Saturday, October 08, 2005

Joe, which exercises do you recommend?

Answer: Here is a way to build muscle strength in the arms and shoulders. Just don't overdo it. Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 5-LB. potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides, and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, then relax. Each day, you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-LB. potato sacks. Then 50-LB.potato sacks, and eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-LB. potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the sacks.

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Joe,
I have recently had a severe spinal problem, which is still under treatment. I do not know, whether I will be able to play again. I read by chance an article on Fred Couples dated about 8-10 years which said that he had a similar ailment. We all now know that he is back to fully fit state and playing as well as ever. I want to seek his experience of treating himself and other related information. How can I contact him. I am 64 yrs old, play to 7 handicap now. I live in India. Do you have any advise for such ailing golfers like?Regards.Col Nirmal Singh, Retired

Hello Col Singh,
I am sorry to hear about your ailment. It would be hard for a retired 7 handicapper like you to give up the game, so I wish you the best of luck to get your back in playing shape. Many other golfers besides Fred have back problems, even Tiger Woods. Sometimes the problem is muscular and sometimes it is spinal. The safest way to swing would be to keep the spine straight by extending your rear end outward during setup. Those who fail to do this are risking back pain because more stress is placed on turning a bent spine. However, now that you already have the pain, you must be careful about the type of treatment you seek. A good chiropractor might be able to help, but not all chiropractors are equally skilled, so if you are thinking of going this way, be sure to choose one that comes highly recommended. I do not know the specifics of Fred’s treatment, but you can use your web browser to search for information about Fred and others by simply entering his name (or others also) and "back pain" into the search box, and you will find many links to read.
Joe

Sunday, October 02, 2005

When is an ace not an ace? If the ball is resting against the flagstick and you pick it up. The ball has to fall all the way to the bottom of the hole before you pick it up, otherwise it is a one stroke penalty and you have to place the ball on the lip of the hole and putt out for a 3.
My point of view - Another stupid rule. If the ball is resting against the flagstick I don’t see how it could not be in the hole. If you move the flagstick to allow it to fall to the bottom, aren’t you illegally influencing the movement of the ball? If someone would try to deny me a ace for that I would offer them to smooch my voluminous derriere.