Golf fitness training improves your golf swing with core training

The words core training, golf fitness, and improving your golf swing have become common words in golf. It is well known the number of professional golfers utilizing a golf fitness program to improve their golf swing. Addition to this well-known situation a common word has become connected to the phrase golf fitness. This phrase has become a buzzword in the world of golf. Unfortunately many do not understand the phrase and the relevance it can have on the golf swing. The phrase is core training. Core training can be a great benefit to your golf swing as a part of comprehensive golf fitness program.

Unfortunately many amateur golfers are unsure of the exact definition of core training and the relevance it may or may not have on a golf fitness program. The core is a reference to an anatomical area of body. The core is the anatomical area of your body from above the knees to below the chest. It includes all the muscles, nerves, and bones within in this anatomical region of the body. It must also be noted that the core includes all the neuromuscular structures on the front, side, and back of your body. For example, your lower back muscles are a part of the core as are your abdominals.

Core training is an integral part of a comprehensive golf fitness program because this is the anatomical area of the body where the majority of the golf swing occurs. For example, the golf swing requires you to rotate around a fixed spine angle. The majority of muscles allowing rotation to occur around a fixed spine angle are found within the core region. The golf swing requires a full shoulder turn to execute correctly. The muscles allowing the shoulders to rotate are mostly found within the core region of the body. These are just a few examples providing a reference between the biomechanics of the golf swing and the core region of the body.

Understanding the connection between the biomechanics of the golf swing and the core should begin to shine some light on why core training can be beneficial to the golf swing. Overall, the golf swing requires certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power to execute correctly. If the body lacks the required levels within these physical components the golf swing will be difficult to execute correctly. Knowing that a large portion of the movements in the golf swing occur within the core region, it becomes obvious developing these physical components become necessary in order to improve your golf swing.

The key component of core training in relation to the golf swing centers upon the principle of cross-specificity training. Cross-specificity training implies the exercises within the core program train the body to the positions, movements, and requirements of the sport. A core training program beneficial to the golf swing must train the body specifically for the anatomical positions, movements, and actions encountered on the golf course.

The goal of cross-specific core program is to develop a transfer of training effect. The majority of fitness programs and many core programs do not address the needs of the golfer relative to improving flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power. A cross-specific core program will provide the foundation for a better golf swing. Just because a program is labeled a “core program” does not necessarily mean it will be beneficial to improving the golf swing.

Once the golfer understands the concepts of cross-specific training, transfer of training effect, core, and the biomechanics of the golf swing. You can begin to piece together the components of a golf fitness program. Outside of providing the foundation for the golf swing through providing the golfer with the needed levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power to efficiently execute the golf swing. A golf fitness program can also improve a golfer’s swing.

One common area of desired improvement for most any golfer is increased distance. Increased distance in the golf swing is equated to increased clubhead speed. And increased clubhead speed is directly related to the golfer’s power outputs. Increasing power within the golf swing is connected to both swing mechanics and the body. The coiling and uncoiling within the golf swing directly affects the power outputs generated. In addition the body has a direct affect upon power development in the golf swing. Power in relation to the body can be defined as the ability of the body to create the greatest amount of force in a short amount of time.

If the golfer increases the ability of the body to generate more force, what will be the result within the golf swing? The golfer is more powerful, an increase in clubhead speed will occur, and the golf ball will probably travel farther. Interestingly enough improving power outputs by the body in relation to the golf swing, centers upon developing greater power outputs by the core region. Again, the golf swing is a rotational movement centering in the core region of the body. Increasing the force outputs of the muscles in the core can invariably improve the power in your golf swing. This again is only one example of where core training and golf fitness can improve the golf swing. Many additional areas of improvement can occur when the golfer develops the body correctly for the golf swing.

Understand the biomechanics of the golf swing require certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power to execute correctly. The golfer requires minimal levels of these physical components at the very least to execute the golf swing correctly. The core is an anatomical region of the body where much of the movements within the golf swing occur. A core training program can be beneficial to improving the golf swing if the exercises within the program are cross-specific to the movements, positions, and physical requirements of the golf swing. If the core program is not cross specific to the golf swing, the benefits may less than optimal. Realize a comprehensive golf fitness program includes core training to develop the body around the golf swing. Such a program can improve the golf swing in areas like clubhead speed. And remember just because a program is labeled “core” does not necessarily mean it will improve your golf swing. The exercises within the core program must correlate with the movements of the golf swing.

Shoulder stretches for golf

Performing shoulder exercises and stretches are important to ensuring that you have a good swing. Stretching the rotator cuff muscles, those found in your shoulders that allow you to move your shoulder in a circular motion, increases flexibility and ensures a more natural and fluid golf swing.

Good shoulder stability and strength is vital to your golf game, since your shoulders are involved with every swing of your clubs. Include shoulder stretches and exercises in your regular fitness routine, as well as use them as part of your pre-game warm-up. Here are two important stretches that will help you get your shoulders in top shape.

Rotator cuff stretch: This movement is designed to stretch out the rotator cuff muscles. Hold the club in the middle of the shaft with one arm extended straight out. Rotate the club to the right and then to the left. When complete, switch to the other arm and repeat the stretch.

Shoulder towel stretch: This movement is designed to stretch the muscles in your shoulders. Begin by standing with your feet shoulder width apart. Grab a golf towel or other small towel and place it behind your back. Raise one arm, bend it at the elbow and reach down towards the opposite shoulder blade. With the other arm, reach behind your back towards the opposite shoulder blade. As you hold the towel in between the two arms, pull the upper arm straight down. Next, raise the lower arm straight up. Reverse your arms and repeat the stretch.

Essential to your fitness routine is a regular stretching program for the muscles of your shoulder. You can use stretches for your shoulders as a pre-round warm up in addition to stretches you may do at the gym or at home as part of an ongoing.

Why oh why is the golf swing so hard

What part of the body contributes the most to generating the maximum speed of the club head?

This single answer allowed me to make a huge leap in my understanding of the golf swing, and in everything I had seen and read about the golf swing none of it emphasised it enough.

I carried out a survey on the Internet over several weeks and asked visitors to my web site the question:- What part of the body contributes the most to generating the maximum speed of the club head?

Only 20% got the answer correct – That’s only 1 in every 5 golfers! And these golfers had a wide range of handicaps down to single figures.

Interestingly this figure corresponds to another golfing statistic - Did you know that only around 20% of golfers have a handicap of less than 18? It made me wonder whether the misunderstanding of the fundamental aspect could be the one thing that is holding so many golfers back.

Which part of the body do you think creates the maximum speed of the club head?

Is it:

Shoulders

Arms

Hands

Hips

Legs

Torso

wrists

....So the answer to the question that I posed above is that it is the hands (or wrists) that contribute the most to generating the maximum club head speed.

The club is moved through over 180 degrees whilst the arms move through less than 60 degrees – all of the rest of the movement of the head of the golf club is generated by the movement of the hands. Unfortunately the large majority of golfers think that it is with the shoulders and arms.

I’ll come back to this point later as even when you get everything else right in your swing this can be a real good swing killer!

The golf ball shag bag making practice fun again guaranteed

Any golfer looking to improve needs to get a golf ball shag bag. It doesn’t matter if you have a driving range at your home course or not you still need to practice your approach shots and short game around the greens. This little innovative piece of equipment makes things a lot easier to pick up and store the golf balls you use during practice.

These great little bags are skinny and cylindrical in shape. They stand about two feet tall and have a small little tube (usually metal) that runs the full way down the center of the bag. It’s just a little wider than a golf ball and has three or four flexible little metal teeth at the bottom or one end so the balls don’t fall out. The top part of the tube is covered with the actual bag part of this tool that holds the golf balls in it. There is a small zipper that runs down the side of the bag so you can empty the balls out when you’re ready to use them.

What about the balls you ask? Well, just use the old balls in your bag or the ones you’ve found around the course. Golfers will often refer to a found ball that is in bad shape as a “shag ball” and will use it in their shag bag. You can also go to any store and get some refurbished golf balls really cheap to put in the bag if you don’t have enough old ones kicking around.

What you do with the golf ball shag bag is pick up your golf balls after you’re finished practicing or hitting them. The top part of the bag will have a handle that you hold on to as you walk around picking up your balls. You simply go over to one of your balls, position the bottom of the tube on top of the ball, and simply push down slightly until you hear the ball click and go into the tube. Go over to the next ball and do the same thing until they’re all picked up. It’s as easy as that, no effort or bending over to gather them up. The balls will start piling on top of each other and climbing up the tube. As they reach the top of the tube they’ll flow over the top and down into the bag.

Golf ball shag bags are very simple to transport as they aren’t very heavy. They hold about 50 golf balls on average depending on what size bag you get. They fit easily into the trunk of your car, or the bottom of your locker (if you’re lucky enough to have one) at your golf club. So golfers will even keep them with their clubs if they have club storage at their respective clubs. Since a lot of golf clubs (specially the older ones) don’t have a driving range these little practice bags come in real handy for practicing short irons or your short game. They’re also great if you just want to warm up by hitting a few balls before a round without having to go to an offsite range.

Simply put these golf ball shag bags are great to have around. They will make your practice sessions easier and quick so you don’t waste any time. After all, every one has so little time to practice it’s important to use your time wisely. If you don’t have one of these bags yet, go out and get one and watch your game improve with practice.