2.5 torque stiff shaft you are most likely not getting everything out of that shaft as you should be. Remember torque is the amount the head turns on the shaft from right to left. If you do not put enough load on the shaft to maximize the 2.5 torque rating you are not allowing the shaft to load and unload to its maximum capacity. Therefore you are not getting the maximum distance out of your new stick.

Most hitters need "a little pop" to help the clubhead release properly through impact. Players should not get carried away in thinking that lower torque means better control. The following chart will assist you in getting the right torque rating for your next driver shaft. Remember that this rating is more precise for higher quality shafts, due to the fact that they rate there shafts more accurately.

Shaft Weight

DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO SWINGWEIGHTING SO MUCH. To many golfers get caught up in trying to get that D2 weighting they hear about . But remember every golfer likes a different feel . Some like more feel in the head some like their weight more evenly distributed throughout the entire club. And remember also that irons and woods are different . I prefer a lighter feeling head on my driver, so by the 14 th hole I don't feel like I am lugging around a 2 X 4 . This way I feel like I am in more control of my game throughout my entire round. This is just one opinion, but the point is to have you start actually thinking about the clubs in your bag in a different light . Think about it, if you could afford a $5000 suit that was totally custom fit to your body and money was no issue then you would do that for yourself. Well why wouldn't you completely customize your driver or new irons if you could afford it. Oh yeah you can!! With the prices we sell our equipment for, you can customize your clubs in every aspect possible.

SHAFT LENGTH

Shaft length is very important but typically shaft length in drivers is where most golfers are making their mistakes . However for your irons we do not want you tailoring your swing to your clubs . There are enough variables to be worried about in golf, the last thing you want is to have a perfect swing and equipment that does not match up.

Do you find yourself choking up more often then not? Or do you wake up the morning after your round with a sore back? That is your body telling you that you need to get your clubs custom fit. In addition, that is also your body telling you it is having to change its motion to match up to your equipment. NOT GOOD. If you take your body out of its natural rhythm, BELIEVE me your game will never be allowed to flourish.

Below is a list of problems that could be occurring due to the wrong length shaft:

Clubs Too Long

Low Hook - Tends to make the toe of the club stick up. This causes the heel of your club to grab first which turns your toe in causing the right to left spin on the ball and the lower ball flight. Higher Ball Flight Then Normal ? Many times golfers with too long of a club will tend to try to over compensate, which causes them to stand too tall and lean back on their downswing. The leaning back can cause extra loft to be added to the head which can cause a high shot with a loss of distance. Super Fat Shots - Your body has to compensate for the extra length if your clubs are too long. But since this is not your bodies natural motion it will tend to forget about 40% of the time. So when your body forgets that extra length makes contact with the ground a hair to soon. This is what will cause those Super-Fat shots. Worm Burner - This is the opposite of the Super-Fat shot . In this instance your body actually over compensates for the length and stands too tall. You then make your contact in the center of the ball. This will cause that screaming worm burner or the shot that flies 60 yds. over the green. Clubs Too Short

Push Or Slice - Too short of an iron will have to toe pointing down into the ground. This causes the toe to grab to early and pushes your heel forward. This causes the left to right spin or the open face which causes the push or slice. Catching It Thin - If you are catching it a little thin more often then not. You might have a set of irons that are a little too short for you.

SHAFT FLEX

Imagine taking your 9 yr old sons clubs out to play in your next tournament. Or imagine playing with the long drive Champions driver. You think you would be able to perform as well with their equipment? Most likely not. And one of the reasons is because the flex of those clubs most likely does not fit your swing speed . Flex is the amount the club flexes from front to back. Torque is the amount the head twists from right to left (FOR RIGHTIES). So both components are important when it comes to picking the right shaft for your game.

Too flexible of a shaft and your going to have less control, and you will produce a draw or a hook.

Too stiff of a shaft and you are going to lose some distance, and you will produce a fade or a slice.

We would love to give you a table that shows exactly what swing speed corresponds with what shaft flex. But unfortunately every shaft company goes by different standards . So a UST Gold 75 stiff might play a whole flex stiffer then a Penley Graphite Light Stiff. The following tables are a good rule of thumb for the majority of shafts on the market.

The Owner's ideas have not wavered since to big E-Commerce boom took off. Owner, Adam Beach knew that they were not going to strike gold by just simply starting an online business. He knew that this was not different then a brink and mortar shop. &quot;You still have to provide a service. And then you cannot just forget about them after they have walked or &quot;clicked&quot; out of your store&quot; says Beach. When you visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.golfideas.com" title="Clone Golf Clubs">Golf Ideas - Clone Golf Clubs</a> you quickly get the feeling that these guys have the right stuff. But it is not until you call them until you get the full effect of why they are still around after 6 years online.

Fitness For Golf Is The New Gold Standard

Golf fitness has never been considered as important to one's enjoyment and success in the sport as it is today. The erroneous concepts and opinions of old (golf is not a physical game? golfers don't need to worry about fitness or nutrition?) are dying away in favor of the realization that fitness is paramount to performing well and golfers simply play better when they're in better shape.

Today's golf experts realize that it is much more than Twain's &quot;good walk, spoiled&quot; assessment of the sport. Nearly every pro playing golf today works with a personal golf fitness trainer. Many of them are stationed in areas of the country where they can have easy and quick access. Many trainers make themselves available on a more consistent basis by traveling the tour with their players.

Go to any well known golf school and you'll find a fitness component factored into the daily regime. Long gone are lavish meals, late night snacks and over indulgence at restaurants on tour. Today's players are making healthier choices in their meals ? especially prior to playing.

Fitness for Golf is the new golf standard for tour playing professionals. Be sure to fitness and a regular golf exercise program as one of the weapons in your arsenal of competitive play.

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>

Is Golf Conditioning Exercise Too Strenuous

Is golf conditioning exercise so strenuous that most people will have difficulties going through them? Most amateur golfers and people who have not been through any golf exercise program in their lives definitely believe so.

Especially when you start to mention such terrifying exercise equipment as dumb bells and the likes. They quickly get a picture o a crowded gym filled with much younger fitter people making fun of them.

Yet the truth of the matter is that golf conditioning exercises are fairly easy to do and are far from being strenuous and too physically demanding.

In fact golf conditioning exercises are as strenuous and physically demanding as the golf game is. Nothing more and definitely nothing less.

The fact that senior citizens are able to go through them with ease proves that the fears some amateur golfers have are really unfounded and not based on facts.

Not to mention that very young golfers, some of them yet to reach their teenage years have also joined golf conditioning exercise programs and seen dramatic and positive results in their games.

It is interesting that more and more parents are now realizing that this is an investment that can easily pay off with their kids getting partial and even full scholarships to college.

In fact the rally strenuous and physically demanding side of golf these days is reserved for golfers who ignore golf conditioning exercises. More so every day as an increasing number of amateur golfers enrol in golf conditioning exercise programs in an effort to improve their games.

It is also important to note that some exercises in many good golf conditioning exercise programs can be carried out in the comfort of the home.

These are mainly stretch exercises which have a very important role to play in golf conditioning exercises as they improve flexibility and usually have a huge impact on improving the golf swing.

Obviously there is nothing to fear in golf conditioning exercises.

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 fitness</a> site - Perform Better Golf.

How To Properly Check The Club Heads Of Second Swing Used Golf Club

Interested in Second Swing used golf club? No surprise there. Second Swing golf clubs are swiftly gaining popularity these days. And why not, they durable and with good quality. So with the rising demands I wrote this article on how to properly check the clubheads of Second Swing used golf clubs. This is vital task so you get a good quality and good performing Second Swing golf clubs for a fair price. Avoiding you regrets, saves you time and money.

First thing you check is the face wear of the Second Swing used golf club. You can easily tell if it's been used for a long time because it will show a shiny worn spot in the center, avoid this at all cost. Owning such would be disastrous to you're accuracy for that kind of clubface won't hold the ball well.

Check the grooves of the Second Swing used golf club and makes sure the edges are still well defined.

Also avoid the Second Swing used clubs that show indentations in the clubface. This too will affect you're accuracy greatly.

Then try to get a golf club that has a bigger clubhead, especially if you're a beginner. This will give you a higher chance of hitting the sweet spot and also bigger clubheads are more forgiving.

It is vital that you check thoroughly a Second Swing used golf club. This will prevent future discomforts and nuisances, and help you have a more satisfying golf game. I hope you find this article helpful in you're quest to for a Second Swing used golf club.

If you're interested for more free golf articles. I encourage you to visit my site at http://golf-tips.useful-tips.com.

Jed Baguio is the webmaster of <a target="_new" href="http://Golf-Tips.Useful-Tips.com">http://Golf-Tips.Useful-Tips.com</a> - A site dedicated to bring you free golf articles and proven products that will help you're golf game tremendously.