Golf Exercises - What's the Best One to Do? by Rick Cole

Golf exercises are absolutely the best thing you can do to really improve your game. Sure, you can learn more pointers about your swing and buy a $400 golf gps device, but if you don't have the flexibility and strength to control your body, you won't be able to take advantage of any of this. So, you've got two choices. One, let your game stay pretty much the same. Or...two, start doing the right golf exercises. Golf, after all, is a sport, right?

There are many different golf exercises. For one thing, just getting in shape will radically help your game. It doesn't matter how old you are, either. If you're out of shape, then you can start now with simple exercises like just walking and increasing the distance week by week.

If you're older then you need to include other golf exercises like lifting weights. After about 35 your body naturally looses muscle mass. Also your metabolism slows down. Just starting to life weight 20 minutes a day, three days a week will help recharge your game. You'll get much more enjoyment out of playing. Frankly, you're going to get much more enjoyment out of everything!

If you're in generally good shape, then you can benefit from golf exercises, too. Now, you don't need to start a walking program or basic weight lifting. You're probably already doing these things. What you need are exercises more specific to golf. The main types of exercises you'll want to be doing are ones that strengthen your core, increase your flexibility and range of motion, and also sport specific exercises, such as those that mimic your swing.

One of the best all around golf exercises is called "the plank". The plank addresses weaknesses in the core of your body. Your core is defined as that portion of your body from below your chest to just below your hips. Your core stabilizes your body, and it is where virtually all your power is derived from.

I know you've seen golfers, maybe even professionals, who just crush the ball when they tee off. Well, part of that is superior technique. But the majority of that is a really strong body core.

A proper golf swing rotates the hips one way, then unleashes that power the other way. You basically rotate through the swing as you make it. You might not realize this, because the motion is not that grandiose, but it's really that rotation of the hips that creates the power, which is delivered to the club through your shoulders and arms. The plank is one of my favorite golf exercises because it addresses just this part of the body.

Here's how you do the plank:

1. Lie down on your stomach
2. Now rest your torso on your forearms. That is your arms from the hands to the elbows should be touching the ground.
3. Next curl up your toes so that you're resting the bottom of your body on your toes.
4. Straighten your body out so that it forms...a plank!
5. Hold this for ten seconds.
6. Work up to one, then two minutes.
7. Do three sets of these.

You can also do a side plank, which is an even better exercise! Just follow the same steps, but rest on just one arm, while keeping your body straight.

Golf exercises like the plank can transform your game. You need to exercise for other reasons, like just for health. But if you're main goal is to improve your game try doing this routing with the plank for two to three weeks. You'll be astonished at what this golf exercise will do.

Next, To learn more about more great golf exercises, check out this resource,

Two Golf Exercises You Absolutely Must Do Today! by Rick Cole

Want to know two golf exercises that will significantly increase your drive distance, and lower your score? The two exercises we're going to talk about here, will do both. They wont take long to do, and they'll not only improve your game, but they'll increase your enjoyment of the game. Before we talk about these particular exercises, let's talk about the golf swing and what really matters as far as body mechanics.

There are basically two things going on from an overall body mechanics point of view that affect golf. One of these is core strength and the other is range of motion. Most golfers suffer in both areas and need golf exercises to cover both areas. In this article we're going to talk about two exercises that affect core strength and swing strength.

Core strength is the key to good golf, but you also need swing strength. Although many types of exercises will help, exercises that most resemble the motions you do in golf will help the most. This way, your body can translate its new found strength into motions that work well in golf more easily.

The first exercise we're going to discuss is called the lunge twist. This exercise is really cool because it both strengthens your core and also helps train your shoulders and top of your torso to deliver a strong swing.

Let's talk about the steps to the lunge twist.

1. This exercise is best done with some kind of weight. You don't need much, because you're going to keep your arms extended. Five pounds, ten pounds, something like that will do.
2. Next stand straight with your arms in front of you, holding the weight in both hands.
3. Now, step out in a big lunge. You don't have to go down really far at first. Build you way up to it.
4. As you step out into the lunge, twist your body toward that same side and with your arms out in front of you extended, twist back as if you're swinging a golf club.
5. Stand up straight.
6. Do the same on the other side.
7. Do a few reps of these, and three sets, if you can.

This is an exercise you can do easily anywhere. You don't have to use a real weight like something you'd find in the gym. You can hold anything that's heavy. For best effect, do this at least three times per week.

Also, don't overdo it at first. If you're out of shape, just do what you can. Best to get back in shape slowly, as opposed to hurting yourself.

The next exercise is called the full swing exercise. Again, in this golf exercise, we're mimicking the real golf swing as best we can. For this exercise, you're going to need one of those stretchy exercise bands. If not, then you can use a weight and hold it in your hand, although it's not quite the same. (Buy a stretchy exercise band; they're very inexpensive.)

Nest, to learn more about the best golf exercise, check out my website.

What Kind of Golf Bag Should You Have? by Brad Long

Golf bags are an essential part of playing the game of golf. Whether you ride in a cart or walk the course you need a golf bag. So the question is what kind and what size of a golf bag do you really need? Some bags offer a fashion statement and others offer the chance to show off your favorite brands. Some are big, some are mediums, and some like professional golf bags are huge.

You will discover some golfers who love to walk and will have a bag that accommodates them with straps that go around the shoulders much like a back pack would. Then you will see other golfers who have a more professional looking bag that is well suited for a golf cart. Often these bags are considered riding bags and fit well with a golf cart because they are more sturdy, and have less of a chance falling off the cart during your round.

For all practical reasons a bag should be large enough to carry your golf clubs and accessories like balls, gloves, tees, golf gear, an umbrella, and personal items for easy storage.

You may also find it beneficial to have handy some tissues, band aids, insect repellent, or tape to go around your fingers like Tiger Woods has in case you wear down some skin and need extra protection. Golf is a very difficult sport much harder than it looks so giving yourself the proper essentials to have at your disposal during a round of golf can make your game much more enjoyable. Of course whether you walk or ride is going to be your decision so when buying a golf bag you should plan accordingly.

Golf bags can be misleading? By this I mean you will often see golfers with big professional looking bags and other golfers with a much smaller bags that look as though it was purchased 10 years ago. So which player do you think has a better game? Most would assume the player with the larger professional bag is better right? Not so fast I have personally seen many a golfer with big expensive looking bags and couldn't play a lick. What's the lesson? Never judge a book by its cover. How you chose to represent yourself on the golf course is up to you, and while there is not doubt having nice equipment such as a fresh shiny new bag is great, it doesn't automatically make you a good golfer.

Now that we have our bag situation figured out let's talk about the one thing you should not have in your golf bag. Any guesses on what this is? Yep you guessed it - your cell phone. Today there are golf courses that will require you to turn them off before you tee off the first hole. The starter on the first tee goes over the rules explaning what to expect and what the local rules are. These rules are more often requiring that you not talk on your cell phone during the round. So if you're one of those people who is constantly on your cell phone it may be wise to call the golf course first and see what their policy is on cell phones.

So now that you know some of the basic rules on the golf course and you got your golf bag with the essentials its time to get out and play a round of golf and enjoy yourself. The type of golf bag you choose is up to you and your playing habits whether you ride a golf cart, you walk, or you are going to do a combination of both. A good golf bag will allow you to be prepared during your round having all the items that possibly are needed during the round. Just remember whatever bag you chose turn your cell phone off and put it somewhere in your golf bag so you don't bother your playing partners or any of the groups around you.

Do You Need To Buy A Pair Of Golf Shoes? by Brad Long

Whatever you sport you chose to play there is a special type of shoe you can wear that is designed to increase your performance. Golf for example, is one of the sports that the shoes you buy are pretty much tied to the golf course and designed to help your performance.

On the other hand if you play tennis or basketball the shoes you purchased can be worn other than the tennis or basketball court. With the thousands of people who start to play golf every year, and given the current state of the economy, people have to make a decision on whether or not to purchase a pair of golf shoes. Although it is not absolutely necessary most courses require you have a pair of golf shoes during your round. However, that also depends on the course you're playing. Some municipal courses could care less if you had golf shoes on as long as their tee sheets are filled with players during the season.

To buy golf shoes or not to buy golf shoes? Well, you should first consider how much you are going to be playing and at what course you'll be playing the most. If you are a beginner and are not sure how much you'll be playing during the season maybe you don't invest the $70-$100 for a pair of decent golf shoes. On the other hand if golf is something you are making a commitment to then you absolutely need a pair of good shoes. Golf shoes help support balance throughout the swing so having golf shoes that are not only comfortable, but allow you to maintain good balance should be key factors to your buying decision.

You can find great discounts on golf shoes all over the internet if you know which ones you want to buy. However there is nothing like being helped and fitted by your local PGA Pro who can help you make your decision. Get additional information from professionals who actually wears golf shoes can give you all the data you need to figure out which brand, color, shape, and size will work best for your body shape.

Many golf clubs offer pricing on equipment that is very competitive to what you can find online making buying a pair of golf shoes a one stop shop. Plus there is not waiting for them to come in the mail if you ordered Online. So using your local Pro is really a win win situation to find the best pair of golf shoes to buy.

Now that you have made your decision on buying your golf shoes its time to get out and enjoy a round of golf. It really cannot be overstated how important a good pair of golf shoes is to the quality of your game as well as it is to the health of the golf course.