Category Archives: Tips

Gymnastics – Balance Beam Tips

Gymnastics is a difficult sport as it is. Competing on four different events against hundreds of other people in front of hundreds of people is not every person’s idea of fun. Gymnasts indulge in that challenge of showing off their skills. The greatest challenge of the four events for many gymnasts is the balance beam.

What is the balance beam? The balance beam is a beam lifted four feet off the ground and is 16 feet long and four inches wide. When the beam was first invented, it was simply a wooden beam. Gymnasts focused more on the dance aspect back in the day instead of tumbling but in today’s age a lot of the focus is on the tricks performed on the beam such as the front tucks, back tucks, and ariels.

Female gymnasts compete on beam doing all kinds of flips, turns, leaps, and jumps but how exactly do they do it? Following a few of these tips will help you to master the beam.

TIP 1:

In order to do well on the balance beam, you want to make sure you can execute the skill on the ground first before you try it on the beam. Building your confidence on the ground first is a must before performing your skills on the beam.

TIP 2:

A gymnast must not be afraid to get hurt. I have fallen off the balance beam many of times doing leaps and turns. You have to build your confidence up and know that you are not going to be the best every time and that you are going to fall off. It happens.

TIP 3:

Use the mats until you are comfortable. You didn’t jump up in start walking in a day; you had to hold on first. Using the mats will help build your confidence. The more you start to land your tricks with the mats, the more comfortable and confident you get. After you start repeatedly nailing your skills, take the mats away.

TIP 4:

Ask for a spot. Your coaches are there to help you. They want to see you mask your skills. So do not hide away and be embarrassed. Believe me; you will be thankful you asked for help now instead of going to a competition unprepared.

TIP 5:

When performing a skill on the beam, take your time. Do not ever do a trick if you are not physically and mentally prepared for it. The beam is too tiny to rush on and could cause serious injury.

TIP 6:

Chalk is your friend. Beam makes a lot of people nervous which causes their hands and feet to sweat. Using chalk can help to prevent slipping off the beam no matter if you are just standing or if you are doing a skill.

TIP 7:

Always watch your surroundings. For example, do not do a cartwheel while someone is running underneath the beam. The beam is already scary enough.

TIP 8:

The beam requires a lot of core muscles. The whole time you are on the beam, you will want to keep perfect posture including a straight back, chin up, and on tip toes. Holding this posture will keep you on the beam a lot longer than just standing like you would on the ground.

TIP 9:

Practice makes perfect. Practicing your skills over and over will get you the results you want. You will master a skill as long as you stay cool, calm, and confident.

The balance beam can be terrifying but using these tips will help you to get over the fear and make the beam your favorite event. Like any activity, it all takes time to become the best you can be.

Putting Tips: Help With Putting

Are you looking for some golf tips that can really help with putting quickly? Let’s start with one golf tip first with the understanding that just golf tips will not make you a consistent putter. The absolute quickest way to get you help with putting is to repeat one of the putting tips that was in Golf Digest. It was from Dave Stockton, regarded as one of the best putters in golf history, to Annika Sorenstam. Now if you know Golf, you know that when Annika Sorenstam was on the Women’s Tour, she dominated that Tour for years. Annika knowing Dave Stockton’s reputation asked him for help with her putting. Although he did give her more than one tip, the putting tip he publicly admitted giving her was this:

“You do not focus your eyes on the ball when you putt. You pick a spot one inch in front of the ball that you want the ball to roll over, and that’s where you look. “

If you take this statement and analyze it, you will undoubtedly question yourself “why couldn’t I think of that”? It is such a simple putting tip to put into practice that will exponentially give you help with putting. It is so much easier to aim for a target one inch away then 5 feet or 10 feet. You do have to learn how to place the spot you aim for in the correct location.

You can visualize this with another sport, Bowling. Bowling is similar to Golf in that the motions to swing and release the ball has to be repeated over and over with the same consistency. Most people see the pins down the alley and also know there are arrows that are used for targets way in front of the pins. They are easier for people to aim at because they are closer! Did you know they also have dots right at the foul line that correlates with the arrows which are even closer and should be easier to aim for. The reason for this description is purely to express the principles involving targets and target lines to help with putting.

Well, that same principle can be applied in Golf and it is emphasized by Mr. Stockton. To form a straight target line, it is best if there are at least three points rather than two. It is known that between two points are a straight line, but the line could be crooked. However, using three points, starting point, finishing point and a third point in the middle, the line from start to finish will be more accurate using that third reference point. That being the case the first is the ball, the finishing point is the hole or the target point of the break in the putt, the third would be the point you pick one inch from your ball in line with the first two points. This is just so you understand how the basic principle works, but I would rather defer all the technical teachings to the Professional, Dave Stockton, and his advice that will help with putting.

Again, it should be understood that putting tips can offer a short term solution. You should learn the proper putting technique for a proven method to maintain long term consistency and really lower your scores.