How do you fit a complete golfer’s handbook into 170 pages? The author of this book actually managed quite well, surprisingly. From pictures of golf courses in South Africa, to analyzing Ben Hogan’s famous swing, everything you could ever really need to know about golf is contained within these scant pages. At times, the book suffers from a lack of focus, but overall, we found it to be a very enjoyable read.

We appreciated the fact that this book did a great job of covering all of the basics, such as the history of the game, rules, etiquette and different strategies. Each section contains incredible illustrations and photographs, and visually, this is a very stunning book. Since the page count is rather limited, the author really didn’t go into as much detail as he could have, but the basics are all covered quite nicely. He did a good job of demystifying a lot of the aspects of this sport and you’ll come away with some very interesting trivia to share with your friends on the 19th hole.

Player has three Master’s jackets and is well known throughout the golfing world as one of its nicest personalities. This shines through in the book and if a read could ever be called genial, this book would take the cake. It was a pleasant read that captured Player’s spirit and translated it onto the page, and that is something that many authors fail to do throughout their careers. He did have the help of two co-authors, but you never feel that they are writing the book while he’s off at the clubhouse. A lot of books by star players fall prey to this, but Player’s book managed to really capture his love of the game, and his personality, without feeling like it was overly ghostwritten.

The section on practice drills and games was very informative and we came away with some great tips to use out on the course the next time we head out. The mental preparation section was also particularly useful and again, full of tips you can put to immediate use.

Bottom line, if you are a fan of the sport and already own every book on the subject, you should still be able to get something out of Player’s book. If you’re completely new to the game and looking for an instructional, this is not the best resource for that, but it is still a good read that can help explain a lot of the game to a novice. Golfers are an odd bunch, as we should know, but this book does a good job of appealing to all of them. It may not be our favorite golfing book, and it may not be the most useful book ever written on the sport, but that didn’t take away from enjoying it thoroughly. Buy it, give it as a gift to a rabid golfer and take it at face value as an entertaining read. You won’t regret the purchase.

Originally posted 2008-08-29 05:44:00. Republished by Old Post Promoter

• Benefiting from Golfing Lessons We all have to get started somewhere when it comes to playing golf. Even the greatest players started off needing coaching and lessons when they hit the fairways for the first time. If you are serious about learning golf, then there are a wide variety of different resources that you......
• Short Game Bible By Dave Pelz Your short game is the key to a good score in golf. No matter how well you can drive, if you can’t chip or wedge your ball onto the right spot on the green, you’ll never be able to improve your score. Many golfers make the mistake of focusing on......
• Golden Gate Park Golf Course Golden Gate Golf Course is located in: San Francisco, CA Phone: (415) 751-8987 Website: http://www.goldengateparkgolf.com/ Course History: This course was first opened in 1951. Although it is a nine hole course, the Par 27 ranging over more than 1200 yards offers a challenging diversions for all levels of players. It......
• Book Review: World Atlas of Golf - The Greatest Courses and How They are Played Mark Rowlinson The World Atlas of Golf was first published more than 30 years ago, and since then, each and every addition has revealed to golfers the best courses available. This latest edition gives the fully informative treatment to over 70 courses, giving the treatment to courses that have not yet graced......
• Review: Follow the Roar: Tailing Tiger for All 604 Holes of His Most Spectacular Season by Bob Smiley Title - Follow the Roar: Tailing Tiger for All 604 Holes of His Most Spectacular Season Author - Bob Smiley ISBN - 0061690252 and 978-0061690259 Publisher - Harper Release Date - November 11, 2008 Format - Hardcover, 304 pages In January of 2008, Bob Smiley decided to follow the game......

• A Million Bucks by 30 A Million Bucks by 30 is not your standard personal finance book. The blurb on the cover alone gives that away: "How to overcome a crap job, stingy parents, and a useless degree to become a millionaire before (or after) turning thirty." Instead, the book is hilarious. (It also includes......
• Book Review: The Best Tennis of Your Life: 50 Mental Strategies for Fearless Performance by Jeff Greenwald When it comes to the mental game of tennis, this is an area that every single player must master, and there is always room for improvement. This book offers an in depth look at numerous mental strategies that any player can put into practice in order to learn to play......
• Ask The Expert with Larry Swedroe, January 2009 Issue This is the 12th issue of the Ask The Expert column by Larry Swedroe. You can see Larry's full biography and important disclaimer below. If you are interested in having your question answered by Larry, please send me an email via the contact page. Now, let's get to the......
• Turn off the TV About a month ago I decided to quit watching TV, more or less, and quit reading anything related to “news” or “current events” on the internet. I’m not sure why, but a few stories bothered me to a pretty fundamental level: child soldiers in Somalia, unspeakable cruelty to babies (don’t......
• Review of the Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair Black and Decker are known for the terrific DIY guides and this title is no exception. As the name suggests, you’re getting step by step photo instructions that make it easy for anyone to fix up their own home without having to be a professional handy person. You’ll get......

• Swing Trainers Training Aids Golf
• South Africa Africa Coins World Coins Paper Money

Golfers can spend their entire lives trying to perfect their swing, or their stance and for many this pursuit always falls just short of their goals. Enter Joseph Laurentino, the author of The Negotiable Swing and his assertion that it is possible to play a great round of golf, even if your form is not perfect. There is certainly enough evidence to back him up – one weekend of watching pro golf on television can prove his point quite well.

But, how does the average golfer put that to work for themselves – in their own game. Laurentino offers some hard hitting advice that may change the way you think about golf and certainly about the way that you stand. While the stance and the swing are essential, perfection may not be in many cases.

The first three chapters cover basic form and common problems that golfers have. Chapter three is probably the most interesting out of the three since it discusses at length which aspects of your stance and swing are “negotiable” or what may not matter as much as you think it does. This is a fascinating discussion that raised a lot of new points.

The next group of chapters cover the different elements of the swing and how to make the most of what you have. We found these sections to be incredibly informative and helpful. For the everyday golfer, this is real advice that you most likely wouldn’t get from a course pro.

Last but not least, chapter twelve covers at length whether or not you as a player would benefit from instruction. This is a terrific look that encourages you to be honest with yourself, but still realize that there are some things about your stance that you may never be able to change. By realizing this, you may be able to save quite a lot of money on instruction fees and still be able to get the results you’re looking for out on the course.

We highly recommend this golf book to anyone that is struggling with their form and feels as though they will never get it right. You may not have to! While there is no replacement for proper form and learning the fundamentals of golf, Laurentino does offer hope to those of us that are still struggling to get it “right.” If you have ever wished you could play like a pro, or you are just trying to shave a few points off your game, this book may have the perfect answer for you.

We’ve read a lot of different golf books, and Laurentino’s newest book definitely made it into our top ten. He does a great job of writing in a style that is easy to read while still being very informative. While those that don’t have a problem with their stance or swing (and they are most likely in the minority) may not need this book, the rest of us can certainly benefit from it.

Originally posted 2008-10-24 05:55:00. Republished by Old Post Promoter

• Complete Golfer’s Handbook By Gary Player How do you fit a complete golfer’s handbook into 170 pages? The author of this book actually managed quite well, surprisingly. From pictures of golf courses in South Africa, to analyzing Ben Hogan’s famous swing, everything you could ever really need to know about golf is contained within these scant......
• Understanding the Golf Swing By Manuel de la Torre Manuel de la Torre is a legend in golf and he also happens to be the son of a golfing legend. When you put this together in one book, you have an incredible resource that you will want to turn to again and again. Although the book tends to wander......
• DVD Review: Golf Made Simple - Improve Your Golf Swing Indoors "Golf Made Simple - Improve Your Golf Swing Indoors" is a Golf Made Easy DVD that allows you to understand your strengths and weaknesses in your golf game, your golf swing and your body. This is the best step that you can take in learning how to build and develop......
• Review of Jim McLean The Eight Step Swing If you are looking for a great DVD that will help you improve your swing, this one may be just the ticket. There are literally hundreds of different golf instructional DVDs on the market and many fail to deliver. This is one exception that proves just how useful this medium......
• Review: The 7 Laws of the Golf Swing by Nick Bradley Nick Bradley is regarded both for being a coach, and a course designer in addition to his work as an author. He has taught every different category of golfers, including players who have shined in the Ryder Cup and the Walker Cup alike. He has also frequently guest starred on......

• The Ultimate Guide to Plumbing By Merle Henkenius If you’ve always wanted to be able to handle the various plumbing projects that pop up around your house, this is a book that is a definite must have. Plumbers can be expensive, and in an emergency, they may not be easy to reach. Once you’ve read this book, you......
• WSJ Complete Personal Finance Guidebook By Jeff Opdyke When it comes to a trusted source for financial news and information, it’s hard to beat the Wall Street Journal. They have introduced a line of guidebooks on many financial topics, but for this review we’ll be taking a look at their Personal Finance guidebook. While it may be a......
• Ortho’s Home Repair Problem Solver By Robert J. Beckstrom, Jeff Beneke, Matt Phair, Naomi Wise Ever sat up half the night worried about what the heck was making that noise? Need quick help in figuring out what is wrong with your home? This book from Ortho isn’t the newest one on the market, but that doesn’t make it any less important. In fact, if you......
• Bachelor Party Finances – 5 Ways to Keep Costs Low Yesterday, I got back from a ridiculous weekend at the New Jersey Shore (Avalon to be exact).  I was there for my friend’s bachelor party.  I have known this buddy since we were 8, so being one-third of the team that was setting it up, I was pumped to make......
• The Rice Diet Solution This is one of the oldest diets that is still followed today, and thousands of people swear by it. There is a clinic in North Carolina for those that really want to take this diet to the next level, but the rest of it can get almost the same benefit......

• Swing Trainers Training Aids Golf

If you are an avid golfer that plays several times a week, there is a risk that you could develop joint erosion. This is a painful process that can reduce your swing, and make it difficult to function normally. However, there are steps every avid golfer can take that will help them avoid joint erosion.

Wrists

This is a very common problem area for many golfers. Your wrists are a big part of your game and if you’re not protecting them, you may find that after awhile you experience joint pain. It is vital to wear proper golf gloves that will support your wrists and help make the impact less noticeable. A good pair of golf gloves can go a long way in protecting your wrists and preventing future problems, such as joint erosion.

Shoulders

This is another problem area that can flare up suddenly in many golfers. You’ll be using your shoulders quite a bit while you play and repetitive motion can be very hard on your joints. Try to take a few days off if you notice excess strain on your shoulders and make sure that you stretch beforehand. One of the best ways to prevent joint erosion in the shoulders is to space out your playing time and to make sure that you are swinging properly. However, if you do play a lot, this may not be enough to keep your joints sound. Consider speaking with your physician about medications that can prevent joint erosion.

Hips

Since your hips are a large part of your swing, and you’ll be using them if you are walking a course, it is important to protect these joints as well. Minimize your walking time if you already are experiencing joint pain, and take advantage of a cart whenever possible. This can help reduce the overall wear and tear on your joints. Having the proper form can also have a big impact on how your hip joints wear over time.

These are just a few examples of the major joints that can be affected by erosion. While there may not be a cure-all preventative, you can minimize the damage that you are causing by taking the steps to ensure that you are swinging properly and using the right equipment to support your joints.

Sometimes, the best medicine is simply to reduce the amount of golf you play each week, or you may be able to get extra help from your physician as mentioned above. There are also supplements that will help keep your joints lubricated, to further reduce the risk of joint erosion, but once again, these should only be used under the care of a physician since they may interact with other medications.

Joint erosion is a problem that affects millions, but with care, special attention and the right equipment, you can do your part to reduce the risks that you may develop this painful condition in the future or prevent an existing condition from getting worse.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-09-15 05:46:21. Republished by Old Post Promoter

• The Basics of Golf Etiquette When it comes to playing golf, a major portion of the game isn’t your swing, or how far you can drive, it’s how well you can follow the unspoken rules of the game. Golf etiquette has been largely forgotten by many, and the advent of public courses with relaxed rules......
• Correcting Your Backswing While many golfers focus on fixing their swing, it’s often the backswing that is forgotten as part of the equation. If you are finding that you are having difficulty with accuracy, or you are not hitting the ball as far as you would like, it may be due to your......
• Golf Tips: Addressing the Ball One of the biggest problems for many golfers comes when it is time to address the ball. There are so many things that can go wrong, that it is all too easy to lose your focus and end up spoiling your shot because your mental game is a mess. Here......
• Player Profile: Tiger Woods Tiger Woods may be out of commission for the 2008 season, but he is never really out of mind. When he first burst onto the scene and turned golf on its ear, no one really knew what to expect. This upstart kid went on to numerous championships, endorsement deals and......
• How to Fix Your Slice Out of all of the mistakes you can make out on the course, a slice is probably the most common. This refers to a ball that goes to the right after you hit it, usually right into a nice stand of trees or a nearby water hazard. A slice is......

• Americans Starting to Save at the Worst Time? Americans have been tightening the reigns on their money for quite a few months now. Just a few years ago we had a NEGATIVE savings rate. You know what that means? It means we spent MORE than we earned by using credit. Now, in the midst of this economic downturn......
• 6 Tips for Catching Crappie and Bluegill When it comes to fish that are easy to catch, fun to find and plentiful, there is nothing quite like crappie and bluegill. Normally found together in lakes, you can use a lot of similar techniques to land them. In fact, with the right tips, you can even bring in......
• Golf Shoulder Exercises To Prevent Golf Swing Shoulder Pain Proper golf shoulder exercises can usually correct poor golf swing mechanics. I have identified 4 common reasons that contribute to golf shoulder pain: 1. Poor posture:  Having forward rounded shoulders and a slouched upper back limits shoulder motion and proper shoulder turn during your golf swing. As a result, shoulder......
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): Do You Know What To Do? Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death in the United States for babies within their first year....
• What is Frozen Shoulder? The term “frozen shoulder” conjures up all sorts of mental images, but this term refers to an injury that is quite common. A frozen shoulder is a painful problem that results in a lack of mobility of the afflicted shoulder and it can be quite troublesome for many people. It......

• Time Travel Romance Books
• Swing Trainers Training Aids Golf
• Tee Times Green Fees Golf
• Gloves Clothing, Shoes Accessories Golf
• Men Gloves Clothing, Shoes Accessories Golf

One of the biggest problems that most golfers face is figuring out where they are going wrong when it comes to their swing. Volumes have been written about the art of the swing and still people have difficulty. If you are trying to see where you are going wrong, there are a few techniques and tips you can utilize to diagnose and fix these issues, before they get any worse.

1. Videotape your swing.

By far, if you need to know what is going wrong with your swing, the easiest way to tell is by videotaping it. Thanks to today’s little cameras, you won’t have to worry about lugging a big camera along with you on the course and you can immediately see what is going wrong. Have a friend videotape your swing at each hole and then you will be able to analyze what you may be doing wrong.

We recommend doing this at each hole since your swing can change dramatically as you play. Whether you end up getting tired and sloppy, or you start to warm up and improve, you’ll be able to pinpoint quite a few problems if you do this. We also recommend showing your video to a pro, or to a friend that is knowledgeable on the game. They may be able to spot something you’re not seeing.

2. Use a swing monitor.

Most courses are moving towards installing these monitors in their practice areas, and you should be able to find at least one in your local area that has one. These machines will help pinpoint the exact second where you start to go wrong and they are incredibly beneficial, especially to new players. If you have been struggling and just can’t get past the problem, this is the perfect solution.

Find a course that offers this and then pay for one lesson with the pro on staff. They’ll be able to help you interpret the results and find ways that you can improve your swing. It will cost a little money, but the amount of time you save and the results you can get will make it more than worth the expense.

3. Watch other players.

Make it a habit to watch other players on the course and on television and start analyzing their swings. As you become used to seeing different swings and the results they produce, you’ll be able to start incorporating some changes into your own game. This is a very helpful way to learn more about how a swing works and how to get big results from small changes.

4. Get some instructional DVDs.

If you can’t quite afford an instructor, you can get some DVDs that will show you how to perfect your swing, piece by piece. We highly recommend the The 8 Step Swing by Jim McLean
DVD series and the book. These two resources are packed with information and help for every golfer.

With a little time and by paying attention, you can fix your golf swing and get better results from your game.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-10-25 05:01:56. Republished by Old Post Promoter

• Are You Ruining Your Own Swing? Volumes of advice have been written on the art of the golf swing, and yet people still struggle. There are hundreds of small things that can go wrong with any swing and even the pros are plagued by issues that haunt them every time they go up to the tee.......
• Golf for Dummies By Gary McCord While we normally cover books in this section, this DVD just about threw itself in our cart and since it is a Dummies title, we decided to see what it had to offer. If you're more of a visual learner or if you just don't have the time to sit......
• "A-Game" Golf - The Complete Starter Kit for Golfers From Tiger Woods' Amateur Instructor By John Anselmo with John Andrisani John Anselmo is best known as the man that took a young Tiger Woods and helped him achieve the goals that he is still making today. Anselmo is incredibly well respected in the golfing community and has much to offer golfers of any age that want to work on fixing......
• How to Putt Like a Pro No matter how well you can drive or chip, the key to your score often lies right on the green. The exercise of putting a little ball in a little hole is one of the most frustrating known to men and it can be the deal breaker when it comes......
• How I Play Golf By Tiger Woods When you have a book written by the undisputed superstar of golf, it's a pretty good chance that it will demolish the competition, whether it deserves to or not. Luckily, Tiger Woods' book is a great read and although it may not have delivered what a lot of readers......

• Give It Your Best First Shot (even when you *know* you're going to have to scrap it later!) I'm rocking out to some Crystal Method from Plastic Compilation '01 while discussing eBook formats with a partner. Big Beat. Great stuff. Harmonica licks straight from Zep's fourth album (When the Levee Breaks). If you like electronic music and classic rock, check it out. Anyway, my colleague Roberto Koci and......
• Why Do You Work So Hard? Occasionally, I like to share some of the stories that floating around the Net and email systems with my blog readers. This is a great story that my wife sent me (may be it's a hint). Photo from BigFoto The story is about a boy and his dad. "Daddy, may......
• Are You Ready to Be a Financial Success? There comes a time in everyone’s life where they begin to take a hard look at their finances. If you weren’t born into wealth, you’ve worked hard to get where you are and it can be frustrating if you feel as though you’re only treading water. Every single one of......
• 5 Tips to Prevent Tennis Elbow Although tennis may not be a full contact sport, it is still possible to get injured. One of the most common injuries that tennis players face is called tennis elbow. This is a repetitive strain injury that can be incredibly painful. The good news is that you can prevent it,......
• A Worrying Failure Marine aquarists make use of varying types of equipment on their fish only or reef aquariums. This equipment is generally reliable nowadays but nevertheless any device has the potential to fail. There are many canister filters in use for either mechanical or bio-filtration. Though live rock is the bio-filtration of......

This is a book that has been the subject of countless discussions and although it's lack of availability has hurt its success (it's available only from the publisher, Storytrend and not in bookstores) it is still an interesting read that is well worth the time it takes to get a copy. Although it is incredibly expensive at $60, this may be a book you want to save up for. Countless books are written every year about the myth of the perfect swing and a lot of them are nothing but meaningless drivel. This book however takes a different angle and gets into the technical aspects of what makes a swing great.

For those that are constantly trying to figure out how to improve their game, this is a definite must read. Instead of focusing on players like Tiger Woods or those who are thought to have the "perfect swing," the author looked at actual machines to discern the elements that make up this technique. By taking the human element out of it, the author hoped to break down the mechanics of a swing so that every player can duplicate it.

The book is filled with helpful diagrams and illustrations that break apart how a machine swings and what we can learn from it. Unfortunately, we are not machines and although we may have a great swing on the first tee, it's hard to keep consistent. This book strives to help golfers discover how to get into their own groove and become a bit like a machine when it comes to hitting the ball.

That's very hard to do for many people, since there is a lot of mental activity going on when you play golf. It's difficult to focus on those individual components that make up a great swing when you're focusing on avoiding the bunker, paying your bills and what you'll be having for dinner that night. However, with time, by employing these methods most players should begin to see a change in their swing. Soon, becoming a machine will seem like second nature and that swing that many thought was unattainable will become ingrained into your being.

This is a book that we highly recommend, simply because it has a completely different approach. This isn't a hype book that offers no real useful information. It's definitely on the scholarly side but the author managed to keep it readable by everyone and it's actually quite fun to go through. If you're looking for real advice that you can put into action, no matter how new you are to the game or how good you think you may be, this is a book that is well worth the investment.

Overall, while the price and availability hurt the title, golfers should at least consider adding this title to their libraries. There is no silver bullet that will magically transform your swing, but this advice comes pretty close.

Originally posted 2008-06-27 05:46:25. Republished by Old Post Promoter

• DVD Review: Golf Made Simple - Improve Your Golf Swing Indoors "Golf Made Simple - Improve Your Golf Swing Indoors" is a Golf Made Easy DVD that allows you to understand your strengths and weaknesses in your golf game, your golf swing and your body. This is the best step that you can take in learning how to build and develop......
• Incline Village - Mountain Golf Course   Incline Village - Mountain Golf Course   Phone: (775) 832-1146 Website: http://www.golfincline.com Course History: Incline Village is home to two fantastic golf courses, but we're going to focus on the Mountain Course for this review. This is as the name would suggest, a beautifully hilly course that is quite......
• Teach Yourself Visually Golf By Cheryl Anderson, Brian Crowell and Tom Mackin Despite the overly clunky title, this book promises to help you master complex techniques by learning in a visual manner. Since statistics show that we as humans do learn better when presented with images, this is a viable theory, but will it pay off? Let’s take a hard look at......
• Diagnosing Your Swing Problems One of the biggest problems that most golfers face is figuring out where they are going wrong when it comes to their swing. Volumes have been written about the art of the swing and still people have difficulty. If you are trying to see where you are going wrong, there......
• A Lifetime of Lessons: More Than 50 Years of Expert Instruction to Help You Play Your Best Golf Now By Marshall Smith with David Denunzio Marshall Smith is one of the most recognizable names in golf instruction, and if you’ve ever wished you could get a lesson with him, this book has the whole experience down to a tee. You’ll feel just like you’re right with Smith, learning and growing as a golfer. If you......

• How Fast Should You Stock The Aquarium Throughout the years lots has been written about the stocking rates in saltwater aquariums - some of this information has been very informative and unfortunately some has been very misleading. Misleading information provided has been along the lines of ‘1 cm of fish for every 5 litres of water’, ‘1......
• Complete Guide to Bathrooms by Black and Decker Our bathrooms are used every day, and as such, they are usually one of the first places that trouble strikes. Whether you’ve ended up standing ankle deep in water at 3am, or you just want to find some ways to save money on plumbing costs, this is the ideal book......
• Take Up A Sport And Become Good At It Take Up a Sport and Become Good at it This is a guest post from the blogger behind Studenomics, a personal finance blog that offers common sense advice for college students and recent graduates.  Studenomics is the ultimate resource for young people looking for advice on  how to survive this......
• Review of Ty's Tricks by Ty Pennington Since tomorrow is July 4th, I've decided to take it off. There will be no blog post tomorrow which is why the book review is today instead of Friday. Have a great weekend everyone! If you're into do it yourself television, you've undoubtedly heard of Ty Pennington. He's been on......
• job jumper tip #5: take a break I’ve started out the job jumper tips talking about WIDD files, being a discriminating networker and remembering it’s not all about the money and leaving on your own terms. This week, we're taking a break - so to speak. Tip #5: take a break. When was the last time you......

• Vending Machine Parts Vending Machines Banks, Registers Vending Collectibles
• Machines, Machine Parts Sewing Antiques

For those of us that enjoy the lighter side of golf, this is a definite must read and chances are you'll be rolling on the floor in no time at all. Too often, golfing books are so serious that it is difficult to wade through them. The industry seems to be addicted to dry tomes that are either dissecting a swing to infinite pieces or carrying on about historical figures and past events that may not be helpful to today's golfers. If you love the game and just want to have a little fun, this is the perfect book for you. That's not to say that the other types of books don't have their own unique purpose, but this is truly the lighter side of golf.

The entire book reads like one big inside joke and pretty much only golfer's will understand the humor. If you've ever made it out of one bunker only to land in another, this is definitely the book that will appeal to you. In fact, that's the title of one of the 72 tips contained in the book. The list gets even more humorous as you go and without a doubt, every little problem that golfer's face today is addressed in a funny manner.

However when you strip all of this humor away, you end up with a book that really teaches you how to improve your game. The author's approach is a unique one - by showing you what not to do and joking about it, he's actually teaching you the techniques you need to use to improve your swing, get past hazards and finally get the scores you really want to be getting.

I like this approach and it's incredibly useful. The tips are not only funny but they really do work in the real world. You don't get the impression that the author spends his life behind a desk and never really gets out there to enjoy (or not) the game. You really feel akin to him since most of us have gone through the exact same struggles. It's a matter of feeling like you can really connect with this person and through this, the author opens the door to some really effective teaching techniques.

You'll get the feeling of being on the 19^th hole when you read this book. It's very relaxed and very laid back and it should not intimidate any reader. The author manages to establish a rapport with the reader almost instantly and that is carried through the entire book. If you haven't read the first edition of this book yet, we highly recommend that one as well for even more tips and plenty of jokes.

Overall, this is a terrific book and it would make a great gift for any golfer. Whether you're just starting out or you are a seasoned pro, there is something here for everyone to enjoy and get more than a just a few laughs.

Originally posted 2008-07-18 05:53:01. Republished by Old Post Promoter

• The Keys to the Effortless Golf Swing: Curing Your Hit Impulse in Seven Simple Lessons by Michael McTeigue Michael McTeigue is a well known instruction in California that has built up quite a following. One look at his book will tell you exactly why. If you are looking for a complete resource to help you fix your swing, this may be the perfect answer. The illustrations were superb......
• The Long and the Short of It By Andy North with Burton Rocks This week I am posting the book review early as Friday is a holiday. Happy July 4th everyone! Enjoy the BBQs! Andy North has won two US Open titles and went on to become one of the most respected commentators on the game. It was pretty much a given that......
• Golf Tips For Beginners – Picking the Right Course If you are just starting out as a beginner in golf, there are a few things that you need to know ahead of time. The course that you select as your place to learn can have a big impact on how you end up playing and if you’re not using......
• Swing Machine Golf: The Fastest Way to a Consistent Swing by Paul Wilson with Ken Steven This is a book that has been the subject of countless discussions and although it's lack of availability has hurt its success (it's available only from the publisher, Storytrend and not in bookstores) it is still an interesting read that is well worth the time it takes to get......
• How I Play Golf By Tiger Woods When you have a book written by the undisputed superstar of golf, it's a pretty good chance that it will demolish the competition, whether it deserves to or not. Luckily, Tiger Woods' book is a great read and although it may not have delivered what a lot of readers......

• Get Into Bed With Sabrina Jeffries (Author Interview) Boy, do I have a treat for LRP readers! I recently was able to interview Sabrina Jeffries after the RWA Conference. Amidst her busy schedule she was more than kind enough to sit down and respond in depth on the topics broached. Get a cup of tea or coffee......
• 4 Monetary Tips to Reducing Your To Be Read Pile Chances are you have one, and your friend, and your other friend, and of course I have one. They sneak up on you. When you first start reading, there might be one to three books in the pile and you read them and go out and get new books. Somewhere......
• Book Review: The Price of Desire by Jo Goodman I have been reading The Price of Desire by Jo Goodman these last few days and at 200 pages in I knew it was going to be a disaster. This review contains a lot of spoilers so be warned. I think many readers will find it helpful to read......
• Book Review: No-Fear Home Improvement: 100 Projects Anyone Can Do by Creative Homeowners The Creative Homeowner is one of today’s hottest resources for home improvement and this latest book produced by their editors addresses one of the biggest concerns that homeowners have. They want to start making improvements around their home, but they are too worried that they may mess something up. Considering......
• Book Review: 100 Tips For Acoustic Guitar by David Mead If you have been playing acoustic guitar for awhile but still feel like you are missing some key information, 100 Tips For Acoustic Guitar, by David Mead may be for you. It does a great job of covering subjects like purchasing an acoustic guitar, getting ready to play, tweaking your......

• Swing Trainers Training Aids Golf

While we normally cover books in this section, this DVD just about threw itself in our cart and since it is a Dummies title, we decided to see what it had to offer. If you're more of a visual learner or if you just don't have the time to sit down and read, this is a great way to learn about golf and see if you're ready for the challenge. If you're already a golfer, there are some great tips inside and the way the information is presented makes it very easy to put them to use. After all, what good are golf tips if you can't see the way you should implement them?

Gary McCord is a well known CBS commentator and wrote the original book that this DVD is based on. He actually hosts the DVD so fans will appreciate learning from the master first hand. The DVD starts out with learning how to handle each individual course you'll plan on. From figuring out the types of clubs you'll need to use to make par, to learning how to tell what kind of shot you're going to need from the tee, this is information that you can really use. Scorecards are explained which is great for new players as well as those of us that still get stumped occasionally.

The DVD also covers two things that plague millions of golfers - the hook and the slice. You'll get some great tips on correcting both and learn how to perfect your swing. This part of the DVD was worth the cost alone, since it is so similar to an actual lesson that you would receive from a pro. That will cost a lot more than $18, and you wouldn't have the benefit of learning from home, and at your own pace.

That perhaps is the strongest point of the entire DVD. You can go over the same part again until you understand it, and you'll be able to move at your own pace. Need to focus on just one aspect of the game, use the menu to jump ahead. The DVD is well designed and makes it easy to navigate back and forth to each section at will very quickly.

Overall, we really enjoyed this DVD and found that it had a lot to offer any level of golfer. Sometimes, you just need to see something instead of reading about it and this DVD did a great job of really illustrating what they were talking about. We're all for books and you can get some terrific tips in them, but for a lot of golfers, this DVD will make a big difference in their game. It makes a terrific gift for any golfer, and can easily be watched time and time again. We highly recommend it and were very glad that we took a chance on it. A rare find that definitely made it to the top of our list of favorites.

Originally posted 2008-09-05 05:27:24. Republished by Old Post Promoter

• Ben Hogans’ Five Lessons by Ben Hogan If you have ever wished you could afford a true professional trainer, but that’s a little out of reach, there is a lot to be said for reading books written by a pro. While this doesn’t give you the exact same benefit of learning in person, you can still pick......
• Better by Saturday: Driving By Greg Midland The Better by Saturday series of golf books is incredibly popular and thousands of golfers treat them like their bibles. While you may not actually be able to improve your game by next Saturday, you should be able to get quite a few tips that can help you become a......
• The Keys to the Effortless Golf Swing: Curing Your Hit Impulse in Seven Simple Lessons by Michael McTeigue Michael McTeigue is a well known instruction in California that has built up quite a following. One look at his book will tell you exactly why. If you are looking for a complete resource to help you fix your swing, this may be the perfect answer. The illustrations were superb......
• A Lifetime of Lessons: More Than 50 Years of Expert Instruction to Help You Play Your Best Golf Now By Marshall Smith with David Denunzio Marshall Smith is one of the most recognizable names in golf instruction, and if you’ve ever wished you could get a lesson with him, this book has the whole experience down to a tee. You’ll feel just like you’re right with Smith, learning and growing as a golfer. If you......
• Golf Tips For Beginners – Picking the Right Course If you are just starting out as a beginner in golf, there are a few things that you need to know ahead of time. The course that you select as your place to learn can have a big impact on how you end up playing and if you’re not using......

• Orientation Roundup: Sleepy Monday Edition Today was hospital orientation. It was actually inspiring at times...I'm glad to be on board. I like the job already, which probably helped. I got to defer it by two weeks, so it didn't hit me up front. Here's a roundup of some of good posts from the last week!......
• Is a Niche Blog Right For You? If you’ve been considering starting a corporate blog, but you’re not quite sure that your company is ready yet, there is still a way that you can get your feet wet and start taking advantage of what a blog can do for promotion. Instead of closely defining a corporate blog......
• Check out EnergyStar.gov The same people that bring you the efficiency ratings for your appliances also have an excellent resource for saving energy at home. I received an e-mail from a representative for EnergyStar.gov: ... I thought I'd write in and let you know that ENERGY STAR has some really easy home improvement......
• Money for Life By Steven B. Smith This is a unique book that many readers will find very worthwhile. Unlike many financial books, it uses a third person fictional narrative to get the point across in the first portion of the book. You’ll be reading about a fictional couple as they attempt to (mis)manage their finances and......
• Wachovia Update Roundup As a Wachovia customer, I have been watching the unfolding drama between Wachovia, Citi, and Wells Fargo with great interest. When I wrote about Wachovia on Tuesday, it seemed like a sure thing that Citi was taking over. But since Wells Fargo offered 7x more, it makes sense that Wachovia......

• Swing Trainers Training Aids Golf
• Cart Bags Golf Bags Golf

If you have ever wished you could afford a true professional trainer, but that’s a little out of reach, there is a lot to be said for reading books written by a pro. While this doesn’t give you the exact same benefit of learning in person, you can still pick up some great new techniques and learn quite a lot. Out of all the pro books we’ve read, this one from Ben Hogan is probably our favorite.

Whether or not you like Ben Hogan, he’s numbered among the greatest players of all time in this game. We found his style to be engaging and even if he did get a little help with the writing, the results are spectacular. Whether you are brand new to the game, or almost a pro in your own right, there is plenty to be learned here.

The five lessons cover The Grip, The Stance, The First Part of the Swing, The Second Part of the Swing and Putting it All Together. Each one is vital to your game and either one or even all five may be keeping you from reaching par. Each lesson is completely broken down in exhaustive detail, so that you can learn literally from scratch.

The section on the grip is very important and should be read more than once. So many golfers get this wrong and even though they have a great swing, they can’t seem to get it to come together. This section should help correct a lot of common errors and help you get the right feel for how you need to be holding the club.

The stance section provides some great tips on how to stay open, and how to fix some common problems that you may think are swing related, but are actually caused by the way that you stand. We found this to be particularly helpful and the lessons were easy to practice at home. After a few tries you should be able to “find” this stance on your own naturally.

The two components of the swing are also vital, as is putting it all together. Hogan has a natural talent for breaking down each step you need to take and if you have had trouble with your swing, these three sections may just be able to solve it. It was truly an interesting read and after following these lessons, we did see an improvement on our score.

We highly recommend this book to any level of golfer. The tips contained herein are worth the price of a dozen pro lessons and will help correct a lot of common mistakes. If you can’t afford regular lessons, this book is just about as good and will save you a bunch of money. While it may not fix your entire game, Ben Hogan’s five lessons will give you that strong foundation for playing better. These lessons will help you improve your game, regardless of any issues you may have on the course.

Originally posted 2008-10-10 05:55:56. Republished by Old Post Promoter

• Short Game Bible By Dave Pelz Your short game is the key to a good score in golf. No matter how well you can drive, if you can’t chip or wedge your ball onto the right spot on the green, you’ll never be able to improve your score. Many golfers make the mistake of focusing on......
• The Keys to the Effortless Golf Swing: Curing Your Hit Impulse in Seven Simple Lessons by Michael McTeigue Michael McTeigue is a well known instruction in California that has built up quite a following. One look at his book will tell you exactly why. If you are looking for a complete resource to help you fix your swing, this may be the perfect answer. The illustrations were superb......
• The Bridges Golf Club The Bridge Golf Club is located in: San Ramon, CA Phone: 925-735-4253 Website: http://www.thebridgesgolf.com/ Course History: The Bridges is rated as being one of the most difficult courses in Northern California. The real challenge comes from the winds that hit the course in the afternoon, making it even more of......
• 3 Tips for Getting Mentally Prepared to Play Golf The old saying is definitely true. Golf is 99% in your head and as maddening as that is, if you're not getting the right mindset for your game, you may never be able to achieve your goals. If you're ready to get that score to where you want it to......
• Complete Golfer’s Handbook By Gary Player How do you fit a complete golfer’s handbook into 170 pages? The author of this book actually managed quite well, surprisingly. From pictures of golf courses in South Africa, to analyzing Ben Hogan’s famous swing, everything you could ever really need to know about golf is contained within these scant......

• Wii Fit: Healthy Weight Loss? Have you ever wondered if those video game exercise programs work? Can you achieve healthy weight loss playing a video game? The Wii Fit is the most popular of the weight loss programs that are on the market today. It has sold many thousands of units, but some wonder if......
• Crossbow Hunting May See Rule Changes by Game Commission As far as sports go, hunting and ping pong really have nothing alike. However, hunters who are preparing to enjoy the 2009 archery hunting season have been forced to watch a rather tedious series of parries as the Game Commission's board of directors lodge a series of serve and return......
• Tuna, a Love Story By Richard Ellis There are few books dedicated to rhapsodizing on tuna fish, but this is one of the few, and we are not ashamed to say that we loved every single page. If you love tuna, fishing for it, preparing it and eating it, you are pretty much guaranteed to feel the......
• Tahoe Donner Ski Resort, Truckee, CA Tahoe Donner Ski Resort is located in: Truckee, CA Phone: (530) 587-9444 Website: skitahoedonner.com About the Resort: This is a great little resort that is a bit tucked away off the beaten path, but well worth the trip. Very friendly for beginners and children, there is a fun snow play......
• Antivirus Agent Pro Is the Latest Adaptation of Common Rogue Applications What if anything can be done about the growing plague of rogue applications? The latest variant is Antivirus Agent Pro, but there is nothing new about this latest rogue. All of the same tactics are employed by the scammers behind it. If you are wondering how Antivirus Agent Pro got......

Although there are plenty of books running around on the mind game of golf, few that we have found are this erudite or thought provoking. The author put 25 years of research into this book and it definitely shows. If you are looking for a book that dissects why golf is so hard and how you can start breaking through the mental blocks that keep your score from being where it should be, this is a terrific read.

Too many of the books in this genre delve into pop psychology and fail to live up to their claims. We found that this book by Cranford was a refreshing break from all of that. He looks at the game and its resulting mind games in a very analytic and thoughtful way. Gone are the pop-psy terms and in their place is some advice you can really take to heart, and more importantly, put into use.

The main audience for this book is the golfer that has reached that point in their game where they just can't seem to do any better. For whatever reason, their game has plateaued and they can't seem to break through that problem and get better scores. Most of us think that it's our swing or our technique, but it actually may be all in the mind according to Cranford.

By using the techniques and advice in this book, you can approach each tee with a whole different mindset. Chances are you are going to notice some big improvements right away. Instead of dreading your time at the course you may actually start to love the game again, and whenever a book can do that, it deserves a place of high honor on any golfer's bookshelf.

We found that the advice was incredibly practical and that you didn't need a degree in psychology to understand it. By addressing each problem logically, Cranford helps you work through that issue, both on and off the course. In fact, you may want to stick a copy in your golf bag for a quick refresher on the links. It's really that good!

Although there are plenty of books with similar titles that are nothing but hype, we believe that this title was well earned. These really are breakthrough secrets that every golfer needs to know, no matter how long they have been playing or how good they are. That's probably the best part of the entire book - it's versatility. Whether you are an occasional golfer that can't get past a certain portion of your game, or you are a seasoned pro that has the occasional hang up, there is advice right here that you can put to immediate use.

We didn't have a lot of hope going into this book, given the past failures we've read, but we must say that we were pleasantly surprised. We hope that this will not be Cranford's last contribution to the golfing community - it can sure use more of him.

Originally posted 2008-08-22 05:04:21. Republished by Old Post Promoter

• My Life in and Out of the Rough (The truth behind all that bull**** you think you know about me) - John Daly with Glen Waggoner Out of all the characters the game of golf has produced, few are as vitriolic or misunderstood as John Daly. Many have compared the man to a car wreck, it's simply impossible to want to turn away. Luckily, his book has the same effect on the reader and this is......
• "A-Game" Golf - The Complete Starter Kit for Golfers From Tiger Woods' Amateur Instructor By John Anselmo with John Andrisani John Anselmo is best known as the man that took a young Tiger Woods and helped him achieve the goals that he is still making today. Anselmo is incredibly well respected in the golfing community and has much to offer golfers of any age that want to work on fixing......
• Complete Golfer’s Handbook By Gary Player How do you fit a complete golfer’s handbook into 170 pages? The author of this book actually managed quite well, surprisingly. From pictures of golf courses in South Africa, to analyzing Ben Hogan’s famous swing, everything you could ever really need to know about golf is contained within these scant......
• How to Buy Golf Clubs for the Beginner One of the most important decisions that you will make if you are a beginner golfer is the choice of golf clubs. There are so many decisions to be made for your golf clubs that it is easy to become overwhelmed. If you are going to buy golf clubs there......
• Caddie Sense By Michael Carrick and Steve Duno Caddies are often an overlooked part of golf, but without them, many of today’s pros would not be where they are. If you have ever wondered what the game of golf looks like through the eyes of a caddie, this book will open up a whole new world to you......

• Review: Boater101: A full-reference guide to boating basics Federal law may not require boaters to take a safety course of any kind, but that does not mean that boaters should hit the water without a good working knowledge of the basics. Making states do require that boaters below a certain age limit pass a safety course before they......
• Best Books of the Year So after writing about the different lists and how much I like lists of the "best books of the year," I run into this nifty little list of lists that brings together a whole bunch of top ten lists and adds up the scores, creating one list that kind of......
• Harry Potter high spirits Well, my College Girl who loves HP in all its forms, has been thinking of getting ready for the movie and next book for at least a year now. College Girl has gone dressed in a different costume that she has pulled together for each new book for the book......
• Strange Crawling Chaos Well here's a strange thing I've just come across! huffduffer [audio:crawling_chaos_lovecraft_sj_64kb.mp3] [caption id="attachment_4366" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="H P Lovecraft smiling"][/caption] It's a website utterly bereft of (normal) content except it's chocka bloc full of MP3 files that are audio books.  It's all public domain, so I've uploaded a reading of Crawling......
• Erotic Romance, Not Just Erotica and Romance Today's article is by erotic romance author Cecilia Tan. Please join me in extending a warm welcome to her here at Love Romance Passion. Our tale begins in 1970, which is the year some point to as the beginning of the modern romance genre, with the arrival of the......

• Swing Trainers Training Aids Golf

When it comes to golfing, a lot of attention to paid to the feet, the entire stance and the swing, but the moment of impact is possibly the most critical. Whether you are trying to hit a ball 200 yards or 2 inches, it’s that moment of impact that will determine how successful you are. Here are some tips on how to fine tune how you impact the ball.

Long Shots

The long shot is all about the power and learning how to channel energy from your swing into a strong impact with the ball that will send it hundreds of yards through the air. While much of this is handled simply by the nature of swinging the club and hitting the ball, there is a reason why some players can hit much further than 200 yards, while others struggle for 50.

It’s about knowing when to release that stored up energy from your swing through the club and into the ball. It sounds quite complicated, but it all comes down to the wrists. In fact, if you aren’t using your wrists properly, chances are you won’t be able to hit nearly as far as you would like. In order to properly channel that power into impact, you have to be able to keep your wrists straight on the backswing, straight on the downswing and break them right as you hit the ball.

This is a timing issue that can be worked on at home, or out on the driving range. Instead of focusing on your stance or swing, spend an hour or so really focusing on what happens when you actually hit the ball. You’ll be able to pick up the feel of what is right and what isn’t right. Work on breaking your wrists without the club, then add the club and try it again. Finally, put it all together in one fluid motion. With time, you’ll get the feel down.

Short Shots

The short shot is all about finesse. In these instances, you generally don’t want to power the ball too much, or you’ll end up over the green. Learning how to tone down that energy from your swing and channel it into the right amount of distance is what keeps many golfers from perfecting their short game.

Once again, we look to the wrists for guidance here. In this case, it is the forward wrist that should be focused on. This is the only wrist that will break when you are hitting a short shot. Put your hands together in front of you. Now, still keeping them together, snap them both to the left. Your left hand should be horizontal, but your right wrist doesn’t really move all that much.

You can do the same thing with a club since this is generally the motion that you’re going to need to perfect. It will feel a little differently since you are now holding your hands downward, but practice snapping those wrists until you learn to control how hard you snap them. This is the secret to getting those short distances just right.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-09-01 05:47:30. Republished by Old Post Promoter

• Diagnosing Your Swing Problems If you're having trouble with your game, the first place to look for answers is in your swing. Most players struggle to perfect their swings throughout their entire lives and some may never get to the point of having the "perfect swing." You don't need to be perfect, but there......
• Just Hit It: Our Equipment and Our Game By Frank Thomas With Jeff Neuman Over the past few years, the amount of new courses in America has been dwarfed by the amount of courses that are closing. While the sport isn't close to dying anytime soon, many are starting to see some warning signs that the industry may be struggling. There is a......
• Correcting Your Backswing While many golfers focus on fixing their swing, it’s often the backswing that is forgotten as part of the equation. If you are finding that you are having difficulty with accuracy, or you are not hitting the ball as far as you would like, it may be due to your......
• Boundary Oak Golf Course Boundary Oak Golf Course is located in: Walnut Creek, CA Phone: 925.934.4775 Website: http://www.boundaryoak.com Course History: This course has hosted more than 10,000 rounds of tournament play and is leased by a PGA professional. It features a club house, practice facility and tons of parking. With more than 7,000 yards,......
• The Keys to the Effortless Golf Swing: Curing Your Hit Impulse in Seven Simple Lessons by Michael McTeigue Michael McTeigue is a well known instruction in California that has built up quite a following. One look at his book will tell you exactly why. If you are looking for a complete resource to help you fix your swing, this may be the perfect answer. The illustrations were superb......