Putting is much simpler than driving the golf ball and doesn't have to be a complex set of events.It is an art to be cultivated and acquired through your own individuality or personality.It's an art because it is a reflection of the philosophy of the putter. Putting is an important game within the game of golf as it is an art requiring vivid imagination and sharp eyesight to assess the characteristics of the green, good judgment to gauge the distance for long putts, as well as the power and touch to strike a "specialized" stroke and to deliver the perfect putt. Using the putter is both the easiest and most difficult part of golf.It's the most precise aspect of the game of golf and so the putter must be designed to give the golfer every technology advantage including smooth stroke, good glide, sweet impact, and bounceless topspin ball launch and every technique advantage including perfect fit as to shaft angle and length.
Golfers refer to this as "going to school" on a putt. Golfers, many times, are overanxious to see the result, so they lift their head and turn their body too quickly. Sometimes, golfers also try to hit the ball with their wrists.
The reason putting is an art is because there are no hard and fast rules regarding how one should deliver the perfect putt. Good putting will help your golf scores far more than a bunch of 300-yard drives down the fairway. What makes putting such an important part of your game is that no matter how well you're able to hit the ball with all your other clubs, until you roll that little white ball into the hole, you have no score. In other words, if you drive your ball 300 yards right down the center of the fairway, and stop your approach shot 15 feet from the hole, neither of those shots have done you any good if you end up 3-putting for a bogie.
Putters are designed for use on the golf green where they are suppose to hit the ball to roll on the surface of the green to land in the hole, thus completing a "hole" in a game of golf which consists of several such holes, usually eighteen but sometimes more or less.
Putting is a big part of his golfing philosophy. It is much too delicate a process to withstand any body motion. This stroke is the greatest test of skill on the golf course and requires regular, high quality practice sessions, ideally on a putting green or with something that represents an actual hole as nearly as possible. Putting is unique, in that it is intended that the ball travel substantially on the ground toward the hole.It's more sensory, tactile, than any other stroke in golf. It's about feel, touch, stroke, speed and distance.This stroke is one of the most important parts of the game of golf -- remember that one half of all the strokes allotted for a score of par are putts. It's the key to scoring better, no matter what your handicap may be.It's almost always the maker or breaker of your game and all it requires is some basic confidence and technique. Putting is also different in another way: It is one of the few skills in all of sport in which any player, regardless of size, strength, speed, gender, or education, can compete equally with--and have a realistic chance to surpass the skills of--the best professionals in the world.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
The Beauty Of Gold Lies In The Cart
Golf is often associated with the elite or the upper-middle class at the very least. It is considered a game of luxury and leisure, but golf is not just about showing up in the coarse with your latest gears as any golfer would know, like any other sport, it requires tremendous amount of discipline on the part of the player not to mention the very same amount of passion for the game. Golf is not well loved just because it's classy. The game is loved for the sport itself and the many virtues it imposes on the player.
Given all this, is it any wonder that golfers, even though they practically live and breath on the gold course already, would still appreciate gifts related to golf?
Not really, like any addiction, the bind of golf on the athlete-yes you heard it right. Athlete because not anybody who has the spare amount of cash can play decent golf-only intensifies with every game. Suddenly, its not just a hobby or a way to release stress and stretch out the muscles, all of the sudden, it has become a way of life, a theme in the wardrobe, a favorite subject in books, a logo on automobiles and a symbol of persona. Golf can easily turn a man's life upside down making it the world that revolves around anyone with its offers of constant challenges and instant gratifications. It is a testament of what life is about.
Everything starts with an awkward grip, and with much patience and perseverance, the player learns his personal grasp. He maintains a stance that will become his comfort zone and he will learn to get out of it when the situation for it arises. Yeah golf is a battle of wits not to mention coordination. It is that and so much more, so ladies why not impress your men by showing support for their love of the game instead of constantly trying to be its competition? We have just the right ideas too, and believe us when we assure you that your guys will love you for it.
Go get him a personal golf car honey, give it as a form of a reward after a strenuous season of competing with his pals. It can be because he won, or it can be a form of compensation if he lost but obviously fought remarkably, which is what really matters if you care to read about sports camaraderie really.
A gold cart is indeed quite a pricey gift, but you'd be surprised how popular it is among the corporate league. No golfer is to play without one, or at least renting one, and no aficionado can be caught dead without several personal ones. Invest on a golf cart that runs on electricity and with a shade that is classy, nothing too loud mind you, golf is about standing out for the skill and not the profile after all.
This will make up for a much sought after prize after a golf tournament, especially if it is marked as a trophy-to remind the winner of his victory.
Gold carts commonly range up to 5000 dollars but you can find a better deal on your patron distributor if you are a regular. The personalization shouldn't be much of a problem too.
After all, nothing is too expensive for genuine pleasure.
Given all this, is it any wonder that golfers, even though they practically live and breath on the gold course already, would still appreciate gifts related to golf?
Not really, like any addiction, the bind of golf on the athlete-yes you heard it right. Athlete because not anybody who has the spare amount of cash can play decent golf-only intensifies with every game. Suddenly, its not just a hobby or a way to release stress and stretch out the muscles, all of the sudden, it has become a way of life, a theme in the wardrobe, a favorite subject in books, a logo on automobiles and a symbol of persona. Golf can easily turn a man's life upside down making it the world that revolves around anyone with its offers of constant challenges and instant gratifications. It is a testament of what life is about.
Everything starts with an awkward grip, and with much patience and perseverance, the player learns his personal grasp. He maintains a stance that will become his comfort zone and he will learn to get out of it when the situation for it arises. Yeah golf is a battle of wits not to mention coordination. It is that and so much more, so ladies why not impress your men by showing support for their love of the game instead of constantly trying to be its competition? We have just the right ideas too, and believe us when we assure you that your guys will love you for it.
Go get him a personal golf car honey, give it as a form of a reward after a strenuous season of competing with his pals. It can be because he won, or it can be a form of compensation if he lost but obviously fought remarkably, which is what really matters if you care to read about sports camaraderie really.
A gold cart is indeed quite a pricey gift, but you'd be surprised how popular it is among the corporate league. No golfer is to play without one, or at least renting one, and no aficionado can be caught dead without several personal ones. Invest on a golf cart that runs on electricity and with a shade that is classy, nothing too loud mind you, golf is about standing out for the skill and not the profile after all.
This will make up for a much sought after prize after a golf tournament, especially if it is marked as a trophy-to remind the winner of his victory.
Gold carts commonly range up to 5000 dollars but you can find a better deal on your patron distributor if you are a regular. The personalization shouldn't be much of a problem too.
After all, nothing is too expensive for genuine pleasure.
Golf Swing Help For the Older Golfer
As you get older you lose some of your ability to turn your torso on your back swing, so it's important to replace that power loss with a power gain elsewhere. You can accomplish this by making a freer arm swing which doesn't depend so much on flexibility. The following drills teach you to use your arms as major source of power.
Turn your shoulders, swing your arms.
Hang your arms. At address, your arms should hang freely from your shoulders. If they start too close to your body, they won't have enough room to swing freely. Extending your arms too far, on the other hand, causes tension, which in inhibits a free swing. Make sure you have 6 inches of clearance between the butt end of the club and your body.
Turn, then finish. Don't start your back swing with your arms. Take the club from address to hip by height by rotating your shoulders. Your arms simply follow. That's a classic one- piece take away. Focus on rotating your shoulders as you start the club back along the target line. Once the club head reaches your hips, your arms takeover, swinging the club to the top
Here is a drill. Take a 5-iron, swing it back to hip height, and stop. Now pretend you're starting your swing with the club at hip height. Swing to the top, then swing down and hit the ball. You should have the feeling that your arms are generating most of the clubhead speed. The trick is that your shoulders are helping too, but the second half of the back swing is where your arms take over.
Turn your shoulders, swing your arms.
Hang your arms. At address, your arms should hang freely from your shoulders. If they start too close to your body, they won't have enough room to swing freely. Extending your arms too far, on the other hand, causes tension, which in inhibits a free swing. Make sure you have 6 inches of clearance between the butt end of the club and your body.
Turn, then finish. Don't start your back swing with your arms. Take the club from address to hip by height by rotating your shoulders. Your arms simply follow. That's a classic one- piece take away. Focus on rotating your shoulders as you start the club back along the target line. Once the club head reaches your hips, your arms takeover, swinging the club to the top
Here is a drill. Take a 5-iron, swing it back to hip height, and stop. Now pretend you're starting your swing with the club at hip height. Swing to the top, then swing down and hit the ball. You should have the feeling that your arms are generating most of the clubhead speed. The trick is that your shoulders are helping too, but the second half of the back swing is where your arms take over.
The Longest Hitting Drivers in Golf
What is the longest hitting driver in golf? All the major golf manufacturers claim they make the longest hitting driver. The Internet is filled with all sorts of ads about finding the driver with the most distance off the tee. Even your local paper golfing magazine has features about special products that guarantee you can drive like a champion. So, what's the great secret?
The answer may already be in your bag or as close as your golf professional or online Internet golfing store. But, before dashing off to purchase that magical driver, lets look at what really makes drives go long and straight.
A longer club shaft - Conventional wisdom suggests that a driver with a loner shaft will hit a golf ball farther than a shorter shafted golf driver. The pun is intended. The bad news is that not everyone can hit a long shaft driver and the results can often be disappointing. Tests have shown that if a golf ball is mis-hit by as little as ½ inch, driving distance can be reduced by as much as 20 yards. The more you miss the sweet spot, the shorter the drives. And we're talking about distance, not accuracy. Unless you are a low handicap golfer, by itself, a longer shaft could, in fact, hurt your distance off the tee.
Lighter club - It certainly helps, but it depends where the weight is removed. The theory is that the lighter the club, the faster the swing. The faster you swing your driver, the farther the golf ball flies down the fairway. Since the shaft has the most weight, that is the best place to remove club weight in order to speed up the swing. Here is where shaft flexibility enters the picture. If the driver's shaft is too stiff, a lighter shaft weight may cause your shot to be short and a bit to the right. If you want to lighten the shaft, make sure shaft flexibility is part of your calculations.
More loft - Conventional wisdom also weighs in on loft. Simply put, the slower your swing speed, the higher the required trajectory necessary to keep the ball in the air. Check this out by comparing the distance with a three wood, versus the driver. If they are about the same, a common occurrence, consider a driver with a little more loft with the CG (center of gravity) slightly back from the club face.
Club head Design - This is where modern technology and strong club head design can really help the average golfer and is the place where technology has really helped long hitting drivers. Most of the above techniques work great if the ball is struck directly on the sweet spot. Unfortunately, only PGA golfers do that almost every time. Perimeter weighted clubs like the Callaway Big Bertha and drivers from Ping (who pioneered the technology), King Cobra and TaylorMade have become extremely popular driving companions for golfers, worldwide.
The Grip - The grip is one of the most overlooked aspects when choosing a driver, but one of the most important. This is the connection for you to the club and if everything isn't comfortable and natural, your swing, and the resulting distance off the tee, hasn't a chance.
The size of the grip is totally dependent on the size of your hands. The bigger the hands, the thicker the grip. If the grip is uncomfortable or irritates your hands, change it quickly. This is where totally comfortable is really good.
Believe it or not, grip weight is also a distance factor. A light grip increases the relative weight of the club head. This is good for players with good strong swings. A heavier grip decreases the relative weight of the club head and makes it feel lighter. This helps the golfer with a slower swing.
There are many answers to the question of what is the longest hitting driver in golf. Almost as many as there are golfers. Modern technology can help you find the best driver for your game. It also wouldn't hurt to work on your swing so you can take advantage of the advanced weight and flexibility features on the big name clubs. Match your driver to your skills and play within yourself. That old sports saw really fits finding the longest hitting golf driver.
The answer may already be in your bag or as close as your golf professional or online Internet golfing store. But, before dashing off to purchase that magical driver, lets look at what really makes drives go long and straight.
A longer club shaft - Conventional wisdom suggests that a driver with a loner shaft will hit a golf ball farther than a shorter shafted golf driver. The pun is intended. The bad news is that not everyone can hit a long shaft driver and the results can often be disappointing. Tests have shown that if a golf ball is mis-hit by as little as ½ inch, driving distance can be reduced by as much as 20 yards. The more you miss the sweet spot, the shorter the drives. And we're talking about distance, not accuracy. Unless you are a low handicap golfer, by itself, a longer shaft could, in fact, hurt your distance off the tee.
Lighter club - It certainly helps, but it depends where the weight is removed. The theory is that the lighter the club, the faster the swing. The faster you swing your driver, the farther the golf ball flies down the fairway. Since the shaft has the most weight, that is the best place to remove club weight in order to speed up the swing. Here is where shaft flexibility enters the picture. If the driver's shaft is too stiff, a lighter shaft weight may cause your shot to be short and a bit to the right. If you want to lighten the shaft, make sure shaft flexibility is part of your calculations.
More loft - Conventional wisdom also weighs in on loft. Simply put, the slower your swing speed, the higher the required trajectory necessary to keep the ball in the air. Check this out by comparing the distance with a three wood, versus the driver. If they are about the same, a common occurrence, consider a driver with a little more loft with the CG (center of gravity) slightly back from the club face.
Club head Design - This is where modern technology and strong club head design can really help the average golfer and is the place where technology has really helped long hitting drivers. Most of the above techniques work great if the ball is struck directly on the sweet spot. Unfortunately, only PGA golfers do that almost every time. Perimeter weighted clubs like the Callaway Big Bertha and drivers from Ping (who pioneered the technology), King Cobra and TaylorMade have become extremely popular driving companions for golfers, worldwide.
The Grip - The grip is one of the most overlooked aspects when choosing a driver, but one of the most important. This is the connection for you to the club and if everything isn't comfortable and natural, your swing, and the resulting distance off the tee, hasn't a chance.
The size of the grip is totally dependent on the size of your hands. The bigger the hands, the thicker the grip. If the grip is uncomfortable or irritates your hands, change it quickly. This is where totally comfortable is really good.
Believe it or not, grip weight is also a distance factor. A light grip increases the relative weight of the club head. This is good for players with good strong swings. A heavier grip decreases the relative weight of the club head and makes it feel lighter. This helps the golfer with a slower swing.
There are many answers to the question of what is the longest hitting driver in golf. Almost as many as there are golfers. Modern technology can help you find the best driver for your game. It also wouldn't hurt to work on your swing so you can take advantage of the advanced weight and flexibility features on the big name clubs. Match your driver to your skills and play within yourself. That old sports saw really fits finding the longest hitting golf driver.
The History of the US Open Golf Tournament
30 years after the start of The Open, the US Open was first played in 1895, making it the second oldest of the modern day golf majors. Since 1895, the original golf majors were The Open, The Amateur Championship, The US Open, and The US Amateur. It wasn't until 1960, when Arnold Palmer commented that he could win the Grand Slam, after he had won The Masters and The US Open, if he could manage to win The Open and The PGA, that the modern day golf majors were established.
The Championship was played for the first time on the same course and on the same week as the US Amateur. It was held at a 9-hole course at Newport Golf and Country Club, Rhode Island. It comprised 4 rounds of 9-holes played on the same day and was won by Englishman, Horace Rawlins. Only ten professionals and one amateur took part and the total prize money was $335.
From the original 36 holes in one day, the format of the event has changed several times during the years. The Championship was extended by the USGA to 72-holes in 1898; 36-holes played over each of two days. The format was changed in 1926 to 18-holes played over each of two days, finishing with 36 holes on the third day. The present day format was established in 1965 - 18-holes played over each of 4 days.
Its popularity really took off after spectator tickets were sold for the first time in 1922. This almost coincided with the amazing career of an amateur golfer from Georgia, Bobby Jones who won in 1923, 1926, 1929, and 1930. The second big rise in popularity was in 1954 when the event was televised for the first time on national television. But it wasn't until 1977 that all 18-holes of the final two rounds had live coverage and 1982 that the first two rounds were broadcast live.
The event was dominated by British players since its beginnings up to 1910 (actually it was Scotsmen who took most of the titles (12 of the first 15 events.) The top Scotsman in those days was Willie Anderson who won the event four times between 1901 and 1905. In fact, there have only been three other golfers to win four US Opens - Bobby Jones from 1923 to 1930, the year he won the Grand Slam; Ben Hogan from 1948 to 1953; and Jack Nicklaus from 1962 to 1980.
With Tiger Woods third victory at the 2008 US Open, it can only be a matter of time before he joins the illustrious golfers with four wins, and who knows, maybe he will go into the golfing history books with 5 wins or more. Did you know that a European has not won the event since 1970, when Tony Jacklin from England won? Another Englishman, Lee Westwood, had a chance in the 2008 event but missed a 15 foot birdie putt on the last hole.
Surprisingly, only 5 players have managed to win The US Open as well as The Open, The Masters, and The PGA. None of them have won all 4 majors in one single year though - Bobby Jones did his Grand Slam with The Open, The (British) Amateur Championship, The US Open, and The US Amateur. The five players to win the four golf majors were Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.
With 78 wins between 1911 and 2008, Americans have dominated The US Open. No other country have come close; South Africa has the second most wins with 5 titles. There have only been a handful of nations that have won the event once or twice - Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, and Argentina. Since 1910, Scotland have only managed to produce one golfer that has won The US Open; Willie MacFarlane in 1925. In fact, in recent years, only Sandy Lyle has managed to win a golf major on US soil - The Masters in 1988.
The Championship was played for the first time on the same course and on the same week as the US Amateur. It was held at a 9-hole course at Newport Golf and Country Club, Rhode Island. It comprised 4 rounds of 9-holes played on the same day and was won by Englishman, Horace Rawlins. Only ten professionals and one amateur took part and the total prize money was $335.
From the original 36 holes in one day, the format of the event has changed several times during the years. The Championship was extended by the USGA to 72-holes in 1898; 36-holes played over each of two days. The format was changed in 1926 to 18-holes played over each of two days, finishing with 36 holes on the third day. The present day format was established in 1965 - 18-holes played over each of 4 days.
Its popularity really took off after spectator tickets were sold for the first time in 1922. This almost coincided with the amazing career of an amateur golfer from Georgia, Bobby Jones who won in 1923, 1926, 1929, and 1930. The second big rise in popularity was in 1954 when the event was televised for the first time on national television. But it wasn't until 1977 that all 18-holes of the final two rounds had live coverage and 1982 that the first two rounds were broadcast live.
The event was dominated by British players since its beginnings up to 1910 (actually it was Scotsmen who took most of the titles (12 of the first 15 events.) The top Scotsman in those days was Willie Anderson who won the event four times between 1901 and 1905. In fact, there have only been three other golfers to win four US Opens - Bobby Jones from 1923 to 1930, the year he won the Grand Slam; Ben Hogan from 1948 to 1953; and Jack Nicklaus from 1962 to 1980.
With Tiger Woods third victory at the 2008 US Open, it can only be a matter of time before he joins the illustrious golfers with four wins, and who knows, maybe he will go into the golfing history books with 5 wins or more. Did you know that a European has not won the event since 1970, when Tony Jacklin from England won? Another Englishman, Lee Westwood, had a chance in the 2008 event but missed a 15 foot birdie putt on the last hole.
Surprisingly, only 5 players have managed to win The US Open as well as The Open, The Masters, and The PGA. None of them have won all 4 majors in one single year though - Bobby Jones did his Grand Slam with The Open, The (British) Amateur Championship, The US Open, and The US Amateur. The five players to win the four golf majors were Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.
With 78 wins between 1911 and 2008, Americans have dominated The US Open. No other country have come close; South Africa has the second most wins with 5 titles. There have only been a handful of nations that have won the event once or twice - Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, and Argentina. Since 1910, Scotland have only managed to produce one golfer that has won The US Open; Willie MacFarlane in 1925. In fact, in recent years, only Sandy Lyle has managed to win a golf major on US soil - The Masters in 1988.
Get a Grip to Improve Your Swing
The phrase "get a grip" may be one that is commonly said to people to encourage them to get back to reality but it's also one of the most important things that can be said to a golfer. It may seem like every bit of advice that is offered to an up and coming golfer is the most important thing ever but without a firm and confident grip, everything else would be pointless. Even the position of your fingers and hands on the golf club can make a huge difference to your performance so if you want to get on the green in the shortest time; you really need to get a grip.
There is no point in denying the importance of having a proper grip. To ensure proper contact with the ball and to get the best flight of the ball, the placement of your hands is vital. By holding the club too weakly, it is likely that the angle of the club will be off line and this will be enough to ensure that the ball will curve away from its intended target. Similarly, a grip that is too strong will be rigid and will prevent a clean follow through of the shot. This means that the best golf grip would be neutral, in between weak and strong. Judging this is the hard part but over time, a player will be able to determine what level of grip works best for them.
One of the first aspects of the grip is to ensure that the club is held and wrapped within your fingers as opposed to within the palm of your hands. This sort of hold can be easily done by if you pick up the club from a flat position so be sure to hold the grip from your fingers. This will ensure that a stronger grip is placed on the club, ensuring the golfer has better control of their swing.
As well as focusing on the basics of the grip, it is worthwhile looking at the actual grip of the club itself. If it is old and worn then it can lessen the impact of the golfers grip, undoing all your good work. If the grip of the club is weak or slack, the golfer will tend to tighten their own grip to overcompensate and this can lead to rigidity in the arms, which can impact on the strength and speed of the swing. It can seem hard to imagine how such a little thing like the condition of the handle of the club can impact on players overall game but that is the way of golf. There are so many little details and even psychological issues that can derail a golfer and a player needs to be able to overcome the majority, if not all, to get the very best from the game.
Not every player wants to be professional or compete professionally so they may think that its not too important to get the minor details right but even just a few things wrong can greatly impact on a player performance so it is of the utmost importance to try and get as many things right as possible.
When placing your grip, it is important to determine what the top hand is and what the bottom hand is. For a right handed golfer, their left hand will be the top hand and their right hand will be the bottom. Unsurprisingly for a left hand golfer the opposite exists, where the right hand is the top for a left handed golfer.
The bottom hand should be placed where the grip meets the shaft and the top hand should come onto the other end of the grip and slowly wrap around the club ensuring a strong grip. The bottom hand should then be slid down the club to meet the top hand. The hands should then join in either an overlap or interlocking grip with a careful hold being placed on the club. It is up to each golfer to judge their own strength of holding but the grip should be compared to holding something fragile, with enough strength to protect it but not too much to break it.
Holding the grip with your fingers, rather than hands or the palm of your hand, will ensure the line of your arms have a better chance of remaining straight, which will help the swing of the club.
Following these outlines for a great golf grip may not be enough to turn you into a golfing superstar but by bearing in mind the basics, there is a strong chance that your golfing game will be a lot more enjoyable.
There is no point in denying the importance of having a proper grip. To ensure proper contact with the ball and to get the best flight of the ball, the placement of your hands is vital. By holding the club too weakly, it is likely that the angle of the club will be off line and this will be enough to ensure that the ball will curve away from its intended target. Similarly, a grip that is too strong will be rigid and will prevent a clean follow through of the shot. This means that the best golf grip would be neutral, in between weak and strong. Judging this is the hard part but over time, a player will be able to determine what level of grip works best for them.
One of the first aspects of the grip is to ensure that the club is held and wrapped within your fingers as opposed to within the palm of your hands. This sort of hold can be easily done by if you pick up the club from a flat position so be sure to hold the grip from your fingers. This will ensure that a stronger grip is placed on the club, ensuring the golfer has better control of their swing.
As well as focusing on the basics of the grip, it is worthwhile looking at the actual grip of the club itself. If it is old and worn then it can lessen the impact of the golfers grip, undoing all your good work. If the grip of the club is weak or slack, the golfer will tend to tighten their own grip to overcompensate and this can lead to rigidity in the arms, which can impact on the strength and speed of the swing. It can seem hard to imagine how such a little thing like the condition of the handle of the club can impact on players overall game but that is the way of golf. There are so many little details and even psychological issues that can derail a golfer and a player needs to be able to overcome the majority, if not all, to get the very best from the game.
Not every player wants to be professional or compete professionally so they may think that its not too important to get the minor details right but even just a few things wrong can greatly impact on a player performance so it is of the utmost importance to try and get as many things right as possible.
When placing your grip, it is important to determine what the top hand is and what the bottom hand is. For a right handed golfer, their left hand will be the top hand and their right hand will be the bottom. Unsurprisingly for a left hand golfer the opposite exists, where the right hand is the top for a left handed golfer.
The bottom hand should be placed where the grip meets the shaft and the top hand should come onto the other end of the grip and slowly wrap around the club ensuring a strong grip. The bottom hand should then be slid down the club to meet the top hand. The hands should then join in either an overlap or interlocking grip with a careful hold being placed on the club. It is up to each golfer to judge their own strength of holding but the grip should be compared to holding something fragile, with enough strength to protect it but not too much to break it.
Holding the grip with your fingers, rather than hands or the palm of your hand, will ensure the line of your arms have a better chance of remaining straight, which will help the swing of the club.
Following these outlines for a great golf grip may not be enough to turn you into a golfing superstar but by bearing in mind the basics, there is a strong chance that your golfing game will be a lot more enjoyable.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Choosing the Right Golf Driver
When the time comes to buy new golf clubs, particularly when it comes to drivers, you may feel a little bewildered. There are a lot of choices out there, and everyone from experts to amateurs will tell you that the right driver can have an extremely positive effect on your game. The key to keep in mind, however, is that there is no perfect driver out there, just the perfect one for you, so make sure that you purchase your driver with this in mind.
In looking at drivers, you'll find that they can be made of stainless steel, an alloy or forged titanium. For someone who only golfs from time to time, an alloy driver will be preferable because while they can certainly be found in a fairly high quality, they will invariably be cheaper than one that is made of pure stainless steel or titanium. Titanium is a good material for people who play more consistently and who is looking for a lightweight driver to get more distance, while a stainless steel club will lend more weight to your swing, giving you more control on the descent.
Remember that you should always check a driver for the shaft length; don't simply assume that your old driver's shaft length will work for you. It is important to think about the shoes you will be wearing on the green to take your height into account. When you are testing the length of the shaft, check the length of your arms, your height, and the size of your swing to find one that is comfortable for you.
You'll also need to decide if you want perimeter weighting on your club face. This allows you to have some extra weight around the toe and the sole and it can be very helpful if you happen to miss a shot. The extra weight will also help reduce the shock and help your ball fly straighter and with greater distance. You'll find that the amount of extra weight you want will be a personal thing. For many golfers, too much perimeter weighting makes it harder to control, while some says it actually makes control more simple.
Also make sure that you consider how much the shaft can bend as you put force into it during a swing. You'll find that different flexes will have different effects with your swing and you should definitely do some experimenting. The traditional flex ratings include regular, stiff, senior, ladies and extra stiff, and it is a good idea to try all of these.
If at all possible, see if the place you buy your clubs from will help you with a club fitting. You'll find that this is a great opportunity to try out lots of different clubs and to figure out which one really suits you, so take a look around and see what you can find out about your own game and your own needs for a driver!
In looking at drivers, you'll find that they can be made of stainless steel, an alloy or forged titanium. For someone who only golfs from time to time, an alloy driver will be preferable because while they can certainly be found in a fairly high quality, they will invariably be cheaper than one that is made of pure stainless steel or titanium. Titanium is a good material for people who play more consistently and who is looking for a lightweight driver to get more distance, while a stainless steel club will lend more weight to your swing, giving you more control on the descent.
Remember that you should always check a driver for the shaft length; don't simply assume that your old driver's shaft length will work for you. It is important to think about the shoes you will be wearing on the green to take your height into account. When you are testing the length of the shaft, check the length of your arms, your height, and the size of your swing to find one that is comfortable for you.
You'll also need to decide if you want perimeter weighting on your club face. This allows you to have some extra weight around the toe and the sole and it can be very helpful if you happen to miss a shot. The extra weight will also help reduce the shock and help your ball fly straighter and with greater distance. You'll find that the amount of extra weight you want will be a personal thing. For many golfers, too much perimeter weighting makes it harder to control, while some says it actually makes control more simple.
Also make sure that you consider how much the shaft can bend as you put force into it during a swing. You'll find that different flexes will have different effects with your swing and you should definitely do some experimenting. The traditional flex ratings include regular, stiff, senior, ladies and extra stiff, and it is a good idea to try all of these.
If at all possible, see if the place you buy your clubs from will help you with a club fitting. You'll find that this is a great opportunity to try out lots of different clubs and to figure out which one really suits you, so take a look around and see what you can find out about your own game and your own needs for a driver!
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