Golf fitness has become more popular and mainstream over the past several years and is now part of the majority of PGA, LPGA and Long drive professional's programs. It has also started to gain more traction among amateur golfers as well. When you think of golf fitness you probably think of golfers such as Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau. All of these golfers have prioritized fitness and look the part as well. However, I will hear counter arguments for why you don't need to be fit to be a good golfer.
One of the most common examples I will hear is John Daly. I get it, John Daly is a ways off from being the posterchild for fitness and health, and he still managed to become a major champion and among the best golfers in the world. However, I think this example highlights some of the misconceptions about what it means to be fit for golf versus being physically fit. What if I told you that despite some of his other unhealthy behaviors John Daly is actually more fit for golf than you think? It might sound crazy, but keep reading as we clarify about what it means to be fit for golf and some of the common misconceptions about golf fitness.
So what exactly does it mean to be fit for golf?
When you typically think of fitness you naturally associate it with physical appearance and looking fit. However, being fit for golf doesn't necessarily require you to look physically fit or 'in shape'. So how can you look out of shape, yet be fit for golf? The sport of golf has unique physical demands compared to general fitness and other sports such as football or basketball. What qualifies as fit in those situations doesn't necessarily translate to golf. When we are examining your fitness for golf we are looking at your body's physical ability to get into the positions of the golf swing and delivery power explosively and consistently, in the same way. Thanks to organizations such as the Titleist Performance Institute we can now better understand and evaluate the physical requirements for golf and the physical capabilities of the best golfers in the world.
How do you think you would stack up if I asked you to challenge John Daly in a golf fitness evaluation looking at flexibility, balance, coordination, strength and power relative to golf? Most of us would not come close to having these same physical capabilities that allowed him to become one of the best golfers in the world and have the swing speed and power that he possesses.
Does this mean that there is no value in golfers being physically fit or in shape?
No and I hope this is not the takeaway from reading this post. Obviously there are many benefits to living a healthy lifestyle and being physically active that go beyond the golf course. However, don't assume that just because you are spending more time in the gym that it will automatically translate to the results you are looking for on the golf course.
If you are interested in becoming more 'fit for golf' or learning more about our golf fitness programs please contact us.
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