How To Begin At Golf

Mastery of golf's fundamentals is the first step toward better golf and consistent iron play. The fundamentals form the framework and the foundation upon which the entire swing is constructed.

Actually, building a swing is much like an architect building a house. If he builds it hurriedly - without a good set of plans - it becomes structurally weak and the slightest of pressures could send it tumbling to the ground. Such is the case in golf.

Since you are the principal architect of your swing, how can you develop it so that it will consistently repeat itself, swing after swing, no matter what club you may have in your hand? Here is how.

Developing the Swing

From the outset, every golfer should realize that certain procedures must be followed if he is to develop a swing.

There is a certain fundamental process, or sequence, involved in learning how to play golf, and it cannot be circumvented.

The Procedure. To the beginner, and even some advanced golfers, this fundamental process of learning how to play golf may seem a little involved, but it actually is not, particularly if you develop your game in an orderly, sensible manner. The orderly sequence would be this way:

1. You learn to swing first by practicing the fundamentals.

2. Secondly, you learn to control the ball by practicing intentional fades, hooks, high shots, and low shots.

3. Finally, incorporating the first two phases into your over-all game you learn how to score by playing as regularly as you can.

Obviously, you cannot learn control and scoring techniques before you master golf's fundamentals. Many have tried - and are still trying - but they cannot hope to improve unless they overhaul their swing completely because the swing habits they have formed are permanently ingrained within their muscle structure. You will progress faster and will become a more consistent player if you form the correct habits of the swing than if you learn to play in a haphazard manner.

The Swing Exercise. One of the best methods I have found of developing a smooth, consistent swing is an exercise most golfers use when they warm up before playing a round of golf. It is a simple little maneuver designed to train a golfer to entrust his swing to his arms and body instead of his hands.

Begin by assuming the position of address, and make certain that you are comfortable and relaxed. Then, with the upper part of your arms and elbows in close to your chest, turn your body back so that the arms are about belt high. The left shoulder and left arm are highly instrumental in this turning movement, with both the shoulder and the arm forming a pushing-back type of action.

Next, swing the arms forward until they are about belt high in front of you, making certain that the lower part of the body - the left hip and left leg-initiate the forward swing, as the arms are swung out toward an imaginary target. The right hand also turns over the left hand as the arms are swung forward.

Perform this swing back and forth for a few moments, letting your left knee and right elbow flex on the backswing and then your right knee and left elbow on the follow-through. You will soon get the feeling that you are swinging with your legs and hips and that your body is swinging the club. This creates the feeling of the one-piece swing that all of the good players have and talk about.

The average golfer, however, courts disaster if he becomes too conscious of his hand action through the ball. That is why this swing exercise is so important, because it will teach him every fundamental movement in the swing without too much of a mental effort on his part.

If you will practice this swing - the right way - for five or ten minutes a day for six months, you will be surprised at your progress in developing a fundamentally sound swing.

This will be the start of improving your entire game of golf.

How To Improve Your Game With Simple Golf Exercises - By Mike Pederson

Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness trainers and golf conditioning experts in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Manual, and founder of several online golf fitness and exercise websites.

Check out his website :

PerformBetterGolf.com - Improve Your Driving,Distance,Accuracy and Consistency, for more information about his specifically designed to improve golf specific strength, flexibility, coordination, and overall golf swing mechanics! Below is one of the articles from this great golf trainer

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Winter is upon us and you have more time, since you’re not golfing…so why not get a jump on next season by doing some simple, in-home golf exercises that will quickly prepare your body to hit LONGER drives and shoot LOWER scores?

How many times have you started a new golf season with very high scores, short drives, and aches and pains? Am I talking to you? Let’s be honest. It happens more times than you’d like. But why not do it different this time? Instead of going into deep depression that the season is over – keep golf in the top of your mind by starting a golf exercise program.

Don’t let your clubs get dusty and forget about your game. Prepare your body in anticipation of next spring. It’s no fun to come off the course feeling spent (in more ways than one) when you could have energy to spare. You have between 4-6 months to greatly improve your strength, flexibility and stamina. It would be the wisest thing to do to improve your golf for next season.

When you begin the season with a “broken" body, you’re taking two steps back. Take a leap forward and prepare your body by getting your golf exercise program in motion. Think of it this way. What a great opportunity to get the edge on your playing partners and win all the money. Wouldn’t that get their goat?

Finally, you’ll get the chance to redeem yourself from a previous season that found you paying out more than receiving and being the brunt of all jokes in the clubhouse after every round. We’ve all been there - but no longer right? This is the winter to make the commitment and do it! No excuses. No more reasons to put it off. You may realize it’s not easy – but nothing worth getting is easy.

Golf exercise is a very popular topic these days among all the pros, teachers and even amateurs. It’s no secret that if you get your body fitter, stronger and more flexible you will swing better and hit longer drives that produce lower scores.

That’s what we all want right? What a feeling to be the longest (and straightest) hitter in your group. Always hitting your approach shot last because you were the furthest down the fairway. Those are the kinds of thoughts you should have this winter while you’re working out.

The simplist way to implement golf exercises is to look at the golf swing. First off, it’s standing on your feet. Not sitting down, like on a machine in your local gym. So try to do most of your exercises on your feet.

Secondly, you should be in your golf posture. Which is a bend forward at the hips, with your knees slightly flexed. Doing exercises in this position will create a very strong, stable golf swing.

A good example of a golf exercise would be the Golf Posture Lateral Raise:

Bend forward at hips just beyond normal golf posture.

Hold dumbbells in front of your thighs, palms facing each other.

Slowly raise dumbbell to the side and up.

Slowly bring back down to pre-stretch position.

Do you see how this would quickly build up the strength in the back of your shoulders for a strong take-away and downswing? The only equipment required was a pair of dumbbells (hand weights), which probably cost about $10. No fancy gym. And in the convenience of your home.

This is just one example of a simple golf exercise you can do quickly and conveniently in your home to dramatically transform your game!

The Physical Requirements You Must Have For A Powerful And Consistent Golf Swing - By Mike Pederson

Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness trainers and golf conditioning experts in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Manual, and founder of several online golf fitness and exercise websites.



Check out his website :

PerformBetterGolf.com - Improve Your Driving,Distance,Accuracy and Consistency, for more information about his specifically designed to improve golf specific strength, flexibility, coordination, and overall golf swing mechanics! Below is one of the articles from this great golf trainer

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What I want to talk about now is the physical requirements needed for a repeatable golf swing that holds up for 18 holes of golf. I really want you to get this and come away with this as a new approach to your golf improvement. If golfers (hopefully you) every realized this and made the change in their golf improvement programs they would see amazing results very quickly! Naturally, there is more to a golf swing than just picking up a club and hacking away at the ball. There is a proper way to perform the swing, so you don’t end up causing injury to your body, such as the ever popular low-back pain over 80% of golfers experience at one time in their golfing careers. However, it takes more than a mechanically correct golf swing to avoid injury, and achieve the explosive drives you know you can do; it takes the power of your muscles. You will gain more power…quickly, by dong simple golf swing training drills that target your specific golf muscles. These include:

Abs (stomach muscles or CORE)

Lower back

Lat muscle (latissimus dorsi– upper back under each arm)

Quadriceps (thigh muscles)

Right / Left Deltoid (shoulder muscle)

Hamstrings (tendons in the back of your leg)

If you have not taken the time to strengthen these areas of your body before playing golf, swing faults will be the outcome. Therefore, it is essential that you maintain your golf-specific muscular strength with simple and easy golf swing training drills you can do right in the comfort of your home. You might be wondering why strengthening these muscles are so important to the outcome of your golf swing; the reason is because each of these areas helps you to maintain your posture throughout your swing, producing a repeatable swing with less mis-hits. From the time you begin your address to the moment you come in contact with the ball, your posture must withstand the torque of your golf swing in order to prevail.
Let’s examine this in further detail, so you can gain a better understanding of how these muscles work to produce power.

Address -When you are in the point of address, your knees and hips are bent, which requires the strength of your quadriceps and hamstrings. Your upper body is angled in a way that requires the support of your abdominal muscles. If your body is in shape, this posture will come with ease, but if you have any extra “fluffy cushioning” on your stomach, you will feel the urge to lean forward. This will not only pull you out of your posture, but it will also put a large amount of pressure on your lower back.

Backswing - When you begin your backswing and raise your club to the rear, your right or left leg (depending on the position you favor) should remain bent, which will place a higher amount of pressure on the coinciding quadriceps. However, if your quadriceps is weak, you will feel the urge to straighten your leg, leading to the breaking of your posture. Your hamstrings are used to keep your body angled during the backswing. And as your right or left deltoid (depending on your position preference) is preparing for a powerful downswing, your abdominals should be tightened and storing coiled-up energy, in order to work with the rest of your muscles in producing your max amount of balance and power.

Downswing – Following the backswing, the weight that has been placed on your right or left leg will release, and a lot of tension will be felt up the entire left, or right side, of your back lat muscles. Your lat muscles play a major role in producing power for your downswing; therefore the stronger they are, the longer your drive. As always, your abdominals and hamstrings need to support the torque of your swing, because if left to be controlled by the movement of your spine, your posture will be thrown off balance, while your body is in the process of completing the golf swing. These are just some of the reasons why it is so important to keep your muscles strong and flexible, when playing golf. Their strength (and flexibility) will enable you to produce maximum clubhead speed into the ball, with less effort, which is an easy way to decrease your handicap.

Just imagine, instead of making the traditional big ol’ banna ball right (better known as the slice), or a hard pull left… you will produce every golfer’s dream – “The long ball, that goes straight every time!” With super success like this, you’ll wear a proud smile on your face, while others stand around to gawk at your marvelous drive. It will shock you how quickly you will see results when you choose to follow this type of conditioning program. You could let your friends in on our little secret, or you could simply tell them that eating your wheaties, as mom always instructed, really paid off!