In May, a new book, Golf Anatomy (Human Kinetics, May 2010), by Dr. Craig Davies and Dr. Dr. Vince DiSaia will provide golfers further proof that their greatest improvement will come through fitness. According to Dr. Davies, golfers devote little time and effort to improving their bodies’ ability to properly execute the golf swing. Says Davies, "Without this key ingredient, a golfer not only will fall short of his potential but will also put himself at high risk of injury."
More Power, Better Results on the Golf Course
The golf swing generates an astounding amount of torque. It’s more powerful than the collision of two football players, yet flexibility, strength and overall fitness are often overlooked keys to lasting improvement and performance. "When attempting to improve their game, golfers spend endless time and money on clubs and lessons without first improving the most efficient tool available to them: their own bodies," Davies explains. "Faster and more lasting gains in distance, accuracy, and consistency can be achieved by improving physical fitness to allow the body to perform the necessary movements for an effective, powerful golf swing."
During the golf swing, and particularly over time, the spine is subjected to a high degree of unnatural stress. By helping their bodies to become fit, golfers can help prevent the risk of spine injury due to such intense pressure on the golfer’s back during the swing. According to Human Kinetics, forces created in the golf swing produce up to eight times a golfer's body weight in compressive forces to the spine. "Inability to withstand such forces will lead to dangerous compensations, poor swing technique, and injury," Davies says. "Fitness helps prevent injury and promotes optimal performance on the golf course."
Knowledge Plus Fitness
Getting physically fit isn’t the sole answer. Even golfers who include a golf-specific fitness regimen as part of practice are often unsure of what muscles are actually used in golf and how they affect each swing. "This leaves golfers with an incomplete knowledge base and does not allow for workouts executed with specific purpose and in direct relation to the golf swing itself," says Davies. In Golf Anatomy, Davies, Director of Nutrition and Fitness for the Core Golf Academy at Orange County National Golf in Orlando, Florida, and DiSaia, strength and conditioning specialist and chiropractor specializing in fitness and therapy for elite golf performance, link fitness and golf through anatomical illustrations of golf-specific exercises. According to the publisher, each chapter of the upcoming book progressively develops the key components of a good swing: mobility, stability, balance, body awareness, strength, and power. The book also includes a chapter on injury prevention for the lower back, elbows, wrists, shoulders, and hips-common problem areas for golfers.
"Once fitness is achieved, swing lessons become more efficient, new clubs hit farther than ever, and golf ultimately becomes much more fun," says Davies. Think of it, fitness, a better understanding of the golf swing, and new equipment could create a new prototype of super-golfers. The book is eagerly awaited.
Source:
Alan L. Hammond - In addition to his Suite 101 Golf coverage, Alan is an editor and writer for SportsMD Media LLC, which publishes GolfersMD.com and ...
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