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Thursday, June 7, 2007

A Look at Golf Technology


The talk of the city is about the extra-ordinary improvement in science and technology. We prefer carrying handy cams to record the unforgettable moments in any place. We love to use web cams to have video conference and chats. But most of us never think about the role of technology in sports particularly in golf. Especially the video recorders have changed the world of golf.
The technology in golf has undergone extra-ordinary metamorphosis right from ancient times. Primitive tools and techniques were replaced by advanced equipments and technology. The game golf is being played by the people right from eleventh century. So this game has nurtured lot of successful golfers just because of its great advancement in its technology. This wonderful golf game is the fore father of all the other games in the advancement of technology. the term golf technology not only indicates the advancements in the equipments but also the maturity in the mind of golfers, their nutrition, their way of treating injuries, techniques in tilling grounds and maintenance of greens on the course.
Newer varieties of machines with advanced technology are used in case of golf. The advancement in video capturing technology has drastically influenced the advancements in technology of golf. Earlier, human eye was the only measure in assessing the flaws made by the golfer but recently, the sudden boom in electronic video capturing and recording technology helps the people in assessing the mistakes made by the player much accurately, much precisely and much quickly than manual. this video technology not only helps in assessing the faults of the player but also it helps in finding out the exact speed of the golf ball, the force exerted by the golfer on the golf ball, the velocity with which the golf ball travels in space, the swing of the golf ball. It even predicts whether the hit of the golfer over the golf ball could reach the target or not. In such a way the camcorders assists golf lovers. Recently an advanced tool named launch monitors is invented. The purpose of using this launch monitor technology in golf is that it greatly helps in finding out the golf head speed, and angle of motion of the golf ball in flight, its orientation in space and trajectory of the projected golf ball. This remarkable achievement is not a one day match. It took a long course of time to reach this state. The club heads are designed specially by the design engineers.
The greens in the grass are cared by the grass keepers .primitive tools were earlier used in tilling the golf courts but the techniques used at present would have been a un imaginable thing to the prior workers who strained a lot manually in tilling the entire area of golf court. The same is the case with the care takers of greens in the golf court. The wedges used by the player in hitting short and precise shots were earlier made of low quality iron which is now replaced by strong alloy of iron. The modern clubs are made of special variety of wood namely ‘hybrid’, but during earlier times the name hybrid would not have been familiar. Continuous efforts of the scientists in making the golf ball let to the invention of a new technology which is named as ‘RFID’ technology.
The advantage of this technology in making golf balls is that the golf players are able to locate the errant shots accurately. Each and every field in this world undergoes some advancement in technology. But as far as the field ‘sports’ is concerned, golf has achieved the ‘fore front’ status in technological advancements.

Monday, June 4, 2007

Golf Driving Tip That Will Add Yards Quickly

A golf driving tip that can make the difference between being the shortest hitter in your foursome to the longest…consistently would interest you right? Well…the tip I’m going to discuss is not what you’d think, but you need to take notice and apply it…if you want to own your foursome off the tee! When you think of a golf driving tip I’ll bet you think of swing mechanics. Am I correct? If so, has it worked? I mean…have you added 10,20 or even 30 yards to your swing taking this approach? If most of you are being honest you’ll say no. For those of you who have accomplished the above with that approach…congratulations. You are a small percent of the golfing community that is successful. So if a golf driving tip pertaining to swing mechanics isn’t it…what else is left? Well…you’re looking at it if you look in a mirror. It is your physical make-up. What your body is capable of doing at this moment. All the swing thoughts and golfing tips in the world won’t help if your body can’t physical perform them. And no matter how hard you try…you won’t be successful. You see…your body needs to move with a certain level of flexibility (fluidity), strength (power) and sequence (body awareness). Most of these qualities dissipate with age. Do you feel as flexible, strong or with great body awareness as you did years ago? If your answer is no, then you need to take the ‘physical approach’ to hitting your drives longer (and straighter). The more you work on your current physical abilities the easier you will be able to make a sound and repeatable golf swing. You’ll look back and wish you would have taken this approach years ago…but it’s NEVER too late! You can improve your physical capabilities well into your 80’s if you are willing to put a little bit of effort into it. The areas you need to focus on are rotational strength and flexibility; posture and spinal strength; and hamstring/low back muscular endurance (flexibility). Focus on these and you will see dramatic improvements in your driving distance and accuracy. This is my golf driving tip that will change your game forever!

Monday, May 28, 2007

The Three Most Important Factors When Perfecting Your Golf Swing


There are prior factors and there are post factors in a golf swing. Let me call upon a scientific formula to help explain this order of importance that I am discussing. The formula reads as follows:Ultimate results depend on post factor efficiency.These seven words succinctly describe the artistry of a golf swing; there are things to do, but there is a certain time to do them.First the golfer must handle his weight; but shifting the weight from one foot to the other does nothing of itself, it only places the player in a position where he can use and utilize his body correctly.Secondly, only when the golfer has the basic or prior footwork so that he is in a position to use his body to swing the club, are the hands free to exert over the club the proper sense of position and control, and the ability to apply the club correctly to the ball. In other words, a golf shot only flies as the club makes it fly, and how the ball flies is a direct result of the club position. The club position is a direct result of what the hands are doing, and what the hands are doing is the post factor that determines ultimate efficiency.No wonder so much time and effort is concentrated on the correct grip in golf.I have often said that a runner runs with his feet, but a golfer golfs with his hands. Of course, for the runner to get his feet in action, there is a lot of arm and shoulder work, and for a golfer to get his hands working, there is a lot of footwork and body action.To repeat, there are three basic factors in golf:Footwork, for balanceBody action, for powerHand action, for club controlBut to these three factors there is an order of importance, a delicate sense of timing that so many golfers miss. They fail to get the knack of properly coordinating these three factors into a working arrangement.As there is a certain order of importance, so likewise there is a certain order of performance in these three basic operations of a golf swing. In other words, in the properly executed golf shot the player moves smoothly from one operation to the other, but all operations function collectively towards the final goal of applying the club to the ball. So there is in the golf shot an order of importance and an order of performance which precludes any such thing as a one-piece swing. Be prepared to reach your ultimate goal of a smooth, flowing performance through a natural step-by-step procedure rather than through any short cut.The other comment I wish to make is that if there is error in the performance of any operation in the swing, then such an error would multiply and increase as it would be carried on into the next operation. So there must be sure performance in the execution of each of the three factors.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

The Essentials Of Golf

At the core of golf there is competition. Yet the most essential part of golf is patience. Patient competition seems like a contradiction. Yet golf is not contradictory at all. On the other hand it has been said one person can find golf relaxing, while another individual might think it the most stressful sport in the universe. Professional golfers tend to be graceful. It is as if they are very aware of how the muscles in their body propel them forward. Languid strides and flexibility are words that come to mind when imagining the professional golfer at work. Some people link golf to sports like bowling or billards. Not particularly something you want to watch unless you understand the game fully and know the participants well enough to be cheering one or more toward the grand first prize. Serious golf fans are loyal and just as radical (in a subdued manner) as any professional football fan can be. As a spectator sport golf ranks high on the television ratings. It is highly unlikely anyone has seen the World Cup void of fans on any given year. The collective silences and cheers of golf fans exude a respect for the game. That respect is the attention grabber. As with any sport, the interest of the young people is a natural part of survival. Without future golf players there is no future to golf. Since golf has been around for arguably five centuries it is not a concern that the sport will ever die away completely or vanish like a lost civilization. Fresh new blood keeps the arterial channels flowing more freely though. The diversity of golf is found most obviously in the participants of golf. Any level of physically fit persons can choose golf as a sport. It is known to be beneficial exercise. When golf becomes a set part of your scheduled regimen it is very likely extra pounds will come off. Any societal level of persons can play golf. It is nit the game of the rich and famous, on the contrary there are many affordable public golf courses emerging. Whether you are male, female, young or mature golf is a game of competitive spirit. We mustn’t forget it is a patient competitive spirit. Not only are you competing against other golfers you are also being constantly challenged by difficult golfing courses. A public or private golf course has its fair share of challenging factors on the fairways, in the sand traps and across the rolling hills. The most appealing challenge for most golfers is the challenge of improving your game. You might have seen the cartoons where the golfer has a club wrapped around a tree limb in frustration or yet another where it appears Zen golf might be a new fad. Either account can be considered a fair account when you are talking about a sport with diversity, versatility and class. If you have never golfed in your life, think about it the next time you have some free time. You might be surprised how much fun golf can essentially be.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Power Ball Long Drive Swing Golf

If you want to increase your power and accuracy, there are tools out there that can help you. Practice makes perfect, and adding a little extra weight to your practice can produce some results. This is where the Power Ball Long Drive swing trainer comes in.
The Power Ball Long Drive swing trainer by Power Ball Sports is a tool that helps you strengthen your swing, increase your accuracy, and hit farther.
The Power Ball looks like oversized 5-ounce golf ball. It's made of rubber, and although it looks like a golf ball, it isn't. They just picked that design because it looks good! It has a little 1 1/4 inch opening that allows it to slide onto your club. You slide it over the grip and down the shaft of your club, and it provides extra weight. It sits right on top of the metal hozzle.
The Power Ball has two purposes: One, it adds weight to your club and strengthens the muslces you use to make your golf swing. This will help you hit the ball harder and more easily. Second, it serves as a swing trainer. You can practice getting the ball where you want it with all the extra weight on your club.
If you practice with a heavier club, you'll end up being able to hit that ball farther, and be more accurate. Take the Power Ball out with you and practice with it, and you'll see. At first, it's heavy and ruins your swing. But, once you get used to it, you'll be able to swing recular club like a pro. The Power Ball is a weight training tool.
The Power Ball Long Drive swing trainer is PGA approved. It's used by newbies as well as pros to sharpen their swing. Weight training is a big part of what makes the pros the pros. If you practice with a little extra added weight, you'll see that ball go just where you want it, and you'll be surprised at how far you can hit it.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Can You Improve Golf Swing Speed With Training Aids


Golf swing speed is one of the key factors in hitting your drives as far as possible. Golfers of all ages and abilities are always trying to get more out of their drives…aren’t you? But what’s the most effective way to achieve higher swing speed?There are many new training aids on the market promising more distance and higher clubhead speed, but out of most of them, there are only a few that succeed. I say this, because the one limiting factor is your current physical status. If you don’t improve your golf specific strength and flexibility, you’re “dead in the water” no matter what! Training aids can only do what your body will let them!So that leaves you with a combination of the right training aid for golf swing speed improvement and a program focusing on core strength and flexibility to get you to move that club faster and in control through impact. Does that make sense to you?Just picture it! You are not in very good shape and you step up to the tee with the intention to kill it! What usually happens? Do you get that distance on the shot you hoped for? Did you keep it in the short grass or did you blow it in the woods?Golf swing speed means nothing if your swing is out of control, and some of these new training aids don’t mention this. All they focus on in their advertisements is faster and faster swings. Excuse me if I’m not correct, but ball-to-clubface contact is one of the key factors in maximizing distance. If you have a heel or toe shoe, doesn’t matter if you’re swinging at 140 mph, the ball isn’t going anywhere, or at least anywhere you want it to go!So next time you see a television commercial or read an ad in one of the golf magazines for a training aid that promises higher golf swing speed, does it talk about swing efficiency and control at the same time? If it doesn’t…move on to the next training aid.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Three important steps to lower Scores

The Three Steps
1. Play the shot you’re given, not the one you want
First, understand that you’re not Tiger, Ernie, Vijay or Retief. An honest appraisal of your situation and ability will help you decide the right shot and the club needed to play it. Forget what everyone else is doing; this is YOU. If your buddy is hitting an 8-iron from 160 yards and you need a 6, then hit the 6-iron. Ask yourself if you’d rather lower your score or stroke your ego.If you answered the former, then put yourself in the best position. You don’t need to hit an 8-iron just because everyone else is doing it.You will begin to get the prized lower scores when you start playing the BEST shot and not the one you’re aching to play. Sometimes they are the same shot; most often they are not.Play the percentages: Think about your real chance at nailing the risky low-percentage shot. Consider how many times you got into trouble by playing this shot. Imagine the strokes you can remove from your round by letting your head rule your heart and your ego.How many times have you said to yourself, “I’m going to ‘go for it’”? And how often has this added two more strokes to your hole. On a long shot, it may be best to lay-up and take the bogey, and save yourself a stroke.Try to play within yourself. Know your abilities as they stand RIGHT NOW and forget how good you’re going to be a year from now. Improved play will come if you don’t force it. The less you force, the faster it will happen.
2. Keep it simple: Process vs. Outcome
Simplify your round of golf by always focusing on process versus outcome. Never mind what you can’t control: think about what you can control. Consider your breathing, rhythm, your set-up and swing. Watch your pace between shots and visualize every shot before you attempt it. These are the processes that determine your success.You can control these things. What you CAN’T control are variables such as the weather, course condition, course layout and playing partners’ attitudes.Reflect back on all the times you focused on outcomes, like when you thought you just had to break 90. You probably didn’t. Your head was too full of what you were going to accomplish and not how you were going to accomplish it.Remind yourself that all the information you need to make the right choice about which club to choose and which shot to hit is laid out for you, if you just pay attention. Study the course design and its obstructions and you will know exactly where to go and where NOT to go. Focus on WHERE to go. And understand that the most perfect shot is the one that’s best suited to your current ability. Also remember the “fairways and greens” concept and play within those parameters – meaning ALWAYS stay on the fairways and greens. This applies to those with a 30, 15 or 5 handicap. Deep inside, you know that you can’t ‘outsmart’ the course. No one ever has, except Tiger or Jack, and then only on rare occasion.
3. Practice Your Short Game
Think about all the pros that lost a tournament when they got to the green in one or two shots but simply couldn’t get the ball in the hole from there. Everyone likes to go to the range and hit a buck of balls, and admire them fly. But many players badly neglect the short game.The next time you golf take a look at your partners and how many strokes they lose because of poor chipping, pitching and putting. Then think about how much better you could score if you did even a slightly better job – even if you can’t drive the ball as far.It’s important to spend as much or more time chipping, pitching and putting as you do driving the ball. As you know, the idea is to get the ball closer to the hole with each shot. You will do this far more efficiently by improving your short game. You will also build confidence in making tough shots, plus those easy ones that are far too often missed.The greatest players spend hours on their short game because they understand that hole after hole is lost as the shots add up on or leading up to the green.The short game is a huge weakness in many semi-pro golfers and it’s the very reason they haven’t graduated to a higher circuit. While they are busy admiring their long game, they are building strokes on the short game.