GOLF TRAINING PROGRAM

Expansion System in Golf

Since technical performance in golf is of crucial importance, amateur golfers usually see golf more as a technical skill, often neglecting the physically demanding side of the sport. The required level of psychophysical fitness is frequently underestimated, leads to the misbelief that the improvement of a golfer’s performance depends solely on a diligent technical training of their swing. Golf is a technically very demanding sport and requires a good physical condition of the players. While performing a golf swing, an amateur golfer typically reaches 90% of their maximum muscular activity. In other words: if we compared the intensity of a golf swing to the intensity of weight lifting, a swing would equal the weight we can lift four times; a technically correct execution of the fifth lift would be impossible due to complete muscular fatigue. In an average play the golfer produces 30 do 40 swings of approximately the same intensity. Golf is thus a highly explosive sport, which also demands a good muscular endurance, since an average amateur play lasts from 3 to 4 hours. American researchers have found that the level of strain and muscular activity in golf is comparable to those in football, hockey or martial arts.

Golf injuries most often occur because of an inadequate physical fitness and a muscular imbalance, which both results in an incorrect and inconsistent technical performance of the swings, causing an inappropriate biomechanics of the joints and muscles involved. Repeating the incorrect movements (swings) causes the seemingly harmless pain, which still enabled us to play, to turn into a chronic injury that often demands an orthopaedic treatment and claims a long absence from the course. The most common injuries occur in the lower back, elbow, knee, shoulder and ankle.

Injury statistics:

• At least 30% of professional golfers play injured.

• 53% of male golfers and 45% of female golfers suffer from a constant lower back pain.

• Golfers who practice an additional sport have a 40% greater chance of suffering from a lower back pain.

The GYROTONIC® and Pilates on Reformer exercises enable golfers to improve their swing coordination and the spine flexibility, which allows greater amplitude of movements and reduces the chance of back pain. This exercise modality prevents body injuries also by increasing the golfer’s awareness of their body and the appurtenant responsibility. It represents the most complete individual training for the psychophysical preparation of golfers.

Smart Movement specific training and its unique approach offers not only injury related training, but also athletic performance training as well. With the Gyrotonic and Reformer training programs we are targeting smaller groups of muscles, muscles crucial for athletic development and overall body health, which are usually not targeted during regular fitness and strength training workouts. These are the muscle groups that make the difference, muscle groups needed in order to build a healthy and strong foundation for further athletic development. For any sport, especially golf, having a healthy and strong body foundation is the key to success and longevity.