Benefits of Golf Fitness

First and foremost, it is important to note the benefits of opting to walk the course rather than riding in a cart. If your significant other asked you to go for a 3.5 mile walk, would you hesitate? An 18-hole round, however, will carry you well over 3.5 miles, and is yet another reason to justify spending so much time at the course. While this in itself won’t necessarily help your game, walking a couple of rounds per week will definitely help curb your waistline.

In recent years, PGA players have made physical fitness a predominant part of the training process. While guys like John Daly or Craig Stadler may make us question if golfers are actually athletes, by in large, the Tour players have slimmed down and toned up as of late. A monster drive is not only a result of improved equipment, but is due in large part to flexibility, core strength, balance, and stamina as well.

As far as your flexibility goes, this should include more than just blindly waving your club around on the first tee. Maybe you’re not ready to sign up for a yoga class, but by regularly performing stretching exercises you will improve your flexibility. Increased flexibility translates into a bigger and more powerful swing, and will also reduce the chance of injury and soreness. There are dozens of books focusing on stretching and calisthenics, and one of which would be a good guide to work from.

Increasing your core strength is something that is going to require a little more dedication and work. It’s also important to note that before you start a serious exercise regiment you should consult with your doctor. Rather than relying on the equipment that has been sitting in your basement for collecting dust, you may find it worthwhile to join a gym. Even if you just join a gym for a short period, take advantage of their orientation service. The trainer will be able to show you various exercises to increase your core strength, from the simple yet effective crunch to more advanced use of equipment. You may even find yourself combining your swinging motion with resistance bands in order to power up your swing.

Some great resources for improving your game through some basic fitness techniques include:

1. www.golf-trainer.com, a pay-service with a wealth of workout information

2. www.golf.com, which includes an extensive fitness section

3. Yoga for Dummies by Feuerstein, Payne and Folan

4. “Golf” or “Golf Digest,” which often contain fitness articles and tips

5. Your course pro, who is sure to have some suggestions

While the benefits of getting regular physical activity go well beyond the fairway, using an improved golf game as an excuse can make it a little more palatable. Finally, be realistic about your goals and what level of commitment you are willing to make. It is difficult and unrealistic for most of us to hit the gym every single day. If you limit yourself to three days a week, however, that keeps it from becoming such a chore.

Robert Hayes is a featured author for http://www.engolfed.com, a web site that includes golf tips, golf articles, and a golf blog.

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Practical Things to Know About Custom Made Golf Clubs

You can have golf clubs custom-made for you at some golf shops. These clubs are made with heads that are not from the major manufacturers but, for the most part, they have the same types of shafts and grips made by the most popular grip-makers.

Clubs can be made to fit your various requirements and often cost less than a brand-name set of clubs. This is a good choice if you do not mind playing with clubs that do not have a big brand name on them.

You could build the clubs yourself. Components are sold at many places, along with instructions on how to build your own set. It is not that hard to do, but you will need several pieces of equipment and supplies to do it.

For starters, you will need a vise, rubber shaft clamp, epoxy, a shaft cut-off wheel to trim the shafts, grip tape, grip solvent to install the grips, very coarse sandpaper to rough up the tips of the shafts (so that the epoxy will bond properly with the steel or graphite), heads, shafts, grips, protective glasses to avoid eye injury (from grip solvent, epoxy, etc), paper towels, some sort of pan to collect excess grip solvent.

That is a basic list. How much you require depends on how many clubs you want to make and whether there are other things you want to add to the clubs. Generally, use graphite if you want light clubs, especially in the driver.

If the total weight of the clubs is not important to you, it is good idea to use graphite shafts in your woods, but lightweight steel shafts in your irons. This is the best combination for distance and control.

If you can’t afford top of the line clubs, there are a couple of alternatives for you:

1. Buy used clubs.
2. Build you own clubs. Go to one of the club component suppliers for supplies and instructions on how to do it.
3. Re-grip your current clubs with new grips. Most golf stores provide this service, or you can do it yourself.
4. Buy yourself a top-notch glove. This combination will make your clubs feel much better because the grips and glove will feel more “tacky” and the clubs will be easier to control.

Alex Fir shares a wealth of information on his website Free Golf Tips. To read golf putting instructions visit his site right now.

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Golf Travel Tips

Since your vacation includes a few rounds at the golf course, you may want to use your own set of golf clubs. You can rent them at most resorts but they may not be as comfortable as your own set and may even hinder your game. Once you’ve decided to bring your own equipment, there are several things to consider. If you are concerned about protecting your golf clubs from damage during flight, here are a few tips and tricks which should help ensure that they arrive safely.

Clean out your golf bag and get rid of any old items you won’t be using. Refresh with new towels, balls, tees, gloves and so on.

If you don’t already have a golf travel bag or case, then you’ll need to invest in one. There are basically two types of golf travel bags, soft and hard.

The soft golf cases are less expensive and will not adequately protect your paraphernalia against rough handling unless you pack right, and even then there’s a chance of damage to your golf clubs. If you opt for a soft travel case, it’s best to wrap the club heads with a cover and keep them in your regular golf bag. Put that inside the travel case along with some clothing and/or shoes. You can also pack sunscreen lotion, extra balls, tees, gloves, markers and any other accessories you may need on the course, thereby keeping everything in one place.

The hard golf cases are practically indestructible. These bags will set you back a few hundred dollars but they are what the professionals use when they travel and will definitely protect against damage. Although it is said that they will survive a 30,000 foot fall out of an airplane, I haven’t personally tried to put one through a tree shredder but be that as it may, they are the best choice if you own an expensive set of clubs.

If you own a deluxe set of golf clubs, you may want to check with your homeowner’s insurance beforehand to get extra coverage. Airlines may not cover the entire amount in case of loss or damage.

Don’t miss your flight! Get to the airport early enough so that your bags can be properly checked. Be sure to allow extra time just in case your golf bag has to be searched.

Sometimes, even with the best preparation, things do happen. It’s wise to plan for potential mishaps by bringing enough money to pay for golf club rentals just in case the airline does lose your bag.

Have a wonderful vacation and see you at the course!

For a selection of soft shell golf travel bags or hard case golf travel bags visit golfingfanatic.com. Plenty to find for the Golfing Fanatic!

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