Featured Article Custom Fitted Golf Clubs --The Secret of Golf Success
Author: Eric Stone
One of the secrets to playing your best game of golf is to have the right set of golf clubs. And one of the best ways to have the best golf clubs is to have them custom fitted, so that you feel most comfortable when you're playing with your clubs. Many companies offer this service, and it doesn't take long at all to do. When you're searching for custom fitted golf clubs, there are a few things you'll want to look for. Even when you're at a store that sells generic clubs, it's important to make sure that the club is the right height for you—getting a club that is custom fitted will ensure that you can swing the club with just enough force to play effectively. Your shoulder height is another factor that is taken into consideration when you're being fitted for golf clubs. The length of your fist to the floor will help to determine how long the club needs to be as well.
Along with these things, you'll want to make sure that your drivers and fairway woods are custom made as well. The height of the actual club is factored in with your shoulder width and your leg height, but the drivers and fairway woods you'll use can help you to improve your swing, and they are available for both right and left-handed golfers.
If you want to be fitted for your golf clubs as soon as possible, you may want to visit your local sporting goods store and have an employee take your measurements; you may be able to choose from the selection of golf clubs in the store that match your height and width, or you may be able to use store-bought clubs temporarily while your custom clubs are being sent to you. If you'd rather take a little more time deciding on the specifics of your golf clubs, you may want to check online for some of the best quality custom golf club sites. You can enter your information online (i.e. height, weight, glove size) and receive a list of clubs that may be right for you, as well as the ideal choice for you.
You can also receive information on custom drivers, such as the Double Wall Titanium driver and the Alpha Version 2 driver. These products are of great quality, and you'll even get to read customer reviews on the products you choose, so that you can see how players of every skill level have improved their game by using custom golf equipment.
For more information on Custom Golf Clubs, drivers, and fairway woods, visit:
http://www.300yards.com
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Featured Article Costa del Sol Golf Courses
Author: Ruth Polak
The Costa del Sol, recently renamed the Costa del Golf, is an absolute
Paradise for golfers of all standards. Offering some world-class golf courses in some beautiful locations combined with the highest number of sunshine days per annum in Europe it is hard to beat. Plentiful and cheap flights to Malaga, Gibraltar and now Jerez make it accessible all the year round and not content to rest on it's laurels new golf courses and academies are being opened up on a regular basis which is why so many golfers return here year after year as there are always new and exciting challenges.
Just A Few of the Many Costa del Sol Golf Courses.
Valderrrama, home to the Volvo Masters (1988-96), the Ryder Cup (1997) and the World Golf Championships (1999-2000), Valderrama surpasses its reputation as number 1 in Europe and it has twice received the accolade of "Best Golf Club in Europe"
La Duquesa Golf Course, designed by Trent Jones has some wonderful Mediterranean views , which could play havoc with your scoring! It is probably the most complete club on the coast offering tennis, swimming pool, squash, gym etc. along with the picturesque Duqesa Port just across the road. There is also an excellent bar and restaurant, and not forgetting of course the world class and demanding golf course itself.
La Cañada was designed free of charge by Tent Jones and is the first municipal golf course of the Costa del Sol. It's nine holes are laid out on a hillside and do not present any particular difficulties.
Alhaurin Golf is a little inland from the Costa del Sol but is well worth the trip as the scenery is stunning and the course superb.
La Qinta Golf and Country Club is home to the former World Champion Manuel Piñero's Golf School. It is a technical course that reflects the designer, Manuel Piñero's, own playing characteristics in that it rewards accuracy rather than long hitting.
Alcaidesa Golf is the best and only true links course in Spain. It has recently undergone an extensive programme of re- modelling with fairways being improved and widened and greens levelled off with the result that the layout is now suitable for golfers of all levels.
For further information on some of the best Golf Courses that the Costa del Sol has to offer visit www.costadelsol-vacationrentals.com where you will also find a lovely selection of villas and apartments to rent close to some of the best golf courses on the Costa.
About the AuthorRuth Polak is the owner of http://www.costadelsol-vacationrentals.com which has a good selection of villas and apartments to rent near some great Costa del Sol Golf Courses. ...
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Featured Article Controlled Body Movement The Key Essential For Your Golf Game
Author: GlenzGolfBC
Basic body movement is essential in any sport. Of course it is also essential for any type of physical activity we do. As parents, we teach little children how to do the simplest of things. This includes how to move and how to control movements for precision and safety. Basic body movement also means limiting movement to the essential movement for what you want to do. We control the desired movement. And, we prevent unwanted movement. We learn to keep our movements just firm enough to be coordinated. We also learn to allow just enough relaxation so the movements can flow through their proper range with the most comfort. For many golfers, if you think about your hands doing something or even have much of your focus on your hands then, usually, you will do something incorrect with your hands. Basic body movement, under control, is to be your main focus. When you become good at this part of your golf swing then can you try advanced hand movements. But, any of these hand movements should only be done in harmony with the dominant body and upper arm movements. Even your arm movements need more focus in the early learning stages than any perceived hand movements. And, these arm movements should focus on movements generated in the upper arms which are as close to your body as possible. A Special Lesson With A Good Golfer A few years ago I did 2 golf lessons with a man who stood a little over 6 feet tall. He was having trouble spraying his hits with his mid-irons to his woods. I asked him to hit a ball with a wedge. He chose his 64 degree lob wedge and promptly hit a high, 95 yard hit. What was he doing wanting a lesson from anyone? Answer: He had one wrong move that he wasn't aware he was doing. I used my interpretation of Fred Couples' looping swing to guide him to the correct arm movement. When he tried my idea of Fred's swing Andy hit the ball higher and 15 yards farther. He did not want to develop that move but he understood how to correct his error with the proper movement. He hit a lot of good golf balls afterwards and knew why he did so. Andy's other problem involved chipping. He had a good hand movement in his chipping effort. He had no idea how to use that good movement with the movements of his body. As well, he had no idea of the importance of his body activity during his chipping. A few minutes into the 2nd lesson he had learned how to time his hand movements with his body movements. He also learned where his hands should be in relation to his spine as he did the hand movements that he wanted. His chipping improved dramatically within the lesson. His confidence was as high as possible that he could land a golf ball where he wanted. And, all it took was understanding how his arms and hands were to move in harmony with his body and also in relationship to his body position. How I Developed My Understanding Of Basic Body Movement I taught physical education from Grades 1 to 9. In one short span of time I could see the development of movement in all stages of growth. I could also see the physical and mental effort carried out by these children as they learned the skills and the games which I taught. I used to teach the various Grades a level of a game which they could handle. I taught positional play in slow motion and then introduced body movements which enabled the students to move fluently up and down the playing surface. They quickly learned this and asked for more. That is when I taught the various skills. The game was taught first; and then came the skills. In golf, there are a number of games played during a round. * We try to get a better score than someone else. * We try to get a personal best score during a round. * We try to play against the golf course to get a par round or better. * We try to get a better score than par on each hole. BUT, usually forgotten is the game of playing each golf shot as good as we possibly can. It is this last "game" which I teach in my golf lessons. The free articles combined with the instruction modules will teach you how to win "the game" of playing each hit during your round of golf. Relating this to teaching golf swing skills I emphasize basic posture, alignment, control, and body movement. Arm and hand activity do not get taught until my students learn basic movements. Because of this, beginners and students who had never hit the ball in the air soon hit draws with even their short irons when they hit the ball over a fence. You, The Ground, And The Golf Ball We stand on the ground. The golf ball rests on the ground (er, usually). Before we try to dislodge that golf ball from its place on the ground we should learn a good method of relating what we do from our "perch" on the ground. Between our connection to the ground and the ball's position on the ground we have a lot of body mass and joints along with that "stick" thing. We need movement to make the golf ball move. Therefore, we swing back and forth to make the golf club move the ball. But, those joints want to do all sorts of contortions during our golf swing efforts. We need to develop an understanding of how to move at the fewest possible joints and how to control or prevent movements of the rest of our joints. This is basic to anything we do. It is very important to this "confusing" skill called the golf swing. Glen Osborne teaches his golf program for Ladysmith, BC Parks & Rec. Free articles and info about affordable live lessons, lesson modules, and video based lessons are available at: http://basicbodymovementforanygolfswing.com mailto: golflesson@basicbodymovementforanygolfswing.com ...
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Featured Article Controlled Body Movement The Key Essential For Your Golf Game
Author: GlenzGolfBC
Basic body movement is essential in any sport. Of course it is also essential for any type of physical activity we do. As parents, we teach little children how to do the simplest of things. This includes how to move and how to control movements for precision and safety. Basic body movement also means limiting movement to the essential movement for what you want to do. We control the desired movement. And, we prevent unwanted movement. We learn to keep our movements just firm enough to be coordinated. We also learn to allow just enough relaxation so the movements can flow through their proper range with the most comfort. For many golfers, if you think about your hands doing something or even have much of your focus on your hands then, usually, you will do something incorrect with your hands. Basic body movement, under control, is to be your main focus. When you become good at this part of your golf swing then can you try advanced hand movements. But, any of these hand movements should only be done in harmony with the dominant body and upper arm movements. Even your arm movements need more focus in the early learning stages than any perceived hand movements. And, these arm movements should focus on movements generated in the upper arms which are as close to your body as possible. A Special Lesson With A Good Golfer A few years ago I did 2 golf lessons with a man who stood a little over 6 feet tall. He was having trouble spraying his hits with his mid-irons to his woods. I asked him to hit a ball with a wedge. He chose his 64 degree lob wedge and promptly hit a high, 95 yard hit. What was he doing wanting a lesson from anyone? Answer: He had one wrong move that he wasn't aware he was doing. I used my interpretation of Fred Couples' looping swing to guide him to the correct arm movement. When he tried my idea of Fred's swing Andy hit the ball higher and 15 yards farther. He did not want to develop that move but he understood how to correct his error with the proper movement. He hit a lot of good golf balls afterwards and knew why he did so. Andy's other problem involved chipping. He had a good hand movement in his chipping effort. He had no idea how to use that good movement with the movements of his body. As well, he had no idea of the importance of his body activity during his chipping. A few minutes into the 2nd lesson he had learned how to time his hand movements with his body movements. He also learned where his hands should be in relation to his spine as he did the hand movements that he wanted. His chipping improved dramatically within the lesson. His confidence was as high as possible that he could land a golf ball where he wanted. And, all it took was understanding how his arms and hands were to move in harmony with his body and also in relationship to his body position. How I Developed My Understanding Of Basic Body Movement I taught physical education from Grades 1 to 9. In one short span of time I could see the development of movement in all stages of growth. I could also see the physical and mental effort carried out by these children as they learned the skills and the games which I taught. I used to teach the various Grades a level of a game which they could handle. I taught positional play in slow motion and then introduced body movements which enabled the students to move fluently up and down the playing surface. They quickly learned this and asked for more. That is when I taught the various skills. The game was taught first; and then came the skills. In golf, there are a number of games played during a round. * We try to get a better score than someone else. * We try to get a personal best score during a round. * We try to play against the golf course to get a par round or better. * We try to get a better score than par on each hole. BUT, usually forgotten is the game of playing each golf shot as good as we possibly can. It is this last "game" which I teach in my golf lessons. The free articles combined with the instruction modules will teach you how to win "the game" of playing each hit during your round of golf. Relating this to teaching golf swing skills I emphasize basic posture, alignment, control, and body movement. Arm and hand activity do not get taught until my students learn basic movements. Because of this, beginners and students who had never hit the ball in the air soon hit draws with even their short irons when they hit the ball over a fence. You, The Ground, And The Golf Ball We stand on the ground. The golf ball rests on the ground (er, usually). Before we try to dislodge that golf ball from its place on the ground we should learn a good method of relating what we do from our "perch" on the ground. Between our connection to the ground and the ball's position on the ground we have a lot of body mass and joints along with that "stick" thing. We need movement to make the golf ball move. Therefore, we swing back and forth to make the golf club move the ball. But, those joints want to do all sorts of contortions during our golf swing efforts. We need to develop an understanding of how to move at the fewest possible joints and how to control or prevent movements of the rest of our joints. This is basic to anything we do. It is very important to this "confusing" skill called the golf swing. Glen Osborne teaches his golf program for Ladysmith, BC Parks & Rec. Free articles and info about affordable live lessons, lesson modules, and video based lessons are available at: http://basicbodymovementforanygolfswing.com mailto: golflesson@basicbodymovementforanygolfswing.com ...
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Featured Article Confusion Feeds the Golf Industry
Author: Jim McLellan
The policeman drops his paycheck on the kitchen table so his wife can go shopping and pay their bills. They are able to do this because somewhere down the line someone killed, raped, or robbed someone. An unnamed X (rated) President of the United States can have pizza and frollick with a starry eyed intern in the White House because you are paying the rent. Here's a news flash for you! If you have been in a coma or have spent the last half century on Neptune, you should know that the golf industry is now a multibillion dollar a year business. What did we learn in paragraph one? Somewhere down the line someone supports, funds, feeds or makes possible the growth and maintenance of such a insatiable glutton. How did IT get so humungous? Sit here on the Anti-Pro's knee and lets toss some ideas around in our craniums. This hungry monster needs a lot of food (money). The dope addict needs a fix. Somewhere there is a need. And, in the golf industry, that need is cleverly disguised as confusion. Confuse the golfer and he will be back for more. He doesn't want anyone to think he is stupid or no talent, so he will convince himself that maybe he just didn't get it the first time, or second, or...? A reader sends along this interesting observation: "My experience has been that the overwhelming majority, 85-plus percent unduly complicate the golf swing. I have spent thousands of dollars to come to this conclusion. I often wonder if it is a deliberate attempt to keep one in golfing no-mans land." Thanks, Chip! Has the beast made a puppet out of us? Send the golfer a new magazine and watch him tear into it to find the "latest tip." Try it. Doesn't work? No problem, they will send you another next month that will give you just the opposite advice. The golf pro can't tell you the golf swing is simple. He could explain it ALL in one lesson, but if he did and IF the golf mags didn't have new "bogus"tips and the book writers didn't have a batch of golfer wanabees drooling at the thought of getting better.....They would all die an excruciating death from starvation. They CAN"T tell the truth...It would be Suicide. AND that $500 driver? If your swing STINKS, it will NOT make any difference. It looks pretty goofy to stand up on the first tee with a $500 club and slice it into a subdivision. Lets build the golf swing around this premise. A 3,4,5 year old watches a good golf swing, copies it and has a beautiful swing. No hi-tech, no books, no freeze frame analysis, no series of golf lessons. Watch Daddy walk....walk. Watch Mommy walk....walk. This is an A....write an A....this is a B. There are thousands of languages here on Earth and the part of the brain that runs motor skills (your golf swing) does not understand one of them! If you continue to swallow the grub the golf industry is dishing out, get real comfy and enjoy your stay in................ .......No Man's Land! About The Author Introduced to golf in 1948 at age 8, Jim McLellan quickly became known as the "Whiz Kid" with an incredible swing and a gifted ability to instruct. At age 15, students came to him at his family owned golf course from four surrounding states for lessons. Jim was consistently breaking par, owned 2 course records and was "the skinny kid" who could drive the ball 300+ yards. Jim attended Arizona State University at Tempe on a golf scholarship and graduated from the PGA Golf School in Long Beach California in 1960. You can learn more about Jim's simple approach to golf by going to http://www.mcgolf.com " www.mcgolf.com ...
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Components Of An Effective Pre-Shot Routine
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Featured Article Components Of An Effective Pre-Shot Routine
Author: Jack Moorehouse -
Developing consistency isn't easy. It's especially difficult for golfers whose practice time is limited by their work and/or their families. But there are some things that these golfers can do to help themselves develop consistency, even when they're unable to get to a range or are on the road traveling. One is practicing their pre-shot routine— something my golf tips often discuss.
Unfortunately, many golfers don't have a pre-shot routine. If they do have a routine, they don't always use it. And when they use it, it's disorganized. Their method of ball alignment is haphazard; they spend too much time over the ball; and/or they line up off-target, among other things. If they're interrupted, they look up to see what caused the noise—then hit away, as if nothing happened.
Using a pre-shot routine is helpful, whether on the tee or in the fairway. It encourages consistency, guarantees correct alignment, and helps you make the transition to the right frame of mind. It also helps you focus on the job at hand, which my golf tips constantly advocate. In short, a good pre-shot routine prepares you both physically and mentally for a shot.
My golf lessons review the individual components of a good routine. Of course, everyone's routine will differ to a degree, but most will be pretty consistent in terms of their key components. If you're striving for a lower golf handicap, work these components into your routine.
Here's what I recommend…
Components of a Pre-shot Routine
• Stand behind ball/visualize shot
• Position yourself parallel to target line
• Place clubhead behind the ball, square to target
• Look at target/visualize shot
• Relax arms/waggle club
• Look at target again, sense shot, exhale
• Pull trigger and swing
First, stand a few yards behind the ball facing the target. While behind the ball, pick out a target, and picture the shot, a technique we often emphasize in my golf instruction sessions. Also, visualize the ball's flight.
Next, walk to the ball. Position yourself approximately parallel to the target line with your feet close together.
Next, place the clubhead behind the ball so that it looks squarely at the target. Adjust your body so that it is parallel to target line. Move your back foot back, then your front foot forward until you're in a comfortable but stable stance. This sequence eliminates the need to worry about where the ball is positioned. It will be in the correct position every time.
Once you're set up, look at the target. Visualize the shot once more. Gently shuffle your feet, then waggle the club a few times. Constant movement primes you for the swing, as our golf lessons teach.
Then, relax your arms and your hands. Waggle the club a few times more.
Next, take another look at the target. Exhale. Sense the shot.
And finally, pull the trigger. Swing smoothly and easily.
That's it. Use this routine as a guide to developing your own or adapt it as you see fit. Work on the routine until you have something you're comfortable with, then use it. If you watch professional golfers you'll see that they all have a slightly different pre-shot routine; but they all have one and they all use it time and time again.
Sergio Garcia used to waggle the club countless times before he pulled the trigger. He no longer does that. Now, he waggles the club a couple of times, then pulls the trigger. He uses the routine every time he hits a ball from the tee or the fairway. Other players have their own pre-shot routines, with their own idiosyncrasies. But they do the same thing again and again—every time they hit.
There's, nothing mysterious about a good pre-shout routine. In fact, it's rather simple. Each component is designed to help you with the mechanical or the mental phase of the swing. And some of these components can be modified to suit your needs, so you have your own version.
What's critical, though, is that you use the same routine every time you take a shot. Repetition develops consistency, and consistency lowers golf handicaps. If something interrupts your shot, step away from the ball and start the routine all over again. Doing so assures you that you are focused squarely on hitting the ball.
Repeat this routine on the course or at home, with and without a ball. Practice it until it becomes instinctive. If you make adjustments, practice the new routine until the adjustment becomes instinctive. Use the routine every time you take a swing—even when taking golf lessons.
Next time you can't get to the range or you're on the road, work on your pre-shot routine. Then use it when you're on the course. You might be surprised just how much a good pre-shot routine helps your golf handicap. Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book "How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros ." He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. ...
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Featured Article Best Golf Clubs - Do You Really Need the Best Golf Clubs to Play Well? Or Is It All In Your
Author: Art Turner
The number of different golf club models available today is almost mind-boggling. The variety of designs and materials make finding the best golf clubs like searching for a needle in a stack of needles. Every golf club manufacturer promises that their clubs will turn you into the golfer that you dream of becoming. Are the best golf clubs really about exotic metals and leading-edge design? Or is the critical factor in performance on the course more about your belief in the clubs and what they can do? If you buy a starter set of clubs that you're not really happy with, you may translate that dissatisfaction into weak playing on the golf course. Instead of buying less-expensive new clubs, you might think about shopping for premium golf clubs on the second-hand market. Brands that many people consider to be among the best golf clubs can be found for sale at your local golf shop, through classified ads in your local newspaper, or through online sources like Craigslist and eBay. Diligent searching and an understanding of the value of good golf clubs could help you walk away with a great set of clubs for a fraction of their original cost. Is there a golf course nearby that might have a professional on staff? How about a golf coach at a local school? These individuals would be excellent sources of information and recommendations on the best golf clubs. Not only do they have personal knowledge about how different club designs perform, they also have the advantage of teaching students who probably have golf clubs from many different manufacturers. Leverage their experience to find out which clubs might be the best golf clubs for you. Plus, they may be able to give you some leads on good used clubs. Even with reviews and recommendations, there's really no way to discover the best golf clubs for yourself without trying them out. Clubs that work well for some people might not perform at all for others. Differences in your body size, your physical shape, even idiosyncrasies in your style of play will all determine which clubs are the best golf clubs for your game. You may be anxious to get started with the game, but don't buy clubs today that you'll regret later. To win the mental game of golf, you need to have total confidence in your clubs. So start out with the best golf clubs you can afford.
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Featured Article Clubhead Speed Or Power, Which Comes First In The Golf Swing?
Author: Sean Cochran
A question for the ages in relation to the golf swing. Golfers around the world are familiar with the term clubhead speed. It is the rate at which the golf club is traveling at impact with the golf ball. Golfers are also familiar with the term power.
They know that power is directly related to clubhead speed. Knowing the connection between the two, which comes first?
Clubhead Speed and Power in the Golf Swing
Take a moment to answer the question; which comes first, clubhead speed or power?
Write down your answer and continue reading. Before we answer this question, let us do a quick review of both clubhead speed and power.
Clubhead Speed
Again, we understand that clubhead speed is the rate at which the clubhead is moving at impact with the golf ball. The development of clubhead speed is a resultant of your golf swing mechanics. It is essentially a summation of the entire process of the golf swing, beginning with address, moving through the backswing, into transition, onto the downswing, and completing with impact.
The paragraph above should answer the question of which comes first; clubhead speed or power? Clubhead speed is the resultant of power development with the mechanics of the golf swing.
The next question we want to ask is about power:
How is Power Developed in the Golf Swing?
Power is a combination of two entities:
1. Golf Swing Mechanics
2. Body
Your golf swing mechanics is the efficiency at which you perform the golf swing. Essentially, the golf swing can be broken down into the stages. These stages are;
Address, Backswing, Transition, Downswing, Impact, and Follow Through
Each of these stages within the golf swing can be performed efficiently or inefficiently. PGA Tour players tend to perform the mechanics of the golf swing very efficiently, where as the 30 handicapper performs them very inefficiently.
If the mechanics within each stage of the golf swing are efficient. The creation of power and transfer of this power into clubhead speed is at a greater percentage.
On the flip side, if each stage is performed inefficiently. The amount of power developed and transferred into clubhead speed becomes a low percentage.
The first key in power development and the generation of clubhead speed is golf mechanics.
Efficient Golf Swing Mechanics = Greater Power Development and Clubhead Speed
Once we understand that efficient golf swing mechanics equals more power and clubhead speed. We can turn our attention to the "support structure" of your golf swing.
The Body
The body is what drives the golf swing. It is your skeleton, muscles, and nerves performing the mechanics of the golf swing. As a result, your body has a direct affect on how much power you generate in your golf swing.
The mechanics of golf swing requires certain levels of:
Flexibility
Balance
Strength
Endurance
Power
Optimal levels within these body categories allow for the possibility of performing the mechanics of the golf swing at their most efficient levels.
For example, a full shoulder in the backswing is necessary for optimal power development. In order to perform a full shoulder turn, you must have a high level of flexibility.
If you are lacking the flexibility to perform a shoulder turn it will affect the amount of power you can generate.
Bottom line the body is the foundation on which the golf swing is developed.
If you have a weak foundation, you will have a weak golf swing.
Efficient Golf Swing Mechanics + A Strong, Flexible, and Powerful Body = Clubhead Speed
We now know clubhead speed is a product of power development in the golf swing. Power development within your golf swing is contingent upon two entities. The first entity is your golf swing mechanics. Performing the mechanics of the golf swing efficiently elicits more power. Secondly, it is the body. Optimal power development requires certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power within the body. Put these two entities together and you have the ability to generate high levels of clubhead speed within your golf swing.
Sean Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website www.bioforcegolf.com . To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com. ...
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Featured Article Choosing the Right Golf Clubs
Author: Donald Saunders
Planning on becoming the next Tiger Woods? If so, the first thing you might consider is getting some new golf clubs. Choosing the right golf clubs can make the difference between spending your time on the fairways and greens and spending your time in the rough. Although famed golfer Ben Hogan once said, "The only thing a golfer needs is more daylight", for my money, having the right set of golf clubs runs this a close second. First, I'll assume you aren't a pro. Otherwise, you probably wouldn't be here; you'd be out perfecting that already outstanding golf swing. For the amateur golfer, choosing the right golf clubs hinges on two factors - distance and accuracy - and, of these, accuracy is the more important. The ability to hit the ball half-way across town may sound great, but if you can't keep it on the fairway, out of the bunkers, and heading for the flag, then all the distance in the world isn't going to help your game. So, the starting point for all of us needs to be accuracy. Once the ball starts going just where we want it to go with reasonable consistency we can start working on building distance. Of course, cost can be a big issue when choosing a new set of clubs, but since that's a personal conversation between you your wallet – and maybe your spouse – we won't cover it here. Don't forget though that you don't need to buy tailor-made golf clubs and that a good starting point may well be one of the many outlets for discount golf equipment. Another good starting point is to look at pre-owned golf clubs. Begin by analyzing what's going to best fit your needs. The primary set of clubs in every golfer's bag is the irons, so that's what I'm going to concentrate on here. Irons have several characteristics to consider when you're choosing golf clubs. The first thing to look at is the method of manufacture. Irons are normally made either by casting or forging. For the novice golfer cast irons are generally better because they have a bigger sweet spot on the club face. The sweet spot is the area on the club face that you want to contact the ball and, as a general rule, the larger the sweet spot the greater the room for error in your swing. In other words, with a large sweet spot you can miss hitting the ball directly on the center of the club face and still end up with a decent shot. Forged irons are better for more advanced golfers because they allow for better control of trajectory, allowing you to hit the ball at a desired angle to get the height necessary for the result you want. The next thing to consider is the size of the head. As a novice golfer, you'll find a definite trade-off here. A bigger head equals a bigger sweet spot and more tolerance of miss-hits. However, at the same time, a bigger head is also a little harder to control. You'll probably want to start with a set of irons with medium-sized heads. They're easier to control than the oversized-heads, but they still have a bigger sweet spot than the traditional, smaller heads. Bet you didn't know there were this many factors to choosing the right set of golf clubs! Well, I'm not quite done yet. Another factor to think about when choosing golf clubs is what the head is made of - cast iron, stainless steel, or titanium. Titanium heads are best for novice golfers as this light material allows for a bigger head, without making the club too heavy. Bigger head equals bigger sweet spot! If the cost of titanium heads is beyond your wallet's reach, then consider cast iron rather than steel. They're durable and the harder material can help improve both accuracy and consistency. Swing speed is also important in deciding upon the right golf clubs. Golfers with lower swing speeds can benefit from more flexible graphite shafts that are a bit longer and lighter. With a higher swing speed, it's more likely you want to focus on accuracy, so stiffer and heavier steel shafts can help you develop that accurate ball placement that gets your name on the leader board. Obviously, there are many factors to consider when choosing the right golf clubs. But consider what the comedian Henny Youngman once said, "The other day I broke 70. That's a lot of clubs." Choosing the right golf clubs for your game and level of play can reduce both your handicap and the number of clubs you get the urge to break! Copyright 2005 Donald Saunders About The Author: If you're relatively new to the world of golf then choosing a suitable set of golf clubs can be a daunting task. Check out the local http://golf-unlimited.info/golf-equipment/discount-golf-equipment.html " target=_blank>golf clubs suppliers in your area and start improving your http://golf-unlimited.info/golf-swing/golf-swing.html " target=_blank>golf swing today. ...
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Featured Article Choosing the Right Golf Balls
Author: Donald Saunders
You've watched Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson on television – you know the brand of golf balls they use. And they're good, right? You should be able to use the same brand of golf balls and be good too, right? Wrong! Maybe using the same type golf balls as the PGA golf pros will improve your game...and maybe it won't. You need to choose the golf ball that's right for your own game. Choosing the wrong kind of golf ball can be a bigger handicap to your game than starting at the 19th hole. Choosing the right kind of golf ball can have you feeling like a Tiger, even if you don't quite have his handicap. Golf balls come in three styles: 2-piece, 3-piece, and high performance. 2-piece golf balls are designed for improving your distance, while 3-piece and high performance golf balls can typically help with accuracy. The 2-piece golf balls are especially good if you're just starting out or if you've played just enough to know you really want to give this sport a try. They're also terrific for high handicap golfers who have been around a while. Hey, we can't all be pros! These are the most common type on the market and usually less expensive than 3-piece balls. Best of all, the large rubber core provides faster speed off the tee for those of you with a slow swing. In turn, that gives you greater distance. It could happen that the first time you played, everyone was astounded at the way you slammed that little white ball with the power of a major league batter aiming for a grand slam. But that's doubtful. Distance is usually developed over time as you develop your swing and find the groove. When you are just beginning, chances are you need to improve your accuracy more than your distance. Once you've developed your accuracy, then is the time to choose a golf ball and clubs that will help improve your distance. If you haven't developed consistent accuracy – that is, having the ball consistently land in the same "general" area each time – then the 3-piece golf ball probably isn't right for you. It's just not as forgiving of miss-hits as the 2-piece golf ball. The same goes for high performance balls. They're pretty much designed for advanced golfers...and their price bears this out! One factor to always be considered is cost. Simple, standard 2-piece golf balls usually come in 18-packs and are relatively inexpensive. The cost of golf balls may seem small in comparison to the overall cost of pursuing the sport but the inexperienced golfer can go through a lot of golf balls in a very short space of time! The key, as with most golf equipment, is to choose the right kind of golf ball for your level of play. Consider your swing and your game, and then choose the ball that will help eliminate your weaknesses and build upon your strengths. If you don't choose the right golf ball for your level of play, your golf round might just become what Mark Twain once called it: "...a pleasant walk, spoiled". Copyright 2005 Donald Saunders About The Author: Newcomers to the world of golf may find choosing the right golf balls a difficult task. Check out the local suppliers in your area and don't be too tempted by those http://golf-unlimited.info/golf/personalized-golf-balls.html " target=_blank>personalized golf balls or http://golf-unlimited.info/golf/logo-golf-balls.html " target=_blank>logo golf balls that are all the rage today. ...
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Featured Article Change Your Life With Some Great New Golf Tips
Author: Tony Brings -
Good golfing means good golf tips and to find them there are some definite things you need to do. The best golf tips may not grow on trees but there are tons out there for you and all you have to do is look for them, and not that hard either. They are literally everywhere! Some of the best golf tips will be a little harder to find than some of the others but you will have no problem finding hundreds of golf tips that will change the way that you play golf forever. Of course the more time you spend looking for your golf tips the more of them you are bound to come across and keep in mind that the more you learn the better your golf game is going to be.
SO golf tips can make a big difference, but where can you start your search for them? One of the first places that you should look for golf tips is online. There is a plethora of knowledge on the internet and it can all be yours if you type in a few simple keywords. After that all you need to do is a little light reading. There is no easier way for you to find out all of the top ways to play golf and win. You will be able to get answers to some of the golf questions that have been stumping you for years and years when you do the looking online. There is virtually nothing that you cannot find and learn from online in just a few minutes flat. That kinds of speed and efficiency is priceless, just think of all the time you will have left out there on the links!
Another fantastic place to get some great golf advice is at the local public library. You will find a billion books filled with golf tips and advice at the library and you will never have to pay for any of it. You can take out all of the books you want and they will all be totally free of charge! Not all libraries have the same books either, so be sure to look at more than one library to see all of the selection available to you free. You may be able to look at the books the library has available online too so ask at the library if they have online access. This way you will be able to save all kinds of time and energy. You can even get the books put on hold online often, this will allow you to make sure you get the books you want when you need them the most.
Remember that you can use library books for golf advice and tips even if you don't have an actual library card. You will not be able to take them out of the building but they can be read inside as much as you want. You can even photocopy pages to take home if you want to. Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com Tony Brings is the editor of The Golf Champ . Find free golf tips, club and equipment reviews, FAQs, news, and info for beginners. ...
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Featured Article Can Well-Maintained Greens Lower Your Scores?
Author: Jack Moorehouse -
I don't often mention green maintenance in my golf lessons. Nor do I often discuss it in my golf tips. That's because golfers want to talk about hitting the ball instead. But the care and feeding of a club's greens—how they are mowed, watered, fertilized— can have a major impact on a player's golf handicap, especially if he or she plays the same course a lot.
Speed is the key factor when considering green maintenance. Usually, players want a superintendent to increase green speed. It's probably the most frequent request about greens. Occasionally, players want a superintendent to decrease green speed, but these requests are few and far between. Misjudging the speed of a putt can add strokes to a score, as I've mentioned in my golf tips.
The term "green speed" is technically inaccurate. The device measuring "speed" —the USGA Stimpmeter —gauges the distance a ball rolls when released at a controlled speed on a putting surface, not the ball's velocity. To talk about green speed then is a bit of a misnomer. Nevertheless, we continue to use the term when talking about greens. (I even use it when giving golf lessons.) A green with a relatively long ball roll is considered "fast." A green with a relatively short ball roll is said to be "slow."
Ball roll relates to relationship between the initial energy when a putter strikes the ball and the resistance between the ball and the turf's surface, or friction. As the ball rolls across the green, its surface slows it down thanks to friction. A green with high resistance slows a ball down more than a green with low resistance. Moderating friction changes a green's speed.
Environmental factors, such as humidity, can moderate friction and change a green's speed. For example, high humidity increases green speed, a consideration when playing on a hot day. Soil type also influences green speed. Greens made predominately of clay are faster in spring than their sandier counterparts. While superintendents have little or no control over these factors, they have minimal impact on your game.
Management practices, on the other hand, like mowing or irrigation, can make a profound impact on a green, both short-term and long-term. Below is a summary of how some popular management practices affect green speed.
Mowing:
An effective way of increasing ball roll in the short-term, mowing has a significant impact on green speed. Decreasing mowing height by only 1/16 inch can increase ball roll from 6 to 10 inches. A similar response occurs when you "double cut" a green (mowing it a second time, perpendicular to the first cut) which can increase ball roll 6 to 12 inches. Mower type also influences green speed. Greens cut with a walk-behind mower are generally 6 to 8 inches fast than greens cut with triplex mowers.
Irrigation
Dry greens are faster than moist or wet greens. Withholding irrigation or decreasing it before an event requiring faster greens will increase ball roll 4 to 8 inches, depending on soil type.
Rolling
Rolling golf greens isn't new, but it's growing in popularity thanks to new research and better equipment. Depending on the type of roller you use, you can increase green speed from 4 to 10 inches, with minimal compaction problems on sand-based greens
Topdressing
Light frequent topdressing with or without vertical mowing or core aerating is common. Topdressing decreases speed for up to 1 week after application, followed by an increase of from 4 to 8 inches (above the speed before topdressing.) Vertical mowing has a similar effect. Core aeration reduces speed initially, and if you don't topdress to fill in the holes, decrease it long term.
Fertility
Decreasing nitrogen fertility will gradually increase ball-roll distance. A decrease in nitrogen fertility of only 10 percent can increase ball roll 8 to 12 percent. The effects may take up to a year to see, however, depending on previous fertility practices. Plant growth regulators can increase ball roll from 4 to 8 inches, depending on product, rate, and frequency of application.
Keep in mind that these factors do not operate independently. Modifying one may require compensation by modifying another.
Next time you play your favorite course be aware of these factors and how they affect a green. Take them into account when putting. Doing so might just help you improve your round and your golf handicap. Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book "How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros ." He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. ...
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Featured Article Callaway ERC Fusion Driver - Long and Straight
Author: Ernie Horning
The ERC Fusion Driver is an ultra forgiving and accurate driver. This golf club is available through the "Callaway Golf Pre-Owned" website (www.callawaygolfpreowned.com ).
The ERC Fusion Driver is available in lofts from 7.5 to 12.0, and is great if you are looking to drive the ball "Long and Straight". The 360CC carbon composite head, with a forged titanium face, is actually 75% lighter. The ERC Fusion's 45" shaft is standard, with either a "Regular D-2" or "Strong D-3" swingweight. This enables both the male and female golfer to swing the club with ease, without experiencing a loss in power.
The ERC Fusion Driver looks and feels great! How many times has your foursome stood on the tee box waiting to hit, and you start comparing each others drivers? You compare grips, weight, feel, take a few practice swings, trying to get an overall feel for one anothers clubs. Put the ERC Fusion in your bag for your next round, and you will be the envy of your foursome.
I started playing with the Callaway ERC Fusion driver in the spring of 2004. I had previously played the Callaway C4, the Biggest Big Bertha, the Great Big Bertha, and the Big Bertha Warbird. Although I liked my previous drivers, and hit them fairly well, none compare to the success I am having with the ERC Fusion. I have become much more accurate off the tee, hitting more fairways, and driving much longer than my regular opponents. As you probably know, when you are longer and straighter off the tee, you score better. It is much easier to hit the green from 150 yds. out, from a good lie on the fairway, than it is from 170 yds. out, from the rough, or even the trees. The larger sweetspot provides me the accuracy and distance needed for tight par 4's and long par 5's. The ERC Fusion enables me to reach some of those par 5's in 2, cutting even more strokes off my game. It's great putting for an eagle every now then. The lighter feel allows me to slow down my swing producing much better contact. It is simply the best Callaway Driver I have ever played. And yes, although they might not want to admit it, my regular playing partners do envy me, especially as I am looking back at them from the fairway, waiting for them to hit first to the green.
The "Callaway Golf Pre-Owned" website offers these beautiful, powerful, slightly used golf clubs from $139.00 to $239.00. With a MSRP of $449.00, this is quite a Golf Bargain. Whoever thought driving a golf ball "Long and Straight" could be so fun, yet so easy.
(Copyright 2005-ehbvi-www.golfgodz.com)
About the AuthorErnie Horning is a Business owner and avid golfer, and writes articles for www.golfgodz.com ...
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Featured Article Buying the Best Clubs for Beginners
Author: Jimmy Bonner
A new set of clubs for beginners is really not necessary; in fact the higher end clubs can be a hindrance on your game. Golf is unique in the fact that the sport requires a group of instruments, and equipment to play in full. Many sports like baseball or basketball just require a few items that are used by an entire team. Golf being an individual sport this aspect changes into a need for the right set of clubs.
Golf clubs are broken down into sets of complete or incomplete, as well as irons, woods, drivers, putters, wedges, and hybrids. Golf clubs can be purchased in any combination of the above, but typically for beginners it is good to start with the entire set. Also women's clubs are sold as sets, but typically differ from men's clubs in size. Golf clubs in sets typically come with a bag that has stands on it, so it can rest on itself while you are taking your shots. Also golf sets occasionally will come with tops for the heads, as well as towels, umbrellas, and even balls.
Golf club sets can be purchased at a number of places. In order of price, most expensive to least, you can buy clubs at a pro shop; this will be your most expensive option. You can also buy clubs at sporting good stores, or golf specialty stores. For those bargain shoppers you can purchase a full set of clubs at Wal Mart, or even your local thrift store. For the internet shopper's eBay offers a great selection of new and used golf club sets.
The cost for a set of clubs can vary from less than $100 for an entire set, to over $10,000 for the high end clubs. Typically golfers can buy a decent set of clubs for $400 depending on where they are shopping. High end clubs are often bought in singles, thus making it more costly to purchase a set. One driver can cost over $1,000 at a local pro shop.
The term you get what you pay for isn't true in the world of golf clubs. Unlike cars, or computers, typically golf clubs can be beneficial at a low cost. Further, many prefer cheaper clubs, or used clubs, because they offer a more standard weight and grip. Golf clubs are uniquely made out of several different materials, and can vary depending on a user's preference. The cheaper clubs have a level feel to them, and don't offer too much of any one element. If a beginner spends a large amount of money on an ultra light driver, it could be too light for them to learn the basics of their swing, this actually prohibiting them from learning the basics.
Overall it's important to start off with a modest set of clubs until your game advances to levels that call for new clubs. Plus with all the money you save you can buy your significant other a set, and make a date at the course. Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com Jimmy Bonner is the author of the best-selling golf ebooks. He can walk you through every single step to cut your handcap, hit ball farther and stop slicing at Advanced Golf Skill www.advancedgolfskills.com . ...
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Featured Article Business Gift Giving a Headache? Here's some aspirin!
Author: Meredith Gossland
Corporate gifting is a big headache for most business owners; how much to spend, who to spend the money on, where to get the gifts, what to get and how to gauge the effect of that giving in terms of benefits for the company are all important questions. When a company decides to give gifts it needs to be planned out as part of doing business, not just a last minute impulse. The cost of gifting should be built in to the cost of your product and used when evaluating your break even point.
With a plan for gifting as part of the cost of the product you will never come up short in November or offend someone by getting a gift for one employee but not another. Gifting in terms of employees can even be figured as a part of income, like a benefit. You can even state that to your employees if it traslates into giving bonuses or extra days off with pay. But the bottom line is that gifting needs to be planned, budgeted, and scheduled. When handled this way gift giving stress evaporates.
1. Why are you going to give gifts?
a.) to ensure customer loyalty
b.) to build relationships
c.) to create an image
d.) to reward important customers
e.) as a marketing strategy
f.) to reduce employee turnover
g.) to reward employee performance
h.) to say thank you
i.) insure good service by vendors
j.) congratulations
k.) to create goodwill
Establish what each of these areas might mean in terms of frequency. How often would you reward employees, how often would you give a gift to a vendor?
Do not confuse discounts with gifting. They are not the same thing! Unless you have a product that you know the recipient really wants, don't give your products as gifts. It is seen as advertising not as a gift!
Never use promotional products as gifts! These are viewed on an even lower scale! People see them as left overs from a trade show...that is NOT a good thing!
3 solid rules for gifts!
1. Do not give perishables! Apples and popcorn will be gone and forgotten in a matter of days! A beautiful picture frame will be on someones desk for years to come, Reminding them of your thoughtfulness!
2. Think before you give... who are you giving to and what is their lifestyle. A bookstore gift card may wind up being sold at a discount on the internet or regifted if the person never reads.
3. Always think quality rather than quantity. A single $25 classic pen is much better than a cheap $25 stationary set with a cheap diary, poor quality paper, pencil, eraser, and poorly printed folder and a pen if the pen never works and the paper is so cheap the person would be embarassed to use it.
Gift baskets are great, but once again remember that food is gone in a week...you want to gift gifts that keep on giving for months or even years. There are a few places such as Lasting Impressions 2 that provide custom gift baskets that include non perishable products selected especially for the recipent. For instance if you have a client that loves golf, has 3 kids, drinks Starbuck's coffee, and wears glasses a custom basket might include golf balls, a gift certificate for a family portrait from a local photo studio, a starbucks commuter cup, and a trendy glasses case. That kind of gift will be remembered for years to come. Instead of $150.00 of chocolates and coffee you have given a very special gift that says you are an important client.
Customize your gift giving but maintain a standard cost for gifting.
For instance, maybe employee birthdays should be limited to $10-$20 dollars and client gifts 5% of their annual value in sales. Only you can decide the dollar limits...every business is different. If you own a 99 cent store you will not be giving your stock boys trips to the Bahamas. By the same token, if you are a sucessful doctor in Beverly Hills a $5.00 birthday gift for your nurse might seem inappropriate and downright rude!
If all of this seems a little overwhelming remember that once the plan is laid out and you have a vendor for your gifts, year after year you can use the same plan or fine tune it depending on how your business is doing. But one thing is for cetain people will see you in a positive light and the marketing power of good gift giving will traslate into low turn over, and client loyalty and referrals.
About the AuthorMeredith Gossland is owner of Lasting Impressions 2 a small business marketing service specializing in relationship marketing. Lasting Impressions 2 offers marketing seminars on low/cost no cost marketing. Services include greeting card marketing and custom gifts for business. She can be reached at info@lastingimpressions2.com or at www.lastingimpressions2.com ...
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Featured Article Big Bertha Irons - A Brief History
Author: Jonathan Blaze
Big Bertha. In the world of golf, this is a name that is synonymous with forgiveness, feel, and performance. Introduced by Callaway Golf in 1994, the Big Bertha Irons began a revolution with an iron designed to push weight to the edge of the club. This unique design became the foundation upon which Callaway would continue to improve, amazing us with each and every new model. In 1996, Callaway released an updated version of the original Big Bertha Irons with a few modifications. In the new model, designers used the size of the club head and the volume of the cavity to push weight farther out to the edges of the club head. A Bore-through hosel which actually extends through the club shaft providing more stability and the feel that is expected of all Callaway products. The Sole was modified slightly model to allow for the club to pass through poor lies with even less friction than the before. Callaway also introduced the Big Bertha Gold Series Iron in 1996. Using the prototype of the original Big Bertha Iron, designers repositioned the sweet spot, added a new contoured sole and redistributed the weight in the head. The Big Bertha Gold Series has a RCH Series 96 shaft and are manufactured from an aluminum bronze alloy for a softer feel. The Gold Series Iron retained the original's 360-degree undercut channel and the consistently thin face. The Great Big Bertha Tungsten Titanium Iron hit the course in 1997. In this design, Callaway used Titanium with a Tungsten insert to create a club head that was perfect for use in just about all conditions. The Insert represents only 15 percent of the club head volume but accounts for 40 percent of the weight, keeping the size perfect and the center of gravity exactly where it should be. The Big Bertha X-12 Irons and X-12 Pro Series Irons followed in 1998. Featuring a lower center of gravity than the original Big Bertha Irons, the X-12 was designed to help golfers get the ball airborne. The X-12's retained the 360-degree undercut channel, Callaway's patented S2H2 and Tru-Bore Technologies. The Pro-Series was designed for lower handicap golfers and featured the Less-Offset design which enables the more experienced golfer the ability to work the ball more easily. Also featured are the 360-degree undercut channel, the S2H2 and Tru-Bore Technologies. The X-12 Irons were the first Stainless Steel Irons introduced by Callaway and many believe it was this iron that set the standard for high performance irons to follow. The Steelhead X-14 Irons followed the X-12 in 2000 and quickly became the best-selling Iron in Callaway history. Also offered in a Pro-Series, the X-14 featured stainless steel construction and Callaway's Variable Face Thickness (VFT) Technology that ensured a perfectly located center of gravity (COG). Optimized in the long, mid and the short iron, the Face Thickness tapered from top to bottom and heel to toe. The Pro-Series designed for the advanced golfer was designed with Less-Offset than the regular X-14 Callaway's original Big Bertha Irons were upgraded once more in 2002. In this iron set, Callaway added all of it's latest technologies which retaining the original and very popular appearance and shape the Big Bertha Irons were known for. These technologies took the game of the golfer using them to a whole new level with increased forgiveness and maximum performance. Also introduced in 2002 was the Hawk Eye VFT Irons. Quite simply, in this set, Callaway simply used all of their design knowledge and added the titanium package. The most popular addition to the Hawk Eye VFT irons, however, was the internal weight pocket that allowed designers to position the mass deep and low across the clubface. This design provides for unequaled trajectory without sacrificing forgiveness or feel. The following year, Callaway went back to the drawing board to create the new Steelhead X-16 and the Steelhead X-16 Pro-Series. Changes included a shorter blade length and wider topline plus the addition of Callaway's latest technology, Notch Weighting. The X-16 features included a low center of gravity, a cambered sole, and a satin finish. The Pro-Series were given a more blade-like design, Less-Offset, a thinner topline, narrower sole, and a straighter leading edge. In 2004 and 2006, Callaway added two more models to the original Big Bertha Irons as and in 2005, introduced the X-18, the X-18 Pro-Series, the X-Tour Irons and the Big Bertha Fusion Irons. Proving once more than theirs is not a company to rest on it's laurels. Known today as the leader and trendsetter in game improvement, Callaway Golf continues to do it's best to make us better on the course. | | |
