What to Look for in Golfing Shoes

Aren't you glad you're picking golfing shoes in this century? Your golfing shoes don't need to be boring anymore. In fact, they even come in three major styles, each with dozens of style variations. Furthermore, technology is no longer confined to those fancy basketball sneakers - golfing shoes have also harnessed these new features and taken them to create the kind that don't only provide comfort but can even mean a difference in your golf swing.

If you're in the market for a good pair of golfing shoes, here are some things you might consider before buying:

Your golfing shoes must fit.


Don't be carried away by the new styles or those fancy pairs worn by your golf buddies during your last game. Feet are built differently, that's why there are different styles for different shapes and forms. When choosing your golfing shoes, pick the pair that will fit your feet comfortably - not too tight and not too loose either. If your shoes are too small for your feet, you'll be walking with a limp before the day is over.

Try going for a 15- or 20-minute walk first before trying on a pair of golfing shoes. Walking expands your feet so you won't make the mistake of choosing a pair that will later on become too tight after a few holes. Try the shoes on for size and walk around for about 10 to 15 minutes in the store. This should give you a good feel of whether it's the right fit or not.

Consider your unique feet.


If you have problems with your ankles and prefer more support, try getting a pair of boot-style golfing shoes. These shoes have the appropriate height and will maintain your ankles in the right position. Just make sure the make does not impede your walking and swinging.

If you wear orthotics, simply take them out of your regular day-to-day shoes and put them into your golf shoes. It's a good idea to maintain these support pads for optimum comfort.

You'll be walking around with your golfing shoes.


By the time you finish a round of golf, you would have walked several miles in your golfing shoes. Choose shoes that offer stability and excellent traction. Stability gives you confidence and superior balance during movement while traction ensures your shoes are where they should be - on the ground.

Traction is also provided by spikes or cleats. The metal spiked shoes of yore are becoming less popular although many golfers including pros still use them. Metal spikes are longer and sharper so your golfing shoes have a better grip on the ground. The only problem is that they do punch holes into the greens and tear up the ground. They are also quite uncomfortable when you're playing on a hard surface.

A good alternative are golf shoes with plastic spikes. They offer traction but are softer and gentler on the greens than their metal counterparts. They are also lighter so you won't get too tired easily. Other than that, most plastic spiked shoes are great at spreading your weight on your feet, creating more comfort and less holes. They are also replaceable.

You'll be playing in different weather conditions.


Whether you're playing in summer or in winter, it pays to have a different pair of golfing shoes for the different weather conditions prevalent during your game. In summer when it's hot, you might want to choose golfing shoes that offer breathable comfort.

For this, you can choose a pair made with good quality leather. Leather is tough but it's also soft enough to keep you comfortable while walking. You can also try golfing sandals, especially if you're the kind of golfer who moves around in a golf cart. The sandal's open-toed style allows ventilation for your feet so you don't feel hot even in the middle of the day. They're not recommended for long walks though, because the straps can rub against your feet and chafe your skin.

In winter, you might want to try on the more classic saddle golfing shoes with good waterproof protection. These keep your feet warmer and also keep moisture away. Even if it rained, you don't need to walk around with slushy shoes because of its weatherproofing. You can also get the golfing shoes that are styled as boots, which offer not just protection from the weather but also ankle support and protection from the rain.

Create Accuracy on Your Golf Swing First and Then Add Distance

The normal mentality with the casual golfer today is to hit the ball as far as humanly possible off the tee. This state of mind is a huge reason why golfers struggle to achieve the low scores that they desire.

The smart golfers though, start off by perfecting their golf swing accuracy and control. Once this art of control on their golf swing is accomplished, it will then be time to work on their distance.

There is really no point in hitting your drive 300 yards off the tee if it lands in another fairway, in the woods or in someone's backyard. The only thing that this will accomplish is a penalty stroke added to your score or leaving you with a bad second shot that will cause you an extra stroke anyway.

However, if your golf swing lands your drive in the center of the fairway, yes it may be many yards shorter, but it will leave you with a great approach shot and help reduce your number of overall strokes in the round.

This can lead you to a much lower golf score and help you compete within your foursome and build your confidence.

By playing a more accurate, controlled golf swing, you will gain control of your drives sooner in your golf career, which will allow your distance to progress at an overall faster pace. You will master the techniques to correct and control your swing throughout the rest of your playing career.

These smaller, more controlled, golf swings will actually train your body, muscles and mind to develop the correct actions that make up your golf swing. Once your body, muscles and mind develop these skills, they will continue to be there for you as you start working to add distance to your swing.

As you start to master the shorter, more accurate swings, you can then progress to a fuller, stronger swing with the confidence that you will be able to control your shot and hit it in the right direction.

You will see a much greater success rate in your golf game by using these techniques than if you just start out trying to hit the golf ball as far as possible with no control.

Don't worry about your distance until you can control the ball. Accuracy is much more important than distance over the entire round. If you can simply eliminate one penalty stroke every three holes, you have just eliminated 6 strokes off of your game. Try this and you will confirm by seeing a lower score and handicap.

The Itsy-Bitsy Vacation Planning Guide

This time of year I'm inundated with people asking for my vacation planning advice - I own a regional vacation site and offer free consultation. The problem is information overload. Vacation web sites contain so much information that people get overwhelmed with the confusing number of choices and decisions – it can be disheartening.

I've developed a few questions I get people to think about and answer that really gets them realistic about vacation planning for their destinations and accommodations.

So here are the questions and advice I give to people touring my specialty region – New England - but I know are relevant to vacation planning almost anywhere.

HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUR VACATION?

If you're flying in to a central airport allow the first day to pick up your car and drive to your destination. Take time to settle into your accommodation, get orientated and scout out for a relaxing dinner location.

Similarly on the last day, you should allocate for driving back to the airport, dropping off your car and getting through security to catch your flight. So if you're planning on seven vacation days in the area – now you're down to five for touring and sightseeing.

DO YOU PREFER TO TOUR OR STAY IN ONE PLACE?

This is an important question for you to answer as touring requires more vacation planning but also offers the chance to see more of a region's diversity.

If you prefer to be based at one location then it makes the lodging choice easier. But there may be no one place centrally located for destinations and attractions, so you need to ensure where you stay is close for all the things you want to see and do. Check with a regional map and calculate distances. I can't tell you the number of people that think they can drive from New York to the Maine Wilderness in one day and still have time to hike a mountain.

Which is a nice lead in to...

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO SEE AND DO?

Don't try to see and do everything, or the vacation will just be one big blur. Be realistic on just how many attractions you can enjoy and not be exhausted at the end of the day.

So write out the things you like to do and see. Do you like excitement and plenty to do at night or enjoy a quiet village atmosphere? Are you a history and museum buff, or attracted more to the scenic beauty of an area? Do you like to hike in the mountains, or doze on a beach?

Once you've chosen a few themes they'll help make your vacation planning easier by zeroing in on a realistic area to cover during your stay, depending on whether you'll be housed in one spot or touring around.

WHAT DO YOU WANT IN ACCOMMODATION?

Are you looking to lodge at a Four-Star resort and spa or a campground near a lake?

The one thing these two extremes have in common is reservations. You can't expect to turn up in the height of summer or a popular seasonal time and hope to find a room. Do some quick research to find out what's available in the region. For example the New England region is famous for its Country Inns and Bed and Breakfasts - a type of accommodation that suits couples and singles, but not necessarily families with young children.

I always urge visitors to book their accommodation early in their vacation planning - even before their flights.

I hope this brief article will help you zero in on that trip of your dreams and avoid an expensive mistake you live to regret.

Wooden Golf Clubs of the Late 1800's

In the Golfer's Handbook, published in 1881, the author, Robert Forgan, described the clubs, dividing the clubs into two categories: wooden clubs and iron clubs. The sub categories under the wooden clubs included drivers, spoons, and putters.

The wooden clubs were employed when the ball was in open ground where there was a good chance of getting it well away and with little fear of breakage. That was the general rule but several of the stronger clubs were used in more difficult situations.

Drivers were the longest and most delicately constructed, and yet the most powerful from a "swiping" point of view. They derive their name form being the clubs used to drive the ball when the longest possible stroke was required. The handle of a full-sized driver measured 3 feet 7 inches from the grip to its junction with the head, in order to give it the proper spring or degree of suppleness. The head weighed 7 or 8 ounces and had a face that was straight and almost perpendicular. Two types of wooden drivers were used.

The "play-club" was used for "swiping off the tee," but could be used when the ball was in a "good lie", and a full stroke was required. By design the club did not "sky" the ball too much so as to get the greatest possible distance. This is the long driver of the time.

The "grassed driver" was used on the longest holes and differed from the play-club in that it was heavier and stiffer with the face sloped back slightly from perpendicular. It was used when the ball was in soft grass or on a downward slope or a hazard demanded a well elevated stroke. It raised the ball to a considerable height and a good distance.

Spoons were employed in a similar way to the grassed driver but did not send the ball as far. As their title suggests the face of the club has a great slope meant to raise the ball to any height required especially out of very difficult ground. Five different spoons were and included the long spoon, middle spoon, short spoon, baffing spoon, and the wooden niblick. All had their particular use based on the lie and distance from the hole. The first three are descriptive of their use. The baffing spoon got its name from the sound produced when it hit the ground when making the stroke. It was a very short distance club . The wooden niblick was a "long spoon" with a brass sole and smaller head. It was used to lift the ball out of a rut. The brass sole was an advantage on hard or stony ground.

Two putters were used for very different purposes. The green putter was used on the putting green when the ball was near the hole. This club was used up to a distance of 30 yards if the turf was smooth and level. The driving putter was used force a ball out of long grass or the "cheat the wind" by sending a low "skimming" ball.

A Great Flight Crew Makes for a Great Flight

Because business executives must travel so much, they often find it more convenient to fly rather than use other modes of transportation. Private jet charter offers an additional level of luxury travel with generous time savings. Having a great flight crew is key to your safety and comfort while traveling to your destination, so here are some tips for what to look for when you are booking an air charter.

You will want to make sure that every member of each flight crew you will be using is screened by the strictest industry standards. You will also want to have an experienced pilot flying your executive jet, and to be safe you will want two pilots piloting your aircraft. These pilots, depending on which type of plane they are flying, should be type rated and certified for that specific type of aircraft, and should also hold an Airline transport certificate instrument rating. You will also want to make sure that the pilots are very experienced flying in all types of flying conditions, including cross-country and night flying, so ask to find out how much flight time they have.

Every crewmember does his or her best to ensure your safety and that the plane and surrounding facilities are always secure. You should expect to see identification badges worn by all members of a flight crew when they are in or around the airplane. Any charter jet that you fly in should require careful screening of all passengers who have ever flown in the plane.

The planes themselves are vital to your safety. You will want to make sure that the airplanes have a complete maintenance history log on board, and that it meets FAR Part 135 and 91 regulations. Check to see if, when the flight crew is not on the airplane, that the jet is locked and secured. Aircraft should also meet the stringent guidelines as set forth by Wyvern Consulting Ltd. and Aircraft Research Group/US, both safety consultants, as well as the National Air Transportation Association and NATA First.

Other members of your flight crew will do everything necessary to make sure that you are very comfortable while in flight and have everything you require. If you wish to work while in transit, there is a wide array of assistants ready to help you. You may have temporary workers, secretaries, legal and accounting assistants, as well as computer technicians, and even catering and event planning professionals fly with you to get everything that you need to done. If your goal is to relax while traveling, hairdressers, nannies, masseuses, or any other service you require is available for in-flight assistance. Travel in safety and comfort every time you choose a jet rental.

Zaragoza City Guide is Here

Travelers and tourists have, from now on, this new detailed guide to prepare their travel to Zaragoza. An exhaustive virtual city tour of the capital of Aragon, one of the most influential medieval provinces of the Iberic Peninsula displaying to Internet visitors city's history, Zaragoza monuments, restaurant listing with reviews by guests, as well as details on Zaragoza hotels.

Zaragoza guide is a start up from a serie of middle but atractive and touristic places that City Guide plans to publish in the long run designed to assist travelers in whatever questions and information they may look for related to some of the world's middle cities. One may easily learn about Zaragoza nightlife, pubs and bars and at the same time have access to emergency services and transport in Zaragoza.

Expo 2008 has also its chapter in the Zaragoza guide. This major event previously organized by other European cities such as Lisbon, Seville, Barcelona will take place this time in Zaragoza, the ancient capital of Aragon kingdom and it is said to be "the event" that will draw international community's attention on the city itself. So whether people are travelling to Zaragoza for cultural and purely touristic purposes or they visit Zaragoza to take part in one of the many seminars or congresses companies worldwide are organizing in town, the guide will assist them and will provide the necessary background to enjoy the best of staying in Zaragoza.

Golf Driving Tips - 2 Tips to Add More Distance to Your Golf Drive Now

Golf driving tips may be the most popular golf swing tips around.
And when it comes to hitting the drive, more golfers are interested
in adding distance to their drive than anything else. So how do
you add more distance to your golf drive?

Okay, we all know you drive for show and putt for dough, but let's
face it, most amatuer golfers would still love to add distance to
their drives. Call it ego if you want, but we all get a lot more
satisfaction of hitting that perfect drive than we do from almost
any other golf shot.

While the driver itself and your own strength can add distance to
your golf drive, they won't help if your golf swing technique isn't
good. All that extra distance on your drive starts and ends with
good swing technique.

Adding more distance to your golf drive means focusing on the key
aspects that generate power when your clubface makes contact with
the ball.

Golf Driving Tip #1 - Go wide. If you want to add distance to your
golf drive, widen your stance. This adds more stability to your
stance for a more powerful swing. In this wider stance, put a
little more weight on your back foot at address. This allows
for a more powerful coil when you turn away from the ball.

Golf Driving Tip # 2 - Go wide again. This time, go wide with
your backswing. This means you must stretch out on the takeaway.
Your takeaway should be as wide as possible. The takeaway should
be a wide slow arc.

The extension of your arms out wide helps to pull the left shoulder
under your chin and the lower back muscles stretch out.

Make sure to rotate your left forearm (if you hit righty) so that
the clubface of your driver stays square to the path of your swing.

Add these two golf driving tips to your drive and you'll begin to
see more distance off the tee. And that's something every golfer
can love.

If You Want to Improve Your Golf Game Then You Must Understand the Steps of the Golf Swing

Almost any golfer who has a passion for the sport wishes to improve their game and there are many ways to do such a thing. One way is to hire a golf trainer and many a professional golfer has done just this but many amateur golfers may not have the resources or time to use this technique. One way to improve your golf game is to learn how to perfect your long drive swing and in order to do this, it is necessary to understand the mechanics of the golf swing. A good golf swing can be broken down into the backswing, the downswing, the connection with the ball, and above all else, understanding the fact that there is no perfect swing that works for everybody. This article will explore the different aspects of the golf swing and what methods you can employ to improve yours.

The backswing is obviously the first step in starting a good golf swing and because it is the step that many golfers fail at, the entire swing is doomed to failure. Many golfers don't understand that a good backswing starts with the arms and not the hands and that you want to draw back in a one piece motion. Assuming that you are right handed, you want your left shoulder and hips to turn which transfers your weight to the right side as you bring the club back. A golfers hands should begin to set at waist level and as the club continues to climb, the shoulder should continue to turn as you reach the top of the swing. It is important not to over swing at the top as this will create negative club speed and inconsistent swings.

Once you have mastered the backswing, it is time to learn how to follow through with the downswing where you return the club head to the ball with a high but controllable speed. If your downswing it too hard then you will likely have a bad drive so it is important that you don't try to rely on pure force to drive the ball. Many inexperienced golfers will try to lead the downswing with the left side causing the club head to slide ahead of the ball and causing a weak, slicing shot. A more effective method is to pull with your left arm at the top which creates a more consistent swing as all of your body parts are moving together.

Even after mastering the backswing and downswing, many golfers tend to fail at the completion, trying to hit the ball low and to the left which makes it difficult to get the ball airborne. In golf, it is important that when connecting you should hit the ball high and not to the left and the club face should stay square for several inches past impact to maintain proper flight of the ball. In addition to keeping the club face square, you must also make sure that the weight you transferred to the right side in the backswing switches back to the left side at impact. If you have a good finish, your right knee will be facing the target, your right foot will be up so all spikes are visible, and your hands will be close to your left ear.

The perfect golf swing that works for every golfer is a myth because the true perfect golf swing is a very personal thing. While the techniques described above are important, it is also important that you find the correct swing that works for you. If you watch professional golfers on TV you will notice that while most have very differing swings, they all have one thing in common which is consistency where their swing is utterly identical each time with the same results in direction and distance. Consistency is indeed the key and after you learn what works for you, you must practice to repeat the same swing over and over again.