Southern California's No. 1 Source for Golf
STROKE OF THE DAY |
"Eighteen holes of match play will teach you more about your foe than nineteen years of dealing with him across the desk. " |
-Grantland Rice |
SITE
SEARCH
GOLF
CALENDAR
FITNESS
|
||||
 Remember? It’s that commitment you made six months ago. A myriad of tools, programs, lessons and products are available to help you accomplish that goal. Whether you’re looking for personalized instruction, more flexibility, increased distance off the tee or a swing aid you can practice with at the office, or if you just want to brush up on the fundamentals, our 10 ways to a better game will point you in the right direction. FITDECK JR. Many medical experts are calling America’s growing weight problem in children an epidemic. It’s time to hit the deck — of cards. FitDeck Jr. is a 50-card tool designed to serve as an exercise regimen for children ages 5 to 15. Each card depicts a boy or girl performing a different exercise, from jumping jacks to push-ups, but with fun names such as “Duck Walk” and “Venus Fly Trap” to engage a child’s imagination as well as encourage them to stretch and sweat. The cards are color coded by muscle group and offer three levels: beginning, intermediate and advanced. An accompanying book provides 70 games for children to play, including Musical Chairs and Scavenger Hunt. “Many parents want to help their kids develop healthy habits early, but they don’t know where to start,” said FitDeck Jr. creator Phil Black, a San Diego County resident. “Now they have a fun way to help get their kids fit that doesn’t require them to invest in an adult-size home gym.” For more information, call (858) 453-6644 or visit www.fitdeck.com. BODY BALANCE FOR PERFORMANCE Using little more than an exercise ball, tubing and a golfer’s body weight, the physical therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists and athletic trainers at Body Balance for Performance offer one of the most extensive golf-specific training programs in the area. The most common program begins with an assessment of a golfers’ physical ability as it relates to the swing. Trainers first gauge goals and perform an orthopedic examination to review a golfer’s body structure, posture, balance, flexibility and strength. There is then a videotaped analysis, at which point trainers can assess what areas of the body need the most work and design exercises to help. The end result is greater flexibility, endurance, control and strength, which leads to longer and more accurate shots. There are Body Balance for Performance centers in Alhambra, Burbank, Lake Forest, San Diego and Whittier. For more information, visit www.fitgolf.com. FIT LIKE A PRO Dr. David Wright’s new golf school designed to prevent golf injuries furthers his reputation as an innovative instructor. Wright has teamed with Dr. Michael Mellman, the director of sports medicine at Centinela Hospital, to create Fit Like a Pro, a golf school that combines scientific methodology and orthopedic evaluations to improve golf fitness and performance and help reduce golf-related injuries. “Elite athletes around the globe benefit from high-tech research, instruction and comprehensive medical, nutrition and fitness guidance,” Wright said. “Now, for the first time, we are providing those same opportunities to the amateur golfer in an all-inclusive program that will ensure maximum performance.” The school offers lectures and instruction on more than a dozen areas, including sharpening your mental focus, putting, chipping and visualization, and how to approach tough shots. Golfers also receive a physical exam to measure strength and flexibility and assess physical limitations. The first school was held at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo last month and cost $2,795 per person, which included club fitting. More schools are planned and information can be found by visiting www.wrightbalance.com or by calling (888) 620-5653. GOLFGYM Home gyms have grown in popularity thanks to affordable systems designed for specific needs. GolfGym recently unveiled an all-inclusive system that includes a swing trainer, weighted training club, golf centric balance ball and a series of game improvement DVDs. The centerpiece is the PowerSwing Trainer, first introduced by the Santa Ana company in 1987. The trainer promotes proper swing habits and muscle memory, better club control and accuracy. The portable device also increases strength in the muscle groups used to swing a club. Golfers can choose from two types of weighted clubs, which are heavier than a normal club but weighted in proportion, making them ideal to use before a round or as part of a training schedule. The balance ball comes with an instructional DVD that suggests 30 exercises, and the system also includes DVDs from The Golf Channel fitness expert Katherine Roberts, who guides viewers through routines designed specifically for golfers. The system sells for $179.95. For more information, call (877) 4-GOLFGYM or visit www.golfgym.com. GOLF SWING FLEXIBILITY Flexibility is key to golf performance and enjoyment. But few of us know the proper way to stretch. For a personalized lesson with one of the leading flexibility experts in the golf industry, visit La Costa Resort and Spa, the home base for the Roger Fredericks Golf Swing Flexibility Program. Fredericks’ study of how biomechanics relate to the golf swing has produced a system that allows him to tailor a conditioning program for golfers that “improves their golf games faster and more effectively than the golfers who just took standard lessons,” he said. “The good news-bad news situation is this: The good news is that more and more golfers — and golf instructors — are realizing the importance of flexibility and conditioning. The bad news is that I’ve found that not one person in 50 understands what flexibility really is, or how to get it,” Fredericks said. “That goes for golf pros, too.” For more information, call (760) 230-2263 or visit www.fredericksgolf.com. PILATES A number of golfers, including Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam, have turned to Pilates to improve their flexibility, agility and range of motion. Pilates, which also builds strength, is a gentle process of deliberate movements that concentrate on the midsection, or core, which is essential in the golf swing. Strengthening the core, which includes abdominal and lower back muscles, also improves joint flexibility, which is crucial for a good golf swing. The discipline also refines mental focus, and the breathing techniques of Pilates will help keep your heart beat from racing when standing over a critical short putt. Though it’s been around in some form since 1914, Pilates ranks among the fastest-growing fitness routines in the world. It could be the perfect exercise program to promote health in everyone, even if they never pick up a golf club. There is a wealth of information about Pilates on the Internet, but a new book targeting male golfers is on the market: “Pilates For Men.” For more information, visit www.hatherleighpress.com. THE SPINE INSTITUTE AT CHAPMAN MEDICAL CENTER Many of us wait for problems before visiting a back specialist. Dr. Gerald Alexander, the director of the Spine Institute at Chapman Medical Center, would like to see you sooner, and you don’t have to be suffering from an injury to see a member of his staff. “We can treat both kinds of patients,” Alexander said. “Both those with problems and those who may want to avoid having any in the future. It’s all about taking pressure off the spine by strengthening the muscles of the abdominals and the lower back.” It’s similar to the way baseball pitchers work out today compared to the past if they’re suffering from a rotator cuff injury. “Years ago, they’d only have exercises for the rotator cuff or the shoulder, but now pitchers work other parts of their body in order to take pressure off the injured part,” Alexander said. “It’s the same theory for the spine.” The exercises at the center don’t involve heavy machinery or exercise balls. “They’re often just rotational exercises, or different maneuvers, such as laying on your back and stomach and twisting your trunk or raising and holding your legs in different positions,” Alexander said. For more information, call (714) 879-0050. THE SPEED STIK Swing speed is critical for distance off the tee, but the harder the swing, the more balance can be compromised. The Speed Stik is a portable device that can help. It gives golfers immediate feedback and trains the brain and muscles to feel at ease swinging a heavier object at high speed. When a player goes back to his regular club, more centrifugal force will be generated, which leads to more distance. Equipped with a speed gauge that allows golfers to monitor their progress, The Speed Stik’s effectiveness has generated a lot of support, including from Vijay Singh and Peter Kostis. A shorter and lighter version of the product designed for juniors also is available. For more information, call (480) 951-6800 or visit www.thespeedstik.com. MOMENTUS GOLF STRENGTH TRAINER The Momentus Strength Trainer is weighted to work on the muscles most integral to a powerful golf swing. Along with strength, however, the counter-balanced weighting design helps promote the correct synchronization of the hand, arm and body movements, which results in better accuracy. An 18-minute video and 36-page workout booklet come with the Momentus Strength Trainer. The drills, which take less than 15 minutes to perform, focus on the specific muscles of the hands, wrists, forearms, triceps, biceps and shoulders. Every part of the swing — from the takeaway and backswing to impact and follow-through — will benefit from the device. For more information, call (800) 524-6068 or visit www.momentusgolf.com. THE INTERNET Surfing the Internet doesn’t seem like the best way to get in golf shape, but there are a lot of golf-related sites to point you in the right direction. Around-the-clock access to quick and easy exercises and training programs is available at www.fitnessforgolf.com. From interviews with golfers and fitness experts to tips on preventing golf injuries and improving your mental game, members can access an array of fitness-related tips. Members of the Irvine-based www.healthygolfer.com receive a golf examination focusing on the physical and mental parts of their game. A program is devised that can be accessed via the site, which allows golfers to practice at their home or office. Mike Pedersen is the force behind www.golf-trainer.com, which offers a Power Performance Program and online golf training program for $97 a year, or $30 a month. Pedersen becomes your personal golf coach, available online or via the phone to answer questions and provide tips. It’s a novel program in that you never meet your instructor, but its flexibility and accessibility allows you to work on your drive without driving your car to see him. Serving as an online library of sorts for tips and instruction, www.yourgolffitnesscoach.com uses DVDs, printed material and postings to guarantee a specialized training program. It’s another site where you never meet your coach in person, but founder Bill Hartman has set up a site that provides a self-assessment of your needs and limitations and then guides golfers through a program for improvement. One of the best sites is www.pgatour.com, where an array of golf tips and instructional resources are available. Sean M. Cochran offers weekly tips on everything from improving your flexibility to increasing your driving distance. Major touring professionals, such as Padraig Harrington, also are on the site, and you can watch videos of them explaining various aspects of their techniques. The best thing? It’s all free. |
||||
RSS Subscribe
Digg This Article
