Want to Learn the Perfect Golf Swing? If you’re not clear you want to Learn the Perfect Golf Swing, then ask yourself these 3 questions. Would I like to hit the ball farther, straighter or more consistently? If you answered “yes” to any of these, then you need to Learn the Perfect Golf Swing. This article will portray 3 key ingredients for you to have in order to Learn the Perfect Golf Swing.

Learn the Perfect Golf Swing – Key #1 – Be Teachable

If you are like the majority of this world’s 27 million golfers, you struggle with consistently breaking 90. Statistics have shown that 80% of golfers will not achieve a handicap of less than 18. We’re all unbiased a bunch of bogey golfers – or worst! But it does not have to be that way.

For you to Learn the Perfect Golf Swing and reduce your handicap by 10 strokes, requires you to be teachable. What do I mean by that? Simply stated, you have to be open to learning to do something differently. Even if you have always gripped, addressed or swung in a certain way, to really succeed as you Learn the Perfect Golf Swing, you’ll have to change the way you do things. If you are the type of person who is unbiased too set in your ways, then you won’t be able to Learn the Perfect Golf Swing. And you’ll forever struggle with your game. Be open, be flexible, be teachable and you’ll soon be on your device!

Learn the Perfect Golf Swing – Key #2 – Have a Method

Golf is definitely not one of those games where you can just teach yourself to play and expect great results. Oh sure, it’s possible to unprejudiced go out and do it, but without some expert advise or methodology, you’ll soon become the epitome of the word “hacker”.

While we’re talking about expert advise, I don’t mean your buddy who is also struggling with breaking 90 consistently. Your local pro can surely offer you some great hints at improving your game, but often to the tune of $50 for a 15 minute lesson! Most of us have trouble swallowing that pill, but there are alternatives, one of which I’ll soon allotment with you. Wherever you get your advice from, obtain sure it is solid, reputable and comes with some kind of proven track record.

Learn the Perfect Golf Swing – Key #3 – Practice Makes Perfect

Once you realize that some of your old methods of doing things need to go out with the dishwater and you have found a solid source of information, expect your game to improve with time. The old saying is true and so it is with golf. If you expect to get better at this game you must set time aside to practice your new found techniques.

As you Learn the Perfect Golf Swing, your shots will go farther and straighter and be more consistent than they have been in the past, but for you to begin playing at your true potential, may take some time. Don’t be gloomy, hang in there and have fun!

If you’re ready to take your game to the next level, whether that means shooting par or breaking 90, I have found your answer. You can Learn the Perfect Golf Swing, hit the ball longer, straighter and more consistently. Click here now, http://www.squidoo.com/Learn-The-Perfect-Golf-Swing/ and also receive the FREE “Secret for Maximum Distance” mini-report.

A curious irony has evolved over the past twenty years: Americans are more overweight and sedentary than ever before. Yet, at the same time, we are living longer, healthier lives and competing for only a handful of spots in ultra-endurance sports like the Hawaiian Iron Man triathlon, Leadville 100-mile foot race and the Eco-challenge adventure series. What gives? How is this possible?

The answer, of course, is that the American population has developed an unsatiable thirst for health and fitness knowledge. The advice found in magazines, fitness centers, hospitals and even the workplace usually comes from the same resources: trained employ physiologists.

Consume physiologists come in many flavors. While they all begin their education with a minimum of a four-year university degree, most continue on to graduate school, selecting one of five specialty areas: prevention/rehabilitation, human performance, biomechanics, athletic training or academic research in any of the previously mentioned specialties.

The prevention/rehabilitation tract deals with the area of cardiovascular disease. This includes heart disease, hypertension, diabetes (types I and II) and pulmonary disease. Exercise specialists in prevention/rehabilitation educate and train individuals that are either at risk for developing or have already developed symptoms of these diseases. Most major hospitals expend clinical expend physiologists to monitor patients that have had heart attacks, coronary bypass surgery and uncontrolled diabetes or have other diseases that improve with physical activity. Use physiologists test patients upon entry to the program, write the exercise prescriptions, monitor exercise sessions and develop home exercise programs for individuals that are not candidates for mature consume programs.

The area of human performance has become very approved today; both with professional and recreational athletes. Exercise physiologists specializing in human performance educate and train athletes that are interested in improving their stamina, lowering performance times and decreasing recovery time following events. You will usually find these professionals at fitness facilities, universities and even commercially on the Internet.

Interested in improving your golf swing? Need a more power in your tennis serve? Then you’ll need to consult with a biomechanics specialist. These professionals are consume physiologists who have a thorough understanding of the human body and how it moves during physical activity. Concept physical forces, timing and how the nerves and muscles contribute to sport can result in significant improvements in your game. You’ll usually gather these professionals at major universities and human performance laboratories.

Are you aching after your last workout? Do you deem that you may have succumbed to an injury? Then utilize physiologists with an emphasis in athletic training may be able to wait on. These professionals are trained in the prevention and care of athletic injuries. Virtually all sports teams, from the YMCA to professional sports will usually have an athletic trainer in attendance, ready to administer aid for acute and chronic athletic injuries.

Finally, academic research provides students with advanced degrees the opportunity to investigate hypotheses, training regimens and other aspects that impact healthy and diseased exercise participants. Research positions nearly always require a Doctor of Philosophy degree from a major academic institution that specializes in one or more aspects of research. Contact the American College of Sports Medicine for a list of leading research universities.

Regardless of which specialty you choose, you’ll need to begin with a four-year degree from an accredited college or university. Many utilize physiologists begin with an undergraduate degree in physical education, but you may also begin your studies through other life science majors. For more information, please check with the admissions office at your local university.

Most successful expend physiologists continue beyond undergraduate studies. Like other healthcare professionals such as nurses or physical therapists, a Master of Science degree will make you more competitive in the marketplace. Some institutions may not even consider you without one. The majority of graduate programs for exercise science require at least three semesters of coursework, followed by either comprehensive examinations or a written thesis. For a complete list of accredited graduate programs in exhaust science, check with a career counselor at your local college or university.

Once you’ve completed your degree, it’s often helpful to acquire a professional certification by a nationally or internationally recognized organization such as the American College of Sports Medicine. The ACSM certifies professionals at several levels, depending on your specialty and the population that you wish to work with. These advanced certifications are very challenging but can often be completed concurrently with your university studies.

Finally, you’ll need experience. Most university programs include student intern programs as part of their curricula. Plan on spending a minimum of 2-4 semesters in a functioning program before graduation.

Today, Americans are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. With the advent of better diagnostic procedures and prescription drugs, those who choose to remain active will always depend on exercise professionals for sound, practical advice. A career in exercise science is a truly gratifying career choice that will not only insure you of an good income, but the chance to make a real difference in someone’s life.

Do you have a favorite golf player? Is it Tiger Woods or Ernie Els? Have you ever thought that your swing looks like theirs? Woods and Els are two great golf players. When you watch them play, you will definitely peer their ravishing and powerful swings. Honestly, it is difficult to imitate that impartial by watching. Having a good swing needs constant practice. Also, your body needs to be well tuned up for it to perform well. Here are some basic tips to help you improve your golf swing and may attend you shoot in the 90s or even 80s.

1. Warm up. Just like any other game or sport, golf players need a little warming up before starting a round. This is what most players, especially amateurs, often take for granted. It is best to come early at the golf course and purchase a few minutes to stretch those muscles and warm up. This will make your muscles “know” that they are in for something and that they should be prepared. Taking a few swings in the driving range will also help you find tuned up and construct better.

2. Use. This is really important, not only for golf. Constantly exercising your body and muscles will keep them toned and ready for any activity. This will also prevent common body aches and pains that you usually feel when playing golf. Getting into the habit of exercising, especially tuning up your muscles will have a great impact on your swing. It will help you have a good stance and increase total balance and control on your swings.

3. Do not swing too hard yet. It is really tempting to give your swing that extra wretchedness. However, it is not recommended unless you already have the control of your swing. The key to a powerful and graceful swing is the balance and control that you have, add to it the proper form and stance. So how do you glean to learn to control your swing? Again, it’s tip number 2. Regular exercise will, in time, allow you to have a faster, more controlled swing. Aside from these simple steps to do, it is also best to ask help from the pros, personally or thru online methods. They can give proper advices as they already have learned a lot from their experiences.

Keeping updated with the latest about golf will also relieve. Also, most players tend to be so conscious in their desire to improve their swing that their minds are focused on every aspect of the swing itself; doing that will only make your swing look awkward. Instead, it is best to keep your mind off your swing. Try to focus on something else and the good swing will just follow. Try to do these things when you play golf again. And do these regularly, then notice the change it will make on your next golf swing.

Prospecting is the heart and soul of sales. If you won’t prospect you may as well pick up another line of work. In my 27 years of B2B sales 100% of the people I’ve seen fail did so because they couldn’t or wouldn’t prospect effectively.

Think about it. If you have great presentation skills. If you are the world’s best closer. If you have a superb hold on your technology. None of this will help you unless you have opportunities to close

Prospecting is also the most difficult part of sales. It is a daunting proposition to approach a perfect stranger who most times does not have the time of day to give you, and who is also being accosted daily by countless other reps who gain neither skill nor polish. These hacks make it difficult for the rest of us to accomplish what is at best an unpleasant task. On the other hand, if you maintain your professional poise you will typically set yourself apart and get an appointment.

Prospecting is also made more difficult because it calls for effective territory management, consistent follow up, development of a strategic plan, establishment of tactical goals to meet the strategic plan, and mountains of dedication.

Gold prospectors know their geology, so you don’t survey them digging in the middle of Ohio. The same holds honest for you.

What product are you selling? Who has the most need for it? Where is the bang for your buck? Where are you most likely to strike gold?

Every business you pass on the street has some form of copier, from a small fax to a massive two ton production honker. Hop in your car and start knocking on every door you see. It’s definitely a plan. Is it a good one? Don’t laugh. I’ve seen a hundred guys do impartial that. They have all been flat broke and short lived.

The Value of Research

It’s been argued many times in the past that preliminary research is a waste of time and that it is more effective to simply make the call and qualify or disqualify a prospect. I disagree emphatically. There is a certain amount of truth to the philosophy that making a 30 second telephone call to qualify a prospect is better than wasting time on an hour of research. However, the psychological damage inflicted by an overwhelming number of hostile calls can be devastating.

Sales is a “head game.” The odds are against you when you are prospecting from a base that has a limited chance for success based on superficial knowledge. To blindly call every account in the business directory is to invite danger in the form of total dejection and the frustration of perceived futility.

At the same time, spending too much time researching your potential target base can be even more of an obstacle to success. This “analysis paralysis” will help reinforce your natural call reluctance and prevent you from canvassing as many accounts as you can.

The best solution I have found is a combination of both theories. It is usually easier to disqualify an account as a prospect than it is to qualify one. Most reps will dive into a massive territory trying to determine who fits the best criteria for success. While this is an important step it is easier to first discard accounts that are obviously not potential users for your product or service. Icy calling 2,500 suspects in a territory is a daunting proposition. If you can defer or completely ignore 1,700 suspects and only focus on qualifying 800 you now have a more manageable task.

This may seem counter intuitive at first, but if you think about it, by following this method, we are reducing the number of total suspects and increasing the odds of prospecting for a true prospect.

However, don’t allow your disqualification to get too easy or you’ll regain yourself with an empty prospecting list. Keep it to glaringly obvious misfits at first.

If your HR service is designed for 100 or more employees it is a waste of time to call on companies with fewer than 100 employees. What if they have 97? You can’t constantly second guess a suspect, execute your decision a hard line and stick to it.

Sometimes it is not that black and white. Let’s use telephone systems for this example. Most manufacturers are providing digital phone systems that economically aid as few as 5 extensions. So, any company with more than 5 employees would be a target. Simple.

Now I’ll complicate things for you with dependable world factors. Most small companies will not spend the money on a new telephone system unless their current system explodes. If they are spending money on a system, they will nickel and dime you to death. You will ultimately regret selling a small phone system because the return is far less than the investment in time. My personal break-even point on systems was a minimum of 20 extensions so I eliminated all companies with fewer than 20 employees.

As my experience grew I learned that number of employees was relative to the type of business I was calling on. For example, a company that manufactures corrugated boxes having 30 employees may only require 10 telephone extensions as the other employees worked in manufacturing. On the other hand a law firm with 30 employees may have as many as 35 or 40 extensions.

Be reminded that selling is a trade skill, so the more you do it the better you win at it. Early on I would call every company with 20 employees and learn for myself who to eliminate.

When you are beginning your career you are better off being conservative in your estimate of the quality of a prospect. In other words give yourself some latitude in selecting target accounts. You will speak to more unqualified accounts than you probably should but at least you will not overlook a possible opportunity.

As you hone your skills identifying a rich prospecting corrupt will become easier.

Know Your Product Application

Obviously the more knowledge of your product the better prepared you will be to present it, but all your operational knowledge of your product will not help in determining suspect accounts. When establishing your prospecting criteria you need to know your product’s application or “fit.” Place more emphasis on what your product does for a business rather than how it does it.

I could shroud the benefits of every feature of a modern digital telephone PBX in painful detail. If some IT engineer asked me HOW it works I’d tell him, “Hamsters!”

What benefit does my product bring to a prospect? Answer this question and only look for customers who probably have a need that would benefit from your solution.

If your product is human resources software designed to manage 100 or more employees it would be a raze of your time calling on companies with 5 employees. This seems to be a simple concept, but wait until your sales manager is on your back for appointments.

Many times you are presenting a product or solution designed for a specific segment. Take tax software for example. This makes the decision process somewhat academic as you would not call on doctors to sell tax return software. However, you would probably consider some other criteria to determine who among the CPA segment would be more likely to embrace your solution.

Are you getting the drift? Eliminate the accounts that are obvious non-candidates and forget about them.

The Purpose of Prospecting is Pre-Qualification.

I have heard it over and over again in my career. “The object of prospecting is to score an appointment!” My secret to success is to add, “…with someone who has a definitive probability of having a need for your solution.”

Would you set an appointment with someone you KNEW beyond any doubt had no plan of buying your product? If you even hesitated at answering with an emphatic “NO!” apply for a job in accounting. Sales probably isn’t for you.

How do we make this determination? Ask them! Overcoming the learned behavior of being indirect when talking to a complete stranger is a difficult task, but one that needs to be accomplished to succeed in sales. Bear me; they appreciate your desire not to raze time as much as you should.

If you knew before hand that a prospect was not interested in or prepared to pay for your solution would you waste the time to sit in front of him for an hour? Obviously not. What’s worse is that you may find prospects out there with time on their hands that will waste hours of your time and resources only to turn you down at the waste.

In business to business sales the key to success is matching solutions. If there is no opportunity for a prospect to use your solution in any way shape or form, it is a waste of time to set an appointment there.

A Word on “Creating Opportunities”

There is a philosophy I’ve heard that states that truly great sales people can “create” an opportunity. I don’t subscribe to it. In fact, I think it’s crap and I’ll tell you why.

A truly great rep can identify an opportunity even if the prospect can’t see one. This assumes that the existing business environment is conducive to serve from our solution, but the prospect hasn’t yet been educated to the value of your solution. They manufacture widgets. They aren’t experts at payroll.

This is a valuable concept to understand. If you don’t pick this, you will extinguish a great deal of time chasing your tail on a prospect that has no chance in hell to end, because you are hopeful that you will be able to create a need.

If you can’t clearly clarify a value to the prospect in your own mind, walk away and get another prospect.

If you are certain in your conviction that you bring a value to the prospect, but haven’t been able to define it in their mind, stay with it for years if necessary. Objective be honest with yourself.

Occupy in mind that when prospecting for an appointment it can be dangerous to over qualify the record before you get there and lose the appointment. It is equally uncertain to under qualify an appointment and waste a boatload of time on a solid loser. In the beginning, however, it is better to go on some un-qualified appointments rather than risk missing an opportunity.

Time and experience will teach you what a worthwhile appointment looks like.

Always Start At The Top

It is far more difficult and time consuming to score to the highest authority in the company, but in the end it is worth the effort and aggravation. This is particularly moral when you are providing services or other intangibles.

There are a number of good reasons for this tactic:

• Someone at the top of the ladder will have a better overall or strategic view of the company and will be in a better position to determine the value of your service or product. The lower down the ladder you are working, the more heed and commodity driven the sale. A CFO will consider a global document management solution. The office manager will buy a copier.

• Your profit margins will be higher if you open at the top. If the final decision maker chooses to allow an underling to “gather the proposals for review,” it comes down to price. The information gatherer will do a thorough comparison, and then break it all down into a spreadsheet for Decison Maker to peek at. Decison Maker will diligently ensure that he is looking at “apples for apples” and pick the lowest price.

• You will have gotten your name in front of the final authority. This will make a difference if your competition hasn’t made the exertion.

• Even if you get delegated down, your credentials are that much stronger. “The boss wanted me to reach out to you to take a peep at this.”

• If the initiative for a project has not come down from the top, then you are dealing with someone compiling a “wish list,” and it will be a complete waste of time.

• Once you have had substantive interaction with a contact lower down the ladder, it is impossible to go over their head to Decison Maker. Think about this one. You meet with Peggy the Office Manager and she tells you your product really doesn’t have an advantage in the company. Two days later you bag through to her boss’s boss and he shows a genuine interest in your solution, so he calls Peggy and tells her to take a closer look at you. Is Peggy an ally or an avowed enemy?

“Who cares? Screw Peggy!” is a fine sentiment, but Peggy will do everything in her power to undermine you, and, in fact, promote a competitor out of pure spite. If you think Peggy will get fired because of her lack of vision you are dead wrong. Once you have discovered that you are not dealing with the proper contact, get out.

Your products or services may, by design, threaten someone lower down the ladder. Your primary support for a company to adopt your HR services will be to cut overhead and increase efficiencies by eliminating some, most, or all of the HR department. How well received will your proposal be to the head of said HR department?

You should always be addressing the person who will personally benefit most by your products or services, and this contact resides at or reach the top of the heap.

NEVER PITCH TO A GATEKEEPER

Don’t waste your time by presenting your case to a gatekeeper, secretary, executive assistant or anyone other than your target contact. When interacting with anyone during the process of getting to the DM give information sparingly. I’m always polite and at times present myself as a poor lost soul, but there are a number of dangers in giving too much information. The biggest danger is wasting your time. The only decision Peggy can make is whether or not to let you through the gate. Telling her all about your product is a complete waste of your time. Another danger is giving Peggy the opportunity to say, “Nah, we don’t need any of that stuff.” Now you’re really shut down.

Try to understand the psychology of the gatekeeper. Typically they are women who are very capable at their job as an assistant to your DM. Many times they have supported the DM for many years and have become very defensive of their time. The DM does her review, gives her raises, days off and bonuses, and even goes to her kid’s graduation party.

Sadly, many times they do their job too well and they insulate the DM from a great solution.

Research Calls

Before you pick up the telephone, you want to identify at least 30 target accounts to call. This process should seize place during off hours, i.e. early, late or lunch. Remember that highly productive activities are those that narrate to direct contact with a prospect. Everything else is time wasted. Focus on your selection criteria and ignore any faded notes that exist in the system.

After doing your research and targeting 30 accounts you will need to find the appropriate contact. This is an art in itself.

Many excellent information sources exist that will provide a list of executive contacts for businesses. The Web is great source. I always laughed when a gatekeeper refused to provide me with someone’s name and upon checking the company’s website not only did I bag the appropriate name, but also e-mail address, declare dial phone numbers, biographies, photos, etc.

Having a contact name makes life simpler and it’s a great start, but you still need to have a conversation with the contact, which means you will probably need to penetrate at least one gatekeeper.

The next issue becomes the validity of the contact. It is well-known that you positively identify your primary contact with as distinguished absolute certainty as possible. Failure to accomplish this will always result in countless hours of difficulty spread over weeks or months only to finally get through to someone who is not even remotely interested in what you are offering.

As you select a prospect to call take a pen or pencil (I prefer pencil) along with ruled pad and write out company name, contact name and title (if you have it), and telephone number on one line. Skip four or five lines and write the next one until you have about 30 companies listed.

My logic for using this method over sing interaction with a CRM is simple and multi-dimensional:

• Unless you are a speed typist, writing notes is faster than entering them on the mask.

• Writing is second nature. You can have a quality conversation while making abbreviated notes and bullet points manually. Typing while talking will split your focus.

• You can review, correct, expand and compile your notes at your leisure in non-prime time.

• Having the account up on screen will distract you by reading previous notes. Never take the time to second guess a prospect when you are in the middle of calling. You can take whatever time you like while determining your call list, but once you set aside them on perform the call.

• Transcribing the notes later will help you recall items you may have missed initially.

• Having a list or stack of sheets will give you a sense of accomplishment. Having a list or stack will set a goal for you. You must complete the list. Calling from the screen gives you too many opportunities to say, “Well, I guess I made enough calls today.”

You will complete more calls, more effectively if you use this method than calling from the screen.

This process begins with the telephone number. You dial the number and you get a recording that it is disconnected. Try the number again ensuring you dialed correctly. If you receive the message again make a note on the paper and depart on to the next call. This is prospecting time NOT research time. Research is vitally important but during prime time it is wasteful and unproductive. Wait until lunch or end of day to check the number.

If indeed the number has been disconnected, then either delete the account or mark it for deletion. This is a pet peeve of mine. I have inherited a dozen databases over my career and it really puts me off at how many inconsiderate, illiterate dullards don’t delete disconnected numbers from the database.

Do your research carefully. Is the company out of business or has it been acquired by another account in your territory?

Utilize every opportunity to verify the information in your database. For example, if you don’t get anything else from the operator or receptionist, at least verify their address may have blown an appointment you have been working on for months.

Once you have compiled your notes from all of your calls, you can make yourself a cup of coffee and develop the necessary updates to the CRM. As I said earlier, this will give you an opportunity to review your notes and possess in any details that will be helpful.

This is also the perfect time to build your strategy around an record. All strategy in sales involves timing, contacts, and next action.

Start with an introduction letter.

The Introduction Letter

The Introduction Letter accomplishes a few things. First, it is the most professional way of making an initial contact with a prospect. Your contact is probably very adept at ducking sales calls, so it is always a good idea to give them a heads up.

Before you send an introduction letter it is vital that you have telephoned the myth and verified your contact, his title and the correct spelling of his name.

Here’s a little strategy that can help you verify the information from the website, and almost never fails to come by the appropriate contact.

When you have the receptionist on, use this line:

“Hi, my name is Jim Fiorini and I’m calling from HR Services Unlimited. We are the world’s largest provider of HR Services and we are presenting a seminar on the financial advantages of HR services outsourcing in a global economy. We’d like to regain invitations out to the senior financial staff at ABC, Inc. and I was hoping you could help me out with that.”

There is something disarming and non-threatening about sending an invitation to a seminar. Many times the person will ask you for a clarification, or they may give you the HR manager’s contact name. Be very grateful and take the information, but ask them if the contact name they gave you is the highest financial authority in the company. It’s NOT a seminar on HR services, it is about the financial impact of HR services outsourcing.

“Thanks for the information. I want to be certain that these invitations go out to the highest financial authority. We don’t want to harm anyone’s feelings, and if they want to pass the invitations along to someone else well that’s just up to them.”

You’ll get the hang of it. It almost always works and you aren’t lying. You would like to invite them to a seminar that has been individually prepared and given at a personal level.

Very few reps use this tool, so as a differentiator the introduction letter is very effective.

By setting an expectation for a follow up contact, and then actually completing the follow up, you begin to build credibility with your prospect.

When confronted with a gate keeper wielding the dreaded, “Is he expecting your call,” you may now, with all confidence and honesty, respond, “Why yes, he is.”

Lastly, by using the introduction letter as the first step in a process you bring structure to your plan. I recommend sending a minimum of 30 letters every week so that you have a minimum of 20 follow ups the following week. Of course, if you are having difficulty keeping up with the follow up calls, you can throttle the initial letters, but more effective would be to step up your follow up activities to clear the way for more letters.

Start building your goals from the very first action!

The Pre-Approach Letter should be short and to the point. Effect it around an expanded elevator pitch. You will always end a pre-approach letter by informing the contact that you will be calling in the near future to place an appointment.

I generally take a very passive aggressive position with prospects. Being patiently persistent may take longer, but I bag my chances of success to be much higher.

So let’s start the dialing process.

When the operator or receptionist answers the call unprejudiced ask for the contact as if you were an traditional golf buddy looking to confirm a tee time.

“Hi, is Jeff in? “ If she transfers you thank the benevolent god of sales, you got lucky.

“Who’s Calling? “ Tell her the truth but give her your name like ol’ Jeff has known you for years.

“Jim Fiorini.”

“What company are you calling from? “ Again, you should be truthful but very casual, as if Jeff is expecting the call.

“HR Resources.”

“Will he know what this is regarding? “ I hate it when they are good at their job!

Because you sent an introduction letter you answer confidently, “Yes, he will.”

The operator puts you through and you get Jeff’s voice mail. DO NOT LEAVE A MESSAGE!

• Jeff will probably not return your call so don’t waste the time.

• If you leave numerous unreturned messages, the moment you earn lucky enough to have Jeff pick up and you introduce yourself you stand a very gracious chance of getting a response something like, “Look, if I was fervent I would have returned your call.” Never an auspicious beginning to a relationship.

• If you don’t leave a message you can safely make repeated attempts to reach Jeff.

When to Leave Messages

You should leave a brief message following up on the introduction letter. The letter states you will be following up, so let him know you are.

When Jeff finally picks up the phone live and in person be ready for your pitch. Your time is limited, so assign something together that will be right to the point and set the hook. Many people call this a benefit statement.

Jeff knows the real reason you are calling; you want him to rob your product so you can make money. He knows, because he gets many similar calls every week, and if you don’t differentiate yourself, then you are done.

A benefit statement is simply a concise statement of the benefit the potential customer might realize if he partners with you on a deal. What challenge is Jeff facing for which you are providing a solution?

“Good morning, Jeff, my name is Dave Johnson and I am calling from HR Specialists Unlimited.”

“Jeff, I apologize for coming at you unannounced, but I am following up as I said I would in my letter of introduction. I wanted to take a minute to see if there might be a way we can support the HR Department at ABC Company.”

“HR Specialists Unlimited provides a comprehensive support program for companies with more than 50 employees. Through a combination of on-site software and outsource services for things like recruiting, payroll, benefits and 401k, HR Specialists can enhance your HR process while reducing costs. Jeff, we currently support more than 4,000 enterprises in the United States, and I was calling to situation a convenient time for us to get together and determine if there might be a good fit between your requirements and our services.”

Perfect, you told Jeff what you do and of what benefit your services can be to his company. You also, wisely, threw in a bit of credibility by mentioning your large customer base. If you’re really smart you will have prepared a couple of recognizable names to drop. If you are selling a widely distributed product like office equipment, you should have some local companies to mention. Competitors of your target account are expansive names to drop.

Now comes the fun part. This is the stage that separates the professionals from the wannabes.

If, on a million to one chance, Jeff says, “Sure, how’s tomorrow behold,” go buy a lottery ticket, because you just got lucky.

Overcoming objections to a first appointment is probably the most difficult share to master

Let’s take a look at some of the popular objections and some ideas on how to answer.

First some general ground rules:

1) Keep them engaged. If you keep them talking to you you’ll be surprised at the information you obtain and where the conversation could lead you.

2) Never undermine someone’s position on the subject. Quit positive and reinforcing. Even an implied criticism can destroy any chance of getting your foot in the door.

3) Be patient. I have found that there is an average three-touch baseline for getting a first appointment. In other words, it takes an average of three conversations before someone will agree to a meeting.

4) They are probably objecting to the call, not to you or your product. Keep in mind that you interrupted their day and you have no idea the day they are having. I can quote thousands of personal experiences where my first contact was a disaster, to the point they were calling the police, and then a few weeks later I got an appointment with the same person.

5) Never take it personally. They don’t know you. You are doing your job, they are simply doing theirs.

6) More than anything you must believe that your product or service will improve their business or their personal standing within their company. If you gain that belief and conduct yourself professionally you will always succeed.

7) You are one of dozens if not hundreds of vendors asking for some of their time. The decision maker is inundated with people trying to sell him everything, from paperclips to fork-lifts.

Always set an expectation for a next action.

I. “Thanks but I’m not interested.”

This is a standard response from someone who gets many calls and has slight time to listen. Chances are that as soon as Jeff heard your introduction he immediately went into “just another sales rep” mode, and did not even hear most of what you said about your product. You need to get Jeff interested in listening. This calls for testing with probing questions to qualify here.

“I understand how busy you are Jeff, and I apologize for coming at you unannounced. Since you don’t have any interest, is it fair to say you have fewer than 50 employees? “

“No, we have almost 200 employees.”

You’ve obtained essential pre-qualifying information, and you have an opportunity to re-state your qualifications, as well.

“That’s great! That’s the perfect reason for us to get together. Our services are designed to support businesses with more than 50 employees, but the cost justification really soars when there are more than 100. I would just need about 20 minutes of your time to give you a good overall picture of what we do. Do you have some time on Thursday? “

Try to close for an appointment after addressing an objection. If the conversation leads to multiple objections compose multiple attempts to close for an appointment.

If Jeff doesn’t consume at all, and simply dismisses you, don’t give up. Recycle him for another letter and round of contact. Perhaps you may need to take a pass at an alternate contact, but we will discuss that dwelling later.

II. “Our HR department handles everything in house.”

“I’m sure you have a great HR department in house and we don’t want to replace anyone. We just want to enhance your employees’ HR experience by providing you with scalable applications to support your HR load. From the search for candidates, through the onboarding process, to termination or retirement we can aid you handle associates from cradle to grave. Do you think you could find 20 minutes to talk when you are expecting me? “

III. “Now is not a good time.”

“Jeff, I know how busy everyone is these days. That’s exactly the reason ABC Company partnered with us. We helped Mark over there enhance his HR flow, while having a dramatic positive impact on his budget. If I could just get 20 minutes to lay out our offering maybe you would have a better idea of when the perfect time to remove a closer look might be.”

IV. “Send some information.”

I LOVE this one. Most reps will just cave in and send something in the mail. This is a perfect map to salvage more information.

“I’d be elated to do that, Jeff. It will give you an opportunity to see some of what our capabilities are. The problem is that, as I said earlier, we have a very comprehensive and scalable product, so I don’t want to overload you with literature. Could you screech me if there is one area of improvement you’d like to see in your department? “

This may gain Jeff to admit there is some pain in his life, and give you an exploitable entry point into the account. Jeff will also get the message that you will not passively net his dismissal. I would be bold enough to say that I have gotten more appointments from this objection than any other.

V. We already outsource most of our HR services.

“That’s gigantic, Jeff. That tells me you are familiar with the advantages of placing some of your services with specialists. Since we are the leader in scalable HR solutions, it would be beneficial to gain together and determine if there are any holes your current relationship may have left.”

Don’t be disappointed by this response. The bad news is that they are engaged with an incumbent. The pleasurable news is that they have bought into the model. This is what I refer to as a “Lifetime Opportunity.” I need to stay in touch on a regular, but arms length, basis until an opportunity to unseat the incumbent presents itself. Use your CRM.

This information is notable when dealing with time definitive relationships like equipment leases, service agreements, or any other contract. When I was in the copier business all I did was date prospect lease terminations and focus on leveraging them when they came up. In the meantime I had the opportunity to build a relationship and offer many non-copier based software solutions that my company had available. Sometimes I had the chance to do something smaller but more genuine while waiting for the big opportunity to come due.

There are many objections to an appointment, but hopefully you salvage the picture. Think outside of the box. Preserve spinning the conversation until you get an appointment.

VI. Delegation

If your persistence pays off, the next step for an owner may be to delegate your call to someone further down the ladder. Hang on to the top rung of the ladder for as long as you can.

“OK, Jim, but you want to talk to Mary Hartman in my HR department.”

“Thanks for the direction, Jeff. I’ll be sure to get in touch with Mary, but it would be a value for you to see our solution from a strategic perspective, so would you give me 20 minutes prior to my reaching out to Mary? “

“That’s not necessary, Jim. Mary can handle it.”

“I’m sure she can, Jeff, but my experience has been that HR supervisors feel threatened by our services and don’t get a corpulent appreciation of our value. The score result is that the information gets shelved and an opportunity for a strategic improvement is lost. Would it be possible for you to sit in on our first meeting to kind of set the tone? “

“Jim, Mary is your contact. She’ll run with it.”

“OK, Jeff, I’ll arrive out to Mary, and keep you in the loop throughout the process.”

Jeff may have agreed to get together at any point in that conversation, or he may have pushed hard on the delegation. You must fight to keep Jeff involved.

VII. You struck out your first time

All of your objection management skills failed to pay off, but you are certain there is an opportunity for you to do business with the account. What is the next step in the concept?

Once again, opinions vary on this topic, from call back in a few days and try to bully your way in, to walk away from the prospect and plow greener fields.

Once again, I find myself somewhere between the two extremes. Being pushy may work for selling used cars or stereo equipment, but it is the quickest way to de-rail a high level professional sale.

Walking away from the prospect is easy, but if you walk away from every prospect that resists setting an appointment your closing opportunities will quickly become limited. There is certainly a time to walk away from a prospect when there is clearly no opportunity for a deal.

This is where your CRM and follow up techniques come into play, and they are definitely a part of the prospecting cycle.

Personal Visit (Cold Call)

Showing up in person at a prospect can be very effective when in the superior setting. Cold calls can also kill a great deal of time if not scheduled properly.

Let me be absolutely sure on one point first. In most markets, running from door to door dropping off business cards and literature as a primary prospecting method is a complete waste of time.

There are a few exceptions to this rule. Some examples are retail advertising: radio, phone book, coupon mailer, etc. In these venues dropping by in person is probably the most effective plan of reaching out to prospects. In the vast majority of B2B solutions or capital equipment sales this is not a winner.

There are times, however, when personal visits have a state in the cycle.

You have just finished up an appointment in a relatively unfamiliar allotment of your territory, and there happens to be a big commercial park nearby. This is a great opportunity to at least swing through and trace the businesses located in the park. You will gain greater familiarity with your territory, and you may well identify an overlooked opportunity. Pay particularly close attention to any signs of company relocation, either into or out of a space. A change of physical location will often provide an environment for other changes in infrastructure.

Your appointment may have been in a multi-story building. This is an equally good opportunity to scope out what’s happening in the building.

In either of these scenarios, it is perfectly appropriate to pop in and give the receptionist the same intro you would if she were answering the telephone. The only change I would make is to apologize for the inconvenience of stopping by without an appointment, but you would like to station one.

The Stop By

Another personal visit is what I refer to (for lack of a better term) as a “Discontinuance By.” The Halt By is most effective when you are having difficulty getting through to an identified contact on the phone. You have made numerous attempts to reach someone, but always end up in voice mail.

This is where your CRM really comes in handy. You have situation an appointment 40 minutes away from the office and you wish to maximize your time. Sort all the accounts in the zip code for the appointment, and choose out the accounts that you have been unable to make contact with.

Depending on the number of these accounts, you may want to make a whole morning of End By’s, or afternoon, or the entire day. You are investing 80 minutes round trip to see one prospect. If possible, maximize your fade time. The Stop By is always at an account that you suspect is a good candidate for your product, and you have made numerous efforts to reach them. The Stop By will accomplish a number of tasks for you.

• First, you will get a personal view of the prospect. Many times I have diligently worked to get to a contact, and on stopping by I discover that the account really isn’t qualified. I can now remove it from my list, thus refining my territory.

• There is also a chance that you will get to meet the contact you have been working so hard at meeting. Many people veil unhurried their voice mail these days, but if you show up in the lobby they will often pop their head out.

• At the very least, the contact will know that you are dedicated enough to make the effort to drop by. I always write a little note on the back of my business card letting them know that I will be trying to reach them for an appointment.

• For those times when you reach a contact who rewards you with that famous line, “Send me some information first,” the Stop By is a perfect excuse to, well, stop by. Tell the receptionist the truth. “Donna asked me to send her some information, but since I had an appointment at ABC just down the street I thought I’d do the postage and deliver it myself.” Big smile. “By the way, do you think Donna may have a minute to shake hands? ” Donna will probably come out and say hello. If not, again, at least she will know you are making a serious worry to earn her time.

E-mail

You should be asking for a contact’s e-mail address every time. This is a most effective method for staying in touch with a contact. I have found that contacts who are awful at taking calls or returning messages respond to e-mail messages.

The perfect time to interrogate an e-mail address is at the harmful, “Send me some information.” The only time anyone has balked at that one are those precious few who have no e-mail address.

To a large degree, the rules for e-mail are the same as phone calls. You should have a specific reason for the message, though a “Just Checking In” e-mail is acceptable from time to time.

E-mail is also an effective precursor to a phone call or visit. Clearly state in the e-mail message that you will be calling or visiting on a specific date. This will nullify the gate keeper’s inquiry, “Is Donna expecting you? ” You may now honestly retort, “Yes.”

Many companies consume e-mail services to distribute marketing materials on a regular basis. This is a terrific service with expansive impact. Most recipients won’t complain unless the material is annoying or the frequency is disagreeable. On the other hand, if someone gets aggravated enough, they will call you to complain. This is the perfect time to be the hero and apologize for the “SPAM” your inconsiderate marketing department has been sending. After you soothe them, search for if you can’t strike up a conversation with them and ogle where it leads.

I’ve actually found that many prospects are easier to site appointments with via email.

Targeting an Alternate Contact

You will undoubtedly encounter a contact that is completely inaccessible. You may have heard someone out there tell you that if you are persistent you will wear them down. As usual, there is a certain amount of truth in this philosophy but you need to choose when it is in your best interest to take your chips to another table.

Keep in mind that just because you’ve switched your sights to another target it doesn’t mean you have to give up attempting to near your primary.

It is difficult to establish a station time line for changing your approach but I would say that you should have exhausted all methods of attempting to reach your primary and have made at least three attempts through each medium; Phone, letter, email, personal visit.

Once you have made the decision to change select the next rung down in the ladder. Don’t give up on the CFO and dive right to the purchasing department. Try finding a VP of Operations, Controller, Business Manager, someone who is a reveal report to your primary contact.

Always View Prospecting as a Process

I’ve witnessed countless newbies self-destruct at prospecting. After the manager that hired them and the trainer that indoctrinated them set their expectations at six figure incomes and easy pickings the reality of being rejected 49 times in 50 calls crushes them.

Too many times the goal is determined by the number of appointments set. In reality you made 50 calls but only set one appointment. Talk about disheartening.

Now assume a closer watch at what really happened. You made 50 calls and plot one appointment. You also confirmed 13 contacts, identified 4 definite prospects, set up three contract end dates and had two substantive conversations with contacts who allowed you to set a next step within a quarter. Not a terrible day’s work.

If you are methodical in your notes and planning prospecting gets much easier because your prospects become warmer each time you touch them. I chuckle when I see the looks of chagrin on the faces of new guys in the pit during “Phone Blitzes”. I will have my three appointments set in about an hour while they will hammer away all day and get none.

If you only look for the immediate opportunities and discard prospects with a longer event horizon your territory will be forever green and you will be perpetually poor.

It looks so easy and effortless when you spy the professional players hit the ball on television. But as any scratch golfer can tell you, finding – and keeping – the proper golf swing can seize years of practice, lessons and dedication.

Perhaps the most primary tip when it comes to the swing is to keep your head down and your eyes on the ball – even though it’s instinctive to look up. Keeping your head down can back to reduce the chances of slicing or hooking your shot, or even worse, topping your ball and just sending it a few yards.

The swing has several components, all of which are notable. The backswing should be smooth and trusty – not rushed – and bewitch the club to a horizontal position, in which your ball is in front of your shoulder. Make sure you retain your lower body in its modern position.

The downswing should be commenced with your hips and you should accelerate, thus allowing you to hit the shot further. During the downswing, you should rotate your hips towards the target and make sure your lower body is rotating slightly before your upper body. Don’t forget to follow through properly – never just ’stop’ as soon as you have hit your shot.

If all this seems like too much to remember, one of the best pieces of advice is to simply swing as though you are taking a practice swing – don’t even consciously try to hit the golf ball – and the club and ball will connect as they should.

You may not be breaking 80 any time soon, but with a little practice you can have the proper golf swing and post a respectable score.

Stop wasting any more of your time trying to figure out the proper golf swing by yourself. Learn the proper golf swing and get rid of your golf swing problems for good!

Greensboro, NC is home to several well-behaved golf courses. There are many golf courses in North Carolina that other states and countries would be jealous of. Lets focus on a few of the best courses in Greensboro, NC.

A local favorite is Greensboro National Golf Course. Greensboro National is located in the northern Piedmont and is one of the country’s most exceptional golfing destinations. The course winds through beautiful landscaping. Greensboro National Golf Course is perfect for any skill level, from beginner to seasoned pro. All 18 holes offer different challenges and motivation. Onsite is a 13,000 square foot clubhouse with dining room, lounge, snack bar, pro shop, locker rooms, baggage storage, patio and offices. Recreational use can be done in the lakes and a community swim and tennis club are in the making!

Grandover has two courses-the east course and the west course. The courses are located at 1000 Club Road, Greensboro, NC. Grandover East is an 18-hole course that was designed by David Graham-former US Inaugurate Champion. The course is beautifully laid out on natural terrain. There is a driving range and putting green available for golfers of all skill levels. Seven PGA professionals are on staff and eager to give lessons by appointment. Golf digest has ranked Grandover East a 4-star course. Grandover West has bentgrass greens and fairways with beautiful stone bridges set on 1500 acres of tree covered hills. A driving range, putting green and chipping green are easily accessed by all skill levels. The courses are operated year round with spring being the high season. Golfers are required to utilize a golf cart while playing the courses. Onsite accomodations, banquet facilities and a complete club house with restaraunt are available. Golfers can access the pro shop and rent golf clubs if needed.

For the economical golfer, try Gillespie Golf Course. Gillespie Golf Course was carved out of 85 acres and provides a 9-hole layour for all skill levels. Gillespie Golf Course is located at 306 East Florida Street in Greensboro, North Carolina. An onsite clubhouse with a pro shop and concessions are ais available throughout the year. Gillespie boasts a practice putting green and driving range for warming up prior to a game or practice. The course can accomodate tournaments and group outtings. Cart rentals and private lessons are available.

Bur-Mil is a nice facility for the entire family. The course is located at 5834 Bur-Mil Club Road off of Highway 220 North. A 9-hole golf course, driving range with grass hitting areas, chipping green and putting green are available for golfers of all age and skill. The course is located in the 250 acre park that also has an events center, aquatics center, wildlife education center, hiking and biking trails and playgrounds. There are no tee times or motorized golf carts available. Rental equipment is available at the pro shop for a nominal fee.

Professionals who work with golfers are finding out that what you do off the golf course may be as important to your game as what you do while you’re on it.

Golf pros and physical therapists say that all kinds of exercise — from yoga to running — can improve your golf game.

That’s why programs such as the Pebble Beach Golf Academy are now looking at the golfer as a whole, and emphasizing fitness, flexibility and even diet as a diagram to improve your game.

“The golf swing demands several physical characteristics — flexibility, strength, balance, coordination,” said Bud Ferrante, a physical therapist in Carmel, California, who is fitness consultant to the Pebble Beach Golf Academy and works with both professional and amateur golfers. “The one physical attribute we lose first is flexibility. So flexibility is where one would start, if you want to play good or even reasonable golf.”

He teaches many of these principles in his BACKtoGOLF seminars, the first program of its kind for golf fitness, performance and rehabilitation. Ferrante has worked with many tour players, among them Tom Watson, Brad Faxon, Justin Leonard and Brandell Chamblee.

Not only is flexibility vital to the golf swing, it also is important in heading off injuries. Although most of us don’t think of golf as a sport that can hurt us, terrible posture or lack of flexibility can cause help, neck or other bodily injure during a round.

“The golf swing in one of the most complex and difficult movements in all of sports to perform with skill and consistency,” said Ferrante. “It requires different parts of the body to disappear in several directions at once.”

Posture is all-important in the game, he notes, because good flexibility and posture will help a golf swing be more worthy and efficient. Proper posture also means there will be less chance of injury, because body tightness results in stress and strain to the joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons of the spine and extremities.

Katherine Marren, director of instruction at the Quail Lodge Golf Academy in Carmel Valley, California, recommends that golfers be evaluated by a sports physical therapist, so that problems can be identified and a personalized program of fitness and stretching can be put into place.

Marren notes that the idea of an exercise regime is something new for golfers, since in past decades it wasn’t even talked about. She said a mix of aerobic exercise and another activity that promotes flexibility and stretching is ideal.

Running, walking or cycling will fit the bill for aerobic endeavors, and Marren suggests Pilates or yoga for helping with balance and flexibility.

It just makes sense that exercise off the course will aid a golfer’s game, said Evan Boone, head golf pro at Bayonet Blackhorse in Seaside, California.

“As with any athletic endeavor, a fit body will outperform an unfit one,” said Boone.

But, adds Ferrante, it’s primary to do both, and in the great order.

“You must have flexibility before strengthening exercises are effective,” he said. “Next time a PGA golf tournament is on television, check the posture of the golfers, and note how flexible they are.”

Boone said that that any activity that focuses on strength, flexibility or core conditioning is going to be safe for the golfer. He does suggest mixing it up as much as possible — “Do your exercises different all the time, from different angles, on different days. Once the body stops learning, it stops changing. The best way to do that is to retain your routines as diversified as possible.”

Boone also advocates that golfers take a look at what they’re eating and to work on optimizing their nutrition.

“Obviously fast, fried or processed foods aren’t the best,” he said. “Try to eat organic proteins, fruits and vegetables as they’ll have less chemicals and additives. And most of us don’t need a ton of carbohydrates, so be careful with them.”

Ferrante said golfers also need to compensate for the problems that near with getting older. Although golfing is promoted as a lifelong sport, there’s no doubt that many older golfers are not in the prime shape they once were.

“Flexibility is lost first as we age — we all know we are not as limber and loose as we extinct to be,” said Ferrante. “The posture sags, the neck and back get stiff, hamstrings tighter, most of this from not being as active as we used to be. Jobs, kids, injuries, age, and many other issues affect our flexibility.”

Warming up and stretching prior to a round of golf can help offset such problems. Boone recommends what he calls “dynamic” stretching, which is warming up by doing an aerobic exercise for a few minutes, such as running in place or doing jumping jacks.

“This will get the whole body warm and ready and the blood pumping,” he said.

Ferrante said pre-game stretching is important, and has certain exercises he recommends to clients.

Marren said it’s best to work with a physical therapist and get a position of golf fitness exercises and warmup moves that are specific to you.

“In general, it’s best to warm up and stay warm before you play,” she said. “Stay loose and warm. There’s less chance of injury that way.”

Sources:

Interviews with Bud Ferrante, Katherine Marren and Evan Boone, April 2010

www.BACKtoGOLF.com

If you want to improve your golf swing, then you can buy a trainer to help you do so. There are a few things you need to deem when buying golf swing trainers. Some of these things include compatibility, rings, and setup. This article will give you a few tips for buying golf swing trainers.

Compatibility

One of the first things you need to consider when buying golf swing trainers is their compatibility. If you are a left-handed golfer, then you will need to buy a trainer specifically designed for left-handed players. Some golf swing trainers can be used by right or left handers. This is useful if you have friends that may want to use the device.

You will also need to make determined that you buy golf swing trainers that are compatible with your height. This is mainly an issue if you’re extremely tall or short. If you are taller than 6′8″ or shorter than 4′9″, you need to make sure that you buy golf swing trainers that are compatible with your height.

Rings

One of the next things you need to think about when buying golf swing trainers is the number of rings that they have. Some designs only have one ring while others have two. Golf swing trainers with a single ring will only have one swing plane. Dual ring designs have two adjustable swing planes. This helps you improve the timing and tempo of your swing.

Setup

You should also consider how easy the golf swing trainers are to setup. It’s best to peek for a design that is easy to setup. You should be able to dwelling it up by yourself within ten minutes. Also, you should look for golf swing trainers that are safe to setup indoors or outdoors.

Exercise Cords

You may also want to think about buying golf swing trainers that near with exercise cords. These trainers will still help you improve your golf swing. However, the exercise cords can be used to strengthen your arm muscles. This will ultimately give you the ability to swing harder and faster so you can hit the ball farther.

These are a few tips for buying golf swing trainers. You should look for a design that can be setup within a few minutes. You may also want to look for golf swing trainers that have two rings instead of one. They will help you improve the tempo and timing of your swing.

This 1993 King Cobra Deep Face Driver has seen a lot of action since it has been out. It has won dozens of tournaments world wide and several majors including a British Open and Masters by Greg Norman and Tiger Woods. The fact that nearly 5 years after it was introduced and several product models later, Cobra Golf re-released this driver in limited quantities during the tall “golf roar” that Tiger Woods helped generate. Once again, in a new golf world of larger heads and Titanium and Graphite, this club thrived for another year or two before finally being retired. I personally have owned 2 in my time, and I know many others who have as well. Heck, I still no some single digit handicap players using the thing from time to time! Why? Lets spy into that!

While it was no larger than other steel headed models out at the time, Cobra Golf did a great job at advertising that: “King Cobra Is Oversize” in several T.V. spots featuring Greg Norman and Hale Irwin. The slightly larger steel head with its aerodynamic crown not only looked great, but hit like a cannon! It was always a little more harsh of a feel than the Big Bertha, but Cobra Golf had two things going for them. A slightly lower price, and Greg Norman! Let’s not forget that before Tiger, Greg was the man. The best in the world and much like Tiger today, could sell you a $1 bill and charge you $100 for it.

The Deep Face model was in the 9* driver at the time. The higher lofts for men, women and seniors had a shallower face to help gather the ball airborne. The later 1997 9* and 10* both featured a deep face to help keep the hitting area a little larger. Why players like Norman and Woods old the 9* deep face model was simple: to maintain the ball low and under control! There were actually several times that they both used a model with a bore through shaft to help with stability at impact. These bore-through models were never released to the public, and I dare say that if the average Joe got a hold of one, they would not be able to hit the ball over 10 feet high, especially with the X-100 (X-Stiff) shafts that the Pros were using.

My memories of this driver as a youngster are still with me. It was my first premium golf club I ever owned, being a total mark for what Greg Norman did and said, I of course had to have it, even at 12 years old and 130 pounds! I hit a lot of low slices with this club during the time I had it! But when the re-released models came out in 1997, I was older, stronger and really appreciated the workability and control this club really offered the better player. It was not easy to hit it high, but for a middle to low trajectory shot that went down the fairway like a bullet, you never needed to! It was great to look at, great to swing and could be worked anyway your imagination and your game could move a golf ball.

This is level-headed a tremendous club for beginners. I would suggest a 10* model. This will give enough loft to get the ball in the air, and a small enough club head to teach them how to hit it on the screws if they want a good result. You can find them on ebay for under $30 shipped in most cases and are still a better buy than going to a retail store and buying a poorly made knockoff of a larger, longer club today. Enjoy!

When you can’t get out there and play the game the next best thing is to write about it. One of the most common misconceptions is that you are only using your arms to hit a golf ball but nothing could be further from the truth. You are actually employing your whole body to do the job when you step up to tee off. Hands, arms, wrists, legs, hips and knees all fabricate some type of motion – we all learned about these different body parts at a young age but as for their usage in golf, not so worthy. The key is to utilize all these body parts together in a smooth, cohesive manner.

What was that thing you were always encouraged to do way back when and even still today when in your mind you wanted to succeed? Oh yes, practice. Practice, practice, and more practice. Keeping focused on what you are doing is important. You want your feet close together and to compose a center of gravity remaining as perfectly still as possible. It is imperative that your feet are firmly planted into the ground until you have properly followed through with your swing.

If you watch little children step up to swing at a golf ball what do they do, they swing with every single ounce of energy within them and then start hitting trees with the golf club. This isn’t exactly the best strategy in golf – especially the swinging at trees share. Don’t swing with all your energy because this drastically decreases the amount of accuracy. Fair concentrating on how hard you swing at the ball can do wonders for your game.

So you have been playing for a while and you are starting to get tired. Naturally, your swings are going to be worse because your muscles are not working as smooth and cohesive as they could be. Instruct me what was that word again? You want to practice swinging until it becomes a very natural and very smooth motion. This way when you are hours into a golf game you will improve much more because you have trained your body to work harder. Having a better swing involves training the muscles you exhaust to optimally work as a team.

So get out there in the green the next time you have a chance, and here is to knocking some strokes off your next game of golf.