Increasing Your Golf Swing Clubhead Speed Isn.t Everything
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Golf Fitness Training Improves Your Golf Swing With Core Training
The words core training, golf fitness, and improving your golf swing have become common words in golf. It is well known the number of professional golfers utilizing a golf fitness program to improve their golf swing. Addition to this well-known situation a common word has become connected to the phrase golf fitness. This phrase has become a buzzword in the world of golf. Unfortunately many do not understand the phrase and the relevance it can have on the golf swing. The phrase is core training. Core training can be a great benefit to your golf swing as a part of comprehensive golf fitness program.
Unfortunately many amateur golfers are unsure of the exact definition of core training and the relevance it may or may not have on a golf fitness program. The core is a reference to an anatomical area of body. The core is the anatomical area of your body from above the knees to below the chest. It includes all the muscles, nerves, and bones within in this anatomical region of the body. It must also be noted that the core includes all the neuromuscular structures on the front, side, and back of your body. For example, your lower back muscles are a part of the core as are your abdominals.
Core training is an integral part of a comprehensive golf fitness program because this is the anatomical area of the body where the majority of the golf swing occurs. For example, the golf swing requires you to rotate around a fixed spine angle. The majority of muscles allowing rotation to occur around a fixed spine angle are found within the core region. The golf swing requires a full shoulder turn to execute correctly. The muscles allowing the shoulders to rotate are mostly found within the core region of the body. These are just a few examples providing a reference between the biomechanics of the golf swing and the core region of the body.
Understanding the connection between the biomechanics of the golf swing and the core should begin to shine some light on why core training can be beneficial to the golf swing. Overall, the golf swing requires certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power to execute correctly. If the body lacks the required levels within these physical components the golf swing will be difficult to execute correctly. Knowing that a large portion of the movements in the golf swing occur within the core region, it becomes obvious developing these physical components become necessary in order to improve your golf swing.
The key component of core training in relation to the golf swing centers upon the principle of cross-specificity training. Cross-specificity training implies the exercises within the core program train the body to the positions, movements, and requirements of the sport. A core training program beneficial to the golf swing must train the body specifically for the anatomical positions, movements, and actions encountered on the golf course.
The goal of cross-specific core program is to develop a transfer of training effect. The majority of fitness programs and many core programs do not address the needs of the golfer relative to improving flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power. A cross-specific core program will provide the foundation for a better golf swing. Just because a program is labeled a
How Outside Exercises Beyond Golf Can Improve Your Golf Swing
In regards to improving your golf swing, the most important part of your body to focus on are your wrists. Your wrists are involved with starting the swing, finishing it and they determine how far the golf ball goes. If you do not have strong wrists, your puts will not be very accurate or go very far. So how exactly do you strengthen your wrists?
Outside exercise beyond golf can strengthen your wrists and help with your golf swing. One exercise that comes to mind is doing sets with a stress ball. Stress balls are easy to find at any toy or sports store. Doing a few sets with a stress ball every day is guaranteed to strengthen your wrists, forearms and hands. Another exercise that can be done almost anywhere are push ups. Sets of push ups strengthen your whole arm, and this includes your wrists.
Cross-training with other sports can also help improve your golf swing. Tennis, swimming and softball are all sports that use a lot of arm strength. Tennis, in particular, uses a lot of wrist strength and might be your best bet in improving your swing. You do not have to be a tennis pro to go out there a couple times a week and hit some balls. And I guarantee your wrist strength will increase within a few weeks.
In addition to unrelated exercises, drills are always helpful in improving your golf swing. There are many many drills available online and elsewhere. All you have to do is hop online and search. One example is to focus on following through with your swing, without actually hitting the ball. Stand on the golf course with your club, lean back on your back toe, take your club behind you with both hands and swing out in front of you, with the weight shifting to the front foot.
Do fifteen sets of this drill and see how you feel. There should be a mild burning sensation in your wrists. That means you are doing it correctly. This particular drill should eventually help you improve your swing.
