Even the most casual of golfers needs a golf bag. Having the right golf bag is essential. It is another tool to help raise your game. If your clubs and other equipment are stored in an appropriately sized and organized bag, you can concentrate on your game. Otherwise you can be scrambling to find your rain gear when hit by a sudden shower or for another golf ball to replace the one you just hit into the middle of the lake. For anyone looking to purchase a golf bag, there are several things to consider and brand is not necessarily one of them:
Size
When it comes to golf bags, size does matter. Some tour bags seem like they are big enough to double as a shelter in a rainstorm while I have seen golf bags so small they look like they could hold no more than a putter and a driver. So how big of a golf bag do you actually need? Try to determine your present requirements based on current equipment. Then, consider how your equipment list may change and grow over the projected lifetime of the bag.
Durability
The durability of a golf bag depends on design, material and treatment. If you are a casual golfer who stores your golf bag in the house after use, you could enjoy a nylon bag that isn’t very expensive.
If you are a more frequent golfer and keep your golf bag in the trunk of your car, then you will probably want a bag made of leather or vinyl. Remember, the golf bag is not just for carrying the clubs, it is also for protecting them.
Style
Depending on how you get around the course, you will want to decide between a carry bag and a cart bag.
A cart bag is nice if you use a golf cart frequently. Cart bags are also designed to be used with a pull cart.
When considering a cart bag, consider also the type of pull cart you will use. Test the ease of motion and comfort of the handle at preferred transportation angles. Check if any of the features that help you transport the golf bag are adjustable, as the center of gravity will vary depending on the load in the bag
If you are accustomed to walking, you should look for a golf bag that is comfortable, light weight and ergonomically designed to minimize the stress on your back and shoulders. Many of the new bags have gel carry straps for shoulder comfort.
Depth/Design
If you use extended length shafts...ensure that the golf bag you are considering will adequately protect as much of the shaft as possible and comes with the enough club dividers to satisfy your needs.
Cosmetics
Color and accessories are really a matter of taste, need and how much extra money you are willing to spend.
Some golfers want to make their bags unique. Some just want a place to put their clubs.
Storage
It does not matter how often you play golf, at some point that golf bag is going to need to be stored somewhere. Ensure that the size golf bag you purchase will fit in the area where you will be storing it.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
A Lower Body Golf Swing Can Generate Maximum Power
The perfect lower body golf swing involves the legs to a very large extent and it is therefore true to say that exercise that conditions these parts of the body will have a positive impact on the quality of the golf swing.
This truth is obvious when you take a closer look at the lower body golf swing. During the back swing, the feet, knee and hamstring muscles are extremely important. The rest of the lower body golf swing movement will usually require a lot of participation of the hip and lower back.
Thus no good golf exercise program designed to improve the golf swing will avoid the lower back. In fact some golfers are puzzled at first when they see some of the golf specific exercises which concentrate on the hamstring and lower parts of the body.
They may initially feel that too much emphasis is being placed on this lower part of the body. Actually too much emphasis can hardly be placed on the lower body when it comes to the golf swing. This is because that is precisely where most of the golf swings happen.
In the past, even when golfers though of a little exercise, their emphasis was always on the upper part of the body, rather than on the lower body, when thinking about improving their golf swing.
Times have changed and today every genuine golf exercise program will usually place a lot of importance and emphasis on the muscles on the lower body for the sake of the golf swing.
These lower body golf swing exercises will involve both stretching exercises as well as strength-building exercises that will usually involve weight training.
A good program should include a wide range of different exercise and you should also be able to use various golf aid gadgets to correct weaknesses in your golf swing.
By strengthening your lower body golf swing you will always feel more confident and better prepared to perform a more powerful golf swing.
This truth is obvious when you take a closer look at the lower body golf swing. During the back swing, the feet, knee and hamstring muscles are extremely important. The rest of the lower body golf swing movement will usually require a lot of participation of the hip and lower back.
Thus no good golf exercise program designed to improve the golf swing will avoid the lower back. In fact some golfers are puzzled at first when they see some of the golf specific exercises which concentrate on the hamstring and lower parts of the body.
They may initially feel that too much emphasis is being placed on this lower part of the body. Actually too much emphasis can hardly be placed on the lower body when it comes to the golf swing. This is because that is precisely where most of the golf swings happen.
In the past, even when golfers though of a little exercise, their emphasis was always on the upper part of the body, rather than on the lower body, when thinking about improving their golf swing.
Times have changed and today every genuine golf exercise program will usually place a lot of importance and emphasis on the muscles on the lower body for the sake of the golf swing.
These lower body golf swing exercises will involve both stretching exercises as well as strength-building exercises that will usually involve weight training.
A good program should include a wide range of different exercise and you should also be able to use various golf aid gadgets to correct weaknesses in your golf swing.
By strengthening your lower body golf swing you will always feel more confident and better prepared to perform a more powerful golf swing.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
A Golf Specific Workout Will Energize Your Golf Game
A Golf specific workout designed specifically for your physical limitations will give you the greatest results in the quickest amount of time. You may not be interested in this approach, but I can tell you quite confidently, this is the missing link to your golf swing improvement. Your current physical capabilities dictate your golf swing. There is no other way to put it.
There are certain physical requirements that must be met to make an optimal golf swing with maximum power and efficiency. Have you tried to make a full backswing only to feel tight, restricted and tense doing so? Do you think the answer is hitting more balls or taking more lessons?
The answer is a golf specific workout designed to eliminate your swing faults and poor golf swing mechanics. The minute you improve these physical limitations, your golf swing will transform right in front of your eyes.
This may sound dramatic, but it’s true. When you’re able to make a full backswing (90 degree shoulder turn, with a 45 degree hip turn) with no muscular tension or restrictions, you will be able to generate maximum clubhead speed and power into the golf ball.
You will also be able to repeat this for 18 holes. This will result in less mishits, more fairways hit and scores that will drop quickly. Doesn’t that sound like the outcome you have been hoping for, for a long time?
One of the most important components of a golf specific workout is core rotational strength and flexibility. The golf swing is a rotate back and a rotate through. This entails your core to have optimal strength and flexibility from a rotational standpoint. All other exercises should be a secondary priority when designing a golf specific workout.
The beauty of a golf specific workout is it can be done in your home with minimal equipment. For less than $80, you can have a complete golf specific workout gym in your home, saving you hundreds of dollars a year in gym memberships, and also giving you back more time to play golf due to the convenience of doing it in your home with no travel time involved.
Knowing you’re doing a golf specific workout that will enhance your golf game will motivate you to stick with it. Adherence is key to your success. So many people start fitness programs, only to quit before they saw any results. Don’t fall into the same trap.
Understanding it will take a little time for your body to respond to your golf specific workout will allow you to have realistic expectations. But I can tell you, the results may show up very quickly if your current physical conditioning is below par.
It’s never too late to embark on a golf specific workout program. I have seen golfers in their 80’s, who have increased their driving distance by up to 60 yards! They were not able to get the ball air born, and now can make a bigger turn hitting the ball more solid and much further.
This is something you can’t ignore!
Your golf improvement program should definitely incorporate practice, a few lessons to get a basic understanding of golf swing mechanics and most importantly a golf specific workout.
There are certain physical requirements that must be met to make an optimal golf swing with maximum power and efficiency. Have you tried to make a full backswing only to feel tight, restricted and tense doing so? Do you think the answer is hitting more balls or taking more lessons?
The answer is a golf specific workout designed to eliminate your swing faults and poor golf swing mechanics. The minute you improve these physical limitations, your golf swing will transform right in front of your eyes.
This may sound dramatic, but it’s true. When you’re able to make a full backswing (90 degree shoulder turn, with a 45 degree hip turn) with no muscular tension or restrictions, you will be able to generate maximum clubhead speed and power into the golf ball.
You will also be able to repeat this for 18 holes. This will result in less mishits, more fairways hit and scores that will drop quickly. Doesn’t that sound like the outcome you have been hoping for, for a long time?
One of the most important components of a golf specific workout is core rotational strength and flexibility. The golf swing is a rotate back and a rotate through. This entails your core to have optimal strength and flexibility from a rotational standpoint. All other exercises should be a secondary priority when designing a golf specific workout.
The beauty of a golf specific workout is it can be done in your home with minimal equipment. For less than $80, you can have a complete golf specific workout gym in your home, saving you hundreds of dollars a year in gym memberships, and also giving you back more time to play golf due to the convenience of doing it in your home with no travel time involved.
Knowing you’re doing a golf specific workout that will enhance your golf game will motivate you to stick with it. Adherence is key to your success. So many people start fitness programs, only to quit before they saw any results. Don’t fall into the same trap.
Understanding it will take a little time for your body to respond to your golf specific workout will allow you to have realistic expectations. But I can tell you, the results may show up very quickly if your current physical conditioning is below par.
It’s never too late to embark on a golf specific workout program. I have seen golfers in their 80’s, who have increased their driving distance by up to 60 yards! They were not able to get the ball air born, and now can make a bigger turn hitting the ball more solid and much further.
This is something you can’t ignore!
Your golf improvement program should definitely incorporate practice, a few lessons to get a basic understanding of golf swing mechanics and most importantly a golf specific workout.
Your Frustration On The Course
A Golf Fitness Exercise Program Will End Your Frustration On The Course
Even as you read this article, golf fitness exercise programs continue to positively revolutionize the games of many golfers around the country and indeed around the world. A golf fitness exercise program plays a major role in helping many golfers achieve consistent and good results on the course with their swing.
Still many golfers are yet to fully appreciate the potential of a golf fitness exercise program and many are not aware of the fact that they usually have a huge impact on a golfer’s game.
A golf fitness exercise program will tend to concentrate on the muscles and parts of the body used when playing golf and especially during the golf swing.
A useful golf fitness exercise program will be able to help any golf attain more flexibility as well as strength on the course. It is important to remember that most of the body is used for a golf swing.
Right from the feet to the knees, hamstring and hip, the lower part of the body is critical to the golf swing. Then there are the more obvious participants in the body like the arms and upper body and neck.
A golf fitness exercise program does a significant job of ensuring that most of these muscles are ready for the strain that golf usually exerts on them.
Usually a golf fitness exercise program combines dynamic strength and flexibility exercises, as well as stabilization and core strength. Most of these exercises can be done with simple handweights (dumbbells) and exercise tubing.
No gym required!
Too many golfers go to the gym, plop down on a machine and hope their game will get better. It usually doesn’t. You’ve always got to keep the golf swing mechanics in mind when doing a golf fitness exercise program.
Equals Great Golf A Golf Fitness Coach
Golf fitness coach. Have you ever considered one…and if so, what exactly were you looking for? There are many ‘general fitness’ trainers trying to get a piece of the golf fitness and training market that seems to be rapidly gaining exposure both on the television and in print thanks to Tiger, Vijay and Annika.
But the first thing you need to consider when looking into hiring a golf fitness coach or program is the trainers experience in golf.
Yes…that is high on the list of requirements. Does he/she know golf? Do they know the biomechanics of the golf swing? How about muscle function during the golf swing?
An easy test is during the initial interview or if you’re researching it online is to either ask very golf specific swing technique questions or take a look at the information on the website. You’ll find out real quick if this person or program can help your golf swing, game and health.
A golf fitness coach or program should incorporate strength, flexibility, endurance, body awareness, balance, stability and even a nutrition component.
It’s easy for a trainer to have a strength component…but is it specific to golf? A quick test. Take a look at some of the exercises. Are any of them on seated machines for instance? If they are…run! This is NOT a golf fitness coach and/or program. This is considered ‘general fitness’.
Now stretching. There are dozens of stretches for all people. But take a look at some of them. Do they even remotely look like they will benefit your golf swing?
Stretches involving trunk flexibility lower back hamstring and even shoulders specific to the mechanics of the swing are what you want. General stretches are better than nothing, but will delay your results. You want specific stretches.
Body awareness. Does any of the exercises resemble golf positions or phases of the swing? Do they look like you would be on your feet and in your golf posture? As stated above, if they are seated on machines, your body will learn nothing in regards to your golf swing.
Training your body specific to golf incorporates positions almost identical to what your body would be in during any part of the golf swing.
Stability. Training your body to improve stability in your swing can get a little complex if you really want to see results. The swing happens at between 80-100 miles an hour. One of the biggest flaws of amateur golfers is moving in their golf swing.
Moving either laterally (sliding), vertically (up and done) or both. This is death to your golf swing. To improve your stability involves specific strength drills most trainers don’t even know about.
I could go on-and-on about the requirements of a golf fitness coach or program. It is critical you make the right decision. I have heard horror stories of golfers working with ‘so-called’ golf fitness experts and their game getting worse. With the proper research this won’t happen to you. So definitely consider a golf fitness coach.
But the first thing you need to consider when looking into hiring a golf fitness coach or program is the trainers experience in golf.
Yes…that is high on the list of requirements. Does he/she know golf? Do they know the biomechanics of the golf swing? How about muscle function during the golf swing?
An easy test is during the initial interview or if you’re researching it online is to either ask very golf specific swing technique questions or take a look at the information on the website. You’ll find out real quick if this person or program can help your golf swing, game and health.
A golf fitness coach or program should incorporate strength, flexibility, endurance, body awareness, balance, stability and even a nutrition component.
It’s easy for a trainer to have a strength component…but is it specific to golf? A quick test. Take a look at some of the exercises. Are any of them on seated machines for instance? If they are…run! This is NOT a golf fitness coach and/or program. This is considered ‘general fitness’.
Now stretching. There are dozens of stretches for all people. But take a look at some of them. Do they even remotely look like they will benefit your golf swing?
Stretches involving trunk flexibility lower back hamstring and even shoulders specific to the mechanics of the swing are what you want. General stretches are better than nothing, but will delay your results. You want specific stretches.
Body awareness. Does any of the exercises resemble golf positions or phases of the swing? Do they look like you would be on your feet and in your golf posture? As stated above, if they are seated on machines, your body will learn nothing in regards to your golf swing.
Training your body specific to golf incorporates positions almost identical to what your body would be in during any part of the golf swing.
Stability. Training your body to improve stability in your swing can get a little complex if you really want to see results. The swing happens at between 80-100 miles an hour. One of the biggest flaws of amateur golfers is moving in their golf swing.
Moving either laterally (sliding), vertically (up and done) or both. This is death to your golf swing. To improve your stability involves specific strength drills most trainers don’t even know about.
I could go on-and-on about the requirements of a golf fitness coach or program. It is critical you make the right decision. I have heard horror stories of golfers working with ‘so-called’ golf fitness experts and their game getting worse. With the proper research this won’t happen to you. So definitely consider a golf fitness coach.
golfer wants to know the best golf driver tip
Every golfer wants to know the best golf driver tip. I hate to disappoint you but there are many great golf driver tips that could be the key to unlocking monster drives for you. Every month the golf magazines have dozens of tips in them, but none of them get to the root of the problem.
If I were to get the opportunity to write a golf driver tip for a magazine, I’d say something against the norm. Something teaching instructors wouldn’t want to hear. Do you want to know what it is? It’s not some quick fix, because they never work long-term. The “only” thing that works long-term is working on you.
Your body has a current level of physical ability. I don’t care how many balls you hit at the range; how many lessons you take; and what driver you’re swinging. Hitting the ball further takes an increase in clubhead speed. Period. So hitting more balls or taking more lessons won’t improve this.
The only thing that can improve club head speed is strengthening your core rotational strength and flexibility. Your core is the engine to your swing. A weak or inflexible core will not give you the results you are looking for.
The golf swing a turn back and a turn through. Isn’t that about as simple as you can make it? If that’s true, why wouldn’t you improve your body’s ability to rotate quicker and more powerfully? This is the ticket to longer drives!
There are many simple, yet effective core rotational exercises you can do in your home, or even office to greatly improve your clubhead speed and driving distance.
Do you want an easy one you can do right in your chair?
Cross your arms in front of your chest. Sit up tall and erect. With a fixed head position, rotate to the right and left slowly. See how far you can go. Do this without stopping. As you feel a loosening of the core, start to rotate faster and faster. Do this 20 or 30 times when you think about it and I guarantee you’ll feel it.
Since time is such a valuable commodity, you’ve got to get creative. I’ve put together a complete section of my manual that covers simple stretches and exercises you can do right in your chair in your office. You can’t get more convenient than that.
I hope I didn’t disappoint you with this golf driver tip.
If I were to get the opportunity to write a golf driver tip for a magazine, I’d say something against the norm. Something teaching instructors wouldn’t want to hear. Do you want to know what it is? It’s not some quick fix, because they never work long-term. The “only” thing that works long-term is working on you.
Your body has a current level of physical ability. I don’t care how many balls you hit at the range; how many lessons you take; and what driver you’re swinging. Hitting the ball further takes an increase in clubhead speed. Period. So hitting more balls or taking more lessons won’t improve this.
The only thing that can improve club head speed is strengthening your core rotational strength and flexibility. Your core is the engine to your swing. A weak or inflexible core will not give you the results you are looking for.
The golf swing a turn back and a turn through. Isn’t that about as simple as you can make it? If that’s true, why wouldn’t you improve your body’s ability to rotate quicker and more powerfully? This is the ticket to longer drives!
There are many simple, yet effective core rotational exercises you can do in your home, or even office to greatly improve your clubhead speed and driving distance.
Do you want an easy one you can do right in your chair?
Cross your arms in front of your chest. Sit up tall and erect. With a fixed head position, rotate to the right and left slowly. See how far you can go. Do this without stopping. As you feel a loosening of the core, start to rotate faster and faster. Do this 20 or 30 times when you think about it and I guarantee you’ll feel it.
Since time is such a valuable commodity, you’ve got to get creative. I’ve put together a complete section of my manual that covers simple stretches and exercises you can do right in your chair in your office. You can’t get more convenient than that.
I hope I didn’t disappoint you with this golf driver tip.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
A Better Golf Swing Is Inevitable
A better golf swing is inevitable…for any golfer, with the right approach. It doesn’t matter age or ability. It’s a reality…and can happen very quickly!
To achieve a better golf swing, a golfer needs to realize just how physically demanding it is on the human body. You are swing an object (golf club) at up to 100 mph. This puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles.
If these tissues of the body are weak, tight or brittle they will rupture and eliminate you from playing golf indefinitely. If it doesn’t, your performance will pay the price. The outcome either way is not what you want…but will happen without an emphasis on strengthening these areas.
Along with strengthening comes stretching. Stretching muscles to attain a better golf swing is common among most golfers. Although it is common, most golfers don’t stretch. Why? Because it is viewed as ‘work’. But if it were viewed as a form of golf improvement it would be a different story.
Swing mechanics cannot be improved if your golf specific strength and flexibility are ignored. It is an impossibility, unless you compensate for this lack of capabilities in your golf swing. Teaching pros are now starting to realize there is a definite connection between golf swing mechanics and fitness.
But that’s where the BIG gap is. Between instruction and physical fitness. This is the ultimate combination for total golf performance and I have been preaching it for several years now. When your physical capabilities are improved, your golf swing mechanics become much easier to achieve.
The next time you visit your teaching pro, to achieve a better golf swing, you’ll be able to do what he/she wants and the desired outcome will be achieved. This outcome is inevitable when you get your body moving better. Your golf swing mechanics fall into place.
It will only be a matter of time when all golfers will approach their golf improvement this way. It’s the only way that will warrant lasting results and ultimately a better golf swing.
To achieve a better golf swing, a golfer needs to realize just how physically demanding it is on the human body. You are swing an object (golf club) at up to 100 mph. This puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles.
If these tissues of the body are weak, tight or brittle they will rupture and eliminate you from playing golf indefinitely. If it doesn’t, your performance will pay the price. The outcome either way is not what you want…but will happen without an emphasis on strengthening these areas.
Along with strengthening comes stretching. Stretching muscles to attain a better golf swing is common among most golfers. Although it is common, most golfers don’t stretch. Why? Because it is viewed as ‘work’. But if it were viewed as a form of golf improvement it would be a different story.
Swing mechanics cannot be improved if your golf specific strength and flexibility are ignored. It is an impossibility, unless you compensate for this lack of capabilities in your golf swing. Teaching pros are now starting to realize there is a definite connection between golf swing mechanics and fitness.
But that’s where the BIG gap is. Between instruction and physical fitness. This is the ultimate combination for total golf performance and I have been preaching it for several years now. When your physical capabilities are improved, your golf swing mechanics become much easier to achieve.
The next time you visit your teaching pro, to achieve a better golf swing, you’ll be able to do what he/she wants and the desired outcome will be achieved. This outcome is inevitable when you get your body moving better. Your golf swing mechanics fall into place.
It will only be a matter of time when all golfers will approach their golf improvement this way. It’s the only way that will warrant lasting results and ultimately a better golf swing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)