Play Better Without Changing Your Swing

Over the course of the golf season, each month in this column we will be sharing ideas to help improve your golf game without changing your golf swing. Topics we will cover will include club fitting, knowing your yardages, golf course strategy, and optimizing practice. By implementing our advice each month, you will see improvement in your game and lower scores.

With the start of season only about 45 days away, being in “golf shape” should be at the top of your priority list. If you haven’t been exercising this winter, you still have time to get your body ready to play your best golf.

Any workout program with the goal of improving golf performance should focus on strength, balance and flexibility. There are correlations between a lack of strength, balance or flexibility to swing and ball flight errors. By working on deficiencies, a golfer’s game will improve. To get the most out of golf fitness, a player should first consult with a golf fitness professional to assess where their strength and weaknesses are. Once the golfer knows their strengths and weakness they can best utilize their time in working out.

A misconception about working out for golf is that players do it to increase distance. While this may be a bonus result, the ultimate goal should be to prevent injury, increase stamina, and improve overall ball striking through better control of the club and improved balance. The other benefit is that is that golf fitness is not only good for your golf game, it is great for a golfer’s lifestyle as well.

Gary Player didn’t put 164 worldwide professional wins on his resume, 9 of them major championships, by sitting on the sofa. The Hall of Famer piled up those victories and has held on to his swing essentials by making exercise a part of his daily routine.

Get your golf season off to a great start, by getting into better “golf shape”.