How to find the sweet spot of your drivers

Modern driver head sizes have increased and tees have become longer. This means that the golf ball starts higher off the ground than ever before. To hit the ball in the sweet spot consistently, the club head must come well off the ground at impact.

However, a traditional start with the club on the ground at address and the ball in the center of the face does not allow for the extra tee height. This can easily cause poor contact toward the heel. Fortunately there are two ways to combat this:

1) If you like to rest the club head on the ground at address, place the ball in line with the toe of the club.
2) If you hover the club head off the ground at address, position the ball in the middle of the club head

Improve Your Golf Performance With These 5 Tips

Improve your golf performance. Is this always on your mind? 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 improve your golf performance by shaving 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 egss 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 their 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 supply your body with the proper nutrients your energy levels stay balanced and you will 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.

These tips if applied, will definitely improve your golf performance!

This article was provided by Mike Pedersen, golf fitness expert and author. Mike has a new book out that will quickly improve your game with easy tips and techniques to transform your game. Go take a look at http://www.ultimategolffitnessguide.com

The Medicus: a golf club with a double hinge

Dr. Kilstein's message:

The first time someone showed me the Medicus Swing trainer,
I thought it was invented by a sadist.

If you've never seen it, the Medicus is a golf club with
a double hinge.

If you do not swing exactly correctly, the hinge collapses
and the golf club folds.

And is left dangling in your hand. And your face turns red.

Like mine did.

That trainer allowed for no lee-way. Swing out of line at all
and it flops over like a piece of overcooked pasta (unless
you're on Atkins.)

But when no one was looking, I picked up a Medicus this week.

It lasted in my house for about 24 hours until it was "borrowed"
by Jeff, a neighbor.

Jeff's handicap is a 5. I was watching as the trainer kept collapsing
on him.

There was a smile of frustration on his face. He knew what the Medicus
wanted him to do. In a few minutes, he was swinging
consistently without the club breaking.

The Medicus wants a perfect swing plane. It is adjustable depending on
your level of skill but even if you tighten it up, it's still pretty
strict.

It sells on the net and elsewhere for $140.

You may love it.

You may hate it.

Jeff, can I have mine back?

Listen to what Dr. Kilstein has to say:

"In the past, I would've stayed mad for four holes, but that was
everything I promised myself I wasn't going to do when I came out on the
Senior Tour.  About midway through last year [1994], I made up my mind that
I was going to play golf and enjoy it."  Bob Murphy 1995

When Bob Murphy changed his emotional response to his golf game, great
things happened.  He went on to win four times in 1995.

Emotions affect our desire to drive for show, putt for dough,
and hit the best approach shots possible.

Everyone has seen people lose it on the course. Balls, clubs, golf
bags end up in the water.  People mangle their Big Bertha drivers after
blowing both another drive and their cool.

Everything you do on the course is affected by your emotions.

The best golfers are in control of their emotions.

They don't ignore them.  They don't pretend they are not there.
They acknowledge them and deal with them.

What are some of the factors involved in emotions:

1. Expectations.  Tiger Woods does not drive every shot with perfect
accuracy.  One of my clients came in all excited on the day of the
British Open after Tiger lost his ball on the first hole.  "Today I played a
shot as well as Tiger."
Do you have realistic expectations on the course?  What is driving
those expectations?

2. Perfectionism.  Look at your palms.  Do you see any nail holes?  No?
Good.  That means you are not perfect.  If you expect your golf game to
be perfect, you are bound to be disappointed.

3. Injuries.  If you play with an injury, not only will you stress your
body, you may also stress your game.  Take care of your body to play
your best golf.

4. Tiredness.  Golf is a mind game.  You need to recharge your mental
batteries on the links.  Listen to your favorite music.  Take a break.
Smell the breeze.

5. Personal Issues.  If there is "stuff" going on in your life - your
job, your homelife, etc.  Don't be suprised if it affects your game.
Hey, you're human.  The more you deal with the issues, the quicker your
handicap is going to head down.

If you are not managing your emotions and stress, they are going to
manage you.

Only regular work on your emotions is going to produce the results that
you want on the course.

Most of the great golfers have hobbies aside from golf.  Do you?

Improve your game by controlling your mind

Listen to what the renowned golf mental trainer, Dr. Kilstein has to say:

“We have an expression: “Seeing is believing” but the opposite is also true,
“Believing is seeing”.
You are not going to sink the shots you don’t believe you are capable of. 

You can have the most fluid swing, the most powerful impact and the best swing
in the world but if your mind isn’t part of the game, you’re in the water!

Isn’t Dr. Kilstein right?

Remember what one of the great golf teachers, Jim Flick once said? - "Golf is 90% mental… and the other 10% is mental." That’s right, controlling the mind is the key to great golf. Dr. Jay Brunza, a sports psychologist and hypnotist was responsible for training Tiger Wood to excel with a strong mental attitude. He had caddied for Tiger all through his Junior and Amateur events. He even caddied for him in the Masters. What are their secrets? It’s the blinking of Tiger’s eyes to self-hypnotize each time before takes a shot!

Great golfers need to control their mental game to ensure consistency, confidence,
and lower scores. Many have resorted to hypnosis which is proven to be the easiest,
quickest, and most proven way to great mental golf. 

Keep your head level whatever you do

The first thing a beginner should learn id to beware of their head position which is the most important factor in golf. It can make or break your game!

Try not to move your head back and forth or up and down as you swing your club. Any movement of the head could disrupt your whole swing and your control over it would be totally gone. Do not drop your head during the back swing and keep it on the same level until it is well after the impact on the ball.

Remember, keep your head level whatever your other parts of the body are doing in order to have a solid hit on the ball.

Beware of your grip throughout your swing

One of the greatest challenges for beginners to achieve consistent golf is to maintain a constant pressure on the grip throughout the entire swing. Many golfers tend to loosen their grips at the top of the swing thinking that as they move their clubs on the down swing, they could “re-grip” again before they strike the ball. Very often, loosening and “re-firming” the grip would result in the changes of the position of the club face when it hits the ball, somtimes with very disastrous result! Therefore always ensure that the grip is firm (and yet passive without too much pressure) at the top of each back swing.

Also, you must not allow the hands to loosen just because you have hit the ball. One should maintain the grip even after the ball has been struck and taken off, otherwise one would loose the control of the shot.

Choosing of Golf Balls

Golf balls might come in different bright colors but basically there are only three main types of golf balls, namely, the one-piece, two piece and three-piece balls.

1) One-piece balls are normally found in Driving ranges as they are the cheapest. They are made of tough, rubberized plastics designed to withstand beginners’ rough handling or mishandling. The disadvantage of this type of ball is the fact that it does not fly as far as other types. But it’s fine for beginners who tend to loose a lot of balls.

2) Two-piece balls are ideal for most golfers because they are hard wearing while travel a longer distance when hit. It has a core made with a blend of resins which allow the ball to be compressed and then expand to propel itself when hit at the right spot. The cover is made of very tough ionomer which is a polyelectrolyte that comprises copolymers containing both electrically neutral repeating units and a fraction of ionic units. A common ionomer made by DuPont is Surlyn.

3) Three-piece balls have either a solid or a liquid center, surrounded by high-energy elastic windings. It cannot be hit as far as the two-piece balls but farther than the one-piece balls. The cover is again usually made from Surlyn or balata. Balata has a unique property in that it gives the golfers a superb feel during striking but it cuts easily and is therefore mainly used by only the very experienced golfers like the leading amateurs and professionals who rely on perfect control.

Maintenance of your golf clubs

All clubs new or old require regular cleaning and maintenance to perform at the level they are designed to do so. Please take note of the following:

1) Woods: These must be protected from dampness. Head covers must be removed after paying in the rain or under damp condition. Dry the clubheads with a dry cloth.

2) Shaft: To prevent the chrome plating from getting rust, wipe it with a piece of cloth soaked in oil such as WD40. Do this once every 2 to 3 months.

3) Grip: Scrub it with soapy water every one to two months to prevent the grip from getting slippery. Soapy water must then be removed by rinsing. To improve old grips, gentle rubbing with sandpaper could help.

4) Clubhead: The grooves on the clubhead provide good control during the swing, hence these must be kept clean. Wipe away the dirt in the grooves with a piece of cloth after each shot. The grooves must be scrubbed with a brush with soapy water after each game.

Jack Nicklaus advises you to tee high for distance

Hear what Jack Nicklaus has to say about Tee-off:

Teeing the ball almost as high as possible for the driver enables me to hit slightly on the the upswing and catch the ball flush near the top of the clubface.

The resutis a high carrying ball which, in my opinion, will cover grater distance than one teed short and hit low. By contrast, iron shot should be teed low, since the ball must be struck near the bottom of the face with a more descending blow.