What Are Some Of The Ways To Reducing The Pressure In Your Golf Swing?

The Masters is one of the most exciting golf tournaments to watch on television. Besides all of the beauty and pageantry of this historical golf course, and the massive galleries it brings out.  Just the drama and suspense of the golfers themselves in trying to tame the beast of Augusta National Golf Club.  This year was NO Exception.  As many as 10 golfers had a chance to win the golf tournament, as they tried brilliantly to navigate through Amen Corner on the final day.  Congratulations to Charl Schwartzel (South African), as he’s the winner of the 75′th Masters.

I feel sorry however for the 21 year old, Rory McIllroy (Ireland). This young golfer played brilliantly for 3 1/2 rounds.  At one point he had a 5 stroke lead,  and looked invincible sinking pressure putts all over the place. Unfortunately, major golf tournaments don’t start until the 10′th hole of the back nine on the final day on Sunday.  So what happened, that he would shoot himself out of the golf tournament with a 43 on the back nine,  for a round of 81?

It’s called PRESSURE.  It’s a golfing mindset that requires untold amount of attention to every detail of your golf swing, course management and planning out the strategy necessary before the round ever begins.  By visualizing in your mind, every shot placement on the fairways and greens. Experience has a way of balancing out the stress and reducing the pressure when faced with the circumstances that surrounds being in competition. Even though Rory didn’t win this time,  he must have taken away from this a lot of knowledge for next time when he’s faced with being in this same kind of pressure cooker situation.

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What Is Golfing Fatigue And The Cause For Lower Back Pain?

As we are now entering into the early part of springtime here in the Northeast.  Most of us golfers have played a few early rounds, and have felt the fatigue that comes with swinging the golf club after a long winter away from the golf game. Most golfers will feel some discomfort in various parts of their body.  Amateur golfers, especially seniors will experience chronic lower back pain that will limit the amount of golf they can play in the beginning.

Fatigue often becomes a major foe for most golfers wanting to play. You may not realize it, but those errant tee shots, off target approach shots, doffed chip shots, and missed putts may not all be the result of just bad golf swing mechanics. They have a lot to do with the fact that the four plus hours swinging a golf club in the fresh outdoor air is wearing you down a lot.  Execution becomes the main issue. We all know being off just a little bit on any golf shot can have definite negative consequences. When the body gets just a little tired, the potential for your playing performance to suffer increases as does the risk for injuries.

Any amount of fatigue will not bode well for swing efficiency and overall playing performance. All aspects of your golf game will be impacted from tee to green. Walking the golf course will obviously have more of an impact to the fatigue factor, but you still will challenge the body even when taking a golf cart. It adds up when you consider the amount of time on your feet walking up and down inclines, in and out of traps,  around greens and tee boxes. Cart paths only on days when the golf course is wet, will only add to the total energy drain.

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All Beginners Need To Learn The Basics Of Golf Before Playing.

I started playing golf when I was 12 years old.  I lived not to far away from a public golf course, and could easily ride my bicycle with my golf bag strapped to my back to the course.  At that time they had a junior golf program that provided a .50 cent pass/round to play unlimited amount of golf.

It provided the opportunity for me to play just about everyday from dawn to dusk.  I couldn’t get enough of it, as my passion grew deeply. I would eat, sleep and dream golf.  Besides playing I was able to take golfing lessons from the club pro, and during the winter would go to the Y.M.C.A. with my dad and hit golf balls into a hitting net.  While here picked up a few more golf lessons.

As a beginner your interested in spending some time with family or friends out on the golf course.  However, your not sure of yourself,  because picking up a golf club is very foreign to you.  Not only your not sure how to hold onto a golf club,  but what do you do with it?  At this earliest stage of discovery, would you even know how to swing a golf club?

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How Do You Change Your Golfing Mindset In Order To Play Better Golf?

It has been a very long winter so far, and we have another month at least, before we can start playing again here in New York.  Hopefully, you’ve not wasted the winter by not preparing for the upcoming season. There are things you can do right now to get ready. Doing fitness exercises is a great way to get started and stay active.  To prepare yourself mentally for the upcoming season, you might also want to do a little Yoga exercises. Get into the habit of doing mental and physical exercises, and allow yourself the opportunity to change your golfing mindset in order to play better golf.

This is a great opportunity to focus on building upon your golfing mindset, and the flow of concentration needed when out on the golf course.  In order to reach this mental peak of your golf game, you need the instrument of your body to be fine tuned. A strong, stable body that is fluid and flexible will create the very foundation for a healthy injury free golfer. Especially for those older golfers who will feel pain from using hibernated muscles that haven’t been used all winter.

Call upon your yoga practice to help you connect with your body, breath and fine spirit. Allow for the various sensations that occur at each moment.  Observe your breathing to invite feelings of non-attachment, non-judgment and presence.  Pay even closer attention to physical sensations such as pain and stiffness, or ease of movement, using the body like a ground wire for the mind.

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What Is The Cause Of Golfer Elbow?

Golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis), is similar to tennis elbow. It’s caused by overuse of the muscles and tendons of the forearm, leading to inflammation and pain around the elbow joint.  It’s a form of tendinitis. Tendons are the ends of muscles that attaches to the bone. The location of the pain is due to the excessive activity or stress placed upon the muscle. The actual points of insertion of the tendon on the bone then causes the inflammation and pain in a given area of pointed prominence. The pain of golfers elbow is usually at the elbow joint on the inside of the arm.  Causing a shooting sensation down the forearm while gripping objects like a golf club.

What causes golfer elbow? It’s due to the continuous repetitions of gripping the golf club with too much pressure, and having faulty over-used golf swing mechanics.  Over a period of time this develops into irritation, inflammation, pain, small tears and strain which leads to the golfing injury.  No golfer is immune from these injuries, but they are most common at the beginning of the golf season,  or when the offending activity is increased in intensity or duration.

The  cause of  golfer elbow is pain and tenderness on the medial epicondyle of the humerus. (upper arm bone). The muscles of the forearm that are responsible for the symptoms begin in the palm of the hand and wrist. As this condition worsens,  the pain may spread down the inner side of the forearm, and can travel across the elbow joint. These muscles are known as the wrist flexors. The wrist flexors are located on the palm side of the forearm, and bend the wrist down towards the floor. Some other symptoms you will frequently experience are: Read more

Does Balance And Timing Have ALot To Do With Your Golf Swing Mechanics?

Balance and Timing are the two most important components of your golf swing mechanics.  In order to produce enough power to generate the kind of yardage your looking for on every one of your golf swings.  No matter if it’s hitting off a golf tee or using a chipping iron,  your going to need too feel comfortable when addressing the golf ball  and starting into your backswing.  It all starts with having  solid golf swing fundamentals in place.

Most golfers will step up to the golf ball without any thoughts or prayer of obtaining maximum yardage.  By trying to use brute force they attempt to knock the cover off the golf ball.  Which most often ends up in disastrous results. Over-swinging will only reduce your power. By rushing into your golf swing which causes improper weight shifting,  it will only produce such common mishits as cutting, fat shots, ground before the golf ball, hacking,  slicing, toe shots, topped shots and worm burners. Golf is based upon having a good sound mental focus, and with the proper amount of knowledge and training of your golf swing mechanics.  Which can only produce the kind of end results your looking for.

The golf swing is a combination of balance, fluidity and strength, and they must be in that combined mix for your golf swing mechanics to produce the kinds of golf shots that are kept on target.  Again, one of the most frequent errors to a golf swing is the consistent over-swinging of the golf club.  Relax as much as you can during your golf swing. You do have some power,  however accuracy is the name of  any golf game. Set your goals to expend very little effort when swinging the golf club.  Learning to hit the golf ball the right way will feel very easy and smooth.

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Is Golf Instruction The Best Way To Learn How TO Improve Your Golf Swing Mechanics?

Do you have to take golf lessons? Of course not. Can you pick up golf and improve on your own? Of course, and many do.  I’m a firm believer that the best way for golfers to improve upon their golf swing mechanics is by taking golf lessons.  This can apply to someone just beginning or has been playing for a very long time. I frequently get lessons from my club pro when my golf swing goes out of kilter and needs to be readjusted.

Golf is a game not easy to master. You will learn more effectively by taking private golf instruction than you would in a large or public group. The reasoning is,  if you could have the undivided attention of your instructor in any part of your golf swing, and could have all your questions answered directly as they come up.   Don’t you think you would get a much deeper understanding of your golf swing mechanics, and have far greater memory retention of the lessons learned?

The emphasis is clearly on getting results.  If a student’s golf swing needs to be dramatically changed or altered, and  if a student’s approach to the game needs to be re-adjusted or completely rearranged. Then the natural course of action should happen between you and your instructor. You should have him there as your own personal coach, mentor and cheerleader.

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Is It True Your Golf Swing Mechanics Starts With Having Good Balance?

One of the most important aspects of the golf swing is having good balance. The definition for good balance is a state of bodily equilibrium or equipoise. Having equal distribution of weight.  A mental steadiness or emotional stability. Relaxed habit of calm behavior or judgment.

Balance is the key to any sport you play. You must have the right amount of equilibrium to go either to your right or left with out falling. Having enough flexibility to make those necessary changes, and feel comfortable in repeating  those  same movements  over again. Training not only your muscles to physically respond, but your mental capacity to command such actions with out thinking about it.

Balance and posture are two of the most important physical traits that seems to elude most golfers. The most important thing to remember when addressing the golf ball is to relax.  There is nothing that will hinder your golf swing more than having a tense body to begin with.  Learn to loosen up by doing some stretching exercises,  and some simple pilates or yoga to get the blood pumping.  Make sure too align the core of your body muscles in balance with your mental state, before starting any golf round or practice.

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Can Winter Golf Be Enjoyable?

According to the National Weather Service, there’s snow in 49 states today. Even in the upper mountains of Hawaii on Mauna Kea Range. That’s  right our entire country is experiencing a deep freeze. Some states being hit harder than others, including Rochester NY  where I live.  So relish the good days golfers,  they’ll be back soon.  But for now, check out an indoor golf simulator at a place near you, or play EA Sports’ Tiger Woods P.G.A. Tour video game at home.  Too bad you have to wait a couple of months for the newest version.  I hear they got finally Augusta National as one of the golf courses on their menu.

However,  for the real hardy golf enthusiast who enjoy playing golf in the snow. There is snow golf which is a sport based on golf but played over snow or ice instead of grass. The greens are called whites  and have an ice surface. The origin of snow golf is thought to be the Dutch game of “Kolf” that was played since the Middle Ages.  Evidence for Kolf as a popular winter golf pastime comes from numerous 17th century paintings by renowned artists such as Aert van der Neer or Hendrick Avercamp.

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Happy New Years From Parshooters. May 2011 Be Your Best Golfing Ever!

As the New Year fast approaches in three days.  I would like to give out a loud “Thank You” to all of my readers and subscribers. For helping me to get started writing about the only topic I truly Love, and that’s anything related to the golfing world.

I know I have so much more to write about.  All I ask for is your kindness in staying with me, as I go through the trials and tribulations of starting my online business. At the present time I’m the sole worker for this blog.  I know there have been speculation to having more than one worker with Parshooters from the comments that I have received.

I started this blog in October of 2009.  It has only been 14 months, and yet I have learned more things about building relationships and writing content that will interest those who are following along with me and my brand name Parshooters.

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How Can AN Exercising Program Improve Upon Your Golf Swing Mechanics?

Now that it’s wintertime, and you’ve hung up your golf clubs for the winter. It’s time to get serious about the new year, and get involved in a exercise program for golfers. It’s also time to forget about last year’s bad swing faults, and begin a new way to improve upon your golf swing mechanics.

My own New Years Resolution is to get involved working out, and too lose some weight. Our community center has a nice facility for doing just that with the latest equipment. They also offer pilates and yoga programs.

As the shorter, colder days don’t allow for much golf.  They do provide a lot of time to knock out those physical deficiencies that are negatively impacting your golf game and causing those nagging aches and pains. The off-season also affords you plenty of time to progress with your well-being by getting into a regular exercise workout program. These are the one’s you’ve been neglecting, but will enhance your golf specific balance, coordination, power, speed and strength. Come springtime, your golf  game could have a whole new beginning to a great golfing year.

First  you need to identify what are those physical deficiencies you have.  A physical (re)assessment with a TPI certified golf fitness instructor is your best bet.  With this valuable information in hand, a customized, time-efficient exercise program can be designed to target your specific problem areas and maximize your outcome.

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Pilates vs Yoga. Which Golf Stretching Exercise Program Is Best For Golfers?

Golfers of all ages are now finding out the benefits of getting involved into some type of fitness program that’s specifically geared towards golfers.  With age comes a decline in both flexibility and strength. When the body declines, the golf swing goes right along with it. The end result is a big loss in yardage, more mishits, and ballooning scores. Your golf mindset also changes in both attitude and frustration. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard from older golfers who I’m playing with, that they are just about ready to quit the game for good.  However, there is hope for all golfers who are ready to change and improve upon their golf game and lifestyle.

Do you want to discover the secret to creating more power and consistency in your golf swing? By participating in workouts that’s geared towards a specific golf program that focuses on balance, endurance, flexibility and strength. You don’t have to accept that with age, your body does decline. No way! The golfers who are working out, are the same ones who are enjoying the game again in later life, and taking all of the money in their clubs birdie pool.  It’s amazing to see golfers in this age bracket dramatically improve their driving distance, accuracy and scores.

What is a golf workout? The golf swing is an awkward movement that puts a tremendous amount of stress on the body. To prevent injuries and improve upon your golf swing speed and distance, it will require your body to be both strong and flexible.  The golf swing is a rotational movement, with your body being in different sequential golf positions.  Since the golf swing is primarily an axial rotational movement, wouldn’t it make sense to focus on rotational strength and flexibility?  That is improving your turning ability related to range of motion and  speed. Therefore, anything involving twisting with resistance such as a medicine ball, a dumbbell, or even a weighted club would work. You need to have  resistance in order to take your body beyond where it normally moves.

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Is Pilates And Yoga Good Enough For Golf Stretching Exercises To Help Reduce Injuries?

Back in the 1970′s.  When I was caddying, exercising was important, but not to the extent it’s today.  As the money prizes have gone way up over the years. Today, you would be a complete idiot, if you didn’t take seriously your body, mind and spirit.

Controlling the nutritional foods your eating, how much alcohol your drinking on a daily basis, and of course what kind of weight training and exercise programs you’ve been set up with by your paid trainers to watch over you.

In the past after playing a competitive round of golf, we would turn the golf clubs into the cleaning service at the country club for the next day’s preparation. The pro’s would head to the bar for dinner and socialized drinking. While us caddies would get the next day’s pin placements and strategize over how to make the golf course and tournament conditions better with the tournament groundskeeper superintendent. That was the extent of going the extra mile.

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Do You Have The Self-Discipline In Putting To Create A Positive Golfing Mindset?

Putting is based upon feel and self-confidence.  An average putter believes he  can get up and down in two putts,  no matter what the length of his first putt  is.  A great putter will make 80% of his putts inside of 6 feet, and very rarely will he ever 3 putt from greater distances.  Great putters will take their time to practice on and around the greens. Doing this practicing consistently as a daily routine, they know it must be done in order to keep their edge. Amateur golfers don’t take their time to realize that almost 40% of their golf scores occurs from your putting. Almost 60% if you are chipping around the greens. Yet this is the least practiced! Why is there such a huge difference between these two type of golfers with regards to their golfing mindset when it comes to practicing?  The end results are obvious!

I always felt that this was my strongest part of my golf game.  Anywhere from 100 yards in.  Including chipping and putting.  I have played on many different greens with different types of grass textures, but I always had a knack for reading lines that weren’t there.  I learned by watching others including pro’s, and observing how they prepared themselves to make their next stroke. Golf is based upon having a positive golf mindset,  and self-confidence.  Being focused mentally and prepared especially around the greens.

In the past year this became my weakness. Why?   Because I used to practice when I had the opportunity during the work week to work on my golf skills at the driving range and practice putting green. I would do this three times a week, and then play with the golf club on the weekends. The opportunity to focus and improve was there, and I knew I had to take advantage of it.

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Learn To Play Better Golf By Keeping Your Golf Swing Mechanics In Shape During Winter!

My golf season is over with,  and for the majority of golfers who lives  in the Northeast as well.  From now until springtime this is the hardest and longest time period of inactivity.  Personally, I don’t like working out at a gym, or get into a routine regiment of lifting weights.  I don’t find it enjoyable nor relaxing.  I like to go on long walks with my two dogs, and I’m fortunate to have an Indian trail near my home.  However, during winter it can become impassible and treacherous to walk on. Therefore, even that amount of exercising will diminish.

Do you feel pain or discomfort when playing? Then your not alone, because golf injuries is very common. Even the best golfers who are in shape will feel discomfort and pain.  Like millions of golfers it’s a sport that can be played throughout your lifetime.  Injuries in golf is common because it is one of the few sports commonly played by all age groups.  For most recreational golfers it’s the only form of exercise when playing an occasional 18 holes of golf.

Most weekend or seasonal golfers, will put themselves at risk by trying to swing as hard as professional golfers, often after hibernating all winter.  Sitting behind a desk or lounging in front of a TV all week. They’ll go through the whole winter without taking a golf swing,  and when the nice weather comes they’ll go out and play 18 two days in a row. Then on the weekends, they’ll drive to the golf course,  jump out of their cars and start banging balls without warming up. This type of golfer is a perfect chiropractic candidate.

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Planning For A Happy Halloween Golf Tournament!

It’s that ghoulish time of year again, when you have little kids knocking on your door looking for candy. I kind of want to keep some for myself. Thinking back now 2010 golf season was frightening, after mishitting golf shots after shots. Oh Well! I can get over this past golf season, and start preparing myself for the new year in golf . At least I can dream only of good thoughts about birdies and pars, and not the monstrous double and triple bogeys that kills all golf scores.

There will be many Halloween parties going on this weekend. However, have you ever attended a Halloween theme golf tournament? Organizing a regular golf tournament can be quite difficult as there is a lot of work to be done planning how to run it. When the planning is over with,  you will begin  looking forward to a tournament that should be made a lot of fun,  and if advertised properly, it should be able to attract a high level of participation.

The pressure is on to make sure everyone who is coming is dressed up. Halloween costumes are sometimes not the most comfortable outfits to play golf in, but again it’s for the fun of the holiday, and not for trying to shoot at a particular golf score.

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Practice With Your Golf Training Aid During The Offseason!

This is a tough time of year to play golf in the Northeast.  Your not totally sure what the weather is going to do from one day to the next. Temperatures are fluctuating from the low 60′s to the 40′s,  it’s sunny to rainy in a matter of a few hours. Weather reports can’t keep up, as it’s hit and miss with their Doppler system.

Playing in bad weather is a challenge, but when you prepare yourself properly your round of golf doesn’t have to be a nightmare.  All golfers will find it difficult to play effectively in inclement weather.  Rain, wind and cold will affect your golfing mindset. The way you dress, your golf swing,  the flight of the golf ball, no rolls in the water soaked fairways, and the diminishing speed and breaks of the greens. No amount of practice or instruction can fully prepare you for bad weather playing.

Being prepared for bad weather will make it bearable for you to play when the weather does turn nasty.  If you expect that your round of golf may encounter rain,  then make sure you have extra towels, golf gloves, hand warmers,  rain hood for your golf  clubs, and rain suit for yourself in your golf bag. Get comfortable with how your rain suit will affect the way you strike your golf ball. Rain suits today are more flexible, but are still restrictive and will change your golf swing.

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Improve Your Golf Mindset In Order To Break 90.

As my 2010 golfing season is coming to a fast close,  I can reflect back on this year as not being a good year scoring wise.  I have to admit it has been a very long time that I have averaged in the low 90′s for anyone golfing season.  Sure I have my excuses of not playing more than once a week, or committed no time to practicing my golf swing mechanics. The very things I write about in my posts,  and have the audacity to not do what I’m trying to get my readers to understand and implement in their own improvement to changes in their golf swing mechanics. For that I’m Sorry!

Most golfers who struggle to break ninety are relatively experienced and have been playing for quite a while. Any golfer who has been playing for some time will have developed certain swing characteristics that will shape the flight of their golf shots. In most cases, those trying to break 90, it will mean you’ll have developed a cut spin or slice. Most golfers who cut the ball will dislike the flight of their shots and do everything possible to change their golf swing to hit a draw. One of the most important things to consider when trying to break 90,  is learn to live with your golf swing mechanics and not fight it.

How Do You Break 90? In order to break 90,  any flight of the golf ball is acceptable as long as it remains consistent.  What is required is a good short game, and golf course management.  Learning to place your shots on each hole for optimal results.  Knowing when to gamble and take risks, and knowing when to play smart conservative golf shots. The key to breaking 90 is to make sure you don’t take more than bogey on any given hole.  Eliminate the double and triple bogeys, because they are golf score killers. However, mistakes do happen that will ruin your chances of shooting less than 90. You do need to find a way of eliminating those 3-4 wasted strokes from your golf round immediately.  This is known as your wheels coming off,  because it hits you, when your not expecting those mishits from happening.  If your target is to break 90,  you do have the ability to do so.  What you need to do is learn how to make the most out of your golf game.  This does take time and patience.  The best way to speed up your developing or learning curve is by putting in the time too practice.

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