Friday, June 5, 2009

52 Ways To Stop Your Slice (by Marc Solomon)

If there's one thing that haunts most golfers more than missing a 3-foot putt, it has to be slicing the ball off the tee. So this week I have written 2-different articles - the first being 52 Ways to Stop Your Slice and the second being If You Understand What Causes A Slice You Wouldn't Need 52 Ways To Stop A Slice! So consider this a bonus section to Golf Improvement Weekly.

Part 1 - Fixing your slice can be a complicated task or it can be a Simple solution - the choice is up to you. Now the average person reading this will say - "Well Marc, I want the Simple Solution." Yet, when we go to work on getting rid of your slice using these Simple Solutions, the average Golfer says - "Yeah but, what about working on an inside to out swing path, what about turning my wrist over at impact, isn't my swing too flat, shouldn't I work on getting my elbow down to my side to get the club in the correct position on the downswing?" Because of the Golf Instruction Experts or Guru's that we hear from each week on Television or Magazines or Internet Chat Rooms - we assume that the solutions to simple things such as Slicing the Ball Off The Tee have to have complicated corrections and that there always has to be swing changes made to your swings.

And I actually enjoy hearing how complicated you think it is to fix your golf swing because to see your faces when you're able to Stop Slicing the Ball by just using some of our drills is fascinating.

Fascinating? Why Fascintating?

Because for most Golfers we see, there is so much going on in your heads during each swing you make - I'm surprised your still playing golf. Too many Golfers make this game hard work. It's like the Monkey said - "A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at work!" I'll believe that one when I see it. I guess I haven't worked in an office enviroment enough, but I can't imagine people banging their mouse's on the ground and yelling the expletives they do on the golf course in the middle of the office. Or telling everybody in earshot how bad they messed up on getting an important assignment done - you'd get fired right on the spot if you acted that way in the office.

Yet on the golf course we see clubs banged against the ground - I learn more "salty" language than I did during High School - and I constantly hear how badly everyone's playing, even after they've just played 2-holes. "Oh man, this is the worst golf I've ever played!" Hey don't get down on yourself, you've only played 2-holes. "Yeah but I've never played this bad in my entire life." I don't understand, you've never double bogied 2-holes in a row in all the years you've played golf? "Well yes, I have. But, I just don't feel comfortable right now with my swing. I just feel off and I'm not having fun!" Didn't you just tell me that A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at work?

If that's the case, your job must really stink!

So the first way to Stop a Slice is to not get so upset at yourself that you start to hold the club as if it were a $1,000,000 bill. You must realize that when you hold the club so tightly the tightness doesn't stop at your hands - it works its way up your arms through your shoulders, right up your neck and into your brain. And when all this tension is pulsating through your body - your swing gets "Stuck" and when you're "Stuck", you need to find a way to become "Unstuck" and that usually means you're going to have to Compensate some where in your swing to make up for being "Stuck" and that Compensation will lead to some act of Inconsistency which includes Slicing the Ball off the Tee. (How's that for a run-on sentence Robert Z?)

The Monkey says "I read that if I Slice Off The Tee that I should tee my ball up on the right-side of the tee box (for a righty Golfer - left side for a lefty Golfer) and aim to the left to allow my ball to have more room to Slice." I don't know about that one - Why is that going to help you to not Slice Off The Tee? "Well, it won't stop me from Slicing Off The Tee, but it'll allow me more room to allow the ball to Slice." I guess you're correct, it would give you more room to play the Slice Off The Tee and if you know you're going to Slice - that would be a good PLAN to have. Yet I believe that the reason that most Golfers Slice Off The Tee is caused by bad Aim and having your Aim so far to the left, can't be helping.

If your Aim is off, you'll have to Compensate somewhere in your swing to make up for that fact.

The reason that you'll need to Compensate is that if your Aim is bad and you do make a good swing, the ball won't go where you think it should be go. Yet the majority of Monkeys will start trying to figure out what went wrong with their golf swing as opposed to fixing their Aim. So then on your next swing, instead of fixing the Aim, you feel as though you need to fix your swing instead - so in the middle of your swing you Compensate for the bad Aim and that Compensation will lead to some act of Inconsistency which includes Slicing the Ball off the Tee.

Oh my goodness, I have 50-more Ways To Stop Your Slice to go.

Ok, the next 50 Ways To Stop Your Slice - if you're looking for Golf Tips that you think will improve your Score, this isn't the place to be looking for them. We don't work with Golf Tips, Golf Made Simple works with Reality! Please don't think of us like you think of other Golf Instructors you've worked with or heard talking or read about. Our approach is totally different than what is already out there. Yes, we help you to hit the golf ball better and to eliminate your Slice Off The Tee (we have 100's of Testimonials, Returning Golfers and Referrals to prove it) - but we don't use the ineffective approach that is employed by 9.9 out of 10 Instructors out there. While they're teaching you what Positions you need to be in along with overwhelming you with their "Theories and Assumptions" about swing path, swing plane, grip, etc, etc, etc -

We're allowing you to Feel the motion of your golf swing in a way you've never felt it before.

As Graham Nicholson recently said at one of our classes - "Usually when you go to a Golf School you're worried about pounding 1000's of golf balls and tearing up your hands. On our 2nd day at Golf Made Simple we hit maybe 80 to 90 golf balls and I got more out of that session than I could've dreamed of. And that translated into hitting the golf ball better than I ever have before. It was truly more about quality than quantity!"

To Stop A Slice Off The Tee - everything in your swing has to be moving together to produce a straight club face at impact. That's it! That's the answer! Yet, to get your body to do that, you need to learn to get everything moving together using drills like - The Symetrical Drill, Parallel Hands, Riding Hands, The Stepping Drill, The Swoosh Drill, The Belly Swing, The Modified Belly Swing (MBS), The Toliet Paper Drill, Eyes Closed, The Grass Cutter and Tire Drill, The Ace Bandage Drill, The Baseball Drill, etc, etc, etc.

Which Drill is best for you?

We won't know till we work with you to see which fits your Golf Swing. But you can be assured that these Drills will give you a feel for your Golf Swing - and that is critical because 7 out of 10 Golfers can't feel their golf swing and 9 out of 10 Golfers don't know what they should be feeling. Yet, although most Golfers are having trouble feeling their swing, all the Golf Instruction you hear about is trying to get the club in this Position or that Position. Getting the club in certain Positions is not about Feel - it's more about giving you more to think about on every golf swing and turning you into a Robot over the golf ball. Who wants more to think about when you're hitting off the 1st Tee with 16-other Golfers watching you?

The Golf Tips that you're hearing from the Monkeys (other Golfers and Golf Professionals) are all Compensations to try to fix other Compensations you've developed because you were told to use those Compensations to fix other Compensations. So pretty soon there is no way you can have Confidence in your Golf Swing when you have 52-Compensations To Stop Your Slice on your mind everytime you walk-up to the Tee to hit your Driver. Why is it that Kids have the smoothest, best looking swings in the world? What do you think they're thinking about on every golf swing? Probably - "I hope that Adult doesn't come over here and try to teach me what they're struggling to do!"

The Kids are Feeling their golf swings and are truly having Fun and hitting the ball more Consistent than you are because they're just swinging the club. The average Golfer isn't happy with their Golf swing and they get less happy everytime they go to the Driving Range to practice because they're practicing Positions as opposed to Feeling their swing!

I'd believe the Kid that says "A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at School!"

9 out of 10 Golfers aren't happy with their Golf Game - yet you say "A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at work!" Man, your job must really stink! Yet, those 9 out of 10 Golfers that aren't happy with their Golf Game continue to use Golf Tips (or I should say "Theories and Assumptions" that are really nothing more than Compensations) to improve your game. Please realize that all those Golf Tips that you've tried in the past and might try in the future aren't going to just suddenly leave your swing when you realize they didn't work. Like it or not, those Swing Tips are etched in your golf swing forever - even after you say you're not going to think about that Tip anymore - that swing thought will be there forever. Your swing is made up of everything you've thought of in the past - even the things you tried during just one practice session in the past.

So basically your swing is made up of one Compensating Manuever piled on top of another and another and another.

And the good news is that when all those Compensations work together - you hit a good golf shot. Yet, when they're not working - you hit Inconsistent shots. So my question to you is - "Are your Compensations usually working together to produce Consistent shots?

Part 2 - What causes a Slice? For a Righty - Side Spin to the right. For a Lefty - Side Spin to the left.

What causes a Golfer to say I need to read an article that's going to give me 52-Reasons How To Stop A Slice? Listening to the Monkeys and so called Guru's handing Tip after Tip after Tip to you. Or should I say Compensation after Compensation after Compensation to you. And you know what Compensation equates to? Inconsistency! If you built your home like you built your golf swing - The Big Bad Wolf would be able to "Huff and Puff and blow your house down!" Though if you start with a solid foundation and continue to use that foundation to build your golf swing based on Feeling your swing, you won't have to rely on Golf Tips or should I say Compensations to stop your Slice.

It's not too late to get away from a swing that is built on Compensations! What Do You Think?

Regards,

Marc - Your Instructor for Life
The nationally recognized PGA professional, Marc Solomon and his staff, lead four person classes for a customized experience. Students can take 3, 5 and 7-day classes in St. Augustine, FL, Amelia Island, FL and Santa Barbara, CA. Their Instructor For Life program guarantees that each student can always contact their instructor for free customized advice, tips, drills and exercises - for life. It’s Golf Made Simple.

For more information, or to read Golf Improvement Weekly (the world’s most read golf improvement newsletter), please visit http://www.GolfMadeSimple.com

Golf Travel Bags - Choose Wisely to Protect Your Investment (By Evans Putman)

Planning a golf vacation? Don’t forget to protect your golf clubs by choosing the right golf travel bag. How do you choose the golf travel bag that is right for you? Let’s take a quick look at three different styles to help you make the right choice.

Remember, choosing the right golf travel bag isn’t only about the bag itself. Golfers planning a golf vacation or just looking for protection on short golf trips should ask themselves a few questions before making a purchase.

What is your budget for a golf travel bag?

Do you travel frequently with your golf clubs?

Do your golf trips mostly include air travel or auto travel?

With these questions in mind, let’s take a quick look at the different styles of golf travel bags and the benefits and negatives each offers.

Hybrid Travel Bags

These types of golf travel bags are essentially a golf bag with a hard top to protect your clubs. Unlike other styles, hybrids do not protect your day-to-day golf bag.

Hybrids will help golf travelers with space restrictions. They require less space than other models and also weigh less.

However, hybrid golf travel bags are not your golf bag. Therefore you must unpack and pack all of your golf gear each time you travel. These types of bags are also not the best choice for airline travel.

For golfers who travel more often by automobile and have an extra set of golf clubs, hybrid golf travel bags are a good choice.

Golfers can pick up a hybrid golf travel bag for as little as $60 with top of the line bags going for around $230.

Soft Golf Travel Bags

Think of this style of travel bags as a soft, padded, glove that covers your day-to-day golf bag and clubs. Usually, these bags come with a rigid bottom and wheels to help golfers carry them from location to location.

If you love to carry a lot of golf gear on your travels, then soft-style cases might be the right choice for you. You can travel with your day-to-day bag and stuff it with your other gear and golf accessories. These travel bags also breaks down easily and take up less storage space than hard case bags.

Some of the negatives associated with soft-style golf travel bags are mobility and protection. Soft bags usually do not roll as easily as hard cases. Also, these bags do not offer the same protection as hard cases. Your club heads are especially vulnerable in a soft-style bag.

If you choose a soft-style golf travel bag, I highly recommend that you pick up a Stiff Arm accessory. This will protect your club heads in the event of a direct impact to the top of your bag.

The best soft-style bags can cost anywhere from $120 - $300.

Hard Case Golf Travel Bags

This style of travel bag encompasses your bag and club. They provide the highest amount of protection but do not have space for the golf “pack rat”.

Hard cases are a great choice for the golfer who travels by air to most golf vacation spots. This style provides the most protection and highest security for your golf clubs. Unlike other styles of golf travel bags, airlines will often cover any damage incurred when your clubs are in a hard case travel bag.

Hard cases take up more room than other styles when it comes to storage. They also do not hold all of your golf gear. For the golfer who plans more trips by automobile, hard cases might not make as much sense as hybrids or soft-covers.

Hard case golf travel bags average $130 with top of the line cases costing around $300.

Now that you have a little more insight into golf travel bags, you will be able to choose the right bag for your golf travel and golf vacations. Remember to think about the type and frequency of your golf travel, how much protection you need for your golf clubs, and what type of budget you have for a golf travel bag.

Choose wisely. Protect your investment. And, most of all, enjoy your golf vacation!

Copyright 2005 Evans Putman http://www.PerfectGolfVacations.com - All Rights Reserved. Reprints allowed see below.

Article courtesy of http://www.PerfectGolfVacations.com your source for the best golf destination information. We deliver “Truth in Golf Travel”. PerfectGolfVacations.com delivers the best local market information and word-of-mouth recommendations from golf destinations like Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas, Ireland, Hilton Head, and more. Keep current with updates, news and specials at our blog http://www.perfectgolfvacations.blogspot.com.

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Guide to Playing Golf for Free and Getting Huge Discounts on Golf Balls, Golf Gloves, and Golf Stuff (by Mark Barnes)

If you love to play golf as much as most golf enthusiasts, you would probably play more if the great game of golf and most golf equipment wasn't so grossly expensive. An 18-hole round of golf at even a moderately expensive golf course averages about $36.00. A decent box of 12 golf balls costs roughly $19.00, and golf clubs are hundreds. Although it's impossible to get it all for free, there are ways to get free rounds of golf and huge discounts on golf equipment. Here are some guidelines to help you play more rounds of golf for free, get some free golf equipment and get huge discounts on other golf stuff:

Free or reduced rounds of golf:

Play golf writer for a day. Since anyone can contribute articles on the Internet, call the golf resort or club where you'd like to play and ask for the club pro. Tell him that you write reviews of golf courses for an Internet site (you can create the site yourself, or put them her for ezines). Tell the golf pro that you would like to play his course, write an article on it, and you were hoping he could set you up with a complimentary time. Perhaps he could even play along with you. Once you've done this, you'll most likely be able to play there time and time again for free or for a reduced rate.

Get a free club, even a $400 driver:

This is no great secret, but few people know about it. Best of all, it's very easy to do. Go to a search engine like Google. Type in review or test golf clubs. Many golf equipment review pages will come up. Research a few of them and learn what it takes to be one of their consultants. Many just require a complete written review of the golf club in a particular amount of time, and you get to keep the club. Some people do this and never purchase a golf club or a golf ball.

Get free or discounted golf balls, golf gloves and other golf stuff.

This is another one that has been around for awhile, but not every golfer knows about. Many major retailers have golf membership clubs with small yearly fees that offer amazing freebies and discounts on golf balls, golf gloves and other golf equipment. Sometimes, the membership comes with a free sleeve of very nice golf balls. So, the membership might cost you $15.00, and you’ll get a sleeve of balls worth $9.00. Most future purchases include a 10 to 25 percent discount, and usually once each month, you’ll receive correspondence about a special, buy-one-get-one-free deal on balls or gloves.

Get a beautiful free golf hat and golf bag tag today.

Another great place to go for discounts and freebies is the USGA. Their one-year membership fee is $15.00. With it comes a free golf hat, with the name of one of golf’s majors stenciled on it and a name tag for your bag that says USGA. Throughout the year, your membership will afford you many discounts on golf rounds and equipment, along with neat golf publications from the USGA. No true golf enthusiast should be without this membership.

These are just a few of the numerous ways golfers can save literally thousands of dollars each year on golf and golf equipment. Give them a try today.
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