4 Easy Ways To Take Your Golf Practice To The Course

One of the most common concerns expressed by golfers is "how come I can hit the ball so well on the range but have a difficult time replicating this on the golf course"? When left on their own to try to figure this question out, many people look at their on-course behavior, thinking and playing for the source of the answer. Frequently, the answer lies more in their practice behavior than it does in their playing behavior.

It is necessary to hit a lot of golf balls in order to become proficient at golf. However, in addition to hitting bucket after bucket of practice balls, what is also imperative is that the type of practice that one undertakes approximates as much as possible the actual experience of playing the game. Watching people's typical practice involves seeing them hitting ball after ball on the range- frequently using the same club and hitting to the same target over and over and over again. This is not real golf. Why then would you practice in this manner? The key is to practice more like you play!

Here are 4 easy ways to make your practice sessions translate to better golf while playing.
1. Change targets frequently. On the golf course, you rarely hit two balls in a row to the same exact target. Practice hitting to a different target with each shot. This has application whether with the full swing, pitching, chipping, or in the bunker. Each shot is thought through and executed as a unique entity- just like on the course.

2. Change clubs frequently. On the golf course, you rarely hit two balls in a row with the same club. If you regularly hit your 7-iron three or four times in a row on the course, your game is in big trouble! However, this is how people practice. Changing clubs regularly- say every second or third shot- is a good way to approximate what it feels like to be on the course.

3. Use your pre-shot routine more frequently. Preparation for each shot on the course and preparation for each shot on the range are generally vastly different for most players. This creates a rhythm that's different, a thinking process that's different, and a result that's different!

4. Putt using one ball. You are not given the luxury of hitting the same putt two or three times on the course. Yet many people drop two or three putts and stroke the same putt over and over to the same target. Practice using just one ball- with a full read- to create an environment that's similar to the golf course.

It is true that early in the process of learning one's swing it is sometimes helpful to hit the same club to the same target without a pre-shot. However, once you are ready to go play, make sure that you're preparing yourself to deal with some of the same sensations that you have on the golf course!

Jeff Troesch, MA, LMHC is an internationally recognized expert in the mental side of golf. As the former Director of Sport Psychology for the David Leadbetter Golf Academies, Jeff has worked with thousands of golfers nationwide and brings a wealth of experience to seasoned golf professionals as well as the recreational golf lover. You may contact Jeff directly through his website, www.fitnessforgolf.com.

3 Ways To Maximize On The Effectiveness Of A Golf Instruction Video

Golf instruction videos featuring techniques and tips from leading world class players are very common these days.
Still there are very few people who can claim to have had their games improved by a golf instruction video. So here are three tips to help you ensure that you reap maximum fruits from every golf instruction video that you ever get to watch.

1) Watch the golf instruction video several times
Some people watch golf instruction videos to try and get a single Magic formula that will revolutionize their game. They do not realize that the valuable nuggets in these videos are hidden in the many small things you need to do which add up to a great improvement in your game.
This is why it is very important to watch the video several times. At least twice.

2) Get webcam shots of yourself playing and compare your posture and positioning to what you see in the golf instruction video
It may not be very easy to tell what is wrong with your golf swing for example or how to correct it without taking a very close look at your game. The best way to do this is to get somebody else to take webcam shots of you on the course as you play. When you watch these alongside the golf instruction videos, it will be very easy for you to tell where your problem areas are and what you need to do to correct them.

3) Do golf-specific exercises to condition your body and muscles
Thirdly you will need your body and the relevant muscles to co-operate with our mind as you try to implement what you have seen on the golf instruction video.
One of the most effective ways of doing this is by getting involved in a golf-specific exercise program to tone and strengthen all the 'golf muscles' in your body. This way, they'll be nothing to stop you from reaping maximum benefits from every golf instruction video you watch.

About The Author: 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 - golf training site at Perform Better Golf.

3 Things You Must Check Before Buying Used Titlist Golf Clubs To Avoid Regrets

Used Titlist golf clubs are great golf clubs even if its used. They usually retain their quality longer. I also suggest that you get a used golf club set if you're a beginner so if you decide that this game is not for you. You wont burn as much cash as you if you bought new golf clubs.
Just to avoid regrets on buying a used titlist golf club. I compiled a simple checklist for you.

I. Check and compare different shops.
That's right. If you have the time, I suggest that you shop around for used titlist golf clubs from different shops, suppliers or even from friends or neighbors. You'll be surprised on how much cash you'll be preserving in the end.

II. Inspect the Grip, Shaft and the Clubhead.
These are the 3 things that greatly affect the performance of not only used titlist golf clubs, but also most of the golf clubs. Check the grip if it has cracks or severely worn out and avoid such things if possible. Although re-griping used titlist golf clubs are not expensive but if you can find that not that damaged, then well and good, more cash saved.

But Inspect the clubhead meticulously! This has a huge impact on a golf club's performance. Make sure that it has no dents, cracks or hints of extreme wear and tear. Lastly check the grooves of the clubheads, make sure it still there and not faded.

III. If you can try to ask for a test period.
Although this is highly unlikely that they'll offer to test their used titlist golf clubs. But it's worth the effort. You will be minimizing you're risk, saves you time and money.

There you have it. These are the most important things to check in a used titlist golf clubs. Going through you're checklist ensure you that you'll get a good deal. One more thing. If you can expand the checklist the better. The worst thing that could happen is you'll get a better quality used titlist golf clubs for less cash.

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A site dedicated to bring you free golf articles and proven products that will help you're golf game tremendously.

3 Simple Golf Tips To Quickly Improve Your Distance

Every golfer wants to know the secret golf tip to improve their distance. The secret, is there is NO secret. It's common sense, and treating golf like a sport. The golf swing is not for the weak and feeble anymore.

Any golf tips you hear to improve distance should somehow be directly or indirectly related to the physical side of the golf swing. I mean - don't you think the swing puts a tremendous amount of pressure on your body, especially your lower back?
To alleviate this pain and quickly improve your distance takes strength and stretching, specific to your body and your golf swing.
So the quick fixes (band aides) you hear in all the magazines and on the golf channel are short-term fixes. You won't be able to consistently duplicate it until you improve your physical limitations.

So let's get to these simple, yet valuable tips.
Tip #1:
Perform a dynamic warm-up prior to the first tee. Don't ever skip it. It is more important than hitting balls before you play. How many times do you see a professional athlete go on the field and start playing? Never. That's my point.
A Simple Warm-Up could be some arm circles, toe touches, squats with your club, and standing twists holding the club out in front of you chest high.
That's it! Simple yet very effective to prepare your body for that LONG drive on the first tee.

Tip #2
Stretching on the course will keep your body nice and loose to make that FULL backswing, generating high clubhead speed and consistently LONG drives. There are just a few KEY stretches specific to your swing, that can keep your body relaxed for 18 holes.
One stretch I'll tell you is the backswing/shoulder stretch. It's a very simple stretch that will maintain a full and fluid backswing.
All you do is get in your golf posture, with your arms hanging naturally in front of you. For a right-handed golfer, you would take your right hand underneath your left, so the back of both hands are touching each other.
Now gently apply pressure from the back of your right hand against your left and pull your upper body all the way in your backswing and hold. Hold it for 15 seconds and repeat once more.
This stretch should be done on almost every hole to get the most out of it.

Tip #3
Improve your core strength and rotational speed. This one is done "off the course", and can even be done in your home with minimal equipment. Now this is just one tip (exercise) of many you can do to dramatically explode your drives "on the course".
Since the golf swing is a turn back and a turn through, it is rotational in nature. Then why wouldn't you do many exercises to improve your rotational strength and flexibility?
If you're serious about your game, you will now!

One simple golf exercise is the Seated Twist with a dumbbell. It's very easy and can be done with a 5 or 8 pound dumbbell.
While sitting on the ground, grab a single dumbbell with both hands and hold it out in front of you.
Now lean back putting tension on the abs. Your legs will be bent at a 90 degree angle in the knee, and together.
Start rotationg side to side, only with your upper body. Try keeping your lower body as stable as possible.
You will do 3 sets of 20 repetitions to get the full benefit of the exercise. Again, this is just ONE exercise of many that will strengthen your rotational muscles of your core.

I've just showed you 3 quick and easy golf tips to dramatically increase your distance. Now go out and make it happen!

Mike Pedersen is a respected golf fitness expert, and the author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, numerous golf fitness tips and founder of several online golf fitness sites. For more information on his new, cutting-edge golf fitness e-book, go to www.ultimategolffitnessguide.com.

3 Myths About Golf Conditioning

Golf has always been viewed as a game of leisure. But today's golfer is leaner, stronger, and fitter. Until the last few years, golfers didn't know how to go about incorporating exercise or, specifically, a golf conditioning program.

They have had a vision of going into the local gym and being intimidated by the "muscle heads." It can also be overwhelming to decide what plan of action to take and if it will be worth the time and effort. I have listed three myths about strength training for golf and the truths about them as well.

"I will bulk up too much and that will hinder my golf swing."
Golf conditioning specific for golf will not result in muscle gain that will alter your swing mechanics. To increase muscle size, involves lifting increasingly heavier weights with lower repetitions, increasing your calorie intake dramatically, and spending a couple of hours per day lifting weights.

A golf conditioning program incorporates moderate weight, with medium (12-15) repetitions, and in a time frame of 30-45 minutes. This type of program is designed to improve your golf specific strength and endurance, not build muscle.

"I will lose flexibility if I lift weights."
In fact, the opposite is true! Weak muscles are also tight muscles. When you do resistance training, you are increasing blood flow, working through a functional range of motion specific to golf, and strengthening the tendons and ligaments in every joint of your body. In conjunction with a stretching program, strength training will improve flexibility, not hinder it.

"Weight training will cause me to lose feel."
By strengthening your muscles specific to golf, you will have better control of your body. A sport specific program trains your body specifically for your golf game. When you improve functional strength, you have more control and balance, which will improve your feel. Strength training involves body awareness, muscular control, and coordination. These are all key elements for enhanced golf.

So in summary, golf conditioning can be done when you are in your early teens (with supervision), or into your late 80's. I have personally worked with people in there 70's and 80's who increased their strength 100%. This was partly due to the initial level of fitness being so low.

My point is, that it is never too late to start. Search out a fitness professional or golf conditioning specialist to design a golf specific program and you will play better than you ever imagined! Start now!

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is a respected golf fitness expert, and the author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, numerous golf fitness tips and founder of several online golf fitness sites. For more information on his new, cutting-edge golf fitness e-book, go to www.ultimategolffitnessguide.com.

3 Easy Changes To Shave Strokes From Your Golf Game

Here are 3 easy golf tips that will immediately give you a better swing and improve your hitting! It did for me almost instantly once I got the feel of it.

I went from hitting maybe one fairway per round and not being able to hit my driver to hitting the vast majority of fairways off the tee while still enjoying the extra distance of using my driver. This is exciting stuff for a mid to high handicapper...so read on.

Golf Tip #1 - Be certain that you are taking the club back by turning your shoulders NOT picking up your hands.
By taking the club back in a "one piece" takeaway, which only means that your shoulders start the turn back and your arms, hands and thus club follow in one piece - by doing this you will automatically put the golf club on the proper swing plane. So long as you do not try to help the club do its job, you will be well down the path to a more solid swing and consistent hits with this tip alone.
Practice this in front of a mirror with or without a club, making sure that your head stays solidly in place and that your three body parts mentioned above go to at least parallel as one unit.

Golf Tip #2 - Don't overswing and swing easy. They engineer the clubs to do the hitting - getting the ball off the ground and a certain distance no matter how hard you swing. As a matter of fact, the harder you swing the less the club can do what it is supposed to do and you will sacrifice both distance and accuracy.

Just make a full shoulder turn and a good wrist cock then return the club from where it came from! When I say swing easy I do not mean decelerate on the downswing. What I do mean is find a good tempo and naturally accelerate through the ball on your downswing with a complete follow through.

Golf Tip #3 - Relax and enjoy the game. Tension in your golf swing is your biggest enemy. One of the tips that I have recently read is that once you get over your shot and are ready to swing....SMILE!! Believe it or not it works...it is extremely hard to be tensed up and smile at the same time.

These 3 simple tips have taken 5 to 10 of those "dumb" giveaway strokes off my game and it will yours too! Just get the swing thought in your mind of takeaway with the shoulders for a full turn, easy swing back through the ball to let the club do the work and relax! You will be excited to start see those shots going longer and straighter very soon!

Happy golfing!

Kent is an avid golfer, student of the game and owner of www.1st-golf-equipment.com where you will find golf tips and golf fitness guidance to improve your golf game, as well as, discount golf equipment of all types.