Came across this the other day. I was quite intrigued.
You are allowed to move your head sideways during your golf swing by up to 4-6 inches.
Go on I’m listening…
Consider skipping a stone on water. As your body and arms move back so too will your head. Weight is transferred on to the inside of the right foot. If it should go on to the outside of the right foot then you are swaying and would find great difficulty in throwing the stone.
Now try throwing some golf balls on the practice ground and you’ll find that the act of throwing comes easy and natural to you. Did you have to consciously think about the transference of weight back on to the left foot before you released the ball?
Now keep that action of stone throwing and transfer it to your 8 iron. Notice how you transferred your weight on the back throw? It should feel the same as you swing your club back the only difference is, you’ll be using both hands to control the swing and your shoulders will naturally turn. Most important though, you must keep your eyes fixed on the ball.
Alternate between throwing the ball and the swinging of the club. Repeat this exercise on a regular period to groove a powerful repetitive swing.
Lateral movement of the head is allowed whilst still looking at the ball. Bobbing of the head up and down is not.
Mmmmmmm……I’ll keep that in mind.
Saturday 16 October 2010
Well would you believe it.
Check this one out.
It is now accepted that exercising can help older men feel better within and boost their self-confidence. In Britain they compared 10 men, in their 50’s and 60’s who ran at least 45 miles a week, with 10 inactive men of the same age, they found that the runners had higher levels of certain hormones. Testosterone was 25 percent higher.
Growth hormone, which helps maintain muscle and bone, was four times higher. But if you wish to experience these types of results but you do not wish to have to run 45 miles a week, then carry on playing golf but do keep in mind to tell your partner the real reason you‘re out there chasing the little white ball.
Research revealed that when middle-aged men play golf two to three times a week, over a five-month period, they walked five miles on average in every game, abdominal fat decreased by 8 percent, lost 5 lb, increased the "good" HDL cholesterol by an average of 5 %, lost just over an inch off their waist, lowered "bad" LDL cholesterol and triglycerides by just over 4 percent each, cut total cholesterol by 2.1 percent, blood pressure dropped and burned an average of 1,800 calories per round.
Fantastic. Mine’s another beer!
It is now accepted that exercising can help older men feel better within and boost their self-confidence. In Britain they compared 10 men, in their 50’s and 60’s who ran at least 45 miles a week, with 10 inactive men of the same age, they found that the runners had higher levels of certain hormones. Testosterone was 25 percent higher.
Growth hormone, which helps maintain muscle and bone, was four times higher. But if you wish to experience these types of results but you do not wish to have to run 45 miles a week, then carry on playing golf but do keep in mind to tell your partner the real reason you‘re out there chasing the little white ball.
Research revealed that when middle-aged men play golf two to three times a week, over a five-month period, they walked five miles on average in every game, abdominal fat decreased by 8 percent, lost 5 lb, increased the "good" HDL cholesterol by an average of 5 %, lost just over an inch off their waist, lowered "bad" LDL cholesterol and triglycerides by just over 4 percent each, cut total cholesterol by 2.1 percent, blood pressure dropped and burned an average of 1,800 calories per round.
Fantastic. Mine’s another beer!
Just a thought
There are hundreds of books, videos and CD’s written about the golf swing purchased by many a frustrated golfer in the hope of acquiring a solution to their problems and yet, so many (me included), have not really benefited from this vast ocean of golfing expertise.
Isn’t it strange that when a new PGA tour pro wins a major or gets to the number 1 spot, out comes a new book and CD with something like….’Swing my way’…..’My golf secret revealed’….’10 minutes to better golf’…..’Golf made easy’…. ‘From duffer to scratch in 8 easy moves’…… Aaarrrrrrrgh!
I keep thinking to myself who’s really benefiting from all this? Well certainly not me for a start. I’ve got a shelf load of them already.
But the crazy part is….. I still buy them!
My wife said to me recently “Why do you need all these books and CD’s”? “You’ll never read them all”. I replied “Why do you need all those shoes”? You’ll never wear them all”.
Deuce.
If all what they say we should be doing then why aren’t we all playing to lower handicaps?
I think my friends that I may have the answer.
Publishers make more money. Pro’s get more publicity. I mean, come on, they care as much about us as we do about politicians. They don’t really care as long as we keep buying into the dream.
Now put me up against Sergio Garcia and spot the difference…… Ah yes.. Could he be the barrel chested older guy with a few beers under his belt?
Me and Sergio don’t swing the same way. Heck, I couldn’t even swing his way and even if I were to try I’d need an ambulance standing by.
I doubt very much if players 20 years my junior could even contemplate swinging his way and yet these golf gurus keep on suggesting that we do.
What I’m trying to say is, these pro’s are fit, athletic young men who play golf every day hitting 1000’s of golf balls along the way on top of which they have their own swing guru, a personalised set of golf clubs and a caddy to carry all their gear around and give them correct yardages.
We do not.
My brain was already turning to porridge stuffed full of useless theory. I was suffering from GSD (Golf swing Dementia). Heck, I’d got to the stage where I was carrying 12 golf swings in my bag …...and not one of them worked!
Anyway, have you heard the latest?
Can you believe it? Fred Scratcher came from nowhere to win the Open using only his 4iron and putter. Afterwards in the press tent he was heard to say that he couldn’t afford a caddy and so decided to carry just the two clubs.
Then he was asked how he managed to work the club so effectively to produce a lazy draw which, in mid flight turned into a fade and also, how was he able to hit 320 yards with his four iron and yet still have the ability to splash the ball gently out of the greenside bunker and land within inches of the pin.
“Well it’s something I’ve always been able to do” said Fred. “Will you tell us the secret”? they asked. “Well you’re going to have to wait for that one too said Fred “I’ve had several publishers already on my case asking me to sign up”.
Can’t wait!
Isn’t it strange that when a new PGA tour pro wins a major or gets to the number 1 spot, out comes a new book and CD with something like….’Swing my way’…..’My golf secret revealed’….’10 minutes to better golf’…..’Golf made easy’…. ‘From duffer to scratch in 8 easy moves’…… Aaarrrrrrrgh!
I keep thinking to myself who’s really benefiting from all this? Well certainly not me for a start. I’ve got a shelf load of them already.
But the crazy part is….. I still buy them!
My wife said to me recently “Why do you need all these books and CD’s”? “You’ll never read them all”. I replied “Why do you need all those shoes”? You’ll never wear them all”.
Deuce.
If all what they say we should be doing then why aren’t we all playing to lower handicaps?
I think my friends that I may have the answer.
Publishers make more money. Pro’s get more publicity. I mean, come on, they care as much about us as we do about politicians. They don’t really care as long as we keep buying into the dream.
Now put me up against Sergio Garcia and spot the difference…… Ah yes.. Could he be the barrel chested older guy with a few beers under his belt?
Me and Sergio don’t swing the same way. Heck, I couldn’t even swing his way and even if I were to try I’d need an ambulance standing by.
I doubt very much if players 20 years my junior could even contemplate swinging his way and yet these golf gurus keep on suggesting that we do.
What I’m trying to say is, these pro’s are fit, athletic young men who play golf every day hitting 1000’s of golf balls along the way on top of which they have their own swing guru, a personalised set of golf clubs and a caddy to carry all their gear around and give them correct yardages.
We do not.
My brain was already turning to porridge stuffed full of useless theory. I was suffering from GSD (Golf swing Dementia). Heck, I’d got to the stage where I was carrying 12 golf swings in my bag …...and not one of them worked!
Anyway, have you heard the latest?
Can you believe it? Fred Scratcher came from nowhere to win the Open using only his 4iron and putter. Afterwards in the press tent he was heard to say that he couldn’t afford a caddy and so decided to carry just the two clubs.
Then he was asked how he managed to work the club so effectively to produce a lazy draw which, in mid flight turned into a fade and also, how was he able to hit 320 yards with his four iron and yet still have the ability to splash the ball gently out of the greenside bunker and land within inches of the pin.
“Well it’s something I’ve always been able to do” said Fred. “Will you tell us the secret”? they asked. “Well you’re going to have to wait for that one too said Fred “I’ve had several publishers already on my case asking me to sign up”.
Can’t wait!
Wednesday 13 October 2010
This Crazy Game of Golf
What stories have been told of glorious heavenly days spent upon the links contrasted by total irrational madness driving us to the dark outer fringes of hell.
Could Charles Dickens have been a golfer?. Who knows. Had he have been he would surely have experienced an avalanche of bewildering emotions during his round of golf. Perhaps too, he was observed drowning his sorrows at the 19th, and when asked how did go his round he may have uttered "It was the best of days,it was the worst of days".
We all get them. Every one of us. A game of opposites surely, when the back nine doesn't correspond with the front nine or vise versa. Days when the putters hot and the chipping cold. The drivers good and the irons bad. Short game, long game or any combination within the game all fighting for domination.
The game sucks! and yet back we come for more punishment. Why?
Is it because we're all nutters and relish the frequent trips to the outer finges of hell? or could it be perhaps capturing those moments of sheer heavenly blis where the golfing gods bestow their blessing upon the 5 iron which sends the ball soaring gracefully towards the flag on the 170 yard par 3 bouncing once to end up 6 inches from the cup. It's that magical moment when we sink a 20 footer to win the hole. It's that moment of joy to watch our 270 yard drive split the fairway it's all of these and more which keeps us hooked.
It's when the window of opportunity opens that allows us, if only for a brief moment to feel and act like a professional golfer and when that window closes and satan takes over it's when things can get very ugly indeed.
The reason we get annoyed with the game is because deep down we do not want to blame ourselves. It's always external factors like the wind or the rain or the down slope or the up slope the side hill lies or the ball lying in a divot that ruined our shot. It's never our fault.
If we can produce moments of pure magic then why why on earth can we not replicate it at will? It's because my dear friends we have our mind to thank for that. Is is not when you think you're on top of your game things begin to go bad?
For me it would be no fun at all to turn up each and every day with the knowledge I could shoot par golf no matter what the weather. Golf needs it's ying and yang, it's pluses and minuses, it's joys and sorrows. It is the game. The game we enjoy because tomorrow is another day and this day could be our day to tell our story.
Could Charles Dickens have been a golfer?. Who knows. Had he have been he would surely have experienced an avalanche of bewildering emotions during his round of golf. Perhaps too, he was observed drowning his sorrows at the 19th, and when asked how did go his round he may have uttered "It was the best of days,it was the worst of days".
We all get them. Every one of us. A game of opposites surely, when the back nine doesn't correspond with the front nine or vise versa. Days when the putters hot and the chipping cold. The drivers good and the irons bad. Short game, long game or any combination within the game all fighting for domination.
The game sucks! and yet back we come for more punishment. Why?
Is it because we're all nutters and relish the frequent trips to the outer finges of hell? or could it be perhaps capturing those moments of sheer heavenly blis where the golfing gods bestow their blessing upon the 5 iron which sends the ball soaring gracefully towards the flag on the 170 yard par 3 bouncing once to end up 6 inches from the cup. It's that magical moment when we sink a 20 footer to win the hole. It's that moment of joy to watch our 270 yard drive split the fairway it's all of these and more which keeps us hooked.
It's when the window of opportunity opens that allows us, if only for a brief moment to feel and act like a professional golfer and when that window closes and satan takes over it's when things can get very ugly indeed.
The reason we get annoyed with the game is because deep down we do not want to blame ourselves. It's always external factors like the wind or the rain or the down slope or the up slope the side hill lies or the ball lying in a divot that ruined our shot. It's never our fault.
If we can produce moments of pure magic then why why on earth can we not replicate it at will? It's because my dear friends we have our mind to thank for that. Is is not when you think you're on top of your game things begin to go bad?
For me it would be no fun at all to turn up each and every day with the knowledge I could shoot par golf no matter what the weather. Golf needs it's ying and yang, it's pluses and minuses, it's joys and sorrows. It is the game. The game we enjoy because tomorrow is another day and this day could be our day to tell our story.
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