by Susan Hill
There are many training tools available to help achieve better
balance in your golf swing. The most effective way to improve
balance is by training the core musculature. Any time you put
yourself in an unstable environment through the use of balance
pads,
fitness balls, or various other balance training aids,
you increase your body’s awareness and balance. As golfers
make their way through the exercise continuum they will progress
from simple to more complex exercises.
Fitness balls are an effective training tool for increasing
strength, improving joint and body stability and increasing
joint flexibility. The ball’s round surface allows activation
of the core stabilizer muscles. The unstable surface forces
the body to adapt from moment to moment producing better balance,
coordination between muscles and, ultimately, greater stability.
It can be suitable for people of all ages and activity levels
because there are many progressions for each exercise. It can
effectively and safely work essentially every muscle of the
human body through a full range of motion with or without external
resistance. The body’s core is the foundation for all
movement, so strong arms and legs without proportional core
strength is counterproductive.
The fitness ball is a great way to make even the simplest
exercises more complex, improve coordination and engage smaller
muscles, which are chiefly responsible for balance and stability.
Your chest, abs, back and glutes can achieve more functional,
sport-specific strength with exercises of varying complexity.
Many golfers enjoy home based workout programs which allow
them freedom away from the gym. Fitness balls are relatively
inexpensive, versatile, and produce great results for your
game. You can simply deflate the ball and take on trips so
you don’t miss workouts. Inflating a ball for use is
simple and generally takes less than 5 minutes. Fitness balls
are a natural training tool for most athletic endeavors and,
in particular, golf.
Susan Hill is a CHEK golf biomechanic, sports nutritionist
and fitness trainer. For more information on her golf specific
programs, visit http://www.fitnessforgolf.com
