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Improve Your Golf Swing with a Golf Simulator November 11, 2008

Posted by Pat in : my thoughts on stuff , comments closed

One of the most frustating problems most golfers face is the tendency to “slice” the ball. Usually the slice develops after the beginning golfer has started to hit the ball reasonably well and a fairly good distance. That’s when the dreaded slice rears its ugly head.

A “slice” is the term use to describe what happens when a right handed golfer hits the ball so it has a uncontrollable curve to the right. As any modestly experienced golfer will tell you, the slice is the result of “coming across” the ball with an “outside in” swing. As the club sweeps across the ball, the club strikes the ball in a slightly “open” position (facing slightly to the right). This action puts clockwise sidespin on the ball and as it moves through the air it curves to the right. The reverse happens with a left-handed golfer.

In many sports curving the ball like this is an important part of the game. Ping pong and tennis players, for instance, want the ball to curve as it approaches their opponent and then bounce off the paddle or racquet at an odd angle making it more difficult for the opponent to control the return.

In golf a slice is almost always something the golfer dreads and wants to eliminate. That’s because a slicing ball doesn’t go nearly as far because of the energy lost by the spinning, curving ball. The result is even worse in windy conditions where the increased wind resistance exaggerates the effects of sidespin. A slicing ball hit into a stiff breeze will often “balloon” up into the wind and almost appear to be coming back towards the golfer.

It takes most golfers years and thousands of practice shots to learn how to hit the ball squarely to eliminate slicing sidespin. That’s because the vast majority of golfers begin the swing by throwing their shoulders out at the ball. That gets the clubhead out there on the wrong side of the target line of flight - on the “outside” - and the only way to actually hit the ball from that position is to bring the clubhead back inside at an angle towards the ball. That’s what is meant by “coming across” the ball.

Most beginning golfers have a difficult time understanding and visualizing this process. They think they are swinging on a perfectly square line straight through the ball and down the intended line of flight. But an experienced golfer who has already learned all about slices from his own struggles with the game can usually tell an outside in swing from 50 or 100 yards away without even watching the clubhead at all. These tendencies are so universal that an experienced golfer can pick them up almost immediately.

That is why a golf simulator can be such a valuable tool in the struggle to overcome a slice. You may have noticed commercial locations that offer virtual rounds of golf, or facilities in some of the larger golf equipment chains that have an area that allows the buyer to try out golf clubs before making an expensive purchase.

Equipped with sensors, cameras, and a big-screen display, a golf simulator translates the details of a golf swing to ball motion on the display. Once the data on your particular swing is collected, you can view the results on a display. You can see an accurate representation of your swing, the actual flight path of your ball, your club face angle at impact, and exactly where and when the ball begins to turn, given all the variables that went into a particular swing. Most of the better units allow you to hit an untethered ball, and virtually play golf courses from all over the world.

If you are serious about curing your slice, there is no doubt that taking a analytical, objective look at your actual swing is the place to start. And there is no more effective way to get that kind of swing analysis than with a golf simulator.

A good home golf simulator system will let you work on your game for hours and hours till you groove the correct swing path. It will give you all the analytical tools you need to improve your swing. The better units will tell you your clubhead speed, your clubface angle at impact, your clubhead’s angle of approach to the ball, and how far the ball would have gone out on a real golf course.

Of course the technology cannot simulate the foul weather, wild winds, and rugged terrain that come into play on a real golf course. But perhaps these are factors that you can do without when you simply want to concentrate on grooving a new more effective swing.

Using a golf simulator is a great way to cure your slice. A Dancin’ Dogg home golf simulator gives you everything you need to improve your game. You can play golf in your home on some of the best golf courses in the world.

An Aerobic Step Bench Can Increase The Intensity of Your Workout November 11, 2008

Posted by Pat in : my thoughts on stuff , comments closed

Aerobic exercise is one of the best ways to improve your overall health and lose weight as well. This type of exercise takes many different forms, such as running, walking, jumping rope, kickboxing and dance. If you’ve begun to progress past the benefits that regular dance aerobics can provide, you may want to consider increasing the difficulty by adding an aerobic step bench to your workout.

Advantages

Many of your intermediate aerobics classes will include the use of an aerobic step bench. You could go this route, or you can purchase your own and use it at home. Either way, it’s a great addition to your workout. Many people are already familiar with stepping as a form of exercise. Stair climbers and other step machines are quite popular. Adding an aerobic step bench to your routine will give you the cardiovascular workout you’re used to, as well as added attention to your legs and buttocks. This is a great form of strength training and toning for these parts of your body.

This also has an advantage for people who cannot take the stress and jarring associated with other forms of aerobic fitness, such as running and jumping. Although there is some impact, it is considerably less than these other exercises. People who have joint or back problems will find this to be a suitable alternative to running.

Aerobic step benches can be used as part of an aerobic routine, or they can be used as a workout in themselves. The first is called step aerobics, and the second is called bench stepping. One is part of a routine designed for total body workout, and the other is for when you want to focus on that particular part of the body.

Aerobic step benches come in all shapes and sizes. Adjustable height benches are also available to allow you to increase the intensity as you progress. When stepping on the bench, make sure that the entire foot is on the surface. Step close to the platform to prevent over-extending yourself. Another way to avoid injury is by looking at the bench while you are using. This will prevent tripping or turning an ankle by stepping on the edge of the platform.

There are some people that should avoid using aerobic step benches. People who are obese should not risk the stress on their knees and back. Start out with some simple walking to get your body used to activity before moving to aerobic exercise or step aerobics. Obviously, people who have balance problems should also shy away from this type of workout. If you’re not sure whether this type of exercise is for you, the best thing to do is consult your doctor.