It amazes me as every golf tournament on the television, whether it be a PGA, Champions or LPGA event, mentions fitness EVERY single time. I’ve always had the approach if you want to get better at something you must model someone who is at a higher level, and do what they do.

I’m not going to sit hear and say fitness is the “cure-all-end-all”, but for the senior golfer it should be a major focus as this golf demographic has typically seen a massive drop in physical capabilities, both in regard to strength and flexibility.

If the senior golfer does not improve this declining element of golf, they will continue to see a decrease in their performance, which for many also experience a lack of enjoyment for the game they’ve played and enjoyed for decades.

The golf swing requires a certain level of both flexibility and strength if you want to maximize your distance, accuracy and consistency.

For example, if your muscles are tight, and it restricts your ability to make a full backswing, you will have a poor swing sequence, and tension will creep in, creating a quick, short swing that does not all you to hit the sweet spot of your club, resulting in mishits, poor distance and difficulty making pars.

On the other hand if you have a lower level of strength, lets say in your core area, you will not be able to swing the club at a high enough speed to have any amount of distance with your driver. So even if you can make a full backswing, if your core cannot store up that energy (stretch of your abdominals), you will not be able to come down into the ball with any torque (speed).

There is more information than ever for the golfer to be able to do many simple golf exercises, stretches and fitness programs right in their own home with minimal equipment. So there is no excuse to ignore this very important factor of golf improvement.

I know that the majority of golfers put fitness at the bottom of their list, but what price can you put on your health? And do you really want to keep playing golf at a level you know is below your capabilities?

I interact with dozens if not hundreds of golfers a day via the net, and many of them are not satisfied with their golf. The all want to hit it further, and many are playing in pain. That doesn’t sound like a lot of fun to me, but that’s all your choice isn’t it?

Fitness is becoming the norm now with golfers who desire a better swing, with more power. All the young golfers, as well as collegiate, mini-tour and professionals are involved in a golf training program. They all realize they must get their bodies in the very best shape to compete at a higher level.

You may not have those lofty of goals, but I know you probably want more out of your game. That’s the big challenge, is always want to shoot lower scores, and hit that booming drive all your golf buddies talk about after.

Why not make 2012 the year you’re going to get fit for golf?

Golfers looking for golf fitness in Scottsdale can contact me to set up a FREE initial consultation to discuss golf and fitness goals.

I currently work with a few select golfers here in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, privately in their homes, saving the time, so they can practice and play more.

I have designed in-home golf fitness gyms ranging from under $100, to over $10,000, so you do not have to have a current workout room in your home to do a golf fitness program in your home.

We can get started with an exercise ball, tubing, and hand weights (dumbbells), with no requirement to have expensive equipment, as it is not needed to see great results.

My schedule will only permit 1-3 new golf clients, so it will be first come, first serve.

So why not make the best of it right in your office? Why not break of the monotony and possibly boredom with some simple golf stretching exercises that will improve your golf swing power, and eliminate pain from your body.

Look at the stretch below that will improve your backswing.

How To Do It

• Sit upright in your office chair, with chest high and back straight.
• Reach behind you with one arm, which will rotate your upper body.
• While staying very erect, twist as far as you can go and hold.
• Twist the other way and repeat.
• Go both sides 2-3 times, holding for 10 seconds.

The Benefits To Your Golf Swing

• Increase rotation of trunk for an improve “x-factor”.
• Loosen up lower back, to reduce strain and tightness, freeing up golf swing.
• Improve ability to rotate upper body over a “fixed” lower body, like in your swing.

Now look at all those benefits you get in a matter of seconds per day! Isn’t your game and health worth it? Do you think you can take 15 seconds out of your day to do this? Since you’re sitting there reading this, “do it right now”!

If I can get more golfers to realize the nearly instant benefits of golf stretches like these, I’ll be a happy guy!

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I had a little hiccup with my Iphone when I first got it, but I’m loving it now. Just added the PGA Championship Iphone app and it’s pretty cool. Shows streaming videos, what holes the players are on, scoring, a course tour, and a ton of other cool things. And it’s a FREE app!

I have been known (and caught) practicing my golf swing in nearly every place imaginable, but this morning topped them all. I’m not kidding.

This is a true story.

I’m going “number one”; I finish; put the lid down, and proceed to practice my golf swing “over the toilet”. My son took this picture with his cell phone, and I didn’t know it. I’m not kidding! I hope he does not post this on Facebook

I want to hear some of the places you’ve been caught practicing your golf swing. Comment below with your story.

Bought if for $4.99, downloaded it, and tried to watch a golf drill. The screen went blank and now the app does not work AT ALL. What a waste of money. I’m trying to contact support, but have not heard back from anyone. Even joined their Facebook page and wrote on their wall, with no response so far.

Some of the iphone golf apps I do like are:
Stockton Golf – I currently have the putting one.
Golf Channel
PGA Tour

If you know of any others, please comment below and let me know.

UPDATE:

It has been several hours with still NO CONTACT from V1 customer service. At this point I would not recommend this app as it has underperformed to say the least. In fact, actually not even working. Just a black screen when I click on the app on my new iphone.

2nd UPDATE:

They finally responded on their Facebook page. I turned off phone, and that seemed to help. To download one swing of the pros takes quite a while also.

Look at Charles Barkley. An unbelievable professional basketball player, who desperately wants to have a better golf swing, but even with the help of one of the top golf instructors Hank Haney, didn’t improve at all!

So with regards to Barkley what is it? How about MENTAL? Could that be what’s keeping him from hitting solid golf shots? Having all the money in the world, and access to any golf instructor in the world, don’t you think he should have improved by now? I really like Barkley, so I’m not picking on him, but he’s a perfect example of a golfer who is passionate about the game; willing to do whatever it takes; and is STILL not getting better.

They say for every golfer who picks up golf, there’s a golfer who quits the game. Wow! So basically golf is stagnating. I know over in Asia it’s becoming more and more popular, and we are seeing more Asians wining on both the LPGA and PGA Tours.

Improving golf for you may be different than for someone else. Maybe you just want to hit the ball farther? For another golfer, he/she might want to lower their score. Another golfer might just want to make better contact when they hit the ball. It’s wide open as to the definition of playing better golf for each and every golfer.

I’ve always come from the aspect of poor fitness related to lack of improving, but there are a lot of fit people out there who can’t hit a golf ball to save their lives, so I think it’s definitely a combination of swing technique and fitness, especially for the older golfer. I truly believe that the over 50 golfer has diminished physical capabilities, and that is a major reason for lack of improvement. The main culprit is flexibility. A tight body is a weak body. Restriction in the golf swing kills technique and power.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this, so feel free to comment below.

I have always said, “nothing is forever”, and I guess that rings true with Tiger Woods and longtime caddie Steve Williams, as Tiger announced they will no longer be working together. Not a real shocker to me, as Tiger has not played much, and Stevie has to make a living.

I’m sure Steve helped Tiger get through a lot these past few years. And, Stevie has made a lot of money, so they both received from their relationship.

Would love to hear your thoughts below in the comments section.