Subscribe to The Golf BloggerAll Things Golf FeedSubscribe to The Golf BloggerAll Things Golf Comments

Browse > Home / Golf History / Functional Training for Golf – The Evolution of Golf Training

Functional Training for Golf – The Evolution of Golf Training

The history of golf as a sport can provide us with an overview of current trends and their effects on physical development for golfers. Strength and conditioning for golf has only taken center stage in the last 15 years. This is largely due to Tiger Woods, and in addition to the growing popularity of the sport among younger players. Consider that there were only a handful of PGA professionals utilizing strength training back in the late nineties now virtually 90 percent of professional golfers are utilizing some form of resistance training whether with a physical therapist or personal trainer.

Defining Function: What is functional training? Function is clearly defined as a “purpose” following this definition functional training can be defined as performing a function or a skill. Strength training is still relatively new to many golfers. Many misconceptions and fallacies among players still exist today, even though significant research in the realm of exercise science has proven otherwise. Common fears that lifting weights will cause unnecessary muscle mass, that their swing mechanics will be altered; Resistance training will cause a loss of flexibility.

To ease many of these fears science has proven that resistance training can actually have a positive effect on your swing. Strength training develops what is known as kinesthetic awareness, the ability to detect body position, weight and movement of the muscles, tendons and joints. This is plays an enormous role in the sport of golf. Utilizing full range of motion resistance training will actually improve your flexibility. Strength training will assist in injury prevention, which is common among de-conditioned players. There are four main components that comprise an effective strength and conditioning program for golf.

First is flexibility this summarized by the amount of movement, uninhibited by range of motion restrictions. The ability to move unrestricted in all three planes of motion (Frontal, sagittal, transverse) is vital to achieving optimal swing mechanics. Second component is Stability both static and dynamic. Static stability is the ability to maintain good postural alignment is one position for a period of time. An example would be attempting to hit a technical shot from the rough with any sort of accuracy requires your body to be stable.

Dynamic stability on the other hand is the ability to keep each and all-working joints in optimal alignment during any given movement. Golf swing is a perfect example, if your postural alignment is poor than all your rotational energy will be expended in all directions, causing many common faults. Third component is strength. Strength can be defined as the ability to have the power to carry out demanding tasks. Without strength you cannot have power. Strength is a key component of power. Power is what truly dictates how far you can drive the ball.

Last component is Power! Life is all about power the ability to get more work done in less time. It is simply how quickly you can move a load over a certain distance that equates to power. In summation when developing a well-rounded conditioning program be sure that you incorporate all four components. Developing power before flexibility, stability and strength will only hinder your performance and lead to possible injuries. If you need ideas on sample programs specific to golf go to http://www.back9strength.com

Related posts:

  1. Different Methods of Training For Golf Why is it that the vast majority of golfers will never have a handicap lower than 18? Mostly, it is because that the vast majority of golfers are not fit for golf. Generally, it is not because these golfers have a swing defect or some other fault in their game, as they spend a lot […]...
  2. The 8 Keys to Golf Fitness Success If you really want to be a successful golfer, you must follow these 8 principles which are The 8 Keys to Golf Fitness Success. 1. Increase your dynamic flexibility. While performing typical stretching exercises can improve static flexibility, the extreme range of motion performed during a full golf swing requires dynamic flexibility beyond the static […]...
  3. Five Exercises To Lower Your Golf Handicap Swinging a club powerfully and efficiently is based on what our bodies can do. As we get older, what we can do changes. Without maintaining strength and flexibility, we lose our ability to swing a club powerfully and efficiently. If you want to maintain a low golf handicap, you must maintain your strength and flexibility. […]...
  4. Tips For Releasing the Right Side in the Golf Swing To hit with power… releasing the right side in your golf swing is critical, but the only problem with that is most golfers don’t have the physical ability to do it. You see…your body needs the flexibility and strength in your core and hips to rotate through impact. Most golfers can’t do it. They are […]...
  5. Golf Training Equipment, Just What You Need To Master The Game For a person to excel in a sport, or any activity, they need some kind of training. Only when they understand the sport, learn the details, and terms used while playing it, will they excel or be able to survive. The same applies to golf enthusiasts, they need to undergo a certain amount of training, […]...

Do You Have Any Comments About Golf?

Tell us what you're thinking!

CAPTCHA Image
*