BY KELLY HOWELL

You’ve worked and worked on that slice but nothing seems to change. Or, when the game is close you freeze on the putting green and the ball seems to take on a life of its own. Or, you often get distracted and forget to follow through when you tee off.

Have you thought of trying meditation to improve your game? Why not?

Meditation helps you relax, become centered and grounded and, in this state of deep relaxation you can visualize a perfect game. Studies have shown that visualization that engages all of your senses is a powerful agent to improve your game. Visualizing a perfect stance, addressing the ball, the perfect swing that has you hitting the “sweet spot” every time, perfect follow through, etc., results in a vastly improved game. Research is able to support this theory.

So, just how do you start meditation? We’ve all heard about the benefits of meditation, but it sounds so hard! Well, it really can be as simple as setting aside a special place and time every day and getting to know yourself better. All you have to do is relax, breath deeply and let go of your everyday worries.

One of the problems with learning to meditate is you can feel a little silly just sitting there. Most beginners report that as soon as they decide to sit down and meditate, all of a sudden they start thinking of a thousand better things they can do instead — even the laundry!

There are a variety of technological breakthroughs that can help you get started meditating and enhance your meditation experience. Brain Sync is one resource you can utilize to assist you with developing your own successful meditation techniques.

In the meantime, here’s a quick checklist to get you started:

Meditation Technique 1: Mood

Set aside an area in your room that is your own special place. Decorate it with rich pillows, throw rugs, incense, candles — whatever suggests peace of mind.

Meditation Technique 2: Compose Yourself

You can sit or lie down, as long as your spine is straight. This allows the natural channels of energy in your body to open up and flow freely.

Meditation Technique 3: Breathe

Slow, deep, regular breathing that starts from the nostrils and ends up deep in your diaphragm — hold the breath — then let it out slowly. Imagine your lungs are being moved by a slow gentle wave, going in and out, over and over.

Meditation Technique 4: Relax

Begin by slowly, intentionally relaxing all your muscles, starting at your feet and ending with your neck, head and face.

Meditation Technique 5: Visualize

Create an inner oasis in your mind, a beautiful place you want to return to again and again. You can imagine a healing sanctuary, a mystical temple, or a sanctuary in nature with waterfalls and hot springs. Add elements to your inner space to help you relax and feel nurtured. When you feel completely relaxed, imagine what you want most to happen in your life, whether it’s coming out of exams with flying colors or having the relationship you dream of, visualization is a powerful method to bring your dreams to reality.

Meditation Technique 6: Feel Emotions

Infuse your visualizations with emotion. Use your imagination to trigger positive emotions — such as love, recognition, success. Feel the visualization as if it is actually happening.

Meditation Technique 7: Time

Choose a time when you won’t be disturbed. Zen monks meditate for exactly 25 minutes a day.

Meditation Technique 8: Repetition

The more regular you can be, meditating 25 minutes a day, the easier it gets. Choosing the same time and place helps the automatic meditation response, and within a week you’ll start having deeper meditations.

You don’t have to spend years sitting on a mountaintop or beneath a Bodhi tree to realize the benefits of meditation. New technologies such as Brain Sync can help you achieve your goals.

Kelly Howell is the preeminent authority on brain wave technology and meditation. Her CDs and free podcasts are available at Brain Sync.

BY MIKE PEDERSEN

One of the most common mental errors golfers make when driving the ball is to try and hit it as hard as possible. This article will deal with golf driving tips to help you correct this problem that is hampering many golfers and greatly hindering them from making any progress.

Our minds already have certain set beliefs. One of them is that the more force we use on an object the further it will travel. What makes this particular event more difficult to get rid of in our golf is that it is also true from a scientific point of view. Only that there are a number of special variables that make it untrue in golf.

The first of these variables is the design of the golf club. Each club is cleverly designed to send the golf ball over a certain distance. A valuable golf driving tip here is to trust the club to do the job it was designed to do.

Secondly and even more important there is the variable of your body. Trying to hit the ball as hard as possible will usually result in a tense and inefficient physical swing. And in most cases the results are the direct opposite of what you desire.

One of the chief reasons for this is that many golfers are not physically prepared and their muscles are flabby, tense and weak. The poor results are therefore inevitable.

A really valuable golf driving tip is to condition your muscles by getting involved in a golf conditioning program. Fitter and stronger muscles will prepare you better for your golf drive and will enable you to be more relaxed as you hit the ball and you will therefore gain much more distance as a result.

Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites.

BY SANTIAGO CAICEDO

There is nothing ‘artificial’ about artificial putting greens anymore. You are going to have to completely reprogram your view of what it really means to have a backyard golf green at your home. Artificial putting greens are not your run-of-the-mill, cheap outdoor deck covering. This can now be a part of your landscape, and you can practice your putting and chipping on greens that can be described in no better way than to say: just like the real thing!

The research has been done, and the surface and construction of artificial putting greens has been refined to the point where you may not be able to tell the difference between the real bent grass at your local golf club, and the backyard putting green you just installed. Here’s why:

• The artificial turf used for today’s artificial putting greens has provided a surface that virtually duplicates the surface that you will find at any golf course. Each tuft of synthetic turf emerges from the surface of the carpet the same way that a sprig of grass would poke its way from the earth below.

• The woven pattern of the artificial putting green’s surface is similar to that of real grass. So, it not only provides the look of real grass, but it also offers the golfer the ‘feel’ of a natural putting surface.

• There is a crushed rock base underneath the synthetic turf that allows for contouring and sloping the putting green. This offers a ‘real green’ feel and it also allows for excellent drainage and fantastic stability and support for the artificial putting green’s surface.

Even the construction is similar to that of a real grass green. With the crushed rock base you can have all of the natural contours, slopes and speed that comes with a natural putting surface. In fact, you can even have your backyard putting green contoured in the same way as your favorite real putting green. Now you don’t have to leave your home to make a few practice putts and chips in your spare time. It acts like a real green, too.

If you want your ball to ‘hold,’ artificial putting greens can do it. If you want the contours and speed of your favorite golf holes, then put together a custom design for your backyard golf green and make it a part of your exterior landscape. The advances in technology have taken year-round putting light years ahead of your local minigolf course. Now, you can have the real feel and the natural beauty – all in a synthetic grass surface.

Aside from the obvious convenience of having an artificial putting green in your backyard, the latest turf technology makes them more durable, longer-lasting, and playable year round. It is an all-weather surface that can be played on even when wet, but it doesn’t need water at all; it isn’t real grass.

Sure, artificial putting greens are becoming more popular at golf courses across the country. In fact, the commercial opportunities for artificial putting greens are growing rapidly. It makes sense for clubs that can’t operate year round on real grass to offer their members the chance to practice their putting and chipping on 2,000 to 4,000 square foot synthetic greens.

This is especially true for practice greens and driving ranges that experience high traffic and use. Studies have shown that after about five years, the total cost of maintenance and re-sodding natural grass equals or exceeds the total cost of an artificial turf green. On a cost-per-use basis, the benefits of synthetic turf look more compelling.

Natural turf greens require constant maintenance, overseeding, fertilizer, pesticides, aeration, weed treatment, and regular mowing and watering. There is also the investment in equipment, equipment maintenance and added labor costs to keep it all going. A synthetic grass tee line or putting green has little to no downtime so it is always available for use. When you add it all up, artificial turf putting greens and tee lines make a lot of sense.

Even though you can find artificial putting greens at your local golf club, it doesn’t mean you can’t take out the garden in the backyard to make way for your new artificial putting green. You too can enjoy the benefits of having the convenience and comfort of being able to walk out after a cup of coffee in the morning to practice your stroke for this weekend’s match. Here’s what you can expect from your artificial putting green:

Features of Artificial Grass Greens

• Lifespan expected to be greater than 15 years
• Most synthetic turf warranties are for 8 years
• Just an occasional quick sweep — that’s almost maintenance-free
• Quick dry and playable even if it’s wet
• Resilient to traffic and wear — even from golf carts
• Sloping, contouring and shaping available
• Speed can be changed and adjusted by top dressing and rolling green
• You can put it inside, too!
• Integrity of playing quality does not diminish
• Sold and made across North America
• Natural grass look and feel for the duration of the artificial putting green
• Holds the ball just like chipping on real turf
• Pin placements can be changed and pre-set to change regularly
• UV treated polypropylene — resilient to extreme temperature changes

The pros use it and so do some of the top clubs in the country. Artificial greens are not what they used to be — their construction is superior; the blades of grass are as close as they can be to natural, without being natural. The same approach to seeding, shaping and providing a firm foundation is done when construction of your backyard golf green is underway.

No more putting into a glass on the living room carpet; no more shaving your real lawn down to create a ‘putting surface’ — now you can have the benefit of a putting green in your own backyard. This truly is next-generation technology. This has far surpassed that vision of cheap outdoor carpet and replaced it with a product that provides golfers the luxury of having the ‘real-feel’ of their favorite golf green in an artificial putting green right outside their door.

Santiago Caicedo writes for South West Greens, builders of the best artificial putting greens in Miami, Broward and Palm Beach, Florida.

BY ALEX FIR

You must have heard about golfers choking in pressure situations? What exactly is choking?

It is hitting a bad shot after you allow anger, anxiety, doubt or fear to enter your mind. Whatever you are thinking of or whatever you say to yourself just before hitting a shot becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Your brain will guide your muscles and your golf club to strange-looking swings, if you allow it. If you are distracted by negative thoughts, you won’t swing the club the way you normally could because your muscles will become tense and almost non-functional.

However, you must understand that being a little nervous in the stomach area is normal for all great players. Being nervous, having shaky hands or a pounding heart is a good sign, because it means you are eager to compete.

But, you must separate your brain from your body. Your body can be nervous, but your mind must remain calm. This is possible if you follow these guidelines:

1. Focus on the target, not on what bad things can happen. Imagine that you are on the course with your friends and you have a bet as to who can hit the fairway or green.

2. Take a few deep breaths. Relax your neck, arms, shoulders, and hands so that you are not tense in any way. Pay attention to your jaw and teeth. Do not clench or grind your teeth because this will lead to tension everywhere else in your body.

3. Do not worry about the results of the shot before you hit it. Just concentrate on making a smooth swing, just as you would on the driving range with nobody else around.

4. As a final point, if you miss a putt or another shot even though your thoughts were filled with good intentions, just accept it as part of the game and do not dwell on it. Do not beat yourself up. Enjoy the game and try and forget about the shots you missed.

Alex Fir shares a wealth of golf information on his website Free Golf Tips.

BY KRIS RUITER

When you set up to hit your golf shot it is very important to go through a proper routine that allows us to set up to the ball properly. There are many movements that take place during a swing, and therefore harder to consistently repeat without a ton of practice. The set up position is something that is much easier to maintain because it is simply putting our body in the correct positions. They are static positions and therefore we should be able to repeat them almost every time. However, it is also imperative that we continuously review these positions so that we don’t form bad habits.

I intend to show you a strong pre-shot routine that will help you with your alignment and also give you the secret about the shoulders. I would recommend grabbing your favorite club so that you a follow along with the article.

The most common misconception that I have seen with regards to alignment is that most people are so concerned about setting up their body that they forget all about the club. A lot of people will set their body first and their club second, in relation to their body position. Many usually set up with the body pointing to the target and the club facing 30 yards to the right. If I make a good swing from that alignment I am going to hit way right of my target. Therefore this is not the proper alignment for hitting to our target.

Often the best way to improve our golf game is to change the way we think. We are going to change the concept in which we set ourselves up to hit our shots. First and most important, place the club behind the ball with the face pointing to the target. After all it is the ball that we want to go close to the flag, and it is the club that it is going to hit it there. So it is our club that we want pointing to the target. Not our body.

Once you have accomplished step one, it is now time to place your feet. If we think of a line that our club makes with the target then we want to place our feet parallel to that. This however is not an absolute. Some of the greatest players in history have played with stances that are not exactly parallel. Some have their feet open a little, pointing to the left, and some even have played a little closed, feet pointing to the right. However, we should never stray too far away from the parallel line.

The next piece is the secret… it is the shoulders. It is very important that the shoulders are parallel to the target line. A vast majority of sliced shots could be fixed with proper shoulder alignment. The most common fault is pointing the shoulders way left of the target line. The club will always follow the shoulders on the takeaway and backswing. Therefore, with the shoulders pointing left, the club does not come straight back along the target line but instead goes way to the outside (the side away from the body). Unless we do some major manipulation on the way back to the golf ball (which is very difficult to do), we are going to hit a monster slice.

The easiest way to correct this is to check your shoulder alignment after you are set up. Stand up and take your left hand off the club. Extend that arm in line with your shoulders and see where they are pointing. If they are pointing way off to the left then turn your shoulders so that your hand and arm are parallel to your target line.

It is very important that we do two things when we set up for a shot.

1. Put the club behind the ball pointing at your target before you put your body in place.
2. Check your shoulder alignment before you swing to give yourself the best opportunity to hit a great shot.

Try this trick on the range before you go to the golf course to get a feel for how it looks and feels. Remember, proper alignment can lead to straighter, longer shots that can help lower your scores.

Kris Ruiter is the editor of free-golf-lessons.com and a contributor to the Punta Cana Information Guide, a travel guide offering pertinent information ranging from tips and contacts to golf reviews. Kris offers incredibly helpful and easy to follow golf tips that will definitely improve your game.

BY RICHARD C. MYERS

It pays to plan carefully for playing par 3 holes. Most courses have four par 3’s which the average golfer can reach with a tee shot. Doing par on these holes can do a lot for your score and give you a psychological lift. So make the most of the opportunity.

Club Selection: Forget your ego. Take as much club as you will need to carry the ball to the pin. A check at one event showed 90 percent of tee shots stopping short of the hole; 40 percent short of the green. So consider taking a longer club than you might expect to use.

Consider distance to the pin, not green. It can vary one or two clubs, depending on the pin, not green. It can vary one or two clubs, depending on pin placement and position of tee markers. Remember: The distance on the card is from middle of the tee to middle of the green. So check pin placement and the tee markers before selecting a club.

Consider also the wind. Tossing some grass on the tee is not enough. The wind may be blowing differently at the green, where its effect is greatest. So check the flag and tops of trees near the green.

Another distance factor is green elevation. If it’s elevated, better add 10 yards; lower, deduct 10.

Knowing you have the correct club will increase confidence, help you make a smooth swing. You don’t want to force the swing. That would affect your rhythm and swing arc. This should be a control shot.

Aim: Study the green carefully to plan where you want to aim. Since there’s only a small margin for error on a par 3, play for the safe part. You’ll be putting for a birdie. Adjust aim to allow for crosswind.

Tee: Always use a tee, but keep the ball close to turf so you can take a divot and get backspin with an iron. Once someone asked Gene Sarazen why he used a tee when most place the ball on the turf, he replied, “I play for money.”

TIP TO REMEMBER: Swing well within yourself.

Richard Myers is a keen golfer and his websites Think and Reach Par and Golf for Leftys contains many free tips and great golfing advice plus training videos and DVDs to help you improve your swing and lower your score using some very simple exercises.

BY JACK MOOREHOUSE

What’s the difference between a good putter and a bad putter? Usually, we attribute the difference to mechanics. Good mechanics produces good putting. Bad mechanics produces bad putting. At least, that’s what I’ve always stressed and taught in my golf lessons and golf tips.

However, research shows that mechanics may not be the only difference between good putters and bad putters. According to Dr. Joan Vickers, University of Calgary, the difference may lie in how you use your eyes. The secret to good putting, she says, may be using your eyes to detect the right information about distance and direction; then using your mind to relay the information to the rest of your body, so you can consistently sink the putt. The Quiet Eye, as it is called, may someday help explain what being “in the Zone” means, she says.

So what exactly is the Quiet Eye? It’s when your gaze remains absolutely still on the ball just before and as the stroke is performed. There are two important aspects to this basic yet essential skill: location and duration. Which is better? Both are effective in improving accuracy, but evidence is beginning to favor the back of the ball. In putting as well as other hand-eye-target skills, the Quiet Eye is emerging as an indicator of optimal focus and concentration. And it’s something that can be taught in golf instruction sessions.

Good Putter versus Bad Putter

Having watched many players putt during golf lessons, I can see how the eyes play a part in good putting. The good putter focuses his gaze on a precise spot, his or her scans from the hole are more precise, and he or she fixates his or her gaze on a specific spot inside the cup. A good putter picks out a specific location at the hole, like a blade of grass on the lip. The target isn’t the hole and certainly not around it. Instead, the putter’s gaze focuses on a target only a few millimeters wide.

The poor putter does not fixate on a specific target, but instead directs his gaze to a number of locations in and around the hole. There’s no clear definition of his target or his line of gaze from the ball to the target. His gaze is all over the place. He has a shorter Quiet Eye duration because he is unable to keep his gaze quiet as he strokes the ball. The end result, of course, is missed putts.

Under stress, the Quiet Eye is often the first thing to go. It moves with the stroke, and golfers lose their ability to stabilize their gaze as they putt. When you choke, the billion cells in your brain lose their effective complexity in solving the slope, curvature distance and location problems. So even dozens of golf instruction sessions focused on mechanics may not always be able to save you when the pressure is on, but proper mechanics builds confidence, and that helps.

Developing a Quiet Eye

Research shows that the average player can develop a Quiet Eye. A Quiet Eye routine on straight, flat putts has the following characteristics, which can be learned through golf lessons like any other skill.

• Focus on the hole — As soon as your putterhead is set behind the ball, pick a specific location on the hole where you want the ball to go, such as a blade of grass or a small feature on the front of the cup.
• “See” the ball go in — Look at this location for about two seconds, and visualize the ball going into the hole. Visualization is a key technique in this procedure.
• Scan from the hole to the ball — Smoothly shift your gaze without interruption from the target to the back of the ball. Your gaze should move efficiently and calmly.
• Eye on the ball — Fixate on the back of the ball and imagine just the right contact of the putterhead on the ball. Picture a line through this contact point to your spot on the hole.
• Stay steady — Maintain a Quiet Eye on the one spot on the back of the ball during the backstroke and forwardstroke, and through contact. Don’t peek! Take a look at your ball going in the hole only after putting.

The idea of being in the Zone, or the “flow,” has been around for a long time. It’s when you absolutely can’t miss. But until now there has been little scientific evidence that the Zone exists, let alone can be measured. Perhaps the Quiet Eye will emerge as one of the objective measures of being in the Zone. Learning the Quite Eye technique can only help you lower your golf handicap.

Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book How to Break 80 and Shoot Like the Pros. He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicaps immediately.

BY DEAN IGGO

You know you’ve done it. You need to hit your shot just a little farther, so you swing as hard as you can at the ball only to see it go shorter than normal. Swinging harder does not necessarily equate to more distance, but do you know why? It all has to do with the physics of the golf swing, not necessarily your strength.

Clubs are Science

Take a look at your golf clubs. You already knew this, but each one is a little different so that it can perform a unique job. The first step in your swing is to pick the right club for the job because it is designed to do a lot of the work for you. The physics of the golf swing actually starts with the science of the clubs.

Position Not Strength

It has been proven scientifically that hitting the ball a long way has as much to do with your follow through and the position of the club as it does your strength. Though the speed of your swing does play a small role, the truth is that it all comes down to the physics of the golf swing, not the strength of the player.

Even in Your Body, It’s Physics

Your body will produce power in the golf swing when your muscles are not only conditioned but relaxed. The power comes from loose muscles gliding through the swing in a controlled manner. To put it another way, it is about the physics of the golf swing even within your own body.

It is tempting to swing as hard as you can because we are taught basic physics from the time we are young that say hit it harder to make it go farther. That is true, but because of the uniqueness of the golf swing, the technique and physics go hand in hand to generate the power, not brute strength. So, next time you need a little extra on that shot, relax and let the physics work for you.

Dean Iggo is the webmaster of improve-your-golf-swing.com providing golf swing tips, tricks and training aids.

BY TIM GORMAN

One of the most important aspects in the game of golf is the grip. Although many people spend a great deal of time improving their swing the reality is if their golf grip is not good then the club face will probably not strike the ball correctly and the chances of producing a good and consistent golf swing is greatly reduced. However, if your grip is good then it gives you a solid base to build your swing on and all of the good work that you do is more likely to be effective resulting in a better round of golf.

If your grip is good and not too relaxed or too tight you will be less likely to slice or pull shots and it will improve your directional ability with the ball. The main reason for this is that the club will be more likely to hit the ball with the face square. Although it may seem like a small thing, following a few good golf grip tips can have a huge effect on the efficiency of your overall golf game.

Whatever grip you use it is important to feel comfortable. Just because you have learned how to use a particular grip, it does not mean that you have to use that grip forever. If you find out that there is another that feels more comfortable to you (although it may take you a little while to get used to) it will probably improve your game. One of the most useful golf grip tips is not to hold the club too tightly as this can dramatically alter the angle and direction of your shot.

One of the better golf grip tips is to first practice without a club. Instead, allow your arms to hang naturally and see what position you are comfortable in. This should give you a good indication of which is the best grip for you to use for your golf swings. Also practice the back swing and the follow through to see how comfortable your hands feel in every position. When you hold the club, there needs to be a line from your first finger to your little finger so that you can see that the club is straight and you’ll be able to address the golf ball correctly.

Once your grip is right it allows you the luxury of knowing that at least that part of your golf game is correct and you can then focus more on your swing and any improvements that you make will be transferred correctly to the ball. Following a few simple golf grips tips can improve your game a great deal and make a real difference when you are out on the golf course.

Timothy Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of the Golf Swing Improvement website where he provides more golf swing tips, putting tips and information on golf swing fundamentals that you can research in your pajamas.

BY SEAN COCHRAN

The golf swing, lower back, and injury are common phrases in the world of golf. It is understood the golf swing places large amounts of stress on the lower back. This is simply a result of the mechanics of the golf swing itself. The execution of the golf swing places the lower back under immense shear forces with each and every golf swing, and the muscles of the lower back must withstand these forces.

Muscles of the body when under stress from physical activity eventually become fatigued. Once the lower back muscles are fatigued, supporting the stressors of the golf swing and executing the mechanics of the golf swing are compromised, resulting in some very common situations for the golfer.

Again, we are all aware the lower back is one of the most oft injured areas of the body in the game of golf. Statistics indicate approximately 50% of all golfers will incur a lower back injury during their playing careers. This statistic tell us a great deal about the importance of keeping the lower back healthy in the game of golf.

Outside of the lower back becoming injured from the golf swing. The situation of performance on the golf course comes into play. Often times prior to injury occurring, a drop in performance will occur. This is a result of the fatigue within the lower back not allowing the mechanics of the golf swing to be executed correctly. On the PGA Tour keeping the lower back strong and injury free is a daily task. It is understandable how much time is spent on lower back injury prevention when the biomechanics of the golf swing are understood. The biomechanics of the golf swing place the lower back under large amounts of shear force/stress every time you swing a golf club.

Over time, this can easily cause injury if you do not take the correct steps. This leads me to email I received a little while back from BioForce subscriber Bryan. He wrote in with a question about his lower back and here is what he had to say:

Sean, I am 54 years of age and a very keen golfer. Lately I have been experiencing back pain, maybe because of too much golfing? I need your kind experience to advise me on this subject so that I can enjoy golf without any harm to my back.

First and foremost the reasons for lower back pain is numerous and is best identified by a qualified physician.

My first suggestion is to get the lower back checked out by a back specialist. This will determine what exactly is going on with the lower back and what is the best treatment.

Now Bryan brings up a very good point in his email. He discusses the possibility that his lower back discomfort is caused by playing too much golf. (You can never play enough golf!, well…maybe.) This absolutely could be the reason why his lower back is “tight” and “sore.”

Again, we know the lower back is placed under high amounts of stress every single swing of the golf club. Over time the muscles of the lower back can become fatigued from the golf swing. This will eventually lead to the muscles of the lower back “giving up” and becoming fatigued. Once the muscles of the lower back are fatigued it is a very short step to injury. What is the process of eliminating this type of scenario playing out?

It simply requires the development of muscular endurance in the lower back to withstand the stressors of the golf swing. Bottom line: The golf swing is a repetitive movement, requiring the body to perform the swing over and over again. In order for the muscles involved (lower back muscles included) to perform the repetitive movements of the golf swing, they will need to do so in an efficient manner.

Muscular endurance is the ability of the neuromuscular system of the body to perform a repetitive biomechanical movement (i.e., golf swing) without becoming fatigued. How do you develop muscular endurance specific to the golf swing? By simply, implementing golf fitness exercises into a structured program.

In addition to the development of increased muscular endurance, the efficiency of the golf swing mechanics may require adjustment. Efficiency within the mechanics of the golf swing can directly affect the amount of stress placed upon the lower back.

Additional research has indicated the shear forces placed upon the lower back of a professional golfer is significantly less than the amateur golfer. The reason for the difference is the mechanics of the golf swing performed by the professional are much more efficient, placing less stress on the lower back.

Stated previously, numerous reasons exist for the lower back to become injured. The mechanics of the golf swing and endurance with muscles of the lower back are only two of many possibilities. If the lower back is weak the shear forces placed upon it by the golf swing will eventually lead to fatigue. The development of higher levels of muscular endurance can counteract this situation. The utilization of golf fitness exercises is best in relation to the golf swing for this situation.

Additionally, the efficiency in which the mechanics of the golf swing are executed affects the lower back. A less efficient golf swing places higher levels of shear force upon the musculature of the lower back causing fatigue and possible injury. A comprehensive golf fitness program to develop higher levels of muscular endurance and the creation of an efficient golf swing through golf instruction may assist keeping your lower back injury free.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on his BioForceGolf website.