Pro Golf HQ

Art Of Putting

The location where the majority of the game of golf is played is on the greens, and putting, pure and simple is the most important part of golf.

Putting looks so simple and easy, rolling that little white ball into a nearby golf hole. But mastering the skill of putting has

threatened many a golfer’s sanity.

There are a few tips to help improve a golfers putting skills.

Golfers should use only one ball when they practice their putting. This is closer to what a real game is like. They tend to concentrate better this way than if they have a bucket of balls to keep digging into. Golfers should practice their putting daily.

Putting is not all in the wrists. When a golfer is putting, the palms of their hands face each other. This prevents one hand from

dominating and ensures that both work together for them.

Golfers should make sure that they are totally relaxed before they strike the ball. They should loosen up their muscles so they feel flabby and jelly-like. Golfers should never tense up their muscles when putting!

Make their back and follow through strokes the same length.

Keep their putter face square by weakening their left hand and strengthening their right.

Rely less on their wrists and more on their shoulders when putting.

Keep that left wrist firm.

Relax their knees a little. Do not lock up.

Golfers heels should be shoulder-width apart.

Gary McCord advises that on curved putts, they should keep their feel parallel to the line they have chosen, not parallel to the hole.

As they make contact with the ball, they want to accelerate the putter. Keep the putter grip moving toward their target.

It is better to miss a putt by sending it beyond the hole than by having it come up short. Finishing off the shot will be easier.

Practice their putting at home on their carpet when the weather is bad, or when they cannot get to the golf course.

Find a putter that works well for them and stay with it.

Have something at stake at every hole so a golfer becomes accustomed to putting under pressure.

Perfecting Your Golf Swing

On the driving range I often see golfers swinging to the top of their backswing and stopping and trying to see if the golf club is positioned correctly. Naturally this is a very, very hard way to tell if the backswing is in "the slot" so to speak.

If in the past you've struggled to know if your golf backswing is correct or not then today I've got a great golf drill that will allow you to quickly and easily check it.

To do this golf drill you simply have to swing back to the top of your backswing and stop and hold your backswing position for a couple of seconds.

Then from this position simply slowly loosen your grip and let the shaft fall down. If the golf club hits you on the tip of your right shoulder then that strongly indicates that the top of your backswing position is good. If the golf club misses your body when you do this then that is a sure sign that your backswing is too flat. And conversely if your club hits your head or neck that indicates that your swing is too upright.

Now if after doing this backswing exercise you find that your top of the backswing position is not where it should be then please don't do this:

Do not try to manipulate what is happening near the top of your backswing to get the club in a good position, because you must understand that the golf swing is a chain reaction. Let me explain that some more by looking at what happens when you impact the golf ball.

The impact position you get into when you swing is a result of the downswing position that you were in. The position you get into in the downswing is a result of how you transitioned from your backswing position to the downswing. The position you get into at the top of your backswing is simply the result of the position you were in half way into your backswing. Where the club is half way into your backswing is simply the result of how you took the club away. And finally, the way you took the club away is largely a result of your setup.

You see, you can't take one position in your golf swing in isolation and then try and fix that because the positions that you got into before that determined the future positions. Instead what you need to do is systematically work on getting each phase of the swing the best it can be, working from the setup, take away and on from there. If you do that you'll naturally and automatically get into a great top of the swing position.

The Importance Of Choosing The Right Golf Balls

Have you ever thought that choosing right kind of golf balls can work wonders for your golfing skills? Yes! It is true.There are various kind of golf balls available in the market depending on your requirement.You may want to hit the ball for longer distance with little effort on your tee or iron shots or you may choose to have better control on the greens.There are various type of balls to suit your requirement.Of course you will have to practice a lot with patience but you can speed up the improvement in the game if you learn more about golf balls. Here are some of the varieties of golf balls which you may consider worth using.

1.Practice balls : These balls are usually cheap.They can be made of plastic or some soft material so that you do not hurt some body while practicing.Even if you lose them there is no cause to worry. So they should be bought in large quantity.You may practice in your garden or park depending on your convenience.It also eliminates the need to go to the driving range or golf course while you want to practice your swing.Choose good quality practice balls only.

2.Balls for better control : If you have the power but lack accuracy these are just for you.They cut out back spin and make sure that the ball stops at the greens rather than running away from the hole. They will help you hit straighter.No doubt your confidence in the game will improve.They are worth trying.

3. Distance balls : Those who can swing quickly and are struggling with those par five holes will find this type of ball useful.You will be able to hit the distance you have never imagined before.They fly in the air with incredible speed and are usually hi-tech. Go for it if you want to improve your confidence with distance.

4.Novelty balls : If you are bored with the game and want to break the monotony then go for novelty balls.They come in various colors.Some light up and flash when hit, some are shaped like American footballs.They bring newness to the game and you often enjoy more.So to break the seriousness of the game and to have some fun lets play with novelty balls.

Today the game of golf has become very competitive and any extra edge is always welcome.Investing in golf balls provides good returns in terms of improvement in your game.

Picking Your Golf Equipment

Looking for quality golf equipment but not sure you want to spend a ton on it? Are you new and starting out and need some new golf equipment but don't know where to begin? Finding the right golf equipment may seem like a challenge, but it really does not have to be. In fact, if you know what you need, your task could be quite easy. Looking for quality golf equipment but not sure you want to spend a ton on it? Are you new and starting out and need some new golf equipment but don't know where to begin? Finding the right golf equipment may seem like a challenge, but it really does not have to be. In fact, if you know what you need, your task could be quite easy.

The first step in purchasing golf equipment is to determine your budget. Once you get to that golf store and get the best club in your hand, you may just overspend. Knowing how much you can and should spend on golf equipment will keep your wallet as happy as you will be with your golf equipment. After determining this, you will need to begin looking. The basic equipment that all good golfers have is a set of clubs, tees, gloves, and golf balls. There is much speculation about which types of clubs you need and what material they should be made out of. The best bet to determining the right equipment for you is to try it out and get a feel for it. A basic set of golf clubs will include woods, irons, putters, and wedges. The types of these clubs that you end up purchasing will depend on how they feel in your hand and through your swing. Other golf equipment to consider includes shoes, balls, gloves, clothing and more.

Golf equipment is widely available. You can go into any sporting goods store and find quality merchandise. You can also go to some of the department stores and find golf equipment there. There are even golf equipment stores that can provide you with many choices. Still want a better selection? Are you looking for the best value for your money? Use the internet to search from site to site to find the right golf equipment at the right prices. The basic golf equipment should be the first order of business for you. Once you have these items you can move into getting the other golf equipment you may find.

Stop Golf Grip Slippage In Hot Weather By Doing This…

There is nothing worse than swinging a golf club and feeling the golf club slipping through your hands, because if that happens you're almost guaranteed a terrible shot. And unless you're Tiger Woods it's very hard to stop the swing when you're half way down to the ball.

I have no idea how Tiger does that!

Anyway, if the weather is very hot and humid the chances of your grip slipping as you're swinging goes way up. Also, if you're playing in the rain then naturally the chances of your grip slipping as you make your golf swing go up as well.

But there are simple solutions to this problem which don't have to cost you anything. And the first solution is a dry towel.

When you play golf you should carry at least 1 extra golf towel. Ideally you should carry two extra golf towels however. And if you're getting hot and sweaty or it's raining then before and after every golf shot you should be wiping your golf grips and hands with one of your dry towels.

Also, if it's raining you'll obviously have your umbrella up so I suggest that you keep your towel under the umbrella to try and keep it dry for as long as you can. Then when your towel is not doing a good enough job then simply put it back in your golf bag and get another dry towel out.

Now here's a neat trick.

Every two or three holes simply get some sand from the bunkers (or from the little buckets they give you to put in divots) and rub some of the sand on your hands and on your golf grips. This will help to absorb the sweat and it will help you to keep a firm golf grip as you're swinging.

Important Note: If you're a women reading this you may prefer to take talcum powder with you and put this on your hands instead of sand.

So the next time you play a game of golf where it is possibly going to rain or be hot and humid…or heaven forbid….both at the same time! Then make sure you take at least two towels and try your best to keep them dry. Then every golf hole or two put some sand on your hands and on your grips. Doing these little things will help you to keep your golf grip secure as you're swinging the golf club. Because again, there's nothing worse than going to play a golf shot and having your hands feel as though they are going to slip on the golf grip, is there?

Nick Bayley is a professional golfer who has discovered just one golf swing fault that could be stopping you from ball striking consistency and success.

Create A Gift Basket For A Golfer Lover!

The choice of what gift to give your family and friends can often be a difficult one. One of the best gifts that you can give is a gift basket. A gift basket is that one present that comes in many shapes, themes and of course, price ranges. A gift basket is easy and fun to make.

The diversity of gift baskets is never-ending. You can give a weekend pack gift basket or a relaxing gift basket (required after a weekend away playing golf) or a simple basket with balls and tees. The type of gift basket you choose and create is only limited by your imagination.

Here is a simple basket that you can easily create yourself for that special “Golf Mad Person”:

Pick a gift basket style. I like to use either a Golf Bag or a bucket (try a metal or heavy plastic golf ball bucket, like the ones at a driving range) which later can be used for collection of practice balls.

Next select a variety of items that have a golf theme which will later be packed into the decorative basket that you have chosen especially for the recipient.

When selecting the gifts for the Golf Lover choose items such as golf balls, personalized golf balls, tees and ball markers, books about golfing, golfing coffee mugs, golf theme mouse pads, sunscreen, waterproof raingear, golfing shirts and handheld golf games.

To add a little extra to your gift basket for the Golf Lover include:

A cap with their name embroidered on the front, a personalized hand towel and a video on improving their golf game.

If you are on a budget try a small gift basket. I would suggest using a metal bucket and include some sunscreen, tees and balls.

When you are finished, wrap the Gift Basket with cellophane paper and raffia to give it a finishing touch. Use shredded paper inside the basket to hold the goodies in place. Tie a tee with a message attached to it for that added touch.

5 Easy Steps To Replacing Your Golf Grips

Replacing your golf grips is like servicing your car; you must do it on a very routine basis to keep them in top working order. We suggest changing your grips at least once a season, maybe even twice depending on where you live and how much you play.

People think that you must have your grips replaced professionally. This is incorrect because it can get costly. Actually replacing your own golf club grips is a really simple job. You will learn a lot about your clubs and save you some money.

Below we will walk you through the quick simple steps to doing the job yourself. But first there are a few things you will need:

New golf grips

Exacto or sharp knife

Double sided tape

Cleaning solvent

Work bench vice

Follow these quick easy steps:

Place the club in the work bench vice and tighten with the grip being fully exposed. Take the exacto or sharp knife and cut the grip from the shaft up to the end of club, cutting away from your body.

Remove the old grip and clean the shaft of the club with the cleaning solvent using an old rag or brush. Then dry the club off completely.

Wrap the double sided tape down the shaft the length of the grip. Make sure that portion of the shaft is completely covered and remove the backing on the other side of the tape.

Pour some solvent over the tape. Line the grip up with the club and slip it towards the head of the club. Remove the club from the vice and place the head on the floor and make the minor alignment adjustments.

Let grips dry for a few hours (3).

Give this a try; it is a very easy process and simple task to do. It can be a great learning experience and a lot of fun. It will help you learn a little more about your golf clubs and save you some money. So get the things you need and get busy.

About The Author - John Bolt is the full time owner of GolfEquipmentSource.com. He has been an avid golf nut since childhood. With years of competitive experience under his belt, he understands the importance of having properly fitted golf equipment. You can visit him online at: http://www.golfequipmentsource.com.