Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Compare Golf GPS Models

Until fairly recently I did not know that one could even use such a thing for GPS to assist with playing golf. Once I found out though it became quite a task to compare the different golf GPS models.

Firstly though let me say I think it is a brilliant idea for a number of reasons:

  1. It definitely helps speed up play. I found this to be especially true when I was in a bit off line and could not see the green for trees that were in my way. A GPS tells you exactly how far you have to fly the ball to get to the green.
  2. It gave me complete confidence knowing exactly what distance I had left either to the green or to hazards which I needed to avoid.
  3. I soon learned exactly how far I hit my clubs. This was quite a humbling experience at first because my male ego had to accept that I don't hit the ball as far as I thought I did.
  4. A lot of negative thought was removed from my mind when I knew exactly how far I needed to carry a shot and also exactly which club when hit normally would carry my ball the required distance. I could concentrate on accuracy alone.
  5. Even though I am asked (and supply) distances for the rest of the 4 ball I still manage to have an advantage over them as they start comparing with the markers on the sprinkler heads - something I now totally ignore.

I digress, but those are some of the positives I have found since I have been using my Golf GPS.
Initially I wanted a GPS for golf just as a toy, if I have to be brutally honest with myself. I did think it would come in handy for those "away" games but not much use at my home course which I know like the back of my hand. I was wrong because it was extremely helpful on my home course and I shot my best round ever at the time. Coincidence? I think not as I have since beaten that score no less than 6 times!

Once the decision was made to look into buying one I suddenly discovered that there was a lot to learn as there are a lot of different models out there all with different features:

  • Did I want a color screen?
  • Did I want to pay an annual subscription?
  • Did I want to map the courses myself?
  • What courses were available?
  • Where did I play most of my golf?
  • Is it legal to use a Golf GPS?
  • What and how many distance markers were available?
  • Could they keep my score and analyze my golf?
  • What didn't I know about these things?
  • Why did they vary in price from $150.00 to as much as $500.00?
  • How accurate were they? This is dependent on the number of satellite signals available to the particular unit - this was news to me.

In all honesty it was pretty confusing until I made up my mind that I was only going to spend a certain amount. That eliminated half the available models and meant I could compare apples with apples.

It took me a good couple of weeks to compare Golf GPS models and I eventually settled for an inexpensive model that is extremely accurate, keeps my score and analyzes my game and it fits in my pocket without losing the signals. I have unlimited courses to choose from, which is fantastic for the odd occasion that I travel, and I do not have to pay an annual fee.

If you are considering joining the happy brigand of Golf GPS uses make sure you do your homework - actually if you go for any of the top name brands you won't be too disappointed - and compare Golf GPS models. Do some research and remember that like computers they are forever bringing out newer, better and cheaper models so if you don't want to spend too much first time out then don't.

Get cracking today and compare Golf GPS models so that you can buy this fantastic addition to your golf bag and really start giving it to your mates on Saturday. You will not be sorry. The author is a qualified coach and until recently was a firm believer in pacing out distances for holes. I believed it was part of the "spirit of the game".


However having experienced the benefits first hand I am a complete convert. For club golf in particular I have noticed that those players using a GPS for golf have improved their games - in some cases quite dramatically - and the speed at which they play their rounds has improved by between 15 and 45 minutes.


If you are considering buying a golf GPS you need to check out this very comprehensive GPS comparison chart, which features all the most popular brands and models and details the benefits and price of each.


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Wednesday, May 28, 2008

How To Hold A Golf Club

Are you trying to fix a slice or a hook? Do you have concerns about your golf grip? There are a few different ways to hold a golf clubs, but which one is the correct or best way to grip your golf club? Read on to learn the different grips and which one is best for your golf game.

The first and most popular grip is the interlocking grip. The interlocking golf grip is one of strength and is used by most top golfers. It involves holding the golf club in a way that involves the pinky finger of the right hand (for a right handed golfer, the opposite for a left handed golfer) wrapping around the index finger of the left hand (again opposite for a left handed golfer). You would do this in a way that creates an interlock between the index finger and the pinky finger.

This grip can be very uncomfortable, at first, but after time you will get used to it. If you don't already wear a golf glove and you are switching to this grip, then you might want to consider wearing one to make it a little more comfortable for you.

The second grip, which is also quite popular is the overlapping grip. This is very similar to the interlocking grip and can also be a very strong grip. This grip involves the pinky finger of the right hand (once again the opposite for a left handed golfer) resting between the index finger and the middle finger of the left hand (opposite for a left handed golfer). This grip is used by a lot of up and coming golfers and is a very strong grip.

The third and final grip is an unconnected grip. It is basically a baseball grip with a bit of variance. This is a grip that does not involve any overlapping or interlocking. It can be considered a weak grip and is not very popular. There are not many golfers that can make this grip work well for them. It can be a strong grip if applied in a strong and consistent way.

So, which one of these three grips is considered the best one? This all depends on the golfer and what they are most comfortable with. This does not mean that you should go with the unconnected grip just because it is comfortable. If it does not work for you, then don't use it. It has to be a comfortable grip that works for you.

Now you can choose a grip that will help your golf game evolve into a better and more enjoyable game. You may even want to try all three grips thoroughly in order to find the right grip for you.

Monday, April 28, 2008

The Importance of Golf Club Shafts

If you want to improve your golf game it’s a good idea to understand the importance of flex regarding golf club shafts. Flex is basically the bending that occurs to the shaft when you create force while swinging the club.

The force that is applied to the golf club depends basically on how fast you swing the golf club and whether you have a smooth swing or if you have a jerking motion while swinging the golf club. In golfing there are basically five ratings that are applied to shaft flex which are extra stiff, stiff, regular, senior and ladies.

If you don’t have the golf club shafts that are best for your type of swing the clubface of the golf club will typically not be lined up properly when you strike the golf ball which will produce a golf shot that sends the ball somewhere that you did not intend for it to go. It’s important to realize that when choosing golf club shafts that flex is a vital factor. The flex of the club will be a factor regarding the accuracy of your golf shots, the trajectory as well as how far the ball will go.

Shaft Selection

While shopping for golf clubs it’s a good idea to work with a professional who can watch your swing and then recommend which type of golf club shafts will work best for you. Some experts suggest that if you hit the golf ball more than two hundred and fifty yards with a driver you might want to select a stiff shaft.

Golfers who hit the ball with the driver between two hundred and two hundred and thirty yards should select a golf club shaft that is rated as regular. Choose a shaft that has been rated senior if you hit the ball with the driver less than two hundred yards. The big hitters can choose a shaft that have been rated extra stiff.

Golf Swing

For golfers that have a smooth golf club swing they should choose softer flex golf club shafts. Golfers that have a jerky type of swing will benefit from a stiffer variety of a shaft. If you have clubs that have stiff shafts and you don’t use them properly you could end up hitting the golf ball lower and a shorter distance when compared to a shaft with a softer flex. If the shaft is not stiff enough the golf ball could go higher than you intended it to go. When selecting golf club shafts it’s important to choose clubs that are best for your type of swing.

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Golf Club Sales; Where Would Golfing Be Without It?

Golf has become its own. With so many sporting goods out there, golf club sales have consistently been at par with that of other sports equipment. Golfing specialty stores have sprung up like mushrooms everywhere. They cater to golfing enthusiasts as well as the beginners.

Golf club sales have sky rocketed over the last ten years and companies have taken advantage of this sudden rise.

Golf Equipment Companies.

With Golf club sales skyrocketing, and reaching all parts of the world companies have resorted to all types of gimmicks and innovations to keep up with competitors as well as maintain high golf club sales. For the marketing people this is a task that is not easy, takes a whole lot of time, effort and imagination.

Here are the companies out there filling up your golfing bag:

Adams golf is well known for its tight lies line of drivers and irons.

Aserta sports are well known for their lineup of putters. They also recently purchased Photon Golf.

Ben Hogan Golf, known for its Hogan apex irons, and apex tour balls was founded by Ben Hogan.

Bettinardi Golf is well known for the ingenious design of putters by its founder. They are well known for high end high performance putters.

Bridgestone Golf, not only markets their line of clubs but also their own line of putters and balls.

Callaway Golf, one of the biggest and most well known brands launched the big bertha line and commanded the attention of the golfing world. They are the leader in terms of golf club sales. They also own the odyssey line of putters.

Curv golf made a beeline for modern innovation and came up with a line of curved putters.

Diamond touch golf, now here’s a girl’s best friend in golf, because they use diamonds for their golf club faces, resulting in an ultra hard face that produces less spin. Although the golf club sales in this one is not high numerically, the golf clubs prices alone will more than make up for it.

Dunlop sports, with all their sporting lines also took a dip in golf club sales, and came up with their own line of wedges, irons, shoes and balls. Their most popular product is the Tad Moore Line.

Honma Golf is known as one of the most expensive golf clubs in the world. Even though their product lines are a bit wallet burning their golf club sales are amazingly at par with that of top competitors. This Japanese company really takes to heart the saying quality for your money.

Last but not least is the Yonex brand with their popular V-mass woods and irons.

Hopefully this article has given you a view on golf club sales, and how they work through clever marketing and innovations.

Consider The Source When Reading Golf Club Review

If you were to believe everything you read in a golf club review, you would think that by buying every club listed in the review you could shoot the best round of golf ever. Many times reviews talk about how using the club adds distance and accuracy to the shot and minor twisting of a stiff club will keep the ball sailing straight even if the ball strike to one side of the sweet spot of the club. By listening to what is included in the golf club review it would seem that a minimum of 10 strokes can be taken off your bests score.

Of course, if you couple that with information about some of the new golf balls on the market, it would also seem as thought you could score a 16 playing an 18-hole course. When reading golf club reviews it is important to consider the source of the information and how it will translate into the way you play the game. No two people have the same golf swing and no matter how good the club might be according to the manufacturer's specifications, if the golfer continues to hit the bal on the heel of the club, the ball is not going to go straight.

Information contained in manufacturer's golf club review material may be a good starting point in making a decision on which club to buy, but looking at insight from the average golfer under typical playing conditions offer an more honest opinion of the club.

Ignore Meaningless Information In Reviews

For the most part a golf club review will talk about the material used in the head and the shaft as well as how soft, or stiff the grips feel. All things being equal grips can be replaced easy enough without a lot of expense, so that as an unimportant aspect of the qualities of the club. the type of glue used to hold the head to the shaft may be important to someone repairing golf clubs but for the average user, it has no meaning.

In most instances a golf club review will provide a good starting point in determining which clubs to look at first. Picking one up is usually the best review a potential customer can find to check the club's whip and holding firmly on the grip with one hand and twisting the club head with the other will show the golfer how much twist it has in the shaft.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Golf Club Testing: Does it Help Your Golf Game?

The USGA is constantly testing golf clubs to make sure the equipment manufactures are complying with the rules. The primary reason the USGA tests golf equipment is to make sure that skill is still the most important factor in golf and not high technology equipment. The Research and Test Center of the USGA has over twenty thousand square feet of space and an outdoor area for testing golf equipment.

The Center contains golf club testing equipment as well as golf ball testing equipment and a staff of experts who have the background to understand the technology that manufactures are bringing to the game of golf and they have the ability to understand the ramifications of certain types of high technology equipment can have for the game for golf.

Employees

The Center is the workplace of highly skilled technicians as well as administrative people who are involved with the submissions by the manufactures and the various rulings. The USGA center also employs engineers who are involved in a variety of research programs for the game of golf including golf club testing. The employees of the USGA Research and Test Center have a common goal of creating and enforcing the standards that have been set for golf equipment in the rules of golf.


The USGA is considered to be the governing authority for the rules of golf and this authority also covers golf club testing. The technical workers at the center follow the concepts provided in the Joint Statement of Principles that was set in 2002 with the assistance of the R&A located in St. Andrews in Scotland. These principles are the guides that are used while testing golf clubs and other equipment and enforcing rules regarding the types of equipment they approve for the game.

Equipment Advances

Golf equipment has seen numerous advances over the years which has improved the ability of golfers and perhaps has added more pleasure for those who play the game of golf; however the USGA is concerned about equipment making the game too easy and taking away from skill as being the main factor for excellent play.

The USGA Research and Test Center is sent almost three thousand golf equipment submissions on an annual basis. They receive about nine hundred different types of golf balls each year as well as over two thousand golf equipment items including golf clubs, shafts, tees, club heads as well as other devices. The golf equipment typically comes from manufactures; however they also receive requests for testing by individuals who have made equipment.

Regarding the testing of golf clubs, all the various components of a club are analyzed and tested in order to determine the performance of the golf club. The different components of the club also have to meet their specifications. The USGA is pleased to perform golf club testing to make sure that technology does not dominate the game of golf.