Cabrera wins one for the everyman in golf

As with any major championship Tiger Woods doesn't win, there will be ample debate about whether this U.S. Open was good for golf, if a second straight unexpected winner in the game's biggest events is more likely to drive or hinder interest.

It should take a lot less analysis to see that Angel Cabrera's victory Sunday was at least good for golfers.

Really, who could somebody watching that tournament associate with more, the guy who was making his first breakthrough at the game's highest level or the one closing in on a record for such golf excellence?

Who did Joe Driving Range have more in common with, somebody who obviously knows his way around the clubhouse buffet and power-dragged Malboros between shots or the fitness freak whose abs are harder than the shafts in his irons and whose idea of an on-course snack is an energy bar? Any Sunday blitz is full of guys with Cabrera's slumped shoulders and swollen midsection. But Woods, who has either gone to smaller shirts or bigger muscles, doesn't look like anybody you've ever seen getting out of a cart at a public course.

And who could we all better identify with, the player who looked terrified of being in contention, whose facial expressions told the importance of every shot better than any scoreboard could, or the android who never appears to get rattled by the demands of golf? Woods might let his emotions out after a bad shot, but he never lets them prevent him from preparing for the next one. And he is never in a situation that seems too big for him. Cabrera looked like he was in one of those all day Sunday, right up until he managed to beat back nerves that seemed to be running twice as fast as Oakmont's greens.
So this Open, with its over-par parade and off-the-rack champion, might have seemed to humanize PGA Tour players. It might seem to show that they too can struggle with a game that eventually beats everybody who plays it.

In reality, though, it was another indication of just how different players at that level are than everybody else. The USGA will be alternately celebrated and criticized for a U.S. Open setup that once again humbled the world's best. It always is.

But perhaps what's most remarkable is that Oakmont didn't completely abuse the field, that the scores weren't even higher. There were only eight rounds under par all week, but there were none in the 90s. And, believe it or not, that's saying something. At the start of the Open, Vijay Singh predicted the winning score would be 10 over par. Tiger said a 10-handicapper playing that course under those conditions for four days would not break 100 on any of them.

Then the field goes out and plays just about the same as it has in the U.S. Open for years, with the winning score the same as last year.
It wasn't pretty golf. But it was pretty impressive under the circumstances.

And it's not hard to find reasons to be impressed by Cabrera, who won by banging drives that went 311 yards on average and hitting more greens than all but two players in the field. And by making a delicate two-putt on the 72nd hole and posting 25 percent of the tournament's sub-par rounds.
Most impressive of all, though, was how human he made a U.S. Open champion seem, how he not only beat the final-round tension but that he showed how much he actually felt it.
Source URL: http://savannahnow.com//node/307881

Tags: golf, golfing, golfers, cabrera

A Lower Body Golf Swing Can Generate Maximum Power

The perfect lower body golf swing involves the legs to a very large extent and it is therefore true to say that exercise that conditions these parts of the body will have a positive impact on the quality of the golf swing.

This truth is obvious when you take a closer look at the lower body golf swing. During the backswing, the feet, knee and hamstring muscles are extremely important. The rest of the lower body golf swing movement will usually require a lot of participation of the hip and lower back.

Thus no good golf exercise program designed to improve the golf swing will avoid the lower back. In fact some golfers are puzzled at first when they see some of the golf specific exercises which concentrate on the hamstring and lower parts of the body.

They may initially feel that too much emphasis is being placed on this lower part of the body. Actually too much emphasis can hardly be placed on the lower body when it comes to the golf swing. This is because that is precisely where most of the golf swings happen.

In the past, even when golfers though of a little exercise, their emphasis was always on the upper part of the body, rather than on the lower body, when thinking about improving their golf swing.

Times have changed and today every genuine golf exercise program will usually place a lot of importance and emphasis on the muscles on the lower body for the sake of the golf swing.

These lower body golf swing exercises will involve both stretching exercises as well as strength-building exercises that will usually involve weight training.

A good program should include a wide range of different exercise and you should also be able to use various golf aid gadgets to correct weaknesses in your golf swing.

By strengthening your lower body golf swing you will always feel more confident and better prepared to perform a more powerful golf swing.

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness swing trainers in the country, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds and manual at his proper golf swing site - Perform Better Golf.
Tags: golf, golfing, golfers, golf swing

Increasing Your Golf Swing Clubhead Speed Isn’t Everything

“I want to increase my golf swing clubhead speed!” I hear this one all the time from the members of my golf-trainer.com site and golfers sending me emails. I want to be a ‘straight’ shooter (pardon the pun) right now. Increasing your golf swing clubhead speed is not everything!

You heard that correctly.

You can swing at 140 mph and it won’t mean anything unless your golf swing sequence and moment of impact is solid. There are lots of 300 yards in the woods! I have to chuckle when I see the Speed Stik commercials with Vijay.

Swinging that thing harder and harder isn’t going to make your ball go straight…and if I’m correct, the goal is to get it in the fairway, right?

The point I’m trying to get at is a more powerful, controlled, sequenced swing that does produce a higher clubhead speed, yet in control swing. One that has a consistent swing path and solidness of hit on the clubface.

So how do you achieve this?

The only way is to improve your golf-specific strength and flexibility!

If you’ve read any of my 300 plus articles, you’ll know I come back to this time-and-time again. It’s your BODY that limits your golfing ability.

Now picture this!

You do some simple, ‘in-home” golf exercises and go to the course. You step up to the tee and rip one farther than you have in years and it stays in play.

Doesn’t that sound more like it?

There is a balance between a higher clubhead swing speed, control and sequence of motion that gets you back to impact hitting the ball in the center of your clubface. Swinging hard just to swing hard won’t accomplish your goals of longer, straighter drives.

I receive emails from members, customers of my golf fitness dvds and manual who tell me who much more stable their swing has become doing my simple golf exercises, and how they are hitting it 20-30 yards further… consistently.

So don’t get me wrong!

I’m all about improving your golf swing clubhead speed… but with a stable swing… not one that is out of control and balance. I’m very proud when I receive these emails and know I’ve made yet another golfer a believer in golf training.

So next time you see Vijay’s commercial for the Speed Stik, don’t run out and buy it with the intension your going to see that number go up-and-up. Buy it with the intension that your swing will be stronger, stabler and in better sequence.

Then and only then will increasing your golf swing clubhead speed be a factor.

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf performance swing trainers in the country. Golf Magazine's expert at GolfOnline.com, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf performance sites. Take a look at his just released golf performance dvds and manual at his golf swing training site - Perform Better Golf.
Tags: golf, golfing, golf swing

Weight Training For Golf - In Your Own Home

Weight training for golf is viewed by golfers as a lot of work, time-consuming, boring and you need a gym membership to do it. None of the above is true, and if you read this article, I’ll explain why.

You see… weight training for golf isn’t on machines anyway… so that eliminates the requirement of a gym. It’s not a lot of work, if you pick and choose the area you want to focus on. It’s not time-consuming if you do it in the convenience of your home, and have a plan of action. And lastly, it can be a lot of fun, when you use bands, exercise balls and training equipment specific to golf.

There many “so-called” weight training for golf programs, but when you take a look at them, you’ll see pictures of golfers sitting on their butts in a machine. I don’t know about you, but I think golf is done “on your feet”, right?

Weight training for golf is close to becoming “mainstream” with the golfing community. We see and hear all the pros doing it and playing their best golf; so why wouldn’t we amateurs do it also?

There are so many reasons why to participate in a weight training for golf program, that you can’t overlook it and say you don’t need it.

Lacking power in your swing? It’s because your body can’t produce any stored energy from a full backswing with torque in your core. That’s a ‘physical’ issue, not mechanical.

Is your golf swing inconsistent from one swing to the next? Swing faults originate from some deeper physical limitation that’s not allowing you to make a mechanically sound and repeatable swing. How many times have you taken a lesson and heard your pro say, “you need to make a full backswing”, but you just can’t physically do it? That’s a ‘physical’ issue, not mechanical.

How about injuries? Do you have one at the moment? The golf swing is physically damaging to the body if you don’t have enough strength and flexibility to withstand the force the golf swing puts on it. Swinging a 3 foot long lever (club) at up to 90 mph is unbelievably stressful on the joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles of the body. That’s a ‘physical’ issue, not mechanical.

I could go on and on, but I think you might get the idea by now.

Weight training for golf may be your “missing link” to your best game ever! If you’ve tried all the ‘other’ methods, this is the ONLY one left. Why wouldn’t you explore the possibilities a little more?

If you’re looking to add power to your golf swing; improve your consistency; and prevent golf injuries, then you’ve got to consider weight training for golf.

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf performance swing trainers in the country. Golf Magazine's expert at GolfOnline.com, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf performance sites. Take a look at his just released golf performance dvds and manual at his golf swing tips site - Perform Better Golf.
Tags: golf, golfing, golfers, golf swing, weight training

Choosing a Golf Club

Cast Iron Golf Club

The cast iron golf club is made from cast iron and the majority of the weight of the golf club is around the perimeter. Because of this the sweet spot is larger and this type of golf club is really great for beginners or those who have trouble making full contact.

Forged Iron Golf Club

The forged iron golf club is generally used by professionals simply because of its design and function. The center of the golf club is the center of gravity and the front of the club is a bit heavier. If you are an experienced player then you might consider a forged iron golf club.

Also, you will need to choose a size for your golf club as well from standard to midsize or oversized.

The standard club is smaller, so the sweet spot is as well. Generally professionals and advanced players use a standard club.

Midsize golf clubs are great because they have a bigger sweet spot and are a bit larger than the standard golf club. Average players frequently use midsize golf clubs because they are easy to control and have a larger sweet spot.

Oversized golf clubs are generally used by seniors and individuals who have a hard time hitting the ball straight on. The one problem with these clubs is they can be difficult to control. The bonus, a huge sweet spot so when you make contact your ball goes further!

About The Author:

Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.golfclubsreviews.info a website specialized on Golf, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Golf. For more info on Golf visit: http://www.golfclubsreviews.info
Tags: golf, golfing, golfers, golf club

Discover How Golf Schools Can Help You Play Better

Services offered by Golf Schools need to be analyzed before joining it. A number of schools have mushroomed all around and every school claims that their school is the best. In view of such claims, it becomes difficult for the individuals to take a decision.

The objective of joining a Golf school is to learn the golf and become a good player if not a great player.

Swing is most important for every golfer. A more powerful, consistent golf swing is attainable for every golfer. The learner must know how to get more distance with all clubs and increase accuracy at the same time.

Swing Technology helps in learning the golf swing and other aspects of the sport.

Services Offered

The learner should always focus on the services offered by Golf Schools and not on their tall claims like "We have won Maximum number of Teacher of the Year award" or we have nationwide training schools etc. One should see and if possible take the opinion of somebody, who has already taken training from that school. Some salient features that must be part of the services offered by golf school, while deciding the training school.

1. The class size should range between 4 to 16 students and the teacher ratio should not be more than 4-1. However, 2-1 would be ideal, if possible.
2. The coach must be an ace golfer and should have excellent communication skills to make the learner understand the game and feel comfortable and secure.
3. The skills and the requirements must be clearly understood by the coach and he should be able to tailor it according to the needs of the individual. The groups of students must be made according to the abilities.
4. Apart from a good coach the institute must also have other facilities like: i. Latest Video Analysis Equipments, ii. Launch Monitor Technology, iii. Swing Learning Aids, iv. Should be able to scientifically measure a golfer's current swing and pinpoint his or her weaknesses, v. Help develop a plan for measurable improvement. vi. The staff should know the game and should be able to teach; so all golfers get all benefits where it really needs - on the golf course.
5. Last but not the least, the price. The cost of learning must be justifiable.

Thus, one should analyze the Services offered by Golf Schools taking the points mentioned above into consideration, before deciding on the Golf School.

Discover valuable advice and information about golf schools - what should you look for, and what you should avoid. Find out how to play the best golf you can play... Click http://www.golf-schools-uncovered.com/golf-school-vacation.html
Tags: golf, golfing, golf swing, golf school

A Golf Fitness Coach Equals Great Golf

Golf fitness coach. Have you ever considered one… and if so, what exactly were you looking for? There are many ‘general fitness’ trainers trying to get a piece of the golf fitness and training market that seems to be rapidly gaining exposure both on the television and in print thanks to Tiger, Vijay and Annika.

But the first thing you need to consider when looking into hiring a golf fitness coach or program is the trainers experience in golf.

Yes… that is high on the list of requirements. Does he/she know golf? Do they know the biomechanics of the golf swing? How about muscle function during the golf swing?

An easy test is during the initial interview or if you’re researching it online is to either ask very golf specific swing technique questions or take a look at the information on the website. You’ll find out real quick if this person or program can help your golf swing, game and health.

A golf fitness coach or program should incorporate strength, flexibility, endurance, body awareness, balance, stability and even a nutrition component.

It’s easy for a trainer to have a strength component…but is it specific to golf? A quick test. Take a look at some of the exercises. Are any of them on seated machines for instance? If they are…run! This is NOT a golf fitness coach and/or program. This is considered ‘general fitness’.

Now stretching. There are dozens of stretches for all people. But take a look at some of them. Do they even remotely look like they will benefit your golf swing?

Stretches involving trunk flexibility lower back hamstring and even shoulders specific to the mechanics of the swing are what you want. General stretches are better than nothing, but will delay your results. You want specific stretches.

Body awareness. Does any of the exercises resemble golf positions or phases of the swing? Do they look like you would be on your feet and in your golf posture? As stated above, if they are seated on machines, your body will learn nothing in regards to your golf swing.

Training your body specific to golf incorporates positions almost identical to what your body would be in during any part of the golf swing.

Stability. Training your body to improve stability in your swing can get a little complex if you really want to see results. The swing happens at between 80-100 miles an hour. One of the biggest flaws of amateur golfers is moving in their golf swing.

Moving either laterally (sliding), vertically (up and done) or both. This is death to your golf swing. To improve your stability involves specific strength drills most trainers don’t even know about.

I could go on-and-on about the requirements of a golf fitness coach or program. It is critical you make the right decision. I have heard horror stories of golfers working with ‘so-called’ golf fitness experts and their game getting worse. With the proper research this won’t happen to you. So definitely consider a golf fitness coach.

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness swing trainers in the country, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds and manual at his golf swing trainer site - Perform Better Golf.

Tags: golf, golfing, golfers, golf swing

Golf Injury Prevention

A golf injury is one of the most common issues with all amateur golfers. But having adequate strength and flexibility of muscles and joints and participating in effective training technique, can also prevent a golf injury.

Well-conditioned limbs and joints that are under control when the stresses of the swing are encountered will greatly reduce risk of a golf injury.

If your body motion is out of control when you execute the swing, the muscles and tendons have little room for error. The result is likely a tear or strained tendon or ligament… keeping you off the course indefinitely.

The golf swing is a complicated movement (skill). In order to maximize your distance and power, you must have a high level of flexibility (range of motion) and force in the joints involved. This would include the shoulders, back and hips.

And when looking at the areas of a golf injury, the above mentioned areas are at the top of the list. Go figure!

Keep in mind that with an above average level of strength and flexibility and swing technique, you will not only reduce the occurrence of a golf injury, but also enhance the quality of your game.

Many golfers think they are generally healthy and able to play a round of golf without a golf injury… however, I have heard and read dozens of times where a golfer gets injured on the course… swinging a golf club. Has that happened to you or a golfing buddy?

Somewhere I read a statistic from 10 years ago. There was over 39,000 golf injuries treated in emergency rooms back in 1995! Wow! That’s unbelievable! How about all the injuries that weren’t reported or that were treated by the golfer himself? Or how about the chronic golf injuries the golfer ‘lives with’ just to be able to play golf?

These are numbers from 10 years ago! I wonder what they are now? I’m here to tell you golf is a physical sport and without the proper training, you’ll be added to that number mentioned above.

I don’t think it’s a tough sell to say that participating in a golf strength and flexibility program will help you avoid a golf injury.

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness swing trainers in the country, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds and manual at his golf swing trainer site - Perform Better Golf.
Tags: golf, golfing, golfers