Natalie Gulbis says we should stretch before golf, which is good enough for me

Most golfers agree that it’s a good idea to stretch before playing golf, or warming up on the range, but few probably do it. And many of those who do stretch probably aren’t doing it properly.

Well, here’s a little incentive: Natalie Gulbis says you should, and the LPGA’s pin-up girl has endorsed the Golf Stretch Fitness Mat from G2 Fitness.
It’s the only stretch mat specifically designed for golfers. Available for both men and women, the mats depict every important golf stretch directly on its canvas so that you never forget another stretch while warming up. Physician-certified, portable and even eco-friendly, the G2 Fitness Golf Stretch Mats are available in several colors. They can be used at home, the gym, the driving range or even in-between holes, if you’re that dedicated.
“I believe in the G2 Fitness stretch mats because they promote a healthy lifestyle,” said Gulbis, winner of the 2007 Evian Masters. “Stretching is a key element in my golf game – it’s important for me to keep everything flexible and strong to play my best and prolong my career.”
You’re probably wondering how these mats are eco-friendly. Well, they are made from Thermoplastic Elastomer, and they are100 percent recyclable. According to the company, they offer superior grip in both wet and dry conditions, and they even maintain a moderate temperature to avoid chilly morning workouts.

Also, according to G2 Fitness, which also makes mats for Pilates and yoga, TPE is a durable alternative to rubber or PVC. It is completely non-toxic, odorless and harmless to both the environment and human body, unless you pull something, of course.
Cost for the mat is $50, and it comes with video instruction on the Web site, http://www.g2fit.com/.

No word if Gulbis is on the video. I guess you’ll have to purchase the product to find out.

Played 18 today!

Always a good day when you can spend a few hours on the course. 

Finally got to get out and play after a LONG HARD DAY of productive work! Twilight rate for 18 was $25 and that included a cart. Pretty good for how nice Turkey Creek is. Played with my boss and a couple of co-workers. Two were at my level and we had one newbie. Played a good round out there but have been noticing that I seem to waste about 1 shot per hole. I dont really know if thats going to change with experience or just my striking the ball better. I really do realize that I have ALOT to work on, but Im noticing that one shot per hole is just wasted. Get that under control and i guess Ill shave 18 strokes eh?

The question I want to pose to my low handicap readers is this: 

How long did it take you to feel comfortable over every shot? 

I realize nobody shoots a perfect round, everybody has shots that they wish they had back. BUT! There are some of you out there that don't even think about a mis-hit when you stand over the ball. 

Welcome. . . Thanks

Thanks for stopping by and taking time to read my blog.

I've been around golf for a bit now and am glad to have found a place to bring up topics for discussion and share articles and tips that I find intersting. 

I'm a young guy (23) and feel like I have a different perspective of the game than, say, my grandparents (who taught me how to golf when I was little) and look forward to sharing my thoughts and getting feedback on questions that come up every once in awhile. I live and play in Northern CA so alot of my experiences will be coming from the Sacramento area courses but tons of general info as well.

I'm always looking for a good blog to read as well so if youve got something interesting that you;d like to bring to the table, feel free. If you;d like to contribute to the blog, let me know. 

Thanks again for the support and I hope that you enjoy "simply put, golf"

5 Questions with Tattoo Golf

Hey blog fans, I came across this article from back in 2008 with Tattoo golf. A new clothing company based out of SoCal that brings an edgy, youthful look to their golf clothes. Definantly not your grandfathers shirts anymore. Ha!

5 Questions With Tattoo Golf!

By Apryl DeLancey
Published 02/22/2008
Sports
Rating: Unrated

5 Questions With Tattoo Golf!

Golf apparel does not have to be pretentious and stuffy - just ask the guys at Tattoo Golf! Appalled with the horrendous choices in golfing attire, founder Bill Anderson made a point to change that hideous fact forever. The company's roots began with Anderson selling the line from his Burbank home from a simple web page. Since then, they have been a fixture at events and on courses everywhere. Greg Shaw, who joined Tattoo Golf in May 2006 was gracious enough to answer 5 questions for me about my favorite golf apparel company, golf, and the state of its fashion:

1. How much resistance do you get from the bigger chain stores and the pretentious golfers? Has it been an uphill climb to get into the more conservative areas? For example, how much penetration do you have outside of Southern California?

The Tattoo Golf line is targeting a young-minded golfer who is dissatisfied with the golf clothing that's found out in the market today. They are looking for something fun, different, and a bit edgy to set themselves apart from the crowd. They probably don't buy much, if any, golf apparel in pro shops or golf stores because it's not their thing. One fact we're very proud of is that every retailer we've sold to has reordered! This tells me our product is selling but getting chain store buyers to understand this and carry our line is proving more difficult than we expected - but we're not giving up. I think when you deal with older buyers there's a perception that our line is strictly for the fringe element but it's not! You don't need tattoos to wear our line! We've obviously been concentrating our wholesale efforts to So. Cal. but we have a few accounts in other states and have a new Mid-West sales rep who is starting to do a great job for us.

2. Why do you think it is taking so long for golf to loosen up? What do you think it will take to make the sport more accessible? Is golf destined to forever be a "rich guy" or "country club" sport?

I actually think the sport is more accessible now than ever before which has brought a flood of new, younger golfers out onto courses throughout the U.S. Once the cost of clubs is out of the way, a round of golf at a muni course won't set you back all that much and outside of California, the prices really drop to play a round so our customer base is definitely growing.

3. Do you have any pros that you sponsor now? Have you tried? Is this also a challenge to be taken seriously by the golfing elite?

We don't have any touring pros wearing our gear now but we're working on it! We could outfit them with clothing but at this stage of our company’s life it wouldn't be possible to be a cash sponsor but one day..... As far as golfing's elite taking us seriously, we were approached by LPGA rookie Mollie Fankhauser who said she absolutely loves our line so we're working with her to get some hats & shirts out to her which hopefully she's wearing when she wins her first tournament.

4. Where does the company get inspiration for designs? Tattoo art? How many tattoos do you guys have?

While we are on the subject, why does everyone look at tattooed golfers like we are going to rob them on the driving range? Everybody loves skulls so the main design of the wicked looking skull with crossed clubs was a natural for us. We do look at tattoo art for inspiration and also follow current fashion trends to capitalize on the “what's hot” at the moment. Last year we started seeing argyle designs again so we jumped in with a Tattoo Golf version of the argyle pattern and it quickly became our best selling shirt. My partner Bill has the tattoos, I'm the virgin! As far as getting robbed on the driving range, I guess it's still surprising to see tattooed people playing golf or maybe they're wondering where they put their golf clubs on the chopper?

5. What do you believe has been the most defining moment in golf history in the last few decades? What do you think the next big thing will be?

I hate to say it but I think Tiger has changed the industry forever. He's increased viewership in PGA televised golf so much that tournament purses have exploded making every player in the top 150 a millionaire. He's brought an unimaginable number of new, young golfers to the game and he's also made the game so cool that everyone wants in on the action. I've always golfed but in the past decade I've know many friends who've picked it up because they feel like they're missing out on something! In high school it was considered nerdy to be on the golf team but those days are long gone. Tattoo Golf's the next big thing for sure!

Check out Tattoo Golf's web page here.

To learn golf, start from the hole to the tee.

Playing golf is not just a recreational activity; it requires a lot of discipline and practice. While showing off, a drive would be the perfect opportunity. If you desire to shoot low scores you need to lean how to putt well. Here we will try and explain a few basics of putting in the game that will enable you to learn it properly.

Firstly try and master the posture. The ball must be nearer your front foot and the putter should be placed squarely with the target line. Hold your putter with a light grip while keeping your wrists unyielding. Your arms should adopt the stance of a pendulum, and now start taking a few swings. This will help you decide upon the speed you require. For the final try, swing your putter smoothly form the shoulder level.

The back swing should descend smoothly on the ball, hitting the target squarely. With practice, you will be able to hit at the speed desired while keeping your head completely motionless and your eyes on the ball. Next, make sure that your legs are not shaking or moving. Stand still with a little bend in your knees. Watch carefully as the putter swings and hits the back of the ball. If done expertly it almost feels like motioning the ball towards the hole with your rear hand. To achieve this, the follow-through must cover the same length as the back swing. Moreover, try and keep your head still even after the ball has been hit. Keep your ears ready to pick up the sound of the ball dropping into the hole smoothly. Soon you will be able to handle a consistently good stroke.

It is no wonder that putting is termed as a "feel" shot. Once has to go through this process very deliberately, keeping all the senses sharp and alert. You have to exert all your coordination skills along with using your judgment and precision.

As for the putter, it seems to be the most used of all golf clubs. The driver is used to achieve a spectacular effect, and you must have used it 13-14 times while playing a good game. Now count the number of times the putter has been used in the same game. I am sure that the number doubles! Playing golf as has been mentioned earlier is not just about pleasure; you must put in a lot of effort to play like a pro. And to achieve that, let your driver be unused for a while. Take up that putter and practice your shots again and again. Before you know it, you will become an ace golfer!

In short, you have choose you line- that is try and build a mental picture of the course that you want the ball to take. Take into account the furrowed surface of the green. It takes time to discover the correct path, and it will come with practice. Change your perspective to figure out the slope, and then fix your grip.

You will soon be a pro at this game!

Visit http://bananaputting.com to learn how to improve your golf game today with Banana Putting! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Hobart