Golf Fitness For Women, Where To Begin?

Golf fitness has been a hot topic for several years, not only on the professional golf tours, but also at the collegiate level, at the country clubs, and everywhere in the golf industry. What I’ve seen is that information for women golfers oftentimes doesn’t get the exposure it deserves. Subsequently many have unanswered questions and are not sure where to begin.

Golf fitness can mean anything from stretching before you play, to a supervised and progressive daily program. For others it means it’s the only way to play golf pain free, and of course there are those that think it’s a big waste of time. Whatever your belief, the one thing that can’t be denied is the great benefits of regular exercise!

The benefits of regular exercise are many and backed by much research. We know it can improve your general health and certainly your quality of life. However, it can also give you greater pleasure and a competitive edge whether on the golf course or participating in any recreational activity. Research in the area of golf has repeatedly shown the value of exercise as a factor in improving your golf experiences. Improved posture (my favorite topic) and flexibility are necessary keys to developing a repeatable and effective golf swing. Strength, stability and balance are paramount in producing the power needed for out-driving your friends. So, if you are considering an exercise program to help your golf game (and I recommend you do) here is the first step.

Consult with a fitness professional

Just like taking golf lessons from a PGA teaching professional, there is immense value and benefit from consulting with a fitness professional.

I will discuss the process of selecting a fitness professional in a moment, but I have to emphasize the fact that nothing is more beneficial than physically working with a professional that can watch your every move and assess your physical abilities. Our body, specifically the nervous system, and muscular system are great compensators which results in dysfunctional movement patterns. In other words, our body changes over time, resulting in weakness, tightness and even pain. The result is difficulty moving into certain positions, such as those needed in the golf swing. A trained professional can recognize poor movement patterns, as well as bad postural positions, and therefore initiate corrective exercises that will help your body become more balanced and functional.

When searching for a fitness professional, ideally try to find someone that has several years of experience working with golfers. Also make sure they have adequate training. For example, a licensed athletic trainer (ATC), a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) or a certified personal trainer (CPT), are credentials that make them qualified.

Ask questions regarding their golf experience. Do they play the game? Do they have relationships with teaching professionals? Do they understand the mechanics of the golf swing, as well as swing faults? Also, ask specific questions regarding their approach to fitness. Do they provide a physical assessment? Do they address the different components of fitness? And, are they experienced in dealing with injuries or chronic problems?

You need to be able to trust your fitness professional, have confidence in their abilities and feel comfortable working with them. When you are satisfied with their answers to your questions, make a decision and go for it.

Mark Tolle is a Golf Fitness Specialist in the Chicago area. He specializes in performance enhancement and injury prevention for golfers of all levels. For more information go to www.chicagogolftrainer.com.

Thanks for visiting Ladies on the Tee Golf Blog at www.sherrytabb.com

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Tags: ATC, certified personal trainer, certified strength and conditioning specialist, Chicago Golf Trainer, CPT, CSCS, fitness professional, golf exercise, Golf Fitness for Women, golf swing mechanics, ladies on the tee, licensed athletic trainer, Mark Tolle, sherry tabb