Khatzidakis

These used to be thought of as 2 diametrically opposite activities but now you can actually accomplish both quite easily - as long as you are willing to ditch the golf cart and start playing golf the way it was meant to be played - by walking.

Choosing to walk while golfing can help you get in shape.Just check out these stats:

• (For a 175 lb person)
• Calories burned per hour playing golf - riding cart: 288
• Calories burned per hour playing golf - walking:510
• Calories burned per hour running 5 MPH:710

Additional studies show the health benefits of walking while golfing versus riding a cart: Researchers in Sweden found that walking golf equated to 40-percent to 70-percent of the intensity of a maximum aerobic workout (assuming 18 holes played). In another, cardiologist Dr. Edward A. Palank's study showed that walking golfers reduced their levels of bad cholesterol while keeping their good cholesterol steady; the control group of riding golfers failed to show those good results.

Also, according to Golf Science International, a researcher named Gi Magnusson calculated that four hours of playing golf while walking is comparable to a 45-minute fitness class.

In additional to the health benefits of walking while golfing, there are other advantages that can actually speed up play, preserve the golf course and cut strokes off your score:

• Walkers, walk directly to their own ball and save time compared to 2 riders in a cart going to each of their balls.
• A secondary effect of walking directly to your own ball is a reduction in the amount of time you spend chatting with your playing partner in a cart before actually hitting the next shot. A walker can use the time spent trodding to his or her ball to think about their next shot and to think about club selection.
• Walking a course gets you closer to the golf course. That's not some weepy get-close-to-nature sentiment. It's a way to learn more about the courses you play, to gain an appreciation for the nuances of a golf course that just aren't visible from a golf cart.
• Ever wonder why they don't let carts out after it rains or only allow 90 degrees or cart path only?
• So like all New Years resolutions, the top questions are, how do you get started and how can you make it easier to keep the resolution throughout the year?Here are some tips that can get you started in the right direction but it is still up to you make the decision to say "no" to the cart and hoof it.

Wear comfortable shoes

Today's golf shoes are a lot different than the golf shoes of old. Today's new shoes are made to look and perform like an athletic shoe as opposed to a dress shoe. Fred Couples wears the ECCO Sreet Premier golf shoes during his competitive rounds because they are more comfortable and put less stress on his bad back. Adidas now has come out with a similar model called the adicross shoe and Nike and Footjoy have their versions and more will be available in 2012.

Recommended walking shoes:

• ECCO StreetPremier
• Adidas Adicross
• Adidas Tour360 ATV
• Nike Lunar Control

Get a light carry/stand bag

If you plan to walk buy a bag designed for walking. Obviously, cart bags are not recommended for walking. Unless you are professional caddy and used to carrying fully-loaded staff bags, cart bags should be left for when you use a cart. Stand bags are much better for walking but some stand bags are better than others. Make sure you check the weight of the stand bag because they can range from a low of 3 pounds to over 8 pounds.Remember, this weight is measured before you add your clubs and other items in the bag.After a few holes of carrying these bags you will definitely notice the difference.Also, the better walking bags now come with dual straps that evenly distribute the weight of the bag across your back as opposed to the bags that only have one strap.

Recommended Walking bags:

• Sun Mountain SuperLight 3.5
• Sun Mountain Swift X
• OGIO PaceStand Bag
• OGIO SprintStand Bag
• TaylorMadeMicro-Lite 3.0
• CallawayHyperlite 4.5

Use a pull/push cart

If you don't want to or physically cannot carry your bag but still want to get the full benefit of walking the course you can use a pull cart. Pull cart technology has advanced significantly over the past 5 years. There are many models that range from a standard pull cart to ones made out of exotic metals to decrease the weight to electronically controlled carts that are controlled by a remote. Either way, you are still getting the full benefit of walking the course and at the same time taking a load of your back.

Recommended Pull/Push Carts:

• Clicgear3.0
• BagboyExpress DLX
• IntechTri-trac 3 wheel
• MotocaddyS3 Digital Electronic Push Cart
• Stewart X7Lithium Electronic Push Cart

Nobody is suggesting that carts be banned or that longtime riders should give up the practice completely. There are certainly good reasons to use a golf cart from time to time. But the next time you step on the first tee, try to just keep stepping - all around the golf course. You'll be doing a favor for yourself, your course and your game.

All too often I see beginners at the driving range with an expensive set of clubs. While they look great and everyone thinks how professional you look, the embarrassment comes when you make your first swing and miss the ball.

My advice to all beginners is to first see if you can borrow a few clubs from a friend or relative who plays, just to see if you even are going to like the game. Then practice with those for a while until you are sure. Then look for an inexpensive set at your local course that might have some second hand sets for sale or on Craig's list. Then go to your local driving range and practice your basic shots. Start with your irons.

The clubs you can start with should be your pitching wedge, six iron, seven iron and then work your way up to your driver. I would also suggest you take a couple of lessons so that you don't develop any bad habits. You will find most courses employ teaching pros at a very reasonable price. The basic shots you will want to practice are your drive made from the Tee box; this is the opening shot. Then your fairway shot made from where the ball comes to rest hopefully in the fairway! This is your second shot, and then your approach shot to the green where you will putt to the hole.

After you have practiced for a while with clubs from the range or clubs from a friend then you can consult an instructor so he can take a look at your swing, your height and level of ability to help you determine which clubs are right for you. In most cases for the beginner a standard set of clubs for men or women should be enough to start with of course you must be sure they are not to tall or short and that the flex in the shaft is right for you.

Now you may be asking yourself, what is flex? Flex is the ability of the shaft to bend as forces is applied to it during a golf swing. Those forces are generated by the type of swing you have fast or slow. Having a flex that does not match your swing will result in a misalignment of the club face and causing your ball to go off target.

So, you should make sure you have your swing analyzed by a professional so you can chose the right flex for your swing.

All too often I see beginners at the driving range with an expensive set of clubs. While they look great and everyone thinks how professional you look, the embarrassment comes when you make your first swing and miss the ball.

My advice to all beginners is to first see if you can borrow a few clubs from a friend or relative who plays, just to see if you even are going to like the game. Then practice with those for a while until you are sure. Then look for an inexpensive set at your local course that might have some second hand sets for sale or on Craig's list. Then go to your local driving range and practice your basic shots. Start with your irons.

The clubs you can start with should be your pitching wedge, six iron, seven iron and then work your way up to your driver. I would also suggest you take a couple of lessons so that you don't develop any bad habits. You will find most courses employ teaching pros at a very reasonable price. The basic shots you will want to practice are your drive made from the Tee box; this is the opening shot. Then your fairway shot made from where the ball comes to rest hopefully in the fairway! This is your second shot, and then your approach shot to the green where you will putt to the hole.

After you have practiced for a while with clubs from the range or clubs from a friend then you can consult an instructor so he can take a look at your swing, your height and level of ability to help you determine which clubs are right for you. In most cases for the beginner a standard set of clubs for men or women should be enough to start with of course you must be sure they are not to tall or short and that the flex in the shaft is right for you.

Now you may be asking yourself, what is flex? Flex is the ability of the shaft to bend as forces is applied to it during a golf swing. Those forces are generated by the type of swing you have fast or slow. Having a flex that does not match your swing will result in a misalignment of the club face and causing your ball to go off target.

So, you should make sure you have your swing analyzed by a professional so you can chose the right flex for your swing.

Promotional gifts were once considered as tacky, poor quality products that nobody wanted. Branded fridge magnets, badges, coasters and car stickers are items that are very rarely kept and are often disregarded. This can be a terrible waste of company time and money, therefore its worth spending that little bit extra in order to impress your clients and build brand awareness. You can now purchase a wide range of promotional sports gifts which can be customised with your company name and logo. Sporting accessories such as branded golf gifts are designed complete with your chosen colours, logo, company name and slogan for just a small charge.

Unlike many promotional products, branded golf gifts are created with the highest quality materials and recyclable substances. Theyre also designed by golfing accessory experts who know exactly what enhances performance, making them the ideal, practical gift that your clients will use. Promotional golf accessories can also be useful products if your company is sponsoring a local event. Perhaps you need some products for a raffle or a variety of banners and signs to grab attention at an exhibition or commercial event.

Ideal for golfing events are pop up banners and tee markers, which come in a wide range of sizes ensuring maximum exposure of your brand. Many of these promotional items are also created with biodegradable and recyclable items, perfect for showing your support to helping the environment. If your company is sponsoring a golf tournament, you could also offer clothing and accessories such as, golf tees and golf balls, pencils and score cards, bottles of water and mints and T-shirts and golf gloves, all complete with your company name and logo.

Customised golf accessories are also ideal for individual personal gifts as well as for business purposes. Personalised golf products make excellent fathers day, birthday, Christmas and retirement presents, as they can be personalised with any name or message, adding a unique touch. Many golf gifts come in a wide range of sizes and prices, meaning you can spend as much or as little as you like. A popular choice for many golf fanatics are luxury, velour towels, which come in a wide range of sizes and colours, the perfect item to hang on the golf bag.

Also popular are golf pouches, perfect for storing shoes or any valuables whilst on the golf course. These are also available in a wide range of styles and materials such as nylon, or leather. Ideal for stocking fillers or smaller gifts are golf ball gift sets, including sets of tees, golf balls and pitch repair tools, all packaged together in a high quality tube or tin. For either business or personal use you could also opt for golf goodie bags, all come in a wide variety of sizes and prices and can feature any personalised items you choose.

These can include bottles of water, energy drinks, tees, golf balls and pitch repair kits and can come complete with a high quality personalised golf pouch. Many companies who provide promotional and personalised golf gifts offer free delivery, meaning your unique, practical gift will have no extra costs, making it great value for money. Personalised and branded golfing gifts also come with free packaging and are created and sent out within just a few days of purchase. Order your high quality, personalised and branded golf accessories today and offer your clients or loved ones the perfect practical and unique golfing gift.

The right equipment

Firstly equip yourself with a few items of basic equipment. Your local golf professional can advise you about suitable golf clubs. You might buy a half set of clubs to start including irons, woods and a putter plus a carrying bag to put them in. Add a few balls, tees and a ball marker.

The right clothing

Generally, the rule for acceptable golf clothing is smart not casual. Shirts must be collared and are usually of the sporting type with either short or long sleeves. Tailored trousers and a lightweight sweater will also be needed together with comfortable golf shoes. A waterproof jacket or full suit is also essential as golf games are not normally cancelled if it is raining - only if the course is too wet to play on. Clothing can be bought from a golf or sports shop and there is now an excellent choice available online.

Have a few lessons

Before going on the golf course for the first time, you should book a course of golf lessons from a local professional. He will tell you how to hold and swing the club correctly so that you hit the ball well enough around the course without embarrassing yourself and your fellow players.

Group classes, if available, would be a more economical alternative to individual lessons. Always practice what you have been taught.

Read up about the game

Books and DVDs give advice about how to play golf and the rules of etiquette surrounding the game.These could either be purchased or borrowed from your local library.

Joining a golf club

Delay joining a golf club until you know that golf is the game for you. Instead, play on a municipal course where you can "pay and play" rather than paying a high membership fee.

Enjoy

Learning to play golf can bring great enjoyment provided you start on the right track with the basics outlined above.

6 Easy Step on How to Build Your Table Tennis Table

1. Make sure the table tennis table you are building respects the regulation size. The standard ping pong table usually has 76 cm (30 inches) height, 1.52 cm (5 feet) width and 2.74 cm (9 feet) length. The ping table is most commonly made of masonite but you can very well decide to build it with a similarly manufactured timber.
2. Building the frame of the table to match your pong table. All you need to do is make a rectangle with two 4-foot boards and two 8-foot boards, screw them together and attach a 3-foot board to brace the table.
3. Building the top should start by smoothing the surface in order to remove any rough spots. Paint the board in green or blue or any other color that can contrast with the playing area, let it dry overnight and then apply the board lines. Keep in mind that the surface of the table is usually a coating with a thickness between 19 mm (0.75 inches) - minimum accepted - to 25 mm (1 inch).
4. Attaching the frame and the top of the table should be done using wood screws, clamps or wood glue.
5. Designing, cutting and attaching the table legs is done by cutting 4 legs of approximately 29 ½ inches long that are each attached at a corner of the table tennis table - at the inside edge of the frame - with screws.
6. The finishing touch consists in filling out the cracks that were made in the table top by the previous connections with plywood and then sanding the joints. Repaint the table and the draw the board lines with white paint and you are done.

A great sport for conditioning and hand-eye coordination is tennis. Often viewed as a warm weather outdoor game, tennis can easily be moved indoors when the weather turns bad so you can still get in great games of tennis once you have the right indoor tennis equipment. Setting up tennis games indoors is relatively easy to do and with the right game standards, posts and nets you can turn any indoor gymnasium into a competitive or recreational tennis court in just a few minutes.

Depending on how your gym floor is constructed you may have ground sleeves that can support indoor steel tennis posts or if not you can use portable game standards that can be wheeled into place and used to hold the net in place during games. Indoor posts are usually made from 11-gauge steel and are powder coated green or black. Portable game standards are made from durable galvanized steel and feature rubber mounts so standards can safely be used indoors on gym floors. Weighing approximately 145lbs portable game standards are up to the task of staying still even during competitive games of indoor tennis.

Indoor tennis set ups are usually temporary to avoid cold winter weather so the equipment doesn't have to be the best of the best, just good enough to get the games going. This means you should be flexible when choosing indoor tennis equipment since you may be able to re-use some of the accessories for other games. For instance, a 36' long 42" wide net with nylon rope cable can be used for indoor tennis and when paired with a multi-purpose aluminum game standard can also be used for volleyball as well. This way you don't have to buy separate nets for different games since the net is suitable for both indoor tennis and indoor volleyball matches.

Other indoor tennis equipment that will make physical education classes more enjoyable includes ball hoppers, scorekeepers and indoor drag brooms. Ball hoppers help keep track of all the tennis balls you bring to the court, scorekeepers let you keep accurate score of each and every game and drag brooms are great for doing a quick swipe of the court before a match to remove any dirt or debris that can cause the ball to kick or a player to slip and fall. With the right indoor tennis equipment you won't have to worry about winter taking away from your practice time.

The question of how to play tennis is often one that is a challenge to new players learning the game. Tennis is a great sport with many different personalities. In this article, we will reveal the basics of how to play tennis. It has 3 forms hard, lawn and clay tennis.

Tennis is played by people over the world as a great form of exercise and recreation. There are also many levels of professional play in tournaments around the world. There are four top tournaments called the Grand Slam Tournaments. These are Wimbledon, the US Open, The Australian Open, and the French Open. Millions of people watch these tournaments making tennis a great spectator sport as well. Recently, tennis was added to the Olympics as an official sport.

Tennis is a sport that is playable by all age groups and is enjoyed by players at all levels from kids to senior citizens.

The basic area where tennis is played is call the court. This is a rectangular flat surface of varying types including concrete, grass, and clay. The standard tennis court is 78 feet long and 27 feet wide for singles matches. For doubles matches the width of the court is increased to 36 feet. A 3 feet 6 inch high net is stretched across the court, dividing the court in half. Tennis courts can be found in public parks, schools, and country clubs throughout the world. They can be outside or inside allowing for fresh air when the weather is good and year round play when the weather is bad.

There are three main types of tennis court surfaces. Each surface allows for a different style of play to excel as the bounce and speed of the ball can vary dramatically. These surfaces are:

A hard court surface are generally fast courts that have a good consistent bounce of the ball. Hardcourts are the most popular type of courts in America and most likely the court most tennis players utilize. A clay court is much different than a hard court. It is usually much slower as a surface and tennis balls often lose speed when they hit the court. This surface also causes the ball to bounce higher than on other surfaces. This allows for longer groundstrokes rallies. We see players like Nadal and Federer grind it out all day on the Clay Courts at Rolland Garros.

The third type of tennis court is the oldest form of a tennis court as tennis was originally played on grass. Grass is considered fast court, faster than a hard court. However, the grass court can be uneven and cause the ball to bounce awkward making it hard to return fast shots.

Tennis is a unique game that involves a tennis ball and a racket. Play will be based on a rectangular court, including a net in the center of the court. The tennis court should measures 78 ft by 27 ft, which is divided in half by a net 3 ft (91 cm) high in the middle and 3.5 ft (1.1 m) high at the end posts. The type of tennis balls used to play is used with a felt covered tennis ball that allows for optimum bounce on the court. The tennis ball is served from behind the baseline into the opposite service court.

Once a successful serve is made, players may hit it into any part of the opponent's court until a point is scored. Rallies won by either player score points. A tennis match is divided into sets. In a tournament, men have to win three out of five sets to win the match and women have to win two out of three. In order to win a tennis match, six total games must be won ahead of his or her opponent. The game of tennis can be fun, exciting and enjoyable.

The tennis serve is an important part of the game of tennis. Besides the groundstrokes, a good serve can begin the point on the player's own terms. The groundstrokes are often practiced by club players every day, but the serve always lacks adequate practice. Many tennis players neglect their serve. Player's who do lack the ability to serve with both power and spin start the point at their opponent's mercy. The irony is that the tennis serve technique is entirely in our control.

A tennis player with common sense should look to gain a advantage by improving their tennis serve. If you are looking to improve the tennis serve technique, have a weak serve, or just looking to develop an already good serve: here are some tips to help you improve.

Tennis Serve Tip #1 - Focus on placement

Before you start your service motion, a player should know exactly where they want to hit their serve. If you have better aim, you can hit better placements with your serve. If you want a great serve, think about where you want to hit the ball. This will help you regain focus and help take some pressure off yourself.

Make sure your body position is aligned correctly to hit the tennis serve. If you are aiming to the right, finish your service motion to the right. If you are playing a righty, you will mostly want to aim to your right, because usually players' backhands are weaker than their forehands. When you make contact make sure you are hitting the correct side of the ball. If you are aiming to the right, you will want to hit the ball at 11 o'clock.

It is also important to make sure your opponent can't read where you are trying to hit the ball. Therefore, you must disguise your serve. One way to practice this is the 1-2-3 drill. When practicing, divide the service box into three parts. Let's say the left division is 1, the middle division is 2, and the right division is 3. Have a friend call out one, two, or three right after you toss the ball. Serve to where your friend told you to. If you do this drill enough it will help you aim better and help you disguise your serve.

Tennis Serve Tip #2 - Incorporate your whole body into the serve

As you add more of your body into your shots, your service motion will become more powerful. Therefore, it is important to sometimes practice your serve without a ball. This is sometimes called "shadowing".

Make sure to lean your hip beyond the service line. Bend your knees. Make sure your shoulders and body are perpendicular to the net. Finally, when the toss has reached its peak, unleash all that energy you have stored into your body. Jump into the court as you hit the ball and prepare for the next shot with a split-step.

Tennis Serve Tip #3 Practice serving by throwing

A baseball pitch is much like a serve in tennis. If you ever get the chance to watch a baseball player, you should notice that their throwing mechanics is very similar to the tennis serve. A good serve is an accurate shot, but the serve should also have a lot of pace on it. You can throw a ball with a friend, or you can just get some tennis balls and see how far you can throw them from the baseline. Then, immediately try doing the same motion with a tennis racquet. The results will surprise you.

Final Tennis Tip

The best way to throw your opponent off on serve is to add different spins and paces to your serve. Try to serve kick, slice and flat serves into your service games. At 40-love and first serve, throw in a hard, flat serve for an ace. Occasionally serve a ball with absolutely no pace on it. This is effective when your opponent has been getting hard serve after hard serve.

Whether you are just getting into the game of tennis or you want to upgrade your current racket, this guide will provide you info on the distinctive varieties of tennis rackets accessible to support you to make the most effective choice on which racket to pick.

I'll be describing 3 sorts of tennis rackets, the qualities of those rackets plus the properties of the type of player who will benefit from each form of racket. The three sorts of rackets are game improvement / power rackets, Player/control rackets and lastly tweener rackets. Your decision on which racket to obtain might be aided when you realize which racket category best matches the features of your game.

When searching at these rackets you also want to understand that the string type and tension used will have an impact on racket performance. Those features will be discussed in our string review section. The five tennis racket characteristics you'll want to know just before you invest in.

Head Size

For me head size is the most essential characteristic when determining which type of tennis racket to buy. The head size of the racket affects racket control and power.

Think of a trampoline. My kids have 1 in the backyard and I know that when I'm in that center I can bounce in that spot perfectly. The size of the 'sweet spot' is fairly huge and it enables me to bounce to ungodly heights. Once I get out of that sweet spot I start flying all over the place. Now inside the house we have a bit physical exercise tramp. I can bounce all day on that thing without having losing control but my height is seriously diminished.

A tennis racket operates on the very same principle. The larger the head size, the bigger your sweet spot and the much more power. When yo decrease the size of the head you may reduce the power plus the size of the sweat spot, but you'll have increased control.

Length

The size of your racket affects power and maneuverability. Racquets come in regular length which are about 27 and extended length which range from 27.25 inches and higher.

Regular size rackets will provide you with wonderful maneuverability but decreased power. Extended size rackets present higher leverage and therefore higher power, but they are much less maneuverable than the regular lengths.

Weight

The weight of a tennis racket will affect power, control and maneuverability. The best advice I can give you would be to get the heaviest racket you can manage. The only method to know your target weight would be to demo quite a few rackets. In our assessments we will describe rackets as Light (8.9-9.5oz unstrung), Medium (9.6-10.4oz unstrung) or Heavy (10.5-and above unstrung). You will come across that most of the rackets reviewed on Tennis95.com will likely be inside the heavy category.

Heavier rackets will supply you with additional power and control but much less maneuverability. So whenever you demo your rackets pay close attention to how well your able to move the racket into position. If your stroke is sluggish or if your feeling discomfort within your shoulder or elbow then I would suggest moving to a lower weight category.

Balance

The balance of a tennis racket impacts maneuverability, stability, and pace. You can find two components in this category. Head light(HL) and Head heavy(HH). Head light rackets provide increased maneuverability, and decreased stability and pace. I personally use headlight rackets for the reason that I have fairly superior mechanics and I'm able to produce my own power. Where I want support is at the net acquiring the racket into position on fast volleys.

Head heavy rackets tend to be less maneuverable but supply you with additional power and stability. Now the beneficial factor is that balance can be adjusted with lead tape or lead balls within the deal with or on the frame. So for those who love every thing else about your racket you can effortlessly adjust the balance to make it the best stick for you.

String Pattern

Now string pattern has an affect on power, control, and ball spin. The 3 primary string pattern sorts ranging from most dense to least are 18x20, 16x19, and 16x18. The very first number references the mains or the vertical strings and also the second number references the horizontal strings or crosses.

A far more dense string pattern will give you a higher amount of control, but decreased ball spin and decreased power. A string bed with less strings will bend additional than a dense string bed. This trampoline effect will catapult the ball from the strings growing your power. Due to the fact the string pattern is a lot more open it'll bite into the ball supplying you with greater ball spin. Because the ball is on the strings for such a short quantity of time control is diminished.

So now that you've got an notion of the key traits of a tennis racket, which racket must you get? Below I describe the 3 racket kinds.

Players Racquet / Control Rackets

Initial up is the control or player's rackets. This is the type of tennis racket which is utilized by expert players and those often having a NTRP Rating of four.0 and above. These rackets run heavier (above 11 ounces) with smaller heads (85-98 sq. inches). The beams are thinner and extra flexible.

Unlike the game improvement racket, these control rackets will give you a lot of control. These type of rackets tend be balanced head light to increase the maneuverability of a heavy stick. The result of this combination can be a low-power racket that is perfect for players who create their own power. Both regular and extended lengths are offered. Tennis racket evaluations applaud the Wilson BLX Six. 1 Tour, the Dunlap Aerogel 100, and the Prince tour Diablo as excellent control rackets.

Power Rackets / Game Improvement Rackets

Next up are the power / game improvement rackets. These rackets are primarily geared towards offering extra power along with a bigger sweet spot than the players and tweener rackets. A racket like this can generally feature an oversized head above 105 sq. inches with an open string pattern, set onto a wider lightweight frame (8-9. five ounces). This racket can be an excellent spin friendly racket for beginners. The natural response of the racket is regarded as the highest of all of the categories. If you have a shorter, slower swing this is the racket it is best to demo first. Some power rackets reviewed on this sit incorporate the Volkl Power Bridge 1, the Wilson K Factor K Zero, and the Yonex S-Fit 5.

Tweener Racquets

The final category of tennis racket critiques is something that lies between the previous two categories. If you are seeking a racket which delivers a mixture of power and control these rackets will fit the bill. With these form of rackets, you end up with a mid-weight racket (9.6-11 ounces) with even balance along with a mid-plus-sized head (100 to 105 sq. inches). It usually comes in an extended length and provides players medium-low to medium-high power. Intermediate players hoping to obtain a tennis racket with enhanced maneuverability will take pleasure in this type of racket. Some examples are the Dunlop Aerogel 4D 500, the Volkl Power Bridge 8 315, and the Boris Becker Pro.