Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Added Google Maps Features - 4/30/08
We have added a new Google Maps Search feature for our iPhone web application edition. When viewing course search results, members can now click on the "state" field to launch google map information for the specified course.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Why Do I Slice The Ball 04/27/2008
By Lawrence Bredenkamp
Have you ever asked the question "Why do I slice the ball?" Well if so you are not alone. Over 90% of club golfers suffer from this problem.
First off you need to know what causes a slice. Now I don't want to get too technical here as this article is supposed to give you a few simple tips on how to avoid or reduce your slice.
Two things have to be present to create a slice. First off you must have an out to in swing path. In other words your club face is cutting across the ball causing it so spin sideways.
Secondly you must have an open club face. Both of these factors must be present to create a slice.
If you have an out to in swing path with a closed club face the result will be a pull shot whereas a square club face with the same swing path will result in a fade. These are all very different shots and beyond the scope of this article.
Your slice can be caused by a number of things. The most common is the grip, followed by alignment and then the takeaway.
And the biggest fault of all is trying to hit the ball too hard which causes a casting effect at the top of the swing. Try using a three quarter backswing to overcome the tendency to try and hit the ball too hard.
These are by no means the only causes of a slice but they are the most common.
A slice can be further exaggerated by the ball you use and this is a common fault of a lot of average club players. We all see the pros using a particular golf ball and figure that the same or similar ball would be good for our game. This is not necessarily true.
Golf ball technology has become a science in itself and the top players rely heavily on the performance of a golf ball for control. This control usually takes the form of spin so you will find that most pros use balls that are made specifically to generate a high rate of spin, balls such as the Titleist ProVI.
Now let's get back to our slice problem. We've already seen that by swinging from out to in we are cutting across the face of the ball causing it to spin from left to right (for right handed golfers). Now add to this a ball that is designed for increased spin and you will realize that you are compounding the problem. Far better then to use a golf ball that has low spin tendencies. These low spin balls also tend to roll a lot further so they should also contribute to greater distance. The down side to these balls is control around the green but for the average golfer this will not yet be a problem.
Now that you understand why you slice a ball you need to know what to do about it.
First off change your ball - this is the easiest adjustment to make.
Then you need to learn the correct grip to avoid a slice and most importantly square your club face up at address. If you can do this but cannot stop the out to in swing path you will land up a with a very manageable and acceptable fade. A lot of pros actually prefer the fade as it gives them greater control.
When practicing these things you need to exaggerate them. By this I mean don't just square your club face up but actually go further and close it. As you improve you will find that you get it into a square position quite naturally.
Getting your swing path to go from out to in to an in to out swing path is a little more tricky and takes a lot of practice. The best way to do this is at ultra slow speed, over and over and over again. Training your big muscles so that the movement is embedded and when done at normal speed falls naturally onto plane.
I hope that has answered your question "Why do I slice the ball?" and that it will go some way to making this wonderful game more enjoyable for you.
As a qualified EGTF golf coach Lawrence Bredenkamp takes great pleasure in helping people improve their game. Why not head over to Play The Lie for more information on how to improve your golf swing and lower your scores? Whilst there you may want to sign up for his FREE 6 week tutorial designed to reduce your golf handicap by 15%?
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Bredenkamp
Have you ever asked the question "Why do I slice the ball?" Well if so you are not alone. Over 90% of club golfers suffer from this problem.
First off you need to know what causes a slice. Now I don't want to get too technical here as this article is supposed to give you a few simple tips on how to avoid or reduce your slice.
Two things have to be present to create a slice. First off you must have an out to in swing path. In other words your club face is cutting across the ball causing it so spin sideways.
Secondly you must have an open club face. Both of these factors must be present to create a slice.
If you have an out to in swing path with a closed club face the result will be a pull shot whereas a square club face with the same swing path will result in a fade. These are all very different shots and beyond the scope of this article.
Your slice can be caused by a number of things. The most common is the grip, followed by alignment and then the takeaway.
And the biggest fault of all is trying to hit the ball too hard which causes a casting effect at the top of the swing. Try using a three quarter backswing to overcome the tendency to try and hit the ball too hard.
These are by no means the only causes of a slice but they are the most common.
A slice can be further exaggerated by the ball you use and this is a common fault of a lot of average club players. We all see the pros using a particular golf ball and figure that the same or similar ball would be good for our game. This is not necessarily true.
Golf ball technology has become a science in itself and the top players rely heavily on the performance of a golf ball for control. This control usually takes the form of spin so you will find that most pros use balls that are made specifically to generate a high rate of spin, balls such as the Titleist ProVI.
Now let's get back to our slice problem. We've already seen that by swinging from out to in we are cutting across the face of the ball causing it to spin from left to right (for right handed golfers). Now add to this a ball that is designed for increased spin and you will realize that you are compounding the problem. Far better then to use a golf ball that has low spin tendencies. These low spin balls also tend to roll a lot further so they should also contribute to greater distance. The down side to these balls is control around the green but for the average golfer this will not yet be a problem.
Now that you understand why you slice a ball you need to know what to do about it.
First off change your ball - this is the easiest adjustment to make.
Then you need to learn the correct grip to avoid a slice and most importantly square your club face up at address. If you can do this but cannot stop the out to in swing path you will land up a with a very manageable and acceptable fade. A lot of pros actually prefer the fade as it gives them greater control.
When practicing these things you need to exaggerate them. By this I mean don't just square your club face up but actually go further and close it. As you improve you will find that you get it into a square position quite naturally.
Getting your swing path to go from out to in to an in to out swing path is a little more tricky and takes a lot of practice. The best way to do this is at ultra slow speed, over and over and over again. Training your big muscles so that the movement is embedded and when done at normal speed falls naturally onto plane.
I hope that has answered your question "Why do I slice the ball?" and that it will go some way to making this wonderful game more enjoyable for you.
As a qualified EGTF golf coach Lawrence Bredenkamp takes great pleasure in helping people improve their game. Why not head over to Play The Lie for more information on how to improve your golf swing and lower your scores? Whilst there you may want to sign up for his FREE 6 week tutorial designed to reduce your golf handicap by 15%?
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Bredenkamp
Sunday, April 20, 2008
$50 Offer Ends Soon - 4/20/08
There is still time to enter and win a $50 Visa Gift Card from PasturePool.com. Swing into spring and activate your gold membership for only $14.95 and you will be automatically entered for your chance to win a $50.00 Visa Gift Card. We hope you had a great weekend of golf and for those on the course today, enjoy!!!
Friday, April 18, 2008
The Mental Game of Golf - 4/18/08
By Jeff Niedzwiedz
Understanding the Mental Game of Golf
I took up golf about 5 years ago. Having always been a natural athlete, I played tennis, basketball and baseball throughout high school and college. Intense competition is something I thrived in and like most people I hated to lose. Something I never understood was that when I played tennis with someone that probably had HALF the talent I did, I found myself struggling and in some cases even losing, much to my displeasure.
When I took up golf, however, I thrived immediately. Due to having a strong arm from my years of playing tennis and basketball, I was able to drive the ball hundreds of yards and played an excellent short game.
But I found myself once again losing and being totally out of my game when I started to compete with people that played more poorly than I did.
I analyzed my game and like a lightning bolt hitting me, I realized the game of golf was mental. I was sabotaging myself myself and losing control of all my focus. I showed nervousness and made every excuse in the book on why I was playing poorly during certain games. It became frightening to actually get on the course. I thought people were actually laughing at me behind my back.
When I started to understand the mental game of golf I began to see the error of my ways. I saw that I needed to regain focus to help my nerves, since by that point I was having jitters so bad, I wanted to fake an injury to avoid playing. Embarrassing myself with yelling and being angry spin tailed and ruined the round for myself and other people.
I had mastered the physical mechanics of golf but not the mental ones. People blame their equipment or the design of the course. What about Tiger Woods? Twenty-five years ago when he learned the sport, there weren't $2,000 drivers and $500 putters. Tiger was taught to have a mental edge at a young age. He was beating adults at the age of 10. He never panics and only shows emotion when he makes a GOOD shot.
Finally, I have mastered the mental game of golf. I start preparing myself in advance by concentrating on my preshot routine. My goal was to hit the best shots possible and remaining consistent from the first tee. First tee anxiety will put you at a significant disadvantage. Believe in your skills and don't concern yourself with other people, because you will lose focus and put unnecessary pressure on yourself. You will only generate anger (for yourself!) and cause your game to go down the tubes.
If you begin to play from the mind and realize that that is the muscle you should exercise, I guarantee you will improve your score from the very first time you try it. Anyone can increase his or her score by focusing on the mental game of golf.
I am always coming up with new tips to share!
Hi there my name is Jeff.
I am always looking to learn new information. You should be learning something new everyday. I enjoy sharing things that I have learned with people. I know this is a way top reach alot of people!
I hope everyone likes what I have to say and the information I provide is valuable to you!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Niedzwiedz
Understanding the Mental Game of Golf
I took up golf about 5 years ago. Having always been a natural athlete, I played tennis, basketball and baseball throughout high school and college. Intense competition is something I thrived in and like most people I hated to lose. Something I never understood was that when I played tennis with someone that probably had HALF the talent I did, I found myself struggling and in some cases even losing, much to my displeasure.
When I took up golf, however, I thrived immediately. Due to having a strong arm from my years of playing tennis and basketball, I was able to drive the ball hundreds of yards and played an excellent short game.
But I found myself once again losing and being totally out of my game when I started to compete with people that played more poorly than I did.
I analyzed my game and like a lightning bolt hitting me, I realized the game of golf was mental. I was sabotaging myself myself and losing control of all my focus. I showed nervousness and made every excuse in the book on why I was playing poorly during certain games. It became frightening to actually get on the course. I thought people were actually laughing at me behind my back.
When I started to understand the mental game of golf I began to see the error of my ways. I saw that I needed to regain focus to help my nerves, since by that point I was having jitters so bad, I wanted to fake an injury to avoid playing. Embarrassing myself with yelling and being angry spin tailed and ruined the round for myself and other people.
I had mastered the physical mechanics of golf but not the mental ones. People blame their equipment or the design of the course. What about Tiger Woods? Twenty-five years ago when he learned the sport, there weren't $2,000 drivers and $500 putters. Tiger was taught to have a mental edge at a young age. He was beating adults at the age of 10. He never panics and only shows emotion when he makes a GOOD shot.
Finally, I have mastered the mental game of golf. I start preparing myself in advance by concentrating on my preshot routine. My goal was to hit the best shots possible and remaining consistent from the first tee. First tee anxiety will put you at a significant disadvantage. Believe in your skills and don't concern yourself with other people, because you will lose focus and put unnecessary pressure on yourself. You will only generate anger (for yourself!) and cause your game to go down the tubes.
If you begin to play from the mind and realize that that is the muscle you should exercise, I guarantee you will improve your score from the very first time you try it. Anyone can increase his or her score by focusing on the mental game of golf.
I am always coming up with new tips to share!
Hi there my name is Jeff.
I am always looking to learn new information. You should be learning something new everyday. I enjoy sharing things that I have learned with people. I know this is a way top reach alot of people!
I hope everyone likes what I have to say and the information I provide is valuable to you!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Niedzwiedz
Improve Your Stroke in 2 minutes - 4/18/08
The "golf swing test" is a simple way to determine if you have a fault in your swing and where that fault is. Why is important to understand faults in your swing? More distance, better accuracy, and consistency. We have tried this simple, yet effective tip from our partner Consistent Golf.com. We encourage you to take a look. Have a great round!!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
What was my last score? - 4/16/08
When viewing the online scorecard for the current round being played
(iphone) or submitted (computer), you can now see what your score was the
last time you played the course.
(iphone) or submitted (computer), you can now see what your score was the
last time you played the course.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
IPhone Stats Updated
Eagle, Birdie, Par, Bogey, Double Bogey percent stats are now also
available on our mobile edition.
available on our mobile edition.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Golf News Updates
A quick note to let everyone know we are working on an update to the
news feed for our iPhone edition. More to come.
news feed for our iPhone edition. More to come.
New Statistics Available
Eagle, Birdie, Par, Bogie, Double Bogie percentages for your cumulative YTD rounds NOW AVAILABLE. Login and select detailed scoring to view
Learn More
Learn More
Spring Fling Promotion
Activate your Gold Membership during the months of March or April for your chance to win a $50.00 Visa Gift Card you can use during your next round or a Pro Shop of your choice!
It is our way of saying thank you and helping you to kick off the 2008 season!
Promotion Details
It is our way of saying thank you and helping you to kick off the 2008 season!
Promotion Details
Welcome to our new blog
Welcome everyone to our new blog. We will be using this site to keep members and guests current on news, site events, & enhancements. We will also begin posting instructional articles so that you can subscribe via RSS feeds directly on your web browser, iPhone, or other mobile device.
Thanks for stopping by and keep your feedback coming.
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