The compression level of a golf ball is greatly affected by the speed of your golf swing.  But bottom line for most golfers? We want the best result. It’s about getting the maximum distance from our swing.  We all want our swing to take the golf ball as close as possible to the hole (or even better in the hole).  Compression and swing speed come together when it comes to distance.

Slow Swing Speed Try Low Compression Golf Balls

With a slow swing speed you want a low compression golf ball.  That’s because a low compression golf ball is softer and more responsive when hit with a golf club.  Many women golfers have slower swing speeds as do many senior golfers.

Looking at the numbers a low compression golf ball is rated at 80 or below.

Plus of Low Compression Golf Balls

The low compression golf ball will fly farther.

Minus of Low Compression Golf Balls

The downside is low compression golf balls go further, but have less control than higher compression golf balls.

High Compression Golf Balls

High compression golf balls are the choice of scratch players and also those with low handicaps.       The high compression golf balls are the hardest golf balls of the three compression levels.  Looking at the numbers a low compression golf ball is rated at 100.

Plus of High Compression Golf Balls

High compression golf balls offer the most control.

Minus of High Compression Golf Balls

In order to get the most from these golf balls a high speed swing is needed.

Mid-level Compression Golf Balls

Mid-compression golf balls are designed for the majority of golfers.  Looking at the numbers a mid-level compression golf ball is rated at 90.

Plus of mid-compression golf balls

These balls are soft enough to be responsive to those golfers with a slow swing speed.

Minus of Mid-compression Golf Balls

Few noted except for price of some of these mid-compression golf balls

What actually does golf ball compression mean?

Golf ball compression is one of those terms every golfer needs to know.  That’s because golf ball compression is part of determining how far your golf ball travels when hit with a golf club. The saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Here’s a video showing what a golf ball looks like when hit.

Golf ball compression happens when the energy from the moving head of your golf club transfers to your golf ball.  In the fraction of a second, the golf ball is squeezed (compressed).  Releasing the energy the golf ball then is placed into motion as the ball returns to its normal shape. Officially golf ball compression is the term for how tightly the inside of the golf ball is made.

A little rain never hurt anyone and it does keep the greens green.  But if you’re going to be out in the rain, you might as well have an umbrella that does its job.  That means keeping you dry.  Golf bag protection in the rain is also appreciated.

Some people don’t want to spend the extra money for a golf umbrella and think any umbrella will work.  I used to feel the same way especially when a gust of wind destroyed the umbrella I was using.  After getting a golf umbrella as a gift, I changed my mind.  My golf umbrella not only kept me and the golf bad dry, it didn’t turn inside out.  Since then I’ve been a fan of golf umbrellas.

Buying A Golf Umbrella: What Should You Look For?

To keep you and your golf clubs dry means getting and using an oversized or golf umbrella.  Now umbrellas on the market in sizes ranging from 52” on up.  The prices start around $20 and go up depending on the features of the particular umbrella.

Everyone has their preferences in a golf umbrella.  Some people want an umbrella that folds, while others don’t mind the length as the umbrella sits in their golf bag.  Other people want a handle to hold on their wrist.

But no matter the personal preferences, there are some features , that should be a part of every golf umbrella you buy.  Before you get your golf umbrella, you want to make sure the umbrella has these features.

• Automatic open.  Rainstorms come up quick here in Texas.  Auto open lets you get that umbrella over you and your bag quickly and easily with a touch of the button.

• Larger golf umbrellas  Whether you choose round or square golf umbrellas, you will want one that is larger than 50”.  Rainstorms on a golf course are not the time for wimpy little umbrellas. With a larger umbrella, both you and your golf bag will get a little less wet.  Compact umbrellas are nice for size, but not for staying dry.

• Soft handle.  Whether gel or foam, a softer handle is much more comfortable to hold.

But those features aren’t the only ones that can make a better golf umbrella.  Here’s a couple of my personal favorites.

• Double canopy that has been wind tested.  But if you want to avoid the umbrella turning inside out, then go for the double-canopy. Double-canopy umbrellas “aren’t as good looking” according to my wife.  But I had noticed she has ‘borrowed’ the umbrella on some recent rainy blustery days.

• Fiberglass shaft and ribs.  I’m for protecting myself against lighting strikes on the golf course. That’s why fiberglass shaft and ribs for the golf umbrellas just make sense to me.  I’m already a magnet for lighting at topping 6′+, figure the fiberglass might decrease my odds just a bit.

Fiberglass also cuts down on the overall weight of the umbrella.  This can be a big consideration, especially if you’re carrying                everything back to the clubhouse quickly.

• Great warranty.  Having a great warranty tells me the manufacturer stands behind and believes in their product.  So warranties are a good thing to consider particularly as you get into the higher priced golf umbrellas.

The Final Golf Umbrella Decision

Your final decision is going to be whether or not to get just one golf umbrella. Are you going to use your golf umbrella exclusively for your golf game?  Or does it become one you use for work and other places?  In our house we’ve found having a golf umbrella for our golf bags, plus another for use off the course.  Otherwise you’ll find yourself on the course at some time without an umbrella, when someone forgot to replace the golf umbrella back in the golf bag. Trust me, you don’t want to be the person who forgot to put the golf umbrella back in the golf bag.

Here are three umbrellas that will keep you dry and have an excellent reputation for durability and performance in windy rainstorms.

• TaylorMade TP Double Canopy
• ShedRain
• Nike  Umbrellas

If you use these tips you’ll be sure to find the best golf umbrella for you or as the perfect gift for your favorite golfer.

The term swing speed is used a lot in golf. But what exactly does it mean and why is it important? Swing speed measures in miles per hour how fast the head of your club is moving at the point where your club meets the golf ball.

Sounds like one of those physics definitions from long ago. (if you want to revisit your physics class, click here)

Swing speed is important as it determines how far or the distance a person can hit the golf ball. Now that’s important especially on those long fairway shots.

Swing Speed And Your Game

According to golf club designer Tom Wishon  the average female golfer’s swing speed is 62 mph. Contrast that with an average male golfer’s whose swing speed is 84 mph. For those on the tours: LPGA 96, and PGA 108.

If you can increase your swing speed by just 1 mph, your ball can travel an extra 3 yards.

How do you increase your swing speed?

Well, you can increase your upper body strength which can help you swing the golf club faster. Another option is to choose equipment that will work with the strength and speed you currently have. This can be done by your choice of certain clubs and golf balls.

Why Do Golf Balls Have Dimples?

Golf ball dimples have golf ball designers using  physics formulas to give us all a better game. But you don’t have to know physics or the formulas to understand how those golf ball dimples work to help golf balls travel further and higher.

Golf Ball Dimples Made Simple

Think of it this way. Picture rolling a ping pong ball through a shallow puddle. The rolling ping pong ball makes a V shaped path as it moves through the water.

Some of the water sticks to the ball, and the rest is just pushed behind the ball causing a wake (or drag). Water runs off the side of the ping pong ball very quickly.  But the water behind the ball (inside the broad part of the V) moves  slower.

This drag (or wake) causes the ping pong ball to gradually slow down and stop.  It’s like those little water molecules behind the ping pong ball had hands and are reaching out to slow the ball down and stop it.

If you look closely just before the ball stops: it rolls forward and then back.  The backward motion is part of the ‘drag’ on the ball.

Now let’s change some of the details.  Instead of a ping pong ball, we’ll use the golf ball with dimples.

The dimples decrease the drag on the ball. The golf ball dimples are like getting mini trampolines which make the water molecules inside the V bounce off each other.  The bouncing or turbulence of those water molecules makes the ball move more easily through the water.

So instead of slowing down as fast, the golf ball dimples make the ball go farther since there’s less drag. (for those who want the physics teacher explanation )

So let’s get the golf ball with dimples out of the water (I mean, no golfer really wants their golf ball in the water, do they?) Air has similar flow properties to our water puddle example.  So exchange air for the water in this example and now you know why the golf ball dimples fly through the air.  The dimples help the golf ball make the air molecules more turbulent and so a golf ball with dimples goes further with less drag.

Way back in the 1800′s golf was becoming more and more popular as a recreational sport. The balls at that time were made of a substance called gutta. Gutta comes from a tree found in Asia called sapodilla. The sap from the tree produces a natural latex substance. This natural rubber is quite durable and hard.

The gutta was used to form the interior of the golf ball. This replaced the old feathers in a leather golf ball known as a featherie.  Featheries were handmade and so very expensive. The discovery of gutta was literally a game changer.

The gutty golf ball was much less expensive to produce. The reduced cost of the gutty in the mid 1800′s led to more people taking up the game of golf. In addition, the gutty didn’t get respond to rain like the featheries. The featherie with its massed feather interior and leather cover became a wet blob in the rain.

The solid gutty resisted rain and  offered another benefit to the golfer. As more and more people played golf, golfers noticed that ‘older’ marked up balls went further and higher than the new smooth gutty balls.

As a result, golfers and gutty makers started to make marks on the surface of the ball to make the ball go further and higher when hit. Many patterns and designs were tried in an attempt to make the gutta golf ball travel further. As time went on these marks evolved into the dimples seen on modern-day golf balls.

The answer to “How do golf ball dimples help your game?”  Golf ball dimples help your ball go further and higher.

Women’s golf balls are designed to go farther on the fairway. The design is one set usually up for slow swing speeds as women generally don’t have as much upper body strength to generate a fast swing speed. The important consideration when women (or men with slow swing speed) is to gain distance without sacrificing lift and control on the fairway.

All of these golf balls listed below are considered low compression golf balls. Low compression golf balls are designed to let a person with a slow golf swing to hit the golf ball longer distances but with increased accuracy.

Another big advantage of these type of golf balls is that they also minimize the club vibration which can be transmitted to a player’s arms. These low compression golf balls can offer protection against tingling and numbness in the arms which can happen when hitting hard balls while attempting long distance drives.

Each of the balls listed below is suitable for women just starting the game of golf or those women who want the distance and control that comes from a low compression soft ball.

Callaway Solaire Golf balls

Callaway Solaire Golf balls can be the answer for women looking for longer distances from each shot. The Solaire is designed to work with slower swing speeds. Discover if Callaway Solaire Golf Balls fit your game.

Pinnacle Gold Ribbon Golf Balls

Pinnacle Gold Ribbon Golf Balls are a solution for the beginning golfer who wants to increase the distance each shot flies. This is a real plus for those with slower golf swings. Read more about Pinnacle Gold Ribbon Golf Balls

Precept Lady IQ 180 Golf balls

Precept Ladies IQ Plus golf balls are for those women who seek a performance ball to take their game to the next level. The unique feature of this golf ball is that it is the softest women’s golf ball on the market. Read more about Precept Lady IQ golf balls

Volvik Crystal Golf balls

Volvik Crystal Golf Balls are low compression golf balls that deliver giving you long distance with a soft feel.  The 2 piece ball with its distinctive crystal ionomer cover gives the golfer a soft feel around the greens leading to greater control.Read more about Volvik crystal golf balls

Last night I got home and quickly changed clothes and headed out to my neighbor’s yard.Earlier this year I bought a golf net which worked fairly well. That is until I broke a neighbor’s window. The window was the least of my problems. The ball set off the alarm system and my neighbor was convinced someone was breaking into the house. Many apologies and a new window made me decide to get rid of the golf net.

That golf net is now being used by the neighbor kids for street hockey. Now if you have a space which is totally open and your shots are always under control, then a golf net will work for you. But for me it just wasn’t the right golf training aid.

I definitely decided the golf cage offers more protection for those around you. It’s bigger and has sides which enclose the target or center of the netting.

My neighbor has one of the The Giant™ Practice Net from Izzo Golf.  It’s definitely larger 10′ by 12′ and the shape is designed to catch more balls.  This way everyone in the area is better protected. It’s easy to set up and take down. The Giant Practice Net even stores in its own travel case though my neighbor leaves his up all the time. He just moves it when the lawn is mowed.

Take a look at this one as it can offer practice time when weather, time or just life stops you from heading out to the golf course.

Keep your eye on the ball,

• determining the golf ball to use
• deciding on the flexibility of the shaft on your golf clubs
• you just aren’t getting the distance you want from your swing

Hitting a golf ball a longer distance means increasing the speed of your golf swing. Many of us get hung up with the idea we have to hit the ball with more power to make the ball go further. Hitting harder does not equal greater distance.  But the TaylorMade Speed Stick Training System can help you increase the distance of your drive by increasing your golf swing speed.

What’s The Swing Speed of The Average Golfer?

Most males swing at an average speed of 90 mph. This means your ball is driven just over 225 yards. The average female golfer hits 175 yards which means a swing speed of 70 mph. Now if you want the ball traveling 250-300 yards the swing speed will have to be 100-120 mph.

Previously the only way you could measure swing speed was to go into a pro shop or golf specialty store and use one of their swing speed machines. But the Taylor Made Speed Stick training system changes that.

The Speed Stick Training System

TaylorMade Speed Stick Training Systemis easy to use and disassembles when not in use. In fact you can easily store it in the side pocket of your golf bag or in your garage.

The goal is build up your speed gradually and progressively till you reach your maximum swing speed. The Speed Stick comes with a built in speed gauge. You swing and then read the gauge. The gauge is easy to read .You get immediate feedback so you can track your results. Then as you practice each day you can track your results giving you motivation to continue practicing on a daily basis.

How Does The Speed Stick Help Your Game?

In addition to giving you feedback on your swing speed, the The Speed Stick will strengthen those golf specific muscles in your arms, shoulders, back and legs. As you move through the range of motion it will increase your flexibility, and improve your balance. By working with a weighted stick you also improve the coordination between your upper and lower body. We all know it’s a smooth rotation giving the pros the explosive power to their drives.

This is a serious golf swing training aid. When you look at what it offers, it can help the average golf build up their golf swing speed so you can hit the ball farther and have a better score. And when the score is lower it makes a golfer’s day.

What do you have to lose? How about a couple of strokes from your game?  This is a cost effective golf training aid every golfer who wants to improve should own.

Consider this
TaylorMade Speed Stick Training Systemas your way of chopping a stroke or more off your score.

Keep your eye on the ball,

What struck me most was a comment Johnson made. “This week I was just concentrating on the process not the outcome,” Johnson said. “I had six weeks off this fall [after not qualifying for the FedEx Cup playoffs] and I just rededicated myself to getting back to what I used to do.”

How many of us forget that important point?  We focus on a lower score, winning the round instead of making each stroke our best.

With the Valero Open I had the chance to spend some time with clients enjoying the Open. We kicked back and really enjoyed the Open and the time we spent together.

We also spent some time at the driving range. Hit some buckets and got some practice in on our putting.  After we had the chance to relax over a good meal at Mi Tierra.  The roving musicians and excellent drinks made a great background talking after the Open. All in all we shared some good ideas which I can see leading to new business for us all in the near future.

That brings me back again to Johnson’s remarks. People do business with people they like and who show interest in them. With the economy in a question mark (not sure what else to call it) it’s important to connect with existing customers and prospects.  Investing the time and ideas now is focusing on the process not the outcome.  Zach Johnson was right on more than one occasion.

Keep your eye on the ball,