by Susan Hill
If you have turned on the television to watch any golf tournament
over the last couple of years, you obviously already know the strong
role that fitness plays in improving your golf game. When you engage
in a regular fitness routine, you’re preparing your
body
for improved performance by building a lean, strong, fit physique
capable of more control and consistency with your clubs. Being
fit enables your golf skills to shine through, and is generally
reflected in a lower handicap.
Give up your old gym routine.
Change is often difficult to come by, but necessary as times change
and we learn new information. Make sure that the exercises you
are concentrating on now will help you out on the course. Adding
bulk to your frame is being replaced with a more sculpted look
which focuses on athletic performance. New routines include more
emphasis on cable systems, fitness balls, dumbbells, and medicine
balls. When it comes to golf training, it’s time to think
outside the box!
Improve your muscle strength.
You want your muscle strength to be the same on both sides of
your body to create a fluid, powerful swing. You should particularly
focus on back and shoulder strength where strength discrepancies
can come into play.
Focus on core stability.
Your core is your torso – the parts of your body that are
actively involved in your swing. You want to perform exercises
that will strengthen your core or trunk region. This will provide
you with needed stability during your swing.
Focus on balance.
If you have good balance, you will be able to transfer your weight
during your swing maintaining stability throughout the motion.
Good balance also improves your reaction times and movement speed.
Build flexibility.
Range of motion is important to the game of golf because it allows
you to execute an exceptional swing without limitations or restrictions.
Along the lines of balance, make sure that your flexibility is
equal on both sides of your body. Always take a few minutes to
stretch and warm-up before you begin a round of golf, so you begin
in a flexible state.
If you learn one thing about improving your golf game, hopefully
it will be the strong role that physical fitness plays in making
you a better golfer and more solid player. These are some great
areas to begin your road to improvement.
Susan Hill is a CHEK Golf Biomechanic and President of FitnessforGolf.com,
a private, member’s only, online golf fitness website
dedicated to the improvement of golfers worldwide. For more
information on her golf products and services, visit http://www.fitnessforgolf.com.
