Strengthen Your Golf Game
Strengthen Your Golf Game
Golf has become a game of high technology equipment. One often overlooked key piece of equipment is the golfer’s body. Is it stable and strong where it needs to be? Is it mobile and flexible where it has to be? A golfer will always perform better and reduce the risk of injury when properly conditioned.
Golf is obviously a game that depends on rotation of the body to deliver power from the ground through the core to the club and finally the ball. Most golfers find it surprising that the lower back, or lumbar spine, is not designed for a lot of rotation. However, you continue to see golf exercises that target flexibility and range of motion in the lower spine. The more effective training strategy is to build stability in the lower spine while working to optimize mobility and power in the hips and upper, or thoracic, spine. One way to both improve performance and reduce the risk of injury is “core” training. The easiest way to think of your core is your body minus your arms and legs. From your hips to your shoulders, that’s your core, your power center and your key to performance and longevity.
Core strength for golf can be effectively trained from a standing position with exercises that promote lower back stability with hip and upper back mobility. Suspension training or TRX training is uniquely suited to deliver these qualities. Movements such as the TRX golf rotation exploits reflexive core engagement for lower spine stability allowing proper hip and upper spine movements required for golf. The TRX Balance Lunge and the TRX lunge both integrate single leg balance and stability with core engagement. Plus, core stability training is optimal using the TRX suspension bands. Exercises such as the plank, the pike, hip bridge and side planks are truly at the top of the food chain as highly effective and efficient variations to train core stability and body alignment.
The TRX has become an essential exercise tool for golf performance and injury prevention for coaches, trainers and athletes at all levels. The benefits in flexibility, strength and power are seen almost immediately. Core conditioning is vital for golf, and suspension training is vital for fast and effective core performance.
Core Performance offers TRX training classes which are taught by a certified instructor. For more information about how to improve your core stability and body alignment, feel free to contact kduke65@gmail.com.
Kim Duke is a certified personal trainer and owner of Core Performance Fitness and Training, located at 55 Bristol Lane, Ellicottville, NY. Kim resides in Ellicottville where she raised her two sons, Zach and Nik. For more information about her studio visit her Facebook page or www.coreperformancefitness.com. Kim can be reached directly at 716-698-1198.
