Physical Fitness To Improve Your Golf
Golf is full of magic tools and shiny objects that promise to give you that edge out on the course. Quite often they will initially provide some temporary improvement but old habits creep back in and you end up back where you started. One thing that is often neglected is one’s physical ability to swing the golf club efficiently and powerfully. The golf swing is a highly dynamic and powerful movement which requires plenty of strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination. Without these elements no shiny new driver is going to get you hitting the ball significantly better.
Playing good golf is about consistency and repeatability. Consistency and repeatability come from swinging within your limitations not at them. If you were to improve those physical limitations, then you are improving the potential of your swing.
I have seen countless golfers who report that they are losing distance and are less consistent, particularly as they get older or less active (outside of golf) and they are unsure why. Generally, this is due to a decline in their own physical capabilities and can also lead to niggles, pain and/or injuries (see golf blog part 1 https://www.backinmotion.com.au/rosny-park/news/whatphysiotherapy-can-do-for-you-and-your-golf). While general exercise can be great and shouldn’t be discouraged, knowing exactly what your limitations are and how they may be impacting on your golf swing can help you to fast track your game improvement.
Participating in an individualised exercise routine can have significant benefits out on the course, such as:
• Injury prevention
• Adding distance to your swing
• More consistency of your swing
• Reducing fatigue around the course
Book into a physical golf screening to identify where you might be struggling and then develop a plan to improve those limitations and realise the above benefits. After all who wouldn’t like to hit the ball further and more consistently, with less pain and restriction?
Author: Evan Clayton, Physiotherapist (B. PhEd, B. HSc (Physio))