6 Keys to Golf Fitness Prowess

[Maxine Donnell]

As you have probably heard and read many times since, serious golfers
everywhere are now understanding the importance of taking the time to
invest in their body to conditioning their ultimate swing machine and
improve their golf performance. In fact, if you are serious about
improving your golf game and you're not doing any physical
conditioning off the golf course, you are in the minority and are
probably reaching half of your potential.
Golfers of all levels are reaping the rewards of golf specific
fitness. Weekend golfers, juniors, amateurs, men women, boys and
girls. My oldest golf fitness client has been Sixty Eight, the
youngest six! So as you can see, age is no barrier, nor is it an
excuse not to be including regular exercise into your daily life. The
benefit of also enhancing your golf performance is certainly a bonus.
Golf fitness is far from what most people think it is. Golf fitness
usually does not involve lifting heavy. It does however involve
intricate conditioning exercises and drill to enhance all the
components of fitness which in turn improve golf performance. We are
ultimately training not only the muscle, but also the central nervous
system. Improve strength, power, mobility and flexibility throughout
the joints required for efficient golf mechanics.
Efficiency is the key, and this is where the science begins.
Conditioning is a science, so too is 'movement'. The golf swing is a
very dynamic and complicated movement which takes considerable time to
perfect, if ever. Strength and stability in some areas, mobility and
flexibility in others, and movement across multiple planes ensure that
golf is likened to other sports such as baseball and even Muay Thai.
The ability to generate maximum power at impact, train the muscles to
contract in the most efficient order to enhance consistency,
effortlessness. Improving movement also ensure golfers remain injury
free, and can create larger forces without placing added stress on
joints such as the lower back, shoulders and wrists - all very common
injuries with golfers.
So where do you start if you've never exercised before? If you really
want to be a successful golfer, you must follow these 6 principles
which are
6 Keys to Improved Golf Fitness Prowess
1. Increase dynamic flexibility. While performing typical stretching
exercises can improve static flexibility - that is, when the muscle
remains a certain unchanged length. The golf swing requires a much
more extreme range of motion and therefore requires dynamic
flexibility beyond the static range. This means you need an
individualized exercise program to increase dynamic flexibility in the
joint that require a larger range of movement. Particularly the
shoulder joint.
2. Build total body strength, The body will only function at a level
as strong as its weakest link. If one area of your body is weak, then
your performance on the golf course will be limited. These weaknesses
will result in poor swing mechanics and common swing faults. A weak
left hip or glute muscle will lead to a 'slide', reducing the body's
ability to create maximum power and club head speed at impact.
Resulting in less distance and overcompensation to other weaker
muscles and joints.
3. Develop core strength. Most people think the core is your abs and
lower back however your core actually covers all muscles from your
chest, torso down to your knees. Your core is where you maintain
stability and develop strength and power in your swing. A few
abdominal crunches just won't strengthen your core. Core muscles must
be strengthened while standing up, which is 'functional' and more
specific to playing golf.
4. Maximise power. Power equals speed times strength. your ability to
demonstrate your strength faster. That means increasing club head
speed which ultimately leads to longer drives. A faster club head
speed means longer drives. Correct muscle sequence, on through
difference planes of movement on a strong foundation and stance will
help increase your ability to swing the club faster and develop
maximum power. Your fitness program must therefore include strength,
speed and power exercises.
5. Hit more quality balls at the range. I understand that most golfers
just enjoy hitting golf balls so they hit tray after tray of balls in
every practice session. Focus on hitting quality practise shots, rest
between shots to ensure adequate recovery and minimise fatigue.
Fatigue leads to poor swing mechanics, swing faults and a higher risk
of injury. Many golf injuries occur at the driving range more than the
course. Something I tell all my golf fitness students is 'practice
doesn't make perfect, Perfect practise makes perfect. Aim for quality
of movement, set objectives for your session, warm up properly
(dynamically) and make improve your golf.
6. Hire a qualified golf fitness professional. A 'golf fitness'
professional can identify your strengths and weakness which are
affecting your golf game. They can then identify your specific needs
and design an effective golf conditioning program which will save you
the time, money and give you more bang for your buck with your golf
game.
What should you expect from your golf-conditioning program?
1. You become more teachable. Often, a teaching pro can give you
advice or a swing fault correction to compensate for a physical
limitation such as a lack of flexibility or poor core strength. This
is also a great way to get injured. You will also be able to get into
those positions that your teaching pro needs you to be in, you are
more aware of your body and follow your pro's advice and instructions
with quality and ease.
2. More consistency Proper golf conditioning program will improve
consistency by optimizing your flexibility, strength, and power to
reproduce your ideal swing consistently. Remember we are conditioning
your nervous system, your control centre so you can perform your
optimal swing repeatedly, time and time again.
3. Longer Drives. Increasing your strength and power increases your
club head speed and stability. Simply put, the harder you hit the
ball, the further it goes - simple physics. Some of my clients have
increased their drives by 60 yards over 3 months, and an increase of
20 yards in as little as a week is quite the norm at our performance
studio.
4. More energy When I ask my clients how they feel after the 9th, or
even how my professionals play on day 2 or 3, the answer is always the
same. I played badly, ran out of gas, couldn't concentrate and
couldn't maintain my form! Correct and effective golf conditioning
programs will increase your energy levels, allowing you to play your
eighteenth hole as well as your first.

Drop 7-10 Strokes From Your Next Round of Golf Instantly : http://breakg80.key.to/