INTRODUCTION (See illustrations below)

This book was written for one purpose only. That purpose is to significantly lower the handicaps of golfers who are willing to accept ideas that are outside the realm of what the “conventional golf swing” teaches. What do I mean by that?

1. It is my solid belief that not everyone was born with the physical ability to swing the club like the tour pros. So why are so many people wasting their time trying to learn a swing that they’ll never be able to play effectively with? If you have ever read Tiger’s book “How I Play Golf”, you will see a perfect example of what I am talking about (if you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it for short game help, and overall golf strategies). “How I Play Golf” deals more with course management and trouble shots than it does with the mechanics of Tiger’s golf swing. Why? Because when this book was being put together the writers knew that the general golf population would get absolutely no benefit from reading a book about the mechanics of Tiger’s golf swing. They simply couldn’t copy it.

Solution – “The Simple Golf Swing System” was designed so that anyone, regardless of physical ability, could pick up the club and actually complete the swing effectively. Furthermore, as you will see below in the setup chapter, the book is very easy to comprehend, and incorporate into your golf swing on the practice range or on the course. “The Simple Golf Swing” places less stress on the lower back because it is taught with a shortened back swing. This leads to solid impact and more consistency, with less stress on the body.

2. Even if you are a golfer that is in great shape, it takes hours upon hours of practice to learn the conventional swing. Not everyone has that kind of time. If your goal is to learn how to effectively use a wrist cock at the top of your back swing or to transfer your weight through the impact zone correctly, plan on spending at least 2 years of practice just to learn these procedures, and get your muscles to memorize these movements.

Solution – “The Simple Golf Swing” was designed to take all of the unnecessary movements out of your swing. Yes, you heard that right. Scrap them. Get rid of them. Don’t waste your time worrying about them. Instead focus on the fundamentals that will get the club back to where it started, get it there square and get it there fast. The weight transfer still occurs, but it happens subconsciously due to the correct actions made during the back swing and downswing. You will still be moving forward through the ball at impact, but you will not be moving away from the target when completing your back swing This will help to eliminate fat shots, topping the ball, and of center shots. The wrist cock will still naturally occur, but again, it will no longer be necessary to think about it. Thinking about a wrist cock during your swing will throw off your timing…and timing is everything in golf.

This book is about results. In other words, you will be learning mechanics-based swing fundamentals that you can practice, incorporate, and benefit from in a very short period of time.

This book is simple. Literally, you will be able to pick up your 7 iron, and if you follow the advice given, you’ll be hitting crisp, solid shots with great accuracy. The best part is that since this is a system, you’ll be able to consistently do all of the above. There are only 5 steps to “The Simple Golf Swing”. After you have learned and practiced each one of them, you’ll be hitting great shots. 5 steps - that’s it. The 5 fundamentals that will transform your game.

This book works for golfers with high and low handicaps.

High Handicappers – You will want to rebuild your swing based on what this book teaches. Whether you spend a lot of time practicing, but you just can’t reduce your handicap… or you simply don’t practice enough, it’s time to rethink your swing. If you don’t have the time to practice, then you need to get a less complex swing. If you practice, but can’t get better, then chances are that you are practicing the wrong fundamentals, or practicing in an unproductive way. Regardless of the situation, this swing is the answer. High handicappers generally drop 7-14 strokes using “The Simple Golf Swing” in conjunction with “The Simple Chip”. And they usually drop these strokes in less than 3 weeks.

Low Handicappers – You’ll most likely take parts of what “The Simple Golf Swing” teaches and incorporate them into your current swing. You are already doing a lot of things right, and it is not my goal to totally rebuild your swing. However, since this book teaches in a different way than you have seen before, we have had great success with low handicappers. Generally, the low handicapper will build a hybrid swing that is a mix of what they already know and 2 or 3 of “The Simple Golf Swing” steps. The result is usually a 2 to 4 stroke reduction.

Every golfer wants something that actually works. You’ve been looking for a product that you can pick up, work through in your spare time to produce results. Here it is. This system will simplify your golf swing, and our promise is that your swing will be very repeatable, so that you may anticipate consistency on the course. You will get the results you’ve been searching for. Most importantly, you will likely see positive results during your first round on the golf course, where it really matters.

The system you will read about is resistant to pressures that occur when competing. We have tested the techniques expressed in this book using players of all skill levels. The end results are the same. Every player experiences an improved ability to hit the fairway on the tee shot as well as hit the green from the fairway. As a player sees the improvement, confidence allows the player to relax and let the shot happen. Because the system delivers results, confidence increases and the desired results follow.

The Simple Golf Swing system has been designed to simplify your swing. It’s very easy to turn golf into a complex system of turns and twists. Our goal is to get away from that. First, we’re going to get you into a set-up position that will enable you to make solid impact with the golf ball. You will use this set-up procedure every time you approach a shot. You will be amazed at how much this improves your game in itself.

Next, we are going to teach you a sound grip. Then, we’re going to give you a timing drill. The goal here is to simplify how timing may be improved, while contributing to basic swing mechanics related to our Simple Golf Swing. We hope that you focus on this drill and truly understand it, so that when we take you through the swing process there is very little new that you will have to learn. Finally, we give you the component pieces of your new and simpler golf swing.

You’ll have a completely new swing, and it will be simple and repeatable. We realize what you want, and your new swing will deliver. No more studying. No more frustrations about how to hit the ball solidly and reliably. The time to improve your golf game is now. It’s amazingly simple, and that’s why you should be so excited. Let’s get started.

The Setup Routine

The way you set up to hit a golf ball may be the most important factor in determining your score. We don’t take that statement lightly. This section will likely be the most important in the entire book. Do not underestimate the importance of the setup! Luckily, the setup is the easiest part of the golf “swing” to change. It's the easiest of all the bad habits related to your golf swing to break because it occurs before the swing. If you set up to the ball in the manner described, your golf swing will change for the better.

You may believe that the way you currently set up to the ball assures a consistent and reliable striking of the golf ball. But, if you have a nagging (or worse yet, unpredictable) slice or hook, hit behind the ball, or even top the ball, the problem may originate in your current setup. If you experience one or more of these problems, there is a high probability that:

1. Your setup puts you in a position to allow for these frustrating results, or
2. You have, at some point, adjusted your set-up or swing to compensate for the problem, which has done nothing but facilitate a complicated golf swing. A complicated golf swing is the last thing a bogey (or higher) golfer needs.

The process for “setting up” a simple golf swing puts you in a position to go through the five steps of the golf swing, and come back to the starting position with power and control. The combination of power and control is what every golfer strives for, and it all starts with a sound and repeatable set-up.

In the beginning, it will take an open mind and some work to get used to this new set up. For some of you, it will be close to the set-up you are currently using. For the rest of you, it will require that you drastically change your set-up. The description will be fairly technical, and it may be difficult to get used to this new set-up routine. However, if you want to succeed, the first thing that you have to do is to be willing to accept change. As stated earlier, the set-up will be one of the most valuable parts of “The Simple Golf Swing” system, so please focus on it.

The Mechanics of the Setup

Position yourself so that your feet are shoulder width apart. It’s fine if you are more comfortable with a slightly more narrow or wide stance. You should be comfortable. For the longer clubs, you may need a wider stance to support yourself, and for the shorter clubs you may want a narrower stance. That's fine too. A stance that is too wide will make it difficult to turn. A stance that's too narrow will result in loss of balance. The width of your stance should not vary by more than the width of your foot in either direction. Feel free to get comfortable, as long as your feet are approximately shoulder-width apart. The toe of your left foot should be pointing straight out, NOT pointing to the left at all. If you angle the toe out, it will prevent you from completing a full shoulder turn.

The ball should be half way between your left and right foot. For simplicity reasons, you should play the ball in the middle of your stance for every shot. Some of the equipment you use may perform better if you play the ball a bit forward or backward in your stance. That's fine, but you shouldn't position the ball more than its’ width forward or backward in either direction. With the Simple Golf Swing process you will soon be learning, positioning the ball in the middle of your stance should be best for every shot to begin with. Once you master the Simple Golf Swing, you may wish to experiment by moving the ball off-center by as much as one ball width toward your trailing foot for the shortest irons and as much as one ball width toward your leading foot for long irons. For now, however, place the ball in the middle of your stance as shown below!

		Position the golf ball in the manner previously described, then stand straight up. Your knees are not locked, but they are close to locked. Your back is perfectly straight. Your chest should be out. It won’t feel right to have your back straight and chest protruding. It will look and feel “exaggerated”, but that is alright. It is supposed to feel like that, when you first adopt this new setup. Your spine has to remain straight throughout the swing. It is most important that your spine remain straight during the setup and throughout the swing. Your spine will be acting as the axis for your swing. For a moment, I want you to imagine something rotating around a bent axis. A tire, for example, turning about a bent axle…How would you describe the pattern regarding how that tire was rotating? Complex? Unpredictable? It would be really difficult to steer a car down a straight line on a bent axle wouldn't it? Bent axles are worthless, and so is your swing if your back isn’t perfectly straight. Similarly, it is difficult to “steer” a golf ball along a predictable path when the axis about which your swing rotates is not straight. You must eliminate the curvature in your spine (back) if you ever hope to strike the ball with precision and power. It is impossible to overemphasize this point. Now, focus on a straight back and spine, which allows for a very predictable, smooth, and consistent path of the club head. This will be the core of your new golf swing. Your whole swing will rotate around a straight spine. This is an extremely important and valuable new concept! Luckily, it is one of the easiest to apply and remember. Right now, even if you were to use your old swing to hit a few balls, remembering to keep your spine perfectly straight throughout the swing, you would see and feel immediate results. If you were not to see immediate results at the practice range using the “spine as axis” approach, you would definitely see results after applying the proper set-up and the Simple Golf Swing process. Next, hold the club out straight in front of you. Extend your arms as far as they can extend out in front of your body. You are holding the club, with the correct grip, straight out in front of you. Now, while keeping the club parallel to the ground, arms extended and elbows locked, move the club and your arms down so the club is even with your belly button or waist. Your wrists will have to bend slightly to do this. Now, you should be standing up straight, with your chest out, and your shoulders back. Your arms should be straight out in front of you, your elbows locked, and your wrists level with the height of your waist, while holding the club parallel to the ground. Next, bend over AT THE HIPS until the club touches the ground. Move towards or away from the ball according to where the club touches the ground. After some practice, you will be able to judge the distance well enough so that you don't have to move around to get into position. Keep your chest out and straight while bending over at the hips. It is impossible to overstate the importance of this…You should not be bending with the back at all to reach down to the ball; you should be bending AT THE HIPS. This is one of the most common mistakes made by amateur golfers. If you look at any professional golfer on the tour, they will ALWAYS have a straight back, and they will ALWAYS bend at the hips to get to the ball. You will feel like your “seat” is protruding backwards more than usual. That is what we want here… Also, it’s okay if the toe of your club is not flush with the ground. It should be that way, especially for the long irons. As you can see in the image below left, the back remains straight while bending over to the ball. All of the bending is done at the hips. Bending at the hips and keeping a straight back will promote great ball flight and consistency. The relationship between the arms and chest has not changed.
				This is the final setup position. The back is still straight. All you need to do is bend at the hips until the club touches the ground. As you can see, the arms are still stretched out, and the hands are at waist level. They seem lower, but the relationship between the arms and chest has not changed. Your legs remain in a fixed position, while you move the arms and chest together to the ball. This is the key to a good, simple setup. Now you are in a position to hit a golf ball straight and consistently down the middle. Every time you hit a golf ball, go through this set-up drill. It will become easier each time you hit a ball. It will soon become a habitual routine that you go through on the course as well as the range. More importantly, it will give you confidence, knowing that you are in the right position to make solid contact with the ball every time. Now hit a few balls after going through this set up routine for each ball. Get used to it for a few days and then we'll move on to the Simple Golf Swing. Congratulations, the hardest part is over. We realize that may be difficult to believe. * Just a quick word on the driver. Woods are designed

First, get in to your normal setup position, as I describe above. You've got the driver in hand, you're bent over at the hips, you're back is perfectly straight, and you're ready to take a good swing. Now, all you have to do is stand up a bit straighter. You should have already determined the correct distance between your feet and the ball. You just stand up a bit more straight, and reach out with you arms to bring the head of the driver back to the ball.

You will need to experiment with the amount that you need to adjust (it shouldn't be much). Your chest may move about 1 - 3 inches. It doesn't seem like very much, but the change will be very noticeable. Just remember that nothing else in your swing or setup changes. Your lower body doesn't adjust because you have already determined the correct distance between your feet and the ball. It's just a matter of standing up a bit straighter, and then reaching out a bit more with the arms to compensate.

After we get through the remaining sections, you will understand that this will change your swing plane a bit. Your swing plane will become more horizontal, the straighter you stand up. Please realize that nothing else should change. You will swing each of your clubs in exactly the same fashion (found below). This repositioning at setup will have a huge effect on the outcome of your shot, so please take some time to see where you are the most comfortable.

Please try this method out and see your results, literally soar. Moving to this new setup routine will do so much good for your golf swing, because it puts you in a repeatable position to make solid imact with the ball, each and every time that you swing.

If you would like to order the full version of the simple golf swing, please click here

David is the author of “The Simple Golf Swing” which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from today. You can find more of his golf instruction by going to http://www.golfswingguru.com

Here's a really good tip that may help you to get rid of your slice. Best of all, it's really pretty simple once you get the hang of it, and understand why it's being used.

Chances are that you have battled with a slice at some point in your golfing days. To be completely direct with you, dealing with a slice really sucks. It hurts your golf game in many more ways than one.

Luckily, it's fairly easy to fix. I cannot claim that this small tip will completely cure your slice, but there's a good chance that it will. I hope it does.

First off, please understand that when you come into the impact zone, there are really only 2 factors that can determine the "shape" of ball flight.

1. The angle of the club face at impact.

2. The Path the club is taking at impact.

So, here's a few things you should concentrate on.

Try to keep your leading shoulder "down" on the ball through impact. This is called staying strong through impact. Many times the leading shoulder (left shoulder if right handed) flies up before impact. Now just for a minute, think about what that does to the club head when it's in the impact zone.

Get up from the computer and actually go though the motions slowly. Let your leading shoulder fly up as you approach impact and you'll actually be able feel and see the clubface coming from an outside-in path. That’s the cause of the slice you are battling.

See, golf is all about thinking and analyzing your shots to get better. A huge part of this game is understanding "why" you're getting a certain result, and the physics behind that result. Thinking through your golf swing will provide huge dividends if you're willing to invest the time it takes.

So what can you do to correct that flying shoulder? Well, for starters, try to learn to keep your leading shoulder strong. Keep that shoulder "Down" on the ball all the way through impact, even after the ball is gone and flying straight down the fairway.

So, after impact the leading shoulder is still down. The triangle between your shoulders and chest is still present. Most importantly, the body has NOT gotten ahead of the hands. This is a HUGE distinction. As you may notice, the left shoulder is actually higher than the right shoulder. So what do I mean when I say "leading shoulder down"?

You have to envision yourself from the back looking down on the ball. When I say "down", I mean that the leading shoulder and chest is still facing the ball through impact.

So even though it may seem like the leading shoulder is higher than the trailing shoulder, it's still facing the ball at impact. NOT TOWARDS THIRD BASE in comparison to the ball. If your leading shoulder was facing towards third base at impact, which would mean that you have let the leading shoulder fly up.

Furthermore, hand action is huge in this game. You must learn to release your hands correctly through the ball. This means that you release the hands while the leading shoulder is still "down", or facing the ball.

The key is to let your arms release through the ball, while your left shoulder is "Down" on the ball. To do this you will need to rotate your forearms correctly, and use your leading ELBOW (not shoulder) as a hinge. So another way to explain this movement would be that your hands are still moving towards the target, but your leading elbow has almost stopped.

Keep the leading shoulder down and let your arms and hands release through the ball and you will see the ball go farther and higher. This will take a while to get used to, but once it clicks, the results will be outstanding.

What you are about to read... will change your golfing life forever! What are these three "secrets"? If you knew how would they effect your game?. These three "secrets" are what the worlds best players do. Every player MUST know these "secrets" if they are to have a powerful, repeating golf
stroke.

The problem with the majority of golfers is that they don't know what to do. Oh their friends, well wishers at best, tell them that they are "bending their left arm", "raising up through the shot", "coming over the top" and host of other swing faults. But these are the same people that shoot the same scores you do! What could they possibly tell you that would improve your game?

The information you are about to receive is not theory or conjecture but science. Ooooh, you say, this sounds
complicated. Well it isn't, it is simply the laws of force and motion that govern our entire lives and day to day living. Once you understand these simply laws your golf game will forever change...for the better!

Secret #1: A Flat Left Wrist

Because the golf stroke involves a golf club, a left arm, and a wrist in between, it is called a "lever system". The left wrist acts as a "hinge pin" much like the old time "flail" used to beat wheat. This "hinge pin" can rotate, cock or
uncock but NEVER Bends!

Golfers however routinely bend the left wrist causing the clubhead to reach the ball before the hands do. This causes
a "quitting" motion, adds loft to the clubface, points the face to the left of target, makes the clubhead swing
upward disrupting the downward motion that ALL good golf shots MUST have. Good players DELOFT the clubface at
Impact. Poor players ADD loft to the clubface costing them distance, direction, and trajectory.

A 5 iron, for example, has approximately 8 degrees for
"forward lean" when soled properly. At Impact with good players the "lean" is approximately 15 degrees. This turns
the 5 iron into a 4 iron. Poor players reach Impact with a "backward" leaning clubshaft thereby ADDING loft and turning the 5 iron into a 6-7 iron!

Secret #2: A Straight Plane Line

You only have two choices when it comes to the swing plane, you are either on or you're off. There is no middle
ground!

What exactly is the swing plane? The plane is the angle of the clubshaft as it sets at address - period! It is NOT
Hogans plane of glass as many would have you to believe.
There are only three planes available;

1. Horizontal - a wall
2. Vertical - the floor
3. Inclined somewhere in between

As golfers you and I use the Inclined Plane to swing the club back up and end, down out and forward, up back and in making the Golf Stroke three dimensional.

The clubshaft, actually the sweetspot of the club, may travel to any other plane angle during the swing as long as it DOES NOT cross the base of the plane. Here is a simple way you can know if you are on plane or not.
Whichever end of the club is nearest to the ground MUST also point at the base of the plane from horizon to horizon. If neither end is nearer then the clubshaft MUST be horizontal to the ground and parallel to the base of plane.

Secret #3: A Lagging Clubhead

Lag by definition means "trailing". When the clubhead passes the hands coming into Impact there is no "lag".
Without "lag" the golf ball cannot be compressed, we cannot hit downward, and we have a tremendous power loss. Clubhead lag promotes a steady and even acceleration giving us a
dependable way to control distance.

Look at any picture of your favorite player at Impact. The left arm and clubshaft are in ONE LINE! Never two lines. This means that the player is utilizing "lag". When a ball is struck with "lag" it explodes off the clubface! Without this "lag" the sound turns into one of mush, a soft Impact
instead of a driving Impact.

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If you follow this outline, learn these three "Secrets" you will be hitting the ball with more compression than you ever
thought possible.

For example, a Driver striking a golf ball with a 2 degree "backward" leaning clubshaft at 100 mph with 9.5 degrees of
loft produces a launch angle of 6.4 degrees and a carry distance of 230 yards.

By changing Impact to a 2 degree forward leaning clubshaft the player produces a launch angle of 10.4 degrees and a carry of 251 yards. A 21 YARD INCREASE WITHOUT buying a new
Driver and simply having clubhead lag!

YOU can improve your game dramatically by following the steps outlined above. Become the best player YOU can be and
start winning those 4 way presses! If YOU really want to elevate your game, hit it farther, straighter, and nearer
the hole then practice what I've shared with you.

Imagine every one of your shots in the middle of the fairway, every chip two feet from the hole, and every putt nailing the center of the cup. Well, maybe some of us dream of never having to ever putt and each approach shot goes into the hole, but I think you get the picture. A consistent swing is probably what many golfers dream of when our heads hit the pillow.

The majority of us are aware that golf is a game that requires consistent shot making to be successful (and have fun). If we are hooking, slicing, and hitting our wedges fat, it can really start to get frustrating. Consistency is key to hitting a low score and enjoying the game. So how do we get there?

First, let us do a little review of the golf swing. To hit the ball squarely on the center of the club head you must take the club through the proper swing path. A proper swing path will allow the club to align itself correctly with the ball to hit the shot you are trying to hit. For more advanced players this could be in the form of a draw, fade, cut, or some other variation. Higher handicappers will be happy with just plain old straight shots. Anyway, this process begins with your address, moves through your take away, into the back swing, onto the transition between back swing and down swing, into contact, and finishes with the follow through.

Quite a complex sequence of events for the body to perform! And we all know that if our timing is slightly off, or we are just a little off mechanically, disaster is the result.

Knowing that a consistent swing requires the execution of these complex moves over and over again is quite mind-blowing. But let’s get back to our question: how do we develop a consistent golf swing? The answer is two-fold, and I imagine most golfers are aware of the first point but probably only a few are aware of the second. The keys to a consistent swing are: 1) efficient golf swing mechanics and 2) the body. Got it? Good, now I can stop writing this article and all of us can become scratch golfers, right? Well, not exactly, and I imagine some of you are saying, “I already know all this stuff.” Others may be quite intrigued. Regardless of which category you fall into, let me expand on each of these topics a little.

Golf Swing Mechanics

Golf Swing mechanics is probably the easier of the two areas to understand. It is the reason why we take golf lessons and practice so much at the range. Beginning at address, moving through all the stages of the golf swing, and finishing with the follow through, the body is required to move through a specific sequence of movements to perform the golf swing correctly. If the body does not move through this sequence properly then the result will be a poor, inefficient and awkward looking swing. Over time, a poor swing results in poor consistency (every once in awhile you hit a good shot regardless of your swing, that’s what keeps us coming back for more). An easy example of this is when you “come over the top” with the club. This usually results in a slice (I know, easy thing to do and very hard to correct).

In addition to the body performing an intricate number of biomechanical movements in the golf swing, timing of these movements is critical for you to hit the ball successfully. Each and every biomechanical movement within the golf swing has a certain sequence and timing. If they are not performed in the correct order or timing, then the golf swing will not be efficient. Poor timing results in those wonderful slices, snap hooks, chili dips and topping the ball that we know all too well.

Now, how do we improve on the mechanics of the golf swing? I would have to say it is through two things:

1) Proper instruction (Find a good teacher and stick with that teacher. Most of the pros do, why not you?) and

2) Practice, practice, practice. As they say “practice makes perfect”, and I believe this is true when it comes to the golf swing.

Fix the Engine that Swings the Club

Now, on to the second point when it comes to consistency in golf. Again, this is probably the lesser known of the two points about consistency in the swing. It is also equally as important as the mechanics of your swing. One question might help you realize the importance of “the body” when it comes to the golf swing. What swings the golf club?

Some of the answers I have heard are: “my hands,” “the swing,” “my hips” and even “the grip.” Well, these answers are in the ballpark and are close to being right, but let me simplify it for you. The answer is your body. Quite simple when you think about it: The club head is attached to the shaft, your hands grip the shaft, your arms are attached to your shoulders, your hips rotate through the swing, and on and on we go. It is the body that swings the club. So why is this so important to consistency in your golf game?

We know from our golf lessons, that there are certain positions the body is required to be in during the golf swing. For example, at address we know that the feet are slightly wider than shoulder width, knees slightly bent, back at a certain angle, head in a specific position, and our hands gripping the club a certain way. This is only the beginning of what the body has to do to swing the club correctly. Now, from the address position your body must move the club on the correct path and generate club head speed to hit the ball accurately and with power. Doing this over and over is what we define as consistency.

What most people do not understand is that for the body to perform the golf swing correctly, certain parameters need to be met by the body. The body must have certain levels of flexibility, strength, endurance, balance, stability, and power. If your body does not have the minimal levels of these factors in relation to the golf swing, then what do you think will happen? Well, let me tell you, it will be very difficult for the body to swing the club with the correct mechanics. And what will this result in over time? A large amount of time spent on the range with little improvement on the course and a swing that looks less than desirable.

So what does consistency in my golf swing really come down to?

It is vital to understand that improvements in your golf swing mechanics and improvements in your body specific to golf are equally important when it comes to creating a consistent golf swing. If you ignore either the body or the mechanics, it would be safe to say that your golf swing and game will suffer. Take some time on a routine basis to address both the mechanics of your swing and the body supporting it. I think you will find the benefits to be very rewarding.

How can you develop more power in your golf swing? This is probably a question that all of us want an answer to. Most of us go to great lengths to do whatever it takes to get that “power” into our drives off the tee. I think we probably all have some ideas of where 300-yard drives come from, but I want to give you the answers without any “fluff.”

Golf swing power is the result of three specific factors. Two out of the three are much more important, but the third does have a bearing on the outcome of how far you hit that ball.

The first and probably most evident of the three is your swing mechanics. I bet you are not surprised by this one.

The second one is probably the least recognized of the three, but for many is the “key” to longer drives and the category that is given the least amount of attention. Number two is what we term golf strength. This is defined as how well your body is conditioned (i.e. fitness) to swing a golf club with maximum power. Probably the least understood of the three, and maybe the most needed by golfers in general. We will talk more about this later. Let us move on to number three in regards to power for your drives.

Number three is your equipment. Yes, equipment does make a difference in how far you drive the ball. The equipment manufacturers have let this fact be known, and I bet we all have gone to the pro shop probably more than twice to pick up a new driver that claims to give us another 20 yards on every drive. That extra 20 yards might not be down the middle of the fairway, but it will give you an extra 20 yards… could be left, could be right, or could be in the center of the fairway. That all depends on points one and two of this article. Equipment and technological advances have definitely lengthened the distance of our drives. But without better swing mechanics and your body in better golf shape, new technology will not help your game. A bad swing will produce a bad result, regardless of what type of “new” driver you may have just purchased.

Swing Mechanics

I think all of us are aware of how important the mechanics of a swing are when it comes to driving the ball down the fairway. It is essential, if you are over the top with your swing or come inside too much, you’ll see that dreaded slice or snap hook. The drives will be short, too low, too high, left, right, or a combination of these if you are putting bad swings on the ball.

It is essential for a golfer to work on the mechanics of their swing, week in and week out, to improve their game. If it weren’t important why would all these tour players have swing coaches that work with them on a consistent basis? The golf swing is such a finite, mechanically complex movement, that requires constant work to keep it highly efficient and in check.

One of the most common mistakes I see amateurs make is probably a lack of instruction. I see amateurs over and over at the driving ranges, week in and week out, pounding balls without any improvement. This, I feel, is a result of one of two things: 1) a lack of instruction or 2) low levels of golf strength. A lack of instruction leads to the development and ingraining of improper swing mechanics. This only results in slices, hooks, topping the ball, and hitting it fat on the course. And we all know that those types of swings lead to frustration and bad rounds of golf. I would suggest to most anyone to find a good instructor and take lessons on a consistent basis. This can only help your game in the long run. Now moving on the second point of how to achieve powerful drives and that is golf strength.

Golf Strength (Golf Fitness)

Golf strength is a term we use to describe the golf fitness level of an individual pertaining to swinging a club. This is much different than how much you can bench press or squat, which I like to refer to as “weight room strength.” Understand that these two terms, golf strength and weight room strength, are very different. If you do not quite understand the difference, ask yourself one question: How many bodybuilders do you see teeing it up on Tour? The answer to that question is quite obvious, none!

It comes down to this idea: the mechanics of a golf swing require specific levels of flexibility, balance, stability, strength, endurance, and power to perform it efficiently. If your body does not have the required capacities of the aforementioned list, then the result will be? Anyone want to guess? Well, let me give you the answer: a less than optimal and less efficient swing than possible. Essentially, your body supports your swing much like a foundation supports the house you build upon it. I am sure that all of you would choose to build a house on a stone foundation rather than a sand foundation, wouldn’t you? I will say that many of you make a different choice when it comes to your golf swing. I quite often see amateurs developing their swing on a “foundation of sand,” not a good thing to do in my book.

Regardless of how much time you work on your swing mechanics, if your body does not have the “golf strength” to support your swing, you are limiting your potential. I have seen it numerous times, people practicing at the range who struggle, not because of trying to get better, but because their bodies are limiting what they can do with their swing. Quite often I see people with limited flexibility, poor balance capabilities, and low levels of strength and power. The bottom line is that your mechanics will not get better until you fix the body that swings the club!

Up to this point we have discussed the two most important ideas when it comes to power on the golf course. A review of the topics tells us that they are optimal swing mechanics and the proper levels of “golf strength” in the body. One without the other is going to leave you short when it comes to your potential in the game.

Again, I probably see point number two, golf strength, being addressed less often than swing mechanics when you get right down to it. The pros are all aware of the importance of golf strength, why not you?

Equipment

We have come to the final point, and that is equipment. I think the majority of golfers are aware of the technological advances that have occurred in golf equipment over the last 20 years. I mean, think about the ‘80’s when we were still playing with woods that actually had wood club heads! Imagine that for a moment, and now we are using drivers with space age faces that shoot the ball off of them at warp speed. In addition, we have to mention the advances in terms of golf balls. How manufacturers design golf balls today makes a difference in how far they travel. What a lot of people do not realize is that the USGA has set standards on how “hot” driver faces can be and how “fast” balls can come off the face of drivers. Most clubs are reaching this limit, and anything past these USGA rules becomes illegal to play. So what does that tell us? 1) Club manufacturers have done a great, and I mean great, job in the advancement of technology, and 2) to increase the distance on your drives you are now going to have to turn to points one and two of this article.

So what does improving your power really come down to?

It comes down to three simple ideas. Number one is improving your golf swing mechanics. Improved mechanics will improve your driving distance. Number two is improving your golf strength. By improving your body as it pertains to the golf swing you will improve your distance off the tee. Finally, equipment does make a difference, if you hit the ball correctly.

Have you seen those new hybrid utility cubs? They are showing up all over the place, rescuing golfers from all kinds of situations. The reason for this is simple; they open up opportunities for a number of great new shots.

Even the tour pros are using them to help them win big tournaments. (Todd Hamilton – British Open, David Toms – PGA Championship, Reteif Goosen – US Open) We have come up with what we believe are the 5 best uses for these hybrid clubs.

1. OFF THE TEE – These clubs are great for long par 3’s and short par 4 tee shots when you must carry a bunker or water hazard. Most long irons shots have a low piercing trajectory. These hybrids have a lower center of gravity that helps to launch the ball up into the air. Because of this high ball flight, the ball will come down on a steeper angle making it easier to stop on the green.

2. FROM THE FAIRWAY – They are good for long approach shots to the greens on par 5’s and long par 4’s. Because of their great distance control and accuracy, these hybrids will build your confidence. Hitting this club form the fairways will have you going for more par 5’s in 2 and leaving you short putts for eagle.

3. FROM THE ROUGH – Most long irons get caught up in the rough causing them to twist easily and produce mishits. The bigger size and mass of the hybrids over regular irons makes it easier for the club to drive through the rough while keeping the face square. This squaring of the clubface is also aided by the rudders and rails on the sole of the club going through the turf.

4. OUT OF A BUNKER - Move the ball back in your stance to promote a little steeper angle of attack. The bigger club heads and larger ruddered soles of hybrids make it easier to swing through the sand without catching it fat or heavy. It is very important on these long bunker shots to hit the ball first. This will help get the ball up in the air very quickly and out of the bunker.

5. AROUND THE GREEN – Hybrid utility clubs work great for bump and run shots around the green (just ask Todd Hamilton). They help to eliminate the chance for error by getting the ball rolling on the ground as quick as possible. Because the shafts are shorter you can play these shots almost like a putt without choking down on the shaft to gain control. This eliminates the chance of a skull, chunk, or a decelerating wedge shot.

We find these hybrid utility clubs to be one of the most versatile clubs you could have in your bag. Get more info about hybrid utility clubs from our website. Then try one out in your bag today!

How can you lower your scores by simply cleaning your golf clubs you ask? It’s actually very simple. If you have clean golf clubs you can make better contact with the ball. This allows the clubs to do what they are designed to do without any interference form grass, sand or mud on the face.

Since golf is a game about battling the elements, the golfer need s all the help they can get. You deal with the hot sun, a quick summer shower and even a little mud or wet grass on your shoes. All these weather conditions can wreak havoc on your body let alone your golf clubs.

It’s easy for you to shower and clean up, but your golf clubs can’t! You have to clean them as much as possible. If you do they will perform better, last longer, and help keep you clean by keeping you on the short grass!

What’s the best way to clean them?

There are two ways to clean your clubs: 1) You can buy a golf club cleaning kit from just about any pro shop. 2) You can also easily do it yourself at home or at the course. Let’s look at how to do it yourself. Here’s what you will need,

•A plastic bucket
•Mild dishwashing detergent
•An old toothbrush or nonwire bristle brush
•A clean towel or rag

Let’s clean!

1)First, fill the bucket with a little detergent and warn water so it becomes sudsy. Add enough water to the bucket to cover the heads of the clubs.

2)Second, submerge only the clubheads in the water, making sure no to get the ferrules wet because this will damage the finish. Soak the clubheads for a few minutes to help loosen the dirt, oils, or remaining chemicals that may be stuck in the grooves of the club.

3)Next, scrub each of the clubs individually with the soft or medium bristled non-wire brush to remove all the dirt, grass stains, or any other debris that might be on the clubface. If you have difficulty getting it off the first time, just soak and scrub the clubs again.

4)Now, rinse the clubs off with water form your garden hose outside or a sink faucet if you are inside. Try your best to not get the shafts wet when doing this.

5)Finally check over the clubheads to make sure the grooves are dirt free. Then dry them of with a clean towel or rag. That’s it you’re done.

Now you can enjoy playing the game with the added confidence of knowing your clubs are nice and clean. Clean clubs produce a better ball flight with more spin to stop the ball closer to the hole. Play well!

Replacing your golf grips is like servicing your car; you must do it on a very routine basis to keep them in top working order. We suggest changing your grips at least once a season, maybe even twice depending on where you live and how much you play.

People think that you must have your grips replaced professionally. This is incorrect because it can get costly. Actually replacing your own golf club grips is a really simple job. You will learn a lot about your clubs and save you some money.

Below we will walk you through the quick simple steps to doing the job yourself. But first there are a few things you will need:

1.New golf grips
2.Exacto or sharp knife
3.Double sided tape
4.Cleaning solvent
5.Work bench vice

Follow these quick easy steps:

1.Place the club in the work bench vice and tighten with the grip being fully exposed. Take the exacto or sharp knife and cut the grip from the shaft up to the end of club, cutting away from your body.
2.Remove the old grip and clean the shaft of the club with the cleaning solvent using an old rag or brush. Then dry the club off completely.
3.Wrap the double sided tape down the shaft the length of the grip. Make sure that portion of the shaft is completely covered and remove the backing on the other side of the tape.
4.Pour some solvent over the tape. Line the grip up with the club and slip it towards the head of the club. Remove the club from the vice and place the head on the floor and make the minor alignment adjustments.
5.Let grips dry for a few hours (3).

Give this a try; it is a very easy process and simple task to do. It can be a great learning experience and a lot of fun. It will help you learn a little more about your golf clubs and save you some money. So get the things you need and get busy.

Every golfer knows that having proper equipment is essential. Choosing golf clubs has become some what of a daunting task because of the enormous market out there. We have come up with 5 simple things to consider when choosing golf clubs.

1. First of all you have to be honest with yourself in deciding what skill level you’re at. Are you a beginner just starting out, an intermediate weekend golfer, or an expert golfer who plays all the time? This is critical because there are different types of equipment designed to help every level of player. Playing with expert equipment if you are just starting out will only hurt your game.

2. Stay within your spending limits. You have to know what type of budget you are working with. Golf can become very expensive if you don’t stay within your means. There is equipment and accessories designed for every budget, you just have to know where to look.

3. Figure out your strengths and weaknesses. Do you know hook or slice the ball? Are you a long or short hitter? Do you sink many puts when you have to, etc.? You must know these qualities of your game. When you go to your local shop or golf pro it will be easy for them to get you fitted correctly if you know this information.

4. How often do you play? Are you a weekend golfer or an addict who plays all the time? This will determine what golf clubs and accessories you should purchase. Don’t go out and spend a fortune on complex equipment and other things if you only play the game on the weekend with your buddies. On the other hand if you travel all over competing and playing, you are going to need the quality equipment that allows that.

5. Finally make sure you do your own research. Read golf magazines, articles, newspapers, and anything else you can get your hands on. Go to demo days at your local club or driving range and any local golf shows. Check online at manufacturer’s websites and other informative golf club websites. You can find anything online. Doing research is the key to getting what you want.

If you use these 5 simple tips to choosing golf clubs it will be simple for you to get fitted with exactly what you need. So go out and get those brand new clubs you have been thinking about for while.

Fascinatingly enough a bad golfer is consistent enough with his/her consistent mistakes and poor play, that it promotes even more bad golf and frustration.

Actually a bad golfer ignores or is unaware of what has to be the single most important aspect of the golf swing. This is the setup or positioning before the swing.

It does not matter how good your swing is and how much correct technique you have used. If you do not pay attention to your swing, you are a bad golfer and it will clearly show when you have hit the ball.

All great golfers are aware of how important the setup is and you can be sure that