FITNESS VS. GOLF FITNESS

Article by Bob Forman

There might be some confusion and/or wrong impression with the term “golf fitness.” Fitness implies a state of health like having a normal blood pressure or not being overweight or even having the endurance to run 3 miles.

Golf fitness, in the context it’s used, doesn’t really pertain to any of these, although some are often by-products from a well planned golf fitness training program. The term golf fitness refers more to the golfer’s physical ability to swing an efficient golf club so as to produce good swing mechanics, effective outcomes, and a decreased potential for injury.

It also relates to the golfers ability to produce an efficient golf swing for 18 holes, including the driving range prior to the round and any practice swings taken during. Four plus hours of activity can take its toll, regardless if you walk or ride, and that fatigue you might be experiencing on the back nine will only increase the potential for bad shots and physical harm.

Most golfers, unfortunately, are not physically prepared to swing a golf club. Factors such as inactivity, lifestyle, and heredity predispose many golfers to anatomical deficiencies in their bodies that rob them of peak performance. These factors often influence swing efficiency, which impacts ball contact and flight, distance, and the development and persistence of those nagging aches and pains so many golfers experience.