How To Load Up Like A Spring In Your Backswing For Longer Drives

To get the most power in your backswing you… …need to wind your shoulders up as much as possible against your hips, which should be restricted in their turn. The more torque you create between your shoulders and hips, the more power and distance you’ll get. Now your backswing should start with your big muscles, namely your shoulders, arms, hands etc. and your hips should not move for as long as possible. Once your shoulders and arms get to a certain point your hips will have to move, but again this should happen as a result of your shoulder turn and not before. Your shoulders should always turn more than your hips and for this to happen you must start your backswing first with your shoulders until they pull the hips to a start. This is nothing that you want to consciously do but something, which you can train to happen, and here’s how…. Grip halfway down the shaft of a club with the butt-end resting against your sternum, and move your arms and shoulders as far as you can without turning your hips. That is the point in your golf swing when your hips should start turning, not before. Another good way to rehearse the correct turning sequence is to sit in a chair and swing your arms and turn your shoulders as far as you can. Eventually there comes a point where your hips won’t let you turn any further – this will vary depending on your flexibility – and again that would be the point in your golf swing when the hips should begin to turn. Your shoulders must move faster than your hips as you start your backswing because they have further to turn. And for your shoulders and hips to be in sync you must do what has been described because otherwise if you let your hips turn too soon in your backswing you’ll be all out of sync in your backswing and the rest of your swing will be history. For more great tips like this to help you hit the ball further along with a complete program designed specifically by a sports scientist to help you swing faster and hit the ball further go here now.

Here’s A Simple Drill To Reduce Golf Swing Tension (so you hit the ball further!)

Does this sound like you?… You feel a lot of tension in your golf swing and you try to tell yourself to relax but the harder you try to do this the more tense you become. If this does sounds like you the first piece of advice is to not “try.” Why? Because trying creates tension in your golf swing so cut that “trying” out first because it’s costing you distance and accuracy. Next you should go out to your driving range and simply hit balls while humming quietly to yourself. When you’re doing this focus on your humming and notice if it stops or changes pitch at any time during your golf swing. Just keep hitting balls focusing on your humming with the goal of swinging without the hum changing pitch or volume from the moment you start swinging to the end of your golf swing. But please don’t “try” to achieve this. Simply keep swinging and focusing on your humming, and soon without you noticing the “whys” or “hows” your golf swing will become more rhythmical and less tense. Once your golf swing is more in tune with your natural rhythm you want to keep it that way. Do this by having a few golf swings each day while quietly humming to yourself. Doing this will help you to have a golf swing with less tension and consequently you’ll hit the ball further and more consistently. For more great tips like this to help you hit the ball further along with a complete program designed specifically by a sports scientist to help you swing faster and hit the ball further go here now.

Faster Swings, Longer Drives? Watch This, Then click the link for more info

Golf-Beginner Basics Part I

The popularity of golf has increased tremendously over
the past forty five years, giving us champions like
Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, and Tiger Woods, and
world-renowned courses like Pinehurst, Augusta
National and the Blue Monster at Doral.

Why has golf become so popular? It’s the opportunity
to be outside, to get a good whole body workout,
network with friends or business colleagues at a
leisurely pace, and to play a game that you can never
perfect.

Your scorecard, over time, shows your improvement,
which keeps you playing again and again.

Here is a very basic lesson in golf for the person who
has no clue about the game.

Golf is played on an eighteen-hole course; each hole
has its "par", which is the number of tee shots
(drives), fairway shots, chips (short hits as you
approach the green), and putts.

The par number is based on the length and difficulty
of the hole. Pars range from 3 to 6. If you get the
ball in the hole in five shots on a par five hole, you
"made par." If it took you six shots, it’s called a
bogie, if you made it in four, it’s a birdie.

There are usually "hazards" of some sort on all the
holes. Bodies of water, sand traps, and trees are
strategically placed to make the hole more
challenging. Beginner golfers should seek to find
courses to play that are easier to play, with fewer
hazards.

Each player keeps their own score, marking the number
of total number of shots for each hole. At the end,
each person adds their scores-the lowest number is the
winner.

It is important for beginner golfers to not take
themselves too seriously. It takes a long time to get
good at this game; even though the professionals make
it look so easy.

Take a lesson or two at the onset; it will help you
develop a proper swing and help you get off to a good
start.

Remember that it’s just a game. Have fun and look at
the big picture-you’re outside and you’re not at work!

How to Choose Golf Shoes

Your swing will change, your accuracy and distance
will improve with practice, and you’ll become deadly
with a putter, but you will always do these things
while standing on your feet.

Your feet need to be comfortable! Have you ever
developed a blister while walking or running? It’s all
you can think about and it ruins the experience. Don’t
let uncomfortable shoes ruin your golf game.

This is one area where you shouldn’t let your
frugality make the decision for you. You will be
wearing these shoes many times and they should be
considered an investment.

Comfort should be your biggest concern when buying
shoes. Your foot should not move at all on your heel
when you walk, yet your toes shouldn’t feel cramped.
Have you shoes professional fit to your feet and walk
around in them before you buy them.

Proper golf shoes should be waterproof so that your
feet remain dry in damp conditions. Good socks are
important too; they will wick perspiration away from
you feet, keeping your feet dry and comfortable.

All golf courses prohibit metal spiked shoes in the
effort to protect their delicate greens. Purchase
shoes that allow you to change the rubber spikes
easily, and while you’re there, purchase some extras.
You never know when you might lose one. Replace the
spikes when they become worn.

With all the things you have to worry about while
playing golf, your feet shouldn’t be one of them. When
it comes to golf footwear, quality counts.

Golf Accessories for Frequent Fliers

If you are faced with a double whammy of being a constant traveler as well as a golf aficionado, well, you have a problem at hand. And the only solution is to carry a full set of traveling accessories so that you remain in touch with your golf swing.

If you wish to retain your handicap while you travel, you will need some of the following

- Foldable golf clubs suck, but they are still better than having no golf clubs at all. Arrange them logically in a golf bag so that you can find them when you need them. Take a few basic ones along with you, there is no need to take the full set with you.

- You get reinforced traveling golf bags for a slightly higher price tag. But since this is a one-time investment, go ahead and splurge a bit. The metal covered bags will keep your clubs safe while traveling. You know how the airlines and porters handle your luggage!

- As with all your other traveling stuff, name and label each and every thing in your golf bag including the bag itself. If things get misplaced in transit then, this way, you at least have a ghost of chance to get your stuff back.

- As far as possible, use golf shippers like ShipGolf, who will deliver your whole set the very next morning

- Carry backup tees and balls in case you misplace your regular set.

Make A Style Statement With Your Golf Cart

A golf cart is as precious to a serious golfer as a car or a cell phone or any other gadget is to other men. Initially, when people buy a golf cart, it’s usually pretty basic, without too many frills and features.


However, they keep upgrading it and adding customizations and individualizing it so that it becomes more a personal style statement than a mere golf accessory.

People fortunate enough to own their personal golf cart usually begin by upgrading the seats. Not only can you make the seats plush and comfortable by embellishing them with high density foam, you can top it off with faux or genuine leather upholstery.

Style the wheel rims, the bumper, and even the steering wheel. Flashy golf carts sport a ‘theme’ or a ‘look’. You might see dark varnished wood all over the cart or even a shiny chrome finish that sparkles when it catches the sun rays.

Work out a theme according to your budget and your personal preferences. But beware of going overboard, you don’t want screech your style statement, do you

Don’t know where to begin Inquire at your local car repair shops if they might be willing to work on your golf cart body. A low-cost quickie to get you started can consist of a ready-made body kit or a simple paint job.

Check out online sites and research on Google for more ideas. If you feel like splurging, hire a pro who can add a professional touch to your style statement.

How To Care For Your Golf Clubs Like A Baby

Perhaps the most expensive accessory you’ll ever buy are your golf clubs. But even after shelling out a pocket for them, most golfers don’t look after their clubs properly or don’t know how to do so.


Since you have invested time, money, and a lot of thought in purchasing your golf clubs, you should consider spending a little more effort in maintaining, storing, and using them properly.

First, consider the golf bag itself. Before you buy one, ensure that that the sides are toughened with some metal, like maybe steel. This helps protect your clubs in case the golf bag falls out of the cart or if it hits other objects.

To prevent theft of your clubs, see if you can buy a golf bag with a flap or a door on the top. The flap should come with a lock mechanism, for example, a number protected lock or even a simple lock-and-key will suffice.

Consider painting, embroidering, or embossing your name on the sides of your golf bag. Some people even take it a step further and imprint their contact details with their names.

In case the bag happens to get lost there is a fighting chance of recovering it again. See if you can get a professional to emboss your name and contact details on the handles of your clubs.

This won’t prevent theft, but at least you know you have a better chance at finding lost clubs again.

Must-Have Golf Accessories That Leave You Drooling

Here is a quick check-list of the “It” golf accessories that are must-haves. See if you have them in your golf cart, and if you don’t, put them right on top of your shopping list for golf accessories.


For rookies who keep losing their balls or golfers who cannot keep track of the balls they have hit, this is a god-send. People buy different types and brands of glasses that can keep the golf ball outlined against the grass.

These glasses remove light emitting from non-ball objects so that the only visible object in your line of vision is the errant ball.

Putting greens that throw balls your way and provide inputs on your strokes are must-haves with serious golfers. You may have thought that tees have become as sophisticated as possible but a new version is out these days.

This tee comes with a top surface that is made from a brush-like material. This prevents the tee from being ripped out or damaged because your club merely brushes past it instead of impacting it hard.

And the hi-tech golfers all use the scorekeeper which looks a bit like the GameBoy but it keeps score and does all the mathematical calculations for them.

And how about a golf wristwatch which displays your handicap And ever thought about re-using your golf balls by cleaning them professionally with a golf ball cleanser

Is your head already spinning and your mouth drooling Well, keep drooling because there are probably more sophisticated golf accessories hitting the market even as you read this article…

The Truth About Golf and the Zone

The Zone - it is the Holy Grail of all athletes in every sport...the elusive mind/body state in which everything comes together.

Golfers describing the experience of being "in the zone" usually sound like this:

"Everything felt so easy"

"My swing was so fluid"

"I knew exactly what to do"

Etc, Etc.

Ah yes...all golfers have had this experience. Some for only a moment or two, some for an entire round or even a weekend tournament.

But what is The Zone, anyway?

How do we get there and STAY there?

There are certainly plenty of theories postulated by PhDs in sports psychology as to the exact biochemical happenings in the brain and nervous system during "zone time".

They even hook golfers up with electrodes and monitor a plethora of information and biofeedback data. This is all done to assist these golfers in their quest for the Holy Grail...The Zone.

Although it would be kind to assume that these Ivory Tower theorists have the best intentions, my gut tells me that it is usually more a case of "intellectual masturbation".

Regardless, the whole thing really reminds me of Monty Python and The Holy Grail.

In other words, a fruitless endeavor doomed to failure because it is based on inane premises and therefore produces deluded conclusions.

However, it does provide a decent amount of comic relief, at least for me.

OK, so maybe I'm exaggerating (but just a little bit).

The quest to somehow evoke the Zone state and maintain it is misguided by most people because it is seen as a foreign destination - a state of being outside of the golfer's natural mind/body state.

Here's the big news ...drum roll please...the Zone is your natural state of being.

That's right - The Zone is NOT a state of being that you have to "get into" and then hope and pray that you stay there.

Rather, The Zone is your true state of mental and physical being. It is the place to which you return when you are finally able to eliminate and clear the specific impediments to your natural freedom state.

These impediments include (but are not limited to):

o The voice of your "inner critic" (does it EVER shut up?)

o Self doubt

o Fear

o Tension

o Comfort Zones

o Anger

o Etc., etc.

Feel free to add your own to the list.

The important point is that these issues keep you from LIVING in The zone, both on and off the course.

The key is to "clear" or "eliminate" these issues... and then...viola...you are in The Zone.

After a relatively short period of time, The Zone will start to feel normal, because it is indeed your natural state of being.

There are many tools, methods, and techniques that different people have found useful in clearing these types of issues. They include everything from meditation and prayer to traditional talk therapy.

Hell, if you listen to the top grossing movie stars, even Scientology!

My personal program is a combination of quantum physics and centuries-old Asian wisdom called Tap In Golf (TIG) ™.

The Tap In Golf techniques are designed to clear these issues that keep you from being in The Zone, and from shooting the scores you deserve.

TIG is not the only way to clear your issues. It just happens to be extremely fast, simple to learn, and is specific to golf.

No electrodes or biofeedback devices required.

Golf will quickly become a whole lot easier.

Are YOU ready to LIVE in the ZONE?

Forget about the quest for the Holy Grail. Leave that to Knights who say "NI" (and the PhDs).

Stephen Ladd is a Golf Performance Coach pioneering breakthrough energy psychology techniques, and the creator of Renegade Mindset Techniques for Golf ™. Visit http://www.RenegadeMentalGolf.com for free reports, videos, newsletters and an 8 part email mini-tutorial!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/399786

Breathe Like Tiger Woods - The Secret To A Fluid Golf Swing

Tiger Woods and other top pro golfers use a specific breathing method to relax their bodies for a fluid golf swing.

You can easily do the same thing. But first, let's do a quick test to see where you currently stand.

In just a moment, I want you to take a big, deep breath.

And I want you to pay attention to what happens to your chest and to your stomach as you do it.

OK...do that now.

If you're like 95% of all golfers, then your chest probably expanded outward right away, while your stomach went inward toward your spine.

If that's the case, then you actually took a very shallow breath, not a deep one.

You would be classified as a "chest breather"!

Try not to panic. I am trained to alleviate you from this chronic condition.

Okay, but why should you care?

Less than optimal breathing (chest breathing) can cause:

o An increased rate of breathing

o Increased tension in your neck muscles

o Headaches

o Feelings of anxiety

o Increased stress

o Increased sensation of pain

o Fatigued, stiff muscles

o Restricted and stiff joints

o Poor sleep patterns

o Poor circulation

o Inefficient movement patterns

Experiencing any of the above side effects means your golf game will suck! Or at least it will not be up to its full potential.

On the other hand, proper breathing:

o Elicits a relaxation response

o Provides an optimal amount of oxygen to your body

o Improves circulation

o Helps maintain a healthy musculature (including your back)

Let me be very clear about this -

The manner in which you breathe will literally determine the physiology of your body - for better or for worse.

Do you still think this breathing thing is a no-brainer?

The good news is that with a little practice and awareness, you can reprogram your breathing techniques and reap the corresponding benefits.

Optimal Breathing Exercise

Phase 1:

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.

2. Place one hand on your abdomen and one on your chest.

3. Slowly inhale through your nose. Try to imagine the air going all the way down into your lower lungs (abdominal area). It may help to imagine your abdomen as a balloon, and as you inhale, the balloon inflates. Do not try to force your abdomen outward; rather simply allow the air from your inhalation to expand it.

4. Stop the inhalation before the hand on your chest begins to move.

5. Hold your breath for 5 seconds.

6. Exhale slowly through your nose or mouth. Use your hand to feel your "abdominal balloon" slowly deflate, as your navel moves towards your spine.

Perform 10 or more repetitions. I recommend starting with this "abdomen only" phase, and sticking with it until it feels relatively natural and easy.

Phase 2:

In actuality, the Phase 1 exercise was only a 2/3rds breath. This is an improvement over the chest breathing, but still not quite optimal. Now we will integrate the upper 1/3rd of your breath capacity - the upper chest area.

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.

2. Place one hand on your abdomen and one on your chest.

3. Slowly inhale through your nose. Try to imagine the air going all the way down into your lower lungs (abdominal area). It may help to imagine your abdomen as a balloon, and as you inhale, the balloon inflates. Do not try to force your abdomen outward; rather simply allow the air from your inhalation to expand it.

4. Instead of stopping the "inflation" at the upper abdomen area, allow the breath to continue into the upper lungs and cause the chest to rise.

5. Hold your breath for 5 seconds.

6. Exhale slowly through your nose or mouth. The order of "deflation" should be the opposite of the "inflation" pattern. I.e. your chest hand should fall first, and then your abdomen hand.

Now that is a full, optimal breath.

This may take a bit of practice, but it is well worth the time and effort.

I would suggest spending five minutes in the morning, and again in the evening just prior to bed, mastering this technique. Once this technique feels quite natural lying on the ground, integrate it into your standing posture, for use on the course.

Now go get em, Tiger!

Stephen Ladd is a Golf Performance Coach pioneering breakthrough energy psychology techniques, and the creator of Renegade Mindset Techniques for Golf ™. Visit http://www.RenegadeMentalGolf.com for free reports, videos, newsletters and an 8 part email mini-tutorial!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/897424

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/897424

The Renegade Golf Psychology System Review

As a golfer that is always looking to improve my game, I can become overwhelmed with the volume of information that is available from the Internet, books, magazines, etc. I’m sure you feel the same way; there is no shortage of swing coaches out there.

There isn't as much variety out there for the mental training for golfers. Sure there are the standards like Bob Rotellla, Joe Parent and Gio Valiante; they absolutely have some useful materials that I have used for years. I don't know about you, but it's been a long time since I've heard anything that was different.

The Renegade Golf Psychology System was created by a team of alternative psychology coaches and elite golfers, to specifically address the most common challenges that we face out on the course (or more correctly, in our heads!), such as:

First Tee Jitters
Lack of Confidence
Losing Focus - making bad decisions
Getting Tight and Over-Swinging
"Monkey-Mind"
Negative Thought Patterns 

The Renegade Golf Psychology System differs from all of the other sports psychology products out there in three ways:

1. It's specific to golfers. There is no doubt that the creators of this system went to great lengths to cover as many aspects of golf as possible. They drew upon their own experiences, but also consulted with elite coaches and their golfers for insights and feedback.
   
2. It utilizes alternative sports psychology. The three main tools are hypnosis, NLP, and Energy Mechanics (a form of acupuncture).
   
3. These guys and this system are results-oriented. They admit up-front that they are intentionally short on theory, and only care about results. All of their techniques are outside of mainstream, but as you will see from the testimonials on the website, so are the results.

One of the great things about this system is that it gives you several different techniques to test out for any of the areas you need to improve. My personal favorites are the hypnosis sessions. I was a little skeptical at first, because all I could think about was my brother doing funny things up on stage at a comedy show when he was hypnotized. But these audio sessions are nothing like that! It just feels like 20 minutes of relaxation, with the coach taking you through different segments of your game like ball striking or putting, or building confidence and playing in the zone.

 I felt great after each session, and within a couple of weeks started noticing improvements in several aspects of my game (and scorecard)... without any conscious effort on my part.

The NLP and Energy Mechanics techniques are very interesting and have become a staple of my pre-shot and pre-round routines. Both of these are performed in-the-moment and have proved to work well for any negative feelings that crop up, especially when I have to face a shot over water (what used to be my nemesis!). They are also very subtle, so you never have to feel self-conscious about using them.

The one drawback I had in learning these last two techniques is that I’m a visual learner. Although the descriptions are quite detailed and there are photos, I really would have done better with some video tutorials. Maybe they will add this feature to the product in the future.

The Renegade Golf Psychology System is a valuable resource for any golfer that believes that he/she can improve upon their mental training in order to drop their handicap and/or just enjoy the game a bit more. Although some of the psychological challenges can differ from the rank beginner to the tour pro, I'm sure these techniques can be adapted and used by all of us to finally start “training our brains”.

At the time of this writing the price is $57 US. Which seems to be quite a bargain, as that just one session around here with a sports hypnotist (who may know nothing specific to golfers) is a whopping $125. Another nice feature is that these guys offer free email coaching for sixty days, as well as a solid money-back guarantee.

To test the system out for yourself CLICK HERE