golf19915

How many times have you had an excellent drive followed by an equally excellent approach shot only to be disappointed by your chip/pitch/sand shot and/or 3-putt effort? The short game (putting, chipping, pitching and sand play) accounts for about 80 percent of your total score. These skills are too important to be ignored.

You dont believe us? The next time youre out on the golf course, count the number of shots it takes you to get from the edge of the green to the hole. If youre an average golfer like us, you will be surprised at the number of strokes you use on your short game, and it doesnt necessarily depending on what golf equipment you are using.

If you want to lower your score, your best chance to do so would be to work on your short game. With a little time and effort spent practicing with your wedges and putter, you will improve your game and shave strokes off your score. The great thing is that improving your short game does not require any special strength, coordination, conditioning or special golf clubs. These are skills that everybody who plays can masterand have fun improving! The key is to spend just as much time, if not more time, practicing your short game as you do your long game.

Putting rule: When putting, try not to think too hard. This is when mistakes are usually made. Am I taking the putter too far back? Am I aligned correctly? If you continually ask yourself these questions on the green, you are already thinking of ways to miss the putt. Just look at the hole and go straight at it. Why do you think new golfers and kids sometimes do so well at putting? Is it because they have a special gift for putting? No, of course it isnt. Its because they are not thinking about their approach and are only wanting for the ball to go in the hole. We know that this sounds overly simplistic, but if you do your thinking on the practice green and get your timing and alignment set on a consistent basis, the next time youre on the course it will all become instinctive and you can then concentrate on distance and the undulations on the green and not focus attention on your putting stroke.

Putting Practice: Before you tee off on the first hole if you're in a hurry. This exercise will help you make good contact with the ball and create momentum on your putts. Place the ball about three feet away from the hole on a flat part of the green. Without using a backstroke, push the ball into the hole using your putter. In other words, don't use a backstroke during this part of the exercise. hit the ball immediately from address, do this 5 times and get a good feel for your follow-through. After doing this, use your normal putting stroke and hit the ball another 5 times from the same distance. You should notice a difference in your putting stroke. This simple and quick exercise creates a smoother stroke and follow-through when putting.

Pitch Shot rule: Set your hips, knees and feet open to the target and accelerate through your swing. Yes, there are other things that your could work on when hitting a wedge, but the most common mistakes that amateurs make are standing square to the ball at address and slowing down on the backswing. Correcting these two flaws will enable you to hit more consistent and accurate shots. Keeping your shoulders square and slightly opening up your hips, knees and feet towards the target will allow you to get through the shot and get air under the ball. Your follow through should be as long as, if not longer, than your backswing just to make sure you accelerate through it. This will allow you to make good contact with the ball and you will make consistently straight and accurate shots.

So, what are you waiting for? Get out to the golf course and start shaving strokes off your score!

Copyright 2007 David Lester

David Lester is the owner of http://www.shop4clubs.com a golf content website. David has worked in the golf industry for over 10 years in various capacities such as product management and international sales.

Yoga clothes should be comfortable and functional. They should allow you to move freely and not distract you from your practice. They should feel good against your skin so they dont cause any irritation.

Ideally, the clothing should be absorbent so that it wicks sweat away from your body. There are few things that feel as uncomfortable as a sticky, clammy body that is moist from perspiration.

I also think they should be attractive and fun to wear. When I do yoga alone in my home, I am willing to wear an old tee shirt and sweats or baggy shorts. When I practice in a class, I am more discriminating in what I choose to wear.

I admit it. I work very hard to keep my body in shape, and when I am with others, I want to show off the efforts of my hard work. I usually choose form fitting pants and a fitted tee shirt. This allows me to see the outline of my body in the mirror so I can maintain good form, and it lets me move without having to fuss with my clothes. They are also flattering to my body, so when I wear them I feel good.

Here are some of the things that you should look for in yoga clothing so that they work well for you and make you feel good about yourself and your practice.

Yoga pants
There are many types of yoga pants. Some are long and go down to your ankles; others stop just below your knees. Often they are relatively form fitting. These types of pants have the benefit of allowing your instructor to see your alignment so she can make any necessary adjustments to your form.

If you arent comfortable in pants that are so revealing, you might enjoy wearing loose, cotton trousers. They offer freedom of movement without being too tight.

Whatever pants you choose, make sure that you can bend and move freely in them. Also be sure that there are no bulky ties at the waist that might be uncomfortable when you are lying in a prone position.

Yoga Shorts
Yoga shorts are a very good choice if you practice Bikram or hot yoga, because the room is heated to such a high temperature. They are a good bet in the warm summer months when long pants might be too warm. They also help you more easily check the proper alignment of your lower body because you can see your knees and ankles.

The yoga shorts should be long enough to cover your derriere and they should not ride up. Form fitting shorts usually dont move too much, so they may be just right for you.

Yoga Tops
Yoga tops should allow you to move freely without having them fall in your face. Tee shirts should be short enough so that your lower body is not hidden, so you can more easily check your alignment. Some women like to wear sports bras (especially those who practice Bikram yoga). If you choose to wear one, make sure that it holds you securely and that nothing falls out when you are bending or stretching. You dont want to wear something that is going to cause you to worry about what you might be showing to the rest of the class.

Yoga tops come in many bright and attractive colors. You might also have fun wearing shirts with characters such as Yoga girl on them.

Yoga Shoes
Most people do not wear shoes during their practice. However, they might be useful if you practice outside in a park, on a beach, or some place where you would not want to take off your shoes and socks. Yoga shoes look very similar to other athletic footwear, except that the soles allow for considerable flexibility in your foot and the tops of the shoes are very lightweight. Some popular brands include Puma yoga shoes and Adidas shoes for yoga.

Jacket
many people might not think that a jacket is an important part of yoga clothing, but I beg to disagree. I think it is absolutely critical to take a jacket with you to your yoga class. I have been in many classes where the temperature has been quite cool (some are downright freezing). While the temperature often doesnt matter too much while I am moving during the poses, it becomes quite a different story when the time comes to meditate.

I dont know about you, but I find it difficult if not impossible, to relax when I am cold. Bringing a jacket with you gives you an option of covering up during the relaxation period if you are feeling chilly. Feeling warm and comfortable allows you the pleasure of letting your body relax fully.

So yoga clothes should be functional, comfortable, and give you the freedom to totally enjoy your practice. Have fun with them and enjoy wearing the ones that make you feel good!

Della Menechella is a yoga and fitness enthusiast who has been involved in fitness for over thirty years. Her website http://www.beauty-fitness-yoga-source.com/ is filled with practical information about how you can make yoga and fitness a positive part of your life. Visit the site and get your free meditation e-book.

As my babe grew within me, my center became his. The flexible and light body that used to bend over backwards in scorpion pose became heavy and constricted. At eight months pregnant, I had trouble with simple moves like putting-on-shoes-asana. Nevertheless, continuing with a modified yoga practice kept me flexible and strong. By practicing yoga I released shoulder tension and kept my legs strong throughout the pregnancy. After giving birth to my son I bounced back to my familiar shape. My efforts helped me reclaim my center and advanced my understanding of the peace that can be discovered through yoga.

The hormonal changes that took place during and after the pregnancy shook memore like threw me for a few loops. Instead of checking into a loony bin or hitting my husband, I hit the mat with and without my babe and breathe. Interestingly, I experienced profound shifts in peace-of-mind when my practice was neglected and when I re-found it.

Giving birth changes a woman. Were all different to start with and so are our changes. When we become mothers our connection with spirit becomes stronger. yoga helps me to embrace this responsibility, and trust that a greater force is taking care of all of us. Ive observed many people be crushed with fear after having a baby. Life is too short to live in a state of fear. yoga means union and when we practice union, we trust, love and find meaningful balance. Ultimately, practicing yoga opens your heart and makes transformation real for you.

Anne Laderman Swartz is a mom and certified yoga instructor in Olympia, Washington. She has taught yoga in California, Arizona and New Zealand. Anne has studied with many master teachers and is especially grateful for her time with Ana Forrest, Saul David Raye and Gurmukh. Her classes are a blend of that experience, combining Vinyasa flow, Anusara, and Forrest yoga to create a well balanced, heart opening, ecstatic practice. Annes knowledge of thai yoga massage therapy is frequently used throughout the class to guide students into complete relaxation. Anne is a teacher committed to yoga as a way of life. She unselfishly gives, sharing her boundless energy with all who meet her. For a schedule of classes or more information, email Anne at yogianne@yahoo.com