The Secret to Gripping the Golf Club to Improve Your Swing!

You are eagerly flipping the calendar pages until the days when the weather is balmy, and the Country Clubs are open. Well, before you get too excited, we should take a moment to review a couple of things.

First of all, your clubs. Are they the right height? Clubs should come up to your waist. If they are too tall or too short, not only will your game suffer, but you will also not be as comfortable, and your game won't be much fun.

Once you have ascertained that your clubs are the right height, you should now work on your grip. A golf glove may help here by increasing the grip you already have. Not only that, a glove will give you a little bit more comfort as well.

Your grip is your most important tool. No matter what kind of shot you need to make, your grip is going to determine success or failure. A proper grip is very simple. Place your left hand around the club about half an inch down the shaft. Your thumb should run down the club, parallel to the club face. Next take your right hand and wrap it around the club as close to your left hand as you can. Your left thumb should be underneath your middle, ring and pinky fingers.

Once you have your hands in place, remember to let your left thumb guide the club. Do not move your wrists. The tighter your wrists, the better your shot.

Keep your head down, and see you at the 19th hole.

For more golf tips visit: How to Grip a Golf Club Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Rinehart

Power Golf - Add 30 Yards to Your Drives by Maximizing Your Leverage

rchimedes once said "Give me a lever and a place to stand and I can move the world."

Power Comes From Leverage

You don't need to be muscle-bound to hit longer drives. But you do need to take advantage of all the power you have available to you. You maximize the power in your golf swing through leverage.

Distance Comes from Speed

Hitting your drives farther is not so much about power as it is about speed. You want to have your clubhead traveling as fast as possible through impact.

Leverage Provides the Power to Generate Speed

The power in your golf swing should be used to rotate your core through impact to the target in an efficient pivot. Faster core rotation will generate the clubhead speed you want.

The common mistake most golfers make when trying to drive the golf ball farther is to throw the clubhead at the ball with their hands and arms. The challenge is that the hands and arms are not nearly as strong as the big muscles in the core - from the hips to the shoulders. The strength in your hands and arms is used to control the club face, not to generate clubhead speed.

The Key is Good Foot Work

Jack Nicklaus believes that a good golf swing begins with good foot work. Creating more leverage in your swing - and consequently effortless power - starts with your feet.

Your Leverage Point is the Ball of Your Right Foot.

At the top of the swing you should be loading power and energy on the inside part of the right foot, right on the ball of the foot. The inside part of the ball of the right foot is your action position. If you don't have your weight set on the inside part of the ball of your foot at the top of your swing, you are robbing yourself of power and distance.

Leverage Examples

Picture a basketball player on defense. In order to stay in front of the dribbler the defensive player has to shuffle their feet from side to side as the ball moves. They push from the inside part of their feet - the ball of the foot - to move sideways.

That same pushing motion, when combined with a pivot, is what adds power to the golf swing.

Another example would be a baseball pitcher. On the mound there is a rubber slab that pitchers use for leverage to push off of and pivot towards the plate when they throw. It is not arm strength that creates ball speed. In fact, their arm needs to be relaxed in order to maintain accuracy and to make the small positional adjustments that mean the difference between fastballs and curve balls. It is leg and torso strength maximized through the leverage position on the inside part of the right foot that creates speed.

The same concept applies to distance and your golf swing.

The next time you are on the range working on adding distance to your drives, pay attention to your leverage position at the top of your backswing. If it is not on the inside part of your right foot, you are losing power.

Pigeon Toe Drill to Help Feel Leverage

To help get the feel of good leverage, try the "pigeon toe" drill.

Take your normal driver stance. Before swinging, turn your right heel out so that your right foot is "pigeon toed." Square up your hips and keep a little flex in your right knee. Make a ¾ swing and pay attention to the tension that builds in the right leg. You will likely find that it is very easy to push towards the target with the lower body when the right foot is turned in a bit.

Maintain Your Leverage For More Distance

If you want to add more distance to your drives with effortless power, maintain your leverage position throughout your swing. Leverage allows you to make efficient use of the power in your big muscles, which in turn allows your hands and arms to remain supple enough to control the clubface and produce consistent golf shots. Your leverage point is the ball of your right foot, and that is where you should load energy at the top of your golf swing.

Eric Jones is a Class "A" PGA Professional with a Masters Degree in Sport Psychology who is dedicated to helping golfers learn, play better golf, and have more fun. He is a World Long Drive Champion and author of the best-selling eBook on distance "The 5 Keys to Distance." Eric teaches golf at the Pleasanton Golf Center in Pleasanton, CA.

Eric's professional Long Drive accomplishments include winning the 2003 Re/Max World Long Drive Championship, Senior Division, 6 consecutive appearances in the World Championship Finals with 5 top-10 finishes, the 2004 LDA Long Drive Tour Senior Rookie of the Year, and winner of the 2006 Players Tour Championship, where he became the only long driver to win both the senior and the open division titles in the same event. Eric played college golf at Stanford University. He began his teaching career in the early 90's as the Stanford Men's JV/Assistant Coach and as lead golf instructor at the junior summer camps. He has also taught at the Golf Lab facilities in Palo Alto, and was Director of Golf Instruction at Poppy Ridge Golf Course in Livermore, CA. Prior to turning pro Eric spent more than 20 years in a variety of executive leadership positions in high tech software companies, biotech, apparel, banking, and running his own management consulting firm. Eric is the grandson of Charlie Seaver, a top amateur player during the Bobby Jones era.

In addition to his teaching, Eric is an accomplished speaker and mentor on maximizing the profitability of your golf business through the use of internet and social media marketing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_M_Jones

Choosing Golf Clubs - Choose the Right Golf Clubs For Yourself From the Wide Selection That Is

Golf is a very popular pastime among many. Well, popular enough that more and more golf clubs are becoming available in the market every year. It is something of an understatement that choosing new clubs can be a challenge. It is easy to be left in awe at the range of golf clubs that you can choose from (a complete golf set comprises 14 clubs including sand wedge and putter). But choosing the right clubs for you is important - not just with regard to costs, but also for the possibility of how much your game will improve with a particular club, and if so by how much. This article will discuss the factors to take into account when you are considering which new golf clubs should purchase.

Many find that the most important aspect to consider with any golf club is its shaft - that is, the metal rod that separates the grip from the head; how long is it, and how dense? These criteria vary from club to club - and playing with the wrong club is likely to prevent you from playing golf at your best (it may be simply a case of it being impossible to find a natural, comfortable posture as you line up a shot using a particular club). You may well be used to playing golf with clubs that have specific values, but that is no reason not to keep your options open.

It is unlikely that anyone would disagree that how you swing the club during a game of golf, is a key factor in how well you play the game. Of course, this is all the more reason to consider the size of your club's head. A smaller head may allow for greater control, but a larger one will definitely make you more able to hit the ball, for the larger surface area on the side. You may find that the type you choose will have an affect on your swing - people continue to affirm that different materials rather have different weights and feels. Test swinging clubs can help you to ascertain what you are really dealing with.

It is wise to consider the grip of any golf club. The grip on the club should be comfortable, so as to prevent the club from flying out of your hands or any similar mishap. If you are a person whose palms sweat a lot it would probably be worthwhile to make a choice of grip different from that of the person who does not have such sweaty palms. In short, consider your personal factors as they are important.

Probably the most obvious thing to consider is how much new clubs will cost you. If you are a beginner and you are not interested in playing golf on that much of a regular basis, stay clear of anything obscenely expensive; it is not that hard to find clubs that are cheap but still good quality; and it is not true that you need a complete set in order to play a "proper" game of golf. Of course, if you really are seriously investing in ways to improve your game and harbour a sincere ambition to play in tournaments, then you should probably be prepared to spend a larger amount. Start by asking yourself what you really want in conjunction with exactly where you intend to proceed. It's as simple as that.

Any reputable golf retail store should be able to provide helpful, coherent and worthwhile advice. I recommend experimenting with as many clubs as possible, especially if you are one to be playing the game truly seriously.

Discover how to choose golf club as well as tips in choosing the flex in a golf club when you visit http://www.howtochoosegolfclub.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edward_E._Kennedy

Tom Watson - "A Golfer For the Ages"

The British Open was the third major of the year that did not end the way I would have scripted it. The Masters had an improbable winner in Angel Cabrera when Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were in the hunt and let it slip away on the last few holes and Kenny Perry, a 48 year old, had it all sowed up until the last two holes, which he bogied and opened the door for Angel to win in a playoff. In the the second major of the year, the U.S. Open winner could have easily been Phil Mickelson, who was playing his heart out for his ailing wife Amy but he could not hold on Sunday and lost out to Lucas Glover, and now Tom Watson, one of the greatest golfers who ever lived, loses to Stewart Cink in a playoff that didn't have to be.

Tom Watson had given the fans so many thrills all week and after the first round, even though tied for the lead, most of the golf authoritarians had already written him off and said he had virtually no chance for victory. Tom Watson had other ideas and I was rooting for him all the way. He kept coming back and even after four bogies in a row during one of the rounds, he bounced back with birdies and pars when he needed to and fought his way back into the lead. His play was reminiscent of the Tom Watson I so fondly remember when in his prime in the 70's, and where at this very venue in 1977 he faced down Jack Nicklaus, the greatest golfer who ever lived, for the final 36 holes and beat him by a shot.

After a valiant effort for all four rounds, the 18th hole of the final round turned out to be the defining hole of the tournament. Tom Watson was leading by two shots going into the 18th hole and a par would have clinched it for him. But again at the British Open the improbable happened, Stewart Cink birdied the hole and Tom bogied to force a playoff. Tom hit his eight iron approach shot to the green flush and got a bad break when it hit on the green and instead of checking up it rolled off the back and left him with an uphill shot back to the green. He opted for the putter, which had served him well all week, but he hit it a bit too hard to get thru the fringe and went past he cup by about 10 feet. The putt coming back was makeable but he hit it short and missed to the right. He may have lost the Claret Jug but he is a winner in my book.

I noted last paragraph that the improbable happened when Tom lost on the 18th hole. That statement is not true, because in reality he lost in a four hole playoff to Cink after tying on the 18th hole. Tom had been playing so well for the first 71 holes that when he didn't get the result he anticipated after hitting a very well struck 8 iron for his approach shot to the 18th green, it appeared to knock the wind out of his sails. He seemed to have lost on 18 rather than in the playoff and it appeared that he may have finally had enough. In retrospect, the improbable is the fact that a 59 year old is competing on a level never before seen in a major, against the best players in the world, for four pressure packed days, on a very tough golf course under extreme conditions. It would have been an awesome feat for Tom Watson to have been victorious and to clinch his 6th British Open title but he will always be a champion in my book. He came very close to victory and for those naysayers who thought he did not have a chance, I hope they now realize that if you have the heart and belief in yourself, as Mr. Watson did, then all things are possible. After Tom Watson's performance in this years British Open I would not be surprised if next year Jack, Arnie, Gary and Tom are going head to head like old times. In closing I would like Tom to know he will always be remembered as " A Helluva Golfer" not only by his peers but by all of us. Thank you Tom for making believers out of us !

Congratulations to Stewart Cink for his victory and some extraordinary play against the field and one of the worlds best golfers and gentleman, Tom Watson. Happy Golfing to All!

My name is Mike D'Auria and I grew up in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn. I started playing golf when I sustained a severe hamstring injury playing softball about 30 years ago, and have never looked back. It is a great game and I enjoy it immensely.

For more golf tips and valuable information visit http://guideforbeginninggolfers.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_D'Auria

Help For My Golf Game

Isn't golf so frustrating, one day you play good the next you're really awful, it's no wander a lot of people think I need help for my golf game. Some people have natural talent for the game, but if you're like I was I had to look for help for my golf game.

I know exactly how irritating the game can be. You go out and pay lots of money before you even get on the course and then after the eighteenth you think what a waste of money, as you don't seem to be getting any better. The problem is with golf is that there is too much to learn but with experience and the right guidance you should notice gradual improvement.

Now I'm not sure what level you are at in this difficult sport but I find that one of the biggest mistakes that beginners make is that they try to hit the ball as hard as they can. Perhaps you may relate to this and know that that doesn't work. It's more about timing, stance, and grip among many other things.

Many players lose shots because they want to hit the ball as far as possible and result in wayward shots instead of taking the short and straight approach. Practice your short game as this is where most shots are lost, practice your chipping and putting then at a later date when you have improved in that area start to concentrate on the rest of your game.

Go to the driving range as often as possible and hit bucketfuls of balls. Get to know how far you can comfortably hit each club. How far can you hit your 3 iron, 200 yards or maybe 220 yards knowing the answer can be most valuable. It could result in a ball on the green instead of a ball in the bunker or in a water hazard.

By participating in what is probably the most difficult of all sports to play, investing in a good program rather than replacing those expensive clubs would be a move in the right direction.

Help for my golf game is what I needed. If you're thinking the same why not take the route that I did. After the first week I took five shots off my scores and my game is now more consistent. Why not take a look. http://www.HelpForMyGolfGame.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sammy_Grainger

Used Callaway Golf Clubs - A Perfect Golf Gift For Family and Friends

Callaway golf clubs have been one of the golf clubs that paved the way for the innovation of the golf clubs. The innovation and creativity that Callaway golf clubs are known for made them one of the top brands that are linked to golf. Callaway Golf is an established name in golf and is associated with the sport. Many golf player beginners and pros alike have wanted to own a Callaway golf club or golf equipment due to its durability.

Callaway Golf clubs can be expensive due to the materials used for these golf clubs and the brand's reputation of giving its customers the very best products they can offer which delivers on both the performance and appearance aspects.

Every golf player wants to own a Callaway golf club but because of the expensive price tag which would set the player a few dollars back, will definitely think twice before buying a Callaway golf club.

Although Callaway golf clubs are expensive, there are several ways to get hold of one which do not require a hefty amount of sum to get one. There are a lot of used Callaway golf clubs out there where you can get one at reasonable prices. You just have to know where to look for one.

Used Callaway golf clubs can be purchased at shops in your locality but the problem is that you will be spending lots of time and money to do this. This is because you will need to use your car to roam around your area, hopping from shop to shop to search for the golf club that you are looking for. Sometimes the golf clubs you are looking for are not available or are not on their stock list. When this happens, you are wasting time and money because of the gas for your car.

The other way to look for used Callaway golf clubs is by searching online with the use of the internet, you can search for these golf clubs without leaving your home. Aside from that, the advantage in using the internet for searches is that you are maximizing the time in searching for the golf club's availability from site to site which will then let you save lots of time in doing this.

There are several sites on the internet that offers used Callaway golf clubs. These sites offer pre owned Callaway golf clubs that are still in good condition. The prices range from the golf club's condition. The higher the price, the higher the condition is. There are also sites that allow you to turn over your old Callaway golf clubs in exchange for new Callaway golf clubs with a small reasonable fee.

So if you are looking for Callaway golf clubs for yourself or as a golf gift, then this is one offer you shouldn't miss.

by David L Stargel

About the Author

Find out where to find used Callaway golf clubs at bargain prices.