How To Set Up a Golf Fitness Program to Improve Your Golf Game

How To Set Up a Golf Fitness Program to Improve Your Golf Game

Professional golfers on the PGA Tour understand the connection between golf swing mechanics and the body. The most notable players in the world have regimented golf fitness programs they adhere religiously too. The benefits of such programs have been well documented in the media. Press clippings from Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and Phil Mickelson all refer to golf fitness exercises being a component of their regular practice schedule.

The amateur can learn a lot from the pros. They can learn the importance the body has in relation to the golf swing, how golf swing mechanics and the body are intertwined, and improvement in the golf game requires the implementation of a golf fitness program.

Where most amateurs get "off-track" with their golf fitness training is the components and exercises incorporated in such a program. Golf fitness programs are quite different then "general" fitness or "weight training" programs. A golf fitness program is designed to develop the golfer's body around the golf swing. In order for this to occur certain parameters and exercises are required in such a program.

First and foremost the amateur golfer must understand the connection between the golf swing and body. The golf swing is a complex series of biomechanical movements execute by the golfer. In order for the golfer to execute the biomechanics of the golf swing correctly. It is necessary for the golfer to have certain physical parameters well developed.

These physical parameters are flexibility, balance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and muscular power. High levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power are required to execute the golf swing correctly. Often times the amateur golfer is not flexible enough, strong enough, or powerful enough to execute the golf swing correctly.

This results in the golfer developing compensation patterns in their golf swing. The result being poor shots and high scores on the golf course. Bottom line is a physical foundation of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power is required to develop an efficient golf swing. If the amateur golfer is lacking in anyone of these categories the foundation upon which the golf swing is being built will be insufficient.

Once the amateur golfer understands the connection between the golf swing and the body it is necessary to implement a golf fitness program, A golf fitness program is different than "traditional" training programs in such this type of program develops the body around the golf swing.

A golf fitness program trains the body to the positions, movements, and requirements of the golf swing. A golf fitness program is not concern about "beach muscles" or how one looks in the mirror. Rather a golf fitness program has the primary goal of improving the scores on the golf course and play of the golfer.

This type of improvement is a result of using exercise to develop the physical parameters of the body relative to the golf swing. A golf fitness program will include flexibility exercises, balance drills, muscular strength exercise, endurance training modalities, and power drills. Exercises from all of these categories are included in a comprehensive golf fitness program.

Understand the exercises and drills within each of these categories are not necessarily traditional type of exercises. For example, flexibility exercises for golf are less concerned about touching your toes, and more concerned about completing a full shoulder turn. Flexibility exercises for golf are geared towards developing the flexibility within your body to execute the components of the golf swing correctly.

The same can be said about every other category of exercise and drill incorporated in a golf fitness program. The balance drills in a golf fitness program are designed to improve the golfer's balance capacities relative to the golf swing. Power exercises in a golf fitness program are designed to improve clubhead speed. Where as power drills in other programs may be geared towards improving how fast you run.

Once the amateur golfer understands the connection between the golf swing and body, the elements of the body needing development relative to the golf swing, and the components of a golf fitness program. The final component of understanding is golf fitness training order.

Often times the amateur golfer desires more power (i.e. clubhead speed) in their golf swing. As a result they perform only exercises to enhance the power components within their body. What the amateur golfer fails to realize is developing golf strength, endurance, or power is useless if they do not have the flexibility or balance capacities to execute the golf swing. Developing the body for the golf swing requires the amateur golfer to follow a specific order relative to their training programs.

It is necessary for the amateur golfer to first develop their flexibility for the golf swing. Secondly proceed to increasing their balance capacities in relation to the golf swing. Continue the process with developing strength and endurance for the golf swing. Completing the process with power drills to enhance clubhead speed. This guarantees the effort placed within a golf fitness program will enhance the golfer's swing. It becomes a simple process once the golfer is educated on the relationship between the golf swing and the body. The benefits a golf fitness program has upon the golfer's swing, and how to implement golf fitness exercises correctly.

Improve Your Golf - Tips on Correct Swing and Correct Grip Techniques

Improve Your Golf - Tips on Correct Swing and Correct Grip Techniques

If you want to improve your golf, some advice on correct swing and correct grip techniques will certainly help since your golf swing is the most important part of your golf game to perfect. There are many aspects to improving your golf game on which you might want to focus, but your swing is the most important of them.

If we target correct grip techniques first, it is important that you understand the effect of your grip on the direction of the ball. We are assuming here that you are not a beginner, and that you have a basic understanding of the effect of spin on the direction a golf ball will take after the strike, and that you are also aware of the basic components of a good swing.

Adjustments to your grip can be used to correct problems such as the dreaded slice or hook, but by using the correct grip you can also control these faults to use a fade or a draw to drive round obstacles such as trees, or bring your ball into the green on a much better trajectory. In fact that is one of the major ways in which you can improve your golf game.

As an example, by strengthening your grip - that is moving your hands more clockwise round the shaft than your normal grip - you can impart clockwise spin on the ball that will bend it from left to right. Do that inadvertently and you will slice the ball, but if you use that golf grip in a controlled way, and move your stance so that your feet are aiming left of target, then you can spin and bend the ball from left to right into the flag rather than straight at it. You could use that grip to avoid a greenside bunker, or to allow the ball to run to a flag placed in an otherwise awkward position to reach.

Switch your grip the other way - counter-clockwise - and place your feet to right of target, then you can draw the ball into the green from right to left. Another grip technique you can use to improve your golf involves using a lower grip down the shaft on chip shots where you want to use less of a backswing, but it's important with all of these that you also get your feet placed right and use the correct swing technique to go with the shot.

You can also improve your golf by using various training aids to correct swing problems, examples being the swing plane trainer and the weighted club. The swing plane trainer helps you to correct problems with your swing plane: the circle that your club head makes between the upswing and follow through. These should occur in one plane for maximum control, and there are various types of golf training devices to help you achieve that, ranging from the large circular devices you see at driving ranges to lasers attached to your club head.

A very important aspect of your swing is flexibility, and golf flexibility exercises can help considerably in enabling you to improve your golf swing. A correct swing technique is a twisting and rotational movement that is not natural to the human body, and the more flexible your joints and muscles then the more capable you will be of executing this movement correctly and effectively.

You also need strength to hit the ball and follow through at speed, let alone the stamina required for you to play at maximum ability throughout 18 holes. Strength and flexibility exercises to improve your golf fitness cannot be done in a gym, and traditional weight-lifting training is not involved. A weighted club can be used to swing in order to build up those muscles used during the rotational movement needed in a correct swing, and a medicine ball or other weight can be used at arms length to help you twist your body from side to side while sitting in a chair.

There is more to training your golf swing than just playing golf, and many of the exercises that can be used improve your suppleness, flexibility and golf strength can be carried out at home or in the office. Here's an example:

1. Sit upright in a chair with a medicine ball, heavy book or any other weight in your hands.
2. Hold your arms straight out in front of you, and twist as far as you can to the right - hold for five seconds.
3. Twist round to the left as far as you can and hold for five seconds.
4. Carry out ten repetitions.

You can do that in three minutes in your office two or three times a day, and within a week you will see a difference in your game. You will be able to drive faster and add yards onto your length. Add to that some more indoor training, such as going through your swing at normal speed using a weight, such as a barbell or even a heavy iron rod in your hands, and you will build up your rotational muscles.

There are many ways for you to improve your golf and if you work on correct swing and correct grip techniques, and also on your fitness for golf, it won't be long before your length rockets, your scores start to tumble down and your handicap drop with them.