Buy a New Club, Take Another Lesson…
or Exercise?
Robert Mottram, PT, ATC
Unknowing
to most, one’s golf swing execution is not based on what type of golf club,
ball or golf school one attends. Although the time and monies you spend
with those items are an intricate part of the game, it’s your ability to
perform the required movements of the swing that is the most important part of
the sport. Golfers will buy the latest "straight hitting" equipment,
join the nicest country clubs and pay for multiple instruction lessons and
materials thinking that is all they need to play. They assume they are
physically capable to swing correctly. Then, to their dismay, are frustrated
with their poor performance or lack of improvement. Whether you have a $400
golf club or $400 an hour golf instructor, you still need to have the physical
capabilities to swing the club correctly.
While
there are many ways to swing a club, there are similarities that every swing
possesses. It’s these basic fundamentals that are important in order to
establish a sound, dependable and safe golf swing. The physical qualities of
the joint, muscular and nervous systems will in large part determine your
ability to swing a club. Therefore, proper physical training, not just
concentrating harder or beating balls, will help develop the necessary physical
tools you’ll need.
"But golf is just a game, it’s not really a sport," you
say? In fact golf is not just a game, it’s a precise physical activity. The
physical requirements on the body to play golf are equal to any sport you will
ever play, probably more than most. The golf swing is considered an exact high
velocity motor skill movement, requiring an careful integration of strength,
flexibility, endurance and power, which results in the proper neuromuscular
control to achieve the best results. In less than 2 seconds one will move their
body from a complete stop to as high as 1000 degrees per second shoulder speed
and over a 200-degree range of motion.
"Well I’ll just practice and play to get in golf shape." You
must realize that golf itself doesn’t build fitness…in fact golf alone doesn’t
even maintain a good level of fitness. There isn’t enough time or physical
training stimulus to the body to result in a fitness training effect. The time
factor is so short that it’s almost impossible to increase muscle efficiency or
activation from just the golf swing itself. Because the speed of the swing is
so fast, about a second, it’s difficult to feel which muscles are activating or
firing. Any weak link in the chain of high-energy activity of the golf swing
will affect the outcome of the swing
Discovering
and understanding your own physical limitations and strengths is paramount when
attempting to learn and play this sport of a lifetime. For it is difficult to
develop a plan of movement for what you can’t quantify, understand or feel
clearly. In many cases, the inability to consistently perform a specific
movement in golf is caused by the inability of the neuro-muscular (brain to
body) system to perform that maneuver. Unfortunately, many people fail to
establish the proper physical requirements to allow them the opportunity to
execute a sound golf swing. This may also lead to physical injury and mental
disappointment.
"So what should I do?" Start by getting a Golf
Physical Ability Assessment. This comprehensive golf physical and
instruction program will help you identify what areas of your golf physical
abilities you need to improve, and give you a specific program that will
improve your capacity for a better golfing performance. Learn what corrective
exercises and golf performance exercises are best for you. Old injuries, or
surgeries, pain or physical limitations will all affect your swing and golfing
enjoyment.
What your training program will
do for YOU.
- Heightened awareness of
the proper physical motion required for the golf swing
- Greater balance and
stability from the driver to the putter.
- Increased length and speed
of your swing
- More productive training
and practice sessions
- Sustained improvement in
shot making
- Quicker return to peak
form after a layoff
- Lessen the chance of
injury
- Increased self-confidence
- Greater enjoyment of the
game
Click Here for more Golf Fitness Articles
Rob Mottram, a registered physical therapist
and certified athletic trainer, worked for 11 years as a rehab and fitness
specialist for the PGA TOUR, Senior PGA TOUR and the LPGA (1987-89). He
traveled with the TOUR players and the original
Recognized as a specialist in designing golf exercise programs for golf,
at the professional and amateur level, Rob is also educated in biomechanical
computer and electromagnetic motion analysis of the golf swing. He is a
certified (Paul) CHEK Golf Biomechanic and a Certified Golf Fitness
Instructor (CGFI) from Advantage Golf, specializing in biomechanical analysis
and performance training for golf.
For More Info, check out the Golf Health and Performance Center website at www.golfpt.com
The articles at GolfFitnessProducts.net are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for direct examination and exercise prescription by the appropriate health professional. It is strongly recommended that you do not perform any exercise program without the consent of your personal physician.
