How to Cure a Golf Hook
March 31, 2008
If you’ve been battling a hook for a while you understand how frustrating they can be. Everyone else is, more than likely, slicing the ball, and you are playing from the opposite side of the fairway.
But… the hook really is pretty easy to cure. Try this sequence of corrections, and most likely the hook will be fixed in no time. Your goal in correcting a hook is to swing from outside to in.
1) Weaken your Grip - You could be playing with a grip that is too strong. You’ll want to simply rotate both hands around the grip and towards the target. This will make it much harder for the clubface to naturally close through the impact zone. Don’t over do it, and like everything else, testing is crucial. Make sure to test this, before moving on, unless you are positive that you already play with a weak grip.
2) Move the ball forward in your stance - It is common of players that slice the ball to play the ball forward in their stance. So copy them. If you hook, the result should be a relatively straight ball. (Side Note: Whether you hook or slice, your first goal should be to learn to do the opposite.) Moving the ball forward in your stance should get some things back on track.
What is Self Mastery? ? Part 3
March 31, 2008
The next large component of self-mastery is mental health, and this is much trickier than physical health, due to many pitfalls that affect the mind along the way. The list of reasons why people fall prey to mental illness is so long; it could fill a large book.
Anyone can get a mental illness, as it crosses every social and economic boundary that exists. Some mental illnesses, such as Schizophrenia, seem to have marginal genetic factors, in that, it can "run in families," but studies don’t indicate why this occurs.
On the other hand, Schizophrenia sometimes seems to be brought on by conditions around us ? for example: the loss of a loved one and poverty. Therefore, let’s look at some methods for optimum mental health and prevention of mental illness.
Exercise helps your mind relax and deal with life’s daily stress. Exactly why this happens is not yet fully understood, but it does increase endorphin production, which makes you feel good. This does not make exercise the answer to all problems, but it is a factor in good mental health. When choosing exercise, pick something that you enjoy. Although, I would personally recommend Yoga first, that does not mean it will be an ideal exercise for you.
The Importance of The Fibonacci Numbers in Fitness Training
March 30, 2008
“Things do not change; we change.” ?Henry David Thoreau
The following article is a chapter from my new book, The Da Vinci Fitness Code.
Professor Stanley Plagenhoef, one of my greatest mentors, introduced me to the Fibonacci number series in the early 1980’s. He encouraged me to think of those numbers in the ideal relationship of health and fitness. I took his advice and bought books that spoke of the Fibonacci numbers, and the link between those numbers and The Golden Mean Ratio.
The first and best book I ever bought is titled, The Curves of Life, written by Theodore Andrea Cook, ISBN # 0-486-23701. The publisher is Dover Publications in New York.
Interestingly, this publication mentions on its title page, that the book includes special relation to “The Manuscripts of LEONARDO DA VINCI.” I learned many details from this insightful; brain penetrating book (and others I later read).
Some I will reword from memory. Leonardo said: “?you cannot be a good master, unless you have a universal power of representing by your art, all the varieties of the forms in Nature.
Is A Heart Rate Monitor Right For You?
March 30, 2008
Exercise equipment, like Bowflex, Body by Jake etc., has advanced dramatically over the last 10 years. With the new technology, you can run on your treadmill at home and then slide it under your bed as a space saver. As a matter of fact, you can go to the, choose a program that will do just about everything for you, except exercise for you. Even with the smarter machines, more people still are not reaching their exercise goals. Why is that? The reason is because they were never shown how to exercise the proper way.
The "no pain no gain" concept is still alive in most gyms and even in the home. That concept makes a majority of people feel that exercise is just too hard. Does that sound maybe the way you think?
You put your time in either at the gym or on your home exercise equipment, but you just can’t seem to reach your goal or lose those last few pounds. And it’s not because you’re not trying. Are you sure are that you are exercising according to your goals you want to achieve? If not, a heart rate monitor just maybe what you need to get the results you looking for.
Simple Tips For Improving Golf Swing
March 29, 2008
There are loads of resources both on-line and off that you can turn to for easy tips on improving golf swing. More than likely, you are looking for simple pointers on improving golf swing that you can start with yourself, because you are not in a position to hire a professional to help you improve your swing.
These are tips on improving golf swing that you can use every single time you are out, whether you are playing nine, eighteen or are just brushing up on the driving range.
The first tip for improving golf swing is to LOOK. When you are golfing with friends or colleagues, make a note of the most successful golfer and observe carefully when he or she swings. Watch for body position, stance, how high they lift the club and the motion used when they swing the club. Then think about your own swing. What are they doing that you are not doing? If you can figure this out for yourself, there is no shame in asking your talented golfer friends to watch you and offer their advice for improving golf swing.
The Dangerous Secret of Extreme Muscle Growth
March 29, 2008
You’ve decided to join a gym, but you’re not sure the best way to work out, and don’t want to pay for a personal trainer who may not really know what he’s talking about? Already an experienced weight lifter, but aren’t getting the results you want? Read on for the best tips for working out if you have a full gym facility, and the secret to extreme muscle growth.
Before and After
You should always warm up before lifting any weights. This means a light jog or other low-impact activity that will raise your heart rate and raise your core temperature by a few degrees. This should last at least 5 minutes, preferably 10 or more. After this, you should do joint rotations. This is not a stretch, it is preparing the joint for work by encouraging blood flow. Then, do the resistance training. At the end, stretch all of the joints you have worked that day. Studies have shown that stretching before weight training actually reduces the muscle’s capacity, and does not prevent injury as was previously thought. Stretching after the work out will protect the joint and prevent cramping.
Some Great Ideas on Staying Fit
March 28, 2008
Physical exercise is something that you need to do on a regular basis. If you’re looking for examples of great fitness exercises to try out, you’ll find them on our site.
A regular exercise program of either running, walking, cycling, swimming, aerobics or any other physical exercise helps to improve the efficiency of the human body in many ways. A healthy exercise regimen can help strengthen the body physically, as well as make you more confident and help you avoid some future illnesses.
Exercise keeps your bones and joints in line and strong, so the benefits aren’t purely superficial. It also acts to strengthen your cardiovascular system, to help keep your heart healthy. A few great fitness exercises used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle and healthy diet can help you live longer and better.
A general feeling of improved well-being can be found through light exercises, so there is no need to overdo things. Light walking is probably the easiest fitness exercise there is; yet this doesn’t mean it isn’t a great fitness exercise. It helps blow the cobwebs away and can improve the heart, lower blood pressure and improve physique. All of these things help keep you healthy, active and measurably improve your lifestyle.
Golf Clubs - Your Golf Putting - Use These Putting Practice Tips
March 28, 2008
To begin a golf game, your golf practice game or your golf putting practice; study the art of keeping your eye on the golf ball. It seems to be just natural to let your eyes follow the backswing. To correct this you might turn the golf ball until the brand is on top. Then just keep your eyes on that.
When putting, think of the golf swing as a pendulum and as you move through this area, strike the golf ball with the sweet spot only.
How do you find the sweet spot? Hold your putter using the thumb and forefinger. You are dangling it now and letting it swing.
With the other forefinger tap the putter blade until the putter head rebounds straight back in perfect alignment. That is the sweet spot for this putter. Some players mark it.
To judge the distance of the backswing try this exercise. Use your right big toe as an anchor and take the putter back to your right big toe.
Now, being consistent with your speed accelerate the club head through the ball and watch how far the ball rolls. You might try this in both wet and dry conditions. This gives you the ability to gauge from there how long the backswing should be for the putt you are facing.
Cheap Elliptical Trainers - What You Dont Know Can Cost You Big Time
March 27, 2008
Should you ever consider purchasing a cheap elliptical trainer? It’s my position that you should purchase the best elliptical trainer that your budget allows. The elliptical trainers that I recommend all retail above $1000. Some of these are above $2000. No question, this is a substantial sum for most people, but you should keep in mind that this is an investment in your long term health and fitness. You want a machine that not only is enjoyable to use, but lasts for many years to come.
The very nature of elliptical trainers and treadmills for that matter, makes them prone to wear. As a result, they will need to be serviced at some point during their lifetime. Maybe even more than once. This is not meant to frighten you, quite the contrary, but to impress upon you that skimping on quality to save money is usually not good economics when it comes to elliptical trainers.
The other thing to keep in mind about cheap ellipticals is that they will probably wobble side-to-side during use and may even produce annoying squeaks due to cheap design. All of these problems are greatly magnified if you are heavy. The end result could very likely be a snapped bolt or damaged frame component. Toppling off an elliptical trainer while in full stride is a scary thought!
Samurai Armor Part 1
March 27, 2008
The first prototype for Japanese samurai armor came about in the form of the yoroi during the Gempei War of 1181-1185. The weight of the yoroi was around 60lb. The upper-body armor of the samurai was known as the ‘Do’. This comprised of the ‘Sode’, the suspended shoulder and upper-arm protection plates. The Sode had hoops by which silk cord was tied and then fixed to the back of the armor in an ‘agemaki’ / decorative knotted tassel. Guards were also placed over the shoulder cords, and a leather plate placed across the bow cords to prevent them from been cut or becoming ensnared during a skirmish.
A samurai’s protective helmet, or Kabuto typically consisted of from eight to a dozen plates all fixed together with cone shaped bolts. Much like in the military of other cultures, a samurai’s helmet would display the samurai’s rank and his group or clan, and often be very elaborate and decorative looking. As many samurai had long hair, their ponytails would protrude through the tehen, a gap left in the centre of the helmets crown.
