18 dicas para melhorar a sua alimentação

 

 

1. Não misture sal com açúcar na mesma refeição. Portanto, nada de sobremesas.
2. De preferência, não use nem o sal nem o açúcar. Procure reduzir esses dois impostores. A redução drástica do sal ajuda muito o aumento de flexibilidade. O sal também torna a pessoa menos sensível, cortando as percepções sutis.
3. Não misture alho com cebola, nem em pratos diferentes, na mesma refeição.
4. Não misture frutas ácidas com frutas doces.
5. Não tome líquidos às refeições. Só meia hora antes ou meia hora depois. (Quando convidados a comer, os índios guaranis da Argentina, costumam responder: “Obrigado. Já bebi.”) Longe das refeições, beber muita água mineral.
6. Faça rodízio das marcas de água mineral.
7. Use água mineral até para chás e para cozinhar os alimentos.
8. Não jogue fora a água que sobrar da cozedura de legumes. Ela é rica em sais minerais e pode ser usada para cozinhar outra coisa como, por exemplo, o arroz. Além da vantagem nutricional, o outro prato fica mais saboroso.
9. Restrinja o uso de maioneses, ovos, natas, manteiga e gorduras de origem animal e outras que fiquem em estado sólido sob temperatura ambiente.
10. Em algumas receitas, as natas podem ser substituído por yoghurt; noutras, por pasta de gergelim (tahine).
11. Reduza os laticínios ao mínimo possível.
12. A manteiga, quase sempre, pode ser substituída por azeite de oliva extra-virgem, extração mecânica, a frio.
13. O estado do seu prato pode indicar o grau de limpeza ou sujeira que a comida produziu no seu organismo. Se o prato estiver tão limpo que não precise ser lavado, seu corpo também o estará. Se o seu prato precisar de detergente e água quente para ficar limpo, imagine o estado dos seus órgãos internos após digeri-la.
14. Adote especiarias, pois além de realçar o sabor ajudam a digestão, auxiliam a processar gorduras, beneficiam o fígado, vesícula, intestinos, dão vitalidade, aumentam a energia sexual e tonificam todo o organismo. São elas: gengibre, cravo, canela, orégano, cominho, tomilho, açafrão, coentro, caril, noz moscada, cardamomo, manjerona, manjericão, salsa e cebolinha, alho ou cebola e mais umas quarenta variedades que se encontram com relativa facilidade nos supermercados.
15. Adote fibras, alimentos integrais, levedura de cerveja, ginseng, alho. Cuidado para não brindar seus amigos com o bafo de alho. A melhor coisa é engolir cápsulas de óleo de alho ou dentes inteiros de alho à noite, antes de dormir. Assim, pela manhã você já processou e eliminou uma boa parte do “odor-afugenta-parceiro”. Aí, escove os dentes, tome um banho, coma alguma coisa e, para garantir, saia de casa mascando cravo!
16. Elimine urgentemente as panelas de alumínio. Adote as de vidro, ferro, aço, ágata, barro, pedra, etc. Evite as películas anti-aderentes: há uma séria suspeita de que sejam cancerígenas.
17. Olhe e veja o alimento. Não o ingira lendo ou distraindo-se com outra coisa. Você vai notar que o alimento passará a dar mais prazer e satisfará mais com menos quantidade.
18. A monodieta é curativa e faz perder peso. Consiste em comer uma coisa só. Alimentos compostos, é claro, estão fora deste conceito. Pizza, por exemplo, não é uma coisa só, pois leva uma quantidade de ingredientes. Monodieta é alimentar-se durante um dia ou alguns dias só com papaia, só com banana, só com manga, só com batata, só com arroz, etc. Não vale regar com azeite ou manteiga. Tampouco colocar pimenta e outros artifícios. É mono mesmo. Mas cuidado para não exagerar, pois é inquestionável que a monodieta deixa o corpo carente de nutrientes. É para fazer por um período curto e depois parar.

Nossa recomendação é sempre evitar o fanatismo. Mas onde fica a fronteira entre o fanatismo e a seriedade? Para dedicar-nos a alguma coisa com seriedade é preciso um coeficiente de determinação que os não-comprometidos com o mesmo ideal geralmente tacham de fanatismo. Só o bom senso de cada um poderá julgar.

How to create backspin

Ricardo Santos no Masters de Portugal

A jogar em casa, o golfista português Ricardo Santos disse que vai fazer o possível para conseguir mais um "top 10" na VII edição do Portugal Masters, que classificou como "a melhor semana da época". "Tudo é possível. Gostaria imenso de fazer um top 10, mas, obviamente, não vou pensar nisso, nem estar a pressionar-me nesse sentido. Quero desfrutar o momento e desfrutar cada dia, cada pancada. Para mim, é a melhor semana da época", acentuou o golfista algarvio, a propósito da VII edição do maior torneio de golfe português.

Ricardo Santos, que habita "a dois minutos" do Oceânico Victoria de Vilamoura, o seu "home club", prometeu "dar o máximo para obter o melhor resultado possível", embora reconheça que o golfe tem "coisas que não se controlam". O golfista de Vilamoura admitiu existir uma "pressão acrescida" por "jogar em casa", o que pode ser positivo, se as coisas estiverem a correr bem, mas também "pode prejudicar", quando se entra mal no jogo. "Quando as coisas correm menos bem, o jogador sente-se mais pressionado. É uma coisa que temos de controlar e saber lidar com ela", sustentou o melhor jogador de todos os tempos, cuja mulher trabalha no próprio Oceânico Victoria de Vilamoura. Santos admitiu que gostaria de seguir as pisadas de Rui Costa, no ciclismo, ou de João Sousa, no ténis, e dar "um impulso" ao golfe nacional, mas recusou-se a colocar a fasquia tão alta, até porque "o futuro a Deus pertence". O "objetivo principal" já foi atingido, que era manter o cartão para continuar na primeira divisão do golfe europeu, o "European Tour". O outro é ficar classificado entre os 60 melhores golfistas da Europa para poder disputar, em novembro, o World Tour Championship do Dubai, o torneio que marca o encerramento da temporada e distribui prémios recorde de oito milhões de dólares (5,9 milhões de euros). Contudo, uma vitória no Masters do Algarve "daria um impulso enorme ao golfe português, porque o que falta é, realmente, um ídolo, uma referência para os jovens, para se perceber que o golfe não é elitista e que não é só torneios cor-de-rosa".

Na entrevista à Lusa, o melhor golfista português de sempre afiançou que os seus companheiros do Tour "estão ansiosos por vir jogar a Portugal". "(O Victoria) é um campo que não parte muito a cabeça aos jogadores, tem muitas oportunidades de birdie, tem buracos competitivos e é um campo agradável para jogar. Tem uma atmosfera bastante boa, além do clima, da gastronomia e da envolvente. Para mim, é sem dúvida a melhor semana da época", frisou. Ricardo Santos classifica o Portugal Masters como "um grande evento", para mais no seu clube, com a sua família e os seus amigos a apoiarem. "Acho que vou ter muitos portugueses a apoiarem-me e isso é muito bom para mim", concluiu o golfista português mais bem cotado da atualidade.   Lusa

Swing tempo

YOUR TEMPO MAKES CHARLES BARKLEY LOOK LIKE ERNIE ELS
"For better tempo, soften your grip pressure," says Top 100 Teacher and Golf Channel guy Michael Breed. "Imagine you're in your car holding a lidless cup of coffee. To accelerate to 60 mph without spilling the coffee, you'd hold the cup gently and accelerate gradually. This is the combination you want in your swing."

Special lag-putt technique to roll the ball closer

Angus Murray

A taller, more open address improves your depth perception and distance control so you can roll long putts this close.

Three-putting. Ugh! It’s an absolute waste of strokes, and so discouraging that it can ruin not only your scores, but also your attitude. (Ever meet a happy three-putter?) While three-putting is nearly impossible to avoid completely, especially on today’s faster greens, most amateurs do it far more often than they should. With the help of the PGA Tour’s ShotLink tracking system, the Pelz Golf Institute has found that weekend players drop a stroke by three-putting up to six times as often as professionals do (see table, below).

Even scratch amateurs three-putt more than once every 10 holes and, as you can guess, the frequency of three-putting increases with handicap. Hmmm... wonder if there’s a relationship there? If you’re a 30-handicapper, you’re literally throwing away three or four strokes every round you play.

It’s interesting to compare your three-putt percentage to that of the best players in the world. The difference is crazy! ShotLink data from this season (through the Canadian Open) tells us that PGA Tour pros three-putt an average of 2.4 times—per event! And so far this year there have been eight tournament winners who didn’t three-putt once en route to victory.

If pros can avoid three-putting, so can you, because you don’t need a ton of athletic ability to get down in two. Avoiding three-putting doesn’t even require a ton of practice. You just have to get your first putts to stop a little closer to the hole than they have in the past.

My advice is to change your approach on long lags, which amateurs typically leave too short, for an easy two-putt. Try the following two changes:

1 Stand closer to the ball and with an open stance. This allows you to look out at the putt with binocular vision, which helps with depth perception. Looking at the putt like this also frees up your motion to provide more power to the ball.

2 Putt with a chipping stroke, not a putting stroke. 
 Add a little wrist hinge both back and through. Again, this will help you avoid hitting the ball too softly and coming up short.

Next time you play, give these two lag-putt keys a try. They’ll help you drastically reduce the number of times you three-putt during a round. Strokes are precious, and avoiding three-putting is an easy way to save them. 

The Right amount of Thoughts

 

The average person has more than 2,000 thoughts per day. Champions have half that. They focus on what they want, not their fears. I may not have you hitting it like Luke Donald in two days, but I'll have you thinking like him -- like a world class player.

Wrists drill

I call it the Golf Wrist-Cock Exercise. Here's what you do:

 

1. Stand with your arm hanging at your side. 
2. Grab a golf club (pitching wedge if you're just beginning, long iron if you have strong wrists already) in one hand towards the end of grip.
3. Raise the club only by cocking your wrist and keeping your arm at side.
4. The club will have the toe pointing up to the sky straight out in front of you.
5. Raise as high as you can, which will probably be just above parallel to the ground with your shaft.
6. Then lower and repeat until a set of 15 repetitions is done.
7. Switch arms and do the same thing.

    

Do one or two sets per wrist, 3-4 times per week (every other day or Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday).

If you do this exercise correctly you will get a burning sensation in your forearms. If so, that's great! If not, you may need a longer iron; or you are using more than just your wrist for the movement.

What is concentration?

What is concentration?:

What is concentration?

And what do I gain by increasing it?

According to the dictionary, concentration is to give full attention and energy to something.

Everyday I hear people say that if only they were interrupted less during their daily activities, their productivity and focus would greatly increase.

But what do I gain from increasing my concentration?

You gain increased productivity and more energy to get things done. This is because a well-trained mind makes everything easier and more efficient. You will not have to do the same things over again because you had not noticed small mistakes in the first place. Increased productivity often means more free time for you, for your children, family, sports etc …

When was the last time you trained your concentration?

Most people do not train their concentration. This is because it is still an unknown discipline and perhaps somewhat obscure to us.

But I assure you, a little dedication in your routine and you will feel your productivity soar.

There is nothing more powerful than a well-trained mind.

When you combine concentration + discipline + focus, you are unstoppable. This clearly defines those that succeed in life and those who do not. Those who haven’t this powerful tool in their hands invariably share the same self talk: “it’s because he is lucky”, “God is with him”, “it looks like he was made for it”, “the stars help” and a bunch of further excuses.

A well-trained mind produces wealth and harmony around you, driving emotional stability and happiness.

Do I need to spend 6 months in Tibet or India dressed in strange clothes?

These things described above have a name: prejudice, fantasy, myth. Increasing your ability to concentrate depends uniquely and exclusively on whether you train, engage and direct your attention to such a thing. Nothing else makes excellent exercise of concentration, as it does to keep working where you work, live where you live and with whom you live.

What does what I eat, drink and smoke have to do with my concentration?

With much experience working in this area, we can guarantee that these are things known to really “drain” your attention and your body. This happens when the body is not well maintained, with excellent maintenance, when you keep ignoring it and do not exercise it, when you keep eating poorly, drinking, and pretending that back pain has gone after all). However disciplined you are, you will not have the same productivity, as it the body hasn’t got any outlet.

A McLaren running with diesel?

Ever imagined a Formula 1 car, racing with a flat tyre, or working with diesel instead of petrol?

Yeah, your body is not much different. And, quite simply, if badly maintained, the most developed machine in this universe will yield 30, 40 and even 70% less than it should. You know what I’m talking about, when you have those days when you simply cannot concentrate. When the work does not get done. When it seems that everything is out of order for no apparent reason.

And why are you not looking at what you did during the day or days earlier – such as sleep less, eat more at dinner, inject caffeine into the body and allow stress to dominate your day.

Alcohol, the silent villain

 

This is a taboo subject in our society, wherever you go in the world the human being makes use of narcotics (from ancient Greek ναρκῶ Närko, ‘Ι benumb’), yet the body always pays a price. The seat of consciousness exists in our brain, and to receive any amount of alcohol, however small, will create alterations, causing decreased concentration and small lapses of consciousness, imperceptible to the individual, but increasing the reduction of concentration.

 

Very far from your reality?

That lapse of a few minutes lost when you had to remember those passwords or keys or mobile phone that you lost during the day, all these minutes add up to a few days of work in one year’s time. Time that you could have spent with family, friends, doing sports etc …

 

I do not want to become a ninja or a Karate Kid

Again, these myths created by Hollywood films deter people with excellent development potential, to whom it would be natural to increase concentration, gain memory and clarity of thought. And with nothing more than closing the eyes and train a simple technique of concentration for a few minutes.

 

I do not believe any of these things

 

Provided you are executing them well, the wonder of these techniques is that you do not need to believe in them. You can tell a massage therapist you do not believe in his or her techniques, but if he or she is good, the techniques will surely produce the effects. You could also say that you do not believe in anesthesia from a dentist, but I do not believe that you would undergo a dental filling without such an injection, even if you do not believe in it.

Attention is the cognitive process of selectively concentrating on one aspect of the environment while ignoring other things. Attention has also been referred to the allocation of the processing of resources.
Alcohol That is the principle given to ardent spirit and wine. Their intoxicating power, while the narcotic principle to opium and tobacco imparts similar properties. In popular language, alcohol is classed among the stimulants, and opium and tobacco among the narcotics; which substances are whose ultimate effect upon the beast system is to produce torpor and insensibility, but taken in small quantities they exhilarate at first. And since alcohol does the same, most medical writers, at the present day, class it among the narcotics.

- Edward Hitchcock, American Temperance Society (1830)

The post What is concentration? appeared first on DeRose Method London.

(Via DeRose Method London)

Video: Ultimate golf trick shot clip

Video: Ultimate golf trick shot clip:

Check out the ultimate golf trick shot clip. We’re blown away by how good this guy is.

He goes by the name of Romain Bechu and is armed with a 588 cleveland 58 degree wedge. His skills are mind-blowingly amazing. Just turn down the volume on the music as it can get a little annoying…

(Via Compleat Golfer)

US Open 2013: Photo and video gallery

US Open 2013: Photo and video gallery:

We’ve compiled a ‘Best of the US Open 2013′ photo and video gallery. Check out all the big and emotional moments from the 2013 US Open at Merion Golf Club.

2013 US Open winner Justin Rose talks to the media after winning.

 

Stefani’s ace on 17 was the first ever at a U.S. Open at Merion and the 43rd in U.S. Open history. What sets it apart from most is that Stefani flew his tee shot completely over the green, landed the ball in the rough and then watched it trickle down into the hole.

Phil Mickelson’s eagle on the 10th hole at Merion sees him retake the lead.

Rory McIlroy bends an iron out of sheer frustration. Vine video from Kyle Porter.

Rickie Fowler sends his iron shot on the 17th hole into the crowd and then tries to eat his wedge. Frustrated much? Vine video from Kyle Porter.

Ernie Els talks to the media after his final round.

(Via Compleat Golfer)

US Open fairways in favour of in-form Tiger Woods

US Open fairways in favour of in-form Tiger Woods:

The 37-year-old is the pre-tournament favourite and more than ready to finally secure a 15th major

A Tiger Woods victory at the US Open would provide a significant boost to the game. Those who question such a notion may have forgotten the level of global interest when Woods achieves success on the biggest stage given it has been five years since the world No1 triumphed at a major.

Yet for all the respective brilliance Ernie Els, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott have displayed in claiming the last three major championships, when Woods wins the rest of the world sits up and takes notice. The American is instantly identifiable, more than any other golfer and the vast majority of other sports stars. For an entire generation he retains an allure which should not be underestimated.

At Merion, Woods must prove something to himself – his return to the summit of the game can be endorsed by winning a 15th major. Albeit he has had serious injury problems as well as personal ones therein, at various points since 2008 Woods has been in with a chance of winning a major only to fall short.

Given his start to 2013, with four wins on the US PGA Tour already, there will be questions asked about Woods should he continue to stumble in majors. As the 37-year-old looks to continue his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus's majors haul of 18, Merion offers a perfect opportunity.

"I think if he wins one this year Nicklaus's record could be back on again," says Colin Montgomerie. "But this year is vital, he has got to win one this year. Everyone says he's back but no one will say he's truly back until he wins another one."

This US Open, at the famously narrow and short Pennsylvania course – it measures just under 7,000 yards – sees Woods established as the clear favourite. "At Sawgrass I hit a few three woods that were going more than 300 yards because the conditions were right," he explains. "If we get the same at Merion, where it dries out and you get the ball running with the slopes, getting the ball running 300 yards with three woods, that's ample far to get you to the spots you need to get to."

Scott Nye, who has been the head professional at Merion for 13 years, offers further insight into aspects of the course which should appeal to Woods. "The player who has experience and patience has more of an opportunity to succeed than a less experienced player who might try to overpower the course," he says.

"On a lot of holes, the fairways are not parallel to the tee, they sit at an angle, so regular shots can put a player in trouble. And because the guys will be hitting shorter clubs from some tees, there is a bigger margin for error with their five or six iron into the greens than if they were hitting nine iron or wedge.

Nye adds: "In this US Open, experience is definitely an advantage. Experience of playing in our kind of grasses, so that you know what to do in the rough and know how to handle the breaks on the greens. A lot of delicate shots are needed. So there is no question that a guy like Tiger will do well if he is on his game. He can get the ball into position with a lot of different clubs and obviously his short game is so good. But it should also suit a Zach Johnson, a Steve Stricker or a Jason Dufner if he putts well. Luke Donald also has the characteristics of a champion at Merion. Guys who win here put the ball in play."

A potentially key aspect for the hopes of Woods and others is the weather after a large volume of rain fell on Monday and with the possibility it could return in the week.

"A lot of rain would make a big difference to the player who hits is right down the middle because it would mean he could be much more aggressive with his approach play," says Nye. "The rough we have already isn't that deep but the ball will drop right to the bottom of it. If there is some rain, that rough will thicken up and the players will be having fits."

Woods will hope to be the one who stays calm. Once again, the eyes of the golfing world will be fixed on whether he can finally follow through on early promise and end his run without a major.

(Via Sport: Tiger Woods | guardian.co.uk)

What’s In The Bag 2013 Matteo Manassero

What’s In The Bag 2013 Matteo Manassero:

Congrats to Matteo Manassero on winning the 2013 BMW PGA Championship.  Here’s what’s in Matteo’s winning Titleist bag.

What’s In The Bag Matteo Manassero

Driver: Titleist 913 D2, 8.5 deg with an Aldila ATX 65-3.0 TX shaft.

3 Wood: Titleist 913F, 13.5 deg with a Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 7.1 X Flex shaft.

5 Wood: Titleist 913 Fd, 18 deg with an Aldila Phenom 70 Tour X shaft.

Hybrids: Titleist 913H, 17 and 21 deg with Royal Precision Project X 6.5 shafts

Irons: Titleist 712 AP2 (4-6) Titleist 712 MB (7-P) with Project X PXi 6.5 shafts

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM4, 52 and 58 deg with Royal Precision Rifle Project X 6.5 (52), True Temper Dynamic Gold Spinner (58)

Putter: Scotty Cameron Super Rat Prototype Concept 1, 34.5 inches

Ball: Titleist ProV1x

 

Technorati Tags: What's In The Bag 2013 Matteo Manassero,Matteo Manassero witb,Matteo Manassero Winning Titleist equipment

Pic thanks: golfwrx

(Via GolfCentral Daily)

Tips for Her: Focus on speed control

Tips for Her: Focus on speed control:

Editor's note: Each week, Megan Padua, a teaching professional at Maidstone Club (East Hampton, N.Y.) and Belfair Plantation (Bluffton, S.C.), and one of Golf Digest's Best Young Teachers, offers tips and advice for women golfers.

By Megan Padua

On the putting green, speed is more important than aim, and it's a vital part of being an excellent putter.

The speed of a putt dictates how much it'll break. The diameter of a golf hole is 4.25 inches, and the speed of the putt can effectively narrow or widen the circumference of the hole. Too much speed will limit your break, which can cause your putt to lip out because your target is smaller. Do you ever hit putts that track directly towards the hole only to lip around the edge and miss? Even if your aim is slightly offline, a ball that travels at the correct speed can curl over the edge and into the hole. Optimizing this zone by using effective speed control can, in essence, help you putt to a larger cup. If you can putt your ball at the correct speed, you will get "lucky" more often!

How to Practice: When honing your speed control, take the hole out of the equation. Remember, your objective is to control your speed, not to make a long putt. You're far better off putting to an old cup (as shown, to the left) to see if you would've made it, while also learning how far your ball would've rolled past the hole if you had missed it.

Towel Drill: Lay out towels at different distances (as shown, below). Don't be concerned about landing your ball on the towel, however try to make your golf ball stop within the zone that you've established.

(Via The latest from GolfDigest.com)

Winner's Bag: What Tiger Woods used to win his second Players Championship

Winner's Bag: What Tiger Woods used to win his second Players Championship:

By E. Michael Johnson

Here's a look at what Tiger Woods played en route to winning his second Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass:

Driver: Nike VR Tour (Mitsubishi Diamana White Board 63x), 8.5 degrees
3-Wood: Nike VR_S Covert, 15 degrees
5-wood: Nike VR_S Covert, 19 degrees
Irons (3-PW): Nike VR Pro Blade
Wedges: Nike VR Pro (56, 60 degrees)
Putter: Nike Method 001
Ball: Nike One Tour D

Equipment Note: The shaft he just went back to this week. He used it from 2007 through 2009 and went back to it this week.

Follow @EMichaelGW

(Via The latest from GolfDigest.com)

Ernie Els swing

Golf Swing Slow Down Tips

Photo by foxypar4By John Andrisani
USGTF Level III Member and Contributing Writer Vero Beach, Florida

 

Tiger’s former teacher Butch Harmon, taught me unique drills for smoothing out an extra-fast swing tempo. Any one of these is ideal for curing a student’s speedy swing problem.

One of the greatest pleasures of my long career in golf was getting the chance to work with Tiger’s former coach Butch Harmon on the bestselling book, The Four Cornerstones of Winning Golf. What better way to “research” a book and “work” than to converse with Butch about golf swing technique and play golf with him at my former golf club, Lake Nona in Orlando, Florida.

Butch is a true teaching guru, namely because he has a great eye for spotting faults and helps amateur and pro players get back on track by teaching them extraordinary drills.

Let me share with you several of Butch’s drills for curing a fast swing, which I recommend you try out on students who share the speedy swing problem common among millions of country club golfers. What follows is the actual advice Butch gave me that, again, I think you should share with fast-swinging students, particularly those who are tired of hearing only of the feet-together drill remedy recommended by a multitude of teachers.

Drill: “Chip” The Driver
Tee up the ball on the practice tee and, with your driver, make a nice, leisurely “chip” swing. Just try to tap the ball out there about 75 yards. Hit a half-dozen chip shots like this with your driver.

Next, hit some slightly longer “chips” about 100 yards, using the same slow, leisurely quarter-to-half swing. After several more of these, extend the swing slightly farther, to pitching distance, still using the driver, and hit some nice easy shots that travel a total of 150 yards. Hit about eight or ten balls this way.

Finally, let’s assume that your normal, respectable drive travels something over 200 yards. It doesn’t matter if it’s 220 yards, 240 yards, whatever. Continuing to make a smooth, leisurely pass at the ball, just try to hit some soft drives out there about 180 yards. Hit as
many balls as you like.

I think you’ll be surprised that two things happen. First, when you try to smooth it out there about 180, you’ll strike the ball very solidly and hit it a lot farther than 180 yards. You’ll probably hit the ball just about as far as your best with your normal swing and a lot more consistently. Second, this entire exercise will ingrain a slower, more even tempo into your swing, namely because you have eliminated what brings the speed into the swing in the first place: the need to hit the ball hard urge.

Drill: Swing at Imaginary Practice Balls
Take a middle iron and tee up the ball. Then, step a few feet to the left of the teed-up ball, and make a leisurely practice swing at an imaginary ball. Repeat this swing at an imaginary ball five times, each time stepping forward a few inches toward the actual ball, as if each of the imaginary balls had been set up in a line. Finally, set your clubhead down behind the real ball and simply make your sixth smooth, leisurely swing in this sequence. Just let the ball get in the way of that nice smooth swing. I think you’ll agree that the feeling of the swing at the real ball is a lot slower and smoother than the swings you’ve been making out on the course.

Drill: Hum a Tune
This is more of a mental tip drill, but one that many golfers find helpful. Simply hum a musical tune as you make your practice swing, step up to the ball, and hit the shot. This should set you into a relaxed frame of mind to start with as you prepare for the shot. It should also give you a better chance to stay relaxed and to produce a smooth tempo during the actual swing.

Make sure that as you execute the shot, you keep humming your tune at its normal pace and with a normal amount of effort in your voice. At first you might notice as you start the swing that the sound of your voice tightens or intensifies. This indicates tension that usually transfers into tightness and/or quickness during the swing, so it’s a good indicator that you need
to stay mentally and physically relaxed throughout the swinging process.

Bring this smooth, musical hum-swing to the course and feel the sense of effortless power at work.

(What I like most about Butch’s drills is their unique quality. Butch is one of golf’s most creative teachers, and, of course, what he did not teach himself through trial and error, he learned from his father, Claude Harmon, Sr., the 1948 Masters champion and one of the all-time best teachers of amateurs who made his home at two of the world’s top ranked clubs, Winged Foot in New York and Seminole in Florida. Drills were a big part of Sr.’s teaching routine, as is the case with Butch.)

Drill: Make Your Backswing and Downswing Speeds Match A lot of golfers who swing too fast may not be too quick taking the club back, but are blindingly fast coming down. In other words, their backswing and downswing speeds don’t match. You can’t make a downswing that fully utilizes your body if the downswing is only slightly slower than the speed of light!

Make a conscious effort to make your backswing and downswing speeds identical. Count to yourself as you make the swing: “one-and-two,” with “one” being for the backswing, “and” representing the top to the swing, and “two” representing your downswing. Try to swing your arms down and through the ball at exactly the same speed with which you brought them back. Don’t worry about how far you’ll hit the ball. Even though you’re swinging your arms back in what feels like a leisurely fashion, the centrifugal force built up in the shaft and clubhead will be releasing in the impact zone. You’ll be surprised how solidly and how far you hit it when you even out the tempo between your backswing and downswing.

Drill: Swing with Your Eyes Closed
Tee up the ball. Grip a driver, then, after going through your normal pre-swing routine, simply close your eyes and swing. Give yourself a few tries to get over the anxiety that this sightless swing actually causes. I think you’ll find that your instincts for where the ball is will kick into play and you’ll start meeting the ball surprisingly well.

More importantly, though, I guarantee that when you swing at the ball with your eyes closed, you’ll swing the club slowly and smoothly. It’s as though, without the benefit of sight, your subconscious realizes that you have to rely on clubhead control and good tempo to meet the ball well, and that’s what you’ll create as you swing the club.

from:http://golfmanagementassociation.com/golf-swing-slow-down-tips/

 

Study: Fitting = Instant Success

Study: Fitting = Instant Success:

May 2013

As a 5-handicapper in his 60s, Stan Ludwick didn't expect to shave four strokes off his game in just six months. But that's just what happened after he went for his first custom-fitting in 40 years of playing golf.

Ludwick was one of nine golfers to get their first clubfitting and undergo a comprehensive bag analysis by Club Champion Golf, one of the country's premier clubfitters, with locations in Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Houston. The players then charted each round they played using the GolfLogix smartphone app. Eight of our nine participants improved with their new clubs by an average of 1.7 strokes in barely half a season of play. Most of the golfers in our test showed dramatic, almost freakish improvements in distance. The average gain with the driver was 21 yards, and the average gain with the irons was 13 yards—or essentially a full club. The highlights:

*Andrew Burdick, a 6-handicapper, gained 29 yards with his new driver.

*Joe Zachmann, a 90s-shooter, picked up 31 yards with his driver.

*Gene McGarry, a 13-handicapper, gained significant yards with his new irons, including 29 yards with the 6-iron.

"What's most important is helping a golfer's weakness," says Nick Sherburne, co-founder of Club Champion Golf. "If we can help a golfer solve a weakness, it's going to increase the enjoyment factor that much more."

McGarry's incredible gains with his new irons caused more problems than they solved at first. It took more than a few airmailed greens before he started trusting his new yardages on his home course.

Zachmann said the changes to his iron set (he reduced his dispersion by 10 yards) transformed his enthusiasm for the game. And why not? It also improved his average score from 95 to 89. "To see how many changes they made to my clubs, I have such an appreciation for the science of clubfitting," says Zachmann, who had been playing a set he bought off the rack 10 years ago.

There weren't only distance gains. Darryl Wiggins never played golf on a serious level as a college soccer player, but he picked up the game through business connections. The 9-handicapper underwent an "eye-opening fitting experience," changing to a medium-size grip on his putter to quiet his hands before impact. He immediately saved two strokes a round on the greens. "It was like a light switch came on," he says. "For someone who struggled with feeling solid on the greens, that was the biggest thing."

Just as important was how players in our study began to see that problems in their games could be solved through the right fit. When Ludwick struggled hitting the ball in the air with a new fairway wood, instead of not using it or buying a new one, he returned to Club Champion Golf to diagnose the problem. Afterward, his results improved dramatically.

"I'm still the shortest hitter among the guys in our group because I'm a little older," Ludwick says, "but that's fine with me because I'm beating the crap out of them."

(Via Equipment)

Video: How To React When You Win A PGA Tour Event

Video: How To React When You Win A PGA Tour Event:

Check out Billy Horschel’s reaction to winning on the final green at the Zurich Classic.  Now that’s how you do it!

 

(Via GolfCentral Daily)

7 Fixed-Spike Casual Golf Shoes for 2013

7 Fixed-Spike Casual Golf Shoes for 2013:

Last year was my first complete season exclusively playing a casual fixed-spike golf shoe.  In play were a new pair of the original 2010 TRUE Linkswear Tour shoes, which, by the way, are still my favorite shoes in golf for a variety of reasons.  There is just something about being able to drive to the course and step out of the car ready to go in your golf shoes that makes the game more enjoyable.

Benefits:

+ convenience factor
+ more comfortable
+ little to no break in period
+ lower priced
+ almost every brand has a casual model now

Drawbacks

- Once they lose their tread, it’s game over for use on the course
- might wear quicker because most people wear them more than just for the course
- often times only carry a 1-year waterproof warranty
- and some are only water-resistant

In this casual shoe feature, I present some casual shoe options for your consideration for the 2013 season.  The article is designed as an overview of the shoes, and their features rather than an in-depth breakdown of their on course function and longevity over time.  The purpose is to educate you about some of your options for this season, in some cases, options you may have never considered before today.

Asics GEL Matchplay 33

I’ve been a consumer of the Asics brand for several years now wearing their running shoes specializing in motion control for severe over-pronation.  One of the aspects I find most appealing in their running shoe selections is the availability of extra wide shoes up to 4E.  Since their introduction into the golf market, I’ve been wanting to give their lineup a look and felt it would be an easy transition from their running shoes.  Unfortunately, none of the Asics golf shoes are available in wider widths (only M).  This was an unpleasant surprise given the variety of width Asics offers in their other lines.

The “33” in the name of this model is inspired by the 33 joints that allow your foot to move efficiently.  The Matchplay 33s incorporate the GEL cushioning system, and are remarkably comfortable, which you would expect from a golf shoe with running shoe roots.  In fact, the comfort is virtually unmatched in the golf market which is the essential selling point for those who prioritize comfort over any other feature.

Aesthetically, the Matchplay 33 looks cool in gray with the lime green contrast.  The fixed-spike pattern is somewhat aggressive, and reminiscent of a trail running shoe.  The fit is relatively true to size for an M width and feels like it could accommodate a wider foot because of the flexibility of the front of the shoe.  The Matchplay 33’s require no break-in period whatsoever, and are ready for 36 holes right out of the box.

Asics uses a “water resistant coated mesh upper” however, it’s best to wear the 33s when there is little or no chance of rain or turf moisture.  The interior of the shoe is soft, and comfortable, and the insole is removable.  The sole remains very flexible again, as you would expect from this style of shoe.  It’s important to keep in mind that this is a running shoe first, albeit with an adapted sole to improve performance on the course.  For those that need the comfort an athletic shoe provides, this is your shoe.  The fit of this shoe is true to size in a 10 and can accommodate a wide foot given the slight expansion effect of an athletic style mesh upper.

Asics Matchplay Classics

When I first took a look at the Asics Matchplay Classics, I immediately liked the look this golf shoe.  Its casual look would work perfectly both on and off the golf course.  In fact, I found that I wanted to wear them more away from the course, as they look great with jeans.  The Matchplay Classics are designed from a synthetic leather upper that is waterproof coated.  The feature a fixed-spike outsole with  a well-designed, aggressive traction pattern is both comfortable and flexible.

In a size ten, these fit true to size from back to front; however, the style and fit of this shoe is fairly narrow, and will likely feel snug for those requiring anything wider that a M.  Additionally, with a wider foot, the first eyehole closest to the toe, on the big toe side of the shoe, digs into the top of my foot.  I believe this is a result of my wider foot wedged into a narrow fit shoe, and due to any design flaw.  I mention this because this shoe cannot accommodate a foot wider than M, so keep the width in mind if considering  purchasing these online.

A-GAME Prime

One of the aspects I enjoy most is calling your attention to brands you’ve probably never heard of before. A-Game is one of them.  Their corresponding acronym is Always Going Above My Expectations, and is on point in my assessment of this shoe.  This particular shoe is called the Prime, and one of my favorite shoes of the bunch.  One of the first things I noticed about the Prime is the high quality construction and materials – and I don’t mention that lightly.

All of the contrast stitching is evenly applied and imbedded into the shoe as designed.  There is not a hint of adhesive at the seams between the rubber sole and leather upper.  The attention to detail is remarkably evident, as well as their pride in manufacturing.  The interior appears durable and well designed for the shoe including extra padding in the heel area.  They look and feel like a well-made, high-end shoe.  The wing-tipped, two-toned suede leather upper boasts a sophisticated modern look.

The Prime has a waterproof upper and fixed-spike outsole.  These shoes are an extremely comfortable offering.  As good as they look, they feel even better on the foot and is their most significant quality.  A-Game includes a separate pair of insoles to accommodate up to a EEE width if necessary.  A-Game recommends going up one half size in Prime, and they were spot on with their recommendation.  This is one of a couple of shoes in this feature that I plan to continue wearing off the course.

No break-in period necessary for the Prime, they’re ready to go right out of the box.  Well made, well styled, and nicely priced at $79.

Vivobarefoot Hybrid

Vivobarefoot describes themselves as the original barefoot shoe company and has been around now for a decade.  If you have read any of my past articles, you know that I have been wearing a barefoot platform or minimalist shoe now for the last two seasons. It’s been about 11 years since receiving my Masters of Arts degree, and that’s about how long it’s been since I opened a professional journal.  So stand back, I am about to get scholarly.

In July 2012, an article was published in the journal of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.  The study looked at the foot strikes of 52 runners and found almost 70% of them used a rear foot strike as opposed to a forefoot strike. Furthermore, runners who habitually rearfoot strike have significantly higher rates of repetitive stress injury.

According to Daniel Lieberman, Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard, “Many people today think that they need stiff-soled shoes with lots of cushioning and arch support, yet we humans evolved to walk and run barefoot. In fact, until recently, everyone was either unshod or wore minimal footwear with flexible soles, and little arch support or cushioning. So try taking off your shoes!  Adopting a barefoot style of running and having strong feet is not only more natural, but also may be very good for one’s health.”

Barefoot shoe platforms are here to stay, and there seems to be a great deal of science behind them.

I had a chance to examine the Vivobarefoot Hybrid golf shoe.  This shoe is built on the foundation of Proprioception, which is the sensory feedback from the nerves of the feet. The sole is 2.5mm thick and is puncture resistant.  It features a “zero-drop” heel and no pitch providing a natural gait.  The toe box is wider than most allowing the toes to expand and function individually.  The outsole is extremely flexible and can be folded in half with ease.  The tread pattern or “spikes” are 2mm thick for incredible turf interaction.  The asymmetrical upper is a combination of mesh and full-grain leather making them water-resistant.  The insole is removable and Vivobarefoot recommends its removal after your initial adaptation.  In a Euro size 43 (10 US) these fit perfectly and true to size.  With the insole, they can easily accommodate up to a 3E width and even wider if the insole is removed.

Out of the box, these are ready to go and very comfortable for a minimalist shoe requiring little to no break in period.  I found that the shape felt a little different once the foot was inserted, but was a sensation that was easily tolerated and diminished over time.  At $170 retail, I strongly suggest taking a look at the Breatho Trail Mens shoe as well from Vivobarefoot.  The outsole tread pattern on this shoe is identical to the outsole on their Hybrid golf shoe and at half the price.

PUMA Clyde

The Puma Golf Clyde shoe was designed after the timeless classic of the same name in the Puma line.  The Clyde was the first signature basketball shoe named after the man himself, Walt “Clyde” Frazier.  The Clyde was was originally custom designed in suede for Frazier in 1973, and had a significant following off the court and on the street.  It’s been 40 years since the original design and Puma seems to be releasing this shoe in a variety of options to fit any venue, including golf.

The golf adaptation is said to be a bit lighter and wider than the original but includes the stamped Clyde moniker on the side of the shoe.  The upper is made of soft, full grain leather and carries a one year waterproof warranty.  The outsole is made of Puma’s abrasion resistant EverTrack rubber outsole.  The Clyde’s have a fixed spike “S2QuillTec” spikes that are moderately aggressive.

Although these fit true to size from front to back, I felt as though they were fairly narrow feeling.  The leather on these are not as flexible, so they do require some break-in period.  However, for the price at $89, and the one year waterproof warranty, these are tough to beat. Add in the timeless Clyde styling, and versatility off the course, and on the street, Puma transitioned this 40 year classic well on to the golf scene.

PUMA FAAS Grip

Since I’ve been playing this game over the past twenty five years, there are a select number of shoes that I have tried on and thought, they nailed it. A shoe that feels comfortable right out of the box, almost as if it were custom made just for you.  The FJ Contour, and TRUE Linkswear, True Tour come to mind that fit this description, but that is about as long as my list was until now.

The FAAS Grip (FG) by Puma has been added to that list and is easily one of the top golf shoes I have worn to date.

Right out of the box, they had “that” feel to them.  It combines the comfort of a spikeless street shoe with the stability of a tour performance shoe.  They are easily my favorite shoe of the ones previewed in this article.

One of the factors contributing to the FG comfort is that they are built on an athletic shoe platform, much like the FJ Contours I previously mentioned. They also incorporate Puma’s EverFoam technology in the heel is designed to recover slowly and adjusts to the contours of your foot.  The outsole is made from Puma’s EverTrack designed to resist wear and breakdown over time with continued durability in high-wear areas.  The fixed spike pattern is nicely done and provides remarkable traction and grip.  These fit true to size in a 10 Wide.  The FG come with a one year waterproof guarantee. My lone complaint with the FG is that they are constructed with synthetic leather.  However, at $99, the PUMA FAAS Grip are well worth their value and are among the most comfortable, as well as best performing golf shoes I’ve worn.

adidas adicross II

For 2013, Adidas is offering an improved version of the original Adicross golf shoe.  Retailing at $90, there is a lot of punch delivered in the second coming of this fixed-spike, casual street golf shoe.

The first thing that caught my attention was the overall attractiveness of the shoe.  Often, in street style golf shoes, although designed with casual in mind, they just look goofy worn off the golf course and when not paired with a golf specific outfit.  I found these appealing because they could easily be worn to work  on a Friday when your plan is to get out of the office and on the course by noon.  The full-grain leather upper contributes to this appeal.  A synthetic toe cap has been added this year for improved durability and abrasion resistance.  The subtle and understated three stripe logo is incorporated into the design of the upper.

Inside this show Adidas incorporates the CloudFoam sockliner which enhanced the feel and comfort of the Adicross.  The Adicross II fit true to size in a 10 wide.  They are comfortable right out of the box and require little to no break-in period.  The outsole features a fix-spike pattern of 100 spikes varying in size for excellent grip and turf interaction.  The sole is also made from Adiwear abrasion resistant rubber.  The sole as well as the spike system is both durable and flexible.

Like the FAAS Grip, the spike system on the Adicross II is well done offering remarkable traction and enhanced longevity.  I appreciated the fact that Adidas included a pair of brown and white shoe laces to further personalize the shoe to fit your individual taste. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any details or information on the box or other marketing material that spoke with the waterproof/water resistance of these shoes.  This lead me to conclude they are water resistant only, which is unfortunate in any golf shoe in my opinion.

What’s Your Favorite?

Do you have a favorite fixed-spike casual golf shoe? Tell us about it in the comments below.

(Via Golf Forum - Golf Blog (MyGolfSpy.com))

Great price for Titleist Pro V1 lake balls

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/-/171030393190?roken=hW02c6

The top ten most ‘unusual’ golf putters

The top ten most ‘unusual’ golf putters:

One of the most remarkable things about the modern touring golfer is the sheer number of hideous golf putters there are in play each week.

Take a trip to any tournament and you’ll be dazzled by golfers taking to the greens with what look like props from an episode of Star Trek tucked under their arm.

It’s not just the modern golfer that is afflicted either, throughout history, golfers have wielded some strange looking putting beasts on the greens.

Here’s our top ten of putters that we’d like to forget

1. Sandy Lyle’s “Black Swan” Putter  (above)

Around Augusta last weekend, former Masters Champ Sandy Lyle was attempting to win his second Masters title using what looked like a branding iron on the greens. Lyle admitted that his Black Swan putter “is strange” and “certainly wouldn’t win a beauty contest” but the Scot tried it in a practice round at Augusta and took just 26 putts, hitting six birdies.

“As long as I keep holing putts, I’ll be keeping it in the bag” stated Lyle.

2. The Scotty Cameron Future Phantom

Scotty Cameron may be a name synonymous with some of the world’s best putter, bus the Future Phantom has been given the nickname “the Retarded Spaceship” for a good reason. Viewed face on, the putter looks like it is being held backwards, viewed from the back it looks like the putter’s laughing at you for trying to use it.

3. The “Crazy Golf” or “Mini Golf” Rented Putter

This will bring back a few memories for anyone who has played Crazy Golf or Mini Golf at some point in their lives with a rented putter. Not only is your golf ball seemingly made from vulcanised rubber, your putter is arguably the most basic invention in history. A lump of brass which can be reversed so lefty’s can play too. It plays all the better too when chipped and scratched which is another bonus!

4. Nike Method Core Drone

Ever had such a bad day on the greens that you felt like sticking two-fingers up to the golfing gods? Well if you purchase the new Nike Method Core Drone, the putter does it for you, with its unusual V shape design the perfect accompaniment on the green for the angry, frustrated golfer.

5.  Tour Edge T Balance 01

With it’s distinctive curved shaft affixing to the back of the putter and it’s Terminator 2 type looks, the Tour Edge T Balance 01 went for a futuristic feel, but instead ended up looking very much like something had just fallen out of the back of your desktop PC.

6. Scott Cameron Futura X (Prototype)

Adam Scott may have wielded this putter to his Masters success in Augusta in 2013, but there is no doubting that for all its effectiveness on the green, the Aussie is certainly going to be building his physique carrying that amount of metal in his bag every round.

7. Odyssey Versa #7

If you are a fan of the Star Wars movies then you’ll no doubt recognise that the new Odyssey Versa 7 putter has been designed by the same team who produced the Millennium Falcon. The shape of the club we can live with, but what is with the dreadful black and white colour scheme?

8. Taylor Made Ghost Spider S

Similar to the Odyssey Versa shown above, this black and white putter should be one of the best new putters on the market today, but the black and white combination, especially in the Spider versions of the club, just don’t look aesthetically pleasing and the design of the club is a bit of a mangle of metal too.

9.  Chase Glen Putter

Only a madman would putt not using a flat putting face, right? Well, if you have the new Chase Glen putter then maybe not. This solid block of aluminium has a curved face and a counterweight at the back, which not only gives it a distinctive look but means that when it is in the bag, you have somewhere to hang your jacket.

10. Ping Karsten Craz-E

This is another putter, like the number 5 Tour Edge T Balance 01, which looks like it belongs inside your computer rather than out on a golf course. The unusual positioning of the shaft and the grandiose back of the putter made it good for picking balls up off the green, but not necessarily getting your ball in the hole.

Images Courtesy of Odyssey, Chase Glen, Tour Edge, Scotty Cameron, Black Swan

(Via Gorilla Golf Blog)

PUTTER REVIEW – The Mantis

PUTTER REVIEW – The Mantis:

Win A Mantis

Would you like to win a Mantis putter?  Just leave a comment below and you will be entered into the random drawing.  US residents only on this one.

(Written by Golfspy Dave) Who in their right mind would start a putter company these days?  Seriously, have you seen the multitudes of putters in your local shop lately?  If you haven’t, I’ll let you in on a little secret.  There are a lot of them.  Enlightening, huh?  I’ll let you in on another little nugget of putter knowledge; the vast majority of putters in your local shop are excellent.  I don’t know if I can go so far as to say we are in the Golden Age of Putters, but if there comes a more gilded putter era, it will truly be something special.  The golf consumer has so many great putters to choose from that he or she could almost just grab and go, ala Jim Furyk, and have a great round on the course.

Keeping this competitive marketplace in mind, again I ask why anyone would try to break into the putter business.  Why fight the expensive, uphill battle for exposure and a cut of the putter dollars?  The answer could be very simple.  The fledgling putter company may feel that their putter is simply better than any other putter out there.  They see an open niche in the market, and we all know from our biology classes that utilizing an open niche creates a competitive edge, usually enabling survival.

Mantis Golf is ready to take their shot at the putter market with their new putter.  One look at the putter and you can see that the Mantis putter is unlike any of the others in the market.  Mantis Golf believes that the matte-green finish and minimal alignment markings cause your eye to stay on the ball and not the putter during the stroke. Many of us learned the importance of “keeping your eye on the ball” during our first T-Ball practice.  How else are you going to catch or hit that moving ball? 

But can keeping our eye on the stationary golf ball really help a golfer make more putts?

Mantis Putter Features:

:: Material: 431 Stainless Steel
:: Weight: 350g
:: Toe Hang: Face Balanced
:: Length Tested: 34″
:: Finish: Matte Green
:: Insert: Polyurethane
:: Grip: Custom Winn

BALL USED: Wilson FG Tour

FEEL

2013 may go down as the year that Golfspy Dave gets over his issues with insert putters.  The Odyssey White Hot Pro insert feels great.  Ping has truly nailed it with the Scottsdale TR insert as well.  Add Mantis’ polyurethane insert to that list.  That’s right, drop the Mantis in the same pool as Odyssey and Ping for insert feel.

It’s a soft, yet responsive insert that somehow also delivers a bit of a metallic ring when the ball is struck.  When I visited Odyssey in Carlsbad last winter, I learned just how much chemistry and machinery goes into making their insert, and I came to terms with not truly understanding all of it (any of it?).  How Mantis can make polyurethane ring with a zen-like tone is truly mystifying.  The nice thing for you and me is that we don’t need to understand it to enjoy it.

LOOKS

Well here we go.  Welcome to the most polarizing part of the review. Some of you will like it, some of you will warm to it, and some of you can’t be convinced to roll one ball with that big green thing.  I was a warm to it guy.  When I first saw it, I thought that’s a pretty crazy looking putter.  The Mantis looks like a cross between a turtle shell and the alien ships from Independence Day.

An Anser it is not.  However, the Mantis was not crafted for display; it was made to putt. Once I had it on the green, I started to see what they are talking about with the color scheme.  The matte-green finish takes your eyes away from the camouflaged putter head and instead places them on the ball.  The green and the turtle shape became less and less pronounced the more I used the Mantis.

SET-UP & ALIGNMENT

Many of us remember when Nike tried a green color scheme with their IC putter line.  Nike claimed that the green color of the IC reduced the overall visual footprint of the putter and allowed the golfer to really focus on the alignment lines.  The Mantis takes this concept into similar territory.  However, Mantis is helping you to switch your focus from the putter to the ball.

Having played both the Nike IC 20-20 and the Mantis, I will tell you that there are some serious differences between the two.  The green color is very different.  The Mantis putter’s green is far brighter than the deep olive of the IC.  The Mantis‘ green definitely blends into the turf better than the IC’s did.  Part of that may also be the alignment differences.  Where the Nike IC line had bold white alignment lines, the Mantis has a thin white T-shaped alignment tool.    When addressing the ball, you see the alignment T and the ball far more than the rest of the putter head, which I believe is Mantis’ intention.

FIT FOR STROKE™

Don’t change your stroke. Change your putter.

The (FIT FOR STROKE™) concept was developed by PING, yet another genius fitting system they have developed for golfers. It works hand-in-hand with the iPING Putter App which is highly suggest everyone getting (IT’S FREE!). You might be surprised to find out that the stroke you think you have isn’t the stroke you actually have.

This addition to the MGS reviews will allow you to become a more consistent putter by matching you with models that better fit your stroke type. They will be broken down into three categories: (1) Straight – for face balance putters (2) Slight Arc – for mid toe hang putters (3) Strong Arc – for toe down putters

“Results from hundreds of player and robot tests at PING offer overwhelming scientific support for the effectiveness of fitting for stroke. In recent years more diagnostic tools and testing equipment have become available, and the results prove that a golfer’s consistency improves when their putter balance matches their stroke type. It was interesting to observe that golfers putt more consistently with stroke-appropriate models, but they also show a personal preference for these models, too. Prior to putting with them, golfers are drawn to models that fit their eye, even before they fit their stroke.” says PING.

The Mantis Putter: Straight

PERFORMANCE

As we all learned from the Most Wanted Mallet test, a golfer’s reaction to a putter’s aesthetics does not influence performance.  Remember how the STX xForm3 was the second most accurate putter while simultaneously scoring dead last in aesthetics?  The looks and alignment features definitely do influence accuracy, and that’s why they are there.  However, what doesn’t influence accuracy is your feelings about the aesthetics.  Believe what you want about liking the looks of a putter generating confidence, and that confidence translating to more made putts.  I used to believe that too.  Our data just says otherwise.

Accuracy was measured using the same guidelines as the previous mallet test.  Testers rolled five putts from distances of five, ten, and twenty feet.  The five and ten foot putts scores were adjusted for distance, and then all of the scores from the testers were averaged.  The average score was then scored against the ideal accuracy distance score of 127.5 inches, this ideal accuracy number was determined using all the putters we have reviewed.

Accuracy Score Calculation

:: Total Miss Distance (all testers, adjusted for distance)= 922 inches
:: Average Miss Distance Per Tester (Total/6)= 153.6 inches
:: Percentage of Accuracy Ideal Value (127.5/Average Miss Per Tester x 100)= 83%

An accuracy score of 83 is a solid score for any putter, especially for a company’s first putter.  This score puts the Mantis in the same scoring range as the putters from Bettinardi, Ping, and Odyssey.  That’s pretty solid putter-company company.

Total Accuracy Score = 83%

Summary

Mantis Golf has jumped into the putter arena with a uniquely shaped mallet whose coloration and minimal alignment markings are designed to help you watch the ball, and not the putter.  While I can’t document what the eyes of the testers were focused on during putting, the data supports the idea that Mantis’ design holds performance merit.  If you are interested in purchasing a Mantis, the price is also quite reasonable at $159.99.  I think that many mallet players will love swinging this big green putting machine.

Win A Mantis

Would you like to win a Mantis putter?  Just leave a comment below and you will be entered into the random drawing.  US residents only on this one.

(Via Golf Forum - Golf Blog (MyGolfSpy.com))