GOLF SUCCESS THROUGH FITNESS:
BY TROY ANDREWS, PT, GOLF FITNESS SPECIALIST

No matter what your age, being physically fit is a good thing. In sports, physical fitness translates into better performance, fewer injuries, and longer playing time. In golf, being physically fit can mean longer drives, lower scores, and a sport that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. Another benefit of fitness in golf is an increased ability to learn and adapt your game, giving you an edge out on the golf course. A Golf Fitness Specialist can be your key to fitness and success in golf.

A Golf Fitness Specialist is a health care professional who is specifically trained to identify your unique physical fitness needs, determine how your golf swing is affected by your body mechanics, and develop the golf fitness program that is safe and effective for you. A golf swing screen is performed to identify possible physical limitations that affect golf swing mechanics. Then, a physical assessment of the entire body and medical history are performed to provide in-depth information that is used to design your golf fitness program. The golf fitness program is based on the components of physical fitness and the mechanics of the golf swing, which can be designed for either home or the gym.

Physical fitness can be described as consisting of 5 major components:
Strength
Joint range of motion
Muscular flexibility
Stamina (aerobic conditioning)
Neuromuscular coordination

A complete golf fitness program should include all 5 components. In most programs, the first three components are addressed fairly well. Stamina/aerobic conditioning and neuromuscular coordination are usually neglected. You don’t’ have to run or jog to develop stamina. But stamina comes in handy around the 15th hole on a hot day or during the final round of a tournament. Walking, stationary bikes, or elliptical machines are some of the ways for you to develop stamina.

Neuromuscular coordination is a little more complex. It involves developing the correct timing of your body movements using strength, joint range of motion, and flexibility to perform the golf swing. Over-development of muscles or improper training techniques can disrupt your timing and result in a poor swing. So all of your hard work could actually hurt your game or even worse, hurt you.

Other factors that cause faulty golf swing mechanics and affect how your fitness program is developed are poor posture, past injuries, gender-related variables, and age-related issues from youth to seniors. Once again, a Golf Fitness Specialist is trained to address these factors and incorporate them into your golf fitness program. A Golf Fitness Specialist can also team up with your golf pro to maximize your results.

You don’t need a problem with your golf game or your body to benefit from a golf fitness program. Get physically fit and enjoy golf more!

For further information on golf fitness and golf performance programs, you can contact Troy Andrews, PT, Golf Fitness Specialist, at the Sports Performance Center at Mary Lou Corcoran Physical & Aquatic Therapy, conveniently located in Fayetteville Towne Center.

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