Title:
2 Basic Steps to Improving Your Golf Swing

Word Count:
790

Summary:
Do you want to improve your golf swing? Do you want to play better? Here are some basic tips you can start working on today that can help improve your golf swing.

Keywords:
golf swing, golf

Article Body:
The game of golf is truly an individual sport. The basics are the same for everyone; however, due to the differences in peoples body types no two people will ever have the same golf swing. Each person will have to adapt their bodies to perform a proper golf swing in their own way. Taking the time to develop your own method of playing golf will greatly improve your enjoyment and success at the game. Practicing the basic fundamentals of the game until they are ingrained in your muscles will lead to confidence on the course, and that confidence will lead to success and enjoyment of the game.

One of the most basic steps that you can put into action and see an immediate improvement to your golf swing is to keep your head still and look straight at the ball. The position of your head should be straight in line with your spine, and your nose should be raised up a bit so that when you start to swing, your left shoulder fits under your chin. Many players tuck their heads into their chests to try and keep their heads still and look straight down at the golf ball. Unfortunately, they cannot perform a proper golf swing while in this position.

If you are one of the many that are having difficulty keeping your head straight and an eye on the ball try the following. The next time you approach the ball, assume the correct stance with your feet and knees in position but keep your head and back straight, bend forward slightly at the waist and look straight at the ball. If you try and take a swing in this position, your left shoulder will most likely hit your chin. While keeping your eyes on the ball, raise your head slowly until your left shoulder does not hit your chin. Make sure that your head does not move from side to side by keeping your eyes fixed on the ball. Slowly go through the backswing and downswing portions of your golf swing. Do not hit the ball and do the follow through. Practice this portion of your golf swing focusing on keeping your head straight and eyes on the ball.

Practice this exercise in your backyard for about 25 times in a row and then take a break and relax a bit, then start again. Make minor corrections to your head and body position as needed to keep your eyes straight on the ball and your left shoulder from hitting your chin. This exercise will “train” your body, and your muscles will “remember” the correct position you need to be in to perform the movement correctly. Think about any sports athlete, they train and train to place their bodies in the correct stance and position to properly execute the movements necessary to be successful in their particular sport. You are doing the same thing by “training” your body to keep your head straight and position itself so that you can successfully execute a proper golf swing.

Another basic step that can work greatly towards improving your golf swing is to relax. I know it is easier said then done, especially when you are getting ready to put all your power into drive with an audience of either your co-workers, or better still your friends who will not let you forget it if you mess up. However, relaxing your muscles will help you to maintain the proper balance that is important to a great golf swing. Regardless of the golf clubs you use, your balance is the primary foundation of your golf swing, and the way to achieve good balance is to practice. A good way to practice improving your balance is to assume the address position with your club, relax your body and try holding it there for about 30 seconds. Does it feel like you have more weight on one foot or the other? Is one part of your body more tense then another?

Keeping your head straight and maintaining good balance are just two basic parts of a great golf swing. The exercises given above are just two ways that you can start training now to improve your golf swing. You can work on either one separately, or combine them together into one exercise. Improving your golf swing begins and ends with you. Training the muscles of your body to properly perform specific movements takes time and practice. The effort spent improving your golf swing will pay off on the course. Through exercise and practice, you will be able to slip into the proper address position and perform an effortless, powerful golf swing and feel just as if you were sliding your hand into a warm soft glove.

Technorati Tags: Article Body, Chests, Confidence, Correct Stance, Feet, Fundamentals Of The Game, Game One, Golf Article, Golf Ball, Improving Your Golf Swing, Knees, Left Shoulder, Muscles, playing golf, Proper Golf Swing, Spine, Success, Swing Golf, Taking The Time, Word Count

Title:
Golfing Rules – Explained

Word Count:
347

Summary:
Golf was invented in Scotland, and dates back to at least the 17th century, possibly even earlier

Keywords:
golf, tee, caddy

Article Body:
The rules of golf are relatively simple once you know them, but they take a while to explain. If youre not even sure of the basics, read this: the object of the game is to hit your ball from the start (tee) of each of the 18 sections of the course (holes) into the hole itself. The hole is situated on a particularly short and well-maintained piece of grass (the green), and once youre on the green you must use a putter (a club with a slab-like end) instead of a normal golf club.

Each one of the holes has a certain target number of shots, known as the par. On a par 4 hole, for example, you are trying to get the ball into the hole in four shots or fewer. If you take exactly that number of shots, you have scored par. One under par is a birdie, while two under is an eagle. Three under is very rare, and is called an albatross it is only possible if you get the ball in the hole with two shots on a par 5 hole. The best score of all, however, is a hole in one, which is when you hit the ball straight from the tee into the hole.

By the same token, if you dont make par, there are special words for that too. One over par is a bogey, while two over par is a double bogey, and so on. If you ever go over 12 shots, you forfeit the hole, and have to move on to the next one.

Along the way, though, you will have to deal with various hazards. If you hit the ball into long grass (the rough), you might find it very hard to get out again, and trees are also often placed on courses to make them more difficult. The worst hazards are ponds and lakes, as hitting the ball into one will cost you both the shot you just took and an extra one shot penalty, making it very difficult to even reach par on that hole.

Technorati Tags: 17th Century, Albatross, Article Body, Best Score, Birdie, Caddy, Course Holes, Double Bogey, Golf Club, Golf Tee, Golfing Rules, Grass, Hole In One, Ponds, Rules Of Golf, Shot Penalty, Slab, Target Number, Token, Two Shots

Title:
Golfing With A Confident Golf Swing Mindset

Word Count:
649

Summary:
Youre just about ready to make the first step up onto the tee box and youre feeling great. Golf shoes are looking good and comfortable. Freshly new pressed golf pants and shirt, and youre feeling loose and limber, then all of a sudden this big dark cloud appears out of nowhere. You look down the fairway and all you see is water and trees and your asking yourself; how am I going to get this golf ball in the fairway?

I think we have all been there before. The all-importan…

Keywords:
golf, golf swing, swing, tee box, bogeyman, golf ball, golf course,

Article Body:
Youre just about ready to make the first step up onto the tee box and youre feeling great. Golf shoes are looking good and comfortable. Freshly new pressed golf pants and shirt, and youre feeling loose and limber, then all of a sudden this big dark cloud appears out of nowhere. You look down the fairway and all you see is water and trees and your asking yourself; how am I going to get this golf ball in the fairway?

I think we have all been there before. The all-important golf shot of the day. This all important golf shot typically sets the pace for the rest of the round mentally. Nobody wants to start off with a bogey or double bogey. Par or better is so important on this first golf hole. The thoughts of anything else keep racing through your mind. The fairway becomes narrower. The trees look like the branches are reaching out into the fairway. The small running creek looks more like a lake before you. The bogeyman is near! If you stand on the tee box any longer at this point, and even in the sweltering heat you may visualize a snowman. Yikes!!! The worst possible start of a long eighteen!

How do we overcome this big shadow of fear that seems to take over our golf swing from time to time? Do you tee it up and hope for the best? Maybe your golf buddy will stand up tall and go first if hes any kind of friend? Just maybe the easy way out through this jungle would be take a 7 iron and punch it down the fairway. At least you dont have to take that big ugly swing that may put you in the thick woods of no return. With three good punch shots you might just able to get it close enough to save par?

Lets not kid ourselves. The golf swing has to happen. The golf club selection is an important one at this point, especially if your knees are feeling weak. You may want to take your favorite wood or long iron that youre more confident with on this important golf shot.

Walk away from this monster looking view and regain your composure by looking the other way. The most important thing to do when feeling negative is to step back off the tee box and gather your thoughts and hold onto the positive pictures, perhaps by taking some deep breaths and swinging the opposite way. I find that by swinging in the opposite direction, my mind does not pick up any negative thoughts, possibly because I know that there is no hazard in front of me, because Im golfing the opposite direction. Make any sense?

After you have released all the horrible pictures you have visualized earlier, step back onto the tee box and take a deep breath and release it slowly standing behind the ball. Look down the middle of the fairway and look for a spot on the fairway that you want the ball to land. Visualize the ball landing on that particular spot that you picked out. Step up to the golf ball and take one more look and start the golf swing with a smooth takeaway and accelerated swing through the ball as if youre playing with a crowd watching along the sidelines.

Your mind will create the golf swing to make the golf shot happen, only if you are relaxed and focusing on the golf swing you are creating mentally. Its a phenomenon that I cannot explain, but it works.

I guess it goes with the old saying. Whatever the mind can conceive and believe. It will achieve! Positive thoughts bring positive results. Step away from the golf ball when having negative thoughts. It could be too late, halfway through your golf swing.

Technorati Tags: Article Body, Ball Golf, Dark Cloud, Double Bogey, Fairway, First Golf, Golf Ball, Golf Buddy, Golf Golf, golf hole, Golf Pants, Golf Shoes, Golf Swing, Great Golf, Importan, Mindset, Running Creek, Shadow Of Fear, Sweltering Heat, Swing Swing

Title:
Hydration Tips for the Golf Course

Word Count:
327

Summary:
Since golf is a warm weather sport and often a hot weather sport ensuring that you are properly hydrated is essential. If you dont drink enough water, your body is not going to perform as well as it should and your golf game is sure to suffer.

Keywords:
hydration for golf, golf nutrition, golf fitness, golf training

Article Body:
Since golf is a warm weather sport and often a hot weather sport ensuring that you are properly hydrated is essential. If you dont drink enough water, your body is not going to perform as well as it should and your golf game is sure to suffer.

Rather than loading up at infrequent golf course drink stations, you are better off drinking smaller amounts regularly. In order to do this, you should carry a water bottle or two with you. Continue to sip away at them, and refill them as needed when you do reach water stations. A good rule of thumb is to drink eight ounces of fluid before you even tee off, then continue to drink four to eight ounces every 15 minutes of play.

If you are playing a long round and will miss a meal, you may want to consider bringing a meal replacement drink. This is generally a dry powder mixed with water that can be used in the absence of a meal or to replace fluids. These will keep you hydrated, and help keep your blood sugar level in check.

Many recreational golfers have a beer or two on the course. Keep in mind that alcohol dehydrates you; it does not count as drinking fluids to keep you hydrated. If you do choose to drink any alcohol while playing, be sure that you limit your consumption and include non-alcoholic beverages as well.

Dont wait until you are thirsty to drink, because at this point your body is already dehydrated. Drink before heading out and continue to drink through your entire round. Dehydration creates fatigue, makes you uncomfortable and can cause you to lose your mental focus an important element in the game of golf.

Diet and nutrition are just as important as fitness when it comes to creating a body that is optimized for a great game of golf. Be sure you keep hydration in mind each time you play.

Technorati Tags: Article Body, Blood Sugar Level, Course Word, Dehydration, Golf Fitness, golf game, Golf Golf, Golf Nutrition, Golf Training, Hot Weather, Meal Replacement, Mental Focus, Non Alcoholic Beverages, Recreational Golfers, Rule Of Thumb, Warm Weather, Water Bottle, Water Stations, Weather Sport, Word Count

Title:
Four Good Reasons To Take Up Golf As A Sport

Word Count:
739

Summary:
The Exercise

Golfing is one of the best exercises that you can do. I taught this fellow about ten years ago how to play golf. He had bypass surgery done on his heart, and his doctor told him to walk for exercise. So he asked me to teach him how to golf. He was a retired carpenter. Think about it for a second. There is 1760 yards in a mile. The average golf course is anywhere from 5000 yards to 6500 yards on some of the bigger courses, depending on which tee box you are pl…

Keywords:
golf,tee box,golf course,course,golf article,fairways

Article Body:
The Exercise

Golfing is one of the best exercises that you can do. I taught this fellow about ten years ago how to play golf. He had bypass surgery done on his heart, and his doctor told him to walk for exercise. So he asked me to teach him how to golf. He was a retired carpenter. Think about it for a second. There is 1760 yards in a mile. The average golf course is anywhere from 5000 yards to 6500 yards on some of the bigger courses, depending on which tee box you are playing from. They say the shortest distance between two points is in a straight line. Can you imagine the amount of walking you can do on any given course, if youre not a straight hitter? Some golf courses make you take a golf cart because of the steep terrain. Golfing can keep youre heart pumping at a good pace depending on the golf terrain. So if you have not walked a country mile. Take up golf and you will have youre fair share of walking a country mile.

The Challenge

A lot of people would ask the same question over and over again, and probably still do today. Why would anybody want to chase a little golf ball around? I use to think and ask myself the same question until that very first liftoff from a fairway lie. Oh yes! It is a great feeling when you finally lift it off the fairway and watch the ball fly towards the green and watch it land and roll towards the flagstick, especially if you are a long distance from the green and hitting the green in regulation. The feeling of success is amazing and the challenge to do it again brings you back time and time again. Once you catch that feeling, the challenge to come back and repeat the same golf shot makes you a better golfer in the long run. The challenge you have now sticks with you the more you play. The frustration of not being able to do it over and over again, and then finally once again there goes that beautiful golf shot again, makes you come back for more. Golfing has more than one challenge. The challenge within yourself to play better golf, and the challenge to play better than youre competitor. A lot of times the challenge to beat your own game can be a real uphill battle. Go ahead and try the challenge.

The Scenery

Golf courses truly have some of the best breathtaking scenery, depending on where you reside. A lot of the golf courses have rolling fairways and trees of all colors that stretch out on both sides of the fairway, creeks that split fairways in half. Lot of golf courses have greens that are surrounded by huge trees, rock formations, and rolling mounds, and many other natural beauties. Most golf courses surround their greens with water and sand traps. The tee boxes on some courses are perched up on a hillside overlooking a valley, or body of water. Flowers and plants, and or more trees surround a lot of tee boxes. Sometimes the tee boxes and greens are in the wilderness, and or near cliffs. There is a lot of great scenery on golf courses that will want you to say. This is amazing scenery!

The Peace and Tranquility

The best part of golf is the relaxation you get out it, depending on how youre game is going of course. Just imagine yourself nestled on a tee box first thing in the morning, and all you hear is the chirping of the birds and the sound of the trees blowing around you. Another good feeling is standing in the middle of the fairway with the sun beating down on you with a cool misty breeze coming from a nearby body of water. I like the late afternoon just before the sun goes down and the trees are swaying a bit more. Sometimes all you hear is a plane going by overhead and the crack of another golf ball going off a tee box. A lot of the golf courses take you away from the clubhouse and land you out in the country, and or fairly wooded areas where the peace and tranquility of mother nature truly makes you sit up and take hold of its natural beauty it has to offer.

Technorati Tags: 1760 Yards, Article Body, Carpenter, Course Golf, Distance Between Two Points, Fair Share, Fairway, Fairways, Four Good Reasons, Golf Article, Golf Ball, Golf Cart, golf course, Golf Tee, Golfing, Liftoff, Steep Terrain, Straight Line, Word Count, Yards In A Mile