Fit for Play
5 Reasons to Start an Exercise Program
by DAVE POND
WHEN IT COMES TO LOW SCORES AND LONG DRIVES, success starts before you approach the first tee, where your individual physical fitness can go a long way in helping you achieve— or miss— your golf goals.
Most people don’ t think a round of golf is as physically demanding as, say, playing four quarters of a football game. While sports like football do provide the body with different, intense challenges – the golf swing itself is a highly dynamic, ballistic motion, said Ryan Crush, a Level 2 TPI Certified golf fitness professional and owner of Roanoke’ s Crush Training.
“ The importance of a regular golf performance training plan is extremely valuable,” Crush said.“ Confidence comes with knowing you’ ve prepared to the best of your ability— and part of that preparation includes the work you do in preparing your body to play.”
Putting together an off-links fitness program isn’ t hard, and the exercises you include don’ t need to be overly complex. Crush encourages all golfers, regardless of skill level or age, to train holistically, while keeping simple, fundamental movement patterns in mind.
“ A well-executed squat could do more for you, and your golf game, than some crazy Bosu ball exercise you saw on Instagram,” he said.
In this issue, we look at five benefits an exercise program can have on your golf game. Next issue, we’ ll recommend specific exercises to get you started. Here are five ways a golf performance training program will serve you well:
1. INJURY PREVENTION— A properly designed program can minimize the potential for hip, back and shoulder injuries.
2. BALANCE— By including exercises that strengthen and train the muscles opposite those you use as a right- or left-handed golfer, the potential for asymmetrical injuries is reduced. Added bonus— your club-head speed will increase, too!
3. LONGEVITY— The repetitive motion of a golf swing increases the risk of overuse injuries, so a dedication to total body fitness will help you swing into, and through, your golden years.
4. IMPROVED TECHNIQUE— Many golfers have physical limitations that prevent them from swinging as they’ d like to, or how their swing coaches would like them to. Improvements in strength and overall fitness will allow you to improve your technique and ability to get your body in the right position.
5. PERFORMANCE— This is the one that many of us care most about. Simply put, the stronger you are, the more speed you’ ll be able to generate, and the bigger advantage you’ ll have in your foursome.
Making a commitment to fitness builds the foundation for a better golf game.
36 V IRGINIA G OLFER | M ARCH / A PRIL 2017 vsga. org