Tag: Open Position

Mastering the Basics of the Golf Swing

Mastering the Basics of the Golf Swing

Article by Howard Brule

You are an aspiring golfer who isn’t scoring the way you want. Welcome to the world of golf because golf is a difficult game to excel at. Maybe you can play the game okay, but just aren’t performing the way you know you can. Is it a swing problem that is the source of your problems? Here are a few suggestions to help you see some golf swing improvement.

The place to start, no matter if you are a scratch golfer or high handicapper is with a dedicated practice routine. Set up a routine that focuses on your troublesome areas as well as key in on the other critical aspects of your golf swing.

You can arrange for Golf lessons from a golf professional, but before you take that route there are some simple things you can try on your own to improve your basic swing. Golf theory may be worth studying but it is important to have at least the basics of a swing before spending hard earned dollars on instruction.

A helpful way to think of improving your swing is to think of it as giving your swing the g-a-s, as in grip, alignment and stance. The first step toward golf swing improvement is taking a close look at your grip. Your hands should come together naturally and comfortably on the club. If you swing right handed, hooking the pinky finger of your right hand over the index finger of your left is a great way to start. Hold the shaft of the club lightly without tension. There is no need to hold the club tightly in your hands to put a good hit on the ball.

Many players who have difficulty striking the ball with power find their alignment is wrong. You should be aiming where you want the ball to go with your shoulders parallel to the intended line of flight. Most inexperienced golfers take a “closed” stance with their body and shoulders aimed out to the right (for right handers.) You can overcome this by simply shifting your body slightly to a more “open” position when you take your stance. This will help you avoid swinging “across” the ball – the primary source of the slice.

Golf swing improvement will occur naturally if you are aiming correctly and have a good athletic stance. Your knees should be bent slightly, your spine angled forward but fairly straight, and your rear end in something of a sitting position. Don’t be tense. You should be relaxed when you swing a golf club.

Now, before you swing, step back from your ball and take a practice swing. Sweep the club head back and up keeping your arms extended and cocking your wrists as the club is taken up.

Your head should remain quite still and you should try to avoid “sliding” your body back as you take the club around and up. Taking the club back should be a rotational movement with your spine remaining more or less stationary and angled in the same way while rotating your upper body around your spine. As you take the club up and back your shoulders will naturally turn and the club will end up parallel to the target line. Then, keeping that athletic stance, throw the club out and back and down through the ball as you rotate your hips and upper body around your spine.

The golf swing may seem difficult at first but with a bit of dedication toward improving your swing you will almost certainly see an improvement in your game in a matter of weeks. Get to a practice facility or driving range, warm up, then practice swinging using the proper grip, stance and alignment and you will definitely see golf swing improvement. Then once you have mastered the basics you can take your game to the next level.

About the Author

Anton Brule is an avid golfer and student of the golf swing. He makes regular contributions to Internet Golf Review and recommends this free 7 part golf swing improvement course.

Shutter Hardware–an Essential Glossary

Shutter Hardware–an Essential Glossary

Are you are preparing to install functional shutters on your home? Or perhaps you already have shutters, and you’re looking to give them a facelift by replacing the old, rusty hardware with something new? By now, you’ve probably realized that when it comes to functional shutter hardware, there are a myriad of parts to choose from. This essential glossary will describe and define the many different components of shutter hardware.

Various Shutter Hardware Components:

Plate Pintel–Pintels are the rod or pin upon which the hinges turns. A plate pintel is a pin mounted on a plate, and the plate attaches to the house with screws.

Lag Pintel–This type of pintel is attached to a lag screw (a long, pointed screw that goes into the wood or brick mold that surrounds the windows).

Shutterdog–A shutterdog is an S-shaped part (sometimes also referred to as an S-Holdback) that attaches to your house with a lag screw and hold the shutter against the house in an open position. The shutterdog spins on the lag screw, and is weighted at one end, so that it stays in an upright position. When you want to close the shutter, just turn the S-shaped part to free the shutter, allowing it to close.

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Rat Tail Holdback–Like a shutterdog, the rat tail holdback is another way of holding a shutter back against the house, in an open position. It is mounted to the house on a lag screw, and is weighted at one end to keep it in an upright position. The bottom part of the rat tail holdback is curved around to fit over the shutter and hold it in place. When you want to close the shutter, just turn the rat tail holdback to free the shutter, allowing it to close.

Acorn Holdback–Acorn holdbacks (also referred to as bullet catches) can be used as a substitute for shutterdogs and rat tail holdbacks. The acorn shaped part attaches to the house on a lag screw, and the catch is mounted to the back of the shutter. When the shutter is opened, the acorn and catch engage and hold the shutter against the house.

Center Slide Latch–Center slide latches are a common way to secure your shutters in the closed position. Usually a part with sliding bolt is attached to one shutter, and the catch is attached to the other shutter. When the shutters are fully closed, the bolt slides into the catch, holding the shutters together in a closed position.

Hook Latch and Eye–This is an inexpensive, though less durable, alternative to a center slide latch. The hook latch attaches to one shutter and the eye attaches to the other. When the shutters are closed, the hook latch slips into the eye and keeps the shutters closed.

Pull Ring–This part attaches to the face of the shutter and provides a place to grab onto the shutter and pull it closed. Pull rings are not an essential item. They can be added if desired, but will not affect the functionality of the shutters if not added.

Other Important Terms To Know:

Offset–When purchasing plate pintels or hinges, you’ll need to choose an offset. In terms of a plate pintel, the offset is the distance between the plate that screws onto the house and the pin that the hinge sits on. In terms of a hinge, the offset is the distance from the pintel pin to the flat part of the hinge, where it attaches to the face of the shutter.

Throw–Throw is the total distance needed for the shutter to clear the siding material when in the open position. The amount of throw your shutter hardware provides can be calculated by adding the plate pintel offset and the hinge offset.

Ellen Bell works for Home Products n’ More, a company dedicated to providing high quality products for your home, garden, and auto. Home Products n’ More offers a complete line of shutter hardware, including shutter hinges and shutter dogs, all with free shipping and handling. Visit us at http://www.homeproductsnmore.com/Exterior_Shutter_Hardware_s/48.htm