Golf Swing Aids Aren't Effective If...

by Mike Pedersen, CPT

Golf swing aids are rampant! Every golfer has dozens of them gathering dust in their garages or closets. How many wives have threatened a "clearing out" of these contraptions? If you are feeling me...keep reading.
Have you purchased golf swing aids only to use them once or twice and not see improvement? Isn't this an everyday occurrence for golfers? I see and hear this all the time, and yet golfers will continue to spend hundreds of dollars by the 'latest/greatest' gimmick.

I don't know if they (golfers) think they will find the "one" training aid that will change their game forever; or they are just trying to take the easy way out?

Either way, the main reason most golf swing aids don't help is because you are not working on what's causing your swing faults. You! Your machine (body) dictates your outcome! There's no way around it!

What your body is capable of in that moment is the result you'll get.

How many times have you wished you could make a bigger backswing but can't? How often do you walk off the course with a sore back? How many times did you have a good front nine only to blow up on the back nine and shoot your normal score?

The above results were because of the "physical" issues within your body. Until you realize this and take a different approach to your golf improvement program, you'll be a frustrated golfer for a long time.

In my opinion, there are a couple of golf swing aids that are effective when you incorporate them with your new golf training program. One is the medicus. This is a fantastic golf swing aid that gives you instant feedback. Swing it too fast or out of plane and the shaft breaks at the hinge.

Another golf swing aid I like is the weighted golf club. I swing mine everyday and boy does it loosen me up and strengthen my golf swing muscles.

Other than the above golf swing aids, there are dozens and dozens of ones that are a total waste of money. Save your money and work on you! The sooner you do, the sooner you'll stop buying the latest, greatest golf swing aids.

Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf performance trainers in the country, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf improvement sites. Take a look at his just released golf dvds and manual at his golf swing trainer site - Perform Better Golf.

How Your Golf Driver Swing Can Have More Power

by Mike Pedersen, CPT

A golf driver swing that is lacking in power has a couple of issues that need to be addressed. A golf driver swing is slightly different than your other clubs...but needs to have the same sequence of motion and body position at impact to produce more power and distance of the tee.
Most golfers swing outside their physical capabilities resulting in lost yardage and accuracy.

Has this ever happened to you?

You step up on a long par 4 or a par 5 and tell yourself you're going to get their in two. What did you do differently on the tee to achieve it? Did you swing harder? If so, what was your result?
The first issue to cover with your golf driver swing is your range of motion, especially on your backswing. Can you make a 90 degree shoulder turn with minimal tension? Most older golfers don't even come close.

The optimal position is a 90 degree shoulder turn, with approximately 45 degrees of hip turn. This requires a high level of core strength and flexibility. Shoulder flexibility comes into play just a bit also.

If you can't get to this position, it doesn't matter how hard you swing...you're still not going to maximize your power and distance with your driver. Trying to get to that position when you body cannot physically get there will only cause muscle tension, which slows clubhead speed.

Secondly, getting behind the ball and staying behind the ball at impact is critically to maximizing power and distance. This cannot be achieved with an "out-of-shape" body. It's a physically impossibility.

Even for a fit golfer, this is sometimes hard to accomplish on a consistent basis.

On the downswing, it is critical the first move is with the lower body rotating (not sliding). This rotation of the lower body, while the upper body stays back (for only a split second) takes a ton of core strength.

A weaker golfer would not be able to achieve this. He/she would come over the top early with the upper body, merely because they don't have core strength to initiate the downswing with the lower body.

So how do you achieve a golf driver swing with maximum power?

Start working on your core strength and flexibility from a rotational standpoint, with a golf weight training and golf stretching routine. Every exercise and stretch you do should incorporate rotational movements. The primary movement in the golf swing is rotational, so why wouldn't you focus on that in your golf training program?

This is the quickest way to longer drives!

Hitting more balls with the same body and the same swing won't get you there!
You've got to address the physical component to achieve the mechanical efficiency with your driver.

As soon as you do, you'll be blowing by the other players in your foursome!

This IS the approach you should take with your golf driver swing.

Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf performance trainers in the country, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf improvement sites. Take a look at his just released golf dvds and manual at his improve golf swing site - Perform Better Golf.

The Proper Golf Swing - Easy Steps Often Overlooked

by Joseph Tierney

If only we all had the perfect golf swing, wouldn't that be nice? Too bad we don't - but hey, that is why I am here right? I have all kinds of great tips that you can use to make your golf swing better than you ever dreamed possible. You would be surprised to learn how many people don't really know what the proper golf swing is all about. Keep reading and test your knowledge!

First comes the grip, even if you have been playing for years there is a chance that you are not holding the golf club in the best fashion. People can pull off swings with things all out of whack but if you want to be good, I mean really good, you have to learn what makes a grip a good grip.

So, grab your club and hold it like you would if you were going to take a swing at the golf ball. How are your hands situated? Neither hand should be facing right down, this is vital to a good swing. Many people have their hands going in all directions and this leads to a very awkward swing indeed. You should have your hands to the side, similar to the way they would be facing if you were to be shaking someone hand. Your thumbs should be going in the same direction towards the head of the golf club with the only real spot of overlap there the backhands thumb is under the other hand a bit. Does that make sense? Having this correct grip will change the way that you play golf, just give it a try, it will take you far in learning the proper golf swing.

Another thing to remember is that the golf swing does not have to be one continuous motion. Most of the best golfers have a small pause at the top of their backswing. By taking that little break just before you begin your downswing you will be able to assure that your downswing is all that it can be. If you rush it and you go too fast then you are going to run into trouble and lose all control on the way down. This will lead to wild swings that get you nowhere in your game.

Then there are the body factors, the actual muscles and things of that nature. What many people do not realize is that there are a lot of muscles that go into playing golf, in fact if you are not careful you could even throw out your back. It may be tempting to use the wrists a lot when you swing that club but you need to understand that a good golf swing does not come from the writ, it comes from the legs and the trunk of your body. When you throw your whole body into the proper golf swing you are going to connect with the ball every time and you are going to find that your stroke is more powerful and more accurate than if you tried to simply strong arm the club.

The proper golf swing is made up of many little elements that all go together to make one perfect whole. By focusing on each of them you will be able to put them together like a fantastic puzzle t the end. This will leave you with a golf swing to die for and you will be the envy of everyone at the club, I guarantee it.

Joseph Tierney is a golfer and college student from Florida. You can find out more about improving your golf swing at Golf Swing Tips

Golf Fitness Exercises for the Woman Golfer

by Sean Cochran

It is well known in professional golf how integral golf fitness exercises are for success at the highest level of golf. Men on the PGA Tour and women on the LPGA Tour understand the benefits of golf fitness exercises in achieving success. Outside the circles of professional golf many questions exist about golf fitness exercises. Questions such as; what are the best exercises to improve golf fitness levels, are flexibility exercises and stretches better than other forms of golf fitness exercises, and what are the benefits of golf fitness exercises for the woman golfer?

These and many questions surround the topic of golf fitness. This article is to provide some answers for you on the topic of golf fitness exercises for woman. It has been well documented in magazines and television how LPGA women such as Annika Sorenstam utilize golf fitness programs to benefit their play on the golf course. Is there a difference between the LPGA player and the amateur woman golfer in relation to golf fitness training? The answer is no. Yes, the women on the LPGA Tour are the best women golfers in the world, but the physiology of the LPGA player and amateur are the same. The skeletal, muscular, and neural systems are the same. The professional golfer has the same number of muscles in their bodies as the amateur. The woman's professional golfer has the same skeletal structure as the female amateur, and nervous system as well. Granted the LPGA player has more refined and efficient swing mechanics, but the body is the same.

As a result of the body being the same, the principles and structure of a golf fitness program for any woman is similar. Before discussing the specifics of a golf fitness program for women it is necessary to understand a few important principles. The first principle to understand about a golf fitness program is sports specific. Sports specific is a term describing the type of training utilized in a golf fitness program. Sport specific training simply states the program utilized by the woman athlete is geared towards improving them in their chosen sport.

A second principle closely related to sports specific training is cross specificity training. Cross specificity training is the utilization of exercises to develop the woman golfer in the positions, movements, and actions incorporated in the golf swing. The goal of cross specificity training is a transfer of training effect to the field of competition. Simply stated, a transfer of training effect is the ability of exercises utilized to train the female golfer having a direct benefit on their performance during a round of golf.

For example, golf fitness flexibility exercises will attempt to improve the flexibility within the woman golfer. As the woman golfer improves her flexibility parameters in relation to the golf swing. She may be able to create a bigger shoulder turn, which may increase the distance of her drives. This benefit is an example of a transfer of training effect onto the golf course. In summary, the three principles that assist in the development of a golf fitness program for women are; sports specific, cross specificity training, and transfer of training effect. Many additional principles exist that are used as guidelines in the development of a golf fitness program, but these are three essential ones.

Outside of the guidelines governing the development of a golf fitness program for woman. Specific physical components within the body are needed within the body to execute the golf swing correctly. Remember, it is the body performing the biomechanics of the golf swing. In order for the golf swing to be executed correctly and efficiently certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power are required. These are the actual physical components within the woman golfer a golf specific fitness program looks to develop and enhance in relation to the golf swing.

The golf swing requires the body to move through a long range of motion for an efficient movement to occur. Much of this is contingent upon the ability of the core to coil and uncoil during the swing. In order for these two biomechanical actions to occur efficiently, the development of proper flexibility in the core is necessary.

We utilize flexibility exercises that are cross-specific to the movements in the golf swing to develop flexibility. The majority of these flexibility exercises are rotational and dynamic.
The golf swing is a dynamic movement, indicating that the body is in constant motion. It is crucial to develop a range of motion for the swing in a dynamic rather than a static (not moving) method. The goal of these exercises is to create a range of motion in the core for the golf swing. Flexibility is the first physical component requiring development within the woman golfer.
One needs to maintain, dynamically, a stable body throughout the entire swing. We have all hit balls at the range and know what happens when we do not stay balanced during the swing. Improving the balance and stabilization capabilities of the core translates into a better golf swing. Better Balance equals a Better Swing. Even subtle movements are consistency killers; thus we need to develop and maintain balance for a consistent swing.

Balance is connected to the efficiency of the nervous system and strength of the muscular system working together. The development of greater balance in the core and swing is the result of two types of specific exercise. The first challenges the nervous system creating greater efficiency. The second are exercises that create increased strength in the core. The combination of these two types of exercises permit for the body to maintain posture, promote efficient weight transfer, and create power in the swing. The result is a more consistent, accurate, and powerful swing. This is the second component included with a golf fitness program for women

Remember that the golf swing is a repetitive movement. The mechanics of the swing repeat with each stroke. This process can be repeated hundreds of times in a round of golf. Ever go to the range and hit two buckets of balls? At some point the body starts to tire, and shots scatter.
Proper endurance training enables us to repeat a sound swing. We produce this through a series of exercises developing endurance in the entire body. This nets us a consistent swing through eighteen holes. Increasing endurance leads to lower scores. This is the third physical component of the golf fitness program for women.

Club head speed is a function of power. The more power generated by the body, the greater speed at which a club head impacts the ball. More power to the ball equals longer drives. Developing higher levels of power within the muscular system of the body is achieved through the implementation of power exercises. These types of exercise assist in creating higher power outputs of the muscles involved in the golf swing. Power training is the final component found in a golf fitness program for women.

In summary a golf fitness program for the LPGA or amateur woman golfer is relatively the same. Golf fitness exercises for the woman golfer are sports specific. The exercises contained within the golf fitness program are cross-specific to the movements, positions, and requirements of the golf swing. The exercises within a woman's golf fitness program induce a transfer of training effect onto the golf course. The golf swing requires certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power to execute correctly. A golf fitness program for women will look to enhance these physical components of the body. The end result is an improved golf swing equating to lower scores and more enjoyment on the golf course.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.

Save The Body Sway For The Dance Floor, Not In Your Golf Swing

by Sean Cochran

Body motion in the swing is necessary, but too much of a good thing can wreak all kinds of havoc with your golf swing.

I received a question over the weekend from a BioForce Golf subscriber about "body motion" in the swing.

The question from our subscriber asked how not to fall into the trap of too much movement backwards during the golf swing.

What we are really talking about is weight transfer during the golf swing.

Too much weight transfer onto the back foot during the take-away and backswing causes difficulty in getting back to your front foot on the downswing.

This creates some difficulties in your timing during the golf swing.

Oftentimes, this type of swing fault is termed "body sway."

So how do we fix this golf swing fault?

Let's take a brief look at golf swing mechanics.

Optimal golf swing mechanics are both a rotational (rotating around a fixed spine angle) and linear (weight transfer backwards and forwards) movement.

It is the sequencing (proper order) and combination of these two biomechanical movements that develop the great foundation of your golf swing.

Amateurs often have difficulty performing these two biomechanical movements simultaneously and in the correct sequence.

Discussing "Body Sway" in Relation to Linear Weight Transfer of the Golf Swing

Amateurs often shift their weight too far onto their back foot. Once this occurs, they are never able to get their weight forward, causing them to "spin out" and leave the clubface open at impact.

A conversation I had with top teaching pro Rick Smith on body sway enlightened me on one of his teaching points: the weight transfer in the backswing cannot go past the inside arch of the back foot.

In order to limit your weight transfer in the swing to this position, you must "feel" it in your swing. You must be able to feel your weight on the inside of the back foot and not allow it to move any farther back.

If your weight transfer exceeds this position, your timing will be off, your golf swing mechanics will be flawed, and compensation of the downswing will occur.

Now knowing what we need to know about golf swing mechanics and the problems resulting from "body sway," how do we go about fixing it?

The golf swing is one of the most intricate athletic movements performed in sports today.
It requires precision in every biomechanical movement involved in the swing, the correction sequencing of each movement, and the correct timing.

As a whole, the golf swing is a very difficult movement to perform.

Attempting to "fix" a swing fault when swinging the golf club at full tilt is almost impossible.

So what are you to do?

Simply, it is much easier to break down the golf swing into parts.

Working on pieces of the golf swing and then re-building the swing is the way to go. This is a much easier task to achieve.

Once you have broken down the golf swing into pieces, then you can focus upon the area of the golf swing that is giving you difficulty.

Fixing the area of the golf swing that is giving you problems can be addressed by implementing swing drills.

Swing drills introduce and re-enforce the proper swing mechanics into your body and allow you to eventually cure your swing fault.

This will eventually return you to a position where you can "feel" every position in the golf swing.

So, if you are struggling from "body sway" in the golf swing, break down the swing into parts and address the area of the golf swing that needs help through swing drills.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website http://www.bioforcegolf.com/. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.

Perfecting Your Golf Swing

by M.R. Pritchett

When I get a golf club in my hand, I get that feeling of wanting to knock the cover off the ball. It feels good to put all of my strength into hitting the ball. Just hitting the ball as hard as I can does not mean that I play good golf though.

If you just need to relieve a little stress, then swinging with all your strength may accomplish your goals. However, if you want to play golf well, then you are going to have to hold back on the power a little.

One of the most frequent mistakes is to swing the golf club too hard. A hard swing shows that you have power, but accuracy is the name of the game in golf.

You need to relax when you are swinging. This will help you swing easily and will help to reduce your power. If you put your feet closer together, then you can further reduce the strength of your swing. Tensing up will also cause you to use too much effort.

Your center of gravity is also very important. Keep your center of gravity the same and your head will stay still. If you keep both of your feet in the same position throughout your swing, then your center of gravity will be stable.

If you jerk your body then your head will move and you will not be able to focus on the ball. This can also change your center of gravity. It is imperative that you keep your feet planted so that all your weight will be concentrated in your feet when you make contact with the ball.

Expending very little effort should be your goal. If you hit the ball correctly, then it will feel smooth and easy.

Don't tense up when you are about to make contact with the ball. If you tense up, your balance will be thrown off. You want the club head to travel in a straight line to make contact with the ball.

To help correct slicing, see how centered you can hit the ball with your club and how low you can send the ball. If you send the ball too high, it gets into the wind and can go left or right on rough ground.

You want to only use the amount of power that you are able to control. The goal of the game is not power, but accuracy. You want to be able to control every facet of your swing so that you hit the ball cleanly and it goes where you want it to go.

The distance will come from your clean and correct swing, not how much power that you put into it.

You want to try to gradually increase your speed during your swing until you connect with the ball solidly. If you do not have a smooth swing, then you are pulling your hands somewhere during the swing. Keep your head as still as you would if you had a glass of water balanced on top of it. This will help to improve your swing and help you to swing more smoothly and fluidly.

Swing at a decent enough speed to keep yourself from becoming tense and stiff. Don't swing too slowly or so hard that you feel the effort of the swing. Stay relaxed.

Try to keep the idea of power out of your head. Keeping your power under control so that you can be more accurate is what counts!

M.R. PritchettGet a Free 7 Day Mini-Courseon Perfecting Your Golf Swing

Understanding The Physics Of The Golf Swing

by Mike Pedersen

Some golf players have been able to increase their game tremendously by studying the physics of their golf swing by capturing and analyzing the biomechanics of their golf swing.Biomechanics or Motion Capture Technology (MOCAP) is the mechanical analysis of body motion.

Studying and understanding the physics of golf swing by analyzing the biomechanics of your swing can help improve your golf game. This is usually achieved with the help of high speed video technology.

The fact is that it is not always very easy to identify specific problems for correction in the golf swing. However if the physics of the golf swing is clearly captured and studied, it makes everything a lot easier and the correct improvements can be quickly carried out.Actually one of the most effective correctional techniques these days is the use of special conditioning and golf-specific endurance exercises.

The exercise work miracles in strengthening the muscles being used in specific stages of the golf swing, making correction extremely simple after a careful study of the physics of the golf swing.After all it is widely accepted that the correct physics of the golf swing is a complex, awkward movement that is far from being natural for the body and which one can only get right through constant practice and exercise and conditioning specific to golf and designed to perfect the physics of your golf swing.The proper or perfect golf swing is really a study in physics.

Starting from the motion to the impact and flight of the ball through the air. Focusing on the physics of your golf swing is bound to provide plenty of eye-openers on how you can improve your game.

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Check out his new golf fitness - golf training site at Perform Better Golf.