I guess that I'm lucky in that the score doesn't matter to me. I'm not playing golf to earn enough money to feed the family or pay the mortgage. I play golf because I enjoy golf, and everything which goes with it - the friends you make, the scenery, the fresh air, the exercise. The majority of golfers are in a similar position in that their livelihood does not depend upon them holing out on the 18th for a birdie.

Not all club golfers, however, enjoy their "bad shots" or respond to them in a positive manner. Somehow, a fear of embarrassment or a competitive nature can get in the way of true enjoyment of the game. I'm not denying that golf throws up many an opportunity for frustration; the game of golf is extremely challenging to one's emotional stability!

If you are a beginner at golf, it helps to recognize that it is a really tricky game to play involving a long club, a small ball and a really large distance to cover. Don't worry about what other people think; those other golfers started off in exactly the same place as you. They understand how that club can seem to turn itself into an octopus in your hands and how that ball can get all stubborn and refuse to move in the right direction (if indeed it decides to move at all).

And remember that you do get better at golf with practice so do not be disheartened. Whenever you go to the range or play a few holes there are always a few lovely shots which "pop out"; replay these in your mind's eye and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment over and over again. You know that you are capable of hitting shots like this and they will happen more and more frequently. This is what gets you excited and chomping at the bit to get out there and play again!

Please don't allow your shoulders to slump and your gaze to just contemplate the grass upon the fairway. Your body language reflects your moods and emotions. When you feel down, everything about your body language heads south. Square your shoulders, raise your eyes and enjoy the beauty of the golf course; laugh with your friends, and know that this is just a tricky little game which is going to get easier and easier with practice, so long as you don't worry about it. Just as your moods are reflected in your body language, as you consciously lift your eyes and shoulders up, this will have a reciprocal effect upon your emotions. Always keep your head high when playing golf. Keep your head up and feel uplifted; allow your head to stay down and you will feel down.

The other thing that is really helpful is to not forget the task in hand. The aim of the game is to hit the ball with the clubface and move that ball forwards in the right direction. As a beginner it can be really complicated trying to remember how you are meant to stand, and how your hands are meant to go, and each movement in the swing, and how far to stand from the ball, and how high to tee the ball up...and all too easy to forget that all you need to do is to aim in the right direction and then hit the ball!

Golf is a really unique game and well worth the trials and tribulations encountered in its learning. What other game can you play on your own as well as with others, in groups of two, three or four? And players of all levels can play together without an individual's game being compromised? And people of almost any fitness level and age can enjoy? And be outside in the fresh air? And play on different courses all over the globe? I could go on and on about the beauty of this game but think I've probably said enough! This is a very GREAT game.

Enjoy your golf!

Roseanna Leaton, specialist in hypnosis recordings to help manage your emotions and play great golf.

Roseanna combines her passion for golf with her professional qualifications as a hypnotherapist and to specialize in helping to manage emotions in golf. The mp3s range from hitting straighter tee shots to tips for holing putts to golf tips for beginners.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/managing-your-emotions-on-the-golf-course-1324058.html

Post from: Sports

Managing Your Emotions on the Golf Course

Having a high-quality swing needs continuous practice. Also, your body needs to be well tuned up for it to do properly. Here are a number of essential tips to help you develop your golf swing and might help you shoot in the 90s or even 80s.

1. Warm up. Just like any other game or sport, golf players need a little warming up before starting a round. This is what most players, especially amateurs, often take for granted.

It is best to come early at the golf course and take a few minutes to stretch those muscles and warm up. This will make your muscles "know" that they are in for something and that they should be prepared. Taking a few swings in the driving range will also help you get tuned up and perform better.

2. Exercise. This is actually important, not only for golf. Constantly exercising your body and muscles will be able to keep them toned and prepared for any action. This will moreover avoid frequent body aches and pains that you typically experience when playing golf.

Getting into the habit of exercising, in particular tuning up your muscles will be able to possess a huge impact on your swing. It can assist you obtain a good quality position and encourage total balance and control on your swings and help hit longer drives.

3. Do not swing too hard yet. It is in fact alluring to provide your swing that additional effort. Then again, it is not recommended unless you already obtain the control of your swing. The secret to a strong and polished swing is the balance and control that you possess, add to it the right form and stance.

Therefore how do you get to learn to control your swing? Yet again, it's tip number 2. Regular training will, in time, permit you to obtain a faster, more controlled swing.

Aside from these easy steps to do, it is also best to ask help from the pros, face-to-face or thru online methods. They will be able to give high-quality advices as they already have learned a lot from their experiences. Keeping updated with the most up-to-date about golf will also help.

Additionally, nearly all players are inclined to be so mindful in their longing to develop their swing that their minds are focused on all features of the swing itself; doing that will simply make your swing appear clumsy. As an alternative, it is best to keep your mentality off your swing. Strive to concentrate on something else and the high-quality swing will just tag along.

Try to do these things when you play golf again. And do these regularly, then notice the change it will make on your next golf swing and you'll be on your way to break 80!

Get FREE insider information to help you improve your golf swing, break 80, cure your golf slice and hit longer drives! We'll also help you improve your short game. Learn more at Golf Tips Insider. For more free videos and tips, also visit our blog at: www.GolfTipsInsider.com/Blog

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/three-important-tips-to-develop-a-perfect-golf-swing-1131996.html

Post from: Sports

Three Important Tips To Develop A Perfect Golf Swing

We are far more likely to say, "I chunked that one" or "your head came up" than to get behind these actions and ask "why?" What was the thought process that caused that outcome? Were you committed to the golf shot or were you thinking "have I got the right club here?"? You will only be able to control your golf game when you learn to control your mind. You need to be aware of what you are thinking before you can change how you think. You also need to be aware of the optimal way in which to think and then you can choose to think in this way.

It's amazing how many people aren't even aware of what they are thinking. This may sound really silly. But to put what I'm saying into context, a Harvard University study found that the average person has 60,000 thoughts a day, and 59,500 are the same as the day before. Are you aware of the 60,000 thoughts you had yesterday? Or were some of them subconscious? And were a few of them repetitive?

Try a little exercise if you like. Go to the range, or the chipping area, or the putting green and plan to spend five minutes in which you only think about what you are doing. See if you succeed in this plan...I bet you don't! It's difficult to control your thoughts even for five minutes let alone the three and a half hours it takes to play a round of golf.

You just aren't going to control your thoughts for a full round of golf. But what you can do is control and consciously direct your thoughts for the few minutes which each golf shot takes, including your pre-shot and post-shot routines. And if you want to make this task easy for yourself you can employ a little bit of self-hypnosis. Remember the definition of hypnosis given before - "a state of relaxation, at one with a state of heightened awareness, induced by suggestion". You can learn to relax and focus at will with the use of hypnosis.

You have the ability to control and direct your thoughts. There's no point saying "but you know me, I always do that". If you think like that, you WILL always be like that. Everything in life begins with a thought; every action is preceded by a thought. There's no point in focusing on changing your actions and behaviors without first addressing your thoughts.

Why not spend a little bit of time in learning to how to control and direct your mind? You can learn how to relax and play golf in the zone with the help of hypnosis downloads. The professionals use golf hypnosis because it works; hypnosis downloads can be used to get you to focus clearly and to play in the zone.

Roseanna Leaton, specialist in golf hypnosis cds and hypnosis mp3 downloads.

With a degree in psychology and qualifications in hypnotherapy, NLP and sports psychology, Roseanna Leaton is one of the leading golf psychologists. You can get a free hypnosis download from http://www.RoseannaLeaton.com and view the golf hypnosis cds and hypnosis downloads.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/playing-golf-in-the-zone-part-2-1033223.html

Post from: Sports

Playing Golf In The Zone – Part 2

But hearing the phrase golf core exercises and knowing what your core is are two different things entirely. As a fitness professional it's easy for me to throw out that phrase often to impress would-be clients or customers to my golf fitness training products.

But that's not the case. Understanding what your core is and how it plays a critical role in producing maximum power; injury prevention and even stability is very important. Once you know?you'll soon realize this may be your missing link to a great game.

This area (core) starts roughly at your belly button and goes up to the bottom of your sternum. It is the engine of your body and awareness of your core affects golf the most. Think of it as the link in the chain that needs to be the strongest, not the weakest.

Two simple golf core exercises that will quickly strengthen your core is ab crunches and back extensions. These would be your initial exercises to give you the strength to move onto rotational exercises that put a little more stress on your spine if the muscles aren't conditioned enough.

Once you've accomplished the above exercises, you can move on to a crunch with a twist and a back extension with a twist. This will hit your rotational strength right away...which will quickly equate to greater power output and distance.

You can then progress up to standing on your feet doing several different variations of rotational movements with a single dumbbell, standing upright and also in your golf posture.

Now that you have a basic understanding of golf core exercises?you hopefully will see how important it is in your overall golf improvement plan.

So next time you hear the phrase on the television?you'll know what golf core exercises are.

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Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/golf-training-workout-1030633.html

Post from: Sports

Golf Training Workout

How ?

With only a stability ball, exercise tubing and a pair of handweights. Grand total?under $60 for your "total golf fitness gym". That's about one months membership to your local club that you'll visit once or twice and never go back (but keep paying every month).

I want you to get that picture out of your head of the "muscle-bound" hulk, heaving hundreds of pounds with on arm, slamming it to the floor and letting out the infamous LOUD GRUNT for attention.

No..you'll be doing golf-specific exercises with bands, balls and handweights that will quickly and directly benefit your golf swing. Sports conditioning or in this instance golf fitness training requires you to use your body in space incorporating balance, stabilization and sequence of timing just like your golf swing.

The direct correlation results in longer, more accurate drives, hitting a larger number of greens in regulation; and walking off the course beating the pants off of your playing partners.

Now that's "instant gratification" at its best!

And how about no more injuries! I'm dead serious! All those aches and pains finally gone. Forever! A stronger more flexible body will have a much higher level of resistance to pain and injury. And the added bonus is swinging "easier" and with much less effort, but seeing the ball go much further and straighter. It will feel like an "out-of-body" experience.

A few words of caution!

If you hear or see any programs touting they are golf fitness and see the golfer and/or trainer using the basic machines in the gym, this is NOT golf fitness training. This is without a doubt "general fitness". Not altogether a bad thing, but won't directly help your golf game.

Working on a stability ball, and using tubing and handweights you can mimic many phases of the golf swing and at the same time challenge your core stabilization, balance and muscular endurance. All critical factors in achieving optimal swing mechanics for 18 holes.

And?they're fun to use. You'll never get board. You can always make it more challenging from a balance and/or stabilization factor.

Just try to get one of those "muscle-heads" on a stability ball lifting the same heavy weights they use. Call the medics..cause it's going to get ugly real quick.

You see?most people who workout in the gym never challenge their proprioceptive awareness (or simply?using their body in space). This is the key to great golf.

The stronger you can get your core stabilizers, coupled with increased rotational flexibility?you're headed to an awesome game of golf. You'll definitely be the envy of your foursome.

A great recommendation would be to get yourself the famous golfing manual. More than 19,000 golfers in 36 countries on six continents swear our System fixed their swing problems once and for all.
http://yx2.info/go/GolfSwing

Best video golf training at :

http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-3276845-10527188

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/golf-training-exercises-1030623.html

Post from: Sports

Golf Training Exercises

Power can be elusive to golfers. Is genuine power generated through technique, strength or something more? Every golfer wants more power, more distance, more consistency. Here are 3 ways to create the kind of power you have only wished of…until now.

1. Spinal Rotation. Each time you swing the golf club, you rotate around your spine. So, what does this have to do with power? Power is produced each time you stabilize your hips to construct a full backswing with spinal rotation. A good number of golfers have heard of the X factor. This, of course, refers to the differential linking the movement in your hips and your spine. Intensify your spinal rotation and a fresh awareness of power will be released.

2. Core Based Training. Your body's "core", the part all-around your trunk and pelvis, is where your axis of gravity is positioned. Whilst you have decent core stability, the muscles in your pelvis, lower back, hips and abdomen perform in harmony. They present support to your spine. The core is the power zone. It is where all movement begins. A well-developed core allows for superior strength output, better neuromuscular effectiveness, and decreased frequency of overuse injuries. A weak core can make you susceptible to poor posture and injury.

3. Plyometrics. Plyometrics are any exercise where the muscle is contracted eccentricly then immediately, concentricly. Put simply, the muscle is stretched (i.e. loaded) before it is contracted. A good example is medicine ball horizontal twists and standing golf swings. According to a recent study published in the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s (NSCA) journal, amateur golfers significantly increased their driving distances after just eight weeks of strength training while incorporating plyometrics. Mean driving distance increased 4.3% for the combined training group, with mean club head speed increasing 1.5%.

Once you incorporate these 3 techniques into your exercise program, you’ll never be disgruntled about driving distance or power generation again.  If your really serious about increasing your power at the tee, you really need to do some form of strength training.  Driving the ball is not all just about the procedure of the drive, it's also about muscle training your core section which is a certain in just about any sport.  You may possibly enjoy perfect form but, when it comes to driving the ball further you do need to contentrate on strengthening your center of gravity for much further drives and superior accurracy.

This is necessary when you would like to learn how to hit longer drives, cure your golf slice and especially break 80.

Core strengthening is essential and critical to hitting longer drives. See what other golfers are using and doing to do just that. Plus, learn how to cure golf slice as well when adding more power behind your swing.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/3-sure-fire-ways-to-generate-additional-power-off-the-tee-1023349.html

Post from: Sports

3 Sure Fire Ways to Generate Additional Power off the Tee

You and I could be standing at a junction and you see the traffic light is red and I see it to be green. It all depends upon the angle from which you are observing the lights. It depends on your perspective. You could, of course, choose to walk to the other side and view it from a different angle.

I would like you to take one minute now to carry out a simple task. Wherever you are at this moment in time, take one minute to look around you and notice, really notice, what around you is the colour blue. Notice as many things that you can that contain the color blue. Spend a full minute really noticing everything that is blue...and then read on.

Now, without looking around again, can you list what is the color red? This simple exercise should demonstrate what happens in everybody's mind ALL of the time. Our observations and the judgments which we make of "reality" are shaped and colored by what we are focusing on, by what we expect to see or happen. Thus our perceptions are not only shaped by the angle of observation but also by our expectation, our underlying beliefs – we see what we expect to see. This is true of everything in life, not just golf. But in golf the effect is so very noticeable!

As Kendal McWade, the genius behind Instinctive Golf, states "Golf balls always do what they are told". Now, if you are telling yourself that you are a bad putter, what are you telling the ball to do? Putting can so ably demonstrate the doubt and fear that holds us back in everyday life – emotions which can literally stop us in our tracks.

A child is not born with fear. We learn fear. Sometimes fear is a useful emotion and protects us from danger, but let's face it, a putt shouldn't be fearful. Even Tiger says that when he was a teenager he would hit the first putt so solidly that if it missed it might go five feet past the hole, and would simply rap it back into the hole without worry or fear...but that as he has got older he isn't quite as fearless. Fears can creep into even the strongest of minds...if you allow them to do so.

So how do we remove fear when it's not needed? How can we change state easily and quickly? Awareness is all important. Most of us are not really aware of the thoughts that are running through our minds. And yet your thoughts create your emotions and direct your actions (and the club and the ball). Let us try another exercise. Stop reading and spend the next minute just observing your thoughts. Notice just how many thoughts pass through your mind in one minute.

How many did you have? I bet there were quite a few. How many thoughts do you have in the very short time in which you swing a golf club? Or, more precicely, how many thoughts do you try to have whilst swinging the club? And how many thoughts run through your mind as you are setting up to the ball, be it for a tee shot or for a putt? Five, ten, fifteen?

Once you become aware of these myriad thoughts, it is easy to understand why the outcome of the shot can be unpredictable to say the least. All of those thoughts can be likened to ants running through your mind, each competing for your attention and focus, thereby taking your awareness away from what really matters - the ball and the target. These two things never change; or, at least, they shouldn't change, assuming you have taken the time to select an exact target.

So the question is "how do we stop these ant-like thoughts from crawling all over our minds?" Cast your mind back to when you were a child and the answer should come to you quite easily. Children's emotions change quick as a flash, crying one moment and laughing the next. They change state easily, quickly, INSTANTANEOUSLY; you and I were born with this ability; it's an instinctive part of us. When a child falls over and scrapes their knees, they cry, and what does the parent do? The adult offers a sweet, they DISTRACT their attention away from the knees that are hurting.

The easiest way in which to displace a negative thought (or a selection of negative thoughts which are competing for your attention) is to give your mind something clear and precise to do. Give your mind something meaningful, interesting and relevant to do, something that is fascinating.

Fear is a function of either the past or the future. Fear does not exist if you are focusing on the now. Think about that for a moment. What are you afraid of on the golf course? The putt not rolling in? That's in the future. The memory of the last shot sailing into the trees? That's in the past. Making a fool of yourself? That's in the future.

So when you are approaching a shot on the golf course, allow the "child" in you to surface - the part of you that's fascinated, curious, the part of you that's "in the now". I was playing with a friend the other day and when we reached the green and saw where my ball was I said something to the effect of "oh, wow! This is an interesting one!" My playing partner's response was "is that a new reframe for "Oh Hell?"!

Try it...and notice the effect. Because if you are "in the now" you will be aware of what you need to be aware of - the ball and the target. And if you are sizing up the situation with child-like wonder and fascination, you will be thinking "how can I get this in" or something to that effect, rather than being a puppet manipulated by A-N-Ts (Automatic Negative Thoughts).

Being "in the now" is a wonderful place to be. It allows you to be aware of what is really happening around you, to appreciate each moment for what it is. It allows you to notice when a rhododendron leaf glistens in the sunshine, or water sparkling as if thousands of stars are twinkling on its surface, and so on. It allows you to notice the feel of the fairway beneath your feet, the feel of the club in your hands, to notice the feel of your swing. (And wouldn't greater feel come in handy?) Being in the now allows you to enjoy the time between shots, remaining relaxed and peaceful; it allows you to fully enjoy the game of golf, AND the game of life. If you aren't in the now, you aren't really living.

Another wonderful thing about being in the now is that you reap the rewards immediately - literally in the now. So many people say that it is impossible to change without hard work and effort. What can be hard about noticing what's happening now? What can be hard when you are interested and curious and fascinated? When you are in the now, past beliefs cannot hold you back.

Are you ready to control your golfing destiny? Are you ready to make a commitment to yourself to play golf "in the now"? Are you willing to allow the natural instinct for wonder and fascination to come to the forefront of your mind? Are you ready to enjoy your golf and play better golf than ever before? Because you are the only person who can choose your thoughts. All you have to do is to choose to do so.

Roseanna Leaton, specialist in golf hypnosis cds and hypnosis mp3 downloads.

With a degree in psychology and qualifications in hypnotherapy, NLP and sports psychology, and a great passion for golf, Roseanna Leaton is one of the leading golf psychologists. You can get a free hypnosis download from http://www.RoseannaLeaton.com and view the GolferWithin golf hypnosis cds and hypnosis downloads.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/making-golf-childs-play-998301.html

Post from: Sports

Making Golf Childs Play

Winter games usually revolve around things like snow and ice, but when it comes to a skating or hockey rink, fun can be had year round. To get in on the action, non pro teams will have to schedule time on the ice. These allotted sessions, known as "ice time" can be doled out a number of ways.

Determining "ice time" will depend largely on the hockey arena and their policies. For example, while some ice rinks specialize only in hokey, others may allow figure skaters time on the ice. In a rink that splits their activities this way, ice time may be divided into the particular sports or training sessions. For example, early morning hours may be dedicated to skaters with evening and afternoons going towards hockey players.

Rinks that are open to the public are often structured this way and one may have to call to get a coveted time slot. However, you can get primo time slots if you plan ahead.

Pre-booking and block purchasing

Some athletes can get great sessions by purchasing blocks of time at a discounted rate. Let's say for example, the arena charges $25 dollars an hour. You may be able to purchase four hours of time for $75 dollars, saving $25 dollars in the process. Ask about any specials and bundles the rink may have if you plan to visit often.

Paid memberships

Some arenas offer paid memberships where you can buy scheduled allotments. Members may be privy to schedules that are not accessed by the public so an individual can have private practice or training time. These membership payments maybe monthly or annual and the feasibility will depend on how often you plan to utilize the allotted time periods.

Ice rink schedules and time slots

Although non pro rinks are open to the public, champion and competition athletes can go there to skate as well as beginners. A rink may schedule ice time with this in mind, placing competitive and sport related skaters in time slots when new skaters or children will not be present. This helps the professional hockey player or skater concentrate on their training without a lot of needless interruption or distraction.

Walk-ins

Walk-in policy will once again depend on the rink itself. While some establishments will allow anyone in at any time, others that offer memberships or scheduled sessions will have certain hours where walk ins are accepted. Anyone who is interested in visiting a local ice hockey or skating rink for the first time needs to contact the establishment before visiting.

Seasonal schedules

During the summer months the humidity can greatly affect the texture of the ice. Pros know how to modify their training for this occurrence but many beginning and intermediate hockey players may find this disconcerting. This is why rinks may limit operating hours in warmer months.

Schedule fluctuations

Try as they might, rink coordinators will have instances where they have to alter their scheduling to accommodate a professional team of for emergency maintenance.

Those how sign up for email alerts can receive messages regarding the availability of the rink and will receive notice of these changes. Many who are technologically savvy send automatic email updates that highlight rink availability.

If you are interested in joining a local hockey league or even in just leaning how to ice skate, your best bet is to contact a local hockey arena to see what kind of ice time schedules are available - you can usually buy ice time through the arena. Some of them may even offer lessons for novices who are intrigued by the fun sport.

Come winter, spring or fall, Hockey and ice games will always have an appeal no matter where you live. If you want to add another fun, fat burning activity to your weekly routine, check into the activities offered at your neighborhood ice arena.