The first thing you need to learn is how to putt. There are many grips and putting styles you can use. A good tip to keep in mind is to make sure your eyes are directly over the ball during your putting stance as this will help you to see the line better. A great way to learn a putting style is to simply pick your favorite golfer and copy their putting style. Remember that if they are on the PGA tour using that putting style then it obviously works so just pick one style you like and then stick with it.
Remember to spend most of your putting practice time hitting short putts inside of ten feet. Short putts are the foundation of a solid putting game and they can make a huge difference as far as lowering your golf scores. The next key aspect of golf are the short shots around the green like the bunker shots, chip and flop shots.
With bunker shots you want to open your stance which means your feet are aligned to the left of the target if you are a right handed player and then you need to pick a spot around 3 inches behind then ball and hit that spot using a cushion of sand to lift the ball out of the bunker. With chip shots you want to place the ball further back in your stance towards your right foot and use a downward blow to hit the ball. Also maintain a straight line between the left hand and the club shaft through impact.
When hitting flop shots you will need at least a 60 degree wedge and place the ball further up in your stance closer to your left foot. Also make sure the lie is ideal for a flop shot which means there should be a cushion beneath the ball that will allow you to easily slide the club under the ball so you can hit a high shot that has a lot of spin.
Learning how to hit wedge shots between 40 and 150 yards is the next key element of golf. These are your money shots and they can make a huge difference in your scores. The ball should be positioned towards the center of your stance. Developing touch with these shots is a function of consistent practice so make sure you put in the time necessary to learn these shots. Also try to avoid too much mechanical thoughts when hitting any golf shot, simply pick a target and make the swing. If you need to practice mechanics do it without hitting any balls because the result will usually not be very consistent.
Your mid irons are the next step in learning how to play this game. Most people simply swing far too hard when it comes to the full swing. You need to relax and let the club do the work. Look at how many thin players there are on the PGA tour, this is proof that you do not need to muscle the club in order to get great distance and accuracy. Always swing well within yourself and maintain good balance.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Games Tackle Disaster Training
The new approach is expected to save money -- but it can also prepare many professionals and volunteers quickly in the event of a health emergency, like the potential bird-flu pandemic.
"These games let people train on their own schedules," said Eric Holdeman, an expert in disaster relief and director of Washington state's King County Office of Emergency Management. "And it gets us away from death by PowerPoint in the typical classroom environment. It's also cost-effective."
The first game, which took three months to develop, trains health workers to respond to an anthrax outbreak. A massive flu pandemic simulation is in the works.
Players learn how to set up MASH sites, evaluate patients and dispense drugs. They also are trained to distribute medications to health-care sites and notify the public, instructing people on what to do -- without instilling panic.
The game also helps health workers and volunteers cross-train for more than one job. Crisis teams are typically understaffed. The scoring helps players determine what they are good at and what skills they need to sharpen.
A multiplayer prototype is being developed to train teams of health specialists to work together.
There are about 23 different roles for each crisis, and each scenario requires different training, explained Dr. Colleen Monahan, an epidemiologist and the simulations' lead programmer.
"Avian flu is a real challenge, because people will be really scared," she said. "Fifty percent of people who get avian flu die, regardless of age. Quarantines, keeping people away from each other, will be difficult. Our approach helps people train for multiple tasks and role-play with each other without the cost and on their own schedules."
Traditionally, health-care workers are trained by role-playing or watching videos. The simulations won't entirely replace conventional approaches, Monahan said, but they will shorten and focus the face-to-face training.
The game was originally developed for the Chicago Public Health Department, but the CDC and other agencies, embarrassed by the response to Hurricane Katrina and other recent disasters, are keen to adopt new tools that will help them be more prepared when the next crisis hits.
"These games let people train on their own schedules," said Eric Holdeman, an expert in disaster relief and director of Washington state's King County Office of Emergency Management. "And it gets us away from death by PowerPoint in the typical classroom environment. It's also cost-effective."
The first game, which took three months to develop, trains health workers to respond to an anthrax outbreak. A massive flu pandemic simulation is in the works.
Players learn how to set up MASH sites, evaluate patients and dispense drugs. They also are trained to distribute medications to health-care sites and notify the public, instructing people on what to do -- without instilling panic.
The game also helps health workers and volunteers cross-train for more than one job. Crisis teams are typically understaffed. The scoring helps players determine what they are good at and what skills they need to sharpen.
A multiplayer prototype is being developed to train teams of health specialists to work together.
There are about 23 different roles for each crisis, and each scenario requires different training, explained Dr. Colleen Monahan, an epidemiologist and the simulations' lead programmer.
"Avian flu is a real challenge, because people will be really scared," she said. "Fifty percent of people who get avian flu die, regardless of age. Quarantines, keeping people away from each other, will be difficult. Our approach helps people train for multiple tasks and role-play with each other without the cost and on their own schedules."
Traditionally, health-care workers are trained by role-playing or watching videos. The simulations won't entirely replace conventional approaches, Monahan said, but they will shorten and focus the face-to-face training.
The game was originally developed for the Chicago Public Health Department, but the CDC and other agencies, embarrassed by the response to Hurricane Katrina and other recent disasters, are keen to adopt new tools that will help them be more prepared when the next crisis hits.
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