Sadly, the golf season is over here in the northeast. However, that doesn’t preclude you from improving your game. Gear Patrol offers up three tips for better golf next year that you can implement this offseason. And if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere with year ‘round golf, well whoopee for you you can employ these tactics as well. Continued after the jump.

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Recharge Your Own Batteries

It’s no secret that most men are under a lot of stress. Take your pick: keeping your job, slumping economy, international turmoil or D, All of the Above. Stress can impact your blood pressure, sleeping habits, metabolism, and let’s not forget your general disposition towards life. Take a little sage advice and skip the snake oil treatments and let science and technology lend a helping hand. Q-Link has developed a technology called Sympathetic Resonance Technology (SRT) which promotes the rejuvenation and rebalancing of your body’s biofield.

Q-Link is especially valuable when you are exposed to electromagnetic fields from devices such as mobile phones, computers, fluorescent lighting, or portable electronics - and in stressful, high intensity environments. Any of that sound familiar? As a society we practically live under these influences. No wonder we’re so damn tense.

I took a chance and wore the Q-Link Pendant for 30 days to triple-check the effects before sharing with Gear Patrol readers. We’re nothing if not outrageously thorough here. The results of my test after the jump.

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Two Hands Required

The 2008 Gear Patrol Gear Burger. Joygasm.    Click Image To Enlarge & Savor

What do you get when you mix two hungry Gear Patrol Editors, a classically trained Executive Chef, an empty restaurant and liberal amounts of free time? If you said complete and utter mayhem, then you’d be right.

Just for the record, I knew from the beginning the blowtorch would be a bad idea.

Mission: Set out to construct a better burger achievable by man in his own home.

Result: A masterpiece worthy of the GP seal of approval. Lucky for you we like to share. We’re going to show you how you can construct your own bewildering behemoth, impress your buddies (everyone actually), and dominate grillisto’s the world over.

From the mad minds of Gear Patrol and Executive Chef Richard Parente (of Sentrista Grill), we present the 2008 Gear Burger. Buckle up.

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Clay Conquers My Cowlick

My hair is as unruly and difficult to manage as a pubescent teenager. I’ve tried it all. From waxes to gels to pomades, my hair just does as it damn well pleases. My only option? Overload it with product, creating a sticky, gooey mess. Women won’t run their hands through your hair if they fear they may get stuck. I speak from very unfortunate experience. It was looking more and more like my hair would have the final laugh. That is until I tried Aveda’s Men Pure-formance Grooming Clay.

Light-weight, micro-fibers provide control to create any style while presenting a clean matte finish. Best of all, it looks and feels natural. Hell, it even smells great. Aveda added kunzea, citrus and certified organic essential oils of spearmint, vetiver, and lavender. Don’t ask me what that all means, I haven’t a clue. What I do know is if Aveda’s Men Pure-formance Grooming Clay can wrangle my hair into submission it’ll work for anyone.

Cost: $22

Also See: Gillette Clean Refreshing Shampoo | Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm

Routines Are Good, Change Is Better

Ed: The face one might expect when seeing Patrick at the gym.

I’ll be the first to endorse developing a routine at the gym. Repeating exercises week to week allows your body to adapt and thus become better at them (i.e. stronger, better conditioned).

Personally, I like to have three separate lifting routines that I do each week for one month. My body becomes more comfortable with the motions each successive week, enabling me to up the intensity. By the last week it’s not unusual to lift 40-60% more than when one starts. This approach also has the added benefit of constant improvement, which can be intrinsically rewarding. The same holds true of your cardio routines. Whether you prefer interval training or running 5k, sticking to a routine will aid in faster improvement.

Unfortunately, your body will become too well adapted and therefore won’t have to work as hard as it used to. When this happens you’re bound to see diminished results.

My suggestion: a new routine. Scrap what you’ve done over the past month and get yourself a new plan. This is a great way to work muscles in new ways or target muscles that you’ve previously neglected. If you’re a runner, try spinning or rowing. If you’ve maxed out your bench press, try incorporating circuit training (Eric’s favorite). It doesn’t matter what your goals are, changing up your routine each month will certainly get you there faster. Muscles under duress learn to operate more efficiently. It’s one of the main reasons trying new things is so beneficial. Imagine becoming noticeably stronger or better conditioned with just the muscle you already have.

If you’re stuck on a dreaded plateau or find yourself simply bored at the gym, trying something new will not only offer a fresh start each month, but will also help train your muscles in a variety of ways. Always a plus.

Many heath and fitness magazines/websites provide monthly routines. Don’t be afraid to try something just because you’ve never done it before. It won’t be long before you’ve master it.

Also See: Hydryx Hard-Core Workout Towel | High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) | Door Gym Chin-Up Bar

Are you a Bomber or a Technician?

While putting may be universally accepted as the most important aspect of golf, I believe that driving is the key to enjoying golf. Poor driving puts tremendous pressure on the rest of your game. Yes, missing a short birdie putt makes you sick, but a poor drive precludes even having that chance. Thankfully, technology has gotten pretty good which means longer, straighter drives. Always a good thing. This Fall TaylorMade Golf unveiled their drivers for the 2009 season and here’s my take.

Don’t assume you can only benefit from one or the other. Last year in the same tournament John Daly played the r7 SuperQuad (technician) while Fred Funk played the ’08 version of the Burner (bomber).

My recommendation is to hit them both and let your ball flight speak for itself. An extra 15 yards or a controlled draw comes from practice not what you see at the store. Pick the club that gives you the most confidence when you tee it up. You should buy clubs that play on both your strengths and weakness.

More about the difference between the drivers after the jump.

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