Golf is one of the most technical games in all of the sports. It is deceptively simple in theory, but incredibly difficult to master. Think back to the first few days of playing golf. Of course, there’s a steep learning curve for every skill-based sport. But when it comes to golf, the barriers to entry start with the swing itself. When you swing a golf club, everything has to be aligned.
There’s a muscle memory component to the position you place your body in just to get the stroke right. Once you’ve got that down, you bring the club up to one side and let it rip with the torque and precision necessary to launch that dimpled ball to Timbuktu. If you’ve been playing for a while and want to take your golf skills to the next level, there are some unconventional ways you can go about it. Here are some of the best.
Pro-level Analysis
Golf has been around for quite some time. It’s been postulated on, analyzed, and pontificated on for centuries. These days, we have an even better tool: technology. Modern tech takes your body mechanics and adjusts it so you can practice smarter, the right way. It doesn’t matter how many hours you put in if your technique is all wrong. Sensors and simulators can track exactly how much output, at what angle, and exactly what path your swing is going. With that kind of vital information, it can be put against a standard that you create using our body measurements. That kind of data is invaluable. Use it properly, and you’ll be swinging like the pros sooner than you think.
Serious Strength
Serious strength training isn’t something that we often see on the golf course. We play a few holes, get in the cart, and drive to the next thing. But as we’ve seen in recent years, there’s a massive advantage to active strength training. You don’t need to be a powerlifter to play golf, but there needs to be a mastery of energy transfer and strength. Strength training puts your ability to exert force at a much high level than necessary for a golf swing. This, in turn, gives one more leeway to master technique. Not to mention, strength training has been shown to increase bone density, so you’ll be playing well into your golden years.
Balancing Acts
You might have heard that one-legged swings are good for balance. This is true. But instead of building sport-specific balance, you can increase your overall balance by doing other fun activities. Skiing, surfing, even skateboarding, are all activities that rely heavily on balance. This is balance in three planes of movement, not just the single-plane swing. Try it out. If you like these balance-heavy hobbies, you’ll be surprised how well it translates to your golf game.
Figuring out the advantage over your competition is huge in golf. Everyone wants to know another’s “secret” to improve. Often you get a strange, lame answer. The truth is, balance, strength, and technical analysis are the three sure-fire ways to get much better. Try them out. You won’t regret it.
