Basic Golf Etiquette
November 25, 2006
Many golfers take to the sport without the basic understanding of how the game should be played. Of course, we all know that the game requires a tee, a ball, and clubs, but few golfers actually take the time to learn the proper etiquette of the game. Lacking this type of fundamental knowledge can lead to tremendously embarrassing mistakes on the green. Golf is a great game when digested properly and then studied correctly. It’s important to take each step as it comes and do it right. This article should help you to understand the basics of good golf etiquette. I think that I can best show you how the game is played by taking you through the play of one hole with a foursome.
The members of the foursome or twosome hit in turn. The closest ball to the green hits last and so on. When on the first tee, the order in which the players hit is decided, this order only pertains to that first shot. The golf term for this action is honor.
Exercise The Right Way - The Vertical Chest Press
November 25, 2006
Other articles in this series looked at a number of exercises, mainly from the perspective of developing a comprehensive muscle building program. Sometimes we take things for granted, especially when it comes to performing the basic exercises that constitute the core of most bodybuilders’ training regimes.
It is useful, therefore, to describe in detail the processes involved in actually doing these exercises. This will help beginners to start out using the correct techniques before moving on to potentially more dangerous heavy weights. If it also helps more experienced lifters to redress some of the little faults that have almost imperceptibly crept in over the years, all the better.
In this article we’ll take a close look at the vertical chest press.
MUSCLES TARGETED: pectoralis major
STARTING POSITION
Sit down and lean back.
Grasp the handles with a closed, pronated grip.
Align handles with the nipples.
Push the handles away from the chest to a fully extended elbow position.
This is the starting point for all repetitions.
BACKWARD MOVEMENT
Allow the handles to slowly move backward until level with the chest.
FORWARD MOVEMENT
Push the handles away from the chest to the starting position.
Do not arch back or lock elbows.
Repeat or finish set.
Richard Mitchell is the creator of the bodybuildingadvisor.com website that provides guidance and information to athletes at all levels of bodybuilding experience. Go to Bodybuilding Exercises to learn more about the issues covered in this article.
The Different Types of Treadmills
November 24, 2006
When we usually think of treadmills, we tend to think that there is only one type on the market. However, this is very far from the truth as there are a couple of different types of treadmills.
There is, of course, the home treadmill that most are familiar with. However, the other type of treadmill is the commercial treadmill, which are the ones that are usually seen in the gym.
Most exercise gurus will pursue getting home treadmill. They range from cheap, manual treadmills up to the higher quality ones that are designed for those with extensive running and cross training in their workouts.
Competition in the treadmill industry is extremely high. There are hundreds of brands and types of treadmills that are all competing for your money.
There are folding home treadmill varieties which are great space savers as they can fold up and be put in a closet or under a bed. However this type of treadmill lacks an extremely sold form that most home treadmills possess.
The other variety of treadmill is known as the commercial treadmill. This type of treadmill is used in a gym or other type of commercial setting such as a doctor’s office.
Why You Should Be A Risk-Taking Golfer
November 24, 2006
Very few people, whether they are golfers or not, realize that the mind cannot stand still. Even the most unobservant person’s mind is continually receiving new impressions. In the course of a single round many of new ideas enter the mind of every golfer, possibly leading him to trying experiments, a change either of grip or stance, or, sometimes a deliberate attempt to slice or hook an iron-shot.
Every golfer is at heart a risk-taker. And I think that the risk-taking golfer has the best of it; he gets much more enjoyment from the gain when his risky experimental shots come off than does the timid golfer whose motto is safety first. And more than this: since the human mind cannot stand still, it is natural to theorize & take risk, and consequently, unnatural not to. For too long the risk-taker has been under a cloud; he has been the joke of his fellow-golfers, and he has been held up to ridicule & scorn by commentators "Nothing is constant but change!" That is very true of golf.
Golf Weight Training Is The Answer To Longer Drives
November 23, 2006
It is no secret that most of the male and female tour players who want to play their best golf, do golf weight training exercises. But it’s not the kind of grueling, sweating stuff you’re thinking about.
There is a HUGE misconception of what and how this type of program should be done. It does not take going into a gym and lifting heavy weights; nor does it take a 2-3 hour daily commitment.
I have seen many "so-called" golf weight training programs, books, and videos etc that do in fact show the golfer in the gym and on machines. Sitting on a machine, isolating one muscle group is not golf-specific or sport-specific for that matter.
Golf is a dynamic movement done on your feet. Sitting in a machine in a "controlled" environment will not improve your swing.
The golf swing incorporates most of the muscles of the body in a sequential motion. I hope you can now see sitting in a machine won’t improve that.
So what truly is a ‘golf-specific’ program?
For starters, doing a lot of exercise ‘on your feet’ and in your golf posture will help. The more you can get in your posture and strength train, the quicker the benefit to your game.
Can Home Fitness Get Better Results Faster Than A Gym?
November 23, 2006
Deciding on a home fitness regime is one that will take a bit of planning and dedication. In short?home fitness does get results just as fast but of course depends on effort and knowing what to do.
It would be most beneficial to first go to a gym or see a personal trainer and get proper advice on the advantages of home fitness. With today’s hectic lifestyle, for many of us home fitness is the only solution because of time and money constraints.
If the correct equipment is used and you actually stick to your home fitness program, you can definitely achieve the same results you would from going to the gym. There’s plenty of home fitness equipment around to choose from that would suite any age, agenda or fitness level.
The main thing with home fitness is having the discipline to actually stick at it and push yourself just as if you had a training partner. There are many, many benefits for home fitness, as you can now train as often as you like without the hassles of having to be somewhere at a certain time or worrying about your appearance. Not only that, if you do decide to opt in for a home fitness regime, you can get as much or little variety as you choose as there are just so many options available to you.
Exercise The Right Way - The Flat Dumbbell Fly
November 22, 2006
Other articles in this series looked at a number of exercises, mainly from the perspective of developing a comprehensive muscle building program. Sometimes we take things for granted, especially when it comes to performing the basic exercises that constitute the core of most bodybuilders’ training regimes.
It is useful, therefore, to describe in detail the processes involved in actually doing these exercises. This will help beginners to start out using the correct techniques before moving on to potentially more dangerous heavy weights. If it also helps more experienced lifters to redress some of the little faults that have almost imperceptibly crept in over the years, all the better.
In this article we’ll take a close look at the flat dumbbell fly.
MUSCLES TARGETED: pectoralis major
STARTING POSITION
Grasp two dumbbells using a closed grip.
Assume a supine position on a bench.
Press the dumbbells to an extended elbow, parallel arm position above the chest.
Rotate the dumbbells to a neutral grip.
Slightly flex the elbows and point them out to the sides.
This is the starting point for all repetitions.
DOWNWARD MOVEMENT
Fitness Focus: Overcoming Obstacles
November 22, 2006
If you’re like me, the quest to be in shape, manage weight and overall well-being, at times, feels overwhelming. And, as if the quest to be fit isn’t hard enough, there’s often other obstacles to overcome: health issues, time management, mustering up courage or energy. Even if you’ve been exercising for a long time, there’s always new barriers to be broken. So, how to put all of this into perspective? According to Tom Turner, executive liaison for the Spina Bifida Association that’s exactly it: Perspective. And also, according to him, there’s no mountain too high to climb. Tom would know. Paralyzed from the waist down since birth he’s now 33 and trains about three times a week. In fact, he tells me, he just couldn’t get along without exercise.
So in my quest for the last word on overcoming barriers in fitness, Tom sat down with me and together we came up with 3 basic principles that will help break-down fears and intimidations in reaching fitness goals.
(After all, if he can exercise on a regular basis, shouldn’t that be encouragement enough for anyone to give it a shot?)
Principle #1 Move into the Fear.
Muscle Fitness ? Can Yoga Make You Stronger?
November 21, 2006
Many people wonder if yoga can improve their muscle fitness. They recognize that yoga can help reduce stress and increase flexibility, but when it comes to increasing muscle fitness, they think it might be a little too ‘weak’ to do the job. The fact is that yoga can definitely make you stronger.
A study was conducted at the University of California at Davis. Ten college ‘coach potatoes’ adopted a yoga routine for eight weeks. Each week, they attended from two to four classes during which they spent 10 minutes on breath control, 15 minutes of warm up exercises, 50 minutes doing yoga asanas, and then 10 minutes of relaxation/mediation. At the end of the eight-week period, the researchers measured the students’ fitness and discovered that their muscular strength had increased by up to 31%, their muscular endurance improved by 57%, their flexibility increased by 188%, and their cardio respiratory fitness improved by 7%. These results are pretty amazing when you consider that the study was only conducted for eight weeks.
How can something that seems so benign have such a major impact on muscle fitness?
How Golf Stretches In Your Office Can Improve Your Game
November 21, 2006
Yes you heard it right! Golf stretches in your office. What a great way to take a quick break from your computer to not only feel better in the moment, but improve your game at the same time.
I’ve come up with many clever ways to work around the "I don’t have time" reason (excuse).
You can’t tell me you don’t have 15 seconds at your computer?an no-less in your chair? That’s right?I have come up with a whole routine you can do at your office that will quickly and dramatically improve your range of motion in your golf swing.
How many times have you been sitting at your computer with pains in your neck, back, shoulders, hips and even feet?
I’ve been there and that’s why I’ve come up with a simple and quick routine to solve this very common problem.
If you are a fanatic golfer like me?you think about golf 24/7. Even at work! There’s nothing wrong with that as long as you’re getting your work done.
But why not make valuable use of that quick moment for golf by doing a stretch at your desk without leaving your chair?
