You can have any number of personally detailed golf accessories.
Customized golf equipment, accessories or paraphernalia is a
wonderful gift ideal for the golfer in your life. It is also a wonderful
purchase for your own golf needs. Golf clubs alone have some original
accessories that are easily found and made more special with personal
touches.
The idea of personalizing golf equipment can begin with the gold bag
that carries the precious cargo of your clubs. Monograms stitched into
the leather or canvas is an unobtrusive way to show ownership and
also to personalize. Using monogrammed golf towels or using golf balls
with your name on them is a great way to personalize the golf scene
without being tacky or presumptuous. And you never know when a
large bag of discount personalized golf tees could really come in
handy.
Golf clubs with the owners name engraved in them is the beginning of
a long list of wonderful personalized and customized golf equipment.
Needing golf clubs that vary from the ordinary in height, length or
strength is what customizing is all about. You will discover there is a
whole retail world out there that thrives on customization. Golf clubs
are indeed just the beginning.
Golf apparel is no exception to the personal side of golf. Comfortable
and affordable clothes, shoes, hats and umbrellas are just a few of the
enormous choices available for personalized golf. With discount and
wholesale golf apparel shops offering every affordable style is made
available to the golfing public there is no reason not to be original in
your appearance on the golf course.
So many great gift ideas come
to mind when you think about
customizing and personalizing
golf equipment. Head covers
can boast the family crest or
they can even be a knitted gift
from your teenage daughters
for your birthday. Either way
they are equally cherished for
their unique sentimental value.
Customizing your vacation to include a home rented in advance in
Augusta, Georgia for a personal view of the Masters can be an
amazing way to show your loyalty to the sport of golf. Being up close
and personal to such an event is something planned well in advance
and could be in some cases a once in a lifetime occurrence.
Customized and personalized can go hand in hand and need not be so
expensive. Creating your own tournament for a good cause is always a
fun project for the entire family or helpful organization.
Customizing your golf accessories can range from the practical to the
outrageous. Installing seat warmers or air conditioners in your golf car
might seem a little extravagant to some people. If you are serious
about your golf these accessories and customizations are deemed a
necessity. A seat warmer or range finder may seem trivial in
comparison to some extravagant examples. Golf cars that look like the
SUV in your driveway may seem a little excessive. If you have the
money to indulge in such luxuries than so be it. Who said a Rolls
Royce golf car was over the top?
Drivers - Not Just for Chauffeuring You Around
In golf, the driver is also known as the 1 wood. Normally it’s the
longest club in the bag and has the largest head. This club is used to
hit the ball off the tee out of the box, which is where the ball is teed up
to start playing a hole. Of course, on a short par 3 hole, the driver
would be left in the bag, and another club would be selected, unless
the golfer just had a hankering to fly the green and blow any chance
at making a birdie or par.
Now, it should be noted that the club known as the driver is not
something that can be used to literally drive someone around. If
anyone put this club behind the wheel of their car and climbed into the
back seat expecting to be chauffeured to a specific destination, or just
driven around in general, they will have a very, very, very long wait.
After all, it is a golf club, not someone who gets paid to drive cars. It
does not have arms or legs, nor does it have eyes or ears. You will
note there was no mention of a brain, but that is because there are so
many people on the road who also do not appear to have a functioning
brain while they are driving.
On the other hand, a driver (the golf club) is a great way to get the
ball down the links on the golf course. A well hit ball can travel more
than three hundred yards. However, this kind of driving power is most
often seen on the Professional Golf Association (PGA) tour. The
average golfer is doing well to hit the ball two hundred and fifty to two
hundred and seventy five yards off the tee and these are not drives to
be ashamed of.
There is no set average distance for holes on the golf course, which
makes driving on different courses a major challenge, in some cases.
Some par 4 holes can be as short as two hundred and eighty five
yards, while others can be closer to five hundred yards in length.
Either way, a well hit drive is required to do well in the game of golf.
The basic idea of driving the golf ball is to keep the ball in the fairway,
out of the rough, avoiding sand traps, and most definitely staying
away from any water hazards the course may have to offer. This
concept, though, is easier said than done. After all, the least little
thing can affect the golfer’s concentration. This can result in the ball
being, toed, or hit off the front of the driver, or heeled, which is when
the ball is hit off the back part of the driver. Those are bad things.
Toeing a drive will send the ball sharply to the right if the golfer is
right handed, or to the left if the golfer is a southpaw. Consequently, a
drive hit off the heel of the club will go left for the right handed player
and right for the lefty.
Getting Ready to Play Starts at the Driving Range
All golf courses, reputable ones anyway, have driving ranges. This has
nothing to do with the maneuverability of a golf cart, but the player practicing shots and getting loosened up for a round on the links.
The driving range is the best place to practice a new shot or technique
that the golfer has heard about but has not tried as of yet. It is never
a good idea for the golfer to attempt a new shot, or a new grip on the
golf course. This is because a muffed shot, and those are easy to hit,
can cause the golfer to lose faith in the stroke, the club or the grip he
or she was using. Therefore, it is always best to work on the shot at
the driving range before ever considering trying it on the course.
Every golfer has his or her own way of getting ready to play when they
go to the driving range. For some, the idea it to take the smaller clubs,
such as the pitching wedge, hit a few balls to get loosened up, then hit
with larger and larger clubs, finishing up the workout with the woods.
But, for others, he or she will start with the larger clubs, getting their
stroke down with the driver and woods first, then working their way to
the smaller clubs, such as the pitching and sand wedge. For others,
though, they will take one particular club to work on. This is normally
done when a golfer is having problems hitting this club regularly.
By using only one club, the golfer has to focus on what they are doing
with it. Are they gripping the club in a comfortable manner that will
allow their wrists to be flexible on the follow through? Or, is their
stance too closed or too open? This can have an adverse affect on a
shot, with a closed stance preventing the golfer from getting the
distance he or she thinks he or she should get with this particular club.
A stance too wide open will affect the golfer’s balance and, therefore,
the accuracy of the shot. These are some of the things a golfer will
work on at the driving range.
But, then again, there is always the new tip that is guaranteed to
increase both the length of a shot and the accuracy of the shot (and
there’s also oceanfront property in Oklahoma for those interested in
making such a purchase). A lot of these so-called “tips” are ways for
someone else to make money from golfing equipment or videos. Still,
there are some tips that are legitimate and will help. Regardless, all
tips should be tried out on the driving range before the golfer ever
thinks about stepping up to the tee on the first box.
Remember, though, the driving range is not for all terrain vehicles,
four wheel drive pickups, monster trucks, or to see how sharp a golf
cart can be turned. A driving range is a place where golfers go to get
ready for their game and try new tips.
Getting a Grip on Golf Terminology
Regardless of how much you’ve played golf, you’re probably going to
hear some new terminology every time you’re golfing with a new
group or working with a new instructor. The way to save face is to
simply nod like you know exactly what they’re talking about, even
when they’re touting new words. The smart thing to do is ask.
Even a casual golfer knows words like bogey, slice and approach. But
did you know that balata is that rubbery substance that covers a golf
ball? Here are a few terms that may be less well known to some
golfers.
A chunk is that boo-boo of hitting the ground behind the ball – way
behind the ball. The word came about because the chunk of grass (the
divot) that flies up can sometimes travel a longer distance than the
ball. When it’s done on purpose – as from a sand bunker – the
resulting shot is called an explosion. When the ball is really buried in
that sand, it’s known as a fried egg.
A top shot is when you simply hit too high on the ball. One of the most common causes is that you’ve hit several chunks and you’re trying to
compensate. When you hit a top shot, the ball will have little or no
loft. If you’re already in a sand trap, you’re likely to stay there for
another shot. If there’s one directly in front of you, a top shot will
probably net you a fried egg.
A Mulligan is the same as a “do over” from your childhood days! This is
when you aren’t satisfied with your first shot and you simply pull
another ball from your bag and start over. Typically, a Mulligan can
only happen when you’re playing alone or with very forgiving friends
because few golfers are going to let an opponent have a free “do
over.”
Yips is a word used to denote the inability to complete a putt with a
slow, steady movement. For various reasons, the golfer instead makes
a sudden, jerky swing, usually causing the putt to go wild.
The address is commonly known as that moment that the golfer steps
up to the ball. What some don’t realize is that USGA rules say that the
address has occurred once the golfer has rested the club behind the
ball.
Nassau is a popular way of competing, especially for those who are
something less than professional minded. In this game, golfers have
one score for the first nine holes they play and a separate score for the
back nine, as well as an overall score for the entire round. That means
that golfers have three scores to compare, upping the odds of winning
something!
There are other terms that you should know as well. The grain refers
to the way the grass angles, similar to the grain of fabric. Loft is the
angle of the face of the club. Dormie means that the person with the
lower score can’t hope for anything more than a tie.
Learning the terminology isn’t necessary to playing a good game, but
it probably is necessary to enjoying play with friends.
Golf – More than a Walk Through the Pasture
Mark Twain once wrote playing golf was a good way to spoil a walk
through the pasture. The inimitable Mr. Twain, from this statement,
could be believed not to be a golfer. After all, there is more to golfing
than just walking through a pasture.
First and foremost, golf is a way to either work out stress and
frustration, or, for many, to get even more stressed out and
frustrated. It can be the most infuriating game ever played or
invented, or the most fun. And, no two trips to the golf course will ever
be the same, regardless of how good a player someone is.
This is because the weather conditions are never identical, and
weather does play a big part in golf. The more intelligent golfers will
not go near the course in a thunderstorm, but there are a few brave,
and foolhardy, souls who will brave the elements just to play. The wind
also plays a major factor in golf, as the wind will affect the way the
ball travels. When hit, golf balls have spin. The spin can be enhanced
by the wind, causing the ball to drift away from its intended target.
Therefore, the golfer has to take the wind into consideration and plan
his or her shot accordingly.
Golf is also a good form of exercise, for those golfers who walk the course. A good course is about two miles around, so playing eighteen
holes is roughly equivalent to walking four miles. Any doctor will tell
you that such a walk can only be beneficial to the walker’s heart and
lungs.
Additionally, playing golf is good for getting out of the house and being
outdoors. Golfers can enjoy the sun and wind note the beauty of the
nature they’re surrounded by, as the majority of courses are well
landscaped and quite pleasing to the eye. Golfers can also watch
squirrels and rabbits on the course, sometimes, and take pleasure in
the antics of these creatures. This also helps free the golfer from
thinking about the mistake he or she made on the last shot or previous
hole, calming them down and getting them ready for their next shot.
For others, however, playing golf is a great way to beat stress. After
all, a golf course is about the only place a person can knock the crap
out of something, not only not get in trouble for hitting something, but
being praised and rewarded by knocking the crap out of the ball well.
How perfect is that?
Golf is also a game of honor. Surprised? Don’t be. After all, golf is the
only game where a person can call a penalty on themselves, and those
who play with honor do. Of course, there are the jerks who claim to
play golf, but wouldn’t think of calling a penalty on anything they’ve
done. Their scores, though, are meaningless, and this kind of behavior
will also show up in their day to day lives.
Golf Accessories – What’s Hot, What’s Not
As with any sport golf has
diverse and useful personal
accessories. Whether you are
searching for a gift to give your
favorite golfer or you are in
need of an accessory to make
your own golfing experience
more effective and pleasant
there are many accessories
from which to choose. Every
price range is available and
millions of products can be
found in several diverse venues.
Every aspect of the game of golf has it’s own unique set of accessories
from which to choose. Just your golf clubs alone can require various
accessories. There are cleaning kits for golf clubs. Golf clubs can be
fitted with head covers to protect your investment in quality clubs.
Head covers can vary greatly from funny animal shapes to serious
covers monogrammed with a family crest. Golf club grips can also be
diverse. There are your everyday universal grips and you can also find
some very expensive custom fit grips for any golf clubs.
Golf tees and balls are accessories that leave nothing to the
imagination. Think again, there are so many choices in tees and balls
it is mind-boggling. There are inexpensive bags of discount generic
golf tees available. And you can also find personalized golf tees in ever
color imaginable. There are rubber tees and brush tees. Brush tees
claim to give you increased accuracy and are also touted to last longer
than normal wooden ones. Golf balls can be found in various colors
and with any number of claims to their accuracy. There will always be
times when golf accessories will be chosen strictly because of a
personal preference as opposed to what the manufacturer claims it
might do.
When considering accessories for the golfer in your life or for your own
purchase you can choose from a wide variety of sunglasses, caps or
visors. Depending on where you live or what climate in which you play
golf you may need more than one of these particular accessories.
Wrap around sunglasses as well as the UV protectant lenses can cut
glare in many cases up to one hundred percent. With a clear view your
golfing accuracy will be much improved. Umbrellas will also come in
handy in sunshine or in rain.
What would any golfer do with out his favorite (and sometimes lucky)
golf towel hanging on his bag? There are any number of logos and
brand name golf towels sold. Golf towels serve not only a utilitarian
purpose but they are also a way to personalize your game. Ball
cleaners can be found in accessory shops along with a wide variety of
maintenance products for every level of golfer out there.
Ball retrievers are yet another accessory that proves to remain a
useful accessory for any golfer. Here again you will find generic ball
retrievers that work efficiently and are affordable or you can give a
personalized ball retriever in any style to the golfer on your Holiday
gift list.
Golf Balls – The First Piece of Basic Equipment
No matter how good a golfer may be, he or she will not be any good at
all without golf balls. Granted, it is a no-brainer that golfers need to
have golf balls in order to play. But, the question is, which golf balls
are the best.
This is a sticky situation and depends almost entirely the individual
golfer and his or her tastes, what he or she expects out of the ball,
and, quite frankly, how much money he or she wants to spend.
There are golfers out there who will play with nothing but one brand of
ball. No matter what else happens, they will only and always use this
particular brand. What these balls cost is irrelevant to them. It is this
ball or no golf. Yes, this going to the extremes, but, let’s face it, there
are people in this world who prefer living life at the extreme edge of
sanity.
Now, let’s get down to some common sense when it comes to the golf
ball. We shall start with the beginning golfer. The beginner needs to forget what he or she may have heard about any brand or type of golf
ball, what it does and how far it goes. Beginning golfers are going to
lose a lot of golf balls. They need to think more about price than
quality. The beginning golfer needs to purchase “been around” balls,
which are balls sold in bulk (around 50 to a bag), that have been
found on golf courses and recycled, for lack of a better word.
OK, these used golf balls are more often than not name brand balls,
but this does not matter. The beginning golfer, in learning how to hit
the ball straight, keep it in the fairway, out of the woods and water,
will go through dozens, if not hundreds of golf balls. Therefore, the
logical thing for the beginning golfer to do is buy in bulk.
As the golfer gets better, the best idea would be to move up to a
better grade of ball. This, though, does not mean to rush out to the
nearest golfing supply house and buy the most expensive ball on the
shelves. Again, think about the price of the ball and the level of your
skill.
If a player has a tendency to slice the ball, or tends to top the ball
(this is where the club head hits the top of the ball. While it gives the
ball a lot of top spin, the ball does not travel far, and tends to be
gashed by the club), stick with cheap balls. This does not mean stay
with the bulk recycled balls, but inexpensive new ones.
In theory, players get better the more they play. As the skill level
increases, the golfer can experiment with different brands of golf balls,
checking to see which ones he or she may like the best. And, a lot of
thought should be given to the type of course the golfer will be using
these balls on.
Golf Clubs – The Perfect Fit
If you think any old golf