Four Areas Getting Ready for Spring Golf - What to work on in the Month of March Madness - 1. Flexibility

It is time to get ready for the spring golf outings.

It is March Madness Basketball is here so even it is cold outside we have something still to do, see if our favorite team make it to the Sweet Sixteen, possible the Elite Eight or if we are lucky enough the Final Four and a Chance to be crowned the National Champion.

That will keep us a little busy for the month of March as we wait for the warmer weather.  If we are lucky and live where it is warm we can do both.

But, if you are not lucky to live in a warm climate the Month of March we can still work on our game while watching the NCAA Tournament.

What are the areas we need to work on after sitting for the winter months:

1. Flexibiity
2. Endurance
3. Tempo
4. Breathing

This is just four areas that can be of concern as we move into the playing months of golf.  Let's break them down and add some activities that will help us with these areas:

Flexibility (After sitting for the winter we tend to get a little stiff and our swing isn't as fluid)

• Side Stretch:  Stand wigth your feet slifhtly apart, aligned with your shoulder.  Keep your hips facing forward.  Lift your left hand in the air and streth it to the side over your head.  Hold the position release and repeat with your right arm.
• Reaching Down Stretch:  This exercise focuses on your triceps.  Grasp your hands together.  Reach them behind your head and try stretch them down your back.  Your elbows should be pointed up.  Hold the position then release and repeat.
• Rotation Lunge:  Put your hands on either side of a golf club and then put the golf club on the back of your shoulders.  Take a big step into the lunge position.  Turn your body in the direction of your extended knee.  Hold the stretch for two counts.  Release and repeat.
• Rotator Cuff:  Hold the golf club at its center point.  Keep your arm extended.  Turn the golf club to the right and then to the left.  Repeat and then change to your other hand.
• Hamstring Stretch:  Lie flat on your back with your legs straight out.  Lift one leg into the air and hold the back of your thigh with your hands.  Pull your leg towards you.  The other leg should be flat on the ground.  Hold the stretch and then release it.  Repeat, alternating legs.
• Cats up and down:  This exercise stretches the lower back.  Get onto all fours.  Your arms should be in line with your shoulders and your legs should be in line with your hips.  Arch your back and hold this position for a count of 30.  Then flatten your back for the count of 30.  Your eyes should be looking at the floor and your arms should be kept straight.
• Neck Stretch:  Turn your head to the left and hold for the count of two.  Turn your head to the right and hold for count of two.  Repeat.  Bend your head forward so that your chin touches your chest and hold for the count of two.  Touch your left ear to your left shoulder and hold for the count of two.  Touch your ear to your right shoulder and hold for the count of two.  Repeat.
• Forearm and Wrist Stretch:  Lengthen your right arm in front of you without bending your elbow.  Use your left hand to bend your right wrist down nd stretch it.  Repeat for the opposite.

Next will will cover Endurance.

Until next time, don't just work on the physical aspect, but the mental aspect also........

Golf Equipment - What Should The Average Golfer Invest In

Golf Equipment.

These are two words that are important in the game of golf, for without equipment you cannot play.  To play golf all you really need is one club and one ball, shoes are optional however, more equipment and shoes will actually allow you to play better and have a chance at getting lower scores.

What kind of Equipment should the Average Golfer Get?  Should I get Taylermade, Callaway, Titleist, Adams, Cobra, etc., so many different types and styles.  Ping is one that even has color coding for type of swing you have.  So many things to think about how do you decide.

I know when I started playing golf it wasn't that big of deal.  I took my Mom's clubs that she hardly used and just hit the ball around the yard and sometimes even went to the golf course with them.  It was inexpensive and mostly, I wasn't good enough so I just enjoyed playing.  The kids my age didn't laugh at the clubs you used because it was expensive for clubs then and you used what you could.  You didn't see many kids with matching clubs and sometimes even the strings on the woods were loose.  Oops, that tells my age a little, wooden club heads on your fairway and drivers.

Now, clubs can be really expensive and really cheap.  Just because you are buying something really expensive doesn't mean it will make you play better golf.  Sometimes, buying something less expensive can assist in you playing better golf.

The Professional Golfers have the most expensive clubs, with the best technology, and extremely well fitted to their style of play.  Most of which is given to them by their sponsors and they don't have to purchase them.  The shafts are very high tech and mostly you cannot purchase these on the open market.  What they truly use usually isn't on the market for the everyday golfer.

So with that being said, lets look at what the average golfer needs.

Higher or Lower Priced clubs:

• Higher priced clubs generally have the best raw materials and the more precise the shape and weight distribution.
• The manufacturers have become more competitive and there are many great low priced equipment out there.
• All clubs on the market today are of reasonable playing quality, the important thing is personal suitability not price if you are prepared to wait

Swing Weight:

• The feel of many modern clubs is identified by the swing weight.  For instance the driver and metal wood heads are so light they have to be off set with the right shaft inserted to make sure the weight of the club is balanced with your swing style.
• The stiffer the shaft, basically, the greater the golfers chance of delivering the clubface accurately to the ball.  
• Conversely, the more flexible the shaft, the greater potential for clubhead speed and thus greater distances.
• But to get down to reality, the determining factors in selecting clubs must be your own strength, swing tempo, and feel.

Grip

• Next you have to determine what grip is best for you.  There are so many of different styles and types, but that is not most important aspect of the grip.
• Size is the first decision to make.
• Store, factory and online bought clubs with a standard grip, for average people.
• This may not be suitable.  Golfers come with small hands that may require a thinner grip than normal.  Golfers with large hands may need built up grips for maximum security and feel.  But , it goes further than that, the fatter the grip the more the shaft will be held in the palms of the hands.  This will lead to less wrist action during the swing
• Conversely the thinner the grip, the more the club will be held by the fingers, and the more freely the wrist will work.  
• A lack of wrist action often causes slicing, an over active wrist action often causes hooking.

A change in Grip Thickness might dramatically change your Game!!

If you don't want to spend a lot of money there are a lot of good golf clubs that are inexpensive and I would suggest that for the average golfer. 

Now for the golfers that want to have the best equipment, most expensive equipment, and look good no matter what their game, I recommend buying the high end and Brand Names without any questions.  For the clubs will not make or break your game.

For the golfers who want the maximum effort out of their clubs and spend the right amount of money not to exceed their budgets, I recommend off the shelf brand names with standard factory shafts, grips and weights.

For the golfers who want to improve on their game, are willing to spend a little more money or even save money for you can do this with brand names along with knockoffs.  See a local PGA Professional who does club fitting and test the clubs out before you buy.  You may find out that the high end and pricey club doesn't fit your golf swing and style. I believe that you need to fit your clubs to not only your swing but your body.

Myself, I play titleist irons and woods, cobra 3 rescue club, and a KGM Driver.  I have tested many clubs and these have always fit the best for not only my swing and body shape, but how they look to my eye.

If you can't stand looking at the shape or color of the club when addressing the ball it will affect your game considerably.

I hope all this helps you when deciding what and where to buy your clubs.

Until next time, once you figure out what your swing and body need in a club they will begin to feel the groove.......

By the way, I have an unused North Carolina Tar Heel Team Effort Golf Cart Bag for sale for $150.00 which includes shipping charges.  It does not include a rain cover.  If you would like to buy it please email me and we will work out the payment and delivery of this great bag.  You see I am a Wild Cat Fan, no apology though!!   I will send picture if you want to see the bag.

Golf Practice Started - Warm Weather Finally Here for A Day - At the Golf Course

Today was a day that finally was warm enough (75 degrees) to put my clubs in the trunk and take a lunch hour at the Golf Course.

Through a hectic day at the office, the warm weather allowed me to get my first practice in this year without having to go to Dicks Sporting Goods to hit a few balls as I test some of their new drivers and woods.

Even though the golf course isn't ready for smooth greens and great shape I was able to get a little practice in.

When you only have an hour lunch what can you do.

Today I worked on chipping and walking.

As I have stated before I believe that the short game is the most important part of the game since you use it about 70-80% of your shots.

With limited time, I practiced on my chip and run shot with my 56 degree wedge.  I placed myself about 20 yards away with about 15 yards of green between me and the hole.

• Position the ball just inside the right foot.  (left foot if left handed)
• Place your back foot perpendicular to the target and your front foot at a 45 degree angle with not much room between your feet in an open stance.
• Take a short back swing with hinging your hands almost immediately. (the distance you need to carry and hit the ball will be adjusted on length of back swing taken)
• The most important item on this technique is to make sure your club head swings at a descending angle, with the club head behind the hands.

I worked on this for approximately 20 minutes.  The goal is to get all the shots to finish within 3 feet or less of the hole.

It was such a nice day I thought I would check out a nice walk on the golf course and hit balls on two holes.  Of course to make sure I got the most exercise possible I picked the two hilliest holes and carried my bag.  The first hole I played 3 balls knowing that I would have average shots off the tee because first swings of the year.

This allowed me to play one shot from the middle of the fairway, one shot from the right rough on a down hill slope and the other shot I had to hit around the tree line and fade it into the green  The one in the fairway I placed on the green.  The one in the rough I pulled and was on left side of the green and chipped within 4 feet (about 20 yards away from the hole).  The third ball on the fade to the green I left on the right side of the hole with a short shot up the bank of the green with about 5 yards of green to play with and left it about 4 feet away.  My putting stroke was fine, but the greens are real bumpy for they haven't yet started rolling and cutting them.  So my recommendation on putting this early is work on technique and stroke.

With time running out, the next hole I hit only one drive down the middle and placed the second shot about pin high right side green rough.  I chipped and one putted.

Well it was time to get back to work.  It definitely was fun, enjoyable and allowed me to see what I can focus on the range for the start of my practice sessions coming up now that it has started to warm up.  Unfortunately, tomorrow back down to the 20-30's with possible snow, then a warm up to the 60's again.

Until next time, remember when you are out practicing be focused on what you want to accomplish and have fun doing it......