Personalized Golf Balls For A Thoughtful Gift

If you want to get a thoughtful gift for a golfer, personalized golf balls should be at the top of your list.

Engrave Your Golf Balls

Engraving your golfers name on their golf balls is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can get. They'll use them everytime they play and be reminded of your gift often.

When a golfer sees their name on a ball it's a sense of prestige. They would never do it themselves, but receiving it as a gift is a bonus. Also, being able to identify your ball during the round is icing on the cake.


Choose Your Brand Wisely

If you're going to go to the extent of personalized golf balls, make sure to get a decent brand. You can literally spoil this give by getting cheap golf balls. Not to say the golfer will be that snobby, but seeing a ball that's say a Titleist with their name on it would be very nice.


Personalized Golf Gifts

Anytime you can personalize a golf gift you've just upped the perceived value of that gift for the recipient. Engraving a special saying or even their name can leave a lasting impact. Many gift givers don't realize the added cost to personalize a gift is modest. Why not go the extra effort to do this? They'll remember this for a long time.

Stuck In a Bunker? Get Out and On!

Don't be afraid of the sand...most pros would rather play from a greenside bunker than the rough. So the next time you are faced with a shot from the bunker, try this…

• Bend forward at the waist, so your hands are lower than normal.
  

• Aim your shoulders and feet to the left of the target (for right-handed players) and aim your club at the target.
  

• Stay loose and relaxed – you should feel no tension.

• Make a full shoulder turn, taking the club back following the same line as your shoulders and feet, drop the club behind the ball and finish all the way.
  

• Don’t rush - maintain a consistent rhythm through out the shot and avoid trying to “help” the ball out of the bunker.

Naturally, the more you practice, the more skilled and consistent you will become, ending your fear of the bunker.



by Alicia Dibos
Alicia Dibos has four top tens in five starts on The Legends Tour.

Power Drives

Most amateurs want to hit it farther. Power comes from a full extended swing/turn and balance. To achieve this, I try to get a perfect setup. Setup dictates how you take the club back, how much weight shift you achieve and on which plane the club travels. If we stand over the ball improperly we will dip, reverse pivot, fall backward and use our hands to direct the swing. Remember those good shots you’ve hit. You got the club in the right place and it did all the work. Let’s see if we can get this to happen more than a few times!

• Stand with you feet shoulder width apart.
• Bend at the waist, arms hang freely, chest up and proud.
• Ball never too far back, start in the middle for the short clubs but put it forward for the driver. I put the driver in line with my left/front foot. This gives you room to weight shift for power.
• Set the left/front side higher than the right/back side.
  
• Feel as if you are on an upslope. This will put 60% of your weight back or behind the ball! This is a powerful position.
  

Now as you swing try to keep your posture and weight shift through to your finish. This posture pre-sets you behind the shot so you can be aggressive and swing through to your finish. Remember, if you don’t finish to the front/left foot you have gotten out of balance and position. Let this setup help you find your balance and power!

Watch Sherri Turner if you want to see it fly! Check out Patty Sheehan, Sally Little and Myra Blackwelder- they can really move the ball. Look at their postures and balance. Also watch for future senior tour star Michele Wie who has perfect setup and balance. Once you get used to the proper setup you’ll have more fun with this game! Enjoy!



by Lori West
Lori West has won twice on The Legends Tour.

Health and Nutrition Before and During Your Round of Golf :

Fuel Your Golf Tank

Do you run out of “gas” at the 15th hole and cannot wait to drag yourself into the 19th hole for rest and refreshment? Do you find your focus and concentration waivers in and out after the turn? Maybe the answer to these questions is poor nutrition and dietary habits before and during your round of golf. If you want to improve your golf game, start focusing on what you are putting into your tank!

While watching a professional tournament, have you noticed that the pros are constantly drinking water and “munching” on something! Remember that energy in (food) equals energy out (golf). Better performance and better nutrition go hand in hand.

Here are some tips that will “keep you in the game":

Before Your Round

* Eat high protein, high fiber foods as well as complex carbohydrates.
* Examples: chicken, seafood, lean red meats, eggs, beans, whole grains, low and nonfat dairy, fruits, vegetables and nuts.

During Your Round

* Every hole, hydrate with water. Just a few sips will do!
* Every third hole, grab a nutritious snack. No, not a beer and a candy bar but fruits, nuts, proteins bars and low-fat cheese stick will do!
* At the turn, if needed, have a protein sandwich and bring it with you for the back nine.

After Your Round

* Enjoy yourself!!!

Remember that good nutrition is vital not only for peak golf performance but for quality of life. Become more aware of what you eat and you will be happy to see better results both on and off the golf course.

This pro’s favorite on-course food is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!!



by Betsy Smith, LPGA Teaching Professional

Bump and Run

The Simple Bump and Run shot is your primary Go-To chip shot around the green. I like to get the ball running on the ground as soon as possible in order to avoid mistakes with undulations, breaks and speed. Unless you have several feet of fringe or a bunker in front of you, a 9, 8 or even a 7 iron is the perfect club to use for this shot. Always try to select a club with enough loft to carry the fringe in front of you. For Example: If you have less fringe to carry and several yards to the hole, you should pick an 8 or 7 iron. If you have more fringe to carry and less green to work with, select a 9 iron, or pitching wedge.

Reminders:

► Feet close together slightly open posture.

► Long Running Chip: Position ball towards
back foot, hands slightly tilting (pressed) forward.

► Short Chip: Position ball in mid-stance, hands even or just slightly in front of ball.

► Create a pendulum action with your shoulders and arms, while using a dead hand action (no wrist break).

► How much fringe to Carry dictates club selection.

► Use a short rhythmic swing to bump the ball onto the green.

For best results, I normally try to take most of the guess work out of this shot by eliminating any wrist action thru impact. Flimsy wrists can create too many problems with timing and mis-hits, causing inconsistent results. For the Bump and Run Shot Chip Shot, the position you start your hands and wrists at address will remain the same through out the entire motion of this shot. Let the club do the work for you and the loft and ball position will create the results you are looking for.



by Rosie Jones
Rosie Jones won 13 times on the LPGA Tour and twice on The Legends Tour.

Fitness: Keep Fit in the Off Season

Even when the snow is falling and winter is upon us, you can still work on improving your golf game. One thing I see in a lot of golfers is that they are not very flexible. We were all pretty good in our 20's and 30's, but once you hit those 40's, things start to tighten up.

Winter time is a good time to start a stretching program. It is important to keep your shoulders flexible. Spend some time each day doing stretches for your hips and hamstrings.

If you are really motivated to make next season one of your best, start a “core strength” training program. Either go to your local fitness club, or just buy an exercise ball that comes with a DVD showing how to increase your core muscles. The muscles used in golf all originate from the core. That is why Tiger and Annika spend so much time working out. And they do play pretty well!

So get motivated, and start your next golf season with a much more supple and toned body.

by Elaine Crosby
Elaine Crosby won the HyVee Classic in 2004.

Making a Good Score

While playing on the Legends Tour I've had the opportunity to talk with some of the best players in this game. I remember one such occasion in 2002. I was riding in a shuttle to the golf course with Kathy Whitworth. I had been playing well on the newly formed Legends Tour. I had a couple of top ten finishes under my belt, but couldn't get that “elusive win.” Kathy Whitworth won 88 times on the LPGA Tour. I thought I'd pick her brain. So I asked Kathy what she did to make putts inside of five feet on a routine basis.

Consistently making your shorter putts can really help your score. She replied, "I play most of those straight in the hole with good speed." It seems too simple to be true but I used that small piece of advice and went on to win an event that year.

• TIP FOR SHORT PUTTS:

When lining up those three to five foot putts that don't have an obvious break, pick a spot a few inches in front of the ball and play it straight into the back of the hole. If you tend to look up during the stroke, place a dime under the ball during practice and look for that dime as the ball leaves. That will keep your head down and your mind active.

One of the most important aspects of the game is finishing out short putts. After you hit a great bunker shot or chip, making that putt gives you great confidence in the rest of your game. It helps you SCORE!

• TIP FOR LONG PUTTS:

Lag putting is another story but the main goal is to get it near the hole. Speed is very important and a long putt needs more of a backstroke. You also have to play more break in the line than the short ones. You want to pour it into the hole like a pitcher of milk. Let it flow down the slope to the hole. Then walk up confidently and hit that little one straight to the back of the hole.


by Lori West
Lori West has won twice on The Legends Tour.

The Fundamentals of Golf

Ever wish you could have the basics of golf all in one place? Seems like you can get a little bit of everything if you browse around long enough, but maybe what your game needs is a return to the fundamentals and a quick reminder of what works best in the game of golf. Laura Dixon gets you back to basics with her definitive take on each aspect of the game, from grip to swing to how to get out of the beach. Read through each topic to tune-up your skills and then take it to the tee...good luck!

The Grip

Stand with normal posture (arms hanging by side) and allow golf club to rest in the fingers of the left hand. Close the rest of your left hand around the club. Your left thumb should be just right of the center of the shaft or at one o’clock. As you hold the club with your left hand you may place your right hand so that your fifth finger on your right hand interlocks or overlaps with your index finger on the left hand as it is on the club. Correct placement of the hands on the club can lead to easier hinging of the wrists, lighter grip pressure, faster club head speed and better direction.

• Grip Pressure

Grip pressure is very similar to the pressure you night use while shaking hands. No white knuckles.

• Set Up

The body posture is very important to your golf swing. The first bend is from the hip socket bending enough for your hands to swing freely back and forth. The second bend is a flex from your knees. The third position is a slight tilt to the right with the spine. Body weight is distributed evenly front to back and side to side.

• Ball Position

The general ball position is relative to your feel and sternum. L-PW is perhaps a bit back of center. 9-6 irons are at the center of your stance. If you have hybrids and/or 3-9 woods they would be one inch forward of center. Your driver would be 2 inches forward of center. This is a guide for new golfers to use. As you become more comfortable with your swing you will establish what is just right for you!

• Body and Club Face Alignment

Alignment is how your body and club face are aimed at the target. This is probably the most important fundamental because it has to do with accuracy toward the target. Remember golf is a target game. Your alignment should be parallel left of the target line. Your club face should see its target as if its face had eyes.

• Putting

Distance control is the name of this portion of the game. The stroke is moved approximately 90% with a metronome motion by the shoulders. 10% of the motion is with the hands, wrists and arms to give a sense of feel.

• Putting Set Up

The grip is more in the palm of the hands. Your arm should swing freely from the shoulders while there is a bend from the hip and slight flex in the knees. Your feet should be just under your hips for width. Your eyes should be over the ball. Use your feet as a distance control reminder not to take too big of a swing. Remember the clock!

• Chipping and Pitching

Contrary to some thinking, there is a difference between chipping and pitching. A chip shot is played close to the ground, resulting in maximum ground time and minimum air time. It is a shot to be used when there are no obstacles — bunkers, elevated greens, lakes —between the ball and the target. You should practice a variety of different club lofts to hit this shot. Do not limit yourself by using the same club all the time. “Think maximum ground, minimum air!”

Most of the weight should be on your forward leg. Position the ball off your rear ankle. Your chin should be slightly forward of your sternum while focusing your eyes on the back of your ball. Your lead shoulder should feel lower than your back or trailing shoulder. This helps you swing the club on the back swing and down on the golf ball with a descending blow.

A pitch shot is maximum air time and minimum ground time. Use a full-swing set up with the ball in the middle of your stance. Focus your eyes on the back of the ball.

• Ball Flight and Club Selection for Chip Shots

The rule of thumb – The more your shots roll, the more consistent you will be. Keep this in mind when determining which club to use for your shots.

Putter – If your ball is on the short grass next to the green, you should consider putting the ball.

7-iron – Use for shots around the green that can roll more to the hole than carry in the air (1/3 air time, 2/3 ground time).

Pitching Wedge – Use for shots around the green that can roll the same amount of time as carry in the air (1/2 air time, 1/2 ground time).

Sand Wedge – Use only for shots around the green that will need more carry in the air than on the ground (2/3 air time, 1/3 ground time).

• Sand Bunker Play

There is no ball club contact; the sand actually lifts the ball out of the bunker. Your ball will go where the sand goes. Open the clubs face to expose the bounce, and then take your grip. Lower your stance in the sand to lower your swing. Keep your weight on your forward leg. Position the ball in the middle of your stance and align parallel to target. Your minimum swing should be from 10 to 2. Adjust the club face to fit the lie of the ball. Your goal is to get out! The further the bunker is away from the green consider different clubs

by Laura L. Dixon
Laura Dixon has over 15 years of teaching and coaching experience

Lady Golfers

Beginner Golf Instruction

There is much more to golf than just hitting the ball but hitting the ball correctly is not an easy task. Beginner golf instruction lady clinics can help teach the basics in a relaxed atmosphere amongst other beginner ladies.

Mechanics Of The Swing

It is important that beginners learn the basics of setup, stance the swing and follow through in order to form good habits right from the beginning. Once a habit is formed it takes some changing and depending on what sport the lady has played before may determine how much time it will take to learn the basic skill of actually connecting with the ball.

For instance, hockey players should find it easier than say a swimmer, who has alway kept their body straight and streamlined and now has to learn to rotate. Learning to keep your head down and eye on the ball is something is so vital yet so hard to do and even years down the track a moments loss in concentration will see a good golfer lift their head and mess up a shot. Getting the proper grip on the club and the positioning of hands can make all the difference as to can correct movement of the arms and body as you swing back.

Following a swing right through even after you connect with the ball gives extra lift and distance. Balance is another factor to be controlled. All of this and more before you even walk onto a course.

• Ladies Clinics

Clinics are usually run at most golf courses and golf schools by the local golf professional and consist of 5 or more ladies. These clinics are great for learning not only the basics of setup etc but also teach you putting, pitching and so on.

You will also learn about the clubs, what they are designed for, how much distance you should get and in what circumstances to use them. Golf clinics also teach you about the rules of golf and you should invest in a book of the rules for yourself as you will find it invaluable.

Clinics provide you with the chance to meet other ladies with whom you may team up and play golf with on a regular basis. Ladies golf clinics can be used as a refresher at any time even as you handicap drops.

• Private Lessons

Learning to play by having private lessons ensure you are learning exactly what YOU need to learn at that particular time instead of what the planned lesson is for that day.

Although more expensive, having private lessens with a golf pro will definitely get you playing a lot quicker and sort out any bad habit immediately. Many golf pros will take a video of your swing so that you can see exactly what you are doing, then he or she will point out any problems and show you how to correct them.

No matter if you have private lesson or join in beginner golf instruction lady clinics the main thing is not only repartition, repartition and more repartition but to thoroughly enjoy playing golf, or learning to!