The Ideal Exercises For Senior Golfers

The really tricky part about exercises for senior golfers, and getting them to do, is the fact they often suffer from various ailments and pains in various parts of their bodies.

It is like having to deal with the overworked engine of an aging car. Things always seem to go wrong all the time and there is always one problem after another. The situation is a little similar with older golfers.

Still, exercises for senior golfers have been known to have a major impact on their game. I have worked with golfers who are as old as 80 years and I can say with confidence that exercises have done a great deal for many senior golfers.

We’ve had cases where stretch exercises have helped ease and in some cases have completely eliminated nagging back pains in senior golfers.

The good thing about golf exercises is that they are not a burden in any way and they are usually quite easy to do. They are not a reserve of the young and physically fit.

In fact the exercises are designed for the unfit, to help the physically unfit attain a level of fitness that will impact on their golf game.

The exercise regime for senior golfers is therefore exactly the same one used for younger golfers and even the youngest ones.

It typically involves both stretch exercises and weight training designed to strengthen the muscles and parts of your body used for golf. The amazing thing is that in golf, you use a vast majority of the muscles in your entire body, right from the feet to the neck.

The result is that exercises for senior golfers not only help them dramatically improve their game of golf, but they also greatly assist them in living a better quality life with the aches and pains eliminated or at least greatly reduced.

This is proof enough that the impact of exercises for senior golfers on their lives goes well beyond the golf course.

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness swing trainers in the country, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds and manual at his proper golf swing site - Perform Better Golf.
Tags: golf, golfing, golfers, senior golfers

Why do Injuries Occur in Golf?

Injuries occur in all athletic events quite frequently, certain sports more so than others. Golf is no different than any other sport. The severity of injuries in golf usually are not as severe as in other sports. The scenario of a 300 lb. defensive lineman slamming into the side of your knee tearing every possible ligament structure in the knee will never happen in the sport of golf. An interesting visual if you combined the sports of football and golf onto the same playing field, but inappropriate for this paper.

There are two types of injuries classified by professionals in the fields of athletic training and sports medicine. The two types of injuries are: 1) acute and 2) chronic. The above example of the football player is classified as an acute injury. An acute injury can be defined as the trauma in the body occurring immediately after the injury. Refer to the football player example above for a reminder. (For us older golfers, remember Joe Theisman of the Redskins and Lawrence Taylor’s leg breaking tackle? Acute injury.) Relating an acute injury to golf is a little more difficult. Probably the easiest, and maybe most the common, acute injury in golf, occurs while swinging and you hit a rock or something that creates an injury to your wrist. That would be the best example in the sport of golf of an acute injury. Overall, acute injuries tend to be rare in golf because contact by the body with external forces is rare.

My back is always killing me!

The second type of injury, chronic, is much more prevalent when it comes to the sport of golf. A chronic injury is one that occurs over time. Think of it as a “wear and tear” injury. These are usually the result of the body breaking down over time. A great sports example outside of golf is when you hear about a baseball pitcher having tendonitis in the elbow. Tendonitis is an inflammation of the elbow resulting from the stresses placed upon it from throwing. Over time the elbow becomes tired and eventually injured from the number of pitches thrown. If you are a runner and, after a certain amount of time, your knees begin to hurt, this is usually a chronic injury. When we talk about golf, the majority of injuries are chronic. They tend to be a direct result of the golf swing (just like the pitcher’s elbow). Usually the chronic injuries in golf show up in the lower back. If chronic injuries are caught soon enough in the cycle, rest and proper treatment (i.e. massage, chiropractic care) will heal them. But if you wait too long the body is going to “break,” and then you will not be playing any golf for a long time. This is where the unfortunate situation of surgery and other invasive procedures are considered.

So a couple of questions we must ask when it comes to chronic injuries in relation to golf are: how do they occur, and how do we prevent them? Chronic injuries occur as a result of the body becoming fatigued and eventually “breaking down.” The muscles, ligaments, and tendons of your body are required to perform the activity of swinging a golf club. Over time this activity causes fatigue within your body. As the body continues to fatigue, or get tired, the body gets sore. This is the first indicator of a developing chronic injury. If you continue with the activity you’re participating in, with soreness in the body, eventually your body will break down. This “break down” will be in the form of maybe a pulled muscle, muscle stiffness, tightness, or some other type of inflammation. All of the above examples are a result of structures in your body breaking down from fatigue and overuse. Even if just on one swing you feel “your back go out,” nine out of ten times it is a chronic injury, and that last swing was the “piece of straw that broke the camel’s back.”

How to Prevent Chronic Injuries in Golf

We all know that the golf swing is a repetitive movement, meaning the body is performing the same activity over and over again. This creates fatigue in the body over time. And if over time our body can’t support the number of swings we are taking, it is eventually going to break down. There are three variables we have when it comes to the prevention of chronic injuries in golf. Number one is workloads. Workloads can be defined as the number of swings that the body takes with a club over a given period of time. That time frame can be seven days or an entire tour season. Number two is efficiency of your mechanics. When we say “efficiency of mechanics” we are talking about how biomechanically correct your individual swing is. “Why is this important?” you ask. Let me tell you. I think most of us would agree that the tour players have very “efficient” swings; their swings are smooth and look almost effortless. A swing like this asks less out of the body to perform and requires less effort from the muscles; hence fatiguing levels in the body are lower. Some amateur swings look like they take a lot of work to perform, and in reality they do! These types of swings ask a lot more out of the body and fatigue it more quickly. The final variable is what we term “golf strength.” Golf strength is a measure of the required levels of flexibility, strength, endurance, balance, and power to successfully support the mechanics of the swing. Large amounts of golf strength allow the body to support an efficient swing. Low levels of golf strength do not provide the support needed for the swing.

Workloads, Swing Mechanics, and Golf Strength

All three of these variables work together to determine if you are a candidate for a chronic golf injury. Golf strength is essentially the foundation upon which your swing is built. This variable indicates how many times you can swing a golf club with your current mechanics before you come up injured. If you have high levels of golf strength then regardless of how efficient of a swing you have, you will be able to play for quite awhile before you get sore. The flip side can also be said. If you have low levels of golf strength, regardless of your swing mechanics, you will come up sore in a shorter amount of time.

Secondly, let us look at swing mechanics. If you are a player that has a very efficient swing that places very little stress on the body, you will undoubtedly be able to play many rounds before your body starts screaming at you. Again, if you have poor mechanics, it is going to take its toll on your body and your game.

Finally, we have workloads (i.e. number of swings). The number of swings one makes must match up with levels of golf strength and swing mechanics. The golf swing is a “stressor” of the body and breaks it down over time. If you have an efficient swing, each swing does less “damage” to the body. If you have a poor swing, the body has to work harder, thus fatiguing it more quickly. In addition to this is golf strength. If you have high levels of golf strength, you can swing the club more (i.e. workloads) before you get tired. Low levels of golf strength present the situation of the body’s fatiguing more quickly. “So what is the magic formula?” you ask. My first suggestion is twofold: 1) work on your swing to improve the efficiency of it, and 2) increase your levels of golf strength in order to support your swing. For the time being, match up your swing and golf strength levels to determine what workload levels you can get out of your body. If you are in need of some more information on the golf strength side of the equation, take a look at www.bioforcegolf.com.

About the Author

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the web site www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.
Tags: golf, golfing, golfers, golf swing

Fitness Components For Golf

The fitness components for golf are a select few, but they are critical to a golfers success. The golf swing is a physically demanding movement on the human body. It involves coordination, balance, stability, muscular strength and endurance, and dynamic sequence of motion just to name a few.

Do you think a body that is physically broken can accomplish a mechanically sound repeatable swing?

Based on the physical requirements of a mechanically good golf swing… NO way! It is a physical impossibility to have a repeatable swing for 18 holes unless… you have implemented the fitness components for golf within a consistent program.

When you isolate your golf swing muscles… stretch and strengthen them… and improve the efficiency of sequencing your motions throughout the swing… you will no doubt be a massively improved golfer for the long term.

Isn’t that what you are really looking for?

I’m sure you don’t expect to be a single digit golfer if you are currently a 20 handicap. But wouldn’t it be nice to shoot in the low 80’s once in a while? How about consistently? It’s a reality if you take the fitness approach for golf.

For most of you in the U.S. it’s winter time. There’s no better time than RIGHT NOW to start implementing the fitness components for golf into your routine. You’ve got the extra time… and you DO want to play better next spring right?

Then get to it!

If I seem to be yelling… I AM! I really want you to listen to what I’m saying and apply it. Don’t be overwhelmed… I’m here in the flesh to help you in any way I can.

It’s my lifelong passion to educate golfers on the importance of the machine (body) in optimal golf performance.

Work on the “machine” and your game will skyrocket!

I played with a gentleman the other day that had every limitation in the book. And guess what? He could barely get the ball airborne. He was SO frustrated and embarrassed. I took him aside and gave him a little pep talk.

We only had a few holes left and I told him to RELAX and let his muscles do the work… with no thought at all.

I’m not kidding you… he parred the next hole (his first par of the day). Bogeyed the next (but he was still happy). And parred the very last hole! It was like night and day.

He had SO much tension in his swing… he had no chance to created any torque and power. I gave him my card after the round… an low and behold… he went home and bought ALL my golf fitness dvds AND my manual.

I personally called him and spent another 30 minutes on the phone with him.

He is now on his way to implementing the fitness components for golf into his “daily” life.

I tell you this story to give you hope!

Don’t give up! It’s not too late!

Hang in there and work on your machine. Trust me on this. It’s critical you pay attention to the fitness components for golf.

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf performance swing trainers in the country. Golf Magazine's expert at GolfOnline.com, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf performance sites. Take a look at his just released golf performance dvds and manual at his golf fitness training site - Perform Better Golf.
Tags: golf, golfing, golf fitness

Why A Consistent Professional Golf Swing Is So Elusive

A professional golf swing. It is the dream and deep desire of every golfer to be able to consistently execute a professional golf swing every time they play almost at will.

Indeed many spend a lot of time practicing hours on end to perfect their professional golf swing. Still, success remains elusive despite the hours spent in practice and maybe even in coaching sessions as well.

Yet there is no doubt that a professional golf swing is at the heart of the game and it is not possible to expect to play a reasonably good game of golf if one is not able to produce a consistent and good professional golf swing.

Golfers like Tiger Woods have been the subject of studies that show that their professional golf swing not only produces much longer drives but is consistent.

When Tiger Woods entered professional golf for the first time, he was at the tender of age of 20 and he played a major role in ushering in the modern exercise program golfer.

The research on the Likes of Tiger Woods has confirmed beyond any doubt that the high level of performance by these golfers can be traced back to their exercise training programs.

Golf strength training and golf stretch exercise programs are at the heart of a consistent professional golf swing in the modern game.

This is the reason why virtually every professional today is involved in some serious exercise program and many have personal trainers. This is a thing that was unheard of in golf only a few short years ago but is today widespread.

Despite all the tips and practice you have put in to improve your game chances are that a professional golf swing will remain elusive for you if you do not pay attention to your golf fitness and golf exercises to build up your golf strength and endurance.

About The Author:  Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness swing trainers in the country, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds and manual at his proper golf swing site - Perform Better Golf.
Tags: golf, golfing, golfers, golf swing

A Better Golf Swing Is Inevitable

A better golf swing is inevitable…for any golfer, with the right approach. It doesn’t matter age or ability. It’s a reality…and can happen very quickly!

To achieve a better golf swing, a golfer needs to realize just how physically demanding it is on the human body. You are swing an object (golf club) at up to 100 mph. This puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles.

If these tissues of the body are weak, tight or brittle they will rupture and eliminate you from playing golf indefinitely. If it doesn’t, your performance will pay the price. The outcome either way is not what you want…but will happen without an emphasis on strengthening these areas.

Along with strengthening comes stretching. Stretching muscles to attain a better golf swing is common among most golfers. Although it is common, most golfers don’t stretch. Why? Because it is viewed as ‘work’. But if it were viewed as a form of golf improvement it would be a different story.

Swing mechanics cannot be improved if your golf specific strength and flexibility are ignored. It is an impossibility, unless you compensate for this lack of capabilities in your golf swing. Teaching pros are now starting to realize there is a definite connection between golf swing mechanics and fitness.

But that’s where the BIG gap is. Between instruction and physical fitness. This is the ultimate combination for total golf performance and I have been preaching it for several years now. When your physical capabilities are improved, your golf swing mechanics become much easier to achieve.

The next time you visit your teaching pro, to achieve a better golf swing, you’ll be able to do what he/she wants and the desired outcome will be achieved. This outcome is inevitable when you get your body moving better. Your golf swing mechanics fall into place.

It will only be a matter of time when all golfers will approach their golf improvement this way. It’s the only way that will warrant lasting results and ultimately a better golf swing.

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf fitness experts in the country. He is Golf Magazine's golf performance expert; author, and founder of several cutting-edge online golf performance sites. Take a look at his just released golf performance dvds and manual at his golf swing tips site - Perform Better Golf.
Tags: golf, golfing, golfers, golf swing

Your Best Golf Swing Can Really Happen

Your best golf swing is achievable. If you’re like most golfers, you’ve been on the hunt for your best golf swing for a long time. The key question is… have you found it yet? If not, it’s time to take a different approach to achieve it.

We know swing mechanics are very high on the list. And to achieve this takes a general understanding of the golf swing. You don’t have to become a fanatic to learn proper swing mechanics, but if you don’t have a clue, you might want to get a book or take a lesson from a credible teaching pro.

When it comes to accomplishing your best golf swing, equipment doesn’t even play a role. Remember… we are talking about your golf swing, not distance or power.

The approach you need to take to finally get your best golf swing is one that is focused on “your machine”. You! Your body dictates how effective your swing mechanics will be.

Do you agree?

When you have physical limitations such as lack of core strength or tight hamstrings; it will be virtually impossible to make your best golf swing on the course. You may hit a good one every 10 or so swings, but you won’t be able to consistently repeat it for 18 holes.

Every golfer has his/her own limitations they need to find out about. One person could be very tight from a golf flexibility standpoint, and the next person could have weak shoulder muscles and can’t control the club at the top of the backswing.

Getting a physical assessment specific to golf is your first step in achieving your best golf swing. Once you recognize what your limitations are, you can devise a program to improve them.

Now you’re on your way to a repeatable swing that holds up for 18 holes and under pressure too! The minute you decide to work on “your machine”, you won’t look back. You will become a powerful and very accurate golfer, who is beating the pants off the rest of the players in your foursome.

Golf will become enjoyable again!

You will no longer be in search of your best golf swing!

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf performance swing trainers in the country. Golf Magazine's expert at GolfOnline.com, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf performance sites. Take a look at his just released golf performance dvds and manual at his golf swing training site - Perform Better Golf.

Tags: golf, golfing, golfers, golf swing

A Golf Driver Tip To Remember by Mike Pedersen

Every golfer wants to know the best golf driver tip. I hate to disappoint you but there are many great golf driver tips that could be the key to unlocking monster drives for you. Every month the golf magazines have dozens of tips in them, but none of them get to the root of the problem.

If I were to get the opportunity to write a golf driver tip for a magazine, I’d say something against the norm. Something teaching instructors wouldn’t want to hear. Do you want to know what it is? It’s not some quick fix, because they never work long-term. The “only” thing that works long-term is working on you.

Your body has a current level of physical ability. I don’t care how many balls you hit at the range; how many lessons you take; and what driver you’re swinging. Hitting the ball further takes an increase in clubhead speed. Period. So hitting more balls or taking more lessons won’t improve this.

The only thing that can improve clubhead speed is strengthening your core rotational strength and flexibility. Your core is the engine to your swing. A weak or inflexible core will not give you the results you are looking for.

The golf swing a turn back and a turn through. Isn’t that about as simple as you can make it? If that’s true, why wouldn’t you improve your body’s ability to rotate quicker and more powerfully? This is the ticket to longer drives!

There are many simple, yet effective core rotational exercises you can do in your home, or even office to greatly improve your clubhead speed and driving distance.

Do you want an easy one you can do right in your chair?

Cross your arms in front of your chest. Sit up tall and erect. With a fixed head position, rotate to the right and left slowly. See how far you can go. Do this without stopping. As you feel a loosening of the core, start to rotate faster and faster. Do this 20 or 30 times when you think about it and I guarantee you’ll feel it.

Since time is such a valuable commodity, you’ve got to get creative. I’ve put together a complete section of my manual that covers simples stretches and exercises you can do right in your chair in your office. You can’t get more convenient than that.

I hope I didn’t disappoint you with this golf driver tip.

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf performance swing trainers in the country. Golf Magazine's expert at GolfOnline.com, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf performance sites. Take a look at his just released golf performance dvds and manual at his golf swing tips site - Perform Better Golf.

Tags: golf

Golf Apparel - The Start Of Good Golf Etiquette

Many of us recall old movie images of golfers in plaid pants, sweater vests, billed caps, and other stereotypical apparel of golfing lore. While clothing on golf courses has changed over the years, proper golf apparel is still expected. And the greater the prestige of the golf club, the greater the expectation you will abide by their dress code.

Most clubs and courses, even the public ones, require that golfers follow a dress code. The most common rule is the collared shirt. Many courses require long pants, not jeans, and golf shoes.

5 Minutes Early Is Late

When it comes to actually starting your game, the primary rule of etiquette is to show up on schedule for your tee time. That means you will have already done everything else in preparation for the start of the golf game. You'll need time to park your car, warm up, practice, buy balls, change, and pick up a cart. Being early is a matter of consideration for others.

Leave Cell Phones In The Real World

The exclusion of cell phones from golf apparel is another common courtesy on the links. Cell phones should be left in your car or locker. If you do need to bring 1 onto the course for emergencies, keep it turned off.

When you're on the course, you'll need to understand how the other golfers in your group want to play. Some let the best score tee off on the next hole, while others let whoever is ready tee off first. You can offend players by not following their rules, even if their rules are, from your perspective, wrong.

Time-Honored Conventions Make Golfing Unique

An obsession with quiet is another characteristic for which golfers are known. Like most traditions, this one is based on necessity. When your object is to hit a small object with a long pole, you need all of your concentration. Even when golfing with friends, respect the fundamental rule of keeping quiet during shots, and standing out of the direct line of vision.

Today's golfing rules of etiquette can seem archaic -- a throwback to days of old. They harken back to a slower paced time when consideration for others was perhaps easier. In the 21st century, golfing provides us a time away from the bustle of everyday living. Though golf is highly competitive, it is, nonetheless, a gentleman's -- and gentlewoman's -- game.

Visit Golf Gear to learn more. Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.

Want to Play Extraordinary Golf? by: Jan Peterson

Think about what you normally do before you start a round of golf with your friends. Are you running your kids across town to soccer practice? Are you still sleepy from the poor night's rest you had? Are you all jazzed up on 6 cups of coffee? Are you nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs because you've been chili dipping the ball? No doubt you are in some state of mind before you start your round of golf. And more often than not, I would be willing to bet my Ben Hogan autographed book that it is the wrong frame of mind.

I know you have a busy life. But the key is to get into the right frame of mind before you step onto the first tee box. How do you do this? Well, let me just say that it is not always easy and takes practice to get into the right frame of mind. So don't be frustrated or disappointed in yourself if it takes a little while. Remember this is a game and it is supposed to be fun. Why else would you be out there paying big bucks to hit a little white ball into a tiny tin cup?

The first thing is to find out where your head is at least a half hour before you start your round. Are you feeling mad at your boss, frustrated with the kids? Did you just have a tiff with your spouse or did some crazy person just try to run you off the road? Are you having jitters because you've been topping the ball or are you playing for big bucks with your buddies? Any and all of these things have an affect on you and your game. The pros know this and you need to as well.

So, what are some things you can do to get in the right frame of mind? For me, being relaxed, confident and having positive energy flowing through my body is key. You may be a little different. My question to you is how did you feel inside when you played your best round of golf? Think about it and go back to that time and place. All was right with the World for you wasn't it? But what about it was right? What were the feelings you had? Were you relaxed? Were you confident? Were you having fun? Did you trust your golf swing? Were you enjoying your golf partners?

Here are some of the things I noticed about myself when I played my best rounds:

* I felt excited to be playing and what nervousness I might have had was in the background of my mind
* I was happy to be playing a round of golf with my friends and didn't worry that they might laugh at me if I sliced the ball
* I felt a sense of calmness inside that couldn't be shaken
* I felt confident, energized and happy to be out on the golf course amid the tree-lined fairways and beautifully manicured greens.
* I felt worry free and joked with my golfing partners
* I felt the magic of being alive and knew instinctively that I was going to strike the golf ball purely.
* My mind wasn't cluttered with a zillion thoughts; instead there was focus and quietness
* My body felt relaxed, rested and healthy
* For lack of a better word, I was in the Zone

Let's say that you are a nervous wreck with eighteen million thoughts, mostly negative, scurrying around in your head. How do you get from point A, the worry wart to Point B, the focused golfer? Again, if this is your normal state before you play a round of golf, don't expect to change this overnight. It is a process.

First, identify what is the norm for you. Are you usually just rushing from work to go play golf and your mind is somewhere else? Or is it that you have been struggling with your game and fear is almost paralyzing you? Identifying your state of mind before you play golf is key. I don't mean to get all psychological on you but golf is very much a mental game! There is no cure-all golf gizmo or one right way to swing a club. Even if there was, your mind would interfere.

If you are having trouble identifying what you are feeling or how you are being before a round of golf, then your first step is to pay attention to yourself. It can be a hard thing to do. Sometimes we get so busy in our daily lives that there just doesn't seem to be time to stop and look at ourselves. One way to find out what your feeling or thinking is to be quiet for 5 minutes. Listen and learn.

I noticed that for myself when I am tired, nervous or rushed I generally tend to play a poor round of golf. I have arrived at a point in my game where I can usually shake those feelings or state of mind before the round begins. And you will learn to do this too with some practice. The one I still feel challenged by is when I feel out of sync, or out of rhythm. It's like some uncoordinated teenager has possessed my body and wreaks havoc with my game. Those are the rounds where I just do my very best to stay centered and play a safe game. I know I won't break any records but I also know that I won't spend the day in the woods hunting for my golf ball!

Here are some ideas on how to get into a different state of mind:

Listen to your favorite music
Pay attention to your golf partners
Do something nice for someone else
Sing or Hum a tune
Visualize your best round of golf
Think about your best memories in life
Talk with a good friend
Tell jokes
Laugh
Meditate
Visualize mastering the challenging holes
Walk the course and notice your beautiful surroundings
Think about the times you felt most confident

So how do you get from one state, let's say rushed, to a more relaxed calm state? I have had times when I have been running 90mph before a game of golf and my mind is keeping pace with my body. I know that if I keep that pace, my golf game will suffer. I use whatever trick seems to work at that moment. Taking deep breaths is always a good start. Swinging my club between my finger tips at a slow easy pace can be calming and creates tempo. Looking at the beauty of the golf course can be relaxing and uplifting, especially if I was caught in a traffic jam. You will have to practice what works for you. The one thing that always gets me in the zone is to replay one of my best rounds in my mind along with the feelings I had. I can't help but smile and feel good.

Jan Andersen is the author of The Little Book of Golf Secrets. Her new top rated book offers powerful information on how to lower your golf score with simple but effective techniques. Given high recommendations by two PGA and LPGA Golf Tour Professionals. A Must Read for any golfer! Results are guaranteed. You may locate this book at http://www.thelittlebookofgolfsecrets.com.

About The Author:

Jan Andersen has written a new book called The Little Book of Golf Secrets. It is given two big thumbs up from Nina Foust, LPGA Tour Professional. A Must read! You may learn more by visiting http://www.thelittlebookofgolfsecrets.com