Taking A Golf Lesson Isnt Always The Answer


Golfers will do anything they can in hopes to play better golf and hit the LONG ball. Am I right? Are you in this category? If so, I'm quite confident to say you've taken a golf lesson or two. Golf lessons can be very effective in getting you back on track, if your swing has gone south. But, not always.

How many times have you taken a golf lesson, only to be more frustrated and hitting the ball worse than before that golf lesson? Do you know why this happens? It can be many different reasons, such as too many swing thoughts; making drastic changes that require hours at the range and hitting thousands of balls; or lastly, your body just can't effectively move in the way it needs to, to make a mechanically correct golf swing.

I'm inclined to say that for the majority of golfers, especially the older golfer, it's the last reason above. Your body just can't move the way it needs to. The question now is, why?

Why can't your body do what you know it needs to do to swing the club correctly? It can drive you to the point of quitting the game. But there is hope. There is an approach that will almost 100% of the time correct this problem. Do you want to know what it is? It's addressing your "physical limitations". That's what's keeping you from a great game of golf.

Do you ever get on the course and just feel like you can't make a full backswing? Or, it just feels impossible to maintain your golf posture and "stay in your swing"? No amount of golf lessons or hitting balls will correct this. This is a "physical" issue with your body, and until you work on it, it will never get better. I've seen it time and time again. Golfers walking off the course in pure disgust. They've taken golf lessons, hit balls at the range, and even bought the latest, greatest titanium drive; and yet still can't play like they think they are capable of.

Finding out your "physical limitations" is the first step to a lifelong better game of golf. Once you find out what's keeping you from making that perfect swing, you can set up a game plan to improve it. It may be a flexibility issue, or it may be a strength issue. But either way, you've got to find out what it is.

The most common issue (especially for the older golfer) is flexibility. Not being able to rotate your body fully on the backswing, creating that power and torque for maximum clubhead speed. If your back swing is cut short, you will LOSE yards on your drives! And I say again; no amount of lessons or hitting balls will make that any better. You've got to do specific golf stretches to improve this limitation.

Now on the other side of these limiting factors is strength, specific to golf. And one of the most common limitations is weak hamstrings (the back of the upper leg). The role of the hamstring is critical. It allows you to maintain your golf posture throughout the swing and for 18 holes. It prevents undo strain on your lower back. And can give you a steady, comfortable position while putting.

If your hamstrings are weak, I can almost say with certainty, you've got some low-back pain or injury. This is prevalent in older golfers and even the younger ones too. Back pain is the number reason to keep a golfer from playing his/her best. Have you ever walked off the course with your back in pain? I'm sure at one time or another you have. Now do you think hitting more balls or taking more lessons will improve this? I think you know the answer.

If you have a difficult time, "staying in your swing", it most definitely could be the above scenario. In order to maintain the forward flex in your upper body (golf posture), your hamstrings need to have optimal strength (and flexibility). If not, your hamstring will send a message to your brain saying, "get out of this position, I can't hold it any longer". Do you think his has ever happened to you?

So working on the physical side of your game improvement may be the missing link. I can assuredly tell you with this approach, your game WILL improve. There is no doubt. Getting your body to move just a little better will make a huge difference in your ability to make an optimal swing for 18 holes. So before you take that next golf lesson, take a look at your BODY first!

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is a respected golf fitness expert, and the author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide, numerous golf fitness tips and founder of several online golf fitness sites. For more information on his new, cutting-edge golf fitness e-book, go to http://www.ultimategolffitnessguide.com.


MORE RESOURCES:


CBS News

Bad Golf Shot Starts Wildfire
AllGov
A bad slice into the rough not only can burn a golf score but also the surrounding terrain. That's what a golfer at Shady Canyon Golf Club in Irvine, ...
Amateur golfer sets golf course on fireGolfonline
Golf swing 'causes 12-acre brush fire'Digital Spy
Another reason to hate golf: it causes brush firesOlogy (blog)
allvoices -Popular Fidelity (blog) -Seattle Times
all 446 news articles »


Columbus Dispatch

Nationwide will end sponsorship of golf tour
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Instead, Nationwide will stay involved in golf starting in 2011 as the presenting sponsor of the Memorial Tournament near its headquarters in Columbus, ...
Nationwide will end golf tour sponsorship in 2012The Associated Press
Golf: Nationwide announces itself as primary sponsor of the MemorialColumbus Dispatch
Sept. 3, 2010: Golf on this day....Montreal Gazette (blog)
bettor.com (blog) -Golf Course Industry Magazine -NewsBlaze
all 234 news articles »


My Fox Boston

Groundskeeper drowns at Lakeville golf course
Boston Globe
An 18-year-old college freshman and former three-sport athlete drowned yesterday at a Lakeville golf course in what appeared to be a ...
Groundskeeper, 18, drowns at Lakeville golf courseBoston Globe
Lakeville 18-year-old drowns in golf course pondSouthCoastToday.com
Teenager drowns at Lakeville golf clubMy Fox Boston

all 7 news articles »


msnbc.com

Area golf column: Courses with bentgrass taking drastic measures
Myrtle Beach Sun News
You may have noticed the final round of the 27th annual Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship was played at the TPC of Myrtle Beach on Friday rather ...
Clemens ties for 18th at World Amateur golf eventThe Associated Press
Winner crowned at World Am golf tournament in MBWMBF
Bobby Perkinson, 74, wins Golf.com World Amateur Handicap ChampionshipGolf.com (blog)
Golf.com -WMBF
all 161 news articles »



News 8 Austin

Treasure Coast golf facilities ready for Patriot Day
TCPalm
By staff report Players will get the opportunity to help the families of military heroes this weekend as the fourth annual Patriot Golf Day is observed at ...
Patriot Golf DayABC7Chicago.com
Bush Hits the Green in Rare AppeareanceFOXNews (blog)
Bush lends his name, game to Patriot Golf Day weekend causeWFAA
KOB.com -Arizona Republic -Marketwire (press release)
all 49 news articles »


Times LIVE

Golf news: Calcavecchia shines at Del Monte after 28 years
bettor.com (blog)
On Friday, he shot an eight-under-par 54, which led to him a two-stroke lead from Tom Pernice Jr. Pernice golf at Pebble beach which is the other course ...
First Tee Open: Couples cruises at Del MonteMonterey County Herald
First Tee Open: Del Monte Golf Course is no pushoverMonterey County Herald
GOLF - Johnson, Day go low at Deutsche BankSan Francisco Chronicle

all 178 news articles »


Sarasota Herald-Tribune (blog)

Golf: Miller unlikely to make cut at Mylan Classic
Marin Independent-Journal
CANONSBURG, Pa. - Branson School grad Zack Miller was still on the course when play was called due to darkness on Friday at the Nationwide Tour's Mylan ...
Palmer visits Mylan ClassicWashington Observer Reporter
Sarasota native Scott Dunlap leads Nationwide Tour eventSarasota Herald-Tribune (blog)

all 56 news articles »


Puyallup's Ryan Moore is one shot behind in Deutsche Bank Championship | Golf
Seattle Times
Zach Johnson and Jason Day shot 8-under 63s for a one-stroke lead over Ryan Moore of Puyallup and seven other golfers after the first round of the Deutsche ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006