Golf Technology-Comparing Pitching Wedge Loft to Sand Wedge Loft

Over the years, golf technology has evolved a lot, and in understanding the varying functions in the clubs we carry in our bag, we must always look at the differences that each club provides us. The variations in golf club loft for the pitching wedge, sand wedge, and also the newer lob wedges that golf technology has brought us are important to understand when selecting the best golf club for the right circumstances.

Most golfers lump the gap wedge, sand wedge and lob wedges together as part of the arsenal of "irons". But a normal set of irons usually includes 3 iron through pitching wedge, with the other wedges bought separately. Golf club technology has evolved to the point where the loft on the 5 iron, a few years ago about 32 degrees, now is lofted at roughly 26 degrees. This has led to the increased use of the greater lofted clubs, which are intended specifically for ball loft, accuracy, and ball control. This collection of golf clubs, on account of their value in scoring and the total amount of use they receive for the mid to high handicapper, turn out to be a significant part of playing a good round of golf.

Pitching wedge loft, or one club down from your nine iron, is normally at from 45 to 48 degrees, and for the typical male golfer may be hit full at 100 to 110 yards. Less than that distance, and the golfer will get into those difficult half or three quarter wedges. So golf technology has come up with another solution with the gap wedge. At about 50 to 54 degrees, this club is designed to hit those in-between shots with a full swing, which if practiced properly will be hit with more comfort and confidence.

The sand wedge, attributed to Gene Sarazen as his contribution to golf technology, is usually about 56 degrees (although I prefer them a bit more lofted) and are flanged to varying degrees on the heal of the club. This prevents the sand wedge from digging into the sand under the ball. This "club bounce", or area on the club that actually rests on the ground at address, has the purpose of preventing the club head from digging into the ground or sand before ball impact, and are usually present to some degree on the gap wedge and especially the lob wedges.

Lastly, the club with the greatest amount of loft is the lob wedge, a rather new tool to us golfers. This is generally lofted at about 60 degrees and occasionally more, and is usually quite heavily flanged to provide greater club bounce. With practice this club is a very helpful tool around the greens, as you can use this to zero in on a tight pin position. Because of its greater loft, you can take quite an aggressive swing with no worry the ball will fly a great distance or roll a long way, if at all.

Possessing control of these golf clubs is sure to decrease your score, no matter your level of play. Knowing accurately the differences in these golf clubs, from your loft of the pitching wedge or a sand wedge, to how a golf ball reacts while coming off your club, takes significant amounts of training. But through some effort, anyone ought to have the ability to get good at these shots.

Inside Out Golf Swing Drills-Golf Swing Tips

The inside out golf swing refers to the swing plane that the golf club takes as it passes through the golf ball. Swing plane is among the golf swing tips that are generally difficult to grasp, but accomplishing an inside out golf swing shared using a golf grip that keeps the golf club face in proper position will enable any golfer to shape the ball as is required.

The golfer we seek out when talking regarding inside out golf swing drills is primarily one who is troubled having a slice, or cutting across the ball on an outside to inside plane, therefore imparting clockwise spin on the ball. The normal inclination, while trying to swing directly down the target line, is to take the club directly back from the golf ball. Because our golf motion is circular, that is, the club head in effect travels around the body, taking the golf club directly back will make it physically impossible to extend the golf swing directly through the ball, or from the six o'clock position to a noon point on the golf ball.

So the first of our golf swing tips is, when we initiate the swing, to take the golf club from the ball from the seven o'clock point on the ball. On the takeaway, when I think my swing is at its best, it almost feels like my hands are brushing past my right hip. As a rule the path you are taking the golf club back would be the channel the golf club will come into the golf ball, so taking the golf club back properly is necessary to initiate the correct inside out golf swing.

The next phase of our inside out golf swing drills is to make sure the club head "extends" through the golf ball to the one o'clock point. This requires some swing keys. If the hips and left shoulder open too early, the hands, and therefore the club, will have to follow, consequently pulling the golf club to perhaps an eleven o'clock position relating to the ball, and most likely a mishit. For one more of our inside out golf swing drills that need be practiced at the driving range is, push some tees in the ground on either side of a path to the seven o'clock position on the ball, next some more on each side of a path leading away from the one o'clock point. To start with, take a few easy swings getting your body to sense its position as the golf club head passes through the golf ball on an inside out golf swing plane. You will probably feel the necessity to relocate the golf ball further back in the stance than you normally do, but with practice I'm sure you'll be satisfied with the results.

Our final of our golf swing tips is the golf grip. It should be strong enough to get the club square to your golf ball at impact, or hitting the golf ball with an inside out swing will lead to a push shot going straight and right of intention.

The great Ben Hogan one time said, "You only hit a straight ball by accident". Most low handicappers attempt to shape the ball one way or the other, and by knowing which way they will shape it gives them greater margin for error. These inside out golf swing drills when perfected will permit you to consistently shape the ball right to left.

Golf Yardage Tracking Tools - Your Top Choice

Golf equipment in the last few years has grown and advanced immensely. From space age drivers to hybrid golf clubs, as well as great advances in golf ball design have changed how we play the sport. Nowadays golf yardage tracking tools have become prevalent. These consist of GPS devices, which stand for Global Positioning System that makes use of a satellite-supported navigation system consisting of a network of 24 orbiting satellites to see your precise location on the course.

So why have golf yardage tracking tools become so accepted so rapidly? For the reason that they provide a help to everyone involved. Golf courses love them because they (at least in theory) speed up play. Anyone of us who've played behind a golfer who steps off his distance inside 80 yards before figuring out how to play his shot appreciates the feeling. This is why the USGA rather recently permitted the devices for amateur golfers. But they've as well benefited the golfer. As often as innovative club design has enhanced our sport, golf GPS devices offer the mid to high handicapper a great device to reduce their scores. Taking the speculation out of shot distance, and thus choice of club, allows the golfer to deal with his shot more self-assuredly.

Golf yardage tracking tools come as two main varieties: range finders and GPS units.

1. The range finder looks like a pair of binoculars, and you look through the lenses at your target. A laser beam will zero in on that target and be able to calculate the yardage. You could put it to use not only to measure distances to the pin, but in addition sand traps or additional hazards. They can be employed on any course. The only real thing that is required is a clear sight line towards the target and a steady hand, especially for extended distances. Maps of golf courses won't need to be downloaded, and satellite strength signals are not an issue.

2. GPS units are quite a bit more complex. The simplest tools are about providing you with yardage, sometimes for the front, middle, and back of the green. Some can even measure distances to hazards. But if you golf many courses, you'll have to down load a map of every course, so you will need to be familiar with the capacity your particular device can store. Therefore, the quality of the GPS map will determine its usability. You will have to know if the courses you play possess maps intended for your particular GPS brand. Lastly, if you happen to be not capable to connect with the satellite owing to cloudy conditions or tall trees, your monitor could be blank. That said, I've used them with superb results. GPS golf systems are rapidly becoming a fundamental for many courses as part of their course management. They can be used to watch where golfers can be found, and as a part of a system to communicate with golfers concerning climatic conditions (or to just tell them to speed it up).

Golf yardage tracking tools are in reality awesome devices for the golfer, and not only as toys. They improve the golfing experience, and provide one less justification for hitting long or short. It will not be long when they are going to be as normal to the golfer as a sand wedge.

How to Punch a Low Golf Shot Under Trees

One of several important facets of golf is the number of unusual situations we confront during just one round of golf, and the more resources we can employ to get out of the sticky conditions with a minimum of damage could be the difference of 5 or 6, or more, strokes in our handicap. One of those sticky conditions we regularly encounter is when we have to punch a low golf shot under trees.

There will always be many ways to get out you from this situation, and on occasion the careful way, to simply get the ball back on the fairway, is the very best way. Depending on how a ball lies, where additional hazards can be found, and just how much space underneath the tree you have to work with, at times it's really better to take your medicine and go the safe way. But to punch a low golf shot under trees can often get you from difficulty without sacrificing yardage.

My first bit of advice regarding how to punch a low golf shot under trees, and this goes contrary to what some people think, is not to locate the ball well back in the stance. It's true that you really want to deloft the club, and positioning the ball back will achieve that, but you also would like to put a small amount or no backspin on the ball. You will produce backspin if you hit the ball taking a downward arch that is certainly what you'll do if the ball is back. Instead, so that you can hit a low golf shot beneath trees, try this:

1. Over club by at least two. You are going to be taking an abbreviated swing, and you want less loft and thus less height on the ball.

2. Place the ball in the center of the stance.

3. Choke down on the club, only a little.

4. Flatten the swing, taking the club back low and don't hinge the wrists.

5. Keep the hands well ahead of the ball at contact, resulting in a delofted club head.

6. Finish with the club head low and again not hinging the wrists.

7. Swing slow and easy, concentrating on making firm contact to the ball.

I term it a "punch shot", as to me I have the feeling of merely punching the ball low, keeping it just off the ground, and then getting yardage with the roll. As pointed out earlier, the quality of the lie will determine if I try this shot. If I can't get my entire clubface on the ball, it's too risky to undertake. In addition, if the area where I hope to generate roll out of is very wet and won't yield much roll, the risk/reward of the shot may perhaps be too high.

An excellent little driving range drill is to stand your golf bag up around four or five feet in front of you, and try to punch balls through the legs and under the bag. If you keep hitting the bag, cut down on the pace of the swing. Under the proper circumstances, this is a handy shot to have on the golf course. No matter what your level of play, there will be times when it will be advantageous to understand how to punch a low golf shot under trees.

Taylormade Golf Club Drivers-Just Identify Them Foremost in Golf Clubs

Actually, it's TaylorMade golf club drivers, and since climbing to number one in golf driver reviews in 2005, TaylorMade has not relinquished the location since. TaylorMade golf club drivers are the golf clubs utilized by more professionals than all other golf club drivers combined, and their improvements in their design of golf clubs have permitted them to keep their spot at the top of golf driver reviews.

TaylorMade was founded in 1979 by the inventor of the metalwood, Gary Adams, in McHenry, Illinois. Innovation has continuously been the keyword in keeping TaylorMade golf clubs at the top of golf driver reviews, and the sale of TaylorMade to Salomon in 1984 permitted them to expand their scope world-wide. They remained part of Salomon until 1997, when Adidas bought Salomon, and shortly after the TaylorMade focus was redirected to concentrate on the lucrative golf club driver market. The objective was achieved in 2005 when sales and golf driver reviews awarded TaylorMade golf club drivers as the number one golf club within the industry.

TaylorMade needless to say has the full line of golf clubs, but their reputation still is in the TaylorMade golf club drivers. So what provides them such a loyal following? Aside from the aforementioned innovation, selection is definitely an attraction, or may be confusing. They promote golf club drivers for every level of golfer, from the PGA tour player to the 40 handicap golfer. Their R11 models permit the golfer to regulate the golf clubs to separately tune loft, face angle and flight path to fit the individual golfer. In three quick, easy actions the golf clubs may be totally customized to the golfer's particular swing. Once the golf club is tuned, golf driver reviews say that the distance added is considerable.

Another category of TaylorMade golf club drivers is the Burner Superfast 2.0 models. The aerodynamics of those golf clubs and their light weight will allow greater club head velocity, and the bigger club head and large forgiving face of the golf club assist the higher handicapper, as they're more forgiving regarding miss hits. TaylorMade has an excellent website that the golfer looking for something new in a golf club will get a good idea of what the TaylorMade line has to offer.

While investing in a golf club driver or for that matter any of the great golf clubs available these days, you will need to actually try them before you will be prepared to know very well what to purchase. By doing a search, you'll be able to probably locate when and where a demonstration of TaylorMade golf club drivers is going to be held near you. Go to the golf course, ask questions, and hit a few balls with them. They're great golf clubs, but not cheap, so you need to make sure you're pleased with your acquisition.

Proper Golf Swing Basics for the New Golfer

While addressing proper golf swing basics for the new golfer, the idea is to keep things uncomplicated and never attempt to emulate Tiger Woods or any of the pros. Their golf swing basics are so far advanced to ours that it would merely trigger additional frustration than this remarkable game of golf already has. What I would like to recommend to the new golfer is to get very simple in their golf swing basics, and once that is set build from that basis.

1. Work relating to the short game initially. I assume because we start a hole from the tee, people learning the sport think that is where their training should start. I feel proper golf swing basics start with the chip shot, after that moving up, ending using the driver. The object of any swing is what happens at ball contact, and the remainder of the swing is merely in support of ball contact. The closer you get to the hole, the greater number of times you may employ a particular club. Then doesn't it stand to reason the more time you use a particular golf club during a round of golf, the longer you ought to put into working with it? It's natural for the new golfer to walk onto the driving range, pull out the driver, and hit half a bucket of golf balls with it. But how often would you hit a driver during a round of golf? Fourteen at most, and many of those swings with the driver another golf club would have been the better option. Give the driver a break.

2. Work on contact, not club speed. Controlled contact will serve your game a lot better than working to generate golf club velocity for distance. This is why we start with the chip around the green, as it has the shortest distance end to end in the swing, and therefore should be the best controlled of any golf club. When the new golfer practices this shot, he should here a crisp "click" on the ball at contact. Additionally, practice eliminating any sidespin, which for the longer golf clubs will set off a slice or hook.

3. As you progress up from the chip when developing proper golf swing basics, think "smooth and under control" rather than "rapid and aggressive". Swinging the club harder might send the golf ball further, but only if you hit it solidly. But even when you hit it solidly but impart a great deal of sidespin, the golf ball will be in poorer position than when you knock it 50 or 100 yards less, but with more control.
4. It will be extremely difficult for the new golfer, or that matter any golfer, to keep proper golf swing basics without being in decent physical shape. Muscle groups used for a proper golf swing aren't used on a regular basis, so they should be maintained with an off-course agenda.

This is merely a primer course in proper golf swing basics. The new golfer must always be patient in his improvement and especially try to keep a correct rhythm and tempo. But above all, have fun, and recognize that playing this game better is a journey, not a destination.

Teaching for Junior Golfers - Physical and Mental Training

For those youthful golfers who desire to take up the sport, we wish to settle on a few guidelines on what sort of training ought to be conducted at what ages. Each junior golfer has to be taken separately, but I do think a few generalities exist for the physical and psychological teaching for junior golfers.

As children differ so much in both physical and mental maturity, setting tiers of accomplishment on at what age teaching for junior golfers needs to be done is difficult. I will use the following like a general guide:

1. Under 10 years. At this point, we should be focusing on appreciating the sport of golf and its "pleasurable" facet. Teaching as such doesn't need to be altogether structured, and if excessively structured might cause more long-term harm than good. If the correlation with golf is as it being a task, and not something pleasing, the junior golfer's staying power for the game might not last long-term. Boosting motor patterns and co-ordination proficiency is what we are attempting to attain at this age, not discipline and self-sacrifice. Encouragement is paramount, but poor behaviour must never be tolerated.

2. Age 10 to 16 years. Teaching for junior golfers at this time ought to put emphasis on good fundamentals and proper technique, the building blocks for the longer term growth as a golfer. I'm a set believer in cross training in sport; that is, being involved in the skills of other sports, like the footwork of basketball or soccer, or the hand-eye coordination of baseball, to focus on and further increase the abilities of the young golfer. The massive growth spurt that's happening at this age necessitate the need to gain "posture awareness", and much of the young golfers education must revolve around this. Self-discipline in training for the game should become increasingly more prominent.

3. Age 16 to 20 years. Now is when to specialize, but a well balanced existence continues to be essential. Becoming a top flight golfer continues to be a marathon, not just a sprint, so developing training for junior golfers at an even, steady tempo where development is created week by week is a vital ingredient. At this point self-discipline is becoming very important, as there will be a number of days when working out are not going to be something the junior golfer really wants to do, but must push through and accomplish something that day concerning his progress. Obviously, the body will still necessitate time to recuperate after rigorous working out sessions, or nagging injuries will rear up, accordingly setting the training back. I remember reading where Andre Agassi, when asked how he got through training days that he didn't want to do, said that he always tried to maintain the same high-level intensity, but just cut back on the time of the workout. Hardly anyone can duplicate the same vigor for their craft every single day.

The necessity to maintain sense of balance, both from physical training (not overloading the body with physical activity), and mental overload (to avoid burnout), is of significant importance. Contrary to what individuals might think, professional golfers aren't made when they are junior golfers. Teaching for junior golfers is just laying the foundations, but the actual construction for the really accomplished golfer arrives later. However, if the foundations are rushed, or aren't properly in place, the ultimate product won't ever happen.

Golf Shot Advice for Success Out of the Rough

Each golfer finds themselves in rough sooner or later during a round of golf. Many recreational golfers, in their frustration in being there and their haste for getting out, merely get a club and begin hacking. On the other hand, this is now time to take several deep breaths and evaluate the situation. Knowing some golf shot advice for getting out of the rough will assist in giving the golfer the confidence in making the appropriate judgments regarding how to play this shot.

My first small piece of advice for any situation in golf that demands resolution-making would be to get into the best mindset. If we accept the truth that golf in actual fact is a sequence of difficult conditions to overcome, then we'll be in a better psychological position to deal with every situation. Being relaxed and assessing the harm with a clear head will go far in determining a good result. So before we get into some golf shot advice for success out of the rough, settle on if it's thick rough or light rough. The best way you can perform the shot shall be determined by this. For thick rough:

1. Club selection is critical. Pick a club with a sharp leading edge, like shorter irons or lofted rescue clubs. It will permit you to cut through the thick grass and get the ball airborne quicker. Don't try to shape the ball by way of this shot, as coming out of deep grass will as a rule impart over-spin to the ball.

2. Placement of the ball is important. Positioned too far forward and the club will snare excessive grass, and too far back will take away club loft to get the ball in the air. Center to a little left of midpoint works best for me, but you need to work out your comfort zone. Furthermore, stand a little bit nearer towards the ball and apply a more upright swing.

3. Your target area. Recognize that the ball is going to come out as a "flier", with modest backspin and much more roll, so amend your objective accordingly.

4. Open the clubface. This would not only permit the ball to get airborne more rapidly, but when the grass grabs the club hosel, it's going to consequentially close the clubface on contact.

5. Balance. Together with your weight slightly forward, swing using a steeper angle at the ball, keeping your hands before the club.

For tips about getting out of lighter rough if the ball is not buried, think more by way of making real contact with the ball, with more of a sweeping stroke. Choking down on the club a will hold back the arc in the swing, supplying you with better control. Among the greatest risks with this shot is to undercut the ball, consequently concentrate on solid ball contact that has a controlled swing.

Hitting from the rough doesn't need to be as difficult as it seems, but don't be intimidated with the shot. Some finishing thoughts for golf shot advice for success out of the rough are to be aggressive with your swing, but not too aggressive with your anticipated outcome. Succeeding in getting out in a single stroke and advancing the ball down the fairway should be the purpose.

Eradicate the Golf Slice - the Major Key You Must Follow To Cure a Slice

The golf slice is just about the most annoying issues to deal with for some golfers, but should the causes of why the golf ball slices are clearly understood, the solution is not so difficult. But before we provide the actions to cure that slice, take several deep breaths and SLOW DOWN your swing. Almost everything will fall into place if you think three-quarter speed.

The most crucial key that we will contend with to take care of the golf slice is correct swing path. As your golf swing is circular, that is, the club head begins behind our head, swings about the body and ends up behind our head, it may look like it is physically impossible to not spin the ball. But at the point of contact don't think circular. Allow me to explain.

While looking down on the ball, consider the ball moving in flight. For the right handed golfer, if the ball is rotating in a clockwise way the ball will slice, or move in the direction toward which the ball is revolving. Obviously, for the left handed golfer the opposite holds. The goal to correct the golf slice would be to eliminate this spin.

How can we accomplish this? If, by looking down on the golf ball, we were to imagine it as being a clock with twelve o'clock being the direction we'd like the ball to go, if we were to produce first contact on the golf ball at seven o'clock striking through the ball to the one o'clock position, we'd impart little spin on the ball, thus giving the ball a straight flight, or perhaps a slight counter clockwise, or hook spin.

Now undoubtedly this wouldn't be challenging if not for the fact that we are swinging, to some degree, around the body in to some extent a circular motion. So just before impact and just after, we should think about the club having a nearly inside out route. This isn't as difficult as it seems. To correct the golf slice, practice undertaking a couple of elements to accomplish this:

1.Close the foot placement somewhat. In other words, make sure the front foot is a bit closer to the golf ball in comparison to back foot.

2.Position the ball further back in your stance. Some of us have the tendency to move the ball forward, often even past our front foot, making it extremely difficult to reach that "one o'clock" place on the golf ball. Consistently sticking with those two swing keys will work wonders for the fix the golf slice. Of course some practice to fine-tune those techniques for your swing will be necessary.
My name is Sean O'Kelly, and I hope that I have helped you cure that "banana ball". For more techniques to fix the golf slice, and many other golf fixes, click HERE. Also, if you want to check out some ways to play golf for free, click HERE a 50 page guide.

Golf Swing Tips on How to Hit a Driver

To learn how to hit a driver properly, or how to hit a golf ball with any club, two things must be kept in mind: speed trumps strength, and striking the golf ball cleanly means yardage. Before we get into a few golf swing tips, when we talk of speed, we talk about generating golf club speed from quickness through a coordinated effort from multiple regions of the body, and not on brute force. Golf swing tips should start with balance.

Balance. How to hit a golf ball consistently requires being in total balance throughout the golf swing. Balance is so vital in how to hit a driver consistently for yardage, and it is often so neglected, that it could be said that all golf swing tips ought to start with this. As an illustration of the importance of balance, everyone knows how difficult it can be to play in windy conditions, and that has more to do with balance than how the wind affects the flight of the golf ball.

Maintain lag. For golf swing tips, this can be categorized as the secret weapon on how to hit a golf ball. It is defined as the club head "trailing" the hands. Many higher handicap golfers have trouble with the concept, since constant acceleration is needed to ensure a lagging club head throughout impact, and they don't normally speed up through the golf ball, but quit at the golf ball at impact. That closing rip through the ball provides club head speed, and distance.

Relax. Another golf swing tip that does not get sufficient attention should be to relax. For the muscle groups to become swift, they can't be tight. It's a scientific impossibility that you can play high-quality golf if you're tense. Golf relaxation exercises can be practiced off the golf course for use when you need them most for your golf swing.

Full follow through. As mentioned previous in our second golf swing tips, nearly all high handicappers swing at the ball, with the sensation that immediately when the ball is struck, the swing ends. A significant key to how to hit a driver is to accelerate through the golf ball, which obviously means the only thing slowing the golf club after impact will be the resistance of the ball. Finish high, with your weight forward.

Power originates in the lower half. When learning how to hit a driver, for maximum distance you have to use the strongest area in the body for nearly everybody, and that is from the muscles in the hips through the thigh region. These are the muscles that initiate the golf swing and allow you to drive your weight through the hitting area. If you are unconvinced of the significance to the legs in the way to hit a ball for distance, watch a power hitter in baseball. A great deal of his bat speed is generated with the legs, where as the singles hitter hits more using the upper body.

How to hit a driver for distance necessitates significant amounts of coordination from a few different areas, but those that coordinate everything are the ones who hit the ball the farthest, and sometimes they are not the biggest guys. How to hit a golf ball properly is more about understanding the principles of the golf swing and then putting them into practice.