A golf swing trainer is just what the name suggests—a special club, shaft, or appendix designed and built to help players modify or improve his or her swing on the links. These devices are made to help a player improve anything from a drive swing to a putt and several stops in between, even chip shots, wedge shots, and backswing trainers.

For several years certain weighted golf clubs were favored to help improve swing power, but recently an egg-shaped weight known as the Power Golf Swing Weight Trainer, designed and marketed by Mike Pedersen, has been gaining influence. At $30, it is far less expensive than weighted clubs, and the weight clips onto the shaft of a club, allowing a player to use his own clubs comfortably. It can be attached near the grip for release exercise, in the middle of the shaft for what golfers call the swing tempo, and toward the head to help build strength and power.

Golf champion Vijay Singh has endorsed the Speed Stick, a kind of javelin-like shaft with a golf grip that is weighted and is designed for twenty exercise swings in succession as fast as possible. Critics, however, say the Speed Stick can harm as well as help your swing because it emphasizes and trains pure power at the expense of other more critical mechanical swing improvements.

The Swing Fan club is getting somewhat more positive reviews. A club with fan-like blades that you try to swing faster, critics seem to like the device because while it helps you build swing speed it also keeps you in mind of distance and accuracy in head-to-ball contact as well.

A somewhat unique swing trainer catching more attention, however, is the Power Golf Swing Trainer. This device—basically, a pair of upper arm bracelets attached to the ends of an adjustable shaft—keeps a golfer’s arms in the best position to maintain what the sport likes to call the upper body triangle, preventing the arms from being the complete source of the swing and helping the golfer use the right balance of upper body, arms, and hands. It comes with a guide featuring drills and exercises to be done with the device, and sells for $79.75, which is about the same range as many weighted golf clubs. You can find more information about golf swing trainers and other types of sports training equipment at the Sports Bag Blog.

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If you have decided to buy a golf set—either for yourself or for someone else—it is good to have an idea of what you are looking for before you actually make the purchase.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• How often will the clubs be used?
• How serious/skilled is the player they are for?
• Is this person a youth?
• How much money am I willing to spend?
• How much do I know about individual club styles?

Those questions will help you make some important decisions, which will help you make the best purchase possible among the many golf sets available on the market today.

Used vs. New is one decision you will make. If you are on a tight budget or are buying for someone new to the game (who may soon lose interest), buying used is a smart decision. If you are a regular player and know what you are looking for, you’ll probably need to buy a new golf set to get the quality and consistency that you expect.

Set vs. Individual is another choice. Golf sets make clubs more affordable and well-matched, but if you have some specific desires for certain clubs, and you can’t find a set that meets your needs, you might need to break it up and buy clubs individually, essentially assembling your own golf set.

Number of clubs is yet another decision you will need to make. The average golf set should include irons, woods, a driver, and wedges. The number in each category will vary slightly, and if you are a beginning player you may want less clubs (and advanced players will probably want a couple more), but here is what you can expect a basic set of clubs to include:

• 3-wood
• 5-wood
• (7-wood  optional)
• driver
• 2-iron
• 3-iron
• 4-iron
• 5-iron
• 6-iron
• 7-iron
• 8-iron
• 9-iron
• pitching wedge
• sand wedge

Budget is a huge factor. Golf sets with higher quality materials, more time-tested design, longer clubs, and a greater number of clubs all cost more. The company that manufactures the clubs will also play a role in how much you pay. Some of this is “paying for the logo,” as they say. But on the other hand, most companies that have an established reputation for reliable golf equipment have earned that reputation after years of proving themselves on the course.

Then, once you decide that you are budgeting, go find the best set you can for the money you are going to spend. If you shop around, you can probably find a set that comes with a bag included, and you may also be able to acquire free balls, tees, or perhaps even golf gloves or club covers if you wait for a good deal.

Note: Most golf sets don’t include a putter, because everyone is different and most golfers want to choose a putter that specifically meets their needs and then add it into the set individually.

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As golf cart accessories go, if there is something you think would be nice to have, there is a good chance that someone has already invented it. (If not, you should.) That said, there are some cart add-ons that are more popular (and more purposeful) than others. Before you buy an accessory, take time to find the one that is just right for you. If you want a hanging bag but the store you visit only has basket organizers, it will probably be worth it to look for a bag elsewhere.
The purpose of golf cart accessories is to keep your game flowing smoothly, and to make your experience in the cart and on the course as enjoyable as possible. Of course, nothing is as enjoyable as a great score at the end of the round, but at least good accessories can take some of the little stresses out, allowing you to play your best game possible.
Most of the cart add-ons that you’ll find are centered around one (or more) of the three following goals:

• Comfort
• Convenience / ease of use
• Enjoyment / fun

For example, if you live someplace very hot and sunny and find yourself wanting a bit of extra shade (or if you live someplace like Florida, prone to short rain showers), it can be a good idea to get a golf cart canopy, which adds sides to the cart to provide a little extra shelter when you are sitting in it. This would be a product that centers on comfort.

For convenience, there are a number of products available. Many help you keep the cart organized by providing hanging bags with pockets for small personal items, or a rear-mounted caddy basket for easy access to items you will use on the course, but don’t want to hold all the time.

And finally, enjoyment and fun. Of course, that should be the point of the game already, but to add a bit more pleasure, you can actually find pet beds for sale as golf cart accessories. These beds are designed to allow a small pet (presumably a dog) to ride along with you as you play. The bed has a tether/seatbelt and sides tall enough to prevent the animal from falling out, and security straps to secure it to the bench of the cart. For most people, having a pet along doesn’t make much difference in terms of comfort or convenience, but it sure can be fun.

Of course, there are other golf car accessories not mentioned here, most of which center around convenience. An oversized clock can attach to the exterior of the cart, so you can easily see what time it is even when you are far off the cart path. A scorecard caddy secures the card and pencil firmly against a pole so you don’t have to worry about dropping or carrying them. These are just a few; shop around for dozens of additional golf cart accessory ideas and add-ons to make your game more enjoyable.

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If you’re heading abroad (or even to another region of the United States) for a golf vacation package, you’ll want to make sure you pack well and have everything you need on hand. From what you bring to how you pack it, being prepared is the best thing you can do to ensure that you have your best game ready to go come tee time. Whether across the country or across the world, use these packing tips to have a stress free time and play your best.

• Travel golf bag. This is essential, especially if you are flying to your golf vacation. You need your clubs to arrive unharmed, so get a travel-specific bag that is either lightweight and padded (for ease of carrying around an airport), or hard (for added protection of extra clubs, but also a bit heavier).
• Travel trunk. This helps you keep your other gear organized. A travel golf bag won’t have the extensive pockets that you’re probably used to on your main bag (especially if you have a cart bag). Bringing a small trunk for your tees, gloves, hat, shoes and socks, balls, and other gear lets you keep your suitcase for your clothes, and have your golf gear in one place, organized and protected.
• Weather-appropriate golfing clothes. Some of the best golf courses for a golf vacation are in warm climates that may be hotter than you are used to. Make sure you have clothing that will protect you from the sun (like a hat or visor). Your shirt should be breathable so you don’t get too warm. And if you’re going someplace humid that may rain, a material that wicks moisture will keep your comfortable. And if it’s especially hot, consider getting golfing sandals. After all, you are going to be on vacation; you should be comfortable.
• Backup gear. Gauging how much gear to bring is tricky. You want to be prepared, but you don’t want to pack more than you need, especially if you pay for checked luggage by weight. Think about how much of your backup gear (especially extra balls and tees) you go through when you play a course you are unfamiliar with. Bring one or two extra, but nothing excessive. Then have cash on hand so that if you have to, you can buy supplies from the club.
• Your mind. This may sound silly, but when you’re playing a new course for the first time, it really doesn’t hurt to do a little research before you get there. Adapting to a change in weather conditions can throw you a little off, physically, so the more prepared you are, the better. Check out the club’s website before you embark on your golf vacation, and see if they have an overview of the course, or if online forums give pointers on specific holes that may present particular challenge.

Once you’re ready to go, and have everything you need for your golf vacation, then all that is left to do is have fun!

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When you are playing the game of golf, nothing is as important to the success of your game than a perfect golf swing. Of course, factors such as where you aim and what type of club you use are also essential. But these interact very strongly with how you swing and why you choose the swing and club that you do.

First, let’s look at the three main types of strokes you will use in a typical game of golf:

1. Normal stroke: This is the one that you will work on your swing for. The normal stroke involves a full swing and is intended to move the ball a considerable distance, such as when you first tee off, and any subsequent shots until you reach the green.
2. Chip: Unlike the normal stroke, the chip is used to move the ball much shorter distances, often from the rough or a hazard (like a sand trap) onto the green without rolling too far. To minimize rolling, the chip has considerable vertical motion, rather than horizontal.
3. Putt: Like the normal stroke golf swing, putting is probably of equal importance to the success of your game. Unlike the previous two types of stroke, putting involves keeping the ball on the ground and rolling it across the green toward or into the hole.

The normal stroke is the primary swing that a golfer needs to work on. After all, it is important to putt well, but it’s of no use to have putting skills if you cannot get the ball onto the green in a reasonable number of strokes.
Here is a basic run-down of essential elements for the proper (and successful, once you have enough practice) golf swing:

• Alignment. Make sure you body is parallel to the line you want the ball to follow. This includes not just your legs and feet, but your shoulders, arms, and even your eyes. Keep your back straight and don’t bend it during your backswing or swing.

• Feet. Keep them shoulder width apart, with a slightly wider stance for larger clubs and smaller stance for smaller clubs. Your front foot (toward the hole) should be slightly open so that your body can rotate smoothly. Keep the weight on the balls of your feet with your knees slightly bent.

• Arms. The club should form a right angle with your spine. This may be hard to visualize, so try taking a picture of yourself to see if you are at the right level. Keeping your chin away from your chest will make sure it doesn’t get in the way of your arms and shoulders when you swing.

• Hands/grip. Keeping your hands a palms’ length away from your torso, take your left hand and place it under the club with your thumb along the left and your fingers wrapping to the right. Grip your right hand further down the club, with your pinkie finger resting between the index and middle fingers of your left hand.

This stance gets you in prime shape to deliver the best golf swing. Of course, the further into the game you get, the more complex technique you are ready for. But by following these basic starting points, you’ll be ready to head out on the course and start improving your game and golf swing in no time.

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