Posted by Marita on 6 enero 2012
Everyone wants to learn how to shoot lower scores but they do not want to practice. The key is to learn to practice smart and know how much practice you need to play at your best. Sometimes if you practice too much you can get worse since you get physically and mentally burned out so you do need to get rest and time off but on days that you do practice be sure to stay focused and put the time in on the range and practice greens. For most people if you want to shoot in the 80′s and occasionally in the 70′s then you will want to put in at least an hour hitting balls, chipping and putting and do it around 3 times a week.
Focus on the short game:
Remember that the short game is what accounts for at least 60 percent of your scores in most rounds of golf so it makes good sense that you want to spend at least half your practice time working on shots inside 120 yards. Keep in mind that when you are great at the short game this will give you greater confidence with the longer clubs since you will not be afraid of mishits as you know you can recover well most of the time. Fear results in tension which then further results in poor shots so it is important to eliminate fear as much as possible when you are about to hit any golf shot.
Putting is a big part of the game of golf and in order to become a great putter you need to learn how to think well on the greens and also how to master a certain putting technique. Do not fall into the trap of constantly changing putters or putting styles as this will lead to inconsistency in your game. If you watch the pros on tv you will realize that they use many different styles so you should try a few different techniques but once you find one approach you like make sure to stick with it long term. Reading greens can seem like a difficult challenge however the key is to take your time with each putt and then come up with a decisive read. Do not doubt yourself about the read of a putt when you are about to hit it. If you find doubt creeping in then you need to step back and get back that decisive frame of mind again.
Effective course management is another way you can quickly learn to reduce your scoring. Having an overly aggressive approach on every hole can cost you a lot of unnecessary strokes. It is often better to take a more conservative strategy and keep the ball in play in the fairways off the tees as this will make it much easier to shoot low scores. On some holes you may find that the pin is tucked in a tight corner next to a bunker or close to a water hazard, in this case it is usually a good idea to just aim for the middle of the green and accept par as a good score on such a hole.
Kenneth is an author and webmaster. Improve your game by using our golf handicap tracker to help you monitor your scores and practice habits so you can get better faster. Also learn effective golf putting tips to help you reduce your scores more quickly.
golfers world | golf tips
Posted by Marita on 2 enero 2012
Golfers are lucky in that, prior to hitting the ball, they have an unlimited (though do not take that too literally!) amount of time in which to prepare themselves.
For instance, you may have the best tennis backhand in the world but if you are not in the right position on the court to hit the ball as it comes to you, then that ability is irrelevant.
Please do not underestimate the importance of a good address position in golf. If the static part of the game is wrong, then the swing will undoubtedly be adversely affected. The beauty of attaining a good set-up is that it can be, and indeed in my opinion is, best practised indoors in front of a mirror, where you can see exactly what you are doing.
One simple fact to remember in golf is that what we are doing and what we feel we are doing are very often two entirely different things. So let’s look at what a good address position consists of.
The left hand
Your hands are your sole contact with the club, and their job is to control the clubface, and to return it squarely back to the ball at impact. Most beginners find the correct grip feels far from natural and tend to grip the club in a manner that feels comfortable, but which is, in fact, incorrect.
A good grip does not guarantee that you will be a good golfer, but a poor grip means that you will have to make compensations in your swing and you will never get the best out of yourself, so do take time to acquire what I believe is one of the most important fundamentals of golf.
With the clubface square to the target, position the grip so that it sits under the pad at the heel of the hand and lays diagonally across the palm resting in the forefinger. The end of the grip should not dig into your palm, so allow about a quarter of an inch to extend beyond your palm. This will mean your little finger will be about an inch from the end of the grip.
Now close the fingers around the grip, and position the thumb just to the right of centre. Do not stretch your thumb down the shaft as this will cause tension in the muscles at the front of the forearm. The last three fingers, rather than the thumb and forefinger, should provide most of the pressure. This will place the club in the palm and the fingers of the left hand, providing a very secure and snug fit.
Hold the club up in front of you and you will see that two to two-and-a-half knuckles are visible, and that the ‘V’ formed by your thumb and forefinger points to the right side of your face, approximately to your eye.
To test if your grip is correct hold the club out horizontally in front of you, and release the thumb and last three fingers. If your grip is correct the club will now balance under the heel of your hand and in the crook of your forefinger. If you have placed the club too much in the centre of your palm rather than diagonally across it, the club will probably fall to the ground.
golfers world | golf tips
Posted by Marita on 30 diciembre 2011
A Christmas day tradition in many families is to go for a walk sometime during the day. Sometimes a stroll is taken before returning indoors to face a big meal, or alternatively afterwards, so that a few calories can be walked off! It’s just nice to take the time to walk and talk and enjoy a relaxing stroll in the fresh air, without pressure. It’s peaceful. It’s quality family time.
Golfing on Christmas day provides a slight twist to the theme. It’s not always quite so relaxing! That said, whether golf is relaxing or not does depend upon your personality. I always enjoy playing golf, no matter how my game is. But for some people it can be a frustrating experience if that little while ball isn’t responding as desired. And if one person in the party isn’t happy, his or her frustration can ruffle everyone else’s feathers as well.
I haven’t had the opportunity to play golf on Christmas day for several years now, but I remember the joy of being on an almost empty course and loving it. Last time I played on Christmas day, it was on a bright, sunny, crisp and almost frosty morning. It was spectacularly good weather for the North of England for that time of year, and something almost unheard of happened…there was no wind!
There we were, two couples, playing golf on our own seemingly private course, having an absolute ball! Ok, so I have to admit it really was too cold to play more than nine holes without suffering from frostbite. But it was so much fun. Afterwards we all went home and embarked upon eating out traditional British Christmas day meal.
And so I found myself wondering this Christmas how many people played golf? And where did they play and who with? Who enjoyed it and who didn’t really appreciate the experience?
Everyone should enjoy golf, no matter how his or her game “pops out” on the day. Golf is more than just a game. It is truly a privilege to be able to walk upon a beautiful manicured golf course, out in the open, to have the opportunity to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of nature, to breathe in the fresh air. It is a privilege to have good friends to spend time with. It is a privilege to have the time to play this game.
It is also a privilege to have the opportunity to learn and grow through the experience of traversing the challenges that golf poses to the human psyche. It is a very “levelling” game indeed!
Golf teaches us a lot so long as we allow it to do so. I played with a friend today who confesses to having felt frustrated when she was first playing golf and then quickly learning to respond with a more appropriate mindset. She now enjoys every round of golf, no matter what happens, and truly appreciates the beauty of this game.
I’m sure we have all entered that zone of frustration. The key is to move through it and then to erect barriers to prevent it from revisiting you and disturbing your emotional equilibrium. I suspect that many golfers begin a new year with a resolution to improve their attitude towards golf. Everyone can do this so long as they make a commitment to do so. Golf hypnosis can be a very helpful aid in achieving this goal.
golfers world | golf tips
Posted by Marita on 26 diciembre 2011
As a beginner golf player, the very first thing that you need to do before even getting the golf supplies is to gather golf information. Since you are in the starting point of your possible golfing career, then you must first gather some data before you get started with buying golf clubs, golf balls and such. Going on impulsive shopping is common for many people but when it comes to golf, not everyone can literally afford to do this. Golf is an expensive sport, golf clubs and golf balls or even golf bags do not come easy nor does it come cheap. The essential basic equipment that is needed in golf is of course golf clubs.
Golf clubs are a bit difficult to buy because they are really expensive and they often come in sets. So, the one of the most affordable things to do is to befriend a golf expert or someone who has been playing golf for quite some time or anyone who has enough experience to share some information with you and teach you the do’s and don’ts of golf. You may want bring that person along when you have finally decided to buy golf stuffs so that he or she can guide you to the affordable and reasonable materials that will be of your benefit.
Another thing you need to remember is to know the basic dos and don’ts of golf. Gather enough information about golf because you are still a beginner and you still have a lot to learn. The first do that you should know when it comes to golf is that you must give yourself enough time to warm up and stretch. Golf also requires warm up and stretching, remember that you will be carrying and holding heavy golf clubs, and you must have the right grip when doing so, so with that being said you really don’t want your hands and fingers to cramp up. So give your body the necessary warm up that is required.
The next helpful information that you need to know is to place your hands in front of the club to make sure that you will be able to make proper and correct flawless crisp swings. Having the proper grip and hand position in golf is important. Your grip should not be too loose or too tight, it must have the exact amount of pressure in it in order for your swing to be good. Once you have perfected this, it will be easier for you to make great shots and swings.
When it comes to the don’ts in golf, you should also know that in playing golf, you should not warm up in every golf club. It would be really annoying for you and your friends if you start warming up each time you change your golf club, and it is also time consuming. You might waste your time on changing clubs every once in a while and the planned activity for the day may go to waste.
These are just a few golf information that you need to know as a beginner. There are still a lot more that you need to know regarding golf. As a golfer, you should know the safety rules, dress codes and other golf related stuff. During your free time, you may want to brush up on your knowledge about golf. So that when you step on the greens, you would know what you basically need to do.
golfers world | golf tips
Posted by Marita on
Golf is arguably one of the few sports where equipment truly plays a big role. Though you can be a great golfer with only average equipment, you will need to be up to date with the latest technology to be able to really compete with the best. The sport of golf has been growing immensely and golf clubs are becoming even more expensive. The problem however is that most people tend to now know what they really need to be able to play golf better. If you are serious about playing the sport better, you will need to take these things into consideration regarding golf accessories.
Find The Best Wedges
This is arguably the clubs that plenty of people just tend to forget. Though the putter is the most important club in your bag, you can still play great with a cheap and old putter just as long as you know how to use it. With a wedge however, you will need to have the best technology possible to get the spin and loft angles perfectly. These are your scoring clubs and will allow you to really lower your score. Take your time with getting custom wedges that will be made just for you and your swing so that you will be able to get the most out of your wedge.
Gloves and Shoes
These are also two things that a lot of people tend to not focus on. When you have the right shoes and gloves, you will be able to really play the best golf possible. Since you will be comfortable, you will get to play golf without the worry of being uncomfortable at anytime during the round. Finding shoes that fit perfectly will also be important since this will be your only “connection” with the ground and so you need to be as stable and balanced as possible. Your gloves and shoes will be the most important golf accessories that you will own.
Invest in Good Golf Clubs
Let’s face it, having the best golf clubs can really help your game. You must however know where you need to focus on. You will need invest about $1500 when buying a new set of golf clubs and this will already include a top-notch driver and irons that will be tailored for you. Though there are plenty of brands out there that look enticing, it will be up to you to decide which brand is best or you. However, you will need to look at the different brands and see what they have to offer. By spending some time at your local golf store, you will realize how fun it is to shop for new clubs and to test them all out.
When you are looking for the best golf accessories for your game, you will need to understand that you will need to invest in your game. In order to really compete with the best, you will need to have amazing talent and the best golf accessories out there.
golfers world | golf tips
Posted by Marita on 21 diciembre 2011
The sand shot in golf is one of those shots that strikes fear into just about every high-handicap golfer playing the game. It is ironic that the high level and professional golfer doesn’t view the shot with any trepidation. In fact, professionals would much rather hit a golf ball from a bunker than deep rough, because they have greater control of the ball when it’s in sand. But it is necessary to know how to play this shot to have a complete golf short game.
So let’s break down the difference. First let’s mention that even though professionals are very comfortable executing the shot, statistically only a few can get up and down in two less more than 60% of the time. In other words, don’t set your expectations too high. Getting out in one and two putting should be considered success.
Next, remember the biggest difference with the sand shot as opposed to all other shots: in a green side bunker you should never hit the ball first. That goes contrary to all of our thinking on ball striking, and until you really feel confident hitting sand shots that thought process will probably work against you. So your aim should be as much as two inches behind the ball, drive the club through the sand and let the sand take the ball to the green.
It all sounds pretty simple, and there really is a lot (relative to a normal shot) of margin for error. The next step can get dicey, and that’s blasting the ball out. It really shouldn’t be thought of as finesse shot, because if you try to finesse the ball out you won’t have the force of the club head necessary to get through all that sand. Most high-handicap golfers get the club head to the sand, sense its resistance and stop. And of course the sand stays where it is, and so does the golf ball.
To make sure this never happens, make sure you remain balanced in your stance (that is why you dig your feet into the sand at set-up), and then accelerate through the sand, always finishing high. Although some instruction will say to have a square stance to the ball, for me especially on shorter shots I open my stance. This makes it easier to accelerate through the ball, as you won’t lock the hips with an open stance.
One last thing to watch out for in the sand shot and you should be good to go. That is, keep your hands leading through the ball, or in other words don’t try to flip the ball out with a wrist motion.
If you look at the sand wedge loft, you will see that it is highly lofted. When you stop your arm movement and flip the club face, the loft of the club becomes even greater, almost to the point of being level to the ground. Instead of the club face taking the sand and ball and launching everything toward the green, the face of the club knifes under the ball, leaving the ball in the sand.
This is just a starter’s course on sand play. In another article I’ll elaborate on the different types of sand shots and how they all should be played a little differently. But if you can master these points, you should always have the confidence to get out of the sand every time.
golfers world | golf tips
Posted by Marita on 16 diciembre 2011
The game of golf is one of the most popular leisure activities. Simply put, golf is really a game played using various golfing clubs on a customized golf course consisting of either 9 or 18 holes. A player begins from a teeing area and by having a swing or numerous swings puts the golf ball in to the hole. Between the teeing area and the hole are a variety of obstacles and diverse terrain types. Due to the varying conditions of exactly where a player would likely hit his / her golf ball, there are actually a variety of different golf clubs that he / she can use. These can consist of a driver, a putter and various golf irons. These types of clubs generally have got specific functions and provide the golfer with a number of choices for their next shot. Because of the fact that there are a great number of golf clubs, a player will need a golf bag to help keep all these clubs in order.
Purchasing a bag is vital when playing golf; this allows the player to be able to carry all of the required equipments that he/she would require to complete a round of golf. It’s used to carry your entire clubs as well as other paraphernalia. As a whole, a golf bag will make your golfing experience a lot more pleasant and comfortable although it doesn’t always impact your score. For this reason it is vital to acquire a bag that best suits you as well as your requirements. When selecting a golfing bag, the very first thing to consider is what size of bag you’d probably use due to the fact that you will find 3 various sizes of golf bags.
The very first size is what is known as the staff or tour bag. This really is usually used by professional golfers that are paid by an organization in order to promote their name and the brand of golf bag. The next is what is known as the cart bag. These kinds of bags are smaller in size in comparison to the staff or tour bag and aren’t intended to be carried; instead it is placed onto a golfing cart. The last of the three sizes is definitely the most versatile of the three, simply because it may be carried or even placed onto a cart. This bag is known as the golf stand or carry bag. These kind of bags can be quite heavy and may weigh from four pounds upwards prior to placing all your equipment and clubs into it.
Dependent upon the player and also his / her requirements, any of these golf bags would be suitable. In order to figure out which of the three bags would suite the player’s requirements, he/ she needs to initially think about their playing style; would they generally walk or ride a cart on the golf course. Then the player should consider if he / she generally carry their own golf bag or has someone who can carry the bag. Essentially, a player should initially decide their own golfing habits; this is actually the most significant factor to contemplate prior to buying a golf bag. As soon as this is determined, the golfer can purchase the most appropriate bag that will best suit their needs. This will help make the game of golf a lot less difficult and more comfortable for the player.
golfers world | golf tips
