Featured Golf Article
Instantly slash your
golf score by creating perfect impact!
Balancing Your Checkbook And
Golf Swing
By: Sean Cochran
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 clich� 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.
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 www.bioforcegolf.com
Quick Golf Ideas
Today's Golf News
Kingston Captures South African Airways Open for First Career PGA European Tour TitleMon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT
New Episode of “Golf Fitness Academy Presented by Titleist” Focuses on Golf Fitness for WomenMon, 22 Aug 2005 00:00:00 GMT
Just Getting StartedMon, 08 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Singh, Scott Finish 1-2 Trusting Titleist Pro V1x Prototype at Kapalua
golf putter
callaway golf |
golf travel case
Our Featured Golf Writer
Discover How Golfers Use This Simple
Golf Swing eBook And Audio Course As Their Secret Training Tool In Their Quest For Lower Scores.
For The Beginner - Cast Iron Golf Clubs Or Forged?
By: Lee MacRae
With so many different makes and types of
golf clubs on the market, it is no wonder beginners, let alone the more experienced golfer, can become easily confused when it comes to buying clubs.
Follow along as we discuss each type and what may be best for you.
As a rule of thimb, it should be noted that "off the shelf" golf clubs will work for most everyone standing between five and six foot in heightl. That principle applies to both men and women. Standard clubs will come in enough variety that you should find something to fit the rest of your personal needs quite readily.
Anyone else, should take a look at getting custom fitted clubs to match their height.
Will that be cast iron or forged?
For just about all golfers, the standard cast iron golf clubs are the right choice.
The major reason? Well, cast iron golf clubs normally have a bigger "sweet spot". That refers to the area right in the middle of the club face. A larger sweet spot gives you a larger striking area and greater odds for a well-hit shot. You can still be a little "off center" and the ball is still struck well because you have a larger margin of error. Beginners especially benefit from that standard cast iron feature. Without a steady consistant swing, a larger striking area will produce better shots overall. That is why clubs like "Big Bertha" came on the market. The large oversized head obviously gives a much larger sweet spot than a normal driver. Average golfers get longer and straighter drives on a more consistant basis.
Conversely, forged iron golf clubs have a much smaller sweet spot and it is far more difficult to hit a ball well with this kind of club.
So why even make golf clubs out of forged iron, you ask?
For a very simple reason. Cast iron is a softer metal that offers a better "feel" on a shot. The more experienced golfers can use this feel to great advantage, shaping their shots, even curving them intentionally when the circumstances require it. So, in effect, they trade off the larger sweet spot for the shot shaping feel of a forged iron club.
The next thing to look at is the shaft itself. Will we get one made from steel? Or will it be a composite material?
The crucial touchstone here is club head speed. An ordinary duffer on the links will have a club head speed in the range of 80-94 mph. Generating lower speeds typically implies you should use a shaft of composite material . With a slower swing speed comes less distance on your drives. Less distance means more shots needed to reach the putting green. Not a good thing if you want to lower your score. Composite shafts will allow you to get that much needed distance on your shots. And even within the composite shaft class, you will find variations in flex and materials that will affect your game.
For those of you with faster swing speeds, and subsequenlty good distances, steel shafted clubs will give you a lot more control on your shots. This is very similar to the advantages of iron over cast clubs.
Have your swing speed determined by visiting your local pro shop or a golf store that is equiped with a swing speed radar device. Or simply buy a small radar device for yourself. You can find some small devices that operate by batteries but are effective enough to determine your swing speed.
With simply these few starting hints, it is ordinarily best if you rent a few different sets of clubs as you play and take note of how each club helps or impedes your game. You are searching to learn your personal strengths as well as weaknesses. Use as many clubs as you can beg, borrow, steal or rent. The more you use, the more you will learn about your own game.
These simple golf driving tips have proved effective in helping many golfers around the world improve their drives off the tee. Simply apply what you have read here to your own circumstances. Here's to your own improvement!
Improve your golf game with a great
golf training aid today!
Golf Snippets
SCCAL golf 2008: No looking back for Harbor's Cory McElyea
San Jose Mercury News - CA, USA
"I don't have an idol as far as high school golf.
Obviously, Tiger is my idol." McElyea has a shot for everything he
encounters on the course, Pirates coach ...
href="http://www.sportingchronicle.com/2008/03/ford-championship-at-doral-golf.html">
Ford Championship at Doral Golf Tournament Past Winners
By Sporting Chronicle(Sporting Chronicle)
In 2007 The Ford Championship at Doral was replaced on the PGA Tour schedule by the WGC-CA Championship. This new event is also staged on the Doral Golf Resort & Spa Blue Monster Course. Doral is a suburb of Miami in Florida. ...
title="http://www.sportingchronicle.com/">
Sporting Chronicle - http://www.sportingchronicle.com/
Tiger Swings for Gatorade
Adweek - New York,NY,USA
The TV spot reenacts a real moment in history when in 1971 astronaut Alan
B. Shepard, Jr., a member of Apollo 14, stroked a golf ball on the
moon an ...
Tiger's numbers are even more intimidating than his stare - Golf
ESPN - USA
... Tiger Woods has won the last three times an event was played at
Doral Resort and Spa (Doral-Ryder Open, 2005-06; World Golf
Championship event, 2007). ...
Golf Magazine lists best resorts
Sports Network - USA
New York, NY (Sports Network) - Golf Magazine announced its list of
Best Golf Resorts in the April issue. This year's list marked
the first time that golf ...
Golf Related News
The Test Scores Are In: Titleist Is Once Again the #1 Ball at the Men's and Women's NCAA Championships.
Tue, 07 Jun 2005 00:00:00 GMT
Acushnet Company Announces Licensing Agreement with Major League Baseball Properties™
Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Team Logos Available on Titleist Golf Balls, Golf Bags and Accessories
golf swing aid
womens golf clubs
golf equipment
clone golf clubs
Labels: golf clubs
Why I Like Golf training Aid
Featured Golf Article
Instantly slash your
golf score by creating perfect impact!
Wondering which golf clubs you should buy?
By: Lee MacRae
Are you looking to buy new
golf clubs? Finding it difficult to determine what will work the best for you? Newcomers especially can become bewildered by the large variety of golf clubs you see when you are looking to buy.
Read along as we discuss the types available and what they each can do for your game of golf.
First, take note of your height. Standard golf clubs are designed for individuals bewteen five and six feet. That can be said to apply to men as well as to women. By looking for standard clubs uing the hints given here, you should find something that will work well for you.
Anyone taller or shorter should take a look at custom clubs to get the proper fit.
Cast or forged iron clubs. Which?
The quick answer is "go cast iron".
And there is a reason for that. Because most standard cast iron golf clubs have a larger "sweet spot". The trem refers to the best area on the club face that will give you the maximum range and accuracy on a shot. The larger "sweet spot" you have, the less likely it is that you will hit a bad shot It makes it a little easier to hit the "bulls eye" every time on your shots. Beginners especially benefit from that standard cast iron feature. Without a steady consistant swing, a larger striking area will produce better shots overall. This is the major reason why you see larger or even "oversized" clubs made, especially the oversized drivers today. These clubs allow for a larger sweet spot and make the game a lot easier for the average player
Forged iron clubs are generally the opposite. Harder to hit with because of a smaller sweet spot on the club face.
So why would people buy a forged iron golf club?
Well, because they are made of a softer steel, they offer a better "feel" on each and every shot. The more experienced player has a much more defined and repeatable swing, allowing them to hit the smaller sweet spot with much more consistancy. They don't need that larger "margin of error" the beginner needs. And now, the better "feel" allows him or her the added advantage of being able to manoevre and/or "shape" each shot to the circumstances as needed.
The next item to consider is the material for the shaft. Will it be composite or steel?
The important thing to look at here is your club head velocity. Any typical Sunday golfer will generate a club speed of 80 to 94 mph. With speeds registering lower than that, you ought to think of using a composite style of shaft on your clubs . The result of lower swing speed is less yardage on each shot. You want to find some way to offset your lower swing speed. And that is where the composite shaft material comes in. The composite shaft will give you longer drives than you will normally get with your low swing speed and steel shafted golf clubs.
For golfers with faster swing speeds, you don't necessarily need more distance. What you really want is more control. A steel tube shaft will give you that control to go along with your acceptable distance.
Visit your local golf pro shop or look for a store that offers custom work and they will help you to determine your own club head speed and which type of shaft you should use. Or you can buy one of the many swing speed radar devices on the market and clock your speed yourself.
With just these few starting hints, it is generally best if you rent a few different sets of clubs as you play and take note of how each club assists or hinders your game. You are searching to determine your personal strong points and weak points. Try out the diverse types and sorts of clubs available to you and see what works best for your own game.
If you implement these tips and work on them, you will be certain to develop a better drive within a short period of time. Just keep on practicing and working on your improvement. It's only a matter of time before your scores begin to drop.
Improve your golf game with a great
golf training aid today!
Let's Talk About GolfRoyal Liverpool Golf Club Books - Hoylake
By valuablebook
The Open Championship returns to The Royal Liverpool Golf Club this July for the first time since 1967. The links at Royal Liverpool, known as Hoylake are very historic. Located in Lancashire England, Hoylake is the second oldest golf ...
Rare and Collectable Golf Books - http://valuablebook.wordpress.com
GOLF: Kenyan professionals lament lack of financial support
Daily Nation - Nairobi,Kenya
Kenya professional golf players have rued lack of sponsorship and tournaments saying it had contributed to their below par performance against foreign ...
See all stories on this topic
New Hot Shots Golf Out Today - What�s Next?
By Chris Hinojosa-Miranda
And now, we�re officially done with the production side (in a way) of things, and the past few year�s worth of blood, sweat, and tears has finally come to fruition: Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds is officially available nationwide, ...
PlayStation.Blog - http://blog.us.playstation.com
Golf Related News
An Iron Fitting: Eric Stull
Thu, 08 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT
In order to optimize a player's skill and equipment, Titleist believes golfers should be fit for their clubs by a PGA golf professional. This is the story of how Eric Stull, a scratch golfer, was fit for new irons by golf professional Jerry Smith.
Stunning putt seals Woods win
Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:25:32 GMT
Tiger Woods holes a 24-foot putt to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and continue his six-month winning streak.
Tiger has uncharacteristically human day
Sun, 23 Mar 2008 00:32:03 GMT
Amidst a superhuman year, Tiger Woods was downright fallible at Doral Saturday before rain halted play, says Golfweek.
Titleist Tour Report - Mercedes Championships
Sun, 08 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT
Watch video of this week's Titleist Tour Report from the Mercedes Championships.
ping golf clubs | golf club head covers
Labels: golf clubs
