After taking my first yoga class in years I was reminded how important flexibility, balance and core strength is for just about everything including the game of golf. It is amazing how easy it is to become sedentary especially during the winter months for those that live in colder climates.
This is NOT Sherry
Then when a warm day comes along you get the urge to hit the links and chase that little round ball around for a few hours. Not surprising that after you get home you are nursing some aches and pains in body areas you long forgot existed.
In today’s world the emphasis on fitness is far-reaching and should be heeded. Look at the top golfers on any tour and you will find those that have rededicated themselves to fitness through overall strength and cardio training, stretching, improving balance and core strengthening (this is the area in the middle of your body that you might be, like me, trying to hide with sweaters, jackets or other loose fitting clothing).
Now I am not suggesting that fitness is only important if you want to be at the top of the LPGA or Duramed FUTURES Tour. The better conditioned your body is and the more flexible you are the easier the game will be in certain ways. For instance, walking up and down hills or getting in and out of the golf cart for that matter takes leg strength. Fatigue can really mess up your golf swing. Flexibility through controlled stretching exercises or yoga can make it easier to take on those flat-bellied limber backs that have intimidated you in the past. Ever try playing golf with a back that was so tight it felt like a rubberband ready to snap?? Not fun is it? Just imagine being able to touch your toes WITHOUT pulling your foot UP to your hand. It is an AMAZING
feeling.
Balance is another key area on which to focus. How can you expect that little round dickens of a golf ball go where YOU want it to go when YOU can’t even swing without almost toppling over.
Now this is what I call BALANCE!
Be like Madonna….’strike a pose’ after you swing by holding your follow through for a few seconds. Trust me at first these few seconds can seem like an eternity when you have the wobbles.
There are easy ways to get started on your path to golf fitness. There are exercises you can do at home without the angst of going to a gym/health club. There is information all over the internet for all types of workouts. There will be golf fitness articles featured here at Ladies on the Tee Golf Blog so make sure you become a regular (i.e subscriber) and don’t miss out on any of the ‘tricks of the trade’. I believe in sharing the wealth…..if my body is screaming at me for neglecting it, I can only hope that yours will as well. You can thank me later!!
If you’d like to share your story or comment on this article please do so below. Thanks for visiting Ladies on the Tee Golf Blog at www.sherrytabb.com.
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Tags: core strength, Duramed FUTURES Tour, game of golf, golf, golf fitness, ladies on the tee golf blog, LPGA, swing balance, yoga
[...] 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! [...]
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Well my pro agrees with you that balance is a key area to focus on since she happened to say that to me today in my lesson. I’ve searched the web and the only exercise I can find is the ‘single leg hold’. Can you recommend any others?
Joanne,
The exercise I have found most beneficial for my balance is to stand on a foam log roll (pictured in ““Your Body Faults are Your Swing Faults ©” con’t…Stretches”). I start trying to maintain my balance in a golf posture for 2 minutes without falling off the roll (always wear shoes while doing this). Once I get comfortable with that then I introduce the swing with an iron(golf club not appliance
) in my hand (I use 3 iron but anyone will do). the goal is to be able to take a full swing while on the roll and not falling off.
It takes some practice but the results are worth it. If you belong to a health club they should have some sort of balance equipment available for your use.
Good luck!