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