Golf Blog

Archive for July, 2009

You may or may not be aware that there is another golf event starting today. The RICOH Women’s British Open is now in it’s 33rd year, but it’s only the 9th year of it being a Major LPGA event. Before that it was an LPGA tournament for seven years.

Despite this being the 32nd Women’s British Open (there wasn’t one in 1983), women’s golf is desperately in need of a boost. But if this event has a conclusion that is half as good as the men’s Open at Turnberry two weeks ago, women’s golf will be all right.

With the LPGA tour in the US losing seven events since 2007, its commissioner being sacked two weeks ago, and Annika Sorenstam, the greatest female player for a generation, retiring last year, the women’s game is in turmoil.

Step forward Michelle Wie, who is playing her last major championship as a teenager. Wie has for some time been the gifted child of the LPGA tour, but let’s see if she has what it takes to help women’s golf out of the brink.

She may have had trouble in the past when she was allowed to play in the men’s events, but she’s about to turn 20. Older? Wiser? This tournament’s the decider.

Golfers who are familiar with the Callaway brand (and let’s face unless you have never played, even, one round of golf, you will have heard the name) will not be surprised to discover that a Callaway driver bearing the name Big Bertha will possess a massive 460 cc clubface, which is the largest permitted driver club face (as stated by the R&A, Royal and Ancient, and the USGA, United States Golf Association).

The Callaway Big Bertha Diablo is all about cool and powerful, this club is one of the longest and straightest out today and it also looks amazing and feels great. It’s a height launch driver which is great especially for amateurs as it’s almost impossible to slice.

The diablo driver from Callaway has developed new technology that allows a golfer to hit the ball faster whilst producing long, penetrating ball flight with the desired shot shape. The Hyperbolic face technology increases ball speed across the entire face of the club thus helping send balls further down the fairway, even on miss hits. The Big Bertha Diablo Driver performs like no other.

Playing golf has certain things in common with a book. Both have a beginning, in golf this would be your driving, both have an end, for golf this would be putting and getting the middle part wrong, in both cases, and either you won’t bother getting to the end or you won’t care when you do.

You may have mastered the art of driving and your short game may not be too shabby but if your iron game isn’t up to scratch it could all fall to pieces, rapidly.

An iron set is made up of 2 distinct categories:

• Performance Irons

• Irons to improve your game

When choosing a new golf iron set, try to narrow down the many iron sets options. If you are a mid-high handicap golfer then a game improvement iron set would be better suited to your game play, but, if your handicap falls within the mid-low range, than performance iron sets are what you are looking for.

Cavity back irons, usually made from cast steel, offer a much larger sweetspot because of the distribution of weight around the perimeter of the club head making them a much more forgiving iron set and easier to use than the iron sets the professionals use. A good choice for golfers up to a mid handicap.

A more experienced golfer may wish to choose an iron set made from forged steel , sometimes known as blade irons, which are made from softer steel than cavity back irons, so the golfer has a greater feel of the ball, but they are less forgiving of mis-hits.

Another consideration, before making you choice of a new iron set is, of course, the shaft material. A graphite shaft is, usually, better for golfers with a slower swing speed, whereas, steel makes a perfect choice for golfers with a faster swing.

Golfbuyitonline stock an impressive selection of iron sets from the big names in golf: Callaway, Titleist, Cobra, Mizuno, Nike, TaylorMade and Ping. We here at Golfbuyitonline are happy to assist in helping you decide on the best iron set to suit your height and build, your swing speed and skill level.

Lastly, let’s not forget personal choice. If an iron set looks and feels right to you and improves your game, then, obviously that is the correct iron set for you.

Callaway golf clubs combine a rare blend of fun and forgiveness in the game, used by golfer greats such as Arnold Palmer and Steve Ballesteros Callaway has earned a well respected position within the golf retail market.

Every golf club made by Callaway has a forgiving nature even in the hands of beginner. Catering for amateurs and pro golfers alike the variety of products available is sufficient to outfit them from head to toe, plus a few other things besides. Meaning your favourite Callaway golf clubs are complemented by golf clothing, balls, accessories, stand and cart bags, gloves and headgear.

However, the VIP of the brand remains to be the golf clubs. Under this category, you can choose from a wide selection of drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges and putters. These golf clubs are a testament to Callaway’s commitment to cater to every individual golfer, from the novice to the master, from the young set to the older set, from the right-handed to the lefties. Arguably, the star amongst all the available Callaway clubs is the Big Bertha.

Big Bertha is famous for the New Edge Technology which provides a high MOI and an optimized CG location for Draw or Neutral models that produce long, penetrating ball flights with the desired shot shape. It also helps golfers square the clubface at impact, especially when swinging aggressively. Hyperbolic Face Technology increases ball speed across the entire face of the club helping send balls further down the fairway, even on miss-hits.

The golf clubs of Callaway are all made by combining golf artistry with the latest in technology and in knowledge. Specifically, you can expect your golf club to contain one or more of the following technologies:

• Hyperbolic face technology to produce a bigger effective hitting area

• VFT technology to maximize ball speed through adjustments in face thickness

• S2H2 and modified Tru-Bore technology improves the feel and control of the golf club

• Extreme notch weighing for greater stability and forgiveness

• 360-degree undercut channel that enlarges the hitting area and stabilizes the golf club

The technology behind the innovation can be a little technical but you can definitely experience the difference with Callaway clubs. After all, Callaway stands behind its golf clubs, in more ways than one.

For more information on individual Callaway Clubs visit Golfbuyitonline.

Meeting other golfers you are often asked the question most beginner golfers hate to hear “what’s your handicap”? This is the average figure you score over the par of the course you are playing for three rounds.

Many golfers go years without seeing massive improvements in their handicap. Essentially you need to think of your handicap score as something that reflects your skills and abilities in general to improve this try the following:

Practice your wedge shots

Wedge shots can be those vital shots for your game, whether they are for the final approach to the green or the bunker recoveries. Many golfer’s aim is to just get the ball on the green but what you need to remember when implementing your wedge shots is the place its going to land on the green, you need to see where it’s going to land on the green which can give you the easiest puts to finish the hole.

Sand shots are a nightmare for many novice golfers, however using the wedge’s face to your advantage is key to a successful recovery. By standing square to the ball and leaning slightly on your front foot, getting the leading edge of your wedge under the ball should lift the ball high and clear of the steep back wall of the bunker.

Analyse your own swing

It’s important for golfers to know where and why shots are going wrong. By taking practice swings or practicing at a driving range can really help you get a better understanding of what your natural shot is like. From this you can then adapt it so it improves your handicap.

Reduce your putts

Putting is another area where you need to practice to get a feel for the right weight to put into your shots. A good way to practice this is to try shots from different distances on different gradients, this will indicate to you the power that needs to be put in to the ball in either one or two shots.

Have a good grip

Good golf grip is important for any serious golfer. And the best way to develop your grip is by practicing it every time you can that could be on or off the golf course. Eventually with enough practice, holding a club properly will become second nature to you. So keep those clubs within a close range to get a better golf grip. Also having a comfortable grip on your club helps.

As with most things, remember practice makes perfect.

Stewart Cink, 36-year-old, is the new Open champion, snatching the title from the hands of Tom Watson in a four-hole playoff after they tied on a two-under-par total of 278. Cink an American golfer took up the game when his parents, both single handicap players, left him at the driving range before he was old enough to go on the course. He now becomes the ninth different American to win the Open since 1995.

Cink ended up beating Watson by six shots in a play-off after the two had both finished the tournament two under. However it could have easily been a different story had 59-year-old Watson not missed an eight foot putt for par on the final hole of Sunday’s final round that would have given him a momentous sixth Open victory. Watson was said to be disappointed that he allowed the chance to become golf’s oldest-ever major champion by 11 years to slip through his grasp on a course where he claimed the fourth of his five Open championships 32 years ago.

The clubs that helped Cink win the Open can be seen in the above  clip “In the Bag: Stewart Cink”.  They of the clubs he identifies in this clip include:

•    Driver – Nike SQ 9.5 Degrees
•    Irons – Nike CCI Irons – 2, 3 & 4 Irons
•    Nike Wedges
•    Yes! Lizzy Plus Putter

The British contingent suffered a disappointing first day at the Open at Turnberry as the home challenge failed to get going, despite fine conditions.

Lee Westwood, Anthony Wall, Graeme McDowell, David Howell and Paul Casey all shot 68 to finish two under, four shots off leader Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Ross Fisher, who finished fifth at the US Open, was a shot further behind, alongside Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy.

Ian Poulter suffered a disastrous day, ending five over after a 75.

It had looked so promising when Westwood started with three birdies in a row in the morning, only to double bogey the 16th.

Fisher enjoyed his best major last month at Bethpage Black, finishing only three shots behind winner Lucas Glover.

He endured a difficult start at Turnberry but the 28-year-old – who is about to become a father – finished in style with birdies at each of the last three holes to fire a 69.

After a fine start, Casey dropped shots at the 12th and 14th to fall back into the pack and he admitted he missed a chance to shoot a lower score.

Poulter was disconsolate after a birdie-free round that has put him in severe danger of missing the halfway cut.

Will Harrington make it three in a row?

Will the Brits make it into high positions by the end of the weekend?

Let us know your thoughts below, or on our Facebook or Twitter pages.

Tiger Woods plays almost entirely with Nike golf clubs and equipment. Nike is one of his biggest sponsors, from his famous Nike Swoosh hats and shirts, right down to his golf bag and golf balls. Playing at Turnberry for the British Open Championships Tiger Woods is once again playing with his major sponsors’ equipment. Kitted out in head to toe in Nike gear his bag contains:

Tiger is using a Nike prototype driver (10.5 degrees), his fairway woods consist of the Nike SQ II 3 Wood (13 degrees) and the Nike SQ II 5 Wood (19 degrees). All of his Irons are 1 degree upright, have D4 swing weight, standard size, tour velvet grips and true temper dynamic gold X-100 shafts. He uses the Nike 56 degree VR SW and the Nike 60 degree SV LW wedges. Then finally his putter is the Scotty Cameron by Titleist Studio Stainless Newport 2 putter (standard loft and lie, 35 inches long). His Club line up is dependent upon the course set up and the weather conditions.

Nike Golf is passionately dedicated to honouring and respecting the traditions of the game, and to providing golfers with the absolute best equipment. Nike Golf Drivers deliver state of the art technology for maximum speed, distance, forgiveness and accuracy giving you the tools you need to help you improve your game.

The 2009 Open Championship will be held at Turnberry in Ayrshire the west coast of Scotland.  from 16th – 19th July 2009. This will be the fourth time that the Open has been played on this course at Turnberry with previous winners there being Tom Watson, Greg Norman and Nick Price. Padraig Harrington won the previous two British Championships.

Harrington has betting odds at 28/1 this year. The highest ranking golfer this year in the competition is said to be Tiger Woods with betting odds of 2/1. This time last year Woods underwent major reconstructive surgery on his left leg, he was also recovering from two stress fractures, so last year his priority was getting healthy not having the chance to win his fourth claret jug. However this year he has come back stronger than ever as he is a heavy favorite this week at Turnbery Golf Club. He has a number of sponsors for the event one of which includes Nike Golf. Their objective is to create a brand which is valued by passionate golfers. Working with the best players in the world allows Nike Golf to design and develop products that meet the exact standards of dedicated golfers everywhere.

With Woods being back in the competition this year the two time defending champion Harrington is said to be bracing himself for the battle with Woods at the Championship. Harrington is trying to do what Woods did – change his swing after winning majors – but he comes to Turnberry looking for a British Open three-peat in the throes of a long dry spell that set in soon after he won last year’s PGA Championship.

Titleist Brand Ambassador topped the leaderboard at the John Deere Classic this weekend, and was joined at the top of the leaderboard by fellow full-line Titleist players, Brett Quigley and Zach Johnson who finished tied second in Illinois. Stricker followed the lowest round of his career, a stunning 10-under par 61, on Saturday with rounds of 68 and 64 on a marathon 36-hole Sunday, to post a 20-under par total of 264, which saw him claim the title by three shots from Quigley, Johnson and one other. The victory was the second of the year for Stricker and the sixth US PGA Tour victory of his career.

Stricker trusted the superior performance of Titleist throughout his bag including the Pro V1 golf ball, 909D3 driver, 906F fairway metal, 985.H utility metal, 755 irons and Vokey design sand and lob wedges. As well as being the choice of the champion, the Titleist Pro V1 was the most played ball at the John Deere Classic, with 105 players compared to 23 for the nearest competitor. The Pro V1 was also the overwhelming favourite at the top of the leaderboard as 10 of the 14 players who finished tied ninth or better trusted the feel and performance of the legendary Pro V1 franchise. Titleist also topped the irons sets, wedges and putters categories respectively.

The Pro V1 was the choice of the majority of the field at the Barclay’s Scottish Open on the European Tour. A total of 93 players teed up with Titleist at Loch Lomond, compared to 27 for the nearest competitor, and the Pro V1 or Pro V1x was also the choice of 7 of the top 10 finishers.

In other golf news:

You’ve heard of “road rage”, but how many of you have heard of “golf rage”?

A golfer in Bedfordshire has been found guilty of just that.  Harold Stafford assaulted Barry Barnes after accusing him of playing his ball last September at Stockwood Park golf club.

The court heard Mr Barnes suffered two black eyes and had to take a week off work. Claudette Elliott, the prosecutor described the assault as “golf rage”.

The court heard that Mr Barnes also suffered chest and back injuries in the attack on 19 September.

During his trial, Stafford claimed he acted in self-defence.

As much as we all love golf, please just remember it is a game and we’re all on the course for a good time.