Golf Clubs
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

Gifts: Giving to the Beginner Golfer
Author: The Gift Wizard
GIFTS: GIVING TO THE BEGINNER GOLFER
by A. Heath

It's golf season again! And you might be looking for a gift to
give to someone who's just starting off in golf. So, here are
some suggestions. These beginner golf gifts target those new golf
souls... the ones who don't yet know what their in for, or the ones
who are already hooked after just playing a few times.


Golf Lessons

The single best choice out of all gifts for the golf beginner is
golf lessons. There's nothing that the beginning golfer can use
more. It's even better than a set of clubs, because it will give
him/her a chance to really decide if he/she likes the game and
wants to stick with it. After all, golf can be extremely
frustrating, but it's also highly addictive. Start them off right
with a lesson and give them a good swing foundation. Contact your
local golf course or instruction facility to find out what options
you have in your area.


Golf Books

If you can't afford to buy golf lessons for the beginning golfer,
at the very least, get him/her an instruction book or DVD. There
are lot to choose from, many with the beginner in mind. Don't
forget that along with frustrating and addictive, golf can also be
intimidating, so help them to be better prepared for their
experience. And even if you do decide on giving lessons,
instruction books or DVDs are excellent complementary beginner
golf gifts.



First Set of Golf Clubs

A lot of new golfers start out by borrowing or renting their clubs
when they play, so to help them along you may want to start him/her
off with their own set of golf clubs. Don't go with anything
extravagant or expensive with their first set. Clubs are usually a
pretty personal choice, and it's probable that their first set won't
be the one they stick with in the long term. This is even more
important if you're buying the first set of clubs for a child, as
they will most likely outgrow them by the next summer. If you do
get a set of clubs, make sure you get a bag to go with it.



Driving Range Membership

It's very common for a new golfer to want to just get out there and
whack the ball! Actually, many experienced golfers want to do that.
And while that may not be the best thing to do on the course, it's
certainly fun to do at the driving range! You can give a membership
to a local driving range. Other options include a gift certificate,
ball tokens, or a 10 bucket pass. What the practice facility offers
in the form of a membership or package deal will determine what
options you have for these beginner golf gifts.


Golf Shoes

Depending on where he/she will be playing, the beginner golfer may
need to wear golf shoesicon to get onto the course. Check into this
first, as many courses have rules in this regard. Consider buying a
pair of either soft spiked shoes, or ones that can be converted to
soft spikes, as this, too, is a requirement for some golf courses.
If they don't need golf shoes right away, avoid choosing them as your
beginner golf gift selection. We say this for a couple of reasons:
1) any type of shoe is hard to pick out as a gift, and the fit of a
golf shoe is important for comfort, especially if you consider the
amount of walking that a golfer does. 2) It's actually better for
golfer's balance to practice without golf shoes, as the golfer cannot
depend on the stability of the spikes to hold them in place. An
alternative to golf shoes as a beginner golf gift is the ever-present
gift certificate, so they can pick out their own shoes.


Golf Balls

Like golf clubs, the type and brand of golf balls aren't important
for the beginner. While you may want to consider compression when
picking them out (the softer the hitter, the lower the compression),
the type and construction of the golf ball will have very little
bearing when he/she is first starting out. It would probably be a
more appreciated gift if you were to personalize the balls with their
name, nickname, or other custom logo, but that might make them all
the more upset when the balls are lost (and they WILL be lost).

Gloves and Accessories

Don't forget the accessories! Gloves, tees, and ball markers are
inexpensive items that will add a nice touch for beginner golf gifts.
It's like giving a golf starter kit. Get him/her a glove - it will
make them feel more confident or credible when holding their clubs -
like a "real" golfer! Remember, the right-handed golfer needs a
left-hand glove (and vice-versa). And get them some tees (perhaps
personalized) and a few ball markers. You don't want them to feel
left out, do you?


Save the expensive and fancy golf gifts for another gift occasion.
If the recipient of your gifts decides to give up golf, then the
expensive or extravagant gifts would be a waste. If he/she sticks
with the game, then the more elaborate golf gifts will be more
appreciated down the road. For now, focus on simple beginner golf
gifts to get them started.

About the Author

The Gift Wizard is a gift researcher for http://www.the-gift-wizard.com">http://www.the-gift-wizard.com

...

Golf Clubs
Back To Snippet
Back To SITEMAP

A Guide For Buying Golf Clubs Online.
Author: Brian Channell
For Discount Golf Clubs, Look No Further!

Before you buy discount golf clubs, you need information �what to look for, what to avoid. You don�t want to end up with less than top-quality golf club, even if they are at a discount price. Factory direct prices in some of the best golf clubs available can save you hundreds; but only if you are well educated about what to look for in a discount golf club.

If you are already a golf enthusiast and know something about buying golf clubs, I�m sure you will find information here to round out your knowledge and save you money on your next purchase, allowing you to make the best choice possible. If you are a novice golfer you should study all the eight articles on purchasing golf clubs to be well prepared. We tell you both what is good to look for, and how to identify the bad choices. We also provide a glossary of terms to help you decipher what those words really mean.

If you have additional questions after reading these eight lessons about choosing discount golf club, please contact us. However, we believe you will find most everything you need to know to make an intelligent Internet or in-store purchase of discount golf clubs and get the product you pay for; not some rip-off look-alike.

About the Author

Brian Channell is an online entrepreneur. Please visit www.cheap-golf-equipment.com to learn more.

...

---

Putting: Back to Basics

We're back to putting again. We feel that strongly about it. The average golfer could easily make up 10 strokes a ROUND by putting properly. And it is much easier to practice putting then driving or fairway shots in your house or yard!

The game of golf should be learned from the green back to the tee. That means putting, chipping, fairway shots, and THEN drives. Remember, most shots in a round are from around the green!!!!

The average golfer's tendency, when putting, is to use too much of their wrists and arms, thus breaking down their wrists through the putt. No! No!! NO!!!! DO NOT BREAK YOUR WRISTS!! First it hurts (ok, couldn't resist), second, you LOSE CONTROL!!!

To become a great putter, the perfect combination of shoulders and arms should be used throughout the putt. Any wrist action involved is through the motion of the weight of the putter.

During your putt, concentrate on your shoulders really the putting stroke. On the backswing, your left shoulder moves down and your right shoulder moves up, focusing on your shoulders becoming synchronized. Your left wrist should stay nice and firm throughout.

In order to set up the putting grip, first place the grip in the palm of your left hand, and your entire hand around the grip. Place your right hand underneath your left, in a similar palm grip. Overlap your right hand with your left index finger.

Your palms should be opposite to one another, for a nice locked-in feeling. When setting up to address the ball, make sure your eyes are over the ball, specifically your left eye (if you are a right hand golfer).

Bend your knees slightly, and hang your arms over the ball.

Shift your weight slightly forward on your left foot, favoring the left side of your body. Your hands should also be slightly forward in your stance.

Before making your stroke, make sure your arms, shoulders, knees and feet are all parallel with your target line.

Keep all these elements in tact, and you should see improved putting in no time. .

Standard rule of thumb. Five foot putt, bring (sweep) your putter back five inches, follow through five inches.

Why do most putts miss? Because the stance and the putter head are NOT square to the target line (for such cool people playing this game, isn't the word square used a lot?).

Put this in your muscle and visual memory bank:

Use a square tile floor. Place the putter head along one of the squares, and align your feet using the square pattern of the floor to be, well, square to the target.

Now, take a little peek down the target line. MEMORIZE that look. That is a square look, and that's cool!

Where Should Your Miss Land??

One of the major differences between the Tour pros and the weekend player is that the Tour pro focuses on where he wants his "misses" to land. For example, if the green is sloped back-to-front, the Tour pro will choose a club that will make sure that he leaves his approach below the hole so that he has an easier, uphill putt for birdie.

You should do the same thing. Instead of just walking off the yardage and choosing the appropriate club for the yardage, take a second to study the green to see how it's sloped. If it is sloped severely back-to-front, take one less club or choke down on the club a bit.

Or, if it is sloped hard right-to-left, aim well left of the hole (assuming the hole isn't cut tight to the left side of the green near trouble). By leaving your approach shots on the proper side of the hole, you'll find yourself three-putting or four-putting a lot less.

What are the three worst words in golf?

Wedge, Putter, Wedge (OK, if you don't get it, email me, and I'll explain..)

About the Author

Michael Hamilton is an accomplished golfer, and editor of Golf Tips Weekly Newsletter. His most recent book can be found at:
http://www.free-golf-tip.com/golfebook.htm

His sites include:
http://www.free-golf-tip.com
http://www.breaking90.com

How to Get the Most Out of Your Oversized Driver

The key to hitting the ball farther with the modern driver and golf ball (which spins much less off of a flat face than balls of the past) is high launch combined with a low spin rate. Our goal is to get enough spin to achieve lift, while minimizing (hopefully eliminating) drag.

Assuming that you have a driver with enough loft, here are four things that you can do to increase launch and decrease spin rate, thus increasing your distance off the tee:

Tee the Ball Higher
The old adage has always been that the top of the driver should be about halfway up the ball when it is teed up. However, with a 460cc driver, I like to see you set the ball high enough on a peg such that the top of the driver is no more than one-third of the way up the ball. Of course, this means that the standard 2 1/8-inch tee will not be long enough to accommodate.

---

Bunkers - How to Play Them

Fairway Bunkers

The fairway bunker shot can be an intimidating shot for many inexperienced golfers. For starters, when playing out of fairway bunkers, it is wise to take one to two clubs more than normal. Begin by setting up normally, with your feet slightly dug in for stability and the ball positioned more toward the middle of your stance. Next, grip down slightly on the club for greater control.

Right before you begin your backswing, lift your chin off your chest. That raises your center of gravity and increases your ability to hit the ball first, which is crucial in executing the shot. Swing at 70 percent of your normal speed and there�s a good bet you�ll hit a clean, solid shot.

So, Hitting a shot from a fairway bunker poses no great problem if the ball has a good lie. (Well, I am really just trying to build your confidence. I could say, you are in a bunker, you're score just went up three strokes!!!)

Long or middle irons as well as 3, 4, and 5 woods can be used with confidence in this situation.
Take a open stance, wider than normal. Work your feet into the sand for better balance. Play the ball back 1" to 2" to assure that the club hits the ball before the sand.

Choke down on the shaft.
Close your eyes (just kidding)

From an open stance, aim slightly to the left.
Swing Normal Speed
Pray.

On long fairway bunker shots, try a 5 wood in preference to a long iron. Don't try to overpower this shot. Restrict your body turn and swing easy.

Now, if it is a BAD lie, then you need to play the course. Grab your club you are confident with, between a 7 and SW. Observe the course. Realize that you are not Tiger Woods. Realize the average golfer will clunk it out about 75 yards. Aim for a safe fairway shot to get you back into play. Shoot for the MIDDLE of the fairway, not left or right, 75 yards 'down bunker'.

Most importantly, follow through on your swing. Most weekend golfers, whether near the green or in a fairway bunker, STOP their swing on impact. Golf is simple. You ALWAYS need to follow through. Again, swing easy and follow through.

Greenside Bunkers

The most common mistake weekend players make in the greenside bunker is allowing their lower bodies to get too active. If you shift your weight or make a turn with your lower body, your swing�s shape and impact position will never be the same from one swing to the next�you�ll never know whether you�ll leave the ball in the bunker or skull one 35 yards across the green.

Proper bunker technique requires that you place your weight forward�and leave it there throughout the swing. Here�s a great drill to engrain this feeling. Go to a practice bunker and hit 25 bunker shots with your right (for right-handed golfers) heel in the air�only your right toes should be dug into the sand for balance. This will position the majority of your weight forward to begin your swing. If you try to shift your weight back to your right side as you play the shot, you�ll feel the pressure in your right toes and you�ll have to fight to keep your right heel from lowering into the sand. It might feel as though you�re actually shifting your weight forward in a reverse pivot, but you�re not�you�re just not used to the feel of the proper bunker technique.

As you learn to keep your weight forward and quiet your lower body on these greenside bunker shots, you�ll begin to notice the ball flying the same distance and on the same trajectory again and again. Once this happens, you�ll start to develop some touch and begin to think about not only getting the ball out, but also about getting it close.

Poor bunker players have a far-too-active lower body. If you make a turn or weight shift, your swing's shape and the club's impact position will change from swing-with inconsistent results.

To quiet your lower body bring consistency to your greenside bunker game, practice hitting sand shots with your right heel raised. Your swing's shape and club's impact position will be the same-shot after shot.

About the Author

Michael Hamilton is an accomplished golfer, and editor of Golf Tips Weekly Newsletter. His most recent book can be found at:
http://www.free-golf-tip.com/golfebook.htm

His sites include:
http://www.free-golf-tip.com
http://www.breaking90.com

---

Basics For "Those Golf Basics"

A Gap in Golf Instruction?

In early 2004 I read an Internet article which contained the
statement that "golfers are desperately looking for golf
instruction".

Hold on here! There has been some of the finest instruction for
any sport provided in current golf teaching. For someone to make
the above statement, it would seem ludicrous. I mean, there are
some tremendous golf teachers out there. They rank from those
who you see on the Golf Channel to those terrific gals and guys
who you know at your nearby golf course.

But, the above statement hints that something is not working.
Well, I have a good idea what is not working and what should
work. (Notice, I did not say that I KNOW what is not working.)

I will be introducing you to some new and vital golf tips and
golf instruction from this website. You will NOT be learning a
whole new method of swinging the golf club. This will not be some "revolutionary" golf swing theory. What I will show you are some fundamentals of golf swing movements which will prepare you for
the golf swing ideas presented in current theories of golf
instruction.

I have had experience as a physical education teacher from
Grades 1 to 9. In one year I saw the full development from
a struggling Grade 1 student learning basic athletic movements
all the way to fluid-moving Grade 9 students (nearly a full-grown
adult). And, within that one year I quickly learned how to
develop that final fluid movement throughout all the 'in-between"
growing stages.

(By the way, this is an experience that all Golf Pros should go
through to learn the deepest levels of teaching in their
profession.)

I know the difficulty people of any age have in trying to learn
NEW body movements for any sport. Come to think of it - I know
that same difficulty for people of all ages when they try to
learn anything from how to safely cut a slice of roast beef to
how to correctly type out an email message to send to their
family or friends.

I've played most sports - except lacrosse. I am still learning
new concepts of how to correctly move for the sports that I use
to play. (A young lacrosse player showed me some moves that are
part of the golf swing. Aha! Didn't know that did you?)

That is the key! You have to be willing to learn new concepts.
Even the new concepts of Natural Golf and Gravity Golf, to name
two, seem to miss the concept of basic body movement from which
"the basics of golf" can be taught.

The Golf Teaching Pro industry has very good "teaching stuff".

But, there is SOMETHING MISSING!

Many people try to play golf and too many of those give up.

A possible answer: Golf instruction has originated from people
who have "figured" out how to do that which is good for their
own golf game. Because no other starting point was available,
mimicking the successful golfers and following their advice has
been the starting point for beginners or struggling golfers.

I was taught how to teach athletics from a man who loved soccer.
I had never played soccer until I met him in university. I not
only became a good soccer player - I became a good teacher of
soccer and any other sport.

That man taught us how to teach during the process of teaching
us how to play the game and learn the skills. And, since he was
preparing us to "go forth" and teach little children, he also
showed us how to teach to various levels of physical and mental
development.

I have discovered that everyone who wants to learn how to swing
that "stick" to smack that "little white ball" has to learn some
simple Grade 1 type of movements.

Guess what! Those simple movements do not have to be golf-
related movements.

I have made a point of trying to find ways of relating common,
everyday life skill movements to the golf swing. I have tried
to relate the movements in a lot of other sports to the golf
swing movements. My conclusion? Everyone has already learned
something in their life which will help them learn an effective
way to hit the golf ball.

If you have ever tried to cut thin slices off a roast beef you
know that a certain skill or attentiveness is required. You need
to have precise movements and a "whole lot of no movements" to
do that job without cutting your finger off.

Silly analogy, I know. But, the connection is that controlled
movement along with absolute non-movement is important for
anything we do. That includes the golf swing.

Basic Teaching Concepts

What I teach is basic body movement which is controlled for the
precision needed as you teach your mind and body how to handle
a golf club.

I make people believers that they have the talent to enjoy this
sport even though they may have been given the idea that they
were not athletes or were too uncoordinated to do any sports.
I have always transformed these people within 5 minutes of my
first lesson.

You will learn, from my golf lesson modules, new information
which will teach you how to prepare to move and then how to
move during your golf swing. My methods work quickly because
they teach people how to make simple athletic movements. I could
charge a high price for each module. The information is valuable.
But, I am here to support the whole golf industry. I want you to
start with what you will learn from my modules and then progress
on to more advanced golf instruction, buy green fees, buy golf
clubs, etc. from the established golf pros and golf courses.

Fire in the Hole

Why am I stepping into a "fire of controversy" that awaits me?

Oh yes! I have been challenged for what I do in golf instruction.
But, I know something new! It brought me golf students from
outside the local area where I set up shop to teach local
golfers. There are a number of nearby Golf Pros offering their
services. Some of my students had taken lessons from these Pros
in the past. But, they came to me to learn some missing elements
in golf instruction.

In my first year I taught 115 registered students an average of
5 lessons each. As word spread of my teaching, golfers of various
levels came to me for 1 to 3 lessons. There were less than 10
registered students in the previous year.

No golf Pro was available in that town. I said to people, "I can
do that." I got involved to fill the gap. I am a teacher, more
specifically, a teacher of athletics. I have patience. I was
what a lot of people wanted for their first try at learning to
golf or fix some problems with their current golf game. I made
a lot of money for nearby golf businesses by starting people into
golf with an enthusiastic desire to enjoy being on golf outings
with their friends and families.

I have no intention of becoming "the great wizard" of something
new in golf instruction.

But, here I am! Giving you a new way of learning how to play
golf which simply gets beginners learning how to do a good golf
swing very fast. Many of these people just want to be able to
get a few good golf hits at the company "beer and food"
celebration type of scramble golf tournament.

A number of my students have come back to me saying that they
"had a hoot" at their company golf tournament. They met new
business clients, they met new friends, they found a new way
to drink beer and swallow kaviar (whoops!), or whatever. They
were there because somebody (like me) gave them some golf
lessons which sent them on the way to enjoy their company party.

And, because they were new to golf they had to look into getting
some golf equipment and find places to golf. The result? The
golf pros, who did not get the lesson money, got other golf
related expenses from these new golfers.

I toiled at this for about $10.00 per hour just to see wonderful
people of all ages get a gentle start into an activity which I
have a great passion for.

I am happy that I got involved.

I am content that I came up with some new ideas to teach golf to
people who want to quickly learn if they can hit a golf ball
some of the time like those great golfers we see on television.

Surprising Techniques

For your early interest I do teach a putting method which is
a miniature version of the full swing and almost every other
swing in-between. How simple golf can be if you can practice
putting and, at the same time, actually practice parts of your
full swing.

For your interest I do have a golf lesson which gets new or
struggling golfers hitting the ball like good golfers within
30 minutes in their first lesson. The only times I have failed
at doing this is when we just had such a good time chatting about
things during the 30 minutes that it just took longer to go
through my lesson.

Here is something really new. My next article in this series
leading toward my golf instruction modules is:

One Wrong Thought Causes Sooooo Many Of The Bad Hits
You See And Do

Here is another important thought. My teaching will lead you
into various golf swing methods which you see advertised. Three
of these are the Traditional Swing, The Natural Golf Swing, and
Gravity Golf. My original goal was to make it easier for you to
learn the traditional swing used by most golfers. When I finally
got to see books and videos of the other two methods I discovered
that I was teaching elements of these swing concepts.

More articles are listed on my Home Page

Copyright by Glen Osborne
April 2004

About the Author

Glen teaches his golf program for
Ladysmith, BC, Canada Parks & Recreation
email: artcomment@basicbodymovementforanygolfswing.com
http://basicbodymovementforanygolfswing.com

---

Putting: Back to Basics

We're back to putting again. We feel that strongly about it. The average golfer could easily make up 10 strokes a ROUND by putting properly. And it is much easier to practice putting then driving or fairway shots in your house or yard!

The game of golf should be learned from the green back to the tee. That means putting, chipping, fairway shots, and THEN drives. Remember, most shots in a round are from around the green!!!!

The average golfer's tendency, when putting, is to use too much of their wrists and arms, thus breaking down their wrists through the putt. No! No!! NO!!!! DO NOT BREAK YOUR WRISTS!! First it hurts (ok, couldn't resist), second, you LOSE CONTROL!!!

To become a great putter, the perfect combination of shoulders and arms should be used throughout the putt. Any wrist action involved is through the motion of the weight of the putter.

During your putt, concentrate on your shoulders really the putting stroke. On the backswing, your left shoulder moves down and your right shoulder moves up, focusing on your shoulders becoming synchronized. Your left wrist should stay nice and firm throughout.

In order to set up the putting grip, first place the grip in the palm of your left hand, and your entire hand around the grip. Place your right hand underneath your left, in a similar palm grip. Overlap your right hand with your left index finger.

Your palms should be opposite to one another, for a nice locked-in feeling. When setting up to address the ball, make sure your eyes are over the ball, specifically your left eye (if you are a right hand golfer).

Bend your knees slightly, and hang your arms over the ball.

Shift your weight slightly forward on your left foot, favoring the left side of your body. Your hands should also be slightly forward in your stance.

Before making your stroke, make sure your arms, shoulders, knees and feet are all parallel with your target line.

Keep all these elements in tact, and you should see improved putting in no time. .

Standard rule of thumb. Five foot putt, bring (sweep) your putter back five inches, follow through five inches.

Why do most putts miss? Because the stance and the putter head are NOT square to the target line (for such cool people playing this game, isn't the word square used a lot?).

Put this in your muscle and visual memory bank:

Use a square tile floor. Place the putter head along one of the squares, and align your feet using the square pattern of the floor to be, well, square to the target.

Now, take a little peek down the target line. MEMORIZE that look. That is a square look, and that's cool!

Where Should Your Miss Land??

One of the major differences between the Tour pros and the weekend player is that the Tour pro focuses on where he wants his "misses" to land. For example, if the green is sloped back-to-front, the Tour pro will choose a club that will make sure that he leaves his approach below the hole so that he has an easier, uphill putt for birdie.

You should do the same thing. Instead of just walking off the yardage and choosing the appropriate club for the yardage, take a second to study the green to see how it's sloped. If it is sloped severely back-to-front, take one less club or choke down on the club a bit.

Or, if it is sloped hard right-to-left, aim well left of the hole (assuming the hole isn't cut tight to the left side of the green near trouble). By leaving your approach shots on the proper side of the hole, you'll find yourself three-putting or four-putting a lot less.

What are the three worst words in golf?

Wedge, Putter, Wedge (OK, if you don't get it, email me, and I'll explain..)

About the Author

Michael Hamilton is an accomplished golfer, and editor of Golf Tips Weekly Newsletter. His most recent book can be found at:
http://www.free-golf-tip.com/golfebook.htm

His sites include:
http://www.free-golf-tip.com
http://www.breaking90.com

How to Get the Most Out of Your Oversized Driver

The key to hitting the ball farther with the modern driver and golf ball (which spins much less off of a flat face than balls of the past) is high launch combined with a low spin rate. Our goal is to get enough spin to achieve lift, while minimizing (hopefully eliminating) drag.

Assuming that you have a driver with enough loft, here are four things that you can do to increase launch and decrease spin rate, thus increasing your distance off the tee:

Tee the Ball Higher
The old adage has always been that the top of the driver should be about halfway up the ball when it is teed up. However, with a 460cc driver, I like to see you set the ball high enough on a peg such that the top of the driver is no more than one-third of the way up the ball. Of course, this means that the standard 2 1/8-inch tee will not be long enough to accommodate.

---

Bunkers - How to Play Them

Fairway Bunkers

The fairway bunker shot can be an intimidating shot for many inexperienced golfers. For starters, when playing out of fairway bunkers, it is wise to take one to two clubs more than normal. Begin by setting up normally, with your feet slightly dug in for stability and the ball positioned more toward the middle of your stance. Next, grip down slightly on the club for greater control.

Right before you begin your backswing, lift your chin off your chest. That raises your center of gravity and increases your ability to hit the ball first, which is crucial in executing the shot. Swing at 70 percent of your normal speed and there�s a good bet you�ll hit a clean, solid shot.

So, Hitting a shot from a fairway bunker poses no great problem if the ball has a good lie. (Well, I am really just trying to build your confidence. I could say, you are in a bunker, you're score just went up three strokes!!!)

Long or middle irons as well as 3, 4, and 5 woods can be used with confidence in this situation.
Take a open stance, wider than normal. Work your feet into the sand for better balance. Play the ball back 1" to 2" to assure that the club hits the ball before the sand.

Choke down on the shaft.
Close your eyes (just kidding)

From an open stance, aim slightly to the left.
Swing Normal Speed
Pray.

On long fairway bunker shots, try a 5 wood in preference to a long iron. Don't try to overpower this shot. Restrict your body turn and swing easy.

Now, if it is a BAD lie, then you need to play the course. Grab your club you are confident with, between a 7 and SW. Observe the course. Realize that you are not Tiger Woods. Realize the average golfer will clunk it out about 75 yards. Aim for a safe fairway shot to get you back into play. Shoot for the MIDDLE of the fairway, not left or right, 75 yards 'down bunker'.

Most importantly, follow through on your swing. Most weekend golfers, whether near the green or in a fairway bunker, STOP their swing on impact. Golf is simple. You ALWAYS need to follow through. Again, swing easy and follow through.

Greenside Bunkers

The most common mistake weekend players make in the greenside bunker is allowing their lower bodies to get too active. If you shift your weight or make a turn with your lower body, your swing�s shape and impact position will never be the same from one swing to the next�you�ll never know whether you�ll leave the ball in the bunker or skull one 35 yards across the green.

Proper bunker technique requires that you place your weight forward�and leave it there throughout the swing. Here�s a great drill to engrain this feeling. Go to a practice bunker and hit 25 bunker shots with your right (for right-handed golfers) heel in the air�only your right toes should be dug into the sand for balance. This will position the majority of your weight forward to begin your swing. If you try to shift your weight back to your right side as you play the shot, you�ll feel the pressure in your right toes and you�ll have to fight to keep your right heel from lowering into the sand. It might feel as though you�re actually shifting your weight forward in a reverse pivot, but you�re not�you�re just not used to the feel of the proper bunker technique.

As you learn to keep your weight forward and quiet your lower body on these greenside bunker shots, you�ll begin to notice the ball flying the same distance and on the same trajectory again and again. Once this happens, you�ll start to develop some touch and begin to think about not only getting the ball out, but also about getting it close.

Poor bunker players have a far-too-active lower body. If you make a turn or weight shift, your swing's shape and the club's impact position will change from swing-with inconsistent results.

To quiet your lower body bring consistency to your greenside bunker game, practice hitting sand shots with your right heel raised. Your swing's shape and club's impact position will be the same-shot after shot.

About the Author

Michael Hamilton is an accomplished golfer, and editor of Golf Tips Weekly Newsletter. His most recent book can be found at:
http://www.free-golf-tip.com/golfebook.htm

His sites include:
http://www.free-golf-tip.com
http://www.breaking90.com

---

Basics For "Those Golf Basics"

A Gap in Golf Instruction?

In early 2004 I read an Internet article which contained the
statement that "golfers are desperately looking for golf
instruction".

Hold on here! There has been some of the finest instruction for
any sport provided in current golf teaching. For someone to make
the above statement, it would seem ludicrous. I mean, there are
some tremendous golf teachers out there. They rank from those
who you see on the Golf Channel to those terrific gals and guys
who you know at your nearby golf course.

But, the above statement hints that something is not working.
Well, I have a good idea what is not working and what should
work. (Notice, I did not say that I KNOW what is not working.)

I will be introducing you to some new and vital golf tips and
golf instruction from this website. You will NOT be learning a
whole new method of swinging the golf club. This will not be some "revolutionary" golf swing theory. What I will show you are some fundamentals of golf swing movements which will prepare you for
the golf swing ideas presented in current theories of golf
instruction.

I have had experience as a physical education teacher from
Grades 1 to 9. In one year I saw the full development from
a struggling Grade 1 student learning basic athletic movements
all the way to fluid-moving Grade 9 students (nearly a full-grown
adult). And, within that one year I quickly learned how to
develop that final fluid movement throughout all the 'in-between"
growing stages.

(By the way, this is an experience that all Golf Pros should go
through to learn the deepest levels of teaching in their
profession.)

I know the difficulty people of any age have in trying to learn
NEW body movements for any sport. Come to think of it - I know
that same difficulty for people of all ages when they try to
learn anything from how to safely cut a slice of roast beef to
how to correctly type out an email message to send to their
family or friends.

I've played most sports - except lacrosse. I am still learning
new concepts of how to correctly move for the sports that I use
to play. (A young lacrosse player showed me some moves that are
part of the golf swing. Aha! Didn't know that did you?)

That is the key! You have to be willing to learn new concepts.
Even the new concepts of Natural Golf and Gravity Golf, to name
two, seem to miss the concept of basic body movement from which
"the basics of golf" can be taught.

The Golf Teaching Pro industry has very good "teaching stuff".

But, there is SOMETHING MISSING!

Many people try to play golf and too many of those give up.

A possible answer: Golf instruction has originated from people
who have "figured" out how to do that which is good for their
own golf game. Because no other starting point was available,
mimicking the successful golfers and following their advice has
been the starting point for beginners or struggling golfers.

I was taught how to teach athletics from a man who loved soccer.
I had never played soccer until I met him in university. I not
only became a good soccer player - I became a good teacher of
soccer and any other sport.

That man taught us how to teach during the process of teaching
us how to play the game and learn the skills. And, since he was
preparing us to "go forth" and teach little children, he also
showed us how to teach to various levels of physical and mental
development.

I have discovered that everyone who wants to learn how to swing
that "stick" to smack that "little white ball" has to learn some
simple Grade 1 type of movements.

Guess what! Those simple movements do not have to be golf-
related movements.

I have made a point of trying to find ways of relating common,
everyday life skill movements to the golf swing. I have tried
to relate the movements in a lot of other sports to the golf
swing movements. My conclusion? Everyone has already learned
something in their life which will help them learn an effective
way to hit the golf ball.

If you have ever tried to cut thin slices off a roast beef you
know that a certain skill or attentiveness is required. You need
to have precise movements and a "whole lot of no movements" to
do that job without cutting your finger off.

Silly analogy, I know. But, the connection is that controlled
movement along with absolute non-movement is important for
anything we do. That includes the golf swing.

Basic Teaching Concepts

What I teach is basic body movement which is controlled for the
precision needed as you teach your mind and body how to handle
a golf club.

I make people believers that they have the talent to enjoy this
sport even though they may have been given the idea that they
were not athletes or were too uncoordinated to do any sports.
I have always transformed these people within 5 minutes of my
first lesson.

You will learn, from my golf lesson modules, new information
which will teach you how to prepare to move and then how to
move during your golf swing. My methods work quickly because
they teach people how to make simple athletic movements. I could
charge a high price for each module. The information is valuable.
But, I am here to support the whole golf industry. I want you to
start with what you will learn from my modules and then progress
on to more advanced golf instruction, buy green fees, buy golf
clubs, etc. from the established golf pros and golf courses.

Fire in the Hole

Why am I stepping into a "fire of controversy" that awaits me?

Oh yes! I have been challenged for what I do in golf instruction.
But, I know something new! It brought me golf students from
outside the local area where I set up shop to teach local
golfers. There are a number of nearby Golf Pros offering their
services. Some of my students had taken lessons from these Pros
in the past. But, they came to me to learn some missing elements
in golf instruction.

In my first year I taught 115 registered students an average of
5 lessons each. As word spread of my teaching, golfers of various
levels came to me for 1 to 3 lessons. There were less than 10
registered students in the previous year.

No golf Pro was available in that town. I said to people, "I can
do that." I got involved to fill the gap. I am a teacher, more
specifically, a teacher of athletics. I have patience. I was
what a lot of people wanted for their first try at learning to
golf or fix some problems with their current golf game. I made
a lot of money for nearby golf businesses by starting people into
golf with an enthusiastic desire to enjoy being on golf outings
with their friends and families.

I have no intention of becoming "the great wizard" of something
new in golf instruction.

But, here I am! Giving you a new way of learning how to play
golf which simply gets beginners learning how to do a good golf
swing very fast. Many of these people just want to be able to
get a few good golf hits at the company "beer and food"
celebration type of scramble golf tournament.

A number of my students have come back to me saying that they
"had a hoot" at their company golf tournament. They met new
business clients, they met new friends, they found a new way
to drink beer and swallow kaviar (whoops!), or whatever. They
were there because somebody (like me) gave them some golf
lessons which sent them on the way to enjoy their company party.

And, because they were new to golf they had to look into getting
some golf equipment and find places to golf. The result? The
golf pros, who did not get the lesson money, got other golf
related expenses from these new golfers.

I toiled at this for about $10.00 per hour just to see wonderful
people of all ages get a gentle start into an activity which I
have a great passion for.

I am happy that I got involved.

I am content that I came up with some new ideas to teach golf to
people who want to quickly learn if they can hit a golf ball
some of the time like those great golfers we see on television.

Surprising Techniques

For your early interest I do teach a putting method which is
a miniature version of the full swing and almost every other
swing in-between. How simple golf can be if you can practice
putting and, at the same time, actually practice parts of your
full swing.

For your interest I do have a golf lesson which gets new or
struggling golfers hitting the ball like good golfers within
30 minutes in their first lesson. The only times I have failed
at doing this is when we just had such a good time chatting about
things during the 30 minutes that it just took longer to go
through my lesson.

Here is something really new. My next article in this series
leading toward my golf instruction modules is:

One Wrong Thought Causes Sooooo Many Of The Bad Hits
You See And Do

Here is another important thought. My teaching will lead you
into various golf swing methods which you see advertised. Three
of these are the Traditional Swing, The Natural Golf Swing, and
Gravity Golf. My original goal was to make it easier for you to
learn the traditional swing used by most golfers. When I finally
got to see books and videos of the other two methods I discovered
that I was teaching elements of these swing concepts.

More articles are listed on my Home Page

Copyright by Glen Osborne
April 2004

About the Author

Glen teaches his golf program for
Ladysmith, BC, Canada Parks & Recreation
email: artcomment@basicbodymovementforanygolfswing.com
http://basicbodymovementforanygolfswing.com

---

Putting: Back to Basics

We're back to putting again. We feel that strongly about it. The average golfer could easily make up 10 strokes a ROUND by putting properly. And it is much easier to practice putting then driving or fairway shots in your house or yard!

The game of golf should be learned from the green back to the tee. That means putting, chipping, fairway shots, and THEN drives. Remember, most shots in a round are from around the green!!!!

The average golfer's tendency, when putting, is to use too much of their wrists and arms, thus breaking down their wrists through the putt. No! No!! NO!!!! DO NOT BREAK YOUR WRISTS!! First it hurts (ok, couldn't resist), second, you LOSE CONTROL!!!

To become a great putter, the perfect combination of shoulders and arms should be used throughout the putt. Any wrist action involved is through the motion of the weight of the putter.

During your putt, concentrate on your shoulders really the putting stroke. On the backswing, your left shoulder moves down and your right shoulder moves up, focusing on your shoulders becoming synchronized. Your left wrist should stay nice and firm throughout.

In order to set up the putting grip, first place the grip in the palm of your left hand, and your entire hand around the grip. Place your right hand underneath your left, in a similar palm grip. Overlap your right hand with your left index finger.

Your palms should be opposite to one another, for a nice locked-in feeling. When setting up to address the ball, make sure your eyes are over the ball, specifically your left eye (if you are a right hand golfer).

Bend your knees slightly, and hang your arms over the ball.

Shift your weight slightly forward on your left foot, favoring the left side of your body. Your hands should also be slightly forward in your stance.

Before making your stroke, make sure your arms, shoulders, knees and feet are all parallel with your target line.

Keep all these elements in tact, and you should see improved putting in no time. .

Standard rule of thumb. Five foot putt, bring (sweep) your putter back five inches, follow through five inches.

Why do most putts miss? Because the stance and the putter head are NOT square to the target line (for such cool people playing this game, isn't the word square used a lot?).

Put this in your muscle and visual memory bank:

Use a square tile floor. Place the putter head along one of the squares, and align your feet using the square pattern of the floor to be, well, square to the target.

Now, take a little peek down the target line. MEMORIZE that look. That is a square look, and that's cool!

Where Should Your Miss Land??

One of the major differences between the Tour pros and the weekend player is that the Tour pro focuses on where he wants his "misses" to land. For example, if the green is sloped back-to-front, the Tour pro will choose a club that will make sure that he leaves his approach below the hole so that he has an easier, uphill putt for birdie.

You should do the same thing. Instead of just walking off the yardage and choosing the appropriate club for the yardage, take a second to study the green to see how it's sloped. If it is sloped severely back-to-front, take one less club or choke down on the club a bit.

Or, if it is sloped hard right-to-left, aim well left of the hole (assuming the hole isn't cut tight to the left side of the green near trouble). By leaving your approach shots on the proper side of the hole, you'll find yourself three-putting or four-putting a lot less.

What are the three worst words in golf?

Wedge, Putter, Wedge (OK, if you don't get it, email me, and I'll explain..)

About the Author

Michael Hamilton is an accomplished golfer, and editor of Golf Tips Weekly Newsletter. His most recent book can be found at:
http://www.free-golf-tip.com/golfebook.htm

His sites include:
http://www.free-golf-tip.com
http://www.breaking90.com

How to Get the Most Out of Your Oversized Driver

The key to hitting the ball farther with the modern driver and golf ball (which spins much less off of a flat face than balls of the past) is high launch combined with a low spin rate. Our goal is to get enough spin to achieve lift, while minimizing (hopefully eliminating) drag.

Assuming that you have a driver with enough loft, here are four things that you can do to increase launch and decrease spin rate, thus increasing your distance off the tee:

Tee the Ball Higher
The old adage has always been that the top of the driver should be about halfway up the ball when it is teed up. However, with a 460cc driver, I like to see you set the ball high enough on a peg such that the top of the driver is no more than one-third of the way up the ball. Of course, this means that the standard 2 1/8-inch tee will not be long enough to accommodate.

---

Bunkers - How to Play Them

Fairway Bunkers

The fairway bunker shot can be an intimidating shot for many inexperienced golfers. For starters, when playing out of fairway bunkers, it is wise to take one to two clubs more than normal. Begin by setting up normally, with your feet slightly dug in for stability and the ball positioned more toward the middle of your stance. Next, grip down slightly on the club for greater control.

Right before you begin your backswing, lift your chin off your chest. That raises your center of gravity and increases your ability to hit the ball first, which is crucial in executing the shot. Swing at 70 percent of your normal speed and there�s a good bet you�ll hit a clean, solid shot.

So, Hitting a shot from a fairway bunker poses no great problem if the ball has a good lie. (Well, I am really just trying to build your confidence. I could say, you are in a bunker, you're score just went up three strokes!!!)

Long or middle irons as well as 3, 4, and 5 woods can be used with confidence in this situation.
Take a open stance, wider than normal. Work your feet into the sand for better balance. Play the ball back 1" to 2" to assure that the club hits the ball before the sand.

Choke down on the shaft.
Close your eyes (just kidding)

From an open stance, aim slightly to the left.
Swing Normal Speed
Pray.

On long fairway bunker shots, try a 5 wood in preference to a long iron. Don't try to overpower this shot. Restrict your body turn and swing easy.

Now, if it is a BAD lie, then you need to play the course. Grab your club you are confident with, between a 7 and SW. Observe the course. Realize that you are not Tiger Woods. Realize the average golfer will clunk it out about 75 yards. Aim for a safe fairway shot to get you back into play. Shoot for the MIDDLE of the fairway, not left or right, 75 yards 'down bunker'.

Most importantly, follow through on your swing. Most weekend golfers, whether near the green or in a fairway bunker, STOP their swing on impact. Golf is simple. You ALWAYS need to follow through. Again, swing easy and follow through.

Greenside Bunkers

The most common mistake weekend players make in the greenside bunker is allowing their lower bodies to get too active. If you shift your weight or make a turn with your lower body, your swing�s shape and impact position will never be the same from one swing to the next�you�ll never know whether you�ll leave the ball in the bunker or skull one 35 yards across the green.

Proper bunker technique requires that you place your weight forward�and leave it there throughout the swing. Here�s a great drill to engrain this feeling. Go to a practice bunker and hit 25 bunker shots with your right (for right-handed golfers) heel in the air�only your right toes should be dug into the sand for balance. This will position the majority of your weight forward to begin your swing. If you try to shift your weight back to your right side as you play the shot, you�ll feel the pressure in your right toes and you�ll have to fight to keep your right heel from lowering into the sand. It might feel as though you�re actually shifting your weight forward in a reverse pivot, but you�re not�you�re just not used to the feel of the proper bunker technique.

As you learn to keep your weight forward and quiet your lower body on these greenside bunker shots, you�ll begin to notice the ball flying the same distance and on the same trajectory again and again. Once this happens, you�ll start to develop some touch and begin to think about not only getting the ball out, but also about getting it close.

Poor bunker players have a far-too-active lower body. If you make a turn or weight shift, your swing's shape and the club's impact position will change from swing-with inconsistent results.

To quiet your lower body bring consistency to your greenside bunker game, practice hitting sand shots with your right heel raised. Your swing's shape and club's impact position will be the same-shot after shot.

About the Author

Michael Hamilton is an accomplished golfer, and editor of Golf Tips Weekly Newsletter. His most recent book can be found at:
http://www.free-golf-tip.com/golfebook.htm

His sites include:
http://www.free-golf-tip.com
http://www.breaking90.com

---

Basics For "Those Golf Basics"

A Gap in Golf Instruction?

In early 2004 I read an Internet article which contained the
statement that "golfers are desperately looking for golf
instruction".

Hold on here! There has been some of the finest instruction for
any sport provided in current golf teaching. For someone to make
the above statement, it would seem ludicrous. I mean, there are
some tremendous golf teachers out there. They rank from those
who you see on the Golf Channel to those terrific gals and guys
who you know at your nearby golf course.

But, the above statement hints that something is not working.
Well, I have a good idea what is not working and what should
work. (Notice, I did not say that I KNOW what is not working.)

I will be introducing you to some new and vital golf tips and
golf instruction from this website. You will NOT be learning a
whole new method of swinging the golf club. This will not be some "revolutionary" golf swing theory. What I will show you are some fundamentals of golf swing movements which will prepare you for
the golf swing ideas presented in current theories of golf
instruction.

I have had experience as a physical education teacher from
Grades 1 to 9. In one year I saw the full development from
a struggling Grade 1 student learning basic athletic movements
all the way to fluid-moving Grade 9 students (nearly a full-grown
adult). And, within that one year I quickly learned how to
develop that final fluid movement throughout all the 'in-between"
growing stages.

(By the way, this is an experience that all Golf Pros should go
through to learn the deepest levels of teaching in their
profession.)

I know the difficulty people of any age have in trying to learn
NEW body movements for any sport. Come to think of it - I know
that same difficulty for people of all ages when they try to
learn anything from how to safely cut a slice of roast beef to
how to correctly type out an email message to send to their
family or friends.

I've played most sports - except lacrosse. I am still learning
new concepts of how to correctly move for the sports that I use
to play. (A young lacrosse player showed me some moves that are
part of the golf swing. Aha! Didn't know that did you?)

That is the key! You have to be willing to learn new concepts.
Even the new concepts of Natural Golf and Gravity Golf, to name
two, seem to miss the concept of basic body movement from which
"the basics of golf" can be taught.

The Golf Teaching Pro industry has very good "teaching stuff".

But, there is SOMETHING MISSING!

Many people try to play golf and too many of those give up.

A possible answer: Golf instruction has originated from people
who have "figured" out how to do that which is good for their
own golf game. Because no other starting point was available,
mimicking the successful golfers and following their advice has
been the starting point for beginners or struggling golfers.

I was taught how to teach athletics from a man who loved soccer.
I had never played soccer until I met him in university. I not
only became a good soccer player - I became a good teacher of
soccer and any other sport.

That man taught us how to teach during the process of teaching
us how to play the game and learn the skills. And, since he was
preparing us to "go forth" and teach little children, he also
showed us how to teach to various levels of physical and mental
development.

I have discovered that everyone who wants to learn how to swing
that "stick" to smack that "little white ball" has to learn some
simple Grade 1 type of movements.

Guess what! Those simple movements do not have to be golf-
related movements.

I have made a point of trying to find ways of relating common,
everyday life skill movements to the golf swing. I have tried
to relate the movements in a lot of other sports to the golf
swing movements. My conclusion? Everyone has already learned
something in their life which will help them learn an effective
way to hit the golf ball.

If you have ever tried to cut thin slices off a roast beef you
know that a certain skill or attentiveness is required. You need
to have precise movements and a "whole lot of no movements" to
do that job without cutting your finger off.

Silly analogy, I know. But, the connection is that controlled
movement along with absolute non-movement is important for
anything we do. That includes the golf swing.

Basic Teaching Concepts

What I teach is basic body movement which is controlled for the
precision needed as you teach your mind and body how to handle
a golf club.

I make people believers that they have the talent to enjoy this
sport even though they may have been given the idea that they
were not athletes or were too uncoordinated to do any sports.
I have always transformed these people within 5 minutes of my
first lesson.

You will learn, from my golf lesson modules, new information
which will teach you how to prepare to move and then how to
move during your golf swing. My methods work quickly because
they teach people how to make simple athletic movements. I could
charge a high price for each module. The information is valuable.
But, I am here to support the whole golf industry. I want you to
start with what you will learn from my modules and then progress
on to more advanced golf instruction, buy green fees, buy golf
clubs, etc. from the established golf pros and golf courses.

Fire in the Hole

Why am I stepping into a "fire of controversy" that awaits me?

Oh yes! I have been challenged for what I do in golf instruction.
But, I know something new! It brought me golf students from
outside the local area where I set up shop to teach local
golfers. There are a number of nearby Golf Pros offering their
services. Some of my students had taken lessons from these Pros
in the past. But, they came to me to learn some missing elements
in golf instruction.

In my first year I taught 115 registered students an average of
5 lessons each. As word spread of my teaching, golfers of various
levels came to me for 1 to 3 lessons. There were less than 10
registered students in the previous year.

No golf Pro was available in that town. I said to people, "I can
do that." I got involved to fill the gap. I am a teacher, more
specifically, a teacher of athletics. I have patience. I was
what a lot of people wanted for their first try at learning to
golf or fix some problems with their current golf game. I made
a lot of money for nearby golf businesses by starting people into
golf with an enthusiastic desire to enjoy being on golf outings
with their friends and families.

I have no intention of becoming "the great wizard" of something
new in golf instruction.

But, here I am! Giving you a new way of learning how to play
golf which simply gets beginners learning how to do a good golf
swing very fast. Many of these people just want to be able to
get a few good golf hits at the company "beer and food"
celebration type of scramble golf tournament.

A number of my students have come back to me saying that they
"had a hoot" at their company golf tournament. They met new
business clients, they met new friends, they found a new way
to drink beer and swallow kaviar (whoops!), or whatever. They
were there because somebody (like me) gave them some golf
lessons which sent them on the way to enjoy their company party.

And, because they were new to golf they had to look into getting
some golf equipment and find places to golf. The result? The
golf pros, who did not get the lesson money, got other golf
related expenses from these new golfers.

I toiled at this for about $10.00 per hour just to see wonderful
people of all ages get a gentle start into an activity which I
have a great passion for.

I am happy that I got involved.

I am content that I came up with some new ideas to teach golf to
people who want to quickly learn if they can hit a golf ball
some of the time like those great golfers we see on television.

Surprising Techniques

For your early interest I do teach a putting method which is
a miniature version of the full swing and almost every other
swing in-between. How simple golf can be if you can practice
putting and, at the same time, actually practice parts of your
full swing.

For your interest I do have a golf lesson which gets new or
struggling golfers hitting the ball like good golfers within
30 minutes in their first lesson. The only times I have failed
at doing this is when we just had such a good time chatting about
things during the 30 minutes that it just took longer to go
through my lesson.

Here is something really new. My next article in this series
leading toward my golf instruction modules is:

One Wrong Thought Causes Sooooo Many Of The Bad Hits
You See And Do

Here is another important thought. My teaching will lead you
into various golf swing methods which you see advertised. Three
of these are the Traditional Swing, The Natural Golf Swing, and
Gravity Golf. My original goal was to make it easier for you to
learn the traditional swing used by most golfers. When I finally
got to see books and videos of the other two methods I discovered
that I was teaching elements of these swing concepts.

More articles are listed on my Home Page

Copyright by Glen Osborne
April 2004

About the Author

Glen teaches his golf program for
Ladysmith, BC, Canada Parks & Recreation
email: artcomment@basicbodymovementforanygolfswing.com
http://basicbodymovementforanygolfswing.com

---

Putting: Back to Basics

We're back to putting again. We feel that strongly about it. The average golfer could easily make up 10 strokes a ROUND by putting properly. And it is much easier to practice putting then driving or fairway shots in your house or yard!

The game of golf should be learned from the green back to the tee. That means putting, chipping, fairway shots, and THEN drives. Remember, most shots in a round are from around the green!!!!

The average golfer's tendency, when putting, is to use too much of their wrists and arms, thus breaking down their wrists through the putt. No! No!! NO!!!! DO NOT BREAK YOUR WRISTS!! First it hurts (ok, couldn't resist), second, you LOSE CONTROL!!!

To become a great putter, the perfect combination of shoulders and arms should be used throughout the putt. Any wrist action involved is through the motion of the weight of the putter.

During your putt, concentrate on your shoulders really the putting stroke. On the backswing, your left shoulder moves down and your right shoulder moves up, focusing on your shoulders becoming synchronized. Your left wrist should stay nice and firm throughout.

In order to set up the putting grip, first place the grip in the palm of your left hand, and your entire hand around the grip. Place your right hand underneath your left, in a similar palm grip. Overlap your right hand with your left index finger.

Your palms should be opposite to one another, for a nice locked-in feeling. When setting up to address the ball, make sure your eyes are over the ball, specifically your left eye (if you are a right hand golfer).

Bend your knees slightly, and hang your arms over the ball.

Shift your weight slightly forward on your left foot, favoring the left side of your body. Your hands should also be slightly forward in your stance.

Before making your stroke, make sure your arms, shoulders, knees and feet are all parallel with your target line.

Keep all these elements in tact, and you should see improved putting in no time. .

Standard rule of thumb. Five foot putt, bring (sweep) your putter back five inches, follow through five inches.

Why do most putts miss? Because the stance and the putter head are NOT square to the target line (for such cool people playing this game, isn't the word square used a lot?).

Put this in your muscle and visual memory bank:

Use a square tile floor. Place the putter head along one of the squares, and align your feet using the square pattern of the floor to be, well, square to the target.

Now, take a little peek down the target line. MEMORIZE that look. That is a square look, and that's cool!

Where Should Your Miss Land??

One of the major differences between the Tour pros and the weekend player is that the Tour pro focuses on where he wants his "misses" to land. For example, if the green is sloped back-to-front, the Tour pro will choose a club that will make sure that he leaves his approach below the hole so that he has an easier, uphill putt for birdie.

You should do the same thing. Instead of just walking off the yardage and choosing the appropriate club for the yardage, take a second to study the green to see how it's sloped. If it is sloped severely back-to-front, take one less club or choke down on the club a bit.

Or, if it is sloped hard right-to-left, aim well left of the hole (assuming the hole isn't cut tight to the left side of the green near trouble). By leaving your approach shots on the proper side of the hole, you'll find yourself three-putting or four-putting a lot less.

What are the three worst words in golf?

Wedge, Putter, Wedge (OK, if you don't get it, email me, and I'll explain..)

About the Author

Michael Hamilton is an accomplished golfer, and editor of Golf Tips Weekly Newsletter. His most recent book can be found at:
http://www.free-golf-tip.com/golfebook.htm

His sites include:
http://www.free-golf-tip.com
http://www.breaking90.com

How to Get the Most Out of Your Oversized Driver

The key to hitting the ball farther with the modern driver and golf ball (which spins much less off of a flat face than balls of the past) is high launch combined with a low spin rate. Our goal is to get enough spin to achieve lift, while minimizing (hopefully eliminating) drag.

Assuming that you have a driver with enough loft, here are four things that you can do to increase launch and decrease spin rate, thus increasing your distance off the tee:

Tee the Ball Higher
The old adage has always been that the top of the driver should be about halfway up the ball when it is teed up. However, with a 460cc driver, I like to see you set the ball high enough on a peg such that the top of the driver is no more than one-third of the way up the ball. Of course, this means that the standard 2 1/8-inch tee will not be long enough to accommodate.

---

Bunkers - How to Play Them

Fairway Bunkers

The fairway bunker shot can be an intimidating shot for many inexperienced golfers. For starters, when playing out of fairway bunkers, it is wise to take one to two clubs more than normal. Begin by setting up normally, with your feet slightly dug in for stability and the ball positioned more toward the middle of your stance. Next, grip down slightly on the club for greater control.

Right before you begin your backswing, lift your chin off your chest. That raises your center of gravity and increases your ability to hit the ball first, which is crucial in executing the shot. Swing at 70 percent of your normal speed and there�s a good bet you�ll hit a clean, solid shot.

So, Hitting a shot from a fairway bunker poses no great problem if the ball has a good lie. (Well, I am really just trying to build your confidence. I could say, you are in a bunker, you're score just went up three strokes!!!)

Long or middle irons as well as 3, 4, and 5 woods can be used with confidence in this situation.
Take a open stance, wider than normal. Work your feet into the sand for better balance. Play the ball back 1" to 2" to assure that the club hits the ball before the sand.

Choke down on the shaft.
Close your eyes (just kidding)

From an open stance, aim slightly to the left.
Swing Normal Speed
Pray.

On long fairway bunker shots, try a 5 wood in preference to a long iron. Don't try to overpower this shot. Restrict your body turn and swing easy.

Now, if it is a BAD lie, then you need to play the course. Grab your club you are confident with, between a 7 and SW. Observe the course. Realize that you are not Tiger Woods. Realize the average golfer will clunk it out about 75 yards. Aim for a safe fairway shot to get you back into play. Shoot for the MIDDLE of the fairway, not left or right, 75 yards 'down bunker'.

Most importantly, follow through on your swing. Most weekend golfers, whether near the green or in a fairway bunker, STOP their swing on impact. Golf is simple. You ALWAYS need to follow through. Again, swing easy and follow through.

Greenside Bunkers

The most common mistake weekend players make in the greenside bunker is allowing their lower bodies to get too active. If you shift your weight or make a turn with your lower body, your swing�s shape and impact position will never be the same from one swing to the next�you�ll never know whether you�ll leave the ball in the bunker or skull one 35 yards across the green.

Proper bunker technique requires that you place your weight forward�and leave it there throughout the swing. Here�s a great drill to engrain this feeling. Go to a practice bunker and hit 25 bunker shots with your right (for right-handed golfers) heel in the air�only your right toes should be dug into the sand for balance. This will position the majority of your weight forward to begin your swing. If you try to shift your weight back to your right side as you play the shot, you�ll feel the pressure in your right toes and you�ll have to fight to keep your right heel from lowering into the sand. It might feel as though you�re actually shifting your weight forward in a reverse pivot, but you�re not�you�re just not used to the feel of the proper bunker technique.

As you learn to keep your weight forward and quiet your lower body on these greenside bunker shots, you�ll begin to notice the ball flying the same distance and on the same trajectory again and again. Once this happens, you�ll start to develop some touch and begin to think about not only getting the ball out, but also about getting it close.

Poor bunker players have a far-too-active lower body. If you make a turn or weight shift, your swing's shape and the club's impact position will change from swing-with inconsistent results.

To quiet your lower body bring consistency to your greenside bunker game, practice hitting sand shots with your right heel raised. Your swing's shape and club's impact position will be the same-shot after shot.

About the Author

Michael Hamilton is an accomplished golfer, and editor of Golf Tips Weekly Newsletter. His most recent book can be found at:
http://www.free-golf-tip.com/golfebook.htm

His sites include:
http://www.free-golf-tip.com
http://www.breaking90.com

---

Basics For "Those Golf Basics"

A Gap in Golf Instruction?

In early 2004 I read an Internet article which contained the
statement that "golfers are desperately looking for golf
instruction".

Hold on here! There has been some of the finest instruction for
any sport provided in current golf teaching. For someone to make
the above statement, it would seem ludicrous. I mean, there are
some tremendous golf teachers out there. They rank from those
who you see on the Golf Channel to those terrific gals and guys
who you know at your nearby golf course.

But, the above statement hints that something is not working.
Well, I have a good idea what is not working and what should
work. (Notice, I did not say that I KNOW what is not working.)

I will be introducing you to some new and vital golf tips and
golf instruction from this website. You will NOT be learning a
whole new method of swinging the golf club. This will not be some "revolutionary" golf swing theory. What I will show you are some fundamentals of golf swing movements which will prepare you for
the golf swing ideas presented in current theories of golf
instruction.

I have had experience as a physical education teacher from
Grades 1 to 9. In one year I saw the full development from
a struggling Grade 1 student learning basic athletic movements
all the way to fluid-moving Grade 9 students (nearly a full-grown
adult). And, within that one year I quickly learned how to
develop that final fluid movement throughout all the 'in-between"
growing stages.

(By the way, this is an experience that all Golf Pros should go
through to learn the deepest levels of teaching in their
profession.)

I know the difficulty people of any age have in trying to learn
NEW body movements for any sport. Come to think of it - I know
that same difficulty for people of all ages when they try to
learn anything from how to safely cut a slice of roast beef to
how to correctly type out an email message to send to their
family or friends.

I've played most sports - except lacrosse. I am still learning
new concepts of how to correctly move for the sports that I use
to play. (A young lacrosse player showed me some moves that are
part of the golf swing. Aha! Didn't know that did you?)

That is the key! You have to be willing to learn new concepts.
Even the new concepts of Natural Golf and Gravity Golf, to name
two, seem to miss the concept of basic body movement from which
"the basics of golf" can be taught.

The Golf Teaching Pro industry has very good "teaching stuff".

But, there is SOMETHING MISSING!

Many people try to play golf and too many of those give up.

A possible answer: Golf instruction has originated from people
who have "figured" out how to do that which is good for their
own golf game. Because no other starting point was available,
mimicking the successful golfers and following their advice has
been the starting point for beginners or struggling golfers.

I was taught how to teach athletics from a man who loved soccer.
I had never played soccer until I met him in university. I not
only became a good soccer player - I became a good teacher of
soccer and any other sport.

That man taught us how to teach during the process of teaching
us how to play the game and learn the skills. And, since he was
preparing us to "go forth" and teach little children, he also
showed us how to teach to various levels of physical and mental
development.

I have discovered that everyone who wants to learn how to swing
that "stick" to smack that "little white ball" has to learn some
simple Grade 1 type of movements.

Guess what! Those simple movements do not have to be golf-
related movements.

I have made a point of trying to find ways of relating common,
everyday life skill movements to the golf swing. I have tried
to relate the movements in a lot of other sports to the golf
swing movements. My conclusion? Everyone has already learned
something in their life which will help them learn an effective
way to hit the golf ball.

If you have ever tried to cut thin slices off a roast beef you
know that a certain skill or attentiveness is required. You need
to have precise movements and a "whole lot of no movements" to
do that job without cutting your finger off.

Silly analogy, I know. But, the connection is that controlled
movement along with absolute non-movement is important for
anything we do. That includes the golf swing.

Basic Teaching Concepts

What I teach is basic body movement which is controlled for the
precision needed as you teach your mind and body how to handle
a golf club.

I make people believers that they have the talent to enjoy this
sport even though they may have been given the idea that they
were not athletes or were too uncoordinated to do any sports.
I have always transformed these people within 5 minutes of my
first lesson.

You will learn, from my golf lesson modules, new information
which will teach you how to prepare to move and then how to
move during your golf swing. My methods work quickly because
they teach people how to make simple athletic movements. I could
charge a high price for each module. The information is valuable.
But, I am here to support the whole golf industry. I want you to
start with what you will learn from my modules and then progress
on to more advanced golf instruction, buy green fees, buy golf
clubs, etc. from the established golf pros and golf courses.

Fire in the Hole

Why am I stepping into a "fire of controversy" that awaits me?

Oh yes! I have been challenged for what I do in golf instruction.
But, I know something new! It brought me golf students from
outside the local area where I set up shop to teach local
golfers. There are a number of nearby Golf Pros offering their
services. Some of my students had taken lessons from these Pros
in the past. But, they came to me to learn some missing elements
in golf instruction.

In my first year I taught 115 registered students an average of
5 lessons each. As word spread of my teaching, golfers of various
levels came to me for 1 to 3 lessons. There were less than 10
registered students in the previous year.

No golf Pro was available in that town. I said to people, "I can
do that." I got involved to fill the gap. I am a teacher, more
specifically, a teacher of athletics. I have patience. I was
what a lot of people wanted for their first try at learning to
golf or fix some problems with their current golf game. I made
a lot of money for nearby golf businesses by starting people into
golf with an enthusiastic desire to enjoy being on golf outings
with their friends and families.

I have no intention of becoming "the great wizard" of something
new in golf instruction.

But, here I am! Giving you a new way of learning how to play
golf which simply gets beginners learning how to do a good golf
swing very fast. Many of these people just want to be able to
get a few good golf hits at the company "beer and food"
celebration type of scramble golf tournament.

A number of my students have come back to me saying that they
"had a hoot" at their company golf tournament. They met new
business clients, they met new friends, they found a new way
to drink beer and swallow kaviar (whoops!), or whatever. They
were there because somebody (like me) gave them some golf
lessons which sent them on the way to enjoy their company party.

And, because they were new to golf they had to look into getting
some golf equipment and find places to golf. The result? The
golf pros, who did not get the lesson money, got other golf
related expenses from these new golfers.

I toiled at this for about $10.00 per hour just to see wonderful
people of all ages get a gentle start into an activity which I
have a great passion for.

I am happy that I got involved.

I am content that I came up with some new ideas to teach golf to
people who want to quickly learn if they can hit a golf ball
some of the time like those great golfers we see on television.

Surprising Techniques

For your early interest I do teach a putting method which is
a miniature version of the full swing and almost every other
swing in-between. How simple golf can be if you can practice
putting and, at the same time, actually practice parts of your
full swing.

For your interest I do have a golf lesson which gets new or
struggling golfers hitting the ball like good golfers within
30 minutes in their first lesson. The only times I have failed
at doing this is when we just had such a good time chatting about
things during the 30 minutes that it just took longer to go
through my lesson.

Here is something really new. My next article in this series
leading toward my golf instruction modules is:

One Wrong Thought Causes Sooooo Many Of The Bad Hits
You See And Do

Here is another important thought. My teaching will lead you
into various golf swing methods which you see advertised. Three
of these are the Traditional Swing, The Natural Golf Swing, and
Gravity Golf. My original goal was to make it easier for you to
learn the traditional swing used by most golfers. When I finally
got to see books and videos of the other two methods I discovered
that I was teaching elements of these swing concepts.

More articles are listed on my Home Page

Copyright by Glen Osborne
April 2004

About the Author

Glen teaches his golf program for
Ladysmith, BC, Canada Parks & Recreation
email: artcomment@basicbodymovementforanygolfswing.com
http://basicbodymovementforanygolfswing.com