Archive for April 2009
John Daly & Loudmouth Golf
29. April 2009 by Tee It Up Pro Shop.
Have you seen this? This is a picture of John Daly at practice at the Spanish Open dressed in bright orange and pink from head to toe, and observers took notice. I love it!
Get yourself a pair of Loudmouth Golf Pants and let the fun begin!
Why America Loves John Daly
29. April 2009 by Tee It Up Pro Shop.
By Randy Brown
John Daly’s name elicits immediate attention from the America public. He is a household name, a golf legend, and a normal guy. His face on television is often followed by, “What did he do now?” His magnetism draws Americans to him and has for many years now.
John Daly first hit the scene with his robust shape and powerful swing. Fans realized that Daly could literally bomb a tee ball out of site. Winning long drive contests all over the map, he instantly became a fan favorite. People fall in love with these incredible feats. Players who can hit the home run, slam dunk in traffic, throw the 4th quarter touchdown pass, capture the imagination of sports fans. In golf, fans come out to see the big hitters and are drawn to them.
Golf is a game where even the poor golfer can strike an incredible shot now and then. These precious shots equal them for a moment to the games greatest players. Because the average 35 year old can’t slam dunk or hit home runs every week, golf gives us those fleeting moments of sports glory. We swing harder and hope for that rocket that finds its home 280 yards down the manicured fairway. The golf industry has witnessed an economic boom the past 10 years due to developments in golf clubs. Swinging easy and hitting it long is now a realistic possibility for the weekend golfer. Oversized drivers are like swinging a watermelon on the end of a stick. Golfers give up the credit card with warp speed if they believe a product can help their game. Thoughts fill their head like, “With this new driver, I’ll bet I can belt it out there like Daly!”
If the game of golf has the ability to couple the average hacker with the game’s elite players, then John Daly is the conduit. Known for his bouts with the bottle, marriage, and his weight, Daly’s problems make him as acceptable as any figure in the sports world. Misery loves company, especially when that company comes in the form of golf’s best and most popular player. There’s not a person out there that can’t associated with Big John in some way. We’ve all got a little John Daly in us, and that’s not all bad.
Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year career. Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA apprearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com
Article Source: Expert Randy Brown
Why America Loves John Daly
Winning Golf Tips - Professional Advice To Improve All Aspects Of Your Game
21. April 2009 by Tee It Up Pro Shop.
By Dave Furnevall
Fundamentals
Stance
A consistent position helps develop a consistent swing. A square stance will encourage a square impact. Keep feet perfectly parallel to the target line. If you imagine standing on a train track your feet are against one rail the ball is next to the other. Develop a comfortable standing position with your feet directly below your shoulders with your toes slightly outward facing.
Position the ball 2-3 inches inside the left heel for most shots. If it is too far forward you will be more likely to slice.
Moving one foot slightly forward will enable either fade (outside to inside) or draw (inside to outside). Experiment with the shot direction on how much you move your foot.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do always check the position of the ball using your clubs aligned on the ground.
Do take your time to settle into your stance and get relaxed.
Do be consistent with your stance.
Grip
A good grip is the foundation of your golf swing, enabling greater control and reducing your tendency to slice. A good grip helps keep the club-head square at impact and stops the shaft from rotating in your hands.
The most popular grip used by professional golfers is the Vardon grip.
Place your little finger on the lower hand on the club (right hand for a right-handed player - known as the trailing hand) and place it between the index and middle finger on the top hand (known as the lead hand). The thumb of the lead-hand should fit in the lifeline of the trailing hand (the V). Look to get a relaxed and comfortable feel, a tight grip will hinder your swing. The V’s formed by the index finger and thumbs on both hands point between the chin and right shoulder. Turning hands anti-clockwise on the club shaft produces a weak grip, promoting a left-to-right flight of the ball (slice). Turning hands clockwise produces a strong grip, promoting a right-to-left flight of the ball (hook).
Do’s and Don’ts
Don’t grip the club too tightly
Do keep the rubber grips on your club handles in good condition. Worn grips cause problems by forcing you to hold the club too tightly.
Do get a feel for the grip by practising frequently gripping and re-gripping the club regularly.
Alignment
When you are practicing, make sure your use you clubs as alignment. Lay one club on the ground parallel to the target line and another from toe to toe indicating the direction of your stance. To indicate the ball position, lay another club at 90deg’s to the target line extending backward from the ball toward your feet. Now check it all. When you are happy with the alignment you can a club across your shoulders, hips and thighs to check everything is aligned parallel to the target!
Do’s and Don’ts
Do check, check and check again, it will be invaluable to troubleshoot any problems.
Don’t leave the club between your feet longer than necessary but feel free to leave one club on the ground parallel to the target line during practice sessions.
Swing PathTo get a straight shot you require an inside to square i.e. hitting the ball squarely swing-path. An inside to outside swing-path encourages a hook, outside to inside swing-path a slice. Imagine a line extending through the ball to the target, your goal is a swing-path that starts on the inside striking the ball while moving slightly to the outside.Also you can direct the ball with the club face - straight 90deg to the ballClubface open (>90deg) to ball encourages a slice or fadeClubface closed (<90deg) to ball encourages a hookDo’s and Don’tsDo take some time and watch golfers practice. If you stand behind a practising golfer you can watch the variations in swing path and club face and see how it affects the shot, note the variations in swing path path and divot direction to see the shots produced..
Your pre shot routine
These tips may seem very time consuming at first but soon they will become second nature. When planning the shot ahead, look from behind the ball. Pick a target a few feet away (e.g. a leaf or divot) is easier and more accurate than aiming at 200 yards away. Stand about a foot behind where you will make your next shot and take a smooth practice swing or two focusing all your attention on the shot. Check the advice you have already learned above and build it into a routine, apply the thoughts and techniques in a particular order. Then and only then, take your final stance and start your shot. It is important to develop your own routine but make sure it is consistent for every shot, it enables the brain and muscles to develop memory.
Do’s and Don’tsDo practice your pre-shot routine on the range you can ‘zone in’ without too many distractions. It is more difficult to develop when playing with other people or on the course.Fault FixingDo’s and Don’tsDo firstly identify the problem (whether it is slicing, hooking, lack of distance, etc).Do verify the problem is there by asking another golfer to watch you take a few shots or video’ing yourself.Don’t ignore it, it bad habits can be difficult to shake off over time.
Do find the cause of the problem. Start with the fundamentals of grip, stance, balance, alignment, etc. Take some shots changing each fundamental one at a time.
Do plan your course of action.
Do practice it again and again, repetition will help you build confidence.
Do try to give it enough time to fix.
Don’t be afraid of taking further advice.
Do look at the best golfer you are with and observe carefully. Check out for body position, stance, how high they lift the club and the motion used when they swing the club. Then apply it to your own game.
Golf swing
You really do need to have a handle on the fundamentals before you will be able to move to perfecting your swing. Although there is no such thing as a perfect swing, every golfer does it slightly differently. Once you have read the tips and advice, you need to put those techniques to work. Practice as often as you can until your you have found what works for you and best swing has become second nature. You can never practice too much!
Observation
Observe other players whether on the range, course or TV, you can always buy an instructional video. What are they doing that you are not?
Do’s and Don’tsDo speak to other players, they will usually be happy to share some tips with you.Do video tape golf on tv and watch them in slow motion.The MirrorPractice your own swing in a mirror or video yourself so you can see the differences between what you think you are doing and what you are actually doing, you may be surprised!Do’s and Don’tsDo check back on a regular basis to see if any bad habits have developed over time.
Head Position
Keep your head still and look straight at the ball. The position of your head should be straight in line with your spine, and your nose should be raised up a bit so that when you start to swing, your left shoulder fits under your chin. Don’t tuck your head into your chest as you will not be able to perform a proper swing.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do try to lean your body slightly forward to try to find the best place to keep your head so it doesn’t impede your swing but you can see the ball clearly.
Relax
A very basic step but crucial to your swing and your game in general, easier said than done I know, especially when tee-ing off with an audience. However, relaxing your muscles will enable your body to perform exactly as it needs to perform a great golf swing. When you have lined up your shot and taken your stance, systematically think about relaxing every muscle group in turn from your feet, lower legs, upper legs, lower back… all the way to your head. Continue this flexibility through your swing and it will work wonders.
Do’s and Don’tsDo try on and off course techniques, consider cardio exercise, yoga or meditation.BalanceBalance is very important through the whole duration of your swing, just like everything else it needs to be practiced. A good way to practice improving your balance is to get in the address position with your club (in stance with the club out in front behind the ball), relax your body and try holding it completely still for about 30 seconds (closing your eyes may help). Does it feel unbalanced like you have more weight on one foot or the other? Is one part of your body tighter or more tense than another? Adjust your balance accordingly so everything feels balanced.Do’s and Don’tsDo try slow practice swings to see if you get off-balance at any point during the swing.Wrist Strength
The wrists play several roles the wrists in your golf swing, but the two most important are:
Controlling throughout the swing and with the proper clubface alignment.
Adding extra power at the point of impact.
You need to resist temptation to tighten your grip, so your wrists need to be strong to control the club throughout your swing. A simple exercise to improve wrist strength:
· Stand with a club at your side
· Lift the club up to 90deg by keeping your arm by your side, only using your wrist.
· You should feel the wrist and forearms taking the pressure, repeat 15-20 times as often as possible. Try longer clubs for more difficulty.
Do’s and Don’tsDo try other gym based exercises to maximise your wrist, arm and torso strength.Try reducing your backswingThere is a tendency for inexperienced players to have too long a backswing. You may lose accuracy or balance by swinging too far. Try varying your backswing from very short to very long to see what suits you best. Twist your shoulders until you feel tight, this should be the place to start, don’t rotate your hips to try to lift the club further. You can increase power by hinging your wrist up to 90deg to make them more flexible rather than keeping them locked. Keep it relaxed and you will notice the difference.Do’s and Don’tsDo experiment with different combinations of backswing and wrist flex.Slow it down!
If you swing your arms too fast, your body can’t keep up, therefore you do not get the full power of your trunk and legs. You will also have difficulty keeping your club straight as it swings through impact.
Try this technique: hold the club at about waist height and swing the club, do it a few times and note how your body feels while doing it. As you swing, the club makes that sweet swishing sound, make a note of how it sounds. Now the challenge is to make the club swing faster, shift your body weight during the swing from the right leg to the left leg allowing your body to turn. By letting your arms swing freely you will notice the swishing sound is faster as you increase the speed of your body. Apply this now to your actual hitting swing, by increasing your trunk rotation but keeping your arms free.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do keep trying this until the swing becomes second nature.
Don’t think about putting power into the ball, this will only speed your arms up again. Just think about body rotation and shifting body weight your arms will follow your body through. The body is where the real power comes from.
Trying too hard - topping the ball
You really want to whack this next ball 100s of yards, but all you do is ‘top’ it and send it dribbling down the fairway. Why does this happen? It is usually one of two reasons. The first is down to poor stance (see above) because your body was not balanced when you assumed your stance position, leaning over too much. Your body instinctively tries to re-balance, raising up mid swing, your club comes down off the ground higher than you started, causing you to hit the top of the ball.
Another reason is because you set up with your arms extended, then bending your arms during the swing.
To stop this from happening, don’t try so hard, stop trying to get too much power in the shot. Focus on getting the ball in the air rather than power. If you get every ball airborne, rather than on the ground, you will be consistently hitting shots correctly, this will give you more confidence.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do try to get it up in the air before concentrating on extending the distance.
Do keep your arm extension the same throughout the swing.
Short Game and Putting Tips at http://winning-golf-tips.freehostia.com
Article Source: Dave Furnevall
Winning Golf Tips–Professional Advice To Improve All Aspects Of Your Game
The Secret and Crucial Role of Alignment in Supercharging Your Game
20. April 2009 by Tee It Up Pro Shop.
By Alastair Canaway
The alignment is an absolutely crucial and vital part to any golfer’s game. You swing round your body, therefore if your body is offline, your swing in turn will be off line and out of sync, resulting in a poor swing and a poor shot, usually ending up deep in the rough.
When setting up to the ball, firstly ensure the clubface is square to the ‘ball to pin line’ (the line between the ball and the pin), and ensure that your shoulders, hips and feet are all parallel to the ‘ball to pin line’, if these 3 are not aligned and one is out, a good body turn is ruined with a poor swing resulting.
When training, on the driving range or wherever you can practise, a useful technique for lining up is to place a club on the floor and check that you’re your feet, hips and shoulders line up with each other, the shoulder alignment is particularly crucial because your body turn starts with your shoulders.
Ideally, you should be lining your body up slightly to the left of the target (slightly to the right for left hand players), as opposed to trying to line your body up with the target itself.
On the course a simple test to see if this is the case, is to look at the target, if you can see your left shoulder, then you are lined up to too far to the right (visa versa for lefthanders), your shoulder should be just out of sight.
Poor Alignment can have several affects, these are all negative. Aligning too far to the left most commonly leads to the slicing of the ball, this occurs because you are not parallel to the line running from ball to pin. As a result the backswing is limited so an ‘out to in’ swing results. As a consequence the club face is slightly open on impact which generates side spin on the ball. This leads to the common problem which is the slice which I will explain in another article.
If you align too far to the right, the opposite will take place and a hook will occur due to the ‘in to out’ swing of the club, although quite common with beginners and inexperienced players.
Often they will subconsciously become aware of this and try to adjust mid-swing, over adjusting by opening up the clubface as impact approaches. This again results in the slicing of the ball, which is very difficult to control and usually leads to ‘the rough’.
Alignment is an often overlooked and crucial part to any golfer’s game and therefore must be addressed for you to succeed at any level of golf. For as long as you’re alignment is out, you will never be able to consistently hit straight accurate shots and will increasingly find yourself hooking or slicing into the rough, turning those pars into bogies and taking your round from a 75 to 85.
So get that alignment sorted and go shoot some birdies.
Article Source: Alastair Canaway
Golf-Tips—The Secret and Crucial Role of Alignment in Supercharging Your Game
How To Pick A Good Golf Gift
19. April 2009 by Tee It Up Pro Shop.
By C Small
If you are reading this, then you must have a golfer in your world. Great for you. Golfers are an interesting bunch, and if you can snag one, don’t let them go. Finding gifts for your golfer, however, can be an frightening task. Whether or not you know the difference between a chip and a pitch, a sandie and a snowman, I am going to help you get a great golf gift.
Don’t be anxious to ask!
Golfers always know what they want/need. So, if you are not bashful about locating the perfect gift, just ask. Golf can be expensive, so the list of “needs” for every golfer is always very long. Be ready to record the requests fast, though, because if you are not familiar with golf terminology, a great move asking for suggestions could backfire! Overall, though, this is probably the easiest way to get the right gift - your golfer will give you a long list of golf gifts they actually want and you can then sort through them and get what fits into your price range.
New golf gear is not always better.
Some long-time golfers will tell you the Ping Eye 2 irons made many years ago were and are the best irons out there. The lesson to be learned from this is not all new golf clubs are good golf clubs. If you are going to make the effort to buy a semi-expensive golf club, and you aren’t going to ask what your golfer wants, make sure you look around and ask people before buying something. Many times, for $20-$30 extra you can increase the quality of a golf club by 100%! Additionally, look in your golfer’s golf bag to see what clubs they hit and think about replacing that old beat up club with the exact same thing only in good condition. Your golfer will love it!
Every Golfer Wants Golf Balls.
If you still can’t find that special something, or you need something quick, golf balls are an easy, prized golf gift. To make this work, though, make sure you buy new golf balls. Used balls or water balls have lost their playability (think of a warped basketball or baseball and you get the idea) and will not be liked by your golfer. As for make and model of ball, anything over $25 per dozen will be playable and appreciated by your golfer. Your best bet, again, is to ask them what they like, or to look in their bag to see what they are playing. Asking a buddy of your golfer or a golfer you know would also work.
Avoid cheap novelty items unless specifically asked for.
The worst golf gifts given are those nickel and dime gifts that have great packaging and sound cool, but really don’t work out of the package. For instance, there are many different styles and models of golf tees out there on the market, but plain wood ones work the best. Again, if you are thinking of something you think might fall in this area, ask someone who plays golf - someone good. They will be honest with you and you’ll get that golf gift they love.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=C_Small
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Pick-a-Good-Golf-Gift&id=1017929
Golf Swing - Tips To Golf Like A Pro
17. April 2009 by Tee It Up Pro Shop.
By Daniel M Falk
Your Golf Swing is such an important component of mastering this sport that it pays to work on this probably more than any other part of the game. Without a good swing as a fundamental element, the rest of your golfing game will surely suffer.
To understand what the correct path of the club head should be, try thinking of a rope attached to a tree above you. You should feel that you’re pulling the rope straight down from the top of the backswing. If done correctly, this forces your right elbow to stay close to your side, which is part of maintaining perfect form.
Another aspect of form is the position of your knees. The tendency is to let the left knee collapse toward the right during your backswing, causing the shoulder to drop. Instead, try to imagine your left knee going out toward your target on the backswing.
A very important point to note is that a good swing will pause at the top, very slightly, before changing direction. This will have the effect of keeping your ball towards the middle of the fairway, at least most of the time!
Of course, every good swing begins with the proper grip. Getting this wrong can lead to a hook or slice quite easily. Make sure when you’re looking down, addressing the ball, that you can see the first two knuckles of your left hand, and a “V” formed between the thumb and forefinger pointing toward the right shoulder.
There are more aspects to a great swing that these alone, and every reader is encouraged to check out the following resources, many of which are totally free. The enjoyment you get by working on developing a great golf swing will translate to a lot more joy during your games, for sure!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_M_Falk
http://EzineArticles.com/?Golf-Swing—Tips-To-Golf-Like-A-Pro&id=1133007
The Importance of Good Golf Equipment
12. April 2009 by Tee It Up Pro Shop.
By Joe Trinder
Having the correct golf equipment is a crucial part of the sport of golf. There are many different brands to choose from and if the wrong equipment is chosen, it could have a negative effect on the score sheet.
Many factors go into effect when choosing the right equipment. The three main types of golf equipment needed to have a good game of golf are golf bags, golf balls, and clubs. All vary in design, material and use.
The first step in obtaining the proper golf equipment is a good bag. The right bag needs to be light weight. It needs to have a double strap so it is easier to carry. A bag with plenty of pockets and room for golf balls and tees is a good bag to have. It is also good to have stands on it. When choosing a club, the golf bag will be sitting up right rather then on the ground. Having a weather proof bag will keep the bag in good condition longer.
Having the right golf ball is so very important when picking your golf equipment. Having a ball that has a soft core is good for putting. There are balls that have a harder outer shell that gives extra yardage while driving off the tee. A good name brand of ball to use is Titleist. There balls and all products are high quality and good value for money.
Having the right clubs for your individual stance and swing will help improve a golfer’s game. It is worth having an individual review with a pro to help determine the right equipment for your own game.
Every person should take their time in choosing the right golf equipment. For example you need to make sure that the length of your clubs are right for ease of hitting the sweet spot and having all different types of golf clubs in the bag is not the way to go! Some of the most popular golf club brands currenly are Ping, Callaway, Titleist, Wilson and TaylorMade. All vary in quality and price but are all generally good enough for the pro’s!
To ensure you have a good day at the golf course, having the right equipment can help. If you can spend a little extra time and money at the golf store. In the long term it will really end up paying dividends.
You can find out further benefits for golf at our Golf Tips website
Golf Tips - http://www.golf-tennis-tips.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Trinder
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Importance-of-Good-Golf-Equipment&id=1939391
