With golf slowly becoming one of the most popular sports around the world, it is only natural that the number of people looking to learn the sport increases as well.

With books, videos and even articles freely available online it is just a matter of time before many people try to turn to these methods alone to learn golf.  Yet this can be a very huge problem that is quite complicated if you do not already have a good set of foundation skills in place.  Learning to balance books and learning golf is important.

The number of people who turn to books each year to learn a new skill is quite large, and while there are plenty of books available that will allow you to improve your golf skills there are actually very few books that can give you the good, solid foundation skills that you need.

This is because there is no physical way possible that a book can teach you everything that you need to know about your stance, and even the proper way to swing.

While a book can be useful to help you diagnose any problems that you have with a swing, such as your ball hooking, or even not traveling far enough, the book - quite simply - will not be able to physically look at your swing and determine what is wrong.

If you are working with an instructor, then using a book to help learn some of the other finer details of the game can be very helpful.  It is important to realize that you can learn some advanced skills from reading the books, but only after you have had the lessons to master the basics.

The number of books that is available to use is actually quite large and with a bit of patience you are certain that you can find the exact book that you want, without having to stress and worry about missing most of the key points to golf.

From books that focus mostly on giving tips, to those that are designed to help you troubleshoot problems that you have, to even those that help you learn all of the appropriate golf terminology there are plenty of options that you have and can explore, but don’t forget, reading is only a part of the equation – Tiger didn’t get to his level of skill and success by reading alone, although, if he would have substituted reading instead of entertaining the female species he may not be in the awkward position he still finds himself in today…………..  I know, sorry, couldn’t resist.       ; )

We’ll finish up this segment in a few days.   Thanks,

Jake -

End pt 1

As most people know, there are shoes for virtually every sport imaginable.  There are very few sports that do not have a special shoe that is intended to improve the way you play while wearing them.  Yet many people cannot afford to always purchase all of the additional shoes that are necessary. 

This leaves many people to wonder if it is really necessary to purchase golf shoes in order to actually play golf.  In trying to balance money considerations with safety considerations there are a few things that you should keep in mind.

Your first consideration should be your skill level.  A beginner usually cannot justify the expense to buy golf shoes.  They are certainly not cheap, and since they can only be worn while on the golf course they have a very limited usage outside of the golf course. 

While basketball and tennis shoes can be worn in different circumstances, the golf shoes must remain on the golf course in order to avoid damaging them, or the flooring in which you walk on.

If you are a highly skilled player or even tend to play quite often, you may need to invest in a good pair of golf shoes.  Typically investing in golf shoes will require you to find a pair of shoes that you are actually thoroughly comfortable wearing. 

You need to remember that many golf courses require you to do a lot of walking so you need something that fits comfortably.  Something with plenty of cushioning as well as a good fit is essential.

You should also contact the golf courses where you plan on playing.  There are some who require golf shoes in order for you to play.  While this may seem like a bit of a killjoy if you were not planning to buy golf shoes initially, the golf course requiring the shoes is a safety consideration to ensure that you do not slip or slide while you are swinging your club. 

 A good pair of golf shoes has spikes that dig into the ground a bit while you are standing which will provide a bit of additional traction and ensure that you are not slipping the first moment you swing.

Taking your time to shop around for golf shoes is a very wise idea.  There are dozens if not hundreds of different colors so sometimes selecting the best color that you like can be a bit of a hard decision.  In addition, not all shoes are created equally. 

The shoe that is best for your foot may not be best for someone else.  In addition, there are numerous different material styles that you can choose from, specifically those that are hard materials or even soft materials.

Choosing the right shoes to play in will ensure that you are comfortable, as well as have the traction that you need while playing.  If you are playing a lot of golf, you will quickly see how a good pair of golf shoes can do wonders to help improve your comfort level as well as your game itself. 

Never discount the ability of a pair of shoes to dramatically increase your overall performance during a game.  Taking the time to really try on several pairs of shoes will ensure your final selection is durable as well as comfortable in a style that you like and enjoy wearing.

Jake -

Golf clubs are some of the most expensive accessories to buy when it comes to sporting goods. However, there is no reason why they should be this way. Expensive golf clubs usually have more technology and more features, but for the average golfer it is a complete waste of money. It is possible to get clubs at a reasonable rate.

The surprising thing is that most of the time these clubs will be even better for you than the more expensive ones. Read on to find out about some of the reasons why you should stick with cheaper clubs, as well as some of the places that you can buy them.

For a beginning golfer, the temptation to buy more expensive clubs comes from the illusion that they will improve the skill as if by magic. The truth is that an amazing golf club requires an amazing technique in order to make it work as desired. Expensive golf clubs are designed so that they are more efficient and less forgiving. With the slightest wrong move, you will throw the trajectory of the ball so far off track that your stroke will be laughable.

If you stick with beginners golf clubs (as you should), the heads of the clubs will be much more forgiving and you will be able to practice your technique without completely embarrassing yourself in the process.

Secondhand clubs are also a good way to save money and still get some nice clubs. If you golf with people who like to stay on the cutting edge of technology, they are likely to have older clubs that are still of a very high quality level.

Speak with them about purchasing the used golf clubs. With used golf clubs you need to be particularly careful, and look for anything that would compromise the quality of the clubs. Sometimes when used enough, even golf clubs will wear out and become nearly unusable. Before any money exchanges hands, take the clubs out for a test game. If you are a good friend with the person who you would like to buy from, they might even let you use the clubs for a longer period of time.

So where do you find older models of clubs, or used clubs? Auctions and pawn shops are two of the best places to go for golf clubs of this type. Golf clubs are almost a staple of auctions, and you are likely to have at least one choice. If you spend a lot of time at auctions, you will be able to have quite a few different choices for golf clubs.

You will simply have to learn to recognize golf clubs and judge whether they are a worthy investment. The same goes with pawn shops. If you are able to recognize the features that you desire in a golf club, you will have endless opportunities to check for these in various venues. If you end up finding clubs that fit with what you are looking for, they will likely be much cheaper than if you had bought them at a retail store.

Cheap golf clubs are very possible to come by, but they are very risky at the same time. If you know enough about what you’re looking for, you can look at a golf club and immediately tell if it is something that is worth your time. But if you are inexperienced in buying golf clubs, you are not likely to have this knowledge.

Therefore you need to carefully plan out all of the things that you are going to look for in your future golf clubs, and bring this list with you when you go to scout out for possibilities. This will help you in every way, allowing you to recognize what you need and weed out what you don’t. It may even help you to avoid wasting your money on something that isn’t exactly what you need.

Jake -

There are numerous golf terms that are used in almost every game that is played, yet often it is virtually impossible for someone who is new to golf or just does not understand golf to understand the terminology. Some of the most popular terms are listed below to ensure that you know exactly what is being said while you are out on the green.  Of course, this list is not absolute, but this list will help you get started successfully.

Back Nine – This is the last set of 9 holes that are on the golf course.  This is determined by the order that the course is played in.  For example, if you start playing on hole 1, the back nine would refer to holes 10-18.  However if you started playing on the 10th hole it would actually refer to holes 1-9.

Birdie – This is when a score for a particular hole comes in one stroke below par for the particular hole that is being played.  This means if the hole being played is a par -3 then the score must be a 2, if the hole is a par -5 it must be a score of 4.

Bogey – This is a score that comes in a single point over the par.  For example, if you are playing a par -3 hole then a score of 4 would be a bogey.  In going further, anything that was a par -5 would need a score of 6 to be a bogey.  This is just an example and is not restricted to only certain pars.

Bunker – This is what is created as a depression in the ground that is generally filled in with sand, which provides a greenside hazard that needs to be avoided.  While the bunker typically shows up in the greenside, it is possible for them to also along the fairways or even beside the fairways.

Green – This is what the very end of a hole is call where the flagstick is located.  This is typically, where you will putt out the rest of the hole.  The shape can vary, however most are either oblong or oval shape.

Handicap – This is an indication of the overall playing ability that a player has.  It is generally compiled based upon the last several scores that have been played as well as the course rating and the slop ratings that accompany the courses that were played.  Generally, someone who has a typical average of 10 over par will have a slightly better handicap.  In terms of handicaps, someone with a 2 is better than someone with a 3 or higher handicap.

Hole – This is the exact area where the flagstick resides to mark the exact location of the hole on the green.  In addition it is also often referred to as the as the specific hole on a course – for example a golf course typically has 18 holes.

Over par – This is the term used to describe any score that comes over the par for the course or even the individual hole.  An example would be a score that was 5 on a hole that was a par -4.  This would result in an over par.  However, while this can refer to just a specific hole it can also refer to the entire course as a hole as well.

Par – This is considered the expected number of strokes in which it takes to actually sink the ball.  To determine the par you should take at least 2 for putts, then add strokes based upon the length of the green.  Very long greens will require higher values.  A very long green would allow a par of 5 for example, while a short green would only allow a par 3. The par number is generally added both for the individual hole as well as for the entire golf course as well.  This allows players to see exactly what they are looking at distance wise before they even begin playing.

Continued …..

A good exercise program during the winter is also looking into ensuring that you work out continuously. 

However, just as during the time when you can actually play golf, you need to ensure that you are building lean muscle.  Never work to build bulky muscle even during the off months for golf.  While waiting until the weather warms up to go golfing may seem like torture, it is a good idea to avoid playing when it is really cold outside.

In terms of your health playing during the cold weather is bad because you are putting your body through intense amounts of stress trying to keep warm, as well as still focusing on the game itself. 

This can often increase dramatically the risk of getting hurt and even increase the chances of a pulled muscle since muscles are not as warmed up during the colder months.  Any injury regardless of the time of year is bad, but during times of year where the weather is especially cold you are going to be much more susceptible to injury.

Always make sure that you are spending some time inside rather than outside when it is cold.  Playing a few short rounds of golf is not worth getting hurt.  Always ensure that during the cold months, you either stop playing outside or you wait to play outside when you go visit a much warmer location. 

During the winter, a visit to a golf course that is located in the Deep South can be a lot of fun since they are still warm enough to stay open.  Just keep in mind your overall safety when you are trying to play, you do not want to be injured over a sport.

Jake -