golf51205

Friday, December 21, 2007

Putt the Ball in the Hole

The strokes you take on the green during your golf game wind up being about 40 percent of your score. Wild, isn't it? We spend $500 on drivers to gain 10 yards and give it all away in just one or two three-putts and/or missed four-footers. As a corollary, we could use a 1970's laminated driver with some knock-off, found-in-the-garage irons and score the same as our most technologically advanced pals if we just shaved a few strokes off our putting game.

I know, "Drive for show, putt for dough." is what the guys that can't hit the bomb are always saying. I know that the guy that pounds it farthest is "The Man". OK. I have been playing for over forty years and am on average one the longest hitters in the groups I hang with. That being said, my best rounds (and most Nassau wins) have been when I reign in the big swing and drain some putts.

Over the last twenty-five years my handicap has remained fairly constant around twelve to thirteen. That has been in the face of declining frequency of play and plowing through the fifty year-old barrier. How? Putting!

Putting is simply a combination of three key ingredients:

  1. Mind
  2. Reading
  3. Execution

In this article I address the mind. No smoke, no mirrors, just how you mentally approach your putting.

Some years ago, I was reading some self-improvement books and came upon one that was something like "Learn While You Sleep". I just tried to find it by goggling and couldn't locate the exact book. That is not important. What is important is not the techniques taught in the book, but the concept that I came away with and have held ever since. The book was about letting your subconscious train your conscience during sleep, but I found that I could convince myself of certain things while fully conscious. This is the old "talk yourself into it" concept.

Years after I read this book and while putting on a practice green, I drained a few 20 footers. I stepped back and realized that before I had made those putts, I expected that they were going to fall. The hole was huge, the ball was a bee-bee and my putter was a target rifle. Without realizing it, I had convinced myself of future success.

If you believe you will make the putt, you will have a great chance of making that putt. If you can't find that comfort, step back and gain the confidence. If you can't get it during that round, fine, get on the practice green later and gain it. If I did this with my garage-sale putter, lack of confidence, and intermittent jeering of pals, you easily can do it.

As positive as this article is, I hate to bring in the negative. I do so only to remind you of what you have felt so many times. "I can't make this putt but I hope to get it close enough so that I have a gimmee." "It's down hill with a good bit of break; hope I can two-putt it."

Horse manure! You own the green! Three-putt? That is what your opponents do. You are a putting machine. Your putts eat the holes up. Now go out there and prove yourself correct. Stayed tuned for the next two articles on reading greens and then the technique to swat that beebee in the bushel basket.

Randall Ulbricht works from home sharing information via several web sites, including:
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How To Play Golf From Uneven Lies

hitting the ball from uneven lies is one of the hardest things to do in golf and is one of the reasons why golf is so hard. Once you get out on the course, it is not flat like the driving range, and in order to shoot low scores and save as many strokes as possible you must know how to play form uneven lies.

Today i’m going to focus on teaching you how to play when the ball is below your feet as well as when it is above your feet. The good news is that these shots are not all that hard once you make the proper setup adjustments!

playing when the ball is below your feet:

When the ball is below your feet you will feel as if you have to lean way over and really stretch to reach the ball. This is the major mistake that most golfers make when playing this shot, they bend too far forward from the waist to get down to the ball. This totally changes their body angles in the shot and causes mishits. Instead of bending more forward at the waist to get down to the ball, you need to bend your knees until your club reaches the ball. The angle that you bend forward should be exactly the same as that of a regular shot. So, when the ball is below your feet, bend those knees to get down to the ball.

Playing when the ball is above your feet:

When the ball is above your feet you need to flex your knees a whole lot less, and you want to have the feeling of standing nice and tall. In addition, because the ball is now higher up the distance between you and the ball is a lot shorter. So you will need to choke up on the club. making these 2 adjustments will put you in a good position to make your regular swing, although it will end up being a little flatter because the ball is up higher.

One thing to keep in mind when playing these shots is that you will tend to miss in a certain direction for each type of shot. When the ball is below your feet the tendency is the miss a little bit to the right. And likewise when the ball is above your feet you will tend to miss to the left, so aim accordingly!

So, there you can see that playing from uneven lies is not that hard once you know how, so get out there and start practicing!

michael Dikun - Author of the Bogey Killer Ebook. http://www.Bogeykiller.com

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Skin Care and Anti-Aging Methods

Today, it seems people spend a lot of time, energy and money trying to maintain a youthful look. The store shelves are lines with miracle products claiming they will keep you looking young and beautiful, despite your current condition or age. Do any of products actually deliver? No. There is no miracle product that will keep you looking young forever, however, taking good care of your skin will keep you looking and feeling fresh and healthy no matter your age.

Wrinkle Prevention

As you age, facial wrinkles will appear. Skin cells begin to die at a rate faster than your body can create new ones. Skin loses elasticity and fine lines appear. There are several factors that can increase the appearance of lines and wrinkles, including sun, diet and anxiety. These factors increase free radical damage which, in turn, causes premature aging. To prevent wrinkles, it is important that you understand what causes them.

Sun Protection

The sun is a major factor in premature aging. The best defense against aging is to protect your skin from the sun. Although a little sun exposure is good for us, it is best to apply a moisturizer with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higher to reduce premature wrinkles. An SPF should be applied year-round since UVA/UVB rays are present during the winter months as well. If possible, avoid the sun during the middle of the day during the summer, and wear a hat when you are outside.

Diet

Certain foods are particularly beneficial in warding off premature wrinkles. These include omega 3 fatty acids (found in food such as salmon and flax seeds), vitamin C (found in blueberries, strawberries and citrus fruits), vitamin E (found in many seeds), and anything containing antioxidants (such as green tea).

Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety have been shown to advance the aging process. Most of us arent in a situation where we could quit our stressful jobs, but there are ways to reduce your stress level. Try activities that you enjoy, such as walking, swimming, dance classes, karate, yoga, etc.

natural Skin Care

Be wary of those that recommend treating skin conditions with medications with potentially irritating side effects, such as cortisone. instead, first try natural alternatives when treating your skin for burns, eczema, acne, sunburn, or other conditions. Following are natural alternatives to use for treating skin conditions:

  • Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera is a natural plant used to heal skin conditions without side effects. In particular, it is used to treat skin conditions such as cuts, burns and eczema to ease pain and reduce inflammation. Aloe Vera can found in a gel form or purchased as a plant where you can break a leaf off the plant as needed. It should be applied liberally for as long as needed.
  • Emu oil. Emu oil is used topically to soften skin and is frequently found in ointments for dry cracked heels. Studies have shown it is effective in reducing scar formation in healed burned wounds. Since Emu oil contains traces of three of the essential fatty acids Omega 3, Omega 6, and Omega 9 the oil is used to treat many skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, shingles, rosacea, skin irritations and dry skin.
  • Red clover. Red clover is effective in treating skin conditions caused by heat and dryness, such as allergic dermatitis and eczema.
  • Neem. Neem is a plant that is similar to Aloe Vera and just as beneficial in treating various skin disorders. In particular, Neem oil is useful for skin care such as acne, and keeping skin elasticity.

Before investing money in so-called miracle products, try some natural alternatives for treating skin conditions.

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At MyGuidesUSA.com (http://www.myguidesusa.com), you will find valuable tips and resources for handling lifes major events. Whether youre planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, youll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com. Find tips and resources on nutrition, childrens nutrition, diets and weight loss, weight management and more at http://www.myguidesusa.com/dietandnutrition

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