Golf Information

Making Your Program Golf Specific


"Golf-Specific" means different things to different people. One of the things I have learned from my education and experience in working with elite trainers and golfers is that in order to improve someone's performance you must know where their strengths and weaknesses currently exist. This is, of course, the real value of assessments. If you look at the requirements of the golf swing itself, a golfer needs adequate spinal rotation, hip rotation, shoulder rotation, core engagement, some degree of cardiovascular endurance, and some degree of strength and stability.

You don't need to be a bodybuilder or powerlifter for golf, just enough strength to produce a powerful swing. So, in evaluating a golfer you simply look at the rotational ability of the joints that most affect the golf swing. It is also helpful to look at a golfer's current level of strength and stability or muscular imbalances which have the potential to create injury.

But then what? Well, if you are assessing a golfer who always complains about lack of distance and you find out they have very limited spinal rotation then you just found out a potential reason "why." If a golfer lacks adequate spinal rotation, then its virtually impossible to produce respectable distance because you are not able to move your body freely through this motion, at least without finding another way to compensate in the body like excessive hip rotation or other variation.

The good news is that if this is discovered in an assessment, then a few simple stretches which focus entirely on improving spinal rotation will likely yield distance you have never experienced.

This brings us back to the meaning of "golf specific". If we understand the biomechanics of the swing, then we can look at an individual and determine where they need improvement. With some golfers, a few stretches will produce results they've never seen before. With other golfers, they need considerably more strength. Some golfers are very strong, yet can't move through a full range of motion or lack proper core engagement to keep their backs protected. Each golfer is different and therefore has different needs.

Susan Hill is a CHEK Golf Biomechanic,sports nutrition specialist and golf fitness columnist for Golf Illustrated. For exercises and stretches based on your individual strengths and weaknesses,visit http://www.fitnessforgolf.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Zee News

Golf-NZ Open dropped from European PGA Tour
Reuters.uk, UK - 1 hour ago
New Zealand Golf chief executive Bill MacGowan said on Wednesday that officials would now look to be sanctioned by the US PGA's secondary Nationwide Tour ...
European Tour gets award for most improved this year in golf The Canadian Press
Haas takes aim at Champions Tour first: 3 money titles in row USA Today
'Race to Dubai' golf showdown set Gulf Daily News
Kansas City Star - Otago Daily Times
all 483 news articles


Report: Tiger's AT&T National tournament might make pit stop in ...
ESPN - 5 hours ago
The Washington Post reported Tuesday that members at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa. will be considering a proposal to host the event that has ...
This week's golf tournaments The Canadian Press
Local golf: Defending champion leads field at this weekend's ... Naples Daily News
This Week in Golf - October 9th through October 12th Sports Network
all 34 news articles


Los Angeles Times

Woods plans to build golf course of Baja peninsula
AFP - 3 hours ago
Woods, who turned down more than 12 other golf course design proposals, said it took more than 20 tries to settle on a course layout for Punta Brava. ...
Tiger Woods and Flagship to Build Mexico Golf Resort (Update1) Bloomberg
Tiger Woods finds a way to keep busy Los Angeles Times
Tiger Woods Discusses His New Course in Baja Wall Street Journal
SYS-CON Media - PR Newswire (press release)
all 30 news articles


Golf Trust of America, Inc. Announces Litigation Settlement Agreement
WELT ONLINE, Germany - 12 hours ago
Golf Trust of America, Inc. was formerly a real estate investment trust. From May 22, 2001 to November 8, 2007, the Company was engaged in the liquidation ...
Golf Trust of America enters into Settlement Agreement with Lake ... RTT News
Golf Trust of America (GTA) to Pay $140K in Settlement StreetInsider.com (subscription)
all 10 news articles


SkySports

Creamer’s game is in the pink
The National, United Arab Emirates - 9 hours ago
“But it was Annika Sorenstam who took women’s golf on to a new level, which is why there are so many young, fresh, new faces now trying to take it on to the ...
Creamer Rises to the Top Cybergolf National
Golf: Creamer comes through to capture Samsung World Championship AFP
Taiwanese rookie has got LPGA game Contra Costa Times
United Press International - iseekgolf.com
all 874 news articles


The Age

Fantasy Golf: Hot Topics
RotoTimes.com - 11 hours ago
Golf exists as one of the more volatile fantasy options out there. The ability to predict winners is largely based on luck, but as is true in many of the ...
Overton retains lead at weather-hit Turning Stone golf AFP
Tuesday conversation with PGA golfers Utica Observer Dispatch
Leonard, Valedictorian of the Valero Texas Open, is back PGA Tour
Oneida Dispatch - Sports Network
all 785 news articles


Daily Mail

Gulf gold takes a slice of Scotland's golf
Scotsman, United Kingdom - 7 hours ago
The question is: how much more of Scottish golf do the men from Dubai wish to covet? Recently Leisurecorp has reportedly shown an interest in the hotel ...
I'm Not Driven By Dollars ...not Even 20million Says Sergio Garcia Glasgow Daily Record
Sergio seeks missing links: Garcia eager for regular stops in Scotland Daily Mail
The race they all want to win The National
Scotsman - Scotsman
all 14 news articles


VW New Golf Concept Debuts in Paris
BusinessWeek - 10 hours ago
The sixth generation of the Golf GTI has been unveiled in concept form at the Paris Motor Show, providing a taste of things to come when the vehicle enters ...


Majettes roll to A girls golf title
In-Forum, ND - 1 hour ago
... top 10 overall to run away with the team championship Tuesday at the North Dakota Class A Girls State Golf Tournament held at the Minot Country Club. ...
Majettes win state golf Minot Daily News
ND state Class A girls golf tournament Grand Forks Herald
Dickinson finishes fourth at state girls golf Dickinson Press
Grand Forks Herald - Grand Forks Herald
all 10 news articles


Stuff.co.nz

World's best golf course found - in NZ
Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand - 10 hours ago
WORLD'S BEST: The Cape Kidnappers golf course, home of the Kiwi Challenge taking place in November, has been rated as the world's best by the Daily ...

Golf - Google News

home | site map
© 2006