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.

Golf Tips: Getting Off The Tee

Let’s talk about your tee shots. Next to putting, the tee shot is probably the most influential part of your golf game when it comes to how you score and your handicap.

First of all, remember this… your driver isn’t always the best club for you to hit. Now knowing this and being disciplined enough to keep the driver in the bag may be two different things. Don’t get me wrong…

If you’re hitting the driver well, it’s the right choice. But don’t let your ego get involved in your score.

Approach each tee shot with a plan.

Pick out a spot where you want to play your next shot from then picture yourself hitting that spot. Remember, if you’re having an off day with your driver, hitting your 2nd shot from the fairway is much better than taking strokes to recover from a wayward drive. So, if you need to pick out a spot a club or two down from your driver then do so.

After you’ve stood behind your ball and picked out your target from the tee, then pick out a shorter intermediate target on your line that you can line yourself and your clubface up to. When you do this you accomplish a couple of positive things. Number one and most obvious is that you have confidence that your alignment is correct. And since you have been practicing your alignment you now have confidence in your perceived confidence!

Secondly, there is a very beneficial side effect that picking out a shorter intermediate target has; it works for me and I continually see work with those golfers I work with.

By picking an intermediate target you’ll find that you will take a lot of pressure off your swing. You won’t feel as though you have to ‘reach back for that little extra’ to get to your target. As such your rhythm and tempo will be better. You won’t have such a tendency to over swing; because you’re just trying to get your shot started down the line that you know is correct.

Rolled up, what all of this means is that you’ll provide the swing and let the club do the work instead of trying to get too much out both your swing and the club.

Remember the fairway is, over all, more important than extra distance.

The object here as we’ve discussed these tips is for you to stand on the tee box with a plan and with confidence. As part of your plan, you will pick out a target that coincides with where you want your tee shot to end up. This will trigger your focus and help eliminate other visual variables that the golf hole throws at you. Picking an intermediate target will help get you aligned and keep you swing within yourself know that the club will do good work when you allow it to do so.

Head off to practice now and continue on that rhythm and tempo thing… and just getting the ball started toward your target. You’ll soon find that you can have both good distance along with accuracy.

Golf Tips: It’s In Your Touch

We’ve been working on our short game for the last few issues and for a very good reason.

To become a consistently good or even improved player (key word consistent), you have to posses a good short game. It doesn’t matter who your are, there are going to be times (even days) when you aren’t hitting the greens… hello short game!

Believe me… it is within one’s short game, where by improving it, you can quickly and easily shave numerous strokes off your golf game.

For this time around I want to work with you on developing some touch with your various clubs. In the past I’ve mentioned how important it is for your short game to get the ball on the green and get it rolling toward the hole as soon as possible. The purpose of this next drill is to get you an understanding of the flight and roll characteristics of each of your clubs.

From just off the green and varying distances, pick out a landing spot on the green. You could even stick a tee into the practice green to mark your spot.

Next, with varying clubs, work to chip or pitch your golf ball to hit your landing spot. The idea here is to not only begin to learn the various ball flights of each club, but to also understand the roll characteristics of the ball after it hits the green. Again, we aren’t trying to necessarily get the ball to the pin…

we want to hit the landing spot and learn what the ball does (or doesn’t do from there).

In doing this practice drill you’ll soon begin to get a feel for what each club will do. This will develop your ‘touch’ around the green and it will get those of you who have become locked in to using the same club around the green no matter what the circumstance off of that bad habit as well.

You will also develop a very good sense of what your favorite club to use is under what type of circumstance the shot demands…

and under pressure you’ll confidently know that this club is indeed the club for the job at hand.

A side note hear is that once you have practiced this drill for a while and your understanding and comfort level is good, begin to challenge yourself further by deteriorating your lies a bit.

Remember, on the course you won’t always get a nice cushy lie to work with so once you begin to groove your short chips and pitches, then you’ll want to add some degree of difficulty with less than perfect lies to your practice routine.

Golf Tips: Range To Game I

One of the more frequently visited topics that comes up is how come I can go to the golf practice range and do so well, but when I go to the golf course to play a round a different golfer shows up?

If this somewhat describes you, don’t panic. It is a very common ailment among golfers.

Aside from keeping in mind that just on a daily basis alone your golf swing is going to produce different results and scenarios for you to overcome. Welcome to the wonderful game of golf!

But in all seriousness here in the next couple of articles, I’ll discuss a few golf tips and techniques that will help you get your golf game from the driving range to the golf course.

First of all, I make the assumption that you are practicing your golf game on a regular basis and not expecting your game to just miraculously ‘show up’ for you on the first tee.

With this in mind I think that most people should consider that how they practice affects their ‘on course’ behavior. Frequently, the resolution to the mysterious vanishing golf swing is in how you practice to get better.

Certainly to gain proficiency at golf one must hit a lot of golf balls. And there are certainly times when your practice routine is one of just focusing on getting your rhythm and timing going. But to get your game from the range to the course you have to focus on certain aspects.

As a part of your golf practice routine you should practice or emulate real golf. First of all (assuming you’ve properly warmed up) starting with driver, pick out your target and give yourself some fairway parameters. By that I mean that say… the flag to left from that flag to the right is the width of my fairway… outside of that I’m in the rough or even O.B.

Stand behind the ball and reaffirm your target line or what ever you pre shot routine may be. Knowing that you now have a target that you must hit and you have but one swing to hit it will add more focus and a certain amount of pressure to your golf swing.

This is what we want here.

If you only put your swing under this type of situation when you are on the golf course itself… well good luck. Good rounds can certainly happen by chance, but you’ll be forever developing any kind of consistency.

Up next let’s finish getting your driving range game to the golf course.

Golf Exercise For Home Or Office

Improving your golf game through muscle tone and fitness doesn’t mean you have to be a member of a health club.

With just a little creativity and a few minutes a day, you can have a very positive impact on your game with some simple golf exercises.

Here is a quick and easy stretching exercise for your lower back, gluteus area (butt), and hamstrings.

The best part of this stretch is that you can do it while seated right there in front of your computer or your TV.

While seated in your chair with your knees about shoulder width apart, take on foot and pull it back toward you until slightly underneath you or until you bump up against your chair.

Next move your other leg out away from your body in the opposite direction until you have about a 10 degree or so flex in your knee. You don’t need to lock your leg all the way out. Now, with your extended leg, make sure only your heel is on the floor and your toes are pointing upward.

Now with your one hand on each side of your extended leg, slide your hands down toward your extended leg’s ankle.

As you gently descend toward your ankle (remember to keep only your heel on the floor and your toes pointed upward) you should feel the stretching taking place along the back side of your body.

Go slowly. Don’t bounce. Once you get to a point where you can feel the stretch and you aren’t struggling to hold your position, stop there and hold the stretch for about 5 to 8 seconds. Straighten back up for a couple of seconds then repeat this action. Do about 3 sets each for each leg.

This is an excellent golf exercise for the middle part of the body and is especially helpful for those of us that prefer to walk. Many times the act of walking around the golf course will cause the muscles in the lower back to begin to tighten.

This stretching exercise will help alleviate problems with the lower back by increasing the length of these muscles. Increasing the length of these muscles, your back will naturally stay flatter (no reverse ‘c’ or sway back posture) and a lot more pain free.

There are numerous quick easy golf exercises that you can do just about anywhere and anytime. If you do just a little bit of exercise each and everyday you will soon be feeling and seeing the results of your stretching.

As always, if you have any concerns or questions, consult with your physician before exercising.

Golf Fitness And Your Exercise

If you are truly interested in getting the most out of your golf game, then some sort of golf exercise and fitness routine must be a part of your improvement plan. Executing the golf swing at a consistent and efficient level requires muscular strength, tone and endurance.

Playing your way into golfing shape is not the answer.

Some well thought out golf exercises and specific fitness routines are.

Getting out and hitting mammoth amounts of buckets of golf balls will actually only increase the chances of incurring an injury or developing a chronic pain somewhere on your body.

This is why I include this type of activity in the ‘playing your way into shape’ category which comes under the heading of ‘don’t do’. Believe me, I speak from experience here. Don’t do as I did. Some good golf exercises geared toward strength and flexibility are an investment not only in your golf game but your health and happiness as well.

What can happen with the this type of approach is that, although you certainly will develop your golf muscles, your non golf muscles will then become out of balance with your developing golf muscles.

As this type of imbalance caused by the ‘playing golf exercise strength’, you begin to increase the chances of developing a chronic soreness, pain, or even injury due to the domination of the stronger muscles, or simply the complete overuse due to the constant repetitive physics of the golf swing.

Many times the missing link to getting longer drives and lowering your golf score isn’t to read and learn more about the mechanics and the physics of the golf swing. Not at all.

That’s right.

Believe me, I worked on every angle of the swing and thought that I had crafted a pretty decent swing and was seeing good improvement in my game. I actually discovered the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide while trying to find some good golf swing exercises that would relieve some back pain I was beginning to experience. And with this I discovered that longer more effortless drives was all about just getting my body to move just a bit better.

I first saw the GolfGym PowerSwing Trainer on The Golf Channel. At the time I was on the road and traveling quite a lot. With being on the road so much, I really felt like something like this could make good use of my idle time in the hotel room instead of just lying around. For my traveling situation I thought the GolfGym PowerSwing Trainer would work great for traveling as the equipment would fit easing into my travel bag. That was just the beginning for me in what has turned into a steady exercise routine for me and my golf game yet today.

A balance approach to your golf strength training is the correct answer to get your golf game to the next level. The benefits of golf specific strength training are well documented. With the proper golf exercise and fitness program golfers see a marked increase in everything from the distances obtained by their clubs to the precision in which they execute their golf shots.

It only stands to reason that when you implement golf swing exercises that condition and strengthen the relevant muscles as well as provide additional flexibility and tone to the to the secondary muscle groups used, your golf swing will become less awkward, more consistent, and much more powerful with half the effort.

With a good routine geared toward strength and flexibility golf exercise, you will soon find yourself being able to direct the bulk of your focus on executing each precise shot and not have to mentally and mechanically walk yourself through your golf swing. And with your focus firmly directed on the golf shot in front of you and not your balance and golf swing mechanics, you’ll immediately begin to see improvements in your game.

The Best Golf Training Aids RU

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 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 2000 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 practice aid 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.

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.

If you’d like some help from some of golf’s greatest, players and instructors such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw, Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, and many more. Simply choose your favorite from this fabulous list of Golf Instructors!

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 training aids start and end with you.

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