Golfing Eighteen Blog

Killer Whale golf clubs, like any other Wilson, Ping, or Titleist golf clubs, deserve to be custom fitted. After all, you invested a large sum of money on your bag. You’re serious about your golf, otherwise you wouldn’t have bothered. These clubs are your weapons, your arms, that you carry out to the course every Saturday to go to battle with the tees, the rough, the sand traps, and the green.

Since your clubs are so important to you – and so essential to your score card – you ought to customize them. Wilson calls the process Dynamic Fitting, which gives you an indication of just how much this can do for your game.

The basis premise of Dynamic Fitting is simple: every player’s swing is different. From professional players to the beginner hacks, everyone has their unique way they swing the club and shift their weight. For your clubs to work for you, they need to match this unique swing. That’s where the Wilson custom Dynamic Fitting system can improve your Killer Whale golf clubs. It can matches those clubs to your peculiar swing.

Just this one simple step can work wonders that no amount of practice, no number of training classes, can match. In many cases, your instructor or yourself would try to adjust your stance or your swing to compensate your equipment. Why doesn’t this work? Take one simple analogy. When you buy clothes, do you get your body tailored? No, of course not. You have your suit altered to match your arm length, your inseam, and so on.

For the same simple reason, it’s important to alter your clubs to match your natural swing. This process starts by choosing your head type to maximize trajectory, forgiveness, and consistency. Then you choose the perfect shaft for your Killer Whale golf clubs. For more details about your specific choices, be sure to contact your local Wilson sales agent or favorite golf shop.

Cheap golf clubs are not necessarily bad golf clubs.  There are some real bargains available on quality golf clubs for savvy shoppers.  Golfers are often very particular about their clubs, and they often look for the next best club that will improve their game.  This means that serious golfers often sell their old clubs to get the latest models on the market.  There is intense competition for the sales of golf clubs, and the best companies continually come up with great products.  Those who watch the market and the ads carefully will be able to find some cheap golf clubs that are great golf clubs. 

The cheap golf clubs might be the last great innovation by these great companies as they come up with the next great innovation in golf clubs.  Those golfers who watch the ads will find some great cheap clubs.  The discounts will be substantial for second hand golf clubs from the best companies.  There are several companies that are devoted to collecting and selling second hand golf clubs from the top companies.  Some of these companies have great inventories of cheap clubs that were manufactured by the top names in the world of golf.

Cheap Golf Clubs Will Improve A Golfer’s Game

Some of the cheap golf clubs available on the market could be some of the best golf clubs available so these cheap golf clubs could make a substantial difference in a golfer’s game.  Many of the cheap golf clubs on the market have been refurbished by experts.  Although these are cheap golf clubs, these golf clubs could be better quality than brand new cheap golf clubs from the companies who manufacture inferior equipment.  A second hand, refurbished golf club from one of the top quality companies will be better than a brand new club with less than perfect design. 

Cheap golf clubs could also be the best golf clubs available on the market if purchased at some of the discount stores.  These stores often have some great clubs that they sell for great prices.  Some of the best superstores have great golf clubs at bargain prices. There are several websites on the internet that have wonderful prices on the best clubs, clubs of inferior quality at great prices and secondhand clubs.  There are so many cheap golf clubs available currently so people in the market for some cheap clubs will not be disappointed.  Golfers should check all the sources of golf clubs to find the best bargains. 

Golf resistance training is the key to improving your score, enjoying the game more, and feeling better, too. No matter your age, resistance training can help you get into shape and stave off disease.

For golfers, resistance training, or strength training as it’s also known, can help add power to their swing, boost endurance for making it through all 18 holes, and loosen muscles to prevent injury. Resistance training involves lifting weights or working out on machines at a gym. You can also, though, do resistance training at home using everyday items around your home.

To start, first and foremost talk with doctor. Resistance training should be considered strong “medicine,” if only because you could hurt yourself if you don’t know what you’re doing or aren’t sure how hard you should be working out. Once you’re doctor gives you the green light, you have another important hurdle to cross. Should you or shouldn’t you join a gym? This question is actually simply solved with a little effort. Locate the gyms in your area and visit each one. Most gyms will give you a free tour, or even a free week’s worth of workouts. So take advantage of these offers to check out the clientele and determine if you will be comfortable and satisfied with the equipment.

If your decide that you don’t feel comfortable at a gym, or if you don’t want to foot the bill for one, you can do your golf resistance training at home. When you first start out, you may not even need to buy any dumbbells or other equipment.

For instance, one great exercise for your legs involves just squatting down. You can lean against a ball for support or do it in the middle of the room for a harder workout. Start by placing your hands on your hips. Then bend your knees while keeping your back straight. Lower down as far as comfortable, or until your thighs are 90 degrees to the floor. Push up.

Another great golf resistance training exercise for your legs involves sitting in a chair. Scoot the front of the seat, keeping your back straight. With one foot planted on the floor, straighten your other leg until it is parallel to the ground. Repeat with the other leg.

Custom golf clubs would be totally unnecessary if people came in one size.  Custom golf clubs would also be unnecessary if everyone of a certain height had long legs or a short waist.  Custom golf clubs make a significant difference when a golfer gets out on the course.  There is a great advantage for golfers because great custom clubs are readily available to help them improve each and every game that they play.  Custom golf clubs are not necessarily a great expense, and many of the companies that supply golf clubs have systems for making their fantastic custom clubs more easily than ever before.

Custom golf clubs are now available because many of the important companies in the world of golf have systems that are designed to fit golf clubs for each customer.  Those with very long legs or short arms will be happy that the golf clubs they buy can be easily fitted just for their body type.  Some of these companies even have mobile units that go about to fit golf clubs for each owner.  Custom golf clubs do not have to be manufactured specifically for a particular golfer with these new systems. 

Custom Golf Clubs Feel Right

Any golfer who has borrowed or rented a set of clubs will know that a regular set of golf clubs is not the best fit for everyone.  Golf clubs might look very similar at first glance, but there are significant differences in all golf clubs.  Custom golf clubs can be ordered by supplying body statistics to the company over the internet.  These measurements will help the company provide a set of excellent custom clubs to any customer.  There are other websites that provide information on golf clubs, and these also provide the tools for building and buying a set of custom golf clubs.

Some of the companies that have the best clubs to start with also have the tools to fit a set of golf clubs for all of their customers.  Custom golf clubs will allow a golfer to have a proper stance and a smooth swing because the clubs are designed with care for each golfer.  A golfer who had to bend the knees too much or stand further away from the ball because of ill fitting golf clubs will be the first to encourage others to buy great custom clubs.  Good custom clubs do not have to be expensive golf clubs, and each golfer will appreciate the facilities available to produce custom golf clubs. 

The Ping TiSi Tec 5 wood delivers in the fairway. What else would you expect? Ping never seems to live down its reputation. The company has been at the forefront of golf equipment manufacturing for years now, cranking out one innovation after another.

The latest in their lineup of fairway woods, the TiSi Tec models, meet the usual Ping standard. Just like the driver of the same name, the TiSI Tec fairway woods are precisely cast following the Ping Chemical Milling Technology (CMTTM). This unique design mode ensures that all the club heads have precisely the appropriate wall thickness. To complement this innovation, Ping fabricates the woods’ weight pads with an equally inspiring materal, zirconium soleplate. This metal is 50 percent heavier than titanium.

Along with tungsten bottom weight, this weight design guarantees that each fairway wood model, including the Ping TiSi Tec 5 wood, delivers precise ball spin and trajectory.  Each fairway woods comes with its unique club weight design.

For instance, for the 3-wood, the weight pads lie more toward the club’s face to guarantee the farthest shot. On the other hand, since height and precision are more the name of the game for a 7 wood, this club has the weight pads farther in the back of the club. For a mix of both qualities - spin, bounce, trajectory, and distance - the 5 wood bears the weight pads in the middle of its sole.

A Ping TiSi Tec 5 wood, or any of the other fairway woods, are custom fit, just as any Ping club should be. You can pick from the shafts lengths and flexibilities, face angles and lie angles, and grips and swing weights. By the time you fit together you are own special fairway woods, the club should match your needs to prevent hooks, slices, and hacks of all kinds.
 

Golf ball test results are far more important than most players realize. Did you know that there have been more than 5,000 golf ball design patents handed out in the last decade alone? That makes golf balls one of the most technologically advanced, and designed, ball in sports. Just because the ball is small doesn’t mean it doesn’t have big importance to your score.

Picking the correct ball to match your swing is just as important as selecting the proper clubs. Golf balls feel different, have different spins, possess varying densities, and are made with different cover materials. Which one is right for you depends on your level of skill, your reason for playing, and how you tend to make contact with the ball.

To make golf ball selection a bit less daunting a task, experts break golf balls down into three major kinds. First, there’s the solid two-piece ball. This is the most common and most affordable type of ball. The solid two-piece gets its names because it consists of an inner core inside a hard cover. According to golf ball test results, it’s a great ball for beginners because it is more forgiving when a player hits it thin or fat.

Next, there’s the multi-Layered or three-piece ball. Intermediate players should use this type because it allows for more spin and control on shots. However, the ball is also softer than two-piece types, so you actually lose some distance on your hits. Plus, it’s more expensive.

The third type of ball is high-performance types for the expert player. It’s design offers more control and spin, as is seen in golf ball test results. Plus, the ball packs the distance that experts demand. They can cost twice as much as two-piece balls, though, and they aren’t as durable as other balls.

Some people think that golf is an easy game.  For those that have actually played it, however, they know that actually playing is a totally different story. Here are five things that you must have if you wish to improve your golf game.

The first thing that you need is a good set of clubs.  This does not mean that you go and fill your bag with the most expensive set that you can find, or the biggest variety or clubs that you can find.  The most important thing to do is to find clubs that fit your style of golf.  Before you run out to the pro shop and buy the first set you see, considering testing out some club styles.  Ask a friend to lend you their set if they are willing.  Many courses will let you rent clubs, so you could try there as well.  Give non-name brands of clubs a chance – sometimes you really are paying for the name.  Once you have found the type that you want, consider looking for the second hand or buying only a half set to save money.

A second thing that you will need is a good golf course.  While this may seem to be blatantly obvious, it may be harder than it sounds.  You want a golf course that is tranquil – too much hustle and bustle will make it difficult for you to concentrate on perfecting your swing or putting the ball properly.  However, you do not want the course to be so simple that it is boring – you want enough of a challenge to keep you and your golfing partners entertained for some time.  Other factors to consider is the location and how you will get there – if it is a four hour drive from your home you may not be able to make it as often as you would like.  You will want a course where you feel that you fit in with the social crowd if you are hoping to make friends or future golfing partners.  If you enjoy the other amenities that golf courses sometimes offer, then that is something to consider as well.  And since greens fees can vary considerably, you will want to consult your pocket book and monthly budget before settling in on a place.

The next thing to consider is your golfing uniform.  Of course, there are always the infamous golfer’s pants and shirts.  Whether they match or not is up to you, however they should be comfortable and weather appropriate for the course that you play.  A comfortable pair of golf shoes is a must as well – there is no way that you will be able to walk a course in shoes that slip or rub or pinch.  You should also consider getting a sun visor or hat, as it will decrease the chance of the sun getting into your eyes and ruining your shot.  Other items, like gloves or sunglasses, may be a must for you as well.  Depending on the amount of time you plan on spending on the course (whether you are a once in awhile golfer or planning to go daily) will dictate how much money you choose to spend on clothing.  Remember that these will need to be washed and either repaired or replaced quite regularly, so you might want to figure that cost into your golfing budget.

If you are truly serious about golf, it is also important that you learn the rules and etiquette of the game before getting started.  You should understand all the rules before you go out on the course, and this is easy to do by getting a class, reading a book, or surfing golf sites on the internet.  Remember everyone around you needs to concentrate on their game as much as you do, and excessive noise, rowdiness, or poor behavior may lead to an early termination of your greens membership.  It is also considerate to think about basic politeness while at the course and to teach others how you would like to be treated.  For example, if you are a slower player, consider allowing faster ones to play through ahead of you so that they are not stuck waiting and you can take your time to set up your shot.

Lastly, you need to have the right attitude before even getting started.  Golf requires a lot of patience and discipline.  It may require you to develop more concentration or physical strength.  As with any sport or activity, practice makes perfect.  You may need to practice quite frequently to become your best.

Follow these five simple things, and you will be well on your way to improving your golf game.

 

Photo:  Ireland’s Eye beside Howth (Dublin) by Timi az en vaok.

Top Irish destinations for a golfing holiday are quite easy to locate.  The Irish may take the game of golf as seriously as their Scottish neighbors and Ireland has some great golf courses that both pro and amateur golf enthusiasts are always anxious to try out.

When referring to Ireland we generally are speaking of the southern part of the island of Ireland, with has been an independent republic since 1922, and has been known in the past as the Irish Free State.  It is also called Eire, but the official name as a part of the European Union is simply Ireland.  It consists of the 26 counties that separated from the United Kingdome during the partition of Ireland.  The countries in the north in the area known as Ulster or Northern Ireland are still a part of the United Kingdom. 

Ireland is called the emerald isle and celebrated as a beautiful and quite friendly country with a rich culture and history.  St. Patrick, the monk who brought Christianity to Ireland and according to legend drove the snakes from the island is celebrated as the Irish patron saint.  The people of Ireland are descended from the Celts, a people who once occupied all of what is today the United Kingdom, and in this way the Irish are closely related to the people of Scotland and Wales.  During the Middle Ages Ireland was frequently invaded and colonized by Vikings from Scandinavia and with intermingling there is a strong Viking influence present in Irish culture to this day, with the red hair often thought of as an Irish characteristic actually being a characteristic of the Vikings.  Of course is well known for the color green, making a golfer often think of golf.

Ireland went through a long history of wars during their unification with England, Scotland and Wales, and cultural disintegration during the potato famine causing large amounts of immigration to other countries, among them Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States, where Irish immigrants contributed to society and became famous.  During the early 20th century the twenty-six countries of the south achieved independence and while neighbors with the United Kingdom, Ireland is a separate and independent republic.

Golf in Ireland is considered by golf enthusiasts if not the greatest, then at least one of the greatest destinations in the world.  The seaside links in Ireland since the Victorian age have been hailed as outstanding courses, with the course at Lahinch considered one of the best.  During the time of Queen Victoria the golfing world considered Ireland a prime destination rivaling the resorts of other countries and often winning.  After the beginning of the 20th century golf in Ireland was less popular for a while, but after the Second World War golf travel to Ireland picked up quite a bit.  The popular links today include Portmarnock, Royal County Down and Ballybunion.  These golf courses are cared for by the members of the local golf clubs and are renowned for their hospitality and excellent play.  While at one time golf was a game for aristocrats, those who maintain the clubs today are the descendants of Irish tenant farmers, proving that golf is a sport for absolutely everyone, and that everyone enjoys a good game of golf.

In addition to the outstanding destinations mentioned above for Irish golf, there are fantastic golf courses in Ulster, or Northern Ireland, that part of Ireland that is politically a part of the United Kingdom.  Ulster consists of descendants of Irish natives, and both Scottish and English immigrants. Combining these three nationalities, all with a unique love of golf, has created an area where golf is one of the most popular sports of all. 

In Ulster one of the best courses is Royal Portrush, home of the Dunluce Links.  This is the site of the only British Open played in Ireland.  Portstewart, Ballycastle Castlerock, Ardglass, Royal County Down and the City of Deery Golf Course are all fine courses sure to please any golfer.

Whatever your level of play, whether you are an amateur or a pro, or aspiring pro, Ireland offers some of the finest golf experiences in the world and should be savored and enjoyed.

 

As with any outdoor sport, golf can be subject to the weather.  It might be rain and high winds in the south or blizzards and cold in the north, but wherever you go, there will be something.  When the weather gets less than ideal you have two options – go ahead and play anyways, or pack up your clubs and go home.

The biggest thing about dealing with the weather is to be prepared.  Check the weather forecast before you go out.  Are you going to be dealing with rain that day?  Are they predicting a drizzle or a downpour?  Pack your bags accordingly.  Also, keep in mind that your performance is not going to be as good as usual with the weather against you.  Chance are it will slow you up, so you might not be able to play as many greens or holes that you usually do.  You can use this as a way to help improve your short game.

If rain is in the forecast, plan for it.  Put your rain suit on before you head out for the course, not once it has started raining.  It is also a good idea to warm up in your rain suit to get used to the more restrictive feel.  Buy golf shoes that are waterproof.  If you wear them all the time, you will get used to the feel of them.  Umbrellas and gloves are also a good investment if you plan to hit the course on we days.  Keep a spare pair of gloves in a place where they will not get wet, such as a plastic zipper bag.  Make sure that you have extra dry towels for your hands and clubs as well – wet grips and gloves will make your grip tighter, which will mess up your swing.

When playing in the rain, it is also important to consider the effect of rain on the ball as well.  Rain often reduces the distance off the tee and the ball travels shorter in the air.  Putting on wet grass is slower and harder.

Wind can put a damper on your golf game as well.  If you try hitting the ball low it helps against the wind.  Other golfers prefer to maintain a solid contact.  Move the ball back in your stance so that you strike the ball squarely, which will help lower the ball in flight.  Watch your balance – it is easy to lose in the wind.  Make it a little wider for extra stability.  Do not allow wind gusts to mess up the rhythm of your sings – try to maintain an even rhythm with every shot.  Make sure to compensate enough for the wind.  A headwind will lose you an average of 18 yards for every 10 miles per hour.  A tailwind will help you to gain 10 yards for every 10 mph.  Also try to think ahead when you are shooting – you want to be able to make the shot easily and not end up in a position where the wind makes your shot impossible.

Cold is another factor that can make golfing difficult, particularly in the northern areas of the United States where a large portion of the year can be cold.  Never start a round of golf cold.  Warm up inside and dress accordingly before you leave the locker room.  Warming up is especially crucial in cold weather, so do some extra stretches.  Dress in layers so that you can shed clothes if you need to as the game progresses.  Long underwear and wind-breaking suits can help keep you toasty.  A lot of heat escapes from your head, so always wear a hat.  It is also super important to keep you hands warm while you play so consider ski mittens over your golf glove.  You can even get disposable heat pads like hunters use to slide down inside.  On the course, walking from hole to hole will keep you warmer than in the cart.  Balls travel less in cold weather – you lose approximately two yards for every 10-degree drop in temperature.  You may have to vary up your club selection if you feel the cold is affecting your swing.

With a little planning and preparation, you can beat the weather and play golf whenever your heart desires.  Just remember to think ahead about all of your options and you will do just fine.

 

Need some tips on explaining the score of your game to non-golfers?  That is a common predicament many people find themselves in. Like any other game, golf has rules and you must learn the rules in order to keep score properly, which can lead to a fuller enjoyment of the game.

Of course, before understanding the scoring process it is necessary to know a little bit about the game of golf.  Golf is a game that originated in Scotland at least 500 years ago, and for the past five centuries has been played consistently in the British Isles.  In the game of golf a player, or members of a team of players, hit a ball into a designated hole using a tool refereed to as a club. The club is a long shaft with either a metal or wooden head.  A unique feature of golf is that it does not have a defined and standardized playing area. The Rules of Golf define it as “playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the rules.” 

Having enjoyed resurgence in popularity among all classes in the past few years, golf in today’s form was first played on the Musselburgh Links in Scotland in 1672.  Earlier versions were of course played with slightly different rules elsewhere in Scotland, the rest of Great Britain and other European countries.  While at one time considered only a sport for aristocrats and nobles, golf is a sport for everyone today.

The place where golf is played is known as a golf course.  This is a large grassy area with several holes in the ground. The goal of course is to hit the ball used into the hole.  The grassy area is called the green.  Generally a golf course will consist of either nine holes or eighteen holes.  Many times golfers will also refer to the nineteenth hole, which means the bar or clubhouse at the golf course where they relax after a game and enjoy a beverage.

The game begins with a process called teeing off, and the start time of the game is referred to as tee time.  On this first stroke the player will use a small spike made of wood or plastic to mount the ball.  This makes the first shot easier and more accurate.  Many golf courses also offer tee boxes that a player can play from.  The various tee boxes will be ranked according to gender and age. These include, for instance, men’s, ladies’, seniors, juniors, and so on. 

The grassy area, or green is made and kept current to accommodate play, which means well-maintained and cut short.  A greenskeeper is generally in charge of keeping the green watered and well-groomed and professional greenskeepers are more than simple lawnmowers and landscapers.  Most greenskeepers belong to a professional association and have been through extensive training.  Many have college degrees in horticulture or a related area.  These greenskeepers take pride in keeping the grass short and tight so that a ball will roll very easily across it. 

A green will also have obstructions.  These can be sandy areas, called sand traps, water holes, wooded areas, and other obstructing devices to make the game more interesting.  The borders of the course are marked and referred to as bounds, so when a ball goes over the borders it is considered out of bounds.

The borders of a course are marked as such, and beyond them is out of bounds, that is, ground from which a ball must not be played. Some areas on the course may be designated as ground under repair, meaning that a ball coming to rest in them may be lifted and then played from outside such ground without penalty. Certain man-made objects on the course are defined as obstructions, and specific rules determine how a golfer may proceed when these impede the play.

Players are assigned marker partners to keep score for and the goal of each player is to have as few strokes as possible during a game while getting the ball into the appropriate hole.  There are different types of play and scoring outlined in the Rules of Golf and referred to as match play and stroke play, and it is important to decide on the type of play to be followed before beginning a game.  Whatever the type of play however, golf is a game for ladies and gentlemen, so playing according to the rules is important and contributes to the fun.