The Secret To A Better Golf Game
By Mike Pedersen, CPT
A better golf game is achievable by any golfer. It doesn't matter what your age is, how good a player you are or how long you've been playing. But the key to a better golf game may not be what you think.
The standard approach to a better golf game is taking lessons; buying more equipment; and hitting hundreds of golf balls at the range.
Although, the above approach is not altogether incorrect�there is one crucial missing element. That element is your BODY! You swing those fancy clubs; you hit all those balls at the range; and you physically participate in the aspect of taking lessons.
The common denominator is your body. Do you agree? If you dont, Id like to hear youre explanation of why not.
If you are following me, and think Im remotely correct, then why wouldnt you work on your body to play a better golf game?
Im constantly hearing golfers say theyve taken lessons, bought new equipment and pounded hundreds of balls but still have not seen improvement.
Thats the telltale!
That leaves just one thing�YOU.
Dont get me wrong�I firmly believe you need an understanding of golf swing technique, and golf equipment can help. But pounding balls just for the sake of doing it wont help you play a better golf game.
Now picture this.
You do a few simple stretches and golf exercises daily and go out to play. You now realize you can make a bigger backswing with less tension; you have more clubhead speed enabling you to hit longer drives; and you are not worn out on the back nine.
Isnt that worth the minimal investment in your time?
To play a better golf game�youve got to take a different approach than what you are currently doing. One that gets to the root of the problem. The one thats causing those mishits and inconsistencies.
You will be amazed at your outcome if you take this approach. You will finally play a better golf game.
About The Author
About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness swing trainers in the country; Golf Magazines expert at GolfOnline.com; author, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds and manual at his golf swing tips site - Perform Better Golf.
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Buy Some Long Tees
Your new driver will be easier to hit.
...Golf Tips magazine
"The main idea in golf as in life, I suppose is to learn to accept what cannot be altered and to keep on doing one's own reasoned and resolute best whether the prospect be bleak or rosy." Bobby Jones
...US Golf Association
Control Your Distance
A proper divot is taken just beyond impact, but it should be shallow. Shallow divots allow you to hit your clubs consistent distances, while deep ones don't.
...Golf Tips magazine
Standing on the tee or fairway, a player very often will not be able to see the green. Perhaps the fairway bends, or doglegs, to the left with the approach to the green and flag obscured by a line of trees. An inexperienced player would be well advised in this situation to take the safe option and aim to position the ball to just beyond the line of trees, leaving it in a position where the flag is visible. From there, it would be a straightforward approach shot.
...mastering golf UK
Headline News About Golf
Collegiate Players Make Titleist Overwhelming #1 Golf Ball
Thu, 08 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT
Titleist Also Tops Tee-to-Green Equipment Categories at Men's Championship.
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Discover How Golfers Use This Simple Golf Swing eBook And Audio Course As Their Secret Training Tool In Their Quest For Lower Scores.
A Golf Training Aid - Work and then Pay
By: Jeff Gustafson
"If you are interested in improving your game, I would highly recommend helping your head as much as you are helping your swing..."
The above was a quote from Rob Mangini, former assistant men's golf coach at Arizona State University in the book "The Mental Keys to Improving Your Golf". In other words, understand and know what works then concentrate on doing the work.
Unfortunately, when it comes to golf usually us regular, recreational golfers don't think beyond "gripping it and ripping it". We don't really want to put in the time. We just want to hit that sucker. Forget the golf training aid.
And yet in all my years of golfing, I haven't met a golfer yet that doesn't want to improve his or her golf game.
Getting better is not going to just happen, especially if you want to be consistent. It requires giving some serious attention to the four fundamentals of golf - mechanical, strategic, physical and mental. Now isn't that interesting. How many of the (4) do you as a golfer have a handle on? I would bet that most average golfers don't even think of (3) of the (4) and, to be honest, their mechanics probably aren't necessarily "all that".
Professional golfers know its work and then pay and that is the very foundation of what Strategy Golf is all about - focusing on doing "the work" the ultimate golf training aid.
Any sport requires practice. But golf requires so much more. It is you and you alone against the golf course, the elements, and your even your own demons. It is you that has to make the shot or sink the putt.
You can't focus on winning; you can't focus on the other players or you open the door to the fear of losing or missing that putt and letting bad shots or mistakes get you angry and that usually leads to something other than the winner's circle.
Putting your attention on your Strategy and not on your competition or the consequences of missing a putt is of ultimate importance in competition. All things being equal, if you play to your game-plan (golf training aid) and focus on what you are doing, and perform at your optimum then the outcome will take care of itself.
Think about what you can do to keep your focus on the YOUR task so that you play your game. Write out a strategy (golf training aid)...stick to a routine...and stay with the game-plan by reviewing and refocusing on each tee.
It is a fact that written goals have a way of coming true. By thinking through your approach and actually taking the time to put it all down on paper seems to cement the plan for good. So write out that strategy - your game-plan of how you intend to play each hole.
Golfers ignore this step in their preparation for a couple of reasons: One, it takes some time and many of us would just as rather "grip it and rip it!". But secondly, too many of us are so used to "resolutions" not coming true that we are not convinced writing anything down is going to work. There is another element to all of this: you have to truly want what you desire to come true. Most New Years resolutions are desires of the moment - weight you want to get off because you feel frumpy after the holiday meals; starting the exercise program that will give you that hard body but you really don't want to put in the time and effort and miss that piece of pie. Unless the desire is in your gut it isn't going to happen.
They key to success here is first wanting it bad enough, then putting in the time to be prepared, and finally writing out a game-plan to keep focused and on task (the perfect golf training aid). The question you have to ask yourself: "Do I want it bad enough to do the work to see the result?"
Article by Jeff Gustafson - Pocket Pro www.the-sixth-man.com www.pocketproonline.com
Try A Premium Driver Shaft
The shafts that come with modern drivers are better than ever, but if you want to maximize your performance, check out an aftermarket model.
...Golf Tips magazine
Today's Golf News
Titleist Tour Report: Accenture Match Play Championship
Fri, 24 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT
Watch this week's Titleist Tour Report from the Accenture Match Play Championship, featuring defending champion David Toms.
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Our Featured Golf Writer
If you want a great golf swing then get this Simple Golf Swing eBook
Is Your Practice Swing Better Than Your Real Swing?
By: Jonathan Barrett
Why is my practice swing often better than my real golf swing?
When I understood the answer to this question it made a big difference to my golf swing. How many golfers do you see on the tee making a nice free practice swing and then duff or slice the ball with their real swing? It happens doesn't it, it happens a lot. Well, I came to realise that when I understood the journey that the golf club needs to take around your body then I also realised where so many amateur golfers were going wrong with the difference between their practice swing and their real swing.
You see when you understand that the golf swing is about technique not aggression then your body starts to work differently.
When you make your practice swing you remain relaxed and free moving. When you make your real swing you immediately start to tense the big muscles in your body particularly your back and shoulders. Your brain starts telling you body 'look guys if we want to hit this ball a mile then we need to put loads of effort it' - WRONG!
Next time you swing - remember to keep your back and shoulder muscles relaxed so that your real swing is as good and as free as your practice swing.
Remember the proper and most efficient golf swing is all about technique not aggression.
The answer to this question lies in the way we think the golf swing works - we need to convince ourselves that the Pro Golfers swing works - Power without effort - and we too will follow their lead.
A good exercise to demonstrate that loose muscles work better than tense muscles is to try running down your garden with loose muscles then tense your muscles and try again - the difference is dramatic isn't it and the golf swing is no different, we need to keep our muscles relaxed for them to work effectively.
Tensing prior to moving doesn't help - you need to relax to let your muscles work properly at the right point in your swing.
One of the main problems that generates this tensing motion is caused by the way many amateur golfers practice. How many golfers have you seen at the golf range who go straight for their driver and start trying to knock the ball out of the range? Many I would guess. These golfers are simply trying too hard. Golfers should concentrate on accuracy on the range not distance i.e. how close can I hit it to a line from me to the target?
One way of practising that takes out the need to try and knock the skin off the ball is to use plastic balls, you know the ones you can by from the golf shop. Once you start hitting these balls you quickly realise you can't hit these balls 300 yards so don't try to. It results in you concentrating far better on technique. They also have the added benefit that you only need about 30 yards of space to practice in.
Jon Barrett WAS a frustrated golfer who studied the golf swing for 5 years...read about his eye opening concepts: www.golfswingeureka.com
Some Golf Ideas
Wood Game Tip
Many people complain about not being able to hit the ball well with their woods (or metals), and in particular their driver. From what I've seen poor quality contact is a major problem for many of these players. Put a tee in the ground (without a ball) sticking up approximately 1 to 1.5 inches. You should be able to strike the tee consistently without hitting, or even brushing, the ground at all. If you miss the tee, or touch the ground in any way, don't wonder any longer why you can't hit your driver. Remember -- the longer the club, the more precision required. Practice this exercise until you can consistently clip the tee without touching the ground (or even the grass). Once you get quality contact handled the feedback you get from your shots becomes meaningful. Then you can work on directional control.
...PGA professional golf
To check your clubhead angle practice the hit and hold drill. This will give you immediate feedback in determining whether the clubface is preceding the hands at impact. Hit a few balls and hold, not allowing your hands to go past waist high on the follow-through. If the left wrist or hand is bent forward this indicates the clubhead was ascending rather than descending at impact. Final note: You cannot cheat this drill, as it will clearly show you where you are at in regards to your angle of approach on your golf swings.
...Learn About Golf
Set up your shots correctly
You won't get very far in a car without knowing how to use its controls. And it's exactly the same for golf. It's really no more complicated than feeling comfortable and balanced over the ball. The first place to start is making sure you aim correctly. As a general rule, you should keep club face square to the target. The exception to this is when you are deliberately trying to hook or slice the ball. It should be square to your body - wherever you are in your backswing. Try stopping your club at a variety of positions in your swing. The most important thing to remember is that the club head should be square to your body at all times.
...BBC golf
To develop the best possible grip for you. Every golfer swings and grips the club differently. Over 90 percent of golfers use the Vardon or overlapping grip. Players with smaller hands sometimes find the interlocking grip, with the little finger of the right hand interlocked with the index finger of the left hand, works best for them. Players with smaller should use a baseball type grip.
...Golf Instruction Guide
Most golfers set their driver on the ground at address. This results in a high percentage of driver shots being hit on the heel-side of the face, especially when we tee the ball higher. Test yourself this way: The next time you are at the range and set up to hit your driver, once in the address position stretch your arms out and move the club up to the ball's height. Notice where the ball is going to contact the face of your driver? On the heel side � or possibly the hosel � of your driver.
...PGA Tour
Headline News About Golf
Limited Edition ''156'' Hat
Thu, 20 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT
New "156" hats commemorate Titleist worldwide success.
Over 100 Wins and Still Counting.
Wed, 10 Aug 2005 00:00:00 GMT
Goosen Gains Momentum Heading into Year’s Final Major with Win at The International.
Four-Win Week Vaults Titleist Golf Ball Victory Count to More than 100 in 2005.
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