Whatever kind of game you play, there is a definite benefit to ‘systematizing’ (I know that word sounds made up, but it is a proper word!).

By that, I mean simply learning by using systems, or being systematic.

You break things down, and you learn in compartmentalized chunks. Which makes things easier to handle when learning and practising, but is also invaluable for when you want to perform those actions again.

So be it playing golf, running a marathon, creating a gourmet meal or playing the lottery – systems will help you do those things better.

Take my guilty pleasure of throwing money at the lottery (when I’m not out playing golf – gees, I’m such a lush). I can just buy a quick pick and subscribe online for 10 weeks if I want to. But that’s so boring, and personally I believe you can do a lot better than that. So I apply some systems to my choosing numbers, arranging numbers, and buying my tickets. This is a well practised weekly routine for me – so I’m far better at it now than I was. Simple systems = steady improvement. I won’t give all my secrets away (maybe a few hints here over time…) but if you want something you can use, you could try something like the Formula 1 lottery system. It’s not the best ever, but it’s a starting point. There’s all sorts of other products available – this guy reviews this kind of lottery stuff in detail – just be careful because you can spend a lot of money on ultimately unhelpful software, just apply a little common sense.

That’s one of the best ways to systematize anything – from hang gliding to making your drives go further – you borrow the experience of an expert and apply the way they learnt. After all, if you do enough of what they did to get good, then you willl ultimately you could become as good as they are.

So, you’re an avid golfer, hitting the green every day of the week and doing everything you can to increase your skills with the game. Or maybe you’re more of the weekend warrior type, and you just want to learn some more of the mechanics of golfing. Either way, there are a lot of subtle mechanics in play behind the scenes. And all of them have a direct impact on how your ball will fly.

Technique, Technique and More Technique

The technique behind the perfect swing can take a lifetime to master (maybe that’s just one more of those things that make golf so popular). But by answering these two questions, you may be able to identify some of your problem areas.

How much do I use my arms to swing the club?

The strength that comes from your arms, while an important factor, pales in comparison to the strength found in your shoulders. Turn your body so that you have plenty of room to add more shoulder movement into your swing, and you will be amazed at how much further your balls will fly.

Am I leading with my hips?

Leading your swing with your hips more than doubles the torque that you can achieve with your swing. Don’t believe me? First, your body should be at an angle that faces far enough away from the tee to allow you ample time to rotate your hips. Next, assume your usual position for striking the ball. Third, turn your hips to where they normally are then follow through with your swing. This technique is a staple among all the golfing pros, and can easily add another 20 yards onto your swing.

Where is my head?

Every part of your body is interconnected. Remember this next time you hit the green. If you’re head is in an uncomfortable position, it will cause the rest of your body to become incredibly tense. This is a major stumbling block for most golfers. Thankfully, there is an easy remedy for this situation. All you have to do is keep your head cocked, then mimic the action of your shoulder. Remember this saying: “Shoulder up, head up, shoulder down, head down”. This will keep your form loose, and transform your game.

What Are These Dimples & What Do They Do?

I’m sure you’ve noticed the dimples in your golf balls. These dimples aren’t to make the golf ball easier to pick up or give you a better grip to place on the tee. They are actually a feature in the design engineered to take advantage of different transient force effects.

How much farther do you think a dimpled golf ball will fly than one that features a smooth surface? Would you believe that the rough ball can fly up to twice as far?

When hit with appropriate force and backspin, a rough surfaced ball will achieve more lift. This is due to how it moves the air around it. For golf balls the best speed to get the results of this effect is between 55 and 95 mph. This effect was actually observed by Isacc Newton more than 300 years ago! The first person to study this effect when applied to golf balls was professor Gutherie Tait in the 1890’s at Edinburgh University. Pretty prestigious for a golf ball, huh?

With these tips, you are well on your way to becoming the best golfer that you can be. Just remember to stretch and warm up before you start playing, because nothing ruins a game of golf like a pulled muscle first thing in the morning. Anyway, happy golfing!

Now whilst golf is probably the most important game in Europe, it’s not the most popular. That crown I’m fairly certain goes to the EuroMillions lottery. Played across 9 countries and 10’s of millions of people, I think it probably just wins out 🙂

The rules for playing in the EuroMillions are very simple and straightforward. The player has to choose five numbers from the range between 1 and 50 as their main numbers. Then they select two additional numbers from the range 1 and 11 as Lucky Star numbers.

Ticket sales close on the day of the drawing, at 20:30 Central European Time, equivalent to 19:30 Greenwich Mean Time.

The players of the EuroMillions should be aware of some important points. Only adult people are legally able to play in the EuroMillions: 18 or more years old in continental European countries, and 16 or more years old within the United Kingdom.

Note that each European country has its own specific deadline for claiming the prizes. In Austria, the winners of the EuroMillions have three full years to claim their money. In Switzerland and the United Kingdom, the prizes must be claimed within 180 days. In Belgium, the prizes have to be claimed in 140 days. In Ireland, Portugal and Spain, the winners must claim their prizes until 90 days after the drawing. In France and Luxembourg, the prizes have to be claimed within 60 days following the drawing.

The odds are pretty tough for this popular game though (probably somewhere around the odds of getting a couple of holes in one on the same round of golf), so lottery syndicates are commonly used as a tool to boost up your chances.

Good luck if you give this European marvel a shot. Right, back to the golf course.

Mark Twain once put it that playing golf was ‘ruining a walk in the park’ but this sport has millions of followers all over the world, not forgetting players. Plus over 30,000 golf courses worldwide, making this sport a phenomenon. So why is this so game popular?

Golf’s Gifts

Some say that golf is a combination of two key things that people love to do those – walking long distances for pleasure and also sports that involve hitting things with sticks. This game offers players many benefits possibly one of the most important of which is that golf provides a way to escape from the hassle and bustle of the modern life where everything is a rat race.

Lifes enchanting gifts such as fresh air, fantastic natural scenery and the vistas cannot be overstated and this game provides all these gifts with abundance. Golf is also environmental friendly in that the courses provide a certain wilderness of sorts right in the urban areas which is both beneficial for the community and ecologically.

For those who are looking for exercise, the game is a great way to achieve body fitness since all the walking helps the heart and also relaxes the body muscles. It is a great way of conditioning both your body and mind and helps the lungs as well as the heart.

The game offers a stage for people to compete with each other. Whether you are against yourself or your peers, the player always wants to play more and thus there is the everlasting quest for technical perfection which is a powerful motivator to keep on playing. The game is an indulging sport since it offers players and fans a favorable pace that allows conversation. This means that you can have a conversation with players especially in business where the game has been known as a deal maker among business associates.

Golf’s Pleasures

Like so many other enthusiasts, this is a game of choice and one can play as often as possible because as many would say the game fills the many holes in ones life – excuse the pun :-).

One explanation why the game is so popular is that it is available everywhere. Most cities and towns offer golf courses for your enjoyment and also make the game a wonderful vacation experience, especially if you are a player who travels a lot. This game is an inclusive sport and all men, women and children play and enjoy it to the fullest. It also makes it a great activity for the family and also helps to create stronger bonds between family members, friends and staff.

The game is also popular because it can be played during the day or at night and many courses offer well lit areas and thus anyone can book tee times for twilight play – a favorite time for many as the day cools into the evening.

Whether you play for the exercise, availability, timing or inclusiveness, golf is a fun game that is still gaining popularity.