What is the right club shaft for you game? This is a very important question that often times is neglected.

The type of golf club shaft that is best suited to your style of play will depend on your swing speed. The faster you swing the stiffer the shaft should be.

Shaft flex is determined by the ability of the shaft to bend during your swing. A stiff shaft will not bend as easily as a regular shaft in steel or graphite. Some people prefer graphite shafts because of their lighter weight.

Shaft flexes will vary from one manufacturer to another so this is an important element that needs to be taken into consideration as a regular shaft from one manufacturer won’t necessarily give you the same flex as a regular shaft of another manufacturer.

To get the correct shaft for your game you should really get your swing speed tested, as this will determine what clubs to get.

The reason you need to understand how much flex you need is because the flex determines whether your club head will impact squarely on the ball at the point of impact.

If there is too much flex in the shaft the club head will impact in a closed or more lofted position.
The opposite is the case where the shaft is too stiff with the club head hitting in an open and less lofted position.

It can get difficult when your swing speed is on the borderline between club shaft selections and you might even need to get different shafts for the various clubs you use to optimize your game.

Club shafts have various ratings and they are as follows.

L Shaft is for a swing speed less than 70 mph.
A Shaft is between 70 and 80 mph
R Shaft is between 80 and 90 mph
S Shaft is between 90 and 105 mph
X Shaft is over 105 mph

This is a guideline but it will help in your selection.

Of course we all like to think that we are in the over 105 group but you will get better results from buying the correct shaft for your game.

Check out our Men’s and Women’s Pro Shops for great deals on golf equipment.

© 2010, David Wakeman. All rights reserved. On republishing this post you must provide link to original post.

Playing Consistent golf is one of those things that many golfers only dream of. Most amateur golfers only have so many hours for the game of golf.

All too often we have to sacrifice playing time for practice time. It is a real balancing act when it comes to improving our game.

So how do you go about playing consistent golf without giving up a lot of playing time?

One of the mistakes I think amateur golfers have a tendency to do is to try to develop a perfect golf swing rather than a consistent golf swing.

There are a couple of flaws in that approach. First is although there may be a perfect swing, the likeliness of achieving it and maintaining it is unrealistic. Secondly, the perfect swing may not be the best swing for your game.

Make the time that you put into practicing your golf game effective. When you practice, spend less time on the things that you do well and more time on the shots that need work. For instance, if you have a strong short game and your week off the tee then spend 80% of your time at the driving range on improving your tee shots and only 20% of your time on your short game.

You’re more likely to improve your scores and lower your handicap, if you follow these six simple tips.

1. Take the time to develop a pre-round strategy. Review the golf course and map out how you want your round to play out. Break the round down into smaller 3 hole mini rounds.

2. Develop a pre-shot routine. Put your mind to visualizing the shot you are about to play. Follow the same steps in preparing to take your shot and your subconscious will take over naturally.

3. Adopt the right swing thoughts. Forget about that missed opportunity or poor swing. Everyone has a bad shot or putt from time to time. Put your mind at ease by not trying to make up for it with the next shot.

4. Know your distances. Don’t fall trap to trying to get another 5 yards out of the club in your hand. If the shot you are going to play is in between clubs, go to the longer club, choke down a bit and take a relaxed swing.

5. Work on your short game. You will take more shots from inside 150 yards in a given round then you will hitting your driver. Develop a strong short game and watch your scores go down.

6. Avoid those disastrous three putts. Spending quality time on the practice green is one of the most important and easiest ways to become more consistent. Knowing how to lag a putt from 40 feet to inside three feet will eliminate those dreaded three putts.

Yes, all golfers can play more consistent golf by just following these six tips. Why not take some time to work on the things that will help you the most. Stop worrying about the perfect swing and start putting lower scores on your golf card.

For more tips on how to improve your game and lower your scores, check out our eBooks.

© 2009, David Wakeman. All rights reserved. On republishing this post you must provide link to original post.

Improving Your Golf Game in the Off Season is not as hard as it may seem. You can lower your score 7 to 12 strokes this off season in a matter of weeks.

If you are like most golfers, your golf game suffers during the winter months. Either the weather is bad or there aren’t enough daylight hours to get out and practice or play.

If you live in a warmer climate you don’t have the weather issues that most of us deal with. Living in a colder climate creates a real challenge for golfers trying to maintain their golf game.

Over the last few years we have seen more indoor practice facilities open up and there are a few outdoor driving ranges that try and stay open during the winter, but weather tends to affect these facilities.  Practicing at the indoor centers can get expensive to use and in some cases require scheduling time to get access.

So what can we do to maintain our mid-season form during the winter months?

Here are some easy to do and cost effective ways to overcome this dilemma.

• Develop a Workout Routine – Include Golf Stretching Exercises

• Improve Your Mental Game – Practice Visualization Techniques

• Work on the Basics – Grip, Stance, Setup and Swing Path

• Putting – Stance, Alignment and Stroke

By developing a routine that keeps you working on your golf game in the off season, you will be preparing yourself for the new season.

When you watch golf on TV you hear the players and the announcers talk about the workout trailers.  The pros are continually working on their flexibility.

So doesn’t it make sense for you to exercise and stretch on a regular basis?  What an easy way to keep you prepared for playing golf.  Just 15 or 20 minutes 3 times a week and your golf swing will be more fluid and you will hit the ball further.  We picked up a copy of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide and suggest you do too!

When the PGA Tour season ends, do you think that the professionals go home and plop on the couch?  Not on your life!  They are working on some part of their game.

This off season I will be working on my golf game using the techniques I have learned from the Simple Golf Swing.  I expect to be in mid season form when the weather clears.

Improving your golf game this off season is going to be easier than you think.  Lower your score 7 to 12 strokes in a matter of weeks. Be in mid season form, at the start of the season and win those bets from your buddies.

© 2009, David Wakeman. All rights reserved. On republishing this post you must provide link to original post.