BONNIE SPORT

Do you ever get the feeling that people just don’t respect your ability to stand up for yourself in a physical confrontation? It’s not very much fun to always be on the defensive, worried that the aggressive bullies of the world are going to pick you as their next target.

And while most of them don’t actually resort to violence, the threat of a good beating is always there, just below the surface.

But if you’ve been around, you know that bullies and want to be tough guys usually don’t pick on everyone. They pick and choose their victims, based on how hard they think it would be to beat that person in a fight. So the key to avoiding becoming the target of a lowlife bully is to become confident in your ability to stand up for yourself. Because once you back down, you’re going to always be a target.

Some basic boxing training is a great way to gain the self-confidence and physical ability that you need to stand up to bullies. This is because, in a fair fight, most boxers are way better able to handle themselves than untrained thugs. Boxers know how to move so their punches always land with maximum power, while the other guy’s wild swings never seem to connect and do damage.

Think of it this way: for more than a century, guys have made their living as boxers. These guys need to put food on their family’s table, and they need to be able to keep fighting for years and years, so they can get enough money to retire comfortably. Most importantly, they have to be able to defend themselves well enough so they don’t look like chumps in the boxing ring.

In short, boxers know all the techniques that work. Everything a boxer does in training, he does because it’s been proven to work in a sport where the weak end up unconscious, on their backs, in complete humiliation (and with a starving family).

So take it from me when I tell you that learning some boxing techniques is worth your while. There is no sensationalism in boxing. The guys who made this sport what it is only do the things that have been proven to work. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t pay the bills. And if it’s not worth doing, it doesn’t get done.

Sand shots are often viewed as very difficult shots; however, if you follow the simple rules and tips outlined below, you will become more consistent out of the sand, and as a result, become a better player.

Sand Shot Laws

• Sand shot with a good lie (the ball sits up on top of the sand) should be played closer to your front foot, as opposed to sand shot with a bad lie, which should be played closer to your back foot.
• If you position the ball further forward in your stance, you should open the club face more. You do this because since you have a better lie, you don’t need to take as much sand when you hit the bunker shot and taking less sand means you can put more spin on the ball and hit a higher, softer landing shot.
• If you open the club face more you need to aim further to the left (or to the right if you are left-handed). This is because a more open club face will cause the ball to go in the direction of the club face, make sure that the face is pointing towards your target.
• If you close the club face more you need to aim closer to your target – you should never aim to the right of your target (or the left of your target if you are left-handed) as this can cause you to cut across the ball and dig into the sand, resulting in a bad bunker shot.
• The more swing speed you have, the higher the shot will go. A shot with more swing speed will also have more spin and stop quicker on the green.

Follow and apply these sand shot laws to your golf game to improve your bunker consistency and improve your game. Good luck and happy golfing.

I watch a lot of basketball and I love watching players do things the correct way. I love watching a good chest pass that hits the target quickly. I love watching great form on a shot. I love watching players in the post use good footwork to get shots off and I love it when players, especially young players, use the triple threat position.

For those that aren’t familiar with what the triple threat position is, it is when a player is ready to drive, pass or shoot the ball. It’s important because when players use it each time they catch the ball, they make the defense work harder and they proactively create scoring opportunities. When they are in the triple threat position they are immediately ready to attack whatever defensive strategy is being used on them. It allows you to be proactive on offense rather than reactive.

Many players today know what the triple threat position is but not every coach teaches it effectively so let’s talk about that. Anybody can go out there and get in position but not everybody can execute it correctly and be successful. In order for the triple threat position to be completely effective you must sell to the defense that you truly are in a position to pass, shoot or drive. If you get in the position half-heartedly or in a way where you don’t effectively sell it, it’s easy for the defense to expose it.

One of the key things to remember is that part of what makes the triple threat position so effective is that it keeps the defense guessing. They are limited in how they can defend you if they really believe that you could pass, shoot or drive when you have the ball. If you get lazy when you catch the ball and don’t get in the triple threat position you are letting the defense rest and taking away options for you and your offense to score. If when you catch the ball, you immediately put it over your head and examine the floor, it’s easy for the defense to know right away that you aren’t going to shoot it or drive to the basket. They know right away that all they have to do is shut down the passing lanes and they’ve stopped you.