How To Choose The Right Golf Equipment For You

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Choosing the right golf equipment is very important and it is not just about how much you spend on it that counts. There is a huge array of golf equipment available to day, both on- and offline so it can be quite confusing when you are just starting out.

The first golf equipment to consider is what type of clubs you should get. These have to be suitable for your height, weight and the type of game you play. Most people use standard length clubs which are fine for men between 5 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 10 inches in height and for women between five feet and five feet 5 inches. If you are outside these ranges though you may need to get special custom made ones.

The clubs must also have the correct thickness of grip. When holding the club, the fingers of your left hand should just touch the pad of your left thumb and not dig in to it, although tape wrapped around the grip can help if you need to make a minor adjustment.

When it comes to putters you will probably want to opt for a centre shaft or heel-to-toe weighted putter as these types have a larger sweet spot than the mallet putters or the old blade ones.

Clothing should be smart but comfortable enabling you to swing the club freely. Generally, trainers, jeans, short shorts and collarless or sleeveless shirts are frowned upon but dress code varies from club to club. As you will be out on the course for several hours it is a good idea to be prepared for any sudden changes in the weather. Depending on where in the world you are playing, it is probably advisable to carry waterproofs in your bag. Hats, caps and sunglasses are other things you should consider too.

A good pair of shoes is also an essential piece of golf equipment. Most players opt for a leather shoe, which allows the foot to breathe, combined with a rubber sole containing either spikes or pimples.

When it comes to your hands most players wear a left hand glove to maintain a constant grip. These gloves can be either leather or synthetic and should fit tighter than a normal glove. Another useful piece of golf equipment if you are playing in cold weather it is a good idea to use a large pair of mittens that you can slip on between shots as it is very difficult to grip the club properly if your hands get too cold.

Finally, you will need something to carry all this new golf equipment in. Golf bags come in a huge array of shapes and sizes from drainpipe bags that only carry 6 or 7 clubs, which are good for when you are practising, to an all in one bag/trolley which can be useful when travelling. If you are going to be carrying your bag then make sure it is not to heavy and that it has a strong strap.

Now you have all the essential golf equipment you need so all you need to do now is get out there and start playing. Good luck!

By Mark Pommett

Two of the most popular Bowflex home gyms are the Bowflex Ultimate 2 and the Bowflex Revolution. After hanging out on the forums, I've realized a lot of people are on the fence about which one to get. If your trying to decide which Bowflex is better for you, I've laid out all the fact and my personal opinion on these two exciting home gyms.





Power Rod vs. Spiraflex -The main difference between these two home gyms is that the Revolution uses Spiraflex resistance whereas the Bowflex Ultimate 2 uses Power Rod technology.

Spiraflex is a patented technology that uses elastics wrapped around a coil to create controlled resistance. In fact, Spiraflex is a more refined resistance technology than that used in the Ultimate 2. Both work quite well, but Spiraflex more closely emulates the feel of a high quality cable machine and gives you even greater control than the Power Rods for faster results.

On the other hand, the Ultimate 2 has a higher maximum resistance capacity of 410 lbs where as the top-of-the-line Revolution maxes out at 300 lbs for upper body workouts. Which should you choose? It depends on your fitness goals. If you want to get as big and strong as possible then I would choose the Bowflex Ultimate 2. If instead, you fitness goal is to get super cut, lean, and defined, and you want the highest quality workouts with maximum versatility, then you may find the Revolution to be a better match.

What's Great About Both Home Gyms ... Either Bowflex home gym will give you the results you want in the shortest amount of time. Both pack a minimum of 90 different exercises, with hundreds of variations, and a 6-week money back guarantee if you're not 100 % satisfied.


If you're still shopping for a Bowflex Home Gym, one of the best ways to decide is to browse and compare different models . This makes it so much easier to find the features, benefits, and price that matches your needs. Visit http://www.squidoo.com/Bowflex-Home-Gym-Comparison where you can make all your comparisons along with my expert reviews!

Mark Pommett is the owner of a Bowflex Home Gym Comparisons, a website the specializes in Bowflex Home Gyms.

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The Quickest Ways to Build Muscles

13th June 2008
Author: peterhutch

The best way to build lean muscle mass while burning fat is to perform cardio, either before or after a workout. Since the goal is to try to build mass, you only need cardio about once a week or once every 2 weeks max. Performing too much cardio can take away from quality muscle gains and cause you to get smaller in size.

The main essential thing you'll need for the fastest way to build muscle is the correct diet, and correct quantities of food. It doesn't matter if you work out for 5 hours a day, if you don't get the calories you won't get bigger! Many people make the mistake of thinking they will only need to eat lots of protein, as protein is the main substance to help your muscles heal and grow...BUT if you don't support it with an increased amount of carbohydrates, you'll have no fuel to support that growth and so won't get the gains.

Increase weights as you go. If you are going to make your muscles bigger, you must make them do harder and harder work. If you learned to add and never moved on to subtraction, your math ability would simply never increase. The same is true with building muscle. You have to keep on doing harder things, and the simple way to do that is to add more weight. Focus on all the muscles in your body.

Something for every one at every skill level: a 6-week introductory program, a 4-week intermediate program and a 16-week advanced training phase. Each workout program transitions smoothly into the next for, providing months of effective, structured exercise.

Another way to get more results from these exercises is, right after a set flex hard the muscles just worked, flex as hard as you can and hold for at least a count of 10. Arnold talked extensively about "Posing as exercise" and the use of "Iso-Tension"(Iso means - Equal; the same, and Tension means - To tighten; stiffen; contract. So Iso-Tension is simply contacting the muscles and holding in the same place - no movement.

Workout - A solid workout plan provides the tools for your body to use the building materials from your nutrition plan. We provide free workout plans designed to build muscle mass or burn fat.

The best way to build muscle fast is to apply the greatest amount of stress possible to the muscles and you want to do this in the shortest possible time. The best way to achieve this is to do the heaviest weight you can do over the fewest repetitions. I would recommend that you do the heaviest weight you can do no more than 5 to 7 repetitions each set. I would also recommend you do 3 sets, you can do 4 but 3 is better with heavy weight.

The deadlift does not require any fancy machinery for you to work with. All you need is a good barbell and a flat ground surface, and you can start to work on the fastest way to build muscle as humanly as possible.

The king of all upper body exercises will work your entire body from finger to the neck and to the toe. Yes, it is a basic powerful motion that will practically put every single muscle in your body to the test.


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Push Up Stands and How to Use Them

By Jesse Miller

Each person has his own unique style of doing push-ups. Some satisfy themselves with doing push-ups the conventional way, which is parallel to the ground. Some even improvise and up their degree of resistance by putting a toolbox or any other pack to lift their feet. With elevating the feet, not only is the push-up a lot harder but it also increases the weights carried on both arms.

In the recent years, another invention to make one's push-up experience a little different is the addition of push up stands. The purpose of these added equipments is to elevate even the hands making room for a superior effect for the chest muscles. These are called the push up stands. It is practically an arc that would fit the ground and serve as holding bars for the ones about to do push ups.

In using this apparatus, one must first measure the exact distance of his arms every time he does push ups. He will then place the stands on their designated places on the floor or on the ground. He will assume the push up position that is, making his body parallel to the ground. He will then raise his hands into the grips in both stands and assume a slanting position about a 15-degree angle relative to the ground.

Upon starting his push up, he will elevate his body to the point of hyper-extending both of his hands. He will then push his body back to the ground not only to the level of his hands but even extending to the grounds or up to his level of resistance. He will repeat this process to as much as he would want or according to his designated push-up limit as prescribed by his trainer.

The idea of extending the push beyond the hands is to create the same level of resistance like when one is hyperextending even in his supposed to be relaxed state. This will serve double purpose to the pecks and arm muscles because both muscle groups are not only compressed but are also stretched while doing one whole round of push up.

Whether doing a regular push ups or with the aid of stands, one must realize that the muscles can only bear a certain level of threshold in stretching or compressing. We are avoiding the overuse of these muscles because when they are overstretched, they end up being unusable. In addition, the degree of pain of overextended muscles can hamper a normal functioning of an individual.

Of course, with each exercise we do, we do not intend to inflict harm to ourselves. Let us be aware of our limits and we have to make sure to do warm up exercises for a smooth sailing exercise regimen.

Finding the perfect Workout Routines takes time and effort. The P90X Push Up Stands is a great place to start if a person is interested in flat abs. The P90X workout routines is also another workout that will help develop flat abs.

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How Long Does It Take To Rehab A Sprained Ankle?

By Bret Mundt

How long it takes to heal a sprained ankle depends on the severity of the sprain, the age of the person,and the physical condition of the person, but a grade 1 or mild grade 2 sprain should reasonably be rehabbed in a maximum of 2-3 weeks. It all depends on how fast you heal and how severe the damage is.

But you must have realistic expectations for completely rehabbing a sprained ankle and not rush it. You need to learn how to listen to what your body is telling you and then react appropriately. Good sprained ankle care demands that ankle rehab is only to be started after visiting a doctor and verifying there is no structural damage.

Only a few years ago, when an athlete would tear his ACL it was a career ending injury. Then surgeons started repairing ACL damage through surgery. The injury was no long career ending, but just delayed the career 12-18 months.

Now, with the advent of arthroscopic surgery a large number of athletes with knee injuries are able to return to competition within the same season.

Another example is recovery after heart bypass surgery. Back in the 70's my grandpa had heart bypass surgery and was put on bed rest for 2-3 weeks and then only allowed limited activity for the next 2-3 weeks.

Less than 2 years ago, my father-in-law had quadruple bypass surgery and was encouraged (read that forced) to stand up and walk hours after he came out of recovery.

The medical community has figured out that movement is critical to fast recovery.

So why is it that with the advancement of medicine most people still believe that an ankle sprain should take 2-3 months to heal?

I just read an article in a respected running magazine that stated an ankle sprain would take 2-3 months to heal.

I have personally experienced much faster recovery than that. In fact, with an aggressive physical therapy regimen, I was able to rehab a severe grade 1/mild grade 2 ankle sprain within 5 days. By rehab, I mean that I was able to compete at NCAA division 1 level basketball within 5 days of a severe ankle sprain.

Don't fall for the wait and it will all work out approach! You are letting life pass you by! Treating a sprained ankle with an extremely conservative approach after the doctor has confirmed there is no structural damage is keeping you from enjoying your life.

There are a lot of good ankle rehab programs on the internet that don't require you to spend thousands of dollars on equipment, weeks in physical therapy with time off from work...not to mention the cost of gas just driving to the physical therapists office.

If you do a Google search on the internet for "sprained ankle rehab", you'll be able to get a program that is proven to rehab ankles quickly and that will strengthen them as well.

Sprained Ankle rehab and treating a sprained ankle is easy when you follow a proven and safe program. Don't settle for following RICE. RICE protocol was only created as a method of first response after an ankle injury. It does not rehab a sprained ankle.

Make sure that the ankle rehab program you choose has a guarantee. You get the results you want or you get 100% of your money back.

Look for a program that has success built-in. The easier it is for you to do the exercises, the more likely you will actually follow through and do them.

Good luck in getting your ankle healed and in getting back to your life.


Bret Mundt has helped more than 1,280 people with sprained ankles get healed fast. With more than 50 sprained ankles over his basketball career he learned the tricks and secrets about how to rehab a injured ankle in less than 7 days so he would not lose playing time. Even if you can't walk and chew gum at the same time, you can get head shaking results with the step by step ankle rehab program.

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Do You Really Need a Custom Knee Brace?

By Gary Dimitroff

A custom fitted knee brace seems enticing since it involves numerous trips to an orthotist who makes a mold of the leg and takes numerous measurements. However, scientists have shown in numerous studies that this is not necessary. With the advent of computer generated biomechanical studies of the human knee in motion, engineers have been able to design knee braces that can provide exceptional stability without the inconvenience of multiple office visits and awkward adjustments. These new generations of knee braces are known as off-the-shelf models. Probably the most important contribution of these off-the-shelf models is that they will save you hundreds of dollars.



Two important studies have proven that the off-the-shelf knee braces provide the same protection as custom fitted knee braces. One study completed at the University of Michigan revealed that custom fitted knee braces did not prevent more motion of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient knee than an off-the-shelf knee brace. In fact, after one hour of use, the custom fitted knee brace came loose more often. Another interesting study at the University of Vermont looked at four different knee brace manufacturers and their effect on strain of the ACL during surgery. The results confirmed the previous study's findings. Both studies had the exact same conclusions "There were no apparent advantages of the more expensive custom-made braces compared with the off-the-shelf designs."



Researchers at two universities concluded that you can help stabilize your knee with a simple and convenient off-the-shelf knee brace and have confidence that it will protect your knee the same as the expensive custom fitted knee brace. Obviously, there are always exceptions to these conclusions. Some of the exceptions may be, but are not limited to, anyone with growth deformities or traumatic deformities to their leg. In addition, patients with severe nerve damage or open skin ulcers may be candidates for a custom fitted brace. If you are in doubt, always consult your personal physician.



WisdomKing.com takes pride in the fact that we provide you with Knee Supports and Braces and other products that have proven efficacy. One such knee brace would be our Ossur Innovator DLX™ Post-Op Knee Brace that was only available through custom fitting in the past. The newly released Ossur Innovator DLX™ Post-Op Knee Brace will provide your knees with the same great protection at a price hundreds of dollars less.


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Return to Sports Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

ByJoe Heiler

When is it OK to return to tennis following a total knee arthroplasty, a.k.a. knee replacement? I get asked this question all the time. The answer is not that simple, and it depends much more on range of motion and functional strength than it does just time from surgery.

This question came up the other day with a 65 year old tennis player, 6 months out from surgery. He had been attempting to play the last two weeks, but with swelling and soreness following the match. This is a very competitive guy so I know he is giving it his all. He had done some PT initially, 3 weeks at home and another 3 weeks in an outpatient clinic. He completed therapy feeling that he was doing fine. He was also under the impression he was doing well by his therapist and physician who gave him the green light at 6 months.

Problem was this guy still was lacking a few degrees of knee extension, couldn't squat without shifting the weight to his non-surgical leg, and had obvious hip abductor and external rotation strength deficits when standing on one leg (complicated way of saying his balance wasn't the best). This was just from the first five minutes of the exam.

Here are some general recommendations for range of motion and strength when attempting to return to sports following knee arthroplasty:

1. Must have full knee extension/hyperextension. Basically, the surgical leg must go as straight as the non-surgical leg for normal gait and running mechanics. Quad strength and control at this end range must be excellent as well.



2. The patient/athlete should be able to perform a body weight squat to parallel with perfect technique. This means even weight distribution right to left, heels stay down, knees stay apart, back stays straight. Cue the patient "keep your weight on your outer heels" during the squat. This can instantly clear up the valgus collapse (knock knees) that we so often see.



3. The patient/athlete must be able to perform a forward lunge to kneeling and back up maintaining an upright trunk.



4. Should be able to perform a lateral lunge to 3/4 depth. Ankle, knee, hip, and shoulder should be lined up vertically at that point.



5. Single leg squat/step down off a 10 inch box with excellent eccentric control x10. Eccentric basically means to lower slow and controlled



6. Single leg balance 30 seconds, pelvis level, pelvis and shoulder facing forward. This is a tough one to check on yourself if you are not trained. This is obviously looking at balance but also hip stability which is crucial when running, jumping, and changing direction. Watch the belt line, it should stay level when you go to one leg. Your body should not turn away from the stance leg either. If either of these things happen then hip stability is an issue and you will have issues with the knee down the road whether you participate in sports or not.

So there is my check list from 10 years of working in orthopedics and sports medicine as well as developing athletes of all ages. Does everyone achieve all six? No. The closer the better obviously as most will eventually attempt to resume their once normal activities. I do want each and every one of them to understand the risk they take with their new knee if they do not continue to work toward achieving these goals. Each one of them is critical to proper running and jumping mechanics, decelerating and cutting, and protecting the knee from the pounding, twisting, and beating that are all a part of athletics.



Joe Heiler PT, CSCS is a physical therapist specializing in sports medicine and orthopedics in Traverse City, Michigan. As a certified strength and conditioning specialist he has worked with athletes at all levels improving speed, power, and strength. Check out more great articles, exercise videos, audio interviews, and more from top physical therapists, athletic trainers, and sports performance coaches at http://www.sportsrehabexpert.com

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