Archive for the Golf Fitness Category
Common Golf Injuries
8. June 2009 by Tee It Up Pro Shop.
All sports tend to have injuries that go hand in hand with the sport; the problem becomes learning what is typical to occur and learning exactly how you can avoid the injuries in order to really ensure that you are as healthy and safe as possible out on the green. One of the best things you can do for your body is of course make sure that you are in good physical condition before you play golf, but this is not always possible as you can imagine. However if you take the time to ensure that you are in good physical shape you will greatly reduce the number of injuries that you are prone to have.
As you can imagine, with all of the walking and swinging that you do with clubs on the green back injuries are quite common. However, aside from using muscle rubs, and ice packs or back braces simply taking the time to do proper conditioning of your back muscles can help to avoid these problems. It is also important to ensure that you get the rest that you need following a game of golf to ensure that your back has the time to rest between activities that it needs. If you play continuous games back to back, you may want to consider an occasional massage or even a chiropractic alignment.
Another common injury is tennis elbow, or more commonly called in golf – golfer’s elbow. This typically results most often in players who are playing a lot suddenly. However, there are a few minor differences between tennis and golfer’s elbow. The primary difference is that tennis elbow impacts the outside of the upper arm, while golfer’s elbow impacts the inner arm. While there is no specific way to avoid these injuries they are most often caused by suddenly playing a lot. For example, if you typically play a single game a month then suddenly entered into a very long tournament you could potentially be at risk for developing either tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow.
As can be expected shoulder injuries also top the list of major problems for golfers. You can just imagine the pressure that is put on the shoulders as you are swinging the clubs continuously. Take a body that is tired or worn out in the least and you have a prime recipe for an injury. To avoid this you need to ensure that you are warming up your shoulder muscles as much as possible before a game and work hard to ensure that you are taking proper care of your body.
One other problem that tends to occur a lot is carpal tunnel syndrome. This happens primarily due to repetition stress. For example, if you play numerous games of golf in a row for several months straight you could be looking at a potential injury in progress. The results of the injury can be quite serious at times, but if you are careful and catch it early typically just a brace will solve your problems. However, serious cases of carpel tunnel can cause you to be incapacitated or even require surgery in order to use your hands appropriately. The problem is that carpel tunnel syndrome can often give no serious signs until it appears and causes problems. Always ensure that you wear a wrist brace if you start to notice that you are having serious wrist pain.
Golf Exercises to Improve Consistency and Distance
11. April 2009 by Tee It Up Pro Shop.
By Sean Cochran
Golf exercises within a golf fitness program can improve consistency, accuracy, distance, and your ball striking on the course. Learn how a comprehensive fitness program can improve your game. We know for a fact improved flexibility, strength, and power outputs from the body can have a direct impact on how well you play.
This article will discuss how a simple 5-minute warm-up incorporating golf fitness exercises can help you play better from the first tee to the last. Professional golfers will often arrive 2-3 hours before their tee times. During this time they will perform an extensive physical warm-up and practice session on the range before their tee time.
Understandably the amateur golfer does not usually have the time or the luxury to perform such an extensive warm-up/practice session before a round. As result it is necessary for the amateur player to efficiently utilize the time they have before a round to prepare their body, mind, and swing for the round.
A portion of the preparation for a round of golf should consist of a warm-up, comprised of some simple golf fitness stretches and exercises. This type of warm-up can be completed in a minimal amount of time and should be performed prior to hitting shots at the range.
It is all too common for the amateur golfer to begin a round of golf without a proper warm-up. What other sporting event do you know of where the athlete will begin competition without a proper warm-up? Ultimately the body will function more efficiently, is at a lower risk of injury, and is prepared for activity with a proper warm-up.
A warm-up session is very different than a flexibility program. A warm-up may include a flexibility exercise or two but overall it is comprised of low intensity exercises to prepare the body for practice or play. The goal of the warm-up is to increase the core temperature of the body, increase blood flow to working muscles, improve neuromuscular firing, and enhance the flow of oxygen through the muscular system.
Once you have completed a warm-up, you will feel “loose”, better prepared to swing a club, and ready to play eighteen. The warm-up will also lend itself to more consistency and distance in your golf swing simply because your body is physically ready to swing a club.
The key for the amateur golfer in relation to a warm-up is time efficiency. Time is limited before a round and the amateur must not only prepare the body but also their golf swing. As a result we must be very resourceful in the golf fitness exercises utilized in a pre-round warm-up. I suggest the utilization of three or four key golf fitness exercises as a part of your warm-up. This is plenty in terms of number to prepare the body and fits nicely into a condensed time frame.
My personal favorite golf fitness exercise to implement into a warm-up program is rotators. This is an ideal exercise to incorporate into you pre-round warm-up for a number of reasons. Number one it is an exercise incorporating the entire body. Number two it focuses on two troublesome areas for most golfers, the hamstrings and lower back. And number three it involves rotation of the body - which is cross-specific to the golf swing. Take a golf fitness exercise such as rotators and a couple more, and you will have a simple 5 minute warm-up to perform before your round.
Keep in mind how golf exercises and a warm up program can improve your round of golf. Remember, all to often the amateur golfer will limit their success during a round because of a lack of preparation before hitting the first tee. Take a page from the professional golfers playbook and perform a warm-up using golf fitness exercises.
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly working with professional golfers, most notably PGA and Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean Cochran and his golf fitness exercises and training programs go to http://www.seancochran.com
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Improving Golf Flexibility - Your Choices For Golf Flexibility Exercises
5. March 2009 by Tee It Up Pro Shop.
By Joey Atlas
Golf flexibility training will improve your game, the power of your swing and help prevent injuries. Regularly taking part in a golf stretching program can improve your range of motion and prevent soreness, as well as injuries. But, these stretches should be done on a regular basis in order for you to experience maximum, long lasting benefits.
You will surely hear arguments suggesting that this negatively affects your shot distance and the mechanics of your swing. But I can tell you from first-hand and hands-on experience that stretching daily - no matter what your golf schedule is - will help you and your game immensely.
Dynamic exercises can be used for warming up, because they do not overstretch the muscles.
Warming up may include walking briskly for three to five minutes (although its not mandatory), followed by core looseners, slow arm swings, hip rotations and torso twists. These exercises do not increase your golf flexibility; they simply warm up your muscles, making a muscle strain less likely.
You may be surprised to learn how many choices you have for a golf stretching program. Yoga type moves and elastic band training are two of the popular choices. Full-body range of motion exercises increase flexibility in all areas of the body, relatively quickly. Static stretch positions are also a good way to speed recovery after a round on the course.
Elastic band training serves as a good golf stretching program and has other benefits, including increased strength in the shoulders, hips and core. Sports professionals in many settings are including elastic band training in their conditioning programs because the bands provide dynamic resistance that regular weight lifting does not provide.
For example, routines can be designed that simulate the golf-swing, with smooth resistance, that doesn’t rely on gravity, throughout the movement.
Videos or DVDs are advisable for any golf flexibility routine. You need to “see” how the movement should be performed. Otherwise, you could injure yourself doing an exercise that was designed to prevent injury. For some, it’s also a good idea to stretch in front of a full length mirror. That way, you can watch your form and be sure that you are doing the move as the instructors in the DVD or on the video are describing.
If you exercise regularly, your golf stretching program can be incorporated into your regular workout. Choose one that you enjoy, something that feels good to you. Everyone is slightly different. Your current state of fitness is an important consideration, as well. Don’t overdo it - and don’t just guess at what you should be doing..
Remember to stay hydrated when you are on the course to get the most out of your golf flexibility program. Drinking some water or mid electrolyte beverage will help prevent muscle cramps - and ensure that you are fully energized to realize the results of your golf stretching routine. And don’t forget about…
Joey Atlas, Golf Conditioning Specialist and creator of Golf Stretching Exercise Program - offers several free golf exercise videos at his site - visit to get started.
Joey is also the best selling author of Fatness to Fitness, the Fitness Book
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