Sunday, 11 April 2010

Fix Your Golf Slice - Discover How To Add Extra Yards To Your Drives!

Fix golf slice is a thought on many amateur golfers’ minds. Studies reveal over 80% of all amateur golfers slice the ball. There have been more training aids, drills and tips to fix the golf slice that I can’t even begin to count.

If you hit a golf slice, have you taken lessons; bought any training aids, and done several drills only to still hit a slice? What a frustrating situation! Do you realize what’s causing your golf slice?

A golf slice is caused by the clubface coming across the ball from outside the target line, creating side-spin on the ball. Upon first thought, this may seem like a mechanical issue. And it is…but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find it’s a ‘physical’ issue.

You see…your body dictates your ability to swing the club efficiently. If your body has ‘physical limitations’, your swing will not be mechanically sound and swing faults will appear.

In the golf swing there are many compensations for lack of proper mechanics. If you can’t make a 90 degree shoulder turn on the backswing, you’ll do whatever it takes to feel like you are making a full turn.

A good example of this would be to rotate your hips beyond the desired 45 degrees to enable your body to make a full backswing. What this does is rob you of power. You have no torque built up in your core to unleash into the ball at impact.

The same thing with a golf slice.

A golf slice is caused by the upper body getting ahead of the lower body, creating an “over-the-top” move, which in turn results in your clubface slashing across the ball and creating side-spin. Here comes the banana ball!

Your first inclination will be to take a lesson to fix this. If that doesn’t work, you might buy a training aid. If that doesn’t work you’ll buy an “offset” driver to help eliminate your golf slice.

Does this sound familiar?

Now the real answer! Take a break on your lessons. Don’t buy anymore training aids. And keep your normal driver in your bag.

You need to work on you core rotational flexibility to be able to initiate the downswing with your lower body first, to avoid the upper body getting ahead of it. It’s that simple. The minute your able to separate the upper and lower body upon initial move down…you’ll see that golf slice improve dramatically.

Doesn’t that make sense?

Along with fixing your golf slice, you’ll add up to 30 yards to your drives. You will get more roll when the ball lands from a draw ball flight. A golf slice is a weak shot that does not penetrate the air for maximum distance.

All of my programs, dvds, and books focus on core rotational strength and flexibility which will improve your power output and eliminate swing faults. You will not experience compensations on the golf course anymore.

When you work on your “machine”, your golf swing takes care of itself! You will finally eliminate the thought, “fix golf slice”.

Saturday, 10 April 2010

Golf Fitness - There's A Reason The Pro's Are Fit!

Fitness for golf is a common term on the television these days. I’m sure you’ve heard it a few times. The secret is out. Fitness for golf has come to the forefront of total golf performance.

Golfers have heard it enough. The golf swing is a physically abusive movement to the human body…unless you take the time to prepare for it.

I was watching the Golf Channel (I do that frequently) the other day, with Tiger on. He said it perfectly.

He said, “it would be absurd to think a football player, basketball player or baseball player wouldn’t physically work on his body to play better golf. Why wouldn’t a golfer do the same thing?”

I was sitting there saying, “thank you Tiger”…fitness for golf is here to stay.

If it takes the Number One golfer in the world to convince you…then I’m all for it.

How many times have you walked off the course or practice range with a twinge or two in your body? How about when you got home? Did it get worse?

What’s that tell you?

I hope you realize how important fitness for golf is, in not only helping your prevent injury, but utilize your true potential to it’s fullest.

Doesn’t it make sense to improve your flexibility AND strength to hit longer drives that go straighter? Doesn’t it also make sense to improve your fitness for golf as you get older…to slow down the aging process?

Don’t look at it as “work”, “sweating” or “effort”. Look at it as “playing your best game ever!”

You will continue to hear about fitness for golf, when it comes to performing better golf.

Friday, 9 April 2010

Exercise For Golfers Will All Be Worth It In The Long Run!

Exercises for golfers may seem like an oxymoron, but I’m here to tell they are most definitely not. Golf is physical! Golf causes injury! Golf can very easily break down the body! To hit the ball maximum distance, your body has to have a higher level of golf specific strength and flexibility.

The above statements are fact.

To play your best golf you need to implement exercises for golfers as soon as possible. The sooner you start, the sooner you will see results on the course.

So what’s the difference between going to the gym and plopping down on machines and doing exercises for golfers?

First off…do you sit when you play golf?

Then why would you sit in a “controlled” machine thinking it will improve your golf?

Golf is “on your feet” and in a dynamic position (golf posture).

Because the demands for golf are so unique, you need to approach your golf improvement from a different angle than just going into a gym and thinking it will help your golf game.

Exercises for golfers doesn’t just mean strength exercises. You’ve got to do golf stretching exercises as well.

Whenever I hear a golfer say he/she needs to stretch more…my first thought is “they are missing the boat”. Golf stretching without golf exercise is not permanent flexibility.

Here’s an example for you.

Stretch a rubber band. Now stretch it more and more. What happens to the rubber band? It gets brittle and eventually breaks.

Picture your muscles just like that rubber band.

The winning combination is golf exercise and golf stretching . This will give you the best results.

When putting together your exercises for golfers program, take a look at the body position required to make a mechanically sound swing.

Once you realize this dynamic and very unique position, you can do golf exercises specific to this position.

Things to remember.

• Do the majority of your golf exercises on your feet.
• Do them in your golf posture if at all possible.
• Keep your knees flexed, just like your golf swing.
• Do as many rotational exercises as possible.
• Make sure to do the follow through side of the swing.
• Do a high enough repetition to promote golf muscular endurance.

Exercises for golfers can be fun and keep you motivated to stick with your program. Adherence is the main culprit for lack of results. Like any fitness or weight loss program, if you don’t do it consistently you won’t see the results.

Staying motivated by picturing the “end-result” on the course will be a huge help. Envision you on that first tee a more powerful and fit golfer. Picture blasting your drives by all your playing partners. And lastly, paint a strong visual of you having the lowest score consistently when you play in your normal golf groups.

I hope you now have a better understanding of exercises for golfers.

Thursday, 8 April 2010

Discover What Exercise Training For Golf Can Do For You

Exercise training for golf is what every golfer who is serious about improving their golf swing power and mechanics should be focusing on…especially senior golfers in the “off-season” or winter months.

If you’ve read any of my articles you’ll know where I’m coming from.

“Your body dictates your golf swing!”

“A broken body will never achieve optimal golf performance”.

“You are only as good as your ‘physical limitations’ will allow you.”

You heard it hear first. My quotes above are “my quotes” that I have used for over 10 years with golfers of all ages, abilities and sexes.

I have seen it thousands of times throughout the past 10 years. Golfers getting so frustrated they want to quit the game.

They’ve taken lessons. They’ve practiced til their hands bled. And they own the latest/greatest equipment.

And…

They are NOT playing any better!

Why?

Because their body is keeping them from what they think they can do. There is a gap between the mind and the body.

You can will a great game in your mind as much as you want, but if your body isn’t capable…it will NEVER happen!

Those are the cold hard facts.

The sooner you realize your body is the “magic bullet’, the sooner you can start your exercise training for golf and see real results.

These results will be long-lasting too!

No band-aid swing fixes that don’t even last for 18 holes.

Your exercise training for golf program should focus on your personal, physical limitations to save time and money. Eliminate your limitations and watch your golf game soar!

I’m here to MOTIVATE you…not sugar-coat it!

It’s time to regain those lost yards off the tee, and get back to shooting scores you did years ago!

Get started right now on your program of exercise for golf.

Wednesday, 7 April 2010

Golf Exercises - There Really Is No Need To Be Afraid!

Exercise for a golfer is widely used. Despite the success many professionals have enjoyed, and continue to enjoy in their game, mainly because of golf-specific exercises, many amateur golfers still shun any golf specific exercises.

Even when it is rather obvious that leading names in the game like the legendary Tiger Woods heavily rely on staying in good shape for the game by having personal trainers and by being involved in golf specific exercises.

Bt far the main reason why most still fear and avoid exercise for golfers is the belief that they will develop muscles. Actually lifting weights are a very effective way of toning the golf-specific muscles for the game, by strengthening them. Strength training using weights will never increase the size of your muscles.

Nobody would loathe building big muscles more than most lady golfers. Yet many of them have dramatically improved their games by increasing their strength through golf-specific weight training.

Actually you need to be in the gym several hours a day lifting very heavy weights to develop a weight-lifters’ muscles. The weight-lifting exercise regime for golf involves lifting lighter weights many more times over a very short period of time compared to a weightlifter looking for muscles with heavier weights lifted fewer times at a time but for longer hours daily.

The fact that many lady golfers have been able to dramatically improve their game by getting involved in exercises for a golfers, but have not build heavy stiff muscles, should be encouragement enough for many amateurs to seriously consider exercise for a golfer programs.

Apart from weights, most of the exercises for a golfer involve stretch exercises designed to improve a golf swing. Some of these stretch exercises for a golfer can easily be done form the comfort of an office or home when you have a moment to spare.

Tuesday, 6 April 2010

Golf Fitness - Just Because You Do Weights Don't Expect To Lose Your Flexibility!

There is no doubt that flexibility for golf is extremely important to your golf game. Little wonder that one of the biggest fears among many golfers looking to improve their game is that of losing their flexibility specific to golf as a result of weight training that builds muscles and stretching exercises.

This is one of the reasons why many amateur golfers still avoid joining golf-specific exercise and conditioning programs. They mistakenly link every weight-training program with muscle building and bodybuilding.

Although it is true that muscle building and body building will tend to make somebody stiff, the facts are that weight training can either be used for body-building and building of muscles, or it can be used to build strength.

The golf specific weight training programs are aimed at building strength and endurance. Not muscles. A genuine golf exercise program will have nothing in its’ weight training routine to remotely relate it to muscle or bodybuilding.

In fact stronger conditioned muscles will tend to dramatically improve flexibility for golf, rather than reduce it. Flabby, weak, unexercised muscles are the ones that will tend to be very stiff and over time will take away the flexibility for golf in anybody.

Stretch exercises, which work best with strengthened muscles are very effective in helping to increase flexibility. These exercises usually have a major impact on the quality of the golf swing for most players.

Therefore it is not true that incorporating dumbbells into golf specific exercises makes a golfer lose flexibility. Rather the entire program plays a major role in enhancing flexibility for golf and the results from players who have tremendously improved their game, speak for themselves.

Monday, 5 April 2010

Confused About Your Golf Swing? - Well Not Anymore!

End Golf Swing Confusion Forever!

We’re in the information age, and when it comes to the golf swing, this often means information overload!

As new golfers, we start out believing that there is one right way to swing, only to find out that there are just about as many swing methods as there are instructors. It seems that the more we learn about the golf swing, the more our minds are filled with confusing, contradictory information.

Until now, if two respected golf professionals showed you two completely different ways to swing and both told you that their way was the right way, you would have been forced to make your best guess.

Maybe you would have chosen the information from the pro who was most well known, or the one you could play the best, or the one you listened to most recently. Regardless, with no solid way to choose one way over the other, you would be forced to go from one method to the next indefinitely.

The good news is there is now a proven way to determine which swing method is best for you. It’s simple. It’s easy. And, it works every time.

The secret is to start with impact!

While there are hundreds, or maybe even thousands of different swing methods, there is only one way the club needs to be at impact to hit a desired shot. If your club is in that position, you’ll get the results you want. If it’s not, you won’t. It’s that simple.

Impact is often called the moment of truth because it’s the most important aspect of your golf swing. If you want to find your best swing, and end swing confusion forever, the secret is to relate every swing change to impact.

For example, if you want to know whether one set-up is better than another, figure out which one allows you to swing your club into the ideal position at impact in the easiest, most comfortable, most powerful way. If you want to know whether a flatter or a more upright backswing is best, notice which way makes it easiest for you to achieve the ideal impact position.

While there are numerous swing methods, there is only one way to swing that is the, easiest, most comfortable, and most powerful way for YOU! Trust that the swing that feels best is the right way to swing and you’ll end swing confusion forever!

Sunday, 4 April 2010

Going On A Golf Vacation? - Then Don't Get Ripped Off!

Whether it’s a quick weekend getaway or a 10 day golf adventure to the Caribbean, there is one thing in common with all golf trips and vacations… rip-offs are common.

Here are a few things to be careful of when booking your next golf trip.

1. Cart Fees.
Many courses will require you to rent a cart, even though your package deal never mentioned it. Make sure you know up front if cart fees are included and or required.

2. Course Surcharges
You may be offered to “upgrade” to a better course when you arrive at your destination. This is a common practice in many areas. The fact is that the course you “upgrade” to in many cases will not be any better than the course you are booked on.

3. Internet Deals
Many golf trips these days are sold by internet resellers. The price may be right, but they have no idea of the local market. They are selling a commodity and could care less what other events are happening in the area or what local conditions are. Dealing with local people in the area you plan to visit will eliminate many of these surprises.

4. Do you need a “package” deal?
You will find that package deals sometimes will cost you more than just booking a hotel and a “golf” market and winging it. Once you book your accommodations, the concierge or front desk will be able to direct you to the best deals. This works especially during the off peak times. So many people get involved in the package deals that the prices can be increased by 50-75% over what it would cost you to book it yourself.

To save a ton of money, call the local area Better Business Bureau (all the offices are online at bbb.com) and ask for information on the local public courses. In addition just Google “Golf In …), you will come up with a ton of options.

Saturday, 3 April 2010

Don't Be Scared Of A Golf Weight Training Program

Golf weight training program. In a sport that hardly has any controversies; few issues have come as close to being controversial as golf weight training programs have. More so with amateur and non-professional golfers.

And yet if you really examine the facts, a golf weight training program need not be controversial at all.

Although professionals have now fully embraced the benefit of golf weight training programs, amongst the other golfers golf weight training programs are still looked on with a lot of fear and apprehension. These fears are of course mainly based on ignorance rather than enough solid facts and knowledge.

One of the greatest fears is that some of the golf weight training programs designed to build strength are too strenuous. Others fear that they will develop great big muscles that will make them stiff and yet flexibility is an important attribute for any golfer.

These fears are of course completely unjustified. Most golf weight training programs have been successfully completed by golfers who are as old as 80 years old. Junior golfers barely in their teens have also graduated from the same programs without any problem. Not to mention lady golfers some of who are senior citizens.

Then it is significant to note that golf weight training programs are designed to increase strength and not to body build or build great huge muscles. The use of dumbbells is different for the two different objectives. For example lighter weights are used and they are lifted more times than the case would be for a bodybuilder dealing in much heavier weights.

Many good golf weight training programs involving dumbbells will also include certain stretch exercises using them. Stretch exercises are very good in improving golf swings.

When you take a closer look, golf weight training programs are really not be feared. Rather they should be embraced as they have helped many golfers revolutionize their games.

There is no doubt that the importance of a golf weight training program will continue to rise in the years to come.

Thursday, 1 April 2010

Where Was Golf First Invented?

Golf was invented in Scotland, and dates back to at least the 17th century, possibly even earlier – the name is believed to come from an Old German word, ‘gowf’, meaning a club or bat. The oldest golf course in the world is Musselburgh Links, but there are many vary old golf courses in Scotland, most famously St. Andrews. It is believed that the reason golf courses today have 18 holes is that St. Andrews only had room for nine, but the early golfers decided to play the course through twice each time.

Golf’s Scottish origin is a matter of some controversy among the Dutch, the Chinese and the French, who all claim that they had much similar club-and-ball games much longer ago. While there is no doubting they did, however, it seems clear that there is more to golf than just the club and the ball, and that golf as it is played today was at least perfected, if not entirely invented out of thin air, in Scotland.

Since then, little has really changed about the game. The grass has got shorter and smoother, as lawnmower technology has improved, the wooden clubs have been replaced with metal ones, and the balls have been improved by the addition of rubber, but that’s about it.

It wasn’t until the 20th century, however, that golf really started to spread all over the world. There were no golf courses in China until 1985, but now there are more than 200. Since the Second World War, golf has become insanely popular in Japan, even though they don’t really have the space to build the courses – they have become pioneers of indoor and virtual golf. Today, it is thought that there are over 30,000 golf courses in the world – that’s well over a hundred for every country, although some countries obviously have far more courses than others, particularly in the English-speaking world.