Strength and Conditioning for Golf

Hi Scott,

Core stability, lower back and overall leg strength are critical to a golf players performance and endurance. Whole body flexibility is a massive factor but improving it should ideally be complemented by improving ones strength at the same time. Tiger Woods has already had 4 knee operations and is still not totally sorted out due to the damage caused by the massive stresses that go through his legs, and more specifically his knees during each swing.

An element of of increased cardiovascular fitness work would also help. It does not need to be a huge amount, as little as 3 half hour sessions a week at between 60 - 70% HRM could make a great difference to their overall stamina when it comes to those last few holes, where often especially during hot days, matches are won or lost in the final 15 minutes of a game.

Your biggest battle with them might be dispelling the myth that working with weights can make you bulky and slow. In fact quite the opposite is true, as many of my clients over the past couple of months have discovered how working with weights correctly as part of a total strength and conditioning programme can bring about a significant improvement to their sports specific performance.

Ask about the club and you may be surprised to find how many members who have being playing for 10 years plus currently suffer, or are beginning to suffer from knee, hip and lower back problems. Then ask these very same members how many of them have ever undertaken any golf specific strength and conditioning work as part of their weekly routines. You can probably work out the connection here with this one?

Like most sports these days improving ones golf is about so much more than just practising/playing regularly.

Try to get the club captain/chairman on board and you will be half way there. Then offer to run a short presentation to the members about the issue.

Good luck.

Simon

Simon Vincent
Sports Performance Analyst
Body Bullet Dynamics!
South Wales

I couldn't have asked for a better answer, thanks a lot Simon!

Hi Scott,

You are most welcome and good luck with your S & C studies. Don't be afraid to approach sports people and discuss what you are doing with them along with the benefits it could bring to their own sports performance. There is so much rubbish out there that people overhear or get told at local gyms and down the pub, that often presenting them with the facts provides a breath of fresh air.

Try to work with a range of sports people and get as much experience as you can before you finish your studies. There is a lot of competition for jobs within sport,and when a high profile position does come up with a sports club (which is quite rare) it is often personal recommendation or reputation that gets the chosen person through the door.

Do not give up, you may find that you have to knock on 10 doors before one opens and embraces your services but you only need that one break to be on your way. Working within an area you love as opposed to just working to pay the bills can bring about great personal rewards. Something I have discovered these past few months having recently started my own sports performance and enhancement business in South Wales after spotting a gap in the market for the lower end sports clubs. I realised through my own sports science studies that jobs within the industry are few and far between despite what your academic institute will try to tell you when you enrol on their course. I had 17 years working within business and finance management and although it paid the bills and gave my family a comfortable life, it never really floated my boat. After 17 years in this industry keeping my sport and training interests as a hobby, redundancy 18 months ago provided me with the opportunity at 35 years of age to turn my lifelong hobby and interest into a business.

If you need a further advice please do not hesitate to post on this forum.

Kind regards

Simon

Simon Vincent
Sports Performance Analyst
Body Bullet Dynamics!
South Wales

Glad you got some good advice Scotty, many thanks Bodybullet!