Two tips to improve your golf swing

I came across this article the other day and thought it offered a quite interesting tip (see #2) on how to improve your golf swing. Hope you find it useful!

So you want to improve your golf swing? Don’t we all! It's one aspect of the game common with many golfers keen to attain a golf swing good enough to form the foundation of a consistent game. The honest truth... most part time golfers won't do anything about improving their golf swing simply because they enjoy the outing and the social aspect of the game. But if you are reading this article, then you are certainly serious about picking up a tip or two to help develop some consistency in that swing.

Why is it so many players have difficulty maintaining a consistent swing? For new players, the ability to eliminate bad habits from their game is easy. For more experienced golfers it's not so easy but it's doable. One tip I picked up early in my golfing career when I was having trouble with my back swing certainly transformed and helped me improve my golf swing.
In fact, this one tip not only helped me eliminate the unco-ordinated knees and falling shoulders during the process of the swing but helped me add a strong mental side to my game.

How To Improve Your Golf Swing
The back swing is a big problem area for many players and most of the time it can be corrected without too much fuss and effort. For some reason, the left knee is allowed to collapse on top of the right knee during the back swing process. The result:

- the shoulders tend to collapse and drop in the process and
- your hips will tend to go into a swaying motion

What's up with this? The result is always hit and miss. Sometimes you hit the ball flush and most times you don't. Two things you can try:

- when about to play the swing, just imagine your left knee is drawn towards the area you intend to hit the ball and
- if this is difficult to implement, grab your favorite soccer ball or basketball and place them between your knees during practice sessions.

The first tip was handy but it was the second tip which helped this author. It's amazing but after several practice sessions using a soccer ball, every time I played a round of golf for several months after it felt like that ball was always there during the swing process. The effect can be dramatic and worth the effort if you are serious about wanting to improve your golf swing. Article by Dean Caporella.

- Jen

http://www.pinkgolftees.com/

Don't lose your golf game during the off-season!

Golf, just like baseball and football, has an off-season - especially if you live somewhere that gets snow. Though there are no tournaments during this time, this doesn't mean that players stop practicing and preparing for the next game.

Most players rest for a period of time to recharge the body from the stress of competing in the PGA/LPGA tour season. Studies have shown that having a time off enables the individual to play better golf and avoid making lower scores.

When the body is rested, it is time to work on things such as balance, endurance, flexibility, power and strength. The best way to do this will be by enrolling in a fitness program. There might be a gym in the area where the individual can sign up and pump those muscles. This is necessary to be consistent each time the player gets the club and swings during each shot.

The off-season in golf usually happens before winter sets in. Since the course will be covered in snow, the ideal place to practice then is in the golf range that is open all year round. The person can get a bucket of balls and fire some into the distance.
Some people hire a golfing instructor to observe the technique into each stroke. Others who want to work alone can do this by looking in front of a mirror or having this captured in a video cam for review later. It is advisable to do this twice a week so that improvements can be done before the season begins.

Another way to help improving the game is by using some golfing aids and a good example is a weighted club. This could be 2 or 5 pounds heavier than the one the player is using but it has been proven to execute better drives. Those who have used this claim to feel awkward at first but this will be easier later on.

Another device that can also be used is a golf swing trainer. This doesn't look like an ordinary club because it isn't straight. There are a lot of these in the market and the individual should check it out at the specialty store.

The golf slice is another aid that could help in the golf game. This can be used in the course or in the range enabling the person to hit the ball closer to the hole than landing in a sand trap.
The key to winning the game is hitting the ball into the hole in a few strokes. The player can practice this by also investing in a golf-putting track that can be set up in the office or at home. The only thing the individual will need is a flat surface so this can be laid on the floor.

The price of these aids can be $20 to $200 a piece. These can be purchased in sporting goods store or online. Since there are many brands, the person can ask a friend for a good recommendation if this is the first time to use any of this equipment to improve in the game or read available customer reviews on the Internet.

As the season gets closer, the number of times spent practicing at the range should increase. The person must continue going to the gym to sustain the endurance that will come in handy when the first tournament begins.

The individual may also play a game with friends to familiarize with the course without the presence of fans and other onlookers that puts some pressure on the game.
There is no easy way to win in golf. Some people may have talent but have to strengthen this because there are new players joining in the game as well as veterans hoping to make a comeback and wearing that championship jacket.

Practice is important during the off-season and it doesn't matter if the individual is a professional golfer or an amateur. This is because this is the only way to excel in this sport.
The person should practice as often as possible by exercising in the gym or in the range by using weightlifting equipment, a treadmill and golfing aids. This enables the person to be consistent when the seasons start again from the first hole until the last. Article by Lee Dobbins.

-Jen
www.pinkgolftees.com

50 Things to be thankful for this season

Life in the fast lane. That's how many of us live. We are so busy that we don't take the time to reflect on the good things we have. Sure life is tough but there is a lot to be thankful for! Here are 50 of the top things to be thankful for. Add your own items and pass this along.

A comfortable chair
A gentle rain
A glass of cold milk
A good book to read
A good pillow
Air conditioning
Banana splits
Blue jeans
Butterfly kisses
Clothes that fit well
Cute shoes
Compliments
Computers that work
Dark Chocolate. Or any chocolate for that matter!
Dishwashers
Family
Flowers
Friends
Freedom of speech & religion
Golf
Good health
Good movies
Good teachers
Good tires
Hair spray
High-speed Internet access
Holding hands
Homemade ice cream
Hugs
Ice cubes
Indoor plumbing
Laughter
Morning coffee
Parking spaces near the front
Plenty of closet space
Polite drivers
Quiet mornings
Remote Controls
Silk pajamas
Smiles
Soft toilet paper
Sunrises & sunsets
Thanksgiving dinner
That I wasn't in the obituaries today
The color of autumn leaves
The words "I love you"
Tire swings
Warm kisses
Warm showers
Whipped cream
White puffy clouds

Have a wonderful & safe Thanksgiving!

Jen

www.pinkgolftees.com

November is Fashion Month!

November is Fashion Month

Even though golf fashion has changed and evolved thru the years, one thing is consistent and that is that every golfer enjoys looking good on and off the links.

We may not be able to cure your slice or hand you a putter that never misses, we can however, tell you a thing or two about golf fashion.Don't miss out on the Best of the Best in your favorite golf fashion category. You are sure to find the perfect something ranging from ultra conservative to uber trendy depending on your taste.

Ladies Golf Apparel

Ladies Skorts
Women's Golf Shirts
Women's Golf Shorts
Women's Golf Slacks
Ladies Golf Shoes
Women's Golf & Travel Bags

Men's & Ladies Golf Accessories

Eyewear
Hats
Jewelry

Ladies Golf Apparel

Ladies Skorts

Claudia Romana

http://www.golfbycr.com

Frustrated that the majority of women's golf apparel was not appealing enough for the modern women, designer Claudia Romana put her design experience to use and created a golf apparel line inspired by Katherine Hepburn. The sizes range from a size 2 to a size 12 and we found that the cotton/lycra material was flattering to every figure and shape.

What we loved most was that unlike most skorts with an excess of material under the skirt, the Claudia Romana under shorts fit snug and sleek. We really loved the slimming effect of the vertical line pattern found in the newly released fall line.

http://www.girls-golf.com



http://traceylynngolf.com/


Sport Haley
Stylesbyjun
Tail
PING
The Antiqua Group
Titania Golf

Women's Golf Shirts

Aphira

http://www.aphira.com

Simple and stylish, elegant and sporty are words that sum up the Aphira line. We love the classic cuts and the trendy embellishments such as tuxedo ruffles, button downs and belted waists. We found the line to run a size small but once we found the correct size, loved the hang and the fit. We all agree that this is a line that will carry you from the golf course to cocktails looking crisp and stylish.

Death to Argyle
Lacoste
Tommy Bahama
Tommy Hilfiger Golf
Polo Golf
Slazenger
Oxford Golf
Chix with Stix
Iconic Sports
Tory Birch

Women's Golf Shorts

Lilly Pulitzer

http://www.lillypulitzer.com

Looking to lighten your step and brighten your day? Look no further than the Lilly Pulitzer line of trendy Bermuda shorts. These shorts look fantastic in July and can carry you through to that fall island get away you have been planning.

Ranging in sizes from 0-14, we found the line to run true to size. Though a bit pricier than other brands, we feel that in this case you get what you pay for. We found the quality of the material to be superb and holds up wash after wash.

Tehama
J.Crew
Troushorts
Verdina
Trigelle
GG Blue
Vantage Apparel

Women's Golf Slacks

PAHR Fairway Essentials

http://www.pahr72.com

If you are the type to go for the green rather than laying up safe, then you are sure to be the type of golfer who can pull off the super trendy look available through Pahr72.

Old school argyle meets new age cool in these pants. We love the fact that you can cuff the bottoms for a Capri-style look. Pair them with tanks in the summer and turtlenecks in the winter. Either way, you are sure to turn a lot of heads and get lots of compliments.

Tail
CJ Golf
Fairway & Greene
Swing Chick

Ladies Golf Shoes

PUMA

http://golf.puma.com

Not your Grandma's golf shoes, these PUMA golf boots really make a statement. Other than the fact that we agree that the Traveller HI boots are by far the most unique offering in ladies golf footwear, we love the function and fit of these ultra comfortable shoes. The bottoms are made of rubber, which made them easy to pack in our travel bag as well as in the side of our golf bag.

We think these are fantastic for fall and winter golf. Some of us prefer to wear them with tapered pants tucked into the boot while others thought they look best worn as a traditional boot. We all agree that we found ourselves wearing these shoes as much off the golf course as on.

Sandbaggers
Walter Genuine
Hi-tech Sports
Aerogreen
Golfstream Shoes

Women's Golf & Travel Bags

Birdie Girl

http://www.birdiegirl.ca

It's no secret that we here at 19thHole.com are huge fans of the Birdie Girl Golf bag line. We've featured their products in the past and just can't resist the Classic designs with a fun and flirty flair.

Whether it's the black and hot pink LUXE cart bag or the ultra lightweight pink camo carry bag, we love the ease of use and the pocket layout.

These bags feature fun unexpected extras such as insulated water bottle pockets to keep drinks cold, velour-lined valuables pockets and super padded, slip resistant shoulder straps, just to name a few. We think that the gals at Birdie Girl really have it going on.

Keri Golf
Vera Bradley
Ogio
Project Brown
Pink Tee
Ame & Lulu
Asprey
Donna Sharp

Happy Shopping!

Jen
Pink Golf Tees

Lorena Ochoa wins the ADT Championship

Congratulations to Lorena Ochoa for her win (-4) at the ADT Championship! This was her 8th victory this year! Natalie Gulbis followed in 2nd place (-2), and Paula Creamer in 3rd. Last year, Julieta Granada won the ADT Championship (-4) and Lorena Ochoa finished second (-2).

Ochoa has finished in the top three 10 times in 14 events since June. She has become the first LPGA player to earn more than $4 million dollars in one season. She has also become the fastest player in Tour history to accumulate over $10 million in her career earnings and ranks fourth on the LPGA Official Career Earnings List.

Congratulations, Lorena!

'Tis the season - Shopping ideas for golfers

OK, so shopping for a golfer can be really tricky. There are all kinds of gadgets and accessories out there that is makes it difficult to choose from. Also, so much depends on personal preference when it comes to golf clubs and other gear. So, to make it easy for you to buy the golfer in your family a Christmas gift they'll definitely appreciate - here's a list of the 6 best and 6 worst Christmas golf gifts for men.

The Six Best Golf Gifts

1. Golf hypnosis CDs. Every professional golfer has a 'mind guru' who helps strengthen their mental game. Every amateur golfer cannot afford one - but we can have access to all the tricks of the golf mind coach trade through the golf hypnosis CDs at www.golfhypnotherapy.com. 'Become a Deadly Short Putter' and 'Beat First Tee Nerves' give exactly the kind of mind coaching we need.

2. An electronic caddie. What's the next best thing to a real caddie? There are several battery-powered GPS rangefinders that tells golfers exactly how far they need to hit the ball to increase their confidence on each hole.

3. A round of golf on a great course. Most golfers love playing new. Some of the country's best courses are online, so give your golfer a great day out.

4. A square driver. Square-shaped golf clubs are all the rage this year, from the RAM Qube3 to the Callaway FT-i used by Ernie Els. It would make your loved one's year to find one poking out from the tinsel.

5. Balls. Proper ones. Whether it's a sleeve of three Titleist ProV1s or a dozen cheapies, for some strange reason those tiny round things will bring a smile every time. See golfballs.com for a great selection of golf balls.

6. A new putter. Golfers are obsessed with putting and putters. We treat them like works of art - collecting them at will. The new MacGregor's Face-off version is super hot, along with the Mizuno Bettinardi range.

The Six Worst Golf Gifts

1. Novelty golf balls. Some explode, some wobble, some dissolve into powder. And some actually bring a smile to our faces - for a millisecond. Don't do it. Not even as a stocking-filler. Save your money and get us some proper balls.

2. Hip flasks. Are we drunks? No, we can live for four hours without a drop of the hard stuff for heaven's sake. We only need water or energy drinks on the course. And we enjoy a pint afterwards. There is no way, ever, that a quart of whisky or rum will improve our game.

3. Scottish stuff. OK, Scotland is the home of golf, but that's as much as we care to know. A tartan towel, tartan bag, tartan tees, tartan socks, is not what you want if you live in London! And the towels are never big enough.

4. Sweaters. With embroidered pictures of golfers. You might as well buy us a sweater with 'Loser' written on it. Golf has become seriously stylish in recent years and anything that makes us look like a throwback from the 50s is out.

5. Electronic scoring devices. At the golf course we get given a pencil and a scorecard. It's efficiency supreme. So we don't need to fiddle about with a wrist-scorer, or a pocket-scorer, or any other weird and wonderful gadget to help us add up.

6. Ball cleaners. In our world, a towel is enough. Anything else just takes up vital bag or pocket space.

Hope this helps!

Jen

www.pinkgolftees.com

Business Golf: Do we have to???

OK, so I enjoy a round of golf any day of the week with friends or relatives, but business golf was always something that I found very intimidating. Is it really necessary? Apparently it is.

According to a study done in 2004 of 1,000 women golfers, 73% said that playing golf had helped them develop important business relationships. Over half of the respondents said that just being able to speak knowledgeably about golf had contributed to their corporate success.

On the flip side, another study was conducted of women managers at Fortune 1000 companies and discovered that 41% of the respondents felt that not participating in informal social outings and networking opportunities held them back at work. The outing/activity mentioned most was golf.

So, the message for all of us is to conquer our fears. If we can play golf with friends, then we should be able to play golf with colleagues with minimal stress. In following posts I’ll give tips on how you can make business golf less stressful for you and how to know when you’re ready for business golf.

Jen

www.pinkgolftees.com

Paula Creamer's second win of the year - Mitchell Company Tournament results

Congratulations to Paula Creamer for her most recent win at the Mitchell Company LPGA Tournament of Champions (-20), which is her second title of the season! Birdie Kim followed in second place (-12), and Natalie Gulbis & Annika Sorenstam tied for 3rd place (-10).

Last year, Paula Creamer tied with Juli Inkster for 2nd place in this tournament (-11). Lorena Ochoa was the 2006 winner of the Mitchell Company Tournament (-21) and she finished 9th (-7) in this year’s tournament.

Paula Creamer, Lorena Ochoa, and Suzann Pettersen are the only multiple tournament winners so far this year.
Net turnament up: the ADT Championship (November 15-18)

Jen
www.pinkgolftees.com

Veterans Day Facts - Happy Veterans Day!

I know this isn't about golf, but Veterans Day is often taken for granted. We would not enjoy the lives we live today (including golf!) without the sacrifices our veterans have made.

Here are some very interesting facts surrounding Veterans Day, courtesy of the US Census Bureau. Did you know that there are only 3 surviving veterans still living from WWI??

Say thanks to a veteran today!

Jen
www.pinkgolftees.com

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Veterans Day 2007: Nov. 11 Facts

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day has evolved into also honoring living military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation. A national ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

23.7 million - The number of military veterans in the United States in 2006.

Female Veterans

1.7 million - The number of female veterans in 2006.

16% - Percentage of Gulf War veterans in 2006 who were women.

Race and Hispanic Origin

2.4 million - The number of black veterans in 2006. Additionally, 1.1 million veterans are Hispanic; 292,000 are Asian; 169,000 are American Indian or Alaska Native; and 28,000 are Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. (The numbers for blacks, Asians, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders cover only those reporting a single race.)

When They Served

9.2 million - The number of veterans 65 and older in 2006. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.9 million were younger than 35.

8 million - Number of Vietnam-era veterans in 2006. Thirty-three percent of all living veterans served during this time (1964-1975). In addition, 4.6 million served during the Gulf War (representing service from Aug. 2, 1990, to present); 3.2 million in World War II (1941-1945); 3.1 million in the Korean War (1950-1953); and 6.1 million in peacetime.

430,000 - In 2006, number of living veterans who served during both the Vietnam era and the Gulf War.

Other living veterans in 2006 who served in two or more wars:
• 350,000 served during both the Korean and Vietnam wars.
• 78,000 served during three periods: World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
• 294,000 served in World War II and the Korean War.

3 - The documented number of living World War I veterans who served with U.S. forces as of Oct. 2, 2007.

6 - Number of states with 1 million or more veterans in 2006. These states are California (2.2 million), Florida (1.7 million), Texas (1.7 million), New York (1.1 million), Pennsylvania (1.1 million) and Ohio (1 million).

Education

25% - Percent of veterans 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree in 2006.

90% - Percent of veterans 25 and older with a high school diploma or higher in 2006.

Income and Poverty

$34,437 - Annual median income of veterans, in 2006 inflation-adjusted dollars.

5.9% - Percentage of veterans living in poverty, as of 2006. The corresponding rate for nonveterans was 12.3 percent.

On the Job

11.1 million - Number of veterans 18 to 64 in the labor force in 2006.

Disabilities

6.1 million - Number of veterans with a disability. More than half this number (3.5 million) were 65 and older.

Voting

17.4 million - Number of veterans who voted in the 2004 presidential election. Seventy-four percent of veterans cast a ballot, compared with 63 percent of nonveterans.

Business Owners

14.5% - Percentage of owners of firms that responded to the 2002 Survey of Business Owners who were veterans. Respondent veteran business owners totaled 3 million.

68% - Percentage of veteran owners of respondent firms who were 55 and older. This compares with 31 percent of all owners of respondent firms. Similarly, in 2002, 55 percent of veteran-owned respondent firms with employees reported that their businesses were established, purchased, or acquired before 1990, compared with 36 percent of all employer respondent firms.

7% - Percentage of all respondent veteran owners who were disabled as the result of injury incurred or aggravated during active military service.

See the full report http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/010733.html.

Happy Veterans Day!

Jen
http://www.pinkgolftees.com

Will it blend - golf tees, balls, and clubs!

The Will it Blend guys have done it again. I don't know how they think of these things, but it's fairly amusing.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7_YaNteKmew.

Jen
Pinkgolftees.com

Golf isn't your grandpa's sport anymore - women in the PGA!

Golf isn't your grandpa's sport anymore. Two women, Suzy Whaley and Michelle Wie, are in the running for a place in the PGA. Shocked? I was! I always assumed the PGA was reserved for men, but apparently anywho who qualifies is allowed to play.

Major kudos to both of these ladies! Michelle Wie is only 13 and shot a 73 (from the back tees) during her quallifying round. Suzy Whaley has quallified for the PGA by playing a 10% shorter course, but will have to play from the back tees during PGA events.There are mixed reviews on whether this huge accomplishment is in the best interest of the LPGA and whether it will take attention/tallent away from the organization.

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Jen

Pink Golf Tees

Shopping for golf gear

If you are a female golfer, whether a beginner or the seasoned pro, you know how difficult and frustrating it can be when shopping for gear. I thought my bad experiences - sales people ignoring me for rediculous periods of time and then giving me no advice at all and showing no iterest in actually selling me what I wanted - were isloated to me. Apparently not! I came across a very interesting article that shows how poor the customer service is for women golfers everywhere. Hope you find it useful! http://www.golfforwomen.com/gear/tryandbuy/2007/09/tryandbuy2_article_0907
I'd love to hear from anyone who has experience good customer service!

Jennifer
Pink Golf Tees

Welcome to the Pink Golf Tees blog!

Welcome to the Pink Golf Tees blog!

As a female golfer I am often frustrated by the fact that golf is still very much a male sport. It is easy to feel like the minority, but female golfers are quickly catching up in numbers! I read just the other day that women golfers now make up 25% (and growing!) of golfers in the US, which is very impressive, ladies!

I am currently developing the website PinkGolfTees.com, which is specifically designed for women golfers. It will offer a wealth of information including golf tips and trends, rankings of women-friendly golf courses and golf lesson providers, gear guides and more! PinkGolfTees.com will also offer a fully stocked store where you can purchase apparel, gear, and accessories that were specifically made for women.

I would love to hear from anyone who would like to nominate or complain about a specific golf course in your area for being women-friendly. Or, if you have a recommendation for good, women-friendly golf lessons, I’d love to hear about them! Simply send me an email (pinkgolftees@gmail.com) with the course name, location, and why you loved/hated the course.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Jen
Pink Golf Tees.com