The Right Golf Club

During the many years spent wasting my time on the golf course, It has been my observation that some golfers can play with about any kind of swing...and some golfers can play with most any kind of clubs.

I think I fall into the first group. The few times I have built up the courage to go to a pro for lessons, has been a frustrating experience for the pro. The pro usually walks away in disgust after a few attempts at analyzing the subtle mechanics of my swing. One pro even refunded my money and begged me not to tell anyone he had given me lessons.

Yet, somehow I managed to hit the ball and play with about a 12 handicap. How is this possible with a hack swing that is way to flat and way to short with the weight shift of a run away hippo. It's hard to say...but I think it is due to my excellent choice of clubs.

If you look in my bag, which always has a few too many clubs in it, you will find a hodgepodge mixture of this and that. Its something that just happened over a period of time. I really don't know how a person can play with a matched set of clubs.

IN MY BAG

A Titliest D75D driver that I always carry. This Titleist driver is the only driver I could ever hit with any slight consistency. I can hook the ball, slice it or hit it straight with this club...I just never really know when it's going to happen. Usually, there's another newer driver that I am trying out, you never know when you might find the Holy Grail.

A hogan H40 3 wood. I used this club as my driver for years and I still fall back on it when the real drivers become uncontrollable...which is often. In fact, I can hit this club very consistently...I don't know why I even carry a driver. I guess it's a macho/ego thing.

A cobra low profile utility wood. This is a good club out of the rough...depending on how the ball is sitting up. If the ball is sitting up too high, I sometimes pop it up...most embarrassing. Come to think of it, I probably should retire this club and just hit my three wood, but I can consistently hook this club and a hook out of the rough is a good shot the have in your bag. If I need to slice it, I grab my two iron.

Six through PW Cleveland SP2 irons. These clubs were made famous by Corey Pavin when he had his hot streak in the 80's. These are my money clubs and I love these irons. Unfortunately, they are very ugly with that tremendous offset shank. I had to endure a lot of ribbing when I first began carrying theses irons. My golfing buddies still call them garden tools.

two through five wilson blades. These are the surving members of my first set of irons I purchased in the sixties...that four iron is really sweet.

A Titliest one iron just for looks. I feel closer to God when I have it in my hand. I also use it a lot on the practice tee...I figure if I can learn to hit it, the other clubs will be a piece of cake.

A pair of 588 RTG Cleveland wedges. I really like that soft patina the clubs acquire after a little age. The only problem is my shiny spot is on the toe.

I also carry an old golfsmith high lofted sand wedge, about a 62-degree I think...I occasionally like to try that famous over the head, Phil Nickleson shot. I never have been able to hit it...but I still keep practicing. I think it's a real handy shot to have in your bag.

An early Ping putter, never could putt very well with it, but I really like the sound when you strike the ball. I think it annoys my opponents.

That rounds out my set of golf clubs...with the exception of a few other clubs that I carry just because. Good golf is just a matter of matching the club to your swing and since I may have several different, swings on any given day the clubs I carry are entirely necessary. The only thing holding me back from breaking into the seventies is the load restrictions on my cart.

For more information on Golf Equipment go to Crazy Eddie's Golf Equipment You'll find Thousands of golf items so cheap you can use them once and throw away or break over your knee if you like.

New and Used Golf Stuff

Yoga Teacher Trainingnj

Champions League - Second Round Preview

The 21-22 February will see the 16 remaining teams in the Champions League battle it out for a place in the coveted final held on 17 May in Paris. The second round fixtures have been decided so here is a run down of who is left in the competition and their chances of progressing to the quarter finals:

Inter Milan vs Ajax
Inter qualified comfortably from Group H as winners and have a favourable match against Ajax. The Dutch side qualified as runners up of Group A without too much trouble. Inter are overwhelming favourites to qualify for the quarter finals and striker Adriano, with four goals so far in this competition, poses the main threat. Manchester City. Verdict: Inter to qualify at 2/5.

AC Milan vs Bayern Munich
Milan stuttered through the first round, with just three wins in six matches, before eventually topping the group ahead of PSV Eindoven. Andriy Shevchenko is the tournaments most dangerous striker with six goals. However, Bayern Munich should not be underestimated. They dumped out arsenal at this stage last season and were only edged out by a single goal against Chelsea in the quarter finals.Verdict: AC Milan to qualify at 4/6.

Liverpool vs Benfica
The Reds take on the team who dumped Manchester United out of the cup and are firm favourites to progress to the quarter finals. Liverpool were unbeaten and hadnt conceded a goal in 11 league and cup games until Sao Paulo denied them the world club Championship on 18 December. Benficas 2-1 win over Manchester United was a shock result, but one they are unlikely to reproduce. Ronald Koemans side are only sixth in their domestic league and are likely to see their interest in the Champions League come to an end at this stage of the competition.Verdict: Liverpool to qualify at 4/9.

barcelona vs Chelsea
This was the most "anticipated" draw in terms of a replay of last seasons second phase encounter. barcelona have won 13 games straight in La Liga, while Chelsea have topped the premiership since August, losing just one match, against Manchester United, all season. barcelona have also been unstoppable in europe, winning five out of the six group. Despite the unquestionable talent at his disposal, jose Mourinho may find his Chelsea team outgunned this time around.Verdict: barcelona to qualify at 5/6.

Lyon vs PSV Eindoven
Lyon are a team not to be underestimated in this seasons Champions League and won their group ahead of the glamorous Real Madrid. John Carew is Lyons top goalscorer with four goals while Juninho has laid on three assists. PSV will have their backers but Lyon remained undefeated in the group stage and should edge this encounter.Verdict: Lyon to qualify at 1/2.

Villarreal vs Rangers
An upset could be on the cards in this encounter with Rangers a large price to qualify ahead of Spaniards Villarreal. under-fire Rangers boss Alex McLeish may be ridiculously off-the-pace in the Scottish premier, but he has got it right in europe and Rangers have become the first side north of the border to venture this far in the competition. Villarreal scored just three times in six group stage matches.Verdict: Rangers to qualify at 5/2.

Real Madrid vs arsenal
This is the first time the two have clashed in Champions League and the bookmakers are having difficulty separating them. The Gunners won their five opening matches in the group stage before an experimental line-up drew 0-0 with Ajax in the final round of fixtures. Real Madrid have plenty of attacking power in their line up but are suspect at the back which could be to Arsenals advantage.Verdict: Arsenal to qualify at 10/11.

Juventus vs Werder Bremen
Juventus stormed through the group stage, winning five out of six matches, with david Trezeguet scoring four goals. The "old Lady" have already beaten and lost to german opposition in the competition this season, with two 2-1 results against giants Bayern Munich in the group stage. Werder Bremen are at their best at home, demonstrated in the 5-1 demolition of Panathinaikos and 4-3 victory over Udinese.
Verdict: Juventus to qualify at 4/11.

Yoga Y Pilates

3 Quick and Easy Pre-Yoga Stretching Techniques

All muscles tend to tighten up when idle, particularly the long muscles in your legs, back, and the sides of your body between your hips and your armpits. sitting for a long time in the same position at a desk or bench will often stiffen neck or shoulder muscles. Such stiffness creates tension in the body and can even influence your state of mind. But the most common danger of stiff muscles is that sudden movement that may cause damage.The following are some popular stretchers:

Bend and Sway

With your feet apart and your hands on your hips, bend the upper body to the left; then bend back as far as you can go, then to the right, and then forward. bend to the left again and repeat. After several bends, reverse direction and do several more. You should feel the muscles stretching on both sides of your body. Clasping your hands behind your neck or above your head will increase the stretching benefit.

From the same starting position as above, sway, do not rotate, from one side to the other. Extending the arms high above the head will give you maximum benefit.

Wing Flaps

To loosen the shoulder muscles, stand with your elbows out and your fists together in front of you about neck high. Your forearms should be parallel to the floor. Slowly pull your fists apart, and bring your elbows back as far as they will go. Do several smooth repetitions. Raising or lowering the level of your arms will spread the stretch up and down your shoulders. Some other good stretchers include the bend, the groin stretch, the propeller, and the cobra.

Bend

Begin with your feet together and knees straight but relaxed. Bend slowly form the waist with your fingers pointing to your toes and your head bowed. When you have reached the farthest you can hold for 10 seconds. Then rise very slowly to a straight-up position. Repeat. If the muscles along the back of your legs are very tight, do not expect to touch your toes right away. Just make sure that those leg muscles get a good stretch, and you will enjoy daily improvements.

Variation 1: Bend slowly forward and clasp your hand hands behind your legs. Pull your body down slowly by bending your elbows out.

Variation 2: Clasp your hands behind your legs even lower than in variation 1. Pull your body down slowly.

For both variations, hold for 10 seconds.

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