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Golf Fitness Exercises To Help Your Short Game

The connection between golf fitness exercisesa  physical  level.
and the short game often times goes
unnoticed. It is usually thought golf fitnessThe second problem area indicated by
exercises help us generate more clubheadChristopher with his student's short game
speed, add more distance to our drives, hitcentered upon the finite motor skills of
longer iron shots, and play more consistentlythese shots. These types of shots require a
from the fairway. In this mix of benefits thevery high level of motor control. Motor
short game is often lost when discussing golfcontrol is centered upon the interaction of
fitness. Believe it or not golf fitnessthe brain, nerves, and muscles. It is
exercises can benefit your short game in aessentially 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 theirmovements of your muscles through the nervous
benefit to short game play came into focussystem. The execution of your brain "telling
during a conversation with PGA Teachingyour body what to do" can be either efficient
professional Christopher Smith. Christopheror  inefficient.
is a great instructor; he works with Nike
Golf, is rated as a top instructor in theIf your brain, nervous system, and muscles
Pacific Northwest, and was recently featuredare operating efficiently, the execution of
in Golf Digest Magazine. Not to long agofinite motor control movements such as short
Christopher and I filmed a couple of golfgame shots are easy. On the other hand, if
instruction videos together. One of theyour 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 toshots  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 thesecond area in which golf fitness exercises
video and discussed concepts of the shortcan be of benefit to the short game. The
game. Christopher presented ways to thinktypes of golf fitness exercise beneficial to
about short game shots, and processes tothe 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 inThese types of golf fitness exercises
the big picture. For example, the muscularincorporate your brain, nerves, and muscles.
strength in the hands, forearms, and wristsThey have many benefits when it comes to the
are integral parts of the short game. Ingolf swing. Outside the benefit of creating
addition so are the motor skills of thehigher levels of muscular strength and
nerves and muscles coordinating the movementsendurance, these exercises assist in motor
involved  in  such  golf  shots.control.
Christopher's question to me in the video wasLet me explain, we understand motor control
in relation to these exact topics. He flatis 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 thatcontrol is good, especially for finite
can help in the short game? I find as anmuscular activities such as short game shots.
instructor, physical limitations are showingGolf fitness balance exercises "challenge"
up in some of my student's short game. Thisyour 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 golfhigher levels of motor control and the
fitness exercises that can benefit anyability to execute finite motor skills (i.e.
golfer's short game. I first discussed theshort  game  golf  shots).
hands, wrists, and forearms. To perform chip
shots and pitches the hands, wrists, andSo lets summarize this discussion between
forearms come into play. In order to executeChristopher Smith and myself. Golf fitness
such shots consistently and correctly a levelexercises 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 bodythan many individuals think. Golf fitness
are weak and lack endurance, the ability toexercises can assist the golfer's short game
set the hands where they need to be, and holdon a physical level. It does this in two
the clubface in the correct position can beways; 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 thisfinite motor control activity. Golf fitness
problem on a physical level is to implement abalance exercises can improve a golfer's
series of golf fitness exercises for themotor control abilities, allowing them to
hands, wrists, and forearms. These exercisesexecute finite activities such as short game
will increase the muscular strength andshots with greater ease. Bottom line, golf
endurance in these body parts. The end resultfitness exercises can benefit every aspect of
will be an improvement in their short game onthe golf swing and the amateur's golf game.



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