The Best Way To Eliminate Lower Back Injuries In Golf

One out of every two golfers will incur a lower back injury during their playing careers, are you one of them?

Almost every golfer on the planet has at some time or another felt their lower back “tighten” up on the course, after a round, or even getting out of bed. Why is this so? The reason for the high number of lower back injuries in the sport of golf is a result of the golf swing itself!

The golf swing is a rotational movement. It requires you to rotate around a fixed spine. The lower back takes the brunt of the pressure of the twisting and turning.

The rotation and torque can make your lower back very easily fatigued or injured. The question to ask is how to counteract the stresses placed on the lower back?

There are a number of ways to help you “dodge the injury bullet” when it comes to the lower back.

Lower back injuries generally occur because of three different reasons.

1. Poor Swing Mechanics

2. Weak Lower Back Muscles

3. Workloads

The first category has to do with your swing mechanics.

A research study (don’t quote me on the exact %) indicated that the rate of lower back injuries in the amateur golfer was 60% higher than professionals in the sport. The study determined the number was statically higher in amateurs because of the shear forces created in the golf swing.

The amount of shear forces created in the amateur’s golf swing was exponentially higher than the professional. Professionals have a much more efficient golf swing, lowering the shear forces placed upon the lower back compared to the typical amateur.

The second category refers to the physical aqspect of the golf swing.

The lower back is used extensively in order to swing the golf club properly. If the lower back is weak, over time it will become fatigued. Once the muscles of the lower back become fatigued, the ability to swing the club with the same force becomes much more difficult. Additionally, once the lower back is tired, and you continue to perform the movements of the golf swing. The lower back will become sore and eventually you will injure it.

The final reason golfers tend to have many lower back injuries is workloads.

Simply put, workloads are the number of swings you take within a certaintime frame. For example, a PGA Tour player during a competitive week on Tour may swing a club well over 1,000 times. This is the total number of swings over a 7 day period can be defined as the Tour players workloads for that week.

A lower back injury can incur if the workloads for any golfer become too high. Regardless of the efficiency within the golf swing mechanics or the strength of the lower back, too high of a workload will lead to injury. For example, in you were to go to the range and execute 1,000 swings of the golf club in a 3-hour time frame. The likelihood of a lower back injury is very high. Why? Because the workloads are too high within the give time fame for any golfer!

The key in regards to workloads is to match up the efficiency of your golf swing and the strength within the lower back. If you have poor golf swing mechanics and a weak lower back, your workloads should be very low. If you have moderately efficient golf swing mechanics and a fairly strong lower back. The workloads can be higher.

What is the best way to avoid a lower back injury?

Simple, it is a 3-step process.

Number one; develop efficient golf swing mechanics. This can be done through proper instruction, practice, and time.

Number two; implement a golf fitness program into your exercise routine. This type of program will strengthen your lower back in relation to the golf swing.

Number three; monitor the number of swings you make with the club in relation to points one and two.

Sean Cochran

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com-By: Sean Cochran

Secrets Of Golf's Longest Hitter

Would you like to discover the secrets of golf's longest hitter? If so, read on...

Over 31 years ago, 64-year-old, Mike Austin set the Guinness Book World Record for "longest drive in competition" by driving a golf ball 515-yards.

No one in the history of the game has come within a football field of this amazing record.

Just to prove to you the statement above is true check out these top drives of some of today's hottest golf pro's:

Jason Zuback averages 355 to 375 yards.
Tiger Woods averages 300 to 330 yards.
John Daly hit a 414 yard drive.
Sean "The Beast" Fister nailed a 406 yard shot.

By the way, Tiger Woods did crush one 412 yards... but... it was during a practice round. And Tiger's drive is 103 yards short of Austin's world record. Despite the fact Tiger is in his prime and Austin was an "old" man of 64 when he set his record.

Anyway, golf insiders have speculated why Austin was able to hit the ball so darn far. The fact is he used four simple swing secrets anyone can learn.

Swing Secret #1: The Forward Press
This is how Austin would start his swing. The forward press gets the body into motion and initiates the backswing. All of which builds the power for monster drives.

Swing Secret #2: The Compound Pivot
Harnesses your body's natural strength from a simple 8" shift in your center of gravity.

Swing Secret #3: The Hands And Arms
Sets the club on plane and keeps it there for distance and pinpoint accuracy.

Swing Secret #4: The Release
Modern golf instructors teach that delaying the release is proper form. Nothing could be further from the truth. The major secret to massive power is the release. Because it takes advantage of gravity so you get a running start at the ball.

Austin's four power swing secrets landed him in the Gunniess Book of World Records.

They do take a little bit of practice... but... once you get them down your game is going to change forever.

Hit 'Em Long.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com-By: John Anghelache

The Importance of a Good Golf Bag!

Few things are more important to a golfer than a good golf bag. First off, golf bags come in many styles and a wide variety of colors. You can choose a bag for style, features or pick a color to match your mood.

Some have legs that fold out when they are placed on the ground and stand upright so the golfer doesn’t have to bend down and pick it up. That’s a nice feature in golf bags, especially if the golfer tends to walk the course, as many do. There is plenty of bending to be done when a golfer is trying to remove an obstacle from around his or her ball, or to get the ball out of the cup, so any way to avoid bending over is more than appreciated.

All golf bags have compartments where the golf clubs are to be placed. Each golfer has his or her own way of doing this and putting clubs where he or she wants them. Some golfers, though, are lazy and just stick their clubs in the compartments, grabbing whichever one they want when a particular club is needed. But, some golf bags have tubes to protect the club grips. These are nice to have. With the tubes, a golfer can get his or her clubs out easier. The clubs are never tangled up, and the grips last a lot longer.

Another important factor in choosing a golf bag is the number of pockets it has. Frankly, there’s no such thing as too many pockets in a golf bag. First, one of the pockets will be used to hold the golf bag’s hood. The hood is used to keep the clubs and bag from getting drenched when it rains. Another pocket will be used to keep extra towels (believe it or not, extra towels are important in the summer to keep the sweat off the brow and out of the eyes, along with keeping the hands relatively dry. Then, there is the pocket used for keeping the extra golf tees and possibly the divot tool. Finally, a pocket is needed for the golf balls themselves, and it doesn’t hurt to have a pocket to carry another dozen balls in, just in case.

Some courses are so difficult it is easy to lose a lot of balls during 18-holes of play. This makes having an extra box of balls around a good thing, but there has to be somewhere in the golf bag to keep them, which means another pocket.

Imagine trying to play golf without a bag. The golfer would be constantly stooping over picking up clubs, tees, balls, towels and the divot tool. Then he or she would have to walk to the ball, drop all of the clubs and stuff, select a club, hit the ball, and start the process all over again. It would be a major pain in the neck, and would make it nearly impossible to finish playing a round of golf. So, golf bags are an essential part of the game of golf.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com-By: Hans Hasselfors

Golf Tips - Good Gear and Sportsmanship

If you are just getting into the sport of golf, you have probably heard thousands of golf tips from well-meaning golfers. However, what many golfers fail to realize is that many of the golf tips that work well for one golfer, simply do not work well for another. Here are some golf tips that work well for everyone.

As a beginner, do not rush out and buy a set of high priced clubs. Buy a set of used clubs, or better yet rent your clubs. Take a little time to see if you really enjoy the game of golf, and if you will stick to it first. The used or rented clubs won’t be the top of the line, but they will get you through several games of golf to see if you are going to stick with it. This is also a good opportunity to start researching exactly what clubs you need when you are ready to buy a new set.

Golf is fun, but the sport should not be taken lightly. It is a sport – it isn’t just a bunch of retired men knocking a ball around. It takes a great deal of skill and technique to master the game. The pros you see on television make it look quite simple – but it isn’t. The concepts you will learn from more experienced golfers will sound easy – and look easy – in theory, but in practice, they are quite difficult. The sooner you realize this, the faster you will start to improve your game.

While golf does require skill and technique, it is still meant to be enjoyed and the experience should be relaxing. If you get angry over bad shots or you find that you are not enjoying the game, you should back up and re-evaluate your reasons for playing the game. Try to look at things from a new perspective. It is a game that tests your skill – but it should not test your patience!

Choose your golf aids carefully. A great deal of money can be wasted on aids, courses, and videos that turn out to not be any help at all. When possible, buy used aids, courses, and videos. Save your golfing money for more important things – like clubs, balls, and tees! Used clubs aren’t very good – used training equipment usually works quite well.

Golf is great exercise. Riding in a golf cart defeats that purpose though. Walk, don’t ride! Save the cart for the days when you really are too old to walk a short distance – take advantage of the exercise that you will get by walking from one tee to the next, and take the time to actually enjoy the walk!

Alcohol is often served at the clubhouse – but you should wait until you finish your round of golf before consuming any. First, the alcohol will greatly alter your game. Second, alcohol is a dehydrating substance, and this isn’t safe in the hot sun. Carry water with you during your game, and make sure you drink plenty of it!

Becoming good at the game takes a lot of practice. Use your practice sessions to learn what mistakes you are making, and work to correct them. Don’t just keep making the same mistakes over and over, thinking that it doesn’t matter, or that it is too hard to learn! If you’re going to play, play to win!

Use training aids, and if possible, video tape yourself playing a round of golf, making sure that you get close up shots of you teeing off, close up shots of the club hitting the ball on the tee-off, and even shots of you putting. Have a friend run the camera for you for best results, and review the tape in slow motion to see what needs the most work.

The most important golf tips you will ever receive are the ones that focus on good sportsmanship. Never make fun of other players. Some people do look funny playing golf – but those funny looking people can probably beat every aspect of your game, and they will have the last laugh. Be respectful of your fellow golfers, and listen closely to the advice of the seasoned players.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Trevor Mulholland

Golf Swing Instruction - Ask a Pro

Sometimes, no matter how much you practice, perfecting your swing or even correcting small problems in your swing seems impossible. In this case, you might require golf swing instruction from a pro…even if you have been playing for some time. Golf swing instruction will probably help you even more than you realize.
Golf pros are different from ordinary golfers. They have perfected their own game, and then they learned to study other people’s games to help them perfect their games. A golf pro knows that all golfers are different, and each one will have different needs to correct small problems. Pros are trained to help you correct those problems – in ways designed just for you.
Finding golf pros is easy – finding golf pros that are good is a little harder. Finding a golf pro that suits your particular needs can seem absolutely overwhelming… but it doesn’t have to be. There are certain steps to take to find a good golf pro. Don’t just settle for the guy that works in your local pro shop.
First, ask your friends for recommendations. Find out where the pros are located, and if possible, watch them with their other students from a distance. How do they interact? Are they patient? Do they seem to know what they are doing, and what they are talking about? Visit your local pro shop, and ask about the pros that are available in the area. Don’t worry about insulting the pro running the shop – he probably no longer offers instruction anyway.
Most clubs have golf pros on staff. Follow the same protocol, and watch them from a distance, after the practice session that you watch, try to catch up with the golf student, and ask questions about the golf pros instructional skills, and ask specifically if they would recommend him. Ask them if there has been any improvement in their game since they started the lessons.
Ask for references – and check them. If you haven’t had the opportunity to watch the pro in action on the course, ask to join a training session for observation purposes. Don’t be alarmed if the pro says no to this – it may simply be to protect the privacy of his or her clients. You might even offer to pay half of the hourly rate for the opportunity to watch them in action with another student.
Once you’ve started instruction with a golf pro, give it a few sessions to determine whether or not this is the right golf pro for you. Sometimes, people simply don’t get along well. It may be that this particular golf pro cannot convey the concept to you in a way that you understand. If it isn’t working out, don’t be afraid to stop working with that particular pro, and start your search for another one. The current pro may be able to make a recommendation if you just explain the situation to them in a nice way.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can perfect your golf swing in just one or two sessions with a golf pro – or even three or four, and maybe not even in ten sessions! Everyone learns at their own pace, and golf techniques take time to learn, and even more time to perfect. Also, really listen to what your golf pro is telling you. If you aren’t willing to listen, you are wasting your time, your money, and the pros time as well. Stay completely focused during your training sessions, and make sure that you put in the additional practice time that is recommended by your pro.
If you feel that you have been given quality golf swing instruction by your pro, don’t be afraid to tip them, or offer them a bonus. This is a common practice, and many pros depend on tips a great deal. Treat your pro with respect – they are not underlings. Failure to give proper respect to your pro may result in him or her walking off the job! Golf pros have a true love for the game – and if you demonstrate that same feeling for the game, you may find that you receive superior instruction!
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com-By: Trevor Mulholland