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There are several types of wedges in the world of golf. You'll likely find several wedges in your own golf bag. For our purposes today, the topic of wedges will be limited to the pitching wedge and the sand wedge.

First, wedges have shorter handles and other clubs in the bag. This is because the golfer has to get closer to the ball in order to get the elevation he or she needs to make the shot. Wedges, especially the pitching wedge, are for short shots, usually no further than one hundred yards.

The primary use for a pitching wedge is to get the ball up in the air quickly. Distance is not as important as elevation, at least initially, but the golfer does want the shot he or she made with the pitching wedge to reach the green, preferably with the ball rolling close to the cup.

The sand wedge is primarily, though not exclusively, used to get golf balls out of sand traps, especially if the sand trap is close to the hole. Because of the angle of the club's head, the pitching wedge is for extremely short distances, say within fifty yards of the green. This club is designed to get the ball in the air in a hurry, but not to get the ball very far down the course. There are other clubs for that purpose.

The sand wedge, though, can be used to get a ball out of a tricky situation. Because of the angle of its loft, approximately seventy-five degrees if properly struck, a golfer can get the ball over trees and back onto the fairway. However, if the golfer in question blades the ball, all bets are off. Blading the ball is when a golfer does not get under the ball, but hits closer toward the middle of the ball. While the ball will get in the air, it will not go very high, and it will most definitely go further than the golfer intended. However, this is the same for all clubs, not just wedges. With the wedge, though, blading is more noticeable as the ball will fly the green, costing the golfer a shot.

The pitching wedge and the sand wedge can be used in the place of a chipping wedge, yet another in the family of wedges. Chipping is done when the approach shot is close to the green, but doesn't make it onto the green. Chipping can be done when the ball is as far out as one hundred yards, though this is a more difficult type of chip and the golfer may want to consider a different club altogether.

To use the sand wedge in the place of a pitching wedge, the ball should be fairly close to the green, say, within twenty five yards. This is because the shot should be softer, more for loft than distance, and with the angle of the sand wedge's club head, it is easy to get under the ball too much and get virtually no distance on the shot.

To use the pitching wedge to chip with is easier, as the club head on the pitching wedge is not as angled. Foot placement is important here, as the golfer must decide if he or she wants more loft than distance.

Tags: Golf Course, Golf Club, Golf Traing

Aside from the seven-iron, the club every golfer absolutely must have, without question, is the five-iron. This is because the five-iron can be used easily, well and in a wide variety of situations.

Though not as versatile as the seven-iron, the five-iron is still a very versatile club. The angle of the club head allows the golfer to get plenty of elevation on his or her shot, while not being angled so steeply as to prevent the golfer getting a great deal of distance on his or her shot as well.

The five-iron is a great club from about two hundred yards and in. For most golfers the maximum range with their five-iron is about one hundred and eighty yards, no small distance on the links, and that is for sure. Yet, this club, this wonderful club is absolutely perfect for the distance. It allows the golfer to address the ball confidently, knowing if he or she strikes the ball properly it will hurl majestically through the heavens toward the promised land of the green.

The five-iron is also of particular use in getting out of the rough and back into the fairway, depending on how deep the rough is. If the rough is four to six inches deep, the best thing a golfer can do is grab a wedge and chip the ball back into the fairway. Sure, it will cost a stroke, but one lost stroke is better than several, and this could happen if a golfer attempted to power the ball out of the rough with their five-iron.

The five-iron is an easy club to control. Its length is just about perfect and the feel of the club is a wonder in itself. The five-iron is a marvel to swing. Why is this? This is a good question, and here is the answer. The five-iron is a mid to long range club for use two hundred yards and in, depending on how strong the golfer is and how well the golfer uses the club. Getting the reverse "C" of Arnold Palmer is a breeze with the five-iron and a golfer can generate a considerable amount of speed with the club head. The speed of the club head determines how far the ball will be hit, much like bat speed in baseball.

Because of the club's length, it is easy to control, unless a golfer is playing without gloves and has sweaty hands. Sweat will allow the club to turn in a golfer's hands, resulting in something bad happening. Usually the something bad is the club head turning as it meets the golf ball, with the ball careening almost one hundred and eighty degrees from the golfer. This is why golfers wear gloves.

A well hit five-iron shot will, in all likelihood, go where the golfer expects it to go, and can look like a shot seen on a televised golf tournament. It will also cover a great deal of territory in a short time, getting the golfer closer to his or her desired location, the green.

Tags: Golf Traing, Golf Tips, Golf Course

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.

Tags: Golf Traing, Golf Course, Golf Accessories

Learning how to play golf is definitely a "hands on" process. However, there are other ways of learning golf that will actually enhance your understanding of the game and its addictive components as well as improve your physical skills. Software that teaches an individual to play golf is a valuable resource in the quest for perfected golf skills. You may be surprised exactly how much knowledge, expertise and understanding you can gather just from golf learning software.

The instructional golf software that explains various golf lessons and is available to the general public may easily be the exact same lessons that professionals value also. Easy to follow techniques are explained and presented in unique formatting so that no one could misunderstand them. Different levels of instruction and varying degrees of cost are two diverse ways learning golf by means of software can accommodate any level of golf enthusiast.

A very important key factor to any type of instructional golf software is discovering just how effective it has been. Your favorite golfing website will have pro's and con's guides to various instructional software. Golf websites should also have direct links to free trial downloads for different golf learning software. With free trial offers you can dabble in the world of software instructions and evaluate whether a certain product would benefit your needs.

Some of the most recent technological advances have been applied to instructional golf software. Improving your golf game is the entire reason to experience the latest software available, however there are many older versions of reliable software that may suit your needs completely. As golf can be a tremendously relaxing sport it is also a competitive sport and to achieve your best swing, your accurate puts and the best score you have ever dreamed of having most of us have to endure at least a few lessons.

There are natural golfers, as well as there are some natural football players. Sport participants that shine at what they do with minimal guidance area rarity. Unfortunately most of us need not only instruction but also time and effort to gain a sense of the game. Gaining a sense of the game has nothing to do with actually becoming proficient at playing golf so with the help of golf learning software you can learn what your best is in no time.

Golf tends to be just as much a game against your self as against an opponent. You face individual goals as well as attempting to outscore your golf mates. Software that encapsulates all the methods and techniques that need to be a focal point on any golf course worldwide is a great tool to have in your arsenal. Finding the right software for your needs is simple.

Favorite golfing websites will have links of interest and possibly free trial downloads for various software usage. Perhaps a friend or co-worker has suggested specific golfing software that has worked wonders for him or her. Perhaps you have simply noticed that your Saturday morning golf partner has become more proficient than you recall at his or her game. These are some of the best ways to find the correct software for your personal needs as a golfer.

So no matter what level of golf you are playing, no matter what income level you are in or what knowledge of computers you may have there is software available to aid in your skills as a golfer. You will be playing like the professionals in no time.

Tags: Golf Tips, Golf Course, Golf Traing

There are several types of wedges in the world of golf. You'll likely find several wedges in your own golf bag. For our purposes today, the topic of wedges will be limited to the pitching wedge and the sand wedge.

First, wedges have shorter handles and other clubs in the bag. This is because the golfer has to get closer to the ball in order to get the elevation he or she needs to make the shot. Wedges, especially the pitching wedge, are for short shots, usually no further than one hundred yards.

The primary use for a pitching wedge is to get the ball up in the air quickly. Distance is not as important as elevation, at least initially, but the golfer does want the shot he or she made with the pitching wedge to reach the green, preferably with the ball rolling close to the cup.

The sand wedge is primarily, though not exclusively, used to get golf balls out of sand traps, especially if the sand trap is close to the hole. Because of the angle of the club's head, the pitching wedge is for extremely short distances, say within fifty yards of the green. This club is designed to get the ball in the air in a hurry, but not to get the ball very far down the course. There are other clubs for that purpose.

The sand wedge, though, can be used to get a ball out of a tricky situation. Because of the angle of its loft, approximately seventy-five degrees if properly struck, a golfer can get the ball over trees and back onto the fairway. However, if the golfer in question blades the ball, all bets are off. Blading the ball is when a golfer does not get under the ball, but hits closer toward the middle of the ball. While the ball will get in the air, it will not go very high, and it will most definitely go further than the golfer intended. However, this is the same for all clubs, not just wedges. With the wedge, though, blading is more noticeable as the ball will fly the green, costing the golfer a shot.

The pitching wedge and the sand wedge can be used in the place of a chipping wedge, yet another in the family of wedges. Chipping is done when the approach shot is close to the green, but doesn't make it onto the green. Chipping can be done when the ball is as far out as one hundred yards, though this is a more difficult type of chip and the golfer may want to consider a different club altogether.

To use the sand wedge in the place of a pitching wedge, the ball should be fairly close to the green, say, within twenty five yards. This is because the shot should be softer, more for loft than distance, and with the angle of the sand wedge's club head, it is easy to get under the ball too much and get virtually no distance on the shot.

To use the pitching wedge to chip with is easier, as the club head on the pitching wedge is not as angled. Foot placement is important here, as the golfer must decide if he or she wants more loft than distance.

Tags: Golf Club, Golf Accessories, Golf Vacation

Good golfers center themselves before each and every shot. While it may look effortless, there is a great deal going on. Remember the scene in "The Legend of Bagger Vance" where Bobby Jones steps up to the ball preparing to tee off. Will Smith tells Matt Damon to watch Jones's eyes, and how he sees the field. The eyes go soft as Jones takes his practice swings, getting his mind and body in tune with one another. His drive is as nearly perfect as a drive can be.

It may seem a bit farfetched, and some will object to the statement, for many will recognize the truth of this statement - Golf is a Zen experience. This is especially for the better golfers, no matter how they may joke around and seem to be goofing off.

This is what Zen is - being completely and totally in each and every moment at all times. Some people call it living life to its fullest, but that is something entirely different. Zen is more like experiencing every moment of life to its fullest and appreciating the moments for what they are.

Golf and Zen coincide on all aspects of the game. By being in the moment a golfer takes notice of everything around himself or herself. He or she notes the feel of the breeze as it is blowing across the course, recognizing its force and direction, but not actively thinking about it. He or she also notices the feel of the grass as they walk down the fairway, but he or she is not thinking about the next shot, not yet. Thinking about the shot will occur when the player gets to the ball.

At this time the player will note the distance from where he or she is to the green, the weather conditions and select a club. Avoiding distractions, the player will focus on how to make the next shot, again, though, without really thinking about it. Too much thought fouls up the mental processes causing the player to get tense and screw up the shot. Instead, the Zen golfer will trust his or her body, knowing the body and mind are in tune with one another and make the shot. For the record, no every shot will not be perfect going exactly where and how far the golfer intended. But, the major difference is the golfer familiar with, and practicing Zen, will not be adversely affected by a miss hit shot, whereas a golfer who stresses over every shot will.

The non-Zen golfer will get down on himself or herself, thinking how he or she is a lousy golfer and shouldn't be on the course at all. The negative thoughts will be invasive throughout this player's entire body as the body and mind are at odds with one another instead of being in a state of harmony. So, the end result is one bad shot is followed by another, and a good shot is looked upon as an accident, luck or a fluke.

Tags: Golf Club, Golf Traing, Golf Course

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.

Tags: Golf Club, Golf Traing, Golf Course

There are tons of golf gadgets out there, mainly because of the incredible increase in popularity of the sport. The more people who are ready to play the game, the more they're all looking for ways to improve their game. The result is that an industry that was doing fairly well before has boomed. There are entire companies built around a single golf gadget, and the results range from incredible golf aids to the ridiculous contraptions. Take a look at some of your options.

If you're having trouble finding time to hit the driving range and your backyard is too limited for driving practice, you have some options. You can play virtual golf, but this lacks the satisfying feel of the club striking the ball. You might find that a limited flight ball is the answer you've been looking for. These are just what the name implies. You have a ball that you place on the tee, then hit just like any other ball. But the ball won't travel outside a particular area. Or you can work with a regular ball and a net. The catch here is that you have to hit the net - every time.

Of course, putting pads and practice aids for your putting game have been around for ages. Give yourself the advantage of practice time in your office or living room. Choose from kits that are as simple as a pad with a cup, or those that offer features such as ball return.

If you're into technology, you might find good use for a digital scorekeeper. Not only do you have an immediate way of tracking your score on the course, you have a digital record that you can save. Instantly recall scores from past games to help improve your current game.

Every dedicated golfer has probably been at the receiving end of some silly golf gifts. Think covers for your golf clubs - from handmade crochet covers to cutesy cartoon characters and everything in between. There are probably few ideas for golf club covers that haven't been tried on the market and these seem to be universal golf gifts. Covers do serve a purpose and many golfers are even secure enough to walk the course with tigers and mouse heads proudly protruding from the golf bag.

Are you having trouble lining up the exact spot you should be aiming for on the golf ball? You can find a stencil to help. Simply use the stencil to mark the ball, place it on the tee as directed, and you've got a clear target.

How about a metronome? No, you're not going to be taking your guitar onto the golf course, but a golf metronome can help you work on the rhythm of your swing.

There's no doubt that the golfers have tons of gadgets to choose from. Many offer real help to the golfer, while others are simply ways to collect money for a useless product. Some of these gadgets and gizmos will be completely wasted on one golfer but will be just what another needs to improve their golf game.

Tags: Golf Vacation, Golf Club, Golf Course

Professional golfer Lee Trevino once said not even God could hit a one-iron. This was just before Trevino was struck by lightning. He survived. And, he may be right, God might not be able to hit a one iron, though He certainly proved He could hit Lee Trevino.

A one iron is, for the most part, a useless club. It is the longest of the irons and the hardest to hit, or be consistent with. For the average golfer, or even the majority of professional golfers, a one iron simply isn't needed and just takes up room in the all important golf bag.

In most instances where a golfer might choose to hit a one iron, a better choice would be to use a wood instead. For example, say a golfer's drive went two hundred and fifty yards on a par 4 hole, leaving him or her another two hundred and fifty yards away. Yes, a one iron could conceivably be used to hit a ball that far, but because it is so difficult to hit and control, the golfer would be better off grabbing his or her three wood out of the bag. The three wood is a good field wood and, depending on the golfer's strength, can easily be used to get the ball on the green in regulation play. The wood is easier to hit and control than the one iron, and would be the more logical club selection in this instance.

This is not to say a one iron is good for nothing. In fact, the one iron is an excellent club to use to try and retrieve a ball lost out of bounds in high weeds. The one iron can be used to beat a snake should one slither onto the course. Now, a snake on the course would likely have a negative effect on the golfer, and a smart golfer would simply let the snake continue slithering on its way.

But, golf is a frustrating game, and sometimes a golfer just has to hit something. In this case, a snake would do, especially if the golfer is having a bad round and nothing is going right. However, the golfer should remember, when having a bad round, it may not be the best idea to take out his or her frustration on a snake. One miss could result in getting bit.

Or, if a golfer sprained a knee or ankle, which is highly possible, then the one iron could be used as a cane, allowing the golfer to limp back to the clubhouse or the 19th hole for a little refreshment.

Then again, those times when nothing is going right and a golfer just has to wrap a club around a tree to work out his or her frustration - the one iron is the perfect choice. After all, it is a club that is hard to hit and primarily takes up space in the golf bag. So why not wrap it around a tree.

Tags: Golf Accessories, Golf Course, Golf Tips

Good golfers center themselves before each and every shot. While it may look effortless, there is a great deal going on. Remember the scene in "The Legend of Bagger Vance" where Bobby Jones steps up to the ball preparing to tee off. Will Smith tells Matt Damon to watch Jones's eyes, and how he sees the field. The eyes go soft as Jones takes his practice swings, getting his mind and body in tune with one another. His drive is as nearly perfect as a drive can be.

It may seem a bit farfetched, and some will object to the statement, for many will recognize the truth of this statement - Golf is a Zen experience. This is especially for the better golfers, no matter how they may joke around and seem to be goofing off.

This is what Zen is - being completely and totally in each and every moment at all times. Some people call it living life to its fullest, but that is something entirely different. Zen is more like experiencing every moment of life to its fullest and appreciating the moments for what they are.

Golf and Zen coincide on all aspects of the game. By being in the moment a golfer takes notice of everything around himself or herself. He or she notes the feel of the breeze as it is blowing across the course, recognizing its force and direction, but not actively thinking about it. He or she also notices the feel of the grass as they walk down the fairway, but he or she is not thinking about the next shot, not yet. Thinking about the shot will occur when the player gets to the ball.

At this time the player will note the distance from where he or she is to the green, the weather conditions and select a club. Avoiding distractions, the player will focus on how to make the next shot, again, though, without really thinking about it. Too much thought fouls up the mental processes causing the player to get tense and screw up the shot. Instead, the Zen golfer will trust his or her body, knowing the body and mind are in tune with one another and make the shot. For the record, no every shot will not be perfect going exactly where and how far the golfer intended. But, the major difference is the golfer familiar with, and practicing Zen, will not be adversely affected by a miss hit shot, whereas a golfer who stresses over every shot will.

The non-Zen golfer will get down on himself or herself, thinking how he or she is a lousy golfer and shouldn't be on the course at all. The negative thoughts will be invasive throughout this player's entire body as the body and mind are at odds with one another instead of being in a state of harmony. So, the end result is one bad shot is followed by another, and a good shot is looked upon as an accident, luck or a fluke.

Tags: Golf Club, Golf Vacation, Golf Traing