Golf Tip - Mirror Image

How 10 Minutes in Front of a Mirror Can Improve Your Golf Fundamentals

Mirror, mirror on the wall, what do I really see after all? The truth is in what you see, not in what you feel.

It might be raining or snowing outside where you're at, or maybe you've been unable to play for a while for other reasons. But that doesn't mean you can't still work on your game. So here's what you do: get your clubs re-gripped and your loft and lies checked. When you get your clubs back with fresh new grips, get off to a fresh start with some basic fundamentals. You can work on them using nothing more than a mirror and a club.

Set up a mirror in a high-ceilinged room in your home (or the garage, or wherever). Bring or sneak, depending on your situation, a 6-iron into the room. The mirror will give you an observer's perspective on your swing and set-up. Practice the fundamentals outlined below in the mirror for 10 minutes a day.

Go slowly and observe what you are doing in the mirror. And every time you see something in the mirror you do not like, say, "Thank you, mirror, for showing me what I'm really doing." It's a kick! Especially for those of us easily entertained.

Grip
Find a good book and try to match your grip to the pictures in the book, based on what you see in the mirror.

Club Face
Take your grip and face the mirror. Look at the clubface in the mirror. Is it square, open or closed?

Stance
As you sole your 6-iron on the ground, your feet should be slightly wider than shoulder width and the left foot (for right-handed players) flared open about 20 degrees. Your right foot might also be flared depending on your flexibility. The less flexible you are, the more open your right foot should be. Your balance is 50-percent on each foot.

Ball Position
Place your club in the middle of your stance with the ball slightly forward. With your ball position slightly forward, your head should appear behind the ball.

Posture
Place your club behind you and along your spine. Touch your rear end and your upper back to the club. Keeping the club on your back, stick your butt out, and bend from the knees and hips until your belt buckle points at the ball. Balance on the middle of your feet (front to back, and right to left). Then, without moving your spine, hold the club in front of you and let your arms hang relaxed. Take your right hand off the club and let it hang to reinforce this concept.

Take Some Swings
Facing the mirror, take five swings (careful not to hit anything), starting with about 30-percent of your normal effort. Before each swing, go through your pre-shot routine and check your set-up in the mirror.

Then switch to a down-the-line view (swinging toward the mirror). Take five more swings at about 30-percent effort. Go through your routine and check your posture before each swing.

After five swings with each view, increase swing speed for several more swings. Make sure that as you swing, you maintain the same tension on the grip from start to finish. Are you able to swing without adjusting your grip each time, or is the club moving in your hands? Close your eyes: How's your balance? Do you feel in sequence? Can you tell where the clubhead is and whether it is open or closed through impact? Is your swing path on the correct swing plane or outside-in (a k a, over the top)?

Swing Path
Let's say you can't feel if your swing path is correct or incorrect ... hmmm. Maybe, just maybe, if you could see your path you could learn to feel it. And if you could feel it, you would be able to correct it.

Here's a great swing-path drill for those of you who swing outside-in: Set-up as if you are going to hit the ball through the mirror. Make a very, very slow swing and stop halfway through the follow-through. The clubhead should appear to cover your nose in the mirror (as in the photo). Try to accomplish this position with several slow swings, gently stopping your follow-through halfway through. Then, take swings watching the blur of the club pass through your eyes (in the mirror) on the follow-through. Note: If your head is down, you will have no chance of seeing the path of your swing.

Ten minutes a day in front of the mirror is time you'll be glad you spent. You'll be able to hit the ground running when you're ready to play golf again.

Written by, Perry Andrisen

Taking A Golf Lesson Isn’t Always The Answer

Golfers will do anything they can in hopes to play better golf and hit the LONG ball. Am I right? Are you in this category? If so, I’m quite confident to say you’ve taken a golf lesson or two. Golf lessons can be very effective in getting you back on track, if your swing has gone south. But, not always.

How many times have you taken a golf lesson, only to be more frustrated and hitting the ball worse than before that golf lesson? Do you know why this happens? It can be many different reasons, such as too many swing thoughts; making drastic changes that require hours at the range and hitting thousands of balls; or lastly, your body just can’t effectively move in the way it needs to, to make a mechanically correct golf swing.

I’m inclined to say that for the majority of golfers, especially the older golfer, it’s the last reason above. Your body just can’t move the way it needs to. The question now is, why?

Why can’t your body do what you know it needs to do to swing the club correctly? It can drive you to the point of quitting the game. But there is hope. There is an approach that will almost 100% of the time correct this problem. Do you want to know what it is? It’s addressing your “physical limitations”. That’s what’s keeping you from a great game of golf.

Do you ever get on the course and just feel like you can’t make a full backswing? Or, it just feels impossible to maintain your golf posture and “stay in your swing”? No amount of golf lessons or hitting balls will correct this. This is a “physical” issue with your body, and until you work on it, it will never get better. I’ve seen it time and time again. Golfers walking off the course in pure disgust. They’ve taken golf lessons, hit balls at the range, and even bought the latest, greatest titanium drive; and yet still can’t play like they think they are capable of.

Finding out your “physical limitations” is the first step to a lifelong better game of golf. Once you find out what’s keeping you from making that perfect swing, you can set up a game plan to improve it. It may be a flexibility issue, or it may be a strength issue. But either way, you’ve got to find out what it is.

The most common issue (especially for the older golfer) is flexibility. Not being able to rotate your body fully on the backswing, creating that power and torque for maximum clubhead speed. If your back swing is cut short, you will LOSE yards on your drives! And I say again; no amount of lessons or hitting balls will make that any better. You’ve got to do specific golf stretches to improve this limitation.

Now on the other side of these limiting factors is strength, specific to golf. And one of the most common limitations is weak hamstrings (the back of the upper leg). The role of the hamstring is critical. It allows you to maintain your golf posture throughout the swing and for 18 holes. It prevents undo strain on your lower back. And can give you a steady, comfortable position while putting.

If your hamstrings are weak, I can almost say with certainty, you’ve got some low-back pain or injury. This is prevalent in older golfers and even the younger ones too. Back pain is the number reason to keep a golfer from playing his/her best. Have you ever walked off the course with your back in pain? I’m sure at one time or another you have. Now do you think hitting more balls or taking more lessons will improve this? I think you know the answer.

If you have a difficult time, “staying in your swing”, it most definitely could be the above scenario. In order to maintain the forward flex in your upper body (golf posture), your hamstrings need to have optimal strength (and flexibility). If not, your hamstring will send a message to your brain saying, “get out of this position, I can’t hold it any longer”. Do you think his has ever happened to you?

So working on the physical side of your game improvement may be the missing link. I can assuredly tell you with this approach, your game WILL improve. There is no doubt. Getting your body to move just a little better will make a huge difference in your ability to make an optimal swing for 18 holes. So before you take that next golf lesson, take a look at your BODY first!

Written by, Mike Pedersen

5 Simple Ways To Improve Your Golf On The Course

When you go out to golf you’re hoping for a good round. I know I do. How often does your outcome match what you hoped for? Do you usually shoot the scores you had envisioned before you teed off? If not, do you ever evaluate where and how you could have saved strokes and avoided those blow up holes?

I’ve got 5 easy tips for you to implement immediately that will shave 4-6 or even more strokes off your score the next time you play. Give them a try and see what happens. Here they are:

1. First off you’ve got to put the proper fuel in your body before you leave home. Most golfers don’t give it a second thought. They either don’t eat at all before they leave home or they eat something that is not going to give them the long-term energy they’re hoping for. So whether it’s lunch or breakfast before you leave you need to consume a complex carbohydrate and a good protein source. This combination will warrant the best use of your energy for the long haul.
An example for breakfast would be a bowl of oatmeal and a couple of eggs with a piece of fruit or a juice. For lunch you could have a turkey sandwich on whole wheat with a piece of fruit. Lot’s of lettuce on the sandwich and try to avoid mayonnaise or butter.

2. The second tip is to properly warm up your body before you even hit your first ball. I see so many golfers show up 5 minutes before tee time, hack a few balls and head to the first tee. Those golfers are headed for a double bogey right off the bat - but hey they’re just getting “warmed up” right?
A better approach is to give yourself at least 30 minutes before your tee time. First do some dynamic (movement oriented) stretches to prepare your body to perform. Things like arm circles, partial squats, toe touches, etc. Then take some half swings with a 7 iron. Now after that you’re ready to hit some wedges. You’ll find with this approach your hits on the range will be much better, which will build your confidence.

3. Drink lots of water even before you leave your house. Try to consume up to a gallon of Water before you get to the course. This will help you absorb and digest your pre-game meal and hydrate your muscles for optimal performance. Don’t take this lightly. Dehydration causes energy loss, lack of focus and concentration and fatigue later in the round. And remember, that’s before you even come to the course. Once you get there, you should be drinking water every hole.

4. Don’t wait ‘til you get tight to stretch on the course. You should be constantly moving your body and stretching your joints while you play. I see and hear too many golfers complaining of tight lower backs or shoulders during the round. What amazes me is that with all that complaining they do nothing about it. Why? Think of your body as a machine. If the machine starts to break down – fix it. I mean stretch those areas while you’re playing. You’ll see a big difference in your swing mechanics late in the round.

5. Snack while you play. No I don’t mean the full meal at the turn with a beer. I mean bringing fruit and nutrition bars to eat every 4-6 holes. When you supplyyour body with the proper nutrients your energy levels stay balanced and youwill avoid those mental lapses late in the round. How many times have you had a good score only to blow up late in the round? I’ll bet more than a couple of times. I know I have. Treat your body like a Ferrari not a Ford Pinto.

Written by, Mike Pedersen

5 Easy Steps To Replacing Your Golf Grips

Replacing your golf grips is like servicing your car; you must do it on a very routine basis to keep them in top working order. We suggest changing your grips at least once a season, maybe even twice depending on where you live and how much you play.

People think that you must have your grips replaced professionally. This is incorrect because it can get costly. Actually replacing your own golf club grips is a really simple job. You will learn a lot about your clubs and save you some money.

Below we will walk you through the quick simple steps to doing the job yourself. But first there are a few things you will need:

New golf grips
Exacto or sharp knife
Double sided tape
Cleaning solvent
Work bench vice
Follow these quick easy steps:

Place the club in the work bench vice and tighten with the grip being fully exposed. Take the exacto or sharp knife and cut the grip from the shaft up to the end of club, cutting away from your body.

Remove the old grip and clean the shaft of the club with the cleaning solvent using an old rag or brush. Then dry the club off completely.

Wrap the double sided tape down the shaft the length of the grip. Make sure that portion of the shaft is completely covered and remove the backing on the other side of the tape.

Pour some solvent over the tape. Line the grip up with the club and slip it towards the head of the club. Remove the club from the vice and place the head on the floor and make the minor alignment adjustments.

Let grips dry for a few hours (3). Give this a try; it is a very easy process and simple task to do. It can be a great learning experience and a lot of fun. It will help you learn a little more about your golf clubs and save you some money. So get the things you need and get busy.

Written by, John Bolt

Beginner or Novice Golfers: Start with a "Pre-Owned" set of Golf Clubs

As a beginner or novice golfer, you want to avoid the expense of purchasing a "New" set of golf clubs, and concentrate your efforts on finding a good set of "Used" golf clubs (also know as "Pre-Owned".)

Major golf club manufacturers introduce new lines of clubs almost every year. With the yearly advances in golf club technology, many golfers regularly upgrade their existing golf sets in pursuit of improving their game and lowering their handicap. This leaves the golf club market flooded with high quality, bargain sets of golf clubs. The trade-in market has become so huge, that a few major golf club manufacturers have launched their own sites to meet the demand, like "Callaway Golf" (www.callawaygolfpreowned.com.) The question is where, and how, do you find the best set of clubs for you?

Online is a great place to start. You want to get a feel for the market by comparing the prices of the "Pre-Owned" clubs offered by the thousands of sites advertising the sale of used clubs (Searching "Google" alone will bring up about 700,000 sites.) Surf a few sites and compare the quality and prices of numerous club sets. While you are on the internet, E-bay may also prove to be beneficial in searching for your set of used golf clubs. The selection and variety of clubs available changes daily, so you will have to keep a close watch to find the best deal for your golf clubs.

Also, you may want to look for a "Beginner" golf set, which usually consist of the #3, #5, #7, and #9 irons. Beginner sets of clubs normally include a "Wood" or two, and a "Putter" as well. At this point in your golf career, you really don't need to purchase a "full" set of clubs. Mainly, because you may not be playing golf very long or very often. The best choice may even be a "Pre-Owned" beginner set of clubs. Don't confuse a set of "Beginner" golf clubs with "Kids" golf clubs, which come in smaller sizes and/or lengths for kids. If you feel like you are bending over too far to swing the clubs, they are probably too short. You should be able to stand fairly straight, with your knees slightly bent, and your arms should hang freely as you grasp the club.

Your local newspaper is also a great place to look for a set of clubs. All year-round you will find bargains on some quality sets of golf clubs. This also gives you the opportunity to see and swing the clubs. It helps to get a feel for the clubs before you buy the set. Check out the condition of the grips, shafts (steel or graphite), and the club heads. Compare them to other clubs you have seen for the same price. Many people are selling some very nice clubs because they have either updated their own set of clubs, or have given up the game of golf.

Local golf stores and sporting goods stores are a good place to shop for a "Pre-Owned" set of golf clubs. Many are now accepting trade-ins, toward the purchase of a new sets of clubs, and re-sale the use golf clubs at good prices. Many have an in-store practice tee or net for you to try the clubs before you buy them. Your nearest driving range or pro shop may also carry "Pre-Owned" sets. They might even give you a free bucket of balls while you try the clubs. They can also advise you on how the clubs fit your body type and swing.

Last, but not least, check with friends, relatives, co-workers, or any contact of yours (and your spouse if you have one.) Golf popularity is at an all time high, you might be surprised who you know that plays golf. Odds are, if they have been playing for awhile, they have an extra set or two in the garage that they might be willing to sale. They might even let you try them out for free, to see if you like the game. And wouldn't that be the best bargain of all!

Written by, Ernie Horning

How to Know What Defines the Best Golf Drivers

Why is it considered the most electrifying club in your golf bag? Why is it the first club anyone talks about when equipment is brought up? Why is it what everyone wants?

The answers are simple - POWER. It’s all about the power of the long ball. The golfer who drives the ball the furthest is considered the man of the moment, and everyone wants to be that man. I guess it’s an ego thing.

This mind game is played among all golfers form beginner to professional. It is on of the main driving forces behind the design of today’s best golf drivers. The manufacturers are continually coming up with newer and better drivers that go further and straighter than the competition. They come in all shapes and sizes with the bigger is better attitude coming out on top.

A lot of the big oversized drivers are built to the largest legal size specifications under PGA rules and regulations. Combine that with the ultra thin super springy club faces. What you get is a kind of loaded canon. These clubs launch the golf balls high in the air and really long. We must emphasize really LONG.

A lot of the club makers have even taken the grooves off the clubfaces around the sweet spot areas. This is to reduce spin and allow the ball more distance with less resistance. What this also causes is less accuracy off the tee. But most golfers are willing to give up a little accuracy for more distance.

Now if you throw in the new technology in today’s golf shafts it gets a little crazy. With all the different types of graphite, the raised and lowered flex and kick points, and now even tipping it almost seems out of control.

Written by, John Bolt

Junior Golf Instruction - How To Start Your Child

Your kids are getting to the age that they would like to start to play golf and you are wondering when to start a junior golf instruction program. Knowing when to start and how to find the right junior golf lessons for a child are crucial components to building an environment for your child to enjoy and succeed in the game of golf.

Begin by asking yourself, not your junior, some questions about what your motivation might be for getting their junior golf lessons. Four reasons that parents want junior golf lessons for their young child (under eleven) typically are the following: Because of golf's reputation for rules, fair play and self-policing, the parents have a genuine interest in seeing their children attempt to play the game. A babysitting service, parents get a time out from their kids for a while.

Parents want to spend more time with their child and have decided that golf will be the vehicle to do this. As so many do, parents feel that their children must be in as many activities as possible.

Whatever your reasons are for wanting your child to begin to play the game of golf, the important thing is to ensure the kids have fun and enjoy themselves. Golf is a great game that can teach your child many life skills and is a game they can play the rest of their life.

The most important thing to do is ask your child if playing golf is something that they would like to do. If the answer is no, do not push them to play. You do need to make sure that they understand the option is always open for them to play. It make take you asking multiple times and giving them the information they need to feel comfortable to begin playing the game.

Once your child decides that they do want to play golf here are some steps to take to get them started and to keep the game fun for them:Begin with a real junior set of clubs. Many people think that by making a club shorter it will fit a junior golfer. This is NOT true. You need to find a company that specially and properly weights their junior golf clubs depending on the size of your child. In addition, you do not need to buy a whole set. Most companies will allow you to purchase junior clubs one at a time.

Find a qualified junior golf instructor. You can contact your local PGA Section or a local club or golf course either by phone or online. If a Certified PGA Professional is available in your area, he or she would be a good place to start.

Make sure that your series of junior golf lessons include sessions on the rules of golf as well as golf etiquette. Depending on their age, the rules and etiquette situations do not need to be deep in the heart of the rule book. It has always amazed me on what a child at any age can retain when they want to learn.

Your junior does not have to play a "real golf hole" to have fun. Make the putting green the goal. This is a good way for the younger junior golfers to get started and as it reads only count the shots that it takes to get to the green to determine a score. The hole does not need to be the end of the hole. What does this mean? Some smaller juniors find it more fun to hit it into a bunker than onto a green.

This may seem counter-intuitive to many golf purists however, once you think about it, typically the bunkers are smaller than the putting greens. This can only make them better later. In addition, they LOVE to climb into the bunkers and this gives us a chance to teach bunker etiquette.

written By: Max Johnson