Golf is a $60 billion per year industry. Much of that staggering figure comes from money spent on new "technologically advanced" equipment. Equipment the manufacturers claim will let us hit the ball farther and straighter than ever before. Another large area of spending is golf instruction. Today's golfer has access to a vast number of highly qualified PGA teaching professionals to correct swing faults and give cues on how to make better ball contact. With all this high tech equipment and expert instruction, the average golfer must be playing better and shooting lower scores than ever?right? Wrong! The average handicap has not dropped in over 18 years. Why is this? The reason is great new equipment and great teachers but the same old body.
Let's take a look at what factors control the flight of a golf ball. This may help us better understand why most golfers get less than spectacular results from investments in new equipment and expert instruction.
The golf club directs the golf ball due to the following factors:
? Club Face Alignment
? Swing Path
? Angle of Impact
? Club Head Speed
The flight of the golf ball is primarily controlled by external factors such as clubface alignment, swing path, angle of attack, and club head speed. PGA teaching professionals are highly qualified to provide excellent cues and make corrections in your stance, grip, etc. in order for you to improve your swing and allow you to make better contact with the golf ball. After a lesson with cues you find yourself striking the ball better than ever. You just can't wait to get to the course to show your stuff. A few days later you get to the course and it's the same old ugly swing or wicked slice. Sound familiar? Why it is so difficult for most golfers to consistently reproduce that beautiful swing developed during a golf lesson? The reason is ? The club controls the ball but it is your body that controls the club!
Your body controls the golf club due to the following internal physical factors:
? Postural Stability
? Muscle Balance and Flexibility
? Proprioception*
? Strength and Endurance
? Power
*Proprioception = the bodies awareness of its position in space.
The path of the golf club is controlled primarily by internal physical factors. These internal physical factors include precise coordination of muscle contraction and relaxation (muscle balance and flexibility), postural stability, balance and body awareness (proprioception), muscle strength and endurance. Without adequate training of these internal factors it is nearly impossible to consistently repeat the perfect golf swing and produce optimal power to get the most out of your clubs. Without adequate training of these internal factors it is also extremely difficult to prevent the common overuse injuries affecting many golfers. Statistics show over 50% of all golfers will suffer a golf related injury.
So, instead of spending all that money on the latest and greatest driver you ought to think about upgrading your most important piece of equipment? your body! Arm yourself with a qualified golf fitness professional along with a PGA teaching professional and you will not only play better golf but you'll feel better doing it.
Bill Scibetta, RN, NSCA-CPT
Bill is the founder and President of Precision Fitness ? Personal Training Centers in the Charlotte, NC area and co-author of the book Play Better Longer! ? Peak Performance and Injury Prevention for Golf. Bill is a licensed Registered Nurse as well as a National Strength and Conditioning Association ? Certified Personal Trainer. After spending years practicing in the specialty of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Bill has dedicated his career to helping individuals identify and overcome obstacles that stand in the way of optimal wellness and peak physical performance.
A golf training book needs to be 'user-friendly' and 'plug-and-play'.... Read More
What will it take to get you to perform better... Read More
Even as you read this article, golf fitness exercise programs... Read More
Golf clubs: Reviews and tips is the central message of... Read More
Try Ireland for a golf holiday full of emerald green... Read More
Every golfer knows that having proper equipment is essential. Choosing... Read More
How do you fix it? Well, there's no magic core... Read More
Time and time again we see today's golfers out on... Read More
Fitness for golf is a common term on the television... Read More
Very few people, whether they are golfers or not, realize... Read More
If there's one thing that haunts most golfers more than... Read More
Basically, your approach shot is your shot onto the green.... Read More
Fitness for golf is prevalent at every level. You hear... Read More
There are many types of effective golf swing exercises. Golf... Read More
Play better golf. Isn't that what every golfer thinks about... Read More
How can you lower your scores by simply cleaning your... Read More
The idea of periodization has been around a very long... Read More
Have you been curious why some golfers seem to take... Read More
One of the most common mental errors golfers make when... Read More
If you have any interest in seeing first hand the... Read More
Golf swing instruction starts with an understanding of the different... Read More
Grips are the least expensive yet one of the most... Read More
You can be the greatest golfer alive but if you... Read More
The golf club swing speed is what will determine your... Read More
Improve your golf swing. You have probably tried everything, from... Read More
How can you lower your scores by simply cleaning your... Read More
What's the point of playing sport if you don't want... Read More
Every golfer wants to know the secret golf tip to... Read More
Improve golf swing seems like a thought that is on... Read More
Used golf clubs can be great for those who are... Read More
Could your golf swing use some improvement? You are in... Read More
The oldest golf course in the world...If I asked you... Read More
We learn a lot from just watching and observing the... Read More
A golf driving tip that can make the difference between... Read More
Golf fitness training might sound grueling, sweaty and a lot... Read More
To understand how to buy golf club components, you first... Read More
The game of Golf, although difficult to master, can nevertheless... Read More
Online golf tips are on the increase. This is hardly... Read More
In a sport that hardly has any controversies; few issues... Read More
If there's one thing that haunts most golfers more than... Read More
A poor golf swing release has been one of the... Read More
In the early 50s, long before we were desensitized by... Read More
If you're a stockbroker, the center of the world is... Read More
This is a question that is often asked for the... Read More
Virtually every golfer knows the importance of flexibility for a... Read More
Playing better golf is the lifelong pursuit of every golfer... Read More
The essentials of golf begin with the clubs you choose.... Read More
If you've read some of my articles in the past,... Read More
Are you planning on attending a golf school on your... Read More
No golfer can afford to ignore golf exercise and fitness... Read More
Golf Golf |