Golf Instruction Tips For Driving

Golf instructions and tips have hit an all-time high in recent times in the form of manuals, videos and DVDs. That gives golf enthusiasts and players an opportunity to improve their game. Among the most frequently asked questions, driving seems to be on top of the list in most cases.

A bad error to make while hitting the ball is to hit it as hard as possible. The idea is to correct this problem, which is behind a lot of badly played games. There are many factors to consider while driving a ball, the first being the design of the club. The designs are variable, and each club is made in a way to help send the ball a certain distance. You have to feel comfortable with the club you use.

The second most important thing to keep in mind is the stance of your body. You have to avoid being too tense, and must relax your muscles to drive an efficient swing. A tense body will do the opposite. Some golfers have flabby and weak muscles, which make them physically unprepared for an effective swing. Therefore, you will achieve bad results on the course. The best tip for that problem is to get your muscles conditioned by joining a golf conditioning program. That will give you stronger muscles and also the ability to better your golf drive.

The keyword here is to relax while driving. The other essentials are comfortable golf shoes, new golf balls, a crisp golf glove, good protection from the sun, etc. They all add to the quality of the game you play. A good drive has two basic fundamentals, which are balance and rhythm. If these two elements are implemented properly into your swing, it results in a great drive. Weight transfer, too, plays a crucial role. The correct dynamics of weight shifting also lend power and enhancement to your shot.

If you implement these tips and stick to them, you're sure to develop a great drive within a short period of time. But it also takes a lot of conscious effort and patience for golf is not an easy game. You can also purchase the instruction manuals and videos to practice and pick up tips. They are all available online.

Golf Instruction provides detailed information on Golf Instruction, Free Golf Instruction, Golf Swing Instruction, Online Golf Instruction and more. Golf Instruction is affiliated with Top Golf Schools.

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Golf Earning While Enjoying

Breaking golf news! Professional golf tours offer a new exciting golf experience for all amateurs and golf professionals worldwide! With the spirit of sportsmanship and the spirit of golf competitiveness, professional golf tours have created a wide audience since its first introduction way back 1968. Though playing golf is considered one of the lucrative sports, this did not hinder the objective of coming into a group to share each talent and enjoy the game.

A tour is a term used for a series of games played in golf tournament. This Professional golf tours have created an annual tour schedule of weekly tournaments played all over the world. The schedule is based on the geographical location of the players.

Earning while enjoying

Most of the golfers earn money through the sports. Professional golfers (at least 95%) make their main income as club or teaching professionals, rather than from competition. "Touring professionals", also known as "Tournament golfers" or "Pro golfers", who make their income from prize money and endorsements, are small elite within the profession. The very best golfers make up to 8-figure incomes in U.S. dollars.

The Market

The present market of professional golf tours have employed several segments all over the world. These have created the woman's tournament, and the seniors tournament. Women's Professional golf tours is organised by independent regional tours. Leading female golfers make incomes well over USD$1 million per year, more than most other women athletes other than top tennis players.

On the other hand, in Men's senior Professional golf tours, when the male golfer reaches age 50, male golfers are eligible to compete in senior tournaments. Golf is unique among sports in having high profile and lucrative competitions for players of this age group. Nearly all of the famous golfers who are eligible to compete in these events choose to do so, unless they are unable to for health reasons.

A number of players win more than a million dollars in prize money each season, and once endorsements and other business activities are taken into account, a few of the "legends of golf" in this age group earn more or less as much as any of the younger PGA Tour pros, other than Tiger Woods. The two main senior tours are: Champions Tour (based in the United States) and European Seniors Tour.

Playing golf has elevated to a level that it has been recognized as a game played to have the players excel in the field and not only as an individual sports. Now having a background on the game, can you feel the excitement? Be updated with golf news and see the new difference in golf tournaments.

For more great golfing information please visit http://www.golf-leader.com

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Callaway Performance Centers - Golf Club Fitting at Its Best

Amateur and professional golfers know the importance of golf club fitting, but many waste hours and money with trial-and-error attempts at finding the best clubs for their. Callaway Performance Centers (CPC) helps golfers avoid the aggravation and trouble of trying to find great clubs and properly analyze golfer requirements the first time through. These high performance golf testing centers were created with the mission of evaluating swings to pinpoint custom club fitting for any skill level golfer. Of course, amateurs are not the only players who utilize this innovative technology to examine their swing and customize their club fittings. Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Annika Sorenstam are some of the golf professionals who have been known to visit Callaway Performance Centers. By allowing players to swing all of Callaway's latest innovative club designs, players can get a great feel and fit for golfing equipment. All in all, getting a customized club fitting by Callaway professionals allows golfers to have an advantage over those without professional club fittings.

The Callaway Performance Centers are designed to make each golfer feel comfortable and confident. The experts who run the centers are highly trained golf professionals. They understand the equipment, its features and its possibilities more than anyone else. The experts are prepared to offer precision and customized fittings for golfers of all levels. They work with beginning golfers to expert professional golfers, and everyone in between. Each fitting session occurs indoors in an innovative and advanced fit bay. The bay area uses the Callaway Performance Analysis System (CPAS) for the session, to allow the most accurate fitting to occur. In fact, the only thing the visitor needs to do is bring their golf swing!

The Callaway Performance Analysis System (CPAS) has many benefits. Each system uses high speed cameras and sensors. These allow the professional and the system to analyze all swing and club dynamics. Recording is done accurately before, after and at the impact. In addition, the sensors and cameras can pick up the ball flight and ball launch conditions, all at the same time.

The CPAS also is used to measure many types of data during the swing and fitting. It can measure club head speed, ball speed, side angle, launch angle, backspin, club head path, side spin and angle of attack. Because it is an automatic system, its accuracy is unmatched. Created by Callaway Golf engineers, this system is prime for comparative club analysis and evaluations. The system allows the expert at the Performance Center to have a visual record of everything which occurs during the evaluation. They can then use the hard data captured to make ideal recommendations to a golfer, without hesitation or bias.

Each Virtual Test Center (VTC) allows a player to see what the shot may have looked like in several locations and situations. For example, a player may be able to see what their shot would have looked like on the 9th hole of Pebble Beach Golf Links. The experts are able to use the information to compare ball flight, trajectory and relative distance for the shot you take at the virtual center. The system and the center's operations and procedures make it extremely efficient to get accurate results during the evaluation.

Most evaluations take about 45 minutes to complete, with both irons and woods tested. Throughout the testing, high speed cameras capture all swing data needed. Then the ball flight simulator shows your results on a big monitor. The CPAS shows 3D images and shows how your swing is working. It also recommends specific Callaway clubs based on the data it captures for your particular swing. Because each center has the OptiFit Fitting System, visitors can test various golf drivers and irons. They can switch between different shaft and club head combos to get the best overall results. The visitor then leaves the session with custom specifications so they can purchase new golf clubs with confidence.

According to golf experts all around the world, the Callaway Golf Performance Center is the most accurate place to get a golf club fitting. Their advanced technology and innovative equipment allows for professional results and precise club recommendations.

Because the Callaway evaluation system uses four cameras and innovative software, they have the most thorough monitoring system in the golf market today. The system can accurately show which club head and shaft combination can give the player the most distance, most accuracy and most consistency. This information is purely individualized and based on the skills of the individual golfer.

While the Callaway Performance Center was initially designed for testing Callaway golf clubs and golf club fitting, it is also used for another purpose. Many golfers use this accurate system to better understand their swing, to learn what they're doing wrong and how to improve their game.

David is the owner of The World of Golf, a well-established and trusted golf clubs retailer. In business since 1968 and as an authorized dealer on the Internet since 1995, The World of Golf is your one-stop shop for great deals on new golf equipment from leading brands including Callaway Golf, Taylor Made, Ping, Titleist, Nike, Odyssey, and FootJoy. Visit our site for the latest and greatest in golf club deals and technology.

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

UPro Golf GPS Review

There has been so much talk about the uPro Golf GPS that I thought I would do a review on this unit.

What makes the uPro GPS stand out amongst its competitors? Several things actually.

Graphics

The most obvious difference between this and other Golf GPS models is the incredibly high quality and detail provided in the graphics.

The uPro comes with what they call the ProMode which is in effect a video view of the green taken as if you were flying over it. Very similar (I almost said exactly the same as) to the view you get when one of the TV stations takes a helicopter flight over a hole and shows you the complete layout. This is graphics at its best and it is sure to change the way Golf GPS models are made in the future.

This high resolution aerial photography combined with satellite imagery not only gives you the layout of the entire hole in play but also shows slope and elevation variances before ending with a close up view and detail of the green you are about to play.

Basic Mode.

This is the standard option. Graphics are sexier and clearer with the 2,2 inch high resolution 320 X 240 color screen than any other GPS I have come across and the screen is easy to read in any lighting conditions.

In basic mode you have "Hazard" and "Green" views. The Hazard View show distances to various hazards on the hole in play as well as the distance needed to clear them.

The Green View shows distances to the front, centre and back of the green in play.

Pro Mode.

In addition to the video flyover and hazard and green view modes already referred to the Pro Mode features Smart View which provides three distinct views of the hole in play. The first is the probable and preferable landing area of the current hole in play. The second is a zoomed in view of the green you are bout to play and the third is a zoomed out view of the entire hole from tee to green.

Pro mode also includes Mark Shot view which enables you to measure any particular or all shots that you have played. So with the press of a button you can measure exactly how far you hit each club.

As if that isn't enough to convince you that this is the only GPS to get the Pro Mode includes Measure Mode which uses "anypoint"technology. With Measure Mode you can select a point anywhere on the hole and the uPro will tell you how far it is from that point to the green as well as from where you are to that particular point. The benefit of this feature is obvious when you want to lay up to a certain distance so that your approach shot can be taken with your favourite club.

This particular feature is like having a Rangefinder without having to have line of sight. This is definitely a feature that is going to change the technology or set the standards for the competition to strive for.

Pricing.

The basic unit comes with one free Pro Mode course pre loaded. This would be the course of your choice and one supposes that would be your home track.

All other courses are priced dependent on the mode selected. Basic mode courses are cheaper than pro mode - obviously.

The following fee structure applies:

Basic mode:

• All course downloads are free in Basic Mode.

Pro Mode:

• 1 course for $ 10.00
• 5 courses for $ 40.00
• 10 courses for $ 60.00
• 20 courses for $ 80.00
• 50 courses for $ 120.00

At first glance this pricing structure seems expensive but realistically if you consider the number of courses you play and work out your costs it is not expensive at all. For those people who play a lot of golf at a number of different courses the added cost will be insignificant.

Other Features.

The uPro comes with a built in lithium battery that provides over 12 hours of power. It gets it signals from more satellites (24) than any other golf GPS, making it an extremely accurate unit.

The unit is sexy and slim. There is simply no other way to describe it. Small and compact and easy to use with one hand - but if both your hands are busy it does have a voice activated option that comes with the software!

The uPro can be used as a digital score card and will have built in analytics in the near future. This will mean that you can look back on your previous games and scores and work out exactly what part of your game needs to be improved upon.

uPro have promised a range of unique features for the future that will be charged for on a user pays basis. With what they have produced so far I believe all the add-ons will be well priced and useful features.

Likely Customers.

uPlay have done their homework well and are targeting the discerning golfers who knows what he wants and is willing to pay for it. They are also targeting the snobs amongst us (and I willingly confess to being one) who simply want the best to show it off.

Other likely customers also include those lovely wives who may want to spoil their husbands and buy them something in the golf line that they would not ordinarily but for themselves.

Playing a round of golf with the uPro Golf GPS was certainly an enjoyable experience. This golf GPS is definitely something you can get used to. Not only was the uPro fun and easy to use but boy did it impress my golfing mates! I hate to say it but I am a bit of a materialistic person, well what's wrong with liking nice things? If you're like me then you should spoil yourself with the best graphics available in Golf GPS models - get yourself a uPro Golf GPS today!

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Hybrid Golf Clubs and the Distance Gap

Hybrid golf clubs have many, many benefits, but there is one problem that golfers switching over will face. That problem relates to the distance gap. What is the distance gap? How can the distance gap be avoided? Should the distance gap issue impact my decision to buy hybrid golf clubs?

One of the most immediate benefits I noticed right after I switched to a hybrid 3 and 4 related to increased distance. I normally would hit my 3-iron between 190-200 yards, that is when I could hit it at all. My 4-iron would be in the 180-190.

Now, that has changed with the hybrids. I hit my hybrid 3 between 200-220, I've even caught one that went 245. Of course that was a little downwind. I also hit the hybrid 4 190-200 max. I hit my regular 5 iron about 170-175 max. Hence the problem that many hybrid golf club owners face. What do I hit when I'm between 175 & 190 yards out?

Switching to the hybrid golf clubs caused a 15 yard gap in my game that I no longer have a full club to hit.

These are your options you have available to bridge that gap:

Better course management. This is probably the worst suggestion, but it's also the only option that won't cost you any money. You simply play your round with the conscious effort of not putting yourself in the gap range. For example, my gap is between 175-190. That means I don't leave myself with an approach shot in the range. I have to position my drives and layup shots better to give myself a full swing into the green. If I get in this gap zone, I either under-swing or over-swing. This option will likely cost you a stroke per round.

Buy a club to fill the gap. In my case, I just needed to buy a hybrid 5 to cancel out my 175-190 yard gap. This means that I carry a hybrid 5 for the 175-190 and a regular 5 for the 175 and below. This also means that I am 1 club over my 14 club limit. For me, it's a course by course decision and it all depends on the length of the course. If it's a short course, I'll leave out the regular 5 iron in favor of that extra wedge. If it is a long course, I'll pull a wedge in favor of both 5's. You have to figure out what works for you in that situation.

Buy a full hybrid and game improving set. Callaway, Cleveland, Adams and all the other major manufacturers are producing full sets now that have hybrid long irons and game improving short irons. These clubs are manufactured to eliminate the distance gap and give you a more normal distance progression.

For me, it is adding the extra club. I really like my scoring irons to be traditional. However, I have a friend that just bought the Cleveland HiBore's and he has knocked off about 8 strokes off his game. Again, that's golf for you. It's all about what you want and what you are comfortable with.

Brian Kroll is the author of Hybrid Golf Clubs Online and is an avid golfer and expert on hybrid golf clubs.

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Golf Shafts - Is Your Set Really Matched - As in Frequency Matched?

As I continue to help Golfers improve their Golf Game in the Off-Season - I often help them learn what really constitutes the Golf Clubs they have in their bag. Many Tour Players have never gotten to see what these Players see - when we do this.

During a Golf Equipment Lesson - we often determine the actual FREQUENCY of each club in their bag. We use a device called a 'Frequency Analyzer' from Mitchell Golf Company. We also determine the Swing Weight and Total Weight of each Club.

Golf Shaft FREQUENCY is a function of two variables: the 'Cycles Per Minute' of the finished Golf Club and the 'Length' of the finished Golf Club.

SHAFT FLEX is simply a general measure of the club's bend in the shaft. FREQUENCY is much more precise.

For example: Most Manufacturers consider a Stiff FLEX to be around 5.5 to 7.0 on the FREQUENCY scale. Regular FLEX to be around 4.0 to 5.5 on the FREQUENCY scale ... a Senior/Amateur FLEX to be around 2.0 to 4.0 ... a Ladies FLEX to be around 0.5 to 2.0. Junior Clubs will be even lower on the FREQUENCY scale.

Observation and Evaluation of this aspect of a Golf Club - was first developed by Precision Shaft Company around 1970. Despite the vast majority of good Players and Instructors fully embracing this 'measurement' - many of the Golf Club Manufacturers refuse to gather this variable - about a Golf Club's material and playability.

Often a student has a favorite club or two - or a very 'un-favorite' club or two. Many times the Player and I learn - that the actual/precise FREQUENCY of those clubs vary greatly - from the other Clubs in their Set. Thus the clubs 'feel' and 'play' very differently.

This 'Equipment Lesson' might be exactly - one of the Off-Season things you need to do - to improve your Ball-Striking 'Consistency'. Inconsistent Clubs - can definitely lead to Inconsistent Ball-Flights.

Very few Teaching Professionals in the Nation - have access to a FREQUENCY ANALYZER - in any Golf Lesson. Find a Caring PGA Golf Professional in your area - and ask them, 'Do you have a Frequency Analyzer?' - and learn - Is My Set Really 'Matched'?

And now I invite you to learn much more - about the many other 'under-publicized' and 'under-discussed' aspects of what it really takes - to experience your own/unique GOLF... SUCCESS at my Blog, linked below.
Joel C. Suggs, "Top 50" PGA Master Teaching Professional
http://www.JoelSuggs.com

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Nickent Goddess Collection Fairway 3-Wood (Women's, Right-Handed)

The Nickent Golf Goddess Collection Fairway Wood combines every aspect of Nickent's next-generation innovation into a single club specifically made with the women golfers in mind. Every aspect of club design was altered to make sure that the female golfer has every advantage and that every club is used to its full potential.

Based on extensive research, the club head's loft and lie was altered and the size was custom made to match the average female swing. The shaft flex, overall weight, and kick point were all made specifically for the swing speed and range of motion most commonly seen in female golfers. Even the grip is made with special attention to the detail of a woman's hand.

The Goddess Collection fairway wood is a three-wood that features a 19-degree loft with a 60.5-degree lie and 165 CC club head volume. This fairway wood comes equipped with the WINN Ladies' Gray Excel grip and is specially made with a UST Double LL graphite shaft.

This is not men's fairway wood that has been modified to fit a woman. This is a female fairway wood designed for women who want to experience the full enjoyment of the game of golf.

What's in the Box?
Nickent Goddess Fairway 3-Wood

The game Golf is played with many clubs of various types, functions and sizes. There are four major categories of clubs they fall into, woods, hybrids, irons, and putters. Golfers are usually allowed to carry up to fourteen clubs during a round of golf. Even though you can play a large range of shots using only one club, this is not a very successfull process. To facilitate the choice of a club for any particular situation, all irons come in sets of likened clubs graded by loft (the height), shaft length, and weight of that particullar club. Many golf clubs are created with the face having differing lofts.

A basic set of clubs mainly comprise of 3 woods, 2 wedges, a putter, and 8 irons, numbered 3-9, and a pitching wedge. Originally the wood club heads were created of maple wood, but these days club heads are mostly made of hollow titanium. The shaft of the club enters the head (of the club) at the top corner nearest the player.

In Brief, the shaft flex of the club is the amount that the shaft will bend when put under imense pressure. This had the bad effect, it easily weakening the joining between the shaft and golf club head. Hybrid golf clubs are also played with by keen golfers who have a hard time hitting the ball high in the air with low numbered irons. Pitching wedges are rather similar to other irons, Sand wedges have specially designed undersides, creating more height, that make them perfect for bunker or rough shots. Lob Wedges have a very high loft and are used for shots approaching the green of from sand traps.

Golf Clubs

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Nickent 3DX Ironwood DC w/ Steel Shaft

How do you make the # 1 hybrid model on the Nationwide Tour and # 3 on the PGA Tour even better? Introducing the 3DX DC Ironwood. The first week the DC Ironwood was introduced to the PGA Tour, at the last full field event of the 2005 season, it helped catapult the family of 3DX hybrids to # 1 on the PGA Tour. Even the 2004 British Open champion who helped make hybrids famous with his hybrid play switched over to the new 3DX DC after just two days of testing. To create an even hotter and more forgiving hybrid, Nickent thinned the face of the 3DX DC, creating a much higher COR than the original 3DX Ironwood. A special plasma welding process was used to help redistribute the weight to the extreme perimeters of the clubhead. Forty grams of weight were moved down and back in the head using two tungsten-polymer fused inserts (XW Inserts). That’s almost 60% more adjustable weight in the clubhead than in the leading adjustable weight hybrid! Nickent has used this new weight scheme to create a club that is perfectly weighted to the extreme heel and toe for the straightest and most forgiving setup. This unique feature gives Nickent the ability to make the DC Ironwood the same shape as the Tour favorite 3DX Ironwood, while increasing the MOI by 25%. The XW Inserts are a fusion of polymer and tungsten. By using polymer around the outside of the insert, Nickent has the ability to vary the mass of the insert without being bulky and taking away

SkyCaddie are one of the bigger players in the Golf GPS market with a number of offerings to choose from. Here we review the SG5 model which promises to be a great little GPS system from looking at its specifications and features.

The SkyCaddie SG5 comes with a clear, simple to read color display that has easy viewing in all light conditions due to its automatically adjusting back lighting system. The unit is small enough to clip on to the users belt and not get in the way while playing a round of Golf. With it's simple to operate one touch controls and clear color display it makes a handy sized easy to use GPS.

One of the biggest claims that SkyCaddie make about their Golf GPS range is that it has the best accuracy of its competitors. The reason they make this claim is that each course they include for use in their systems are mapped by "certified" experts. These people are properly trained in the use of the SkyCaddie system walking each course marking and measuring each hole for hazards and the green. They go through this process three times to recheck everything. This they claim makes their information more accurate than the satellite systems that most of its competitors use.

Another great feature of this unit is SkyCaddie's patented Intelligreen software. This allows you to measure the green from absolutely any angle of approach.

As you can see the SkyCaddie SG5 has many great features although it is lacking some of the features of its competitors. Features like shot storage and round storage. The above features are available on many of its competitors units, these are nice things to have so you can get home and review you days round and compare it to your previous rounds.

While researching the information for this SkyCaddie SG5 golf GPS review we did find some user feedback that hinted that the software and setup of the unit was not the easiest task. With many of these stating that customer support was not that helpful leaving the new customer very frustrated.

In conclusion the SkyCaddie SG5 is not the best value for dollar on the golf GPS market. The only reason we can see why this unit would be your preferred choice would be if you valued the fact that the courses are mapped by humans and therefore should in theory be more accurate.

You'll find more honest user feedback based SkyCaddie SG5 golf GPS reviews, as well as full consumer ratings for all the major golf GPS units and rangefinders at http://www.YardageRangefinder.com

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Nickent Golf- 3DX Red Hybrid 3-PW Irons Stiff Graphite

For many golf instructors, the first lesson they teach their students is how to grip a golf club correctly. Why? Because if you do not grip the golf club correctly, it may cause you to slice the golf ball. Some amateur golfers who often slice the ball badly have reported that their slice "magically" fixed itself when they fixed their grip. Imagine that, instantly improve your golf swing just by learning the correct golf club grip.

There are actually three main ways of gripping the golf club correctly - the overlapping grip, the baseball bat grip and the interlocking grip. The overlapping grip is also called the Vardon grip - this is the grip which many golf instructors teach. In this grip, you place the little finger of your trailing hand (right hand if you are right-handed, left hand if you are a lefty) between the index and middle finger of your lead hand. Both thumbs should point towards the club head. This grip is great if you have large hands.

If you find that you have trouble with the overlapping grip, maybe you can try the baseball grip. This is also called the ten finger grip. You basically place both hands side by side, with the index finger of your lead hand right up against the little finger of your trailing hand. Remember that the trailing hand is the right hand for most people. This is usually considered the easiest way to grip the golf club, and if you have arthritis, joint pain or small and weak hands this is probably the best grip for you. A common mistake made by golfers using the baseball grip is that they separate their hands. When you do this, you may lose control of your club. It becomes harder for your hands to swing the golf club together as one unit.

The interlocking grip is widely used by many professional golfers like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. When you grip your golf club this way, it definitely ensures that both hands will swing the club together. In the interlocking grip, you intertwine the little finger of the trailing hand with the index finger of the lead hand. In other words, you literally lock your hands together.

Regardless of how you grip your golf club, do not grip the club too tightly. This is one of the most common causes of slicing the ball. For a start, just grip with a medium force. One way of doing this is to grip the club as tightly as you can. Rate this as a 10. Then grip your club lightly - this is a 1. What you want is in between - a 4 or a 5. You should feel relaxed and free from tension in your hands and forearms. This gives you the best blend of power and control.

Something which can affect the way you grip your golf club is the size of your golf club's handle. When you buy a new club, the golf shop should measure your grip for you. However, if you bought second-hand clubs or are using hand-me-downs, then you may need to re-size the handle of your golf clubs. This can really do wonders to improve your golf swing. In fact, one thing you can do after your beginner's golf lessons end is to buy a number of cheap drivers (same brand and model), put different sized grips on them and just swing away at the golf ball. This will help you to figure out the best grip size to use. Then you can replace the grips of all your other clubs. A good, quick way of knocking some strokes off your handicap.

Do you have these 3 problems with your golf swing: 1) inconsistency; 2) slice; 3) distance? Click here to find out how to improve your golf swing.

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Nickent 3DX DC HYB SET GRPH/STL

Nickent 3DXDC 3 and 4 Utility w/ SR2 Shaft, 3DX Hybrid Irons 5-PW w/ Steel Shaft: Is it the longest iron in the history of golf? One magazine has already called the Nickent 3DX Hybrid Iron the "longest 5 iron in the world." Others have been calling this amazing new innovation in irons the "Fountain of Youth." The idea was to make an efficient, integrated hybrid iron set that would get rid of the large gap between the 4-hybrid and the 5-iron. The result is a ball flight that matches your current long iron, but that soars 20-25 yards further. Developed by master designer John Hoeflich, the Nickent 3DX Hybrid Iron is ready to change your game forever. By attaching a 5-gram carbon composite cap on the back of the clubhead and shifting this extra 35 grams into two steel plugs at the bottom and back of the hollow iron, Nickent created a low CG on this hollow iron to produce an extremely high launch characteristi. This gives the ability to strengthen the lofts, while giving the golfer the same exact launch as their normal long iron. Efficient thinking at its best! It's time to rethink the way your bag is setup! It's time for the Longest Iron in the History of Golf! GRAPHITE MODEL SWING WEIGHT LENGTH UST SPEEDRATED 2 #5 D2 38" S, R, R-Light #6 D2

Malaga has its fair share of the famed and beautiful golf courses of the 'Costa Del Golf'. There is a range of quality golf courses throughout the city. There are courses everywhere- right in the heart of urbanization, on the coasts, as well as on mountainous slopes. The plentiful sunshine, clear air, and the soothing breezes from the Ocean combine to give an unparalleled experience. There are golf courses for low handicappers as well as beginners and some courses also offer classes to train those new to the sport. The facilities at the courses are par excellence; and people from all over the world arrive here on exclusive golf vacations.

Here we offer you some of the best golf courses in Marbella- the small resort town of Malaga.

La Reserva de Sotogrande Golf Club
La Reserva Golf is an excellent 18 hole golf course with facilities to match. Cabell Robinson is the designer and a splendid Club House. The golf course opened in August 2003 and has already made a reputation as one of the best in Spain. It is a long course with wide, undulating fairways and well guarded greens. The greens are often multi-level with slopes and speed to deal with. Great views from many holes, especially the 15th. Tee times are every 12 minutes. Visitors allowed between 11.30 and 13.30h.

San Roque (Old)
The San Roque Club is well known for its very high standards and immaculate grooming. The par 72 course offers spectacular mountain views to the north and occasional glimpses of Gibraltar. This attractively landscaped course is both challenging and fair, and fairways are lined with mature trees. Host of Spanish Open 2005(European PGA)

San Roque (New)
The new course was opened in 2003. two designers have come together to create this beautiful course- Perry Dye and Seve Ballesteros. It is a 18 hole and 72 par course which has been host to two prestigious events already: European School Qualifying School, 1-7 Nov 2005 and Spanish Open 2006 (European PGA), 1-7 May 2006

Sotogrande
The grand old golf club of Andalucia, Sotogrande has only improved over the years. The course is in great condition and affords a wonderful golfing experience. Sotogrande opened in 1964 and is still voted amongst the top ten courses in Europe. It has well established vegetation with pine, cork oaks, eucalyptus and palm trees. Water hazards play an important role here, affecting holes 12, 13 and 14 and 16, 17 and 18.

Valderrama
Valderrama is a 6356 metres par 71 with no hole of less than championship quality but it can be fully enjoyed by players of all handicaps, thanks to the genius of Robert Trent Jones, Senior. Valderrama hosted the first nine editions of the Volvo Masters (1988-1996.) It hosted the Ryder Cup in 1997 and has hosted the first World Golf Championships - American Express Championship in 1999 and the second in 2000.
Golf holiday tour operators operating in the area will organise your golf holiday very efficiently and professionally. Their services take care of all your requirements when on a golf holiday in the Marbella

We suggest you always your tee times in advance in the peak seasons to avoid disappointment and to avail of discounts. All the golf courses are fully booked through the whole season here; so are the hotels and car hire. Look for companies who offer golf booking, hotel reservations and car hire- all three under one roof. All your holiday requirements should be well planned before you arrive for your vacation. It is much more convenient to let one company manage your holiday; they have a lot many package offers for individual as well as group bookings.

Confirm what all services they cover in their all-inclusive charges. A well-known and established company gives all their clients an insurance coverage and you should choose only such a company. You should not have to end up paying any hidden charges- choose a company that clearly states its charges against services.

golf Marbella
Offering an all inclusive golf holiday package including tee times, accommodation, car hire and full time service for the Costa del Sol golf courses in Marbella Spain.

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Nickent 3DX Pro Iron Set (Right-Handed, 3-PW)

Over the last 20 years, John Hoeflich has designed many of the game's best-selling irons. Million of golfers, including many of the world's best players, have benefited from his iron design philosophy of mixing art with technology, and looks with performance. With the 3DX Pro Eight-Piece Iron Set (3-PW), Hoeflich has designed an iron that combines the classic good lucks of a blade iron with the forgiving features of a perimeter-weighted iron. The chrome-plated 3DX Pro is made with a very special alloy, a revolutionary stainless steel that provides a soft and responsive feel. Just like the 3DX Iron, the 3DX Pro features a tungsten-polymer insert (XW Insert). The insert takes the vibration out from impact, and reduces shock and vibration to give this cavity-back iron a "muscle-back forged" feel.

The 3DX Pro has one XW Insert which is concentrated directly behind the face for greater workability of the golf ball. Buy using polymer around the outside of the insert, Nickent controls the amount of tungsten in the insert without being bulk and taking away from the club's eye-catching design. Using the XW Insert plug versus a metal plug gives Nickent the flexibility to move around significant amounts of weight without losing feel. That's the biggest improvement in this iron design--it just feels more solid.

Another special feature of the 3DX Pro is its customization capabilities. With this iron set you perfectly match swing weight with the shaft length. Because Nickent can easily control the weight of the XW Insert, any club length can be matched with a normal swing weight. The 3DX Pro has a thin top line and straight leading edge that tour players look for in irons, and this club set is available with graphite or steel shafts.

3DX Pro Irons

• Three Iron: 21-degree loft; 60-degree lie
• Four Iron: 22-degree loft; 60-degree lie
• Five Iron: 25-degree loft; 61-degree lie
• Six Iron: 29-degree loft; 62-degree lie
• Seven Iron: 33-degree loft; 62.5-degree lie
• Eight Iron: 37-degree loft; 63-degree lie
• Nine Iron: 41-degree loft; 63.5-degree lie
• Pitching Wedge: 46-degree loft; 64-degree lie

Watching a game of golf, whether it is professional or otherwise, may not be enough for a person to understand just how important and complex a proper golf swing really is. The game of golf is all about how you swing your club and how you apply the proper physics to that club to make it and the ball do and go where you want them to. Amateurs can become easily frustrated when working on perfecting their own golf swing, but there are plenty of tips and strategies to help a person get pointed in the right direction, so to speak. To improve your golf swing the best thing to do other than taking advice from the professionals is to get out on the golf course and start practicing.

To improve your golf swing, the professionals suggest that the first thing you do is start paying attention to what your hands and forearms are doing at the moment of impact with the ball. This may initially sound silly or trivial to some, but this is one of the most important parts of the golf swing. Every movement your hands, wrists, and forearms make during the swing is vital to the effectiveness of a golf swing.

One of the most common mistakes for a beginner to make is to do what is known as a wrist break during the swing. A wrist break can be best described as trying to flip one's hands through the ball at impact. So, if you are full throttle at the top of your swing and when you finally make contact with the ball you lose your grip, you are improperly wrist breaking at this time. This is one of the most common mistakes for an amateur to make, so it should be corrected immediately to improve your golf swing.

When you finally have your upper body working with you, it is time to move on to the lower body at this point. If you are right handed, your left knee will be the most important one during the golf swing and if you are left handed it will be the right knee that you will want to focus on. There are many golfers that let the left knee fall in towards the right on their backswing. This will cause the golfer's shoulder to drop and in turn causes the hips to sway and overturn. On the backswing, a golfer should be able to feel both tension and stability in both of their knees.

The professionals suggest using a basketball between your knees if you can't quite get the feel of this part of the swing. Another important factor of your swing to take into account is the speed of the swing. Swinging the club too quickly is another very common mistake that can be easily worked on and corrected. You want to swing with power and acceleration, but you also want to maintain a good rhythm with your swing. The easiest way to correct this common mistake is to imagine a short pause at the top of your backswing before changing the direction of the swing.

These Amazing Secrets Discovered By Golf Guru Turns Bogey Golfers Into Scratch Golfers By Immediately Slashing 7-12 Strokes. Improve Your Driver Golf Swing and Straighten Out Your Iron Play.

Learn Golf Swing Essentials to improve your scores today.

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Nickent Golf Tour 4DX White Visor

Stand out from the crowd with the Nickent Golf Tour 4DX Visor. This same model is worn on tour by Nickent staff professionals. Made by Legendary Headwear, this visor has contrast stitching and features the Nickent Golf logo on the front and 4DX logo on both sides. Adjustable velcro strap in the back ensures a One Size Fits Most.

Historically golfers have not been perceived as the best conditioned athletes. Recently, the game has changed and now most tour players are in excellent condition. However, the average player is not likely to go to the gym and workout like a professional athlete. They are left wondering how to get in shape for golf.

There are a number of great exercises to get in shape for golf that utilize golf clubs. This is very appealing to most golfers since it doesn't feel like they are trying to get in shape. In addition the time spent feeling the weight and balance of their clubs allows them to swing better because they are more attuned to both their bodies and the clubs they are swinging.

Good golfers are very strong in the hands and forearms. To work on strength and flexibility in these areas grab two clubs, one in each hand. Standing up straight with a club in each hand simply flex the wrist upward until the club is pointing straight up in the air or as far as you can comfortably go. When this becomes easy to do, put two clubs in each hand, then three and so on. This is a great way to get in shape for golf by flexing the wrists. It will add a lot of zip at the bottom of your swing.

To build up your forearms hold one club between your two hands at arms length directly in front of you. The club shaft should be in your finger tips. Now, rotate the shaft away from you just using your fingers. You will start to feel a burn in your forearms. Then rotate the club towards you. This will be more difficult. You can also tie a weight to the middle of the club suspended by a piece of string. Then you will be trying to wind up the weight to the golf shaft. In time you should feel your forearms getting very tired. Strong forearms are important for getting in shape for golf because they help stabilize your swing path particularly in the impact zone area.

Finally. To loosen up your chest, arms and back. Bend over from the waist until your chest is parallel with the floor. Hold a club behind your back between both hands. Now, raise the club as high as you can go. For some of you that will only be about two inches or so. Other may be able to get the club high up over their shoulders. This is a great overall stretching routine and will really help you get in shape for golf. This stretch also tells you how high your hands should be in your backswing. If you can only get the club up to the middle of your back then you should have a relatively flat backswing. Otherwise you are disconnecting from what your body can really do.

In all of these stretches try and work for improvement. That can be an increase in the range of motion you are getting or in the amount of weight or resistance you are using.

Of course the best way to get in shape for golf is to play a lot of golf and/or hit la lot of golf balls. Just make certain that you are properly stretched out ahead of time.

These are just some of the fun ways to use your clubs to get in shape for golf. There are many more. To read about some other great ways to get in shape for golf go to http://www.golffitnesstheguide.com/

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Nickent Pipe Putter (Plumber's Neck Mallet)

When you're on the greens, nothing is more important that alignment. The Nickent PP/003 Plumber-Neck Mallet Pipe Putter is designed with this in mind. The Pipe putter was designed with a cylinder pipe shape on the top provide a three-dimensional visual readout of exactly where your putter is lined up. Old alignment putters were only two-dimensional, allowing only half the visualization needed to sink longer, tougher putts. The diameter of the Pipe putter cylinder matches the diameter of a golf ball (1.68 inches), making this an exceptional alignment aid putter. Essential to Pipe's performance is the ultra-light thermoplastic centerpiece surrounded by heavier steel, which pushes additional weight to the perimeter of the clubhead. In addition, the thermoplastic material is strong, tough, and resistant to abrasion, so you can count on this putter round after round after round.

Available in five different models, this plumber-neck mallet putter is characterized by a horizontal bend just below where the end of the shaft and the hosel meet. This design is ideal for players who like to keep their hands ahead of the clubhead through impact. This tends to make the putter more forgiving and easier to use, which is the reason why it is so popular.

About Pipe Technology
The Pipe putter name is an acronym for Putting Inline Performance Enhancement. This patent-pending and USGA-conforming technology combines three-dimensional capabilities with the most extreme perimeter weighted putter allowed by physics to deliver a club that allows the ball to roll true, straight and directly where you've aimed. A heavy tungsten plug in the rear of the pipe section accounts for 15-percent of the putter's weight. This produces a very high moment of inertia (MOI) to resist twisting on miss-hits, and to bring the center of gravity (CG) further back than any available putter design. This weighting system also gives the ball 25-percent less skid and roll than other leading putters, so not only will you have a better aim and better feel, but the ball will actually follow the path you've lined up. Compare this alignment-weighting system with any putter on the market and you'll quickly see why Tour pros and amateurs alike are making three-putt greens a thing of the past with the Pipe putter.

The golf downswing is probably the most important, yet least understood part of a golf swing. People get mixed advice regarding how to improve their golf swing because of the way people usually analyze this phase of golf playing. Actually, the downswing is not really that complicated a matter if you know some few guidelines that could help you do this step right.

Here are some golf downswing tips:

1. Check your golf stance. When you do your downswing be sure to position your feet so that they are shoulder-width apart. Your shoulders should also be aligned with the target. A good guideline is to have your right foot point straight while your left foot is pointed slightly left. Be sure that your elbows are kept as naturally relaxed as possible.

2. The right downswing mechanics should result into a very powerful swing that is aligned with the intended direction of flight. To do this, you should keep your shoulders square during the impact, and for more power, keep it fractionally closed.

3. Remember to grip the golf club properly. If you are right handed, you should hold the club using the left hand, putting the thumb aligned with the club's shaft. The line formed between your index finger and thumb should point towards your own right eye. Lastly, wrap your left hand with the right hand while resting the left thumb into the right palm.

4. Check you golf downswing mechanics. Your downswing should begin with the hips. Watch the ball closely and keep our head behind it with your follow through. Practice this both without the ball and check how it affects your performance.

5. It is very important to remember that the club-head and the shaft are to be kept behind your hands during your downswing. This position helps your hands to sense and anticipate the release of the entire movement.

6. Keep your right hand at bay. Using your right hand prematurely will destroy the timing of delivery as well as the line of the club down to the ball. This usually results into miss-hit and inaccurate shots.

7. You should hold the shoulders in that fully-turned stance while the left arm and hand starts swinging down. This makes certain a good line of the club through the golf ball. If you turn your shoulders even just for a little during the start of the downswing, you could destroy the line of the club down to the boll because the club would be looped out of the intended path. This can also damage the ability of the left hand and arm to swing.

8. When doing your downswing, your left arm and hand should not be propelled downward because of the body and shoulder action. Instead it should swing down freely and independently from your shoulders.

9. Practice all these tips - the stance, the grip, the mechanics - in the driving range before heading out to the course. Keep making adjustments until you are sure that you are feel right about your downswing. Have a buddy check out everything to make sure that you are not just guessing.

Improving your downswing is not as difficult as it seems. With patience and determination, plus having these guidelines in mind, you can develop a great downswing that will improve your performance.

To learn more tips for improving your golf swing, please visit http://www.improve-golf-game.info/

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Nickent 3DX IronWood DC Club

Nickent has used this new weight scheme to create a club that is perfectly weighted to the extreme heel and toe for the straightest and most forgiving setup. This unique feature gives Nickent the ability to make the DC Ironwood the same shape as the Tour favorite 3DX ironwood, while increasing the MOI by 25%. The XW Inserts are a fusion ofpolymer and tungsten. By using polymer around the outside of the insert, Nickent has the ability to vary the mass of the insert without being bulky and taking away from proper clubhead design. XW Inserts are also used to move the center of gravity of the head to insure proper weight distribution and eliminate the pull hooks produced by many of the leading hybrid designs. The 3DX DC Ironwood has 14 hybrid lofts, one club every 1.5 degrees from 14* to 26*. This hybrid system allows the golfer to attain the optimum distance control and trajectory. With this new system, there will be no distance gaps in your bag and no confusion on what club your hybrid actually replaces.

Every golfer would like to hit a golf ball straighter. Actually every golfer would probably prefer to hit a golf ball further. There is something extremely satisfying about hitting a ball far. However for the purpose of this article I will stick with what you could do to hit a golf ball straighter. There really is no point in hitting it far if it is way off line.

When we talk about hitting a golf ball straighter we mean at the target. The result can be achieved by means of a draw, a fade or a straight shot. All the same to us as long as we agree that straight means towards the intended target.

It is interesting to watch children pick up the game of golf. Initially they are given a club and a ball and told to use one to get the other into a hole. Kids do not complicate things and they generally pick up the game quite quickly. It is only after we have played a while that we start getting all technical and complicating our brain.

As a qualified coach I am often amazed, and secretly humored, by some of the tips I hear well intentioned golfers giving each other. No wonder we get confused because everyone has a different interpretation of the same problem!

To learn to hit a golf ball straighter you need to get a few fundamentals right before you even hit the ball.

The first of these is the grip. Now the grip itself can be complicated because there are three generally accepted grips: the overlapping grip, the interlocking grip and the hammer or ten finger grip. Which one is right for you?

Other elements of the grip are what I call the four P's. Placement, Positioning, Pressure and Precision. Each of these elements needs to be the same every time you grip a club so they need to be practiced until they become second nature.

After the grip the "set-up" is the most important part of ensuring that you hit the ball straighter. I find the easiest way to remember all this is to have a little phrase or word that triggers my memory.

For example I use GAASP to remind me of my set up.

This stands for:

G - Grip

A - Aim

A - Alignment

S - Stance

P - Posture

If you have the 5 GAASP elements correct you are well on your way to hitting the ball straighter. The beauty is that when each of these elements is correct you can actually forget about them for the rest of the swing as they do not change.

You can therefore concentrate fully on the actual swing itself knowing that you are gripping the club correctly, have aimed and aligned yourself with the target and that your stance and posture are such that the club will meet the ball at the correct position in the swing path.

I would seriously recommend that you spend some time practicing GAASP until it becomes almost second nature and is embedded in your subconscious mind. Without a solid set up you will never hit a golf ball straighter on a regular basis.

My advice to anyone who wants to learn how to set up correctly is to either go for a lesson or get a good tutorial and spend a few weeks practicing it without even hitting a ball. And there is the challenge because there really isn't much glamour in gripping a club, lining it up to an imaginary target, getting your stance and posture correct and then doing it all over and over again without hitting a ball.

If you want to hit the ball straighter (and eventually farther as well) you need to have the correct basics. Grab yourself a good video tutorial or a book with pictures that show you exactly what is required and duplicate it till you look the part. Then and only then go out and hit that golf ball straighter - you've earned it and you deserve it. Happy golfing.

As a golf coach I really enjoy helping people improve their game.
If you found this article interesting (and I hope you did) and if straight driving is one of the areas you would like to improve in take a look at my website for more information on how to hit straight drives and lower your scores?
But please remember no amount of coaching will help if you aren't prepared to put in a little practice.

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Nickent 3DX Ironwood DC w/ SR2 Graphite Shaft (MODEL: 2)

How do you make the # 1 hybrid model on the Nationwide Tour and # 3 on the PGA Tour even better? Introducing the 3DX DC Ironwood. The first week the DC Ironwood was introduced to the PGA Tour, at the last full field event of the 2005 season, it helped catapult the family of 3DX hybrids to # 1 on the PGA Tour. Even the 2004 British Open champion who helped make hybrids famous with his hybrid play switched over to the new 3DX DC after just two days of testing. To create an even hotter and more forgiving hybrid, Nickent thinned the face of the 3DX DC, creating a much higher COR than the original 3DX Ironwood. A special plasma welding process was used to help redistribute the weight to the extreme perimeters of the clubhead. Forty grams of weight were moved down and back in the head using two tungsten-polymer fused inserts (XW Inserts). That’s almost 60% more adjustable weight in the clubhead than in the leading adjustable weight hybrid! Nickent has used this new weight scheme to create a club that is perfectly weighted to the extreme heel and toe for the straightest and most forgiving setup. This unique feature gives Nickent the ability to make the DC Ironwood the same shape as the Tour favorite 3DX Ironwood, while increasing the MOI by 25%. The XW Inserts are a fusion of polymer and tungsten. By using polymer around the outside of the insert, Nickent has the ability to vary the mass of the insert without being bulky and taking away from

Golf can be one of the most exciting and rewarding games you'll ever play. Unfortunately, it's not the easiest game and can dissuade many beginners from sticking with it long enough to master its challenges.

Golf offers a player the opportunity to compete with a great rival, yourself. Anyone who has played golf understands that your game cannot advance if you cannot admit your personal weaknesses and handicaps. But therein lays the joy that only a true golfer can understand: overcoming the obstacles and improving the golf game. Some would go as far to say conquering that course is unparalleled to any other challenge.

Apart from the mental challenge of the game picking up a golf club requires you to perform an extremely difficult act over and over again. That is, of course, to hit the ball with the club face perfectly so that the ball goes exactly where you want it to go. You must evoke the proper amount of force to ensure complete control over your swing and calculating a strategy to have your ball finally land within that hole using the least number of shots.

You must swing the club up over your shoulders then down and around in a accurate semicircle so that the area on the club face will evenly hit the golf ball waiting for you on the tee. The room for error is diminutive and accuracy is everything.

Before choosing that golf club and beginning to play well you must do two things; (a) Learn the game at a pace you can handle and (b) Stick with it. It takes a good while to become skilled at golf so patience and practice makes perfect. Don't expect to set any records when you begin to learn the game. Keep in mind, golf is multifaceted with numerous areas that require varied skills on your part. Putting demands excellent nerves and aiming skills. And your strategy will require a sharp, focused mind and the ability to spot where the biggest dangers are on each hole.

Each aspect of your golf game must be understood, practiced and perfected in order for you to excel at golf. So before you pick up a golf club remember these tips:

1. Anyone can enjoy playing golf no matter what level of their athleticism. Why do golfers focus on the other players? Your real opponent is the course and yourself and not the other players.

2. Golf is a difficult game to master because every action must be initiated by you. This means you control all possible outcomes of your shot. But practice and patience will result in strength and confidence and a better golf game.

3. Know your strengths and weaknesses and build your strategy around that. Become mentally prepared and envision your game and plan for any adjustments you may need to make.

Golf offers numerous delights that satisfy the mind, body and spirit leaving you rejuvenated and ready for another day's challenge. So pick up that golf club and practice, practice, practice.

Your golf game deserves the finest quality golf practice mats available. UltiMat Pro is a realistic hitting surface with no wrist or club shock and no club burn. Extraordinarily durable, convenient and lightweight. Get your UltiMat Pro Golf Practice Mat now and start improving your golf game.

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Nickent 5DX Ironwood Club

Nickent Golf, a longtime industry leader in hybrid technology, introduces their latest breakthrough in hybrid shaping and performance with their new 5DX Ironwood.Nickent has been a trend setter in hybrids for over seven years, accumulating awards and professional tour wins from everywhere on the planet, including wins at the 2007 US Open and 2008 Ryder Cup. With their 5th generation design, the King of Hybrids has produced an all stainless steel hybrid with a new geometrical shape that places discretionary weight to the extreme perimeters of the clubhead. New "wings" on the back of the clubhead were designed by Nickent master designer John Hoeflich to optimize the center of gravity (CG) and increase the Moment of Inertia (MOI) for superior forgiveness. The increased MOI, which surpasses that of most fairway woods on the market, plus stronger lofts means a significant increase in distance.

30 years after the start of The Open, the US Open was first played in 1895, making it the second oldest of the modern day golf majors. Since 1895, the original golf majors were The Open, The Amateur Championship, The US Open, and The US Amateur. It wasn't until 1960, when Arnold Palmer commented that he could win the Grand Slam, after he had won The Masters and The US Open, if he could manage to win The Open and The PGA, that the modern day golf majors were established.

The Championship was played for the first time on the same course and on the same week as the US Amateur. It was held at a 9-hole course at Newport Golf and Country Club, Rhode Island. It comprised 4 rounds of 9-holes played on the same day and was won by Englishman, Horace Rawlins. Only ten professionals and one amateur took part and the total prize money was $335.

From the original 36 holes in one day, the format of the event has changed several times during the years. The Championship was extended by the USGA to 72-holes in 1898; 36-holes played over each of two days. The format was changed in 1926 to 18-holes played over each of two days, finishing with 36 holes on the third day. The present day format was established in 1965 - 18-holes played over each of 4 days.

Its popularity really took off after spectator tickets were sold for the first time in 1922. This almost coincided with the amazing career of an amateur golfer from Georgia, Bobby Jones who won in 1923, 1926, 1929, and 1930. The second big rise in popularity was in 1954 when the event was televised for the first time on national television. But it wasn't until 1977 that all 18-holes of the final two rounds had live coverage and 1982 that the first two rounds were broadcast live.

The event was dominated by British players since its beginnings up to 1910 (actually it was Scotsmen who took most of the titles (12 of the first 15 events.) The top Scotsman in those days was Willie Anderson who won the event four times between 1901 and 1905. In fact, there have only been three other golfers to win four US Opens - Bobby Jones from 1923 to 1930, the year he won the Grand Slam; Ben Hogan from 1948 to 1953; and Jack Nicklaus from 1962 to 1980.

With Tiger Woods third victory at the 2008 US Open, it can only be a matter of time before he joins the illustrious golfers with four wins, and who knows, maybe he will go into the golfing history books with 5 wins or more. Did you know that a European has not won the event since 1970, when Tony Jacklin from England won? Another Englishman, Lee Westwood, had a chance in the 2008 event but missed a 15 foot birdie putt on the last hole.

Surprisingly, only 5 players have managed to win The US Open as well as The Open, The Masters, and The PGA. None of them have won all 4 majors in one single year though - Bobby Jones did his Grand Slam with The Open, The (British) Amateur Championship, The US Open, and The US Amateur. The five players to win the four golf majors were Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.

With 78 wins between 1911 and 2008, Americans have dominated The US Open. No other country have come close; South Africa has the second most wins with 5 titles. There have only been a handful of nations that have won the event once or twice - Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, and Argentina. Since 1910, Scotland have only managed to produce one golfer that has won The US Open; Willie MacFarlane in 1925. In fact, in recent years, only Sandy Lyle has managed to win a golf major on US soil - The Masters in 1988.

About the author - Mick Euan Tait is a golfer, golf fan, and golf writer. Visit his website for more fascinating information about golf tournaments
You can also sign up for his newsletter and receive a free golf swing guide as well as a weekly mini-series taken from his book: "The Ultimate Guide To Golf."

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Nickent 3DX Pro Iron Set

Introducing the worlds most playable players iron, the 3DX Pro Iron. The 3DX Pro is designed by Nickent Golfs Senior Vice President, John Hoeflich, the legendary club designer responsible for designing many of the games best-selling irons. With the 3DX Pro, Hoeflich has designed an iron that combines the classic good looks of a blade iron with the forgiving features of a perimeter-weighted iron. The chrome-plated 3DX Pro is made with a very special alloy, a new stainless steel that provides a soft and responsive feel. Just like the 3DX Iron introduced last month, the 3DX Pro features a tungsten-polymer insert (XW Insert), which takes the vibration out from impact, reduces shock and vibration and gives this cavity back iron a " muscle back forged" feel.

Getting a good score in golf partly depends on several factors. One of them is the golf ball. Unfortunately, except for private games, you normally cannot control what ball you use. Two factors which you can control are your golf club and your swing. If you know how to choose the right club for the right situation and know how to use that club well enough, then it becomes easier to do well. The following is a list of 9 questions and answers to help a new golfer choose the correct club:

1) What are the correct golf clubs I need for a game?

Firstly, you are allowed up to 14 golf clubs. For their full set of golf clubs, many players choose a driver (1-wood), two fairway woods (generally 3- and 5-woods), a set of irons from 3 to 9, a pitching wedge, a sand wedge, a putter, and one more club of the player's choice. A common variation is to replace the 3- and 4- irons with modern easier-to-hit modern "hybrid" clubs.

2) The hole is nearby. What is the correct golf club to use?

The putter. This club is specially designed to keep the ball on the ground and rolling on the grass after you hit it.

3) What do I use for my first shot?

You use the driver, also known as the 1-wood. This is your longest-ranged club. Normally, this will be only time you use this club. Modern 1-woods are designed to hit off the tee, and difficult for beginners to use elsewhere. They have the longest shaft and the biggest head.

4) My ball keeps on hitting the hills. What is wrong?

Generally, this means the number of your club is too low. A club with a higher number is designed to hit your ball higher into the air. The downside is that you trade distance for height.

5) I swing my woods the same way, but I cannot get a consistent distance. Sometimes the ball goes farther, sometimes nearer. What should I do?

Try a wood with a stiffer shaft. A stiffer shaft gives you more consistent distance, but reduces your maximum distance. This is probably your best choice if you are a weekend golfer without very much practice time.

6) Oops! My ball is in the sand trap...

Sigh... Step 1) Pray. Step 2) Grab your sand wedge.

7) There are so many irons. How do I know which one to use?

For a beginner, let me suggest the 1-Iron Golf System. Firstly, all the irons in your set of golf clubs have the same length, so you only need to learn one swing and one ball position. With a normal set of irons, you may need to learn up to 10 different swings and 10 different ball positions. While a pro may lose out in flexibility, a weekend player gains in simplicity and consistent performance.

Generally speaking, you use the high-numbered irons for more height, more control and less distance. You reserve the low-numbered irons when you need more distance, but not the height. Typically, the rougher the terrain, the higher the iron.

8) I'm in the rough. What is the correct golf club?

Normally, you would use the irons. They are designed to punch or cut through the grass and hit the golf ball. The heads of your woods, in contrast, are designed to skim on top of the grass.

9) I am facing a hole with a hazard right in front of the green. Which club do I use?

This is one reason why even beginners should try to develop a swing which delivers the ball a consistent distance. With just the right hybrid club, you can hit a shot to carry the full distance to the green in the air, but then "stick" on the green relatively close to its impact point. This is due to the design of many hybrid clubs, which prevents the ball from rolling very far at the end of the shot.

Do you have these 3 problems with your golf swing: 1) inconsistency; 2) slice; 3) distance? Click here to find out how to improve your golf swing.

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Nickent Golf Tour 4DX White Cap

This hard to find Nickent Golf 4DX Tour Golf Cap has a relaxed front, adjustable strap and features contrast stitching and 6 panel construction.

Previously, I looked at how the better manufacturers were creating what they call discretionary weight. That is weight that can be saved from one area of the golf club and then placed in another area that will help the golfer hit the ball straighter, further, more often.

The top brands invest lots of R&D dollars into experimenting with materials, design and the manufacturing process to try and find ways to deliver great shot making solutions for you in golf clubs with a great feel and quality finish.

Of course different manufacturing operations and different materials will have a real impact on the cost to produce. Irons that are cast where molten metal is poured into dies are much easier to manufacture and involve less steps and therefore cost less to make.

We are probably all familiar with the fact that forging will produce an Iron with a softer feel and a truer performance. Producing this level of quality will also come at an increased cost when compared to a one piece cast Iron. Titleist and Mizuno have consistently led the way with one-piece forged golf clubs for serious golfers.

More recently we have seen Irons manufactured from different materials with only the face and neck forged.

The Mizuno MX-900 3 7 Irons are a multi-piece, face and neck forged set.

The 8 Iron Wedges in this set are one-piece forged.

This combination allows technology to be built into the clubhead to support you where you need it most.

Choosing an Iron used to involve a first step decision on cast vs. forged but has now become a little more complex. Talk to your local Foremost PGA Qualified golf professional for expert advice on all aspects of the game.

James Langmead PGA Qualified Golf Professional and former Callaway Club fitter of the year

http://www.thegolfshoponline.co.uk

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Nickent 3DX Women's Hybrid Ironwood

The 17th hole at the Gary Player Country Club (Sun City, South Africa) epitomizes great golf course design - offering plenty of risk, with plenty of reward. The 374 metre hole (off the club tee) consists of a tee shot over water to a narrow fairway, and a second shot to a green guarded by a large bunker on the right and water on the left.

The 2008 Nedbank Challenge (famously known as 'The Million Dollar') champion, Henrik Stenson, played this particular hole 1-under par for the four rounds of the tournament (which was considerably better than almost 90% of the players in the field) using only his 3- and 4-Wood off the tee.

THINK!!!

Do you really need to hit a Driver? Consider the circumstances; Confident? Go for it! Opponent in the water? Play it safe - at worst you should walk off with bogey, and that's not bad considering this was THE hardest hole at the Nedbank Challenge.

For the average golfer the sheer length of the hole limits the choice off the tee to a Driver or Three Wood, but Stenson's tactics certainly make you stop and think as to how you should negotiate the hole. So, which will it be?

As you can see in the graphic, the 3 Wood is certainly the 'percentage play', and should you have used it to good effect and found the fairway, you're half way there...

BUT, the green is still a long way away and is heavily protected by bunkers and water, which calls for another decision to be made; go for it, or lay-up short?

As many an experienced campaigner will tell you, a large part of the game of golf is played in our heads. As such, the questions asked by the 17th hole - of both your swing and your character - can only be boldly answered with the aid of a healthy dose of self confidence, and that comes from the following:

1. Lessons, lessons, lessons.
2. Practice, practice, practice.
3. Using a bit of Common 'Stense'.

For expert advice and guidance on buying golf equipment visit your local PGA Golf Professional.

James Langmead PGA Qualified Golf Professional and former Callaway Club fitter of the year http://www.thegolfshoponline.co.uk/blog

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews

Nickent Pipe 2 Putter (PP-04)

The first 3D alignment putter is back and better than ever. 3D alignment capabilities with the most extreme perimeter weighting in a putter allowed by physics gives you a putter that rolls the ball true, straight and directly where you aimed. With a refined design a patent-pending new face insert with alternating groove technology, the PIPE II just might be the sleeper putter for 2008.

Golf instructions and tips have hit an all-time high in recent times in the form of manuals, videos and DVDs. That gives golf enthusiasts and players an opportunity to improve their game. Among the most frequently asked questions, driving seems to be on top of the list in most cases.

A bad error to make while hitting the ball is to hit it as hard as possible. The idea is to correct this problem, which is behind a lot of badly played games. There are many factors to consider while driving a ball, the first being the design of the club. The designs are variable, and each club is made in a way to help send the ball a certain distance. You have to feel comfortable with the club you use.

The second most important thing to keep in mind is the stance of your body. You have to avoid being too tense, and must relax your muscles to drive an efficient swing. A tense body will do the opposite. Some golfers have flabby and weak muscles, which make them physically unprepared for an effective swing. Therefore, you will achieve bad results on the course. The best tip for that problem is to get your muscles conditioned by joining a golf conditioning program. That will give you stronger muscles and also the ability to better your golf drive.

The keyword here is to relax while driving. The other essentials are comfortable golf shoes, new golf balls, a crisp golf glove, good protection from the sun, etc. They all add to the quality of the game you play. A good drive has two basic fundamentals, which are balance and rhythm. If these two elements are implemented properly into your swing, it results in a great drive. Weight transfer, too, plays a crucial role. The correct dynamics of weight shifting also lend power and enhancement to your shot.

If you implement these tips and stick to them, you're sure to develop a great drive within a short period of time. But it also takes a lot of conscious effort and patience for golf is not an easy game. You can also purchase the instruction manuals and videos to practice and pick up tips. They are all available online.

Golf Instruction provides detailed information on Golf Instruction, Free Golf Instruction, Golf Swing Instruction, Online Golf Instruction and more. Golf Instruction is affiliated with Top Golf Schools.

Golf Channel and Equipment Reviews