Golf season is here! With the 2024 PGA Championship in Louisville, local golfers are excited for the sport and ready to improve their game. Most golfers start the season believing this will be their best year yet – the year they break that magic number. Whether it is the first time breaking 100 or the first time shooting par, there is an excitement that comes with a new season of golf.
With this excitement comes a golfer’s new commitment to fitness, golf lessons, regular practice and a thoughtful plan for improvement. All these elements are terrific but the quality of the plan and the determination of the individual to follow through is critical. For swing instructions and assessment to determine the need for a tune-up, golfers can reach out to their local PGA professional. However, for fitness and physical limitations in their game, golfers should consider seeing a performance specialist at UofL Health – Frazier Rehab Sports.
For a long time, the fitness community has advocated for the value of stretching before activity. The classic gold standard has been static stretching. Current research is calling this into question as we have better methods of research and better metrics to evaluate the outcome. Multiple studies have demonstrated negative performance outcomes following static stretching. There is an alteration in the muscle with a reduction of strength and decreased nervous system response – poor control, poor reflexes and decreased balance. In golf, this has been shown to have a negative effect on clubhead speed, driver distance, driver accuracy and consistency in ball contact. Unfortunately, many golf publications use fitness advice from people who are not staying current in research and continue to use the classic static stretching advice. For well-intentioned golfers who are working hard to improve their game, by following this advice, they will be unwittingly sabotaging themselves.
Consider dynamic stretching, which is best defined as controlled movements in a rhythmic manner through the motion of the joint with only a brief pause at the end of the stretch. This helps to get the muscles ready for activity by stimulating the nervous system to increase activity. The dynamic stretching method contrasts with static stretching, which inhibits the nervous system. Dynamic stretching also brings more blood flow and increases the temperature of the muscle, which helps it to function more efficiently.
Frazier Rehab Sports offers a program designed exclusively for golfers who are serious about their game. The Golf Performance Program is a blend of the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI), the Gary Gray Institute, the Functional Movement Screen and more than 20 years of combined experience in movement analysis by a team of licensed physical therapists. Consider an evaluation from the Frazier Rehab Sports team to get your golf season started. Your movements will be evaluated and a specific program will be designed for you to help address the physical weakness or restrictions that have been impacting your game. You can undoubtedly make this your best year yet!
For more information about the Golf Performance Program, give Frazier Rehab Sports a call today at 502-426-3353.
