Golf

Golf is a blast. I have never had as much fun as when I played golf. I thought golf would be boring. I thought golf would be a one time play. But I have decided golf is a great sport.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

 What Impact Does Exercise For Golfers Have

This article brough tto you courtesy of http://www.golfclubsb.com


In spite of numerous assurances some golfers still dread and fear joining any exercise for golfer programs. So as a last line of defense, they pop up the question of wanting to know just how effective exercises for golfer are on improving a person�s game.


They want concrete evidence and figures on what the exercises have done for other golfers. I guess it is a case of the patient wanting assurances on just how effective the bitter pill is going to be so as to help them brace themselves for the bitterness to come. Like they want to use the end result as some sort of inspiration to help them through what they are sure is going to be a very nasty situation.


Nothing you tell these amateur golfers will convince them that exercise for golfers can in fact be enjoyable when one gets used to them. Or the fact that senior citizen golfers are able to go through them without too many problems


The reason why exercise for golfer programs have taken off with such speed and have spread like wild fire in the golf game is because they are extremely effective.


It is a known fact that no professional in today�s game would dare approach any tournament without first going through their regular intensive exercise for golfer program and specifically taking time to deal with the problem areas that affected them most in their last tournament.


I have witnessed very young teenage golfers getting involved in strength exercise for golfer routines and within a very short time are able to increased the power in their drives so much so that they are able to hit the ball by a further 50 yards than they were able to do before the strength exercise for golfer program they have gone through.


There are really numerous other cases where the effects and impact of exercises have clearly been documented. The huge benefits of exercise for golfer programs are not in any doubt.


About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds at his golf training site - Perform Better Golf.




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Tuesday, November 08, 2005

 Sports Psychology For Golfers: 4 Tips For Beating The Yips

This article brough tto you courtesy of http://www.golfclubsb.com


When players labels themselves as having the putting yips, they think they have an incurable disease. Putting confidence declines and the fear of missing putts makes matters worse. Players who suffer from the fear of missing don't like to putt. The more they putt, the worse it gets, until it's intolerable. This leads golfers to believe they have an affliction that they must learn to play with. When golfers condition themselves into believing they have the yips, it is extremely hard for change to occur.


The yips start with poor results and missing short putts. The player then progresses to the fear of missing and the fear of putting. The player feels like it is a physical condition, which leads golfers to believe that it can be corrected with a change in technique or practice habits. But the yips come from the golfer�s inability to gain neuromuscular control due to poor attentional focus or anxiety. Intense anxiety or fear does not allow the golfer to control his muscles and putt smoothly. The player freezes and can�t draw the putter back from the ball and initiate the putting stroke. The player wants to move the club back, but his or her hands and arms are in a vise. It's like a deer that freezes in the middle of the road by the fear of an approaching car. Another form of the yips occurs when the player tenses up at impact and feels like he or she is stabbing at the ball.


The yips are curable. Several touring professionals such as Bernhard Langer, who suffered from the yips have putted free again. The first step is to stop labeling yourself as having a physical �illness� that causes you to jab at your putts. Next you have to realize that the physical symptoms of the yips come from a conditioned way of thinking about putting. Here are some suggestions for dealing with the yips:


1.The fear of missing is where it starts. Throw away the fear of missing putts. Fear and anxiety come from what you think might happen in the immediate future. It�s very important to not let your mind wander to outcome of the putt or missing. You need to stay focused on the execution of the putt and how you are going to hit a good putt. Forget about what might happen, good or bad.


2. Forget about the past. You can�t change the fact that you missed several short putts the last round. If you carry a poor putting round with you, you will have a monkey on your back. It�s very hard to putt with a monkey on the back. Every round is different and every putt you have is different. You must look at each putt as a new opportunity for success!


3. Simplify your approach to putting. Often the tendency when not putting well is to search for the answer with your method or putter. Often, this can make matters worse�when you have too many thoughts about how to putt. Prepare for your putt with only one focus--to hit your target that you selected. Think about throwing darts. Focus on the bullseye (or your target in this case) and let your body do the rest. Look at your target and pull the trigger as your eyes return to the ball. Continuous motion helps prevent you from freezing over the ball.


4. See the ball going in the hole. How often do you imagine the ball missing as you are over the putt ready to start your stroke? It is very important that all your thoughts and images are focused on the ball rolling into the hole. As you read the putt and select a line, see the ball roll along that line into the hole. As you walk into the ball, stay focused on that image of the ball dropping into the hole. Over the ball, continue to have a powerful image of the ball rolling towards the hole, even if it is only for the last two feet of the putt.


Dr. Patrick J. Cohn is a master mental game coach who works with athletes of all levels including amateur and professionals. Visit Peaksports.com to gain access to over 500 exclusive mental game articles, audio programs, and interviews with athletes and coaches to enhance your athletic potential: http://www.peaksports.com/membership/ or call 888-742-7225.




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Saturday, November 05, 2005


Mental Toughness For Golfers: Avoiding Comfort Zones In Golf


This article is brought to you courtesy of http://www.golfclubsb.com


A comfort zone becomes a problem whenever a player is playing better than expected or is breaking new ground. I teach golfers how to break out of self-limiting expectations and preconceived beliefs. Comfort zones don�t limit great players on tour, such as David Duval, Tiger Woods, and Davis Love, III. Comfort zones actually benefit pro golfers when they can bring a poor round back into their scoring zone and turn a score of 76 into a 72.


When going low, pros don't just try to �get it in the clubhouse� when they get to four under par after 12 holes. If a pro gets to four under par after 12, that�s great, but he doesn�t stop there. His goal is to get to five under. This attitude, adopted by many professionals, is far from the mindset of the amateur who is playing better than expected or on the verge of breaking a personal best score. In my new book, �Going Low� I teach golfers how to play without the restriction of a comfort zone.


Shooting a personal best round requires many important skills. Great golfers play well because they know how to practice efficiently, are dedicated to improvement, and know the best way to prepare themselves for a round of great golf. I'm not talking about hitting two buckets of balls to get ready for tomorrow�s match. Pros are dedicated to quality practice, focused preparation, and improving their games daily. This is the foundation for the development of confidence.


To shoot a personal low round you also need to know how to prepare to play the course, have the ability to make a game plan, and deal with the distractions of the group. You also need to practice in a way that makes your swing repeatable. You must learn how to score your best when it counts, and simplify your game so you can focus on playing golf instead of always working and grinding at it. Going low also requires that you discard any preconceptions about what is and what is not possible to achieve.


The first step to going low is to unlock the self-imposed limits of your own success. I want my students to identify their own mental barriers and unhealthy beliefs that prevent them from consistently playing their best. The next step is to eradicate unhealthy expectations and irrational beliefs so you can unlock your own success. For example, once Roger Banister broke the four-minute mile, everyone broke it because the barrier had been shattered. The first step is to break your own self-limiting beliefs. In articles to follow, I talk more about how to overcome self-limiting expectations and comfort zones.


Dr. Patrick J. Cohn is a master mental game coach who works with athletes of all levels including amateur and professionals. Visit Peaksports.com to gain access to over 500 exclusive mental game articles, audio programs, and interviews with athletes and coaches to enhance your athletic potential: http://www.peaksports.com/membership/ or call 888-742-7225.


To become a mental game coach, visit: http://www.mentalgamecoachingpro.com




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Friday, November 04, 2005

 Mental Training For Golfers: Attitudes That Sabatoge

This article brough tto you courtesy of http://www.golfclubsb.com


Plateaus in performance sometimes occur when you don�t see any measurable improvement in score even though you are working hard. �I�m practicing more than ever, but I don�t seem to be shooting better scores,� many players tell me in frustration. Thus, when you don�t see gains in performance or have a coach pushing you daily, it is difficult for golfers to stay committed to their training. In this issue of Peak Performance Golf Insights, I discuss how golfers lose or sabotage their own commitment to training and ideas for how to increase commitment.


What is commitment? Commitment is a type of motivation. It is the ability to stick with a program, method, or philosophy and apply it daily over a long period even in times of adversity. How do you stay committed to your practice plan and goals? By reminding yourself of your dreams and performing the daily tasks you need to reach your goals.


The first step to improving commitment is to identify beliefs or distractions that sabotage your motivation. Armed with this information, you are in a position to change your attitude for the better. Here are seven ways people get sidetracked or sabotage their own commitment.


1. Impatience with improvement. Probably the number one form of sabotage. Golfers want a quick fix, something that works immediately, and if it does not work fast, they are prone to throw it away and not try it again. This may be true of both the mental and physical parts of the game. This is why a golfer jumps from one instructor to the next looking for the quick fix.


2. Rationalizations that sabotage your success. Rationalizations are excuses people use to avoid doing something. A smoker rationalizes why smoking is not harmful to smoke (smoking won�t hurt me, I� don�t inhale deeply�), for example. Golfers sometimes rationalize or justify why they should not go practice, take regular lessons, or work on their mental game. Some players think they will be ready to improve mentally when they are finished working on their swing. When are golfers ever finished with their swing?


3. Fear of trying and not succeeding. Are you afraid of going after your dream and not succeeding? There are no guarantees that if you work harder and put all your energy into getting better your game will improve. But some players can�t stomach the fear of not reaching their goals if they give it their all.


4. Distracted by Others. Do others distract your from your mission? Do your friends ask you to go party every night? Are others giving you advise that contradicts what you are trying to do with your coach? If you said yes, then you are letting others distract you from your mission.


5. Over-load Syndrome. Warning: Too much information can be dangerous to your golf game. A few golfers I know actually sabotage their commitment to getting better by listening to every instructor and guru in golf and trying to integrate everything anyone has said about the golf swing or mental game. This person usually ends up more confused, wonders why he is not playing better, and then gives up trying.


6. Over-training Syndrome. Are you a candidate for burnout? Training too much can also cause you to spin your wheels because you are mentally and physically exhausted and are bothered by nagging injuries. Working 15 hours a day on your golf game will not lead to success. Marathon runners don�t run 25 miles a day to prepare for competition. Your body needs rest, your mind needs a break. Yes, it is possible to work too much. There is a term for it in the workforce�workaholic.


7. Know-It-all syndrome. This is more rare with the players I work with, but one that should be mentioned. If you �know it all,� then others, even experts, can�t help you get better. The �know it all� is not teachable�he believes he already has the information to be successful.


Other forms of sabotage exist that limit a golfer�s ability to commit to a program�whether that�s a fitness program to improve strength, a swing training program to hit the ball better, or a mental game program to improve attitude�but these are the most prevalent. The fist step in making positive changes is to identify self-sabotaging beliefs, rationalizations, or behaviors that cut short your motivation to be successful. Then you will be ready to change your behavior to increase commitment.


Dr. Patrick J. Cohn is a master mental game coach who works with athletes of all levels including amateur and professionals. Visit Peaksports.com to gain access to over 500 exclusive mental game articles, audio programs, and interviews with athletes and coaches to enhance your athletic potential: http://www.peaksports.com/membership/ or call 888-742-7225.




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Thursday, November 03, 2005

 Mental Training For Golfers: Attitudes That Sabatoge

This article brough tto you courtesy of http://www.golfclubsb.com


Plateaus in performance sometimes occur when you don�t see any measurable improvement in score even though you are working hard. �I�m practicing more than ever, but I don�t seem to be shooting better scores,� many players tell me in frustration. Thus, when you don�t see gains in performance or have a coach pushing you daily, it is difficult for golfers to stay committed to their training. In this issue of Peak Performance Golf Insights, I discuss how golfers lose or sabotage their own commitment to training and ideas for how to increase commitment.


What is commitment? Commitment is a type of motivation. It is the ability to stick with a program, method, or philosophy and apply it daily over a long period even in times of adversity. How do you stay committed to your practice plan and goals? By reminding yourself of your dreams and performing the daily tasks you need to reach your goals.


The first step to improving commitment is to identify beliefs or distractions that sabotage your motivation. Armed with this information, you are in a position to change your attitude for the better. Here are seven ways people get sidetracked or sabotage their own commitment.


1. Impatience with improvement. Probably the number one form of sabotage. Golfers want a quick fix, something that works immediately, and if it does not work fast, they are prone to throw it away and not try it again. This may be true of both the mental and physical parts of the game. This is why a golfer jumps from one instructor to the next looking for the quick fix.


2. Rationalizations that sabotage your success. Rationalizations are excuses people use to avoid doing something. A smoker rationalizes why smoking is not harmful to smoke (smoking won�t hurt me, I� don�t inhale deeply�), for example. Golfers sometimes rationalize or justify why they should not go practice, take regular lessons, or work on their mental game. Some players think they will be ready to improve mentally when they are finished working on their swing. When are golfers ever finished with their swing?


3. Fear of trying and not succeeding. Are you afraid of going after your dream and not succeeding? There are no guarantees that if you work harder and put all your energy into getting better your game will improve. But some players can�t stomach the fear of not reaching their goals if they give it their all.


4. Distracted by Others. Do others distract your from your mission? Do your friends ask you to go party every night? Are others giving you advise that contradicts what you are trying to do with your coach? If you said yes, then you are letting others distract you from your mission.


5. Over-load Syndrome. Warning: Too much information can be dangerous to your golf game. A few golfers I know actually sabotage their commitment to getting better by listening to every instructor and guru in golf and trying to integrate everything anyone has said about the golf swing or mental game. This person usually ends up more confused, wonders why he is not playing better, and then gives up trying.


6. Over-training Syndrome. Are you a candidate for burnout? Training too much can also cause you to spin your wheels because you are mentally and physically exhausted and are bothered by nagging injuries. Working 15 hours a day on your golf game will not lead to success. Marathon runners don�t run 25 miles a day to prepare for competition. Your body needs rest, your mind needs a break. Yes, it is possible to work too much. There is a term for it in the workforce�workaholic.


7. Know-It-all syndrome. This is more rare with the players I work with, but one that should be mentioned. If you �know it all,� then others, even experts, can�t help you get better. The �know it all� is not teachable�he believes he already has the information to be successful.


Other forms of sabotage exist that limit a golfer�s ability to commit to a program�whether that�s a fitness program to improve strength, a swing training program to hit the ball better, or a mental game program to improve attitude�but these are the most prevalent. The fist step in making positive changes is to identify self-sabotaging beliefs, rationalizations, or behaviors that cut short your motivation to be successful. Then you will be ready to change your behavior to increase commitment.


Dr. Patrick J. Cohn is a master mental game coach who works with athletes of all levels including amateur and professionals. Visit Peaksports.com to gain access to over 500 exclusive mental game articles, audio programs, and interviews with athletes and coaches to enhance your athletic potential: http://www.peaksports.com/membership/ or call 888-742-7225.




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Wednesday, November 02, 2005

 Women Golfers Have The Drive For Success

This article brough tto you courtesy of http://www.golfclubsb.com


Watching the tournament rounds of today�s LPGA players is more exciting than ever. Annika Sorenstam continues to dominate women�s golf and shows where finesse, strength and athleticism come together to make way for the future.


Is today�s female golfer really that different? You need only look as far as statistics from previous years in combination with current levels of play to answer that question. In 1998, only 7 short years ago, Annika drove the ball 246 yards in average driving distance. Today, her average distance is 272 yards. Since undergoing a full scale assault on fitness with the help of a personal trainer, she has gained close to 30 yards in new found distance.


Is she the lone ranger in women�s golf or the wave of the future? Back in 1998, if an LPGA player drove the ball 250 yards, she was in the top 17 players in her field. Today, a player who drives the ball 250 yards won�t even place in the top 40. What accounts for these new performance standards and how can female golfers around the country prepare for high level competition?


Build a Foundation - Learning how to properly engage the core muscles provides a platform of stability and level of protection from injury. In order to keep your body from breaking down and affecting your golf swing, exercises aimed at restoring muscular balance should be a natural part of program design. As you continue to build foundational strength, you also improve your resistance to fatigue.


Progressive Resistance - Strength should be developed in a progressive manner. In order to get stronger one needs to progressively add resistance over time relative to previous workouts. Strength gains are made slowly, but consistently and you will see the difference in your game in no time. In the absence of progress with your program, you�re limiting your potential. Progression also involves varying your speeds of movement as your body becomes more adapted to each exercise.


Today�s female golfer knows that hard work creates results and translates to a better position in the playing field. If you are looking for ways to take yourself to the top of the leader board, then place the needs of your body at the top of your priority list to make a definitive difference in your game.


Susan Hill is a CHEK Golf Biomechanic, golf fitness columnist to Golf Illustrated and President of Fitness for Golf. For exercises targeted to lower your handicap and give you a competitive edge every time you play, then visit http://www.fitnessforgolf.com




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Tuesday, November 01, 2005

 Course Management Strategies For Junior Golfers

This article brough to you courtesy of http://www.golfclubsb.com


Many junior golfers are still in the process of developing all of the fundamentals of their game. One of the challenges faced is how to measure the progress of a player in these basics on the golf course, besides the obvious measurement of score.


When going onto the golf course it is critical that the young golfer have a specific purpose in mind as to what she or he is attempting to accomplish. These �process� objectives can become the criteria for determining how much growth is being made. Some examples are below:


Are all considerations being addressed in determining proper shot selection?


*Wind speed


*Wind direction


*Lie


*Slope


*Yardage from center of the green


*Hole location


*Choice of correct club


*Choice of correct shot


Is the young player reading the putts thoroughly?


Are the swing changes being attempted?


Is the player eating and drinking healthily enough and regularly enough?


Is the player adhering to the preconceived game plan?


Is the player playing too quickly or too slowly?


Are shots being played �one at a time� or is frustration mounting?


Is a narrow target being selected before attempting a shot?


Junior players can work on these kinds of things on the golf course by determining which one or two of these types of items they intend to work on. Giving oneself a hole by hole grade can be helpful. Simply marking on the scorecard on a 1-10 scale or a grade of A-F can keep the youngster paying attention to these goals.


Make sure that these types of positive habits are formed which will help in their growth and development, and ultimately impact the player�s bottom line score!


Jeff Troesch is an internationally recognized expert in the field of mental skills training and performance enhancement. Jeff also served as Director of Mental Training for David Leadbetters Golf Academies. For more information on Jeff's work, visit http://www.fitnessforgolf.com.




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