Is Your Body Affecting Your Golf Game?

Written by: Mat Ross

Most of us golfers are constantly working to find and perfect the edge in our game.  In order to do so, we often decide a new driver or different ball must be the answer, or maybe our issues will disappear after we purchase an expensive new set of irons.  Unfortunately, this is probably not the answer.  With golf evolving more and more every year, buying into the latest trends and high-tech equipment, hoping for the “performance-enhancing” promises can often be disappointing.

Rather than focusing on the equipment, maybe it is time enhance your golf performance by investing in your body.  You can change the mechanics of your game by focusing on your fitness level.  You can have the best equipment on the market, but if your body still swings those new clubs the same way, you will simply get the same results.   Whether you are looking to increase your accuracy or hit booming drives off the tee, the power behind that club needs to be just as pristine as those irons.  Take some time to work on your fitness health and your golf game will definitely benefit from it.  Say “goodbye” to the shankapotomus!

Being fit and healthy is one of the major factors that differentiate good golfers from great golfers.  Many golfers do not realize how much physical restriction or weakness in the body can affect their golf swing and ultimately their golf game.

For example, tightness in the lower body: hamstrings, gluteus, and hips may cause a swing fault called early extension. This is any forward movement (thrust) of the lower body towards the golf ball during the downswing.  This swing fault causes the arms and club to get stuck behind your body during the downswing, and it forces the torso to rise up and elevate through the hitting zone.  The downswing causes two typical miss hits: the block to the right and a hook to the left, and as most players know, having two misses can be disastrous to your score.

Loss of Posture is another swing fault; this may be due to tightness in the shoulders, thoracic & lumbar spine, and hip flexors along with weakness in the core muscles. This fault comes when there is any significant change from your body’s original setup during the golf swing.  This loss of posture can affect all aspects of the golf swing including timing, balance and rhythm.  Losing your spine angle or altering your posture during your swing usually causes two typical miss hits, the block to the right and a hook to the left.

These examples are just two ways an unconditioned or imbalanced body can affect swing pattern and ball flight.  If not addressed, these weaknesses will cause more than just pain on the course; they will cause pain to the body.  However, with a good golf fitness program and some personal training assistance, you can correct swing faults and become a better player. 

As a Titleist Certified Golf Fitness Trainer and the newest member of our Healthfit 4 Life Fitness Training Program, my mission is to help our clients target their golf fitness needs.   Improving your overall fitness level will help you gain more accuracy off the tee, become a better ball striker, and gain more distance.

To kickoff this unique training program, through the month of March 2011, we will be offering a free Golf Fitness Evaluation. During this evaluation, I will be able to assess limitations in your body, which will allow us to then design an individualized golf fitness program.

Please contact us here if you are interested in hearing more about this special offer.