One of the challenges about being a young person is dealing with what feels like is a constant comparison to other people. This is true at school, in one’s social circles, at home, and in the golf arena.
What many young people inevitably do during this time of analysis is begin to feel somewhat insecure about certain aspects of who they are. “I’m shorter than everyone.” “I’m taller than everyone.” “I’m skinnier than everyone”. “I’m heavier than everyone.”
This type of thinking leaks into golf, creating insecurities about the game. “I can’t hit it as far as most kids.” “I don’t putt as well as he does.” “We don’t have as much money so I don’t get the instruction that she does.”
When this is going on inside one’s head, it is very difficult to “play your own game”. Instead, junior players often try to be someone they are not, try to keep up with what others are doing, or try to do things that are not in their capacity.
Not only does this emphasis on what others are doing frequently hurt a player’s confidence, it also regularly impacts course management decisions. Among the common mistakes:
•Unconsciously pulling the driver out of their bag in order to hit it as far off the tee as possible.
•Automatically pulling 3-wood for the second shot into a Par 5.
•Consistently “under clubbing” by falsely believing certain clubs are hit further than actual results indicate.
•Making high risk/low reward shot selection decisions.
•Swinging the club harder to try to hit it further.
The solution to this is to be honest and objective about what strengths and capabilities you bring to the course as a player. This is what is referred to as “playing within yourself”. Once you
recognize and acknowledge what works for you, you will begin to play the game in the way that is best for you, rather than playing the game in order to try to do what others are doing or the way you think it should be done.
The truth is, whether judging against others in life or in golf, we will always find someone who is better at something than we are. It is hard to get our ego out of the way and lay up when our competitor can get there in two. It is difficult emotionally to hit 5-iron to a Par-3 hole when our competitor hits a 9-iron. It is a challenge to continue doing what you’re doing if you see a competitor who is successful doing something different.
In life, those that are constantly following others lose a sense of who they really are. In golf, those that are distracted by others often get lost in constantly changing their game. Be like the best players in the world. The most successful golfers of any age figure out what they’re good at, understand what works for them, and then make a commitment to stick to it.
Be the best player with what you have, rather than trying to be something that you’re not.
Jeff served as Director of Mental Training for David Leadbetters Golf Academies, where he was instrumental in assisting in the development of the training programs and methodology that continues to produce golf champions around the world. Jeff works with several touring professionals and amateur players – assisting them in the creation of optimal training plans and developmental strategies. For more inforamtion on mental and physical training for golf, go to http://www.fitnessforgolf.com.
AK Fitness Tips – diet plan, exercises, weight loss and gain muscles latest information.
Golf clubs: Reviews and tips is the central message of this article.
Golf clubs: Reviews and tips #1: Try the TaylorMade r5 dual TP which is a new driver that is made with revolutionary technology.
Golf clubs: Reviews and tips #2: The Nike Ignite features the hottest and strongest titanium ever created.
Golf clubs: Reviews and tips #3: Try the Callaway Big Bertha 484 if you want to maximum your drives.
Golf clubs: Reviews and tips #4: The Titleist 905S is a driver that has a deep face and will also allow for the higher speed or higher spin player who is looking for more trajectory.
Golf clubs: Reviews and tips #5: Take care of your golf clubs, keep them clean.
Golf clubs: Reviews and tips #6: Carry a towel with you when you are on the course. You can use the towel to clean your clubs if you encounter mud, sand or water
while golfing.
Golf clubs: Reviews and tips #7: Don’t keep your golf clubs in the trunk of your car or in an area where heat, cold and humidity can affect them.
Golf clubs: Reviews and tips #8: Buy headcovers for your woods and also for your putter. You might even consider headcovers for your irons.
Golf clubs: Reviews and tips #9: Every few rounds inspect your clubs for shiny areas on the grips and worn or cracked places.
Golf clubs: Reviews and tips #10: If you are golfing and it rains you should always clean your clubs as soon as you are done playing.
Golf clubs: Reviews and tips #11: Take care of your clubs and they will take care of you!
Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Golf-Swing-Improvement.com. He provides more golfing tips, putting tips and golf swing instruction tips that you can research in your pajamas on his website.
Online Reviews
The fishing kayak is a wonderful introduction and compliment to the outdoor sport of catching fish, and kayak fishing has enabled the enthusiastic anglers the opportunity to take their much-loved sportfishing activity on the go with great flexibility!
Not all fishermen and women want to make the big purchase of a large boat, trailer, and all the additional costs that go with them. With kayaks, your main expense is the kayak, paddles, and some optional accessories that offer you an affordable outdoors experience!
A kayak fisherman searches for that beautiful secluded backcountry location, where no one else has ever been before. They like more flexible diversity in their locations, and some of their favourite top catch spots are hard to reach by the traditional fishing boats and trailers. Many river trails are long and curvy, taking a lot of physical maneuvering, which would be very difficult with a large bulky boat to reach.
Kayaks designed for the angler in mind, offers a variety of kayaking packages!
Whether you’re a big fan of fishing for bass or trout on the calm pristine freshwater lakes, or you prefer the adventure kayak experience on the white water rivers, while reeling in the challenging sockeye salmon, you will easily find a craft for your boating needs online. Just add bait, and
your favourite rods, reels, and fishing gear, and your chosen kayak design will fulfill all your future adventures.
Many online outfitters and specialty inflatable kayak suppliers provide an easy way for you to obtain your desired kayak via the Internet! You will be extremely impressed with the quality PVC material, better casting stability, storage for your fishing gear, and plenty of room for your catches of the day.
Add a lightweight electric trolling motor, and you will get to your secret locations without any effort. All this is shipped direct to your door, so as your waiting, you can spend that time arranging your tackle box.
These manufacturers have carefully listened to you over the years, and they have creatively designed their inflatable boats with kayak rod and paddle holders for complete flexible convenience, and all this is available on a vessel that can easily fold up and be stored in the back of your cars trunk in minutes!
About the author: William is the owner and the author of “Rugged Inflatable Kayaks” available at http://www.rugged-inflatable-kayaks.com A great source for Inflatable Fishing Boats! Find articles and reviews on various models of fishing kayaks, inflatable catamarans, kayaking gear, and a variety of small outboard motors for all your fishing needs.
Golf video instruction can be a powerful tool in helping any golfer improve their handicap. Yet many golfers do not fully benefit from them.
The reason is that their approach is wrong and they are therefore unable to benefit from the practical advice and tips received through golf video instruction.
Here I carry three tips to help you benefit and reap the full rewards from golf video instruction tapes.
A) Watch the whole golf video instruction tape to the end first and then slowly review it starting from the beginning.Quite as you enjoy watching the golf video for the very first time, most of the instructions and tips will hardly be remembered.
Exactly the same thing happens when you read a book whose contents you want to retain. This is why it is very important to go through the golf video a second time carefully taking note of the all the instruction and tips. It is not a bade idea to record it all in a note book.
B) Apply only one golf video instruction tip at a time to your game.
Usually you will end up with a huge volume of instruction and tips from the golf video. It
is therefore advisable to apply one at a time, rather than try to apply several and when you do not seem to get any result, you simply abandon everything.
This is exactly what most golfers do. Be patient and apply the tips one at a time. You will find that some do not work for you. Do not get discouraged, move to the next one and patiently work your way through your entire list.
C) Combine you application of the golf video instruction with a golf-specific exercise program.
There are many things in golf which will be extremely difficult to apply to your game if you are not physically fit. Or at least golf-fit. Some techniques can even increase the risk of injury if you are not involved in any golf exercise program.
Ensuring that you are golf fit is a very important requirement for reaping maximum benefits from golf video instruction tapes.
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. Visit his new golf fitness training site at Perform Better Golf.
Fitness Tips – diet plan, exercises, weight loss and gain muscles latest information.
Golf exercise equipment can be a variety of pieces; but what truly is golf exercise equipment?
You’d be surprised to find out it is not expensive; and is not necessarily in a gym or health club either.
Yes…there are golf “machines” for stretching and strength building that are well over one thousand dollars, but are definitely not needed.
When you think of the golf swing, it’s a dynamic movement completed in space with your ‘whole’ body. So any kind of training or golf exercise equipment should be able to accommodate this.
For starters, a pair of hand weights (dumbbells) are inexpensive, portable and can be used for dozens of golf-specific exercises. They don’t have to be heavy or cumbersome. You’d be surprised what a 5 to 8 pound pair of dumbbells can accomplish with the right golf exercises.
Next on the list of golf exercise equipment is tubing. You may have seen it in articles, on the television or in a catalog. Exercise tubing is extremely portable, very inexpensive and also can be used to mimic many phases of the golf swing, but with resistance.
I personally use exercise tubing in all of my programs, with all of my personal clients and in my own golf workouts. It can give you one heck of a workout if you have the right resistance. These bands come in varying tensions from light to extra heavy.
Another
piece of golf exercise equipment is a stability ball. It’s the big ‘beach ball’ looking thing that is used in offices to sit on, in many exercise classes, at most health clubs and all of the physical therapy clinics.
Why? Because again it’s portable, inexpensive and very versatile. Doing golf exercises on the ball incorporate core stabilization, balance and stability. All important factors in a mechanically sound golf swing.
And the last piece of golf exercise equipment is the weighted medicine ball. You might remember them from several decades ago as the big leather balls that the old fitness fanatics used to improve strength and power.
Well now they’re back! They are used in every sport-specific strength program in existence. You can do so many sport-like movements with them and they weigh as much as 20 pounds, so you can imagine the benefit from a power standpoint.
I have a couple of my ‘bread-and-butter’ exercises I use in all my programs that incorporate the weighted medicine ball and they are very effective.
So there you have it! Three or four pieces of inexpensive and portable golf exercise equipment.
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. Visit his new golf exercise site at Perform Better Golf.
IL Fitness Tips – diet plan, exercises, weight loss and gain muscles latest information.
Finding Eels
Although fishing for Big Eels can be a great pastime, finding them can be a problem. Big Eels are seldom caught even though they are present in most waters, and you will still find places where they are not even known. Of the 50 biggest Eels caught in the UK, only 7 came from rivers, 2 from Canals and the rest were caught from stillwaters including the British Record, a massive snake of 11lb 2oz. This was caught in 1978 by S. Terry from a stillwater called Kingfisher Lake, close to Ringwood in Hampshire.
Preparing your attack
Big Eels are caught in the summer months of June to September, and best fished for in the last hour before Dusk up to about midnight or again in the early morning hours just before Dawn until the sun rises above the Horizon. There are times though when you can catch big Eels during the day, especially when out deadbait fishing for Pike, one such fish was caught by D. Boyer in late November 1988 from the Broadlands lake in Hampshire, a beauty of 8lbs, 1oz.
Finding Eels in the water
Conditions for fishing for Eels are widespread, infact the prevailing weather in the UK and Ireland, especially Ireland which is often said ” you can have the 4 seasons in one day” is perfect but generally speaking, the water temperature should be between 10 – 18 degrees Centigrade, no more, no less. It has been observed over the years that when the sky is clouded over and low visibality in the water, Eels will always feed on the bottom, using their powerful sense of “smell” to forage for food, but when the sky is clear, more so when the moon is full and bright, Eels can be caught mid-water and near the surface, where they frequent the shallow water hunting fry shilouetted against the light of the moon.
Eels Defences
Eels are emenssely strong creatures, the bigger they are the more powerful they will be, the slightest weakness in your tackle will always, without doubt, cause you to lose your prize catch. Prepare your tackle wisely when attempting to catch these fish and don’t underestimate what even a 1lb fish can achieve in getting free.
Rods should be capable of the job and a good carp or pike rod would be suitable, but if fishing at a distance then a fast-taper tip action rod for a firm hook setting on the strike at range should be the first choice. If fishing the margins then choose a rod with a much softer more through-action which will cushion the fast pull of a big Eel at close range, whatever the action of the rod, do your best to use a rod of between 11-12ft long
Reels are widely available in a whole range of models, sizes and types, there is a vast choice of suitable reels available in any tackle shop, but when choosing a reel, pick a nice sturdy fixed spool reel with a rear drag system, this will prevent you having to fumble with the spool to adjust the settings when you are playing a fish as you can do so without having to fumble about at the front of the reel. Another good thing to have on your reel is the ability to put the spool into free-spool so that a biting Eel can run with the bait in it’s mouth without feeling any resistance while the bail arm is still closed. Whatever reel you choose, it should be capable of holding at least 200m of 10-12lb line.
Line Choose a top quality line, taking care that it is a nice supple brand, an do change it at least once in a season as in most cases, the waters you are fishing will have plenty of snags or gravel bars which will fray and weaken the line.
Traces Wire traces are essential when using deadbait for Eels as you will always encounter a pike on the prowl. In saying that it is always a good idea to use traces as an Eels mouth contains many small sharp teeth which rasp and weaken the line, which will quickly wear through even a thick line.
Hooks & Bait The most successful baits for Eels are Lobworms, Brandlings and sections of dead fish but it is essential that you choose the correct hooksize for the bait chsoen, best hooks are forged, eyed hooks in sizes ranging from 2 – 10
Into Action A big Eel
is a weary creature and will drop your bait with the slightest hint of resistance, hence a reel with a free spool will allow the bait run freely when picked up.
Bite Detection Have your reel on free spool, or if this is not a feature of your reel, just leave the bail arm open and use a monket climber and an electric bite alarm. If it’s windy, or theres a flow on the water, use a line clip to prevent 
false bites
Rigs The terminal tackle is the most important part of your set-up. The simplest and most often used rig, for fishing on the bottom, is a straight forward running ledger. On waters with a carpet of thick, soft mud or weed, incorporate a 30cm lenght of garden cane so the trace isn’t pulled into the mud or weed by the weight of the bomb – if it is, a biting Eel feels the resistance and usually drops the bait before you can strike. When fishing for Eels in mid-water or near the surface, a proven rig is the one shown here. This incorporates a bouyant float body on a plastic tube, as well as an adapted block-end feeder with cotton woll soaked in the flavourings of your choice. You can adapt any of these rigs to create 
a botl rig by adding a swivel to the main line above the bomb link. This is worth trying if you are getting twitchy bites from Eels dropping the bait before you have time to strike. It’s also a good ploy when fishing close to snags, as it increases the chance of hooking a fish before it can reach the sanctuary of the snag.
Timing your Strike If you have set yourself up correctly, a biting Eel feels no resistance and runs with the bait. This gives you plenty of time to strike, but any Eel angler worth his salt makes a point of always striking immediatly to prevent deep hooking the fish – even if this means some bites are missed.
The Battle
When you first hook an Eel, pause a moment to assess its size, then slowly lower the rod, winding in the line as you do so. Stop winding and lift the rod up again. Continue this pumping action until the fish nears the bank. A big Eel will often make sudden lunges for cover but only give line as a last resort – if it reaches cover and gets it’s tail around a snag, all is usually lost. It’s at the net that many a big Eel gets away. It’s not enough to get just it’s head over the rim, or even most of it’s body – you must submerge the net and wait until the whole of its tail is over the rim, then lower the rod a bit to let the Eel swim backwards and downwards. On feeling the mesh with its tail it will think it has found safety and go even deeper into your net. Now that you think it’s all over, don’t be fooled, Eels are the greatest escape artists, get as far away from the waters edge as fast as possible before laying the net down or your prize could be back in the water in seconds. Keep the Eel in the net to unhook it. If it’s a bootlace (small Eel) grab it in a damp cloth and use a disgorger or forceps. If it’s big, turn it on it’s back to quieten it down before using the forceps. If you can’t see the hook, cut the line, never poke around or try to pull the hook out, this will severly damage the Eel, which will result in it’s death. Finally, put the Eel in a Carp sack or fine-meshed keepnet for a while to give it time to recover, before releasing it in shallow water. Don’t be surprised if it doesn’t swim off straight away,
Eels do what they want when they are good and ready.
A final word on fishing for “Big Snakes” your landing net can never be too to big for Eels, nothing is worse than batteling The Eel of a lifetime to the very edge of your net, only to lose it because the net is too small to get the fishes tail over the rim. (EELS CAN SWIM BACKWARDS)
Treat all the Eels you catch, whether they be boothlaces or big snakes with the respect this mysterious and hard-fighting species deserves. Always unhook and handle them with care, and always put them back alive.
Unlimited Fishing Tackle | Fishing Tackle Supplies
Irelands Foremost Fishing, Shooting & Hunting Outfitters
Some call it a Swiss Ball, some call it a fitness ball, others use the more modern term ‘stability ball.’ Whatever you call it, the stability ball has been used in exercise and rehabilitation for years and has recently been adopted by personal trainers and fitness instructors for use in strength training and muscle development, especially when it comes to exercises designed to strengthen the core muscles.
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) says that core strength is important because the muscles of the lower back and abdomen serve as a solid foundation for nearly all bodily activities, movement, and posture. Incorporation of the stability ball into an exercise routine helps to further strengthen core muscles due to the continuous adjustments that the body’s muscles must make to remain stable on the ball.
Use of the stability ball has become fairly common is core-based exercises like
crunches, but many trainers have discovered benefits of using the ball in other exercises as well. It can even be used in non exercise settings to help strengthen core muscles. Reebok University Education manager Lisa Wheeler recently told CNN correspondent Kat Carney that stability balls can even be used by office workers. Replacing the desk chair with a stability ball can lead to strengthening the core muscles while simply sitting at one’s desk.
A stronger core can benefit anyone, but golfers in particular will see benefits from the increase in core strength and stability, leading to longer drives, and better posture and balance. If you want to improve your core, get on the ball!
Susan Hill is a nationally recognized fitness trainer, CHEK golf biomechanic and sports nutrition specialist. For more information on golf specific nutrition, exercises or stretches, visit http://www.fitnessforgolf.com.
Fitness Tips – diet plan, exercises, weight loss and gain muscles latest information.
Jig Fishing TechniquesBy Steve vonBrandt
Today’s soft plastic lure market is booming with new styles and colors of baits, but when you are looking for the biggest bite of the day, the fish that consistently win tournaments; then anglers in the know go to the bait that has been proven over time to catch the biggest bass; the venerable jig-and-pig. 20 years ago, this bait was reserved for the sluggish bass, or for fishing in the heaviest cover, or for bottom fishing techniques. Today, this bait is being used at all times of the year, in a variety of different fashions.
This bait has remained relatively the same over the past 30 years. It has gone through some cosmetic changes, such as better hooks, livelier skirts, and a broader spectrum of colors and sizes, along with plastic trailers, which enable a wider variety of color options, but this bait, dressed with either plastic or pork, continues to catch bigger bass when other baits fail. Because of the popularity of the flipping technique used by most of the veteran anglers today, the jig has remained among the most popular baits in many anglers tackle boxes. Because of so many recreational anglers concentrating on the flipping technique, the jig’s universal effectiveness has been overlooked.
Many people have forgotten that casting a jig is an effective technique also. The jig can be presented at a lot of different depths and around a variety of structure. You are really limiting yourself if you only focus on the flipping aspect of it. Many times during the summer months, we have come in behind other anglers flipping obvious targets, or casting more traditional summer lures, and we have caught bass making roll casts, and looking for isolated pieces of cover that other anglers have missed.
DIFFERENT SIZES
Jig sizes have changed in recent years, along with skirt material and colors. The 3/8 ounce size remains the most popular, with smaller versions are being used more and more with great success. The smaller finesse type of jigs are much more effective in clear water, while the heavier, bulky versions are great for fishing stained to muddy water. Not that the heavier jig isn’t effective in some shallower, open water, but a more compact 1/2 ounce bait is more effective, than the bulkier style. I use a shorter trailer for this. This is especially true when fishing some of the finger lakes of New York State, or any of the waters where smallmouth bass are also present. The heavier jig is more effective when the bass are aggressive, as it allows you to fish it faster and cover more water. When the fish are suspended, or you need to keep it in the strike zone longer, the lighter jig is more effective. We always keep experimenting with several sizes, letting the bass tell us what they want. In the summer months, when we swim the jig around boat docks, we opt for the lighter 1/4 ounce size, with a plastic trailer, to imitate a crawfish or baitfish. Swimming the jig is a very effective technique that is overlooked by many weekend anglers. Most small jigs don’t have a big enough hook to handle quality bass, which is why we use a Spotsticker handpoured Jighead. We have been using this bait since 2002, when we had great success with it in several local tournaments in cold water as well as in the summer. The Spotsticker has a bigger hook than most, and it handles larger bass well. In
warmer, clear water, we like to use a grub or swimming worm as a trailer, this is very effective when you are trying to imitate a crawfish. In colder, or more stained to muddy waters, we like a bulkier trailer, as they displace more water and make it easier for the bass to home in on the bait.
The design of the jighead is another thing you have to think about. They need to be matched to the type of cover you are fishing. A jig that has a head that is more pointed, with its eyelet coming out of the front rather than the top, is going to pull through weeds better than a broad shouldered jig. We like to use a Jungle Jig, by Northland, or a Terminator Pro’s Top Secret jig for this. The Terminator has a recessed eye, as does Mann’s Stone jig designed by Mike Iaconelli, and they all come through this cover well.These jigs helped us win the Big Bass World Championship several times. They were very effective here in the Northeast, in some of the heavier, weedy cover. When we fish around rocks and wood, we use a jig with more shoulders to help stop it sometimes. Many companies make this type of football or stand up jig, which is great for these situations. When you pull it over an object, the jig tips, adding more action. We have used these jigs effectively on many of New Jersey’s reservoirs such as Spruce Run. You must also match the size of the line to the size of the jig hook you are using. A heavy-duty jig hook requires a stronger hook set, so you need heavier line to handle it.
Of course, it helps to know when you’re getting a bite. Big bass really thump a jig with the same vigor they do a plastic worm, and many other strikes are felt simply as spongy sensation, or just like you’re dragging weeds. That’s why it is important to set the hook on anything that feels unnatural, it could be weeds, or it could be a seven pounder!
JIG COLORS
While a black and blue jig seems to be the favorite, we like to match jig colors to the water conditions. A dark colored jig with a big crawfish trailer, moving on the bottom, does a great job imitating a crawfish, but a white jig swimming over cover and around boat docks does a good job of imitating a baitfish. This is great when bass want a slower presentation, or when you can’t fish a crankbait or jerkbait with ease. Many times when bass are feeding on shad, but want a slower presentation than a spinnerbait, this is the best choice. It can also catch the bigger bass that are ignoring the spinnerbait. The new “Sweet Beavers” by Andre moore’s company, “Reaction Innovations”, have been the hottest and most productive soft plastic this year all over the country.
We like the plastic trailers in the summer months, and the pork in the winter.The new Uncle Josh Pork is more pliable in cold water, while plastic gets stiff. In places where many anglers cast tubes or small finesse worms, such as clear water flats, we cast jigs in neutral colors, and catch bigger bass. Many times when bass ignore other baits, the jig will trigger a strike. This is also a great bait for night fishing.
Big Bass World Champ/De NAFC Hall Of Fame Owner of Anglers Radio, Delaware Tackle, and Reeltimeanglers. http://www.reeltimeanglers.com
Arnold Palmer, General of Arnie’s Army, was speaking of golf, but he could have been describing his own life when he said, “Success in golf depends less on strength of body than upon strength of mind and character.” His sense of fairness, kindness toward everyone, and dry sense of humor have made him one of the most popular golfers to ever play the game. And he was pretty darned good at the game, too!
As a world-famous golfer, Arnold Palmer won a majority of his 92 championships on the U.S. PGA tour. The only “major” he never won was the PGA Championship, although he finished second in three of them. Probably most noted for being the first pro to win four Masters Tournaments, it’s not surprising to find that he started playing golf at the ripe old age of four. He worked hard at developing his golf game throughout most of his life, and it shows with some of the prestigious awards he’s won including: the 1960 Hickok Professional Athlete of the Year, the 1960 Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year, and even Athlete of the Decade for the 1960s in a national Associated Press poll. The awards culminated in 2004 when President Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a ceremony at the White House.
His professional career began in 1954, just a few months after he won the U.S. Amateur Championship. The leading money winner in three of the four years spanning his biggest period from 1960 to 1963, Palmer twice represented the U.S. in the international Ryder Cup Match.
But Palmer never let all that prestige and status go to his head. He unfailingly maintained a dry and subtle sense of humor. After succumbing to bad luck on the 18th hole at the Rancho Park L.A. Open in 1961, a newsman asked how he had managed to make 12 on the par 5 hole. His reply: “I missed my putt for an 11.”
Rancho Park became his home golf course for many years. The 20th Century Fox Studios were right across the street, and many times you’d find Hollywood stars mixing with the regular golfing crowd. It’s said that after Palmer once played a round with Frank Sinatra – the famed
singer rumored to have been involved with the Italian Mafia – Sinatra asked him, “How do you like my game?” Palmer responded with a straight face, “I prefer golf.”
Palmer even got along with members of the media, laughing at the statement made by one television commentator who noted during a live broadcast that Palmer “seems to be having trouble with his long putt. However he has no trouble dropping his shorts.” That same kindness, understanding and sense of fairness have carried through his life and led to the unofficial creation of Arnie’s Army, a dedicated group of fans that has numbered in the thousands.
The honor and unceasing dedication those fans offer Palmer is well-warranted. His philanthropic efforts, while never highly publicized, have earned him recognition with those who count – the people who know him. For two decades, Palmer served as honorary national chairman of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation and has played major roles in fund-raising drives for hospitals in both Orlando, Florida, and Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the town in which he was born.
Now in semi-permanent retirement, Palmer splits his time between Latrobe and La Quinta, California. He has numerous business interests around the world and still keeps his hand in his first passion, golf, serving as a consultant to The Golf Channel, designing golf courses around the country, and owning several golf courses, including being part owner of the renowned Pebble Beach course in California.
Famed golf pro, down-to-earth father and family man, quiet philanthropist – all can be used to describe Arnold Palmer. His life in golf has mirrored his life in general. Speaking of golf, he once noted, “I’ve always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn’t have a chance to win.” It seems, however, that it has been those who know him that have been the real winners in this game.
Copyright 2005 Donald Saunders
Golf is a great sport that will not only get and keep you fit, but give you endless hours of pleasure amongst some of the world’s most beautiful scenery. Amongst some of the most interesting golf courses are those at Myrtle Beach golf and Charleston golf
We all search for it. Balance in our daily lives. Balance while riding a bike. Politicians are always debating a balanced budget in Washington, and most of us could use a little balance in our checkbooks. Balance is a term used in golf quite often as well. It’s a “buzzword” and almost a cliché when it comes to the golf swing. I am sure you have heard numerous times from swing coaches that “you have to stay balanced when swinging your club.” Others phrases that I hear when we talk about golf and balance are the following: “When it comes to a sand shot, dig your feet into the stand so you can stay balanced,” “If the ball is on an uphill lie and above your feet, make sure you swing through the ball, and stayed balanced,” and “Stay balanced when hitting the driver and get to the finish position in perfect balance.” The list could go on and on, and I am sure all of you could probably add to the short list above.
Two questions always arise in my mind when I hear the word balance in association with golf: 1) what does balance exactly mean, and 2) how do I create balance in my golf swing? I am guessing quite a few of you have these same questions, or similar ones, when you talk about the subject of balance in relation to the golf swing.
I am going to answer both of these questions. We will first define balance and its relation to the golf swing. Secondly, we will discuss how you develop the balance capacities of your body in relation to the golf swing. So without further ado let’s get started.
What is Balance?
This is a really great question and the perfect way to begin. So let’s hear it! What is the definition of balance? Think about it for a minute and then write down a couple of your answers. I understand that this is not the easiest question to answer (trust me, I have asked it plenty of times), and it is okay if you are not able to create a good working definition of balance (that’s part of what we are going to do with this article). Okay, time is up, what did you write down?
Well, let me tell you some of the replies I have received for this question and we will take if from there. Here are just a few that I hear: “head over your belly button between your feet,” “swinging a club on the correct path,” “knowing where your body is in space,” and “kinesthetic awareness.” All of these answers are somewhat correct, but none of them gives us a good sound understanding of what balance really means.
The definition of balance is simply the ability to control your body during movement. Sounds pretty simple, does it not? It really is when you think about it, but let’s break this definition down so we understand it completely. Starting with the first portion of the definition: “the ability to control” means what? Well, it is probably easiest to imagine what “out of control” looks like. Take the mental image of a racecar crashing into the wall. We could describe the car as out of control. Now take the flip side of this, and what would this car look like if it were in control? It would probably zoom around the track without hitting anything. The body is the same; if your body is out of control it will, in a sense, crash or fall over. If the body is in control, then it performs whatever movement you are asking of it without “crashing.” Take the example of a toddler running. Sometimes they get going so quickly that they get out of control and fall over. Other times they stay in control and are able to run.
Moving onto the second part of the definition: “your body.” Pretty easy concept to understand, don’t you think? Your body includes your torso, head, arms, legs, and anything attached to the arms or legs, like a golf club. Up to this point we can put together the first two parts of the definition and summarize it as:
the body (including your arms, legs, torso, head, and golf club) must be under control. Let us add the final part of the definition into the mix to complete our understanding.
The final piece of the definition is: “during movement.” This simply means anything your body is doing. It can be walking, running, throwing a baseball, or, in our world, swinging a golf club. Swinging a golf club is “our movement” when discussing this definition. We are now at the point to put the whole definition together. Let us use the example of a golf swing to create the connection we are looking for in terms of the definition.
Balance is the ability of your body (i.e. nerves, muscles, and skeleton) to swing a golf club effectively and efficiently on the correct path without changing the position of your body in such a way that it is detrimental to the swing and its outcome (i.e. contact with the ball). Pretty simple definition when you break it down, and from now on when your swing coach says, “You have to stay balanced,” you know what he is talking about.
Developing Balance in Our Golf Swing
Okay, we now know the definition of balance and its relationship to the golf swing. Now, for the second question of this article: “how do we develop balance in relationship to our golf swing?” This next section will answer this question for you. I would also bet that the answer is not as obvious as it appears.
I will first say that developing balance in your swing is a combination of a couple of factors. The first and probably most obvious factor is mechanics. The golf swing is a biomechanical movement that requires the body to take the club through a specified swing path in a certain sequence and timing. The body must learn the biomechanical movement of a golf swing to become efficient with the movement. As your body becomes aware of the movement, more efficient with the movement, and has a better “feel” for the movement, the concept of balance in your swing will improve. So the first part of developing balance in your swing is linked to the mechanics of the swing and becoming more efficient with these mechanics. This all funnels down to two things: 1) proper instruction about the swing, and 2) practice. Practice, practice, and more practice is necessary to create better balance in your swing.
The second factor has to do with a term that many of you have probably heard before. That term is “muscle memory.” Realize that within your body the skeleton is controlled by your muscles, muscles are controlled by nerves, and the nerves are told what to do by your brain. The messages sent to your muscles through your nerves by the brain create movement (i.e. muscles working to make the body move). These movements can either be efficient or inefficient. Inefficient movements by the muscular system tend to be “sloppy” and “unrefined.” Efficient movements are just the opposite. Efficient movements by your muscular system are refined and technical. Improvement in balance is a result of the latter (i.e. efficient muscular movement). Efficient muscular movement is developed through training the muscles and nerves of your body to become more efficient. This is not done through typical exercises like bench press or leg press, but through stabilization and balance exercises.
As golfers we have our priorities. Let’s get some balance in our golf swing by training our bodies, getting proper instruction, and certainly a lot of practice. Once we’ve got balance there, then we’ll start talking about balancing our checkbook or helping Washington balance the federal budget. To learn more about improving your golf swing go to our web site www.bioforcegolf.com.
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website http://www.bioforcegolf.com. Check out his manual and DVD, Your Body & Your Swing, on BioForceGolf.com
To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.
IL Fitness Tips – diet plan, exercises, weight loss and gain muscles latest information.