The Ultimate Golf Fitness Test -
It's Not What You Think!
Okay, calling it 'The Ultimate Golf Fitness Test' is a little over-dramatic - but I hope the following simple experiment will help to highlight an important factor that few players consider.
Let's look at an everyday action away from golf to demonstrate what I mean. You may wonder what this has to do with golf, but please bear with me and all will become clear - hopefully.
This simple exercise can reveal some interesting things about how you move.
1) Sit on a chair and get ready to stand up.
2) Ask yourself what you do to get ready. Do you do any of the following?
• Put your hands on your legs or chair
• Pull in your lower back
• Push your chest forward
• Pull your head back
• Hold your breath
• Lift your shoulders
• Make a noise as you get up
3) Ask someone to watch and tell you what you do.
1) Sit on a chair and get ready to stand up.
2) Ask yourself what you do to get ready. Do you do any of the following?
• Put your hands on your legs or chair
• Pull in your lower back
• Push your chest forward
• Pull your head back
• Hold your breath
• Lift your shoulders
• Make a noise as you get up
3) Ask someone to watch and tell you what you do.
Do you make hard work of everyday movements?
You’ll need someone to observe because you may do some of these things but not notice. Actually, I’m willing to bet my house against yours that you’ll do at least one of them. The actions I mention above will actually interfere with your reflexes for coordinating movement by adding something extra before you’ve even moved. Some of your muscles are working when they shouldn’t be, while others are inactive when they should be assisting. In short, you’re making the movement much harder than it should be.
So what’s how you get out of a chair got to do with your golf?
The important points to consider here are:
if you can make hard work of getting out of a chair (a relatively simple action), how about something more complex like a golf swing? Could you possibly be adding unnecessary actions that are cramping your technique?
You can go a long way to improving your game by developing your skills of self-awareness and focus. This way you'll quickly notice whether you're interferring with your technique and failing to achieve your full potential.
So what’s how you get out of a chair got to do with your golf?
The important points to consider here are:
- Why were you unaware of the additional effort and actions you used before
they were brought to your attention? - Why do you do them if they’re inefficient?
- Why does it still feel right to do it like this?
- Are you aware of any such actions in your technique?
if you can make hard work of getting out of a chair (a relatively simple action), how about something more complex like a golf swing? Could you possibly be adding unnecessary actions that are cramping your technique?
You can go a long way to improving your game by developing your skills of self-awareness and focus. This way you'll quickly notice whether you're interferring with your technique and failing to achieve your full potential.
There are many practical tips in my book Golf Sense that will help you develop the skills I believe are essential for playing your best golf. For more information please click here.
Also see:- Golf Fitness A Poised Golfer Is A Happy Golfer What Makes A Great Golfer? |
