Thursday, March 13, 2008

Golf Ball Comparison For The Average Golfer

golf, like most sport, is a game of precision and accuracy. In order to score a hole in one, you need the utmost concentration, and physical and mental strength. Furthermore, you need to match your skills and experience with your golfing accessories and equipment, particularly the golf ball.

For non-golf aficionados, one golf ball is the same as other golf balls. The only major difference such people may see between one ball from another is the manufacturer or brand name. In the eye of a golfer lover, however, golf balls differ in more ways than one.

If you want to improve your game, you need to pay attention to the type, covering material, core structure, and compression rates of a ball. You must bear in mind that your swing and level of play should be matched with the golf ball you use. Thus, you can't expect to be like Tiger Woods simply by buying and using the same golf accessories, shoes, and balls that he uses.

Here are basic golf ball comparisons you need to know to help improve your golf games:

Common golf Ball Types

Two-piece

If you are just starting to play golf, you most probably need to consider using the two-piece golf ball. This type of ball, aside from being the cheapest type available in the market, is aimed at providing great distance. If your swing is slow, the big rubber core of the ball helps in transferring the energy from the swing to the ball efficiently, thereby providing you with good distance.

If you are a neophyte in the game, you need to concentrate on your accuracy. Hence, you need a ball that will boost your distance, enabling you to concentrate more on building your accuracy. Once you have mastered consistency, then you need to try the other types of golf ball.

Three-piece

The three-piece ball is ideal for advanced players, who have pretty much mastered control, partly because a person wouldn't want to spend too much for a golf ball that will brandish his or her hit-and-miss swings. Such a ball, which is preferred by pro players, is composed of a core, which can be solid or made up of liquid or gel, a layer of wounded thread, and a plastic covering.

Materials used as golf ball coverings

Although there maybe other kinds of golf ball covering, the two most popular are the surlyn and balata.

Balata

Balata golf balls, which are usually three-piece balls, are made of soft covering. Professional golfers prefer such balls because they not only cuts and scuffs easily, but they are also easier to control. Furthermore, balata balls give more spin. However, these balls have shorter life span and are more expensive.

Surlyn

Surlyn balls are more apt for amateur gofers because they are cheaper. Most two-piece golf balls are made of surlyn, a hard material, thus it is more resistant to cuts and scuffs and provide more distance. Aside from being more inexpensive, such balls are also long lasting. However, it is harder to control and does not provide ample spin.

Compression rate

Traditionally, the tightness of the golf ball's thread windings determines its compression rate. Due to recent technological advancement, however, the compression rate of a golf ball is now basically dependent on how the ball is affected when it is hit. The compression rating of golf balls usually range from 70-110.

Low compression balls

Balls with compression rating of 70-80 are considered low compression balls. Such balls are soft and are easily deformed or compressed when hit. Players with slow swings are encouraged to use such ball.

Medium compression balls

Most advanced golfers prefer balls with a compression rate of 90. These medium compression balls provide both softness and ease of control.

High compression balls

golf balls with 100-110 compression rating are high compression balls. Such balls are hard and are less likely to deform upon impact, compared to those with lower compression rates. A high compression ball is ideal for those whose club head speeds are high.

Be keen in knowing how the type of ball or its compression rates affect your performance. Keep in mind that the knowledge of golf ball comparisons is handy in enhancing your strengths and masking your weaknesses in the golf course.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.sports-wise.com where you can learn more about your favorite sports as well as read more great articles on golf.

Certification Hatha Teacher Yoga 20

Finding the Right Yoga Teacher for You

yoga has had resurgence in popularity over the last few decades and new classes form everywhere every day. Thousands of new teachers are certified every year, but with such a large percentage of new teachers, how can we be sure we're getting the yoga knowledge and teaching ability we seek?

The different schools of yoga are really all based on the same movements, or yoga asanas, but they do it in different tempos and combinations in order to achieve specific results. The school's stated purpose can be a good place to start. For example, if you're looking to lose weight, you'll want one of the quicker-paced schools. If you're looking for spiritual repose, you may prefer a slower-paced yoga with longer holds. This is largely a matter of personal preference, and several schools may all meet a single type of need, so don't give up if the first one you choose isn't what you hoped for.

Finding the right kind of teacher to whom you'll respond isn't always easy. In the first place, there is no real certification processed or approved training sequence. Without these standards almost anyone can hold themselves out as professional yoga instructors.

Find out what kind of training a proposed teacher has had. What school of yoga did he study? How many hours did he put in before becoming a teacher? A program that includes not only learning, but also practice teaching sessions, and is around 200 hours seems to be standard. You'll find some certification programs that take a year or more to complete, and those that are an intense weekend of correspondence-type study. Expect to pay more to and learn more from the former. Avoid the latter altogether.

Also check his experience. How long has he been teaching? Usually, the longer the experience, the better the teacher, but if he's new, don't rule him out on that alone. Talk to some of his students. What do they like about him and what would they change? How do they feel after a session with him? compare their answers with your ideal of a yoga instructor.

If you're new to yoga, you may want to have a discussion with a potential instructor. Find out how she got into yoga, and what styles and schools she's tried. Ask what she focuses on the most in her classes - strength? Flexibility? Balance? Meditation? Does she limit the size of her classes? If you're attending for a specific medical reason, such as high blood pressure or back pain, make sure she has experience with those conditions.

Some good clues to look for are 1) is the teacher enthusiastic about yoga and its myriad of benefits for students? 2) Does he seem knowledgeable, using sanskrit names for the asanas? These things don't guarantee expertise, of course, but they indicate a good amount of time spent in study.

After you've checked her credentials and chosen your yoga instructor, try a few lessons before you commit to any length of study. You'll want to assure yourself that you and she are compatible as student and teacher. Do you like the routines she leads? Do you find her instruction easy to follow? Does she give individual help when you need it? Does she provide demonstrations? Does she care about her students and watch over them carefully to assure they are doing the asanas correctly and in a way they aren't prone to injury? Does she correct not only with words, but also with gentle physical repositioning? Are you overly sore when you finish a session? This may be a sign of an unbalanced routine and another teacher may be in order.

Again, don't be discouraged with a bad teacher. Just try again. There's always another, better, yoga teacher just around the corner.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Yoga

Yoga New York City

The Simple Golf Swing

David Nevogt has been involved in golf and instruction for many years. He works with two full-time coaches and has helped golfers from USA, Australia, Europe and South Africa, 7987 over the past two years, to be exact!

Bobby Eldridge forms part of the team and has been involved in coaching for over 30 years. Talking about experience!

David is known as the swing GURU and promotes his simple golf swing, with all the recommendations from happy golfers to boot.

The first question might be why this system? simple. Because it is simple. I worked through the setup as explained by David and I feel the difference, but I also see the difference in my ball striking. I am a firm believer of ball striking, regardless of the technological advances in equipment. If you cannot strike a golf ball properly, find another sport!

This system makes sense to a brainless twit like myself because it does not clutter your mind with swing thoughts. simple. Do the basics and watch the improvement.

one of the outstanding features of this system is that it teaches you to analyze your swing. Only then will you be able to rectify imperfections and to improve positive moves.

With this system you'll get five simple steps to go through for every swing you put on the ball. Then you will start to see trends developing, and you can always tie those trends back to one of the five steps you are most likely forgetting about which is causing the negative trend.

You learn that having simple but effective controls in place will really help your game. You will be really surprised how much you'll learn about your own game, and how easy it is to develop and maintain good habits once you understand how to recognize them.

The good thing is that all of this is not limited to the long game. The short game, on and around the greens, is covered as well. I still maintain that this is where the good scores lie.

David also offers an apprentice system whereby you can register and improve your game. It comes complete with charts and control sheets to help you analyze and improve your game.

If any system will be beneficial to your game, this might be it. I saw improvements very quickly. I will post more comments on a later stage.

Corrie Nel is a golf fanatic and former club captain. Find out how to lengthen your drives and lower your scores at:

www.sportatlas.com (Please use ID 1536)

Yoga Positions For The Colon