Putter's Putt

Monday, August 28, 2006

Is Golf Really a Head Game

by John Savage

Golf pros, being only human, can often give quite contradictory advice. Almost daily you can pick up a newspaper or magazine or book and read there comments on a certain aspect of the game which are completely different to what somebody else said, on the same subject, just yesterday.

For example, one pro says that you should keep your head straight, but then another person comes along with an entirely different set of rules.

So what should you and I do, and which advice should we take.

Well, let me add my comments in here, you can evaluate them, and if they seem to be reasonable, then follow my advice.

All people are different and no two of us play exactly alike. This is why it is a great idea not to concentrate on one particular method of playing golf to the exclusion of all other methods.

Some basics can make or break your golf game. And I would like to encourage you to keep your head still and not move it during your swing.

It is impossible to keep your head still if you tense up your muscles. Keeping your head still helps you to loosen up and allows you to finish your swing smoothly. By keeping your head still, you can also prevent the dreaded slice because you do not have to pull your hands in to keep balanced.

I once heard a golf championship winner ssy that every time he prepared to make a shot, he said to himself, Keep your head still. It is one of those necessities for a good golf swing, that many players do not concentrate on.

If you can become successful at just this one skill, you will find your golf game improving. When you make a terrible shot, which we all do from time to time, try concentrating on keeping your head still during the next swing.

If you keep your head still, it will be possible to see the ball during the entire swing. If your head is moving, it will be impossible to keep your eye on the ball.

Now, if you just incorporate this one technique into your game you will see improvement. Let me give you a rather bold and daring suggestion.

Why not try keeping your head still enough to keep a jar of water on the top of your head perfectly still and watch the ball as you swing. You will be able to see the ball better and hit it more solidly.

Even if you are nervous when you are playing, keep these two tips in mind and your game will definitely improve.
john savage has a Blog which tells how a golfer stumbled onto an amazing Golf Swing little known fact which greatly improved his game. Click Here to visit his blog

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Sunday, August 20, 2006

Get Into A Routine Of Lowering Your Handicap

by Jeff O'Brien

Certainly there is no shortage of advice and tips when it comes to subject of improving your golf game. I alone am constantly being asked on how to improve on the various parts of someone's golf game.

Tips and advice, although a good place to start, aren't the panacea for all that ails one's golf game. All the advice in the world is only as good as the person's desire to practice and implement the advice.

Practice is essential. Just playing more and more isn't practicing. If you're serious about improving your game you have to practice on a regular basis.

Think about it for a moment. If you bemoan your sand play, but the only 'practice' you get is when you are on the course playing, how much practice and attention is your sand game receiving? Not much. During the course of an actual round of golf how many sand shots will you be required to execute? Even with a bad day on the beach not many at all. If this is you, don't be frustrated when you blade your sand shots way over the greens and triple bogey holes.

Practice not only improves your ability to make shots... the added bonus is that it also improves your overall confidence in your game. Golf is like anything else, what you get out of it is directly related to how much you put into your game. Even if you don't have the time for prolonged practice sessions, try to take advantage of any free time just to grab a club and work on your swing. The road to improvement isn't how long you can practice at any given time; rather it is how often you can practice if even for a short time.

Next, if you gotten yourself into the habit of regularly practicing; then when you do play your rounds of golf then take them seriously. Learn to control your emotions and focus on each shot. Every stroke counts and they all add up one at a time, so take your game seriously. This doesn't all mean you take the fun out of the game, you just increase your focus and purpose.

Since you are now practicing regularly (even if only for a short time) and playing with more focus and purpose, your game is beginning to improve. If you haven't by now you should look at upgrading your golf clubs. I'm suggesting that you break the bank on your next set of clubs, but if you've never been fitted properly for a set of clubs you will, at some point, limit your improvement progression. Also, since your practicing more and playing better, your swing will be settling into a more consistent routine. As a result, getting some properly fitted clubs will be a better investment, than if your swing was about to dramatically change.

As your game continues to improve, the areas of your golf game that need attention and improvement won't be so glaringly obvious. So, the next level of improvement will take a bit of analysis. I always encourage people at this stage of their development to keep stats on their game. When you do this your are able to pinpoint trends and weaknesses in your game that you may not be so readily able to determine just by trying to evaluate on a round by round basis. So start keeping track of your fairways hit, greens in regulation, 3 putts, putts that you miss inside of 6 feet, sand saves, up and downs from around the green.

By now you are well on your way to playing significantly better golf. I know that the short time span of this article isn't directly related to the time you'll need to spend to improve your game, but if you persist with your practicing you'll prevail. So, by now you've come full circle and now need to continually evaluate your golf game and improve on those trouble spots and weaknesses.

Aside from the obvious benefits of improving your golf game which is lowering your handicap, is now you'll really begin to appreciate the beauty, the challenges, and the uniqueness of each and every course you play. Each course will take on it's own personality for you. Because, let's face it, all the courses look about the same from the rough or the trees.
Jeff O'Brien offers instruction and insight on golf that will get your golf swing and golf game on track or off to a good start by establishing a good foundation on which you will build your golf swing and game. Be sure to visit (http://www.golf-ology.com) for more of Jeff's golf tips and online golf lessons.

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Tuesday, August 15, 2006

How To Cure A Golf Slice

by Terry Edwards

Most every golfer has been through this scenario before. The golf slice. You know what I'm talking about. You hit your tee shot and it goes further to the right than it travels down the fairway. I've even seen some golfers who will aim way over to the left rough, tee off, and watch the ball go all the way over to the right rough! It's time to say enough is enough. Let's look at correcting the problem forever.

Set Up In A Good Stance

Your stance will greatly determine where your golf ball goes. That may sound simplistic, but it's true. Check to make sure your shoulders are in line with your intended target. You can easily practice your alignment out on the driving range. Line up to your intended target, then stop and grab an iron, lay it down where your feet were lined up and take a good look at it. Is is straight to your target? If not, make the adjustments and you're in business.

Keep your right foot straight away from you, and point the left one a little more towards your target. Keep your body relaxed and don't become tense. Just by lining up properly you may find yourself curing your golf slice.

The Right Golf Grip

This is another big area that can easily lead to a golf slice. Worst of all, most golfers don't realize it. To start with, understand that you do not want to grip the golf club like a vise. If you do you'll begin to add many other problems to your golf game, like hooking the ball, hitting it fat, or even missing it altogether! If you are having a golf slice problem it could be due to a weak grip.

Next, the right grip will be to place your left hand along side the shaft with your thumb facing straight down, not to the left or right. Then, place the palm of your right hand over your left thumb, and be sure your right thumb is also facing straight down.

Pay particular attention to your golf grip the next time you're on the driving range. Make some adjustments and you should be able to fix your golf slice in very little time.

The Golf Swing

Many times a golf slice problem is created by bad swing mechanics. Without going into every detail, a good golf swing will begin with your hands, then your arms, and finally, your shoulders.

The downswing starts with turning your hips, and keeping your head behind the ball. Always keep your eyes focused on the ball, even after follow through. This will eliminate a chili dip.

Getting rid of a golf slice doesn't have to be rocket science. If you will just devote some practice time to it, and make a few adjustments, you will be shocked at how fast you'll start hitting the golf ball straight. So get rid of that banana ball and start playing better golf!
You can find out much more about Curing A Golf Slice as well as more information and tips on golf at our website http://www.golf.infofroma-z.com.

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Saturday, August 12, 2006

Golf Weight Training Is The Answer To Longer Drives

By Mike Pedersen

It is no secret that most of the male and female tour players who want to play their best golf, do golf weight training exercises. But it’s not the kind of grueling, sweating stuff you’re thinking about.

There is a HUGE misconception of what and how this type of program should be done. It does not take going into a gym and lifting heavy weights; nor does it take a 2-3 hour daily commitment.

I have seen many “so-called” golf weight training programs, books, and videos etc that do in fact show the golfer in the gym and on machines. Sitting on a machine, isolating one muscle group is not golf-specific or sport-specific for that matter.

Golf is a dynamic movement done on your feet. Sitting in a machine in a “controlled” environment will not improve your swing.

The golf swing incorporates most of the muscles of the body in a sequential motion. I hope you can now see sitting in a machine won’t improve that.

So what truly is a ‘golf-specific’ program?

For starters, doing a lot of exercise ‘on your feet’ and in your golf posture will help. The more you can get in your posture and strength train, the quicker the benefit to your game.

Golf also involves balance and stabilization. To improve this takes a concentrated effort on core work and exercises involving balance (such as one-legged exercises).

The more popular golf-exercises are done on a stability ball; using exercise tubing; handweights; and even weighted medicine balls.

This allows you to do many dynamic movements similar to your golf swing, directly relating to more power, distance and accuracy.

These pieces of equipment are very inexpensive and portable. You can have a complete golf fitness gym in your home for under $100 easily.

For example, exercise tubing is approximately $20 and you can immediately do golf swings with it. This is as golf-specific as you can get. Doing your actual movement with resistance will dramatically increase your power output.

There are dozens of simple, golf weight training exercises you can do with the above equipment (and in your home). The beauty of this type of golf training is saving time and money, but most importantly making it fun and enjoyable.

When you do these types of golf weight training exercises you will be encouraged that it will be the missing link to your best game.

Often, we try to get on the fitness, weight-loss bandwagon, only to quit after just a week or so. With the above type of training, your doing both. You not only see a dramatic improvement in your game, but the icing on the cake is looking and feeling better.

I have worked with hundreds, if not thousands of golfers via the web who have sent me emails stating how they have stuck with their programs longer than any other time in their life. They say the connection between health and golf is what did it.

So don’t get overwhelmed the next time you here about golf weight training. With a little research, you can be doing your golf weight training program in your home in no time.

Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Check out his new golf fitness site at http://www.performbettergolf.com

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Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Improve Your Golf - Putting

by ian Williamson

For many of us the fun filled days of mini-putting as kids has turned into painful frustration as adults on the golf course. One hole we can drop a twenty foot putt across a major break on the green, on the next hole that three foot putt eludes us.

The biggest problem in putting is not the breaks in the green or the distance from the hole, it is your mind.

The solution to better putting is not in focus or concentration; it's in your ability to "let go" of needing to sink that putt.

The Letting Go Solution:

In a sparring situation a highly trained martial artist will strategize the best way to get in on an opponent, not unlike a golf player setting up for a good approach to the green. But when the time comes to strike, that martial artist lets go of thought and allows her skill, ingrained in her body over years of training, to take over.

How does this help on the putting green?

All modern martial arts derived from Shaolin Kung fu. Shaolin Kung Fu was designed simply as a tool to strengthen the body and use it as a tool to train the mind to live in this moment right now. Shaolin Kung Fu moves are a meditation-in-motion.

Better Putting as a meditation-in-motion:

When standing in front of a putt, stop thinking and trust in your body's natural intelligence. Empty you mind of the last hole, the shots leading up to this putt, your scorecard, and most importantly release your mind from the want to sink that putt.

When your mind takes over it puts stress on the body and tension ensues. When putting you want to have good form but also a natural fluidity of movement. Not sharp, sporadic strokes that stress can cause.

5 Steps to Better Putting:

1: Judge the distance between the ball and the hole.

2: Bend down to look for breaks in the green and hills or slopes toward the hole. Just allow your eyes to pass over the green without judgment. It is what it is.

3: Step up to the ball, practice swing your putter until your body tells you the speed you need to strike the ball; until it just feels right. Trust it.

4: Release your mind from the process by taking a deep breath.

5: Take one last look toward the hole and putt away.

6: Whether your ball goes in or not, maintain the meditation as long as you can. This gives your body a chance to learn from the putt. Too often we get excited either that the ball is going into the hole or it is not and our body and mind tense and impede sensory learning from that putt.

Will you sink every putt? Not likely. But this process will make you a better putter. The most difficult thing is to release your mind from the outcome. When you do your natural bodily intelligence with adjust accordingly and set you up to sink the next putt.

Putting is more sensory, tactile, than any other stroke in golf. It requires pin-point accuracy where the slightest miscue in stroke can send the ball awry.

When the mind puts stress on the body--to make the putt--the body tenses and does not get an accurate feel of what went wrong, or right, and does not learn.

Bottom Line: Take the mind out of equation and watch those putts drop!
For more Golf Articles by Ian Williamson please visit http://www.real-articles.com/Category/Golf/34

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Tuesday, August 08, 2006

How To Know What Defines The Best Golf Drivers

By John Bolt

Why is it considered the most electrifying club in your golf bag? Why is it the first club anyone talks about when equipment is brought up? Why is it what everyone wants?

The answers are simple - POWER. It’s all about the power of the long ball. The golfer who drives the ball the furthest is considered the man of the moment, and everyone wants to be that man. I guess it’s an ego thing.

This mind game is played among all golfers form beginner to professional. It is on of the main driving forces behind the design of today’s best golf drivers. The manufacturers are continually coming up with newer and better drivers that go further and straighter than the competition. They come in all shapes and sizes with the bigger is better attitude coming out on top.

A lot of the big oversized drivers are built to the largest legal size specifications under PGA rules and regulations. Combine that with the ultra thin super springy club faces. What you get is a kind of loaded canon. These clubs launch the golf balls high in the air and really long. We must emphasize really LONG.

A lot of the club makers have even taken the grooves off the clubfaces around the sweet spot areas. This is to reduce spin and allow the ball more distance with less resistance. What this also causes is less accuracy off the tee. But most golfers are willing to give up a little accuracy for more distance.

Now if you throw in the new technology in today’s golf shafts it gets a little crazy. With all the different types of graphite, the raised and lowered flex and kick points, and now even tipping it almost seems out of control.

Wow, that’s getting crazy. There is such a huge amount of possible grip, shaft, and club head combinations it can be confusing to the average golfer. But not to worry, there are a ton of great resources out there to get you fitted correctly. Check out more of this article and other golf driver information at:
www.golfequipmentsource.com/golf-drivers.html

John Bolt is the full time owner of Golfequipmentsource.com. With years of competitive golf experience under his belt, he understands the importance of having properly fitted golf equipment. You can visit him for more golf equipment and driver information at: www.golfequipmentsource.com/golf-drivers.html

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Monday, August 07, 2006

5 Most Important Things To Consider When Choosing Golf Clubs

By John Bolt

Every golfer knows that having proper equipment is essential. Choosing golf clubs has become some what of a daunting task because of the enormous market out there. We have come up with 5 simple things to consider when choosing golf clubs.

1. First of all you have to be honest with yourself in deciding what skill level you’re at. Are you a beginner just starting out, an intermediate weekend golfer, or an expert golfer who plays all the time? This is critical because there are different types of equipment designed to help every level of player. Playing with expert equipment if you are just starting out will only hurt your game.

2. Stay within your spending limits. You have to know what type of budget you are working with. Golf can become very expensive if you don’t stay within your means. There is equipment and accessories designed for every budget, you just have to know where to look.

3. Figure out your strengths and weaknesses. Do you know hook or slice the ball? Are you a long or short hitter? Do you sink many puts when you have to, etc.? You must know these qualities of your game. When you go to your local shop or golf pro it will be easy for them to get you fitted correctly if you know this information.

4. How often do you play? Are you a weekend golfer or an addict who plays all the time? This will determine what golf clubs and accessories you should purchase. Don’t go out and spend a fortune on complex equipment and other things if you only play the game on the weekend with your buddies. On the other hand if you travel all over competing and playing, you are going to need the quality equipment that allows that.

5. Finally make sure you do your own research. Read golf magazines, articles, newspapers, and anything else you can get your hands on. Go to demo days at your local club or driving range and any local golf shows. Check online at manufacturer’s websites and other informative golf club websites. You can find anything online. Doing research is the key to getting what you want.

If you use these 5 simple tips to choosing golf clubs it will be simple for you to get fitted with exactly what you need. So go out and get those brand new clubs you have been thinking about for while.

More great tips on choosing your golf clubs can be found at: www.golfequipmentsource.com/golfclubs.html

John Bolt is the full time owner of Golfequipmentsource.com With years of competitive golf experience under his belt, he understands the importance of having properly fitted golf equipment. You can visit him online at: www.golfequipmentsource.com/golfclubs.html

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Saturday, August 05, 2006

Golf Teaching Aids - Teaching Your Kids Golf

by Terry Edwards

More and more children than at any time before are wanting to learn how to play golf. Why? Tiger Woods may have something to do with that. He has popularized the game of golf among children of all ages.

It seems that kids are finding out what the adults already know: golf is a lot of fun! As your children may enjoy banging out golf balls with one of your golf clubs, where do you start in developing their skills? Here are some helpful golf training aids in giving your child a head start in learning to play golf.

Get Them In A Class One of the most important things you can do for your child is to enroll them in a golf class. Let the professionals teach them the right golf teaching tools. Many local golf courses have golf instructional classes just for kids. There is also no need to rush out and purchase a set of golf clubs for your child. The class will provide the golf clubs for them. Not only will you save some money right now, but it will give you time to find out if your child truly enjoys the game of golf or not. The last thing you want to do is go out and spend a few hundred dollars on golf clubs only to find out later that your child doesn't like golf after all.

Be Patient This tip is an important one for both you and your child. Have patience with your child. It's so easy to want to see your child start pounding long bombs like John Daly and sinking 30 foot putts. For them to enjoy golf and want to continue learning the game they need your support. Let them progress at their own rate. The golf classes will do a world of good in helping to develop their own skills.

Encouragement While your out hitting golf balls on the driving range, be sure and give your child a lot of encouragement, even if they are spraying balls all over the range. They will pick up the finer points of the game later as they grow older. Take a moment and think about how it was for you when you first started out.

After your child has taken some classes and shows a real interest in the game of golf, then go ahead and get them there own set of golf clubs. Gave your child fitted properly. Of course, since they will be continually growing in height and weight, understand that the clubs you buy today may be too small within a year or two at the most.

Have Fun Take the time that you spend golfing with your children as a time of bonding. Enjoy yourselves and the time you're out on the course. Use this time to develop good communication with your child. Talk about other issues going on other than golf. You'll be surprised at how the golf course can help you and your children bond together. It will spill over into other areas of their lives as well.

You can find more FREE tips and information on golf at http://www.golf.infofroma-z.com

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Mastering Golf Hazards: Sand, Water and ...Sun?

by Peter Shannon

OK, so you know how to deal with standard golf course hazards like sand and water traps. But there are other disasters you should be concerned with on the golf course. The sun can be more devastating to you than accumulating a large number on your score card.

A bright sunny day makes for the perfect golf outing. Right? No worries about getting rained out. But what about the affects of the sun's rays and the heat?

Sun exposure is not something to take lightly. Aside from the long term effects of risk for skin cancer, there are other concerns that need to be dealt with. Sunburned skin, dehydration and heatstroke are all dangers that can result from over exposure to the sun.

It makes good sense to wear a good sunscreen. The higher the SPF the better. But if you are out playing golf and exposed to the sun you still are at risk. Wear a hat, sunglasses and clothing that covers as much skin as possible.

There are many indications that you are getting in trouble due to over exposure from the sun. Burned red skin is an obvious one. Here are just a few of the other symptoms that can indicate trouble and should prompt action on the part of every sun-loving golfer. Fever, chills, nausea, fainting, dizziness, increased heart rate and breathing. This is by no means a complete list.

Once you feel that you have been overexposed to the sun, immediately get out of the sun. Yes, get out of the sun even if it means cutting short your round of golf. If you are still on the course you can at least take shelter under a tree.

Once you are out of the sun find a way to cool off. Get some water, the colder the better, and apply it to your skin. This means anything from simply soaking you shirt and hat in the water from the nearby water hazard to applying compresses wet with ice cold water from the club house.

Now is not the time to be applying more sun screen, oils or butter. These will only get in the way of your skin's natural cooling process. Exceptions are juice from the aloe plant or other lotions specifically designed for skin burns.

Next you need to continue with the water, only now you are going to drink it. This helps the cooling process and also helps you avoid dehydration and heatstroke.

Dehydration and heatstroke are more severe effects of too much sun. A few of the symptoms besides those listed above include mental confusion, headaches and loss of appetite.

Getting some rest out of the sun, cooling down and drinking water are good initial actions. But getting professional help as soon as possible is critical. Listen to your body. It will tell you when you've had too much sun. Don't have the attitude that you will "tough it out".

Peter Shannon is a writer and author of the popular www.1001VacationIdeas.com - a Web site born out of his passion. Perhaps you have a passion or hobby that you would like to write about. Discover how to turn it into a profitable Web site like Peter has. Visit www.UseYourPassion.com to learn more.

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Curing That Wicked Slice

by David Griffin

Most golfers struggle on the golf course with one of two things. Either a hook or a slice. Most amateur golfers suffer from a slice. In this article, I will be focusing on curing a slice. A slice is a shot in which when the ball is struck, it swings dramatically in either a left to right fashion for a right handed golfer, or right to left for a left handed golfer. The grip is by far the most important aspect to hitting a straighter shot. If your hands aren't in the right place on the golf club, chances are your ball isn't going to be in the right place once it lands. Here is a tip that not many amateur golfers realize is a primary reason for their wicked slice.

To cure a slice you need to shift more to a stronger grip. One of the reasons you're slicing is that you're probably using a weak grip. What I mean by a stronger grip is to shift the "V" made by your thumb and index finger on your right hand. Look down at your right hand on the golf club, and shift the "V" further to the right so that it points more to your right shoulder rather than your chin. (This method is reversed for a left handed golfer). It's also important to aim your body either further left for a right handed golfer or further right for a left handed golfer. This will help to control your slice while you're practicing your new grip. Using this simple method, you're sure to straighten out that nasty slice and start hitting the ball straighter, and lowering your scores.

David Nevogt writes golf instruction material that helps golfers of all levels improve their game dramatically and lower their scores. Mr. Nevogt is the author of the #1 golf instruction book on the internet "The Simple Golf Swing" which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from today. Here is a link to the site to purchase the book.

The Simple Golf Swing Book

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Curing That Nasty Hook

by David Griffin

A hook is a golfer's worst nightmare. It's by far the hardest shot in golf to control. As a matter of fact, a hook is almost uncontrollable. Most golfers have the problem of slicing the ball, but if you're hooking the ball, you're playing from the opposite side of the fairway, or worse, the rough. The one good thing about a hook is that it isn't hard to cure.

The first thing you need to do is weaken your grip. Your problem may be that your using too strong of a grip. What you need to weaken your grip, is to move your hands around the grip towards the target. This will make it much harder for the clubface to close on impact. We want the clubface to close, but we don't want to overdo it. That's why weakening your grip comes into play. Another simple thing to try is to move the ball further up in your stance. Most golfers, who play the ball further in their stance, slice the golf ball. This is a simple procedure, and doing this may cure your ball flight problems.

To finish things up, you need to make sure that when you swing, all of your weight is transported into your front foot. When you hook, it's a very good chance that some of your weight is being left on your back foot. This causes the club face to be closed too much when coming through the ball at impact, resulting in a hook, or the dreaded snap hook. Using these simple techniques, and practicing them, your ball flight should start to improve dramatically, and you should start producing a little bit of fade on your golf ball, instead of a nasty hook

David Nevogt writes golf instruction material that helps golfers of all levels improve their game dramatically and lower their scores. Mr. Nevogt is the author of the #1 golf instruction book on the internet "The Simple Golf Swing" which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from today. Here is a link to the site to purchase the book.

The Simple Golf Swing Book

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How Golfers Can Cope With Back Pain

by Ron Strand

Many golfers experience back pain. The golf swing is an unnatural motion that can cause some unusual stresses. In some cases, golf does not necessarily cause the pain, but a golf swing can aggravate old injuries and escalate stiffness into painful spasms.

I have rarely made it through a season without experiencing at least one bout of back pain from golf. There have been times it has been so severe that I thought I may have to give up the sport. But over time, I have found a few things that help me golf pain free and, if I do experience some pain, speed recovery. Of course these tips are meant for people experiencing pain from the normal stresses and strains that come from participation in sport and are not meant for people who have injuries or are recovering from chronic conditions.

1. Exercise

A couple of years ago I ran across a regimen developed by Dr. Chico Caldwell, a professor at the University of Iowa. This series of exercises was not developed for golf specifically, but is an overall strength and flexibility program. Even so, I have found it to be extremely beneficial for avoiding back pain by keeping abdomen and back muscles toned. The whole series of exercises takes about an hour. Twice a week seems to be enough frequency to maintain muscle tone. No equipment is necessary.

2. Pre-game Warm-up

I personally don't believe stretching cold muscles does much good. It is necessary to get cold muscles warmed up and the only way to do this is movement. Take a club and swing it like a baseball bat back and forth until you are puffing a bit, then take some easy practice swings, then go through your stretching routine.

3. Take It Easy on the Driving Range

I is always tempting to reach for the driver because you know that that all important drive on the first tee is coming up in a few minutes. But you will like do better if you warm up by hitting some easy shots with your six iron.

4. Walk

It may seem counter intuitive, but I have fewer problems with my back when I am walking the course than when I am using a cart. If you must use a cart, because of course or tournament rules, make sure you stretch when you get out and walk around as much as possible.

5. Rest

Very often I will not notice any pain during a game but will experience it the next day when I am riding my bike or working in the garden. Taking it easy between games will decrease onset of back pain. If you must do some lifting, use additional caution after a round of golf.

By paying attention to these things, you should be able to play without gulping handfuls of ibuprofen. But of course, this is just some common sense advice from one player to another and is not a substitute for professional help. If you do experience ongoing pain, consult a professional.

Ron Strand is a college instructor, consultant and avid golfer.

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Golf Club Putters: Six Factors to Consider When Selecting a Putter

by Alex Fir

These six factors must be taken into consideration so that you make an informed choice of putter type and to make sure that it feels as it should be.

1. The lie angle. It is an angle between the shaft and the ground. This factor determines if the putter head is sitting perfectly flat on the ground when you are putting. Get one that lets the head of the club rest squarely on the ground when you take your stance.

2. The length of the putter. The standard length for a putter is 35 inches. The right length for you depends on how you stand when you address the ball. A longer putter is better if you like to stand upright. A shorter putter is better if you prefer to bend over and be closer to the ground.

3. The total weight of the putter. Get one that does not feel too heavy. In general, use a lighter putter if you play on fast greens. A heavier putter may give you better results if you play on slow greens.

4. The size and shape of the head. A perimeter-weighted putter is the best. This type of putter has a recess in the middle of the head, with most of the weight distributed on the heel and toe. This will provide you with more solid putts on off-center hits.

5. The head material. This factor is often overlooked when choosing a good putter. Typically the cheaper putters will have heads made of PCS plastic, Aluminum or Zinc. Because the head material is light, you will be required to hit the ball harder to get it to go the same distance as you would if your club-head was made from a more expensive material. Generally, these putters cannot be adjusted for lie, loft angle or other variables.

On the other hand, the more expensive putters often use stainless steel, brass, titanium, wood or a mixture of these. You can find special displays of these putters with different lie angles and lengths already built in. These putters will feel more solid when you strike the ball, look much better at address and perform more consistently over time.

6. The grip type and size. Putters come with standard-size grips installed. This is not ideal for everyone. The larger your hands, the larger the width of the grip should be and, conversely, you should have a smaller diameter grip if your hands are small.

Alex Fir shares a wealth of information on his website Free Golf Tips. To read more about golf putters visit Free Golf Tips today.

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