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Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:35:00 +0000

What is LOVE

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:24:00 +0000

How do you define love?

Some say it's mysterious, magical, complex, difficult, imaginary, thought-provoking, inspirational, intuitional, joyous, immeasurable, ecstasy, and undefinable. Perhaps.

In one of Dr. John Gray's audio cassettes he defines love as follows: "Love is a feeling directed at someone which acknowledges their goodness."

On the same cassette, he refers to the definition by M. Scott Peck: "The willful intent to serve the well being of another."

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. - 1 Corinthians 13:5-7

My favorite is by Paramahansa Yogananda: "To describe love is very difficult, for the same reason that words cannot fully describe the flavor of an orange. You have to taste the fruit to know its flavor. So with love."

Love itself is a universal experience. Yet, every individual occurrence - while perhaps bound by a common thread - seems absolutely unique. Love is what love is! To everyone it expresses itself differently.

"All You Need is Love!"
The Beatles

"All You Need Is Love" was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney for the "Our World" live television spectacular performed by the Beatles in June, 1967. 400 million people around the world saw the program. The number was included on the Yellow Submarine album.

Love is the answer to "all" questions!

It is important to stand in Love, not fall into it.

Love is waking up to find the object of your affection in the dream you were having asleep on your shoulder.

Could it be that Love is a story that can never be fully expressed?

Love is a bond or connection between two people that results in trust, intimacy, and an interdependence that enhances both partners.

Love is the ability and willingness to allow those you care for to be what they choose for themselves, without any insistence that they satisfy you. - Leo Buscaglia

Making Love is the highest level and the most loving way we can physically express or demonstrate our Love for our love partner. Everyone knows that the sexual experience can be the single most loving, most exciting, most powerful, most exhilarating, most renewing, most energizing, most affirming, most intimate, most uniting, most stress-relieving, most recreative physical experience of which humans are capable.

When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you're scared they won't Love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only do they still Love you, they Love you even more. - Matthew - age 7

Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day. - Mary Ann - age 4

Logic says everything in this world has a cause and an effect. True Love is the only feeling which is its own cause and its own effect. It is something illogical and yet above all logic. I Love her because I Love her, and I Love her so I Love her. - Prateek Kumar Singh

Love is comforting someone in need of Love and having them know that somebody cares.

Love is looking past imperfections in your partner and seeing the beautiful person inside. True love seeks the happiness and well being of your partner. Love expresses itself in the mutual respect you demonstrate to your partner.

Guys, this one is for you! - Love is letting your partner have the TV remote for 30 days!

Love must be experienced. Its meaning is infinite and can never be totally defined.

The opposite of Love is fear. Think about it.

There is no fear in Love; but perfect love casts out fear. - Bible

God is love.

Love is loving someone without expecting anything in return; no judgments, no restrictions; no limitations; no expectations!

True Love is the nature of bliss.

Love is expressed when you are being someone who loves someone for who they are, not who you think they should be.

Love is embracing differences and discovering ways in which to build a common lifestyle, share decision-making, and taking equal responsibility for the results.

I was nauseous and tingly all over. . . I was either in Love or I had smallpox. - Woody Allen

Love seeks no cause beyond itself and no fruit; it is its own fruit, its own enjoyment. I love because I love; I love in order that I may love. - St. Bernard 1090-1153, French Theologian and Reformer

Teach only Love for that is what you are. - A Course In Miracles

Love is a decision.

If you want Love, you must first Love. Love begets Love. You cannot deliver from an empty wagon. You must first learn to Love yourself before you can give Love.

"If you Loved me, you would. . ." Not! Love is not manipulative. It must never be used to get others to do what you want. When you Love someone you never ask them to sacrifice a part of themselves in the name of Love. This form of manipulation contaminates our Love for another.

Can't Buy Me Love! - The Beatles

Love is to like with a great intensity.

True love has a foundation of integrity, respect, faith and trust. Love is the force that brings about unity and harmony.

Although love is at the root of our basic nature, Love for another human being must be cultivated. It takes time for Love to mature.

Is your love free and unconditional, or is it mixed with various needs, conditions and demands from your partner?

Love is embracing differences and discovering ways in which to build a common lifestyle, share decision-making, and take equal responsibility for the results.

The road to self-discovery is paved with Love.

Love has no meaning other than the meaning "we" give it.

Perhaps. . . Love just Is. While in its allness and in its nothingness, all we need to do is simply let it Be.

Robert Heinlein in "Stranger in a Strange Land" said, Love is. . . "That condition whereby the happiness of another is essential to your own." (Thanks, Don)

To demonstrate Love. . . say, "I Love you" - outloud - at least once each day to someone you love. There is magic in these three little words. Saying "I love you" is the most beautiful gift you can give to your partner. These words are the most treasured a person can hear. To be different, say, "I Love you" in a foreign language.

What Is Love?

One must understand whether "what is love" can be a question which can be answered? Love cannot be a question. For, if it is a question then an answer should be there. If the answer is there, where is it? This question is ancient and an answer should have been found by now! If the answer has been found, the question would have disappeared.

But the question still remains, meaning the answer has not been found. If it has not been found as yet, then what is the certainty that it will be found? Maybe the mind can never find the answer! A single answer, which will please all minds, is not possible for each mind has its own ideas of love. Hence a universal answer is an illusion.

Individual answers are there for love and for this very reason there are arguments about love for each mind will contradict the answer of another mind. This contradiction is normal for each mind lives in a different point in time. Hence "what is love" is an illusionary question, which has no answer! - Dr. Vijai S. Shankar

I love you. Yeah! YOU!

Cycling

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:12:00 +0000

The sport of cycling involves riding a bicycle for recreation or competition. Competitive cycling variations include road, mountain, and BMX. Road races are the most popular form of cycling competition, and there are several forms of road racing, including stage races, one-day events, time trials, and criteriums. At the Olympic level, USA Cyclingis the official cycling organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee.

Stage races cover many miles and may last for weeks; each day is referred to as a "stage." Perhaps the most well-known stage race is theTour de France, covering roughly 2000 miles over a 25 to 30 day period. The cyclist with the lowest cumulative time wins the overall race. A one-day race can cover 100 to 175 miles and may last from four to seven hours. The World Championship road race, the Olympic road race, and the Paris-Roubaix are examples of well-known one-day races. Time trials require the rider to cycle as fast as possible from one point to another. A criterium race involves multiple laps on a looped course, often in downtown areas where spectators gather to cheer on the riders. Bicycles used for road racing are lightweight and aerodynamic with a short wheelbase for optimum speed and handling. They feature frames built of steel, aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber, as well as curved handlebars, thin high-pressure tires, narrow saddles, brakes, and a front and rear derailleur with up to 20 different gear combinations.

Track races are held in enclosed or open-air stadium-like arenas called velodromes, which contain an oval track constructed of wood or concrete with steeply banked corners. Track racing is the primary type of Olympic cycling competition, including the match sprint, individual and team pursuit, kilometer time trial, and points race. Bicycles used for track racing are similar to those used in road racing, except that they lack brakes and have no variable gear mechanism.

Off-road mountain bike racing is a rapidly growing sport which was started in the early 1980s by cyclists in Marin County, California. Cross-country, downhill, downhill slalom, and hill climbs are types of mountain bike races, with national and world championships held annually. Cross-country mountain bike races debuted as an Olympic sport at the Summer Games in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996. Mountain bikes feature sturdier tubing, straight handlebars; wide low-pressure knobby tires, up to 27 gears, and front suspension, rear suspension, or both for maximum shock absorption.

BMX, or bicycle motocross racing, began in California in the late 1960s as an imitation of dirt bike motorcycle racing. BMX racing involves an indoor or outdoor dirt track between 700 and 1300 feet long featuring ramps, hills, and tight turns. BMX bikes feature small wheels and frames for easy maneuverability, as well as high handlebars and knobby tires for maximum traction. BMX bikes are usually single-speed, using either hand (also caliper) or rear coaster brakes.

Whether for competition or personal recreation, cyclists also need basic equipment including helmets, padded gloves and shorts, and special shoes which may or may not clip into the pedals. Goggles, face guards, chest protectors, and arm and leg pads are utilized by BMX riders and downhill mountain bike riders.

Rock climbing

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 12:58:00 +0000

Rock climbing is the act of scaling rock formations using natural hand and footholds. This individual sport grew out of mountaineering in the 1800s. During the 1950s, climbing accessories were greatly improved, and the sport's focus changed to scaling a specific rock wall rather than an entire mountain. Rock climbing evolved into an organized sport in the 1970s, and during the 1980s indoor and outdoor climbing walls became a popular way of practicing the sport in a controlled environment.

Free climbing and aid climbing are two types of rock climbing. Free climbing uses equipment only as a precaution, and mainly relies on the climber's fingers, hands, arms, legs, and feet to scale the cliff. In aid climbing, ropes and hardware are used to support the climber's body weight.

Necessary equipment includes a climbing harness, rope, belay, and one or more carabiners. Special shoes made of leather or synthetic materials with sticky rubber soles are recommended, as is a helmet for outdoor climbs. Layers of lightweight clothes work best for outdoor climbs, where shorts and a t-shirt are usually sufficient for climbing indoors.

Archery

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 12:39:00 +0000

Archery involves shooting at a target with a bow and arrow for sport, hunting, or warfare. Basic archery equipment consists of a bow plus a quiver of arrows and a target. Bows are usually made of wood, fiberglass, graphite or carbon composites with a taut cord connecting the curved ends. Arrows are constructed of aluminum or carbon graphite. They are pointed at one end with stabilizers at the other end, and they feature a notch fitted to the bowstring. The arrow is propelled when the archer pulls it back with the bowstring and then releases it.

Archery's longevity has been documented by ancient arrowheads made of flint and detailed archery carvings found on cave walls in Spain. The bow and arrow were utilized by the ancient Egyptians for hunting and warfare around 5000 years ago, and the Old Testament makes mention of archery used by the ancient Hebrews. Archery was gradually replaced by gunpowder for warfare, but it is still used as a means of battle in South America and central Africa.

As a sport, archery was popularized in England and introduced in North America in the 17th century. The United Bowmen of Philadelphia, active from 1828 to 1859, was the earliest organized club of sport archers. TheNational Archery Association of the United States was founded in 1879, and it held the first archery tournament in Chicago.

Archery competition includes target, field, and flight shooting. Target-shooting tournaments feature an event called rounds, with circular bulls-eye targets made of paper pinned to straw mats. The bull's-eye is suspended 4 feet 3 inches above the ground, surrounded by rings of gold, red, blue, black, and white, and assigned different point values from 10 to 1. The objective of flight shooting is distance rather than accuracy.

Archery was an Olympic sport in the early 1900s, but it was not featured again until 1972 at the Munich Games. It features a ranking round, an elimination round, a finals round, a team elimination round, and a team finals round. Sixty-four archers shoot concurrently at targets 230 feet away in the individual events, and the competition is held according toInternational Archery Federation (FITA) rules. Founded in 1931, FITA is the international governing body of archery; FITA promotes and regulates the sport of archery worldwide.

Roller Skating

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 08:07:00 +0000

The sport of "skating" can be broken into three categories: roller skating, inline skating, and ice skating.

Roller Skating

Roller skating involves gliding over a smooth surface on roller skates, which are specially designed boots with two wheels at the front and two at the heel. Roller skating can be enjoyed outdoors or at indoor roller rinks. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, roller skating lost some of its appeal as in-line skates became popular.

In the early 18th century, a Dutchman named Joseph Merlin came up with the idea of attaching wooden spools to a plate to simulate ice skating on dry ground. In 1763, the first roller skates were created, featuring metal wheels. In 1863, American inventor James Leonard Plimpton patented the first roller skates that enabled the wearer to move about more smoothly by shifting weight. Roller skates with ball-bearing wheels took over several decades later, and vaudeville acts often made use of these skates. Plastic polyurethane wheels were introduced in the 1970s; these wheels allowed for easier maneuvering, increasing the sport's popularity.

Roller skating competition has included artistic skating, speed skating, roller hockey, and roller derby. Artistic skating shares similarities with figure skating, and can be performed with or without a partner. Speed skaters race through a course, competing against each other and the clock. Roller hockey utilizes rules similar to ice hockey. Roller derby, which died out in the 1970s, was a contact sport involving teams racing around a track. During the 1990s, inline skaters began competing in derby events.

Inline Skating

Inline skating is a popular recreational activity where the skater glides on lightweight boots with three to five wheels attached in a line. Scott Olsen is the American entrepreneur credited with developing the first modern in-line skatesas a way to train for ice hockey during the off-season. These skates were comprised of a metal frame, urethane wheels, and a heel brake. Olsen later founded Rollerblade, Inc., producing in-line skates for general recreation. The sport has evolved, and there are currently more than 30 in-line skating companies.

Skaters use a technique called striding, which is balancing on one foot while pushing off with the other. This is repeated with the opposite foot. To stop, skaters can use the heel brake (a rubber pad attached to the back of the skate), the t-stop (dragging one foot behind the body perpendicular to the other foot), or the powerslide (an abrupt turn).

Stunts and tricks such as grinding, curb launching, and vert skating are used by advanced skaters during aggressive skating, otherwise known as street skating. Grinding involves riding curbs, rails, and similar objects. Curb launches involve jumps off elevated surfaces. Vert skating is short for vertical skating and involves stunts in a half-pipe structure. Skate parks may have launch ramps and obstacles such as curbs, rails, and stairs for performing advanced tricks in an enclosed area. All riders, especially those performing these advanced stunts, should wear protective gear such as wrist and elbow pads, knee pads, and a helmet.

Most in-line skates weigh between 4 and 7 pounds. The boot is made of a hard plastic shell with laces and or buckles over a boot liner. On the bottom of each boot is a wheel frame housing three to five urethane wheels in vertical placement from heel to toe. Large wheels are more stable at high speeds, and they range from 76 to 80 mm in diameter. Smaller wheels allow for added maneuverability and measure from 70 to 72 mm in diameter.

Many skaters participate in in-line competitions, which include racing, aggressive skating, and roller hockey. In-line racing can be an individual or team pursuit, and is held on circuits from 1 to 50km in length. Skaters may compete in slalom runs, where two skaters race an obstacle course simultaneously. Most aggressive skating competitions are sponsored by the Aggressive Skater's Association; these competitions are held in skate parks around the world. Skaters compete in two 60 second or 90 second runs, combining moves on rails, ramps, and half pipes with free form skating tricks. Roller hockey rules are similar to those of ice hockey, with less physical contact. Roller hockey utilizes a ball instead of a puck. Amateur and professional roller hockey leagues have been overseen byRoller Hockey International and USA Hockey Inline.

Volleyball

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 08:05:00 +0000

Volleyball is a popular sport that is played professionally, as well as in recreational leagues, on school teams, in backyards, sandlots, or beaches. The game of volleyball can be enjoyed virtually anywhere a net can be set up, including over a swimming pool. A typical volleyball game uses six players on each side. The aim is to deliver the ball over the net and "ground" it (have it touch the ground) on the opposing side while preventing the ball from touching the ground on their side.

Volleyball was developed by William G. Morgan, a physical fitness instructor at the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts. His goal was to invent a game for all ages that was not as physically taxing as basketball. When a basketball itself proved to be too heavy for the sport, Morgan commissioned Spalding to make the first "volleyball" out of calf skin. Eventually, the game moved from recreation only into the professional competitive realm, and is now a featured sporting event in the Olympics. FIVB, the International Volleyball Federation, is the worldwide governing body for Volleyball and Beach Volleyball. USA Volleyball is the United States governing body for volleyball participation in the Olympics.

The regulation volleyball court is a rectangle, 18 meters by 9 meters divided into two equal squares by the center line. Above the center line spans a taut horizontal net that is 2.43 meters above the court. The net is 9.5 meters long, and 1 meter deep. The mesh features squares that are 10 centimeters wide. The volleyball is 65-67 centimeters in circumference and 250-260 grams in weight. The outside is leather, over a bladder of rubber or similar material. It must be of one color and cannot have any laces. Volleyball uniforms consist of a vest or jersey, shorts, kneepads, and rubber or leather shoes without heels. Team members wear the same color and may play in numbered track suits during cold weather.

Play begins with the serve of the ball, and players take turns rotating around the court so each player gets a change to "serve" the ball. The ball may be "served" when the server bumps the ball into play across the net with a fist, or throws the ball into the air and strikes it with a hand or arm to bump it across the net into the opposing team. Members of the opposing team then attempt to "save" it from hitting the ground and loft it for a teammate to play. Each team is allowed to contact the ball three times before returning it over the net. No individual may hit or be touched by the ball twice in succession, and the ball must never be held, lifted, or carried. Play continues until one team allows the ball to touch the ground in its own court or fails to correctly return it. A point is rewarded to the serving team if the opposing team makes the fumble. If the serving team incurs the fumble, the receiving team is then allowed control of the ball and becomes the serving team.

A ball may be "set" (hit in a high pass) so that a front-line player can "spike" it (smash it to the floor in the opponent's court). The opposing team may attempt to "block" the spike, using the hands and arms near the net in an attempt to stop the ball. A "tactical block" is when a player fakes a spike and then makes a soft pass over the block. A "volley pass" is the term for using the fingers of both hands above shoulder level to strike the ball, while a "dig pass" is the term for striking the ball with one or both arms below shoulder level.

Points can only be scored by the serving team, and the first team to reach 15 points wins the set as long as they have a lead of two points. If the lead is less than two points, the play continues until a 2 point lead is established. A match is decided by the best of three or five sets, as determined prior to the game, although national and international league games must be played to the best of five sets.

Tennis

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 08:01:00 +0000

Tennis, originally called lawn tennis, is believed to have been invented by the British army officer Major Walter Clopton Wingfield in 1873. It was supposedly modeled after English court tennis, squash racquets and badminton. It has since become a widely played game both professionally and on amateur courts worldwide.

Tennis is a sport played on a court with a racket and a ball. It can be played by two (as in singles) or four (as in doubles) indoors or outdoors. Courts are divided by a net and marked with two sets of lines, one for singles and one for doubles play.

The court is 78 feet long and 27 feet wide for a singles game. When playing doubles, the width boundaries are 36 feet apart. The court may be grass, clay, asphalt, concrete, wood, turf, or composite. The ball is made of hollow inflated rubber 2.5 to 2.6 inches in diameter. The rubber is covered with a wool fabric. It is usually yellow, although other colors may be used. Tennis rackets vary in size and shape, although the maximum tournament length is 29 inches and the maximum width is 12.5 inches. The racket head is no more than 15.5 inches and 11.5 inches wide. It is strung with thin overlapping cords of gut, nylon, or other materials. Originally made of wood, most current rackets are now made of stronger and lighter materials such as aluminum, graphite, and carbon fiber. The handle features a rubber or leather grip and vibration-dampening technology. Clothing is usually lightweight shirts, shorts, and short skirts. Shoes with nonskid rubber soles are also worn.

Each point of a tennis game begins with a serve. The player serving the ball is the server and the one receiving the ball is the receiver. The server tosses the ball into the air and strikes it with the racket before it touches the ground, aiming to hit the ball into the opponent's area to begin the volley. The server usually uses an overhand motion to strike the ball from behind the base line. The first serve of the game is hit from the right side of the court into the diagonally opposite side of the court. A fault is called if the ball does not enter the opponent's court on this side, is out of court bounds, or is served into the net. After a fault, the server may attempt to serve again, but if the next serve results in a fault, a double fault is called. A double fault results in a point being awarded to the server's opponent. If a proper serve is not touched by the opponent's racket, it is called an ace. After the first point, the serve is made from the left side of the court and alternates accordingly after each serve throughout the game. A successful serve results in the ball being hit back and forth until one player or team fails to return it. The ball must not bounce twice in a row on the same side of the court. It also cannot be hit into the net or outside boundary lines.

The rules for scoring are the same in singles and doubles games. Unless it results in a tie, a tennis game is played to four points. The first point is called "15," the second "30," the third, "40," and the fourth point is called "game." Zero points is called "love" and a tie at 40 is called "deuce." The game must be won by two points, so after a tie play continues until one player leads by two points. In a tennis game, the score of the server is always given first, such as "30-love."

Players play a "set" of games. The winner of the set must win six games, and they must lead by at least two games. If a set is tied at 5-5, at least 7 game wins are required to win the set. Matches are usually the best two out of three or best three out of five sets.

Most tournaments employ officials to referee the games. The chair umpire is the head official, and he may preside over a number of line judges who determine the viability of shots and serves. There may also be a net-cord judge to determine if a ball has touched the net, and a foot-fault judge who watched for bodily infractions of boundaries.

Forehand and backhand are the most common strokes used in tennis. The forehand stroke is achieved by the player pivoting the body so the non-racket arm faces the net, and then swings the racket to meet the ball. The backhand stroke consists of the player bringing the racket forward across the body to meet the ball. The lob is a high soft return which flies over the head of the opponent. The overhead smash can be employed to return a lob. Is it similar to the spike in volleyball. Drop shots are lightly hit spinning returns. A volley is when the player strikes the ball before it bounces, and a half volley is a low return of the ball after it has bounced.

The first professional tennis game was played in 1926. Charles C. Pyle was an American promoter who organized the paid traveling tour. Professional players were barred from these tournaments, but by 1968 most tournaments were open to professional as well as amateur players.

"Grand-slam" tournaments include the Australian Open in Melbourne, theFrench Open in Paris, Wimbledon in London, and the US Open in New York City. Winning all four major grand slam tournaments in one year is the most coveted achievement in tennis.

Scuba diving

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 07:59:00 +0000

Scuba diving is a popular sport worldwide and involves entering a body of water and remaining below the surface. The word "scuba" is an acronym for "Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus." Divers carry an air tank which allows them to breathe while submerged. Scuba diving most commonly takes place in the ocean, but divers can also participate in certain lakes, rivers, and ponds. Snorkeling is a shallower form of dive sport, taking place on the surface or just below.

Depending on the location and type of diving, divers may be able to enter the water from shore, or they may need to dive from a boat. One or more people remain onshore or in the boat as a spotter for the group. They must fly a red flag with a white diagonal strip to alert nearby boats when divers are underwater.

Scuba enthusiasts must become certified through a scuba diving agency. Well-known agencies include PADI, the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), and Scuba Schools International (SSI). Participants must be confident swimmers, in good health, and at least 12 years old. The courses teach use of diving equipment, pressure equalization, efficient swimming underwater, and safe ascension through class work, pool practice, and open water dives.

Unless scuba divers ascend at a steady rate, they risk decompression sickness, also known as the bends. This occurs because the body absorbs nitrogen which forms tiny bubbles in the bloodstream which remain trapped in the body if the diver ascends too quickly. This can cause extreme pain in joints and organs, and can be fatal in severe cases. Decompression sickness can be avoided by gradual ascension and calculation of how long to stay at certain depths. Divers must also wait 12 or 24 hours before flying on a plane due to rapid changes in air pressure.

Golf

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 07:48:00 +0000

Golf is a popular recreational and professional sport worldwide, dominated by tournaments such as the PGA Tour and the Masters. Utilizing a club and ball, the object is to play the ball from the starting point to the hole in as few strokes as possible.

The golf course is usually between 5,000 and 7,000 yards in length, and divided into 18 holes which are 100 to 600 or more yards apart. Each hole features a flat teeing ground, a fairway 30 to 100 yards wide, a green, or putting surface, and a hole 4.25 inches

in diameter marked by a flag. Each hole may also have sand traps, ponds or streams, ditches, and natural features such as trees, rocks, and shrubs; all of which make the course more unpredictable and challenging.

The ball must be played as it lies from the tee to the hole. The player whose ball is furthest away from the hole takes the first turn. "Par" refers to the number of strokes a first-class player should take on a hole in optimum conditions. One stroke higher than par is known as a "bogey," one shot lower than par is a "birdie," two fewer strokes is an "eagle," and three strokes less than par is known as an "albatross" or "double eagle." Amateur golfers may play with a "handicap," which is the average number of strokes above par of a number of previous rounds.

When a golf ball is hit, it acquires "spin," most commonly "backspin," which gives it an upward force enabling it to fly higher and longer than a ball without spin. "Sidespin" is a technique used by accomplished golfers to steer the bal

l around obstacles by causing the ball to curve to the left, a "draw," or to the right, a "fade." If "sidespin" is not successful it may result in a "hook" (sharp angle to the right), or a "slice" (sharp angle to the left).

The golf ball has a minimum diameter of 1.68 inches and a maximum weight of 1.62 ounces. It has a core wound with elastic thread and covered in a dimpled plastic casing. Golf tees are usually made of wood or plastic and resemble a nail with a cup on the head. Different types of golf clubs are used depending on the objective. The three major types of clubs are woods, irons, and putters. Woods are used for distance shots, irons are used for precision shots, and putters are usually used on the green to "putt" the ball into the hole. Golfers typically wear special shoes with soft spikes on the sole, active sportswear, and gloves that help grip the club; usually one on the left hand for a right handed player or the right hand for a left-handed player. Sometimes special golf carts are utilized to provide transport around the course.