Revitalize Your Golf With Pilates Improvements

By: Alan Smith

A proper working body is needed to correctly swing your clubs and make that swing with the skill you have learned. If your body is not functioning properly, your entire game is off. Pilates is the answer. It improves your swing mechanics, your power, your balance, your endurance, your posture, and reduces the likelihood of swing faults and injury. Since Tiger and Annika both utilize it, its for men and women alike.

All the experts agree that spinal stability and maintaining proper posture from address to backswing and on to the follow through is the most important aspect of golf fitness. This has more recently been coined “core” exercises. Pilates has focused on “core” exercises for over 80 years. A strong core will allow you to maintain your posture through the entire swing. Core strength eliminates the majority of swing faults golfers experience and reduces or in many cases eliminates the most common golf related injury; lower back pain.

Here are five key principles of Pilates and how they relate to your game.

BREATH awareness is an integral factor in performance improvement. In golf, each movement “rides” on the breath. Improper breathing impairs muscle recruitment. Tight muscles are slow and inhibit swing speed and power. By learning to fully inhale and exhale as you do in Pilates, you will facilitate breathing in the golf swing. When you exhale fully, your core muscles are activated. Proper breathing also aids in controlling the movements.

CENTERING in Pilates means that the core activates before the extremities. In golf, the movement is also initiated from the core and you swing through the ball from the center before you use your limbs.

FLUIDITY in movement translates into rhythm, tempo, and grace. Every Pilates exercise has a flow to it. This is true of the golf swing which adheres to another Pilates concept of appropriate effort. “Use as much as necessary, as little as possible.”

CONCENTRATION is necessary in golf as well as in Pilates. By performing Pilates movements with concentration and focus, you learn to pay attention which is essential in the game of golf. Pilates trains attentive movement.

ALIGNMENT. In Pilates we work towards our best alignment in every exercise. In golf correct alignment facilitates the swing motion, reduces joint stress, and prevents injury. Many golf instructors refer to proper alignment at address the number one factor that determines your entire swing.

The typical Pilates routine is extremely rewarding for both your golf game and your overall health and well being. A Pilates based golf fitness and conditioning program is even more beneficial since it utilizes the traditional Pilates movements – on the floor or via Pilates equipment – and focuses them on the specific areas of your body that relate to golf. However, golfers who simply start a typical Pilates routine from a video, a studio or gym class also see great improvements in their game and often comment on a reduction or complete elimination of back pain issues.

You can find many Pilates studios offering classes specifically designed for golfers. There are even several books and videos out on the subject as well as workshops from several providers located around the country.

Don’t go to the store and try out a new driver. Rather, go to the gym or studio and try out a new body with Pilates.

Article Source: http://www.bettergolfarticles.com

Alan Smith is co-author of the 2nd edition of Golf and Pilates for Pilates Professionals sold through The Pilates Physical Mind Institute . A Golf Conditioning Specialist and Pilates instructor located in North Carolina. He provides one-on-one training, group workshops and is available for speaking engagements. USA phone: 704-877-9556, Email: pilates289@yahoo.com and international website.

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