Sports Then and Now

If you’re a keen golfer, there’s no doubt you’ll want to make use of the many mobile apps out there that will help you to get the most out of your hobby. From tips and news to apps that help you improve technique, there’s something for every golfer, and here are some of the best Android apps to choose from.

Golf News and Tips Apps

If you want to keep up with the latest news and information about golf, you’ll need a good app for that. Fortunately, there are a number of great apps you can use.

One of the best is Golf Channel Mobile. This is the official app of the Golf Channel, and you’ll find it packed full of the latest news as well as videos, player profiles, tips, and more. It’s also free, making it even more of a must-have app.

Golf Master is another great app. It provides you with a huge library of instructional videos that you can use no matter what your ability level. Again, this is a free app, making it a great one to have on your smartphone.

And if you want to keep up to date with all the latest important tournament, the Masters Golf Tournament app is well worth having. Follow all the news and events from the Masters Tournament wherever you are, and keep up to date with rankings, info, and more.

Read the rest of this entry →

There are so many sports out there today that it is impossible to count them all. When you are looking for a new game to play, it can be tempting to look to the new ones. However, there is something to be said for the older sports. Often, the classic sports are the best – there is a reason, after all, that they remain classic. One such sport is golf. This sport has been around for a long time now – and its popularity only grows and grows. Why might this be? There must be a good reason that people take up golf every day. The fact is, it is one of the finest sports around – and for a number of reasons. If you are thinking about starting up a sport for the summer, then golf might be your best option. Let’s have a look at why that might be the case.

Read the rest of this entry →

You probably don’t think of “injury” and “golf” in the same sentence. A day at the golf course is supposed to be relaxing. But, it can actually be very dangerous. Here’s how to protect yourself.

Stay Aware Of Your Surroundings

The golf course doesn’t seem like an overly dangerous place, but it can be. A club, for example, can be dangerous in the wrong hands. A stray ball not only hurts to get hit with, it can cause a serious injury. It’s one thing that these Phoenix car accident lawyers deal with often.

Before you begin your own swing, take a look around you and make sure no one is in the way and that you won’t be hitting anyone.

Listen For Warnings

OK, the path is clear. Now what? Make sure that everyone else is on the same page as you. Don’t assume that others see what you’re doing. They may not. In fact, it’s a good bet that you’re the only one who knows what you’re doing.

Unless you’re golfing with a large group of people, and even then, you should take extra care to make sure that others who aren’t with you are aware of when you’ll be swinging. And, for your own sake, be ready to make a quick move if you have to get out of the way of other golfers. Read the rest of this entry →

Going from having millions of fans worldwide watching your every move and genuinely being one of the best – if not the best – at what you do on the planet, to the realms of being mere mortal is a difficult transition. And it isn’t one that every sportsman is able to navigate successfully. Largely due to a combination of a startling lack of business acumen, poor decisions, lavish lifestyles and divorce (reputedly around the 80% mark for top US athletes), it doesn’t take long for one time heroes to become zeros – sometimes literally when it comes to finances.

In 2009, Sports Illustrated published a report highlighting just how bad this problem is. It found that an astonishing 78% of NFL players find themselves in “financial distress” within just 2 years of retiring. Around 60% of NBA players, who with an average salary of $5million is higher than every other sport, are bankrupt within 5 years of calling it a day on the court.

This isn’t always the case however, here are some examples where top sportsmen have gone on to build a successful – and occasionally surprising –  career after retiring from their former profession.

1. Magic Johnson

One of the finest basketball players of all time, the point guard achieved practically everything there was to achieve in the game. During his 14-year career which included 2 comebacks, Johnson won 5 NBA titles, 3 Final MVPs, and 3 regular season MVPs, and even found the time for an Olympic gold medal. He still has the highest average assists per game in history – 11.2, and playoff assists – 12.3.

His career since retirement has been no less successful. Despite a less than auspicious start (his TV show was pulled after 2 months) Johnson found a taste for business and never looked back. He was one of those who invested in Starbucks before anyone had even heard of the now omnipresent coffee shop brand. His company – Magic Johnson Enterprises – has its fingers in many industries from banking to entertainment and has helped the former Laker star earn a reputed $500 million.

2. George Foreman

Foreman’s recent career has become so successful and high profile that anyone who can’t remember back to a time when everyone didn’t have a cell phone could be forgiven for thinking that this is what he has always done. The rest of us of course know that he was one of the most formidable and talented heavyweight boxers of all time. He will always have a place in boxing folklore due to his part in the Rumble in the Jungle – one the most famous and entertaining fights of all time, but his record stands up for itself: 81 fights, 76 wins, 68 of those by way of KO, and just 5 defeats. And don’t forget that most of those were during the golden era of heavyweight boxing.

When he came out of retirement at age 45 to knock Michael Moorer (then 27) out, he became the oldest heavyweight world champion in history.  When he finally retired for good, he teamed up with Russell Hobbs Inc, and launched the George Foreman Fat Reducing Grill, which he had helped design. It was an instant success and has sold over 100 million units in less than 15 years. Though he has never disclosed how much he has made from the grill, it is believed at its peak the preacher was earning $4.5 million a month. In total, it is estimated he has earned in excess of $200 million from the endorsement. A lot more than he than he ever made in the ring, actually. Read the rest of this entry →

What do you do when the cold weather hits and you can’t go out on the links? Don’t let your golf game deteriorate. There are off-season drills and activities to help keep your game sharp…and maybe even nudge it up a notch or two.

Putting Practice

Putting is crucial to every hole – except that elusive hole-in-one. Once the courses are open, how much time do you spend honing your putting skills? Very likely, the answer is “not enough.”

Winter is ideal for focusing on putting drills. It’s not like you’re missing any playing time. You’ll need a home putting green.

You can purchase an inexpensive one or make your own. You need artificial turf carpet, a plastic cup, masking tape and a measuring tape. If you practice faithfully, you’ll see big gains by spring. Read the rest of this entry →

Golf is simultaneously one of the most fun and frustrating games you’ll ever play. Even players with a lot of skill and experience have days where nothing seems to be in their favor. For any budding golfer, consistency is the most valuable skill you can learn in your game. It takes skilled practice to truly see permanent gains in technique and performance, and often that requires the knowledge and feedback of an experienced golf coach.

For the large majority of us, hiring a skilled teacher isn’t always an option, which means you must find another way to improve. Luckily, we live in the 21st century and there are many new gadgets and technologies created solely to improve your golf game. If you want to improve your swing, or your overall game, take a look at these awesome new technology options.

SWINGBYTE
This nifty golf gadget is just about the next best thing to having a personal coach, only maybe even better! The Swingbyte records a wealth of information about the swing of whoever uses it. Some of the data that it makes available includes a 360 degree perspective of swing speed, club head path, angle of attack, club head angle, and even club head acceleration.

The Optishot 2 Golf Simulator
Sometimes there just isn’t a golf course available to practice on. At times like this, it’s great to be able to turn to the Optishot 2 Simulator. This clever tool attaches to any club, and if the user has enough room to swing the clubs, game on! Many real life golf courses are made available virtually through this device.

Golf Cart Hovercraft
Some golf courses are harder to negotiate by foot than others. For courses like these, players should make use the Golf Cart Hovercraft. This fully functional hovering vehicle will cross grass, sand, and even water with equal ease.

Glow in the Dark Balls
This is one of the simplest, and most effective golf gadget ideas. Simply charge the balls for a short time then play to your hearts content, even well after sunset. You’ll never have to buy a new batch of balls again.

Read the rest of this entry →