Now this is one product that we all need… a real time golf simulator that you can use wherever you have a computer hookup.

Recently a friend of mine imported one of these units into Spain where I have had a chance to get to know how it works.

In as few words as possible – Simply Amazing!

A group of us spent quite a few hours whacking balls around his basement, into a blanket suspended from a couple of hooks, and we were all amazed at how accurate the system was.

OK you can’t really make allowances for wind, or the feel of playing out of the rough, but for the majority of iron shots it was remarkably realistic.

For example I tend to hit somewhere in the region of 90 to 110 yards with a sand wedge, Optishot was spot on.

Robert hits the same club about 80 yards, again Optishot was spot on and even gave him the fade that he always hits with that club.

This is definitely a product that’s going on my Christmas List!

Optishot Golf Simulator Details

The “Dancin Dogg OptiShot Shot Making Simulator OptiShot Infrared Golf Simulator combines pinpoint accurate swing analysis in a highly realistic, three-dimensional visual golf environment… All in the comfort of your own home.

The Optishot Infrared Golf Simulator combines Dancin’ Dogg’s award winning accurate swing and shot analysis with a proprietary three dimensional visual golf software called “3DD Golf”.

Advanced Simulator Pinpoint Accuracy Library of World Class Golf Courses

Sixteen advanced infrared optical sensors accurately measure your club through the impact zone capturing shot impact conditions.

It gives you:

• Club head speed
• Face angle
• Swing path
• Toe/center/heel – face contact
• Visual feedback of each shot

Now, Do It Again! Please don’t tell us you hit it perfect the first time.

You did? Lucky you.

Try it again anyway.

Keep practicing until you’ve gotten to the point where you’re making the shot more and with more confidence. Pat yourself on the back. The ball is going where you want it to go almost every time?

Congratulations, you’re a shot maker.

Now, using the EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour game included with the Dancin Dogg Shot Making Simulator take your new skills to the greatest courses in the world.

Practicing in Places Where You Can’t Swing

On the road, in a hotel room, plane or somewhere else where swinging a club is out of the question?

No problem.

You can still create shot making scenarios by programming in what if scenarios regarding club, swing speed and club face angle at impact.

What is included

• Infrared Optical Swing Pad
• OptiShot 3DD Golf Software
• USB cable (10 ft.)
• Foam practice balls
• Adjustable rubber tees
• Quick-start guide

Features

• Play with up to four players
• Hit all shots from tee to green
• Use your own clubs
• Ability to tune settings specific to your club set
• Practice shots from anywhere on any course
• Expanding library of replicated world class golf courses
• Par 3 Tee Feature – good for restricted spaces

Read More About The Dancin’ Dogg OptiShot Golf Simulator

___________________________________

Related Review – The Leopold Golf Rangefinder

To Follow: More Golf Simulator Reviews – When We Find Some Good Ones!

ReFiner 460cc Hinged Practice Golf Driver Review

Recently I had the pleasure to get in a practice session with one of these drivers.

Robert, my instructor, was having problems with one of his pupils and suggested the ReFiner as a ‘make or break’ tool to correct a serious swing problem.

One was duly ordered, turned up less than a week later, which is a bit of a miracle as we all live in Spain, and was taken to the driving range.

The trainee with the swing problem has seen tremendous gains in less than two hours use as he could finally SEE where his problem lay.

And as for me? I hit around fifty balls with the ReFiner and while not seeing any vast improvement I did see an improvement in the number of drives going in the right direction.

All I need to see is if that helps in lowering my average round when I next get out on the course.

ReFiner 460cc Hinged Practice Golf Driver Summary:

The ReFiner Practice Golf Driver is a two-way adjustable-hinged driver, engineered to hit golf balls and teach a smooth, even-tempo swing.

The ReFiner allows you to:

1. Practice at the range or at home.

2. Receive instant feedback.

3. Improve tempo, timing, and clubhead position.

4. Practice any time of the year.

5. Make better contact with the ball, hitting it straighter and further.

Whether you are a beginner or a Pro, The ReFiner Practice Golf Driver has benefits:

*** Designed to be durable enough to hit golf balls Rick Bradshaw, Instructor for PGA Tour Players, Recommends the Refiner Pro. “”If your swing is broken, ReFiner will fix it”" Rick Bradshaw

ReFiner Practice Golf Driver Pro Features:

**Hinge breaks in two directions, instantly identifying flaws in your swing.

**Hinge tension is adjustable

**Engineered to hit golf balls

**30 Day Money Back Guarantee

ReFiner Practice Golf Driver Pro Detects the Following Flaws:

**Excessive grip pressure.

**Open/ Closed club face

**Improper swing plane

**Casting

**Improper lower body movement

**Incomplete follow through

Order the ReFiner Practice Golf Driver Pro Today and find out why everyone else including PGA Tour players and Instructors are using the Refiner Pro.

Improve your game with the Refiner Practice Golf Driver Pro risk free with a 30 Day Unconditional Money Back Guarantee.

Refiner Practice Golf Driver Pro

TaylorMade Burner Irons offer unique variations. Firstly there are two types of shafts made available to the customers. One is made of steel, which is called the Burner SuperFast 85 Steel and the other one is made of graphite and known as the RE-AX SuperFast 65 Graphite

Like the rest of the Taylormade range, the Burner SuperLaunch long-irons, mid-irons and short-irons were designed separately, which is clear when you see the long-irons, which boast a decidedly low-profile shape compared to the rest of the set. This shape, when combined with the wide sole and deep cavity, help make Burner SuperLaunch long-irons so much easier to launch at lower swing speeds. The

TaylorMade has put effort into designing these burner irons individually to each do a fantastic job. These irons have a great feel and loads of distance thanks to a high MOI, high COR and added SuperFast technology. Made of quality materials these irons are also durable and have proven on tour performance.

The appearance of these irons has raised some discontent among players. For an iron that is fully equipped with advanced technology, the clubhead´s look is a bit contained. Although the cavity marks the Inverted Core Technology in red and the back of the clubface bears the Burner XD badge along with the Sound Managing Cavity badge, these aesthetic qualities do not appear at address.

Added features of the TaylorMade Burner Irons include a super long shaft, which makes launching shots easier. The sole design is multifunctional, with thicker toplines. The superbly crafted cavity badge lends a feather soft feel and generates minimum sound, which makes it a truly sophisticated product.

A slight draw back of the great forgiveness is that it’s quite difficult to manipulate the flight of the golf ball and shape your shots with the TaylorMade Burner irons 09. However this isn’t really what they were made for, or what players will be buying them for.

Despite being aimed mostly at mid handicappers, we would say that these irons would likely be suitable to try for almost any level of golfer. The TaylorMade Burner Irons 09 really are one of the companies best to date.

TaylorMade Burner Irons are not meant for playing alone; they can be also be used as training equipment to improve your golfing capabilities. It truly adjusts to your current levels of accomplishments and propels you towards greater achievements.

More Information On TaylorMade Burner Irons Can Be Found By Clicking The Link Below

TaylorMade Burner 2.0 Iron Set

Practice with your Taylormade Burner Irons with the best home golf simulator available – Optishot Golf Simulator

When you think about it, golf is one of the most well -mannered sports in the world. Nobody is ever going to see Tiger Woods hipcheck one of his opponents on the fifth hole. Greg Norman probably never ran after anyone with his club held over his head. Nobody gets called any variety of body part or farm animal just as they bend their head to tee up. The game is quiet, almost tranquil, without the finger pointing, name calling or chair swinging of other sports. Even for the beginning golfer, learning golf etiquette is just as important as learning the other rules and scoring is.

One of the most basic etiquette rules begins before you even tee up that very first shot. Find out about the dress code of the course that you are playing at, and try to adhere to it as closely as possible. Make sure that you know what kind of shoes you should be wearing cleated or not. If you are using a golf cart, make sure that you park far enough away that you will not impede other golfers, or better yet, walk the course.  Next, you should know that during each player’s tee shot, there is no talking to allow for supreme concentration.  Don’t stand in someone’s line of vision, and leave your cell phone at the clubhouse or set it to vibrate.

Pay attention to the game, even when it is not your turn, and be ready to play when it is your turn. Nobody wants to have to keep reminding an adult that it is their turn, nor do they want to stand around and wait while you get yourself situated and ready to go. You should be lining up your next shot, going over what you would like to do before you ever walk up to the tee.
Know who will play first, and the subsequent order thereafter for each hole. In most cases, the first player on a new hole is the one who had the lowest score on the last one. Of course, if there is a tie, then whoever had the lowest on the previous hole to that one is first.

Make sure that you know where everybody is, including all others who might be on the course around you. Not only do you have to see where your own group is, take a look around before rearing back and taking your swing. Also, be aware of the speed with which your group is playing. Are the folks behind you ready to declare war on you? If you are playing at a slightly slower speed than the group behind you, invite them to go ahead and play through to avoid holding them up unduly. In the same respect, if you find that you are behind a slower group, and they have not invited you to play through, then you should remain calm and polite without any semblance of trying to rush or hurry them.

And finally, do not tear up the course without making an effort at repairing the divots. Do not leave trash behind, nor allow any member of your group to do so. Be a responsible golfer.

There are resorts in nearly every corner of the world, focusing on nearly every sport, activity and hobby. Golf is one of the world’s most popular sports, with players taking up the sport in record numbers each and every single year. Golf resorts can be found nearly anywhere you could imagine, and offer vacations suitable for golfers at every level of the game.

Resorts can offer varying amenities, from the golf only resorts that have ties to nearby, local hotels all the way to the all-inclusive golf resorts that feature their own hotels, usually within walking distance to the first tee. For these inclusive resorts, there may be more of demand, especially in the more tropical areas of the world, so make sure you book your trip early enough to avoid disappointment. If an all-inclusive resort it out of your price range, however, you can select a hotel relatively close to the course you would like to play and then make some compromises. The goal is to goal in a tropical locale, right? Of course, some courses are not public, so before you make plans that are not for an all-inclusive resort, find out if there are courses available for play.

Make sure that you pack well for your trip, even if heading to an all-inclusive resort. The prices for sunblock and other necessities can be triple or higher what you would expect, so plan ahead. Also make sure that you know what kind of clothing is acceptable or necessary for different activities. Some of the golf courses will require certain outfits for both male and female golfers, as well as formal wear for the evening meals. Your travel agent can answer any questions that you might have. If you have planned and booked this trip entirely on your own to reduce cost, then a quick email to the resort itself is warranted. If it is a question of what to bring or what you will be expected to wear, the staff will be more than happy to assist you. If not, you might want to reconsider your trip to this resort.

Finally, take advantage of all of the golf amenities that are offered at the resort. If there are lessons for instance, sign up for them. Who could not afford to improve their swing and therefore, their golf game? Unless you are Tiger Woods, you could use the extra help.

For golf accommodation in Spain check out the apartments on the famous Mijas Golf course near Fuengirola

If price is not an issue, you can specify each individual part of your club, ending up with a custom built set. Of course, there is a cheaper option to this concept as well, buying each part yourself and putting the club together yourself, one of the cheapest ways for the average golfer to end up with custom made clubs. If building your own does not sound like something you are interested in, and you cannot afford the custom built option, you can buy readymade clubs which will suit you well, that is, if you make sure that you have them properly fitted.

The first step to getting properly fitted golf clubs should be to consult a professional. Check with the golf pro at the course you play most often if there is one. If not, check online for where the nearest Professional Golfer’s Association is located and check with them for advice. (Be aware that in most cases, club fitting is not free nor is it usually cheap, so check to see if it is in your price range.)

The shaft length of your club will not be determined simply by your height. Tall players might have shorter arms, or shorter players might have longer arms, or the actual golf stance that you take before your swing might change your needs dramatically. In these cases, a fitting might actually be the only way to properly fit your clubs, despite the expense.

Your grip size is determined by your hand size, as well as the faults that you would like to correct with your swing. If you are a slicer, smaller clubs will make you work your hands faster. If you hook the ball, instead, bigger grips will slow down your hand action, reducing the amount of the hook. Grips come in different types of materials as well as the various sizes, which material you use should be determined by how often you play, the weather conditions that you play in most frequently and what kind of work you want to put into maintaining these grips. Leather for instance, is expensive and requires a lot of effort to maintain. All-rubber is better for the beginner through intermediate players, is easy on the hands and can be changed whenever necessary. (It is recommended that your rubber grips be changed at least once a year if you play once per week or more.)

Fitting your clubs should be a fairly lengthy process. You do not want to just walk in and grab the first golf clubs that you find. This is an investment, even if you plan to upgrade within the next year or so, so make sure that they fit you well.

Other Reading:

baseball pitching machines
ride on cars for kids

What you wear to play a round of golf will depend on where you go. The more exclusive the club you go to, the more restrictive the dress code will be. Some clubs will only allow certain types of shoes, for instance, while others will only allow certain colors to be worn. It is well worth your time to know the rules of your club before you even load your clubs to avoid either looking foolish or being turned away for having on improper attire. For the public courses, the dress codes are usually a little more lenient.

In the old days, the uniform of the golfer was stiff and itchy wool, year round, with very little breathability and ease of movement. And, back then, it was even worse for the few women that played the game; they were forced to wear full skirts, blouses right up to their chins and big hats. No wonder golf took so long to catch on with the general public! Now, there are better materials, with better breathability and comfort. Closer cut clothing allows for better range of movement, and better overall swing.

Golf can be expensive enough without adding the clothing into the mix. Do not get caught up in dressing a certain way if it is really not necessary to do so. If there is not a rule in place forcing you to do so, do not feel compelled to buy a lot of “golf pants” or other related wear. Pay attention to the other golfers and get a general idea of what everybody is wearing. This will give you an idea of what is acceptable and standard at this course. Wear the clothing that fits your body, your budget and your personal tastes. Keep in mind several things however:

1) Cotton is one of the best materials for summer month play. It is breathable, soft and will protect against chafing, while allowing for sweat evaporation.

2) Lighter colors reflect more of the sun’s light, thus keeping you cooler as well.

3) If you can afford it, there are tops that are treated to block the sun’s rays as well as to discourage flying pests.

4) Keep fit in mind as well: too tight and you will not be comfortable, and risk skin breakdown. Too loose and you might impede your own play.

Wear what looks good, fits well and makes you feel like a golfer.

Other Reading:

baseball pitching machine
weight training equipment
luxury yacht

You just had your best round of golf ever. You high five everyone on the way to the locker-room, you quickly shower and change clothing, toss your gear into your trunk and head out. You make a quick stop at the store and pick up a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk and then return home. You come in, put the groceries away and then fall into your recliner chair and take what you think is a well-earned nap. An hour later, you wake and begin to stand up, only to realize that you are so sore you can barely move. Thinking back, you try to figure out what could have caused this amount of pain, and wonder- could this be from golf?

If you did not stretch after golf, the likelihood is very likely. For your next golf game, make sure that you stretch before hand to prevent injuries during, and then keep in mind some exercises for afterward for the same reason. These should not be full on, heavy-duty exercises, you did just play golf after all, but should stretch and release the lactic acid that builds in your muscles when they work hard. Don’t let anyone tell you differently, golf is hard work and you will feel it if you do not take the necessary precautions.

If you have a regular yoga practice, you can use that as your post-golf exercise routine, but it you do not, then you can use some very simple stretches and moderate yoga poses to relax and release your most worked muscles.

To release tension and muscle strain in your shoulders and upper back:
Downward facing dog:  Long considered one of the very best shoulder stretches in yoga, down dog is easy to learn and feels amazing once you master it. Start with your feet about shoulder’s width apart, and place the palms of your hand on the floor, under your shoulders. If you have tight hamstrings, you will have to modify by either using a pillow beneath your hand, or by bending your knees slightly. Your aim will be to be in the pose with straight legs. Keep your breath even and natural, and imagine your tailbone pointing toward the ceiling. To come back out of the pose, walk your hands back toward your legs and then straighten up.

To release your hamstrings and upper thighs:
Lie on your back and bend your left knee. Cross your right leg over the left knee and then slide your hands around the bent knee- your legs should resemble a figure four. Pull your bent knee toward your chest until you feel the stretch, stopping before there is any sensation of pain. Hold for several seconds, and then release and switch legs.

To release your calf muscles:
Step up on a ledge or the edge of a rolled towel, or small pillow. Come way up onto your toes and hold, feeling the calf muscles contract fully. Hold the position for several seconds and then release, feeling those muscles relax. Repeat several times.

To release your ankles:
Sit on a chair, sliding forward until your feet can plant firmly and flatly on the ground. Using a tennis ball, roll the ball under your right foot, drawing each letter of the alphabet on the floor. Repeat with left foot. (This will also work your feet and feels terrific.)

One final lower body stretch:

Sit on your bottom, placing the soles of your feet together in front of you. Holding onto the outer edge of your feet with the palms of your hands, imagine that your legs are the wings of a graceful butterfly, and flap up and down several times. Do not concern yourself with how big the movement is, nor with how close to the ground you can get your legs at first. Eventually, you will be able to get your legs flat to the floor without strain or pain. Do not force it, just let your body work itself into it slowly.

Have you ever seen a pitcher come to the mound, fresh from the dugout without taking a single second to stretch and warm-up? No, you have not. And hopefully you do not see a golfer coming straight out of the clubhouse and teeing up in the same way. More importantly, let’s hope that is not your usual practice. Golf is a sport, just like baseball, tennis or football and the same concepts apply: you have to be fit, and you have to warm up before you get started. Unless you want your first round of golf to be your last round as well, make sure that you stretch your muscles and do an adequate warm-up before blasting that first ball. It is also in your best interest to understand a little bit about what golf can do to your body, and what body parts are most important to your golf game.

Most golfers know that they will be using their upper bodies during their swing, and their lower bodies between each shot, but they may forget that their abdominal region is one of the most important factors of their game. A strong core will give you balance and power for your swing, but will also protect your lower back during the actual swinging action. The weaker your core is allowed to become, the more potential risk there is for back injuries, sometimes serious enough to keep you not only off the links, but off of your feet for days.

Consider yoga as part of your golf game. Keeping your back and shoulders loose and limber will help your swing not only to be strong, but safe as well. Some yoga programs can be modified and adapted for specific sports and are well worth looking into. Also do some strength training, especially those moves that target your shoulders, upper back, biceps, triceps and forearm muscles. Along with working with weights, make sure that you are doing some flexibility moves as well. Follow your new routine at least three times per week, adding more as you increase your strength and flexibility. As always, make sure you consult your doctor before beginning any fitness routine.

There are many programs available, either on video, in books or on the Web, so make sure to find the right one for you and stick to it. Learn each of the stretches and do them in a mirror to make sure that you are keeping to proper alignment and form. Do each of the stretches for the recommended amount of time, but keep in mind that stretches should not be painful. If there is any pain, back off of the stretch and consider whether you were doing the move correctly, or trying to go too far with the stretch before your muscles are warmed properly. Remember golf is supposed to be a fun way to maintain your fitness, but nothing is enjoyable if it leaves you injured. Take the extra time to stretch and warm-up properly, so that you can enjoy your game and play to the best of your own ability.