Putting success


Nothing will improve your game more than being able to put successfully,especially within the last 10 feet of the hole.

How can you improve your putting? Practice! Practice! Practice!

Many people go to the driving range before they go out on the course. Although this is helpful, improving our putting will normally lower our score a lot more than being able to drive an extra 20 yards. With this in mind I’d like to suggest that you spend a little time on the practice  greens putting before you head out on the links.
Most of the world’s great golfers have very little wrist action in their putting. This is because the fewer moving parts in the stroke the less likelihood of an error if. If there’s too much wrist action we generally can’t control our putt as well and we become quite streaky.

So to putt well you must first have a good grip and what I suggest is a reverse overlap grip in which the index finger of the left hand is placed over the uppermost two fingers of the right hand this locks your hands together and puts all your fingers of the right hand on the grip the club.Your left thumb will then point directly down the shaft.
This may not work for everybody but it is a way to give you control of the putter. No matter how you hold it make sure that your thumbs are aligned down the very center of the putter grip. This puts your palms in the position essential for control. When your palms are correctly aligned perpendicular to thedirection of the putt all you have to worry about is making sure that they work  properly.

You also want to have the correct putting position. Stand with your eyes directly over the ball so that you can hit it solidly. You don’t want to bend a lot from the waist , and you can accomplish this by standing closer to the ball. Then when you’ve assumed the most comfortable posture make sure your eyes are directly over the ball, that the putter blade is aligned properly – square to the line of the putt.

The ball should be played either off your left heel or your toe.

The only parts that move in the putting stroke are your shoulders arms and hands. Everything else and especially your head remains perfectly still. Looking up too soon to see where the ball is heading is the prime cause of an inconsistent stroke.

Again make sure that you keep your palms square to the line of the putt during both the backstroke and the follow through. The reason for this is if the palms remains square to the line of the putt then the putter blade also will.
Don’t raise the putter when you make your back swing. Keep the blade low to the ground during both the backstroke and the follow-through. This produces a consistent solid contact and the putter face will strike the ball squarely in the sweet spot.

Practice this before you start playing. Try to make the putter head brush the surface of the grass both on the backstroke and the follow-through.

Once you’ve developed your own style of putting, there are only two other things to think of:  the line and the speed you need to hit the ball.

Here are some drills that you can do in order to improve your putting.

1) Take your stand as you normally do with the ball off the toe of your left foot and about a foot in front of it or whatever is comfortable for you. I’m assuming you’re a right-handed golfer, however if you’re left-handed do the same thing just in front of your right foot.
Grip the base of the club’s grip with your left hand. The butt of the club now extends up your arm. Now take your right hand and wrap it around the end of the club and your arm. You’ll note that the club is now rigid, so that you don’t get any flex. Now practice putting like this. At first it may seem awkward, however it trains you to be able to hold the putter rigid and eliminates the tendency to use wrist action.

2) Another drill that can improve your putting is to use one hand. Put your left hand behind your back and practice putting with your right hand only.When you’re doing this practice make sure that you keep your right hand at the base of the grip of the club club. As you stroke a few pots with this one-handed method you’ll notice that the putter blade swings through unrestricted.

3) Now use both your hands. If you have any tendency to use your wrists to snap the club you’ll notice it right away and be able to correct it.

4) Another similar drill is to putt with your left hand. Again place the right hand behind your back and use only the left. This can be helpful in eliminating any tendency to steer the putter blade toward the hole.

When you practice with either the left-hand or your right hand alone you’ll be amazed at the accuracy that you develop and the number of putts that you drop.

The bottom line is: to be a consistently good putter you need to PRACTICE PRACTICE  PRACTICE.

By being able to consistently make putts especially from 10 feet or less you will be able to drop your score  considerably.

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Beginner Golf Tips and Ideas


Golf tips

Golf tips

Getting into the game of golf is one you will find exciting. As you prepare to start your new hobby there are a few things you may want to get, do, see, read and find out about the game of golf. Golf is all about hitting a ball, across the landscape, to a hole. The fewer times you hit the ball, the lower your score is going to be. The lower your score is going to be, the better you are at playing the game of golf. Golf can be difficult in the rain, in the very hot sun, and when you are visiting a new golf course, but that is all about part of the fun of the game – the challenge!

If you are able to walk or ride the course, you are able to play the game. If you can swing the club and you can see where the ball is going you are able to play the game. Many who can’t walk well, that can’t hear well, that even have problems in standing for long periods that are able to play golf, and play the game well. Golf is a game about ’seeing’ the invisible lines, where you want to hit the ball, and how hard you want to hit the ball. You will find that golf is one game that doesn’t have to be hurried so you can enjoy your time out on the green, while visiting with friends at the same time.

Watch what others are doing, and how they are standing while you are waiting your turn. This is going to be important as you watch you will learn how to stand, where to aim, and where to look for those imaginary lines that will lead the way to the green where you want your ball to eventually land. As you are able to get more balls on the green, and improve your abilities to hit the ball into the hole you are going to lower your over all scores.

Think about where your feet are while you swing your feet should be planted in the same place every time you are going tee off. Improve your stance by paying attention to how and where you are placing your feet. What the feet of those who are golfing around you for ideas on what might improve your stance the most.

Elbows should always be in as you are swinging. As you swing, you want your elbows to be in towards your body so you are keeping your motion tight. Without keeping your motion tight, your ball could go off into the woods as you hack the ball.

Pay attention to your swing and the full motion will come in a circle as you learn more about how to play the golf game.

Posted in Blog | 17 Comments

Golf Equipment – Gearing Up For Golf


Gearing up for Golf

Gearing up for Golf

Are you interested in perfecting your swing? Do you know what a handicap means in Golf? If your answer to both these questions is an emphatic yes, it is time you got yourself some good quality golf equipment. Every golf enthusiast wants to shop for the best golf equipment he can buy. After all, top quality golf equipment means that you will also have a great game on your hand, and will enjoy your game more.

One of the most important aspects of gearing up for golf is however, to buy the best golf equipment. And it can be even more daunting if you are a beginner, young, and with a tight budget. The trick is to find out where you can get the best deals and best bargains on your golf equipment and know just when to buy it.

The best place to start the research is the internet. Without a doubt, the virtual world has a huge list of websites that offer latest, quality, and best golf equipment. Much like any other sports, golf requires proper gear in order to play the game properly. This is our attempt to help you gear up for golf with basic golf equipment.

Before we move on to the basic stuff you require for your first golf game, we would like to tell you that the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, and the United States Golf Association govern the rules of this game. Both these organizations have been active for many decades and are responsible for the golf competitions as well as accrediting the equipment. So when you shop for golf equipment, look for golf balls, carts, bags, and clubs that have been approved by these two principal organizations.

Golf Clubs/Balls

The most important equipment you will require is a set of well-made golf balls and clubs though these may be expensive but you are bound to have a better and more enjoy game by investing in them at the start. Golf balls are tiny, dimpled balls that are driven by golf clubs. The dimples on their outer surface allow them to reach far from a distance. Then of course, there is the golf club. Also known as golf driver, these come in different types. Since different golf courses have different landscapes, different types of golf clubs are necessary to ensure the proper drive. Pro level golfers have at least one to two bags of golf clubs to meet their golf needs. Nevertheless, most golf stores and sports equipment stores sell most of the different types of golf clubs. You can pick up golf clubs in sets or as a single piece.

Golf Bag

It is crucial that you protect your golf equipment. That is why you need a good golf bag, and golf club cover. A golf bag comes in handy as it can hold all your golf clubs in one place making it easy for the caddy you carry all the clubs together. Golf bag also hold golf balls and is designed to hold a water bottle, an extra shirt, or your regular shoes. Now a golf club cover covers your golf club from one end to the other. This helps maintain the health of your golf clubs and prevent unwanted scratches and dents. A badly maintained golf club will prevent you from making a good drive. Therefore, it is very important that you cover your golf clubs with covers.

Golf Shoes

Another important piece of golf equipment you must invest in is a pair of good golf shoes. Golf shoes are not your typical shoes. They are designed to walk on grass, the types where golf is played. Golf shoes have pointed rubber under soles, which helps them grip the earth and grit under your feet, thereby avoiding unnecessary shaking, or moving. A firm grip on the ground allows you to hit the ball in the right direction without shaking. If you intend to play pro-level golf then the importance of investing in a good pair of golf shoes cannot be stressed enough. Choose a strong and sturdy but comfortable pair of shoes that are good for your feet because golf involves much walking – from one hole to another – and if your golf shoes are uncomfortable, you will be finding it hard to concentrate on your game.

The Tee

Every golf course provides you the tee and the golf ball. The tee is a “T” shapes pin that can holds the ball when punched into the ground. The tee is used in ‘teeing off’ or starting your first drive and therefore, the name.

Remember, while many specialty shops offer golf equipment, you can also source good quality golf equipment from the Internet. Read more on the type, brands, and other parameters before buying any golf equipment.

Posted in Blog | 3 Comments

How To Improve Your Golf Swing


Improve your swing

Improve your swing

Golf is one of the few games in the whole world where less is more. In other words, the lower you score, the better your chances of winning. As any seasoned golfer will tell you, the key to winning a golf game is all in the swing. As a rookie, the first fact you should know is that a better SWING will make you a better golfer.

It is pertinent for a beginner to first learn the mechanics of a golf swing but it should be the very last thing on his mind when actually playing golf. To put it simply, a golfer swings from memory and not from conscious thought. As a matter of fact, the only time you should be paying attention to your swinging technique is when you are learning a new motion and are practicing it till you can convert it into a natural action.

When you are out on the driving range, you should put in a conscious effort to fine-tune your swing by observing other, more experienced players. However, when you are out on the golf course playing a game, all your thoughts should be focused on where you would like for the ball to land.

When you are taking your stance, pick out a spot on course, preferably on the green or the fairway and concentrate on hitting the ball so that it lands in the targeted region. While you do this, make sure the thought of how to swing the club doesn’t lead your mind astray. Once you are successful in keeping your eyes firmly on the target, you will be able to block out any thoughts related to the technique of your swing.

Of course, like everything else in life, this is a lot easier said than done. It is almost mental torture to not think about one’s swing when swinging. And anyone who has tried to train their mind as well as their swing at the same time will vouch for this.

It is a fact that nine out of ten golfers have a very hard time keeping their mind off their swing before hitting the ball. Their minds are torn between thinking about where they want the ball to land and how best to swing to get the best leverage. And most of the time, golfers give in to the latter.

So, you can understand that learning this new method of target golfing isn’t exactly a walk in the park and will take some time before you can get used to it. So, remember to practice this technique for about a month or so, preferably on the practice tee and soon you will see the fantastic difference it makes in your golf game out on the course.

Posted in Blog | 28 Comments

The Right Golf Equipment For Your Game


Chose the right equipment

Chose the right equipment

You have to be careful when you are purchasing your golf equipment as your game depends on the type of equipment you choose. Different people may require different type of golf equipment. There is no common product which can deal with the needs of all the players at the same time.

Purchasing golf equipment can really be an enormous task. When you go to the market to purchase golf equipment, you can find a large variety of golf products, of different shapes, sizes and within different price ranges. If you are a novice at the sport of golf, you would certainly have no idea as to which product is the best. Further adding to your confusion is the claim of each and every seller that his bargain is the best.

Hence, the most important task for you would be to do a bit of market research regarding the brands and prices of golf equipment available. You must clearly understand which products have lesser quality than their value states and which products are of lesser price but still provide you good quality. You can obtain this information by talking to some people who play golf on a regular basis. Ask them which golf equipment they prefer and their reasons for making the choice.

Another very popular tool to find information regarding golf equipment these days is the internet. There are websites and discussion forums which enable the golf players to interact with one another. Any issues regarding the pros and cons of particular golf equipment can be obtained on these sites. The reviews posted on these sites regarding golf equipment help you obtain information about the flaws present in the equipment and hence you can avoid purchasing it.

Shopping for your golf equipment on the internet is recommended these days for a variety of benefits that can be obtained from it. Firstly, information regarding each type of product can be obtained on the websites selling golf equipment. For instance, you can easily learn the importance of the length of the shaft and the material that it is made of in determining the effectiveness of the club. Pre-used golf equipment can also be found for sale on the internet.

Another important point is that these websites offer you the equipment at discounted prices and also offer to ship them home for you, making the total cost of the golf equipment less than that in the local stores.

Posted in Blog, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

4 Important Factors That Affect Your Golf Swing


/Factors that effect your swing

Factors that effect your swing

In the game of golf, every single player has a unique golf swing.

It is affected by their body strengths, their flexibility and the range of motion. A golf swing that might work great for someone, might not work at all for another person, even if they have similar type of body. Every golfer has to find the technique that suits him the best and produces the best result. Players that know exactly what will happen when the club hits the ball and what factors they have to take into account will be able to use their body effectively to create a consistent and powerful golf swing every single time.
Something that can benefit all golfers and make an immediate improvement on their game is a greater understanding of all the factors that affect the golf ball when you hit it with the golf club. Knowing all these factors and the effect they have on the ball will enable you to better understand what is happening at the moment of impact and to better predict the flight of the golf ball. Only then you can start making small adjustments and see how they affect the flight path of the ball on your next shots. The flight of the golf ball will tell you whether the change you made to your swing was beneficial or not. After that it is just a matter of adjusting these changes to get the best result possible.

There are for crucial factors taking place on the moment of impact that determine the direction, speed and distance of the ball flight. The most important one is the angle of the clubface when it hits the ball, because it affects the initial direction and spin of the golf ball. The clubface must point directly to the target you have chosen and has to be perpendicular to the golf ball the moment it hits it, so the ball will fly down the course with no spin.

The second factor at the moment of impact is the angle of the clubhead with relation to the golf ball. There is the horizontal angle of impact and vertical angle of impact, both of which are combined to determine the initial direction of the ball and the height of the golf balls flight path. The horizontal angle of impact determines the initial direction that the ball will travel. The vertical angle of impact will determine how high the ball will fly. Too low or too high and you lose distance in your shot.

Thirdly, the clubface must hit the ball on the sweet spot. The sweet spot is the area on the face of the golf club that will transfer the power of your golf swing to the golf ball. Transferring this power effectively will maximize its potential and carry the ball far and straight down the course (as long as the angle of the clubface and the club head at the moment of impact are good).

Lastly, the fourth factor that is important at the moment of impact is the the club head. The speed of your golf swing will determine how much power you transfer to the golf ball and ultimately how far it will go when you hit it on the sweet spot. The speed or power of the golf swing is not dependent on muscles alone. Other factors such as body flexibility and range of motion affect how a golfer employs those muscles in creating a fluid smooth swing.

The golf swing is not just picking up a golf club and trying to blast the ball down the course. It is a combination of many factors that if you can interpret, you can influence by making adjustments to your swing. Knowing what causes the golf ball to travel as it does will allow you to improve your golf swing and gain distance and accuracy on your shots. However, knowing the cause that produces an effect, and affecting that cause to produce the desired effect are two different things, both of which can be learned over time and with practice.

Posted in Blog, Uncategorized | 32 Comments

Mental relaxation – EFT


To get the most enjoyment of the game we need to be relaxed in a good frame of mind.
When we had a bad shot we usually get frustrated and beat up on ourselves. This doesn’t solve the problem in fact most of the time it makes it worse. So what can we do to to relax and hit a better shot?

EFT or emotional freedom techniques can be one way to put us in a better frame of mind and help us to hit the perfect shot. What is EFT? It’s a technique that is something like acupuncture however you don’t stick needles in your body, rather you tap on the same points that acupuncture would use. This is the based on the principle that the founder Gary Craig stated “the cause of all negative emotion is a disruption in the bodies energy system”

For a better description of EFT and how it works here is a video that describes it.How to do EFT tapping

These techniques work! You can use them not only to improve your golf score but to improve your health, wealth, happiness and every other aspect of your life.

One of the best guides that I have found on how to use EFT can be found here!

Check out the arcticle I wrote describing how EFT can be used on the golf course.

 

Posted in Blog, Uncategorized | 3 Comments