The Gate April 2017 | Page 12

Great Athletes Make Great Golfers – The Importance of Functional Fitness By Karen Harrison, BGGA Director of Health and Athletic Development Golf is now considered a power sport. The professional game is a highly competitive arena, with high club head speed and long drives off the tee, deemed critical to producing low scores. To maximize their performance, promote longevity in the game and even reduce injury risk, elite golfers look to increase flexibility, strength and power through functional training programs. Functional movement training, as compared to traditional strength training, can be defined as movements based on real-world situational biomechanics. That is, human movements that in some way replicate those found in the sport being played. While traditional training usually involves isolating an individual muscle and overloading it, functional training tends to involve multi-planar, multi-joint, multi-directional movements. Exercises that not only replicate the coordinated movement patterns found in the sport being performed, but reflect the range of motion utilized, as well as the type and speed of muscle contractions. Some of the greatest improvements in performance have been shown to come from training a muscle in the same way it is contracted during the sports action. While research in this area is not conclusive, the value of either resistance programs or combined programs that include endurance, flexibility and balance and plyometric (power) training on swing performance variables including club head speed, shot accuracy and distance off the tee has been clearly demonstrated. Ideally, a functional training program is tailored to the individual, periodized to fit in with your golf practice and tournament schedule and has outcome goals firmly established. Good communication between the trainer and golf coach is also immensely important. Respecting and understanding the link between the “technical” and the “physical” is key to accelerated technical progress. Functional training is much more than just exercise selection. Sports performance and aspects of physical training can place high demands or stress on an individual’s body. Thus, it is important to consult the experts in the field of exercise science and/or strength and conditioning to navigate this process safely and effectively with performance enhancement in mind.