Good morning from North Texas. With the weather keeping everyone inside, what have you done to improve yourself and/or your golf game? Here's what I did.

I did some reading, watched some golf on television, and exercised. From the last post I explained my philosophy of exercising during commercial breaks while watching television. During Survivor Man (My favorite show), I did 40 slow push-ups from 4 different positions. During Desperate Housewives (Guilty Pleasure), I did passive stretching during the entire show. I rotated between sitting cross-legged on the floor, the Z stretch, hip flexor stretch, and lying on my foam roller. During Grey's Anatomy (Another Guilty Pleasure), I did crunches from four different positions. I also gave foot and calf messages to my wife and daughter.

On Saturday, I spent the morning at the golf course clubhouse. Some of you know of the exercise options which I have brought to the clubhouse. We've got an exercise ball, 10 lb. medicine ball, chin-up bar, 15 lb. dumbbells, ab dolly, broom, and weighted club. Imagine the possibilities.

A friend loaned two audio CD's from Bob Rotella, The Golfer's Mind and Putting Out of Your Mind. I've enjoyed Dr. Rotella's previous work and these CD's are a continuation of that work.

How was your weekend? Are you closer to where you want to be as a golfer?

Until next time
Mike

Thoughts on a cold windy North Texas day. Looking at many golf instruction sites, I am struck by how many sites are dedicated to finding ways to fix your swing. My site is dedicated to helping you find you fundamentals so you can swing the club to the best of your abilities.

All the fundamentals are equally important. Review how to connect to the club (grip). I've seen some sites stating the grip is not important. It is your only connection to the club. It is vital! Your posture is important. Your alignment is important. Your thought process is important. And finally your equipment is important. If one of these fundamentals are not right for you, you have made more work for yourself.

I am often asked what kind of swing aids should be used. I highly recommend two different swing aids. The first aid is a poor man's swing stik. It cost less than $5.00 and can be bought at a grocery or hardware store. You probably already have one at home. It's a simple broom. A broom with a small diameter handle and a small bristle head are best. Simply assume your golf posture and grip and begin swinging. Listen to the sound the broom makes as you swing it. The louder the noise, the higher the clubhead speed. The second swing aid is a weighted club. I prefer a weighted club with a normal grip. This allows you to take your grip on the club without having to conform your hands to a training grip.

If you follow professional golf, you are aware of how many players are engaged in a fitness program of some kind. Are you? I believe all golfers can benefit from improving their physical fitness. What's the best way? Depends on your level of fitness and your fitness goals.

My fitness regimen includes posture, balance, strength, and flexibility. I do all these without going to a gym. I've tried the gym but, I prefer the solitude of working at home or here at the golf course clubhouse. While I am exercising, I pay attention to my breathing and how my body is reacting to the movement. I don't want to listen to someone talking or loud music while I'm engaged in movement. My fitness goal is functional strength.

There are plenty of different types of movement which are beneficial. Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, Aikado, Ballet, etc. I have found it is more important to change the intensity and form than to work to exhaustion. Let's look at the simple push-up. You can vary your hand position (wide, narrow, high, low, staggered, one-handed, fingertips, or knuckes) and/or your feet (knees, feet wide, narrow, one foot, feet elevated). If you're watching television, during commercial breaks do push-ups. Change how many you do and how you do them. By the end of the evening, you may have done 100 push-ups and used 10 different ways to do them.

If the weather is acceptable, walking, hiking, bicycling, or running are all good. I like doing short bursts of sprints while I walk. Seems to do an effective job in a short amount of time. It is not important what you do. It is important to do some kind of beneficial exercise which you enjoy.

That's all for now. Until next time, good golfing.
Mike