Training for Golf Makes a Hole Lot of Sense
Energy Express: The Pros Know!
If you train for your sport-even golf-you'll play better!
Once upon a time, I trained to be a golf injury prevention specialist. It did not make me a better person, but I learned a lot, and it stuck with me. So on this perfect summer day, I want to shout out to all my Dear Readers who golf: It's not the club. It's not the ball. It's not even the course. It's you.
If you train for your sport -even golf-you'll play better! And have more fun. Your drives will go farther because you've connected to the concept of strength through relaxation. Your short game will improve as you gain core strength, executing your shots with more muscle control and better balance. You'll take fewer putts because the ones you do take will be more accurate, coming from a place of greater confidence and deeper focus.
And the smartest reason of all to train for golf? You won't hurt as much. You shouldn't have to swig down two painkillers, and whatever else you're swigging, to play a round of golf. Targeted training-done properly, with enthusiasm-can open your shoulders, strengthen and stabilize your trunk muscles and bring your entire body into the kind of relaxed alignment we see on display whenever we watch the PGA tour players on TV.
What you don't see on TV, sadly, is how much time the pros spend in the mobile gym and rehab truck that follows them around, wherever they play. The days of Fat Jack, Lumpy and the Walrus are wobbling to an end, reports Jere Longman in The New York Times. The Tiger Woods mentality has taken over: Get and stay in shape. He was ferocious about his fitness training, and so are most of the pro golfers today. Many are doing 60- to 90-minute workouts, lifting weights, doing cardio on treadmills and ellipticals, consulting with trainers, body workers and-write this down!-nutritionists.
Pro, duffer or somewhere in between, there is plenty you can do, way shy of 90 minutes a day, to improve your game, both physical and mental. Consider the following:
REPETITIVE STRESS
Compared to running, soccer and certainly beach volleyball, golf is not an action sport. A collision with another player is also highly unlikely, unless you're texting and stray off the cart path. Mostly, it's a repetitive action sport. In a typical round, you'll bend over to pick up balls over 36 times, putt at least 40 times, and swing the club 60 times or more-much more if you keep an honest count.
Repetitive motions can create muscular strains and pains, and joint problems, too, if your legs, back and shoulders aren't strong or flexible enough to take the stresses. Alignment and posture are a huge part of it. Study yoga for golfers, or search for a golf-conditioning specialist. Many golfers think nothing of spending $500 to $1,000 for a new driver. If you spend that same money on a coach, learning a proper warm-up and other exercises, you'll end up with a much bigger bang for your buck.
PLAY THE MENTAL GAME
If you're not into the Strength Through Relaxation theory of golf, you're missing the mind-body boat that sailed in decades ago and helps account for drives that are flying 400 feet and beyond. Mental focus- staying in the moment, not letting your mind drift to past mistakes or project to the future-improves your golf swing because it reduces tension. And tension is the enemy of the repeatable swing.
There are mental training techniques you can learn-including visualization, mindfulness, relaxation and breathing exercises-if you are willing. If you're not willing, then it's unlikely your game will improve much. That's OK, too. It all depends on your personal goals.
STAY POSITIVE
Don't beat yourself up during your round of golf. The Inner Game is played best when you're saying positive things to yourself. Examples do not include, "You idiot," "You fool," and, "What am I doing here?" Just keep coming back to your no-fault center. Self-deprecation creates tension; humor and gratitude release it.
Time to go. Summer hours have kicked in. The sun is shining, the grass is singing, and I'm dreaming about taking my 7-ironfor a very long walk.
ENERGY EXPRESS-O! IMPROVE YOUR SCORE
"Golf is like sex. You can't be thinking about the
mechanics of the act while you are performing."
-Dave Hill, 13-time winner on the PGA tour