Clubs | Golf Tips And Instructions

Golf Equipment and Supply

By Golf Staff on Tuesday, May 31st, 2011 | No Comments

Golf Equipment and Supply

When it comes to golf equipment, you have a lot of choices. There are multiple brands and styles of golf equipment that you can use, but it can be confusing as to what you really need to play a good game of golf. Let’s take a look at some of the equipment that most golfers consider essential.

Of course, your most important pieces of golf equipment are your clubs. You will want to take care to choose clubs that are suited to your style of golf. They should be easy to handle and designed toward your height. Beginners and experts alike should lean towards the lighter graphite shafts and titanium heads so that you have maximum forgiveness in the event of a bad shot.

You will want to have a full set of clubs. That means you’ll need a driver, a 3 wood, a 5 wood, a full set of irons (from 3 to 9), a sand wedge, and a putter. That’s the minimum. You can also add other clubs to your arsenal as you become more proficient at the game. You can include a 1 iron for fairway shots as well as a lob wedge for getting out of the deep rough.

The golf ball really can be a very important piece of golf equipment. Depending on what you are looking for, you can find balls that will improve your distance, your spin, or your performance. Look for balls that are a bit softer – like a balata. Also find a ball with lower compression – especially if you are a beginner.

If you’ve never given thought to your golf tees as part of your golf equipment, now’s the time to start. There are actually many types of tees that you can choose from – each with their own advantages. There are long tees when you need to have the ball teed up high, short tees for those tee box iron shots, and even three-pronged tees for stability. In fact, the three-pronged tee was the first type of golf tee that was used in the early years of golf.

If you like the idea of carrying your clubs around in one bundle, I guess you can just go ahead. However, a golf bag sure makes carrying your clubs around much easier. Plus, with a good golf bag, you can also carry your tees, your balls, some hand sanitizer, snacks, your cell phone, and anything else you think is necessary.

Because the golf swing requires a certain amount of stability, you will also want to add some golf shoes to your golf equipment list. Golf shoes have cleats on the bottom that allow you to maintain your footing while swinging. This can be so very important as you are moving your body to hit the ball. Golf shoes help you stay balanced and keep your feet “grounded” if you will.

How To Improve Golf Swing

By Golf Staff on Saturday, August 1st, 2009 | No Comments

If you’re like most other golfers then you probably are looking for a way to increase your enjoyment of the game by performing better. While it is tempting to blame a tough day out on the course on a lot of different factors, it ultimately comes back to you. A lack of consistency is usually the culprit for most golfers. Your golf swing is usually where most of your consistency problems probably stem from.

The golf swing is a very unnatural motion for our body. Also, because there are so many factors involved during a golf swing it’s easy to have problems. To improve golf swing, you have to know exactly what you are doing wrong. The best way to do that is to be sure that you are making a conscious effort to double check everything and think about every motion you are going to do before you execute it.

Over the course of time, you may have built bad habits into your golf swing that have become automatic. So, if you slow down your golf swing and really concentrate on everything that you are doing, you may be able to catch what you are doing wrong. A video camera can be your best friend to see what you’re doing wrong too.

Something else that can be affecting your swing is your clubs. If your clubs aren’t sized right for you, this can cause you problems. This doesn’t give you an excuse to run out and buy brand new golf clubs and expect all your problems to magically disappear. If you have your golf swing fundamentals down but are still having trouble, then you should go to your pro shop with your club. Have them check out your clubs and your swing. They should be able to tell you if there is some issue with your clubs.

Something else that can improve golf swing is to actually do some golf related exercises. If you strengthen the muscles involved with a golf swing, you’ll see improved results. You’ll be able to get more club head speed and hit the ball a lot further too.

Another way to improve golf swing is to just clear your mind before you take your shot. Sometimes this can be rather difficult. However, if you are feeling stress or pressure and worrying you’re going to mess up the shot, chances are you probably will. Do some deep breathing exercises before you swing your club. Instead of thinking about how you’re going to mess the shot up envision yourself swinging and hitting the ball perfectly and envision the ball flying high, straight, and far.

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How To Improve My Golf Swing

By Golf Staff on Wednesday, January 21st, 2009 | No Comments

How To Improve My Golf Swing With An Empty Box

Golfers use various training aids to improve their golf swing. Most of these can be purchased from the sporting good store but did you know that there is something you can use at home? Yes there is and this is the cardboard box where your golf clubs came in.

But before you learn how to use that in a driving range, don’t forget to stretch and warm up by hitting 15 balls with your 5 or 7 iron or wood.

Once your body is warmed up, set it up. To do that, put the cardboard box lengthwise towards the target because the objective of this aid is to let you hit the ball without hitting the box. This should be 5 to 6 inches away from the ball. If you don’t know how to do it, ask someone from the range to help.

To start, make a few practice swings and let the club brush softly against the ground without hitting the box. When you are ready put a ball and then fire away. Each time you hit the ball, try not to hit the box. If you do, just reset the box to its original position and try not to hit it again.

If you are able to hit a few balls without hitting the box consecutively, move the ball at least half an inch closer to the box. Once the distance between the club and box is about 1 to 2 inches, increase your swing speed to what you do usually.

For those who are able to do it, this means that your swing is within the zone. If not, this means that your swing is on the outside and this could have happened before or after impact. This can happen because you are not holding the club properly or your clubface is not aimed properly. Whichever the case, it is best to consult a professional who can analyze the situation and tell you the best course of action.

Should you be able to hit the ball without coming into contact with the box then it is time to remove it and then practice swinging without the aid. If your shots are going outside again, put it back so you can recall how this is done.

There are other golf swings aids aside from the box to help you improve your golf swing and you will have to shell out more than $10 just to use it.

The nice thing about the box is that it won’t hurt your pocket because should this be damaged and have a lot of holes. You can throw it away and then find a box with similar specifications so you can continue practicing your golf swings. One alternative is a soft, long and circular foam that is used as a pool toy.

Golf Swing Mechanics

By Golf Staff on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 | No Comments

Basic Golf Swing Mechanics

Golfers everywhere try to replicate the "perfect" golf swing to improve their game in leaps and bounds, making shots effortless and very professional. However, one thing to note that there is no such thing as the perfect golf swing as there is only a perfect golf swing for each player. As our bodies were made differently, so should our mentality in swinging a golf club. By adhering to basic principles and practicing everyday, anyone can achieve perfection and hit the ball onto the green every single time.

A lot of golfers suffer from not being able to hit either their drivers or irons right at all, causing slices and other problems with their swing. Some tend to have a “to blame” list: the weather, the slope, too much overtime affecting their game, or that they’re just warming up. One thing that golfers ignore is the fact that basic motions are always the best way to go.

Here are six basic principles that can improve your golf swing mechanics.

1. Alignment is crucial in hitting your target square. The fundamental concept behind a proper golf swing is hitting the ball dead center, which means that alignment is the most important basic in a proper golf swing.

2. Make sure that you have a comfortable stance that will let you rotate your body in the most effortless way possible. Think of your spine as an axis and find your center of gravity by pushing your backside out. Once you achieve that comfortable stance, then you should have less problems.

3. Always keep your eyes at what you are trying to hit. This has got to be the most ignored rule as it seems so simple. However, this definitely is the most important rule to keep in mind as you have to see what you are supposed to hit in the first place the actually hit. This is all about common sense, so do it.

4. Be patient and keep your mind concentrated on your goal. Do this by thinking smoothly and having your feet planted firmly on the ground. This is not about what happens next or what you did in the past. This is about the present, and you should always concentrate on what is now to achieve anything significant in the future. This way, you can achieve proper rhythm in your golf swing.

5. A good way of thinking is "sweep" for woods and "pinch" for irons. This may sound strange, but it can help you with your game as these are how clubs are designed. An iron is supposed to pinch the ball off the ground, while a driver is supposed to sweep it off the tee.

6. Humming a rhythm can help you keep your mind away from the golf swing and more on hitting the ball. These two things sound similar, but there is a fundamental difference. Thinking about the golf swing is a complication as it is more about technical aspects of the game, while hitting the ball is just the basic concept that the game is about.

Golf Swing Problems

By Golf Staff on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 | No Comments

Golf Swing Problems - The Making of a Bad Golf Swing

The perfect golf swing is the most important thing for a golfer of any handicap and experience. Greenhorns and veterans of the game strive to make their golf swings a little better than last weekend's 18 holes. There are a lot of instructional videos and booklets that are available to improve a golfer's swing but none of them will work if you fail to understand some of the basic concepts that cause golf swing problems.

The Set-up

The key element of a bad golf swing is sometimes not the golf swing itself but the most of the time it is the golfer's set-up. The set-up may pertain to different things like the golfer's clubs, his accessories, the clothes and etcetera. Some golfers think that a good set-up can make up for the lousy swing.

One of the most crucial mistakes that a golfer can make is underestimating the time spent on the set-up than the game. Some even think that they can have all the names in golf with them and just whack the ball silly. It may have worked for Happy Gilmore but it sure won't work for Average Joe and his lousy swing because Happy Gilmore is in a movie and Average Joe is not.

One of the most important things that you should remember is that the set-up should not pertain to the clothes you wear and the clubs you carry, but it should mean the preparation for your swing.

Bad Posture can kill your game

If you are one of those golfers that overlook their posture, you should think of considering a new sport because golf is not for you. It is important in golf that you know when your posture is bad. The key element of a good swing is the proper alignment of your neck and head. The straight line that is formed by your head and neck will dictate the force of the drive that you can deliver to the ball and flight. Once you are hunched over the ball it will move to either sides or fall short of the green no matter how hard you hit it.

Another important factor is balance. You should have good balance to deliver a good amount of forward thrust to your swing. And unbalanced footing usually hinders a golfer from delivering the full impact of the clubhead motion to the ball. This is because of the uneasiness that the golfer feels about his stance. Delivering a solid blow usually means your footing should be sure. Posture and balance problems can easily be corrected with practice and good habits. Once your muscle memory is comfortable with the position you want to achieve you will have no problem at all.

Chicken Wings

The Perfect Golf Swing

By Golf Staff on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 | No Comments

The Perfect Golf Swing

People who have the privilege of watching professional golfers at work may have an idea of what the perfect golf swing should look and feel like. The reason why some people sought that perfect swing is that the game they play has become more and more popular around the world. Golf has been around for quite some time and it started out as a quiet little game played by only a few people with a lot of time on their hands.

It became one of the most popular mainstream sports in the 1980's. People back then were debating over the perfect golf swing. One of the best golfers was Nick Faldo. He was the man described as having a mechanical like swing. In the 1990's, people said that Faldo had the perfect swing. Before people started declaring Faldo as the undisputed king of swing, people also mentioned Ben Hogan or Jack Nicklaus as having the perfect golf swing.

Up to the present day, people who are avid fans of the sport still argue about the best swing and perfect swing in golf. Nowadays, the name Tiger Woods figure in debates all across the country. They say that because of the success Woods is enjoying in the sport. He must be swinging consistently every time. Arguably, Woods does have a regimen that helps him in his golf swing but it may be too cocky to say that Tiger Woods have developed the perfect swing.

The drive to achieve the perfect golf swing has broken and destroyed the golf games of amateurs and professionals alike. Some of them have become obsessed with the perfection of their swings that they have totally forgotten the other aspects and skill sets of the game. Some people have spent almost all of their free time watching videos, reading instructional guides and basically listening to any body that can give them tips on improving and perfecting their swings. In the 90's, because of the mainstream success of golf and the different golfers that were in the circuit, a lot of guides, instructional materials and special classes that strictly cater to golf and the perfection of the swing.

For years some golfers couldn't even break an egg because of the different tips and hints they have read, tried and incorporated to their game. Most of the time the different tips and guides from the different materials that they have were contrasting in principle and execution. This resulted in the inconsistent performance of players that eventually led to the decline of the sport which caused frustration in many players. Because of the obsession of some of the golfers to perfect their golf swings most of them performed poorly in ranking games and tournaments. This caused a significant decline in the golfing public in the late 90's.

Golf Address Position

By Golf Staff on Monday, January 19th, 2009 | No Comments

The Feet

As we move through the golf address position section I want you to wrap your head around the idea that we are going to construct a building. The building is four to six feet tall and not very wide. Of course I am referring to the human body. The first place you would start is the foundation, so let’s talk about the feet first. Let’s see how far apart they are supposed to be and exactly where we place the weight once we get the feet planted.

The feet have to support the upper body and once the golf club, the arms, and the body get moving in the downswing there is a lot of force that the foundation has to support.

1. The feet have to be just slightly further apart than shoulder width. This distance is far enough apart to maintain a solid base.

shoulder width

1. Slightly More Than Shoulder Width

As the club begins to build up speed and the left hip makes the first move down the target line before it turns backward, the width of the stance will hold up just fine. If you have a tendency to lose your balance, your stance might be to narrow.

too narrow

Too Narrow

After impact the golf club swings back around your body and up towards your left shoulder. As the golf club comes to the end of the swing your weight has moved from the right side over to the left side. The width of your feet will accommodate this move. Your weight needs to be evenly distributed between your toes and heels.

The Knees

From the feet we are going to move up the building to the knees. The knees have played a huge role in most sports- golf is no exception. The knees are going to come into play in two different parts of the golf swing.

The first part is the address position.

2. As you address the golf ball your knees will have a slight flex in them.

slightly fixed

2. Knees are Slightly Fixed

You are NOT going to “sit” on your knees and they are NOT locked straight.

For a long time instructors taught students to have the feeling you were “sitting” on a bar stool. I always believed we should have been teaching people to feel as though you were “leaning” back on a stool. The last thing you would ever want to do is sit in golf. Sitting will cause the golf club to swing too level to the ground in the downswing, and you will have a tendency to hit the ground behind the golf ball.

Straight

Sitting

Before you start to “straighten” your knees to a “locked” position, which is just as wrong as sitting, let me give you a bit of advice. The knee position is what I refer to as “slightly” flexed. Because we are all different heights, I cannot give you an exact degree you should flex your knees- however; if you simply relax your knees, you will find the correct amount of bend on your own.

Correct Golf Grip

By Golf Staff on Monday, January 19th, 2009 | No Comments

Left Hand

When you pick up a golf club your hands are the only part of your body that touch the club. For many years the hands (grip) have often been referred to as the steering wheel of the golf swing. I don’t believe this could be more true. Gripping the golf club correctly makes playing this game a much better experience.

Gripping the golf club at first glance does not seem like a very difficult thing to do, however, it can take a lot of trial and error to figure out the correct grip for you. This is a very interesting aspect to the game of golf. Gripping the golf club is a VERY INDIVIDUAL thing for everyone that plays golf. There are no two grips that are alike. You can only find what works for you through hitting golf balls. I can and will guide you, but ultimately, results on the golf course speak louder than me. There are several golf grip pictures to help you better understand the instructions.

1. Place the golf club up in your left hand, the golf club goes across the left palm- from the base of the forefinger to the pad above the pinky.

2. Now, hold the handle steady with your left fingers and wrap your palm around the top of the grip.

1. Club Goes Across the Left Palm

2. Wrap Palm Around Top of the Grip

The grip does more to effect actual ball flight than anything else in the game. That’s why we’ve started with the grip. It’s the foundation of the swing, and a quick fix for those of you that have undesirable ball flight patterns.

The more you grip the golf club in the fingers, the faster you can swing the golf club and the quicker the clubface will close. If you grip the golf club further up in the palm, the slower the golf club will travel and the longer it takes for the clubface to close. If you are slicing the golf ball, you will want to move the grip more into the fingers (the base of the fingers), if you are hooking the golf ball, you will want to move the grip more into the palm area (higher up in the left hand).

Right Hand

Now that the left hand is in place you are going to place the right hand on the golf club.

3. With your right hand on the side of your right leg, slowly bring it towards the bottom of the golf club.

4. The right hand will be placed on the golf club more in the fingers than the palm. You will simply fold the right hand around the fingers of the left.

5. BOTH PALMS MUST ALWAYS FACE EACH OTHER. It is not a difficult thing to do but it is mandatory, no gray area.

Top Golf Courses In The World

By Golf Staff on Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 | No Comments

Top Golf Courses In The World

There are literally hundreds and hundreds of golf courses all around the world. With the popularity of the game rising, you can find golf courses in even the smallest of towns – or, at the very least within a short driving distance. Have you ever wondered what golf courses are ranked as the top golf courses in the world? Here’s a short list in no particular order:

* Augusta National; Augusta, Georgia – Home to the Masters Tournament, Augusta is one of the most beautiful and popular golf courses to play. It was planned and designed by golf legend Bobby Jones and architect Alister Mackenzie. It is a very exclusive golf club and open only to members and their guests.

* Pebble Beach; Pebble Beach, California – This has been a perennial favorite golf course among pros and amateurs alike. It hosts an annual celebrity pro-am tournament that brings all sorts of celebrities to play with pro golfers. It is a public course, but be warned, it isn’t cheap to play here!

* Shinnecock Hills; Southampton, New York – This is an old golf club with old traditions and is probably one of the oldest US golf course design dating back to 1891. It is a members only club as well.

* Pinehurst Resort; Pinehurst, North Carolina – This is an old golf course as well with rich tradition as being one of the favorites of golfers everywhere. Pinehurst has played host to two US opens and is a public course.

* Prairie Dunes; Hutchison, Kansas – Set in the Midwest, this golf course has proven to be quite a challenging 18 holes with numerous sand traps and wind playing a factor in the game. It is, however, a rather exclusive club, so you’ll have to work extra hard to get on the link at Prairie Dunes.

* St. Andrews; St. Andrews, Scotland – This is where golf started and the tradition in rich on this beautiful golf course in this amazing country. There are six golf courses associated with the St. Andrews Links Organization including “The Old One” where golf was born.

* Royal County Down; Newcastle, N. Ireland – This is one of the oldest golf clubs in Ireland and is a great golf course for anyone who is looking for a challenging round in a breathtakingly beautiful place. Be prepared to walk, though, they don’t allow “buggies” on this course.

* Muirfield; Gullane, Scotland – This golf course is one of the oldest in the world and provides challenge for golfers of all experience levels. It has played host to several different tournaments and championships over the years and remains one of the most sought out trips for golfers.

You certainly have your choice of golf courses all around the world depending on how far you want to travel. But don’t forget to look right in your own backyard. Some of the small local golf courses can present just as much challenge.

Ping Golf Club

By Golf Staff on Sunday, March 30th, 2008 | No Comments

Ping Golf Club

For over forty years, the Ping Company has been manufacturing golf equipment that is both innovative and practical for both the casual and professional golfer. Since 1959, Ping Golf has been dedicated to one idea: innovation and design can produce a set of golf clubs that maximize the enjoyment of the game for all.

Karsten Solheim invented his 1-A putter, manufactured in his garage. He named it Ping for the sound it makes when it hits the ball. Thus, a company was born. Solheim was frustrated with his putting game as the putters of the era didn’t give him what he felt he needed in his short game. Once the 1-A putter hit the general market, they became so popular, Solheim quit his job at General Electric and began Ping Golf.

Solheim decided not to stop at putters and developed a set of irons dubbed “69” which he considered to be a good golf score. Solheim continued to experiment with the effects of good heel-toe weighting in his irons and also milled a cavity into the steel back of the irons for added forgiveness. Ping golf was growing by leaps and bound in the golf industry.

In 1966, Ping golf experienced possibly the greatest even of their company’s history. Solheim had an idea for a new putter. After he finalized the design – originally sketched on the dust cover of a 78 rpm record, he needed a name for the club. His wife suggested “answer” since it would give golfers an answer to their putting problems. It was shortened to “Anser” to fit on the club itself.

The Ping Anser would go on to be the most influential putter in golf while setting the standard for what is considered to be the conventional putter. It has racked up 500 professional golf wins making it the “winningest” putter in golf history. The Anser had a cavity back low center of gravity that provided superior feel for golfers of all abilities.

Ping golf faced a major obstacle at the end of 1966 as the USGA outlawed all Ping putters other than the Answer for tournament and handicapped play. This decision was made because the USGA felt the other Ping models had a special bend in the shaft under the grip that was thought to give players a special advantage in the putting stroke.

Of course, Ping survived and went on to become a premier manufacturer of golf equipment that is widely used on the professional tours as well as by amateurs all over the world. Ping golf has proven to be one of the powerhouses when it comes to golf equipment and it will probably remain so for a long time.