Golf Fitness Equipment to Put Into Your Golf Workout
You are practicing on your game but you want to hit the driver farther and straighter. A good teaching professional could help you but you do not want to spend all of that money. Golf fitness equipment may be the answer for you. Many times the students we teach are not flexible enough to reach the correct golf swing positions. This is where we have to improvise as teachers and players. With this in mind, it is easier to make one lever move the same direction every single time as opposed to two levers.
The golf fitness equipment that you need may be as simple as an exercise mat. With an exercise mat, you will be able to improve your flexibility by doing golf-specific stretching exercises. There are many golf fitness books that spell out a golf flexibility program for you. Whatever you do, before you start a rigorous golf workout or golf stretching program, be sure to consult your physician for approval.
So, what should an ideal golf fitness flexibility program consist of and what types of golf fitness equipment should it include?
Your golf fitness program should have many variations such as a long version for regular training days and a short version for Pre-Round Stretching. A variety of golf fitness equipment will help keep you interested in your workout. A few variations with the large exercise ball should also be included. Using the golf exercise ball during your golf specific workout is extremely important for the golfer as it allows you to work out your core muscles. Your pre-round stretching routine you can do even with a couple of stretches with a couple of golf clubs to do just before tee-off and between holes if necessary.
Your stretching and workout program should be thorough. The program should address your head and neck and go all of the way down to the feet. Why is this? The reason is because the golf swing is a movement of the entire body.
Your program must be symmetrical for your body. This simply means that what you workout or stretch or workout out on one side of your body, you also need to do the same on the other side. This is the true key to maintaining optimal muscle, tendon and joint balance on both sides of your body. This allows for enhanced golf swing power without a large increase in swing effort. In addition and more importantly, you will keep your body equal on both sides.
The program must include several key compound stretches. Compound stretches elongate several joint areas at the same time which will mimic natural movement patterns. This also allows the golfer to be more accurate through enhanced fitness flexibility, body awareness and control.
You should feel good afterward. This type of stretch routine or golf specific workout using golf fitness equipment should make you feel as if your posture is immediately better and you should feel stronger. You should almost feel like you could rip the cover off a ball if you were to hit one right after your golf fitness stretch routine.
Golf fitness equipment for your workout can vary depending on what you are attempting to improve. Many successful golf workout programs use golf fitness equipment such as free weights, weighted practice clubs, resistance cords, medicine balls and an exercise mat.
How To Warm-Up For Your Golf Game In 5 Minutes With Golf Fitness Stretches
It is well known that in every professional sport athletes perform a series of flexibility exercises and drills to prepare them to play a game. The game of golf is no different. Unseen to the general public, many PGA Tour players perform a series of golf flexibility exercises to prepare them to play golf. It is done prior to hitting the driving range or putting green. It is a process of getting the muscles and joints of body ready to swing a golf club. Most every golfer on the planet understands the benefit of a warm-up program to get the body ready to play golf or any sport for that matter. Unfortunately for us the time required to perform a comprehensive golf warm-up program with golf flexibility exercises is not reasonable. Not reasonable because of time restrictions on our busy lives.
For example, we set our tee time for Friday at 1:30. Our plan when we leave the house in the morning is “I will get to course at 1:00, hit a few putts, chip for 10 minutes, head to the range, and be at the first tee with a few minutes to spare”. Unfortunately, our plans sometimes do not play out as we intended.
We get stuck with a client on the phone, a conference call runs long, we get stuck in traffic. Whatever the case may be we are caught rushing to the golf course, getting to the course with 10 minutes to spare, jump out of the car, tying our golf shoes, get to the first tee with 5 minutes to spare, haven’t hit a shot or putted….Do I need to go on?
Probably not.
It is a situation that happens to us all, and I as am guilty of it as you. However as strong as I suggest performing a good warm-up, and putting yourself in the correct frame of mind for the round, life at times just does not allow us to do it.
What are we to do in such situations?
I first off would suggest not utilizing the John Daly “grip and rip it” motto if you get to the first tee without warming-up. I have seen this (myself included) lead to a myriad of problems from the get go.
I can remember a few years ago I took this approach and I think made a triple bogey on the first hole. My drive went left into the rough, second shot to the right, approach shot over the green into the bunker, bunker shot rolled 20 feet past the hole. Need I go on?
Let’s just say I learned my lesson. First and foremost if you are caught in this type of situation lets not panic. Let’s put a plan together to start the round out on the right foot and keep you in a positive frame of mind.
My first suggestion is not to rush and attempt to hit 3 putts, pull out driver take a few hacks, and then tee it up.
Lets take the 5 minutes we have and get the body warmed-up and ready to swing a golf club. How can we do this? Simply by putting together a series of golf stretches to “loosen” you up. Golf flexibility exercises will loosen the muscles and joints of your body. Preparing them to swing a golf club. They are simple to perform and can get your body and mind more ready to play than just a few practice swings with the driver. This will take a couple of minutes to perform, but it will help you get the body ready to swing the golf club.
Once we have got the body “loosened up” lets get the mind in the correct space. I have seen all too often the tempo of a swing is way out of whack when a golfer lacks the time to properly warm-up. Attempt to relax, take a few deep breaths, and get the body to slow down a little. This should definitely help create some better tempo in your swing from the start.
Also, take your time. Once it is your turn to hit, take a little extra time. Take a few extra practice swings, relax, find your tempo, and match your first swing to the tempo of your practice swing. This is a tip I learned from Dean Reinmuth (top 50 Golf Digest teaching pros).
If you are not comfortable over the ball, step away, take a series of practice swings until you find the “right” swing and then perform that same swing over the golf ball. It has done wonders for my game.
I would also suggest continuing to take extra time on every shot until you feel comfortable and have found your swing. This might not occur until the second or third hole, but it is okay. It allows you to relax, make a good swing, and make a good shot.
Finally, when you are rushed I think course management can really help. Think about it for a moment. Why not on the first tee pull out 3-wood instead of driver, even if it is a par five. Hit a nice shot into the fairway, lay-up, and play for par? Again, starting off with par or even bogey is a lot better than a double or triple, both for your scorecard and mental frame of mind.
So if you are rushing to the first tee to get your golf game going let’s review the protocol. First and foremost lets be smart and utilize the time we have at hand. Lets take the 5 minutes we have to warm-up the body for the golf swing. We will do this through the implementation of a series of golf flexibility exercises. These golf exercises will get your muscles and joints ready to swing a golf club. Once the body is ready the next step is taking your time. Take a few extra practice swings with the golf club. This will allow you to find the tempo of your golf swing. Finally lets be smart with our course management skills. Think about what is the best golf shot to make and play within ourselves until our body and mind is ready to go.
Sean Cochran
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters, 2005 PGA, and 2006 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website http://www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.
The Best Golf Fitness Exercises For The Junior Golfer
I receive many questions about the junior golfer and golf fitness programs. The questions are on a number of different topics, but they generally fall into three or four different categories. Typically the questions are; at what should a junior golfer begin utilizing golf fitness exercises, how often should a junior golfer implement golf fitness exercises, and finally what are the best golf fitness exercises for the junior golfer? Typically this last question is the most commonly asked question. This article is intended to provide some answers to the question; what are the best golf fitness exercises for the junior golfer?
First and foremost golf fitness exercises can be of great benefit to the junior golfer provided a few principles are adhered to in the development of such a golf fitness program. We are obviously aware certain exercises are beneficial to the golfer and others are not. Keep in mind regardless if you are a junior, professional, or senior the exercises within your golf fitness program should center upon developing the body around the golf swing.
This single principle indicates certain exercises are of greater benefit to the golfer than others. Generally speaking, the exercises should focus on developing your body to the positions, movements, and physical requirements of the golf swing. This equates to exercises developing the required flexibility, balance, endurance, strength, and power required of the golf swing. For example, we are fully aware the golf swing requires you to make a full shoulder turn. A portion of the ability to make a full shoulder turn is contingent upon the golfer’s flexibility (regardless of if you are a junior golfer or not). If you are lacking flexibility the ability to make a full shoulder turn, the golf swing will be compromised, and compensations may set into your golf swing. That being said, a portion of your golf fitness exercises, specifically your golf flexibility exercises will focus on developing a full and effortless shoulder turn.
The junior golfer is really no different than golfers of a different age when it comes to the basic principles of a golf fitness program. The goal of the golf fitness program is the same, and the physical components of the body to be developed are the same. The goal of the golf fitness program is to develop your body around the golf swing in order to create a more powerful, consistent, and accurate golf swing.
The difference for the junior golfer comes down to what are the best exercises within each of these categories. Typically the junior golfer is not as physically developed as an adult thus changing the exercise prescriptions that are best for them. Meaning, the categories to develop within the body for the golf swing are the same as the adult golfer, but modifications in certain exercises are required to counteract the physical development of the junior golfer.
Typically flexibility exercises for the junior golfer can be the exact same as for any other age golfer. Generally speaking, flexibility training is often much easier for the junior golfer to perform because muscles and connective tissues tend to be more flexible when we are young.
Progressing to balance exercises. Often the junior golfer is not as kinesthetically developed as an adult. Their bodies, control of the limbs, and knowing where the body is in space tends to be less developed at younger ages. For this reason we must modify some of the balance exercises to a lower level of difficulty. For example, a junior golfer may have difficulty performing an advanced airplane rotation found in my golf fitness book. As a result a modification may be required in the exercise. The adjustment could consist of keeping the junior golfer using the basic airplane rotation and adding more repetitions to increase the difficulty.
Another adjustment is usually required for the endurance, strength, and power exercises for the junior golfer. Golf fitness exercises found within these categories of training are geared towards increasing muscular strength, endurance, and power. In order to improve these components of the muscles in anyone (junior golfer included) we must overload the body with a higher workload than it is accustomed too. For example, if you were a bodybuilder and wanted get bigger biceps. You may choose to perform bicep dumbbells curls with a 50 lb. dumbbell. In the beginning this exercise may be very difficult to perform. The reason is the 50 lb. dumbbell is overloading your bicep. Over time the bicep gets stronger and the 50 lb. dumbbell gets easier to lift. This is an example of how to overload the muscles of your body to get stronger.
Many of these exercises to develop increased strength, endurance, and power can require the use of external resistance: In the form of dumbbells, elastic tubing, medicine balls, etc. The mistake with junior golfers is externally loading these exercises too much. For example, using to heavy of dumbbells for a certain exercises. The result is a compromise in form and loss of benefit from the exercise. For this reason, I have found it best for the junior golfer to use their body weight as resistance first. Then slowly progress to adding external resistance in the form of tubing, medicine balls, etc…
This format allows the junior golfer to progress in the development of their bodies for the golf swing properly. It allows them to focus on exercise technique and execution rather than the amount of weight lifted.
To recap, modifications for the junior golfer in terms of their program is required. It is a simple process if they are not overloaded with resistance or difficulty of exercise. The goal for the junior golfer is the same as any other golfer; develop the body around the golf swing. The physical components to be developed by a golf fitness program are again the same; flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power. The difference for the junior golfer lies within the implementation of the exercises within these categories in the golf fitness program.
Sean Cochran
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA
The connection between golf fitness exercises and the short game often times goes unnoticed. It is usually thought golf fitness exercises help us generate more clubhead speed, add more distance to our drives, hit longer iron shots, and play more consistently from the fairway. In this mix of benefits the short game is often lost when discussing golf fitness. Believe it or not golf fitness exercises can benefit your short game in a big way.The idea of golf fitness exercises and their benefit to short game play came into focus during a conversation with PGA Teaching professional Christopher Smith. Christopher is a great instructor; he works with Nike Golf, is rated as a top instructor in the Pacific Northwest, and was recently featured in Golf Digest Magazine. Not to long ago Christopher and I filmed a couple of golf instruction videos together. One of the videos was on the short game.The video we filmed was not your \”typical\” short game video. Where we instructed you to place your feet here, clubface in this position, hands forward of the ball, etc, etc. It was a much better approach in the video and discussed concepts of the short game. Christopher presented ways to think about short game shots, and processes to improve your short game.One area he touched upon was how finite of an athletic action chipping and pitching are in the big picture. For example, the muscular strength in the hands, forearms, and wrists are integral parts of the short game. In addition so are the motor skills of the nerves and muscles coordinating the movements involved in such golf shots.Christopher\’s question to me in the video was in relation to these exact topics. He flat out asked me:\”Sean, are there golf fitness exercises that can help in the short game? I find as an instructor, physical limitations are showing up in some of my student\’s short game. This is limiting their ability to perform chips, pitches, and most shots from 100 yards in. What are your thoughts?\”I told Christopher there are absolutely golf fitness exercises that can benefit any golfer\’s short game. I first discussed the hands, wrists, and forearms. To perform chip shots and pitches the hands, wrists, and forearms come into play. In order to execute such shots consistently and correctly a level of strength is needed within these muscles. If the muscles within these parts of the body are weak and lack endurance, the ability to set the hands where they need to be, and hold the clubface in the correct position can be compromised.I said the easiest way to correct this problem on a physical level is to implement a series of golf fitness exercises for the hands, wrists, and forearms. These exercises will increase the muscular strength and endurance in these body parts. The end result will be an improvement in their short game on a physical level.The second problem area indicated by Christopher with his student\’s short game centered upon the finite motor skills of these shots. These types of shots require a very high level of motor control. Motor control is centered upon the interaction of the brain, nerves, and muscles. It is essentially your brain telling your body what to do, how to do it, and in what order. This is a result of your brain coordinating movements of your muscles through the nervous system. The execution of your brain \”telling your body what to do\” can be either efficient or inefficient.If your brain, nervous system, and muscles are operating efficiently, the execution of finite motor control movements such as short game shots are easy. On the other hand, if your brain telling your nerves, and consequently your muscles what to do is inefficient. The execution of finite motor control movements, again such as short game shots will be more difficult.I told Christopher motor control is the second area in which golf fitness exercises can be of benefit to the short game. The types of golf fitness exercise beneficial to the short game are balance exercises. Balance exercises are a type of golf fitness exercises.These types of golf fitness exercises incorporate your brain, nerves, and muscles. They have many benefits when it comes to the golf swing. Outside the benefit of creating higher levels of muscular strength and endurance, these exercises assist in motor control.Let me explain, we understand motor control is the interaction of your brain, nerves, and muscles. The interaction can either be efficient or inefficient. Efficient motor control is good, especially for finite muscular activities such as short game shots. Golf fitness balance exercises \”challenge\” your nervous and muscular system interaction. Over time as these two systems are \”challenged\” through exercise they become more efficient. Essentially they operate together more efficiently. Resulting in higher levels of motor control and the ability to execute finite motor skills (i.e. short game golf shots).So lets summarize this discussion between Christopher Smith and myself. Golf fitness exercises are often overlooked as a benefit to short game shots. The reality is different than many individuals think. Golf fitness exercises can assist the golfer\’s short game on a physical level. It does this in two ways; golf fitness exercises increase the strength in the muscles involved in short game shots. Secondly, the short game is a finite motor control activity. Golf fitness balance exercises can improve a golfer\’s motor control abilities, allowing them to execute finite activities such as short game shots with greater ease. Bottom line, golf fitness exercises can benefit every aspect of the golf swing and the amateur\’s golf game.Sean Cochran
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website http://www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.
Do you want to transform your body? Do you want to transform your golf game? How do you go about finding the right golf fitness book or golf training book for yourself? Golf fitness books are written to give you ready-made golf fitness programs, exercises, step-by-step instructions and illustrations can quickly transform your body and your golf game. So then the questions become: what are the components of a complete golf fitness book? and what areas should a golf fitness book should cover?
Basically, golf fitness books should cover the following four topics:
1. Golf strength specific exercises
2. Golf flexibility
3. Aerobic conditioning or endurance training for golf
4. Golf nutrition
Keep in mind that all four of these topics should be specifically designed for a golfer and not for a person looking to just improve their physical fitness. The book you choose to improve your golf and fitness should offer multiple plans for different physical levels. In addition, the book should have a golf fitness evaluation in the book to determine your current golf fitness level and ultimately decide on the starting point for your program. Using this type of book, you are sure that the program or exercises you are using are right for you and the program will help your game not hurt it.
The main reason I hear from my students on why they put off beginning a golf training program is that they are not sure where to start and knowing they are in the right golf fitness program for them.
In addition, the golf fitness book should discuss the direct benefits of any exercise to a golf swing. Many people are motivated to use a golf exercise or a golf exercise program once they read and understand how it will benefit their game.
Finally, a golf fitness book should have progressive golf fitness exercises and complete golf fitness programs. You should be able to logically see how these fitness exercises and golf programs to take you to your next level. Many books offer general exercises that are not golf-specific and in turn, have no logical sense of format or progression. This will only leave you frustrated and not knowing where to start and if you do start a program unable to chart any progress.
Of course before beginning any fitness program, it is wise to check with your doctor or physician before you begin. Do not let this discourage you if you are out of shape. This visit would just be to determine a safe starting point for you. Although the starting point could be more remedial than you thought, it will just give you an even greater sense of pride once you accomplish you goals. Where you begin is not good or bad it is what one of my friends says all the time “It is what it is.”
To find a golf fitness book that works for you, the next time you go to a bookstore or get online and do a search for golf fitness books, make sure you thoroughly evaluate the explanation and chapters to reassure you are doing the right thing.
Keep Your Golf Swing In Shape All Year With A Golf Fitness Program
Some PGA Tour players have been playing for a couple of weeks in Hawaii and California. Others like Vijay and Ernie have been playing on the European Tour. Regardless of how many tournaments the pros have played this year, they have been working on their games for more time than most of us realize. Make no mistake about it: in golf - or baseball, football, basketball or any other pro sport - there is no longer an off-season.
So while this may be the first official shot of the season for some, the training process to get ready to make that shot has been quietly going on for months.
The amateur can learn a great deal from the professional golfer. Many parts of the world it is not possible to play golf year around, but there are ways to keep your golf game in shape all year long. Professionals know how to do it and so can you.
Realistically, there is very little time to take a break and do absolutely nothing for professional golfers. While every pro is different, there is a generic blueprint most will follow. After the pro finishes his last golf tournament, they take a little break. A few weeks off to give the body and mind a little rest. Every pro athlete needs that time to just recharge and give the body - both physically as well as mentally - time to recover. The PGA Tour season is one of the longest in sports and even though they may not play every week, it’s very taxing on the body and the time off is essential to ensure positive results when we begin training for the next season.
I would recommend the same recipe for the amateur. Regardless if you are able to play year around or not, take a period of at least 2 weeks to put the golf clubs in the closet. The break away from the game will do wonders. You may even find after you return you are playing better golf and shooting lower scores.
Following the rest time - and like I said, it’s longer for some, shorter for others - its time for the tour player to begin ramping up for the next season by physically improving the parameters of the body for the upcoming year. Just like any other golfer - from the Sunday hacker to the scratch golfer to the club pro - the professional golfer will work on trying to increase flexibility, balance, strength, endurance and power.
The amateur during this time of the year (usually the winter when snow is on the ground) can implement a golf fitness program. A golf fitness program will entail developing the physical capacities of the body around the golf swing. The program will look to develop flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power in relation to the golf swing. This is the first step for the amateur to keeping their golf swing in shape all year long.
The amateur during this time of year can also implement swing drills into their training program. The professional may or may not incorporate swing drills into their program at this time year. But for the amateur I recommend it, why? This is the time of year in addition to developing the body for the golf swing. The amateur can work on swing faults that hindered their scores the previous season.
The swing drills can be simply performing “mirror drills” to work on posture and the phases of the golf swing.
You should start putting drills this time of the year. If you are lucky enough to live in a region you can play golf year around, a couple short sessions at the range every week is a good idea. I would recommend the range sessions be kept short and focused on fixing the “problem” areas in your golf swing. The important point is the off-season is a time the amateur can take advantage of working on both their bodies and their golf swing
Professionally when the PGA Tour season approaches, we begin what is essentially the preseason. This is when the player starts to practice the fundamental mechanics of the sport. If it’s a golfer, he’s on the range working on his swing, if it’s a pitcher, he’s throwing getting ready for spring training. Physically, we’re still training the body, but we tone it down while the player fine tunes his game. But make no mistake about it, even though working on the golf game is 75 percent of the focus of this pre-season training program, we’re still working on the basics of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance and power training.
The pre-season for the amateur marks the time of year when the snow is beginning to melt and the “itch” to play golf comes around. I would suggest the amateur follow a similar program as the professional during this time of year. Start spending more time at the range. Working on all aspects of your golf game. Continue with your golf fitness program, but you may want to back off it a little as a result of the increased practice time. Again, keep in mind the body swings the golf club and we must keep the body in shape to do so.
The pre-season program of increased golf practice and a little less golf fitness continues with the professional golfer until their first tournament. This marks the point when we shift to an in-season golf fitness program. The golf fitness exercises don’t stop, but we back off on the intensity. The program doesn’t change much. We’re still focused on flexibility, balance, strength, endurance and power, but the amount or volume of work is much less to accommodate the physical and mental strain of competition.
Four days of tournament play can take a toll on the body. As a result, we must back off on the amount of golf fitness training. The amateur during the golf season is probably in a little different of a situation. They are probably not playing 4 competitive rounds of golf per week plus practice. At most, they may be playing 2-3 rounds per week with a couple practice sessions. As a result of the lower volumes of golf they can spend a little more amount of time with their golf fitness program.
Essentially, the amateur can pretty much stick to pre-season volume of golf fitness training unless they are playing quite a bit. Just make sure the right balance of golf fitness training is in place in relation to your golf practice and playing. This is necessary so that you do not physically over-tax the body. Bottom line if you are looking to keep your golf game in shape and improving year around, I recommend following what the pros do; take a break at the end of the season, implement a golf fitness program, work on your swing faults during the winter, increase your practice time at the range before the season, and during the season keep a good balance of playing, practicing, and working out.
Sean Cochran
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA
www.shawnclementgolf.com Shawn Clement, Director of the Richmond Hill Golf Learning Centre in Toronto and one of the top 25 CPGA Teachers as rated by Score Golf Magazine, uses our new teaching aid, Scully, to show how the human body is so well equipped to make a golf swing motion; once the motion produces a steady arc, then ball striking is a snap!
It may seem unlikely to you that golf fitness training can help up your golf statistics 100 percent, but it is entirely possible. Like singing, playing the piano or basketball, golf is a skill that can be improved upon. With proper fitness, training, guidance and practice, you can absolutely improve your game.
Many people think of golfing as a leisure time activity outside of professional golf, but for amateur golfers the relevance of whether fitness and golf have any relation to one another seems unimportant. After all, golfing is a popular activity among the retirement crowd, so how fit do you need to be to play golf well if those much older than you can do it? The truth is that a good number of those older folks playing golf may have better golf stats than you because they have fitness behind their golf swings and precision line drives.
It may be that you play golf in your leisure time for fun and relaxation, but does that mean you cannot get the most out of the time you spend golfing? It takes balance, stamina, strength, concentration, and a good understanding about the mechanics of golf to play it very well. The more fit your body is the better your balance, stamina, and strength is. Fitness training can help you achieve better fitness more completely and in less time than exercising to become more fit on your own. Combine the fitness and golf training offered by professional golf fitness trainers and you have a winning combination that can help you up your golf stats by as much as a 100 percent.
Working with a golf fitness trainer you will learn what foods to eat to power your body up for spot on golf swings and impressive yardage out of your drives. You will be learning about and doing exercises that are geared towards increasing the lining up and power of your golf swings and drive yardages. You can also increase your golf stats a 100% by working with a golf fitness trainer.
You may be performing techniques improperly and poor form is hampering your game, and it is next to impossible to always see where you are going wrong unless you videotape yourself. Even then you may need an expert to evaluate your skills and pinpoint trouble areas. A golf fitness trainer can bring to your attention when you are performing a technique wrong and demonstrate how to properly perform various golfing techniques so that your game will improve.
Many of the muscles you use to golf with are muscles that need to be strong, fit, and healthy to power the functions of body organs like the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and central nervous and immune systems in the body as well as to provide the power to maintain balance and aid in motion. Starting to work with a golf fitness trainer now and undergoing a full golf fitness training program will build the strength, fitness, and health of your muscles and your entire body so that you will be enjoying better golf playing, health and living well into your retirement years.
Golf fitness training is even suggested for older or the retired who want to spend more time playing golf. Older golf players can increase their golf skills and also strengthen their bodies balancing muscles to prevent falls. Golf fitness training increases muscle and joint flexibility which we all need regardless of our age so we can move with ease and not sprain and strain muscles and joints.
You can up your golf stats and your stats for living longer and healthier 100% by working with a golf fitness trainer. Schedule a consultation to learn more about golf fitness training and how working with a golf fitness trainer can help you up your stats soon.
Scott White is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist located in Scottsdale, Arizona. In addition to owning one of the top fitness websites he is also the owner of many other companies.
Golf Fitness: the Easiest at Home Golf Fitness Program
How do golf and fitness go together? Why do I need golf fitness training? What difference would a golf fitness program make to my golf game?
I can tell you all about that from what I have seen with my friend and golfing buddy, Dooley Duffer.
Dooley had been away from the game for some years. His career and family took priority over his time and golf, although he loved it, it just would not fit into his schedule. As he advanced in his career he became less physically active. He even moved to a management position so time in the office was nothing like the work he had been doing.
His body began to show his change in lifestyle. Don’t tell him I told you this, but his middle seemed to grow faster than his salary. Bet you know how that story goes, huh?
He had only played very occasionally during that time. So I don’t think he realized how much being out of shape affected his golf swing performance.
Then Dooley changed companies and began to play golf regularly again thanks to his new boss who had recently taken up the game. With his kids grown Dooley now had more time to devote to golf and it only took one round back on the course to re-ignite the passion which had burned so brightly in days gone by.
As he began to play more often his physical limitations became a more and more of an issue. He struggled at times to finish a round; scores would escalate due to inconsistent swings, loss of concentration and general fatigue. He would even huff and puff when walking up hills in spite of always riding a cart. I can remember having to wait for him to catch his breath before he could putt on elevated greens. No chance he could walk when he played.
Then over a few weeks I began to notice improvement in Dooley’s game. Less and less of the struggles I had noticed before and more successful golf shots, better concentration and less fatigue. He even began saying he wanted to play an extra 9 holes!
You see, conditioning is critical to your overall golf performance. And poor physical conditioning will certainly ruin your golf performance. Just ask Dooley about that.
What was Dooley’s secret? Had he hired a golf fitness trainer? Did he use golf fitness videos? What had he done to improve his fitness for golf and his golf handicap?
Turns out he had not done any of those things exactly. He said he found this golf fitness eBook called “Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide” by Mike Pedersen. Seems Mike’s eBook is about how to improve your golf fitness at home in less than 30 days. Mike says that the secret to lower scores and longer drives is all about getting your body to move just a little bit better.
Dooley said he that he took the advice seriously and began to feel results quickly. Then he began to notice he felt better on the course. That was very encouraging to him and he was able to keep at it. He had tried exercising before but soon lost interest but this was different. He could see improvement and he knew why! The Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide had delivered on its promise. Dooley says this is the kind of thing anyone could and should do from home to improve their fitness for golf.
Having watched Dooley now for these past few months make such wonderful progress, I too can recommend “Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide”. (Yes, I am on it now too.)
If you need help with your golf fitness program, if you run short of breath at times or struggle scoring over the last few holes of a round then please look into how Ultimate Golf Fitness could help you see the same kind of improvement Dooley is experiencing.
Wayne Hudler is an avid golfer of over 30 years and golf writer. He writes reviews of golf improvement products sharing his opinion and experience with each. His reviews have been likened to your best golf shot, straight and down the middle.
Golf Fitness Exercises and Golf Fitness Training to Increase Clubhead Speed
Golf fitness exercises and golf fitness training can increase the cluhead speed in your golf swing. The utilization of golf specific exercises in a structured golf fitness training program can benefit your golf game in numerous ways.
The golf swing is undoubtedly one of the most difficult athletic actions to perform in sports today. It requires you to draw the golf club on a specific swing path, in sequential order, and with the correct timing. Any error in path, order, or timing creates compensations in your golf swing leading to frustrations on and off the course.
Compensations in the golf swing are often categorized as “swing faults”, indicating that an error exists in the actual mechanics of the golf swing. The normal approach to correcting “swing faults” is through instruction from a qualified teaching professional and follow up practice. This is the correct approach in the development of the golf swing, but one must also understand the role their body plays in the game of golf.
The amateur often times is unaware the role in which their body plays upon the execution of the golf swing. Essentially it is your body (i.e. bones, muscles, and nerves) executing each and every phase of the golf swing.
In order to execute each phase of the golf swing correctly certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power are required. If a golfer is lacking in any one of these physical parameters required of the golf swing. Compensations will occur within it. Not from the actual biomechanics of the swing, but rather from the body.
For example, if you are lacking the proper levels of flexibility to perform a full shoulder turn. Compensations will occur in the golf swing directly related to this lack of flexibility in the body. Often the amateur fails to realize the compensation is a result of their body and fails to ever “fix” or improve their golf swing as a result.
Bottom line, the golf swing requires certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power to execute correctly. If the amateur desires to improve their golf game some attention must be focused upon developing these parameters within the body.
The development of these physical components for the swing can be achieved through the implementation of golf fitness exercises in a golf fitness program. Such a program will develop the requirements of the body relative to the swing. Allowing you the ability to execute the golf swing correctly. Golf fitness exercises train the body to the positions, movement, and requirements of the golf swing. Over time these types of golf specific exercises will improve your flexibility, balance, strength, and power relative to the requirements of the golf swing. To learn more about golf fitness training and golf exercises go to my website www.seancochran.com where you will find an abundance of information on golf fitness and the golf swing.
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly working with PGA Professionals, most notably Masters and PGA Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean Cochran, his golf fitness programs and golf exercises go to www.seancochran.com
Golf Fitness Stretching and Golf Exercises to Improve Your Golf Swing
Golf fitness stretching and corollary golf exercises are an easy way to improve your golf swing. The utilization of golf exercises within a golf fitness program can enhance many aspects of the golf swing and your golf game.The amateur golfer can improve their ability to execute the golf swing, complete a full shoulder turn, generate more clubhead speed, and hit more accurate shots with improved flexibility. The process an amateur golfer can improve their flexibility is through golf stretches.
Before providing information on what are the best stretches for golfer let us define flexibility. Flexibility refers to range of motion. It is defined as the optimal extensibility of all soft tissues in the body (Michael Clark, Director, National Academy of Sports Medicine). The biomechanics of the swing require the golfer to swing the club on the correct plane. In order for the biomechanics of the swing to be executed correctly every muscle, ligament, and tendon in the body must allow for optimal joint range of motion.
Increased flexibility is the benefit of stretching. These benefits occur through the elongation (i.e. stretching) of soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments). Typically certain muscles in your body are in a shortened position (i.e. “tight”), causing restrictions in the golf swing. Golf stretches (i.e. elongating) these muscles alleviates these muscles alleviates these restrictions allowing for the ranges of motion required of the golf swing to develop.
Because the golf swing requires a large range of motion from multiple joints (ankle, hip, thoracic spine, and shoulder), I suggest performing a series of flexibility exercises for the entire body. Many golfers will find “tightness” in the hamstrings, hips, lower, and upper back causing restrictions in their joint range of motions as well as golf swing. This may require additional golf stretches to assist in the restrictions caused by these muscles.
Guidelines to golf stretches are quite simple. A comprehensive series of stretches for golf should be completed a minimum of four times per week. If an individual desires these exercises can be performed daily. In addition to performing golf stretches multiple times per week each exercise should be take each target muscle passively to the point of “tension” and holding the stretch for 30 seconds. Do not attempt to “bounce” or “push” the stretch for this can result in injury. Pay strict attention to technique with each of your stretches. It also recommended to perform a warm-up prior to your golf stretches to get more out of each exercise. The following are the stretches I often recommend to the amateur player; Rotators, 90/90 Hamstrings, Cats Down, Cats Up, Piriformis, Kneeling Hip Flexor, Openers, Standing Calf, and Standing Quadricep.
Remember how golf fitness stretches and other types of golf exercises can improve many aspects of your golf swing. The placement of golf fitness stretches in a golf training program is one step to improvement in your golf swing. Keep in mind what is required from the body in regards to the golf swing, and that one of these requirements is drawing the club through a long range of motion. If your body lacks the flexibility to perform this requirement of the golf swing, the ability to execute and efficient golf swing will be compromised.
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly working with professional golfers, most notable PGA and Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean Cochran and his golf fitness exercises and training programs go to http://www.seancochran.com
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly working with PGA Professionals, most notably Masters and PGA Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean Cochran, his golf fitness programs and golf exercises go to www.seancochran.com
