Physically, golf requires a mix of aerobic fitness and strength. You don't want to fade in the last few holes in a round because you feel tired, which impacts mental as well as physical performance. Golf is often seen as a passive sport, not requiring much physical fitness. But, in truth, it actually incorporates cardiovascular exercise, strength training, balance and even coordination, to name a few. And, while you may not realize it, everything from your posture down to how you move your body can affect your golf game.

From a performance training perspective, golf fitness is the preparation of your body for playing golf. In the same way that you would prepare yourself to run a race or get in shape to play a sport, you need to prepare your body to play golf. For professionals or competitive golfers, this could mean developing their physical fitness to maintain peak performance throughout an entire round, week after week, for the whole season. For recreational golfers, golf fitness means having all the different ranges of motion necessary to swing consistently and reduce the risk of injury. However, no matter your experience or skill level, all golfers can benefit from golf fitness training.

A golf fitness program prepares you for the demands of the sport. Because golf isn't necessarily a high-speed, contact sport, it may be easy to overlook the physical demands of a round of golf. However, the sport can be physically complex and demanding in that it utilizes various muscle groups and parts of the body that must work together on each swing. The ability to move your body properly is the most significant benefit of a golf fitness program - even more than physical strength. A single golf swing requires a full range of motion in the shoulders, back, hips and hands. A golf fitness program helps improve and maintain each of these motions.

A successful, consistent golf swing requires strength for stabilizing the lower body while rotating the trunk and upper body. Building total body strength comes second only to range of motion when it comes to golf fitness. Without an adequate range of motion or total body strength, golfers can be susceptible to injuries from the repetitive motions of each swing. For example, poor range of motion in the shoulders can put more strain on your back. Additionally, a lack of core and lower body strength can cause other muscles to compensate and result in strains, sprains and other injuries.

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