How to Make Short Chips Easy

If your stroke gets jabby on short ones, here's the cure

This story is for you if...
• You're nervous over short chips

• You jab at the ball on short shots

• You catch chip shots thin

THE PROBLEM

Short chips make you nervous, so you think that if you shorten your stroke and jab at the ball you'll be less likely to make a mistake.

THE SOLUTION

Eliminate excess wrist movement. Here's how to do it.

• Take your normal chipping address position without a club and with your left hand hanging loosely at your side.

• Swing your right arm back like you would when hitting a 10-yard chip, and then bring it back to the ball along your target line using a "karate chop." Your right palm should face away from your body as your hand passes through the impact area.

• Perform the drill again, but this time with a wedge in your hands. Again, mimic the karate-chop motion. You'll feel smoother through impact because you're not flipping the clubhead at the ball.
• Take your karate-chop chipping swing to the course and you'll be able to handle any situation, no matter how much pressure.

Secret Move of Golf

Golfers of all levels are constantly on the lookout for the secret move of golf, the simple tip or trick that will make everything fall into place. People have spent years reading books, watching videos and having golf lessons in an attempt to find the one simple move that will solve all their swing problems.

While there is no magic to it, there is one move that is most often described as the secret move of golf because it is the very basis of a good, balanced golf swing. The "move" is to make sure that the left hand is squared or even slightly bowed outwards and firm at the point of impact.
While it is all very well to do this in theory and square the left hand up perfectly in a practice swing, it is another thing to make sure the hands automatically reach this position at the point of impact when you are actually hitting the ball. The only real way to achieve this is to regularly carry out some practice drills that will strengthen the wrists and establish a firm set of the wrists at impact.

You could use an specialised training aid called an impact bag, a nylon sack designed to take the impact of a golf club and create the exact feel at impact. A cheap and effective alternative is to hit up against a used car tyre with an old golf club, as this impact does cause wear and tear on the clubhead and shaft. Give the tyre a firm whack and make sure the hands set properly as the clubhead meets the tyre, and that the left hand is firm and square.

Another ideal drill to build up the strength in the wrists to achieve the right impact is to place the clubhead inside the tyre and whip it back and forth rapidly hitting the clubhead against opposite edges of the tyre. This really strengthens the wrists and makes achieving the ideal the position of the wrists much easier.

A third drill is to place a piece of timber lengthwise on the ground and hit the end of the timber with the club so that it moves forward in a straight line. After you have done these drills on a regular basis, you will find the wrists feel much firmer and the impact of the club on the ball is far more solid.

Golfing for Health

Have you ever wondered why so many Doctors and other health care professionals play golf so often? Sure, part of the reason is that they can afford to, but they also know something that many of us may not know.

According to Cardiologist Dr. Edward A. Palank, "walking the golf course lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, while leaving high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol alone

Then there's the report from a Swedish Medical study that found Golf provided the equivalent of "40 to 70% of maximum aerobic power" which is the equivalent of a 45-minute aerobics fitness class.

All of a sudden, playing Golf makes a lot of healthy sense. It especially makes sense for those people whose work and lifestyles lean toward the more sedentary.

So, how does playing a round of Golf accomplish all of these major medical miracles? For starters, just being outdoors generates healthy responses from your body. Exposure to sunlight prompts the body to manufacture Vitamin D, and it signals the brain to release certain endorphenes which actually lift your spirits and enhance your mood.

But there's a lot more going on behind your putts and drives than just good moods and a dose of Vitamins. According to the August, 2005 issue of the "Harvard Men's Health Watch", the average golfer walks at least four miles during an 18 hole game, and that walk not only provides a great workout for your heart, but it helps to lower your blood pressure as well. Of course, if you're driving your cart around those 18 holes, then the heart-health benefits are greatly reduced.

Weight loss and weight maintenance are two more health benefits that come free with your Green Fees. If you carry your own clubs, and walk the entire course, you can expect to burn as many as 500 calories per game. But even if you drive around the course, you can burn at least 200 calories for your efforts. Just make sure that you don't put them all back on when you reach the 19th Hole!

Hand-in-hand with the benefits of weight loss comes the additional benefits of muscle exercise and toning. In fact, Golf is one of the few low-impact exercises that work most of the body's major muscle groups including:

* abductors * adductors * biceps * deltoids * dorsi * erectors * extensors * flexors * gluteals * hamstrings * infraspinatus * internal and external obliques * latissimus * pectorals * quadriceps * rhomboids * subscapularis * supraspinatus * terses minor * trapezius * triceps

And even if you've never heard of half of those muscle groups, you body knows exactly where each of them are located, and it thanks you very much for taking the time to exercise them frequently.

So there you have it. Not only is golf both fun and addictive, but it's an excellent way to take care of your heart, body, and mind all at the same time!

How to swing a golf club like Tiger Woods

Improve Golf Swing With Good Posture

The significance of your posture goes far beyond daily life. Your posture can change, how you play your favorite sports. Actually, most sports require numerous types of posture in order to successful achieve, the goal of winning the game. The sport of golf is not different, if you have bad posture within your golf game, than this will have a negative effect on your golf swing.

One of the best golf swing tips that anyone can receive is how to correct, their posture to improve their golf game. The power, intensity and accuracy of your golf swing lays within your posture, however, if your posture does not meet proper guidelines, than your overall game will be affected

Now that you recognize the importance of posture in your golf game, how can you attain the ideal posture? More importantly, what is the ideal golf posture? While many people feel that splendid golfing posture is simply lowering their chin to view the golf ball, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Never has there been a golfing method that has the ability to be interpreted in such a wide variety of ways. While some feel that keeping your body drastically relaxed and unrestricted will give you perfect golfing posture, other believe that a firm stance and stony upper body movement is the ideal posture. However, both of these beliefs are half true and half false.

The optimal golfing posture is notably easy to find, all it takes is an awareness of how your body is positioned. To set your body up for good posture, you must remember three key elements. The first is always keeping your back straight. This will allow you to actively involve all of your core muscles that are found in your torso.

Never allow your back to bend, or hunch over. This will actually weaken your golf swing, and throw your accuracy completely off. Next, always make sure that you bend your upper body at the hips. How you can accomplish this is by sticking out your backside as if you are going to be sitting in a chair and then bend slightly forward. Make sure that you don’t arch your back, always keeping a strong and aligned spine. After performing this, allow your arms to hang down in front of you.

Always make sure that you evenly divide your weight throughout your legs. Keep your knees bent, but allow them to be flexible enough to give your legs a spring to them. It is common for this posture to feel unrefined at first; however, appropriate posture always feels more dynamic than it really is. Although, if you are feeling any pain in your lower back, make sure that your quadriceps are absorbing all of your body’s weight. Keep your feet extremely sturdy, and your shoulders and arms unconstrained and in a natural state.

Golf swing tips are a dime a dozen, however, here comes a tip that many people aren’t aware of, and that is what do you do with your head? Never allow your head to stay focused on the ground the entire time. This will ruin your golf game, and cause you to have horrid shots. Instead, always let your head follow the ball. Whenever the ball leaves the ground so should your head. Your head is attached to your body, thus allow it to be as free as your arms, legs, hips and feet. It’s okay for your head to move with the golf ball, actually, it’s recommended.

What Are The Hot Golf Accessories?

There are a number of accessories that can be useful to people who play golf. Golf accessories are available in every price range, and many products can be found in stores and online.

Each aspect of the game has its own set of accessories. The golf clubs alone may require a variety of products. Some useful golf club accessories include cleaning kits, protective head covers, and club grips. Head covers come in many varieties from comical animal shapes to those that labeled with a family crest or monogram. Golf club grips also come in various styles. There are everyday, universal grips, but there are also some expensive grips that are tailored to a particular club or set of clubs as well.

If you think that all golf tees and balls are alike, think again because there is an extremely wide range of choices. You can buy inexpensive bags of generic, discount tees, for example, or you can purchase personalized tees in any color you can imagine. There are also rubber tees and brush tees, which are touted to provide more accuracy and to last longer than the traditional wooden tees. Golf balls can be purchased in a variety of colors and with varying claims as to their accuracy. Many times, golf accessories are chosen simply because of a personal preference, and not because of what the manufacturer promises.

You can also find many different types of sunglasses, visors, or caps. If you live in a sunny climate, you may need one of more of these useful products. Wrap-around sunglasses with UV protectant lenses may reduce glare as much as one hundred percent in many cases. Having a clear view is likely to improve the golfer's accuracy. An umbrella is another very useful golf accessory, since it can be used in either the sun or the rain.

Many golfers can't do without their 'lucky' golf towels. There are many towels with various logos and brand names available. Golf towels are not only useful, they also represent a way to personalize the player's game. Golf accessory shops also offer ball cleaners and other maintenance products.

Another good accessory for golfers is the ball retriever. There are generic brands that work very well and are relatively affordable, or you can find personalized retrievers in many styles.

You can find golf accessories in any pro shop at any course. There are also online golf shops that offer many state-of-the-art types of accessories that will make any golfer's play more fun.

Seven-Wood: The Golf Wood of Choice

If you are overlooking the potential of your seven-wood, you may want to take a closer look at the collection of clubs in your golf bag. Many golfers believe the seven-wood to be the best field wood in a golf bag.

However, this is not a universally accepted statement since it is ultimately a matter of the golfer’s opinion. But, many golfers believe that the seven-wood is as close to the perfect golf club as he or she can have. The seven wood swings as smoothly and easily as the six-iron but is also more accurate and gives more distance to the ball.

The seven-wood can be a great golf club from about 225 years in depending on the golfer’s physical strength. The seven-wood makes it fairly easy to get under the ball and get good elevation to move the ball in toward the green with very few strokes, the ultimate golfing goal. If a golfer has a seven-wood with a graphite shaft, he or she will have a greater feel of the ball as opposed to a seven-wood with a metal shaft. The graphite shaft causes the club to be more flexible and gives the ball slightly more lift upon contact.

The seven-wood is also a great club for a long par 3 or short par 4 hole. Let’s imagine the golfer is looking at a 180 yard par 3. Now, he or she could choose to make the drive with a three or four iron club and probably make a fairly good drive. However, choosing a golf wood like the seven-wood, gives golfer a slight edge as he or she can tee the ball slightly higher and in the direction of the green. This is especially true if the drive is made with the ball near the back of his or her stance, thus reducing the power of the swing and preventing the drive from flying the green.

If the golfer were to make a slight alteration in his or her stance, the seven-wood could also help the golfer get past an obstacle. Let’s say a golfer is approximately 180 years out on the green with a tree about ten years directly in front of him or her. By altering his or her stance by opening it up slightly and changing the hips’ position, the golfer can more easily hook or slice the ball around the tree yet without causing the ball to become out of play. The golfer can get the shot he or she needs, with adequate elevation, but without the negative repercussions such tough shots often carry with them.

However, it is always a good idea to spend some time practicing this shot on the driving range with the seven-wood before attempting it out on the course and in an actual game.

By: Eric Slarkowski