The Remarkable Health Benefits of a Golf Fitness Program

The Remarkable Health Benefits of a Golf Fitness Program

Golf may not be as physically demanding as other competitive sports, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t require physical and mental strength. So, for novice golfers, even the seasoned ones, to improve their performance, they must undergo a targeted, golf-specific fitness program.

No matter what sport you wish to learn, physical and mental strength are prerequisites for greater chances of success in the game. Not only does it improve your game, but it can also enhance the quality of life in various ways.

Below, we rounded up the significant health benefits and other advantages of undergoing a golf fitness program:

Reduced Risk of Injury

Did you know that a whopping 70% of golfers suffer from lower back pain? So, if you always pack pain-relieving patches with you on the course, you’re far from alone. According to a 2014 study in the Asian Journal of Sports Medicine, between 18% and 54% of documented problems are related to lower back pain (LBP), making it the most common golf injury. Unfortunately, even pro golfers such as Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods fell victim to this injury.

If you seem to always experience back pain after a round of golf, don’t return your golf clubs to the closet just yet. Incorporating personalized golf-specific exercise is one of the specialties of It’s Working Out. In addition, they have Titleist Performance Institute Certified Trainers: fitness professionals who are ready to help you hit the links with less and even zero pain.

Dr. Sekhon via Spine Universe explains that LBP injuries related to golf can be categorized into four classifications:

Disc herniations – Also known as ruptured discs or slipped discs, this painful injury occurs with one of the rubbery cushions or disks that sit between the vertebrae.

Lumbar strains – Dr. Sekhon refers to these as myofascial injuries that result from strains.

Exacerbated facet arthritis – Also known as spondylosis or osteoarthritis of the spine, it happens when the cartilage in the spine breaks down.

Accidents – These are unforeseen circumstances such as golf cart accidents and falls that can bring stress to the lower back.

With It’s Working Out’s Golf Performance Programs, you will have access to targeted exercises that will help protect your joints from stress and reduce your risk of golf injuries. Professionals will also keep track of your progress via TPI Assessment and IWO Evaluation.

Increased Range of Motion

Repetitive movements, especially when done improperly, can cause harm to the body. Golf training programs allow you to strengthen your muscles, especially those working during a golf swing.

Since a swing is a high-force movement, a golfer is susceptible to lower back and hip imbalance. Such force can also put pressure on elbows, shoulders, and wrists. To improve your range of motion, it’s essential to strengthen the aforementioned areas. Additionally, flexibility also allows the body to boost the clubhead’s movement, leading to increased power production and speed.

Fortunately, one of the specialties of It’s Working Out is implementing an excellent training routine focused on strengthening joints and muscles for improved mobility, better flexibility, and so that the golfer can withstand longer periods of time on the course.

Strength and power

Strength refers to your maximal capability to contract muscles, while power refers to how fast you can accomplish that contraction. The most common benefit of improved power and strength is increased clubhead speed. With consistent proper training, your clubhead speed can be improved dramatically. Additionally, having strong and powerful muscles provides fine motor control. In other words, golf swings will be relatively less stressful for you, and the likelihood of failed shots will be decreased. Isn’t that a great recipe for a successful round of golf?

Mental health benefits

Golf is an activity that requires a high level of focus, concentration, and creative thinking. In addition, it’s a strategy game wherein you have to plan your next shot, visualize the ball’s trajectory, and pay attention to your posture before hitting the ball. And since exercise is a natural stress reliever, it’s already given that activities under a golf training program can help take your mind off of your stressors, even just for a while!

Through undergoing a series of golf training, you are allowing yourself to hone your mental abilities and perform better during pressure situations and apply them on the course.

Physical health benefits

It’s Working Out golf-centric programs will help improve different aspects of your physical health. For instance, it helps build core strength and endurance so you can last longer and be stronger from the first down to the last hole.

Golf training programs usually involve cardiovascular exercises to improve heart, lung, and blood function. Although golf doesn’t require immense power to perform a golf swing, cardiovascular exercises are essential for the following reasons:

• -  A golfer will need to walk kilometers, traversing hills and varied terrain without feeling fatigued.

• -  It keeps the heart rate up, which naturally lowers your risk for heart issues and levels of bad cholesterol.

• -  Exercising can aid in weight loss.

• -  It helps build muscles, which lead to more powerful swings.

  Stretching activities are of critical importance as well. If you don’t stretch, your muscle fibers will tense up, harden, and stiffen, preventing you from achieving your full range of motion. When you have tight and stiff muscles, you’re more vulnerable to tears, strains, and other injuries that may jeopardize your mobility. Additionally, stretches not only help promote a fluid, full golf swing, but they can also improve posture, decrease back pain, and muscle soreness.

  It’s Working Out’s golf performance program comes with classes specifically for stretching exercises. Of course, you’ll discuss your current physical situation so your attending trainer can create a personalized stretching plan for you.

  Closing thoughts

  The mentioned benefits boil down to a massive health benefit: an improved quality of life. Therefore, taking part in a golf training program doesn’t only help you prepare for a successful golf journey but also sets you up for a healthier, happier, and longer life. And we hope this very realization can motivate you to enroll in a golf performance program today!

  About the Author

  Jordan Fuller is passionate about all things golf. He provides free professional golf advice, equipment, and apparel reviews, and other golf know-hows on his website, Golf Influence.

  *Image by Courtney Cook from Unsplash