Phitness 4 Phunction

Why Condition for Golf?

Every golfer wants to play better golf. The most commom method used to acheive this goal is a combination of professional lessons and more diligent practice. Although this approach seems logical, it is the very reason many golfers end up injured and rarely reach their potential.

WHY?

Simply because few golfers associate the need for improved physical conditioning with their quest for improved performance.

Golf is a highly athletic event! The level of exertion and muscle activation equates golf with sports such as football, hockey and martial arts. Amatuer golfers acheive approximately 90% of their peak muscle activity when driving the golf ball. This is the same lifting intensity as picking up a weight that can only be lifted four times before total fatigue. Yet golfers fail to consider that they strike the ball an average of 30 to 40 times in a game with comparable intensity!

Working on better physical conditioning is essential. Most books and prsonal trainers who do not specialize i n specific golf conditioning are based on the body building principle, where the primary goal is muscle growth. Unlike golf, bodybuilding does not include a functional componant; Success in bodybuilding is not dependant upon precision timing, control, accuracy or skill. When golfers use exercise programs based on muscle growth and body building principles, sedation of the nervous system's ability to organize and syncronize complex multi-joint movements in inevitable. The result is the complete opposite of what golfers need to improve function.

It's not  just  practice and good clubs that will improve your golf game!

Technology has not lowered golf scores either!

• The U.S. Masters Championship was won in 1939 with a winning score of 279.
• In 1994, fifty-five years later, the U.S. Masters Champinship was won with the same score of 279
• The 1958 U.S. PGA Champinship was won with a score of 276.
• The same tournament thirty-four years later in 1992, was won with a similar score of 278.
• The Scottish Professional Championship was won with a score of 278.
• The winning score thirty-four years later- 281

There is no difference with amateur golfers either. According to author Dr. Bob Rotella:

Fifteen years ago the average American male golfer's handicap was 16.2. The average female golfer's handicap was 29.

TODAY, the average American male golfer's handicap is 16.2 and the average female golfer's handicap is 29!!

Dr. Bob Rotell, The Golf of your Dreams

Any good golf professional will agree that golf is a game of action and reaction and they would also point out that the flight and destination of the ball is dependant on five factors:

1. Clubface Alignment
2. Swing Path
3. Angle of Attack / Impact
4. Speed
5. Sweet Spot

Any effective exercise program that is designed to improve the function in an athlete, specifically golfers, must be designed to intergrate the whole body. Doing this requires 5 key componants:

1. Flexibility
2. Maintenance of Center of Gravity
3. Generalized Motor Program Development
4. Selection of Open vs. Closed Chain Exercises
5. Promotion of Good Posture

Working with a Golf Pro may address these and many more issues:

• Poor posture at address
• Loss of grip during swing
• Misalignment of clubgace at address
• Misalignment of body at address
• Stance to wide
• Tension at address
• Clubhead moves inside to quickly
• etc...

But what are the fixes to this? Stand differently, grip tighter, close your stance, loosen your grip, etc...

NO...I will not address these and countless other issues with out a quick fix, I will get to the root of the problem.

By following a carefully designed exerciseprogram which conditions the golfer specifically for the game of golf, he risk of injury may be reduced. Additionally, a golfer already suffering from an injury will have much greater success returning to the game if his program address the underlying cause of the injury.

Call me to set up an appointment: Maria: 516-458-3809