Sport MD » play golf

Woods Should ‘Shut Up,’ Play Golf to Fix Image, Consultants Say

sports — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 08:12:42 +0000

Golf-Woods feels renewed fervor for family after ordeal
Tiger Woods was guarded about the state of his marriage on Monday but reaffirmed his commitment to his family as he prepared to end a five-month self-imposed exile from golf at the Masters.

Tiger ‘a little nervous’ about Masters reception

sports — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 01:44:57 +0000

Tiger Woods tells ESPN he’s a “little nervous” about the reception he’ll get at the Masters when he returns to play golf next month.

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Tiger ‘a little nervous’ about Masters reception

Tiger Woods says sorry, golf return still unknown

sports — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:12:36 +0000

Apologetic Tiger Woods unsure of return to golf
Somber, composed -- and vulnerable -- Tiger Woods faced the world and said the words out loud. "I cheated." "I am deeply sorry." "I understand people have questions." What Woods did not do Friday was answer the two biggest questions: What really happened? When will he play golf again?

Golf Accessories: – Clubs Shoes Bags & more

sports — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:17:23 +0000

When you think about golf accessories, what do you think of first? Which aspects of golf accessories are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge. Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture. As with any sport golf has a diverse and useful personal accessory. Whether you are searching for a gift to give your favorite golfer or you are in need of an accessory to make your own golfing experience more effective and pleasant there are many accessories from which to choose. Every price range is available and millions of products can be found in several diverse venues. Every aspect of the game of golf has it’s own unique set of accessories from which to choose. Just your golf clubs alone can require various accessories. There are cleaning kits for golf clubs. Golf clubs can be fitted with head covers to protect your investment in quality clubs. Head covers can vary greatly from funny animal shapes to serious covers monogrammed with a family crest. Golf club grips can also be diverse. There are your everyday universal grips and you can also find some very expensive custom fit grips for any golf clubs. Golf tees and balls are accessories that leave nothing to the imagination. Think again, there are so many choices in tees and balls it is mind-boggling. There are inexpensive bags of discount generic golf tees available. And you can also find personalized golf tees in ever color imaginable. There are rubber tees and brush tees. Brush tees claim to give you increased accuracy and are also touted to last longer than normal wooden ones. Golf balls can be found in various colors and with any number of claims to their accuracy. There will always be times when golf accessories will be chosen strictly because of a personal preference as opposed to what the manufacturer claims it might do. When considering accessories for the golfer in your life or for your own purchase you can choose from a wide variety of sunglasses, caps or visors. Depending on where you live or what climate in which you play golf you may need more than one of these particular accessories. Wrap around sunglasses as well as the UV protectant lenses can cut glare in many cases up to one hundred percent. With a clear view your golfing accuracy will be much improved. Umbrellas will also come in handy in sunshine or in rain. What would any golfer do with out his favorite (and sometimes lucky) golf towel hanging on his bag? There are any number of logos and brand name golf towels sold. Golf towels serve not only a utilitarian purpose but they are also a way to personalize your game. Ball cleaners can be found in accessory shops along with a wide variety of maintenance products for every level of golfer out there. Ball retrievers are yet another accessory that proves to remain a useful accessory for any golfer. Here again you will find generic ball retrievers that work efficiently and are affordable or you can give a personalized ball retriever in any style to the golfer on your Holiday gift list. Accessories are easily found in any pro shop at any golf course. There are online golf shops and real time golf shops that are filled to overflowing with up-to-date brilliant ideas for accessories to make any golfers game more pleasant. Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of golf accessories. Share your new understanding about golf accessories with others. They'll thank you for it.

When you think about golf accessories, what do you think of first? Which aspects of golf accessories are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture.

As with any sport golf has a diverse and useful personal accessory. Whether you are searching for a gift to give your favorite golfer or you are in need of an accessory to make your own golfing experience more effective and pleasant there are many accessories from which to choose. Every price range is available and millions of products can be found in several diverse venues.

Every aspect of the game of golf has it’s own unique set of accessories from which to choose. Just your golf clubs alone can require various accessories. There are cleaning kits for golf clubs. Golf clubs can be fitted with head covers to protect your investment in quality clubs. Head covers can vary greatly from funny animal shapes to serious covers monogrammed with a family crest. Golf club grips can also be diverse. There are your everyday universal grips and you can also find some very expensive custom fit grips for any golf clubs.

Golf tees and balls are accessories that leave nothing to the imagination. Think again, there are so many choices in tees and balls it is mind-boggling. There are inexpensive bags of discount generic golf tees available. And you can also find personalized golf tees in ever color imaginable. There are rubber tees and brush tees. Brush tees claim to give you increased accuracy and are also touted to last longer than normal wooden ones. Golf balls can be found in various colors and with any number of claims to their accuracy. There will always be times when golf accessories will be chosen strictly because of a personal preference as opposed to what the manufacturer claims it might do.

When considering accessories for the golfer in your life or for your own purchase you can choose from a wide variety of sunglasses, caps or visors. Depending on where you live or what climate in which you play golf you may need more than one of these particular accessories. Wrap around sunglasses as well as the UV protectant lenses can cut glare in many cases up to one hundred percent. With a clear view your golfing accuracy will be much improved. Umbrellas will also come in handy in sunshine or in rain.

What would any golfer do with out his favorite (and sometimes lucky) golf towel hanging on his bag? There are any number of logos and brand name golf towels sold. Golf towels serve not only a utilitarian purpose but they are also a way to personalize your game. Ball cleaners can be found in accessory shops along with a wide variety of maintenance products for every level of golfer out there.

Ball retrievers are yet another accessory that proves to remain a useful accessory for any golfer. Here again you will find generic ball retrievers that work efficiently and are affordable or you can give a personalized ball retriever in any style to the golfer on your Holiday gift list.

Accessories are easily found in any pro shop at any golf course. There are online golf shops and real time golf shops that are filled to overflowing with up-to-date brilliant ideas for accessories to make any golfers game more pleasant.

Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of golf accessories. Share your new understanding about golf accessories with others. They'll thank you for it.

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Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/golf-accessories-clubs-shoes-bags-more-1361554.html

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Golf Accessories: – Clubs Shoes Bags & more

Managing Your Emotions on the Golf Course

sports — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:41:43 +0000

I am a really lucky person. I absolutely love the game of golf, and "bad shots" just don't get to me in the way that they do a lot of other golfers. To me, when that ball ends up tucked under the rim of a sand trap, or right up behind a tree trunk, I am provided with an opportunity to be creative; I relish the opportunity to try something new on the golf course and then just watch what "pops out".

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

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Managing Your Emotions on the Golf Course

Test: What’s Your Golf Course IQ?

sports — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:04:48 +0000

You'll answer 18 questions roughly arranged from the first tee to the 18th green. Heads down, pencils up, let's get started.

1.) Where are your golf clubs right now?

• In my trunk (+3)
• At home where I can find them (+5)
• I have no idea (-3)
• I use rentals (-5)

2.) In the last five years, have you worn jeans to play golf?

• Yes (-15)
• No (+1)

3.) If you have an 11:30 tee time, when do you arrive at the course?

• 10:00 (+1)
• 10:45 - 11:00 (+3)
• 11:30(ish) (-10)

4.) If you're pressed for time and can manage only one of the following, do you …

• Hit a few balls (-3)
• Roll a few putts (+3)

5.) Which set of tees do you play?

• White (+10)
• Other (0)

6.) What's your favorite format?

• Match Play (+10)
• Medal Play (+4)
• Skins Game (-2)
• Bingo Bango Bongo (-4)
• There's no gambling at Bushwood (-10)

7.) How do you identify your golf ball?

• Dots, lines, other unique markings using a Sharpie (+10)
• Full Duffy Waldorf style (+8)
• Make, model and number (+3)
• I think it's a Titleist (-3)
• It's the one over there (-10)

8.) Upon completing a hole, do you generally know what other members of your group scored?

• Yes (+8)
• No (-2)

9.) Is the cart girl into you?

• Yes (-25)
• No (+4)

10.) Who hits first on the No. 7 tee?

• Whoever is ready (+4)
• Lowest score from previous hole leads, highest score goes last (+1)
• First to shotgun a beer (-7)

11.) You're the first in your group to putt and you lag to about 2 ½ feet, do you …

• Finish out (+3)
• Mark your ball (-1)
• Take it away (0)

12.) Who is your favorite golfer?

• Tiger Woods (+5)
• Phil Mickelson (-5)

13.) You've just completed the 9th hole. Assuming you just met two or more of them on the No. 1 tee, do you know the names of the other golfers in your group?

• Yes (+3)
• No (-1)

14.) Do you prefer to …

• Walk (+8)
• Ride (-6)
• Pull cart (-2)

15.) Should I wait for the green to clear?

• Yes (-10)
• No (+5)

16.) How many times have you thrown a golf club in anger in the last 5 years?

• 0-2 (0)
• 2-4 (-3)
• 5 or more (-8)

17.) You are driving the golf cart and you arrive at your partner's ball, do you …

• Leave him with a club and proceed to your own ball (+5)
• Leave the cart with him, grab a club and walk to your ball (+5)
• Sit in the cart until he hits his shot, then proceed (-10)

18.) Examined under close scrutiny, your scorecard will look like it was prepared by ...

• Mother Teresa (+9)
• Bernard Madoff (-6)

See the results and analysis

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/test-whats-your-golf-course-iq-1285328.html

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Test: What’s Your Golf Course IQ?

Three Important Tips To Develop A Perfect Golf Swing

sports — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:58:44 +0000

Do you have a preferred golf player? Is it Tiger Woods or Ernie Els? Have you endlessly considered that your swing looks similar to theirs? Woods and Els are two excellent golf players. While you observe them play, you can certainly become aware of their elegant and dominant swings. Truthfully, it is not easy to reproduce that merely by watching. Following the steps below to improve golf swing.

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

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Three Important Tips To Develop A Perfect Golf Swing

Golf Tips a Beginner Must Know

sports — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:52:06 +0000

Are you interested in golfing? If you are interested in the game and you are planning to start playing it. Then here are a few golf tips beginner must know.

One, you have to the right stance. This is very important when it comes to swinging your club. This is the solid base that you are going to rotate from and is the core of your swing. Having the right stance will give you a solid foundation upon which your swing is constructed. This will also help you maintain balance when swinging. If you are unbalanced, this will lead to an irregular and uneven swing. This will lead to you having difficulty in hitting good long straight shots.

A good stance is when your feet should be shoulder width apart. But, you can also have them slightly closer or wider apart depending on your preference. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable. The ball should be in line with the middle of your feet. And, place the club behind the ball. This is the basic structure of the stance.

Two, you will need to buy the right set of equipment. If you are just beginning with the game, do not buy an expensive and fancy golf set. You might end up buying the wrong set of equipment for you. Many people always have the wrong impression that they must have 14 clubs all the time. But, this is not true because 14 is just the maximum amount of clubs that people are allowed to have especially in golf competition. And, for people who are starting out, fewer clubs are usually better.

Golfers usually need to have wood clubs in their bags. There are different types of wood clubs. There are the driver, the 3-wood club and the 5-wood club. So, you have to be able to determine, which club you can hit the best out of the three. You also have to determine what long iron club that you can hit best with. There are usually 3-6 types of irons.

Similar with the wood club, you also have to choose one that suits you. You also have to choose between the 7-9 short iron clubs. After choosing clubs that suits you, discard the other clubs from your bags and just play with clubs that you can hit best with. And, you need wedges and a putter for your set.

And lastly, golf tips for beginners must know is that they have to take lessons from a professional and then practice what you have learned. You must bear in mind that it will take many lessons and practice for you to be able to hit just one club well in your golf club. For beginners, fewer clubs are better because it means fewer clubs to learn. More clubs usually takes a long time to learn and this can be quite frustrating.

In addition, good golf tips beginner includes instructional videos as well.

Tom is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys participating in a variety of sports and activities. For information on how to play golf for beginners, visit his website today. http://www.squidoo.com/howtoplaygolfbetter
By T. Houser

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/golf-tips-a-beginner-must-know-1056883.html

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Golf Tips a Beginner Must Know

Playing Golf In The Zone – Part 1

sports — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:49:57 +0000

Everyone thinks of Tiger when playing golf "in the zone" comes up for discussion. But everyone has experienced a few holes, if not a round of golf, where they could relate to this feeling. It is as if you cannot put a foot wrong, everything just seems to come together perfectly.

If anyone wanted to know what it feels like to play golf "in the zone" on the last day of a tournament David Duval would be able to describe it. When he shot 59 in the last round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic a few years back, every commentator found themselves making comments about Duval's "mesmerizing performance" and his "absolute focus" and lack of emotion, throughout the day.

When you play golf in the zone, the background chatter of your mind quietens and complete focus is given to the task at hand, one shot at a time throughout the round, whilst at the same time believing that you can do it. This altered state of awareness was clear to see by anyone who watched Duval during that round at La Quinta. It was a truly mesmerizing performance.

I always listen to the commentary with great interest, paying attention to the actual words used. Take the description "mesmerizing performance". The verb "to mesmerize" derives from Anton Mesmer, whose ideas were the forerunner to the development of hypnosis. And this is what the zone state is - hypnosis.

Duval's iron play was so accurate that he was nearly always attempting a relatively short putt. He appeared to be expressionless as he played, always wearing wraparound sunglasses, totally focused on the ball and the pin. His focus and belief didn't waver all day, and he just kept on hitting one after another perfect shot. The key in this situation is to allow that to buoy you up as opposed to allowing other thoughts to creep in...like "it must stop soon", or "when's it going to end?" He didn't allow these thoughts to enter his mind. He was in a state of tunnel vision and focused awareness, and this state, whether you call it hypnosis or being in the zone, acts like a set of blinkers, shutting out any other thoughts.

It was only at the very end, after he'd sunk that eagle putt, that Duval's state changed and he showed some emotion. Until then he played like a robot. He really was golfing in the zone.

Other commentators on the Duval 59 made descriptions such as "locked in on the ball". This was a great description - he truly was locked in on the ball, his focus was clear and absolute. When you are playing golf in the zone you actually have a greater sense of awareness than otherwise, but this awareness is very selective. This heightened focus and awareness, this increased clarity, is directed upon the task in hand. Everything else just fades into the background.

A lot of people are scared of hypnosis, but this is because they do not understand what it actually is. Hypnosis could be described as a state of relaxation, at one with a state of heightened awareness, induced by suggestion. When you are playing golf in the zone you are superbly aware, you have a heightened sense of everything that is important, whilst at the same time remaining nicely calm and relaxed. And this was clearly what Duval experienced during that final, 13 under, round. He didn't show any emotion during the round, didn't pump his fist or do anything except move calmly on to his next shot, until after he had sunk his eagle putt to win on the 18th. He didn't allow anything to break his focus.

If you would like to have similar mental strength you will find that hypnosis downloads or golf hypnosis cds are of great assistance.

Roseanna Leaton, specialist in golf hypnosis cds and hypnosis 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-1-1033218.html

Post from: Sports

Playing Golf In The Zone – Part 1

Playing Golf In The Zone – Part 2

sports — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:00:11 +0000

Just as people are scared of hypnosis, many are adept at avoiding mental issues in general. I mentioned earlier that I listen carefully to the words used by commentators. You might find it interesting to pay more attention to the particular words and phrases used as well. Nine times out of ten the commentary will focus on the mental side of the game. For example "What were you thinking there Tiger?" or "Can he keep this up?" and so on. There are far more comments made about the thought processes at play than the mechanics of the swing. We can relate to the comments made, we accept that they are generally accurate, and yet very few of us pay attention to this aspect of our own golf game.

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.

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

Do You Do “Basil Fawlty” Impressions On The Golf Course? – Part 2

sports — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:58:07 +0000

Believe it or not, everyone can learn to control their own internal response to things that previously triggered anger; to learn to control their body rather than letting it control them. To learn to slow their body down rather than letting it speed up. The purpose of anger management is to learn how to change the way you react to your "anger triggers". You can't change external events, but you can change your emotional and physiological reactions to them.

You can use hypnotic suggestion, NLP techniques and positive visualization to assist in controlling your anger. Firstly, it is important to learn to relax. This is easy if you know how, but difficult if you don't. You can be taught simple relaxation which you can practice regularly, thereby "bringing you down" a level or two, and so less likely to respond to anger triggers. You can learn to relax quickly and easily whilst on the golf course; you have the ability to relax just as quickly as you have the ability to get yourself wound up.

Secondly, it is necessary to explore the way in which you think and learn how to change that. Angry people tend to speak in raised voices, swear, move jerkily, etc. They see big pictures in their minds eye (usually in dramatic Technicolor) of what they don't want to happen ("I know it's going into those trees") and respond to this self-created image. Angry people tend to talk to themselves with nasty, aggressive voices and chunter away to themselves about the unfairness of things ("why is it my ball that's always lost?"), or how life is against them, or how unlucky they are. You can learn techniques that will enable you to turn the volume down on these internal voices, speak in a nicer tone and to see nicer pictures in your mind's eye; i.e. to change your instinctive response to these triggers.

It's also worth exploring whether your overall belief system in flawed. For example if you believe that you "always" have bad luck or that such and such "never" comes your way, you will not notice when things are going well, on or off the golf course; You've programmed yourself to only see the bad. And when bad things happen, you've visualized your own angry response, etc. Thus, it is important to explore and alter wider belief structures about yourself and your world.

Anger is often induced by very real problems and frustrations. If you have a belief structure that says you can handle anything no matter how bad it is, you will respond positively to the situation, and get on with the task of taking your next shot, without becoming angry. You will therefore stop the tendency to jump to negative and inaccurate conclusions. If, on the other hand, the belief structure of "nothing ever works for me" comes into play, angry feelings are triggered and the result is negative in every way - you feel angry, stopping yourself from thinking straight, and then make poor strategy choices and then who knows where the golf ball will end up? The problem simply becomes compounded.

One's expectations must be examined. Are they realistic? Many angry people simply expect too much or want something "right now" and then get angry when the impossible doesn't materialize. It is important to restructure such expectations and give them a "reality check". Do you expect every shot to be perfect? The pros don't expect that. Do you expect to play golf on a Saturday morning, after a few beers on Friday night, no practice in the week and hit every ball perfectly? If so, it's time to run that reality check for yourself!

A feeling of inadequacy or insecurity is frequently the heart of the problem. (A fear that you're not good enough, for example). This feeling is then redirected (either consciously or subconsciously) into the emotion of anger, as this angry feeling prevents you from feeling hurt. Thus it is important to change this belief structure as well; to feel that you are good enough in every way. Anger may also really be directed at oneself, but projected outwards onto another person or object.

Balance is of course the goal state to be achieved. Positive strategies towards real problems need to be learned, as do positive beliefs about yourself. The good news is that you are not born angry. This is a learnt response and so it can be unlearned and replaced with a different strategy which works for you, instead of against you.

It's up to you to decide. Do you want to stop "Basiling", to learn to stop being angry on the golf course and to enjoy your golf from now on?

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

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/do-you-do-basil-fawlty-impressions-on-the-golf-course-part-2-1024331.html

Post from: Sports

Do You Do “Basil Fawlty” Impressions On The Golf Course? – Part 2

The Do’s and Don’ts in Your Golf Mind – Part 1

sports — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:26:03 +0000

Have you ever wondered why sometimes the more you don't want something to happen the more likely it is that it does happen? That's kind of a strange co-incidence don't you think? Let's examine what happens when you try to not do something...

Try as hard as you can right now to NOT think about a giraffe.

What are you thinking about? It's almost certain to be a giraffe! Now ask yourself did you see the word "giraffe" or did you see it's rather long neck?

So what does this tell us about how our minds work? Firstly, in order to comprehend what it is we are trying not to think about we have to focus on what that thing is. Secondly, we tend to picture it rather than think about the letters of the word; an image of it comes into your mind's eye. And this makes sense if you think about how you learnt as a child; You would have a picture book with the words next to the picture, and that's how you would learn that that particular word represented that particular picture. The picture has more impact - the picture comes first.

What we can learn from this is that where there is a conflict between your will power and your imagination, your imagination wins. Hence in several previous article posts I focused upon the power of visualization in creating a great putting routine, and more particularly, the power of using visualization as a practice routine which you can execute at any time when you are unable to get out and play golf.

If you haven't quite appreciated as yet the extreme power of this mental skill, think of the times that you have stood on the tee thinking "don't go in the bunker" and hey, presto - amazingly that's exactly where the ball ended up. Your mind is EXQUISITELY TALENTED. Unless you are a pretty low handicap player, for most of us to aim the ball into a bunker that's 180 yards away and 2 yards in width, we would probably have to have a few attempts before succeeding; and yet, just by THINKING "don't go in there", it does. Wow! Isn't that amazing?

Once again, what can we learn from this? As you think "Don't" your mind has to comprehend "don't what?" and will PICTURE whatever the object it. And a "picture is worth a thousand words" to quote a well-known, and insightful, phrase. What we golfers need to do is simply to use this knowledge to our advantage. We can choose to PICTURE exactly where we want the golf ball to go. You can picture the exact line that you want the ball to travel along, picture the trajectory, picture the ball landing and rolling and coming to a stop. Your mind understands and responds to pictures automatically, instinctively and EASILY.

Sometime soon, why not get out to the chipping area with a friend? Take it in turns to ask your friend where they are going to land the ball, and put a tee there to mark the precise spot. Then ask them how high the ball will travel; hold your arm out to indicate the exact height. This is a quick way of assisting someone to visualize their shot. Then move away and allow them to execute the shot they have pictured. It's amazing how your visualization skills will improve as you do this, and in this way you are clearly telling the golf ball what to do - you are chipping with clear intent. The result, quite logically, is that the golf ball is far more likely to go where you want it to.

Once you have done this, you can go home, put your feet up, get nice and cozy and simply picture the process all over again. You can have a lovely relax on the sofa, simply visualizing all those fantastic chips, over and over and over again, thereby strengthening those neural pathways in your brain, creating an expectation that those great chips will come off as you want them to.

Why not spend some time focusing upon your mind instead of the mechanics of golf? You can learn how to really visualize your shots with the help of hypnosis downloads. Why do you think the professionals use golf hypnosis? They use golf hypnosis because it works; hypnosis downloads can be used to get you to focus, to stay in the now, to visualize a great shot and to see what you really want to see thereby making it happen. And that’s what you want; you want to make it happen when you are out there on the course.

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

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/the-dos-and-donts-in-your-golf-mind-part-1-1015298.html

Post from: Sports

The Do’s and Don’ts in Your Golf Mind – Part 1

Golf Spanish for Gringo Golfers

sports — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:45:12 +0000

If you come to Acapulco to play golf and are ever paired up with a local golfer or Mexican tourist, you may need to have a little background on Mexican golfers and the Spanish of golf. Here is some quick assistance.

First, Lorena Ochoa is Mexico’s most noted golfer. In 2009 she was the number one-ranked female golfer in the world and a leader of the LPGA Tour. Lorena was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco in 1981. Many think that Lee Trevino (sometimes called “Supermex” by his fans) is Mexican, but that is only true by heritage. He was born in Dallas, and lives permanently in California. He has never lived in Mexico. Do not imagine that Chi Chi Rodriguez, Seve Ballesteros and Sergio Garcia are Mexican because they have Hispanic surnames. Chi Chi is Puerto Rican and the latter two are from Spain.

Second, there is some good news for English speakers about playing golf in Mexico: As golf was invented in Scotland, almost all of the terminology of golf is either in English or (archaically) in Scots Gaelic. (For example, “niblick” is derived from Scots “nib” for nose). Words like “birdie” and “bogey” came in from slang usage in the US and England. Thus, your Mexican golf partners will probably use the same terminology as you do – most of the time. There are a few exceptions, of course, and you should be prepared for variations in the way the words are pronounced. For example, “green” will probably be pronounced more like “gring” and will rhyme with “swing.”

The club (a location) is a “Club de Golf.” The club (stick) itself is a “palo” or “palo de golf.” Woods are called “maderas” and irons are called “hierros” (no “h” and trill the “rr”). Your wedge (sand, pitching or loft) is a “cucharilla,” which literally means a small spoon. The putter is a “puter.” In Spanish this word has a comical and often ironical similarity to a coarse word for prostitute. All these items go into your golf bag, or “bolsa de golf.”

You may have a caddie to help you out on the course. He is called a “caddie” or sometimes by the more generic term, “ayudante” or helper. You may be riding around the course. This is a “carrito,” “carrillo” or “carro de golf.”

A golf ball is a “bola,” though every so often it is referred to ironically as a “pelotita” or little ball, particularly when it bounces in the wrong direction. (“Pelota” is usually reserved for inflatable balls and “bola” for hard spheres, but there’s no strict rule.)

The course itself – which you will call a “course” or “links” – is a “recorrido,” which means something close to a “round.” You probably will hear the course called a “campo” or “cancha,” which are more informal usages.

The terms for “handicap” (for either a hole or a player) and “scratch” (i.e., a zero handicap player) are the same as in English, but you may hear “golpes adjudicados” or “sin golpes adjudicados” respectively. These are more like definitions than fixed terms.

The hole is a “hoyo” (which means “hole” in Mexican Spanish). Once you leave the “salida” or “tee,” you are, we hope, in the fairway, or “calle.” This is the same word as “street” in Spanish. If you missed the fairway, you are probably in the “mato” or “matorral” – the rough -- if not in the "bosque," or woods! Your objective, of course, is the “green” (the same in Spanish as in English). Try to avoid the bunkers, which are called “bunkers” in Spanish, too, but are often referred to simply as “arena” – sand. Any other hazard – water or man-made obstacle – is either a “házar” or an “obstáculo.”

A stroke is a “golpe.” A drive is a “golpe largo.” It is usually made from the “salida” – the tee. (The actual ball support -- not the starting point of a hole -- is called a “tee” on Mexican courses.) Hooks (efecto a la izquierda) and Slices (efecto a la derecha) are usually called by their English terms or perhaps by appropriate, unprintable names, just as in the States.

The second shot from the fairway, is a “golpe de aproximación” but often called ”un aproach.” A “pitch” (short and high) is the same as in English (often pronounced “peach”), but be aware that in some Spanish-speaking countries (not Mexico) the word sounds very close to a fairly coarse term, and therefore may generate some chuckles. A “chip” (usually pronounced “cheap”) is the same term as in English, but the verb for hitting a chip is “chipear.” "Patear" is used for putting, which is often written "put," but pronounced more like "paht". "Tirar al hoyo" is a more formal expression, and can cover puts as well as long, low chips.

Top spin is either some version of “top spin” or “avance” or “efecto de avance.” Back spin follows the same convention. In Spanish it might be called “retroceso” or “efecto de retroceso.”

To “top” a ball – hit it on top so as to crease or cut it – is “topar.” The swing itself is “balanceo.”

The types of golf competitions are much the same as in English, too, though some golfers will use Spanish versions like the following: A “major” tournament is sometimes called a “gran premio.” A “master” tournament is for pros only. “Medal Play” is a competition in which the lowest adjusted score wins. “Match Play” is a tourney in which the player winning the most holes takes first place. An “open” may be called a “torneo abierto” or “torneo libre.”

Good luck – “Buena suerte” – on you golf vacation in Acapulco.

Bernal Castillo writes for RealAcapulco.com, the most complete and reliable source of information about Acapulco, in English and in Spanish. To reach him, go to http://www.RealAcapulco.com and navigate to the contact page.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/golf-spanish-for-gringo-golfers-1007092.html

Post from: Sports

Golf Spanish for Gringo Golfers

Positive Thinking in Golf – Part 3

sports — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:51:28 +0000

In golf, the slow pace of the game provides time to worry, to interfere with the smooth automatic processing of your swing, to think about what you don't want to happen, rather than what you are meant to be doing. And the most basic, most essential thing in this game is to keep your mind focused on what you want to happen, not on what you don’t. Whatever you focus on will happen. The most essential thing in golf is your mental game.

"The psychology of golf goes a step further than course management. It entails mental toughness, self confidence, intimidation, gamesmanship, conquering inner demons, instant recall of past successes and being able to quickly purge failures. It is the game within the game". TIGER WOODS

Golf is a game, and should be fun. No-one plays golf perfectly, not even Tiger Woods or Ernie Els or whoever else is, or has been, at the top of the game. It's a game where mistakes are made, frequently...and no wonder...when you think about the size of the ball, length of club, and the distance the ball travels...just a whisker of a change in club face application can create a massive difference in where and how the ball travels. So this game is also a game of accepting mistakes and errors. And a mistake is only a mistake if you see it that way. It could alternatively be seen as an opportunity to learn.

"Experience is not what happens to you, it is what you do with what happens to you" ALDOUS HUXLEY

All golfers may have beliefs about whether they are good or not at sport, or golf, or good or not at learning - but these are just beliefs, nothing more. There is no need to be held back by limiting beliefs. You can choose to change beliefs no matter how deep rooted they are. Everyone has a body and a mind that has a similar physiology and neurology to the best golfers in the world. Athletic literature is full of examples of athletes who have excelled because of their internal desire, rather than the physical attributes such as size, strength, power or speed. There are tall golfers and short golfers, male and female golfers, young and old golfers. It is not age or body shape that prescribes ability. It is your mind that makes the difference.

"Your thoughts create your actions. You create your thoughts" RICHARD WILKINS

Everybody has the ability to play golf well. How good they get will depend on their commitment. When one scrutinizes the training and preparation habits of great golfers, and all great athletes, it is clear that what is required is a combination of physical ability and a desire to be the very best. It all depends on personal choice - each person can be as good as they want to be.

"Our life is what our thoughts make it" MARCUS AURELIUS

How many times have you heard it said that good golf is 90% in the mind? How many times have you described a golfing problem as a "mental block"? If you yourself recognize it as a mental block then the first step is to learn how to think about your problem in a different way. Remember thoughts create emotions, which in turn direct your actions.

Everything in life depends on how you think about it, not just your golf. You can learn to choose your thoughts, and therefore control the outcome of them. It just takes a little time and practice - but the results will be truly AMAZING.

"All the difference will not make the way you think; yet the way you think will make all the difference" RICHARD WILKINS

Why not spend a little bit of time in working upon the 90% instead of the 10%? You can learn how to relax in an instant and to overcome your mental blocks with the help of hypnosis downloads. Why do you think the professionals use golf hypnosis? They use golf hypnosis because it works; hypnosis downloads can be used to get you to focus clearly, to stay in the now, to overcome obstacles and play great golf. With hypnosis downloads you can learn to control your mind and that is the quickest and easiest way in which you will knock shots off your handicap.

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

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/positive-thinking-in-golf-part-3-1005976.html

Post from: Sports

Positive Thinking in Golf – Part 3

Making Golf Childs Play

sports — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:16:11 +0000

In my last article post I finished with suggesting a mantra for life - what the mind can perceive, the mind can believe, and the mind can achieve. Have you noticed how true this is? What is in your mind, your thoughts, your memories, and the things you know to be "right" are simply your own perceptions of reality.

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