...FOR GOLF
by SUSAN HILL
(Susan Hill is a nationally recognized fitness trainer, CHEK golf bio mechanic and sports nutrition specialist.)
Click Here to ask Susan your golf fitness questions!
If you’re serious about ‘not sucking’ at golf, then improving your fitness is a great place to start. The good news is that we are way past the 80’s, so you won’t have to pull out that left over sweat band for your head or break a sweat listening to the oldies. These days, golf fitness is serious business. Just look around on tour.
Maybe it was destiny that one day golf would be treated like a sport and golfers would one day see themselves as athletes. Maybe it was just one really fit guy that made the difference. I think it would be fair to say that Tiger Woods has had an enormous impact, no matter how you viewed it.
Hi! I’m Susan Hill and I am fortunate enough to make a full time living working with golfers on fitness and nutrition. I can’t really think of a better job because I get to combine my two of my favorite things-golf and fitness. I have worked with hundreds of recreational to competitive golfers in person, then turned to the internet so I could work with more people through my web site, http://www.fitnessforgolf.com.
I have golf fitness members in 25 different countries, have trained hundreds of top ranked juniors at an internationally recognized academy, worked with several collegiate golf teams and now work with a handful of touring pros. I have even trained a number of PGA teaching professionals. There is one thing all these golfers have in common-a sincere desire to play their very best and see where it will take them. I have been featured on ESPN and have hosted my own radio show. My work has been featured in Resort Living, SELF magazine, Pacific Northwest Golfer, Golf Illustrated and many others. I have consulted with the South American Golf Federation and was selected as the Sport Science consultant to the PGA of Mexico.
Fitness isn’t one simple concept, but many things wrapped up into one. Overall fitness includes being able to move your body through a full range of motion, produce strength through this same range of motion and have the stamina and energy to keep up with the best as well as produce consistent performance when it really matters. Everybody needs something just a little different. There are some golfers who are so tight and wound up that a few simple stretches could unleash a brand new golfer. Yes, for some of you, it really is that simple! Some golfers just don’t have the strength they need to power through the ball. A little strength could make the ball go a whole lot further.
Whether you’re 18 or 78, you might be surprised at how fitness can affect your game. Let me know if you have interest in specific articles or information that you think will help you. I’ll be glad to help where I can.
Check out these great articles on Health and Fitness for better golf by Susan Hill!
30 Days To Better Golf Fitness
How Fitness Changed the PGA Tour
Golf Practice Equipment For Better Golf
How to Loosen Up Quick?
JULY 08
Hi Susan,
I wanted to know what you could recommend for loosening up prior to teeing off on the first hole, especially when we go off early and sometimes don’t have time to hit balls at all. Also what is a good stretch for a tight left shoulder. Mine is always tight, especially if I were to reach up high for something. To give you an idea I do sit ups about every other day….. I’m sure you are familiar with the “stretch for you abs” that you do when you lie on your back with your arms out to the sides, then drop your knees to one side while looking away. You are supposed to feel the stretch in your sides. Well I do on my right side but my left side I feel it in my left arm/shoulder. It’s like the tendons are too short. It did go away for a while, then came back after about a year. I’ve been to physical therapy, which didn’t help at all. I’ve had it for years. Any thoughts? The only thing that seems to help is stretches. I’m very tight all over by the way. Fit otherwise.
Thank you very much,
Tim
Atlanta
Tim,
Thanks for your question. Regarding a stretch for tight shoulders, here is one of my favorites that you can do right on the driving range using a golf club. It’s called my rotator cuff warm up. Grab a golf club with one hand and place the club behind your back so that it is vertical. Reach behind with your top hand and take hold of the club on the grip. The opposite hand will also reach behind your back and hold the opposite end of the club. Pull the club up with the top hand for a count of 1 to 2 seconds, then slide the club down with your lower hand.
Regarding the general tightness you are feeling everywhere, I would really encourage you to find a stretch program that addresses all the major areas that affect the golf swing-mid back, shoulders, hamstrings and hips. I think you will be surprised at how much your swing will ‘free itself up’ once your body is warm and can move with a greater degree of freedom.
Best regards,
Susan Hill
http://www.fitnessforgolf.com
For more information on golf specific nutrition, exercises or stretches, visit http://www.fitnessforgolf.com