I want to start playing golf. I’m 22 years old and I’ve done a little research on golf clubs. I knew going into this that Callaway is probably the best brand, but its also really expensive. Is Wilson a good brand for Women’s golf clubs? I want to spend no more than 2 or 3 hundred dollars on a complete set to start out with. Is that reasonable?

Hello future golfer. I have been playing golf for about 5 years now. I use a non-brand set of clubs (Gear 2 Golf) it cost for the whole set about 350.00. I know the name is generic but these clubs have a softer feel to them and allow some forgiveness to mistake shots. All I can say is care full with brand names around that price. They are mostly true-hit clubs( as in they have no forgiveness to them).

Hope this helps, good luck in your search.

powered by Yahoo Answers

Low back pain represents one of the most common and costly diagnoses that the health profession manages on a continuous basis. It is one of the most common reasons to visit a physician, physical therapist, or chiropractor. The costs for evaluating and treating low back pain patients are estimated to be beyond $50 billion dollars a year in the U.S. Regardless of the costs from the multiple diagnostic options, physical therapists and other healthcare practitioners must become more efficient and effective with their treatment plans. Treatment must be aimed at the individual with the back problem rather than the back problem itself. It is crucial for the clinician to include in their clinical assessments to examine the person and their ability to function, and not just focus on the traditional clinical tests of impairments such as range of motion and strength tests.

Traditional exercises have been shown to be an effective treatment modality for patients with low back injury. Multiple studies have examined the benefits of exercise in treating patients with low back pain; however, there have been very few published reports describing specific program designs as it relates to golfers. Golf injuries to the low back are the most common problems in both the professional and amateur player. It’s poor technique and the repetition of hitting balls that usually leads to an injury. Combine that with the typical sedentary lifestyle (in which people drive to/from work in a seated position and work in a seated position for most of the day) and you begin to understand why there is such a high incidence of back pain among golfers.

A back injury results from excessive stress placed on the spine, usually when the body does not perform the correct sequence during the golf swing. Here is an astonishing fact: Eight times your body weight is forced through your spine as you make contact with the ball. So if you have poor mechanics combined with a weak back you are more likely to cause yourself a significant amount of injury.

To avoid back pain, I recommend you start by visiting a health professional for a golf-specific training program. A well-trained health professional is able to identify skeletal and muscle imbalances and give you correct golf specific exercises to improve your posture and overall conditioning specific for golf. Correct posture and muscle balance will enable you to get into the proper positions required to swing the golf club effectively.

The golf swing is considered a very unnatural movement for most people, especially for people with a sedentary lifestyle. As with most sports, golf is a sport that requires a lot of rotary movement. When we sit for the most part of the day, certain muscles get used to that position and become “tight”, while other muscles get “stretched out”. This leads to significant muscle imbalances that then put unnecessary stress on the back. In all likelihood, their golf muscles have “shut down” due to sitting for long periods. Effectively, the muscles that absorb force and reduce load in a golf swing (that is, the lower and deep abdominals) are relatively weak and aren’t able to work together. And if your hips and shoulders are tight, there is a greater chance of moving incorrectly.

The golfer’s checklist to ensure a healthy back:

1. Visit a physical therapist or chiropractor well versed with golfers for a golf-specific physical assessment and conditioning program.

2. Take a lesson from a PGA professional about basic fundamentals and how the body should move during the golf swing. Hopefully the PGA instructor uses video to analyze your swing.

3. Practice golf specific drills that teach the correct movements in your swing, which will decrease the chances of injuring your back.

4. Ensure your clubs are fitted properly for you, e.g. are your clubs too short or long? Are the shafts too flexible or stiff?

5. Make sure you do a golf-specific warm-up routine prior to hitting balls or playing golf.

Dr. Robert V. Duvall
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/play-better-golf-when-you-have-a-better-back-98260.html

There is not a store in America that anyone actually wants to pay full price for an item. When you are buying golf equipment, you can go to many brick and mortar based buildings for golfing tools, balls, and other equipment or you can choose to explore resale shops, Pro Shops, and Internet shopping malls to find the best deals.

For discounted golf product shopping, people will scan the clearance areas of most internet sports equipment websites in search of the right make and model of golfing equipment that you already own. There are tremendous discounts in the newspaper ads too in your town for discounted golf products shopping enthusiasts consider because they are offered by people who are no longer interested in golf, or do not have enough time to play it anymore.

Some of the resale shops feature discounted golf product shopping items such as pre-owned clubs and bags. There may be a box or two of top quality golf balls that you can find in these resale shops that an avid golfer once purchased, but no longer needs. These pre-owned clubs might be slightly soiled, or have dents here and there on the handles, but if you need to create a second set of golfing clubs that you could keep at the office, it would be simply a marvelous choice for you.

The discounted golf product shopping items that you see at a close-out store, feature simply superb golfing equipment, but the quantities are quite limited. Some of these one-of-a-kind items are discounted golf product shopping items that you did not see in other retail outlets you visited, and you snatch those few items up immediately. You notice that the old retailer is still on the package, and it is a place that you used to buy some of your golfing products from throughout the year.

There are featured items in these golf outlets that give you a good price on some positively brilliant individual golf club designs. The discounted golf product shopping items are carefully considered, and you add a Sasquatch Driver with a graphite shaft to your club arsenal that you plan to keep in the trunk of your car.

There are many discounted golf product shopping sites on the Internet. Some rainy days at home are spent on the Internet, leisurely going from one site to the other looking for discounted golf product shopping deals. There are training aids on one site that you find particularly appealing. These VHS and DVD offerings will allow you to get in a few extra pointers for a very low price.

All in all, you have amassed quite a collection of golfing equipment on your discounted golf product shopping spree. By checking the forecasts on your local computer home page, you see that there are sunny skies predicted for the weekend, and hastily call the golf course for a tee time.

Your golfing buddies will be quite impressed with your new found golfing treasures. They will automatically know that you found some discounted golf product shopping items and will want to hear all about it as you go hole to hole on the 18-hole golf course.

Victor Nunn
http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/discounted-golf-product-shopping-131959.html

It is likely that we all have at least one obsessed golfer in our lives. For them golf is more than a hobby, it is an all consuming passion. When their birthday rolls around each year we naturally want to get them a golf related gift, but finding the perfect golf birthday gift can be a daunting task. Where do you turn to find the perfect golf birthday gift for the golfer who has everything?

Golfers are known to be pack rats who already have a garage full of clubs, balls, and all the newest gadgets. Fortunately, the golf market is always ripe with new products that might just be the perfect golf birthday gift! In your quest to find the perfect golf birthday gift, you might first want to talk to the people who know your golfer the best; their golf buddies. Golf buddies know more about your golfer’s game than anyone, and they surely know what gadgets and clubs they already have and what they would like to have. Some sage advice from friends could be the quickest way to find the perfect golf birthday gift.

If advice from golf buddies is hard to find, another way to find the perfect golf birthday gift is to go to your local pro shop. Pro shops are often free standing stores, but they are also located in the clubhouse of most golf clubs. On staff at any pro shop is a golf professional who is trained in helping golfers improve their games not only through lessons, but through proper equipment as well. Their expert advice can help anyone find the perfect golf birthday gift. Help the pro help you by telling them as much as you can about the golfer in your life. From the types of clubs they own, to the range of scores they shoot, all of this information can help the professional determine what would be the perfect golf birthday gift. Who knows, maybe the perfect golf birthday gift would be a gift certificate for golf lessons from the professional at the shop? No matter what you decide, expert advice can always help when you are looking for the perfect golf birthday gift.

Pro shops are a great option that provides expert service, but they often are lacking in selection and they can be expensive as well. When looking for the perfect golf birthday gift you might prefer the wider selection and lower prices that can be found at the large golf or sporting goods retailers. While the salespeople at these stores might not be golf professionals, they are usually avid golfers who can draw on their experiences in helping you find the perfect golf birthday gift. In addition to clubs and balls, these stores often have a wide selection of clothes and apparel that might make the perfect golf birthday gift.

If you still can not find the perfect golf birthday gift, then maybe the best choice would be a gift certificate to any of the shops and stores that you have visited. Or better yet, the perfect golf birthday gift might just be a gift certificate to play a round at a golf course that your golfer loves to play, or has never played! No matter what you decide, just know that the perfect golf birthday gift is out there, even if you are buying for a very well stocked golfer.

Michelle Bery
http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/how-to-find-the-perfect-golf-birthday-gift-92019.html

Golf is one of the most interesting outdoor sports. To play golf effectively in the right manner, a lot of practice and perseverance is required. The initial hurdle that a new comer in this field has to go through is the task of buying golf equipment.

This initial period is a very tricky one. You know that you need to possess the required equipment to practice well. But you don’t have any knowledge either regarding the right equipment to buy or its maintenance. In such case, you would love to get your hands on second hand or used golf equipment at a less price.

There may be another reason also for buying pre-used equipment. This is in fact the most common reason of all, your budget. Most people might not be permitted by their budget to buy brand new golf equipment. However, the real fact is that pre-used good quality golf equipment can be found at extremely low prices.

In order to buy pre-owned equipment, though not essential but recommended trait that you need to possess is the skill to select what equipment you require precisely. You have to show a lot of patience and maintain your calm till you find the right equipment of your choice.

For instance, if you look for specific features on your equipment like left handed clubs, etc., the search might become a little easier for you. In the same case, used balls can be used for your practice without spoiling the new balls that you purchase. However, looking for a particular brand of an item may make things difficult for you.

You have to understand one main point here. As the pre-owned equipment that you buy is only for your practice and other less important occasions, you must make do with whatever you find in the pre-used golf equipment sales. If you start going from one shop to another if search of a particular brand, then it might take up a lot of your time. If the equipment found in a shop is more or less similar to the type you require, just go ahead and buy it. If you cannot satisfy yourself with the brand found in pre-used goods sales, then the only solution for you is to buy brand new equipment.

The other things that can be purchased from used goods sales are ball washers, golf towels, cleat wrench kits, golf cars and carts.

Lanny Hintz
http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/buying-used-golf-equipment-84983.html

So you’ve hit a few balls and you are thinking of taking up golf. Or maybe you’ve been playing for years and you would like to find a way to improve. Whether you are a seasoned Tour pro, a raw beginner, or anyone in between, at some point you will likely wonder if you should invest in some golf lessons.

Golf is a complex game where so many elements of the golf swing are interconnected. One minute aspect of your swing can impact the results dramatically. Because we can not see ourselves in action, we have to rely on others to view our swings and give us feedback, yet so many of us are willing to entrust that responsibility to our friends and playing partners, most of whom are completely unqualified to offer such advice. Instead of professional feedback that we would receive during golf lessons, we are told the famous golf axioms; “keep your head still,” “keep your arm straight,” so on, and so forth.

Golf lessons from a qualified professional are likely to help any golfer improve on their game. There are different kinds of golf lessons that are sure to fit any golfers schedule, budget, or needs. Beginners might opt for group golf lessons at a local golf course. Group golf lessons are less expensive and focus on the most basic fundamentals of the golf swing, such as grip, stance, and posture. More advanced golfers are likely to benefit more from a one-on-one golf lesson with the professional .Their trained eye can not only help diagnose any problems you have with your swing, but they can also supply you with specific practice drills that you can work on after your golf lesson.

Today’s golf lessons are often more than just a teacher watching a pupil hit golf balls. Modern video equipment, and computer programs designed specifically for analyzing the golf swing, can be used to examine your swing in super slow motion so that the smallest faults can be identified and resolved.

Another advantage to golf lessons is that the professional can analyze the clubs you are using and help you decide if they are proper for your game. With the hundreds of brands of golf clubs on the market it is hard to know if your equipment is ideal for your game. Today’s professional has the resources to analyze your game from top to bottom during your golf lesson, your clubs included. That kind of expertise and feedback will make golf lessons beneficial for anyone, no matter what their ability.

Michelle Bery
http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/learn-how-to-play-with-golf-lessons-86061.html

I have a ping golf bag, and it has a logo on the side. I want to strip that off, is there any special/possible way?

Go buy a new one without logo. Or you can take some tape, a stick, and 3 bottles of elmer's glue to heal your wounds.

powered by Yahoo Answers

Golf is one of the oldest sports in the world, with a history dating back to 15th century England. The sport followed the colonists across the ocean and became a popular American pastime. Today, more than half of all the golf courses in the world are in the United States, even though the sport has worldwide popularity. Great players captured the nation’s imagination from Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer and Vijay Singh. In 1950, golf became one of the few professional sports open to women when the LPGA was formed. Babe Zaharias, Nancy Lopes and Karrie Webb have inspired generations of women seeking a career in professional golf.

But two golfers are leading the way in increasing interest in golf. Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam have brought in a new generation of golf fans with their personalities and their record-setting scores. Their popularity has also sparked a new interest in golf collectables. While Jack Nicklaus attracted golf fans, Woods and Sorenstam bring new fans to golf.

Woods is by far the most marketable golfer, perhaps ever. His collection of pro sports memorabilia ranges from traditional golf balls, photos and shirts. Woods autograph is one of the most coveted of all authenticated sports collectibles. Woods has a deal with Upper Deck, which guarantees the authenticity of the autographs from the athletes.

Sorenstam is the first female to sign with Upper Deck. The company store has collectible Sorenstam photos of her career highlights and an autographed golf ball.

Golf collectibles of veteran golfers also remains a top seller. Nicklaus, often referred to as the greatest golfer of all time, continues to get top dollar on Internet auctions. One of the most popular items is a photograph of Nicklaus with Woods. Woods is poised to overtake Nicklaus’ record of major tournament wins. At 31, Woods has 12 major wins while Nicklaus has 18 wins in his entire career. Any golf memorabilia linking Woods and Nicklaus will get top dollar and have great sentimental value as well.

Any items from the PGA’s main event, the Masters’ Tournament, are highly collectible. The Masters is the only tournament played on the same course each year. Since 1934, golfers have competed at the course in Augusta, Georgia.

Golf magazines, clubs and golf balls are all collector items for golf lovers. When you add an autograph by Woods, Sorenstam, Nicklaus or another golf great, the value increases greatly. With its rich history, golf collectibles can include items from a hundred years ago. But other memorabilia also holds great value and sentiment for collectors such as decanters shaped like golf clubs, tea sets and china are often found in the homes of collectors of authenticated sports collectibles.

John Tower
http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/golf-collectibles-gaining-intrest-among-hobbyist-126497.html

I have a golf bag and im not sure what to do with all of the pockets. I know one is for my water bottle, one is for my golf balls and one for my tees, but there are still allot more pockets. What do i do with them, what are they for?

anything you want them to be for…..it is your bag after all

powered by Yahoo Answers

Wondering what to get your golf fanatic this holiday? Companies are always catering to the special needs of golfers, so instead of giving a silly present like a singing golf tee, why not get your duffer a gift they can actually enjoy the next time they hit the links?

Even small golf gadgets, can be expensive if you’re not sure what you’re buying. Presented below are five gift ideas you can use to fill any golfer’s neatly hung stocking this year. Best of all, they’re each under $50.

Are you sick of seeing your golfer’s clubs piled in the bathroom or kitchen as they try to remove the evidence of their flubs from the face of their clubs? How about a groove cleaner for his or her clubs? A club cleaning product that removes grass and dirt from the grooves would be the perfect match. The Groove Doctor is only $14.95.

Brush tees will cost you less than $10 for a three-pack and are a great addition to any golfer’s stash of stocking gifts. Unlike wooden or plastic golf tees, a brush tee mimics the natural lie a golfer gets when he lands on some premium grass in the middle of the fairway.

Is the golfer in your home always complaining about not being able to tell how far the pin is from the airway? A digital golf range finder sells for about $35.00 and is tiny enough to wrap and stick in any stocking. Sometimes there isn’t a marker anywhere near, and a range finder is the ticket to a golfer’s good green fortune.

If your golfing enthusiast heads off to the course before the sun rises and never makes it home before the sun sets, then you might want to getting them a set of Twilight Tracer Balls. Tracer balls flash with a red blinking light for five minutes after they’re hit, allowing the golfer to easily follow its path and finish up the game before they’re forced to pick up play and call it a day. Tracer balls sell for less than $35.00 per pack, which includes three balls each.

Or how about a set of personalized premium golf balls? You can get a set of a dozen Titleist balls emblazoned with the golfer’s name on it for under $30 per pack. Titleist is the number one ball in play, but there are other brands you can get even cheaper.

Golfers love anything that has to do with their sport, but many have had enough with double-decker beer hats and trick tees that don’t contribute to the betterment of their game, so this year, surprise him with something he’ll wear out because he love sit so much.

Jeff Rose
http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/sporty-stocking-stuffers-5-golf-gadgets-for-under-50-each-76685.html