Good Balance

photo credit: hbp_pix   The kinetic chain of balance starts with your feet and progresses up to your torso.  Balance is the key in striking the ball solidly, shot after shot.  

The follow-through will tell more about a golfer’s balance than any other part of the swing.  Being out of your set-up position at the finish of your swing, is a tell-tale sign of poor balance.  We’ve all found ourselves, at one time or another, finishing out of our own original footprints.

Every golfer should develop a plan to work on balance from the bottom up – feet, ankles, knees, hips and finally the spine.  You can work on balance by standing on a balance disc which can be purchased in many fitness retail centers.  Good balance will allow your body to focus entirely on the golf swing for more power and accuracy.

Slow the Pace

photo credit: tuchodi   Have you ever noticed that when you walk things seem to slow down.  Being an avid walker for the past 27 years, I’ve learned to use walking in a medicinal way.  No matter where I’m walking, whether it be on a busy street (preferably not) or on a tranquil fairway I use the experience to wind down emotionally. 

Walking gives you time to “stop and smell the roses” as they say and it really does.  The hardest part about walking is getting started.  Of course it’s easier to ride a golf cart, it’s a whole lot more convenient than walking but riding offers no physical benefits except perhaps a sore back at the end of the day.  Just make up your mind to walk while you play at every opportunity, you’ll be better off for it.

Walk Don’t Ride

photo credit: haileybussey   During a friendly round with my good friend Dr. Bernie Charms, chief of Cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic, I asked him the following question: “what is the single best way to keep your heart healthy?”  His answer surprised me, “walk” he said, “you don’t have to walk fast, just make sure you walk far!”

If you play golf two or three times per week, try walking instead of riding.  Other than swinging the club and walking to and from your ball, there is no real exercise benefit derived while riding.  Walking, however, can improve health in many ways.  It can strengthen the heart, improve circulation, speed digestion and increase muscle strength.

Start off by walking several nine hole rounds, then graduate to eighteen.  After a few weeks you’ll be glad you made the change.

Are Golf Courses Endangering Your Health?

photo credit: Greencolander   There are over 12,000 golf courses in the U.S, each averaging about a half ton of chemical pesticides and fertilizers per year.  How harmful are these chemicals and is there proper government oversight?  The NAAMP (National Association Against the Misuse of Pesticides) feels that the regulatory process does not protect the public.   

The USGA maintains a staff of about 15 people to develop new methods of tending golf courses, they are also seeking alternatives to pesticides and herbicides such as using beneficial organisms to control pests.  Environmentalists still want strickter regulations.

The question is whether keeping a golf course green, through the use of chemicals, is worth the potential human health risks?  This is a question that every golfer should be concerned with.

Stay Fit To Play Good Golf

photo credit: Lost Albatross   Golf is a complex game that, more than anything else, requires agility.  Although strength is important, physical flexibility is even more important.  PGA Tour Pro’s spen a lot of time working on building muscle mass and flexibility, knowing that doing so will help prevent injury.  With swing speeds up over 100 mph., it’s very easy to tear muscle fiber.  A torn muscle can cost, even the average Tour player, hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Every golfer, especially seniors, should take the time to work on building muscle flexibility and strength.  Make sure to do ample stretching exercises just prior to play.  These exercises can be done at home or on the first tee.   Check out  www.theshark.com which is an information rich web-site that has a diverse array of stretching exercises.

Golf Over 60

photo credit: Andy on FlickrIf you are approaching your 60th decade get ready for a change. As every senior can testify, there are physicall changes that occur as we age. One of those changes is in our muscle tone and we all know what that means if your a golfer. Your mobility can be impaired if something isn’t done on your part to slow the process.

Your best defense against deteriorating muscle tone is exercise. It is not only important to maintain flexibility it’s a preventive measure against injuries. We all know that seniors are more prone to injury and worse yet, heal slower than younger folks. The best remedy is a good exercise program. Look no further, log on to www.shark.com for some great ways to stay fit.

The Wonders of Nature

photo credit: ajagendorf25Play golf and enjoy the wonders of nature. The mood of each and every day is different. Clouds, sun, wind and rain, all create a new and different challenge.

Springtime golf in the Midwest is exciting, especially after a long cold winter. The sun is warming the earth, trees are blooming, the smell of freshly cut new grass. There’s a chill in the air so bring a sweater.

Fall affords the same sensory pleasures. Cool crisp days, trees bursting with color and heavy morning dew all add up to a great day on the links.

Golfers in temperate climates have cool winter temperatures to enjoy with a relatively long winter playing season. The game of golf, you gotta love it!

Excercise For Better Golf

photo credit: Shayan (USA) I’ve seen players walk up to the practice range time after time and immediately start hitting golf balls. This also happens frequently on the first tee. Doing so can be a serious mistake because of the possibility of injury.

Every golfer, especially seniors, should do a proper amount of excercise prior to swinging a golf club. The golf swing generates a huge amount of stress on various muscle groups. Creating this kind of stress on tight muscles can mean serious injury.

Doing about 10 to 15 minutes worth of excercise just prior to hitting the links is best. Movements that mimic the golf swing are best along with leg stretches. Take the time to protect yourself from unecessary injuries. Be safe and smart with excercise!

Golf Biomechanics

photo credit: darkpatator   Biomechanics is the analysis of body motion. It is the studying process of the physics of the golf swing through the use of very sophisticated video technology. Torque, produced by the coiling (backswing) of the body creates stored energy. This stored energy, when released through the downswing, generates clubhead speed which is the determining factor in distance.

The average golfer generates a swing speed of between 80 to 85 mph., whereas, the professional swings at over 100 mph. The reason for the extra swing speed, as determined from biomechanics research, is through the use of proper exercises which strengthen the muscle groups used in the swing. Building these muscle groups can not only add distance but prevent serious injury.

Golf for Seniors

photo credit: www.theedinburghblog.co.uk Senior golfers have to be mindful of physical injury when playing golf. As a person ages they lose elasticity in their muscles. The golf swing can generate a great deal of torque and for seniors this can mean serious injury.

One of the best ways to avoid injury is to remain in good physical condition. Besides a healthy diet and the appropriate amount of sleep, a good exercise program can be very important. Remember an injury to a senior takes much longer to heal than a younger person.

Prior to play do a series of exercises that will loosen up the muscle groups used in the golf swing. For a Senior, being free of injury means many more years of fun on the golf course. For exercise information go to www.shark.com.

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