The Importance of Golf Fitness
If you look at the top golfers in the world today, you will see a trend that you would not have witnessed 20 years ago; they are athletes. Long gone are the days of out of shape golfers who wouldn’t pass for an athlete in any other prominent sport. Golf was often subject to debate regarding its designation as a sport. The image of players such as John Daly, Laura Davies, and Mark Calcavecchia were coupled with the image of the casual golfer who would ride in a golf cart and consume beer and hot dogs throughout their rounds. In the professional ranks, those images are a thing of the past. Post round time at the locker room bar has been replaced by time in the fitness trailers. Personal trainers are now a staple for each player to travel with. Top instructors are better educated in how the body works and how it can improve their student’s game. Most importantly, people better understand that there is a difference between being in shape and having the body for an effective golf swing.
Recalling the previous example of John Daly, there is an individual who you would not picture being on the cover of a fitness magazine, but he is consistently one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour. The reason for this is his flexibility and strength in the correct areas of the body. Another example is the longevity of Miguel Angel Jimenez, who conjures two images:
A laid back guy who loves cigars, wine, and fast cars is enjoying success well past his prime because his body is designed for golf swing efficiency.
When I speak of this efficiency, I am talking about the ability of the golfer to most effectively move the golf club throughout the swing, maintaining accuracy and gaining speed throughout the process. In order to do that, the golfer must have a swing with all parts firing in the correct sequence. This historically has been the concentration of a golfers work with a Teaching Professional, but now we understand that many golfers cannot perform the desired swing of their professional because of the lack of physical ability. This is why golf specific physical screens and fitness regimens have become so important to the best players in the world.
No matter how physically fit a person is, chances are they have not been completing activities that are using similar muscles to the golf swing. This leads to weakness and inequality throughout the body, which can hinder the golf swing. Frequently, I witness amateur golfers who would be considered “jacked, ripped, etc.” who cannot lift the club more than halfway up their torso. They can bench press 300+ pounds, but cannot lift a 1.5 pound golf club above their heads. There are also plenty of golfers who can run a long distance, but cannot rotate their hips; golfers who are out of shape, but can perform an overhead deep squat with ease; golfers who are out of shape and can’t do anything correctly in the swing. The point to this is that everybody likely has a body with weaknesses or inequalities that will hinder a golf swing. Of the hundreds of touring professionals that have gone through a full evaluation from the Titleist Performance Institute, only THREE have initially passed every screen!
What this means for you is simple: go get screened. You don’t have to completely change your lifestyle to have a more effective golf swing. You don’t have to look like Tiger or Rory to get a better swing. They, along with many other touring professionals, have implemented a rigorous workout as part of their daily routine because of the physical demands of their practice and playing schedules. Having larger muscles that act to absorb shock in these players’ 120 mph swings or extensive daily cardiovascular training will prevent injuries and leave the players with energy at the end of a 72-hole tournament. Chances are this is not a requirement of your golf game. You can benefit extensively from performing specific stretches and strengthening exercises 15 to 30 minutes a day. This will limit injuries, improve your swing, and give you a little more energy at the end of your next round. To find a professional in your area that can perform this evaluation and create an improvement plan, visit the Titleist Performance Institute.