Play Better Longer: Reducing Golf Related Injury

On the surface golf may look to be a slow paced low impact sport with little risk of injury. However, as many golfers have unfortunately discovered looks can be deceiving. The "Physician and Sports Medicine" Journal reports 57% to 67.5% of all golfers will sustain some type of golf related injury.

Scientifically speaking our body was not designed to swing a golf club. During the swing strong compression, shear, and torsion force is produced placing our spine, joints and muscles at a relatively high risk for injury. The golf swing is an explosive movement that demands precise coordination of muscle contraction and relaxation, postural stability, strength, balance and body awareness. That is not to say we cannot swing a golf club without these elements. The body does a great job in compensating for weakness and faulty movement. However, there is a downside to this compensation. The downside is inconsistency, loss of power, and overuse of certain muscles which often leads to muscle and joint pain and injury.

Many golfers spend hours upon hours practicing their swing with little or no time devoted to training their bodies. This type of golf preparation usually results in two things: 1. Inconsistency 2. Aches and pains

So how does the golfer reduce their risk of injury? By establishing and maintaining core strength, muscle balance and flexibility by participating in a well developed integrated exercise program. Increased muscular efficiency and flexibility allow you to increase power and consistency while drastically reducing chances of pain and injury.

Beware; all golf fitness programs are not created equal. There are many programs out there that are merely body building or general strength training routines masquerading as golf fitness programs. These programs generally focus on training specific muscles or muscle groups with little attention paid to movement. Lying flat on a bench and pushing weight off your chest or doing biceps curls that isolate one single joint movement will hardly translate to improved performance on the golf course. In fact, many of the standard "gym" exercises found in such programs further disrupt muscle balance and postural stability and can increase risk of injry.

There are other golf fitness programs out there that claim to strengthen "golf muscles" by promoting exercises that mimic the golf swing. There are two problems with this approach to golf fitness. The first problem being; there are no specific "golf muscles". It takes virtually every muscle in the body working in precise concert to complete a golf swing. The second problem is; due to the repetition necessary to master the golf swing those targeted "golf muscles" are often already over developed and over tight in relation to the rest of the body. Performing exercises that mimic the golf swing prior to establishing a strong foundation and good muscle balance will only strengthen the imbalance and lead to further inconsistency and greater chance of injury.

Look for a qualified strength and conditioning or fitness professional that has a solid understanding of not only exercise science and biomechanics, but also the physical demands of the golf swing. Increased muscular strength and efficiency will allow you to increase power and consistency while drastically reducing chances of pain and injury. Add a well developed integrated exercise routine into routine and you will not only be playing better, but you will 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.

http://www.LakeNormanFitness.com

---

Basics Of Golf Swing Instruction - Go With Exercises

Golf swing instruction starts with an understanding of the different segments of the golf swing. Understanding the golf swing segments will give anybody a firm foundation to learn all the tricks of the... Read More

Fire da Bum!

In the early 50s, long before we were desensitized by today's special effects, there was a movie called "The Thing". This black and white flicker took place on the North Pole. Some explorers/scientists... Read More

Golf Fitness Training Equals Better Golf

If you've watched any golf on the television you've no doubt heard the commentator's mention golf fitness training. It's no secret that 95 percent of professional golfers are doing some for of golf... Read More

Confidence Building For Junior Golfers

One of the challenges about being a young person is dealing with what feels like is a constant comparison to other people. This is true at school, in one's social circles, at home,... Read More

The Golf Training Exercises You Need To Improve Your Game Are Very Simple

Golf training and conditioning exercises are not as difficult as most people think they are.It is important to understand that these exercises are very different from many of the rigorous exercises that you... Read More

Golf Swing Simulators

Are you looking for a way to play golf during the sweltering days of some or the extreme cold days of winter? Try out one of the golf swing simulators that are on... Read More

Play Better Longer - Peak Performance For Golf!

The golf swing is a dynamic movement that demands precise coordination of muscle contraction and relaxation, postural stability, strength, balance and body awareness. That is not to say that we cannot swing a... Read More

How To Get Hybrid Wood Golf Clubs On A Discount

There are lots of attention getting into hybrid golf clubs these days. Especially those hybrid wood golf clubs. So if you're one of the die hard golf lovers, you're next question would be,... Read More

Golf Swing Improvement The Fast Way

Golf swing improvement is a never ending goal for every golfer wanting to play better golf.This is hardly surprising because the golf swing is such a critical area of the game and is... Read More

A Valuable Golf Exercise In Your Office When You Have A Moment

Golf exercise is not necessarily in a gym. Getting creative with what you have can make all the difference and have a very positive impact on your game.Even extremely busy executives can get... Read More

5 Easy Steps To Replacing Your Golf Grips

Replacing your golf grips is like servicing your car; you must do it on a very routine basis to keep them in top working order. We suggest changing your grips at least once... Read More

How To Play Better Golf... It?s Not What You Think

Playing better golf is the lifelong pursuit of every golfer on the planet. Why else would we subject ourselves to one of the most humbling games (sport) ever?I mean, how many times have... Read More

How Important Is Your Golf Swing Release

An optimal golf swing release has a lot to do with the way the golfer controls their body and makes use of their muscles right from the back swing to the impact and... Read More

Quick Golf Tips for Restoring Muscle Imbalances

As a golf biomechanic, my focus is on looking for areas of poor flexibility and muscle imbalances which effect the mechanics of the golf swing and create opportunities for the body to break... Read More

Golf Specific Core Exercises Improve Your Drive Distance

What if I could give you three important exercises for golf and you were able to hit the ball further than you've ever hit it before? What if these exercises could be performed... Read More

What Are the Best Exercises for the Golfer?

With all the talk about the players on tour getting stronger and more flexible, we hear a lot about exercising for golf from television commentators and read about it in the golf publications.... Read More

Golf Vacation Schools ? Choose the Perfect Golf School Vacation for Your Game

Golf Schools, like golfers, come in all shapes and sizes. Don't make the mistake of attending any golf vacation school. Do your homework and find the right match for your personality, learning style,... Read More

Fitness For Golf Is The Key To Rejuvenating Your Golf Game

Fitness for golf is prevalent at every level. You hear about it all the time on the television and even teaching pros are talking more about the importance of fitness for golf.The reason... Read More

Hogans Real Golf Secret

Ben Hogan's secret was his extraordinary ability to focus. This was not a gift from heaven. No, Hogan spent long hours perfecting his focus technique.Robert DeLeon, my mentor and a golf biomechanics instructor,... Read More

The Beginners Game of Golf

A professional should give beginner golf swing instruction. In this way, you will learn to correct way to grip your clubs, stand, and swing. They will concentrate on the three fundamentals grip, stance,... Read More

Choosing the Right Golf Clubs

Planning on becoming the next Tiger Woods? If so, the first thing you might consider is getting some new golf clubs. Choosing the right golf clubs can make the difference between spending your... Read More

Mental Toughness for Golfers: Avoiding Comfort Zones in Golf

A comfort zone becomes a problem whenever a player is playing better than expected or is breaking new ground. I teach golfers how to break out of self-limiting expectations and preconceived beliefs. Comfort... Read More

How Playing Short will Save You Strokes

It's a pretty simple tip really, but it will help you to lower your scores.What you should get out of this lesson is that short is usually better regarding approach shots, and I'm... Read More

Golf Humor Poetry:- Ode to the Fanatical Golfer (Part One)

He wanted golf to be experienced by all, And hoped his daughter would heed the call. "C'mon!", he said. "You'll have a ball!" "Why?", she asked. "Are we going to the mall?"He'd often... Read More

Golf Gifts: For the Experienced Golfer

Whether it be Fathers Day, Mothers Day, Christmas, birthday, or any other gift giving occassion, a golf gift for an experienced player is a sure winner, if it's the RIGHT gift.Let me start... Read More

Why The Golfing Game Has Changed Tremendously In Recent Years

The world has changed a great deal in recent years and so has the golfing game. Those who are resisting the changes in the world instead of trying to understand them and adapt... Read More

Are You Fully Benefiting From Your Golf Swing Training Videos

The golf swing is so central and so important to the game of golf that any improvement tips and especially golf swing training videos are greatly desired and valued by golfers everywhere.Yet the... Read More

Online Golf Instructions Are Cheap But Effective

The number of online golf instruction programs on the net has grown tremendously in recent times. And yet they still continue to grow in leaps and bounds.One of the reasons for this phenomenal... Read More

How To Select A Unique Golf Gift

To select a truly unique golf gift for somebody, it will help a great deal if you know their golf game intimately.There are numerous golf products in the market these days and many... Read More