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(the following is excerpted from Titleist Performance Institute, written by Jeff Banaszak)
The growth of women’s golf has been extraordinary. With so many women participating there is an even greater need for good solid information. Women not only need tips on how to improve performance but also how to manage some of the important gender issues that may be encountered. The following is an introduction to some of the important physical issues women may encounter when taking up golf.
Physical Characteristics
Although women bring a lot of physical tools to the practice tee, one common problem is a lack of overall muscle strength. Men generally have the genetic advantage including larger muscle mass especially through the shoulders, chest and arms. Medical studies have shown that women have only 2/3 the muscle mass of a comparable sized male. For this reason areas of the body including the wrist, elbow and shoulder seem to be more vulnerable to injury. To negate these differences a female golfer may want to modify their focus in the gym:
• The Upper Body
o Train the shoulders, arms and rotator cuff muscles to build the strength needed for better control of the club during each full swing.
o Develop the wrist and forearm musculature to gain control and touch around the greens during the short game.
o Increase chest strength to allow the rapid downswing movement needed to build club head speed.
• Hip Stability
o Many women tend to sway and/or slide more than rotate during the swing. Hip strength is needed to gain better movement control.
o Building strength throughout the lower extremities will help improve balance.
• Posture Stability
o Strengthen the supporting structures of the spine to maximize mobility and decrease stress to the back.
See how you can bring it too!
Fit*Golf for Women with Visions Performance and Beth Sedlak |
