The Evolution of Golf Instruction and Golf
Fitness
By Jack Moorehouse
As golf remains hugely popular, even through a global recession, golf
fitness has come to the fore as PGA Tour pros have evolved into more fit
athletes due to the domination of Tiger Woods. Tiger decided early in his
career that he would train for his profession as a world class athlete. As
a result, we see far fewer golfers on tour like John Daly, and a lot more
athletic looking golfers such as Tiger, Adam Scott and Camillo Villegas.
Golf instruction is now evolving into a profession that involves far more
than just giving a quick fix to a golfer, although that is still what some
may want. Many instructors are content with providing this type of limited
service to their students, but the top instructors realize that they
actually have far more to offer their students than just a tip or two on
how to fix their golf swings.
Due to the increased focus by professional golfers on their fitness, the
idea of golf fitness has become more credible. Professional golfers now
often employ the services of a fitness instructor along with their golf
instructor.
However, some fitness instructors erroneously suggest to the average golfer
that the secret to longer tee shots and a more consistent golf swing is
fitness alone. Golfers who have been frustrated by their own lack of
improvement from golf lessons are easy prey for fitness trainers who want
to sell them on a few fitness tips to improve their golf games.
Then there are the "golf instructors" online who will sell the average
golfer on the idea that there is an "easy" way to swing the golf club, if
you only sign up for their newsletter, or purchase their DVDs. However, all
you have to do is get an understanding of how hard Tiger Woods works on his
game, and his fitness, to realize that improving your golf swing requires
hard work! Tiger works on his golf game and fitness 10 to 12 hours per day
when he is gearing up for the majors! There are no shortcuts in golf!
The top golf instructors realize that they are in a position to better
serve their students by being able to identify ways for a student to
improve their golf swing through both golf instruction AND golf fitness
training. Just like the evolution of today’s PGA Tour stars, the new
generation of golf instructors understand that they need to be able offer
both services in order to remain competitive in the field.
A golf instructor who practices the "hands on" teaching method of Hank
Haney, Tiger Woods’ current instructor, can more easily identify the
physical issues of a student. A golf instructor who also has significant
experience in a variety of physical training methods can then provide
suggestions, or even an entire program, to a student on how to achieve
their golf swing goals through fitness training.
This type of instructor is extremely valuable to the golf student. In one
location, the student can learn all they need to know about the golf swing,
and how to address their own physical limitations to accomplish their
goals. Compare that to the golf instructors who simply try to make a
suggestion as to how to make a quick fix to a golf swing without ever
moving the student through the swing. Or, compare the well-rounded
instructor to the fitness trainer who really has no experience in golf
instruction. "Golf Fitness" experts can offer a variety of gimmicky
exercises, but they really do not have an understanding of what really
drives the golf swing.
Presently, there are not many instructors out there who can offer this
well-rounded instruction and training. However, this is the future of golf
instruction, so consider seeking out those instructors who are on the
cutting edge. Your golf game is sure to benefit!
