| Many of the top touring professionals know that | | | | successful is this approach to golf conditioning? I |
| winning on the tour today takes much more than a | | | | watched it place a green jacket on a well deserving |
| great game of golf. It means understanding every | | | | young player just a couple of years ago. |
| aspect of their physical and mental being and what | | | | What exactly do you test for? |
| factors influence their performance. | | | | Muscle strength. Evaluate each significant muscle |
| Before any golfer, pro or otherwise, picks up a club, | | | | group. Are there any significant differences between |
| they look at the capability of their body versus the | | | | your left side and your right side? |
| requirements of the swing. | | | | Range of Motion. Do you have adequate range of |
| What exactly does this mean? | | | | motion in the joints which most affect the golf |
| Most of us are aware that golf requires rotation at | | | | swing? How does your lower body look versus your |
| the hip joints, shoulder joints and spine. So, what if a | | | | upper body? Does your left side match the flexibility |
| golfer has a very tight low back or any restrictions in | | | | in your right? |
| their shoulders? Well, the obvious answer is that any | | | | Core strength and endurance. Do you know how to |
| loss of range of motion creates swing flaws in | | | | properly engage your core region? If so, for how |
| addition to injuries. This is a fact based on human | | | | long? |
| performance and movement. It is also necessary to | | | | Aerobic capacity and endurance. Do you have what it |
| create a fluid and natural golf swing. Not only does | | | | takes to last through a solid 18 holes? Is there an |
| golf require good rotation at each joint, but it must | | | | opportunity for improvement? |
| be efficient and explosive. | | | | Balance. Do you have proper balance? Do you know |
| Last fall I had the opportunity to visit such a human | | | | what normal balance for golf looks like? |
| performance center where some of the more | | | | Physical assessment tests similar are commonly used |
| famous tour players train. I was able to explore the | | | | by the top touring pros today. These tests are being |
| same tests they take as part of their initial | | | | offered at some of the top golf performance |
| assessment period. Remember since we are all built | | | | centers and will surely be the wave of the future. It |
| differently and have different strengths and | | | | is your true understanding of your relative strengths |
| weaknesses, we all test differently. | | | | and weaknesses that creates opportunities for |
| The results of these tests help guide, direct and | | | | immediate and sound improvement in your game. |
| prioritize any training program moving forward. How | | | | |