Golf Putters II

As far as golf putters and heads and shapes go, there are really only a couple of definitions here. These are the blade and the mallet.

There is an abundance of both on the market. Even the less traditional looking golf putter heads are really a hybrid of both styles.

The classic shaped golf putters are the blade design or where the term ‘flat stick’ comes from.

This design probably still reigns most popular with the higher skilled, steadier nerved players because of the ‘feel’ they afford the player.

You’ll notice that most of today’s blade putters employ cavity back technology. This type of design is to help reduce any twisting of the putter face at contact.

The mallet golf putters resemble their namesake. The mallet design allows for an even weight distribution across a large area which will give the feel of a pendulum and allow for a consistent smooth stroke and get the distance needed with having to feel like you need to accelerate the putter head.

Other design considerations that you will see with golf putters will be center shafted or heel shafted. You’ll also note various degrees in the offset of the hosel.

This is where is looks like the shaft is bent forward of the putter head just before the two come together. Golf putter faces may also have inserts in them to provide the golfer with different ‘feels’ to the sweet spots. Putters even have varying degrees of loft to the putter face themselves.

I am often asked “what is the proper length of a golf putter?”

Today there isn’t a length that a shaft can’t be cut to. So the proper length of the putter is what feels best and above all what works best for you. You should pick out a putter length that matches your height and your posture over the ball.

The bottom line when picking out a golf putter that is right for you is to try out as many looks and feels as you can. Needless to say is to hit as many puts as you can when you are demo-ing golf putters for yourself.

Hit long puts, short puts, and in between puts. Golf putters that may work for me may be the worst choice you could make.

Don’t go by recommendations go by what you like. And never ever give away or get rid of that old putter… one day it might be your best friend again.

Golf Putters

The most important club in your bag, yet probably one of the least used in any given practice session is probably the golf putter.

Oh sure, you see people on the putting green.

Some with a few golf balls around them. But rarely do I see much of any serious practice time spent with golf putters.

So… it’s time for some talk about golf putters.

When it comes to reducing (or maybe better said, saving) your score the putter should become your closest friend.

Golf putters, the flat blade, the club you literally live and die by, is a club of many styles and faces.

Players of all levels pick and choose their putters by how the putter looks and feels to them. And above all, how much confidence they have in this club.

All of the mechanics of putting aside, the art of putting is as much look, feel, and confidence as anything else. The putter, more than any other golf club is in a players bag because they like they way it looks and feels and the confidence level it brings to their putting stroke. Choosing and settling on a particular putter can be a difficult task.

Since there are so many different makes, models, and styles of golf putters on the market, let’s take a look at a few of the aspects that make up this old friend of ours and maybe this will give you some food for thought.

The vast majority of the focus when considering buying a putter is on the putter head. As far as the material used in putter heads, this is as varied as the number of metals, and alloys there are available.

But again, putting is such touch and feel, don’t get caught up in what the putter head is made of, be comfortable with how the length and weight feel in your hands.

Keep in mind that lighter golf putters heads will have a tendency for you to impart a quick more hands oriented stroke while a heavier putter will probably slow your stroke down.

Keep in mind, if this is a weight change for you, you may see your putts come up short or long for awhile depending upon if you move to a lighter or heavier putter head.

Golf-Weight Shift

To get the proper distance on your golf shot while keeping your rhythm and timing in place, you have to execute the proper golf weight shift.

In fact, the improper golf weight shift is the cause of a myriad of shot problems not the least of which is a lack of distance.

Golf Weight Shift: Right Foot / Left Foot Drill

Select one of your mid irons and assume an address position with your feet about shoulder width – no further apart than that. Begin by slowly executing your swing. After several practice swings this is what I would like you to do.

As you take your backswing, I want you to lift your left foot slightly off the ground. Then, as you initiate your downswing, place your left foot back on the ground and as your swing transitions through the shot, and you begin to follow through make sure your weight transitions to the left foot by now lifting your right foot slightly off the ground.

If you initially struggle with this drill it will indicate to you that you aren’t executing your golf weight shift properly.

Note: for this drill you are not actually hitting golf balls. Rather I want to get you to comfortably and rhythmically work your golf weight shift from the right foot to the left foot…. right foot/left foot – right foot/left foot and so on until it becomes a natural movement incorporated into your golf swing.

As your foot work and weight shifts improves you’ll begin to gain much greater consistency in your golf shots and you’ll also notice much more effortless distance in your golf shots. In essence you are learning, and building tempo. Tempo is executing your backswing and downswing in the same rhythmic motion.

This drill is also an extension of your tempo building from the previous drill.

As you begin to get the hang of the golf weight shift you will be well on your way to playing better golf because now (along with what I’ve covered for you so far) you are beginning to understand and feel how all of this is coming together to provide you with a great foundation from which to work and to build your swing upon.

Continue the good work and continue to play better.

Remember it’s practice that makes permanent.

Golf Chipping Tips

The quickest, easiest, surest way to shave strokes your golf score is by improving your short game… and if it’s not with your putter… then you’ve gotta get up and down when you’re around the green and that’s why today we’re going to discuss some vital golf chipping tips.

This becomes even more amplified for the mid to higher handicap golfer simply because by definition the higher handicapper won’t be as accurate with their approach shots, hence they will miss more greens… when you miss more greens; you need to have a short game that can get you up and down from off the green.

A good short game is a great remedy for earlier misguided shots… not to mention a good short game will put more pressure on your opponents.

A good golf chipping practice drill for you is to take a handful of golf balls and from just off the practice green play a round of par 2 golf. Chip your five or so balls at the hole… once done putt your chips in starting with chip that came the closest. If you’re down in 2 then you par… if not… you bogey.

A couple of benefits with this golf chipping drill will happen here. First your chipping and putting will begin to improve. Secondly, you’ll be simulating what really goes on when you’re playing your rounds of golf.

Now if you want to even more accurately what reflects an actual round of golf, get together with one of your playing partners and work this golf chipping drill with a bit of friendly competition added to the mix.

No matter what the stakes (or steaks) are, this will assuredly heighten your focus or even make you pucker up a bit… but this is what we want…

And that is to get you to a comfort level with some real time pressure and game like environment. The more you put yourself in this type of situation the more comfortable you and your game will become. Don’t under estimate the value of this golf chipping tip.

Golf Practice Drills-Your Feet

Balance and rhythm within a golf swing is tantamount to consistency and successful golf shots.

As you know by now the golf swing certainly is not about applying brute force.

With that in mind let’s look a simple yet very effective golf practice drills that will help you promote rhythm and balance in your golf swing. This is one of the most popular drills because it is so easy and effective. And it’s one you can use to warm up or even stay loose.

Golf Practice Drills – Feet Together Drill

Keeping your feet together (or very close to it) practice hitting a ball that is teed up. Swing very slowly at first thinking of a pendulum on a clock.

Focused on rhythm and timing and solid contact (distance is of no concern here). Just focus on a smooth back and forth – to and fro motion and making good contact. Once you are able to consistently make good contact with a consistent rhythm and motion, move the ball off the tee and onto the grass and continue to work the drill.

As you progress with golf practice drills and become more comfortable with your rhythm, balance, and timing you may be surprised at just how far the ball will travel with such an apparent lack of effort… good!

This is what I want. You’ll begin to see that it’s all about rhythm, timing and balance.

The net benefit of this golf practice drill is to improve your timing along with your balance and rhythm. This drill will also reduce the amount of swaying within your golf swing (a very common fault among beginners and high handicappers). This is accomplished via this drill by creating a narrow balance point with your feet so close together.

This is a great drill to always remember and to keep in your tool kit. During those times when your swing has seemed to have left you (it happens to everyone) you can break this drill out and actually can regain your apparent lost rhythm and timing. Even during your round of golf.

And believe me, once you begin to get your rhythm and timing back, a little thing call confidence won’t be far behind.

The feet together golf practice drills – a great drill to either learn or get back rhythm, timing, and balance. A drill you can break out as an on the fly fix at any time. A drill that can actually correct and even prevent many swing faults.

So, keep this drill handy and use it often.

Golf Swing Training Aids

Really… the game of golf should be so simple. Golf, the game you can enjoy for a lifetime.

But if you’re struggling with your golf game and your golf swing, looking at the prospect of playing golf for a lifetime may seem more like a sentence than a vacation.

Look, you know there are all kinds of golf swing training aids out there. We offer many of the most effective and popular training aids and practice equipment.

Including the very popular – in fact chosen by golf pros as the #1 swing trainer club in the world – Medicus Dual Hinge 5 Iron and the Medicus Dual Hinged Driver.

Many of them are very useful and if used prudently will lower your golf score. Golf-ology.com will hopefully help you as you navigate around. But, let’s be frank. The best golf training aids for you is you.

There is no amount of money spent on golf instruction that is going to by default suddenly improve your golf game. If this were the case, my game would be impeccable and all the millionaires would be scratch golfers!

So you see the common denominator is you.

Golf is like any other activity. The more consistent time you are willing to spend on improving your golf game the more your game will improve. And only you can determine this.

Of course the standard approach to playing better golf is to seek out and take some lessons. Getting some qualified golf instruction is a good place to start.

Starting out on the right track with a good understanding of the golf swing and the physics of it will help you to begin to develop the right muscle groups for the golf swing and your balance.

Once you have an understanding of the mechanics of the golf swing, then it’s time to practice. Don’t take on too much information early on. I can’t emphasize this enough. Get a basic understanding of the golf swing then work to reproduce the swing consistently. By this I mean don’t worry about different golf shots, drawing, fading, hooking, or slicing the golf ball. Don’t worry about what club does what. Focus on the reproduction of a solid golf swing.

With golf swing training aids you can get your swing to a good comfort level by developing the proper muscles used in the golf swing. There are many great strength and flexibility exercises you can do. Golf exercises are very, very important. Don’t put a high value on results early on. Learn just the swing. Get your body comfortable with the golf swing. Not golf shots. The shots will come with a consistent swing.

Even now, when I am not getting the results I want from my game, I get back to the swing. Not the clubs, not the golf shot. I work to get comfortable and confident with my swing. The irony is that I work to get my swing back to where I am not thinking about my golf swing when I am standing over the shot. I want to know the swing is there, so I can then focus on the specific shot.

Also, take some time to look around the website. We have many helpful articles on many aspects of the golf game both physical and mental, and for all levels. But remember, the best golf swing training aids start and end with you.

Golf Gifts

Looking for the perfect golf gifts for the golf maniac in your life?

Being a golf maniac myself, I’m not sure that there is the ‘perfect golf gifts’. That’s because there are so many possibilities, that I don’t think I could unequivocally designate one as my perfect golf gift.

But, if you have an avid golfer in your life, please don’t let that stop you from trying.  Austad’s has a vast amount of golf gifts in their warehouse.

And maybe, in the next few paragraphs, I can give you some ideas on perhaps a golf gift and accessory, or a golf novelty gift.

If the golf gifts that you may have in mind is one of more golf swing related maybe I can help you with a few ideas there too. To be sure, when it comes to gifts for the golfer, the avenues are many. But, don’t panic this is a good thing.

As a rule we golfers really aren’t that particular about the golf gifts we receive from our family and loved ones, even though we fuss for hours at time if we have to pick out a gift or piece of golf equipment for ourselves. Besides, if you truly do hit a mental stalemate trying to think of a gift for your golfer, you can always get a gift certificate to fit the bill.

Believe me, there is just about anything imaginable out there when it comes to golf gifts. Whether it is some custom logos, monogrammed head covers, or perhaps chocolate (or exploding) golf balls you’re thinking of getting, there is a gift for every type of golf enthusiast.

For example you could go the golf gear and accessories route which would include such items as: golf bag accessories, golf ball retrievers, golf coolers, golf shoes, rain gear, head covers, golf towels, etc. Not quite it?

How about golf décor for the home or office with such items as golf art, golf bar equipment, golf for the bed and bath, golf desk accents, lamps, clocks, doormats, or even golf kitchen stuff!

Maybe it’s the golf swing or the game itself that should be the benefit of a few well chosen golf gifts! If so, you may want to look into practice putting greens, golf practice nets, or some type of swing trainer. There are many quality practice and golf swing aids available to improve one’s golf game.

Whatever your choice for the golf lover on your list (even if it’s for yourself) I am sure it will be well received.

Golf Fitness Exercises

A good group of golf fitness exercises will include a consistent routine that will improve your strength and flexibility and will provide for gradual and long term increase in your endurance.

It’s a fact that if you lose your focus and intensity after a few holes and your shots begin to wander off line, your overall golf fitness may be at odds with your game.

Golf may not conjure up visions of tri-athletes, but golfers that walk the course can put as much as 5 miles in by the end of round. This alone certainly validates why good golf fitness exercises is essential to your game.

One, often overlooked, component when I discuss the aspects of physical fitness and in particular those specific to golf fitness, is the subject of nutrition.

Not only do you need to attend to the physical aspects of your golf fitness exercises, but your body needs fuel and it needs proper fuel. It’s not within the scope of this article to go into the various food groups and proper diet, but generally speaking, stay off the junk and highly processed foods.

Be sure to stay with fruits and veggies, lean proteins (easy on the red meats), and plenty of water. I think you’ll find that the stronger and healthier you feel, the healthier you’ll want to eat and the cravings for those dietetically forbidden foods will greatly diminish.

You don’t have to starve, just watch what you eat and control your portions. And you’ll do fine.

As all this begins to come together for you, and you begin to reap the rewards of your golf fitness exercises, first you will feel better. When you feel better, you will be able to focus and concentrate throughout your round.

Visualization is such a large part of a good golf shot. Lack of concentration and focus diminishes your chances of producing good results. Physically you will be stronger and mentally you will be tougher. Your scores will go lower.

Keep in mind that you should look at your golf fitness exercises as a long term daily routine. When it comes to fitness, it doesn’t happen overnight or even in a couple weeks. Remember, we’re not in training here. We are changing our habits.

If you’re persistent with your goal to improve your game from the inside out, your golf game will follow. Stay with it!

Golf Fitness Program

Now that you have broken the ice with your golf fitness program and exercise routine, let’s begin to add the next ingredient… endurance.

Like any physical attribute, endurance doesn’t just happen. And it doesn’t just happen for your golf game by hitting massive amounts of range balls either.

When I speak of endurance, I refer to actual aerobic fitness for you golf game.

Endurance or more precisely, the lack of it is probably the single most prevalent factor in one’s game losing its edge through the course of the day.

Even if you ride in the cart! Don’t kid yourself.

Golf is such a precise game and requires such precise timing and contact, that any deterioration in muscular execution can and will add strokes to your round. Even if you perceive yourself to be ‘tired’ or not. When your muscular strength begins to wane, so will your focus. So, endurance is a double edged sword. Without it your muscular execution begins to change and so does your focus and mental toughness.

The best golf fitness program there is for the endurance piece of your golf fitness routine is to get out and walk. It’s free, it’s actually quite relaxing, and it works. And I don’t mean a leisurely stroll for a few minutes around your local mall. Get outside. You golf outside.

You have to work your way up to where you are walking up and down some hills. Maybe not initially, but eventually.

If you can, walk across real terrain as part of your golf fitness program, not just down the sidewalk.

Get your muscles used to the ups the downs and the shifting of the footing underneath you. These types of golf exercises are invaluable!

If you walk only at the mall for example, then get out on the golf course where your muscles begin to experience, and have to adjust to hills, the bumps and clumps of grass, sand, and all the other terrain, you will find that this will bring other muscles into play… muscles that won’t be in shape and will tire and get sore.

Remember, the goal of (and by definition) endurance equates to aerobic fitness or cardiovascular fitness so; you’re going to have to work up a bit of a sweat to achieve this. But think long term.

Do not try to elevate your endurance over a short period of time. We’re not going into ‘training’ here. We are talking about a consistent golf exercise and golf fitness program that you can manage and enjoy for the long haul. Your endurance will come literally one step at a time. So let it.

O.K… back from your walk already!

Great!

Let’s finish up with complementing your golf fitness program with proper nutrition and how all this ties together to improving your golf game from the inside out.

Golf Fitness And Exercise

So many of us work so hard to improve our golf game by literally sweating over the details of the mechanics of the golf swing itself with hours of ball striking.

I would suggest that we allocate some of that time and sweat to a golf fitness program for ourselves. You literally can change your golf game from the inside out.

Here is an all too often scenario that I hear in the locker room and at the 19th hole.

I started out struggling, hit my stride and hit some great golf shots during the middle holes then my golf game limped in to the finish line. Is this ever happen (or is happening) to you?

Are you seeing more missed putts? Is your short game not hold up for the entire round. Do your drives sometime begin to wander off later in round? For that matter, do allow the disappointment of one golf shot, or hole lead to another?

If any of this is becoming a characteristic of your golf game, I strongly encourage you to spend more consistent and quality time on the golf fitness side of the ‘how can I improve my golf game’ equation. Let’s take a look at the areas that are involved in the scenario and the questions brought forth just a moment ago as they pertain to golf fitness and improving your golf game.

First on the list is flexibility for your golf game. “It took me a couple of holes to get going, but once I did…” Ah, yes.

To be forever young and be able to step out of the car and into the clubhouse and sign off on my tee time just 15 minutes before taking the first tee. Only a distant memory?

Warming up a bit before that first tee shot is certainly helpful but, I’m talking about stretching on a regular basis.

Not just while you’re waiting for the foursome ahead of you to get out of range. When it comes to flexibility, a small amount of time invested on a regular basis will enable you to see significant increases in the range of motion of your muscles. This will not only free up your golf swing, but you’ll feel better overall. So start today.

For the obvious, a few words on strength. Incorporate some strength training in your golf exercises and your newly acquired golf fitness program. I’m not talking about putting on your bikini briefs and pumping iron.

But, I am talking about lower weight resistance and a higher number of repetitions. Working with flexible elastic bands designed for this type of exercise work great and are easily portable.

With the lighter weight and the higher repetition routine, I want you to concentrate on achieving a full range of motion with your movement and not just jerking the weight across a short range of motion.

Of course it goes without saying, that you should consult with your physician before embarking on any fitness or exercise routine, but at a high level you should go through your golf stretching routine daily, and your golf strengthening routine at least 3 times a week.

It doesn’t have to long amount of time each day. Just do them consistently within your schedule.

Up next let’s take a look at adding some endurance to our fitness for golf program and how that will benefit our game.

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