Golf Fitness

Fit to a tee! Get in Shape to play your best Golf ever!

Let’s face it, golf is a game where developing certain components of fitness will make a world of difference when it comes to how well you play and even more important in helping you avoid injury. During the golf swing, a tremendous amount of stress is placed on muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints. The golf swing can be a very challenging movement if optimal strength and flexibility are not present. A great swing involves not only strength and flexibility, but core stability, balance, coordination and muscular endurance.

The problem with many golf training programs, is that they incorporate regular gym exercises such as the seated chest press, dumbell bicep curl or the leg press. These exercises may be great for bodybuilders, but have little to no carryover when it comes to your golf game! After all, you are not interested in getting up on stage to flex some muscle, but in a better, more powerful golf swing. If this is your goal, then your fitness program has to address things like optimal muscle balance around the joints, core stability, power, rotational strength and flexibility. An effective Golf Fit program will be specific to those movements and muscles utilized in golf and will have a great carryover to your game. A program which incorporates dynamic strength and flexibility will maximize your body’s ability to produce awesome power where it counts…when you hit the ball!

The very first component that needs to be addressed is flexibility. If your torso, shoulder and neck rotation are restricted in any way, you will not be able to generate much torque when you swing. Golfers will often compensate by using faulty movement patterns in an effort to try to get around these restrictions. The result is often back, neck or shoulder pain. This is why you need to identify where you have less than optimal flexibility and start working on restoring flexibility in those areas.

Next you need to work on core strength and stability. A strong, stable core provides you with a good base to work from and prevents injury to the spine and pelvis. The focus should be on developing the deep stabilizers of the spine, pelvis and shoulder girdle. In addition, rotational strength and power are critical to a good consistent, golf swing. In fact, along with good flexibility, this is the only way to improve your backswing!

You may opt to work one on one with a personal trainer or pilates instructor who can identify your specific muscle imbalances. They can design a program that will address these imbalances as well as strengthen any underlying weaknesses. Another option is attending a group class where the focus is on golf specific stretches and strengthening. Whatever you decide, now is the time to start on your program, so that when the golf courses open you will be truly fit to a tee!

Debbie Ross is the owner of Ross Pilates and Conditioning.  She is a STOTT certified Pilates instructor specializing in Therapeutic Pilates and Post Rehabilitative Exercise. Debbie is a certified Medical Exercise specialist, an A.C.E. certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness instructor.

 

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• Private, Semi-Private Pilates
• Therapeutic Pilates
• Personal Training/C.H.E.K.
• Program Design
• Group Classes
• C.H.E.K. Nutrition & Lifestyle
• Metabolic Typing
• Golf Conditioning
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