Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Basic Components For Attaining Golf Fitness With Kettlebell Exercises

By Terrence Thomas


Golf fitness can be attained by applying several key concepts to the overall workout regimen. When considering the golf swing, it is important to find ways of increasing balance, flexibility and strength. There are very specific muscle groups involved in swing mechanics and this is where the focus should be when looking for improved performance on the course.

Kettlebells provide a fitness method that is easily applied to the golf swing while increasing physical performance for the entire body. The kettlebell itself comes in a variety of weights and is shaped much like a cannonball with a rounded handle attached. When performing exercises, the handle is gripped by one or both hands and the athlete swings the weight in a variety of motions. The unique swinging action makes these exercises perfectly adaptable to the golfing swing motion.

To get good rotation through hips and shoulders during the a golfer's swing, adequate flexibility and mobility are crucial. Balance must be maintained throughout the motion and the body's center of gravity must be held in place. Strength is needed for generating force. Power is what generates overall club head speed resulting in more distance. All of these components working together in harmony create a successful golfing motion.

The first thing a golfer does is grip the club. Hand and grip strength are important for control. Kettlebells are gripped by their handle during exercises which isolates the hands. A good exercise to start a routine is to pass the kettlebell around the waist for 20 repetitions, or pass it around both calves. It will be easy to feel the hand muscles being worked.

Flexibility refers to muscles which are too tight. A tight muscle is typically considered a weaker muscle. Golfers often have problems with flexibility in their hamstrings which affects their ability to get a full turn on the backswing. Kettlebell swings target this movement by promoting hip turn or bend resulting in the hamstrings being stretched. With continued focus on becoming more flexible, golfers will find that better hip and shoulder rotation results in more power and distance.

One way to gain more balance is by applying exercises where swinging the kettlebell is done in a very controlled manner. The weight is moved along a plane slowly with control, or the action is stopped at various points. These movements help the body learn to maintain its center of gravity, and develop muscles needed for stability. This affects the golfer's swing motion by helping keep the club on a correct swing plane and creating tempo.

A regimen of swing exercises over four to six weeks will greatly increase strength. By using the kettlebell, these strength moves are specifically targeted at golf specific muscles. The result is an increase in the body's ability to generate significant force. When applying force, fast twitch muscle fibers are being worked. The ultimate goal when working on strength and force is more power for increased club head speed and distance.

The exercises described here provide the means for executing power drills safely and with little risk for back, joint, or shoulder strain. Less chance of injury or strain allows for more frequency of training. In the future, kettlebells will prove to be one of the best methods for improving golf fitness. They provide the means for targeting the right muscles and movements, and can help golfers find their best performance.




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