Learn Ways To Improve Your Golf Swing

It seems as though many golfers are unaware of the importance the hands play in the execution of the golf swing. Obviously, we know that the hands grip the golf club and attach the body to the club. But what is the importance of them during the swing?

The answer has to do with releasing of the club. Let's go back and do a quick golf biomechanics review. During the swing, from address position to follow-through, the hands are active in a passive type of manner.

Let me explain. The goal of the golf swing is to move the club on the correct swing plane to induce the intended golf shot that you want. This occurs through the body's moving through a series of positions. These positions are found within the different phases of the golf swing.

The phases of the swing are address, take-away, backswing, transition, downswing, impact, and follow-through. During all of these movements the body is performing, the golf club is being moved upon a swing plane. The swing plane is the path upon which the golf club is to travel. Proper impact with the golf ball requires the golf club's traveling upon the correct swing plane.

In order for the club to travel on the correct swing plane it is necessary for the clubface to open and close. Oftentimes, in golf terms the opening and closing, of the clubface is termed 'releasing of the club.' This is where the hands become an integral part of the golf swing.

If you talk to almost any instructor, they will say that any good player has 'great hands.' This statement refers to exactly what was described above (the releasing of the club correctly). It's obvious if you look at players such as Tiger, Phil, or Vijay.

I even remember walking the course at Doral in Miami with top-5 teaching instructor, Rick Smith. One point he continued to return to in terms of discussing the golf swing was 'hands.' He stated more than once how any PGA Tour player has great hands. This just provides additional support for how important the hands are in terms of the golf swing.

But what does this all mean? Well, we know the hands are involved in the 'opening and closing' of the clubface during your swing. This movement allows for the proper release of the club. As I mentioned, the hands are 'active in your golf swing, but in a passive manner.'

Again, to open and close the clubface during the golf swing the hands move back during the backswing, hinge at the top of the backswing, return the club to square at impact, and release the club afterwards. In order for this to occur the hands must be passive!

What do I mean by passive?

You cannot force the hands to move through the golf swing and release the club. This creates tension in the golf swing, affects tempo, and, overall, results in poor shots. If you do not believe me, go to the driving range, grip a club as hard as you can, and attempt to swing. The results will be much less than optimal.

I think Dean Reinmuth, ranked by Golf Digest as a top-30 teaching pro, puts it best when speaking about the hands in the golf swing. He discusses 'feel' as an integral part of the golf swing. He states that in order to have a successful golf swing you must be 'tension free.'

'Feeling' the club move on the swing plane is an indicator of being 'tension free.' And in order to have this feeling, your hands must be relaxed (i.e. passive).

How do you develop good hands in your golf swing?

Easier said than done. In order to develop 'feel' in the golf swing, remove 'tension' from your golf swing and develop great hands, you must develop three fundamentals.

Fundamental number one is an understanding of the golf swing. In order to know what the body and golf club are to do during the swing you must know the biomechanics of the golf swing. If you don't, how are you going to know what the body and club are to be doing during each phase of the golf swing?

Secondly, you must develop the mechanics of the golf swing. Your body and mind must integrate the movements of the golf swing into a repeatable movement. This occurs through proper instruction and practice of the correct golf swing mechanics.

Finally, it is necessary to develop the body. Yes, the body! Your body must have the flexibility, strength, endurance, and power to perform the golf swing correctly. If the body is inflexible, weak, and powerless, how are you going to be able to perform the mechanics of the swing correctly?

The obvious answer is: you are not! Developing great hands in your golf swing comes down to developing a 'basket' of fundamentals within your golf swing. Understand the biomechanics of the golf swing, develop the proper mechanics within your golf swing, and develop a body to support your swing. These are the keys to developing great hands in your golf game.

For more tips on developing your golf swing that will take you to the PGA Tour or just beating your friends on a Saturday afternoon.... Get Your Free Report <<< 

Kids Sports - What Age Should My Child Play Competitive Sports?

Many  parents contemplate and wonder when is the right age for their children to start playing competitive sports. To be honest, this question cannot be answered and is too generic. When will you as the parent be ready for your kids to play competitive sports is a better question.

Your son has just been injured on the field by a bigger and stronger player. How do you react? Do you run on the field protesting or do you start to yell abuse at the player. The question is this; your child will be ready to play sports when you are ready to cope with all the ups and downs. Can it be simpler than this?

Young kids play sports because it's fun. They have no intentions of hurting another player or injuring them. Unfortunately that's the nature of the sports and injuries are bound to happen. Can you handle this?

I've seen children as young as 5 participate in soccer and love every minute. The parents are very supporting and expect at times that their kids might get hurt. On the other hand, I've witnessed 10 year olds that cannot cope with the pressures of the game. Pressure from the over demanding coaches and parents make their sport unbearable even on the best of days.

The right age to play competitive sports can be any age as long as you understand the variables that usually effect the enjoyment of the game. For starters, parents must accept that their children are going to get hurt and must learn to deal with it in a civilized manner. They must understand that most games are team sports and that there children are not going to be the center of attention.

If you as the parent can get this right, your child is free to play at any age, no problems. But make sure you're ready to stand in the stands when your child needs you the most. Otherwise your child could be 20 years old and still not be ready for competitive sports.

Think about it; are you ready for your child to play competitive sports? I'm guessing your child was born ready to have fun, what's the hold up.

To prepare yourself and your child for the demands of sports - check out this short Video <<< 

Youth Football and Cheerleading

Each year, Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. hosts the Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer and Dance Championships.

For the past eleven years, the event has taken place at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex ™ in Lake Buena Vista, FL during the first full week of December.

The Pop Warner Football Championships (referred to as the Pop Warner Super Bowl) are divided into teams competing in Division I and Division II. 64 football teams compete for National Championships in 4 different age/weight ranges (Jr. Pee Wee, Pee Wee, Jr. Midget & Midget). 

Beginning in 2011, Pop Warner also hosted the Inaugural Mitey-Mite Bowl games, featuring eight teams in the Mitey-Mite age/weight division (7-9 years old / 45-90 lbs).

In order to advance to the Pop Warner Super Bowl, a team must win its respective League Championship as well as the Regional Championship. Each advancing team is guarenteed to play two games at the Super Bowl, with a National Champion being crowned in each age-weight division and competition level.

The Cheer & Dance Championships feature over 300 cheer and dance squads who compete at a five-day long event. Competitions take place at the HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex ™. Cheer & Dance Squads compete in 4 different age ranges (Jr. Pee Wee, Pee Wee, Jr. Midget & Midget), as well as three squad sizes (Small, Medium & Large) and four competition categories (PW1, PW2, PW3 & PW4).

The 2012 Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championships will take place from Saturday, December 1st through Saturday, December 9th at ESPN Wide World of Sports™ Complex.

Do you think you have what it takes to coach your youth football team to the Super Bowl? 

If you think you do then you need to watch this new youth football coaching video <<< 

15 Helpful Point Guard Tips

Do you really want to be the best ballhandler on hardwood? Then try practicing fifteen of the easiest though most beneficial ball handling drills practiced by both NBA and WNBA superstars. Doing so will improve your ball control while helping you create openings for game-winning shots. basketball's primary ball handler, the point guard, must know how to manage a game at high speeds, realizing that the entire team is dependent upon his ability in this critical area.

What are the fifteen ball handling drills?

• - Basic Ball Handling Drill: Stand at one end of the court holding two basketballs, one for each hand. Walk toward the other end of the court bouncing a ball with your right hand first, followed by your left. Time this drill so that as the right ball hits the floor, the left ball is being released. As your comfort level rises, pick up tempo. As you progress, you'll be able to run from end-to-end dribbling both balls simultaneously. Doing this will vastly improve your skills when dribbling just one ball.

• - Around the World Drill: Stand holding a basketball with both hands. Commence circling the ball around your head, waist, and knees. Bend at the waist and spread your legs, circle the ball around one leg, then the other. This drill is designed to provide a better feel for the ball while also promoting improved hand coordination and speed. 

• - The Scissors: With your left foot ahead of the right, bounce the ball between your legs starting from your right hand and passed to the left hand. As it bounces, take another step forward. Now the right leg is ahead as the ball passes between the changed positions of your legs. Soon you'll be able to walk at a normal pace, bouncing the ball between your legs from right-to-left and left-to-right with each stride. 

• - Catch-Catch-Catch: Hold the basketball between your legs with both hands, right hand in front and left hand at the back. Quickly switch hand positions without allowing the ball to drop.

• - Figure 8: Spread your legs and circle the ball in a figure 8 pattern around your legs with your head looking forward. Increase speed as you continue the drill. This will help you get a better feel for the ball under fast game-like conditions. 

• - Figure 8 Dribbling: Bend at the waist and dribble with your fingers going around your legs in a figure 8 pattern. Per other drills, increase speed as you continue.

• - Figure 8 Drop: Circle the ball from the outside of your left leg to the outside of your right leg. When it reaches the back between your legs, let the ball drop and reverse your hands to catch the ball before it bounces again.

• - Figure 8 Drop Reverse: Practice the drill in tip #8 and when you bounce the ball, reverse your movement. Circle the ball outside your right leg and around your left leg starting from the back to the front.

• - Figure 8 Running in Place: Practice the drill in tip #8 but this time run in place

• - One on Two: Advance the ball against two imaginary defenders using a variety of maneuvers and previously-learned drills.

• - Pass and Catch: Practice the body awareness drill. Bounce the ball with two hands between your spread legs, catching it with both hands behind your back. Then reverse the drill, bouncing the ball from back to front, again using both hands.'

• - Sit-Up While Dribbling: Do sit-ups while dribbling the basketball with your right hand, then switch hands as you lie down. Now dribble with your left hand as you sit up again. Pick-up speed as you continue.

• - Squeeze the Banana: Squeeze your fingers and thumb together as you move the ball quickly from one hand to the other at eye level. Doing so will improve your finger and arm strength for better ball control.

• - Touch-Touch-Touch: With the ball between your legs, touch the ball with your right fingers then with your left. Do the same at your back. Continue touching as fast as possible. 

• - Up the Ladder: Starting in front of your waist, pass the ball from one hand to the other using just your finger tips. This will develop finger tip control for better ball handling.

You'll discover that these drills are not easily mastered. However, regularly practicing these different drills will eventually transform you into a great ball handler.

For more Drills check out this >>> Free Video <<< 

Monday Night Football - Cowboys and Bears Preview

Jay Cutler was hardly at his best -- both on the sphere and with one of his teammates -- throughout the Chicago Bears' first prime-time recreation this season, but he shined in his most up-to-date road game against the Dallas Cowboys.

The quarterback will attempt to duplicate the optimistic efficiency and keep away from one other meltdown on nationwide TV when Chicago visits Dallas on Monday night.

Cutler has had an up-and-down begining for the Bears (2-1) and was decidedly on the down side in a 23-10 loss to Inexperienced Bay on Sept. 13, throwing four interceptions and getting sacked seven times.

He also created a huge uproar when he was seen yelling and pushing J'Marcus Webb (Right Tackle)  while the staff returned to the sidelines right after on of 7 sacks in the game. That led to defensive back D.J. Moore criticizing Cutler's actions the following week.

Cutler, who had 333 yards and two touchdowns in a season-opening win over Indianapolis, was 14 of 31 with one interception in opposition to St. Louis in a 23-6 victory this past week. Nonetheless, he helped lead the Bears to twenty first downs, 9 greater than they totaled against the Packers.

"Right now we're just learning the offense. Everybody's getting comfortable. We're discovering our identity," Cutler advised the team's official website. "(Offensive coordinator Mike Tice is) still discovering his identity as a play-caller. All these issues are coming collectively and at the end of the day we have just received to win video games, and that is what we did."

Chicago recorded six of its league-high 14 sacks and had two interceptions, one returned 45 yards for a landing by Major Wright within the fourth quarter.

"They're consistently getting better," Cutler said of the defense. "To see them get out there and dominate like that -- they're in complete management of their offense and precisely what was going on. It's a tough group to go against."

Cutler played well agaist the Cowboys in a 27-20 road victory Sept. 19, 2010, going 21 of 29 for 277 yards with three touchdown passes. Matt Forte scored a key touchdown on a 3-yard move from Cutler in the fourth quarter of that sport, but he is listed as questionable for Monday.

Forte sat out last week's contest after spraining his proper ankle towards Green Bay, and Michael Bush had 55 yards and a landing on 18 carries in his absence. Forte, though, practiced Wednesday for the first time since getting injured and stated he thinks he'll "be good to go" Monday.

Coach Lovie Smith tempered that a bit, saying Forte still has "a long ways to go."

If he does play, Forte could help the Bears to their third three-1 start in four years and deny the Cowboys their first since 2008.

Dallas (2-1) may use a better effort on offense than it had in a 16-10 win over Tampa Bay last week. The Cowboys dedicated three turnovers and allowed Tony Romo to get sacked 4 times.

They also had 13 penalties for one zero five yards -- six false starts -- however allowed the Buccaneers to gain just 166 yards.

"It is a very, very satisfying win, though it's going to type of get misplaced within the shuffle as you progress into the season," Romo said. "These are the kind of wins you need to have."

Dallas may additionally use slightly extra assist from DeMarco Murray. The working back had 131 yards in a season-opening win over the Giants but has totaled eighty two previously two games. He had 38 yards on 18 carries against Tampa Bay.

"We've moved the ball mainly the final couple of weeks via the air," coach Jason Garrett said. "We've got to run the ball better. I feel we have to execute higher throughout the board."

The Cowboys rushed for only 36 yards within the 2010 matchup with the Bears, who are sixth in rushing protection at 76.0 yards per game. Romo threw for 374 yards however had a pair of interceptions.

He had 329 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-10 win within the teams' last assembly at Chicago on Sept. 23, 2007.

Update: Matt Forte is a game time decision, but he said in warm-ups he fells good and is ready to go. 

If you want to learn how to be as quick and as fast as Matt Forte "All Pro Running Back" >>> Watch this video <<< 

Messi-- A Bright Football Star | ArticleCube.com

Messi, a member of Argentine national football team, was born on June 24, 1987 and is serving the Barcelona club as a right wing in Spanish Football League. Messi has a remarkable footwork, and standing out breakthrough capacity which can not be matched. For these reasons, he is called 'New Maradona' and becomes one of the most outstanding football players in the world. He is in No. 30 soccer uniform when he is playing for Barcelona while in No. 19 soccer uniform for Argentina.

In 08-09 season, Messi led his team to take the crown of the Spanish Football League, the King's Cup, and the UEFA Champions League, honored 'the Treble', an unprecedented achievement of the Spanish football team.

At the age of seven, he has already gained much appreciation in the Newell's Old Boys team. However, he was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency which may hinder the growth of his bones when he was eleven. The economic condition of his family could not bear the cost of treating him, so they emigrated to Spain to look for solutions. Messi, 140cm tall at the age of 13, jointed the Barcelona experimental training in September 2000. During the training, Messi's excellent performance conquered the Barcelona youth team coaches. They could not wait to sign a work contract which expired in 2012, forgetting the provisions of FIFA that none of the clubs could sign a contract with a player under 20 for more than 5 years. Barcelona football club made great effort to assist Messi growing. Without hesitation, Catalan helped him registered the club and arranged him to go to the medical department for treatment. Under the treatment arranged by the club, Messi has reached 170cm in 2008.

The first time that Messi entered the arena as one the representatives of Barcelona was at his 16. It was in a friendly match in November, 2003. However, it was one year later that he took part in a formal match. Matching with the Spanish on Spanish Football League in October, 2004, Messi replaced of De Souza after 83 minutes play. Thus, he became the second youngest player appeared in the League.

Messi has excellent ball mastery and fast dribbling. The score of a hundred meters is 10''8'''. He also has strong breakthrough capacity, especially good at breaking the wing, changing the direction and shooting after cutting inside. He can handle beautiful passing as well. In a word, he is a man who can change the match situation by himself.

Messi is an unusual star. He not only has a high degree of creativity, but also assume the task of defending. He is a fully developed left foot player. Besides being able to stay in the middle, he can also play wing and attacking midfielder. Although he is short, he has a swift pace speed and strong body, therefore, he is capable to cope with tall opponents. His strength is incredible, such as his skills in handling corners, free kicks and penalties.

Learn some of Messi's best tricks and techniques >>> watch video <<<

Good Football Exercises

Learning from a muscle and conditioning expert and previous assistant at the University of Georgia, Coach always told me that, kettle bell strength training is where its at when it comes down to the end result. Check out the following 3 kettle bell lifts that should be a must in your strength course!

1. The Kettle bell Swing: This is the base strength stamina lift that is ideal for general conditioning and building tremendous core strength. This lift is performed by you swinging the bell starting between your legs up to chest level. The drawing motion of swinging the iron bell incorporates hundreds of muscles and challenges your cardiovascular system more than anything you have attempted with in other kind of weightlifting.

You must do a hip snap motion by contracting and extending at both your hips and knees in a constant and flowing motion in order to build the necessary momentum to execute this lift. This hip drive is essential for the sport of Football!

2. The Single Arm Overhead Kettle bell Snatch: This particular lift is ghastly in it's concentration! This is probably at the top of the routines for superior kettle bell workouts. This lift is performed by correctly performing an explosive hip snap motion once more. However, you are only lifting the kettle bell with one arm and letting the bell to vertically fly up in front of you by pulling your elbow high and lateral to your head. The moment it reaches this high point laterally to your head then you finish the snatch by hitting your palm to the heaven shutting out both your elbow and shoulder into rest. This specific lift is tremendous for improving explosive leg power, core strength, and shoulder stability!

3. The Kettle bell Front Squat: For this kettle bell routine you can use one bell or two bells of equal weight. From the floor between your legs just clean the kettle bells to your chest. Make sure your squat stance is firm and stable. From here simple perform a front squat going down until your elbows meet your knees. This is how you know you have good depth in the squat. Make sure you incorporate all three of these lifts into your kettle bell workout routines for maximum fitness and athletic performance. Train intensely and enjoy my friend!

For more strength and Condition exercises that take your game to the next level. >>> Click Here <<<<