| The connection between golf fitness exercises | | | | a physical level. |
| and the short game often times goes | | | | |
| unnoticed. It is usually thought golf fitness | | | | The second problem area indicated by |
| exercises help us generate more clubhead | | | | Christopher with his student's short game |
| speed, add more distance to our drives, hit | | | | centered upon the finite motor skills of |
| longer iron shots, and play more consistently | | | | these shots. These types of shots require a |
| from the fairway. In this mix of benefits the | | | | very high level of motor control. Motor |
| short game is often lost when discussing golf | | | | control is centered upon the interaction of |
| fitness. Believe it or not golf fitness | | | | the brain, nerves, and muscles. It is |
| exercises can benefit your short game in a | | | | essentially your brain telling your body what |
| big way. | | | | to do, how to do it, and in what order. This |
| | | | is a result of your brain coordinating |
| The idea of golf fitness exercises and their | | | | movements of your muscles through the nervous |
| benefit to short game play came into focus | | | | system. The execution of your brain "telling |
| during a conversation with PGA Teaching | | | | your body what to do" can be either efficient |
| professional Christopher Smith. Christopher | | | | or inefficient. |
| is a great instructor; he works with Nike | | | | |
| Golf, is rated as a top instructor in the | | | | If your brain, nervous system, and muscles |
| Pacific Northwest, and was recently featured | | | | are operating efficiently, the execution of |
| in Golf Digest Magazine. Not to long ago | | | | finite motor control movements such as short |
| Christopher and I filmed a couple of golf | | | | game shots are easy. On the other hand, if |
| instruction videos together. One of the | | | | your brain telling your nerves, and |
| videos was on the short game. | | | | consequently your muscles what to do is |
| | | | inefficient. The execution of finite motor |
| The video we filmed was not your "typical" | | | | control movements, again such as short game |
| short game video. Where we instructed you to | | | | shots will be more difficult. |
| place your feet here, clubface in this | | | | |
| position, hands forward of the ball, etc, | | | | I told Christopher motor control is the |
| etc. It was a much better approach in the | | | | second area in which golf fitness exercises |
| video and discussed concepts of the short | | | | can be of benefit to the short game. The |
| game. Christopher presented ways to think | | | | types of golf fitness exercise beneficial to |
| about short game shots, and processes to | | | | the short game are balance exercises. Balance |
| improve your short game. | | | | exercises are a type of golf fitness |
| | | | exercises. |
| One area he touched upon was how finite of an | | | | |
| athletic action chipping and pitching are in | | | | These types of golf fitness exercises |
| the big picture. For example, the muscular | | | | incorporate your brain, nerves, and muscles. |
| strength in the hands, forearms, and wrists | | | | They have many benefits when it comes to the |
| are integral parts of the short game. In | | | | golf swing. Outside the benefit of creating |
| addition so are the motor skills of the | | | | higher levels of muscular strength and |
| nerves and muscles coordinating the movements | | | | endurance, these exercises assist in motor |
| involved in such golf shots. | | | | control. |
| | | | |
| Christopher's question to me in the video was | | | | Let me explain, we understand motor control |
| in relation to these exact topics. He flat | | | | is the interaction of your brain, nerves, and |
| out asked me: | | | | muscles. The interaction can either be |
| | | | efficient or inefficient. Efficient motor |
| "Sean, are there golf fitness exercises that | | | | control is good, especially for finite |
| can help in the short game? I find as an | | | | muscular activities such as short game shots. |
| instructor, physical limitations are showing | | | | Golf fitness balance exercises "challenge" |
| up in some of my student's short game. This | | | | your nervous and muscular system interaction. |
| is limiting their ability to perform chips, | | | | Over time as these two systems are |
| pitches, and most shots from 100 yards in. | | | | "challenged" through exercise they become |
| What are your thoughts?" | | | | more efficient. Essentially they operate |
| | | | together more efficiently. Resulting in |
| I told Christopher there are absolutely golf | | | | higher levels of motor control and the |
| fitness exercises that can benefit any | | | | ability to execute finite motor skills (i.e. |
| golfer's short game. I first discussed the | | | | short game golf shots). |
| hands, wrists, and forearms. To perform chip | | | | |
| shots and pitches the hands, wrists, and | | | | So lets summarize this discussion between |
| forearms come into play. In order to execute | | | | Christopher Smith and myself. Golf fitness |
| such shots consistently and correctly a level | | | | exercises are often overlooked as a benefit |
| of strength is needed within these muscles. | | | | to short game shots. The reality is different |
| If the muscles within these parts of the body | | | | than many individuals think. Golf fitness |
| are weak and lack endurance, the ability to | | | | exercises can assist the golfer's short game |
| set the hands where they need to be, and hold | | | | on a physical level. It does this in two |
| the clubface in the correct position can be | | | | ways; golf fitness exercises increase the |
| compromised. | | | | strength in the muscles involved in short |
| | | | game shots. Secondly, the short game is a |
| I said the easiest way to correct this | | | | finite motor control activity. Golf fitness |
| problem on a physical level is to implement a | | | | balance exercises can improve a golfer's |
| series of golf fitness exercises for the | | | | motor control abilities, allowing them to |
| hands, wrists, and forearms. These exercises | | | | execute finite activities such as short game |
| will increase the muscular strength and | | | | shots with greater ease. Bottom line, golf |
| endurance in these body parts. The end result | | | | fitness exercises can benefit every aspect of |
| will be an improvement in their short game on | | | | the golf swing and the amateur's golf game. |