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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

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Golf Clubs
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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.

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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.

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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