What the heck is golf fitness? Part1

So often I’ve come across questions about golf and and fitness-namely “What is golf fitness?” and “What’s the ‘best exercise i can do’ for golf?” In the simplest terms golf fitness is any exercise program that can help you play better AND possibly more golf - in a week, year, even a lifetime. Given that each individual has his or her own strengths and limitations, it follows that what is golf fitness for one person is not necessarily the same for another. Your particular golf fitness should ideally begin with a movement screen, and can be followed with power and strength assessments. Movement is paramount. ALOT of research has gone into establishing a requisite movement screen that establishes norms of what is considered adequate movement quality for golf. As TPI instructors this is by far the most critical part, as it dictates the most fundamental base of the exercise program. Case in point, though strength is often overlooked in golf-it doesn’t much matter, as a golfer, if I can deadlift a house, but cannot rotate through my hips sufficiently. Following the movement screen, we like to perform strength and power tests to see if, and what deficits may be present-as they relate to golf performance. Again, the client’s assessments are compared to established norms BUT as importantly- your own personal measurements will be compared to each other! What I am trying to identify is where are your power and strength deficits-lower body? Upper Body? Rotational? Perhaps your are quite strong-you satisfy the strength training test-BUT are not as powerful -meaning ‘speed’ in this context. Or vice-versa -often i see this with younger athletes who are quite ‘springy’ and explosive, BUT lack fundamental strength. Whatever the situation-it is my job to decipher the trends presented by the movement screen and strength and power assessments, and develop a Golf Fitness program accordingly.

To Illustrate: The glute activation is screen is among the most significant movement assessments and often presents poorly in newer, deconditioned clients. Early on, their programs will often involve simple glute activation (and concurrent core activation-it all works together, another topic for another day!) and will progress from there. Where as maybe my 19 yr old high level athlete aces the movement screen, and he or she can jump through the roof, but demonstrates insufficient strength. His or her golf fitness program may primarily involve what some would consider rather ordinary (albeit intense) strength training - moderately heavy squats, deadlifts etc…The point is, an optimal golf fitness program is rather subjective to the individual. That being said, we as golf fitness professionals tend to see repeatedly similar movement patterns in a high percentage of clients, namely poor glute/core activation and a lack of ability to rotate through the thoracic spine and/or hips. I will discuss in further detail how the body moves and it’s relation to golf performance in the next chat. Until then, stay active and make the healthy choice!