Tips to Help you Improve Distance and Accuracy on the Golf Course

One of the most famous of all golf tips is supposedly from Sam Sneed. It says, hold your club as though it were a young bird. You don't want to hurt it, but you don't want it to get away either.

This best sums up the notion that very little grip pressure is to control the club. Another way of emphasizing this idea is found in a similar tip: Hold the club so that it is pointing straight up in the air. Lighten your grip until it reaches the point that the club starts to fall straight down through your hands then tighten up a slight

amount. You want only enough pressure to keep the club from slipping through. A tight grip will cause the muscles in your arms to tense up. This will reduce your clubhead feel and reduce your swing speed.

The only fingers that should feel any pressure against the grip itself for the right-handed player are the pinky, ring and middle fingers of the left hand and vice versa if you are a left handed golfer. They alone are capable of exerting enough force to control a club throughout the swing.

When asked how he got so much distances off the tee as a senior, Jay Sigel responded, "The way I grip the club so lightly is the main reason."

Try it...it works!!

It doesn't make any difference if you have an unorthodox grip or stance when you putt, but two things are vital: Your eye must be directly over the ball, and you must stroke the ball to make it rotate end-over-end.

You have undoubtedly noticed that manufacturers are now making putters more upright. This is to help the golfer keep his eye directly over the ball. Every great putter I have seen does this. In effect, their eyes act in the capacity of eyes for the ball. The ball can only "see" the line when your eyes are directly over it. If they are not, your eyes will see one line while the ball "sees" another, and I don't think I need to go into the results of that.

When your eyes are over the ball, you have a much better chance of stroking it accurately and imparting end-over-end rotation. End-over-end rotation means that the ball is contacted so squarely that it rolls "over itself," on the same vertical axis, there being no side-spin as there inevitably will be when the ball is cut or pulled or

mis-putted in some other manner. If a putt stroked with end-over-end rotation hits a corner of the cup, it will not spin off and will usually drop.

I hope you find this advice helpful and that it will improve your putting ability, accuracy and distance.

Golf and Your Kids

So, you think your little guy might be the next Tiger Woods? If you think your child has a propensity for golf, or if you have a love for the game that you want to share, how can you best teach your youngster the game? How can you tell that they are ready to learn? What age is best to start a child on learning golf if you want to develop a quality player?

Golf, a detailed and complex sport, can be tough to teach to kids. For this reason, get them started early and ensure that you build a firm foundation in their game play so that they learn to be confident in the sport and in their own abilities. This type of learned confidence can help them embrace the complexities of the game as a whole and will turn them into golfers that are ready to learn.

Once a child is walking well independently and able to hold a child-sized golf club, he or she is probably ready for the first introduction to the sport. This can happen when the child is as young as two or three years old. Preschool children will not be ready to play golf as a game, but they can be given small putters and practice swinging the club correctly.

Children at this age learn almost everything through imitation. The best way to teach them proper swinging and putting techniques is to demonstrate, and then have them imitate the motions. But use caution that you do not make this tedious for the child. These imitation sessions should be short and fun. Try having the child hit a small balloon. Not only will this be fun, but the child will also have success in hitting the balloon, which will keep the frustration at bay. To make it even more fun, try filling the balloons with water for added resistance! This is a great summer time activity for you and for your child!

Once the child has entered school and has a good handle on the swinging and putting techniques learned through observation, it is time to start teaching the game of golf. School aged children are accustomed to verbal instruction and can listen to explanations about the game better than their preschool counterparts. You need to keep in mind, however, that they are still children! They will thrive on encouragement, and all teaching sessions should be kept upbeat!

Start by taking your child to the driving range. Show your son or daughter how to hit the ball correctly, aiming for distance. The driving range is a good place to start since there is not a specific target they must reach, so the child is less likely to get frustrated. After the child demonstrates aptitude on the driving range, you can head to the course. By this point you should be able to tell whether or not your child is going to share your love for the game of golf.

Parents need to remember that no matter how hard they try, not all children have the same likes and dislikes that their parents have. If you have introduced your child to the game of golf, and he or she does not enjoy it, try not to push them. By pushing, you might find that you drive your child away from the game. All you can do is give them the experience at an early age, and they must come to a conclusion about the game on their own.

Golf Basics - Choosing Your Putter

The three lowest priorities to consider when choosing a putter are:

*The kind your best friend, who happens to be a great putter... unless of course you have had a chance to actually putt with it and you truly do like it.

*The one that looks nice or is the latest fad putter.

*The one the tour pro endorses

This is one of the most important considerations when choosing a putter; avoid all three of the above methods of choosing!

Putters have specifications and characteristics that can effect your putting in good or bad ways. Here are the qualities you need to look for:

*Shaft length and lie angel (the angle the shaft comes out of the head of the club) must fit you in three ways

*It must allow you to address the ball with your eyes directly over the target line while your hands are under your shoulders.

*If must be long enough so you are completely comfortable in your shoulders, legs or back when practicing for long periods of time and don't experience unusual fatigue.

*You should choose a design that will help eliminate your most common mistakes.

To find out what these are put a piece of impact tape on the putter you now use and stroke 30 putts, if your marks are mostly near the heel you want a heel-shaft putter (the shaft enters the heel of the putter).

If you tend to strike towards the head, you want a center shafted putter.

*If you want alignment aids on your clubs, get them, they are legal and anything that helps your stroke is encouraged.

*Find a putter with a light club head, try a few strokes with it, then tape a couple of dimes to the back of the head, does it feel better or worse to put with the added weight.

*Grip size and shape are important factors; the grip needs to be small enough for you to be able to control easily, but big enough so your fingers don't overlap uncomfortably.

In fact, the putter is the only club allowed to have a flat top on the grip. This allows for more consistent grip each time you use it.

Putting is such a 'feel' part of the game, so the putter you eventually choose will be the putter that best fits your eye and works best for you. So, take your time and try out several makes and models before you make your final decision.

Customizing Women's Golf Clubs

Since the fastest growing group of golfers is women, it is about time the top golf club manufacturers created customized women's golf clubs. For any woman, finding the right golf clubs used to be a pain. It seems many women's golf clubs were not that much different than men's golf clubs, which meant that most of them were either too long or too heavy, or both, and would cause a lot of pain for women after a long day on the golf course.

Now, the top brand names in golf, such as Titleist, Calloway, TaylorMade, Cobra and more, are creating women's golf clubs that are made with lightweight materials that still offer just as much power and control as the heavier golf clubs of the past. These golf club manufacturers also have made it easier to find the proper length or to customize the golf clubs to fit any woman.

Whether you are looking for the best driver to help you tack on a few more yards with that first stroke, a variety of irons and woods to get just the right distance, a perfect wedge for getting out of those trouble spots, or the right putter to help you seal the deal, you'll find the best selection of women's golf clubs at Fore Her Golf.

Plus, once you find the perfect set of golf clubs, you'll need all the accessories to protect your investment. Look for golf club bags and club head covers to keep your clubs looking and feeling like new. With the right women's golf clubs, you'll be prepared to raise your game to a whole new level.

Improve Your Golf Game Through Specific Strength Training

There are many reasons why you should willingly undertake a course of fitness involving strength and conditioning for golf. Consider a golf swing. It is not a simple action. It is complex and even physically stressful. It is necessary to strengthen and condition your body to both produce and withstand the physical and mental demands required for mighty drives.

Why you need to prepare


Preparing your body correctly can produce stability and improved coordination, flexibility and endurance. All these desirable qualities can be built up if you approach the game of golf as a sport and not a recreational pastime. Any sport involves improving various areas of the skeletal and muscular structure to produce the necessary results. In golf, strengthening the body and conditioning it is one aspect of making your body fit and your game better.

Improving and conditioning the body involves undertaking a fitness plan incorporating various interrelated body parts. Proper strength and conditioning for golf involves working on legs, hips, back, shoulders and arms. These are the core elements of the body - the trunk. Too, often, they are seen as separate parts, but they are really one unit. It is a unit that must work together to accomplish a goal. Exercising these components helps the golf swing to flow out of a coordinated body motion as one body action or reaction emerges from its interaction with another. The result is an efficient and even synchronized motion.

How to reach your goals


To reach this goal of seamless integration, it is necessary to combine exercise involving stretching for flexibility, lifting for strength and control, and cardiovascular work for endurance. The exercises will help you develop an interdependence of muscles and joints. This will decrease a tendency to rely too much on joints when swinging or positioning your body. It will, therefore, create a stronger and interdependent physical mass capable of handling more intense strain and stress. This is all part of the intent for training in terms of physical strength and conditioning for golf.

The effortless mating of body parts also decreases the possibility of injury and reduces stress on the body and mind. The body spine is able to maintain a set posture without fatigue setting in. You can, therefore, hold your position through all your swings on any day. Your body has been conditioned to undertake the various tasks set it. Your attention paid to basic body trunk strength and flexibility, will ensure a precise coordination of your body before, during and after whatever swing you plan to make.

Strengthening and conditioning your trunk means your spine will improve its posture and be less susceptible to injuries and fatigue. Moreover, the type of strength and conditioning for golf you achieve is not a process lasting only a moment. It will not fade away from tiredness after a few holes. Improved muscular endurance and greater flexibility combined with increased strength prevents break downs from fatigue.

Fatigue is a major factor in many faulty plays on the golf course. Your body can slump from tiredness. You can lose your balance. Your timing may be off. The process undertaken for strength and conditioning for golf provides increased endurance. It also helps to prevent fatigue-related injuries.

Adequate flexibility and proper strength training, including balance training, will contribute to a more balanced swing. In the end correct strength and conditioning for golf games helps you improve your score, by increasing your endurance and improving all aspects of your physicality. Such training helps promote a well-tuned, coordinated and efficient golf swing. It reduces the possibility of injury and provides –you with greater confidence to play the game as it should be played.

Beginner Golf Tip - Real Golf Tips a Beginner Can Use

Need a beginner golf tip? Golf can be a tough sport to take up, especially if you've already reached an age where you might be expected to have played golf before. If you're just getting started in the sport, here are a few tips you might find helpful.

Beginner Golf Tip #1

Don't take all the advice out there: Everybody who plays golf thinks they have the secret to the perfect swing. This includes everyone from your father to the guy who wrote the latest golf book to your business clients. The truth is that there is probably something to be learned from all of them, but for the beginner, simple is better. Pick one course of instruction and stick with it.

Beginner Golf Tip #2

Get a (relatively) cheap set of clubs: You don't need the most expensive set of clubs on the market. They won't the novice golfer look any more talented than he is. Look for a durable but inexpensive first set. If you're shopping at a golf store, go straight to the cheapest set and don't let the sales representative talk you into something else. You might also try the big retailers (Wal-Mart, Target, even Costco) or garage sales. Some serious golfers buy a new set every year and you could find a great set for a cheap price.

Beginner Golf Tip #3

Don't make your first round of golf at a country club: A lot of men (and women) take up golf because it is a good career move. Their business partners or clients like to play golf and deals are often made on the golf course. This is a great way to enjoy the game and write it off as an expense at the same time. However, don't play your first round with business associates at a country club with lots of guidelines and expectations you will be unfamiliar with. You will feel too much pressure and won't have any fun. Try a local 3-par course or try out a round with your college buddy before playing where it "counts."

Beginner Golf Tip #4

Get lessons: Golf looks simple, and in many ways it is. Get the ball from the hole to the cup in as many swings as possible. In other ways, it is really very complicated. The value of at least a few lessons cannot be overemphasized. Ante up for at least half a dozen lessons with a local golf pro. It will force you to take your golf swing seriously and probably teach you a few things you wouldn't have otherwise thought of. If you're satisfied after six lessons, go your own way, but you might find that a full season of lessons is really what you need to move from beginner to, well, less of a beginner.

Nancy Lopez Golf Clubs - Great Choices For Women Golfers

Until recently it was "one size fits all" for women golfers. Since most major golf club companies had less than 10% of their sales in ladies golf clubs, they offered women few if any choices in club length, shaft flex, swing weight, etc. LPGA Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez has come to the rescue with an excellent product line for women golfers.

Club Fitting for Women

The company offers at least a basic level of on-line club fitting, which is far better than nothing. They have several lines of clubs, and through some general questions about how often a woman plays golf, and in general how athletic she is, a particular line of clubs is suggested. From there grip size is determined based on a woman's glove size. Based on how tall a lady is, club lengths are suggested. More will be said about this length issue shortly, as most women play clubs that are too long for them, as do most men. The last step is to choose a shaft flex based on swing speed. Once again, most golfers, both men and women, tend to play with shafts that are too stiff, so a lady might choose to go with more flex than the formula suggests. Those choices are available, fortunately, including shorter club lengths. So the options are there. A custom club fitting would do a lot more, but the above system is so much better than the old "one size fits all" mentality.

Extensive Choices of Clubs

Nancy Lopez golf clubs come in a choice of sets. There are two main product lines, Lopez clubs and Ashley clubs, the former being top of the line. Each category has several choices as well. The available sets are very intelligently put together, using a blend of woods, hybrids and irons that make sense for most women who often have problems getting the ball high enough into the air. Several sets have woods and hybrid clubs until the 7 iron, for example. One set offers woods and hybrids and no iron clubs until the pitching wedge. It is not surprising that a player like Nancy Lopez knows that most women have no business trying to hit a 3, 4, 5 or even 6 iron. Most men shouldn't be hitting 3 and 4 irons either, for that matter.

Available for both Left and Right Handed Players/Driver Length

Nancy Lopez golf clubs are available for both left and right handed players in most of the models. They also offer titanium drivers for women with high enough swing speeds, and that is another plus. One note of caution is in order, however. As mentioned earlier, most people, both men and women, play with golf clubs that are too long. People think they will get more distance with longer clubs, so golf club companies sell them what they want. What is gained in more distance, however, is often lost in less accuracy and hitting the ball less consistently. Nancy Lopez golf clubs do have a "Petite" option which is an inch shorter, so most lady golfers might do well to opt for that. To illustrate this point, consider the following. The average driver length on the men's PGA Tour is 44.5 inches. Yet the driver in a standard off-the-shelf set of clubs is typically 45 inches for men and 44 inches for women. If the best players in the world are using an average of 44.5 inches of driver length, what in the world are normal, far less skilled amateurs doing using longer clubs? Tom Wishon in his excellent book "The Search for the Perfect Golf Club" goes into this issue in great detail. Fortunately the smaller lengths are in fact offered to ladies with Nancy Lopez golf clubs, so once again the vast majority of women should be using those smaller clubs. In order to know what length to choose, however, one has to be aware of this issue.

Conclusion

Nancy Lopez golf clubs are truly a revolution in ladies golf clubs. They are certainly the next best thing to custom fitting and having custom clubs built. Check them out on the web by doing a simple search for "Nancy Lopez golf clubs".

Golf - How to Putt Like a Pro

Whether you having been playing golf for years or you are relatively new to the game, more than likely if there is one area that you need some work on, it is your putting. You may be amazing at driving the golf ball a long ways, and you may even hit the green fairly well from a long distance, but if you cannot putt, winning will be very difficult. Much of the skill of golf is actually shown when you are putting on the green, and you can golf like a champ if you know how to putt like a pro. The following are some tips that can help you show off the next time you are putting on the green.

Tip #1 - Visualize -

One of the most important things you can do to improve your putting is to visualize the putt. Try to visualize in your mind how the green moves and how you want the ball to move over the green into the hole. Once you get the picture in your mind, it is much easier to make the ball go into the cup for the big finish of your game.

Tip #2 - Practice -

Probably the most important tip to putting like a pro is to practice. You can read tips on improving your putt all day long, but if you do not take the time to practice those tips they will never be able to help you. Take some time to practice putting until you feel comfortable and confident with your putting techniques.

Tip #3 - Avoid Using the Hands -

Many people make the mistake of using their hands and wrists when they are putting, and while this is great for a very short putt, it will not help you out on the long putts that you are trying to master. Instead of using your wrists and hands, be sure that you actually use your arms and shoulders when you are trying to putt. If you are constantly coming up short on your putts, check how you are putting. More than likely you are using your hands and wrists instead of your arms and shoulders for the putt.

Tip #4 -

Aim Just Past the Hole - Especially when you are putting uphill, you will want to be sure that you aim just past the hole. This helps you make sure that the ball goes into the cup instead of falling a few inches short.

Golf Head Cover Designs

Playing golf can be one of the most favorite past times for a wide variety of people. If you have the time, the right golf technique, a good movement coordination, and of course, the resources to acquire golf equipment and to get to a golf course where you can play golf, you are almost all set to enjoy golf. However, although many may seem to nod to the idea that golf is all about those mentioned basic requirements, some beg to disagree. There's more to golfing if you are a fun-loving person and that is making your equipment top of the line, golfing accessories included, such as golf head covers.

What is a golf head cover, a newbie in golfing might ask. It is that golf accessory that protects the golf driver, and even irons if you have a full set, from getting damaged during travels or just when you are in a hurry to pull a club out or drop one into the bag.

What's the use of a golf head cover, as mentioned, it is for protection. Since golf is a not-for-the-pauper game, golf equipment can be with very hefty price tags. The expensiveness of golf equipment is the very reason that many golfers need to protect their stuff. A golf head cover can help in this arena.

Golf clubs need utmost care and one of the most critical parts of golf clubs that require care is the golf club head. Why? The golf club head can make or break your game since this part of the golf club is the very part that gets in direct contact with the golf ball. Using golf head covers can solve a golfer's dilemma about how to care for this important part of his or her golf clubs.

One of the greatest nemesis of many golfers is rust on their golf club heads. And as nature has made it to be, rust can't be avoided. A golf enthusiast can be very particular in maintaining their golf club heads clean and safe from rust. But it's just impossible to expect rust to never visit your golf club heads because these golf equipment are made of carbon steel which is plated with chrome. As one uses a club, it gets exposed to abrasion, friction, and moisture, which builds up to produce rust. And rust on golf club heads can eventually turn a great golfer's greatest hit into a bad one. You can slow down the process of allowing your priced golf club heads from succumbing to annoying rust - use golf club head covers. The golf head cover will keep the club head dry, which will consequently delay rusting.

Now after the uber-functional discussion about golf head covers, let's go to the fun part. Golf head covers are also considered status symbols. The style of your golf head cover will indicate what your preferences are in terms of aesthetic value and of course, it will show what you can afford to buy. This is because there is a myriad of golf head covers, even designer ones that the more sophisticated type of golfer will definitely love.

So what are your golf head cover design options? Choose among the following popular designs by deciding which will suit your personality best.

Plain golf head cover exists for those who hate too much trinkety sporting equipment. It can be less taxing if you are someone who gets disturbed by too much color or attention, especially from other golf players.

Popeye golf head cover is available for those who never get tired of the Popeye cartoon show. You will almost hear your golf club head munching on spinach if you use this style of golf head cover. Just kidding!

A bulldog golf head cover is for you if you simply love dogs, especially bull dogs. Great for really virile guys who want more fun from golf and some attention from other golfers, say girl golfers. Arf!

State flag design head covers are for those who are very patriotic and would always appreciate anything that symbolizes his or her country.

Your own golf club might be giving away free golf head covers. Just ask.
Enjoy protecting your golf club heads with fun golf head covers!