by Susan Hill
The key to playing par golf is to focus on more than just
golf techniques, and pay attention to your entire body. Fitness
is key to any sport, whether you’re running up and down
a basketball court, throwing the pigskin or playing the links.
Without a
proper fitness routine, your body is not going to
be able to deliver the results you need.
When it comes to golf, there are four basic elements to good
fitness: balance, flexibility, strength and endurance. You
will want to assess how well you currently perform in each
of these categories to determine how you should plan your fitness
routine. If you find that one area poses difficulties for you,
you will want to begin slowly in that area and work up to harder
exercises and stretches. As with any new fitness routine, make
sure your doctor has cleared you to begin.
Balance is essential in golf. Golfers who have exceptional
balance will have more efficient reaction times and movement
speed, because improved balance allows them to execute weight
transfer and hip rotation without jeopardizing a stable address
position.
Flexibility allows your muscles to extend through their full
range of motion when you swing; it is actually the single most
important physical characteristic likely to influence your
golf swing. If your body is tight in any one area, your swing
is going to be hindered and swing alterations begin.
Strength is what provides you with power behind your swing
and distance to your drive. In addition, adding strength to
your “golf muscles” will help prevent injury. In
golf, focus on your “go” muscles and not your “show” muscles.
Finally, endurance is what keeps your game in peak performance
whether you are teeing off on the first hole or sinking a puttl
on the last hole. If you have stamina and endurance, you can
count on a good performance throughout your game and not worry
about fatigue setting in midway through.
All of these areas can be addressed through exercises and
stretches incorporated into a fitness routine. Once your body
can meet the demands of your golf game, you have a basis to
build upon by perfecting techniques and skills. Together, these
tasks will turn you into a par golfer.
Susan Hill is a nationally recognized golf fitness trainer,
CHEK golf biomechanic and sports nutrition specialist. For
more information on golf specific nutrition, exercises or stretches,
visit http://www.fitnessforgolf.com.
