When we talk about core exercise for golf the key term that needs to be thrown in there is rotational. You seethe golf swing is a turn (or rotate) back and a turn (or rotate) through. So any core exercise for golf you do should incorporate rotational strength and flexibility.

One of the most difficult things for golfers to do is take a step back from their game and examine what they can do to improve performance. Strength training is a perfect example. What almost all golfers overlook is developing the strength and awareness fo the region of their body that can lead them to their best level no matter what the age or ability.

That area is the CORE!

This area starts roughly at your belly button and goes up to the bottom of your sternum. It is the engine of your body and awareness of your core affects golf the most. Think of it as the link in the chain that needs to be the strongest, not the weakest.

Greg Norman use to say when he wanted to hit it long he would get his belly button or belt buckle turning faster; which in other words is his or your core.

Two simple core exercises for golf that will quickly strengthen your core is ab crunches and back extensions. These would be your initial exercises since I mentioned early on in this article you need to work from a rotational standpoint to strengthen your core specific to golf.

Once youve accomplished the above exercises, you can move on to a crunch with a twist and a back extension with a twist. This will hit your rotational strength right away.

You can then progress up to standing on your feet doing several different variations of rotational movements with a single dumbbell, standing upright and also in your golf posture.

When you approach your golf improvement program with a core exercise for golf, you will see your driving distance sky rocket past your playing partners!

Core Exercise For Golf Will Improve Your Driving Distance The Quickest is a post from: Sports Blogs | The People's Sports Network | mentalhopeminigolf.org

Ive written many articles pertaining to the traumatic effect the golf swing can have on the body. Swinging a 3 foot plus lever (club) at up to 100 mph in a very dynamic and sometimes uncomfortable position (golf posture) will abuse your body quickly if you have not prepared your muscles from both a strength and flexibility standpoint.

Physical breakdown of the body is a common occurrence for golfers. Many golfers dont realize the intense pressure the golf swing causes, and yet theyll deal with aches and pains through their entire golfing career.

It doesnt have to be that way!

Golf is an athletic movement and you should physical prepare your body to perform, like any other athlete would for his or her sport.

Doesnt that make sense?

I see golfers every day on the range and the golf course who are physically broken. They have locked up shoulders, inhibiting their ability to rotate fully; they have no core strength (most golfers are sporting too many pounds in the middle) to produce power and distance; poor hamstring flexibility, making it impossible to maintain golf poster; the upper back muscles are weak and tight causing the rounded upper back, eliminating any chance of proper spine angle.

I could go on and on, but I think youre getting the picture.

I dont know if golfers are in denial of the importance of conditioning for golf, or just dont want to put any effort into that aspect of the game. But either way, it is inevitable that a weak and restricted body will have no chance at maximizing potential. Its a physical impossibility.

Conditioning for golf should be taken seriously!

When you do a program specific to golf, it can be fun. Boredom is one of the biggest causes of consistency and results. But if you knew you were doing something not only for your personal health, but to benefit your golf game, wouldnt that motivate you to stick with it?

Were not talking about going to a gym for 2 hours with all the muscle heads. Were talking about 20-30 minutes a day in your home. Simple and fun exercises with tubing, handweights and a stability ball. Your complete golf fitness gym for under $60. No gym memberships. Just a fun routine in the privacy of your home.

Evaluate where your golf swing and game are currently and ask yourself this question. Would I play better if I could move my body more fluidly and powerfully? The answer is a resounding YES! Youve got to realize this sooner or later. Prepare your body to perform and the sky is the limit.

Get started right now on your conditioning for golf!

Conditioning For Golf Produces A Powerful Golf Swing is a post from: Sports Blogs | The People's Sports Network | mentalhopeminigolf.org

Unfortunately, many golfers dont have a pre-shot routine. If they do have a routine, they dont always use it. And when they use it, its 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 theyre interrupted, they look up to see what caused the noisethen 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, everyones routine will differ to a degree, but most will be pretty consistent in terms of their key components. If youre striving for a lower golf handicap, work these components into your routine.

Heres 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 balls 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 youre 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 youre 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.

Thats 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 youre comfortable with, then use it. If you watch professional golfers youll 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 againevery time they hit.

Theres, nothing mysterious about a good pre-shout routine. In fact, its 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.

Whats 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 swingeven when taking golf lessons.

Next time you cant get to the range or youre on the road, work on your pre-shot routine. Then use it when youre on the course. You might be surprised just how much a good pre-shot routine helps your golf handicap.

Components Of An Effective Pre-Shot Routine is a post from: Sports Blogs | The People's Sports Network | mentalhopeminigolf.org

In fact the wrong golf exercise program can end up making a golfers game deteriorate rather than improve.

It is therefore very useful to know what constitutes a complete golf exercise program

A complete golf exercise program will tend to have the following attributes;

A) Golf specific stretch exercises Stretch exercises are a very important part of any genuine golf workout program. Stretches help improve the golf swing and correct many common mistakes and weaknesses in this area. They sometime help alleviate or even eliminate nagging back problems in some golfers. Many stretch exercises can be done in the comfort of the office or home.

B) Golf specific strength training Strength training is also a key area in any good golf workout program. Strength training usually has a dramatic effect on the quality of the game of any golfer. Dumbbells are usually used and the program for building strength for golf is usually very different from a body building program because the idea here is not to build muscles.

C) Should be able to focus on certain common player weaknesses A good golf exercise program should also be able to focus on certain common weaknesses amongst most amateur golfers with the aim of helping to improve and deal with those weaknesses. This at times may involve the use of certain golf aid equipment. However it should be very clear what particular aspects of the game are being developed by what golfing aids.

A complete golf exercise program should help any golfer improve their game dramatically and feel much more confident every time they set foot on the course.

Components Of A Golf Exercise Program is a post from: Sports Blogs | The People's Sports Network | mentalhopeminigolf.org

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Cobra Fairway Woods is a post from: Sports Blogs | The People's Sports Network | mentalhopeminigolf.org

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

Clubhead Speed Or Power, Which Comes First In The Golf Swing? is a post from: Sports Blogs | The People's Sports Network | mentalhopeminigolf.org

Most golfers tend to buy what the others are buying. Buying a set of golf clubs is a little technical, and you should always buy them on their merits and suitability, rather than copying someone else’s purchase.

Uses of each club and knowing what each kind does would not only help in making a good choice but will also go a long way in improving your game. Right lie and shaft flex are also important factors in making the decision. Flex is the flexibility of the club. Powerful swingers should use less flex and beginners and less powerful swingers should use more flex.

If you are a beginner to the game, it is best that you stick to the basic set of clubs – the irons, wedges, drivers and putter. Each of these clubs is designed to increase and improve your swinging speed and will help correct your game.

Using the right club will facilitate in learning the game faster. The basic consideration in choosing you set of clubs is your basic ability level – low handicap, mid handicap or high handicap?

Low handicap: Score less than ten strokes over par..!

Recommended clubs: More than 1 fairway wood, driver, lower irons, more than 3 wedges, pitching wedge, sand wedge, lob/approach wedge.

Mid handicap: Golfers in the 11-20 handicap bracket..!

Recommended clubs: Fairway woods (7 and 9 required), driver, irons (3 and 9), more than 3 wedges, pitching wedge, sand wedge, lob/approach wedge.

High handicap: New gamers..!

Recommended clubs: 3 wood for tee off, 7 and 9 woods, more than 3 wedges, pitching wedge, sand wedge, lob/approach wedge.

Although drivers and woods are regarded to be the most important clubs in any golfer’s bag, a hybrid is found most commonly today. Many golfers prefer the Taylormade Rescue mid hybrid club which generates clubhead speed. The hybrid club has a lower centre of gravity thus facilitating good control and accuracy.

After you have the understanding and logic of why and when to use a particular club, many other consideration enter the picture before a club can be purchased. Trying out rented clubs can be useful to make the right decision. Buying second hand clubs, while beginning the game, may also prove effective and save costs.

Choosing The Right Golf Club Can Improve Your Golf Swing is a post from: Sports Blogs | The People's Sports Network | mentalhopeminigolf.org

Everybody should approach golf clubs with caution at first. Determine if the advertised brand is something you really need. If it is commonly seen in a TV commercial then the company manufacturing it has to have plenty of marketing budget to afford the airtime placements. This translates to more expensive equipment. Is a high price your guarantee of better quality? Not all the time.

A practical option is testing out the golf club before buying. Try to get a feel for the equipment. See if it suits your body type. Is it long enough? Does the grip hug your palms? How do you find the weight? When buying the clubs it is ideal that an experienced player that you trust accompanies you. This way you can be sure that the advice you will be receiving is honest and factual. You need not worry of being misled.

You can also ask your golf friends if you can borrow their clubs. Once you get more comfortable with the brand, you can then seriously consider taking it to the next step and buying for yourself.

When you are about to buy your golf club, make sure you find out more about the brand and model. What is its reputation? How long has it been made? Do experts recommend it? These set of questions can assist you in making a sensible decision. It will provide you with a working framework of how you can intelligently assess your options.

Not all golf clubs are expensive. If they are, then it is up to you if you wish to invest in one or not. If you are still starting to play the sport, then settle for a beginners set. These are inexpensive, and will allow you to play the game correctly. Expensive clubs, if used in the proper way, can give better performance. Yet it will not mean anything to a beginner or a non-professional player.

A golf club can range from being a low cost investment to an expensive piece of equipment. The decision on what golf club to buy is dependent on what you value. Remember that you do not always need the high end products. Sometimes you can make do with ordinary ones. Just think wisely and ask around before you do decide to buy golf clubs.

Choose The Right Golf Clubs Every Time is a post from: Sports Blogs | The People's Sports Network | mentalhopeminigolf.org

It was more durable and had stronger resistance to the elements. A lot of science has gone into designing a modern golf ball since and today’s golf balls are a scientific combination of chemicals and polymers making it accurately fly farther.

Golf Balls today are of three kinds – two-piece, three-piece and high performance. The two-piece ball is made of a solid core and cover and offers better distance with slow swing, while the three-piece ball is made of solid core, wound with elastic and then covered, offering more control. High performance balls are for accuracy.

The two-piece balls are designed for beginners and the other varieties are fro advanced golfers. The cover is generally made of Surlyn or Balata. Surlyn is more durable and strong whereas Balata is softer and provides better grip and control with spin. Balata is preferred by most golfers. Two-piece balls are cheaper and highly available. Three-piece and high performance balls are very expensive and designed for professionals and advanced players.

Choosing a golf ball could be tricky, if you choose the ball used by Tiger Woods, it is not necessary that you can have the same handicap that he does. The choice has to be made as per you game style. The wrong ball could give you bigger handicaps and the right ball could make you feel like a champion.

Choosing a golf ball will depend upon your swing and style of play. If you are still confused, you can try each of the varieties for some days at a time and compare the results.

Similar to choosing your golf clubs, choose the golf ball that suits your swing and game so as to eliminate weaknesses and build upon your strengths. Never go by brands, brands are secondary to performance and suitability. Make sure you like a golf ball because it betters your play, not because it was made by Nike or Yonex.

Finally, do not fall for personalized and logo golf balls, they are just temptations.

Choose The Right Golf Ball To Improve Your Golf Game is a post from: Sports Blogs | The People's Sports Network | mentalhopeminigolf.org

When you have an awkward shot to make, think about how you can swing, your golf swing path keep your balance, and keep from moving your head. Then imagine the line your club travels along.

Prior to setting up your shot, consider where the club head needs to travel for the greatest distance in a straight line. Keep in mind that the ball makes contact with the club head for several inches. After you make a few practice swings, you will be able to see what relationship your feet will have with the line and then you can determine your stance.

It is important to keep from swaying when you are about the hit the ball. Just before you swing, see if there is any problem keeping your balance. If there is, you need to keep shifting until you find a comfortable position where there is no tension in your swing. Freedom in your muscles and mind is what you are looking for so that you will be able to swing smoothly. If you are fidgety when you address the ball, you are not going to be able to focus on the ball. Be sure you keep your feet still.

Ensure that you can see the ball from the beginning to end of your swing. Even if it is a difficult shot, do not lose focus on the ball. This will help you hit the ball cleanly and solidly.

If you keep your eye on the ball, then your swing will be free from faults and the ball will be hit correctly. If you can keep your head still for the entire swing until the club head meets the ball, your swing will definitely improve. Then if you have an awkward shot, you will be able to hit it with confidence and assurance.

Bad or difficult weather can make any shot more difficult. When the wind is blowing, it is important to keep your feet closer together. It is natural to think that you just need to hit the ball harder, but the wind makes it even more important to hit the ball correctly.

The more awkward the shot, the more you need your muscles to be relaxed enough to make the shot. Here is a tip. The shorter the shot that you need to make, the closer your feet should be brought together. Hit the ball true, instead of with all of your strength to keep it from bouncing away and reducing the distance that it travels.

Awkward and difficult shots are something that every golfer needs to learn to deal with. Once you learn how to handle them, then you will be much more confident and be enjoying a lower golf score!

Good luck!!

Gaz Hutchinson

For a simple, effective and fast way to get a great golf swing visit

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Changing the Awkward Golf Shots Into Opportunities is a post from: Sports Blogs | The People's Sports Network | mentalhopeminigolf.org