If you’re hoping to relieve some nervous tension, then swinging a golf club with everything you’ve got might just do it. On the other hand, if you want to play golf the way it should be played, then you’re going to have to exercise a little control.

Swinging a golf club too hard is one of the most common faults in the amateur game. Sure, a hearty swing might demonstrate you have the power [bully for you] but in golf, precision is the name of the game.

As a golfer, you need to stay relaxed throughout the swing, as this will help you swing smoothly and help contain your power. To reduce the strength of your swing even more, you should take up your stance with your feet slightly closer together.

You must keep your head still, since your center of gravity is absolutely crucial and your sense of balance stems from the ears, which are usually located on the side of your head. If you keep your feet in the same spot right the way through your swing, then your center of gravity will maintain that balance.

However, if your body moves, then it’s likely your head will move too and you’ll find it difficult to keep your focus on the ball. What’s more, this will shift your center of gravity.  So it’s vital that your feet stay planted and then when you connect with the ball, your weight transference will be moving in the right direction.

When you strike the ball accurately, it ought to feel smooth and easy. Therefore, conserving energy should be your main concern, since playing an 18-hole round of golf is definitely NOT just a walk in the park.

So remember, when you’re about to make contact with the ball try not to stiffen up, because if your muscles tense, then your stability goes. In order to make proper contact with the ball, the club head should follow the same arc through your backswing and your downswing, unless of course you happen to be Jim Furyk.

You should only use a degree of power over which you have complete control.  Don’t forget, the objective isn’t power, but pin-seeking accuracy. That’s why you need to control every component of your swing, so that you hit the ball out of the sweet spot and it will go exactly where you want it to go.

To achieve a solid connection with the ball, you should increase your speed progressively during your downswing. It’s imperative that you keep your head stationary as this will help you to swing more fluently.

When all’s said and done, you shouldn’t swing too slowly – or too hard. Find a rhythm that suits you best. Try and stay relaxed and swing at a pace, which stops you from becoming too rigid.

Think positive thoughts and try to keep thoughts of power out of your mind. By keeping everything under control, you can be far more accurate and that’s what counts!

Practice as often as you can, it can only help your game (see Vijay Singh). It takes a while to train your body to do what your mind wants it to do, but remember the game is about being relaxed, so whatever you do, don’t stand over the ball worrying.

The unavoidable truth is this – Distance comes from a silky smooth swing and not how much power you put into it. Face it, we can’t all knock it 360yds down the center of the fairway like Tiger Woods, so you should learn to live with that and then go out and enjoy your game.

]]> http://golfindetail.com/index.php/maintaining-a-smooth-golf-swing/feed/ 1 http://golfindetail.com/index.php/jobs-in-the-golf-industry/ http://golfindetail.com/index.php/jobs-in-the-golf-industry/#comments Mon, 30 Jul 2007 03:40:00 +0000 http://golfindetail.com/index.php/jobs-in-the-golf-industry/ There are many job possibilities for you to find in the golf industry.  If you have a love of golf and want to work closely with the industry, it’s easy to find a job that involves golf every single day.  For some people, working in the golf industry is a dream job.  What kinds of positions are available?

* Club Pro – this golf job requires that you are a very good golfer with consistently high scores.  Usually a golf pro job is held by someone who has been to golf teaching school and is a member of various professional organizations.

* Greenskeeper – some people this is the most important golf job at a golf course.  A greenskeeper is responsible for taking care of the greens (obviously).  This person must have a knowledge of chemicals and know how to apply them so that the greens are lush and – well – green.  The greenskeeper is also responsible for mowing the greens and taking care of the fringe.

* Course manager – this job can be one of the most intense jobs at a golf club.  This individual is responsible for directing and overseeing all operations of the golf course including management of personnel.

* Golf shop staff – the people with this job assists and registers customers for play.  They oversee merchandise control, take money for greens fees, and often assist with running of tournaments.

* Starter – The starter maintains the starting times and tee sheet, and ensures that golfers get off the first tee in a prompt and orderly manner. This job is crucial in keeping the tee times on time. The starter also helps golfers find a game if they are by themselves. The starter is an important part of making sure customers will have a pleasant golfing experience.

* Equipment mechanic – Golf courses use many different types of hand tools, cutting devices and motorized vehicles. This mechanic’s job would be responsible for keeping everything in working order is crucial to the facility’s smooth operation.

* Golf course maintenance – People most suited to work on the golf course maintenance team are those especially fond of nature and working with the land. This position usually reports early in the morning and is off work by 2:00 or 3:00 pm. This outside position could be responsible for cutting grass, irrigation, sodding, trimming, applying fertilizer and pesticides and much more.

*Professional Golfer – As with any other sport golf also does have a professional level.  The difference between playing professional golf and amateur golf, however, can be a very fine line.  There are a lot of amateur golfers that can score at the professional level, however, they are unable to do it consistently and often miss out on the tournaments that can qualify them to get on the tour.
Nonetheless, it is a dream of many golfers to play professional golf one day and make a living doing something that they truly, truly love.  Your office is the course, and your co-workers are people who love the game just as much as you do.  You share common interests at the professional level of golf and it can be a very satisfying career.  But isn’t that obvious?
Qualifying to play professional golf is another story altogether.  The field is very competitive and it can be extremely difficult to break through.  Some people try their whole lives to qualify and always come up short.  It takes a lot of practice, a lot of dedication, and an ability to take a lot of disappointment to play professional golf, so know what you’re in for!

To get started playing professional golf, you will first have to qualify for “Q School” or Qualifying School.  Q Schools are annual qualifying tournament for leading golf tours like the PGA and the LPGA.  In Q School, a fixed number of players win membership to the tour for the following season.  In professional golf, this is referred to as your “tour card”.  You will then be able to play in most of the tour’s events without having to qualify.
Getting through the Q school is very competitive and most professional golfers never achieve it.  There can be up to four stages to negotiate each of them like a regular golf tournament with only a small number of players going on to the next state.  The final qualifying school may be played over up to six rounds compared with the standard four rounds in a professional golf tournament.  However, players who are successful at Q school can reach the elite level of competition very quickly.

You can also qualify to play professional golf in other ways.  Finishing near the top of the money list on the tour’s developmental tour, winning a tournament on the tour after qualifying or as a sponsor’s invitee, or winning enough money on multiple events on the tour to meet whatever criteria the tour may lay down for promotion to full membership.  This last one was how Tiger Woods gained his first tour card. Playing professional golf is not an easy career to pursue, but it is a great way to make a living!  Persistence, patience, and a great game of golf can all get you on your way to playing professional golf, but be realistic and know that it will take time.

Having a job where you work at a golf course is a great way to get out on the links as an insider at the golf club.  When you pursue a job at a golf course, be sure you are qualified and then enjoy your new position!

www.AnyoneCanTeachGolf.com

Many golfers wear specialized eyewear in order to improve their game. For example, some golfers prefer copper tinted lenses since they can enhance the contrast of a golf ball against the sky and also the green background of greens & fairways. However traditional glasses present many disadvantages to the golfer. Glasses can slip, fog up, or even fall off. They offer no side (peripheral) vision. And the frames can be distracting during a golf stroke.

A product available from Nike: Maxsight, is now available for golfers who want to get rid of their glasses and improve their golf game at the same time. The golf version enhances the red and green part of the visual spectrum. This makes it easier to see the ball & read the contour and details of the putting surface. These contacts also reduce glare from the sun and the contrast between shade and non-shade.

MaxSight Contacts are available at up to a 50% discount from 1-800-Contacts. Take advantage of a 1800Contacts coupon or LensWorld coupon and save extra when you order online.