The Pleasures of Sharing Information

The ironman-uk will take place in Sherborne. Race-day is August 20, 2006 and the race begins at 6 a.m. As of mid-January, there were still spots available. 1500 athletes are expected for the race.

As with all Ironman races the you can expect a mass swim start. The course consists of two loops of Sherborne Lake and the cut-off time is 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Some notes about the ironman-uk swim….

Wetsuits are mandatory. Prepare for the possibility of a delayed start.(extra food/water might be wise if you desire). Also due to events beyond organisers control there could be a last-minute course change. As with all Ironman swim starts be sure to seed yourself according you your ability as the swim start will be congested.

The bike course is a looping course and as a result there are only 6 aid stations, but you will pass them more than once.

The ironman-uk run course is out and back and there will be 12 aid stations available.

All entries must be made online @ iron.ironmanuk.com. After January 31st, there will be a late fee of $40.

For the camping enthusiast, ironman-uk is in an excellent location with some very well equipped campsite areas. A major campsite borders the actual race-course.

There are also hotel accomodations and rooms available at a local girls boarding school. Accomodation information is available on the ironman-uk website.

The ironman-uk office can be reached at:

tel-08700 11 28 11

fax-08700 12 28 11

My name is Ray and I’m a veteran of 14 Ironman triathlons.

The name of my site is “Ironstruck”

The address is http://triathlon-ironman-myfirstironman-ironstruck.com

You can also contact me with any questions @ http://triathlon-ironman-myfirstironman-ironstruck.com/contact-me.html

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Once the European Masters get under way in September, young Hawaiian sensation Michelle Wie will be again taking to the field that includes some of the most dominate players in the world. Not only will she be on a pro course that will be held in Crans-sur-Sierre Switzerland, she will be competing against the men of the PGA, and one PGA star, Ernie Els, thinks highly of Wie.

Wie did however, get a strong endorsement from a high profile player, it was Ernie Els himself that believes Wie will do well in the event. He further believes that she will make the cut once again, as she did earlier this month in a men’s event in South Korea. Els believe that this course is just what 16-year-old Wie needs to excel. The European Masters course is short, and there is a great turn around for Wie as the event is sponsored by Omega, whom just happens to be both Els and Wie’s sponsor as well.

Els, the winner in this very event in the year 2003, feel that this is a perfect fit for Wie. Els tips his hat to Wie, feeling that she has the drive and the guts to go it against the men on their circuit. She is attempting to play against the best players in the world, anyone as young as her deserves accolades as this is a very nerving endeavor, all the best to her. Wie’s short game is definitely going to shine on this course; this could be a very interesting event where Wie shocks all.

Read more exciting sports articles at Suite101

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Pictures and video clips are shown for this part on my website
at:
http://basicbodymovementforanygolfswing.com/onepiecetakeaway.html

The One-Piece Takeaway Movement

This is a brief outline of what is in my lesson modules. (Note:
the references are for a right-handed golfer. I am a left-handed
golfer, myself. Please think left in place of right if you are
also a left-hander.)

You have positioned yourself at your golf ball, set up in a
comfortable posture, and you are now ready for your first
movement to take your golf club away from your ball.

The start of your first move is to draw your right shoulder and
armpit area back towards your right heel — in a straight line.
The completion of this move will place you in a position which
features: * The front of your shoulders closely in line with
your right foot. * Your shoulder blades facing the green or
fairway area where your ball will land.

* During this single movement action you are to maintain your
posture angles. * You must also maintain the position of your
arms to your body and of your hands to your forearms. * There
must NOT be any sideways movements of your arms to help you
turn. * There must NOT be any turning of the hands. * There must
NOT be any “flipping” or “hinging” of the hands at your wrists
during the early part of this movement.

An often used instruction to start the takeaway is to initiate
the movement with your left arm and left side. Little thought is
given to your right side. Your right side has to move backwards,
out of the way, for your left side to arc comfortably down and
under your chin.

And, guess what? Correctly pulling your right shoulder area back
to your right heel will comfortably draw your left shoulder
under your chin without any difficult pushing activity. So, how
do you pull your right side backwards as indicated above? First,
a practice exercise.

1. Stand up right. (Do this in front of a mirror if you can.) 2.
Put your hands on your shoulders to prevent arm movement. 3.
Firm your whole body. 4. Pull your right shoulder straight back
to be above your right heel. 5. You must feel the weight of your
body about half way between your right hip joint and your
tailbone. 6. The front of both shoulders should be above your
right foot.

Did you notice what muscle carried out this movement? No! OK,
repeat the movement following the above instructions. As soon as
you begin the movement try to identify what muscle is pulling
your shoulder and armpit area backwards. Still can’t quite
figure out which muscle it is? It is the part of your large back
muscle where it passes over your right kidney area. At least you
will feel more tension at this spot of your back muscle.

Your back muscle is very powerful — when it is stretched out
and then tightened aggressively. The effort needed by this
muscle to draw your right shoulder backwards is not very much.
In my lessons, I use an arbitrary number like one twentieth of
its power. This is the only conscious movement you need to do
the “one piece takeaway”. In the pictures and videos on my
website you can see how my upper body responds to the one
movement described above. The One-Piece Takeaway Movement
— In Posture 1. Set up in your usual posture when
addressing the golf ball. 2. Place your hands on the front of
your shoulders. 3. Firm your whole body. 4. Be aware that your
spine is now angled forward. 5. Pull your right shoulder
straight back to be above your right heel. 6. But, since your
spine is angled forward your right shoulder also arcs upwards as
it moves backwards. 7. Feel your left shoulder arcing forward
and under your chin area. 8. As above, your arms must not move
out of position to your body to assist the turn movement. 9. You
must feel the weight of your body about half way between your
right hip joint and your tailbone.

This turn in posture must feel comfortable. You should not feel
any pinching and stretching in your sides or backbone areas.

Summary Remember, the more movements you use or allow in your
takeaway movement then the more problems you will have trying to
make all these movements work together. You can do this. But,
you will have to practice more often. If you can learn to do the
biggest part of your takeaway with one movement you make it
easier to have a good golf swing with less practice.

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This lesson is entitled, “How to Get out of Bunkers”, and
everyone knows how frustrating they can be if you don’t know the
proper mechanics to get out of them. But the bottom line is, for
the pros, bunker shots are some of the easiest shots on the
course.

These steps will ensure that you have the right mechanics for
getting out of bunkers. Once you’ve read these steps, practice
them and get used to hitting out of bunkers, and they will
become just as natural as a regular short game shot. These steps
will give you the solid foundation that you need for bunker
success.

Here are the steps: (note: These steps apply to a normal sand
bunker. Not wet or hard sand)

1. Choke down on the golf club (Have your right index finger
about an inch from the bottom of the grip). Choking down gives
you the control with the club and also allows you to “feel” the
shot rather than hitting it.

2. Narrow your stance a little and play the ball a few inches
forward in your stance. This will also aid in controlling the
shot, and it will contribute to higher ball flight.

3. Dig into the sand with your feet a little and get comfortable.

4. Keep your body completely still throughout (no twisting hips).

5. Start your swing with your arms and keep your swing vertical.
The end of the grip butt should be pointed at the ball at the
top of your backswing. (Don’t bring the club straight back,
remember steep is better here!)

6. Your left arm should be parallel to the ground and fully
extended at the top of your swing.

7. Then start your downswing at the sand focusing to hit 1 inch
behind the ball. Don’t focus on hitting the ball, hit the sand
an inch behind and the ball will get out every time!

8. Your arms and body follow the ball as it leaves the sand.

9. Remember steep angle into the sand is key here, however you
don’t have to swing too hard, we are not blasting the ball out
we are advancing it.

Drill: Go into a bunker and take 3 clubs your pitching wedge,
sand wedge, and a lob wedge(if you have one). Remember that you
can get creative with shots; just because it’s a sand wedge
doesn’t mean that you’ll “feel” the most comfortable or give you
the best results. But I want you to notice the difference in
design and performance.

Regardless, hit a few shots with each club and really notice the
difference in how the ball comes out of the sand. Then choose
the club that bests suits you. But remember on all these clubs
swing steep and hit 1 inch behind the ball. You can even draw a
line 1-2 inches behind the ball and aim for that line.

At home, office, or at the course take practice swings and focus
on bringing the club up at a steep angle. Watch as your grip end
points to the ground. And stop there - this is the position that
you want to be in. A great way to see if the grip is pointed
over the ball is sticking a tee in the grip handle. Do that a
few times to ensure that you know where to stop the golf club
and start your steep downswing. Then the downswing is easy! Just
hit an inch behind the ball. Practice this for a few days then
go have fun in a bunker!

Next week, we’ll discuss buried lies, and then it’s on to
chipping and putting. Good golfing, until then.

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