|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Golf is a $60 billion per year industry. Much of that staggering figure comes from money spent on new "technologically advanced" equipment. Equipment the manufacturers claim will let us hit the ball farther and straighter than ever before. Another large area of spending is golf instruction. Today's golfer has access to a vast number of highly qualified PGA teaching professionals to correct swing faults and give cues on how to make better ball contact. With all this high tech equipment and expert instruction, the average golfer must be playing better and shooting lower scores than ever?right? Wrong! The average handicap has not dropped in over 18 years. Why is this? The reason is great new equipment and great teachers but the same old body.
Let's take a look at what factors control the flight of a golf ball. This may help us better understand why most golfers get less than spectacular results from investments in new equipment and expert instruction.
The golf club directs the golf ball due to the following factors:
? Club Face Alignment
? Swing Path
? Angle of Impact
? Club Head Speed
The flight of the golf ball is primarily controlled by external factors such as clubface alignment, swing path, angle of attack, and club head speed. PGA teaching professionals are highly qualified to provide excellent cues and make corrections in your stance, grip, etc. in order for you to improve your swing and allow you to make better contact with the golf ball. After a lesson with cues you find yourself striking the ball better than ever. You just can't wait to get to the course to show your stuff. A few days later you get to the course and it's the same old ugly swing or wicked slice. Sound familiar? Why it is so difficult for most golfers to consistently reproduce that beautiful swing developed during a golf lesson? The reason is ? The club controls the ball but it is your body that controls the club!
Your body controls the golf club due to the following internal physical factors:
? Postural Stability
? Muscle Balance and Flexibility
? Proprioception*
? Strength and Endurance
? Power
*Proprioception = the bodies awareness of its position in space.
The path of the golf club is controlled primarily by internal physical factors. These internal physical factors include precise coordination of muscle contraction and relaxation (muscle balance and flexibility), postural stability, balance and body awareness (proprioception), muscle strength and endurance. Without adequate training of these internal factors it is nearly impossible to consistently repeat the perfect golf swing and produce optimal power to get the most out of your clubs. Without adequate training of these internal factors it is also extremely difficult to prevent the common overuse injuries affecting many golfers. Statistics show over 50% of all golfers will suffer a golf related injury.
So, instead of spending all that money on the latest and greatest driver you ought to think about upgrading your most important piece of equipment? your body! Arm yourself with a qualified golf fitness professional along with a PGA teaching professional and you will not only play better golf but you'll feel better doing it.
Bill Scibetta, RN, NSCA-CPT
Bill is the founder and President of Precision Fitness ? Personal Training Centers in the Charlotte, NC area and co-author of the book Play Better Longer! ? Peak Performance and Injury Prevention for Golf. Bill is a licensed Registered Nurse as well as a National Strength and Conditioning Association ? Certified Personal Trainer. After spending years practicing in the specialty of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Bill has dedicated his career to helping individuals identify and overcome obstacles that stand in the way of optimal wellness and peak physical performance.
How can you lower your scores by simply cleaning your... Read More
Correcting a golf slice is the fastest way to shave... Read More
Most golfers have had dozens of opportunities to receive coaching... Read More
The choice of what gift to give your family and... Read More
Why is it considered the most electrifying club in your... Read More
Determination, poise, focus and talent were abundant, as teens topped... Read More
I have a friend who blew out his ACL in... Read More
Not accounting for weather conditions there are a few things... Read More
If you are just starting out to play golf, you... Read More
Before focusing on the subject of developing confidence with ones... Read More
We learn a lot from just watching and observing the... Read More
Arnold Palmer, General of Arnie's Army, was speaking of golf,... Read More
Would you rather hear what you need to learn from... Read More
If you love to play golf as much as most... Read More
If you're a Golf Channel addict or merely an avid... Read More
The golf travel industry is huge. Destination resorts such as... Read More
Golf clubs: Reviews and tips is the central message of... Read More
The perfect golf swing drill is a joy to behold.... Read More
The policeman drops his paycheck on the kitchen table so... Read More
Are you slicing all or some of your tee shots?... Read More
Why is it a golfer rarely asks for a full... Read More
There are many things that a good golf stretching program... Read More
The key to playing par golf is to focus on... Read More
A golf conditioning program should always be accompanied by a... Read More
Performing shoulder exercises and stretches are important to ensuring that... Read More
A golf injury is one of the most common issues... Read More
Myrtle Beach is the best of both worlds for every... Read More
The first thing you have to remember about your Night... Read More
If you are fortunate enough to have never experienced sciatica,... Read More
You are an avid golfers always looking for the best... Read More
Genuine golf power swing tips will have little or nothing... Read More
What will it take to get you to perform better... Read More
Are you planning a golf vacation to Myrtle Beach, Hilton... Read More
It should be rather clear to everybody that the gift... Read More
Improve your golf swing. You have probably tried everything, from... Read More
Golf swing timing is a key factor in being able... Read More
We would all like to have a fluid, beautiful swing... Read More
The policeman drops his paycheck on the kitchen table so... Read More
Golf swing instruction starts with an understanding of the different... Read More
If you've read some of my articles in the past,... Read More
In a sport that hardly has any controversies; few issues... Read More
Whether it be Fathers Day, Mothers Day, Christmas, birthday, or... Read More
Golf warm up you say? Aren't you supposed to rush... Read More
As a beginner or novice golfer, you want to avoid... Read More
Gone are the days when a woman would feel intimidated... Read More
For best competition performance on the golf course, maintaining proper... Read More
How can you develop more power in your golf swing?... Read More
Golf is a wonderful game but we all want to... Read More
There are three segments of the golf instruction swing sequence.... Read More
If you've been on a golf course and have tried... Read More
Golf |