A Video About Golfing Etiquette

The latest craze on the Internet is videos. Well, I have come across one that I highly recommend for all golfers to view. It is a 10-minute video dealing with golf etiquette.

I have noticed over the last 10 years or so, that their are more and more people playing golf. It is truly a wonderful thing to see. However, many of these new golfers and, sad to say, many old golfers, do not follow the basics about golf etiquette. So to help all of us that love and play this game on a regular basis, the R&A has teamed up with 2007 Open Champion Padraig Harrington and created a video guide that helps explain the etiquette of the game of golf. The video focuses on 3 basic ideals, pace of play, care of the course, and showing consideration for other players.

The video is available as a free download from the R&A website. For the sake of the game, please view it and share it with others.

Picking the correct shaft length

Picking the right shaft for your irons and woods can have a large affect on your golf game. One of the important things you need to consider is shaft length. At another time, I will do some posts about picking the proper shaft flex, whether to choose steel, graphite, or both, and what's the difference between high kick point, low kick point, etc. But to keep it simple I will focus on one at a time. Today we will focus on length.

I want to start off by saying that their seems to be no single accepted standard way to determine the correct golf club length for an individual. When I worked at a pro shop we would measure an individual with them standing straight up and their arms hanging down along their sides. While standing on a flat surface, we would measure the length from the floor to the persons main fold on his wrist. Preferably, the wrist that the person wears his golf glove. Click here to go to a site for a chart to see what length of shaft you possibly may need.

Another way that is used is using a persons height. Click here for a chart that shows this.

No matter what process is used, it still comes down to feel. If a club feels right, and you hit it well, then that is the proper length for you. I recommend you see a local golf pro, and have him do some measurements on you, then see if you can demo a number of different length clubs. Edwin Watts is a great golf store that can measure you, and they have clubs you can demo.

Stracka.com-An online community of golfers

Meet new Golfers: The online community of golfers worldwide, create your own profile on Stracka.com for free!

I've just joined this new site that is a social network for people who love to play golf. You can meet other golfers that play your local courses, or meet golfers from around the world. You can post your scores and photos, you can establish and maintain your handicap, you can track your statistics, chat with others about golf in their forums, you can post a blog, you can even view golf courses from around the world via Google Earth. How cool is that!

In addition to that, you can watch video flyovers of courses around the world.This site is really cool. My profile name is ZebMott. I haven't set up any information yet, like what's in my bag, but I do have the courses that I play locally. Stop by and say hi!

Serious golfers, click here for The Social Network for Golfers: Forums, Blogs, Photos, Golf Courses, Handicap Tracking. It's Free on Stracka.com

Nicks Golf Store

In addition to doing reviews and directing readers to online golf stores, Nicks Golf Palace now has its own store. Please browse our new store and hopefully you can find something that will help your golf game.

You can enter our new store here.

Thanks for visiting Nicks Golf Palace,
Nick

How to tell if your putter is face balanced or heel toe weighted

This is just a quick reference for golfers who want to know if their putter is either face balanced, heel balanced, or toe balanced. For this test, open your hand and place your putter shaft across your palm so that the putter balances evenly. Now look at your putter head. If the face of the putter is parallel to the floor, then it is considered face balanced. Now if the heel of your putter is pointing down at a 45 degree angle then it is a heel weighted putter. If your putters toe is pointing slightly down then it is a toe weighted putter.

Affiliate offer:

Mizuno Bettinardi CSeries Putter for @229.99

Practice at a Driving Range!

A great place to hone your golfs skills, is not on the golf course, but rather at a driving range. If you are new to the game, you may want to head to your local driving range to practice your game first. It's cheaper than playing on the course, and you can work on all parts of your game.

Most driving ranges provide you with various size buckets of balls, many also have lights to extend hours of operation and may be indoors or even have heated stalls so you can practice year round.

The reason I am writing about this is because, a couple of months ago, I got stuck behind a foursome and they were playing so slow that it was driving me nuts! Two of the players were pretty good, and the third player was not bad. But the fourth player, come to find out, had never been on a golf course before. In fact, he had never even swung a club before, until that day!

I am so glad that more and more people are getting interested in golf, but I would like to make one recommendation: If you have a buddy or a friend who wants to learn to play the game, take him to a driving range before bringing him out on the course.

Why? First of all, by not taking him to a driving range first, it slows play down, and it really doesn't do him any good. By letting him get used to the game at a driving range, it can actually help him. It will make him feel more at ease, and you can see what his weaknesses are, so you can give him some pointers, and then let him try to make those improvements at his own pace.

Most practice facilities at local golf courses, offer not only a driving range, but also practice putting and chipping greens. Some even have practice bunkers. Besides the driving range, these other amenities are usually free! Introduce the new golfer to these practice areas and let him practice. Then, take him onto the course. It can make a huge difference! For all of us!!

Pinemeadow Golf

Andrew Blackman, "Web Watch", from the Wall Street Journal, had this to say about Pinemeadow Golf:
“Pinemeadow specializes in custom-built golf clubs. You answer a series of question about your age, gender, handicap and the speed at which you swing the club, and the site tells you what length and type of club you need. It then saves those recommended settings and applies them to any club you look at later. When you're ordering the club you can change things like the type of grip and material the shaft is made from.”

Pinemeadow Golf has been offering custom built golf products since 1985. They have a custom fitting wizard and a teaching guide called Golf Clubs 101, where they help you learn all about custom fitting. If your order is equal to $150 or greater you will get shipping for free. Not bad!