Until recently being physically fit was of little concern to most golfers, but the tides of changes have recently taken hold of the golf world and only the strong will survive this tidal wave. Many of today’s golfers are not only working with instructors but they also seek out assistance from strength and conditioning coaches or personal trainers to help them improve their physical skills, in hopes of being able to blast that little white ball a few more yards down the fairway.
I recently took a look at some of the more popular golf related websites and found little relevant information about how or what to do to physically prepare yourself for the game of golf. So I as sport performance strength and conditioning coach, I took it upon myself to take a look at the physical abilities required to perform a successful golf shot. I did a little research by looking at frame by frame analysis of several of pros; and I walked away with five key traits that every golfer must have in order to be proficient and powerful.
Here they are:
1.Trunk Flexibility - this allows the golfer rotate maximally during the back swing, while keeping the hips/pelvis “quiet” during the back swing.
2.Trunk Strength – this allows for the production of large amounts of power as long as you swing mechanics are on queue. Keep in mind that it is necessary to build adequate amounts of flexibility before moving on to building strength
3.Hip Strength - this type of strength allows the golfer to make a successful transition from lateral movement to powerful rotation of the pelvis at the point of impact.
4.Spinal Stability - this allow for golfer to have a consistent set up for his golf shot as well as prevent possible back injury due to fatigue.
5.Wrist Strength/Endurance – this will allow the golfer to establish and maintain a successful wrist set.
If you consistently work on these 5 areas in conjunction with enhancing you golf skills; not only will you have a pain free and more powerful golf game. You will be on the right path to shooting lower scores. Enjoy!
NOTE: Before beginning any exercise or dietary program, consult with your physician to ensure that you are in proper health and that this or any exercise or dietary program will not put you at risk.
5 Myths About Sports Conditioning That Are Holding You Back: Get the Answers From An Expert
In life we are surrounded by numerous myths and half-truths, the Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, UFOs in Roswell, and Crop Circles just to name a few. No one quite knows if any of these things really exists or if they are just stories told by people for purposes only they know. Sports conditioning has much in common with these mythological occurrences.
Facts and Fallacies of Strength Training for Golf
Various aspects of golf training have expanded rapidly, but one area of development that has caught on somewhat slowly is golf-specific strength training. Not until very recently has this specific need been addressed. As with many things, it started at the top with pros like Tiger Woods and David Duval and began to trickle down to the masses over time. Unfortunately, many golfers still live under the old assumption that strength training is detrimental. The truth is that the days of simply practicing and playing to make yourself a stronger and better golfer are from a bygone era. I am not trying to diminish the fact that ultimately golf skills are the most important aspect of golf, but improving your swing performance will only get you so far. If you want to develop into the best player you can be, you better get with the program—a strength training program, that is.
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