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.