We can't blame the golf club manufacturers for targeting their most profitable market of right-handed golfers, but it is quite difficult for those golfers who play left handed to find the selection offered to the mainstream players.
I have known a few golfers who made the change early on by training to play right handed but this is unrealistic for most people.
You should be playing in the most natural manner possible and if that means left handed then so be it.
Unfortunately with everything these days it all comes down to economics and profitability and there just isn't enough money to be made for many manufacturers in the left-handed market.
The percentage of left handed players to right handed players is somewhere in the region of 8 percent so the market is quite small, although it is a niche market that some manufacturers are targeting albeit at more expense in most instances.
But there is always a silver lining to the problems that we might encounter.
At a recent after tournament function I was introduced to an elderly gentleman who was playing on a low handicap and had done so for many years.
During the discussion he mentioned left-handed clubs and the fact that he had started playing left handed initially.
He hadn't learnt how to play from a professional and had developed some bad techniques.
Eventually, due to frustration with his game and the inability to source the clubs he wanted to, he enlisted some professional help.
After much discussion it was decided that he should try playing right handed and the golf pro would give him the necessary tuition.
It was a godsend as he was effectively starting from scratch and he learnt how to play golf without any of the bad techniques that he had developed on his own.
The change from left to right, along with the professional training had held him in good steed for the rest of his golf playing life.
Sure, it was a major decision that most golfers wouldn't make, but you can never beat a golfer at trying to improve his game no matter what steps they might take.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Why Do You Need to Practice So Much?
Practicing your golf will train your mind and your body to perform on autopilot.
The less you have to think about the actions involved in your swing the more the likelihood you have of hitting the golf ball as you should.
There are so many different actions that you need to consider to hit the golf ball perfectly that in actual fact, there are too many things to think about all at once.
The only solution to having a good swing and hitting the ball correctly is to get as many of those actions drilled into your subconscious so that you don't have to think about them to perform them correctly.
It is just like riding a bicycle where you don't have to think about the action of actually peddling the bike.
You need to do the same for your golf swing.
Start with any aspect of your game and practice until you no longer have to think about it.
There is always a point in time where your practice will reach the stage that you start doing the right thing naturally and that allows you to concentrate on other areas of your play.
If you continue to chip away at the techniques that are needed, eventually you will be proficient in most areas.
Once you have mastered the correct golf techniques you get to enjoy the rewards of your efforts for years to come.
Time spent at the beginning of your career getting the basics right will be the best investment you could make.
The pleasure in golf is when you know that you have done well on the day and practice will ensure that you will do better more often.
The practice might not be fun but the results that it can deliver certainly will be.
The less you have to think about the actions involved in your swing the more the likelihood you have of hitting the golf ball as you should.
There are so many different actions that you need to consider to hit the golf ball perfectly that in actual fact, there are too many things to think about all at once.
The only solution to having a good swing and hitting the ball correctly is to get as many of those actions drilled into your subconscious so that you don't have to think about them to perform them correctly.
It is just like riding a bicycle where you don't have to think about the action of actually peddling the bike.
You need to do the same for your golf swing.
Start with any aspect of your game and practice until you no longer have to think about it.
There is always a point in time where your practice will reach the stage that you start doing the right thing naturally and that allows you to concentrate on other areas of your play.
If you continue to chip away at the techniques that are needed, eventually you will be proficient in most areas.
Once you have mastered the correct golf techniques you get to enjoy the rewards of your efforts for years to come.
Time spent at the beginning of your career getting the basics right will be the best investment you could make.
The pleasure in golf is when you know that you have done well on the day and practice will ensure that you will do better more often.
The practice might not be fun but the results that it can deliver certainly will be.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Golf Magazines Knowing Your Options
As a golfing enthusiast you probably are looking for a good golf magazine that you can subscribe to. Fortunately there are dozens of great golf magazines that you can sign up for a mail subscription, or that you can access online. Some of the most popular golf magazines include Golf Digest, Golf Week, and Golf for Women.
Golf Digest is one of the most popular golfing magazines around. You can get a one year subscription to this sports magazine for about $14.97, or a two year subscription for only $27.94. This magazine focuses on the techniques of golf, as well as the latest golfing news.
Golf Week is another great golfing magazine that you can subscribe to. If you buy this magazine in the store you will pay a cover price of $3.95, however, you can get a 72 percent discount buy subscribing to the magazine for one or two years. Golf Week specializes in golfing news, as opposed to tips and tricks of the game.
Golf for Women is one of the only golfing magazines that is designed especially for women. This magazine focuses on issues that are important to women golfers. Some of the topics that they cover include the best golf courses for women, golf products for women, and profiles of women golfers. This magazine has a cover price of over $3 per issue, however, you can receive a 64 percent discount by subscribing to this magazine.
If you prefer to do your reading online and you are on a budget then you may want to simply read one of the many free online golfing magazines. If you are not the best golfer in the world, but still love the game, then you may be interested in the Bad Golf Monthly online magazine. If you are looking for golf industry news then you may want to read Cybergolf. And if you are looking for information and stories on the European golf scene then you can read Golf Today.
Golf Digest is one of the most popular golfing magazines around. You can get a one year subscription to this sports magazine for about $14.97, or a two year subscription for only $27.94. This magazine focuses on the techniques of golf, as well as the latest golfing news.
Golf Week is another great golfing magazine that you can subscribe to. If you buy this magazine in the store you will pay a cover price of $3.95, however, you can get a 72 percent discount buy subscribing to the magazine for one or two years. Golf Week specializes in golfing news, as opposed to tips and tricks of the game.
Golf for Women is one of the only golfing magazines that is designed especially for women. This magazine focuses on issues that are important to women golfers. Some of the topics that they cover include the best golf courses for women, golf products for women, and profiles of women golfers. This magazine has a cover price of over $3 per issue, however, you can receive a 64 percent discount by subscribing to this magazine.
If you prefer to do your reading online and you are on a budget then you may want to simply read one of the many free online golfing magazines. If you are not the best golfer in the world, but still love the game, then you may be interested in the Bad Golf Monthly online magazine. If you are looking for golf industry news then you may want to read Cybergolf. And if you are looking for information and stories on the European golf scene then you can read Golf Today.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
You Have Fourteen Choices and One Level of Skill
The rules of the game state that you are only allowed 14 golf clubs in your bag.
One of these will obviously be your putter, so that leaves you with 13 choices to get you around the course in the least number of strokes.
So what will you choose?
The beginner will generally choose the biggest driver they can buy with the intention of out driving all and sundry when they get to the course.
And I must admit to being one of those people when I started playing golf.
I learned very fast that this was not the way to win, to improve my game, and to lower my handicap.
In fact my biggest handicap was the driver that I thought was going to be my savior.
There was no better lesson than the 80 year old playing partner I had one day, who consistently out drove me with his iron and a smooth effortless swing.
It was that day that I decided to change my way of thinking and concentrate on getting the most out of all the clubs in my bag rather than relying on a big drive and a pitching wedge to get me back on course.
Mastering the short game will do more for your handicap than any other aspect of your game, so getting the correct clubs for your style, physique and more importantly your skill levels will be the fast track to your success.
The difference in the distances that two people can drive off the tee can easily be compensated by skill with the irons in the approach to the greens.
There is more skill required for the short game and those who master the clubs that are needed between driving and putting will be at a decided advantage at the end of the day.
Simple Golf Tips
One of these will obviously be your putter, so that leaves you with 13 choices to get you around the course in the least number of strokes.
So what will you choose?
The beginner will generally choose the biggest driver they can buy with the intention of out driving all and sundry when they get to the course.
And I must admit to being one of those people when I started playing golf.
I learned very fast that this was not the way to win, to improve my game, and to lower my handicap.
In fact my biggest handicap was the driver that I thought was going to be my savior.
There was no better lesson than the 80 year old playing partner I had one day, who consistently out drove me with his iron and a smooth effortless swing.
It was that day that I decided to change my way of thinking and concentrate on getting the most out of all the clubs in my bag rather than relying on a big drive and a pitching wedge to get me back on course.
Mastering the short game will do more for your handicap than any other aspect of your game, so getting the correct clubs for your style, physique and more importantly your skill levels will be the fast track to your success.
The difference in the distances that two people can drive off the tee can easily be compensated by skill with the irons in the approach to the greens.
There is more skill required for the short game and those who master the clubs that are needed between driving and putting will be at a decided advantage at the end of the day.
Simple Golf Tips
Golf Course Review - The Peninsula Golf & Country Club
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