When golfers ask me if they should be doing medicine ball tosses and overspeed training to gain ball speed and distance, my answer is usually “it depends.” This week I want to set the foundation for what to expect from me this year so that you can play and enjoy this game for a lifetime. The exercise examples I provide this year will usually fall into one or more of the following categories, and I want to explain the categories and their importance in the golf swing.
What Makes a Good Golfer
A good golfer is more than just someone who hits the ball well. To excel on the course, a golfer needs to possess a range of physical characteristics that contribute to a strong and consistent game. According to a previous study, these physical characteristics include strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, and coordination. Let’s explore each of these qualities in detail to understand their significance in the development of a skilled golfer.
Strength plays a crucial role in a golfer’s ability to generate power and control their movements throughout the swing. A strong core and upper body are essential for a powerful and controlled swing, enabling the golfer to transfer force efficiently from their body to the club, both for male and female players. Additionally, strength in the lower body provides stability and support, especially during the weight transfer and follow-through phases of the swing.
Flexibility is another vital physical quality for golfers. A wide range of motion allows for a full and smooth swing, reducing the risk of injury and enabling the golfer to execute various shot types with good direction speed, and ease. Flexibility in the hips, shoulders, and back is particularly important for maintaining proper posture and fluid movement in the golf swing.
Balance is the foundation of a consistent and controlled golf game. Good balance ensures that a golfer maintains stability throughout the swing, enabling precise ball striking and control over the club path. It also contributes to improved weight shift and alignment, allowing the golfer to maintain a solid and consistent swing plane.
Endurance is essential for sustained performance on the course which adds to the physical attractiveness of a player. Golfers need the physical and mental endurance to stay focused and maintain their form throughout the round, especially in challenging conditions. Building cardiovascular endurance and stamina is key to minimizing fatigue and optimizing performance, particularly during long rounds or multiple days of play.
Coordination ties all the physical qualities together, allowing the golfer to synchronize their movements for a smooth and effective swing. Proper coordination between the upper and lower body, as well as timing and rhythm, is essential for consistent ball striking and accurate shot placement.
Golfer Body Types
In the world of golf, players come in various shapes and physical qualities. While there is no one-size-fits-all body type for success in the sport, different body types and body mass may have certain advantages or disadvantages when it comes to golfing performance. Understanding the different golfer body types can provide insights into how physical attributes may impact a player’s abilities on the course.
One common body type seen in golfers is the ectomorph. Ectomorphs typically have lean body mass and have a slender physique with long limbs. These individuals tend to have a natural advantage when it comes to flexibility and range of motion, which can be beneficial for executing powerful swings and achieving a wide range of motion in their shots. Ectomorphs may excel in their ability to generate club head speed, allowing them to achieve greater distance with their shots.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have the endomorphs. Endomorphs are characterized by a higher percentage of body fat and a larger, more rounded physique. While endomorphs may not possess the same level of flexibility as ectomorphs, they often have a greater amount of muscular strength. This can be advantageous when it comes to generating power and stability during the swing. Endomorphs may have a natural ability to maintain balance and control throughout their shots, which can contribute to consistency in their performance on the course.
Lastly, there are the mesomorphs, who based on current studies, are often considered to have the ideal body type for golf. Mesomorphs are typically characterized by a well-balanced physique with a muscular build and low body fat. This body type combines the best of both worlds, as mesomorphs tend to have the strength and power of endomorphs, coupled with the flexibility, reactive strength, and range of motion of ectomorphs. Mesomorphs may have a natural advantage when it comes to generating both clubhead speed and precision in their shots, making them well-suited for success in golf.
Physical Attributes and Golf Performance
In golf performance, various physical attributes play a crucial role in achieving optimal performance both for pro and amateur players. These attributes include sufficient hip mobility, core control, thoracic (upper back) mobility, the ability to hip hinge, lower body strength/power, and the ability to pelvic tilt.
Hip Mobility: Hip mobility is essential for a golfer to achieve a full range of motion during the golf swing. Adequate hip mobility allows for proper rotation and weight transfer, resulting in a more powerful and efficient swing. Limited hip mobility can lead to swing faults and decreased performance.
Core Control: Core control refers to the ability to stabilize the spine and pelvis during movement. It is crucial for maintaining proper posture and generating rotational power in the golf swing. A strong and stable core helps maintain balance, control, and accuracy throughout the swing.
Thoracic Mobility: Thoracic mobility refers to the ability to rotate and extend the upper back. It is necessary for achieving an optimal backswing and follow-through in the golf swing. Limited thoracic mobility can lead to compensations in other areas of the body, affecting swing mechanics and potentially increasing the risk of injury.
Ability to Hip Hinge: The ability to hip hinge is essential for maintaining proper posture and generating power in the golf swing. A proper hip hinge allows for efficient loading and unloading of the lower body, resulting in increased clubhead speed and distance.
Lower Body Strength/Power: Lower body strength and power are important for generating force and transferring it from the ground up through the golf swing. Strong legs and glutes contribute to a stable base and increased clubhead speed.
Pelvic Tilt: Pelvic tilt refers to the movement of the pelvis during the golf swing. The ability to tilt the pelvis properly helps maintain the correct spine angle and allows for efficient transfer of power from the lower body to the upper body. Proper pelvic tilt also contributes to proper weight shift and balance throughout the swing.
Overall, these physical attributes are crucial for optimal golf performance. Golfers should focus on maintaining or improving hip mobility, core control, thoracic mobility, hip hinge ability, lower body strength/power, and pelvic tilt to enhance their swing mechanics, power generation, and overall performance on the golf course.
Five Key Components of Golf Performance
Golf performance is influenced by a combination of physical and technical factors. To optimize performance on the golf course, athletes and coaches focus on five key components: mobility or flexibility, stability or control, strength, power, and speed. These components work together to enhance a golfer’s ability to generate clubhead speed, maintain proper technique, and make accurate and consistent shots. By addressing each of these components through specific training and conditioning, golfers can improve their overall performance and achieve their goals on the course.
1. Mobility/Flexibility
Mobility – The ability of a specific joint to move through a range of motion.
Flexibility – The ability of a muscle or muscle group to lengthen through a range of motion.
This is the most important foundational component when it comes to the human body and its connection to the golf swing. For us to take a backswing, our muscles and joints need to stretch to create potential energy for us to prepare our body to swing the club at very high speeds. If we don’t have an adequate range of motion, our body is very good at compensating and will place stress in areas of our body where we shouldn’t, leading to injury and not being able to play the game we love!
For example, if we don’t possess proper mobility/flexibility we tend to lose posture throughout the swing, which can lead to poor ball striking and the infamous shank!
2. Stability/Control
Stability – The ability to maintain control of one joint, while moving another.
Control – The connection between our brain and its ability to control muscles leading to movement.
This is another important component next to mobility/flexibility. Once we possess an adequate joint range of motion, we then need to be able to control that new motion that we have acquired from the mobility/flexibility exercises. The reason the tour professionals are so consistent with ball striking is because their brains are so good at controlling their bodies in space. They have performed proper repetition after repetition, engraining that proper movement pattern to where they don’t have to think about it anymore.
3. Strength
The muscle’s ability to produce force.
Once we have adequate control of our bodies, we can then efficiently build strength. This is where the rubber starts to meet the road. As you improve your muscle’s ability to produce a large force, you will start to see this carry over into increased power and swing speed. Don’t get me wrong, I have had clients improve swing speed just from improving their flexibility and range of motion, but when you can produce increased muscle force, your power production will increase, therefore more energy will be transferred to the ball leading to further distances.
Before moving to power training, I want to see my clients possess adequate strength from their lower body, core, and upper body with perfect form and control with a set of specific tests that I utilize with my program.
4. Power muscle’s
The muscle’s ability to produce a force over time. The more force you can apply over a shorter amount of time, the more power you can produce overall.
When I am assessing clients for power I like to assess the upper body, lower body, and core separately to see which area needs the most work. This allows us to find the weak link and equal out power among those three groups. This in turn will allow our bodies to optimize the most efficient golf swing leading to further ball distances.
5. Speed
this is the distance your body or golf club can travel over the time that it takes to complete that distance. Distance/time
When assessing speed, I like to use a radar device that tells us how fast your club is traveling through the impact zone. Once we possess adequate mobility, stability, strength, and power, speed is going to be my focus.
At The Royal Treatment, our goal is to assess where you are along this hierarchy and create a personal plan focusing on your goals. Our plans are focused on helping you to play pain-free, gain distance on your shots, and be able to play and enjoy this game for a lifetime. If you felt this was helpful, or have any questions, feel free to reach out to me by email or phone. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.