A lot of golfers (in fact most club golfers) aren’t ever really sure which golf ball to use. The power of the media and advertising plays a huge role in the selection of our golf balls.

I am continually amazed at the answers I get when I ask people which golf ball they use, and then why they use them. I sincerely believe that the vast majority of us play with golf balls for one of three reasons:

1. Because of advertising and seeing what the top players use.
2. Because you have had a good round previously with this type of ball or
3. Because you got them cheaply or for free.

Of these three reasons I find the first to be the worst reason to use a particular ball.

Don’t get me wrong; the pros usually use a ball for a specific reason, but when you get to their level of skill you would understand the dynamics of both the golf swing and a golf ball. Something I don’t think the average golfer understands or cares to understand. We just want to play golf!

I play with a 5 handicap golfer who is a millionaire, and he only plays with balls that he can buy on special or that he has won. What’s more, he uses one ball for five or six rounds of golf. And there are others in my group of friends who play only with Titleist ProV1’s although they are high handicap golfers and have no idea that the ball is in no way helping their game. They use them simply because they have been told that this is the best ball on the market and the pros use them.

So what golf ball should you be using? Well honestly, I think for most of us, my rich 5 handicap friend has got it right, but technically here is a short answer for you.

Golf balls have essentially got three spin rates: low, medium and high.

A high rate will give a greater amount of revolutions but will not roll any great distance. With this type of ball it is easier to work the ball and hit different types of ball flights. This is a great golf ball for around the greens and for greater ball control. Hence you will see more and more professionals using this ball. Bear in mind though that the pros will change balls according to whatever contract they are bound by at the time.

A medium spin rate will not provide as much control on the green, will spin less and roll a bit further. It is not as easy to work the ball.

A golf ball with a low spin rate will roll a lot further than the others but will provide less control around the greens. The advantage of this type of ball for the high handicap golfer is that it will reduce the effect of a slice or a hook because of the limited amount of spin. This is probably the type of ball that most golfers (remember that the average golfer’s handicap is over 18) should be using.

Advertising definitely works, and whilst the soft-covered balls are fantastic balls for the few (less than 2%) of golfers who will benefit from them, the vast majority of golfers are not necessarily doing themselves or their games a favor by using these balls.

At the end of the day, I suppose the choice of which golf ball to use should come down to trial and error. Try as many as you can in the same round of golf and see which type/brand you prefer. It’s a bit like wine tasting. Some wines described as ‘great’ might not appeal to you as much as others that are classified as cheaper or blend wines. It’s all a matter of personal taste.

So you decide which golf ball to use, and while you’re at it, I’m off to the shop to pick up some cheapies on special!

Lawrence Bredenkamp is a qualified EGTF golf coach and takes great pleasure in helping people improve their game. Head over to his site, Play The Lie, for more information on how to improve your golf swing and lower your scores. While there, sign up for his free 6-week tutorial designed to reduce your golf handicap by 15%.

Are you the type of golfer who blames every aspect of the game down to your swing, posture, balance, tempo, etc? If you are then you may have probably missed one vital aspect of the golf equation. You could very easily be spending hours upon hours practicing parts of your game that, in fact, may not require practice at all. Have you thought that maybe you are using equipment not suited to either yourself or your style of play?

Simple, isn’t it? I you are using unsuitable equipment, your game will be on the losing end right from the word go. Check out the following tips to ensure you are using the right tools for the job.

If you are a beginner/junior and have chosen to play this game using a set of pre-owned clubs, you must make sure that you fully check your “new” golf tools prior to purchase with a very keen eye. Every aspect of the clubs needs to be checked. The shafts, clubheads, grips are the initial parts that must pass inspection. Grips can easily be changed, but check the price first. If there is damage to the shaft or clubhead, this is a potential hazard, and you should seriously consider leaving the clubs alone.

Prior to purchasing a set of pre-owned golf clubs, always check how much they are to buy new — you will be surprised that some pre-owned sets are not much cheaper than a new set, especially if you have to regrip them or have some other defects rectified prior to being able to play them.

If you choose to purchase a set of pre-owned clubs or have a set of golf clubs that requires regripping, you need to be careful. The grip on a golf club is the only contact that you have with the club, therefore you need to be sure that they are gripped correctly. You can purchase kits that let you install new grips yourself; if you decide to do this, you’ll need to make sure that you align the grips correctly. If you are not comfortable with this work, your local golf shop should be able to accommodate you (for a price, of coures). When choosing a grip, ensure that your hand size is taken into consideration; having big grips with small hands or vice-versa can be disastrous to your game.

Always clean and change your grips regularly. You will shave shots off your round with this one tip alone.

Using golf clubs not fitted to you can and will lead to wayward shots. Every golfer is different; off-the-shelf golf clubs are designed for the average person of average size and stature. Are you sure that you are that “average” person? If not, get your golf clubs checked; measurements will be taken and the fitter should watch you take a few swings, normally with impact tape applied to the clubheads and a swing plate on the floor. At impact, the tape indicates where the club hits the floor, and the fitter would then be able to determine what lie angle is optimal for you.

The shaft will also be checked to ensure that it is the correct length for you. Having a set of custom fit golf clubs is like having a brand new set of golf clubs and is probably one of the best investments you can make in this game. At the end of the process, you will have a set of golf clubs that have been professionally modified for your individual requirements.

One thing that you need to look at is that all the golf clubs you play with — all your irons, wedges, woods and putters —must match your skill level. Of the wide variety of golf club models available on the marketplace, some are designed for low handicappers, some are designed for mid/high handicappers and some are designed for all skill levels. If you are a high handicapper, playing with a set of clubs designed for low handicaps probably won’t help your game.

One last, big point is that you must feel comfortable with the clubs you have chosen to use. If you feel comfortable with the clubs you are using, you won’t worry or think about it during play and will generally exedcute better swings. And it should go without saying, the better the swing the more enjoyable the game.

Peter Cunningham manages the Golf Review Center, where you can read and submit golf equipment and service reviews.

To learn more about top sources of pre-owned golf equipment, read Pre-Owned Golf Equipment: A Real Option »

Visit GigaGolf, Pinemeadow Golf and Hireko Golf for low-cost brand new golf clubs custom-built to your exact needs and abilities.

Selecting the proper equipment is a big step towards playing better golf. This phase of golf is so often overlooked that I feel impelled to point out how important it is to have clubs that fit you and your swing.

There is a Difference in Clubs

To the layman, a golf club is a golf club. They all look alike to him. This is true to a point, but don’t let this similarity of appearance fool you. As any experienced golfer will tell you, there is a difference in golf clubs, just as there is a physical difference in the individuals who swing them.

Since no two golfers swing alike, it might seem that almost all players would require clubs made to order, to compensate for these individual differences. This, of course, is not true. What is necessary is a good, balanced set of clubs that have been selected by the golfer with the help and counsel of an experienced professional.

Always remember, it is entirely possible to have good equipment and still not have a correctly-fitted set of clubs. You must fit the golf clubs to you and your swing, not yourself to the clubs.

So many golfer, in their haste to get out and play, make a hasty purchase and then, upon learning more about the game and the importance of having properly fitted clubs, find they must buy another set.

Find a Set That Fits You

Measuring Up: Today’s golf clubs are far different from what they were some 30 years ago. The transition from wooden shafts to steel and graphite shafts, and improved club design that have given clubs better balance and feel, are among the major reasons for the improved play of all golfers today, particularly the professsionals.

Factory-made clubs are now fairly standardized and are designed to fit almost every golfer. Unless you are extremely tall or short, a factory set should suit your needs, for clubs don’t vary too much from standard specifications. In any case, don’t purchase a new set of clubs haphazardly.

Shaft Flexibility and Swing Weight: The speed of your swing will determine the flexibility of your shaft and the swing weight of the clubhead.

If you are rather strong, the shaft should be on the stiff side with the swing weight a little heavier than medium. Conversely, if you are not so strong, it would be best to use a more flexible shaft with a lighter swing weight. Shafts come in several different flexes and weights.

Generally, the dividing point for swing weight is D-3. Anything under that is getting on the light side, and anything over D-3 becomes correspondingly heavier as the number increases. In other words, a driver that has a swing weight of D-7 would be too heavy for the average golfer. It would be better for that golfer to use a medium-stiff shaft with a swing weight between D-0 and D-4.

Women’s clubs are usually swing-weighted from C-5 to D-0. The shafts in their clubs are more flexible than men’s models, and they are also lighter. The medium swing weight for them would be C-7 to C-8.

Length and Lie of Clubs: Golf clubs are usually made in three different lies: flat, medium, and upright. The standard-length driver is 43 inches, and the 2-Iron, the longest iron club, is 382 inches long. The length and lie of clubs are determined by the distance the hands are from the ground.

This hands-to-ground measurement will usually not vary more than 2 or 3 inches from a tall to a short person. Thus, it is not uncommon to have a golfer of medium height using the same length and lie as a taller player because their hands-to-ground measurements are the same.

Generally speaking, the great majority of golfers can use standard-length clubs with a medium lie. If you are a rather short or tall person, you may require a special set. Here again, it would be wise to consult an experienced professional. You will find it to be time well spent in the long run.

A main consideration for the decision whether to customize or not would be cost. If you can, however, find a good source of customized clubs at little to no additional cost, then the decision on whether to get a custom set would be very clear.

Jimmy Cox writes for Golf Swing Secrets.

Visit GigaGolf, Pinemeadow Golf and Hireko Golf for low-cost golf clubs custom-built to your exact needs and abilities. For no extra cost, have your clubs built with exactly the right shaft flex that fits your game perfectly and maximizes your distance!

Many golfers do not have the swing speed needed for the extra stiff and stiff shafts they have on their current golf clubs. Shafts with an incorrect flex can have a dramatic affect on your game.

Let’s go over the mechanics of why there are different shaft flexes, then we can get into how the shafts can affect your game differently.

Golfers swing clubs at different speeds. When you swing your golf club, the speed and force of your swing gets carried through the shaft to the head. By the time the head makes contact with the golf ball, an average golfer’s club head speed is around 85 mph, and a professional golfer’s head speed is around 100 mph. Hitting a golf ball at 85 mph with a driver will carry the ball about 195 yards. If you have a slower swing, the flexibility of the club can assist you by adding a whipping affect to the club just before it hits the ball.

Remember your high school locker room when you would twist your towel up, swing it back, then quickly whip it forward and give your friend a huge welt on his leg? Well, a flexible club produces a similar affect. Just before contact, the head of the club will give that extra kick to push the ball off the tee faster. If you are not swinging at 85 mph or more, you should be looking at a regular shaft or, if you really want more distance, a senior flex shaft. Yes, yes I know, but if you can put your ego away for a little bit and really want to improve your game, go ahead and try the senior flex shaft.

Here are the different types of shafts:

• Extra stiff (X)
• Stiff (S)
• Regular (R)
• Seniors (A)
• Ladies (L)

If the shaft of your club is too stiff, your ball will most likely not go as far or as high as it should. If your shaft is too soft, your ball may fly much higher than it should and possibly keep going left when you feel you are hitting the ball straight. Pick the right shaft and watch your drives soar!

Al Scillitani is an Internet Marketing Manager for GVC Commerce, Inc. and GlobalGolf.

Visit GigaGolf, Pinemeadow Golf and Hireko Golf for low-cost golf clubs custom-built to your exact needs and abilities. For no extra cost, have your clubs built with exactly the right shaft flex that fits your game perfectly and maximizes your distance!

Each year golfers spend millions of dollars on golf training aids, trying to find the magical cure that will suddenly catapult them into the golfer they always wanted to be… generally abandoning their efforts two or three weeks later obtaining little or no positive results for their efforts. So what is the answer?

Being a fairly accomplished golfer myself, I have often said, “Invent a halfway sensible golf training aid, market it properly, and you will make millions. Golfers will buy anything if they believe it will help them play better.” This really is the truth. So what’s a golfer to do? What works and what doesn’t work? How do you know if you’re buying the right thing? These are valid questions and deserve valid answers.

What is the answer? Do these training aids work, or are you just wasting your money? Yes, most do work to some degree, but how well?

In trying to discover what works, one needs to look toward the Tour professionals and see what they are using. Tour pros know the game; they find out very quickly what works and what doesn’t.

So what are the training aids I see most often on Tour? They are:

• The Leaderboard Golf Trainer
• Opto-Smart Putting Laser Trainer
• and The Putting Arc

The Leaderboard is probably the number one training aid on tour, although you seldom see this at the course, it is quite common in the gym and at home. The Putting Arc is probably the number one putting aid followed close by the Putting Laser Trainer.

If you’re looking for golf training aids to help your game, and don’t want to waste time and money on items that just don’t work, take a look at what the Tour pros use. You won’t go wrong.

James E. Thomas is a golf professional currently working as a PGA Tour caddy. He has over 30 years experience in the golf industry. Visit his website, pga-golf-tour-caddy-guide.com.

Today, there are scores of folks who decide that they want to embark on an adventure that combines a love for golf with the pleasure one gets from a hearty vacation. With this in mind, more people have turned to taking a golf school vacation as their vacation of choice.

Anyone planning to go on a golf school vacation must know what to look for in taking one of these. A lot of it comes down to whether or not you want to put a great deal of time and effort into being a part of the golf school experience.

If you don’t feel as if you are going to be able to devote the effort it takes to learn new things about how to improve your golf game, and you feel better about the vacation aspect of your trip, then it’s probably best to skip the golf school vacation in exchange for a more traditional vacation.

Once you’ve determined that you do wish to continue on this quest, it is then up to you to know when you are going on leave, as this allows you to set the date, times and packages for your journey. Be sure to get in at a time when some sort of tournament or event isn’t taking place, if you wish to have a more leisurely experience and want to avoid gridlock.

One good thing about choosing golf school experiences nowadays is that these schools have begun focusing on particular aspects of the sport in order to be unique in what they bring to the table.

Among the many destinations for those looking for a great golf school vacation, people have visited Maryland, South Carolina, Louisiana, California, Florida, and Arizona for their getaways. Those who decide on the Sunshine State as their vacation spot can get a fantastic experience at any one of the nine locations offered by America’s Favorite Golf Schools. This is one of many schools in the state which provide excellent instruction, along with excellent golfing climate. Nearly a fourth of the best golf professionals in the United States reside in Florida — so it is definitely worth your while to seek a golf school vacation in Florida.

The vacationers who select California as their destination can look to San Diego for a pair of great learning centers — Mind Power Golf Schools and San Diego Golf Academy. These schools give students the chance to get a great golf school vacation thanks to the combination of fantastic weather and nationally-renowned instruction.

If Arizona is more to your liking, try checking out Bird Golf Academy’s Prescott location — an hour-and-a-half outside Phoenix — as well as Scottsdale Golf and Lodging. With wonderful instructors and a fine summer golf climate, these experiences promise to better your game and let you have a pleasant vacation time, too.

With these golf vacation school options available, along with so many others, you should now be able to consider taking a golf school getaway to ease the mind and body — and make your time on the links a good bit easier, as well.

Matt Murren owns and operates golf-school-advisor.com.

Golf is taken simply as recreation by many but very seriously by others. While the game itself may seem very simple in scope, there is actually a tremendous amount of physics involved in getting the golf ball into the hole.

There are so many variables involved in the trajectory of the golf ball, starting with the angle of attack of the golf club on to the ball, the existing wind force, the drag of the grass, the heaviness or lightness of the air depending upon humidity levels, the material of the golf ball itself, the surface of the golf ball as it creates drag against the wind, the material of the golf club itself and its inertia, the material of the golf club head and so on.

While addressing every single variable is beyond the scope of this article, we will be addressing only the material of the club head in this article as it pertains to the use of thermal spray coating technology.

Thermal spray coatings have been used as facing material on golf club heads in recent years. The general idea is that by facing the golf club head with a material that is very hard, the force of the swing gets little attenuation and all of the energy is transferred to the golf ball. Hence, in the early days of introducing thermal spray coating technology to golf, engineers used the plasma thermal spray process to deposit aluminum oxide onto the face of golf club heads.

Since then, innovations in thermal spray processes have taken place, and nowadays the coating of choice seems to be tungsten carbide cobalt material sprayed by the high velocity oxy-fuel process. In this process, the coating particles are given a tremendous amount of thermal energy as well as ignificant kinetic energy and are subsequently propelled and deposited onto the substrate material.

This is the current state of technology. However, this is not the correct solution in my humble opinion.

When you apply a thermal spray coating of tungsten carbide onto a club head face, the extreme hardness of the surface will definitely impart a higher amount of energy onto the ball. This is what is needed when the golfer tries to hit the ball to cover as large a distance as possible.

However, when the ball is to be hit with a high level of control gently, as in putting, you do not want a tremendous energy transfer between the club and the ball. In such cases, you actually need some force attenuation taking place.

Thus a straight tungsten carbide thermal spray coating will not work under these circumstances. Either you need different coatings for different clubs or a single coating system that will address all of the energy transfer needs of the golfer. Obviously, manufacturers of golf clubs will prefer the latter, since it is amenable to lowered manufacturing costs and better quality control since the same coating system gets put on for all club heads.

Additionally, application of a single coating system allows for automatic adjustment of energy transfer phenomena on medium range hits by being in between the long range and the short range energy transfer requirements. Such a coating system can be obtained by depositing first a softer coating relative to the tungsten carbide.

A suggestion would be to deposit a cobalt nickel chromium aluminum yttrium coating first and then follow up with tungsten carbide cobalt high velocity thermal spray coating. This will allow the energy transfer between the club and the ball to be maximized on long range hits and cushioned on short range hits; obviously the energy transfer would be somewhat in between for medium range hits. This is akin to the use of multiple springs with varied spring constants for the purpose of shock absorption in motor vehicles.

Hence with the use of a dual coating system, thermal spray coatings technology used on golf club heads can go farther than it is in the current state of technological affairs.

Kris Rogers writes for the Thermal Spray Coatings site.

Visit GigaGolf, Pinemeadow Golf and Hireko Golf for low-cost golf clubs custom-built to your exact needs and abilities!

Driving is one of the most important elements of your golf game. It’s how you start every round and every hole, and the quality of your drives impacts the rest of your game. Will you be able to lay up nicely for a birdie, or will you be chasing your drives into the rough? Every golfer needs to spend time practicing, that’s why driving ranges were invented. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could have a driving range in your backyard? Well, golf nets can allow you to practice your golf drives in the convenience of your own backyard.

Let’s look at some different aspects of driving the ball that you can practice with a golf net, so that the next time you go to the links you’ll strike the ball with power and precision.

Stance

The approach or the setup precedes the stance and is crucial to the swing. This element is controlled by your judgment. Your feet and shoulders should be in line with the desired path of the ball (unless playing a draw or fade). By laying a club at your feet you can see the direction of your line. An instructor or golfing buddy can also correct the lineup on your approach.

Generally speaking, the ball should be forward in your stance (close to your lead foot). Your knees should be slightly bent, and good footing helps ensure stability for the swing. While the eyes should always remain on the ball during the shot, the chin should be raised to allow for the shoulder to rotate through the shot. This is the most intellectual element of the swing, so take time to check your line, footing and other parts of your approach. You don’t want to waste a perfectly executed swing on bad preparation.

Now let’s check your stance. Your stance should change depending on the kind of shot you are making (drive, iron, chip, putt) and any number of variations you might desire to perform (draw, fade, distance, etc.). Because you need extra power and stability for the drive, you should spread your legs just wider than shoulder length. In his book How I Play Golf, Tiger Woods said:

“When I plan to go all out with the driver, I spread my feet even wider than normal. That gives me a firmer base so I won’t lose my balance.”

Finally, make sure you have a good grip on the club. Different golfers will try different grip methods, but it’s important that your grip is firm because you need to have absolute control over the club head through the swing in order to make solid impact.

The approach and stance take meticulous precision. You want to be comfortable with your approach and be sure to practice it. The approach sets the tone for the shot and gives you a sense of regularity and consistency in changing situations. Be sure to always practice the science of your approach so that you can master the art of your swing.

Swing

The swing involves several key factors all coming together in a matter of seconds to execute a powerful and precise shot. Sometimes, only one thing needs to go wrong to make a poor shot. Consistent practice will refine your drive as you focus on each of these elements of the swing.

Backswing

Beginning the motion of the swing is the all important backswing or takeaway. Instructor Jack Moorehouse, author of How to Break 80 and Shoot Like the Pros, says:

“The first 24 inches or so of the takeaway is crucial. It helps determine the swing’s width and the clubhead’s path.”

Concerning path and width, you want to be sure not to let the shaft stray wide or inside of your line. In other words, during the midpoint of your backswing, the shaft should be parallel with your target line — parallel to your feet. The backswing should be simple and smooth; try not to make any jerky movements.

From the Top

You should check several things at the end (or top) of your backswing. Often, golfers can make the mistake of over-reaching on their backswing as if to wrap the club around their body. The thought is to gain more power on the downswing, but that is not the case. The opposite risk is not going far enough, which sacrifices the power of your drive.

At the top of the swing, the shaft of the club should again be parallel to your target line. To ensure that you are parallel at the top, check your lower arm (usually considered the dominant hand) and make sure your elbow forms a right angle to the ground. Your other arm (top hand) should stay straight throughout the swing. This draws the lead shoulder around so that at the top of the backswing, the shoulders will be perpendicular to your feet which face the ball.

Allow your hips to rotate slightly with your shoulders. This rotation creates power for the drive. When you are practicing, make sure that your clubface itself is parallel to your lead arm. The angle of your club head is not irrelevant because it affects the impact of the clubface with the ball.

Tempo

Now we have to bring everything back to earth. Many golfers get overeager at this point and speed things up on the way down. Again, the thinking is that more speed equals more power. With all of the factors involved in the swing, the math is not that simple. Power will come primarily from the torque in your shoulders and hips released through your arms.

An even tempo is more important than speed, especially during practice. This is a prime reason to take practice swings before your shot. During practice, try developing an even counting system that corresponds to your backswing and downswing. As your game develops, you can begin to speed up your downswing, but a comfortable tempo will always govern the swing. Don’t forget to swing comfortably!

Sweet Spot

All of these things are preparation for the decisive moment — impacting the ball. Every club has a “sweet spot,” and drivers are designed with extra sugar. A larger clubface is no reason to be careless though. A shot with poor impact can result in an embarrassing shank or a crank in the rough. Solid impact will create the distance and direction you are looking for.

If you are struggling with making a solid impact, check all of the preparatory elements already discussed including set-up, distance from the ball, and backswing. Essentially, you want the moment of impact to reflect the approach stance. Of course, your shoulders and hips will be moving through the ball, but the club should impact the ball at the same point at which it began the takeaway. As with other sports, eye contact is crucial to solid impact. Be sure to keep your head down and your eye on the ball through impact and even follow through. This mistake is so common that the discipline of keeping your eye on the ball should be strongly enforced during practice.

Follow Through

Jack Moorehouse again advises:

“The follow-through is a good indicator of the shot’s quality. If it ends with a nice finish, chances are the swing was effective.”

For all practical purposes, the follow through simply resolves the movement of the swing. Yet, it is so united to the rest of the swing that you want to attend to your follow through in practice. Tiger Woods explains the importance of extension in the follow through when he says:

“My right arm is fully extended straight down the target line. That shows I’ve tried to generate as much clubhead speed as possible.”

Also be sure to keep your feet in proper stance. Your back foot should come up with your toe pointing to the ground, and you should be balanced on your lead foot. If you are losing your balance, then you need to adjust the width of your stance or maybe your tempo. Don’t choke yourself with your follow through; make your follow through comfortable.

Results

Your practice will determine how you play. With all of the different aspects of a drive to develop, it is important to practice. Most people are reduced to only practicing their short game in their yards, but now you can practice all elements of your game at home. With a golf net you will be able to hit as many balls as you want without chasing them, and you can practice at your leisure without traveling to the range.

Here is what the great Tiger says about the importance of practice:

“I committed myself to the idea that there are no shortcuts to improvement. The best way to ingrain the correct movements and positions is through repetition.”

After developing the fine points of your swing at home, you will be able to experience the joy and pleasure of a great game from start to finish.

Paul Galla is president of U.S. Netting.

Check out the Gear for Golf Titan Practice Net and other backyard practice nets at Golfsmith. 

After my most recent round of golf, the guys in my foursome started discussing their favorite item in their golf bag. One of them loves his driver; another loves his putter; the last one loves his sand wedge even though he hates being in the sand. When it came to me I simply said, “My sunscreen.”

Use an Effective Sunscreen

I always ensure I use an effective sunscreen when I golf. An effective sunscreen will block both UVA and UVB rays. Think about it. A round of golf can take four to six hours to play, and preferred weekend tee times are generally in the mid-morning. Therefore, a golfer who tees off around 10am will be playing during the hours of the day when the sun is at its hottest. This means golfers are exposed to a lot of sun at the worst times.

An effective sunscreen is very important for women golfers too. A lot of women golfers have a UV factor in the make-up they use. Having a UV factor in makeup will provide some protection from the sun’s harmful rays. I would not recommend that this be their only protection, however, especially if they are very active or outdoors a lot. I realize that women golfers don’t like the shine that an effective sunscreen gives their face. Therefore, I always tell them to top their sunscreen with a blended face powder to help minimize the shine.

Re-apply Sunscreen at the Turn

I’ve discovered a lot of my fellow golfers are good at applying sunscreen before they golf, but forget to re-apply it during their round. Re-applying is very important. The effectiveness of sunscreen is diminished the longer you are out in the sun, especially if you’re sweating. My general rule is to re-apply sunscreen every two hours. Instead of watching the time, I re-apply my sunscreen at the turn (after 9 holes). In fact, I wish golf courses would offer golfers sunscreen between the ninth green and tenth tee.

Replace Your Sunscreen Regularly

It is also very important to replace the sunscreen in your golf bag regularly. Have you ever wondered why you got sunburned after applying that old sunscreen you had sitting in your bag? Sunscreen typically loses its effectiveness over time. Therefore, I always recommend to replace your sunscreen at the start of each new golf season.

Wear Sun Protective Clothing.

The next important step to protecting yourself from the sun is to wear protective clothing, especially a wide-brimmed hat. Sun protective clothing uses fabric to help protect your skin. Fabric is rated using an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UCF). UCF is very similar to the SPF rating for sunscreens. Sun Precautions® and Solumbra® are brands of sun protective clothing I recommend to my patients.

Play “Shade” Golf

Learn how to play “shade” golf. Basically, seek shade when you’re waiting to take your next shot. I always park my golf cart under a tree if possible. Not only does a shady spot help protect me from the sun, it keeps me cooler. In Florida, keeping cool is very important to enjoying a round of golf in the summer.

Drive Down Your Risk of Skin Cancer

All golfers want to lower their golf scores. Now it’s time to drive down your risk of skin cancer by protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. You’ll appreciate avoiding that painful sunburn and potentially dangerous skin cancer in the future.

Dr. Bradley Abrams is a licensed Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine who is A.O.B.D. Board Certified in Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. He is noted as being one of the top dermatologic surgeons in the Sarasota, Florida community. You can learn more about Dr Abrams by visiting his website.

Get all your sunscreen protection, skincare products and more quickly and conveniently from Drugstore.com (with free shipping!)

To some golfer ladies, a golf shoe is a golf shoe. But it matters what the quality of your shoe is like and how it measures up on the golf course. There are a number of high end ladies golf shoes that can be found online and by shopping around — both malls and sporting goods stores. HG NOTE: And online!

Ultimately, if a woman feels like enhancing her golf game, she will want to purchase the golf shoe that is most appropriate for her comfort and technique on the course.

Customarily, there are metal spikes on both men’s and women’s golf shoe soles created to grip the golf course underfoot surface and prevent slippage. It is important for a lady to be able to take the proper stance and follow through with her swing powerfully. If a woman is going to purchase a golf shoe, especially a high end one, she doesn’t need to wear them anywhere else but on the course — paved terrain will ruin the spikes and wear out the soles of the shoes.

Ladies’ golf shoes should be heavier and less flexible than a regular shoe, but should still be roomy enough to flex the toes. Both comfort and stability are the name of the game. Usually with a pair of costly women’s golf shoes comes replaceable spikes. They are very convenient. They can be screwed on in place of a broken spike. There are also specially designed waterproof shoes for ladies to keep their feet dry in wet weather.

Nike offers many high end ladies golf shoes if you don’t like a traditional type of footwear on the golf course. Nike shoes are noted for both performance and looks. It costs money to buy a ladies golf shoe that looks and wears more like a sneaker. However, if you have the money, buy it! A shoe that is considered a high end ladies golf shoe can cost $200 and up.

ECCO provides a line of expensive women’s golf shoes. They rank among the top in design and notability. ECCO shoes will make people stand up and notice you. So, if you desire being pointed out in the crowd — choose ECCO shoes — they have designs like no other ladies golf shoe. They offer black shoes, white shoes, and a brilliant array of colors that will capture any lady golfer’s attention. If you are searching for a ladies high end golf shoe that is both cute and comfortable, women’s ECCO Golf Shoes are the choice for you.

The ECCO comfort extends to a high level. There is a beneficial arch to support your foot and they provide perfect balance on the green. These shoes do cost $125 or more, so they are considered a fairly expensive ladies golf shoe by some. Lots of women, as well as men, are more interested in looking good than playing well. However, you can choose both with ECCO and Nike as well as a number of other top quality golf shoes for women.

It is possible to find a high end ladies golf shoe on sale or a store is has a clearance sale and needs to move merchandise anticipating a new line, or perhaps there is an overstock which drives down the prices of high quality shoes.

There are several other brands that have upper end ladies golf shoes — Adidas, Etonic and Puma, to name some of the best. Just shop around on the Net and find whatever your heart desires — something that is simply you.

Matt D Murren owns and operates Golf Shoe Advisor.

Click Here to Shop for Golf Shoes Online RISK-FREE and at Great Prices!