Golf and Cycling.

IceDragon · 09-14-2008, 01:36 PM

Quote:

With the Ryder Cup upon us again the nation’s interest "swings" to the golf course.

Both professionals and amateurs spend many hours practising on the course and at the driving range. However, one crucial aspect seems to be overlooked: the human body. During each swing many movements and muscles need to coordinate. The most expensive clubs will only work once they are placed in the hands of a golfer. They will then express how that golfer’s body is working. Therefore, it would make sense to train that body to move effectively to produce power and accuracy time and again.

To many, golf is a gentle, innocuous sport but a golf swing places huge strain on the body’s structures, particularly the back, wrist and shoulder. The range of movement each joint moves through is huge and if muscles are tight this will have an effect on power and how the club face impacts the ball.

To improve golf fitness the personal trainer needs to assess four key areas:

1) Muscle balance and flexibility
2) Static and dynamic postural stability
3) Strength
4) Power

From this list, one and two will have the greatest influence on controlling ball flight, as these factors directly influence club face alignment and swing path. If these factors are not addressed before training strength and power, then the millions of would-be Tigers up and down the country will spend more time off the fairway than on it.

Significant gains can be made towards a better swing by stretching tonic muscles. Tonic muscles are designed to maintain posture and tend to become shortened if we do not specifically stretch them. Using maintenance short hold stretches (10-15 secs) on the shortened tonic muscles only, will lead to immediate changes in swing mechanics.

In conclusion, to improve scores golfers need to concentrate on stretching tonic muscles to move effectively during the golf swing. In initially focusing on muscle imbalance in this way rather than strength and power may mean sacrificing some distance in the short term; however, improved muscle balance should mean greater accuracy, and after all, if golfers hit the ball straight they will take less shots to get from tee to green.

Quote:

Britain's cycling team was the most successful at The Beijing Olympics - 14 medals, including 7 golds!!

If this has inspired you and you're more the Chris Hoy, mesomorphic physique, then why not try riding in a velodrome. The two main, UK covered velodromes are in Manchester and Newport, South Wales with a third being built in London for the 2012. There are also many open-air tarmac tracks in parks around the country.

Most tracks have coached taster days and will supply the bike and kit. If you're more like Bradley Wiggins, the leaner, more ectomorohic type then there will also be a track event to suit you or you could get out on the road and join a road club. See britishcycling.org.uk

Golf and Cycling.

18+ Discuss training methods here

Golf and Cycling.