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