Strength for golf is a term you’ve all heard by now. It’s all over the television during professional tournaments, and golf instructors are now throwing the term around.

What makes strength for golf so important and why should you listen?

Let me briefly explain.

The golf swing is traumatic to the body! I can’t put it any simpler than that. When you are swing an object that is over 3 feet long at over 85 mph, there is a physical cost.

The physical cost is undo stress on the major joints of the body. The lower back is the most common area to get injured, along with the hips, shoulders, knees and even wrists.

If your body is physically weak and restricted (low level of flexibility), you will have a minimal chance at playing good golf and staying injury-free as well.

How many times have you gone to the range or the course, only to come home with your lower back stiff, aching or in pain? What about other body parts? I’ll be you’ve felt your hip joints or maybe even your shoulder joints at some point.

If you saw a slow motion video of the human body swinging a club, you’d be shocked. The body is put in some torqued positions throughout the swing. When the body is weak it breaks down. That’s a fact!

In comes strength for golf!

By working your golf specific muscles, you will not only improve your swing mechanics quickly, but your game will transform. You will feel like a different golfer on the course. Your playing partners will be in awe.

You may think I’m hyping this up, but all the above is true! You will quickly realize this has been the missing link to your golf game improvement all along. And don’t ever think it’s too late to start a program of strength for golf.

About The Author

Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country; Golf Magazine’s expert at GolfOnline.com, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness manual and dvds at http://www.performbettergolf.com.

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Why the heck would I want to go camping in New Jersey?

I get asked that question just about every single day and I’m pretty tired of it after all these years. So I’m going to answer that question right here for the last time.

There are literally hundreds of reasons to go camping in New Jersey, but there is one large, and I mean really large, reason:

Where else in the country can you drive less then 3 hours and go from the mountains, to the shore, to the marshlands, to 3 different major metropolitan areas to several major lakes and everywhere in between?

Camping in New Jersey is literally the best of all worlds. There is just about nothing you cannot do while you camp in New Jersey. You have your choice of over 120 campgrounds and State Park facilities to choose from not to mention thousands of acres of public land to explore.

Just about every one of the privates campgrounds in the state have craft activities, pools, fishing ponds, sports activities and so many other amenities I can’t even count. Most of them are clean, modern and well suited to just about any type of camping. They are all within a decent driving distance of dozens of cultural, sports, historical, recreational and children related attractions.

Canoeing, hiking, biking, birding and unlimited recreation activities can also be found at campgrounds around the state and many sites are within a short drive of some of the state’s premium attractions and fabulous Atlantic Ocean beaches and boardwalks.

New Jersey is literally a kaleidoscope of natural, picturesque landscapes filled with some of the best and exciting camping experiences anywhere in the Northeast part of the country. Personally I think camping here in New Jersey is as good, if not better, then just about anywhere in the country.

More than 25,000 sites/cabins/yurts/rental trailers await your visit, sites of all shapes and sizes that can accommodate campers with everything from tent sites to pop-ups to fully equipped RVs.

From the Delaware Water Gap to a view of the Statue of Liberty to wooded campgrounds in the Pine Barrens to the sandy beaches of the Jersey Shore, the ideal camping experience is close at hand.

No matter what type of camping you choose, tenting, RVing or cabin rentals, New Jersey has something for you. Pick a region to begin investigating where you want to camp:

Atlantic - It’s no wonder the Atlantic Region is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. Atlantic City and its world-famous beach and boardwalk, luxurious casino, non-stop gaming action, the hottest entertainers, the best in dining, and quality sporting events. New Jersey Camping in the Atlantic Region gives you access to this great area!

Delaware - It’s where history was made. And where nature rules. It’s where the arts come alive and stately mansions reign. New Jersey’s Delaware River Region is all of these and more. It’s a unique region that can provide you with many things to do and see on your next vacation. New Jersey Camping and you, perfect together!

Gateway - Live with action, the Gateway Region has everything for your perfect vacation including New Jersey Camping activities, New Jersey State Parks and New Jersey Campgrounds.

Shore - Mention the Shore Region, and certain images immediately come to mind: more than 60 miles of pristine beaches from Sandy Hook down to Holgate; surfcasting off Seaside Park; perhaps some bodysurfing off Bay Head; or maybe a moonlit walk in Surf City. Anything you want can be found in New Jersey Camping.

Skylands - Gentle mountains. Skiing. Rock climbing. Horseback riding.Would you believe you’re in New Jersey? New Jersey Camping and you, perfect together!

Southern Shore - Walk along 30 miles of wide sandy beaches. Experience the warmth of a Victorian inn. Take a stroll through history or enjoy the fresh bounty of the sea at a gourmet restaurant. New Jersey Camping offers a wide variety of ways to take advantage of this area.

So, whether it’s a cabin by a lakeshore, an RV minutes from the Statue of Liberty or just a sleeping bag amidst the rugged mountain wilderness, New Jersey Camping is perfect for you.

About The Author

Eric Stephenson is an avid camper and publisher of http://www.NJCampingInfo.com where you can get all the information you will ever need about camping in New Jersey as well as information about camping and the latest technologies and products related to camping. This article is copyrighted. It may be reproduced only if the hyperlinks here are left intact.

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Aerobic conditioning should be performed three to six days per week for at least 20 to 30 min at your target heart rate. Training at the proper intensity is the key to aerobic training. During exercise we physically stress our body and it is our body’s adaptation to that stress that makes us healthier. This is why a leisurely walk does not qualify for aerobic training; unless we push ourselves our training stimulus will not illicit a physiologic adaptation. Adaptations made by the heart and lungs in response to aerobic training allow them to work more efficiently by increasing their capacity to pump blood and utilize oxygen. This improved circlation and oxygenation allows the body to perform more work, at higher levels with less stress.

Determining Target Heart Rate

Method 1: Using a percentage of Maximal Attainable Heart Rate:

To determine your target heart rate you must first find your predicted Maximal Attainable Heart Rate also known as Heart Rate Max (HRM). To calculate the predicted (HRM) you subtract your age from 220. General guidelines for Target Heart Rate (THR) using this method are between 60 % HRM at the low end to 90 % HRM at the high end. Once you know your HRM simply multiple by .6 and .9 to find your target heart rate range.

For example for a 40 year old, subtract 40 from 220 to obtain your Heart Rate Max of 180 beats per minute. Then, by multiplying the HRM by the work rate (60%-90%) we know that this person should be exercising with a heart rate between 108 beats per minute to 160 beats per minute.

Method 2: Target heart rate as a percentage of Heart Rate Reserve (HRR)

Using this method is a bit more accurate as it takes into considerations ones normal resting heart rate. Heart rate reserve is the number of beats per minute between your normal resting heart rate and your maximal attainable heart rate. To calculate target heart rate using this method we use what’s known as the Karvonen formula.

Karvonen formula: Target heart rate (THR) = (exercise intensity x HRR) + Resting Heart Rate.

General guidelines for THR (target heart rate) using this method are 50 % HRR - 85 % HRR.

Take your pulse to determine your Resting Heart Rate. To find your heart rate reserve (HRR) subtract your resting heart rate from your Heart Rate Max. Multiply the HRR by .5 to find lower limit, and multiply by .85 to find upper limit. Then add the resting heart rate back to that number to find the final result.

For example let’s look at a forty year old with a resting heart rate of 80 beats per minute. Subtract 40 from 220 to come up with a Heart Rate Max of 180. Next, subtract resting rate of 80 from HRM of 180 to get a Heart Rate Reserve of 100. Take the HRR of 100 and multiply by the exercise intensity (between 0.5 and 0.85) then add back the resting heart rate. This gives a target heart rate of between 130 beats per minute and 165 beats per minute.

Generally, current fitness level determines where in the target range we should be exercising. Monitor your heart rate during aerobic exercise. It may be necessary to gradually work your way up to the recommended duration and target heart rate. If you’re new to aerobic training or haven’t exercised in a long time start out slowly. Gradually increase the pace and duration of your aerobic workouts. Before you know it you will be working at the recommended intensity levels and reaping the full benefit of your aerobic training. Include activities you enjoy in your aerobic program. Activities such as bicycling, tennis, basketball, and swimming are every bit as effective as jogging or stair stepper machines, and they are often more fun. If you are looking to reduce body fat, some studies suggest aerobic training first thing in the morning may stimulate an increase in fat burning throughout the entire day. Research has also shown that the general heath benefits of aerobic training can be gained if you break your daily sessions into two or more shorter bouts. Regardless of when you do it, aerobic exercise will get you looking, feeling, and playing better

Remember these are general guidelines; a qualified healthcare or fitness professional may be able to give you a more specific aerobic training perscription. It is recommended to consult your physician before starting an exercise program if you are a male 45 or older or a female 55 or older, have experienced chest pain, dizziness, rapid heart beat, shortness of breath, or have been diagnosed with cardiac, pulmonary or metabolic disease.

Bill Scibetta, RN, NSCA-CPT

Bill is the founder and President of Precision Fitness ? Personal Training Centers in the Charlotte, NC area and co-author of the book Play Better Longer! ? Peak Performance and Injury Prevention for Golf. Bill is a licensed Registered Nurse as well as a National Strength and Conditioning Association ? Certified Personal Trainer. After spending years practicing in the specialty of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Bill has dedicated his career to helping individuals identify and overcome obstacles that stand in the way of optimal wellness and peak physical performance. For more information visit http://www.LakeNormanFitness.com

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Are you sure you’re doing everything you can to be the best coach possible? Absolutely sure?

I’ve been a coach and I’ve had a lot of coaches. You know what I’ve found? Some coaches put all the pieces together and some just don’t invest time developing the coaching skills that make a difference.

I can’t turn you into a coaching superstar overnight but I can get you started with these six powerful communication skills. I’ll break them into two groups: Verbal and Non-verbal.

Three verbal communication skills you must master:

1) Consistency

Don’t send your players mixed messages by telling your team something today and then two days from now completely contradicting yourself. Your players must be able to trust the words that come out of your mouth.

Also, keep your tone consistent with what your words are intending to get across. I had a coach once who, when one of us messed up, would say, “That was great” in a dripping wet sarcastic tone. Talk about sending us a negative message and beating team morale into the ground!

2) Honesty

Be honest with your team and always in a positive way. Your team knows when mistakes are made so don’t try to ignore them. If you try to gloss over them, you’ll lose your team’s respect. Just be sure to correct mistakes in a positive way that helps a player see what was done correctly but also feel good about fixing the mistake.

When pointing out a mistake, first say what was good, then say “and if you follow through properly, you’ll get the proper spin on the ball”, rather than “but if you follow through properly, you’ll get the proper spin on the ball”.

3) Be Concise

Don’t speak to your team unclearly. Think through what you want to get across ahead of time and deliver your thoughts in a clear, concise manner. Come right out and say it. Don’t go off on tangents and bore your players with unnecessary talk. Get to the point and then get the troops moving.

Three non-verbal communication skills you must master:

4) Facial Expressions

Be aware of how closely your team pays attention to what your face is “saying”. Don’t be a phony by trying to hide what you really feel with a fake smile or a serious blank stare.

Realize, also, that just a simple smile can do wonders for a struggling player or a player unsure of what they’re doing. Show them that you’re behind them, glad to be with them and there to help.

Don’t overdo this, though. Your players will pick up on that. Be genuine in your coaching efforts.

5) Body Language

If you’re standing on the sideline in a way that shows you are happy to be there and confident, how will your players respond as opposed to you scowling around all hunched over and looking angry? Remember to present body language that represents enthusiasm, class and character.

Body language can also be used in the form of physical contact such as a pat, a handshake or an arm around the shoulder. Stay ethical, of course, but physical contact can show your players the many emotions you feel about them - happiness, concern, affection, approval, etc.

6) Listen

This one’s huge! You need to pay attention to your players. You’ve got to focus on really seeing and hearing your players’ verbal and non-verbal signals.

If your players keep hearing you say, “What was that?” or “Did you say something?”, you’re in trouble and you need to work on your listening skills big time.

Start practicing this coaching skill and watch how much more you instantly start to learn about your team. You’ll see a player is upset over something even though he’s trying hard to hide it. You’ll see how each player reacts to not only you but to one another.

Master these six coaching strategies and watch your coaching skills skyrocket. Your players must know you care way before they’ll care about what you have to say. Remember this because too many coaches don’t.

About The Author

David Huizar & Matt Zavadil

Matt & Dave run http://www.football-plays-and-drills.com/rollout and enjoy teaching football players and coaches more about the football plays, drills, fundamentals and tips that result in individual and team success. For our free report, “5 Keys to Discovering the Successful Coach Inside You”, plus an additional free report, send a blank email to mailto:footballtips@aweber.com.

We give full permission for you to use this article in your newsletter or on your site as long as you include our Resource Box with our website link and email link included.

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Golf equipment doesn’t work? Did that catch your attention? I hope so. Now keep reading.

Just the other day I was watching the Golf Channel and they were talking yet again about the latest and greatest drives and irons. This golf equipment (new technology) that has gotten totally out of hand, is making these companies a ton of money.

Why?

Because they prey on vulnerable, frustrated golfers looking to play better through golf equipment.

Here’s my beef!

It’s not working! I don’t care what these companies sayI see golfers everyday, buying new golf equipment and STILL not playing any better. It’s a known fact that the average golf handicap has not gone down in over 20 years!

It’s NOT the equipment that’s going to improve your gameit’s YOU!

You swing that club. You show up to the range or course. It all depends on your current physical condition how well you will swingand especially for 18 holes.

Is that registering with you yet?

How many new clubs have you bought lately? Did it allow you to play betterconsistently? Be honest. Don’t let your pride answer that question. Just state the facts. Are your scores lower? Do you swing with better consistency?

These are questions to constantly ask yourself to make sure you are seeing progress. If you’re notthen save your money and get working on YOU!

It’s always fun to see the new golf equipment that’s coming outbut your game is dependant on your physical capabilities, not compensations with golf equipment.

About The Author

Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf performance experts in the country; Golf Magazine’s expert at GolfOnline.com, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf performance sites. Take a look at his just released golf performance manual and dvds at http://www.performbettergolf.com.

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What you should get out of this lesson is that short is usually better regarding approach shots, and I’m going to explain a few reasons why I believe this to be true.

Let’s set the scene. We’ll use the same example throughout. Let’s say that you usually hit your 8 iron around 150 yards, and you are 160 out. Now, most golfers would probably grab their 7 iron here, and think to themselves, “I’ll just take a little off this, and I’ll be right on the pin”.

Problem: Most recreational golfers don’t have the ability to add and take off power from their swings.

You should focus first, and foremost, on mastering one swing, including the tempo, speed, and power that it takes to perfect that one swing. Once you start trying to swing a little easier or a little harder, problems start to sneak into your round. You are trying to play for the pin and instead, you end up in the bunker on the right side of the green, and now you’ve just turned a par hole into a double bogey.

The difference in distance between your 7 and 8 iron should be about 10-15 yards. The Point? Hit your 8 iron every time in the above situation. Don’t mess with your swing. Go with what you trust. Hit the 8 iron 150 yards, and let the ball roll onto the green. At that point, anything can happen. You may end up 2 inches, 2 feet, or 20 feet from the pin, but at least you’re putting.

Benefit 1: If you mishit the ball a little further than usual, you’re still in good shape because you played a little short in the first place. If you hit the ball a little short, you’re still okay, because chances are, you’re sitting in the middle of the fairway, maybe on the fringe.

Benefit 2: If you go to the right or the left, since you played the shorter club, you’re not going to be as far right or left as you would have been with the 7 iron. This could mean that you are still on the green, or it could mean that you are on either side of the fairway. But chances are that you are still in decent shape.

Summary: When you’re trying to decide between two clubs, take a second to look at the hazards around the green. If there’s a bunker or some water guarding the front of the green, then sure, it may be a good idea to take the larger club. But other than this exception, you are almost always better off, taking less club. You’ll stay out of trouble, and that is the key to lowering your overall score.

David Nevogt writes golf instruction material that helps golfers of all levels reach their full potential and lower their scores. David is the author of “The Simple Golf Swing” which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from today. You can find more of his golf instruction by going to http://www.golfswingguru.com

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I’ve played with a lot of golfers who truly take the game of golf seriously and a lot of golfers who don’t. It’s okay to have fun out there, keeping in mind respect for other players who do take it serious.

The tee box

Think of the tee box as a stage with a spotlight. Everybody gets his or her turn to shine. Try to remain quiet and out of the golfer’s view, including your shadow that may hinder the golfer’s concentration at address. The best position to stand when a player is addressing the golf ball would be to the other side, opposite of his golfer’s arm extension. You should be standing far enough back to see the club head and golf ball of the player addressing the ball. By taking this position, you would definitely be giving the player room to concentrate, unless he can see your shadow or hear the chatter of your clubs or talk. When you must stand behind or front of a golfer addressing his or her shot, take a second to ask if it’s okay and or are you far enough away. Act like a caddie when another player is playing a shot. Watch the golf ball finish rolling and mark the spot with a tree or bush. A lot of golfers do not like to watch their ball land, if it’s a bad shot. By doing this for your fellow golfer, it will help speed up play. Try to refrain from yelling nice shot or great shot, when you’re around another tee box or green. When you must tell a joke, wait until it’s you’re stage.

The green

Around the green can be a little more complex for the new golfer. Fix as many golf marks as you can, besides your own. A lot of golfers do not fix their ball marks on approaches to the green. Sometimes players get excited about their golf shot and forget. Ask other player’s to help, if there is more than a couple and your not holding up other players behind you.

There are typically four or three golf balls lying on the green. The key goal here is not to walk on another’s players line to the golf hole. When you find another player is further back from the hole, you should mark your ball. When approaching your golf ball, you have to be careful as to where you walk. Another player’s line to the hole should not have a big footprint to go over. Try stepping over the player’s line to the hole, or go around carefully watching for other player’s golf positions to the hole. When you’re not sure, because of a marked ball. Ask your competitor where his ball is marked. When another golfer is about to putt, stay still until he or she takes their putting stroke, unless they give you the okay to walk. When you must walk to where you want to go. Do not stop, walk, stop, and walk again. It could be more distracting than a continuous walk.

The golfer closer to the hole should tend the pin. Ask your competitor if they need the stick tended. When tending the pin, be careful not to cast a shadow over the player’s line. Also keep the flag from waving in the wind by holding it against the flagstick. Position yourself with both feet together away from the hole. Bend the flagstick slightly if you have to keep your feet out of another player’s line. When the shot is taken, pull the pin so your competitor does not get penalized for hitting the flagstick. When it’s someone else’s turn, ask if he or she needs the pin tended. When you think you may need it tended, ask someone to hold it for you.

The game of golf originated out of fun. There are those that take it quite seriously. Follow most of these tips, and it could be quite enjoyable, and you may not have a problem finding a foursome to tee it up with.

About The Author

George Gabriel

Tee times at http://www.golfanchor.net.

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The last decade has seen many changes, one of them being the amazing involvement of individuals in baseball fantasy leagues as well as other fantasy sports. There are no specific rules for baseball fantasy involvement; however an unspoken rule for you to be successful at baseball fantasy games is for you to have a real appreciation and interest in real baseball. These simple steps will help you start a baseball fantasy league that you will really enjoy playing with the whole season.

Baseball Fantasy Step #1 Calling all Teams

The first baseball fantasy step to creating a league is getting your teams together. This basically means you need to get 8-12 friends together to create teams. Remember, if you have less than 8 teams or more than 12 your season will not be as enjoyable. The suggested 8-12 baseball fantasy teams mean you will be able to have a competitive season.

Baseball Fantasy Step #2 Elections

Every baseball fantasy league needs a commissioner, or someone who is in charge. This person will be responsible for compiling each team’s statistics on a weekly basis and distributing them to all of the players. Be sure you elect a commissioner who is responsible and takes the position seriously.

Baseball Fantasy Step #3 One League or Two

This can be a tough decision, but it must be made. This is the decision of whether or not to use only one league or both the American and National Leagues.

Baseball Fantasy Step #4 The Draft

Acquiring players can be done in many different ways, and the best way for your baseball fantasy league to do this is what works best for all teams. Sometimes a draft works, other times an auction, decide what works best and then stick with it.

Baseball Fantasy Step #5 Rules

Each league has rules so far as statistics and how points are accumulated. Whatever rules apply to your league make sure all teams are aware and follow the rules.

Baseball Fantasy Step #6 Have Fun

Remember to have fun and enjoy your baseball fantasy league. This has been going on for years and millions of Americans really enjoy this activity. Some play for money, some play for trophies, and others simply play to win. Whatever you choose to play for, make sure all teams are in favor.

About The Author

Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.baseballcenter.info a blog focusing on the Baseball, resources and articles. This site provides detailed information on Baseball. For more info on Baseball visit: http://www.baseballcenter.info.

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Here are a few tips to keep in mind, and then we’ll get to the heart of this article.

Aim for the middle of the green, not the flag. Pin placements and greens are getting tougher to stick all the time. Don’t be a “sucker” and go for a pin that you’ll most likely miss, which will leave you in a bunker or some other position to add strokes to your round.

Focus on alignment, not distance. That leads us into the main part of the article.

As you know, it’s not an easy task to master the approach shot, but there are some ways in which you can drastically improve the accuracy of the shot. Alignment is the key to improving your approach shots. Most golfers don’t practice their alignment too much on the practice range, but they should.

Think about this for a minute. Generally, when you are off the green it is due to alignment, not distance. Chances are, you have your 160 yard club, 150, 140, 130, etc…

And if you hit a poor shot, the ball may go a little further or a little shorter. But even if that happens, most greens are deep enough that you should be on the putting surface if you have selected the club that would leave you in the center of the green.

But…alignment is another story. If you pull the ball, more times than most you really pull the ball, correct?

When your alignment is off, it’s off by much more than 5-10 yards!

And if you push the ball, you generally are pushing it for the entire round, correct? Bunkers, water, and uneven lies are the obstacles you face.

How are you supposed to compete? The answer is simple. Practice your alignment.

Take your home course for example. I would be willing to bet there’s somewhere in the ball park of a 160-yard par 3 on the course. Now picture that hole. What happens if you’re 5-10 yards deep or shallow? You’re probably still okay, right?

But what happens if you go right or left? That shot, more than likely, has trouble written all over it.

David Nevogt writes golf instruction material that helps golfers of all levels reach their full potential and lower their scores. David is the author of “The Simple Golf Swing” which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from today. You can find more of his golf instruction by going to http://www.golfswingguru.com

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When the summer rolls around and the air heats up, we all dream of having pools in our own backyard. However, before shopping for pools, it is important to be aware of safety issues. Make sure you are willing to take on the responsibility before you buy.

Do you have a lot of kids in your neighborhood? Pools are magnets for children! Be aware that if the pool is on your property, you may be liable for any accident that may occur. For safety reasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend installing pools until your children are at least 5 years old. While they are certainly a lot of fun, pools can also be hazardous if the owners don’t take proper precautions.

Fences should be placed around pools to prevent accidental falls as well as uninvited guests. The fences should be at least 4 feet high and gated. Ideally, there should be latches and locks for when the pools are not in use. Ladders from above-ground pools should be removed when not in use.

All pools should be equipped with life preservers. Swimmers should always have a buddy, regardless of age; children in particular should not swim without adult supervision. Too many drownings occur in pools every year, and many of these could have been easily prevented. Many of these accidents occur in family-owned pools.

Another thing to think about before shopping for pools is the amount of time that goes into owning them. Pools need to be well maintained. They should be cleaned regularly, and checked for pH levels. Chemicals such as chlorine need to be stored in cool, dry, well-ventilated areas out of the sun, and they should be locked up when not in use. Covers should be kept on pools during long periods of non-use. This not only keeps swimmers out but also helps keep the pools clean.

Owners who follow simple safety guidelines can enjoy their pools without having to worry too much about catastrophes. Just remember that accidents can happen to anybody, and letting down your guard for just a moment may be long enough for that one tragedy to occur. With a responsible attitude and awareness, pools can be enjoyable for everyone.

About The Author

Jeff Lakie is the founder of http://www.pool-and-spa.info and http://www.pool-liners.info websites providing information on swimming pools.

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