Whether you are entering retirement and are on the lookout for something to do or you’re looking to build a better work-life balance for yourself, picking up a new hobby is a great way to achieve this goal.
After all, hobbies can break up the monotony of your routine, improve your mental and physical health, and help you to make new friends. Despite this, they tend to be something that we leave behind as we get older, often due to the fact that our schedule becomes a little too full.
This can make the idea of trying something new feel a little daunting. However, it is worth pushing through this fear to enjoy the above benefits. With that in mind, here are some top tips for picking up a new hobby as an adult!
Turn back the clock. There is no shortage of hobbies that you can partake in, from archery to painting. However, you don’t necessarily need to start from scratch. For example, you could turn back the clock by picking up a hobby from your past or even your childhood. While it may take a while to get back up to speed again, this is a great way to spend your time doing something you love, and it is also sure to bring back plenty of happy memories.
Golf’s popularity continues to surge, with participation increasing globally. In the United States alone, over 28 million people engaged in on-course golf in 2024, marking the seventh consecutive annual increase.
More people than ever are discovering the sport’s appeal, whether as a social hobby, a competitive pursuit, or a way to stay active. The growing interest is also reflected in the rise of golf opens, aka competitions that are open to join, giving both seasoned players and newcomers a chance to put their skills to the test in a structured environment.
To truly excel in golf, consistent practice is essential. However, integrating modern technology can significantly enhance performance. From high-tech clubs to advanced tracking systems and environmental analysis tools, tech-driven innovations are helping golfers improve their game faster than ever before. Here’s how the latest advancements in equipment, performance tracking, and environmental monitoring can help you become a better golfer in 2025.
Advanced Equipment
Modern golf equipment has undergone significant transformations due to technological advancements. Contemporary clubs are designed with materials like carbon fiber and titanium, offering enhanced strength and reduced weight. These innovations provide better control and increased swing speed. Additionally, adjustable clubheads and customizable shafts allow players to fine-tune their equipment to match their unique swing characteristics, leading to improved accuracy and distance.
Whether you’re a new player or have been playing for years, chances are you could use some help improving your game. Putting can be challenging for golfers of all levels; even the best players struggle to consistently hit accurate shots. Instead of thinking that you’re not good enough to putt like a pro, think of it as an opportunity to learn and improve. To be great at anything, you need to practice and make sure you’re always working on your skills. So, read on for some tips to think about in your next training session!
The Basics
For all the beginners out there, putting is a golf stroke which is made with a club called a putter. One of the essential skills when putting is ensuring that the putt is lined up; a skilled putter will ensure that the head of the club is aligned to the hole. When putting, the clubhead remains low to the ground, and the ball is hit with a pendulum motion. To control how far the ball goes, the golfer must control the backswing of their club. Hopefully the skills required for putting are a little clearer now, so it’s time to start looking at how any golfer, amateur or pro, can hone their technique.
Image from @nadiiag on Unsplash
Alignment
Accurate alignment is the most important part of putting. If you’re unaligned, the ball isn’t going to roll in the correct direction. Not only do you need to align the putter, but you also need to focus on your own stance. First, make sure that the sole of the putter is flat on the ground and that the shaft of the putter is leaning slightly towards the target. Once you’ve established this, move your body parallel to the target line. There should be a slight bend in your knees and a forward tilt in your hips.
Summertime means golf courses are getting greener and golfers are getting ready to head for the hills. If you are trying to find the perfect gift for a golfer in your life, there are a lot of options available. Here are four practical gifts that are perfect for golf lovers.
1. LED Glow Golf Balls
What could be better for the friend in your life who carries around golf clubs all the time than golf balls that will allow them to practice at any time of the day? Glow-in-the-dark LED golf balls will let any golf fanatic in your life practice at the putting green, in the backyard, or out in the field at all hours of the night. They don’t have to worry that they are going to lose their balls in the dark.
LED golf balls look, feel, and play like typical golf balls. The difference is that when they are struck, the LED light activates and stays activated for 10 minutes. This will give your loved one enough time to track the ball down and are especially useful during foggy weather. These balls have a runtime of approximately 50 hours per ball.
As most golfers
do, you can practice and master your swing even when you are at home.
However, people
cannot go back to the course yet as they continue to face the most significant challenge
yet due to the coronavirus pandemic – staying at home.
Playing golf needs
a comprehensive course, and that’s one requirement most golfers couldn’t have
unless you are a mad keen golfer like Justin Timberlake. The extended lockdown
periods also avert movement and public gatherings as much as possible to avoid
further spread of the coronavirus.
Although it is an
open-air sport, golf courses and the way to get there pose different risks to
its players. For now, focus on having an indoor physical routine to improve
your swing. You can follow these bits of advice to achieve that.
A few days ago, those who turned on ESPN watched as
it became the all-Tiger-Woods network. The channel temporarily shelved shows
like Around the Horn. In their place were images of a rental vehicle flipped
over on its back and shattered glass strewn across a wooded clearing.
Tiger Woods was in that rented vehicle, driving down
a California road, when he lost control and flew into the trees. It was a single-car accident. Early reports indicated that he would live, though reporters
spoke in hushed tones about his suspected broken legs.
Many thought about the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
from last year, which claimed not only Bryant’s life but also that of his
teenage daughter, Gianna. As it became clear that Woods would live, you could
almost hear the sports world take a unified sigh of relief.
As Woods recovers, now is as good of a time as any
to think about what he means to golf and the sports world as a whole.
What Sports Mean
Getting away from Woods for a moment, we should go
over what sports mean within our society. Think of this statistic: about 21.5 million children between
age 6 and 17 years old play team sports.
Golf is not a team sport, but you get the idea.
Sports are a widespread pastime, and with good reason. Kids that play them
often do better in school, and they get fresh air and exercise. They are less
likely to have obesity issues.
It’s not surprising at all, then, when kids idolize
sports stars. They see individuals doing the same thing that they do, but at a
higher level. They see adults playing a game and making millions of dollars.
