Replacing Golf Club Grips

Replacing your golf club grips or re-gripping your clubs is not only a good maintenance practice but it is also very easy to do.

Depending upon how many rounds per year or season you play, you should seriously consider re-gripping your golf clubs annually. Or, at the very least the clubs that you most often use.

Remember the amount you practice also will have a great bearing on how often your re-grip your clubs and which clubs will be in need of a re-gripping.

Each spring, for example is the time to get this done. You’ll want to begin each season with each of your clubs having the same feel to it. Since golf grips deteriorate gradually over time, you don’t always notice that a club is in need of new grips until they get well past the point of needing it.

Re-gripping your clubs is not a difficult task at all. All you need are just a couple of basic tools and a couple hours of your time and you can save yourself some pretty decent money.

Let’s take a look at what you’ll need.

• Your new golf grips (of course)
• A utility knife (with a sharp blade)
• Double sided tape (available at any retail golf shop)
• Mineral spirits (check the paint department)
• Work bench with a vice

First place your club in the vice with the grip fully exposed.

I like to wrap a towel around the shaft to keep from scratching it. Also, I like to set the vice as close to where the grip begins so as to not to be able to exert undue leverage on the shaft or the hosel of the golf club.

Take your utility knife with just enough of the blade exposed to cut through the old grip, cut the length of the grip.

Start with one cut down each side. Then pull the old grip off the golf club. Use your mineral spirits at this point to soften up the old tape and remove the old tape from the shaft of the club. Once done, let the shaft dry for just a couple of minutes.
Next, getting the double-sided tape on the shaft is a matter of preference, but this is what works for me.

I take the club out of the vice and hold it like a plumb bob. Then I take my double-sided tape and start at the bottom area of the where the new grip will be and begin wrapping the tape up the shaft toward the top.

I go up with the tape at about a 30 to 40 degree angle. I leave a small space in between each wrap of tape so when I have reached the top of the club the tape on the club resembles an old style barber pole look. The key is to just take your time and not to wrinkle the tape.

Now you’ve got re-gripping your golf club whipped.

Once you have the double sided tape spiraled up the shaft, simply remove the outer layer of the tape to expose the other sticky side of the double sided tape.

Next I put the club back into the vice. Take your first new golf grip and with one finger over the small opening on the top of the grip, pour just a bit of your mineral spirits into the grip and give it a couple good shakes the pour out the mineral spirits over the top of your new tape job. I like to work with a bucket underneath to catch the mineral spirits.
With the grip and the tape now prepped with the mineral spirits, work the new grip over the end of the shaft and slide it down the tape.

While the grip and the tape are still wet, take the club out of the vice grip and make the final adjustments to the golf grip.

All of the golf grips will either have some sort of pattern on them or a ‘nick’ just at the bottom of the grip you can use for alignment.
And there you have it. Set that club aside and go on to the next.

Once complete, let your new golf club grips dry for a few hours and you’ll be all set.

Golf Training Aids

There are many different types of golf swing faults so consequently there are just about as many golf training aids to help you with your swing fault no matter what it may be.

Obviously, your golf swing, and the ability to repeat it over and over with accuracy, is the key to your golf game and your handicap.

One thought that I would like you to consider before you consider investing in one or more of the golf training aids, is to first evaluate and consider your level of flexibility and strength.

I would submit to you that you should embark on a strength and flexibility program for your golf game before investing in any of the golf training aids.

Why?

Well, because I think you will find that your swing will evolve and change as a result of you gaining proper strength and flexibility in your ‘golf muscles’. And when you do this your swing is going to change (and more than likely improve just by doing this first).

One of the easiest pieces of equipment for stretching and strengthening that I found is the GolfGym PowerSwing Trainer. This equipment is great for getting started on a program of golf conditioning for your swing. I use the GolfGym PowerSwing Trainer quite a lot, particularly in the off season. And it’s great to travel with, as it packs away quite easily.

I truly feel that getting the most out of any golf training aid is greatly enhanced by the student first understanding the mechanics and the physics of the golf swing first. Without truly understanding why your golf shot does what it does, how do you really know what part of your swing mechanics needs the focus?

Of course, I shouldn’t have to mention, that once you decide on any of the golf training aids available, it is up to you to use it, and practice the concept of it. Remember, (and this is a crucial point) when it comes to changing your golf swing for the better, the short term results will be worse.

This is without exception for anyone. You must persist through the initial bad results of any change you make. Stay with it. Fight off the natural tendency to ‘just go back’ to my old swing. If you do, the better results will indeed come.

Golf Tips: Swing Timing

Once you begin to understand proper golf swing mechanics, you’ll soon realize that the key to consistency in managing your distances and as such dropping your handicap is to improve your golf swing timing.

I am often asked how to achieve consistent timing in the golf swing.

Quite frankly, if you are consciously thinking about your golf swing timing you probably aren’t going have it for that outing.

Timing in the golf swing is really a product, an end result. Not a conscious action that your brain fires to your muscles at just the precise moment. Not at all.

With all the physics involved in the golf swing and propelling the golf ball down the course with maximum efficiency, it would be impossible for us humanoids to consistently ‘pull the trigger’ on the golf club at precise moment in the swing to achieve the best results.

Not only impossible to do so consistently, but toss in all the various distances and it now becomes even more than impossible.

So, proper golf swing timing; how does it happen?

Remember, I started out with the premise that you have begun to understand proper golf swing mechanics and you have and are applying them through practice.

If so, you are becoming aware of timing’s closest friend and ally… rhythm. Just like the pendulum is to an old reliable grandfather clock, so is rhythm to your golf swing. Tick – tock.  The proper timing of your golf swing won’t show up with out his good friend rhythm.

Your golf swing should be executed with your shoulders and your upper arms taking the club back on your target line with your forearms and hands remaining quiet and enjoying the ride. Your legs control your weight shift and distribution and they anchor your full turn inside your body line.

As your legs begin to transfer your weight from your back foot to the front your hands must

remain quiet and calm. It is at this critical juncture, that you must resist the urge to ‘fire’ the hands and club head at the golf ball. Be patient. Your hands and club head will catch up; and catch up in a big way.

Remember, your rhythm will bring your timing in your golf swing and as a result evoke the immutable laws of physics. This will bring everything together and release a vast amount of stored energy at the precise moment with very little conscious effort on your part.

Its tick-tock, back foot-front foot; Tick-tock, back foot-front foot. It’s the comfort of a metronome like swing that your golf swing timing will consistently flourish in.

Work to establish a consistent rhythm in your golf swing. Learn to trust your swing timing as a product of your mechanics and rhythm.

Golf Swing Help

All golfers agree that working on and refining your golf swing fundamentals so that they can be consistently repeated over and over, and that will hold up under the pressure of those nerve racking $5 Nassau’s is the key to long term improvement in your golf game and your wallet.

The fundamentals of the golf swing itself are the takeaway and backswing, the transition to and the downswing, and the impact and the follow through.

Within each of these segments are sub actions and categories but let’s take high level look at these basic foundations of golf swing fundamentals.

The takeaway and the resulting backswing is where it all begins. This is what sets up the rest of your golf swing and the results that your swing will produce. Tempo, body rotation, and arm extension are three very important aspects of this part of the golf swing.

Tempo is established at this point. The tone of your swing is tempo. Even with all other physical aspects in reasonably good shape, bad or inconsistent tempo will only allow for spotty results at best. Work on a smooth rhythmic tempo.

Probably the most difficult part of golf swing fundamentals (from a physical aspect) for every golfer is making the transition from the backswing into the downswing.

At the top of the backswing, and poised for striking the ball, the biggest mistake made (especially by higher handicap golfers) is to initiate the downswing by accelerating the hands and forearms toward the golf ball. This is wrong end of the body and nothing much good can happen when you do this.

The backswing to downswing transition is always… always initiated from the ground up with

your weight beginning to transfer from you back foot to your front. This is followed by your hips beginning to rotate with the occurring weigh shift. In fact, your upper body and ultimately your hands and arms should feel a slight delay behind the actions of your feet, legs, and hips.

Although certainly an important part of the golf swing fundamentals, the impact and follow

through are a result of the backswing – transition – downswing.

If you haven’t completed the first actions in good fashion, your impact and follow through have little chance.

If however, you’re still on track, at impact your weight should be just on the outside of your front heel and on the inside of your back foot with your left hip rotated and clearing the path for your right hip, arms, and hands to track down the target line.

The physics and fundamentals of the entire golf swing is an exercise in creating resistance and tension in the body then transitioning it and releasing it at the most precise time; all the while being effortless, smooth, and with good tempo.

By definition this is an awkward movement for your body to create with great consistency. But with great consistency and dedication to your practice routine, your golf swing fundamentals and your score will improve over time.

Golf Tips: Golf Swing Consistency

Golf swing consistency improvement is what every golfer at every level is in constant search and stability thereof.

It is indeed an elusive animal, but let’s take a look at what gives you the best opportunity to improve your golf swing consistency.

The first aspect that comes to most people’s mind when trying to improve the consistency in their golf swing is to immediately start looking at and discussing the mechanics of the golf swing.

Although this is indeed a vital part of swing consistency, let’s take a small step back and consider what it is that executes your golf swing and what it is that effects your play more than any knowledge you may posses or any equipment that you may carry in your golf bag.

I am referring to your body and the physical condition that you are in.

Now don’t run off… or should I say ‘click’ off just yet.

I’m not going to spend a vast amount time suggesting or laying out an exercise routine for you.

But, if you are seriously looking at your game and you know that golf swing consistency improvement is a goal for you then I simply suggest that you honestly evaluate your current strength, flexibility and stamina.

Honestly, even if you completely and competently understand and can even replicate excellent golf swing mechanics; can you maintain that precision throughout an entire round or rounds of golf?

You want the same consistency on the last tee box as you had on the first don’t you? Consider getting yourself on some stretching exercises 3 to 4 times a week. And do some walking a few times a week as well.

You should take a look at GolfGym PowerSwing Trainerif you want to personalize specific exercises, or if you are seriously dedicated to your game take and want a more comprehensive fitness approach thenFitness for Golfin an excellent resource and would be the best for you.

Either way, improving your strength, flexibility, and stamina, is the first step toward golf swing consistency improvement. Your body is the machine that’s swings your golf club.

Improve Your Golf Swing Now

In a previous article on golf swing consistency improvement I discuss the importance of golf fitness when it comes to insuring that your golf swing consistency improves for you.

As you probably well know by now if you have been working on your golf swing or just beginning, this thing we call a golf swing is a very complex set of movements and dynamics that have to come together at a fairly precise moment in order to produce a good golf shot.

And not only that, this incredible chain of events doesn’t only just have to happen once; it has to happen again and again in order to produce a satisfying round of golf for you.

So, if you have decided to indeed improve your golf conditioning with your own program or perhaps an even more serious approach with an overall golf fitness program, that great! You are definitely on your way.

Since you are officially underway on your quest toward golf swing consistency improvement, I would like to discuss with you a moment about setting your expectations on this endeavor.

First of all, a thought on practicing.

As you work on your golf swing, practice with a purpose. Don’t just go to your local practice range and pound buckets of balls.

This will do you more harm than good. In the early stages of your learning curve it is extremely more effective to adopt a strategy of it’s not how much I can practice at one time; it’s how often I take the time to practice the consistency in my golf swing in short focused sessions. Hitting ball after ball until you mentally and physically tire is very counter productive.

This next part is extremely important.

Whether you are just beginning or perhaps have been playing awhile and are seriously now trying to improve your golf swing consistency, you need to understand that your proper practice is going to bring about change, and change will bring about some ugly golf shots. And, unfortunately, ugly golf shots will bring about some doubt and maybe some lack of confidence. Know that you are not alone or unique in this experience.

Hardly. Everyone will go through it from the amateur to the professional golfer.

If doubt or lack of confidence begins to overwhelm you, take a step back and get a lesson or lessons. Work with your teaching professional. But, don’t give up. The golf swing is complex and it isn’t learned (or changed) just by hoping so.

Golf swing consistency improvement is a project always under construction. Don’t give up. And do just ‘go back to the way I was hitting the golf ball’. You’re not standing on the practice or have read this article because your are happy with how you were hitting the ball.

Be patient and persistent with yourself and your swing improvements will come.

Discount Golf Balls

Through it all, for the vast majority of us, discount golf balls roll and fly just as straight.

And they are certainly a lot less painful to leave in the woods or send to a watery grave!

And, like the rest of its golf equipment family, golf balls are engineered, patented, and marketed more than any other type of sporting equipment.

And just like all the other types of golf equipment, there’s a definite marketing suggestion that a higher engineered more expensive ball will improve your game.

With golf balls technology has been the name of the game.

With so many types of golfers and golf swings on courses today, technology has tried to provide for all levels of players.

For the lower handicapper or better player a specific type of golf ball will add an element of confidence and performance that will enhance their game to a certain degree. But for most of, a bit of technology combined with good wholesale golf balls will fit our golf game nicely.

Let’s take a look at some of the inner and outer workings of the golf ball so you’ll have an understanding of the technology as you combine the material information with a good price on golf balls.

The driving force (no pun intended… I think) behind golf ball manufacturing is to create spin and distance. Golf ball technology has advanced now to give you three basic choices in the construction: two piece, three piece, and multi-layer. Certainly straight forward enough. Two piece golf balls are simply the outer layer and the core. The simplicity of this design allows for a harder core which will result in more distance (assuming you get the ball airborne) but, will impart less spin on the golf ball.

Three piece balls add a layer of wound rubber between the core and the outer skin. This has the affect of softening the blow between the club head and the ball. This provides a better feel and more spin, but a bit less distance.

Multi-layer balls are just that. Without going into the physics of ball flight, the short answer is that multi-layer golf balls is technology’s answer to providing, distance, spin, and feel into one ball. And if you haven’t concluded by now, the more layers you opt for the more you’ll probably pay.

Used Golf Clubs: How To Choose

When it comes time to actually choose a set of used golf clubs for your self you may not be thinking too much about the technical specs of the used golf clubs you may be looking at.

In fact, you may only grab them, take a few practice swings, check to see if they look and feel OK for your swing. Although, not the best way to fit yourself to your clubs, many people take this approach in buying used golf clubs.

Needless to say, this approach takes nothing about your physical structure, your swing, or your current ability into account.

If you are a beginning golfer or just underway with the game, all of the technical specs may not be that big of concern to you, but you should be a bit familiar with some what and why’s of golf clubs.

Choosing the right golf clubs for you is important; especially for those beginning golfers who are just establishing their golf swing. If your posture, grip, and setup are affected by improperly fitted golf clubs, then your swing and golf game may be off on the wrong foot right out of the gate with bad habits. So, keep in mind the importance of properly fitted golf clubs and

When it comes time to actually choose a set of used golf clubs for your self you may not be thinking too much about the technical specs of the used golf clubs you may be looking at.

In fact, you may only grab them, take a few practice swings, check to see if they look and feel OK for your swing. Although, not the best way to fit yourself to your clubs, many people take this approach in buying used golf clubs.

Needless to say, this approach takes nothing about your physical structure, your swing, or your current ability into account.

If you are a beginning golfer or just underway with the game, all of the technical specs may not be that big of concern to you, but you should be a bit familiar with some what and why’s of golf clubs.

Choosing the right golf clubs for you is important; especially for those beginning golfers who are just establishing their golf swing. If your posture, grip, and setup are affected by improperly fitted golf clubs, then your swing and golf game may be off on the wrong foot right out of the gate with bad habits. So, keep in mind the importance of properly fitted golf clubs and how to determining the proper fit.

By definition in the rules of golf you are allowed to carry a maximum of 14 clubs in your golf bag at any one time. There is not any restriction on what type of clubs these must be… just a maximum number allowed. This is why you should opt for clubs that best fit your ability as a golfer.

For instance, long irons (such as the 1, 2, and 3 irons) are the most difficult to hit. As a beginner, you should opt these clubs out and look for as they are too difficult to hit and too unforgiving. You should replace your long irons with a 5 wood and 7 wood. So, let pause for a quick review of what we have in the bag so far.

Driver
3 – 5 – 7 woods
4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 irons
and a putter.

So, were up to 11 clubs with 3 remaining. This leads us to the very important short game clubs. I would suggest that is were you use your three remaining choices with a pitching wedge, a sand wedge and an in between the two (in terms of yardage) wedge know by most terms as the gap wedge.

If you opt to only carry two wedges (the pitch and the sand wedge) you may find that the yardage difference between these two clubs will leave you wishing you had that gap wedge to use.

In summary, although you may be in the market for a set of used golf clubs, do completely sacrifice functionality and what fits your game solely for the sake of price. Take a few moments to check out the Callaway Golf Pre-Owned Clubs web site and other such quality sites as Pinemeadow Golf.com.  With these two sites you can combine price, quality, and fit, into a good set of used golf clubs that will work for your game.

Golf Clubs: Choosing The Right Ones

The marketing of the game of golf to regular golfers is an interesting phenomenon.

I can’t think of another sport that puts so much credence on how the equipment can improve or make and break your game.

If someone landed here from some foreign galaxy, they would be led to think by much of the marketing that all they would have to do to be proficient at the game would be to purchase the best equipment…

and wa-lah…

No matter the swing the golf clubs will compensate. Of course we know this not to be true, however, choosing the right golf clubs for your game and swing is important enough to consider. But, with all the golf club

marketing out there going on, what’s a golfer to do? Well, let’s take a look at a few points worth considering when you’re in the process of choosing golf clubs.

First of all, know your skill level. If you are just starting out, picking out golf clubs that are designed for an expert or a more advanced golfer will only hinder your progress.

More advanced levels of golf clubs are basically less corrective in their design. This is because more advanced players don’t want the design to the club to be attempting to always correct the flight of the ball. Advanced golfers want to control this themselves so they will play with ‘less forgiving’ clubs than you should if you are just beginning.

Don’t blow your bank account. As mentioned in the very first paragraph, all lot about golf clubs and golf equipment is marketing. Combine this with being honest with your skill level and choose your golf clubs accordingly.

• Are you a weekend golfer?
• Barely occasional?
• Do play golf regularly?
• Do you play competitively?
• Is your goal to play more and play competitively?

All questions to consider.

If you don’t golf all that regularly now but are definitely going to golf more in the near future and work seriously on you game then you may want push the upside of your budget more if not and you only occasionally get out with your friends, then there is no need to go high end with the golf clubs. The key is to be very honest when you answer these questions.