Archive for October, 2008

*Slip-resistant surface *Textured to improve feel *Designed with elaborate Odyssey logo *

The concept may be easy, stack your weight and tilt to the target. But there seems to be a misconceived notion that it’s more complicated.  Nevertheless, the Stack Tilt swing has convinced many, that this method holds a key to consistency and power. But is this swing for everyone?

Stack & Tilt innovators Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett have pioneered a concept that is truly revolutionizing the golf swing. They have invented a new method that has many of the best golfers in the world to change their golf swing… their swing. Not an easy task! The results have been quite astonishing. Many PGA players are either using it or considering using this swing with the same thing in mind, to gain consistency and power.

For the better player, it holds many possibilities to improve the swing. But for some, it may not quite hold as much promise…

If you are thinking of trying this swing and struggle with an “outside-in” path, a problem that plagues many beginners, you may want to reconsider. A player that struggles with a fault that results in an “over the top” swing path would probably only exaggerate the problem by changing swings. You would be better off trying to correct the fault before making such drastic changes.

If you are a better player that “hangs back” and struggles with pushes and hooks, read on. This swing definitely holds opportunities for improvement.

For the better player that already has a solid foundation and only wants to gain more distance or better control for his irons, the Stack & Tilt may be just the ticket. The golf swing definitely emphasizes the "position at impact" to aid ball striking consistency. Because the conventional swing uses a weight shift to both sides during the swing, players very often get “caught” with their weight on the back foot. This causes mis-hits and tops.

The Stack & Tilt centers your weight over the ball and promotes minimal weight shift, continually remaining centered is the goal. The result is a steeper angle of attack with a flatter and more rotational swing. This provides an element of consistency, especially with irons where your angle of attack needs to be steeper.

So the bottom line, it the Stack & Tilt swing may not be for everyone.If you struggle with the dreaded "over-the-top," you are best to correct this problem before adapting this swing. If however, you are a better player that struggles with the occasional push and/or hook, you will want to seriously consider the Stack & Tilt swing. It provides you the opportunity to add an element of consistency you may not find in the conventional swing.

Wedge bounce is simple and misunderstood at the same time.  But be certain, ensuring you have the proper bounce for course conditions and skill level is paramount to consistency and realibility for your short game.

First of all, what exactly is bounce? Wedge Bounce or Bounce Angle, is the measurement in degrees, of the angle from the leading edge of the club to the lowest point of the club, which rests on the turf or ground. In essence, the more bounce, the higher the leading edge is off the ground. There are two factors that affect bounce angle, sole width and sole camber or “rounding.” A wider sole increases bounce. More camber or rounding of the sole on the other hand, reduces bounce. These two characteristics should be taken into consideration.

So, what bounce do you need for various course conditions? High bounce is desirable for tall grass, deep rough, and fluffy sand or any condition where you want to reduce the “digging effect.” Low bounce on the other hand, is needed for tight lies, hard turf, firm bunkers, fairway shots. Wedge bounce ranges from 0, up to 14 degrees or greater. Standard bounce varies by wedge so you will want to look at each wedge manufacturer for more information.

So what does this mean to the average golfer? Well, using the right bounce will allow you to hit cleaner shots for any given situation. Using the wrong bounce can contribute to skulls, fat, and thin shots. The better player may want to use multiple bounce angles depending on the conditions of the course. The beginner or high handicap golfer on the other hand, may want to stay with more of a standard bounce for the wedge. In either case however, bounce experimentation is the best way to determine what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to experiment on the range or even during rounds to determine the best bounce for your game.

There are many golf wedge manufacturers. Cleveland and Titleist, probably two of the bigger names in wedges have different ways of identifying bounce. Cleveland offers the popular 588, CG12, and CG14 series and employs the red dot method to identify bounce - one dot equals low bounce, two dots standard bounce, and three dots high bounce. Whereas Titleist, maker of the classic Vokey Design, identifies bounce in the suffix of the model name. For example Vokey 256.14 is the 200 Series, loft 56, bounce 14. Another wedge gaining in popularity is the Solus wedge. Solus incorporates something called a crescent cut sole contour which supposedly allows as little as 4 degrees of bounce with a closed club face, to as much as 18 degrees of bounce with an open club face.

Wedge bounce is vital to execution of your short game shots.  Selecting the right bounce really comes down to course conditions and experimenting with different wedges to suit your game.

Due to the hazards that are associated with golfing, some incurring golf injuries as you are playing the game is bound to occur. Beginners learning golf, and their accompanying bodies, can save themselves a whole lot of pain by taking the time to learn how common golf injuries take place and avoiding those mistakes. Always try to ensure that you are in proper physical shape before you start playing. The fitter you are, the less injuries you will suffer.

Because of the continuos walking and swinging involved in the demands of golf, it should come as no surprise that back injuries are a major source of pain for Amateurs who learn to golf. The back muscles can be properly trained, just like any other muscles in the body. Our backs need loads of rest following a game of strenuous golf action. If you play continuous games back to back, you may want to consider an occasional massage or even a chiropractic alignment.

Also, another common golf injury is the tennis elbow, which is also known as the golfer’s elbow. However, there are a few minor differences between the tennis and golfer’s elbow. The outer area of the upper arm is the area affected by tennis elbow, while the inner part of the upper arm is the area which is affected by golfer’s elbow. While there isn’t a specific way to prevent these injuries from taking place, these injuries are generally caused by golfing too frequently all a sudden. Tennis and golfer’s elbow is likely to happen, for instance, to one who suddenly plays a long tournament when they are used to playing a solitary game once a month.

Beginners who learn golf, as expected, suffer a fair deal of shoulder pain which is another very common golf injury. As you can see, golfers put a tremendous deal of pressure on their shoulders every time they swing their clubs. When the body is tired or in need of rest, it is easy to injury it. This is due to the fact that shoulders muscles are going to be in use frequently in the game, the best way to prevent injury to them is through warming them up but keeping your body in good shape is also helpful.

Carpal tunnel injury is yet another common golf injury. For instance, you could suffer this injury when you are playing continuous games of golf in a row over a few months. The injury can be rather serious, but if it found in the beginning, usually a brace will solve your problems. Others have far more serious cases of this terrible predictament, losing the ability to control their hands and these unlucky people generally are in need of surgery. The most disturbing thing about carpal tunnel is the fact that it sometimes gives no warning signs until the signs of distress reach a near incapacitating level. A helpful tip is to invest in a wrist band whenever you start feeling wrist discomfort.

*Synthetic Nubuck straps *Lightweight Phylite with Phylon footbed *Rubber outsole with rubber pods *

This book chronicles the most amazing golf career in the history of the game A? the career of Bobby Jones. YouA?ll discover in these pages that Bobby Jones found that tournament golf was the biggest adventure a boy could have. He attacked championships with gusto and a special attitude. Surely, boys know more about the maxim A?carpe diemA? than we do, and thatA?s just how Bobby Jones played his game. Young Bobby Jones climbed the ladder of challenge with the same curiosity and zest as ever did Jack the beanstalk. Like Jack, Master Bobby also made it to the top. By doing so, he too became a legend.

*Dual Density Weighting: Combines a lightweight aluminum body (65% lighter than steel) *Soft polymer insert keeps the ball in contact with the face longer to promote a truer roll *All OZ Black putters are face balanced to promote a square face at impact *C-Thru Grip by Lamkin: Soft, high-tack termoplastic rubber paddle-style grip

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By Jim Nettleton

Televised golf has had many high moments over the years, but in my opinion none better than that outstanding production, Shell’s Wonderful World Of Golf. The program didn’t invent the format, but it certainly raised the approach to a new standard of excellence.

In the early television days, All Star Golf was an attempt to bring the game into living rooms all across America. The Golf Channel still runs many of those early programs and it’s interesting to see the contrast in the state of the art of TV then and now. You can see an old station wagon following the players around, carrying camera gear. For the most part, just one camera was used and you rarely saw a player tee off. Stark diagrams of the holes were used both to condense the telecast and to allow time for moving equipment around.

The year was 1957. The show’s original host, Jim Britt, had been a baseball broadcaster for both the Boston Braves and the Boston Red Sox and later in his career for the Cleveland Indians.

All Star Golf lasted three years and was responsible for the birth of Shell’s Wonderful World. It was in 1960 that the president of Shell USA, Monroe Spaght, watched an episode and became extremely interested in the possibilities of golf on television. But he envisioned a much larger universe than that which All Star Golf encompassed. The older show filmed most of its matches around Chicago and then later some other cities around the country.

Spaght had bigger ideas. Shell was, of course, a worldwide corporation and Spaght wanted a show that crossed the globe in its scope. The result was Shell’s Wonderful World Of Golf. Gene Sarazen was hired to host the show and he went on to take viewers through nine years and over ninety matches at some of the world’s most beautiful spots.

Indeed, one of the major features that made the program so unique was the time it devoted to mini-travelogues devoted to the area in which the matches took place. It was a program that not only concentrated on golf but also opened up worlds of beauty to its wide audience, taking us places we’ve never been and educating us to the variety of locations where golf is played.

The program was also notable for its breadth of commentary from many different sources. From Sarazen to Dave Marr to George Rogers, the commentary was always relevant and informative. But perhaps the highlight of it all was the eloquent contributions served up by Jack Whitaker, whose mastery of the spoken word and the images created by it were second to none. Whitaker could sum up in thirty seconds the spirit and the character of the game and the locale in which it was played. He lent and air of authority to the program as a whole and especially to the wrap up following the match.

I would love to see the program return featuring today’s stars. The Golf Channel does show the older programs regularly and they are cherished memories, indeed. Nonetheless, it would be terrific to see today’s players in a similar situation. Probably it’s too expensive an undertaking these days, but it sure would be nice.

About the Author:

Jim Nettleton is a radio and television professional who is a lifelong golf addict and historian. He highly recommends The Simple Golf Swing http://tinyurl.com/2mmeux for those struggling with their game. Visit his golf blog at http://golf-golf-andmoregolf.blogspot.com/

If you think it is a hard task to shop for the male figures in your life, whether it is your dad, son, long lost family member or close friend, you might think about a gift basket with golf items in it. This gift is very personable for special interests and you can give this gift anytime of the year.

If you are looking for a great Christmas gift then look no further than a golf gift basket. This will allow you to personalize a gift for that special someone who already has everything. The sky is the limit because you can choose from a variety of personalized golf balls, tees, outfits and golf clubs that are certain to spread holiday cheer to any recipient.

People don’t know if they can find romantic gifts for men. Yes you can find a romantic gift. You can make your own gift basket for a weekend of golf. You can buy a gift certificate for him to play free golf games at his favorite golf course. Also you can make hotel reservations and plans to eat dinner. All of this shows that you are thinking of him with love and romance. Your man will thank you for this.

The best way to learn more about this subject is to visit the following sites:
Cheap Gift Baskets
Get well gifts
Golf gift baskets

Have you ever tried to purchase a get well gift for a male? This is not an easy task, most men would not be comfortable receiving flowers, so what do you buy? You may want to consider creating a gift basket based on a golf theme. Maybe include a gift card to a local golf course, and some other golf related accessories. This would help him look forward to his next golf outing, and provide an opportunity for him to use his new accessories.

If you have an idea for a golf gift basket as a gift but you aren’t creative or don’t have the time to make one yourself, there are many places that can help you create the perfect basket. Look online at different florist, you will find that many have several different options for you to choose from and many can be delivered on the same day. If you are still not able to find something you like then check for specialty stores that create gift baskets to order.

It does not matter if you have a little money or a lot of money to spend, you will still be able to make a golf gift basket tailored especially for the man in your life. This gift will prove that you know what your man likes and he will keep this gift on his mind for awhile.

Footjoy offers the MyJoys DryJoys Traditional Golf Shoe with Stability PODS that work in harmony with enhanced OptiFlex zones to deliver maximum Flextability throughout your swing! MyJoys is a program from Footjoy that lets you choose your favorite pair of DryJoys?? Traditional golf shoes and make them your own! *2 year waterproof warranty *Pulsar cleats by Softspikes *Stability PODS outsole *TPU Stability bridge and Leather linings