2009 July | Golf Green

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Can You Do Your Own Golf Cart Maintenance?

Golf carts are something that many people not only want to have but also need to have. It can be awfully tiring to trek across the golf course every day and for some people, especially those who are older or not in the best health it can be downright impossible. That is why they need to have golf carts. But if you have your own golf carts, who is going to be the one to fix it when something goes wrong with it?

When you are looking to purchase golf carts you need to keep in mind that they are just another car type machine. And like cars they need regular maintenance if they are going to keep working like they should for years to come. And even when they are taken care of to perfection things can still go wrong. Look at cars, you can buy a brand new car and the first day you get it home the engine can go on you, that is just bad luck. The same thing applies to golf carts.

Getting your golf carts serviced can run you up a pretty heft bill, that is why you may want to look into learning how to service your own golf carts. You can save a lot of money by making your own repairs to your golf carts. It is actually quite easy for you to learn everything that you need to know. Even if you will not be able to overhaul the engine completely, you should be able to learn some basic repair techniques and these will get you through most of the trouble that you will end up having.

Not all golf carts are the same. There are different models and there are different makers. Each and every kind of golf carts is put together a little differently and if you want to be able to service your own golf carts you need to know how they work. The first thing that you need to do is go over the manual and learn it inside and out. Learn what all of the parts are on our golf carts and what they do. You should also get a good understanding of how they work together to make your golf carts function as they do. This will make a huge impact on how well you can fix your golf carts.

Once you know how your golf carts and what every part is and what it should look like you need to know where to get new parts when you need them. You should always get the recommended parts for your golf carts. If you are new to golf carts then you should not take any chances with getting generic parts or making do with other parts. This kind of tinkering should only be done by those who are very experienced with mechanics. If that is not you then stick to the manual. Get the parts that your golf carts are supposed to have, even if it costs you a little more.

How to Pick Golf Clubs, Equipment, and Courses : Long vs. Short Putters

Golf Training Aids – Can They Really Improve your Game

Looking to improve or maintain a respectable golf handicap, who isn’t? A low golf handicap is difficult to achieve and especially difficult to keep up if you’re not lucky enough to play on a regular basis. One proven solution is the use of golf training aids. What training aids work best? Each golfer should look at what part of their golf game needs improvement, putting, chipping, ball striking, distance, swing, or overall inconsistencies. While I love the game, overall inconsistencies is my problem.

If putting is your area of weakness you can choose from a large selection of indoor/outdoor putting greens to use at home, or depending on your situation, the office. Indoor putting greens may not have the contours of real golf course greens, however they allow you to practice any time. Outdoor putting greens are a little more like the real thing. While outdoor putting greens are a synthetic surface, you can give them some contour and slope. Artificial putting greens will assist you in developing a consistent, smooth putting stroke enabling you to sink putts in fewer strokes.

Chipping can be improved with the use of on target chipping nets and backyard flagstick poles. Land a chip in one of the nets or hit one of the flagsticks and you are on target. Chipping from a golf mat is suggested to simulate golf course conditions as much as possible. Chipping into nets or at flagsticks will improve your accuracy and contact with the ball. Using different wedges from multiple distances will also teach you which club to use for that distance and striking speeds necessary for the ball to land perfectly, without undershooting or overshooting your target.

Ball striking is always difficult to master. The pro's make it look so easy. Just remember the pro's have hit thousands of golf balls to develop and maintain that great swing. If you can’t make it to the driving range you can practice your swing with a golf cage or net. You will improve swing consistency, strengthen your swing, and learn to make superior ball contact every time. Golf cages or nets are convenient for practice and can be used outdoors or indoors enabling you to practice in foul weather. Most cages and golf nets sell for less than $100.00, making them more cost effective training aids then the driving range. Practice golf balls are also useful in developing and maintaining the perfect swing. Practice balls simulate the spin, trajectory, and accuracy of a real golf ball, but only travel a short distance. This is another convenient training aid that will permit you to practice anytime in your own backyard.

Golf training videos, books, CD’s, and DVD’s are also available from golf professionals such as Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, and Jim McLean. These types of training aids will teach you the fundamentals of correctly playing the game, while demonstrating proper technique. If you are thinking of taking up golf these tools are cheap and will give you an idea of whether or not this is a sport for you, prior to investing money in very costly equipment.

Given the time and dedication golf training aids will continue to improve, develop, and maintain all areas of golf play. Granted nothing will ever be as good as the real thing, but you know what they say about practice making perfect.

PSP golf training aid-used and recommended by Martin Hall, 2008 USPGA teacher of the year

What are the Best Golf Exercises for Your Golf Fitness Program and Golf Training Program

Golf exercises within a comprehensive golf fitness program can improve the fundamentals of your golf swing. These types of golf exercises within a golf training program can benefit golfers of any age. The problem many golfers face is determining what are the best golf exercises to place within their golf fitness training program. We are well aware that many professionals on the PGA Tour today implement golf fitness training into their programs. It is without question a part of what many professionals utilize to improve their golf game. The questions I often get is; what are the best golf fitness exercises for the amateur?

Before providing a set of exercises to utilize in the improvement of your game. We must first understand what comprises the golf swing from a biomechanical perspective. It is a functional athletic movement, utilizing the entire body in the execution of it. It is a "feet to fingertips" movement incorporating the entire body.

In order to execute the swing correctly specific physical parameters are required of the body. Basically to perform each phase of it efficiently and effectively certain levels of flexibility, balance, muscular strength, endurance, and power are required. If the body is lacking in any of these categories the execution of the golf swing will be hampered.

Knowing these factors about the golf swing provides us the background required to determine the best exercises for golf. In general the ideal exercises for golf will develop these physical parameters of the body to enhance your game.

For example, the ideal fitness program would entail flexibility exercises to improve the ranges of motion in the joint of your body. This would enhance your ability to draw the golf club through the long ranges of motion required of the swing. One such exercise I often recommend for this section of a golf fitness program is Rotators.

The second set of exercises within such a program would focus on balance. The golf swing requires balance in order to develop tempo and execute each phase of the swing. Specific exercises such as Airplane Rotations can improve the ability of your body to balance within the biomechanics of the swing.

Finally, a series of exercises to improve the strength, endurance, and power of your muscles would be a part of such a program. These exercises would improve the ability of your muscles to maintain a fixed spine angle, create rotation, decrease muscular fatigued, and finally develop more power. Numerous exercises can be incorporated into this section of the program. Some of my favorites are Seated Russian Twists, Medicine Ball Chops, and Tubing Rotations.

To summarize, the best golf exercises within your golf fitness program develop the physical parameters of the body for the golf swing. These types of golf exercises will enhance your ability to execute the golf swing correctly and improve your current golf game.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly working with professional golfers, most notable PGA and Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean Cochran and his golf fitness exercises and training programs go to http://www.seancochran.com