What Makes A Good Golf Exercise Program?

For years, the public saw golf as a leisure sport – a luxury that had little to do with actual strenuous athletic activity. People saw golf more as a status symbol rather than a physical sport. All these changed in a snap with the emergence of power golfers the likes of Tiger Woods and Annika Sorendstam. This new breed of golfers struck awe into the hearts of golf aficionados and spectators alike with their combination of finesse and power on the golf course. Suddenly, being good at golf included not only perfection in swinging techniques but also exercise, fitness and muscle conditioning. Tiger Woods and the new breed of powerful golf players are coming into the course in superior physical condition honed by excellent fitness regimens.

But not just any fitness regimens, mind you. Not every fitness program offered on the market is helpful for the serious golfer. More and more golfers are realizing the importance of being physically fit and its relationship to better performance on the course. However, few realize that not just any exercise program can help improve their game. In fact, golfers should not expect miraculous changes in the way they play right after they begin training with exercise programs. There are a lot of things that should be taken into consideration when selecting the appropriate exercise program so as not to cause more harm than help.

Before proceeding, however, you must first understand why a fitness program is even necessary. After all, just because professional golfers like Tiger Woods and company are undergoing exercise programs doesn’t automatically mean that ordinary golfers should, too. A golfer – professional or amateur – should have a regular exercise program that he or she adheres to. Why so? First of all, being physically fit prepares the body for playing golf. Though it seems rather relaxed compared to basketball or football, the truth is that golf is just as strenuous on the body. Not having a physically fit body could lower a person’s playing potential.

Also, the possibility of incurring injuries while playing is another reason why fitness regimens are very important to the golfer. Eighty percent of all average golfers have incurred a golf related injury at one point or another. Some of these common injuries occur in the lower back, elbow and shoulder areas. These injuries could actually be prevented since declining physical strength and inflexibility usually causes these. Maintaining a fitness regimen and keeping the body fit could solve the problems that cause the injuries sustained by most golfers. Exercise programs, therefore, can improve a golfer’s performance and lessen the possibility of injury on the course.

So what exercise programs should golfers select? As mentioned earlier, not just exercise program off the market will do. First of all, the golfer should choose a golf-specific fitness program. Why golf-specific? General fitness programs provide exercises that strengthen other parts of the body. However, golf-specific fitness programs focus on areas that are very important to the game. These programs should be very specific in addressing your limitations in golf. There are many fitness professionals today who have no idea about golf-specific exercises but insist on entering the market. These unqualified trainers provide golfers with exercise programs that have nothing positive to contribute to playing golf. A good exercise program should be golf-specific.

Secondly, a good golf exercise program should be tailor-made to suit the golfer’s needs. There are a lot of exercises designed to improve different parts of the golfer’s body. These exercises should be incorporated into the exercise program based on the golfer’s own needs and limitations. A golfer who wants to improve his club swing range must improve his joint flexibility, whereas one who wants to improve his club swing speed will have to develop muscle strength. A professional golf exercise trainer will understand the differences that golfers have and should, accordingly, design the exercise program according to his client’s needs.

Lastly, a good golf exercise program should be safe. Just like in any other fitness regimen, not everything is good for the body. Taking exercise to the extreme can do more hurt than help. Straining the muscles is a likely consequence for over eagerness. The program, therefore, should be in moderation. The trainer should take into consideration the physical state of the golfer before designing the fitness regimen. These are the important factors to consider when choosing a golf exercise program. To be effective, a golf exercise program must, first and foremost, be golf-specific, tailor-made for the golfer’s needs and, lastly, safe.