So what are some of the ways that you can build relationships that will lead either to business or business referrals? In this article, I will offer guidelines for relationship building and provide you with 47 ideas that you can put to use right away.
12 Guidelines For Relationship Building
1. Become a great listener. Commentary: If you want to succeed at building business relationships, try listening 80 percent of the time. Active listening is a great way to gain trust. It is the best way to find out how you can be helpful to potential clients and referral sources.
2. Be genuine. Commentary: If you are a strong believer in gun control, don't congratulate someone for the award they received from the National Rifle Association.
3. Follow up quickly. If you meet someone at a networking function and decide you want to get together with them, call or e-mail them within 24 hours to set something up. Commentary: Quick follow-up increases the chance that you will actually do it. It also increases the chances that the contact will remember you. Following up right away does not mean that you have to meet right away.
4. Don't get involved in activities that do not interest you. Doing things because you "should" will not work. If you don't like golf, don't play golf.
5. Avoid activities that do not feel comfortable or appropriate.
6. Relationship building takes time and cannot be rushed or forced.
7. Find out about people's interests by asking open-ended questions. For example: "What do you do for fun?" "Where are you going on vacation?" "What are you doing for the holidays?" or "What are you doing this weekend?"
8. If you meet someone in their office, you can get a lot of clues about their interests. Just look at what they have on their walls.
9. When reading articles, read with intention (Is there anyone I can forward this to? Is there anything in this article I can discuss with my clients or contacts?)
10. Find out ways to be helpful by asking: "What is keeping you up at night?"
11. Get in the habit of following up on small things right away. Timely thank-you notes are much more meaningful than cards that arrive three months after the fact.
12. While politics and religion can be very poor topics to discuss with a stranger, common political and religious beliefs can be a very strong source of connection. Commentary: the recent election is a good illustration of this.
By: Stephen E. Seckler
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Sunday, May 31, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
A Great Place to Play Golf in Minnesota is Pezhekee National
As I travel around Minnesota discovering great places to play golf I like to share with you what I uncover. What I am going to share with you today is the location of the longest public golf course in Minnesota. As you travel northwest on Interstate 94 from the Twin Cities to Alexandria you will exit on state highway 28 and make your way to Glenwood. As you observe the only stop light in town, turn left onto state highway 104.After traveling about 1 1/2 miles you will come Peters Sunset Beach Resort. You have now discovered a sleeping giant of a golf course and it's name is Pezhekee National.This golf course has evolved over the past four decades to what you will witness today. Hitch up you pants, because you will need to bring your best game to tame this monster.
If you are a long ball hitter and are looking for a challenging Minnesota golf course, this is the place to play. Pezhekee National measures 7,263 yards from the championship tees with a course rating of 75.2 and a slope index rating of 138. I played from the middle tees, which was a challenging enough experience for my game. The middle tees play at 6,592 yards having a course rating of 72.2 and a slope index of 132. You have to be prepared to face four par-4 holes over 400 yards when playing from the middle tee boxes. The shortest par-3 hole measures 151 yards. The remaining par-3's measure from 185 to 199 yards. Another interesting bit of local history on this Minnesota golf course is that each hole is named with a Native American Indian name, most revolving around the folklore of Princess Minnewaska and friends and enemies of her tribe that made this region of the state their home.
Pezhekee National is a Minnesota golf course that makes you consider risk-reward options. Aggressive play can come back to bite you if you hit an errant shot. You cannot blindly go into all the par-4 holes and hit a driver. There are many holes where calculated distance control, especially off the tee, is vital. If you simply want to play mindless golf and "grip it and rip it", this may not be the Minnesota golf course for you to play if you want to score well. On the other hand, if you are patient and play with a strategy you will have birdie opportunities. A perfect example of this is on one of the new holes, number 11, also known as Yo-he-wa, which is a 381-yard par-4 from the middle tee box. This hole plays to an island green. If you play your tee shot properly and the wind is not swirling you can have a birdie opportunity. On the other hand, if you don't place your drive properly or you get too aggressive on your approach shot double bogey or much worse is a definite possibility.
An interesting feature at Pezhekee National is the "19th hole". I know what you are thinking,and this is not a bar. Though there is a small clubhouse with a patio where you can enjoy a cold beverage after your round, the "19th hole" at this Minnesota golf course is exactly that, an additional hole to play after your 18-hole round is complete. This is a nice little 140-yard par-3 hole that was part of the decommissioned holes from the original nine. This comes in very handy to break a tied score or to see who buys the frosty cold beverages as you make your way down to the clubhouse.
Pezhekee National at Peters Sunset Beach Resort is an easy 2-hour drive from the Twin Cites area northwest mostly on Interstate 94 then concluding on one of several state highways leading into Glenwood. An excellent value in a family or group golf vacation would be to use Peters Sunset Beach Resort as a home your base and play unlimited golf at Pezhekee National; then make day trips to any of the other area golf courses within a 45 minute drive from Glenwood. Visit their website at www.petersresort.com for additional information on their Sports Special Package. If you are interested in being a daily fee player and not stay at the resort, the fees are quite reasonable. You can play 18-holes Monday through Thursday for $30.00 and just $35.00 Friday through Sunday as well as holidays. Golf carts are available for rental at $28.00 for 18-holes or $64.00 for all day. The all day fee comes in nicely when taking advantage of the Sports Special Package.
The pace of play at this Minnesota golf course, as is true for many of the rural golf courses, is excellent. We played our 18-hole round in just over 4 hours. I encourage you to take the opportunity this summer and visit any of the over 300 Minnesota rural golf courses for their excellent value, beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife, brisk pace of play and friendly staff members.
By: Dana Buttenhoff
If you are a long ball hitter and are looking for a challenging Minnesota golf course, this is the place to play. Pezhekee National measures 7,263 yards from the championship tees with a course rating of 75.2 and a slope index rating of 138. I played from the middle tees, which was a challenging enough experience for my game. The middle tees play at 6,592 yards having a course rating of 72.2 and a slope index of 132. You have to be prepared to face four par-4 holes over 400 yards when playing from the middle tee boxes. The shortest par-3 hole measures 151 yards. The remaining par-3's measure from 185 to 199 yards. Another interesting bit of local history on this Minnesota golf course is that each hole is named with a Native American Indian name, most revolving around the folklore of Princess Minnewaska and friends and enemies of her tribe that made this region of the state their home.
Pezhekee National is a Minnesota golf course that makes you consider risk-reward options. Aggressive play can come back to bite you if you hit an errant shot. You cannot blindly go into all the par-4 holes and hit a driver. There are many holes where calculated distance control, especially off the tee, is vital. If you simply want to play mindless golf and "grip it and rip it", this may not be the Minnesota golf course for you to play if you want to score well. On the other hand, if you are patient and play with a strategy you will have birdie opportunities. A perfect example of this is on one of the new holes, number 11, also known as Yo-he-wa, which is a 381-yard par-4 from the middle tee box. This hole plays to an island green. If you play your tee shot properly and the wind is not swirling you can have a birdie opportunity. On the other hand, if you don't place your drive properly or you get too aggressive on your approach shot double bogey or much worse is a definite possibility.
An interesting feature at Pezhekee National is the "19th hole". I know what you are thinking,and this is not a bar. Though there is a small clubhouse with a patio where you can enjoy a cold beverage after your round, the "19th hole" at this Minnesota golf course is exactly that, an additional hole to play after your 18-hole round is complete. This is a nice little 140-yard par-3 hole that was part of the decommissioned holes from the original nine. This comes in very handy to break a tied score or to see who buys the frosty cold beverages as you make your way down to the clubhouse.
Pezhekee National at Peters Sunset Beach Resort is an easy 2-hour drive from the Twin Cites area northwest mostly on Interstate 94 then concluding on one of several state highways leading into Glenwood. An excellent value in a family or group golf vacation would be to use Peters Sunset Beach Resort as a home your base and play unlimited golf at Pezhekee National; then make day trips to any of the other area golf courses within a 45 minute drive from Glenwood. Visit their website at www.petersresort.com for additional information on their Sports Special Package. If you are interested in being a daily fee player and not stay at the resort, the fees are quite reasonable. You can play 18-holes Monday through Thursday for $30.00 and just $35.00 Friday through Sunday as well as holidays. Golf carts are available for rental at $28.00 for 18-holes or $64.00 for all day. The all day fee comes in nicely when taking advantage of the Sports Special Package.
The pace of play at this Minnesota golf course, as is true for many of the rural golf courses, is excellent. We played our 18-hole round in just over 4 hours. I encourage you to take the opportunity this summer and visit any of the over 300 Minnesota rural golf courses for their excellent value, beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife, brisk pace of play and friendly staff members.
By: Dana Buttenhoff
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
3 Steps To Swing A Golf Club
Have you just started playing golf and realized that it seems extremely difficult to swing the club the right way?
Learning how to swing a golf club is not an easy process and takes time to perfect. A golf swing is an unnatural motion that you can only be perfected through practice. Also, you are most likely going to be nervous when you first Learn how to swing a golf club. After all, you don't want to make a bad swing in front of the other golfers. These emotions will affect your swing and performance.
Wouldn't it be easier if you could follow a few simple steps about how to swing a golf club? You could avoid many of the major mistakes that people make when they first play golf.
Follow these simple steps about the golf swing and improve instantly.
Step 1: Backswing
The backswing should be equally focused on the body rotation and club and arm extension. The backswing is a fluid and on-piece motion with a straight front elbow, although this can be hard to do in the beginning. The back elbow should be bent at around 90 degrees if possible. If you do all these things then your backswing will be smooth and consistent.
Step 2: Downswing
A lot of golfers make the mistake to think the downswing begins with the arms. It should actually start with your legs. You should move your knees, then thighs and hips forward to transfer your weight from back to front. By doing this this you will increase the distance you hit the ball. Remember, this movement is supposed to be smooth and fast, just like a snake when it uncoils.
Step 3: Impact and follow-throughNow this is the action part, which is the impact with the ball. You club shaft has to form a straight line with the left, which is the forward arm. Your weight needs to be on your forward heel to the outside and on the inside of the back foot. Your hands and wrist should turn so that the grip of the club points at the target where you want to hit the ball. Then the wrists should rotate over and elbows bend, with the head of the club behind you. This will give you the distance and control you desire in your golf swing.
Whilst all of this can seem like a very complex motion, as long as you continue to practice you will start to get used to this motion. Again, make it a point to practice your swing whenever you can, even if it just going through the motions at home. Your muscles will be trained and conditioned to the movement. It will seem natural after awhile.
Follow these 3 simple steps to improve your consistency, and speed up the process of learning how to swing a golf club.
By: Staffan Moritz
Learning how to swing a golf club is not an easy process and takes time to perfect. A golf swing is an unnatural motion that you can only be perfected through practice. Also, you are most likely going to be nervous when you first Learn how to swing a golf club. After all, you don't want to make a bad swing in front of the other golfers. These emotions will affect your swing and performance.
Wouldn't it be easier if you could follow a few simple steps about how to swing a golf club? You could avoid many of the major mistakes that people make when they first play golf.
Follow these simple steps about the golf swing and improve instantly.
Step 1: Backswing
The backswing should be equally focused on the body rotation and club and arm extension. The backswing is a fluid and on-piece motion with a straight front elbow, although this can be hard to do in the beginning. The back elbow should be bent at around 90 degrees if possible. If you do all these things then your backswing will be smooth and consistent.
Step 2: Downswing
A lot of golfers make the mistake to think the downswing begins with the arms. It should actually start with your legs. You should move your knees, then thighs and hips forward to transfer your weight from back to front. By doing this this you will increase the distance you hit the ball. Remember, this movement is supposed to be smooth and fast, just like a snake when it uncoils.
Step 3: Impact and follow-throughNow this is the action part, which is the impact with the ball. You club shaft has to form a straight line with the left, which is the forward arm. Your weight needs to be on your forward heel to the outside and on the inside of the back foot. Your hands and wrist should turn so that the grip of the club points at the target where you want to hit the ball. Then the wrists should rotate over and elbows bend, with the head of the club behind you. This will give you the distance and control you desire in your golf swing.
Whilst all of this can seem like a very complex motion, as long as you continue to practice you will start to get used to this motion. Again, make it a point to practice your swing whenever you can, even if it just going through the motions at home. Your muscles will be trained and conditioned to the movement. It will seem natural after awhile.
Follow these 3 simple steps to improve your consistency, and speed up the process of learning how to swing a golf club.
By: Staffan Moritz
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Dooks Golf Club: One of Irelands Best Kept Secret
Ranked one of the Top Golf Courses in the world. Dooks Golf Club has a few things to brag about...No. 8 in the top 10 courses for welcome, No. 6 in the worlds 10 most difficult courses no 1 in the world in the 10 best value courses, and No. 1 in 16 in the world for the 10 best value courses makes Dooks Golf Club one of Irelands best tourist spots not to mention the spacious and slope greens.
It is surrounded by mountains on its three sides and alongside the Dingle bay. Dooks Golf club is a mixture of flat and wide greens for some holes and very high terrains on other holes. The course runs 6500 yards and offers some blind shots and obstacles. It has contrasting flat holes that are easily visible.
Formed in 1889, the Dooks Golf Club was suggested by the Royal Horse Artillery to the neighboring aristocratic golfers while they were training in that area. It is currently one of the oldest golf links in Ireland. The setting itself has offered most of its members and guests the chance to experience genuine Irish traditional culture and the prestigious traditions. If you’re looking for a peaceful environment, the Dooks Golf Club can give you that feeling perfectly.
It started as a nine-hole course and soon developed into an 18-hole course around near 2070. This was agreed upon by the members to add more holes.
Dooks Golf Club has offered a lasting impression to every golfer who has been there. The golfers would be astonished at the great scenery including wildlife and the topography. You will see the abundant number of flora that fills its courses and leaves an unforgettable memory to those who have experienced there.
If you enjoy the birds alongside playing golf, a lot of nesting ground for many beautiful birds can be found there. Skylark, Pennyroyal, and the Whimbrel are among them.
With the natural beauty, you can also see the modern state of the art amenities that have classical designs that display the history of Dooks Golf Club and its transformation into a world class link golf course.
Although the clubhouse has been restructured from time to time in the previous years, it still maintains a rustic and friendly feeling inside it. Irish and other meals are served in their restaurant as well as chilling drinks during the late afternoons in their bar.
Although not as popular as other golf courses, they are still one of the best one around and offers a different feeling than the usual more popular ones.
Only rarely negative comments have been left by previous golfers who have been there. The good thing is they're still returning there from time to time and still regard it as one of the best golf courses all over Ireland.
Dooks Golf Club can be found at Glenbeigh, County Kerry and should be considered in the top list of every golfer's plan to golf in Ireland. If you haven't checked this one yet, try it for once in your life and you'll see yourself coming back again.
By: Roland Washington
It is surrounded by mountains on its three sides and alongside the Dingle bay. Dooks Golf club is a mixture of flat and wide greens for some holes and very high terrains on other holes. The course runs 6500 yards and offers some blind shots and obstacles. It has contrasting flat holes that are easily visible.
Formed in 1889, the Dooks Golf Club was suggested by the Royal Horse Artillery to the neighboring aristocratic golfers while they were training in that area. It is currently one of the oldest golf links in Ireland. The setting itself has offered most of its members and guests the chance to experience genuine Irish traditional culture and the prestigious traditions. If you’re looking for a peaceful environment, the Dooks Golf Club can give you that feeling perfectly.
It started as a nine-hole course and soon developed into an 18-hole course around near 2070. This was agreed upon by the members to add more holes.
Dooks Golf Club has offered a lasting impression to every golfer who has been there. The golfers would be astonished at the great scenery including wildlife and the topography. You will see the abundant number of flora that fills its courses and leaves an unforgettable memory to those who have experienced there.
If you enjoy the birds alongside playing golf, a lot of nesting ground for many beautiful birds can be found there. Skylark, Pennyroyal, and the Whimbrel are among them.
With the natural beauty, you can also see the modern state of the art amenities that have classical designs that display the history of Dooks Golf Club and its transformation into a world class link golf course.
Although the clubhouse has been restructured from time to time in the previous years, it still maintains a rustic and friendly feeling inside it. Irish and other meals are served in their restaurant as well as chilling drinks during the late afternoons in their bar.
Although not as popular as other golf courses, they are still one of the best one around and offers a different feeling than the usual more popular ones.
Only rarely negative comments have been left by previous golfers who have been there. The good thing is they're still returning there from time to time and still regard it as one of the best golf courses all over Ireland.
Dooks Golf Club can be found at Glenbeigh, County Kerry and should be considered in the top list of every golfer's plan to golf in Ireland. If you haven't checked this one yet, try it for once in your life and you'll see yourself coming back again.
By: Roland Washington
Tips and Techniques on screenwriting comedy part 2
THE VISUAL PARADOX
The first global film star was Charlie Chaplin. He was asked to make films while still a vaudeville comedian, and he turned it down. He was working on his character the little tramp. Two years later he came back and had it perfected. He described the little tramp as follows: “Shoes too big, hat too small, pants too baggy, jacket too tight, you can’t tell if he is a rich man on his way down, or a poor man on his way up”. That is a visual paradox. It creates an unconscious question in your mind, and you want to answer that question. Paul Newman is a very good-looking actor. In a movie, he goes to a kitchen, picks up the old coffee grounds in the garbage can, and uses them to make some coffee. Here’s your visual paradox. This very successful looking person is seemingly down and out, and we want to know, what is his problem? It is not one thought “Good looking guy”, it is two thoughts. Woody Allen creates a character who should never end up with beautiful women, but somehow he does end up having relationships with them. You want to find out why. If you could create a visual paradox, you will have a much more interesting character.
PUNCTUATION
At the beginning, I want to slow down the reader’s eyes just a little bit. The reader is accustomed to seeing very rapid cutting in the movies, on television. But I do want the eyes to take in what’s on the page, to take in the jokes, but if his eyes are going too fast, they won’t take in anything. He hates to read, he wants to go through this as quickly as possible. So I am going to slow down his reading by using appropriate punctuation. Comas, periods, dashes, “ …”, I create breathing spaces. Even in dialogue, I will use “…”. I never write “pause”, because it takes energy to the eyes to read it. For short pauses, I’ll use “space, dash, space” ( - ), a longer pause may be “space, hyphen, hyphen, space” ( -- ), but most of the times I use “…” which is a full pause. Particularly for dialogue, you want to deliver with pauses. We don’t talk fluently and smoothly all the time. And two-third into the movie, the story stops being about a lot of things, and starts to narrow down about one thing. The movie moves very quickly to the last third. I’ll start dropping the punctuation, and shortening sentences, because I want the eyes to move more quickly, which leads to a faster heartbeat, to more excitement. So I’ll write two-word sentences, even one-word sentences. Example, a good one-word sentence is “Blood.” You don’t need anything else, such as descriptions. You put the location, that’s it, in order to move forward. Remember, a hundred pages have gone by, his eyes are more tired, you give him new things to keep his eyes energized, such as jokes, sexuality, physicality, “Wham!”. Intellectual conflict does not energize the eye. I am talking about writing in order to make a good living. I am not trying to wash away your deep thoughts. I am just talking about this: you want to get the check, use those techniques that I have developed over twenty five years, knowing who the reader is.
THE BATHROOM SYNDROME
I want the reader to actually want to turn pages not only for the first twenty pages, but for the entire screenplay. Even after I know they are interested in the story. I want the reader to finish the entire screenplay before having to get up to go to the bathroom. A guy over forty, who doesn’t like reading, chances are he is going to want to give his eyes a break, go to the bathroom half way through. But if I can make those eyes move nice and smooth towards the end, pages turning very quickly, you will find him read it with one sitting, and then he will go to the bathroom. If he goes to the bathroom, whatever emotional or action momentum built up is going to be hurt. He will have other thoughts, read a magazine, maybe get a snack; his mind will be cluttered with other things than your characters and their problems. But if you can have him read in one sitting, the momentum will build up, he will have a big laugh, get excited, then he goes “Wow! I think I like that!”. He will go to the bathroom and ask himself if he really liked it…
If he does, he now has to decide if he is going to commit fifty million dollars to making it, another fifty to advertise it… But, he will show it to other people, maybe senior members of his team. That is why I am using these techniques. As a writer, you are creating a relationship with the reader. It is a seduction, even though the writer should stay invisible.
A GOOD STORY
What is a good story? In a nutshell, if it happens to me, it is a good story (laughter)… In the sense that if I am personally emotionally involved with the story, the better the writing will be. I am talking about habits to take on the page, to give the reader’s eyes a positive experience. For the past 15 years, my approach was to ask myself : “How am I going to write this movie? What is the reason that keeps me going back to the table everyday? What am I trying to achieve for myself, not money wise, but as a writer?”. And once I think I got that, things go pretty smoothly. There is no formula. It is different each and every time.
By: Alex Vachon
The first global film star was Charlie Chaplin. He was asked to make films while still a vaudeville comedian, and he turned it down. He was working on his character the little tramp. Two years later he came back and had it perfected. He described the little tramp as follows: “Shoes too big, hat too small, pants too baggy, jacket too tight, you can’t tell if he is a rich man on his way down, or a poor man on his way up”. That is a visual paradox. It creates an unconscious question in your mind, and you want to answer that question. Paul Newman is a very good-looking actor. In a movie, he goes to a kitchen, picks up the old coffee grounds in the garbage can, and uses them to make some coffee. Here’s your visual paradox. This very successful looking person is seemingly down and out, and we want to know, what is his problem? It is not one thought “Good looking guy”, it is two thoughts. Woody Allen creates a character who should never end up with beautiful women, but somehow he does end up having relationships with them. You want to find out why. If you could create a visual paradox, you will have a much more interesting character.
PUNCTUATION
At the beginning, I want to slow down the reader’s eyes just a little bit. The reader is accustomed to seeing very rapid cutting in the movies, on television. But I do want the eyes to take in what’s on the page, to take in the jokes, but if his eyes are going too fast, they won’t take in anything. He hates to read, he wants to go through this as quickly as possible. So I am going to slow down his reading by using appropriate punctuation. Comas, periods, dashes, “ …”, I create breathing spaces. Even in dialogue, I will use “…”. I never write “pause”, because it takes energy to the eyes to read it. For short pauses, I’ll use “space, dash, space” ( - ), a longer pause may be “space, hyphen, hyphen, space” ( -- ), but most of the times I use “…” which is a full pause. Particularly for dialogue, you want to deliver with pauses. We don’t talk fluently and smoothly all the time. And two-third into the movie, the story stops being about a lot of things, and starts to narrow down about one thing. The movie moves very quickly to the last third. I’ll start dropping the punctuation, and shortening sentences, because I want the eyes to move more quickly, which leads to a faster heartbeat, to more excitement. So I’ll write two-word sentences, even one-word sentences. Example, a good one-word sentence is “Blood.” You don’t need anything else, such as descriptions. You put the location, that’s it, in order to move forward. Remember, a hundred pages have gone by, his eyes are more tired, you give him new things to keep his eyes energized, such as jokes, sexuality, physicality, “Wham!”. Intellectual conflict does not energize the eye. I am talking about writing in order to make a good living. I am not trying to wash away your deep thoughts. I am just talking about this: you want to get the check, use those techniques that I have developed over twenty five years, knowing who the reader is.
THE BATHROOM SYNDROME
I want the reader to actually want to turn pages not only for the first twenty pages, but for the entire screenplay. Even after I know they are interested in the story. I want the reader to finish the entire screenplay before having to get up to go to the bathroom. A guy over forty, who doesn’t like reading, chances are he is going to want to give his eyes a break, go to the bathroom half way through. But if I can make those eyes move nice and smooth towards the end, pages turning very quickly, you will find him read it with one sitting, and then he will go to the bathroom. If he goes to the bathroom, whatever emotional or action momentum built up is going to be hurt. He will have other thoughts, read a magazine, maybe get a snack; his mind will be cluttered with other things than your characters and their problems. But if you can have him read in one sitting, the momentum will build up, he will have a big laugh, get excited, then he goes “Wow! I think I like that!”. He will go to the bathroom and ask himself if he really liked it…
If he does, he now has to decide if he is going to commit fifty million dollars to making it, another fifty to advertise it… But, he will show it to other people, maybe senior members of his team. That is why I am using these techniques. As a writer, you are creating a relationship with the reader. It is a seduction, even though the writer should stay invisible.
A GOOD STORY
What is a good story? In a nutshell, if it happens to me, it is a good story (laughter)… In the sense that if I am personally emotionally involved with the story, the better the writing will be. I am talking about habits to take on the page, to give the reader’s eyes a positive experience. For the past 15 years, my approach was to ask myself : “How am I going to write this movie? What is the reason that keeps me going back to the table everyday? What am I trying to achieve for myself, not money wise, but as a writer?”. And once I think I got that, things go pretty smoothly. There is no formula. It is different each and every time.
By: Alex Vachon
Monday, May 25, 2009
Tips and Techniques on screenwriting comedy
Len Blum Tips and Technique on Screewriting
An interview with Len BlumMontreal, March 27, 2006
Len Blum has written many hit comedies in the past 30 years, such as Over the Hedge, The Pink Panther, Heavy Metal, Feds, Beethoven's 2nd, Meatballs, Howard Stern's Private Parts. He lives in Montreal.
Len Blum:
Let’s discuss the physical experience at the movie theatre. The audience paid their money for a good time, their body feels pretty good. The very first joke in a comedy is very important. Because it either gives them the confidence that they are in good hands, and their chest begins to open with the first laugh, their voice relaxes, it gets easier to laugh. So they feel that they made a good choice, the anxiety goes away, or they begin to worry ... “that wasn’t very funny, maybe I wasted my money” . The chest and the throat tighten, the second laugh is even harder. So the first joke needs to be strong.
Sometimes if you laugh a lot, your voice will actually hurt at the end of it. And you can hear the audience laughing. Certain things are funnier to women, with high laughter, other things to men. Very often, one person has a very funny laugh. Or something happens on the screen, you don’t find it that funny, but you hear the funny laugh, and you go “hey, somebody out there thinks this is funny” and it makes you laugh. So that vibration gets shared, and it becomes a powerful physical experience…
THE HOLLYWOOD READER
The important reader is a person who can sign a check that will deliver a lot of money to the writer. That reader tends to be a man over the age of 40, sometimes you get a woman in which case you are luckier, they are more patient, their eyes will move more slowly and they will take it in better. Chances are, it will be a man over 40, and the first thing you need to know about him is that the Hollywood reader hates to read. Repeat that: HE HATES TO READ! He has a staff between three and thirteen people, who read everything that comes in. They have a young Chinese woman, a young black man, a young MBA from Harvard, they all read stuff that come from agents ( a lot of stuff), because these readers form a large cross-section of the audience. Each reader might read 10 pieces a week. Only one of those pieces is good enough to be sent to the Hollywood reader. These are scripts or books, but they won’t be treatments or synopsis (a treatment is usually pitched in person , for three or five minutes). And the person who is pitching is very open to ideas, it usually is not a set thing. If the executive suggests ideas, or changes, the writer is responsive to them.
It is a team sport. So let us say the Hollywood reader has 10 readers sending him one script each. He has ten scripts to read on Saturday morning. He hates to read. He wants to go play tennis, gold, have a swim, or watch movies on the screen, but he cannot until he finishes reading those 10 scripts. He is expecting that they will all be "shit". He is motivated to throw the first one in the garbage can, as soon as he can. So if he can reject it on page one, it is a good thing. At this rate, he can go golf by ten in the morning. He picks up the first script, the first thing he does is look at how many pages it contains. If it is 130 pages, he thinks “this asshole, thinks he is gonna keep me interested in hundred and thirty pages, let’s see!”. He is feeling negative, he has got a chip on the shoulder, and if he can reject it on the first paragraph, he will throw it away. If he sees the script has 119 pages, he will feel okay, if it is 109, he will feel good, it won’t appear too long.
His eyes will start in the upper left hand corner, page one, and it will move to the bottom right-hand corner. Job number one is legibility. It means that his eyes have to have the easiest task of moving, which means no complicated words – use the shorter simpler words – and minimum description. Don’t describe a room with four pictures unless one of those pictures becomes a murder weapon. You don’t mention anything specific, unless it plays a part in the action. Describe the room in 2 or 3 words, so that you convey the attitude of the decoration, for example, rather than the details. Understand that his eyes are going to go much too quickly! So job number one, give him an easy time, and you want to slow down his eyes by creating some interesting things.
At the end of page one, something has to compel him to turn to page two. He would rather throw it in the garbage. That “thing”, for my purposes, is a joke. Then as he is reading, his eyes are moving smoothly, nothing complicated intellectually, he laughs, visual stream freezes, he still sees the joke, chest is pleasantly shaken, eyes re-attach to top left corner of page two, hungry for the next happy experience. The eyes are going to move down to the bottom of page two, happier than it was on page one. Where should the next joke be? On the bottom of page two. The reader will be greatly disappointed if there is no joke. He is going to think “Maybe the thing is running out of steam”. If he laughs again at the bottom of page two, he will turn the page.
The next best thing, if you don’t have a joke, is a compelling question, at the bottom of page one. “Did you sleep with her?”. He will turn the page just to find out if he slept with her – a very simple transaction. This approach is very important for the first twenty pages. Why? Because the Hollywood reader has no emotional commitment to your story, he does not know your characters, he doesn’t care about their problems yet. By the time he gets involved, it becomes easier to turn the pages. It is a relationship, and you the writer, are manipulating the reader. A little treat at the end of page one, to make him turn to page two. You have to keep those pages turning to increase his sense of commitment and interest in your characters and their problems.
You cannot introduce their problem on page 25, you will not get him to page 25, their problem, or the extraordinary event has to happen rather quickly. YOUR JOB IS TO KEEP HIS EYES MOVING SMOOTHLY AND HAPPILY, WITHOUT A LOT OF WORK, AND KEEP THE PAGES TURNING.
Within that architecture of the page, there are a few things that I do. I have a paragraph of description, let’s say a 3-line log, then I have dialogue. Let’s say the first and second lines are very long, and the third one is just 2 words. This is not good. His eyes are a muscle, and he is over 40. His eyes get tired easily. Here, his eyes are going from the far left to the far right, twice. Then he has to jump in the middle for the dialogue. I would rather have a three-quarter length line, a second three-quarter length line, and the third line would be half the page, so that it ends right above the dialogue line. That said, I want this to be logical syntax.. I don’t like to end the line with a word like “of”. It looks funny, it is incomplete. Sometimes, I will end the line with something like “and”, because I want his eyes to find out “and what?”. You are manipulating his eyes all the time. I know this sounds like a lot of work, I know you want this to be about your brilliant idea , but he will not get to the content, unless you reward him all the time, for keeping his eyes moving and turning pages, that is your first job.
THE CHARACTER NAMES
The names of characters: no 2 names should begin with the same letter, or should be the same length. A character name is like a brand name. A very good character name is for example AZA, because the reader’s eyes don’t even have to read it, he can tell from the way it looks who is talking. You can have a character named Beatrice, but you can’t have another character named Bettina, because remember, he wants to play golf, he hates reading. Try to have the main characters names have a look, that he will take in. The name is a logo.
Introducing your main characters, generally, the first reference does not use their name. “A young man, filled with energy, walks into the room, and trips over a dog. This is Bobo”. You give him an action before you give him a name. The action has to be a distinctive happening. So you first have the picture, then you have the label. Then, right after you give him a name, you go over to the dialogue “Who put this god dam dog here?”. These are not strict rules, but for a comedy, if he says something funny, then our reader gets to laugh. You established a positive relationship. Or if he is the villain, you visualize him doing something evil, you see the name, and then the villain says whatever evil thing he wants to say. The villain has to say something more imaginative and more creative than the reader expects. The villain has to be smarter than the reader expects. The first thing the characters say is a wonderful thing, that sets the character in the reader’s mind. Unless he is a silent character, as a Ninja, he can come in and kill someone and leave. But he still has to do something distinctive; he still has to paint his mark on the forehead of the victim, before he leaves. Then you know, you are dealing with an interesting character.
THE EYES
In movies, they say it is about this (Len indicates a close-up of the eyes with his hands). The close-up is the most important shot in any movie. The eyes are in fact a window to the soul, and the actors who become extremely successful can say anything just with their eyes. When Rudolph Valentino died (he was the first romantic silent movie star), thousands and thousands of women threw themselves to the ground weeping and screaming because their lover had died! Why was he so powerful? Cinema was relatively new, and his eyes would say “Now, I’m gonna make love to you”. The women would be turned on by him because the message in his eyes was so powerful, they would have a physical response. Film still operates at that level. John Travolta is very successful because, as he says, he has a very transparent face. You could see what he thinks, what he is feeling, it is not that hidden. He is not overacting and you can just see what he feels.
So how does the writer deal with the eyes? When we want to provide a look into the character’ soul, into his emotions, after the character’s name (in the dialog mode), you put brackets and write “eyes brightening”, or “eyes narrowing”, because the reader suddenly feels he is looking into the character’s face. You can do that only for main characters, only at the most important time, as a way to look into the character.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
The main female character in my most recent screenplay was described something along the lines as “She is so beautiful you can’t stop looking at her. She is so beautiful, you hate yourself for looking at her, and you wished you could stop, but you can’t. She is just that beautiful. Her name is … “. You might think it is pretty transparent, but in fact, when the actress reads it, she is saying “that’s me!”, because she is beautiful and men have responded that way to her beauty. What she wants is to magnetize the men, unconsciously. So she identifies with the description, and so does the studio executive, who wants to put her in his movie, because he thinks she is so beautiful. Not every character has to be beautiful, of course, but if you are writing for a beautiful woman, I use that kind of language because I am selling it both to the executive, and also to the actress.
The description of your main male character is about energy, or attitude, such as “he has a special magnetism, that is almost never seen, but when you see it, you know he definitely has it”. It is bullshit, but they believe it! Then you give him a good initial action, so that he is memorable.
By: Alex Vachon
An interview with Len BlumMontreal, March 27, 2006
Len Blum has written many hit comedies in the past 30 years, such as Over the Hedge, The Pink Panther, Heavy Metal, Feds, Beethoven's 2nd, Meatballs, Howard Stern's Private Parts. He lives in Montreal.
Len Blum:
Let’s discuss the physical experience at the movie theatre. The audience paid their money for a good time, their body feels pretty good. The very first joke in a comedy is very important. Because it either gives them the confidence that they are in good hands, and their chest begins to open with the first laugh, their voice relaxes, it gets easier to laugh. So they feel that they made a good choice, the anxiety goes away, or they begin to worry ... “that wasn’t very funny, maybe I wasted my money” . The chest and the throat tighten, the second laugh is even harder. So the first joke needs to be strong.
Sometimes if you laugh a lot, your voice will actually hurt at the end of it. And you can hear the audience laughing. Certain things are funnier to women, with high laughter, other things to men. Very often, one person has a very funny laugh. Or something happens on the screen, you don’t find it that funny, but you hear the funny laugh, and you go “hey, somebody out there thinks this is funny” and it makes you laugh. So that vibration gets shared, and it becomes a powerful physical experience…
THE HOLLYWOOD READER
The important reader is a person who can sign a check that will deliver a lot of money to the writer. That reader tends to be a man over the age of 40, sometimes you get a woman in which case you are luckier, they are more patient, their eyes will move more slowly and they will take it in better. Chances are, it will be a man over 40, and the first thing you need to know about him is that the Hollywood reader hates to read. Repeat that: HE HATES TO READ! He has a staff between three and thirteen people, who read everything that comes in. They have a young Chinese woman, a young black man, a young MBA from Harvard, they all read stuff that come from agents ( a lot of stuff), because these readers form a large cross-section of the audience. Each reader might read 10 pieces a week. Only one of those pieces is good enough to be sent to the Hollywood reader. These are scripts or books, but they won’t be treatments or synopsis (a treatment is usually pitched in person , for three or five minutes). And the person who is pitching is very open to ideas, it usually is not a set thing. If the executive suggests ideas, or changes, the writer is responsive to them.
It is a team sport. So let us say the Hollywood reader has 10 readers sending him one script each. He has ten scripts to read on Saturday morning. He hates to read. He wants to go play tennis, gold, have a swim, or watch movies on the screen, but he cannot until he finishes reading those 10 scripts. He is expecting that they will all be "shit". He is motivated to throw the first one in the garbage can, as soon as he can. So if he can reject it on page one, it is a good thing. At this rate, he can go golf by ten in the morning. He picks up the first script, the first thing he does is look at how many pages it contains. If it is 130 pages, he thinks “this asshole, thinks he is gonna keep me interested in hundred and thirty pages, let’s see!”. He is feeling negative, he has got a chip on the shoulder, and if he can reject it on the first paragraph, he will throw it away. If he sees the script has 119 pages, he will feel okay, if it is 109, he will feel good, it won’t appear too long.
His eyes will start in the upper left hand corner, page one, and it will move to the bottom right-hand corner. Job number one is legibility. It means that his eyes have to have the easiest task of moving, which means no complicated words – use the shorter simpler words – and minimum description. Don’t describe a room with four pictures unless one of those pictures becomes a murder weapon. You don’t mention anything specific, unless it plays a part in the action. Describe the room in 2 or 3 words, so that you convey the attitude of the decoration, for example, rather than the details. Understand that his eyes are going to go much too quickly! So job number one, give him an easy time, and you want to slow down his eyes by creating some interesting things.
At the end of page one, something has to compel him to turn to page two. He would rather throw it in the garbage. That “thing”, for my purposes, is a joke. Then as he is reading, his eyes are moving smoothly, nothing complicated intellectually, he laughs, visual stream freezes, he still sees the joke, chest is pleasantly shaken, eyes re-attach to top left corner of page two, hungry for the next happy experience. The eyes are going to move down to the bottom of page two, happier than it was on page one. Where should the next joke be? On the bottom of page two. The reader will be greatly disappointed if there is no joke. He is going to think “Maybe the thing is running out of steam”. If he laughs again at the bottom of page two, he will turn the page.
The next best thing, if you don’t have a joke, is a compelling question, at the bottom of page one. “Did you sleep with her?”. He will turn the page just to find out if he slept with her – a very simple transaction. This approach is very important for the first twenty pages. Why? Because the Hollywood reader has no emotional commitment to your story, he does not know your characters, he doesn’t care about their problems yet. By the time he gets involved, it becomes easier to turn the pages. It is a relationship, and you the writer, are manipulating the reader. A little treat at the end of page one, to make him turn to page two. You have to keep those pages turning to increase his sense of commitment and interest in your characters and their problems.
You cannot introduce their problem on page 25, you will not get him to page 25, their problem, or the extraordinary event has to happen rather quickly. YOUR JOB IS TO KEEP HIS EYES MOVING SMOOTHLY AND HAPPILY, WITHOUT A LOT OF WORK, AND KEEP THE PAGES TURNING.
Within that architecture of the page, there are a few things that I do. I have a paragraph of description, let’s say a 3-line log, then I have dialogue. Let’s say the first and second lines are very long, and the third one is just 2 words. This is not good. His eyes are a muscle, and he is over 40. His eyes get tired easily. Here, his eyes are going from the far left to the far right, twice. Then he has to jump in the middle for the dialogue. I would rather have a three-quarter length line, a second three-quarter length line, and the third line would be half the page, so that it ends right above the dialogue line. That said, I want this to be logical syntax.. I don’t like to end the line with a word like “of”. It looks funny, it is incomplete. Sometimes, I will end the line with something like “and”, because I want his eyes to find out “and what?”. You are manipulating his eyes all the time. I know this sounds like a lot of work, I know you want this to be about your brilliant idea , but he will not get to the content, unless you reward him all the time, for keeping his eyes moving and turning pages, that is your first job.
THE CHARACTER NAMES
The names of characters: no 2 names should begin with the same letter, or should be the same length. A character name is like a brand name. A very good character name is for example AZA, because the reader’s eyes don’t even have to read it, he can tell from the way it looks who is talking. You can have a character named Beatrice, but you can’t have another character named Bettina, because remember, he wants to play golf, he hates reading. Try to have the main characters names have a look, that he will take in. The name is a logo.
Introducing your main characters, generally, the first reference does not use their name. “A young man, filled with energy, walks into the room, and trips over a dog. This is Bobo”. You give him an action before you give him a name. The action has to be a distinctive happening. So you first have the picture, then you have the label. Then, right after you give him a name, you go over to the dialogue “Who put this god dam dog here?”. These are not strict rules, but for a comedy, if he says something funny, then our reader gets to laugh. You established a positive relationship. Or if he is the villain, you visualize him doing something evil, you see the name, and then the villain says whatever evil thing he wants to say. The villain has to say something more imaginative and more creative than the reader expects. The villain has to be smarter than the reader expects. The first thing the characters say is a wonderful thing, that sets the character in the reader’s mind. Unless he is a silent character, as a Ninja, he can come in and kill someone and leave. But he still has to do something distinctive; he still has to paint his mark on the forehead of the victim, before he leaves. Then you know, you are dealing with an interesting character.
THE EYES
In movies, they say it is about this (Len indicates a close-up of the eyes with his hands). The close-up is the most important shot in any movie. The eyes are in fact a window to the soul, and the actors who become extremely successful can say anything just with their eyes. When Rudolph Valentino died (he was the first romantic silent movie star), thousands and thousands of women threw themselves to the ground weeping and screaming because their lover had died! Why was he so powerful? Cinema was relatively new, and his eyes would say “Now, I’m gonna make love to you”. The women would be turned on by him because the message in his eyes was so powerful, they would have a physical response. Film still operates at that level. John Travolta is very successful because, as he says, he has a very transparent face. You could see what he thinks, what he is feeling, it is not that hidden. He is not overacting and you can just see what he feels.
So how does the writer deal with the eyes? When we want to provide a look into the character’ soul, into his emotions, after the character’s name (in the dialog mode), you put brackets and write “eyes brightening”, or “eyes narrowing”, because the reader suddenly feels he is looking into the character’s face. You can do that only for main characters, only at the most important time, as a way to look into the character.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
The main female character in my most recent screenplay was described something along the lines as “She is so beautiful you can’t stop looking at her. She is so beautiful, you hate yourself for looking at her, and you wished you could stop, but you can’t. She is just that beautiful. Her name is … “. You might think it is pretty transparent, but in fact, when the actress reads it, she is saying “that’s me!”, because she is beautiful and men have responded that way to her beauty. What she wants is to magnetize the men, unconsciously. So she identifies with the description, and so does the studio executive, who wants to put her in his movie, because he thinks she is so beautiful. Not every character has to be beautiful, of course, but if you are writing for a beautiful woman, I use that kind of language because I am selling it both to the executive, and also to the actress.
The description of your main male character is about energy, or attitude, such as “he has a special magnetism, that is almost never seen, but when you see it, you know he definitely has it”. It is bullshit, but they believe it! Then you give him a good initial action, so that he is memorable.
By: Alex Vachon
3 Amazing Golf Training Tools
Are you still having difficulties improving your swing? What you need is some good golf training tools to lower your scores and perfect your swing. Golf training tools can help improve every aspect of your game—from your swing, to your grip, and how you make contact with the ball. Golf training tools will also teach you how to have the proper stance.
There are many golf training tools on the market and they range anywhere from instructional videos to radar equipment to calculate the speed of your swing. You can watch Instructional videos in the comfort of your own home and are an excellent to really observe how to play golf correctly. Another benefit, if you are a beginner,is that you will the fundamentals of the game of golf.
These are 3 of the most popular golf training tools and they are designed to work on different aspects of your game.
1. the Power Stance Trainer the Impact BallFirst, the Power Stance Trainer is perfect for those golfers who have problems shifting their weight during their golf swing or have difficulties aligning themselves properly. It is currently the only golf training aid on the market that focuses on the lower body and how it affects your swing.
2. the Medicus Dual Hinge Driver/IronThe Impact Ball is a rather unique invention for golf training tools. It will help you hit the ball square in the face, thus allowing for better direction and greater distances. Placed correctly between your arms, the Impact Ball is a golf training aid that is sure to improve your swing. If you swing properly, the Impact Ball will stay in between your arms and not fall down. The tool will create the perfect alignment between your body, hands, and wrists. The Impact Ball is without a doubt one of the best golf training tools on the market.With the Medicus Dual Hinge Driver/Iron, if you hit the ball correctly the hinge will not break. Using the Medicus Dual Hinge Driver/Iron is sure to improve your game with great ease.
3. Speed StikThe final golf training aid, the Speed Stik, will help increase the power and speed of your golf swing. This is one of those speed tools that let you know your swing’s speed as soon as you swing. It will also help you strengthen your muscles that are used for your swing, which in turn prevents injury.Using golf training tools is a proven way to improve your game to levels beyond your imagination. Golf training tools are not only used by beginners but also advanced players. They have worked exceptional at bringing golfers under par and lower scores.
By: Staffan Moritz
There are many golf training tools on the market and they range anywhere from instructional videos to radar equipment to calculate the speed of your swing. You can watch Instructional videos in the comfort of your own home and are an excellent to really observe how to play golf correctly. Another benefit, if you are a beginner,is that you will the fundamentals of the game of golf.
These are 3 of the most popular golf training tools and they are designed to work on different aspects of your game.
1. the Power Stance Trainer the Impact BallFirst, the Power Stance Trainer is perfect for those golfers who have problems shifting their weight during their golf swing or have difficulties aligning themselves properly. It is currently the only golf training aid on the market that focuses on the lower body and how it affects your swing.
2. the Medicus Dual Hinge Driver/IronThe Impact Ball is a rather unique invention for golf training tools. It will help you hit the ball square in the face, thus allowing for better direction and greater distances. Placed correctly between your arms, the Impact Ball is a golf training aid that is sure to improve your swing. If you swing properly, the Impact Ball will stay in between your arms and not fall down. The tool will create the perfect alignment between your body, hands, and wrists. The Impact Ball is without a doubt one of the best golf training tools on the market.With the Medicus Dual Hinge Driver/Iron, if you hit the ball correctly the hinge will not break. Using the Medicus Dual Hinge Driver/Iron is sure to improve your game with great ease.
3. Speed StikThe final golf training aid, the Speed Stik, will help increase the power and speed of your golf swing. This is one of those speed tools that let you know your swing’s speed as soon as you swing. It will also help you strengthen your muscles that are used for your swing, which in turn prevents injury.Using golf training tools is a proven way to improve your game to levels beyond your imagination. Golf training tools are not only used by beginners but also advanced players. They have worked exceptional at bringing golfers under par and lower scores.
By: Staffan Moritz
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Golf Basics - Build Your Foundation First
More and more people every year get bitten by the golf bug. Golf's popularity continues to rise year after year. With more and more people becoming interested in golf, more and more people are taking their first steps in wanting to learn how to play the game.
And the great thing is - it is people of all age groups, genders, race and social strata. I have really been enjoying working with every type of golfer.
The first aspect of the game of golf that I talk with about a person or group of people that are just beginning to take up the game is that learning to play golf is going to take some time and much patience. In fact, the patience part never goes away in this great game!
The second aspect (or at least real close to it) that I speak with beginning golfers about is practice; and the amount you spend with quality practice time will get you to the point in your game you want to be.
Everyone has different ambitions and expectations as to how far they want to take their game. Whether it's just a spouse who wants to learn enough of the game and the golf swing to enjoy an afternoon with their significant other, or someone who one day wishes to play competitively, the game of golf can accommodate. But, it's fundamentals and practice that will get you to your goal.
At its core of the game of golf is the golf swing. Your golf swing. How you start out learning the mechanics of the golf swing is crucial. Don't skip the basics! Learn some fundamentals before you even begin to tackle the swing.
The grip, the stance, the setup to the ball, and your posture, is the foundation from which you must learn the golf swing. If you don't spend the time early on ingraining these aspects into your physical psyche, you'll not (if ever) consistently strike the golf ball. So, make sure when you are working with your instructor, you don't just start whacking at balls. Make sure you build the proper foundation with the aforementioned elements.
When you do progress to actually swinging the club, I like to have people start with middle iron (usually a 6 or 7 iron). In my opinion, the middle iron is the best club to begin learning the golf swing. With a six iron, for example, the ball placement is in the middle of your stance. This means that as you progress to higher and lower irons you will have a benchmark to work from. Also down the road, if you swing begins to trouble you, I usually suggest that you get back to your basic neutral position club of the six iron and get your rhythm and timing back.
If you are just beginning, you must understand that the longer the shaft on the club, the longer it is going to take you to consistently and accurately hit the golf ball. It's just the physics. I see way too many beginners want to rush to justice and hit the driver and they never learn the proper swing. Always learn, tune, and groove your swing with a middle iron. Then work to keep that mindset as you climb the ladder of your clubs.
From you middle iron placement your longer shafted clubs will find your ball placement more toward your front foot's instep; while your shorter irons will have the ball work more toward the back foot's instep.
But before you do any of this, make sure you start with your foundation. Make sure that when you speak with your teaching professional you let them know that you want to spend time with and make sure you understand the concepts of the grip, stance, alignment, and posture. This will ensure that you don’t build a house of cards with your golf swing that will always be tumbling apart.
Once you get past your first couple of lessons of working on the foundations, don’t forget them. Always, always, always, be cognizant of your grip, stance, alignment, and posture even as you begin developing your golf swing. Be sure to incorporate a quick check of these before you engage your swing.
And finally, we come full circle. Be patient with yourself and spend time practicing. If you do, you’ll realize the wonderful rewards that the game of golf returns in a much sooner fashion.
By: Jeff O'Brien
And the great thing is - it is people of all age groups, genders, race and social strata. I have really been enjoying working with every type of golfer.
The first aspect of the game of golf that I talk with about a person or group of people that are just beginning to take up the game is that learning to play golf is going to take some time and much patience. In fact, the patience part never goes away in this great game!
The second aspect (or at least real close to it) that I speak with beginning golfers about is practice; and the amount you spend with quality practice time will get you to the point in your game you want to be.
Everyone has different ambitions and expectations as to how far they want to take their game. Whether it's just a spouse who wants to learn enough of the game and the golf swing to enjoy an afternoon with their significant other, or someone who one day wishes to play competitively, the game of golf can accommodate. But, it's fundamentals and practice that will get you to your goal.
At its core of the game of golf is the golf swing. Your golf swing. How you start out learning the mechanics of the golf swing is crucial. Don't skip the basics! Learn some fundamentals before you even begin to tackle the swing.
The grip, the stance, the setup to the ball, and your posture, is the foundation from which you must learn the golf swing. If you don't spend the time early on ingraining these aspects into your physical psyche, you'll not (if ever) consistently strike the golf ball. So, make sure when you are working with your instructor, you don't just start whacking at balls. Make sure you build the proper foundation with the aforementioned elements.
When you do progress to actually swinging the club, I like to have people start with middle iron (usually a 6 or 7 iron). In my opinion, the middle iron is the best club to begin learning the golf swing. With a six iron, for example, the ball placement is in the middle of your stance. This means that as you progress to higher and lower irons you will have a benchmark to work from. Also down the road, if you swing begins to trouble you, I usually suggest that you get back to your basic neutral position club of the six iron and get your rhythm and timing back.
If you are just beginning, you must understand that the longer the shaft on the club, the longer it is going to take you to consistently and accurately hit the golf ball. It's just the physics. I see way too many beginners want to rush to justice and hit the driver and they never learn the proper swing. Always learn, tune, and groove your swing with a middle iron. Then work to keep that mindset as you climb the ladder of your clubs.
From you middle iron placement your longer shafted clubs will find your ball placement more toward your front foot's instep; while your shorter irons will have the ball work more toward the back foot's instep.
But before you do any of this, make sure you start with your foundation. Make sure that when you speak with your teaching professional you let them know that you want to spend time with and make sure you understand the concepts of the grip, stance, alignment, and posture. This will ensure that you don’t build a house of cards with your golf swing that will always be tumbling apart.
Once you get past your first couple of lessons of working on the foundations, don’t forget them. Always, always, always, be cognizant of your grip, stance, alignment, and posture even as you begin developing your golf swing. Be sure to incorporate a quick check of these before you engage your swing.
And finally, we come full circle. Be patient with yourself and spend time practicing. If you do, you’ll realize the wonderful rewards that the game of golf returns in a much sooner fashion.
By: Jeff O'Brien
Selecting a Golf School - What's Important to You?
Different students will have different criteria to satisfy when choosing a golf school - but there are some requirements that should be generic. Some will place a high value on the teaching skills of the professional instructors; others will be more interested in the facilities available. Some students of golf will be basing their decision purely on cost and some will want to explore the social scene at the school.
At the end of the day, people go to golf school to learn to play golf and all of the other facilities have to be ranked in accordance with personal preference. When considering a school, it is important to explore its teaching principles. Ask if the school welcomes students of all ages and abilities. It is very beneficial for absolute beginners to have the opportunity to mix with and observe more experienced players. Check to see if the school caters for a particular age group - sometimes this is the case.
Find out the student to instructor ratio. The cost of one-to-one tuition is usually prohibitive and attending golf school will usually be a lower cost option but it is essential that the student instructor ratio is low to ensure that the student will still receive adequate instruction in a group environment. Tuition in large groups is not to be recommended as too much time is lost whilst the instructor manages the group.
Many schools now offer a wide variety of high tech gadgets and training aids to assist the student to model the perfect swing and also to analyze their own efforts. Whilst all of these gadgets look very impressive and they undoubtedly have a part to play in teaching the novice, nothing beats quality face to face instruction with a professional who knows and loves the game.
When making a decision about which golf school to attend do not be afraid to ask about the instructor's qualifications and experience and also his or her status with the PGA. The very best way to learn is from someone who can play, and play well. Classroom theory is fine but it is experience and the practical application of the theory from which students learn most.
Price may be a factor when considering which golf school to attend and, as with all things in life, the cheapest is not always the best option. Rather than looking for cheapness look for value for money, there is a distinction. Calculate your budget and decide how to spend it. Consider taking fewer lessons at a better and probably more expensive school if funds are restricted.
Remember, learning golf, as with the learning process of any new skill, can only be accomplished if the student is prepared to practice. It really does not matter how good the school nor how good the instructor if the student is not willing to translate what he has learned into practice on the green.
By: Armando Rodriguez
At the end of the day, people go to golf school to learn to play golf and all of the other facilities have to be ranked in accordance with personal preference. When considering a school, it is important to explore its teaching principles. Ask if the school welcomes students of all ages and abilities. It is very beneficial for absolute beginners to have the opportunity to mix with and observe more experienced players. Check to see if the school caters for a particular age group - sometimes this is the case.
Find out the student to instructor ratio. The cost of one-to-one tuition is usually prohibitive and attending golf school will usually be a lower cost option but it is essential that the student instructor ratio is low to ensure that the student will still receive adequate instruction in a group environment. Tuition in large groups is not to be recommended as too much time is lost whilst the instructor manages the group.
Many schools now offer a wide variety of high tech gadgets and training aids to assist the student to model the perfect swing and also to analyze their own efforts. Whilst all of these gadgets look very impressive and they undoubtedly have a part to play in teaching the novice, nothing beats quality face to face instruction with a professional who knows and loves the game.
When making a decision about which golf school to attend do not be afraid to ask about the instructor's qualifications and experience and also his or her status with the PGA. The very best way to learn is from someone who can play, and play well. Classroom theory is fine but it is experience and the practical application of the theory from which students learn most.
Price may be a factor when considering which golf school to attend and, as with all things in life, the cheapest is not always the best option. Rather than looking for cheapness look for value for money, there is a distinction. Calculate your budget and decide how to spend it. Consider taking fewer lessons at a better and probably more expensive school if funds are restricted.
Remember, learning golf, as with the learning process of any new skill, can only be accomplished if the student is prepared to practice. It really does not matter how good the school nor how good the instructor if the student is not willing to translate what he has learned into practice on the green.
By: Armando Rodriguez
Golf Tips - Getting Started
History has it that the game of "golf" was born in 15th century Scotland. Then around 1744, the first rules of play were codified and established in Edinburgh by The Company of Gentlemen Golfers. Golf has become one of the most popular sports in the world; played in countries as far reaching as Mexico and Ireland, South Africa and China. And, of course, Scotland. And the world has not been the same since. It's come as no surprise that there are universities offering degrees in Golf.
The best way a beginner can begin is by learning what NOT to do. So, for the novice getting started, the game entails entering a world with a rich and varied history, a major investment of time and money, a demanding physical and mental learning curve and last but not least - days with huge amounts of "FUN"!
Now, don't go running out and spending a small fortune on things you don't know anything about. Such as course fees, golf lessons, and golf attire. Some courses are not worth the fee nor are the costs for equipment claiming to be of high quality. The clothes and lessons can also wait for a time.
The newness and the joy of finding a sport that you can play alone, with friends and spouses, or even with the whole family is part of the excitement. Learning to play golf well can be an emotionally exhausting experience not to mention expensive. Take some time and do a bit of research. You'll not want to enter into this without being armed with what you need to know.
Learn to take baby steps first and remember to have fun and not take yourself and everything else too serious. The pros will generally advise against spending too many weeks on the driving range at first, claiming you may develop some bad habits that are difficult to break once you start playing on the course. However, spending a bit of time on the driving range can be beneficial, helping to get the muscles moving, discovering if you've got any inclination or interest in the game and an idea of what and where to use what clubs.
Find a cheap course and wear comfortable, baggy clothing that doesn't restrict your arms and shoulders. Save that $1,000 you'd spend on pants, shoes, and shirts for later. To start use a simple three club set you can borrow from a friend or use a clubhouse rental. A Nine iron, a wedge, and a Number 5 wood is plenty. Actually the wedge won't get much use on a driving range, but you can add a putter and move to the putting practice area later. Some have miniature versions of sand traps to practice escaping.
Take it easy, watch those who hit well and imitate their grip, stance, and posture. Tee up, keep your eye on the ball as you swing, and give it a firm whack. If you miss a few, so be it. Have Fun. You're teaching your body what the swing feels like, what angle and impact produces what kind of flight.
On the putting green, start very close to the hole — no more than a couple of feet. When you can make 25 putts in a row more or less consistently, move back to six feet, 10 feet, 20 feet — no farther. 'More or less' consistently — even the pros sometimes miss a two-footer!
Whether driving or putting, stand so that a casual push wouldn't knock you over. Golf is about balance, concentration, and some simple physics. Now, go have a cool drink in the clubhouse and enjoy the day.
By: Art Luff
The best way a beginner can begin is by learning what NOT to do. So, for the novice getting started, the game entails entering a world with a rich and varied history, a major investment of time and money, a demanding physical and mental learning curve and last but not least - days with huge amounts of "FUN"!
Now, don't go running out and spending a small fortune on things you don't know anything about. Such as course fees, golf lessons, and golf attire. Some courses are not worth the fee nor are the costs for equipment claiming to be of high quality. The clothes and lessons can also wait for a time.
The newness and the joy of finding a sport that you can play alone, with friends and spouses, or even with the whole family is part of the excitement. Learning to play golf well can be an emotionally exhausting experience not to mention expensive. Take some time and do a bit of research. You'll not want to enter into this without being armed with what you need to know.
Learn to take baby steps first and remember to have fun and not take yourself and everything else too serious. The pros will generally advise against spending too many weeks on the driving range at first, claiming you may develop some bad habits that are difficult to break once you start playing on the course. However, spending a bit of time on the driving range can be beneficial, helping to get the muscles moving, discovering if you've got any inclination or interest in the game and an idea of what and where to use what clubs.
Find a cheap course and wear comfortable, baggy clothing that doesn't restrict your arms and shoulders. Save that $1,000 you'd spend on pants, shoes, and shirts for later. To start use a simple three club set you can borrow from a friend or use a clubhouse rental. A Nine iron, a wedge, and a Number 5 wood is plenty. Actually the wedge won't get much use on a driving range, but you can add a putter and move to the putting practice area later. Some have miniature versions of sand traps to practice escaping.
Take it easy, watch those who hit well and imitate their grip, stance, and posture. Tee up, keep your eye on the ball as you swing, and give it a firm whack. If you miss a few, so be it. Have Fun. You're teaching your body what the swing feels like, what angle and impact produces what kind of flight.
On the putting green, start very close to the hole — no more than a couple of feet. When you can make 25 putts in a row more or less consistently, move back to six feet, 10 feet, 20 feet — no farther. 'More or less' consistently — even the pros sometimes miss a two-footer!
Whether driving or putting, stand so that a casual push wouldn't knock you over. Golf is about balance, concentration, and some simple physics. Now, go have a cool drink in the clubhouse and enjoy the day.
By: Art Luff
Friday, May 22, 2009
Golf Equipment: How to choose the right Iron Set?
Today?s golf equipment manufactures make several different lines of golf clubs to fit many golfers & budgets. In order to find the best fit for your game is research. Many factors that go into this decision is Skill level, Price & Brand appeal. Start with the skill level, if you are a scratch golfer to a 5 handicap, than the type of irons you would be looking for is a blade style that is made out of forged steel. Forged golf clubs offer a softer metal than a stainless steel, and it allows you to have more feel for the ball. Blade style irons also allow you to shape your shots with greater ease than a more forgiving golf club. Some great examples of this type of club are the Titleist 695 irons, or the Callaway X Tour irons. The Cost of these ranges from $800-$900 depending on options. 6-12 handicap players should be looking for a club that offers some forgiveness and also the ability to work the ball, but still have some margin for error. Some great examples of these irons are the NIKE CCI irons and the Callaway X-20 Irons. These clubs range from $650-$750 12-18 handicap players should be looking into a game improvement style golf club. A game improvement club is designed with large perimeter weighting, and larger sole. The purpose of perimeter weighting is to push the weight of the club around the club face, to allow the center of the face to be as forgiving as possible i.e. Large Sweet Spot. Clubs that would fit that description are the Cobra FP Irons, Callaway Big Bertha Irons & Tour Edge QL Irons. Price range $300-$550 18+ handicap players should be looking for an ultra game improvement club. These clubs vary in terms of materials and price. The concept of these irons sets is to make golf easy and enjoyable for the average golfer. The manufacturers do this in many ways. First of, almost all of the clubs in this category have a very wide sole, which makes it easier to get the ball airborne? Other features this category offers is the size of the head. The head size is much larger than a blade style to create a larger sweet spot. A good theory is that the larger the head the larger the sweet spot. This category also offers other materials such as Titanium and Polymers to increase strength without increasing the overall weight of the club. Great examples of these clubs are the Callaway Fusion Wide Sole, Cobra S9 & Nike Ignite Irons. They range from $400-$1,000 per set. Other points to consider are golf shaft options. You have 2 options to choose from Steel or Graphite. Steel shafts are less expensive than graphite. They also offer more control for you shots, and give more ability to work the ball than a graphite shafts. Steel shafts are also known to be a stiffer shaft and offer a strong swinger a better platform to perform. Graphite shafts are more expensive than steel, but are much lighter. The difference in weight is almost half. A light weight shaft is around 55 grams opposed to 120 grams in Steel. The benefit of graphite shafts are for those golfers who have smooth tempo swings. You would let the club do the work for you when using a graphite shafted club. Graphite shafts are very popular with ladies and seniors due to there slower swing speeds. Last but not least, hit the golf clubs to be sure which is best for your game. Manufactures have Demo Days at most all local golf course or golf shows so the end consumer can try the latest golf equipment products available.
By Susan Chen
By Susan Chen
Famous people seem to love being golf players?
Just about everyone is swinging their golf clubs these days, but why is it that famous people seem to love being golf players? If you?ve ever played golf, you?ll know that the sport seems to have an overwhelming appeal to many different types of people. It is the type of sport that can consume you after a while due to its relaxing qualities and addictive nature. Whether you enjoy a full day out on the green, or just enjoy visiting a driving range to exercise your golf clubs, the sport has everything a player needs to stay fit and have fun. This is why famous celebrities have taken to the sport in their droves in recent years. Whether they?ve been playing for years or have taken up the sport very recently, famous people seem to love the sport as it is able to slot into their celebrity lifestyles well. It is the type of sport where you can swing your golf clubs as little or as much as you want and still gain enjoyment as a player. Due to the amount of famous celebrities that enjoy swinging their golf clubs, workouts like Pilates and Yoga have become more popular. Both these workouts are great for preparing prospective golf players for the golf course as they focus on stretching areas of the body which you use when driving your golf club on the green. The advantage that famous people have over the average amateur golf player is that they can afford to pay personal trainers to train them in such sports so that they are ready to face the golf course in top shape. If you?re not famous and would like to become a better golf player, some simple tips on how to stay fit for the golf course are listed below: Walk The Course - The length of the golf course is usually about 5 miles and walking the course also improves your cardiovascular health, builds endurance and allows you to burn a moderate amount of calories. Carry Your Golf Clubs - You can get an upper body workout by carrying your golf clubs and hitting the ball actually can improve your hand-eye coordination, which can be useful in many other areas. Many famous celebrity golf players and professional athletes have begun swinging their golf clubs to add another level of competition to their lives and to be able to spend more time together with their families, who are joining them on the course. Some famous players like Oakland Raiders cornerback Ray Buchanan love swinging their golf clubs so much that he and his wife, Sheree, built their dream home at Sugarloaf Country Golf Club in Duluth, Ga., home of the PGA Tour's Bellsouth Classic. Their multimillion-dollar mansion overlooks the 9th hole, and Buchanan, a former Pro-Bowler, plays two to three times a week during the off-season.
By dave stanton
By dave stanton
Were Golf Tournaments Invented So That You Could Safely Beat the Pants off Your Boss ?
You may have wondered if your golfing predecessor existed. Was there such a person who also thought up the concept of a golf tournament for an easy day off and a chance to beat the pants off your superior? How did golf tournaments come about / what is their history? In 1860 eight professionals competed in a golf tournament at Prestwick in Scotland playing three 12-hole rounds of golf for the prize of a red leather belt. The idea for the prize was derived from medieval knights? tournaments, and any player who could win this golfing tournament three years running would gain permanent possession of the belt. This event was eventually won by Willie Park and this served as the forerunner of the now famous British Open Golf Championship. The early years of the championship was dominated by one ruffian named ?Old Tom Morris? and his son appropriately named ?Young Tom Morris?. Tom Morris Senior was one of the most prominent figureheads in the early development of the golfing sport. Mr. Morris Senior was well known as a golfing ball and club maker at the Prestwick and St. Andrews golfing centers. And as well later became influential in golf course architecture. As well Mr. Morris Sr. went on as an expert golfer to win the British Open championships in consecutively in 1861, 1862 and 1864. The younger son Tom Morris was even more a more skillful and polished golfer winning the four British Opens unbelievably winning three tourneys in a row from 1868 to 1870 and thus claiming possession of the coveted red belt. Three years later the Claret Jug was introduced as the Open prize, and it remains so today. Thus the Morris clan dominated the historic golf tournament site early on, but the Open Championship and British golf was yet to be surprised. The trio of the Great Triumvirate of Harry Vardon , John Henry Taylor and James Braid unbelievably won 16 golf tournament titles in the time period between 1894 and 1914 and even played second a combined total of 12 times. Of the three players of the group Mr. Vardon had the most significant and long standing impact on the golfing scene and game beyond his great competitive spirit. Vardon?s exhibition tours ? both at home in the Isles and abroad introduced golf and the golfing sport to millions of people who otherwise would have had no interest or introduction to the passion of golf. In a marker of merchandising and marketing trends to come Vardon even introduced his own line of the then currently used gutty golf balls called the ?Vardon Flyer. Mr. Vardon can be appropriately credited as the first golf professional golfer to endorse commercial products. Shades of things to more than come. Eventually Vardon conducted an extended tour in the U.S. in 1900 to promote the new ball and used the occasion to enter and play in the U.S. Open which he handily won at the Wheaton Golf Club located in Illinois. To show the British emphasis of the British golfing trio Mr. Vardon cleared two strokes ahead of his colleague in crime John Henry Taylor. Mr. Vardon and Taylor provided the distant early championship?s start. They provided instant interest and credibility. Much interest was created by Vardon being the creator of the famous and established Vardon golf grip. You may not have realized that this overlapping golf grip may well be a standard that you are employing without knowing or appreciating its historic origins. In the end it all comes down to the quest of human competitiveness friendly or otherwise as a means to improve ones golf game or ego that resulted in our current passion for golf tournaments and events. Then again golfing tournaments may of begun as a way to justify time off of employment duties or to beat the pants off of one?s superior without too much apparent risk.
By Simon Mosrite
By Simon Mosrite
Interactive golf search engine
The new interactive golf search engine that provides a interactive map with the locations of golf clubs and golf courses. Golf Finder's interactive golf map is the perfect way to find the golf course for your next round. The search facilities provide a simple way to search for a golf courses, golf buddies and hotels, by town or surounding area.
By dave stanton
By dave stanton
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Why Choose an Electric Golf Trolley
If you are looking for a golf trolley to use to conserve your strength throughout the game, then your best bet may be one of the electric models that are currently on the market. You can find these golf trolleys in all sizes and colors, and since they are doing all the carrying work for you, they will help you conserve your energy for that perfectly executed golf swing on the eighteenth hole.
Why Electric?
When you are playing golf, one of the most valuable assets that you have are your hands, arms and shoulders. If you have been carrying round a full bag of clubs (and other assorted golf gear) all day, then chances are that you will not be in the best of condition for executing that perfect swing. If you can imagine golfing without carrying the bag, then you can also imagine how much better your game would be if you use an electric golf trolley.
Once you have all that weight off of your arms and shoulders, you will have plenty of strength for the game, even if you do hit four over par on every hole. An electric trolley will also help you if you have been ill, or you are unable to carry your golf bags any longer.
How It Works
The trolley will run using batteries, and can be either manually controlled or controlled by a remote. You can also purchase a wide variety of accessories for your trolley and bag, including rain covers, battery chargers and tool sets that are designed specifically for your product. While these accessories are not necessary, they will be very helpful if you want your new trolley to last for several years to come.
These electric trolleys are also goof for the posture as you do not have to bend over or twist your back to pull the carrier along. All you need to do is walk normally, and guide the carrier alongside in front of you. This is an excellent option if you have had back injuries in the past, or if you are just learning the sport and are still working on building your muscles.
Benefits
The main benefit of using an electric golf trolley for your clubs and gear is simple. You will exert less energy than carrying your golf bags, and save more energy for your game. This extra physical and mental energy will allow you to improve your game and lower your handicap. Why not borrow one for a day, or even hire one, to see if its for you. I'm fairly certain that once you feel the benefits, you will want one for yourself, and start looking around at all the various brands and models.
The costs of an electric golf trolley will vary, depending on which brand you choose, which version or model you want, any additional features you want, and of course, who you buy the trolley from. You can often find great bargains online, especially if you comparison shop for a little while before you make your purchase.
By: David James
Electric Golf Trolleys - Inspire Confidence, Conserve Energy
With recent manufacturing developments the days of pushing or pulling a golf trolley or carrying your entire set of golf clubs for 18-holes could be over. Electric golf trolleys or carts have been in existence for over 10 years now - historically, favoured by female and senior golfers an electric trolley is no longer considered to be a luxury item of golf equipment. As an amateur player the benefits of using an electric golf trolley are well documented - important energy reserves can be maintained so that more attention can be focused on the strategic aspect of the game.
The Confidence Stow-a-Matic electric golf trolley for example uses a powerful 24Ah battery to transport an entire set of golf clubs and accessories from tee to green - allowing the player to walk between holes whilst maintaining a good posture. A complete set of golf clubs and accessories can weigh up to 20kilograms - an electric golf trolley reduces the risk of damage to important muscles in the back and neck - allowing the player to concentrate on improving their swing. The addition of an electric trolley can also decrease the time between holes allowing you to cover the golf course faster and reducing the waiting time between tees.
Manufacturers have reacted to the growing demand by increasing supply which has lead to falling prices - the electric trolley is no longer a luxury commodity, but considered to be an essential addition to a golfer's arsenal.
In most places electric golf trolleys are fairly common and are almost the norm. These days you hardly ever see people walking the course, pulling on their traditional trolleys filled with golf accessories. However, over the years as golf has gained increasing popularity, now more and more people play golf. These electric golf trolleys are relatively fast and help to cover the course faster, thereby substantially reducing the wait time on the tee.
The additional benefit of maintaining balance and body symmetry throughout the game can also be attributed to using an electric trolley; pulling a fully laden golf trolley can strain muscles which can affect a player’s overall performance. Golf requires players to pay attention to the finest of details, throughout the game in addition to a high level of fitness and stamina. Unless you can afford the services of a golf caddy or an electric golf buggy - electric golf trolleys can help you to keep your game above par and to outperform the competition through saving valuable energy used on walking the entire course and carrying or pulling your golf equipment along.
Thanks to manufacturers like Confidence Golf - the Stow-a-Matic electric golf trolley can be purchased from £149.99. The patented foldaway design allows the entire trolley to be stored conveniently in transport whilst its lightweight aluminium frame is straightforward to assemble in under a minute. All controls for speed and power can be accessed at the touch of a fingertip. The success of the Stow-a-Matic has lead to the introduction of a titanium GT model for 2009.
By: David Potts
The Confidence Stow-a-Matic electric golf trolley for example uses a powerful 24Ah battery to transport an entire set of golf clubs and accessories from tee to green - allowing the player to walk between holes whilst maintaining a good posture. A complete set of golf clubs and accessories can weigh up to 20kilograms - an electric golf trolley reduces the risk of damage to important muscles in the back and neck - allowing the player to concentrate on improving their swing. The addition of an electric trolley can also decrease the time between holes allowing you to cover the golf course faster and reducing the waiting time between tees.
Manufacturers have reacted to the growing demand by increasing supply which has lead to falling prices - the electric trolley is no longer a luxury commodity, but considered to be an essential addition to a golfer's arsenal.
In most places electric golf trolleys are fairly common and are almost the norm. These days you hardly ever see people walking the course, pulling on their traditional trolleys filled with golf accessories. However, over the years as golf has gained increasing popularity, now more and more people play golf. These electric golf trolleys are relatively fast and help to cover the course faster, thereby substantially reducing the wait time on the tee.
The additional benefit of maintaining balance and body symmetry throughout the game can also be attributed to using an electric trolley; pulling a fully laden golf trolley can strain muscles which can affect a player’s overall performance. Golf requires players to pay attention to the finest of details, throughout the game in addition to a high level of fitness and stamina. Unless you can afford the services of a golf caddy or an electric golf buggy - electric golf trolleys can help you to keep your game above par and to outperform the competition through saving valuable energy used on walking the entire course and carrying or pulling your golf equipment along.
Thanks to manufacturers like Confidence Golf - the Stow-a-Matic electric golf trolley can be purchased from £149.99. The patented foldaway design allows the entire trolley to be stored conveniently in transport whilst its lightweight aluminium frame is straightforward to assemble in under a minute. All controls for speed and power can be accessed at the touch of a fingertip. The success of the Stow-a-Matic has lead to the introduction of a titanium GT model for 2009.
By: David Potts
All About Different Junior Golf Equipment Pieces Explored
There are many different types of junior golf equipment that can be considered by individuals who are looking to get themselves or their children into the game of golf. Before one can begin to play the game of golf, they need to be prepared for what the game of golf will require. There are different pieces of equipment that can be used by the individual, either to make sure that the individual can learn to strategize with the game of golf better, or just in order to enable the individual to play the game at all. Golf is a very fun sport for those who are interested in it. The world of golf can be highly competitive, but it is also very possible for golf to be relaxing and refreshing.
When an individual is more comfortable with the game of golf and prepared for it, both mentally and physically, it is possible for them to enjoy and excel at the game more easily. Preparation helps individuals to feel less inhibited and successful. Children can be especially self conscious about their activity in sports, which is why it can be so helpful for their parents to explain the game to them before they are presented with the junior golf equipment that they would be using while playing the game.
There are some pieces of junior golf equipment that will seem obvious, and other items that may seem to be less obvious. Of course, an individual will need the correct golf clubs and golf balls. These are the basics and the necessities of junior golf equipment. In addition, it will be very helpful for youths to have a golf club bag, in order for them to easily carry around their equipment. One of the best investments that a person can make when it comes to junior golf equipment is to get a bag with wheels on it. Even junior golf clubs can be heavy at times, and a child will be more capable of moving their clubs from one place to another if they are able to pull or roll the bag around. This will also help to limit the change of injury as the result of a youth carrying a golf bag that is too heavy for them.
Other, less obvious pieces of junior golf equipment would include golf socks and appropriate golf clothing. The socks are to be placed on top of the golf clubs and it helps to keep them clean and neat. There are also some types that can be places over the clubs in order to differentiate between the different types of clubs.
For the individual, having the right type of clothing and shoes is important in order to make sure that they are comfortable in the environment in which they are playing. This is because many people will play worse when they are not comfortable. It can help to have a glove in order to keep the grip on the club. These are not necessary pieces of junior golf equipment, but they are often very important and vital to the individuals that begin to use them.
By: Jeff Seward
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Best Guide to Buy Golf Equipments for the Beginners
Here is some points to be consider before start play the great game golf.Beginners and novice players choosing a set make-up, should consider eliminating the 2, 3 and 4 irons from their set.The shaft is the axle of the club, the better the club, the better the shaft.Shaft flex most effective on the feel of golf club and a also effect on distance, so its important in choosing correct golf clubs. If you don’t know any thing about the speed swing (mph or km/h),All golfers should use the best equipments because its help to improve the game, before play the game you should put the fuel in your body.The main thing is to worm up your body before you hit your first ball. You need to do some stretches to prepare your body to perform. Drink lots of water before you go for play. This will help you digest your pre-game meal.If you plan to buy used golf clubs as beginner’s you need to check all the accessories before buy it, It will also help a lot if you check the price of new clubs versus used clubs. but if you have decided to purchase golf equipments, visit that online shop you will get every solution here its www.golf247.co.uk you will get great offers on every accessories and you will get delivery on time. Choosing a golf club is not difficult for the experience person but is completely difficult for the beginner to buy. You will get all the answer about golf on this online shop,The great game golf becomes most popular game. Now a day it’s turning in to common man game. They love to play golf, if you are looking to purchase golf equipments there are bulk of online site that provides golf equipment. If you are In search of online golf shop then here is the best option for you http://www.golf247.co.uk it will be the best option for you, you will see a wild rang of golf equipments on it, as you know club can make golf easier, Before you buy discount golf clubs, you need information –what to look for, what to avoid. You don’t want to end up with less than top-quality golf club, even if they are at a discount price. Factory direct prices in some of the best golf clubs available can save you hundreds; but only if you are well educated about what to look for in a discount golf club.I m sure this article will help you buy a batter golf equipments, if you have some additional question after reading you can contact by this online shop,
By: Gerry Rechards
By: Gerry Rechards
Beginners Guide To Golf - Your First Set Of Golf Clubs
Golf clubs are expensive items yet are essential when is comes to playing the game of golf. The most important tip I was given was that when first starting out was never buy a new set of clubs. Once you are sure you enjoy the game enough to take it seriously then and only then should you contemplate new clubs.When you are starting out there is so much to consider and learn. Golf is a difficult sport and you may decide it is not for you. Once you have got past the initial learning stage you will want to choose clubs that fit you and suit your golfing style. The best way to start is to begin your golfing career with cheap used clubs.So you have decided you want to play golf and you don't want the expense of new clubs but where are you going to find these cheaper alternatives the following are some excellent suggestions:" Golf rental clubs - Most golf clubs have sets of clubs that can be rented these are predominantly for visitors who have not been able to bring their own but can also be hired by beginners. Whilst playing with others or on the driving range ask your friends if you can try their clubs this will provide you with an opportunity to find which clubs suit you." Ask the resident expert - Most golf clubs have a golf shop with a resident expert, they will be able to advise you where to start and may also have some previously owned clubs that have been traded in by members upgrading. Some clubs also offer a service to their members where they will offer to sell their unwanted golfing goods.You should always consult people who know golf equipment well as they will be able to offer you the best suggestions for clubs etc to suit your style and ability" Car Boot Sales And Internet Auctions - These are fantastic places for picking up bargains to try. You can buy individual clubs or whole sets. It is a great way to try different clubs without spending a fortune and is the club is not for you then you can resell it on e-bay! The downside is that you are unable to try before you buy but if you have done some research beforehand you will have a fair idea what it is you are looking for.You may find that your second hand clubs are a little worn this shouldn't be a problem as it is quite inexpensive to replace grips and a little 'spit & polish' goes a long way. Try to pick clubs that are in good condition but be realistic in the fact that all clubs need maintenance at some pointRemember the best way to choose a used club is to actually hold it in your hand and attempt to play the shot they were meant for this will give you the chance to see how they 'feel'. The feel of a golf club is important as if you feel comfortable with the club the more likely you are to be successful with it. Confidence is a big factor when playing golf.
By: Toby Savage
By: Toby Savage
Guide to Golf : The Right Mentality Brings Victory
In most activities in life, success or failure starts in the mind. If you believe you can’t do something, you won’t be able to do something. The same applies to golf. The masters at golf are those who refuse to be intimidated, who believe they can win and go ahead do all they can to win, those who play with right mentality. The right mentality can be managed, and here are some tips on how to do.Visualize Playing Perfect Games In Your Mind As good as it is to believe in yourself, it’s not enough you must learn to practice playing golf on and off the course. Since success starts in your mind, you should learn to visualize playing golf in your mind. Visualize playing golf in your mind and getting it right. If you get it right in your mind you’ll be surprised how easy it will be when it’s time to actually play it on the course.Self Confidence If you are going to be the best in anything in life there is a need for you to first believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself you won’t be able to overcome the challenges that come your way easily and you will be intimidated by other people’s success. In golf, the same applies, you need to believe in yourself, believe you can master the game and compete with the best of the best. If you believe it you can achieve it.Don’t Let Others Intimidate The reason why some people find it difficult to improve their game is because they feel intimidated by the people they play with. They see themselves as not good enough to compete with such people. This sets up a mental barrier that actually reflects in their game. You must be confident in your game, believe in yourself and refuse to be intimidated by others. You are all playing on the same course with the same kind of clubs, it’s just in getting the ball into the hole as quick as you can with less attempts. Refuse to see the others, see yourself as having a good time and you will be pleasantly surprised how easy it is to beat those you think are too good for you to play against.As mentioned above, it is important to note that no game is completely won in the mind. Victory starts in the mind but it doesn’t end there. You must make an effort to apply what you have in your mind into real life games. Practice and training is important factor that join the gap between winning in the mind and winning in real life, so practice is very important in improving your game in golf. Ensure you cultivate the right mentality and develop a good training and practice schedule, then you will able to improve your game as you won’t be easily discouraged even when you don’t get it right in your first attempts. When you have the right mentality, your initial failures and setbacks are perceived as part of the process of getting better and becoming a master golfer.SUMMARY Being a great golfer starts with having the right mentality. This can be cultivated by believing in yourself, visualizing playing perfect games in your mind and refusing to be intimidated by others. But it should not end there as practice and training is what brings victory in the mind to real life games.
By: Sutiyo Na
By: Sutiyo Na
Read About Professional Golf
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.
By: Jeff Seward
By: Jeff Seward
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
6 Tips On How To Play Better Golf
Golf is beautiful game with a simple objective, drive the ball into the hole. But as simple as this goal is, carrying it out well enough to be a champion is not simple or easy. Except you know what it takes to be a master golfer.So here are some tips to help you lay better golf:Prepare Both Mental and Physic If you are not prepared to play mentally and physically, you won’t be at your best. So anytime you have any golf game at hand do whatever it takes to get you prepared, make sure prepare yourself both mentally and physically, winning starts in the mind but is carried out physically by the body. Both must be well pared to be at your best.Know Your Clubs The golf club is very important in the game of golf. If you are really interested in enjoying your game, you must know your clubs well. It’s in knowing your club that you know your swing and how to direct your drives.Study Your Course Just important as the clubs in the game of golf is the golf course. Great players are those who take time to study their course. Knowing your course has the advantage of letting you know where to avoid in the course and where to focus your drives. When you know your course well, you know where the trouble spots are and how to avoid it. This helps you to play better golf because you will be having a nice game.Don’t Let Other Player Intimidate You To be your best at the game you must never allow the people you are playing against to intimidate you . No matter how good they are, don’t let their track records intimidate you, if you do you will lose focus. Make sure your focus is on the game, playing your best and not at your opponents what they have done in the past. "Here and now is what matters" should be what you should keep telling yourself. You will be surprised how beatable these people are when you don’t allow them to intimidate you.Practice swinging your hands You’ll mostly use your hand In game of golf. You should have it well exercised and prepare them ready for the game. Some golfer might think since golf is a less physical sport than football, basketball and the likes, exercise is not needed. It’s misconception. If you want to have powerful and perfect swings, your hands must be ready before the game even starts. Swinging is a good exercise to help achieve this. Practice swinging your hands as a good exercise to set your muscles ready for those great drives. After all the game is in getting the swing right. Do Swing Correctly If you want to play golf game at your best, you should get your swing right. Basically there are six parts to a swing in golf. These are: back swing, take-away, correct posture and position, the correct alignment of the golf club, impact and the follow through. Getting this right will guarantee perfect swings during the game and help you play better golf.SUMMARY To play better golf you need to prepare yourself well before each game, master your swing, know your club and course well and refuse to be intimidated by your opponents.
By: Sutiyo Na
By: Sutiyo Na
Information On Junior Golf Training Equipment
Like many sports, golf is a game that takes patience and practice. People are rarely born with the natural, raw and inherent talent when it comes to the game of golf. Rather, they need to work at getting better and better at the game. Having the right tools to help make this possible is very important to individuals that are serious about improving the quality of their game. This is why many people will look for Junior golf training equipment when they are trying to find methods to use when it comes to getting better and improving their approach to the game of golf. There are many different types of tools that Junior's is able to offer which will help the individual that wants to make their game better on the golf course. These tools range in price as well, since their specific functions and capabilities differ. Some of these tools are as simple as devices that will help to calculate how far away from the hole the golf ball is. Despite their seeming simplicity, these are the types of tools that will help a golf player learn how to improve their game in basic, yet extremely helpful ways. There are a number of resources that an individual can utilize when it comes to finding and purchasing Junior golf training equipment. On the internet, a person can find a great treasure trove of these items at phenomenal prices. Some people are most interested in the fact that by finding items online, an individual is able to purchase either new or used Junior golf training equipment. This is an important distinction between physical stores and online stores. Rarely will physically sporting good stores offer used items. This is because many people who are shopping in the sporting goods store will want the new items, since this is what they see. Online, individuals are able to enjoy the same items, only at deeply discounted prices. This is because in most, if not all, cases individuals that are looking to sell their used Junior golf training equipment kept in it good condition and used it in order to improve their game. However, when an individual gets done learning with a specific tool, they no longer need the tool. Instead, they can pass it on to others with the hope that these others will be able to get some use out of the item as well. In addition, the seller can help to provide themselves with some extra income due to the sale of the item. With the proper Junior golf training equipment, provided to the individual from a quality source, an individual can use superior equipment in order to attain better results. In the end, the hope is that the individual will be able to have a better golf game. It is important to remember that an individual needs to practice, in addition to owning quality training equipment since the individual will need to learn how to master the physical aspects of the game as well. Together, with the right Junior golf training equipment, a person can hope to improve their game and enjoy the game more as well.
By: Jeff Seward
By: Jeff Seward
Choosing A Golf Putter
There is such a wide range of putters today that it can become very difficult to know which one to choose. And yet a golf putter is a very important part of a golfer's arsenal. In fact, in many ways the golf putter could possibly be the most important club in your bag. Most golfers will take two thirds of their total shots within 100 feet of the hole. And your putts take up a large part of those shots.So what exactly should you be looking for in a golf putter? The first thing you'll notice is the number of different putter shapes that are available. The blade putter is the traditional style used for many many years on golf courses around the world. The blade putter is narrow from face to back and long from the heel to toe. Many people feel more comfortable using one of these standard, classically shaped putters. The more modern shape is the mallet putter. But even then these new putters can come in a variety of shapes although they are all typically just as deep from front to back as they are from heel to toe. You can find square shapes, triangular shapes and just about everything in between. Through the use of these different shapes, along with a variety of materials, a higher moment of inertia can be achieved when manufacturing the head. The moment of inertia is simply the ability of the putter head to resist twisting when you hit the ball. This twisting can send the ball off target.There are also a variety of materials used for putter heads these days. You can get a putter that is forged, cast, milled or crafted from aluminum, copper, brass, titanium, nickel, beryllium, plastics and a number of other materials. You can get them with various face materials and various inserts, again crafted from various materials to give different feels, striking surfaces and moments of inertia. When you think of all this variety, the smartest move is to go to a golf shop or sporting goods store and check out the various types of putters and see how they "feel" when you take a shot. That will help you determine what exactly will work for you in a putter shape and material. you'll also note that some putters include some type of alignment lines to assist in lining up your putts. some will have lines, some have notches, some will even have a system of lines and arrows to assist you in making the shot. Will these help pr hinder you?Also keep in mind that you don't need to keep the grip that comes with the putter. You can always have a club fitter change it to a better grip for you if you find a putter that is perfect in every other aspect. Never settle for less than the best in your putter.But the most important thing to remember when you're trying different golf putters is that one of the largest parts of a professional's putting stroke is confidence. If you have confidence that your golf putter will strike the ball firmly without twisting, that the face is milled properly to give you a consistent striking surface then you have won half the battle. You can concentrate completely on sinking the putt.
By: Lee Macrae
By: Lee Macrae
A Review Of Junior Toski Golf Equipment
There are many people that love the game and sport of golf. Too many people may ignore the audience that exists in the form of youths. Many young people are interested in the game and will spend just as much time invested in this sport as other individuals may invest themselves in baseball or softball. All athletes deserve the best type of sports equipment that they can find, and in many instances when this comes to the game of golf, children will be able to benefit from junior toski golf equipment. Many of the Toski golf equipment is made to the exact specifications of the consumers. What people want, when it comes to golf, they are able to get by working with the Toski company. Not just junior Toski golf equipment is available, either. There are men and women golf equipment pieces that can be purchased as well. With Toski, the whole family can enjoy the game of golf together, from the adult equipment to the junior toski golf equipment that is available to be purchased. In addition, it has never been easier to purchase the junior toski golf equipment or the other pieces that an individual might need in order to ensure that they are able to fully enjoy the game of golf. With the help of the internet, an individual can use their own personal computer to place orders when it comes to golf equipment as supplied by the Toski company. Whether a person wants new golf equipment of used junior Toski golf equipment, they are able to find exactly what they are looking for on the internet. Many people are also able to save money when they shop on the internet since this is what breeds so much competition between the companies. There are so many stores all populated in one general area on the World Wide Web. This breeds competition easily between stores, who have to compete using prices, since this is typically one of the first things that the consumer notices. Looking for the right pieces of Junior Toski golf equipment no longer needs to be a struggle, either. It is very easy for individuals to identify exactly what they are looking for, and locate it easily thanks to the help of internet search engines. Whether a consumer is looking for a specific style of color, finding the right piece of Junior Toski golf equipment has never been easier for consumers. Being able to order items online at any time of the day or night also adds to the convenience of shopping online as opposed to going to the store. Having the packages dropped off right at one's own home is also a very positive aspect of shopping online, since a person will never have to leave their home in order to get the items. Junior Toski golf equipment items are a great investment for children that love the sport, as well as families that are looking for better ways to spend their quality time. An energetic game of golf may be just the thing to bring one's family closer together.
By: Jeff Seward
By: Jeff Seward
A Little History About Golf
The history of golf is a debate as to whether the game was invented by the Chinese, the Dutch, or the Scottish. A game somewhat similar to golf was first mentioned in Dongxuan Records which is a Chinese book of the Eleventh Century. It was also mentioned in the year 1297 in the Netherlands where the Dutch played a game with a stick and a leather ball. Whoever hit the ball in a target several hundreds of meters away the least number of times, won. However, the Scots are generally adamant that the game of golf was a Scottish invention on St. Andrews golf course. The name "golf" is a derivative of the Dutch word "kolf" however, so as for who really invented the game, we say who really cares! It really doesn't matter who actually invented the game, but what does matter is how the history of golf has evolved over the years. Golf courses have not always had eighteen holes. St. Andrews began with eleven holes dictated by the topography of the land the course was located on. Players would play the eleven holes out and then back in to total 22 holes. Later, several of the holes were deemed too short and were combined with each other. That reduced the number from 11 down to 9 so a complete round of golf was comprised of 18 holes. By 1744, the game of golf had become wildly popular. So much so that a group of men called Gentlemen Golfers decided that a set of rules must be laid out for fair play. They came up with a list of thirteen guidelines on playing the game. Major changes since the 19th century have occurred in the equipment needed for play. Better mowers made greens easier to play on. Golf balls designs would evolve by using rubber and man-made materials which made the ball fly longer on a drive. The wooden golf tee would make the drive easier. No discussion of golf history would be complete without talking about the advances made in golf clubs. Metal shafts came about in the 1930s and most drivers were made of wood which is why they are called woods today even though they are most commonly made these days of metal or titanium. The golf shaft design has also gravitated towards graphite which is lighter and makes the club easier to swing. When referring to the history of golf, we can debate exactly where the game originated, but the game of golf as we know it today, most certainly came about in Scotland. Even if we're wrong, we do still have this wonderful game - and most of us are very glad about that!
By: Jeff Seward
By: Jeff Seward
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