Golf Blog

 

An early cold shock hit Bend, Oregon a couple of weeks ago. My chainsaw and batteries were in my truck for several nights of below-freezing temps. Upon trying to use my "cooled" chainsaw, it would only run until the saw blade hit the tree! My first thought was that my chainsaw had failed. I replaced the batteries with warm ones from my shop and the chainsaw worked! I also noticed that my charger would not work with these cold batteries. Not until they warmed to room temperature.

Ultimately, both of the cooled batteries charged and operated the chainsaw. I’m a bit concerned about any long-term effect that the exposure to the elements and weather conditions might have had on the two batteries. Only time will tell.

Do you have a battery-powered chain saw? Perhaps not! But you may own an electric golf trolley, golf club car, or electric golf cart that is powered with a 24 Volt Lithium Ion battery. The reason I’m sharing my above story is that the same thing might happen if you should accidentally leave your Lithium battery in your car/truck/SUV in extremely cold weather. The results might be troubling.

Lithium-Ion batteries are a wonderful advancement compared to lead acid batteries in battery technology, but they need some tender love and care. Your Cart Tek user manual for golf cars suggests that you always store your golf cart batteries in a cool, dark, dry environment and avoid extreme temperatures. Avoid both hot and cold extremes as best you can and you will get the best life and charge cycle from your battery.

If your golf course is shutting down for the Winter, remember to charge your Lithium golf cart battery after your last use. Always make sure you see the amber LED on your charger. This is the ‘only’ indicator that your battery is being charged. Periodic charges over the Winter are also recommended(Check every 45-60 days). You should try checking your electric vehicle and charging your battery every 3-4 months when not in service. If you are concerned about the battery charge, you can test the battery with a volt/ohm meter or with our battery management system monitor. Either device will give you the status of the battery Voltage.

Golf cart's lithium iron phosphate batteries are a huge upgrade from lead acid batteries. Lead acid batteries have a shorter life expectancy and are heavy and slow-charging. To make things worse, golf cart owners know that the traditional golf cart batteries in the U.S. come with aggravating battery maintenance costs. Compared to the average lead-acid battery, the lithium ion golf cart battery has a more advanced battery pack that provides more mileage on a single charge. The lithium chemistry allows lithium-ion golf cart batteries to reach a full charge in an average of three hours and exhausts less power when in use due to its lighter weight capacity. On top of all those advancements, unlike lead acid batteries, lithium technology requires zero maintenance.

For batteries, monitors, and chargers, shop our selection today.

Do you feel like your clubs are holding you back? You’re currently thinking that a new set of clubs is what you need to start improving your score. But before you spend your hard-earned cash, here are 8 tips that you should consider before you buy a new set of clubs.

1.) Start a workout regimen.

Ugh, no one wants to go to the gym. I play golf to relax! Well, even just a few days a week can be the difference between having power in your swing all the way through 18. Strength training and cardio are essential to performing well, in golf and in life. There are many exercises for strengthening golf muscles. I would recommend squats and lunges, core work and dumbbell workouts focusing on your arms and shoulders. Find a trainer who can put together a program for you to work on your shoulders, back, abdomen and legs. Then after the strength training, hit the treadmill and work up to several miles without stopping. Remember, it’s important to stretch before and after each workout to prevent injury! The cost of this is probably free as you may already have a gym membership, but you’re just not using it!

2.) Lessons

Individual or group lessons can help you fine-tune mistakes you’re currently making. Lessons can range in price from $50 to $100 or more per hour depending on the skill of the instruction. Often you can get discounts if you have many people getting lessons at once.

3.) Range Time

Considering that Pros like Tiger spend about 2 hours a day at the range, this is a clue to where to spend your time! In the real world, most of us don’t have that much time to be able to commit to golf. So, make a goal to spend two hours a week at the range to better hone in your game. Take this time to go over the input that your instructor gave you earlier.

4.) Launch Monitor

With the developments in technology over the past few years, prices for launch monitors have come down drastically. You’ll be able to collect detailed information about your swing to be able to make minor tweaks to your game. You can get highly recommend monitors for less than $500!

5.) Consider walking instead of riding in a cart

Golf started out as a walking sport. This is why 90% of European golfers walk the course as opposed to riding in a golf cart. When you’re walking the course you can learn a lot from your feet. You get a sense of the lie of your ball. You might feel the fact that the course is wet or dried out so your ball could run into the creek, or sink if you hit too high of a lob shot. All these factors can affect your score.

6.) Walk with a Caddie

If carrying or pushing your clubs sounds like a lot of work, consider hiring a caddie for a round. You’ll get some in-depth knowledge of the layout of the course. You'll feel refreshed because you haven’t wasted your energy carrying your clubs. Typical caddies fees can vary but expect to pay ~$150-$200, plus tip.

7.) Walk with an Electric Caddie

Back in number 5, I mentioned that 90% of Europeans walk the golf course. What I didn’t mention is that 65% of European golfers walk behind an electric golf trolley. Many of those players have lowered their handicaps by an average of 3 strokes, by using a powered caddie. Get the benefits of walking the course, without the strain on your body of carrying your clubs! Check out Cart Tek’s best golf cart, the GRi-1500Li.

Would you Like to learn more about electric golf trolleys? Take our free fitment quiz to find out which electric golf caddie would work for you:

8.) Putting Practice

Bringing Tiger back into the conversation here. He practices for at least 30 minutes a day on the putting green… As the old saying goes, “drive for show, putt for dough”. If you want some tips on how to practice your putting at home, check out our other blog post here.

Learn how to improve your golf game this season with 4 easy tips. Play better and more confidently knowing that you're improving some aspects of your game with hard work and a lot of practice.

Watch YouTube Videos

Do your homework. YouTube has a plethora of experienced golfers and golf pros waiting to share their knowledge with you. Watching golf videos offers some of the world's most beautiful golf courses as inspiration for your next vacation. They also offer reviews on golf gear and most importantly, instruction on how to improve your swing, stroke, putting skills and overall game. You have a wealth of information at your fingertips and opportunities to learn something new from thousands of videos on all things golf. From getting information on how to play a better game to tips on the best golf courses and golf products, there are hours and hours of videos for learning new things about the sport you love.

Work on Your Short Game

Practice putting and fine-tuning your short game. This will give you more confidence on the course. By working on your short game, you'll know you can tackle more difficult situations on the green. Finish smoothly when you’re putting the ball and practice chipping and making pitch shots. Learn how to use the ball's bounce to your advantage.

Play With More Experienced Friends

If you have friends or family who are more experienced in golf than you, then ask to tag along on one of their games. There is a lot to be learned from people who play at a more advanced level than you. Talk to them about their favorite golfers, courses and pro tips, and be sure to watch their playing technique. Playing with friends, especially better players, is an important part of the game. Listen, watch and keep you mind open to learning new skills.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice when you feel like it, but also when you don't feel like it. Practice in the morning, afternoon and at night. Practicing will give you the skills you need and muscle memory to perform your best. Get out and golf at least once a week. Make a habit of practicing every week to improve your stroke and accuracy. Work on your form over and over again. You’ll feel better when you’re on the course and hopefully take your game to the next level.

Hopefully, with these and other professional tips and instruction, you can elevate your golf game this season and enjoy doing it.

Last month, we reviewed the three best mallet putters of 2019. Next we turn to drivers. If you’re looking to go the distance with your next driver, take your pick from these top-rated drivers. Callaway Epic Flash Flash is the new flagship driver for Callaway, and with good reason. The increased ball speed you will experience from connection was developed by a supercomputer using the latest in artificial intelligence (AI) technology. AI was able to fix age-old problems that occurred from simply not having enough viable research to optimize ball speed. The Flash also includes a stiff club head that creates more face flex, weight savings from a triaxial carbon crown, and a 16-gram sliding weight for adjustable balancing. Cleveland Launcher HB Cleveland Golf is best known for its wedges, but if you need a forgiving and powerful driver, look to this brand as well. The top model 460cc Launcher HB gives you an extremely light hosel, a HiBore crown and Flex-Fin sole design that optimizes impact compression for unprecedented power from this line. The Launcher HB is great for middle- and high-handicap players who are looking for more ball speed. Mizuno ST 190 The ST 190 is the most advanced driver from Mizuno to date. The SP700 titanium face increases the strength of the driver by about 10% over your traditional 6.4 titanium. You save a great deal of weight from the carbon composite crown, and the sole design is created to resemble an accordion for a more forgiving launch. Mizuno also provides a back weight to increase stability on shots that are a bit off center. Srixon Z 785 The Z 785 is designed for professionals by professionals. It is defined as a 460cc club, but its smaller profile gives it a higher workability than the Z 585, Srixon's game improvement club for higher handicappers. The extremely lightweight carbon crown works well with the Ti51AF Cup Face to give you improved speed as well as a low spin flight pattern for greater distance and accuracy. You also have the customization system and quick tune adjustment features to play around with, giving you the opportunity to tweak the loft dynamics and weight on your drive. Titleist TS2 The TS2 is arguably the best driver from the most well-known brand in the game, and that’s saying something. The Speed Chassis alone required two years to upgrade. The SureFit hosel, super thin and lightweight titanium crown, fully adjustable swing weight and customizable face thickness give you one of the most advanced 460cc shapes on the market. The level of forgiveness on this club alongside its great workability means that it’s great for professionals and recreational players who are looking for that perfect piece of technology to improve their game. You can’t go wrong with any of these top-rated drivers in your golf bag - so pick the one that is best for your unique style of play!

When the elements keep you indoors and off the golf course, hone your putting skills at home or in the office with these simple daily indoor putting drills. While you can practice on carpet, I recommend purchasing an inexpensive putting mat to most closely simulate the feel, control and speed of an actual putting green.

Distance Control

You can work on your distance control with several different exercises. First, place a something flat and small like a business card or playing card on the mat several feet away, then try putting the ball so that it stops on the card. Second, place a ball on top of a coin on the mat. Putt a second ball towards and as close to it as possible without knocking the first ball off the coin. Finally, just start putting around the room. Find different targets at various distances and practice, over and over again. All of these drills can help improve your putting accuracy.

Straight Line

To work on the straightness of your putt, place a yardstick or a three-foot strip of painters’ tape on the mat. Practice putting the ball from one end to the other along the yardstick or tape to find the sweet spot on your putter. If the ball veers right, then you’re making contact with the heel of putter and conversely, if it rolls left, you’re putting with too much of the toe. Try lining up additional yardsticks or three-foot strips of tape to practice from six, nine and more feet from the hole.

Putting Stance

Keep your putter close by and practice your stance as many times a day as you can in order to build strong muscle memory. Take advantage of the many online videos and tutorials that can help you with the correct putting stance and set-up and then practice in front of a full-length mirror as well as behind the ball. It’s also a good idea to also stretch really well before and after your practice drills.

Try some of these indoor putting drills to improve your game while you’re waiting to get out on the course and check out my previous post for more tips on perfecting your putt. Remember, practice your golf putting drills daily!

It’s halfway through winter and you may be itching to get out to make progress on your golf game but there’s snow on the ground and it’s 20 degrees outside. How can you prevent being rusty with your shots and putting once spring arrives? The answer is a simple one: Build a better winter golf training program for your game. Here are several tips for staying at the top of your game over the cold winter months. Hit the Gym. Even just a few days a week can be the difference between having power in your swing and stamina for the game or heading onto the course rusty and out of shape. Strength training and cardio for endurance are essential to performing well, in golf and in life. There are numerous exercises for building and strengthening muscles, including squats and lunges, core work and dumbbell raises. Find a trainer who can put together a program for you to work on your shoulders, back, abdomen and legs. Then after the strength training, hit the treadmill and work up to several miles without stopping. Remember, it’s important to stretch before and after each workout to prevent injury. Practice Indoors. Leave your remote control golf caddy in the garage while you visit an indoor driving range or set up a putting green in your family room to practice because it’s all about maintaining that muscle memory for your swing or put. Many major urban areas have indoor driving ranges where you can work on your swing throughout the cold winter months. If you can’t find an indoor facility near you, then try setting up a putting green at home with a chipping turf mat you can find online. Then practice, over and over again. Take a Vacation. This tip may seem like an obvious one, but it truly is a great way to get in some real practice and continue to improve your game. There are many warm-weather golf destinations to visit in the winter, from Florida to the Bahamas and Arizona to Baja, for some great rounds of golf. It’s also a great way, given the time and expense, to benchmark where you’re at with your game and what you can continue to work on the rest of the winter. Take your own clubs and golf bag on the trip! Watch Lots of Videos. It goes without saying that you can learn by watching the pros. In between your workouts and indoor practice, watch as many videos with professional golfers as possible, studying their technique and learning new tips. There are virtually hundreds of golf videos online and great instructional videos you can purchase as well. With a little bit of planning and a healthy dose of discipline, you can build a winter golf training program that keeps you strong, sharp and in practice for your game come spring.

Golf Influence has recently named the top-rated mallet putters for 2019 and they’re all remarkable putters for increasing your putting performance. Without further ado, here are the three best mallet putters of 2019: TaylorMade Spider Tour One of the hottest putter models on the PGA Tour, the new Spider X has been reengineered in three distinct ways for optimal stability and better alignment. • A steel frame combined with a carbon composite sole for extreme perimeter weighting in a more streamlined shape. • Improved True Path alignment technology for increased putting accuracy. • An improved pure roll insert for a better feel and more topspin to help the ball start rolling smoothly, prevent skidding and stay on its intended line. With the enhanced Spider X, TaylorMade has placed the focus on how the putter feels through the stroke, stable while at the same time forgiving, to make putting easier. Golf Influence agrees, stating that “with technological enhancements that aided in creating the most balanced putter on the market, TaylorMade has crafted a mallet that places a strong emphasis on feel throughout the putting stroke.” The Spider X comes in several different options—with True Path alignment, single sightline or single bed—and two different colors, copper or navy. Odyssey Red O-Works #7 The Odyssey Red O-Works #7 scored a 20 out 0f 20 by Golf Digest last year, receiving a gold medal on their “Hot List 2018”. Their line of Red O-Works putters has consistently been among the best on the market and this year is no exception. The O-Works Red #7 is a modified mallet with a double-bend hosel and weighted alignment wings making it beyond compare for arc-stroke putting. The mallet’s clean, attractive red finish is extremely popular among professional golfers Odyssey’s real competitive edge is their Microhinge technology. The steel Microhinge plate with thermoplastic layer molded on the inside provides a great feel, an increased topspin and smooth roll. Odyssey is continuously working on shapes for ultimate performance, but it seems for now they’ve perfected the fanged putter with toe hang “for players who like to feel the face of their putter rotate more in their stroke.” Cleveland Huntington Beach #6 Mallet Putter According to Golf Influence, “Perhaps one of the most underrated producers of quality putters, Cleveland has outdone themselves with the introduction of the Huntington Beach line.” With its classic design, the Huntington Beach #6 putter is a sleek stainless-steel mallet with a precision diamond-shaped mill face in a pattern four times deeper than Cleveland’s previous generation of putters. The deeper milling pattern enables increased friction on impact and a better, more consistent roll. The stainless steel has a softer feel, is easier to bend and can be customized to fit your stroke with an 8-degree range (+/- 4 degree) of lie angle bending. In addition to the #6 putter, the Huntington Beach collection features five other traditional putter shapes. If you’re in the market for a new putter this year, you won’t be disappointed with any of these three top-rated mallet putters and how they improve your performance on the putting green.

Have you ever wondered why the pros are so good at putting and wondered how you can get your putting game up to speed? Wonder no more, we have some tips that can help you perfect your putt! Putting can make or break your game, your short game as it’s called. If you can hit perfect long drives and get the ball relatively close to the ball, you must be golden. Unless your short game is on par with your long game, you will continue to struggle. Practice Makes Perfect

It’s important to practice a multitude of different short shots to try to perfect your game. Research shows that spending time from a wide variety of angles and slopes prepares you better for a game. If you’re practicing the same shot repeatedly until you get it right, you might be setting yourself up for failure. While it’s beneficial to practice a swing until your body feels comfortable and knows what to do, this can hurt you. You’re only going to get one shot at it out on the green, so by giving yourself multiple chances to get it right it may not go as planned.

Go out and work on your short game. Take plenty of different shots and mix up the levels of difficulty and distances from which you take the shots. The variety will help you improve in ways you wouldn't if you stuck with only one shot over and over.

Hitting the Ball

It's been discovered that some of the best putters tend to hit slightly upwards on the ball. This adds a little loft to their stroke, and causes the ball to roll forward immediately, and stay in line. For great putting to happen it takes precision. Any small change to the way you hit a ball can jeopardize your shot.

A great tip for working on precision putting is to stack three quarters behind the ball. Keep three quarters in your remote control golf caddie. Align the center of the putter with the middle of the ball. Keep your putter vertical, and not forward. Practice striking the ball right around it’s middle, or equator, without hitting any of the stacked quarters.

If you can consistently hit the stack of quarters, you know that your stroke is low or not moving upward like it should. Once you start to hit the ball consistently here, the ball will roll much more smoothly. Keep working on this drill until you get the loft to your putt that you want.

Putting

Find golf drills that work for you to perfect your putting. Research some additional drills that you think might help. Finding drills like the quarter drill can help you to make small adjustments.

Golf can be a game of driving around the course in a golf cart, but the benefits of walking the course has become a much healthier option for many. The benefits of walking the course far outweigh driving, and it gives a healthier aspect to the game of golf. One downside to walking the course, is your run the risk of injuring your back if your golf bag is too heavy. Here’s where electric golf trolleys come in. You can still walk the course but benefit from a remote-controlled golf caddy to do the work of carrying your golf bag for you.

ELECTRIC GOLF CARTS

Most electric golf carts use lithium batteries which last much longer than other batteries do. They’re also lighter, making your walk on the course that much easier. Regular golf carts are harmful to golf greens. With the constant driving, and the potential for mud, the tires run the risk of ruining the grass. If you play a game of walking golf, you take that damage out of the equation.

WALKING THE COURSE

Studies have shown that a walking game of golf is so much better for your health and your heart. We encourage you to consider investing in a remote-control golf caddy so that you can more easily play a walking game of golf.

Something that most golfers don’t consider when riding in golf carts, is that it changes the position of the body so much between holes. It requires the body to completely reset, when you get in and out of the golf cart. Playing a walking game keeps your body steady and warm for the entirety of the game, therefore you won’t need as much time to adjust each hole. It keeps you looser and doesn’t require as much time to reset before each swing.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

If it’s been awhile since you’ve played a game of walking golf, it’s time to get out there and try it. Find a place to rent or borrow a remote control golf cart and give it a spin. You can also purchase one on our website at www.carttek.com or give us a call, we would love to tell you more and introduce you to our different models.

Looking for the perfect gift idea for golf lovers this holiday season? We’ve got you covered with five of the hottest trending golf gadgets this year. If the golfer in your life likes to have the latest in golf gadgetry and gear, then consider purchasing one of the following top gifts for golfers this year. PHIGOLF GOLF SIMULATOR WITH SWING TRAINER CLUB If you are getting a little stir crazy this winter, we recommend this indoor launch monitor. Continue to get that practice in during those cold days we've come to expect during the winter months. More affordable than other simulators, the PhiGolf comes with a sensor to put on your club and it links up to your smartphone or TV. You can get data on each swing’s speed, path, and estimated carry distance that’ll help your game come spring. GARMIN APPROACH S20 GOLF WATCH This GPS-enabled golfing watch can be a huge asset when you are on the course. These help on judgement shots and have been found to be very accurate. The cost around $180 and include a round analyzer that measures shot distances with auto-recording for post-round analysis on your Garmin Connect account. It also has activity training, stat tracking, it’s truswing compatible, sunlight readable, high resolution and has a stylish comfort. This is a perfect gift to pair with your new remote control golf caddy. GARMIN APPROACH Z80 GOLF LASER RANGE FINDER Known as the most technologically advanced range finder on the market, this gadget is useful in many ways. It tells you how far you are away from the flag, has the image of the green on the scope so you know the distance between the back and the front of the green. A perfect addition to your electric golf trolley, giving way to more efficient course time and reduces needless walking. It’s one of the more expensive gifts you could give for your golf enthusiast, but well worth it for accurate golfing. Runs about $600. MEDICUS DA DUAL HINGED DRIVER If you are ready to seriously improve your golf game, this is the gift for you! This driver will help you improve your technique by identifying problem areas, so you can learn how to go about fixing them. The Dual Hinge helps to correct your swing, helps to improve your consistency, distance and accuracy. It also helps with ball flight. You can improve your swing tempo, path and plane, control your clubface and hit on target shots. This helps train your muscles to use the right form. The driver runs about $160.