You 2.0 - FIND WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU
You 2.0
Find What Works Best For You
O
ne of the problems many of us have on the road to improvement is the inevitable comparison to great players. We want their swings, their balance, their consistency and their ability to pull off seemingly every shot. We just all can’t quit our jobs and dedicated the long hours and dedicated practice it takes to get there. Like it or not, we have to improve in baby steps in this
game. In this edition of You 2.0, we’ll explore some simple methods for improving your approach to preparation, practice and putting in ways that are simple to think through, try and implement on the course. Let’s just take some simple techniques and see if we can get a little more limber, a little more dialed on the wedge game and if one of the history’s greatest players can inspire us to make more putts.
GET LOOSE AND GET READY Join Austin Golf Fitness owner Bobby O’Dell, PT (Titleist Performance Institute Certified Medical Professional Level 2 Instructor) in a couple of brief warm up exercises that are critical to prepping you for your round: Even though golf fitness has become a critical part of the game in the PGA ranks, most amateurs have not embraced introducing even the most simple of warm up exercises to prepare the body for a round of golf. Let's review these basic exercises that can be performed prior to your round in less than five minutes and will enable you to play better earlier in your round while avoiding injury. Starting your warm up with squats (above left) will properly activate your quads, hamstrings, and glutes. The squat is a dynamic and powerful exercise utilized to engage the glutes and muscles in your hips. Strengthening your glutes and core are critical to maintaining a stable base for the upper body to move from. Try to slowly lower yourself in a seated position with the goal being to get your hips level with your knees To challenge yourself further, try holding a club overhead while performing the squat. This will promote proper upper back posture to help facilitate the necessary upper body turn in your swing. Perform 2 sets of 10 squats. The lunge (above right) is another great core and hip-engaging TEXASGOLFERMAGAZINE.COM
exercise. I like to challenge my clients by adding an upper-body twist with the lunge to help promote hip and core stability while adding upper body mobility. In the ideal swing, your lower body forms a stable base that allows the upper body to turn and coil, thus generating rotational torque. By allowing greater tension and separation between your upper and lower body, you are now able to create a larger "X-factor". Think of it like a crossbow. This stored energy is then able to be transmitted or relayed to the next sequence allowing for greater speed and power in your swing. Perform this exercise slowly and prevent your knee from passing your toes and work hard to avoid losing your balance. Perform one set of 10 lunges with twist for each side. Spring/Summer 2013 TexasGolfer 35