Have a look here. It's an interesting theory, especially if it works. I have seen a couple of tour players using this method recently, with some success. You know, once they are over the ball they just pull the trigger and let it roll. There's no hanging about, waiting for the right moment.
Whether it will work for the rest of us, well we can only try it an see. Just don't hold your breath waiting for the ball to drop. And let us know how you get on, if you give it a go.

USGA Rules – Get Your Copy Of The Official Golf Rulebook From The United States Golf Association (USGA)

Did you know that there are literally hundreds of printed rules that pertain to the game of golf? In fact, the United States Golf Association (USGA) releases an updated official golf rulebook every year that contains approximately 100 pages of rules that every golfer should be familiar with. It would behoove of you to purchase one as soon as possible. The booklet is pocket-sized so you can carry it around with you while playing on the course.

It is important that all beginners sit down and become quite familiar with the USGA rule booklet. It is filled with a list of do's and don'ts when playing golf, clauses, subclauses, basically everything you need to know, and then some.

The reason why there is so much power-packed information and rules associated with golf is because the game itself has evolved over hundreds of years and its rules have had to be amended and changed over the course of time.

Rules, Rules, & Then Some...

One of its key features is providing material in order to help resolve disputes. The USGA rule booklet not only provides specific information pertaining to every rule of golf in existence, it also provides official explanations of everything else that pertains to the game, including golf equipment, the type of game being played, and accurate specifications of the course.

No More Disputes!

Without a doubt one of the most important reasons to carry along an official USGA rule booklet while playing golf is to use it to help resolve and avoid disputes with other players.

Like all sports, your golf game will have its share of debates with your fellow players. Instead of arguing back and forth about what is supposed to be the rules, by quickly thumbing through your official guide will put to rest any confusion, and fast!

You can find more information about the United States Golf Association by checking out usga.org. This is the official website of the USGA and provides a complete and up-to-date rulebook, in addition to info on the handicap system, tournaments, and a tour of the golf museum.

2008 - The Year Of The Tiger - What Will He Do In 2009?

2008 was quite a year for golf and in a curtailed season, also for Tiger Woods.

To win the US Open at Torrey Pines last year with a shattered left leg was truly unbelievable. Remember it took him 91 holes to win that trophy, and to do so with such an injury was just incredible.

As much as we were all impressed with him before, it is the real mark of the man by the way he said very little about the severity of his pain during the championship. It was another example of how he handles himself. He doesn't run around boasting and telling people how good he is. He just goes about his business.

Tiger will be back in 2009 and although nobody knows how he will react to his knee surgery, he will have all of the intensity and determination he had before.

Golf Lessons – How To Increase Your Golf Skills Overnight

If you are a beginner golf player who has decided to take up the challenge of learning the game with the hopes of enjoying the sport for many years to come, you might want to consider taking a few golf lessons.

With someone teaching you the ins and outs of specific golf instructions, you will have an extra set of eyes which will help you get some of the golf swing positions right, which is not very easy to check on by yourself, even if you had a mirror.

What Makes A Good Golf Instructor?

Finding the right golf teacher that is best suited to your learning style is important. A good teacher should be able to demonstrate his lessons to you in a clear and easy-to-understand method. A decent teacher will be able to take stock of your current skill level and then break down your swing in order to make the proper adjustments needed.

A good golf instructor will be able to position you with the golf club so that you can truly understand how a certain swing should feel in your hands. He or she will be able to analyze your shots and make a proper diagnosis of any problems that exist.

Are Golf Lessons Worth It The Price?

Taking golf lessons is not mandatory. However, consider taking a few lessons early on in your learning experience as a wise investment. Not only will your skill level increase at a rapid pace, you will save money which would otherwise have been spent on a new driver or damaged clubs.

Other benefits of taking lessons for beginner golfers include:

1. Having all of your questions about golf answered by someone who knows the game.
2. The benefit of having good habits ingrained in your game from the start.
3. Your self-confidence will increase.
4. You will learn techniques and efficient practices which would normally take months or years to learn on your own.

Even The Pros Take Lessons

Just to give you an idea of popular players that still brush up on their game with professional coaches, here is a small list to get you motivated:

1. David Leadbetter is a golf teacher who has worked with Charles Howell III, Ernie Els, Nick Price, and Nick Faldo.

2. Butch Harmon is an instructor who has worked with Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, and Justin Leonard.

3. Hank Haney specializes in distance and flight of the ball and has worked with Mark O' Meara.

Monty Gets Captain's Call.

Well, after yesterday's post I would have lost my money!

After tipping Jose Maria Olazabal for the European Ryder Cup captaincy, Colin Montgomerie romps it. And I mean romps it, because according to Thomas Bjorn, the chairman of the tournament committee, no vote was needed. It was a unanimous decision. I'm a little surprised at the decision because it was widely expected that Monty would be captain in 2014 when the Ryder Cup will be played in Scotland. But I think he will be an excellent captain, as everyone knows Monty comes alive in the Ryder Cup.

As for Olazabal, Monty has already said he will be one of his assistants, and I'm sure the pair of them, along with whoever else they draft in to help, will do a sterling job in their attempt to win back the Ryder Cup from the USA in 2010.

Who will be European Ryder Cup Captain?

The player's committee meets tomorrow to decide who the next European Ryder Cup team captain will be. Until a few weeks ago, the word was that Sandy Lyle would get the nod after strong support from many tour players. But at a meeting two weeks ago, a couple of new names emerged, Jose Maria Olazabal and Colin Montgomerie. After originally declaring that he would still like to be a player at the next event at Celtic Manor in Wales, Olazabal seemingly left the way clear for Monty. Then last Thursday the Spaniard did a u-turn and said he would be prepared to take on the captaincy.
So what about Lyle? Well, he will be 52 by the time the next Ryder Cup comes around, and a lot of people seem to think that is too old! Olly and Monty who are presently 42 and 45, will surely captain the team at some point, but for the moment, both can still be excellent additions to the playing side of the team. If they are playing well enough, of course.
In my mind I would like to see Sandy Lyle take the helm. He has a wealth of experience to be able to do a good job. But if I was a betting man, my money would be on Olazabal, and I fully expect him to be named as captain tomorrow.
What do you think?

Golf History – An Amazing Golf History Lesson

Have you ever wondered who started the game of golf and where this amazing sport stemmed from? From the great lands of Scotland, to the television sets in the 1930s, to what it is today as a recreational sport and favourite pastime, you are about to receive a crash course on the amazing history of golf.

Boredom Springs A Sport

Historians of golf all agree that the game originated over a thousand years ago in Scotland. Scottish farmers and local shepherds would get bored and play a game of hitting small stones with sticks.

Their goal was to get the stone to reach inside burrows that were made by rodents. Interestingly enough, there is documentation that shows at least one king, perhaps more, during the 13th century in Scotland, would actively seek out soldiers and farmers who they deemed were spending too much time playing this game.

During the 16th century, James II and Mary Queen of Scots were known to be regular golfers. They were quite fond of the sport. In fact, there is an old golf course in Scotland which has been open since the 17th century named the “Old Course at St. Andrews”. It was in 1744 that the Scots lay down the very first set of rules for the game.

Over The Atlantic We Come

During the latter part of the 19th century, golf had made its way to the United States. Many wonderful courses were created in the East. These courses included Pine Valley which is located in New Jersey, Winged Foot which is built in New York, and Shinnecock Hills of Long Island.

Of course the sport caught on immediately with the wealthy, who expanded the game throughout the 20th century. They used the game as a way to flaunt their financial status as well as healthy competition with European aristocrats. Then in time, more and more golf courses were built, thus creating a huge interest in the game from people nationwide.

Golf On The Big Screen

The 1920s proved to be a flowering time for golf. Many competitions were created and tremendous players became popular such as Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, and Gene Sarazen.

These guys were dominating games that were initially won by the Europeans. When television came about during this era, golf started to pour into the homes of Americans in such a way that it created a huge frenzy of golf fanatics. Every Sunday, fans could tune in to their TV screens and watch the game.

A Household Name

As you know, today, the game of golf is absolutely huge. We have the Professional Golfer's Association (PGA) and the Ladies' PGA (LPGA) in existence. There are competitions both at home and abroad. And on the recreational side of golf, it is estimated that more than 30 million people in the United States alone are regular golfers, which contribute to billions of dollars in golf-related revenue every year.

Golf Balls – Tips About Golf Balls That Every Golfer Should Know

Back in the old days, your choice of golf balls was simple; high-level professionals would use a three piece golf ball, which had a high spin, and covered with balata. Your every day, normal golf players would opt for the two piece golf ball which was covered with surlyn and was rock solid.

Today, however, there is an enormous amount of golf balls to choose from. For the beginner, making this choice may not be easy, so let's simplify things a bit and take a look at a few details of today's golf ball varieties.

The easiest way to look at the types of golf balls that are available today is to view them from a two-sided menu. On one side you have the type of balls that professionals use, which are soft, high spin, very expensive, and three-piece.

On the other side, you have standard two-piece golf balls that are low spin, inexpensive, and are the average choice for beginner and amateur golfers.

Then you have the middle - in between the two general ball types where you will find many kinds of multipurpose golf balls which provide plenty of distance when hit from the tee, yet gives enough control to the player.

Making The Right Choice

You can use the above simplified explanation of golf ball types to make the right choice for your needs. If you are a beginner then you would obviously want to go with the two piece, low spin golf balls. While you have less control, the fact that your swing should have the ball going as straight as possible will alleviate potential bad shots, thereby reducing penalties.

As you improve your golfing skills, you can then start to move towards the middle choice of multipurpose golf balls which will start to give you a bit more control over the flight of the ball. Soon enough you will be at the skill level to actually steer the ball in different directions to make more successful shots.

Good golfers want as much control as possible so that they can steer the ball to the left or to the right, depending on their intended direction. Beginners should only be concerned about driving every last yard they can from their shots, and in a straight direction.

There are also 2 more last minute tips:

1. Keep your golf balls warm: Did you know that a ball will suffer the loss of distance if it is too cold? If you are playing during a cold day, keep a few balls wrapped up well in a towel in your golf bag. You can then alternate balls at each new tee so that you can start with one that is warm.

2. Golf balls do not last forever: Golf balls have a shelf life. After approximately 1 year, you will lose distance with the same ball. It is best to keep track of how long you have had your golf balls to avoid using them stale. And remember, three-piece balls tend to lose their quality sooner than two-piece golf balls.

Game Focus Tip – Keeping Golf Stress Free

The fundamentals of golf are very different than many other sports. Take baseball for example; when you are up at bat to make your swing, your job is to hit the ball as its thrown to you. In other words, the game is built around your reaction towards what someone else is doing. You cannot make your move until the pitcher throws the ball to you.

In golf, however, you are the boss. You are in charge of making every move. The ball just sits there, waiting for you to make your shot. And you are 100% responsible for every play that happens. You cannot blame a bad play on a pitch, another teammate, or any other excuse.

This is what makes golf so difficult, and yet so challenging and fun to play. And on top of that, you have people watching you, all in complete silence. Talk about the need for focus!

A Positive Mindset Goes A Long Way In Golf

Golf requires that you focus and think about every shot you take. Of course in our comparative analysis of the sport of baseball, those players have to think about the mechanics of their game too, but they have little time to really focus and concentrate on what they are doing, as opposed to golf. They are conscious of the pitcher and the person at bat, but everything else is reaction.

Golf requires so much attention to what you are doing that any type of negative thoughts or worries can have a dramatic effect on the quality of your game. Doubt can easily seep into your mind, especially if you are still a beginner. Once this happens, your body tenses up, you may get nervous, jittery, and the next thing you know your ball has landed in the rough. Consider it to be the equivalent of stage fright. Yes, golf can be this difficult.

How can you prevent negative thoughts and feelings from happening while playing on the course? The answer is extremely simple, yet may be difficult to learn.

All you have to do is take action, and do so faster than your mind can start to consider any negative consequences of making a bad swing. That's the thing about golf – you can literally think your way into a slump.

Stick with the basics and focus on simple movements that are repetitive. Keep your body loose and as you are preparing for your shot, shift the weight of your body from foot to foot, back and forth. Wiggle your club a bit and just loosen up, have fun, and stop worrying about anything negative. Just learning how to play a stress-free game may be the hardest lesson you learn in golf.

Buying Golf Clubs - Advice for Beginners

For the beginner, choosing and buying golf clubs can be a daunting task. If you are new to the game, you probably never knew the choice that was available. So many drivers, fairway woods, irons, utility clubs and putters. The list is endless. And some of the prices can be mind boggling.

So, let's try and simplify it.

Don't Spend A Fortune Buying Golf Clubs!

Firstly, let's understand that you don't need to spend a fortune buying golf clubs to get started in this game. In fact, I would advise against it. I have seen on numerous occasions newcomers spending hundreds of pounds on clubs because golf magazines or friends have recommended them.

The problem with this is these clubs are mostly not suitable for the novice. Then, a couple of months down the line, when there is no improvement, the golfer gets disillusioned.

It can be very easy to decide that golf is not for you. The result being the new clubs, and a lot of money, lying in a cupboard gathering dust. No, you are better off starting at the modest end of the market and as you improve, you can also improve your equipment.

What Do You Need?

Now, most sets of clubs would consist of driver, maybe one or two fairway woods, 3-9 irons and a putter. You may also want to add a wedge or sand wedge. Bearing in mind that you are only allowed to carry 14 clubs in your bag.

Nowadays, there are also utility clubs available which are a cross between a wood and an iron.
You can get utility clubs that do the same job as a 3 or 4 iron so a lot of players today leave these two irons out of their bag and carry one utility instead. The utility also has a shorter shaft than a long iron, in theory making it an easier club to use. These are all thing you can try as you go along, and find out what suits you best.

Where Should You Buy Golf Clubs From?

Well, there are a wealth of golf stores around nowadays to suit every budget. And you could look in your local classified ads or even in golf magazines for second hand clubs. You can get a good buy this way, but be wary and make sure you know what you are buying.

I would advise going to one of the big golf stores and have a good browse there. A lot of these stores have their own driving range attached and this is ideal for the beginner. You can select some clubs in store and ask if you can try them on the range. This usually is not a problem. This way you can get a feel for the clubs and find out what suits you. Also, sometimes there are package deals on offer which can consist of a full set of clubs, bag, balls and maybe even a trolley and waterproof suit!

And now we also have the online golf stores which carry a massive stock and usually at very good prices. The only problem here is you are not able to try the clubs like you can at the range but maybe you know someone who has the club you like and they will let you test drive it. It could save you some money.

I hope this has helped when buying golf clubs to suit you. Just remember that you don't have to spend a fortune to get started and you won't play like a professional right away. But if you take it nice and easy from the start I'm sure you and golf will have a long association.