How Today’s Golfers Prepare Off The Course

April 18, 2010 by  
Filed under Golf

If you are looking to lower your golf handicap then you better look into getting your body in top physical shape. Gone are the days when pro golfers hit the bars after rounds. Today they still hit the bars only these bars have weights attached to them. Golfers are doing more workouts along with practicing their golf game. Just take a look at the younger generation of professional golfers. They look lean and trim and they’re stronger too.

For weekend golfers to enjoy the game of golf more they should invest the time into preparing their bodies during the week with strength and flexibility training. They can avoid achy backs so common among casual golfers. Before teeing it up on the first tee they should do some light stretching to warm up their muscles before taking that big swing. Stretch the back and leg muscles. Stretch the shoulders and neck. If you want a full golf extension golf swing a golfer needs to keep the body from breaking down. Eighteen holes will seem like an eternity to any golfer suffering from a tight, sore back.

So how does the weekend golfer avoid injury? It starts off the golf course. Strengthen the core muscles and lower body with exercises that concentrate on these areas. Seek the advise of a personal trainer at your gym. If you do not go to a gym you should still seek professional advise. Personal trainers make house calls. Look for and buy quality fitness equipment you can work with in your home. Look for exercise videos online. There are online fitness stores that carry both exercise equipment and instructional DVDS. Balance fitness products, resistance training products as well as strength training products are all available for the home market.

It’s so important in a golf swing that you go through a series of positions from rotation to forward flexion to extension. One exercise tool made popular with Russian strongmen is the kettlebell. Similar to a dumbbell, the kettlebell comes in various weights. Start off with a lower weight before moving up. Swing the kettlebell left and right. Do this slowly for an easy rotation of the spine. Make sure you bend your knees and keep your stomach muscles engaged. Kettlebells are a great weight training piece of equipment that will make you stronger.

Resistance bands come in various resistance levels. These bands are extremely affordable and are easier to move in a fluid motion from one exercise to the next than if you were to use a heavy weight such as a kettllebell. Begin by using a light resistant band and do more reps. Resistance band fitness is really strength training. You can use the bands for a total body workout. They are versatile and portable so if you go on a golf vacation they are easily packed.

Another popular fitness tool is the BOSU. A golfer knows that balance is so important to his swing. A BOSU or balance pad helps golfers improve balance and coordination. If you want more of a balance challenge there are balance boards. Not sure what these do? Look at a skateboarder or snowboarder. Balance board training is key to their ability to stay upright. Senior golfers would be advised that balance fitness would do so much in keeping their lower body stable and strong. Improving your golf game comes with preparation off the course. And that’s something worth noting before teeing up.

Golfers turn to balance board fitness to help stabilize their golf swing. Look for foam balance training products at an online fitness store if sport training is important to you.