Get fit to hit
Improve your distance, consistency and accuracy with golf performance training
The Right Moves: Dr. Ryan Emmons (L) instructs Nate Lemay, who is a GOLFFIT student, on how to use medicine ball Russian twists to focus on core strength for the golf swing. —Photo courtesy Dr. Ryan Emmons
Take one look at Tiger Woods’ physique and it is apparent that he is the quintessential athlete. Gary Player and Greg Norman started the fitness revolution in golf and Mr. Woods has made it a must have in your arsenal in the new millennium to stay at the top of your game. However the old school notion of fitness, which loosely involved going for a jog, doing crunches and push-ups for the ultimate beach body, won’t do much for your golf game. Every sport involves key muscles and movements that are sport specific. Doing bicep curls will definitely not help you shave strokes off your game; thus the evolution of the golf performance trainer. Dr. Ryan Emmons is one such specialized trainer operating in the city of Calgary, Alberta. Dr. Emmons became fascinated by the sport of golf while training to become a certified chiropractor. He saw the need for strength and conditioning in golf after witnessing many patients warming up and training improperly. “When it comes to muscle activation and level of excursion, golf is comparable to sports such as hockey, baseball and martial arts. If people in those sports condition their bodies why don’t golfers?” commented Emmons. Emmons believed so strongly in this notion that he moved from Toronto, Ontario, with his wife Angela to help spearhead and develop a program entitled GOLFFITT, aimed at educating golfers on the need and benefits of golf specific conditioning and to coach personal trainers to become golf performance trainers. The premise behind the program is that golfers often believe they have swing faults when in fact they have body faults, which in turn leads to limitations and weaknesses in the swing. A golfer who has trouble adding distance to their game may attribute it to technical issues when in fact their body may be limited by its physical mobility inhibiting a good shoulder turn which, in turn, leads to lack of power and distance. The common body faults in golfers range from lack of active flexibility (range of motion), improper body awareness, inadequate muscle activation and lack of coordination and control. These issues typically present themselves in three distinct areas of the body: hips, shoulders and spine/torso. These are the three areas of the body that require rotation in the golf swing and are most commonly the tightest and most restrictive, inhibiting the ability to achieve proper swing positions. Dr. Emmons addresses these concerns for golfers on an individual basis. The first step of the program is a formal assessment. The assessment involves a series of tests to determine muscle activation, strength, posture, balance, flexibility, stability and power. All of these areas are related—thus, if one is lacking it will affect your swing. The key muscles in the golf swing that are focused on are the gluttes, lats, obliques, pecs and hamstrings. The next phase of the program involves the golfer being given formal training recommendations. The recommendations will include exercises that will be golf and swing specific and some that aim at strengthening key golf muscles. Stretches will also be recommended to improve flexibility and range of motion. A trainer will be assigned to ensure proper technique and to offer support. In addition, treatments will also be recommended that will aid in loosening up the muscles to create balance in the body and eliminate compensation of overused muscles. These treatments range from active muscle release (deep tissue massage) to address muscle tension, acupuncture for nerves and internal imbalances and/or chiropractic treatments for restricted joints. This comprehensive program is offered to golfers of all ages and abilities and the prime purpose is to prevent injury and improve golf performance. However, Dr. Emmons warns this program is designed for golfers serious about improving their game. “The bottom line is, it is about consistency and effort you put into the program,” he said. “What you get out is what you put in.” Ideally, golfers will have one to two treatments per week and will perform the individualized exercise regime four to five times per week, either at home or with the trainer at a gym. Improvements in distance, consistency and accuracy in your game should be evident after a few short weeks but will require maintenance. If you are interested in finding out more about this program contact "Dr. Emmons(Dr. Emmons email)":mailto:drryanemmons@gmail.com by e-mail. Golf is a sport. Get active.