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Change
Your Body - Change Your Game
The
Steps of an Effective Golf
Fitness Plan
Cold
weather is here and serious
golfers should be thankful.
That's right! Being forced off
the golf course can work in your
favor, especially if you have a
plan to address some key issues
with your body. Sports medicine
research and thousands of
clinical experiences have
provided new information about
the biomechanics of the sport and
the physical attributes required
to play better golf. The research
has confirmed that the key
physical factors in golf are no
different than other sports.
Strength, flexibility, balance,
and posture provide the
structural framework to perform.
What is different is the degree
of specificity required to
perform the golf swing
consistently, and the fact that
even subtle weakness,
inflexibility, or postural
asymmetry can make swing
improvements next to impossible
to attain and keep. A proper golf
specific fitness program can
improve your physical potential
and there is no better time to
work on your body than in the
off-season.
Before
jumping head first into an
exercise routine, answer the
following questions to determine
if golf-specific fitness training
will benefit you: Do the same
swing flaws or inconsistencies
keep reappearing in your game? Do
you really know what your body is
capable of?
If
you or a PGA pro have identified
a swing problem, but you are able
to correct it only briefly it's
not the fault of your pro, it's
the fault of your body! You must
have the physical ability to
perform the proper swing
consistently. Additionally, most
golfers have not unlocked their
body's full golf performance
potential. A golf fitness program
will not only correct problem
areas but also maximize your
body's ability to perform. A
fitness plan should be
structured, goal oriented and
include:
An
assessment by a sports medicine
therapist trained specifically in
golf biomechanics and performance
enhancement for golfers. Get a
good evaluation to determine your
baseline strength, flexibility,
balance, and posture. A set of
honest and measurable performance
goals for the upcoming season
(scoring, greens/fairways in
regulation etc.) including target
dates. An outline of time
(daily/weekly) you could honestly
commit to the training program. A
structured fitness routine
designed to address known
physical issues and improve
performance in consideration of
the goals and time commitment
mentioned above. Periodic
reassessments of your performance
level relative to your goals and
target dates to verify
progress.
Performing
golf-specific exercises that
reinforce ideal swing mechanics
will keep you connected to the
game, and likely open your eyes
to a whole new level of play.
That incredible feeling you had
immediately after your best round
this year is something we are all
after. Addressing your most
important piece of golf
equipment, your body, will help
you achieve your true golf
performance potential.
Brad
Ott is a licensed physical
therapist and co-owner of the
Body Balance for Performance
centers located in Denver and
Loveland. For more information
call toll free: 1-866-FIT GOLF
(1-866-348-4653) or e-mail
COGolfFitness@aol.com Visit our
web site:
www.BodyBalanceGolfFitness.com
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